02/04/2026: The Temple and the Tavern

In his creaky voice, the lich Exethanter continues into the shocked silence of the temple. “I will arrange for you to receiveThe Ritual of Permanent Banishment. In exchange, you will restore the essence of Fekre, Goddess of Poxes, to her amber prison.” 

Bayleaf, Rakthe, and Komzin exchange concerned looks. “Why should we make a deal with a lich?” queries Bayleaf.

“You will,” Exethanter snaps at the paladin, “if you wish to possess the ritual. Now, I am going to take a much overdue rest. Keep down the noise.” The rickety Exethanter creeps across the amber floor, shuffling like an old man. He slams the door, leaving the three and Neferon in the Great Library.

The arcanaloth tells them, “You are in the most dangerous of dangerous places in the land of Barovia. And you have been tasked with a dangerous job. I cannot assist, but I can give guidance. I can be found in my apartment, at the top of the guardian statue in the Great Hall. He bows very low, his backward bending knees nearly allow his pointed snout to brush the polished floor. Neferon opens a door in the south wall and descends into the darkness. 

The group discuss which way to get to the lower level of the Temple: to use the circular stairs to descend or to follow Neferon. Electing to avoid the arcanaloth, return down the stairs to the three standing stone. 

The hum of arcane energy fills the gloomy space. Each of the faces of the stones has a symbol etched upon it: a castle, a temple, a set of wavey lines that might be water.

In between two of the stones, part of the wall has fractured, creating a space wide enough for any of the comrades to slip through. As Komzin begins slipping through the crack, he freezes. In the space ahead, he has spied an enormous figure, made out of amber.

An echoing wail rips through the blunted silence. “No! You cannot abandon me! I am your most devoted follower!”

The scream jolts Bayleaf and Rakthe. Rakthe quips “Do you think that  could have anything to do with Fekre?” Bayleaf snorts derisively in response. 

Komzin’s head whips back toward them as he withdraws from the jagged tunnel. Behind him, the booming sound of heavy footsteps approaches. An orange arm as wide as Bayleaf’s waist reaches through the space Komzin has only just vacated. A vast saffron colored face forces itself towards them, and bellows. The noise is deafening make echoes throughout the space. 

Rakthe gasps, “That looks like a golem, but made of amber!”

Komzin nods, “It must be guarding those stacks of coins. Maybe a treasury? Platinum, or maybe silver coins.”

”Did you see what was in its mouth?” Bayleaf whispers.

Komzin and Rakthe stare at the paladin. “A scroll, sealed and ribboned. It may contain the spell that is the source of magical life force for the golem!”

”Does anyone have a spell…Mage Hand? Maybe we can disable it.”

No one does. 

The creature batters itself against the broken out wall, and bits from the ceiling begin coming down. Rakthe fires an arrow, then plucks one of the books from their pack and hurls it. The text arcs gracefully and lands squarely in the mouth of the bawling golem. The creature withdraws and paws savagely at its mouth.  

Rakthe bolts through the tunnel aiming for the door just beyond the golem. They desperately hope that the door is unlocked. Unluckily, the golem’s pistoling arm slams the barbarian, dealing a devastating blow. Reaching the door, they pull it open and slams it behind the self. They can hear the pounding, heavy feet of the perusing golem. 

The creature must stop just before the door. The sound ceases. 

“I didn’t know you were going to try to come in through the treasury,” Neferon stands at the foot of an enormous statue. He holds an open book, looking at them quizzically. 

They discovered that Fekre's location was unknown but her signature evil was detected in the northwest corner of the cell block, prompting Bayleaf to suggest investigating there first. 

⚔

Despite there being many more hours to soak the grains, Torgen begins teaching Duster about brewing in the cellar of the Blood on the Vine tavern. Surprising both of them, Duster learns quite a bit. 

As Torgen imparts information, he notices the key in the door to the office. The office no one is supposed to enter. Sorvia has not re-locked the door when she came down to help him earlier. He casts his eyes at Duster, trying to keep his face from showing his worry.

The dwarf invents an excuse to go up to the bar and alert Sorvia. The pair climb the stairs and Torgen whispers his important message to the Vistana woman. Her eyes widen and she slips from her stool. When she returns, she nods, gratefully, at her brewer.

The new Burgomaster, Bildrath, bangs in to the tavern. He snarls a demand for food and wine at Pariwimple, who is following in his wake. The giant cowers under his uncle’s foul mood.

⚔

Across the tap room, Krelldutt sits with his crew. Udo has  joined the tortle and Blinsky. Joolian and Feesh arrive soon after, and Piccolo the monkey chitters at Joolian. The tiny animal darts to Blinsky’s farthest shoulders as the toy maker shifts uncomfortably in his seat. The monkey and his master recall the abuse suffered at his hands in Vallaki only mere days ago.

Feesh immediately orders wine. Krelldutt quashes the comment that he’d prefer the knight keep his head clear.

So Krelldutt says nothing, even when Feesh orders a second, then a third wine in quick succession. He wants nothing to distract from the message he has to give the team. 

Clearing his throat, Krelldutt tells them he has learned that Izmark, former Burgermaster and the goal of this mission. Izmark was summoned to Castle Ravenloft several days ago, even before Ireena was brutally kidnapped by his former colleagues. He lets them know that their services may be required for an additional day, possible two. 

Joolian narrows his eyes at the ranger. Feesh drains his goblet and sets it down heavily on the table. “That will cost you,” slurs the knight, “Another platinum…one for each of us!”

Krelldutt regards him for a moment before responding, “That’s a lot of money.”

”If you want our help, you’ll gladly pay,” Joolian rasps, “But because we like you, we’ll take 10 gold instead. Each.”

Across the table, Feesh rolls his eyes.

Tamping down his anger yet again, Krelldutt notes, “That’s the same as a platinum.”

“I’m not paying that,” growls the ranger, quietly

Before the drunken knight can respond, an older man in a damp cloak arrives at Krelldutt’s shoulder. “A moment of your time, sir. I am Caliban, and I come with a very important message.” Caliban draws Krelldutt to a distant corner of the taproom, past the cluttered table occupied by Burgomaster Bildrath. an empty table in the corner.

⚔

The Burgormaster waves at Duster, who seats himself sit at the table laden with wolf steaks and empty goblets. “Mr Duster, I have it on good authority that you possess many of the skills needed to meet the unique administrative needs of the Village of Barovia. The one to who I answer…you know who I mean… has let me know that I would be wise to offer you, Mr Duster, the position of Assistant Burgomaster.

Duster bobs his head and croaks, “Duties?” instructed him to spy on newcomers for Strahd.  

Burgomaster Bildrath grins, ghastly in a his unshaven and very pale face. “You are to keep me apprised of all of the doings of any strangers~ visitors such as yourself~in the Village of Barovia. And to let us if you hear of anyone else in the Village is less than loyal to myself….or to my employer.”

Duster, eyes glittering, bobs his head.

⚔

Throwing back the rain damp cloak, Caliban tells Krelldutt, “Danika and Urwin will be unable to join you here, as you arranged. They arrived at Martikov vineyard and discovered…unrest.  There's an uprising among druids who have some connection with the vampire lord.

”So they can offer no help.” Krelldutt clarifies. It is a statement, not an inquiry. Caliban’s lined face peers up at the ranger. “If you have any love for them, Mr Krelldutt, you might offer them some assistance. The family’s livelihood and the existence of the last vineyard in all of Barovia, is at stake.  Danika sends you this,” Caliban pulls from his own finger a silver ring made to look as if it were a tiny feather wrapped about the digit. He places it in Krelldutt’s hand. “Use its magic to communicate with Danilka. You may send up to 5 words each day.” 

Krelldutt must now decide whether to help at the vineyard or continue the original mission.

⚔

At the bar, Duster overhears this conversation as he accepts Burgomaster Bildrath’s proposal.