After leaving the accursed Durst Manor, we travel warily further West on the Svalich Road. Unknowingly, this will take us to the small village of Barovia, with the great Castle Ravenloft looming in the distance from up high, the great turrets and towers barely discernible through the mists. Along the way, we do stumble across the body of a dead man bearing a note from the Burgomeister of the village we are approaching, begging for help for his dear daughter, whom the letter claimed had been targeted by a vampire and was now lying on her death bed…
Thus we arrived at this small village. The dirt roads packed hard, rutted and uneven. An unsettling silence bearing down, as this was not a place that gave of the feeling of being welcoming, nor even of much activity at all. Passing deeper into the heart of this place, we do eventually encounter some life. An elderly woman outside a store front with a small cart had a small line queued up in wait for her wares. Pies, as it turned out! Delicious and freshly bakes, our first signs of life in this place! The kindly woman offered our party a complimentary sample as a welcome to Barovia, and directed us to the Blood on the Vine tavern. Taking her up on her gracious offer, we entered the shop behind her, Bildrath’s Mercantile, and set off for the tavern in hopes for a peaceful night of rest!

Inside the tavern, we are taken aback by how lonely it feels, despite there being the barkeep and the three Vistani sisters that own the establishment. Upon our first visit, the only patron is a young man with a wearied and saddened expression, deep in his cup. That ever pervasive silence of the village seems to impose even here, as we quietly inquire about lodging and begin to attempt to process the events that have recently transpired.

The young man, realizing that we are not local to the area does, indeed, begin to perk up. A good natured fellow of sorts, he quickly warms up to our party and entreats us to share with him our journeys and tell him of the land “beyond the mists”. After sharing what stories our still reeling members are able to tell, we cautiously ask about this place we have come to, mentioning both the Durst Manor and the gentleman that greeted us outside.

Even more importantly to this young man, we mention the letter found upon the body of the dead man we had found mauled in the woods. He is quite concerned for, you see, the person we have met is Ismark Kolyanovich, and he is the son of none other than the one whose name the letter is penned in - Kolyan Indirovich. However, as Ismarck is much aggrieved to tell us, not only is this penmanship not compatible with that of his father’s, the Burgomeister has recently passed away. How? Well, that is the interesting part, isn’t it?
Ismark has a sister, you see, as it is true that the letter found does say the Burgomeister’s daughter is in danger. However, she is not on her deathbed! Yes, she has attracted the attention of a vampire that has charmed her into allowing a quick bit or two, but she is not suffering any true long-term effects, aside from psychological. After she refused to leave with this blood-sucking fiend, he sent creatures and monstrosities to constantly harass poor Ireena Kolyana, surrounding her home nightly. Her father, from the stress of it all, had his heart give out in fear and now rests in his coffin within their home, awaiting a burial.

Thus we set off for the manor, with the intent of escorting Ismark and his sister to the Barovia Village Church for a proper send off for their father, as none in town were brave enough to do so, all things considered. It was there that they met Father Donavich, a man with the weight of the world on his shoulders, surrounded by a church in utter disarray. It did not take long to discover the source of his remorse, as it was revealed his son, Doru, was now locked in the basement of the church as a VAMPIRE SPAWN after a foolish attempt to siege the Castle Ravenloft. In a sad situation made worse, he was put to rest, and Father Donavich has now lost his mind.

He did allow us to finish the burial services, where we realized there was, again, that tall and imposing figure watching the party during the process, or, more specifically, Ireena Kolyana. After his condolences and departure, we gathered back in the chapel to check on Father Donavich. During our good-byes, a desperate woman called “Mad Mary” came round calling out for help, her pleas alerting us to the fact her daughter, Gertruda, is still missing and she fears the worst! In addition to her daughter, the family dog, Merlin, is also missing. We left her there at the chapel and gathered again at the home of the Burgomeister, where Ismark begged us to take his sister as far away as possible, as the Castle looming in the distance emitted the eerie sensation of watching their home at all times.

After having her pack her bags, the party heads back to the Blue water Inn, intent on grabbing our supplies and heading out as quickly as possible. Not, of course, prior to a night’s worth of sleep! Upon entering the tavern, we find the main floor filled with strange adventurers, one of whom was sitting quietly by herself, hooded and wearing a scarf to fend off the mists and prying eyes. We offer them a chance to join the remnants of our party, and set off the next day further West down the Svalich Road, leaving this dismal village behind…