D&D 3.5 - Ravenloft

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Castle Lanark, New Lanark

Adelinde leaves morning mass and is given a letter by a young nervous priest. The letter is from her mother and asks her to join her in the gardens of Castle Lanark.

After a lengthy debate, Adelinde, her mother and Father Turner agree that a curse has descended upon the lands of New Lanark and it must be lifted. The clergy have decided that the Blade of Donncha; the sword wielded by the forefathers whom cut the lands out from evil, is to blame and it must be cleansed. Meeting with Samuel, the weapon master of House Donncha and Svetlana, a foreign gypsy girl hired as a guide, the trio head out towards the Donncha family tomb to retrieve the Blade of Donncha.

Inside is not all as it seems... yet nor is outside.

http://baatorian.ripz.org/Logs/Ravenloft%2001-12/Log%20-2011-12-29.html

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Nartok, Darkon

Stanislav watches the military parade to celebrate his fathers (and his companies) return to Nartok. They speak, things are a little withheld, but finally they depart his father home and Stanislav to hopefully better things.

On his way out of town, Stanislav crosses a man beaten a dog that he doesn't take too kindly too. Resolving the issue in the only way he believes can be, he heads across the plains towards his goal. After several rainy days, he looks upon the remains of a crumbled and abandoned old fort.

Abandoned?

http://baatorian.ripz.org/Logs/Ravenloft%2001-12/Log%20-2012-01-05.html

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Lowsofte, Unknown

Stanislav, despite his attempts to heal himself, stumbles in to a small hamlet called Lowsofte. A black man from Nova Vaasa called Jacob, a doctor by chance, catches him at the inn and helps with his fever, saving his life.

Several days later a young gypsy girl arrives and proclaims there are more injuried outside. Jacob, with the healed Stanislav, take inside Adelinde Donnach and Samuel Borge, both gravely injuried. After several days of care and attention Adelinde is back awake and mightily shocked at the sight of Jacob, a black man. Samuel however is still gravely ill and only the right medical equipment will save his life. Equipment not to be found in this small hamlet.

Adelinde is soon back in good condition under the care of the pair, although frankly Jacob is the far superior doctor, many times more experienced than the young Stanislav. The three find themselves in the inn sitting for dinner, when suddenly the local constables bust in to the bar, violently apprehend Jacob and accuse him of murder!

http://baatorian.ripz.org/Logs/Ravenloft%2001-12/Log%20-2012-01-07.html

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Lowsofte, Unknown

Adelinde and Stanislav meet a man whom introduces himself as Rivia of Barovia. They speak for a few minutes and he explains he's here in Lowsofte to look in to the disappearance of a comrade called Zin of Forlorn.

The duo depart and venture upon a dilapidated loggers cabin. As Stanislav checks the many tracks that Adelinde finds, they're attacked by a shadowy beast which causes panic amongst them. They defeat it however and whilst bagging the remains, Rivia appears from the mists to question their kill. They speak for a moment before agreeing to team up and head off north together to investigate a misty ruin.

At the ruin they're attacked by outnumbering forces. The highly skilled Rivia takes on many beasts but a mounted gunman arrives late in the battle to even things up.

http://baatorian.ripz.org/Logs/Ravenloft%2001-12/Log%20-2012-01-14.html

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Lowsofte, Unknown

Dominic waits poised in the old manor house as a ritual of some sorts plays out before him. Adelinde and Stanislav, having arrived at the estate decide to climb a wall and enter, unfortunately the Lady is not the most skilled of climbers and causes quite a racket, drawing the attention of two blue robed figures.

With the arrival of Judge Landerson and the constabulary, Adelinde and Stanislav are taken to the ritual under arrest. Meanwhile Dominic holds a silent blade to the back of a young blue robed girl trying to extract information about the ritual. At least until she tries to escape her captor.

As an expensive wrapping is drawn from a thirty foot tall object, eyes widen, Dominic decides what he must do and follows confusion, killing, chaos and a thing of nightmares, in that order.

http://baatorian.ripz.org/Logs/Ravenloft%2001-12/Log%20-2012-01-21.html

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Lowsofte, New Lanark?

Adelinde, awake early as usual finds a note slid under her door after she finishes prayer. The note is from Rivia and asking her to speak to him should she have time, she has and does. They speak for a bit and he asks Adelinde to join himself at the burnt manor house. She decides she had best armour up, yet with her broken left wrist requires help and Rivia is glad to aid her, giving her a sweet gift as he does.

The pair head up to the manor house and speak for a moment, before Adelinde notices something strangely familiar within the burnt ruins, she decides to keep it and Rivia offers her a proposal that she accept and soon enough Adelinde has fallen in to Rivia's arm. Yet minutes later she attempts to kill him!

http://baatorian.ripz.org/Logs/Ravenloft%2001-12/Log%20-2012-01-26.html

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Appleseed Manor, Falkovnia

The group leaves Lowsofte together, Rivia staying behind to finish taking care of business and heads south towards Falkovnia, hoping to at least be able to reach Lekar in time to save the dying Samuel.

After several nerve racking days through dark woods they cross a small farming community and discover that the only road south, which includes a bridge heading over white water rapids, has been blocked off by the Falkovnian military and highly warned away from by residents of the farmers and Stanislav himself.

They proceed to speak to the land owner, one Margaret Hedges and she allows them to stay, under her rules of course. Dominic is not convinced by the old lady act however and suspects her of being a witch, her and everyone else in the area.

http://baatorian.ripz.org/Logs/Ravenloft%2001-12/Log%20-2012-01-28.html

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Appleseed Manor, Falkovnia

A few hours after saving the negro from being hung, a small group of Redcoats turn up at the manor house led by one Second Lieutenant Hawkes of the Falkovnian military and government.

Turns out the man they saved from being hung was a Falkvonian spy and clearly heard Dominic telling Jackon that they knew about the rebels they were hiding.

Second Lieutenant Hawkes offers on behalf of the military and government to reward the group handsomely for their location, along with a pass across the bridge and through Falkovnia. The group feign ignorance of the rebels, which is sort of true, but Hawkes understands and they leave and drag Jackson away instead. Leave with Dominic.

Adelinde and Stanisav now decide it's their responsibility to locate and inform the rebels of what is likely an impending attack, they head to the barn that Adelinde saw Margaret heading to a couple of days earlier and being to poke around, until a female voice tells them to freeze and the firing pin of a flintlock clicks in to place.

War, huh! What is it good for?

http://baatorian.ripz.org/Logs/Ravenloft%2001-12/Log%20-2012-02-04.html

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Lekar, Falkovnia

The meeting finishes and everything is agreed and everyone begins on their way in preparations. As they do Adelinde heads upstairs to speak to the prisoner, Second Lieutenant Hawkes and offers him a two part deal to avoid executioner, a deal he's not happy with as an officer and soldier.

Eventually Stanislav, Abigail and Adelinde leave Applesteed Manor and start a two day journey east and north towards Lekar, none of them happy with what they see upon approach.

At arrival at the gate, Adelinde introduces herself to five Falkovnian Redcoats and they're told to wait. They sit, sweating in the heat, flies buzzing around them and surrounded by stench and wailing as one guard rushes off.

It looks grim and perhaps the end of their lives, were the rebels captured? Are they next? Then the guard that left reappears, with a figure from Adelinde's past.

http://baatorian.ripz.org/Logs/Ravenloft%2001-12/Log%20-2012-02-08.html

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Lekar, Falkovnia

The group gathers at the the nicest mercenary inn in the capital of Falkovnia and eventually begin to discuss what to do about the cathedral-come-military barracks. Soon though they're interrupted by the black man that Malachi believes could be a Falkovnian spy.

That evenings they all set off, under prepared and attempt to get in to the cathedral via the catacombs. By chance Stanislav stumbles across an old torch which helps greatly and soon enough they find themselves in the grand chapel.

Adelinde not caring for the condition of the water in the holy font, eventually gets it clean and blesses it, before lowering the Blade of Donncha in to the waters, despite Stanislav' concerns.

http://baatorian.ripz.org/Logs/Ravenloft%2001-12/Log%20-2012-02-18.html

[illumination]

Unknown Beach, Nightmare Lands.

Adelinde and Stanislav wander lost on a mysterious beach, using Stanislav's natural survival skills to remain alive. They come upon an unconscious man lying in odd circumstances and decide to help him.



Eventually he regains conciousness and tells them his name is Victor. He seems as brooding and mysterious as the land they are in so they press on now as a trio, not knowing much more about their new companion.

After several days travel the party ascend a cliff to discover a city, ruined by some unknown cataclysm in the distant past. Requiring shelter and supplies they enter to learn what they might. As darkness begins to fall they discover they are not exactly alone.

Boxed in and in a panic a bitter argument ensues among the group as to what next, they decide to try and fight their way out now and make a break for it...

http://mikey.fastmail.us/ravenloft250212.htm

[illumination]

Abandoned City, Nightmare Lands.

The party try to break through the mob which has them boxed in downstairs in the ruined bank, they are badly wounded in the struggle yet manage to make the street outside. More dark ones are out here prowling and all is looking very bleak until an unknown marksman comes to their rescue, firing down on the creatures from a nearby rooftop.



They make it to a fire escape and ascend to the rooftop, discovering their rescuer is none other than Malachi, which perhaps explains the lack of accuracy earlier.

Using some old survivors network of rudimentary bridges they make their escape across the rooftops of this ruined city. Badly wounded they stop for the night, holing up till dawn. Relations between the three companions and the bearded Victor continue to fail to get off to a good start as they hunker down.

Day breaks and the group escape the city, it being returned to normality. They discover equally deserted farmland and scavenge for supplies, living hand to mouth for more than a week as they avoid the infested urban areas. As hope begins to fade and the arguments resume about their next move they come upon some kind of barbed wire border, and somewhat reluctantly decide to see if they can flee this land...

http://mikey.fastmail.us/080312ravenloft.htm

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Unknown, Unknown

Adelinde remembers passing through the fence of the desolate plagued land, yet as she looks up she suddenly find herself in unfamiliar territory.

She walks for some time, stumbling through a giant and ancient woodland before smelling a campfire and a sweet food upon the air, upon approach she is cautious.

At the same time, a starving Abigail also finds the campfire and eyes it greedily, which one of them will move in first and why is a campfire sitting in the middle of the woods cooking a strong smelling root vegetable?

http://baatorian.ripz.org/Logs/Ravenloft%2001-12/Log%20-2012-03-11.html

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Unknown, Verbrek

Adelinde and Abigail are moved to a small clearing by the white stallion, the young boy still unconscious. Adelinde goes about putting together a makeshift bed and simple lean-to to cover the entrance of a small cave they intend to rest in whilst Abigail chews on beetles.

The next morning the young boy is awake and has the obvious questions directed at him, some of the replies Abigail isn't too fond of and the child falls silent at her accusations.

http://baatorian.ripz.org/Logs/Ravenloft%2001-12/Log%20-2012-03-14.html

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Temple of the Lost, Verbrek

Adelinde wakes in a make-shift camp besides an unconscious Abigail. Quickly her fears are relaxed as a familiar face from the past arrives back, yet it seems the young messiah is no where to be seen.

They travel for a day and cross a friendly mother and mute son whom are heading towards Mortigny to the north to trade their meagre crops for goods.

Adelinde is torn as the face from the past rides away to look for the young boy and his own student, not willing to leave Abigail with the strangers, even if they do seem friendly. Yet later that even she begins to have doubts as she converses with the middle-aged mother.

http://baatorian.ripz.org/Logs/Ravenloft%2001-12/Log%20-2012-03-24.html

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Wilderness, Verbrek

Adelinde and Rivia eventually leave the woods, before coming across the remains of the wagon. Adelinde fears the worst and stays back as Rivia searches the camp.

Thankfully they find Abigail alive, yet Adelinde has a greater cause for concern upon seeing her state.

http://baatorian.ripz.org/Logs/Ravenloft%2001-12/Log%20-2012-03-25.html

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Mortigny, Richemulot

Sitting in the late-morning sun outside the Stallion and Hare and overlooking the great river, Stanislav enjoys a spot of late breakfast with Doctor Rupert Bessel, the head of the local sanatorium.

As they're discussing the potential benefits and risks of their experiment in conjunction, Stanislav spots a thin and grim looking Adelinde stepping from the very inn they're sitting out front of and he's staying in.

As Adelinde sees Stanislav, she quickly moves to him and they embrace, more in relief than anything else, at least for Adelinde. Yet all is not well with the young knight and she expresses a deep concern for Abigail and speaks of indescribable things drawing a concerned look from Doctor Bessel.

Though the trio head upstairs to check upon Abigail's state, Adelinde convinced that something evil grows inside her.

http://baatorian.ripz.org/Logs/Ravenloft%2001-12/Log%20-2012-03-28.html

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Mortigny, Richemulot

Adelinde, Stanislav and Rivia head up the stairs of the fully furnished, but abandoned house and find Doctor Rupert Bessel, yet all doesn't seem particularly well with him, not even in the slightest. They leave quickly after conversing with him, lead out by Stanislav and once outside decide to head back to the Stallion and Hare to discuss what they've just witnessed.

They discuss for a while and it seems Pierre DuBruice, the man who had ordered the archaeological digging in Verbrek may be able to help them before they have to make a tough decision and Rivia goes to meet him. Mean while Stanislav and Adelinde sit and drink and discuss between themselves openly.

http://baatorian.ripz.org/Logs/Ravenloft%2001-12/Log%20-2012-04-04.html

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Mortigny, Richemulot

Adelinde sits with Rivia enjoying a small lunch, before Abigail walks down in to the bar starving hungry. They talk and the more Adelinde says, the more worried Abigail gets, between stuffing her face. Rivia has to leave so the two women head upstairs where Adelinde fully explains the situation to Abigail, which Abigail doesn't take too well, the unexpected pregnancy more than anything.

Stanislav finally arrives having recovered from his bad nights sleep and him and Adelinde are soon at it, as Adelinde now wishes to deal with the thing inside Doctor Bessel whilst Stanislav is concerned about his own safety.

They have to leave though and spend some time shopping and buying fabulous outfits, before returning to the inn, grooming up and heading to their appointment with Pierre DuBruice.

The restaurant is a small mansion and everything elaborate and dripping with opulence. They meet Pierre DuBruice and his assistant Catherine and discuss over a fantastic dinner. Yet when it comes to the crunch, Adelinde is none to happy with Pierre DuBruice's request for his help and the group soon find themselves leaving and the bickering again begins.

http://baatorian.ripz.org/Logs/Ravenloft%2001-12/Log%20-2012-04-07.html

[illumination]

Mordentshire, Mordent
Gusztav Ringling's Circus

The group travel towards the port seeking passage to Darkon and discover a charming circus is in town....



Victor bumps into Abigail and Adelinde and builds some bridges with Darkonian charm, free beer and cuddly toys. After Stanislav arrives some northern politics is discussed and the group are harmonious when they enter the big tent for the main show.

Midway through the performance, they realise something is terribly wrong. One of their number is on stage and seems to have been volunteered as target for some drunken knife throwing!

Old naughty Gustav then releases the lions from their cages and sets his Psycho troope of clowns on them.



There is plenty of bloodshed, and they escape, but why are lions afraid of little Abigail?

http://mikey.fastmail.us/ravenlof170412.htm

[illumination]

Blanquefort, Lamordia

On the journey north to Darkon their ship takes some damage in a summer cyclone and is forced to lay up in Blanquefort, Lamordia for repairs.

Victor having been injured in a shootout not long after their arrival is treated by a local Apothacary called Werner Lundgren. Seeing as he's so nice they ask him out to dinner, except the wandering dead are rude enough to spoil the evening ambiance.

http://mikey.fastmail.us/testone280412.htm

(Test/Taster/Trial Session for Jack/Werner, from Tangled Web)

[illumination]

Darkon

After their detour the Excelsior finally lands in Martica Bay, however in their absence a revolution seems to have taken place. The friends are interrogated by a representative of the people's committee and manage to avoid the guillotine for now.

They travel east towards the capital and encounter a trail of destruction wrought by the growing civil war, and encounter both good soldiers and bad. One enemy meets a particularly brutal and torturous end.

They reach II Aluk and to their relief see it remains in the King's hands, they are accomodated in the Castle Izborsk in the Baron's ward, and are invited to a masked ball. Much shameful debauchery follows as individuals succumb to temptations of the flesh.



http://baatorian.ripz.org/Logs/Ravenloft%2001-12/Log%20-2012-05-05.html

[illumination]

Darkon
The Revolutionary War, August/September 1801

(what follows is freely available information in the capital gleaned by the PC's over the next day or two, fresh from the rumour mill)

Following the revolt of Martira Bay in July 1801 an army was raised in central Darkon to put down the rebellion. Before it was ready to march west, Falkovnia took its chance to launch a shallow invasion of the south, advancing cautiously towards the town of Nartok and the forest of shadows.

Dealing with the rebellion in the provinces was put on hold as the weight of Darkon's might was turned south to deal with the invaders.

The forces lined up and clashed in woodland a few miles from the Falkovnian border in mid August. The result was a decided defeat as Vlad's well trained squares held the line, despite being outnumbered five to one.

What remains of the King's army now reinforces Nartok and from what you hear the front in the south has stabilised as both sides seem unable to achieve victory with what they have.

In the west all seems quiet from Martira bay, the rebellion either cant or wont seek to expand its influence soon. News filters in of atrocities committed mostly against aristocracy and land owners as the revolutionaries settle some very old scores.

The FDS Excelsior, armed with modern cannon shelled the town of Neblus at the end of August, and effectively cuts off access to the ocean for the Royalists. The Kings small navy and merchant shipping are no match for the vessel and it seems free to stalk the northern coastline at will.

The final piece of bad news to reach you is the apparent disloyalty of the Baron of Viaki, who declares 'In good conscience that he can no longer support the King' and calls for him to step down. It's obvious who the Baron thinks might be best qualified to take over...

Despite all that, life in the capital continues much as normal. Many people anticipate that with the autumn rains and winter on the way that the protagonists in this growing war will have to wait till spring before making their next moves. Word on the street is that the King is quite relaxed about things, much to the annoyance of his advisor's and panicking generals.

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Stanislav's Cottage, Darkon

Having spent sometime recovering from the party in II Aluk and a little time around the city, the group slightly outstay their welcome and decide to leave south towards Nartok and New Lanark.

The weather turns foul as the group nears upon Nartok and soaked to the skin, they're turned away from the closed city, the guards not taking any risks at all what with the Falkovnian army lurking close to their doorstep.

With little choice, the group push onwards towards Stanislav's cabin, yet with only half a burning torch, the journey through the almost pitch black woods does little to ease their nerves or rests their minds. By the time they reach the cottage, they're ready to dry down, relax and try to rest away the brewing storm.

Yet rest and relaxation is about as far away from the events to follow as could be.

http://baatorian.ripz.org/Logs/Ravenloft%2001-12/Log%20-2012-05-09.html

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Stanislav's Cottage, Darkon to Lowsofte, New Lanark

The group wake up in mixed conditions the morning after the attack. Stanislav hasn't recovered very well and is very poorly and Adelinde seems almost drunk, claiming she had been poisoned. Eventually the unconscious woman makes an appearence.

Seems her name is Marie of Mordent and she happened to be Stanislav's half-sister. She also informs that apparently the assailants from the night before are part of something called the Hands of Fate and work for a mysterious figure referred to as Him.

Eventually they part company and head south towards New Lanark, finally reaching a sign post pointing to Lowsofte, they agree to remain in each others company and travel south. As they do, they enter the old misty lands to find them clean and clear of the thick mists, everything seems much happier and nicer and Lilya runs through the fields happily chasing sticks thrown by Abigail.

Until the yapping stops, only to be replaced with a pained whining.

http://baatorian.ripz.org/Logs/Ravenloft%2001-12/Log%20-2012-05-13.html

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