Well, shit.

I guess I did this to us... "Oh, we'll make it to Madam Eva's tomorrow. Oh, we'll have answers soon. Oh." I may as well have said "I'm retiring from adventuring tomorrow and can finally relax with the grandkids on the family farm. What's the worst that can happen?"

We got a decent night's rest. Maybe learned that Allynia is a disgusting morning person, but I guess that's her personal life choice. I'm glad someone is, because I sure ain't. Ireena blessed us all with coffee before we collected a few personal effects for her and headed off through town with our newest companions, Balthazar and Bartholomew. Ismark warned that they were on the older side, but they proved to be good boys who don't spook easily.

We learned this with some empirical evidence as we were making our way through town. A thick mist started to roil in, and a black carriage appeared seemingly from nowhere. Lord von Zarovich, himself, stepped from the carriage along with an entourage of followers: a soldier in black armour and not one but three wives. (Someone is popular with the ladies.) He introduced the others with him. The elven warrior was Rahadin, who was polite if exceptionally creepy. The woman in white was addressed as Ludmilla, who seemed exceptionally unimpressed with all of us. Anastrasya, the vampire bride in red, was more diplomatic in her greeting and sentiments. The last woman in a yellow dress and skull mask, Volenta, seemed just as likely to eat the flesh from our still breathing bodies than anything else. I believe "new meat" was how she referred to us.

After social etiquette had been observed, Lord von Zarovich made a bit of a power-move, demonstrating that he already knew all about us, even as he played upon his aristocratic niceties to give us a "proper welcome" and "ask" for introductions. Which I think somehow ended up with us being potentially invited to Castle Ravenloft for some sort of private art/music show? Or at least Cassandra was. Everyone was very polite to his lordship, and Lord von Zarovich was (mostly) cordial in return, although it was quite clear we were being toyed with. He seemed to take particular delight in needling Avery.

Who, by the way, would lose everything he owns were he to take up gambling. He has absolutely no poker face at all.

I'm still uncertain why Lord von Zarovich would notice us in the first place. We befriended the woman he calls his "future wife", which is a whole separate matter that I intend to unpack another day, but he made it clear that we had his attention well before then. As I said, we're better than some but certainly not on par with any of the truly exceptional wizards and warriors of Faerun.

Lord von Zarovich intimated that he believes that we will "grow into something special". I'm concerned about what that might mean. I have an unsettling feeling that he's not looking to meet and influence potentially powerful allies but is more like a hunter waiting patiently for the season to begin so the bucks' horns are larger when ultimately our heads are hung on the wall. On the other hand, he did offer us a job, which Avery very graciously accepted on our behalf. So now, I suppose we'll be gathering information for Lord von Zarovich, as he doesn't seem the sort with whom one breaks their word. More on that later.

In another seemingly uncharacteristic act, his lordship asked the group if we felt that his attacks on the village of Barovia were too harsh. Pretty much everyone agreed that they were, but his retaliation makes sense. His lordship is a prince, the unquestioned ruler of this land, and he was questioned by some local rabble. There is zero surprise that he retaliated with lethal force to reinforce his position. It makes sense.

I still feel that it's a matter of perspective that was out of alignment. Like dealing with a dragon: a blink in their ageless life is potentially an eternity for mortals. A flick of an orc's wrist may cause the unintended maiming of a much smaller creature. For an ancient vampire lord, doing what needed to be done to ensure civil unrest was put down would likely be seen as too much, too harsh, too long by those not essentially immortal as well.

Or he's just a dick. That's possible, too. It's hard to say, but he did agree to stop the attacks on the village. Perhaps that was his "puff pastry"? A way of showing Ireena, "future wife" (still don't have the will to unpack that one yet) that there's more to him?

Damn, it's been a day for regretting life choices! I said, "Oh, let's try to make it to the crossroads before we camp. Oh, that will give us a clear view of several directions in case things sneak up on us. Oh!" Yeah. Ice that cake for the retirement party.

We made it to the Ivlis crossroads relatively unscathed, but it was a terrible place to try to make camp! Between the gallows and the cemetery, it was just a little too uninviting for our tastes. Cassandra seemed especially choked up about it. But before we could pack up our troubles and move on, a pack of puppers wolves came from the forest to gnaw on Moss and Allynia. And they brought their big brothers with them.

It was starting to look genuinely concerning, when a knight on a horse appeared, riding up from the southern fork in the road. He was incredibly helpful in fending off our attackers, and his magnificent steed made short work of several wolves by itself. After the last of the wolves were dispatched, our new friend introduced himself as Regis, a member of the Talons of Justice who had become trapped here. In order to help sad orphans, he's been working as a messenger-boy, running errands and odd jobs.

Paladins.

But Ireena seemed to think that was hot, so, good for her. That won't come back to bite any of us later. HAH! Pun about our impending deaths.

Regardless, we all agreed that it would be safer for us all to travel together, since we were all headed towards the Vistani camp.

Things We Know About Rudolph van Richten for Lord von Zarovich

Because Avery agreed to a contract without settling on a payment or consequences of failure. Unfortunately, as a group, we actually know very little about one of the most famous adventurers in Faerun. I'm not sure how this slipped through the cracks of our collective consciousness, but there it is.

Known: Famous adventurer, monster hunter, and author of many years from Faerun. Has written multiple books on the nature of monsters non-human beings and how to effectively track, evade, and overcome them. Has been missing for a few years, presumed dead, but obviously not because he somehow ended up in Barovia. Two years ago, disguised himself as a traveling scholar, Alanik, then befriended Burgomaster Indirovich, and through Ismark met the son of the local priest. Attempted to sway Doru AGAINST leading a rebellion on Castle Ravenloft, saying that Lord Zarovich was too powerful to take on. Went with Doru anyway when it was clear the boy couldn't be convinced otherwise.

Motivation: Rudolph van Richten does not seem to be a man who wants to make a name for himself. His actions don't speak of a man who is a sword for hire, killing evil for profit, nor do his books suggest someone making a living selling sensational works. Rather, he has led a methodical life, learning everything he can about a wide breadth of beings he deems "Evil". Then not only does he go about stamping out that evil, he has left step-by-step instructions for future generations to take up the mantle, as it were. Furthermore, he didn't balk at unsurmountable odds, saddling up to go after Doru, suggesting that van Richten has no intention of ever stopping in what he probably sees not just as his "work" or "career" but as some sort of "noble quest" or "higher purpose". He will regroup and continue coming until killed.

Locations: It is unlikely that he is using his own name or face. Doru described him as a middle-aged man with short dark hair, green eyes, a trimmed goatee, and the dignified air of a nobleman. I imagine he was wearing some form of disguise, as my understanding was that van Richten has been a monster hunter for many, many years. He shouldn't be a young man. A larger city would give him more cover to blend into, more places to hide and regroup. Anywhere with a large religious center may provide him an opportunity to search for allies. There was talk of an abbey to the west, which might be a possible location as well.

More as we learn about it!

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