101a: Onslaught

Biosh 4th
ringing the dinner bell

-

Experience: 2300 xp (92,180 total)
Crawler Pits 10,600
RP Bonus 3200

Afflictions

• Kiri-Raina, Corpsemilk Curdling (stage 1: nausea, rancid taste in mouth, -2 to Endurance checks and saves against poison and disease); Crudlash Seepage (stage 1: irritable bowels, diarrhea, rancid smell giving -2 penalty to social skill checks for you and allies in aura 2).

• Rogar, Crudlash Seepage (stage 1: irritable bowels, diarrhea, rancid smell giving -2 penalty to social skill checks for you and allies in aura 2); Tears of Methsula (stage 1: painful red rash, suffer an additional 1 damage whenever you take damage from an attack)

New NPCs
Leyra: Coura's twin sister, another dryad priestess of Tez, largely intact but infected by a plant-eating bacteria. Wrapped in a cloak and protected by the party during the dungeon onslaught.

Objectives
> survive the onslaught
> find the missing fey: Nalua
> recover the head of Nidhogg Nagar
> heal Glasir

Next Session
102a: Clear the dungeon in one decisive battle and forge ahead to Nidhogg's lair in the withered heart of the elder yew.

98b: Strahd Lives!

Patarm 3rd (night)
return of a Darklord

-

Experience: 1600 xp (103,005 total)
A Worth Sacrifice, 1600
RP Bonus, 3200

New NPCs
Rukk Littovir: Mayor of the Nova Vaasan refugees, who came to Renato seeking permission to settle in his lands. He agreed in return for fealty, which he gladly offered.

Seet-Moku: A sneaky, little Kenku that nearly got the jump on Renato walking the forests. He took the Darklord to the Crickclaw village, and later agreed to be one of the assassin's scouts in Nova Vaasa.

Orutow: The old, scarred Kenku chieftain of the Crickclaw and a shaman of Pazuzu. He brought his exiled flock to the Vale solely because of his master's favor of Renato, assuring the bird he would be welcomed and well-aided. Pazuzu, or what they call The Great Shadow in the Sky, proved to be correct.

Returning NPCs
Mina (dead): The loyal friend of the Dark Three gave her life fighting off Strahd, and enduring far longer than even the count suspected, while Thedra, Isabella, Diana and Sleria made their escape. She was eventually flung from the highest parapets of Castle Ravenloft in a death much the same as Strahd's beloved Tatyana, whom Mina conjured forth in a stirringly-lifelike illusion.

Thedra Aranax: One the resident necromancer of Castle Ravenloft, she betrayed Strahd during his defeat five years ago, then again with the onset of his restoration by channeling the shade of Azalin Rex. Worse, she betrayed Diana, forfeiting information and a lock of her hair to the Lich King- now revealed to be Christopher Blackwing. She fled during Mina's battle to haunts unknown, certainly outside the castle.

Count Strahd von Zarovich: Returned, and more powerful than ever before, through a series of events uncertain but not surprising to the Dark Three. Again the undisputed master of Castle Ravenloft, it remains to be seen whether or not he is an immediate friend or foe to the people. With the coming of Darakaani forces, it may be in everyone's best interests to 'play nice'. Renato seems to think so, having formally aligned with the fellow Darklord.

Next Session
99b: After a week's respite in Assassin's Vale, the Dark Three are equipped and ready to continue their business in Saspien: closing the five remaining Shadow Doors, meeting with the Cult of the Phoenix, and making alliances with the remaining six sects of the Church of Delights.

100a: Rejuvenation

Biosh 4th
recovering two of the missing

-

Experience: 2066 xp (89,880 total)
Oracular Spectacular, 6800
+ inspiring and freeing dryads, 1600
Intestinal Corridor, 800 (healthy x 4)
RP Bonus, 3200

Personal Resources
treasure, acquired from the puckered flesh of the norn's abdomen and the many tangled limbs of the oracular dryads: Essence of the Wisp (21 Uncommon, an enduring ball of light literally extracted from the norn), Antivenom (level 21 Uncommon, in narrow lime vials like tulip stems) x 2

coin: 23 pp, 497 gp, 26 sp, 40 cp + 1 flat, pentagonal jacinth (5000 gp)

Afflictions

• Kiri-Raina, Corpsemilk Curdling (stage 1: nausea, rancid taste in mouth, -2 to Endurance checks and saves against poison and disease); Crudlash Seepage (stage 1: irritable bowels, diarrhea, rancid smell giving -2 penalty to social skill checks for you and allies in aura 2).
  
• Rogar, Corpsemilk Curdling (stage 1: nausea, rancid taste in mouth, -2 to Endurance checks and saves against poison and disease); Crudlash Seepage (stage 1: irritable bowels, diarrhea, rancid smell giving -2 penalty to social skill checks for you and allies in aura 2).

New NPCs
Ratat: A tiny red squirrel with the ability to talk, who acted as guide for the lost fey before getting lost himself; moved by Coura's resurrection, he vowed to help the group however he could

Coura: A young dryad priestess of Tez who was in the final stages of digestion by Nastrond itself before the party dragged her from the muck. Tyvis' was able to inspire new life within her, an act which made her a loyal disciple for as long as the party would have her. She's currently mounted to Auro's back, interlinked with her fey armor.

Current Objectives
> locate the missing fey: Nalua, Leyra
> destroy Nidhogg Nagar
> save and/or heal Glasir

Next Session
101a: Destroy the infestation in the acid pits! Rescue the dryad Leyra (hopefully in better straights than her sister was) and finish the trek to Nidhogg (encountering Mommy along the way, no doubt).

99a: Shudder

Biosh 4th
new depravity

-

Experience: 800 xp each (87,814 total)
'Choosing the Safer Path', 1600
RP Bonus, 3200

Personal Resources
treasure: pending...
coin: pending...
loot: pending...

Afflictions

• Featherwing, Buildermite Agony (fatal, returned to Eglantine for treatment)
• Arinew, Nastrondian Fever (stage 1: fever and chills, lose a healing surge until cured)
• Kiri-Raina, Corpsemilk Curdling (stage 1: nausea, rancid taste in mouth, -2 to Endurance checks and saves against poison and disease.)
• Rogar, Corpsemilk Curdling (stage 1: nausea, rancid taste in mouth, -2 to Endurance checks and saves against poison and disease.)

New NPCs
The Glasir Norn: Once a stunning dryad with prophetic powers bound to the silver yew Glasir, now a crooked, towering crone corrupted into a firefly like monstrosity that steals light and drowns sound.

Current Objectives
> locate the missing fey: Nalua, Coura, Leyra, the fey guide
> destroy Nidhogg Nagar
> save and/or heal Glasir

Next Session
100a: Happy 100! Now do try and survive to 101...

97b: Revelations

Patarm 3rd (late afternoon)
sudden surprises

-

Experience: 2400 xp each (101,405 total)
Scaring Away the Brides, 6400
RP Bonus, 3200

Personal Resources
coin: - 50gp Sending (Isabella)

Worldly Resources
The vaults beneath the rubble of Barovia's old night temple have been excavated, yielding a sizable sum that might be dedicated to more worldly pursuits.
coin: 300,000 gp; - 5,000 gp for twenty casks of fine blood wine (Renato)

New NPCs
Hegretcha Zol: The hideous and towering Vistani wise woman of the Assassins' Vale troupe, well-connected informant and merchant spy. Now has an arrangement with Renato.

Returning NPCs
Kaern Resplendent
Mara Resplendent
Targal Danred
Tome of the Vale

Current Objectives
Girls
> discover the status of Countess Angelique von Zarovich
> meet with Thedra Aranax
> learn more about Azalin Rex and the potential connection to C. Blackwing

Renato
> continue duties as Darklord of the Vale

Next Session
98b: The girls make their way to Castle Ravenloft's higher lurks, while Renato lays the groundwork for his new domain.

98a: Squirm

Biosh 4th
Nastrond's vile expanses

-

Experience: 2000 xp (87,014 total)
Buildermite Nest, 8800
RP bonus, 3200

Personal Resources
treasure: periapt of proof against poison (looking like a malachite skull with a spider crawling out of the mouth and fastened to a cord of black, braided leather, level 20 uncommon), Buildermite Mucus Sacs x 4 (Sovereign Glue, level 18 uncommon)

coin: 74 pp, 393 gp, 61 sp, 90 cp

loot: nothing more than rags and scrap from a collection of dryad priestesses and druids...

Afflictions
Featherwing, Buildermite Agony (fatal, returned to Eglantine for treatment)
Arinew, Nidhoggian Fever (stage 1: lose a healing surge until cured)

Active Quests
The Lost Party
The high priestess of Tez and three companions were driven to complete the prince's task for him and brave Nastrond, an act of certain suicide. It is up to the Saviors to rescue them before it's too late.

Among them are:
> Priestess Nalua (went toward the light, now bound in darkness; party on her trail)
> Coura
> Leyra
> Fey Guide

Nidhogg's Head
The malign Gnaw lurks somewhere in Nastrond, pitting its will and minions against the Saviors. It accepted Arinew's angry challenge with wet appetite. Its ultimate defeat will save Glasir (and with it the symbiotic green fey) and perhaps earn Arinew enough standing to command Eglantine's loyalty.

Next Session
99a: The Saviors continue their search for the lost party, pressing for a final confrontation with Malice Striker in the wretchedness of its own lair.

96b: The Line Drawn Here

Patarm 3rd
the humbling of Malcanthet

-

Experience: 6000 each (99,005 total; LEVEL UP 18)
defeating Malcanthet's Aspect, 12,000

Personal Resources
treasure: n/a
coin: n/a
loot: platinum bracers set with onyx and ruby (10,000 gp), diamond teardrop pendent (5,000 gp), red gold ankle bracelet with ivory charms (5,000 gp).

New NPCs
Aspect of Malcanthet (dead): The eight-foot tall devil woman, with cloven hooves, bat wings, scorpion tail and horns, the color of a rose withered on the vine, black of hair, eyes, lips and nails, tried crushing Renato for his backing out on their deal. Instead he slew her! Belesana, being her vessel, was killed and The Queen of the Succubi suffered a major blow to her pride. She cursed them as dealbreakers and promised her revenge.

Returning NPCs
Belesana (dead)
Malcanthet
Mara
Kaern
Targal

New Hooks
Dealbreakers: Malcanthet cursed Renato and Diana as dealbreakers. What exactly does that entail?

Next Session
97b: Renato and Diana will have their hands full sorting out Isabella's resurrection, Mara's apparent purification, the return of Kaern and Targal, and whatever else the return trip to the Assassins' Vale might bring after nearly 2 weeks (13 in-game days).