Not Curse of Strahd Episode 6: Burial, Basement Horrors, and a Brutal Roadside Ambush!
Hey folks, GMWintermute here with a recap of our latest “Not Curse of Strahd” session, Episode 6! This one was a rollercoaster of emotions, from somber funeral duties to a terrifying encounter with the undead and a brutal fight for survival on the road. Let's dive in!
The session kicked off with the party agreeing to help Mark take Irina and the Burgomaster's corpse to the chapel for burial. The Burgomaster was, shall we say, starting to “stink up the place”. Before heading out, the ever-resourceful Grandma revealed she had cast a greed spell on the Mercantile owner, trading a worthless gem for their cold weather gear last session, much to Mark's surprise.
Upon reaching the “gray sagging edifice of stone and wood” that was the chapel, Irena was frantic, banging on the doors and calling for Father Donavich. Grandma, with her keen senses, heard a faint scream from inside. Turns out, the door was unlocked, and upon entering, they found a “dirty lightless room” leading to a brightly lit chapel where Father Donavich was fervently praying.
However, his prayers were soon interrupted by an “inhuman scream that rises up from beneath the floorboard”. Despite the horrifying sound, Father Donavich seemed oblivious. Irena explained her father's death and their need for burial, to which Donavich agreed.
Things took a dark turn when a whisper came from under the floorboards: “I can smell your blood”. This sent Irena scrambling for cover. It was revealed that Donavich's son, Doru, had returned as a vampire after a failed revolt against Strahd a year prior and was trapped in the undercroft. Donavich had been praying for a way to save him without destroying him. The party quickly realized Doru was dangerously hungry, having only had “occasional rats and small animals” to feed on.
What followed was a chaotic attempt to deal with the escaped Doru, who emerged from the floorboards looking “rough” with “bloodlust in his eyes”. A fierce but messy encounter ensued, with spells flying (Sacred Flame!), grapples with a Bigby's Hand-esque magical appendage, and frantic searches for chains. Despite some questionable suggestions (like feeding Attia to the vampire!), the party eventually managed to subdue Doru by feeding him a goblet of the priest's blood and binding him with chains.
After the terrifying ordeal, the Burgomaster was finally laid to rest. Father Donavich, now calmer and apologetic, was warned by the party about the dangers of his son and the need to feed him regularly. The party then finally set off with Irena towards Vallaki.
Their journey, however, was far from peaceful. As darkness fell and they passed Tser Falls, Grandma spotted movement in the woods. A “strange wolf cry” echoed in the distance, and the party felt they were being tracked. Their instincts were correct!
A monstrous “Varga” with “sword arms” jumped down from a cliff face, accompanied by several werewolves, and combat erupted. The ensuing fight was brutal and chaotic. Spells like Storm Sphere, Spirit Guardians, Spiritual Weapon, and Haste filled the air. The werewolves proved to be resilient, with one even grappling Ismark.
Despite facing multiple foes, including the heavily damaging Varga, the party fought fiercely. Grandma's Spirit Guardians proved particularly effective. There were moments of near defeat, but ultimately, through a combination of spellcasting, melee attacks, and a lot of animated dice rolls (some good, some hilariously bad!), the party managed to defeat the Varga and the pack of werewolves.
In the aftermath, everyone gained a significant chunk of experience points. The session ended with the party victorious but undoubtedly weary from the intense battles.
What a session! From the creepy chapel basement to the desperate fight on the road, Episode 6 was packed with action and suspense. Join us next time to see what awaits our heroes on their journey to Vallaki!
Stay tuned, and may your dice rolls be ever in your favor!