Talsil 17th
Goodbyes, Anubian Devices, Back to Barovia
The Dark Three said their goodbyes to Drelzna and made for the Planar Nexus. However it was not so easy as stepping through a portal, rather stepping through a portal into the bowels of the Underdark and entering an alien artifact about the size of a castle. A little investigative work revealed the nexus to be an Anubian device, akin to the jade Tesseract in the Wild, the one Diana had so much luck with…
Entering the device, they eventually found their ways the command console and Diana, thanks to Strangeheart, was able to diagnose this ship broken. It could no longer sail time, but could transport someone to any designated corner of Creation.
With a little luck, the sorceress successfully operated the nexus and The Dark Three were transported to the hills outside Barovia. Izzy, previously banished, fled into the Svalich Woods to find her mistress, while Diana and Renato went into town in search of Ashlyn. All the while the vampires felt strange, weak, ill, in the presence of the Sunsword's artificial daylight.
Izzy went off to experience the brutality and love only Mara could give, and she charged the slave princess with an important new mission for the betterment of the devil.
Diana and Renato found Ashlyn near Ignac's Bridge, now fashioned the Lady Raven, in charge not of the Lightbringers but the newly-formed Raven Knights. With the backing of the nation's burgomeisters, Ashlyn had successfully formed a sword and shield for the people and their representatives to count on. They'd severed all ties with The Children of Light, who continue their crusade against the Dark with surprising success, having cleansed miles upon miles surrounding their new headquarters: The Temple of the Wheel. Ashlyn and her order were actually in the midst of building their main keep around Barovia Village.
As luck would have it, Diana came to the right person first before announcing her presence to anyone else. It seemed as if strange persons were asking about the vampire with the purple gem in her belt across the mountains, what Ashlyn feared were members of the Kargat, the agents of the lich-king Azalin Rex of Darakaan!
Experience: 1600 xp each (48,858 total)
Operating the Planar Nexus, 4000
RP Bonus, 800
Magic: 3 rituals level 14 and under (Izzy), +2 magic weapon x 14 (Renato), +2 magic armor x 14 (Renato)
Coin: n/a
Loot: n/a
New NPCs
Zarephath the Guardian Star (mentioned): An aasimar [also known as deva or half-angel] left in charge of the Temple of the Wheel and by extension the Barovian Children of Light. Friend of Templar Giers, he hails from Etheria, and is rumored to be strikingly beautiful to behold, with a voice like the clarion trumpets of heaven itself.
Ferranifer Moross (mentioned): A powerful vampire necromancer and candidate for the position of Hecate's exarch. She founded the Bleak Academy in the ancient shadow city of Moil, but after its fall three hundred years ago has claimed asylum in Saspien. She maintains many connections with House Lorein, where she taught well into its decline, and keeps The Dim Triad as her personal guard.
The Dim Triad (mentioned): *ask Renato*
Azalin Rex the Lich-King (mentioned): The undead sovereign of Barovia's northern neighbor Darakaan, he is undeniably the most powerful wizard in all the Cadaveran Kingdoms. He was a hated enemy of Count Strahd von Zarovich, and remains an unknowable power looming just beyond the Balinoks. He commands the largest army in the realms, as well as an order of spies known as the Kargat.
Updated NPCs
Dame Ashlyn D'Flores the Lady Raven: Formerly the head of the Lightbringers, Ashlyn has severed all ties with The Children of Light and formed The Raven Knights to guard the village of Barovia. She's quickly become one of the most important figures in Barovia, the militant backing of the burgomeisters across the nation. Thus far she's managed to keep Barovia safe, and intends on expanding once her keep is built. More impressive, thus far she's managed to keep her integrity.
New Organizations
The Raven Knights: Formerly the Lightbringers, the knights have severed all ties with the more fundamentalist Children of Light and shifted away from a strictly religious order. They are led by Dame Ashlyn D'Flores, The Lady Raven to some, and are dedicated instead to the protection of the people and settlements across the nation, less on crusades against the Dark. Supported by Burgomeister Kolyana and the other village leaders across Barovia, they've begun inducting town militia and knights errant to their cause. They're working on a walled keep in Barovia Village to act as their headquarters. Their numbers consist mostly of humans, but also extend to several non-human races. Their symbol is a black raven on a bright yellow field, and hauberks and banners include crimson and navy to easily distinguish from the white-and-gold of their Kalindian counterparts.
The Kargat: Little is known of this cadre dedicated to the Lich-King Azalin Rex, save they are a dangerous group, some lycanthropes, others surely undead, acting as the Lord of Darakaan's eyes and ears. Their activities nearest Barovia seem aimed entirely at Diana.
Hooks
Hunted (Diana): The Kargat of Azalin Rex is seeking Diana, inquiring about the sorceress across the mountains and along the canyon trails. No doubt word of her adoption spread at least as far as nearby communities, but all the way to the lich-king's ears is uncertain. Azalin had always been an enemy of Count Strahd and by extension Ravenloft, and this could be simply an ill-timed coincidence. Worrisome too that Ashlyn continues to organize The Raven Knights, and The Children of Light cleanse the evils nearest them without signs of slowing. Yet it still begs to question, why Diana, and why do they so readily mention the purple gem?
Suffer the Children (The Dark Three): Diana begins her second major political foray in the lands of Barovia, attempting to position her and her allies in a place of power over the Children of Light, all the while keeping their hands 'clean'. It begins with a mole in The Temple of the Wheel, and potentially baiting Children into threats and violence. If both parties can work out their differences at the table, it would establish new zones of control and a lasting peace, but more likely the failed negotiations would give The Raven Knights, The Dark Three and Castle Ravenloft just cause enough to launch some sort of assault (likely because the Children would have launched their own). However with this grand level of manipulation, putting the relatively calm status quo in jeopardy, it's a wonder if everyone will see eye-to-eye with the young vampire. Is she willing to go against the wishes of some for the sake of all Barovia? Is that the duty of a future Countess?
Ferranifer Must Die (Izzy): Mara has given Izzy a new purpose, assassinating the witches of the worlds who might challenge the devil for the position of Hecate's exarch. Scrying each place Hecate's avatar, The Maindenmother Crone, visited, Mara was able to form a hit list which the two of them will manage. Izzy's first mark dwells in Saspien, the necromancer Ferannifer Moross, no easy kill but a necessary fatality if Mara is to achieve her destiny.
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