Story Time Episode 2: Rose & Thorn
Disclaimer: The following narrative depicts events, characters and locations that feature in the 5th Edition Dungeons & Dragons campaign Curse of Strahd. Curse of Strahd is the property of © Wizards of the Coast 2016. Character depictions are a product of heroforge.com
The silence was broken by the howl of distant wolves.
"We should hurry before we become lunch" Deilis suggested, looking around the dark forest surrounding them.
The group moved further into the lands of Barovia with caution, keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings. An occasional howl of wolves would echo through the silent forest, or a distant cry of ravens. The air changed, became thicker and harder to breathe. It weighed heavy in their lungs, leaving a sour taste in their mouth.
Half an hour down the mud road, Pie-Ella stopped her pony in its tracks. "Look over there!" She tells the group, pointing to a shape in the mist just off from the path.
The group dismount, tying their horses roughly to the nearest tree. The tentatively made their way towards the shape, alert and at the ready. Before they see the shape through the mist, their noses confirmed what they found.
"The air is thick with death." Weepee says, looking towards the shape.
Sir Philip waved his arms, forcing away the swirling blanket of mist. The sight they are met with does not surprise them at all. A body not a week old, flesh torn and bones broken. Shredded remains of simple grey clothes and a satchel lie around him.
Sir Philip studied the body for a few moments. "Wolf attack. Dead maybe.. six days. Look at the bites - he was set upon by a pack. But they didn't eat him?"
"He was killed for the sport of it." Weepee stated, blocking his nose from the smell.
Deilis reached down and pulled the satchel from what remains of the body. The arm it was wrapped around twisted with a sickening crack as she wrenched it free. Inside were simple rations. Some form of soft cracker, a waterskin half full. What catches her eye is a letter, folded and stamped with a wax seal.
"Hey guys, check this out. This must be why he was out here. He's a courier." Deilis held the letter high for the rest of the party to see, before popping the seal and muttering "Let's see what was so important."
The letter read in a familiar way, but written with a heavier hand. The script was less flowing and decorative, the language different to what they had already seen.
"Kolyan again? But this message is telling people to stay out and contain this... Wait... Vampyr? No one said anything about a Vampyr..." Deilis trailed off, subconsciously moving her hand to her neck.
Sir Philip drew the first letter from his pack, holding it side by side to the new letter. "Something's not right. The writing is different. And see here, he refers to this "Ireena" as his beloved in the first letter, but as his adopted daughter in the second. These were not written by the same person."
Pie-Ella leaned over the two letters. "We were tricked. It's the only explanation. Whoever wrote this first letter brought us here under false pretense."
The silence of the woods was shattered by the howl of a wolf. Closer than it had been. Another howl echoed the first from the far side of the group.
"They're circling. We need to move." Weepee said quickly, hurrying his way back to the horses.
The howl was joined by more, piercing the dark evening sky. The party mounted and charged down the mud road at full gallop, putting the body and the pack behind them.
The group galloped at full speed until the gruesome scene and the howling wolves were far behind them. The forest began to thin around them, opening to a small township. The town resembled the land they were in, dead, abandoned, grey and worse for wear. The windows and some doors were barred, planks nailed over the broken glass and frames. They knocked on the doors of the first few buildings they reached but received no answer. After the fourth house, Pie-Ella, irritated by the lack of response, kicked the door down. The inside appeared worse than the out. Broken wooden furniture with soiled sheets draped over them. Every appearance of being abandoned.
"Well this place is cherry..." Deilis muttered, making visible effort to stay near the others.
The party made their way down the main street towards the center of the township and freeze. Standing in front of them were two children. Dressed in similar grey clothing, one trailing a small stuffed toy.
The elder child spoke. "Can you help us? There's a monster in our house and we're scared."
Weepee, the once child entertainer, responded first. "My dear children, there is nothing to fear. Weepee Herman is here."
With a flick of his wrist, me made glitter and sparkles flash through the air in an arch. The smaller of the children giggled slightly, before the elder spoke again.
"Please, the monster might get our mother and father! Please help us." Her voice seemed flat, in a monotonous drone.
Sir Philip stepped forward to the children. "We will help, for that is what we do. What are your names children? Where are your parents?"
The younger child clutched his stuffed toy closer to his chest, staring at the party in silence. The elder spoke for the third time. "I am Rose, this is my brother Thorn. We live just down the road, at the Durst manor house. Follow us!"
She takes Thorns hand and skips off down a side road towards a large house, the party in close pursuit.
The silence was broken by the howl of distant wolves.
"We should hurry before we become lunch" Deilis suggested, looking around the dark forest surrounding them.
The group moved further into the lands of Barovia with caution, keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings. An occasional howl of wolves would echo through the silent forest, or a distant cry of ravens. The air changed, became thicker and harder to breathe. It weighed heavy in their lungs, leaving a sour taste in their mouth.
Half an hour down the mud road, Pie-Ella stopped her pony in its tracks. "Look over there!" She tells the group, pointing to a shape in the mist just off from the path.
The group dismount, tying their horses roughly to the nearest tree. The tentatively made their way towards the shape, alert and at the ready. Before they see the shape through the mist, their noses confirmed what they found.
"The air is thick with death." Weepee says, looking towards the shape.
Sir Philip waved his arms, forcing away the swirling blanket of mist. The sight they are met with does not surprise them at all. A body not a week old, flesh torn and bones broken. Shredded remains of simple grey clothes and a satchel lie around him.
Sir Philip studied the body for a few moments. "Wolf attack. Dead maybe.. six days. Look at the bites - he was set upon by a pack. But they didn't eat him?"
"He was killed for the sport of it." Weepee stated, blocking his nose from the smell.
Deilis reached down and pulled the satchel from what remains of the body. The arm it was wrapped around twisted with a sickening crack as she wrenched it free. Inside were simple rations. Some form of soft cracker, a waterskin half full. What catches her eye is a letter, folded and stamped with a wax seal.
"Hey guys, check this out. This must be why he was out here. He's a courier." Deilis held the letter high for the rest of the party to see, before popping the seal and muttering "Let's see what was so important."
The letter read in a familiar way, but written with a heavier hand. The script was less flowing and decorative, the language different to what they had already seen.
Hail thee of might and valor,
I, the Burgomeister of Barovia, send you honor - with despair. My adopted daughter, the fair Ireena Kolyana, has been these past nights bitten by a vampyr. For over four hundred years, this creature has drained the life blood of my people. Now my dear Ireena languishes and dies from an unholy wound caused by this vile beast. He has become too powerful to conquer. So I say to you, give us up for dead and encircle this land with the symbols of good. Let holy men call upon their power that the devil may be contained within the walls of weeping Barovia. Leave our sorrows to our graves, and save the world from this evil fate of ours. There is much wealth entrapped in this community. Return for your reward after we are all departed for a better life.
Kolyan Indirovich
"Kolyan again? But this message is telling people to stay out and contain this... Wait... Vampyr? No one said anything about a Vampyr..." Deilis trailed off, subconsciously moving her hand to her neck.
Sir Philip drew the first letter from his pack, holding it side by side to the new letter. "Something's not right. The writing is different. And see here, he refers to this "Ireena" as his beloved in the first letter, but as his adopted daughter in the second. These were not written by the same person."
Pie-Ella leaned over the two letters. "We were tricked. It's the only explanation. Whoever wrote this first letter brought us here under false pretense."
The silence of the woods was shattered by the howl of a wolf. Closer than it had been. Another howl echoed the first from the far side of the group.
"They're circling. We need to move." Weepee said quickly, hurrying his way back to the horses.
The howl was joined by more, piercing the dark evening sky. The party mounted and charged down the mud road at full gallop, putting the body and the pack behind them.
The group galloped at full speed until the gruesome scene and the howling wolves were far behind them. The forest began to thin around them, opening to a small township. The town resembled the land they were in, dead, abandoned, grey and worse for wear. The windows and some doors were barred, planks nailed over the broken glass and frames. They knocked on the doors of the first few buildings they reached but received no answer. After the fourth house, Pie-Ella, irritated by the lack of response, kicked the door down. The inside appeared worse than the out. Broken wooden furniture with soiled sheets draped over them. Every appearance of being abandoned.
"Well this place is cherry..." Deilis muttered, making visible effort to stay near the others.
The party made their way down the main street towards the center of the township and freeze. Standing in front of them were two children. Dressed in similar grey clothing, one trailing a small stuffed toy.
Weepee, the once child entertainer, responded first. "My dear children, there is nothing to fear. Weepee Herman is here."
With a flick of his wrist, me made glitter and sparkles flash through the air in an arch. The smaller of the children giggled slightly, before the elder spoke again.
"Please, the monster might get our mother and father! Please help us." Her voice seemed flat, in a monotonous drone.
Sir Philip stepped forward to the children. "We will help, for that is what we do. What are your names children? Where are your parents?"
The younger child clutched his stuffed toy closer to his chest, staring at the party in silence. The elder spoke for the third time. "I am Rose, this is my brother Thorn. We live just down the road, at the Durst manor house. Follow us!"
She takes Thorns hand and skips off down a side road towards a large house, the party in close pursuit.
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