The Domains of Dread had not had a occasion like this for centuries. All the Dark Lords and their representatives had been summoned to Kalakeri for the funeral of their Dark Lord Ramya Vasavadan and her siblings Arijani and Reeva.

The Dark Lords were immortal and were only disposed of through assassination or treachery. Even stranger were that three dark nobles were killed and had their heads hidden behind dark veils. The ceremony was a somber and worrisome scene with the Dark Lords troubled with what this meant for their own domains.

After the ceremony, four invitations were sent by skeletal ravens to Aldric Vallon from Darkon, Doc and Tess from Borca, and Dymos from Kartakass. The party was surprised to find that not only were their Dark Lords in attendance but also other Dark Lords.

The following Dark Lords greeted them and asked them to sit:

• Ivana Boritsi and Ivan Dilisnya from Borca
• Azalin Rex from Darkon
• Saidra d’Honaire from Demenlieu
• Vladeska Drakov from Falkovnia
• Harkon Lukas from Kartakass
• Wilfred Godefroy from Mordent
• Ebonbane from Shadowlands

Azalin Rex shared with the party that they had been summoned due to the treachery that resulted in the death of a Dark Lord and her siblings. Azalin Rex further shared that the reason the corpses wore veils was because they had been decapitated and their skulls stolen. This insult even shocked the Dark Lords who ruled their domains with little compassion.

Azalin Rex informed the party that the Dark Lords suspected Strahd van Zarovich as being the one responsible. Upon hearing that, the party realized that Strahd was the only Dark Lord not present at the funeral. Azalin Rex informed the party that they have been chosen to go to Barovia, find evidence of Strahd’s guilt, and return the three skulls.

Tess asked the question everyone was thinking, “Why Me? Why not send more accomplished warriors?”

Azalin Rex informed them that they were chosen due to that exact reason. They would draw little attention and concern in their quest.

Azalin Rex then paused and shared the legend of Strahd:

“In life, Strahd von Zarovich was a count, a prince, a soldier, and a conqueror. After the death of his father, King Barov, Strahd waged long, bloody wars against his family’s enemies. He and his army cornered the last of these enemies in a remote mountain valley before slaying them all. Strahd named the valley Barovia, after his deceased father, and was so struck by its scenic beauty that he decided to settle there.

Queen Ravenovia lamented the death of Barov and was fearful of Strahd. War had made him cold and arrogant. She kept her younger son, Sergei, away from the battlefield. Strahd envied the love and attention his mother visited upon his brother, so in Barovia he remained. Peace made Strahd restless, and he began to feel like his best years were behind him. Unwilling to go the way of his father, Strahd studied magic and forged a pact with the Dark Powers of the Shadowfell in return for the promise of immortality.

Strahd scoured his conquered lands for wizards and artisans, brought them to the valley of Barovia, and commanded them to raise a castle to rival the magnificent fortresses of his ancestral homeland. Strahd named the castle Ravenloft, after his mother, to demonstrate his love for her. When it was complete, Strahd commanded his mother and brother to come to Barovia and stay with him. Sergei eventually took up residence at Ravenloft, but Ravenovia passed away while traveling to her namesake. In sorrowful disappointment, Strahd sealed his mother’s body in a crypt beneath the castle.

Strahd’s attention soon turned to Tatyana, a young Barovian woman of fine lineage and remarkable beauty. Strahd believed her to be a worthy bride, and he lavished Tatyana with gifts and attention. Despite Strahd’s efforts, she instead fell in love with the younger, warmer Sergei. Strahd’s pride prevented him from standing in the way of the young couple’s love until the day of Sergei and Tatyana’s wedding, when Strahd gazed into a mirror and realized he had been a fool. Strahd murdered Sergei and drank his blood, sealing the evil pact between Strahd and the Dark Powers. He then chased Sergei’s bride-to-be through the gardens, determined to make her accept and love him. Tatyana hurled herself off a castle balcony to escape Strahd’s pursuit, plunging to her death. Treacherous castle guards, seizing the opportunity to rid the world of Strahd forever, shot their master with arrows.

But Strahd did not die. The Dark Powers honored the pact they had made. The sky went black as Strahd turned on the guards, his eyes blazing red. He had become a vampire.

After slaughtering the guards, Strahd saw the faces of his father and mother in the thunderclouds, looking down upon him and judging him. He had destroyed the family bloodline and doomed all of Barovia. The castle and the valley were spirited away, locked in a demiplane surrounded on all sides by deadly fog. For Strahd and his people, there would be no escape.

Strahd has been the master of Ravenloft for centuries now. Although he feeds on the hapless souls of Barovia, they provide little nourishment and no comfort. From time to time, strangers from faraway lands are brought to his domain, to play the vampire’s game of cat-and-mouse. Strahd savors these moments, for though these strangers offer him no lands to conquer, they aren’t so easily destroyed and therefore provide a welcome diversion.“

Azalin Rex shared that they fear that this first murder is just the first Dark Lord of many that will be killed to entertain Strahd’s warped desires.

Azalin Rex gifted the party with a scroll of returning and bade them to think of two items to assist them on their journey. The party thought of the items and felt their baggage become heavier with the items.

With that, Azalin Rex waved a hand and the party felt themselves being sent to a far away land. Before they fully disappeared, Tess transformed into an mirror image of a Dark Lord resulting in a raised eyebrow and a smirk.

The party soon found themselves outside the town of Barovia. They walked forward and found two children outside of an old house. The children introduced themselves as Rose and Thorn and asked for the party’s help to find their parents in the house.

The party asked questions about where their parents were and why they wouldn’t just go look for their parents themselves. Rose and Thorn answered that they were scared and hadn’t seen their parents for a long time. Rose and Thorn again asked for their help.

The party walked up the stairs to enter the Death House.