The party decided to seek out the whether the town of Barovia had an inn that they could seek out lodging from. They made their way to the centre of the town and found the Blood of the Vine Tavern. They made their way inside and found the Inn empty except for a the bartender and a group of three hooded figures around a table.

The bartender introduced himself as Arik Lorensk and asked if he could assist the party. The party ordered some food and drinks and inquired about the group in the corner. Arik shared that they were the Vistani owners who frequently visited to make sure everyone pays their bills.

Seeing that the party did not seem to be familiar with the Vistani, Arik shared the following information about the Vistani:

• The Vistani are wanderers, traveling about in horse-drawn, barrel-topped wagons, which they build themselves. Compared to Barovians, they are flamboyant, dressing in bright clothes and laughing often.
• Vistani are silversmiths, coppersmiths, haberdashers, cooks, weavers, musicians, entertainers, storytellers, toolmakers, and horse traders. They also earn money by telling fortunes and selling information. They spend whatever they earn to support a lavish lifestyle, display their wealth openly as a sign of prosperity, and share their good fortune with family and friends.
• Legend has it that during one of Strahd’s military campaigns, years before he became a vampire, a group of Vistani rescued him after he was wounded in battle. These Vistani not only nursed Strahd back to health but also delivered him safely home. As a reward for their generosity, Strahd declared that all Vistani had the right to come and go from his land as they please, and this privilege extends to the present day.
• Strahd honors his debt to the Vistani in part because he envies the Vistani way of life—the freedom they have to go where they please, their devotion to family, and their festive spirit. The courtesy he shows them is not simply a matter of honor but is also born from his admiration of them.
• Vistani claim to have potions that allow people to leave Barovia, but he has never known anyone to leave.
• He knows of Vistani camps at Tser Falls and just outside the town of Vallaki.

The party thanked him and settled down to enjoy their food and drink. They sent drinks over to the Vistani and it was gratefully received. Dymos sent his rat over to eavesdrop on the Vistani but heard only small talk.

Suddenly, a tall blonde man entered and sat down by the the bar. He was seen talking to Arik who gestured in the direction of the party. Soon the tall blonde man walked over with two bottles of wine and sat down with the adventurers. He introduced himself as Ismark and informed the party that he had a job that he would like the party to take on.

Ismark mentioned that he fears his sister has come under the spell of Count Strahd recently and that he would like the party to take her to the town of Vallaki. He shared that he fears she has been bitten twice and is afraid that a third bite will result in losing her to Count Strahd forever. Ismark offered a credit of 200 gold pieces each at the mercantile next door and 100 gold pieces each for the job.

The party agreed and headed next door to Bildrath’s Mercantile to shop. They each bought various items from Bildrath and his simple nephew Perriwinkle. The party returned to the inn to rest before seeking out Iryna tomorrow at the Burgomeister’s Mansion.

The party awoke and went downstairs to have breakfast to find Ismark waiting for them. They quickly set off to the Burgomeister’s mansion. Dymos had his rat steal a piece of pork which resulted in a stern warning from the Vistani.

The party left and made their way to the mansion. They passed by a house with endless wailing coming from the inside. Ismark shared that this was Mad Mary’s house and she has wailed for months ever since her daughter disappeared. The party briefly visited her and saw her clutching her daughter’s doll in sorrow. The party asked to see the doll and found that it was a old soft doll with the label:

“Is no Blinsky, is no fun!”

The party returned the doll to Mad Mary and moved on after seeing that there was nothing else they could do.

The party approached the mansion and saw a weary-looking mansion squatting behind a rusting iron fence. The iron gates were twisted and torn. The right gate lies cast aside, while the left swings lazily in the wind. The stuttering squeal and clang of the gate repeats with mindless precision. Weeds choke the grounds and press with menace upon the house itself. Yet, against the walls, the growth has been tramped down to create a path all about the domain. Heavy claw markings have stripped the once-beautiful finish of the walls. Great black marks tell of the fires that have assailed the mansion. Not a pane nor a shard of glass stands in any window. All the windows are barred with planks, each one marked with stains of evil omen.

Ismark approached and knocked on the door. Iryna let them in once she saw Ismark. Iryna told the tale of the mansion being attacked by werewolves for two nights and the Burgomeister dying of a heart attack during the attack. The pasrty noticed that the Burgomeister was lying in repose in a corner of the room surrounded by flowers. Aldrick used his lantern to confirm that this indeed is how the Burgomeister died.

Ismark informed Iryna that the party was here to take her to Vallaki. She relunctantly agreed but only with they could take the burgomeister to the chapel to give him last rites.

The party was concerned about being able to transport to Burgomeister to the chapel, but eventually agreed once Iryna mentioned that a cart was available.

As they left the mansion, Tess looked back and noticed that Iryna was perhaps the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. She shuddered and sighed.

They set out for the chapel and didn’t encounter a single soul on their journey. Atop a slight rise, against the roots of the pillar stone that supports Castle Ravenloft, stood a gray, sagging edifice of stone and wood. This church has obviously weathered the assaults of evil for centuries on end and is worn and weary. A bell tower rose toward the back, and flickering light shines through holes in the shingled roof. The rafters strain feebly against their load.

Before they entered the chapel, Dymos quickly ran around the chapel and rolled himself in the dirt for some unknown reason. Dymos returned to the front of the chapel and the party approached the doors.

The heavy wooden doors of the church were covered with claw marks and scarred by fire. The party opened the doors to reveal a ten-foot-wide, twenty-foot-long hall leading to a brightly lit chapel. The hall was unlit and reeked of mildew. Four doors, two on each side of the hall, lead to adjacent chambers.

The chapel is strewn with debris, and the party heard a soft voice from within reciting a prayer. Suddenly, the prayer is blotted out by an inhuman scream that rises up from beneath the wooden floor.

The chapel is a shambles, with overturned and broken pews littering the dusty floor. Dozens of candles mounted in candlesticks and candelabras light every dusty corner in a fervent attempt to rid the chapel of shadows. At the far end of the church sits a claw-scarred altar, behind which kneels a priest in soiled vestments. Next to him hangs a long, thick rope that stretches up into the bell tower.

From beneath the chapel floor, the party heard a young man’s voice cry out, “Father! I’m starving!”

The party continued forward and saw Father Donavich reciting prayers in the chapel. Father Donavich recognizes Iryna and welcomes the party. Father Donavich shares that a little more than a year ago, his twenty-year-old son Doru and several other villagers stormed Castle Ravenloft in revolt, having been lured there by a wizard in black robes who came to Barovia from a faraway land. By all accounts, the wizard died by Strahd’s hand, and so too did Doru, who returned to his father as a vampire spawn. Donavich was able to trap his son in the church’s undercroft, where he remains to this day.

Father Donavich has been praying ever since for a miracle to save his son. Iryna asks Father Donavich to perform the last rites for the Burgomeister which he agrees.

Father Donavich asks the party to bring the Burgomeister out to the back and performs the last rites.

The party implores Father Donovich to let them release Doru from his eternal torture. Eventually the father agrees and the party request that he go back to the Inn and wait for them there. Father Donavich leaves with Iryna and Ismark but not before he shared with the party that Iryna Kolyana isn’t the natural daughter of Kolyan Indirovich. Although Iryna never knew, Kolyan found her at the edge of the Svalich Woods near the Pillarstone of Ravenloft. She was but a girl then and seemed to have no memory of her past. Kolyan adopted her and loved her dearly.

Father Donavich says that he doesn’t know why this is important, but he feels that it is.

Father Donavich showed the party where the trap door to the basement was before he left with Ismark and Iryna.

The party was able to open the trap door and provide mercy to Doru below after they confirmed he was indeed a Vampire Spawn.

On the way back to the Inn, the party encountered an old woman selling Dream Pastries. Morgantha offered 10 dream pastries for 1 gold piece which everyone but Doc purchased.

Dymos quickly downed three dream pastries and fell into a deep trance. Morgantha explained that the pastries take you to your most pleasurable place. Morgantha could see that they party were new to Barovia and offered to share her wisdom:

• There’s a Vistani camp to the west, on the shores of Tser Pool, and another on the outskirts of Vallaki. Be careful and wary about trusting the Vallaki.
• Strahd has other undead enemies in Barovia, namely the fallen knights of the Order of the Silver Dragon at Argynvostholdt. Be wary of their word and help.
• Strahd’s most carefully guarded secret is a temple of forbidden lore hidden in the mountains. The temple can be reached by following the long and winding Tsolenka Pass. Immense treasure awaits there for those that have no fear or common sense.

The party thanked her and picked up Dymos to carry him to the Inn. As they left they heard Morgantha discussing alternate forms of payment with a villager who had no coin to pay their debt.

The party reached the Inn and greeted Ismark , Iryna, and Father Donavich. They informed the father that the deed was done and for some reason told Father Donavich that the last thing Doru said was that he loved his father. A kind lie, but a lie nonetheless.

Father Donavich shared what he knew of Strahd and Barovia as he recognized that they were innocent in the ways of Baorvia:

Only ~10% of Barovians have souls. Count Strahd only gets sustenance from people with souls. All Vistani seem to have souls. Any newborn who has a soul has received a reincarnated soul. No new souls are created.

About ~90% of Barovians have no souls and are created by Strahd’s domain. They are emotionally muted, drab, compliant. They cannot leave Barovia. People with souls laugh, sing, cry, and taste food.

They all retired for the evening before they set out the next morning.