Curse of Strahd Part 15: The Puppetmaster and the Toymaker

Dearest Father,
I hope someday these letters reach you, hopefully hand-delivered in this journal by yours truly. In my search for Captain Frostclaw, I seemed to have stumbled into a far different land than I have ever heard of. Before you go off berating me for being unable to even read a map, this place is not on any map, nor is the culture like any society we have ever learned about. I doubt even Lanegan, your favorite son, would have been able to avoid a trip to this sullen land.
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This place is horrible Father, as if it were a land bent on bringing your worst nightmares to bear. I stumbled into an tavern called The Blue Water Inn. However, I have failed to see any blue water anywhere around in this desolate land. The inkeep took me in and I was able to secure some warm food for the first time in a couple of days, as Outrider rations were running low. He said he had some people I should talk to, and looked uneasy. I can’t imagine the people of this place could feel anything else given the environment, it seems fairly oppressive.

There is a woman who seems to be working with these companions by the name of Ireena. I am unsure of her purpose here or her intentions, she stayed behind at the inn while we took care of things around the city. Hopefully in the future I can better learn who she is and why she is here.
The group had business in the city and I tagged along to see if I could find out more information about where I was, and how I could find my way to Captain Xavier. While travelling with this group I learned I was in a place called Barovia, ruled by a vampire by the name of Strahd. It sounds as if defeating this monster is the only way out of here, and the only way to help our people. Maybe if I manage this, you’ll finally appreciate me for the man I am.

The altar boy (Yeska) had been interrogated by the groundskeeper (Millivoj) about the location of the bones.Millivoj, the poor man, had been offered a sum of money he would probably never see all at once in his lifetime by the coffin-maker (Henrik Van Der Voort) who had apparently needed the bones. The trail stopped at the coffin-maker, who apparently had been offered 1000 gold pieces to hide these bones for a while. How could someone who was a part of the town, take something so precious away from the people? A vile act of selfishness, done by a man corrupted by coin. Fuming at the cowardice displayed, I stormed upstairs in the coffin shop where the man hid the bones, followed by Ava and Driessa, while Vrice and Caecilius stayed to watch the shopkeeper.

We traded blows, Ava and Driessa throwing magic, Vrice, Caecilius, and I keeping the vampires at a distance and putting steel into flesh. A third vampire erupted from the boxes, but by now the energy of a fight was flowing through our blood. We destroyed them handily. Gathering the bones, we made our way down the stairs. There was a man waiting for us, cane in hand. It was Strahd, the vile being keeping us here and unable to return. He didn’t do anything, more as if a cat were to play with a mouse. I was a little intimidated, but I cannot let that show.

There was a man standing outside the inn, he had an arm that was aflame. This is an odd place. According to Caecilius, this man is the town bully and head of the guard. He was turning out a wandering troubadour, who had apparently overstayed his welcome. I felt for the performer, but he seemed to be in high spirits. This man, Izek with the Flaming Arm, told us our presence was requested by the mayor, or whatever title the same position held in this town. I do not know what the future holds Father, but I hope at the end of things you hold me in higher regard.
Your Son,
Weiland
-Written by Sean M
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