Once we'd managed to catch our breath, it wasn't much further from the Dursts' home to the Village of Barovia. We crossed a little bridge into town and paused a moment to get our bearings. The most striking feature was the massive castle seated on a pillar of black stone overlooking the village, perhaps some ten miles up winding mountain roads. To the north, the steeple of a church could be seen peeking over the roofs of the town houses. Not far from us, a sign swayed in the slight breeze, bearing the name "Blood of the Vine Tavern". Naturally, that's the establishment that drew our attention. Avery attempted to lead the charge through worn and battered streets in search of the warm embrace of an alcoholic brew of some variety. However, a few things drew the group's collective attention away from the tavern.

First was the fact that the town looked as if it had been recently under attack. There were trenches dug, barricades erected and demolished, structures were marred with scorch marks, and buildings were boarded up. Few, if any, establishments had lights in the windows suggesting people within them. It was as the burgomaster's letter suggested: something had attacked this town, and it had not fared well.

Another bizarre sight met us as we came further into town: a lone raven sat, watching us. It was like no raven I'd ever seen, with blue-tipped feathers, and it seemed far too aware of us for a normal bird. I hear tell that magic users sometimes utilize animals to spy on others, using cats and birds and whatnot? Regardless of its nature, Allynia was quite taken with it. She waved at it, and it seemed interested in her in return -- especially when she offered it a shiny coin. It took her silver piece and made off with it into the night.

Outside the tavern was a massive statue of a man wielding a raised sword, bearing the name Ismark Antonovich, the Great, the Bane of Vampires, 618-662 BC. This was an interesting piece of information, because Cassandra said the diary she found of Elizabeth Durst had a date around 200 BC listed in it, although by our best reckoning, it was DR 1480 in Faerun when we left.

We also spent a few minutes standing around in the growing darkness, swapping stories about vampires and what we thought we knew about them... Which honestly, wasn't much. There's the usual bedtime stories parents tell, but it's not like any of us had ever researched anything by van Richten on the matter! Best we could recall, they are creatures of the night that do not do well in sunlight. Garlic, crosses, mirrors, and silver may or may not bother them. Silver might have been werewolves? Maybe both? Why would garlic bother anything undead that doesn't breathe or eat?? I'm not sure how much of it I believe.

Inside the tavern, we were all finally able to warm our bones for awhile. There was a man tending bar, three Vistani women talking amongst themselves, and another handsome man at the bar drinking. The blond introduced himself to us as Ismark, son of the burgomaster. He bought us all a round of drinks, now our new best friend here, and told us a little of Barovia. Most concerning seemed to be that once someone enters Barovia, they cannot leave again, by Lord von Zarovich's degree. (How he has this power is unclear.) Ismark says that Lord von Zarovich "watches all" from on high in Castle Ravenloft (which would explain the welcoming wine and fruit basket), and that most adventurers who come to this land die, either by crossing the wrong person, by lack of care, or by blatant hubris.

Two years ago, one of the locals displayed such an act of hubris. The local priest's son, Doru, gathered a group of villagers with intent of marching on the castle to "do something about the Devil". If the spirits of the cultists haunting the Dursts' basement are to be believed, Lord von Zarovich is "the ancient" and "the land", so that went about as well as one might assume it would. None returned alive. Instead, an emissary from the castle, an elf called Rahadin, came to the village. He declared that for the rebellious act of the townspeople, the village would be made to suffer.

Since that time, the village has been under attack by undead and other servants of Lord von Zarovich. Days or months might pass between attacks, but they always continue. They are almost always at night (but not necessarily); there are typically dozens of attackers that will kill some and wound others; the undead may be killed, driven off, or may just give up and leave. Ismark says there are no clear patterns, always keeping them in constant states of panic.

When we mentioned that we were brought here by a group of Vistani looking for help with a "project", that seemed to raise Ismark's suspicion. He says that many in Barovia do not trust the Vistani. They are seen by others as untrustworthy because many of them work for Strahd. This is unsurprising, as a noble house or royal line would employ many locals -- running a castle that size alone would take an untold number of staff, let alone the people needed to run a country! Cassandra excused herself to speak with the group of Vistani women for a few minutes and returned to tell us that they were in agreement with Ismark's assessment: that none can leave once entering Lord von Zarovich's domain and that we should seek guidance from Madam Eva.

The Vistani women weren't the only ones to offer us an opinion, however. A local merchant by the name of Bildrath entered and made it abundantly clear how very little he thinks of Ismark, warning us that Ismark "the Lesser" will get us all killed by association, as he had so many others in town. Apparently, after Rahadin's proclamation, many had wanted to flee. Ismark convinced people to stay and fight for their homes, and many people have died over the last two years doing so, including Bildrath's family.

Ismark seemed not just hurt by these remarks but actually remorseful, as if he believed he should carry this guilt with him. Not a group to let others suffer needlessly, Allynia went to offer words of solace and comfort to the newcomer at the bar while I did my best to lift Ismark's spirits. After all, I truly believe that simply leaving town would do little to stop to the wrath of an angry "Dread Lord" with his sights set on leveling a punishment. All it would likely do would be to turn his attentions to innocents in other towns as well. Best to do what can be done to protect home and hearth, and try to determine how to stop the siege from continuing rather than running from it. Perhaps find a way to make amends and move on.

In the end, Ismark offered us a place to stay with him, his father, and his sister in exchange for helping them with an impending attack on the town. We stayed in the tavern a bit longer to drink and listen to Cassandra play her violin, a melancholy piece about losing her way. (I think this place is draining the joie de vivre from her.) However, Avery was there with an encouraging word, saying that if we all stay together, the light will guide our way and protect us. True or not, it's a beautiful sentiment.

Even being an official of the town had not spared the burgomaster's home from the brunt of the undead attacks that marred the rest of the village. The modest estate was, at one time, likely a sight to behold. Now, the wrought iron fence is collapsing in on itself. Deep furrows are etched into the ground, the metal of the gates, the wood of the manor. Perhaps from ghouls or zombies? Something humanoid rather than beast has been attacking this family. Windows that once held panes of glass are now boarded shut instead.

Fortunately, the young woman who answered the door was willing to even answer the door, what with night having fallen. We explained that her brother, Ismark, had sent us, and she quickly ushered us in. The woman, Ireena Kolyana, and her father, Kolyan Indirovich, were most hospitable, considering the circumstances. We explained how Ismark had offered us shelter for the night in exchange for helping to protect the town from the coming attack (which was a wise offer on his part -- the burgomaster looked to be a couple of sleepless nights away from an early grave).

We discussed the nature of the attacks for a time. Kolyan confirmed that there are hundreds of undead outside the village. The attacks all occur at random, seemingly to instill terror more than to actually wipe out the town (which could easily be achieved). To me, it seems more that Lord von Zarovich is making a statement that he's in charge and that rebellion will not be tolerated. Perhaps there is some expectation that Kolyan, as leader of the town, do something particular or make some sort of proper tribute was not paid to make the attacks stop. Or perhaps it is meant to be the priest of the Morninglord who makes reparations, as it was his son who led the rebellion? Regardless, Kolyan says that any messengers they have sent to the castle over the last two years seeking clemency have never returned. So either that's not it, or they didn't engage in the proper rules of parlance when seeking an audience with an ancient, all-powerful, bureaucratic nobleman.

Sadly, when Ismark returned later that evening, he did not have good news, like the sudden disbanding of enemy forces, but rather that they were encroaching even closer on the village and would likely set upon the town at any time. It was agreed that the best strategy would be to get as much sleep as possible in preparation for their arrival.

Luck was on our side. The night's rest was only broken once: at midnight, everyone was woken from sleep by the cries of lament echoing from outside. A quick peep out the door showed a long line of dead warriors, adventurers of all sorts. All shared similar haunted, hateful expressions as they made a slow progression up towards Castle Ravenloft. It was agreed by all that we needed to do something different. The status quo only seems to get others killed.

In the morning, four men arrived at the house, stating that the hordes of monsters were getting closer, that some had detached from the main group, closing in for the attack. When asked about the town's defenses, we were told there were about two dozen "fighters" to position around town. In the past, the two main targets have been the church and the east entrance to town, which is bizarre, as that's the way we came into town, but also supposedly the area closest to the bulk of the undead forces. The road to the west leading from town is also frequently attacked, although not as often, and the burgomaster's mansion. After some discussion on the dispersal of troops, it was agreed that we would head to the eastern road to fortify the entrance into town, while the other able-bodied men positioned themselves to protect other key places within the village.

The eastern road appeared to have once been well fortified, but two years of attacks had worn down their defenses. Trenches had been dug and low walls constructed to attempt to funnel any attacks through only narrow passages, but these walls had been pulled down in places, and the wide road allowed for too many undead to pass at once. With Cassandra standing watch atop one of the nearby houses, we sent Moss and Avery into town for a few supplies from Bildrath's, while Allynia, Faerxan, and I moved wagons and barrels and whatever we could find to funnel the undead forced through more a bottlenecked path.

There isn't much time left, they'll be here any minute, but when they get here, they'll certainly be in for a surprise!

...

Can zombies be surprised?

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