Ep. 4: The Many Walls of Vallaki
DnD Curse of Strahd Recap — Feb 05, 2021
Days Spent in Barovia:
- Aashuri & Therean: 4
- Jihyo: 370
Arriving to Vallaki
Last session, our party of three: Jihyo the half-elf fighter, Therean the half-elf bard, and Aashuri the aasimar sorcerer, were making their way to the township Vallaki alongside Arrigal, a Vistana traveler they had met on the road. Arrigal and the party parted ways some distance before reaching the gates of the menacing walled town. The road leading up the to the gates was lined with severed wolf heads on pikes.
When the party reached the gates, they were interrogated by the guards. The party sensed that the guards were trying to assess their allegiances. It was clear that the Vallakians did not want any Strahd allies, supporters, or sympathizers. They also seemed greatly prejudiced against the Vistani. The party insisted to the guards that they only wished to visit the town to find a map. The guards opened the gates and informed them of the laws of Vallaki. By order of the Burgomaster, Baron Vargas Vallakovich, the mention of the name “Strahd” was strictly illegal. Attendance to the town’s weekly festivals was mandatory for all residents and all visitors during their stay in town. Following the rundown, the party was also required to submit all their weapons for registry. The party complied.
Town Square: Prisoners in the Stocks
Determined to find a shop that would sell them a map of Barovia, the party made their way toward the town square. They stopped short at the sight of rows prisoners locked in stocks on a raised platform. The prisoners included men, women, and children, all wearing plaster donkey heads in humiliation. The party attempted to speak to some townsfolk to question the circumstances, but were rebuffed by most. One Vallakian called Radu warned the party to be cautions of their words and conduct in the town. It is a requirement that everyone maintain a positive attitude and not discuss unpleasant things.
The party also noticed leftover decorations and posters all around the square from previous festivals. It would appear that the last festival was called the Wolf’s Head Jamboree. The upcoming festival occurring in 3 days time is the Festival of the Blazing Sun.
Bethel and the Dusklight Supply Shop
Irritated by the circumstances, and unsure of how much caution to use as they proceeded through the town, the party decided to reserve their questions for shopkeepers instead. They met Bethel, the owner of the Dusklight Supply General Store, who allowed the heroes to trade a few items for a healing potion. They were also able to purchase one map for 1 gp. Bethel appeared frightened and nervous, spouting the usual town propaganda regarding the festivals. They’re wonderful events, of course. Good for morale!
While looking around the shop, Aashuri spotted an etching depicting Bethel standing with a man. The back of the etching had a written love poem dedicated to Bethel. Aashuri tried to steal the etching, but this did not escape Bethel’s notice and she promptly informed them that the etching was a gift to her from her husband, and if they had no more business with her they ought to leave.
Yonvich and Sons
The party proceeded to visit the bookshop called “Yonvich and Sons”. They found that the shop also served as a printing press for the festival posters. Therean pulled a book off the shelf called A Hunt By Moonlight by the famous monster hunter Rudolph van Richten. Yonvich insisted that the book was favored by wolf hunters in Barovia, as it explained differences between wolves, dire wolves, and lycanthropes. However, the party did not purchase the book. When the party tried to question Yonvich about the posters, Yonvich was careful with his words and would not speak ill of the festivals or the Baron.
Jeny Greenteeth
Finding no success in acquiring information, the party moves on to the herbalist shop, Jeny’s Shack. Jeny was a strange woman who looked like a stereotypical witch, with dirty clothing, hooked nose, and warts.
However, the party found she was the most amenable of all the shopkeepers, as she happily provided the party with a better understanding of the dangers in Vallaki. She warned them of Izek, the Captain of the Guard, a giant man with a monstrous arm that could conjure fire. Izek was said to directly answer to Baron Vargas. Finding Jeny so affable, the party decided to befriend her. Jeny explained that she was planning to leave Vallaki and head to Berez before the farcical festival occurs in three days time, but the party was welcome to seek her out anytime before she leaves. Jeny provided a them a wooden coin with the inscription that says “Pretty Peny, Show Me Jeny”. If the party flipped the coin and recites the rhyme, Jeny would come to assist them. However, Jeny warned them never to summon her while indoors.
Other Shopping
The party continued their shopping around the square. Therean acquired a shield from Thimdul’s Armaments. Jihyo wanted to buy a new bow, but the Bowyer of the town, Celegal’s Hovel, was found to have relocated to the Vistani encampment outside Vallaki. With little else to do, the party proceeded toward Blinsky’s Toyshop.
Blinsky’s Toyshop
Entering the the shop, the party found that the toys of the shop were rather morbid and creepy, ranging from a miniature gallows set, to a clockwork carousel of wolves chasing children, to a doll with interchangeable heads. Most disturbing of all was one particular doll that looked exactly like Therean, down to his clothing and weapons.
The party interrogated the toymaker, Gadof Blinsky, who did not find the doll all that remarkable. He stated that he had been making redesigned iterations of the Therean doll for decades. It is a piece periodically commissioned and redesigned by Izek Strazni. It was not clear that the party was able to make the connection between the name Blinsky provided, to the “Izek” that Jeny had mentioned. The party decided to purchase the Therean doll, as well as a stuffed wolf doll for Arrigal’s neice.
Therean noted that Blinsky had a small black monkey with him. Blinksy stated the monkey’s name was Piccolo, and he was a gift from a half-elf bard named Rictavio, who was staying at the Blue Water Inn.
End of the Day
As the day grew late, the party gathered directions to St. Andral’s and to the Blue Water Inn, with plans to visit St. Andral’s first before staying the night at the inn.
Next Episode: (5) First Night In Vallaki
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