Through the Mists

Session 24: The Blue Water Inn

At a glance

Summary

The company woke to Lafing and Fling’s voices in Mordenkainen’s sanctuary. The restored archmage was in better spirits and prepared a lavish breakfast. He said Azalin Rex was originally from Oerth and had already been ancient history there. When the party discussed Barovia and the possibility that they were trapped, Siv remembered meeting Azalin: he said Azalin had transformed him into a mongrelman, repeatedly punished him for pleasure, and had saved Darkon so often that its people loved him.

Mordenkainen hosts Ignatius, Rage, Carver, Lafing, Fling, and Slippery Siv at a lavish breakfast in his magical mansion.

For one warm morning, Mordenkainen’s hidden mansion gave the travelers safety, food, and a chance to speak freely. View image record.

Lafing and Fling shared more of their past. They came from Dumandu, a port of revelry and dancing, and had led a merry band as entertainers before Azalin imprisoned them to study their love. Lafing said they had always been werefoxes, unlike Siv. He found Barovia’s forests comfortingly alive compared with Darkon, but warned the party not to travel them at night.

Mordenkainen said he had lived in hiding for four hundred years, unable to leave Barovia until now. He warned that Strahd would always be watching, urged the party to abandon its search for answers, and nevertheless gave them directions that could bring them to Vallaki by nightfall. He did not know how to preserve their memories if they returned to Darkon, though he believed the Book of Names and ancient Castle Avernus magic store and steal them. He promised to have his invisible hound watch for ravens if the party needed to contact him.

After farewells, the party left through the mansion portal. It became an ordinary stone wall behind them, leaving the company on its own in the Svalich Woods. They glimpsed an unidentified vampire in tattered clothing running across the forested plain and set Lafing and Fling to watch the perimeter.

Ignatius struggled to navigate. Lafing smelled cigars, and Hyskosa recognized nearby Vistani. A wolf-pelted bowman challenged the travelers while a second humanoid waited in the trees. Rage’s command did not take hold, but Ignatius and Carver persuaded the hunters that the party meant no harm; Carver showed the Barovia Mist talisman as they continued past.

Carver holds up a silver talisman while Ignatius and Rage peacefully face two wary hunters in the Svalich Woods.

The hunters’ bows stayed ready until Carver showed the talisman and the party made its peaceful intent clear. View image record.

The party eventually saw Vallaki across the lake and traveled around its western shore. A frightened group in tattered clothes recoiled after Rage punctuated their approach with a thunderclap. At a crossroads, signs pointed north to Krezk, east to Vallaki, and south to the Wizard of Wines; the party chose the eastern bridge and approached Vallaki by road.

On the bridge road, they encountered gray, almost colorless people who were alive and warm but seemed distant and incomplete. A more ordinary older traveler introduced himself as Ernst Larnack. He called some Barovians “blessed” and said others merely existed. He warned that Vallaki’s burgomaster believed his own lies and invited the party to name him at Lady Watcher’s House.

Ignatius reaches toward an ashen traveler as Rage and Carver watch on the road to Vallaki.

Ignatius found warmth in the ashen travelers, but little sign that they were fully present. View image record.

Inside Vallaki, a chapel stood before them and the streets held both ashen and ordinary-looking residents. Ignatius commanded a raven with his Keeper’s feather to alert the Keepers of the Feather that the party had arrived. The group heard reports of wolves and dire wolves continuing to attack people despite the work of hunters and trappers.

At the large Blue Water Inn, a serious middle-aged man with dark hair and a black-and-white beard greeted them with the word “nest.” Carver answered “feather,” and the man—Irwin—responded with the Corvid greeting. The exchange confirmed their shared allegiance to the Keepers. Hyskosa quietly warned Rage that vampires were nearby. Ravens watched from outside, and Irwin’s birdlike manner became noticeable as he led the party in and asked them to meet him downstairs later.

Irwin recognizes Carver at the Blue Water Inn while Hyskosa whispers a vampire warning to Rage and Ignatius watches.

The Blue Water Inn’s Keeper greeting came with Hyskosa’s warning that vampires were close. View image record.

There, the party saw a familiar and unsettling sight: an unnamed half-elf entertainer performed in the bar while Erasmus van Richten painted a spectral image of himself in his childhood room behind him.

Key events

  1. Mordenkainen explained what he knew of Azalin, Barovia, and Darkon’s stolen memories.
  2. Siv remembered Azalin transforming and tormenting him; Lafing and Fling revealed their history as entertainers from Dumandu.
  3. The party left Mordenkainen’s sanctuary and began for Vallaki.
  4. The party peacefully passed Vistani hunters and reached Vallaki by the eastern bridge.
  5. The party learned that many Barovians are ashen, distant people whom Ernst Larnack contrasted with the “blessed.”
  6. Ignatius sent a raven to alert the Keepers, and Irwin recognized the party at the Blue Water Inn.
  7. Hyskosa sensed nearby vampires, and Erasmus appeared behind a half-elf entertainer.

Decisions and consequences

  • The party continued its investigation. It declined Mordenkainen’s advice to leave Barovia and committed to seeking answers about Darkon.
  • The party chose Vallaki. They now have access to a Keepers contact, a possible Lady Watcher introduction, and reports of a growing wolf threat.
  • The party avoided a confrontation with the Vistani hunters. Their peaceful explanation and talisman allowed them to pass.

People

  • Mordenkainen: Offered counsel and an invisible-hound channel for contact, but urged the party to abandon its Barovian search.
  • Ernst Larnack: Invited the party to invoke his name at Lady Watcher’s House.
  • Irwin: Keeper contact and host at the Blue Water Inn.
  • Erasmus van Richten: Appeared painting behind an unnamed half-elf performer.

Places

  • Dumandu: Lafing and Fling’s home port, remembered for revelry and dancing.
  • Vallaki: The party’s first Barovian town, reached before nightfall.
  • Blue Water Inn: The Keepers’ apparent Vallaki contact point.

Clues, lore, and notable items

  • Mordenkainen said Azalin was from Oerth and ancient history there.
  • Siv remembers Azalin’s personal cruelty and Darkon’s former devotion to him.
  • Mordenkainen connected Darkon’s stolen memories to the Book of Names and Castle Avernus’s ancient magic.
  • Vallaki’s population appears divided between ashen, distant residents and people Ernst called “blessed.”
  • Wolves and dire wolves are reportedly attacking people around Vallaki.

Story threads

  • Advanced: The Stolen Memories of Darkon; Mordenkainen tied the theft to the Book of Names and Castle Avernus, while Siv’s memories of Azalin returned.
  • Advanced: The Keepers of the Feather; the party reached an apparent Vallaki safe contact in Irwin.
  • Opened: Vallaki’s wolf attacks and Hyskosa’s warning of nearby vampires.

Open questions

  • What does Lady Watcher want, and why did Ernst Larnack offer his name?
  • Who is the tattered vampire in the Svalich Woods?
  • What makes some Barovians “blessed” while others merely exist?
  • Why is Erasmus painting behind the half-elf entertainer?
  • Which vampires has Hyskosa sensed around the Blue Water Inn?

Next session

  • Immediate situation: The party is inside the Blue Water Inn, awaiting Irwin’s private conversation downstairs.
  • Likely goals: Meet the Vallaki Keepers, investigate the vampire warning and wolf attacks, and decide whether to seek Lady Watcher.

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