Legends of Avantris - Curse of Strahdanya | Ep. 39 | The Devil Cried: Part 2

Episode Date: January 13, 2026

The night of the wedding between Victoria Isaacs and Strahdanya von Zarovich has arrived, and the Azran Expedition is ready to spring their long-planned trap.   Gain access to an exclusive campaign, Shroud Over Saltmarsh, over on Patreon: https://legendsofavantris.com/patreon The Crooked Moon, a folk horror supplement for 5e, is available for preorder! Get the Crooked Moon at: https://thecrookedmoon.com/ Watch more D&D adventures in the world of Avantris live on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/legendsofavantris Check out our merch store: https://shop.legendsofavantris.com  Join our community on Discord: https://legendsofavantris.com/discord Watch our many campaigns on YouTube: https://legendsofavantris.com/youtube  All other links: https://linktr.ee/legendsofavantris   Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/UKjRMmQsZTk?si=22bRfikVPXZTlNQF

You're back in Castle Ravenloft and listening to Karsa Stradanya, a Legends of Adventress podcast. Last time, the Aswanan expedition decided to not play fair by getting a goddess on their side, namely the Raven Queen. Scared much? Then, they tried to get yet another advantage on me by destroying the gigantic ruby in the heart of Castle Ravenloft. Unfortunately for them, to get there, they had to rely on the most infuriating. little puppet man who did more harm than good for them. Even more unfortunately for them, they discovered they could not so much as damage the ruby heart.

All the while, it gave them horrific mind-altering visions. Hopefully, they got the point that there is little they can do to defeat me. Yet, they think their little wedding plan will still work. Will it? I wonder. This episode is brought to you by our generous supporters on Patreon. We now also have a merch store where you can browse more than 20 amazing eventress themed designs. You can buy a shirt by become a patron yourself by following the link in the show notes.

We are eternally grateful for your support. Without Out of the Way, let us proceed with the conclusion of Chapter 19. The Devil cried. Are you coming? Yes. Let's go. Let's go as quickly as we can. I am so very tired. with Victoria's help, though you don't have Escher to lead you through the castle, you are able to sniff out the secrets that make a quick track of it back to the room that you all share together. Louncing on the settee in the main room is Escher reading a book. He doesn't even look up as you enter, though you can see a faint shudder through his body.

as you enter the room. I'll put the case down on the floor. Well, it looks like you didn't die. Did you kill it? No, we did not kill it. Oh, you didn't kill that horrific thing that scares the countess herself? Hmm, color me surprised.

Your point was well made, Escher. I will give you that. Is there anything you're hiding from us about that thing? Any insight About the thing, no, nothing about it in particular About anything Oh, about anything

Yes, anything Well, I'm hiding a lot Would you like me to address? Great We don't have time for this foolishness, professor I'll open the case and I'll walk it up the stairs Am I invited? No

Oh, tisk, tisk Babies having a tantrum fine no no yes you're invited please join

look at that Victoria looks like you have no say not today we may come to be friends yet he takes his finger and he tilts up your chin I like that fiery spirit

we still need you let's go oh say it again Clayton say it again may I call you Clayton or do you prefer professor? And when he says, Professor, you can feel the sexual tension on his tongue. Clayton's fine. Clayton, it is.

Lead the way. There is fine Sergei immediately and tell him everything we saw. We shall spare no detail. Even how we almost massacred our own companion. Oh, I want to hear more of this. Tell me the same. Forgive us, Kana. I am sorry.

we were trying to save you. Do I know that? Sergei, as I walked in with the mansion. As you open the door once again slumped over, you see Sir Clutz. This time, all Pep and his step completely removed. Our lady has not want you in the house. Sir Clutz, I can cast turn undead at any moment.

Well, I'm going to see you tomorrow. I think he walks around. Thank you, Sir Cups. Consular it's cast as he walks down the hall. I'm gonna just limp in, like, flutchy by wounds that just exhausted, going to try and like find somewhere to just lay down. I immediately pour myself a glass of bourbon.

Say again. Say again. Your voice echoes and booms. You hear the shuffling of feet, the slamming of a door. Get in, slam, slam. Slam, slam, slam, slam, slam, slam. It almost masks the sound of Sergei's footfalls as he makes his way down the hallway. He shakes his head, puts his finger in his ears, rolls his eyes, looks back towards the wing of the house that Arabel calls her own as the final slam of the door and the sound of giggling as Sir Clutz has finally done something to appease Arabelle.

The silence falls again and Sergei enters into the drawing. room. I will be pouring a large glass of some kind of liquor. If you don't mind, I would like one as well. Yes, please. I fear our work is not done here tonight. What? How can you possibly?

My connection to the morning lord is strong, but not strong enough to pierce the veil of another god. A queen. I need the church. chapel. And it is best that what I do be done before the wedding is prepared. I need it silent. I need it quiet. I need it tonight. I ask that you would dishorst me to commune with my God. You know where it is? I can find my way around this castle.

Of course. We'll take you there. How much time around trip you think? a few hours at least. Fuck. We are very tired. You look tired. Tell me what has

befallen my friends. We tell him everything and spare no detail. And say we've had one hell of a day. We tell him everything. I will at least tell him everything that I've seen with no detail, like no sparing no detail, and I'll then say,

and if there is anything that you've gleaned from the hairpin that could possibly help our theories that we have to confirm or deny be incredibly helpful. If the morning lord deems me worthy of his countenance, I will ask for those answers inside the chapel. I will see what I can discern. but what you have told me and you see as his face

gets, his sadness overcomes it. If what you are telling me is true, then my sister had no choice. Yes. Her ownness was taken from her long ago. Me well before my birth. If what you are telling me is true,

I may not have never truly known, my sister. She was cursed from the beginning. called to this land and made a slave of the blood queen. And even though we killed Baba Lysaga, it feels like a lifetime ago, she still haunts us. Her life's work is seemingly complete. We only kills the puppet and did not kill the master.

Almost complete. If we must commune with the morning lord, I will do everything in my power to assist you, Sergei. I need to do some praying of my own this evening. Let us not delay. If there is nothing more to do here, let us leave. The small child beats the door over and over and over. It is hard to think in my own mind.

It just keeps happening. If there is an opportunity for us to get into a fight, I strongly suggest we utilize diploies, diplomacy or flee. I am not feeling entirely myself. That's for them. Let's just move quickly. As fast as we can, get this over with, make sure. Sergei gets there and back safely. That's all we can do. I'll down my drink. I'm going to like do an Iro and just immediately like fire heat a cup of

root tea and just down it. I'll knock back my drink as well and basically stand up and adjust my holster and get ready to head back out. You quickly make your exit. The sounds of Arabelle playing off in the distance can be heard. Her giggling, boisterous and loud, she's happy and content. As you make your way out of the mansion yet again, begrudgingly, this isn't what you had planned. You're tired. You're weakened.

You're mentally exhausted. As you begin to make your way through the castle. It feels as if time is passing quickly. your mind's wandering, all of you focusing on the shared vision you experienced in the room with the heart, none of you thinking about which way your feet are falling, as you find yourselves entering into the entrance hall. The loud thud jolted you all back into reality as standing off to the side is a hunched over dust shelf. You'd seen him before, an elderly man.

who had greeted you upon entrance into this place, given you direction to the dining hall where you had met Stradania, but you didn't talk to him much. You vaguely recall his name, Rahadine, as he slings an axe on his shoulder. You see as he pulls up another form in front of him, a body completely, slumped forward, unconscious, a bag tied around his neck or his head. He places the head

on an anvil. The axe swings down and severs the head from the body. He then throws the body to one side, the last of the people in front of him. You see off to the side a pile of headless corpses in a pile of rolling heads. As he takes a kerchief out of his pocket, he begins to wipe himself off cleaning the blood that he just spattered his face. He doesn't seem to notice you. He looks like a butler, doesn't he? Yeah. Excuse me, Rahdine, your name was, yes? He turns around.

Apologies for my attire. I have finished my work for the evening, and I'm ready to head to bed. Is there something I can assist you with, Sir Clayton? What are you doing? Why is the butler beheading people? Well, simply speaking, the lady wills it. Invitations have been sent all over Baroviet for the wedding tomorrow to make sure that it is filled to brim with guests galore. All those who declined shall decline no longer.

All right. and the guests are presumably arriving tomorrow late in the day the carriage will be picking many up from across the lands the castle will be filled to the brim it will be lovely he says as he wipes some blood from his chin the guests are we expecting tomorrow hundreds i see stradania would not have the wedding anything less than the greatest spectacle in all of the land of old time. She knows how to

put on a spectacle and these poor souls simply committed the act of declining a wedding invitation. He looks back and forth at all of you.

His countenance completely stone. He seems undisturbed in any way. Very well. I will say a prayer for all of them and I'll

He nods at you If you need Anything at all You may call on me And you Victoria I will come for you tomorrow When

At a time Of her choosing You will ready yourself away From your friends For they have a task To play tomorrow as well Of course we do Yes

As expected Have a good evening, Rahadine. He'll see you tomorrow. He nods his head at you. He kicks one of the heads off to the side that had rolled a little too far as he wipes the blade of the axe on one of the lifeless bodies, throws it over his shoulder, and walks off down the hallway, humming to himself.

Sergei, please continue. Sergei continues forward. Your foot falls, echoing. on the wooden floors, not snuffed out by the carpeted flooring. You slowly make your way towards the large, arched doorway of the cathedral. Sergei stops for a moment as he looks at the images carved into the door. It takes a deep breath as he opens, as he opens the door moves forward. The cathedral is beautiful.

It is clean, completely devoid of cobwebs and dust. work has already begun. As you can see that some decorations have already begun to be put up, large black garlands, beautiful bright red roses. A plush velvet

runway cloths all the way down the center. And standing, ominously almost, in each of the corners of the room, are figures, human-sized, all of them stand in attention.

And as Sergei's eyes fall on the first, he lets out a choked gasp as he clutches at his chest. It cannot be. He rushes forward to one that is the closest to him as he looks up into its unmoving eyes, these statues. No, not statues at all. Almost in a stasis. figures of undeth standing there unblinking, unmoving, unbreathing.

As he looks up into their eyes, he begins to cry, tears streaming down his face as he reaches out and grabs the cold, dead hand of the woman before him. Not you. Why? White! He holds himself together for a moment. I cannot do this. I cannot query my God in this state.

I cannot do this in a room where you exist like this. Who is this? He looks up at her. This is my faithful friend, Dame Blanchet, one of my four knights, one of the guardians of the morning lord. Stradania took my life. I could hear them rush up the stairs after me.

I heard their arrows fly and their weapons clang. And I knew before my last breath was taken from me that she would end them. But to rise them like this, to not let them have eternal peace, is far from anything that I could ever imagine is they stand here, lifeless, always. These were the knights that killed Shredania of the first time. They were my friends.

They were my best of friends. I'm so sorry for your loss, Sergey. He stands on his very tiptoes, this woman on a pedestal in front of you. So he reaches up and he slowly runs his hand along her face. She's completely unmoving in her undef. So next, are you familiar with this form of a death? It's amazing.

Are they going to? I can see. So what kind of undepath? We have like a vampire. We have like zombies, skeletons. What I know? Roll a medicine check. Oh, oh.

Medicine check. I'll take, it's not very good. Man, my abilities. Oh, a disadvantage. Thanks. That's 10. No. It's unlike anything that you've seen before.

Looking at them, you can tell that at first glance, they look like statues. They're standing on pedestals as if they were just stone. But they are quite clearly the bodies not decaying. Only slight decay has come to them. They are clearly undead, but they are unmoving. They're unflinching. They are not zombies or gasts or whites or any of the things that you have encountered before. It's almost as if they're just held in stasis, not able to find the afterlife.

How are they on the pedestals? Standing. They're just standing. I guess they're not like tied to anything. Oh, no, sorry. So I guess not standing, but they are each atop a horse. They are astride a horse. And is it like a...

And all of them are in a, like, in a heroic pose almost. Are they, uh, is it like a nightmare, a normal horse, a dead horse? It seems to be a normal horse. As far as you can tell. Is the horse also in stasis or is that stone? Roll a perception check. Uh, 22. It appears to also be in a stasis.

I think these were their steeds to... I'm so trapped in. a death tomb. Killing them was not enough for the Countess. She had to raise them and even their steeds.

She had to punish them. Keep them as decoration and a place of worship, a holy place. God forbid that her brother have friends, have family, have anything she could not have herself. A wicked, lonely

bitch. I would like for you to know them. I would like for you to know of them. Of course. I'm going to hear their stories. Come with me then. And he ushers you close to the statue

he stands in front of the countenance of Dame Blanchett. You can see that at the very base there is a small placard that says, Dame Blanchett. He lets off a little laugh. Before becoming a night, she was a so far. She was a socialite. She is beautiful. She was well known for her warmth and for her kindness.

Toward anyone, her commitment to her friends and her family. We met only briefly at one event. And though she believed she hid it from me, I knew in that moment that she fell for me. I made sure to never show her that I wanted love from her. But I let her know that she was loved like a sister, like a friend. And we were like siblings. She was strong.

She was inspiring. She was beautiful. And above all else, she was loyal, and she was kind. And though I could not give you the love that you wanted from me, you will always have a part of my heart. He bows slightly before her as he moves on to the next. Sir Rivara, in life, he was the son of a wealthy landowner who was discovered to be in league with dark powers. They were corrupting the grain he was shipping to the people for some dark ritual.

Rivara was just and new law. Though it pained him, he slew his own father to save the men. and from that moment on his unwavering commitment to the morning lord, to justice and to law, was everything he stood for. If there was anyone to fight in battle against evil, it was Rivara. I knew, always, that he would be at my side. He begins to walk slowly, past the altar to the other side of the cathedral. Sir Corden, this is getting really hard to use his voice. My tongue starts yet weak.

The oldest, smartest and stoutest of the horsemen. I think you all would have liked him. He was also the strongest than the craftsman. In his youth, experienced a near-death experience, which caused him to turn to the morning lord later in life. He was committed to me and to his God, but he was still a rowdy warrior, with a love for alcohol and was quick to throw insults at his opponents with a legendary temper.

And though he may have seemed hard and a life long lived, to us, he was soft. A father figure when mine had passed. Sir Cota, you will be missed as he moves as he moves forward to the last. Sir Zelensky, a gentle and reflective man, well beyond his years. He was a devout cleric and missionary of the Morning Lord who came to meet me and act as my spiritual guide and advisor. If it were not for him, I would not be the man I am today. If it were not for him, I would not be the man that the morning war needs me to be. He was the only man who I knew to have a stronger faith in the morning lord than I at first.

But soon my faith grew. I did not need Zelensky to be my teacher any longer. But that did not stop him from riding proudly at my side. As my friend, not as my teacher, as my companion, and as my family. Sir Zelensky, you would be. missed. He looks around the room quickly at all of his friends. The horrible disgrace for Donya has done to them refusing to give them peace in death as he turns and silently walks towards the altar. He lets out a loud cry, a shriek of immeasurable emotional pain as he crumbles to the

ground, his head in his hands, he screams and calls out and cries and begs. And begs, to everyone and everything and nothing all at once. Before he finally regains his composure, he looks up towards the altar in front of him. A desecrated altar at once is for the morning Lord himself. As he begins to glow with a gold and radiant light, he begins to chant and pray. For the sake of this, you imagine that this will take

while as he begins his ritual to the morning lord. You all stand within the cathedral. The four warriors, for fighters, Sergei's friends around you, Sergei in front of you, what do you do? I'll step forward. And as he's up against it, I will place a hand on his shoulder and I will look down and say, there is nothing. that isn't possible when the divine is on our side, Sergei. When this is all said and done, we will free them from this torment. Trudanya cannot stop us. I'll stop.

Is there anyone else in the cathedral, like doing decorations right? No, it's completely empty. I'll walk up and place my hand on his other shoulder. And I simply quietly whisper to him to not interrupt. and not interrupt his prayer, I say, we're with you. Body, soul, and spirit. People will bench your family,

your friends. He continues to pray. Step up just kind of behind him, not getting in his field of you, and just kind of kneel down and, you know, quiet voice, say, beautiful words, for your goodness. What would you would bring in peace at last?

continue to pray I'll walk up and have these prangle I know you probably don't want vengeance but I do it'll be avenged just like everyone else is

for a second I'll just have removed my hat and I've gotten close to him and just put a hand on his shoulder and without saying anything just kind of give them a little bit of a squeeze and then remove myself from his presence and just find a place to kind of sit and post up and in silence, silent reverence, just kind of let him do his thing without offering words. Perfect.

It takes about an hour for Sergei to continue to pray and commune with his God, before with a sharp pulse of golden light which radiates out from him, almost as if he's the very center of the sun, and he's beaming with sunlight itself. He begins to rise, his skin shifting golden for just a moment before he finally returned to his normal countenance. As he walks towards all of you, he smiles at each of you. I heard and felt what you said, and I am glad that you are here. I'm thankful for both old friends as he looks around.

at his noble knights and new as he looks between all of you. Let us make our way back to your case, and we will talk there. I have worked from Michael. That's excellent. It is. This is outstanding news. We have everything you need.

We can make. I can only hope. Let us make haste. He pauses for a moment, as his eyes rest on each one of the knights one more time. before you finally exit the hall. As you make your way into the grand entrance, you see that the blood and the bodies has already been cleaned.

No sign that Rahidin had ever been, and that those that had declined the invitation had succumbed to the fate that they did. Sarnax takes some time to say a prayer, as he promised he would do, and hope for their souls to find peace. though you all know what happens to Solz and Borovia. As you make your way back up the winding staircases through room after room after room,

once again utilizing Victoria and her ability to find secrets, to find the quickest path back up to your benching. And as you do, you find it's quiet. What do you want to do? And then Piddlewick jumps out of a cabinet and kill ship. the cabinet and kill Shepherd. Sessions over. He just links back to the shadows.

Yes. All right. The passage. Thanks. Is Sergei, I mean, not Serg. You're right here, Serg. Is Escher anywhere around? Was Escher in the case?

Yes, Escher's in the case. Oh. Oh, I thought he came with us to the... I thought he was in the, oh, he was in the, I thought he's in the room and not in the case, but you're right. He's not, he's not. He's not. You left Escher with Arabele in the case. Oh.

Out of character. And the ghost. There are going to be more undead in that case than living creatures if we're not careful. A divination child, a ghost, and a vampire walk into a briefcase. Let us. Curio. Move away from prying ears and eyes, shall we? I will say, curio.

the case moving up across the background with the mansion. You step down into the case. You all make your way towards the entrance. You open the door. You half expect to see Sir Clutz once again guarding the entrance. But Sir Clutz is nowhere to be found. And as you listen, you hear silence. No sound of Escher, no sound barbell.

No clanging sounds of Sir Clutz falling over on himself. until you hear the soft chuckle of a laugh. Escher's laugh, coming from just down the hallway and around the corner, the small library off to the side. I'll approach and kind of slowly start walking forward and listen. Continue to listen. You hear another soft, gentle laugh, clearly coming from Escher. As you make your way around the corner,

you see that the door to the library is slightly open. Candlelight fills the room. You creep even further. As you look in, you see that lying on the couch is Escher. His cravat open, exposing a bit of his chest, but tastefully done, tastefully so, as his boots have been kicked off on the floor. Sitting on a plush chair, the opposite side of the room, with a large leather tome in her hands is Arabelle

as she reads out the story of the princess that couldn't sleep on the mattress because there was a pee at the very bottom of it. And every time she would tell a joke, Escher would laugh heartily, though you could tell by looking at him that he didn't truly find it was funny, but Arabelle is enjoying herself.

She kicks her little feet. She's in her pajamas. She looks cozy and happy. A steaming mug of hot cocoa is off to the side. She stops and takes a sip before she picks up the book and continues to read. You look closer and realize the book is upside down, and that's not even what the story's about. But she continues to tell the tale, nonetheless.

Oh, my God. Before we interrupt, Lucas, please provide, prepare the finest dinner that your staff can produce, something with roast beast and roasted root vegetables and some popovers maybe and perhaps a

toffee trifle what is it? Some boiled eggs for soy eggs oh and boiled eggs for sovereign eggs and raw eggs for short eggs and raw eggs you know I locked them raw

Connor you never listen for saw nuts oh Jesus any other requests I'm none. You hear. Well, I believe, my little darling, that we have guests.

And you hear the book slam shot. Do you think it's time for dinner now? Yes, little one, I think it is time for dinner. Now, come here, and you hear the pattering of feet. And I'm like super tall now. Oh, my God, you're going to duck. And you watch as the door swings open and atop his shoulders is sitting Arabelle as Escher ducks and makes his way out of the room. He looks up at her and he says, now what did I tell you?

Not to do anything stupid, war. And he turns and looks at her and his eyes alight as his fangs come out. I will bite you. And you will bite her. And they traips down the hallway. He looks back at you. Are you coming? But in an accent, not my actual choice.

Thank you. Well, that axon was quite fine. Thank you. Uh, yes, yes. Let's go to the dining room. I think we need to replace her clots as our resident undead caretaker. He's doing far more at keeping our rebellion check. He's more than just a dormant.

He's a dorm man, not a dormant. It's been a long. I mean, perhaps I do not know what Stradanya gets up to. but knowing Escher and Shudanya, perhaps he does enjoy being a doormat. But that is... Shall we? Shall we? Yeah.

Yes. Please. Yes. I will go to the dining room and I will take my usual seat, wherever that is. You take your usual seat. And normally you would see that Arabelle is sitting at the opposite end of the table. But you find that she is sitting next to Escher. And as you enter, she...

nods at all of you. He stands and steps behind his chair and waits for you all to take a seat. Kana and Victoria, motioning to you, pushing the chair in behind each of you before he once again seats himself at the table. Arabele looks at all of you. I can't believe that you would...

And Asher puts up his hand. Now, Arabel, a lady does not scream to friends during dinner, does she? You want to be a lady, do you? you know? Yes, I do, but like I'm still a little girl. Yes, but little girls need to learn. And you are so very wise, I expect you to learn far faster than most.

Would you prove me a fool in front of our friends? No, I wouldn't prove you a fool. Now, that's my girl. There are a bell. I am sorry. I know that you were hungry earlier, and that this is quite late. It's certainly past your bedtime. But you're doing very well. And your new friend here, he means well.

So you must listen to him. She looks over at Escher. Can I tell him that he's a meany head and he did real wrong to me and I didn't like it? Asher looks back at Arabel. Well, in a way, but to do it as a lady. Okay, and so she looks at you. I accept your apology. Do you?

Yes. Is that good? Because, like, I totally don't, but, like, I made it seem like I do, and that's what ladies do all the time. A small smile. It's like I'm home. Lights Esser's face. Yes, little one.

That was perfect. Now, straighten your fork. If you can be a little more sincere, you might get some dessert. Well, then you better be sincere. Is that how that works? Yes. Okay. For children on the age of Tadia.

I accept your apology because you were not the one that did the bad things. Thank you. I felt sincere enough. Can I have dessert now because otherwise my tummy will be in a lot of pain? Yes, after dinner you will have dessert. How much dinner? or do I have to eat, though, first? Your did, and all of it.

But there's, like, a lot of stuff on this plate. There's, like, a whole chicken leg. Well, then you better eat the whole chicken leg. Do I have to, like, swallow it, though? Just do what you want. Okay. Thank you. So is there food in front of us?

Oh, yeah. Okay. Well, let us dig in. Any words? So next, don't you usually, like, say something before we eat? I put my fork down. I'm like, I'm going to put my egg back in this little

top of it. I had to I'm going to Julia John Wow, that's a blast in that What a group

Who? Yes. Yeah, rescuers down under. Yeah, he'll hold on a move it. I had spent so long praying in the cathedral while Sergei communed with the morning Lord

that I was just happy to be back. I will make this brief. I've said enough. Connor, are you well? Oh, forgive me, forgive me. I will make this brief. I have done many long sermons today

and I am tired and hungry. Garex, give us the power to destroy our enemies tomorrow and to get a well-balanced meal tonight. Amen. Amen.

How's up? Well, thank you. So let us not delay any further, Sergey. Yes. Well, the morning lord spoke to me in his voice. It seems that there is but one thing that can stop this. The veins must be punctured. They must be broken.

You will need. You will need to be traced. to betray stradania the choker around her neck is but a fraction of the heart it is bound to her he must pierce it at her most vulnerable

at her most weak can you do this how when you keep it on you the raven queen hates on death the power in the hairpin

will pierce the gem And with it, Stradanya will crack. But know that when you do this, she will fight like a wounded animal. She will stop at nothing to destroy you. You have to do this at the right moment. For if, if she sees this coming, you will all perish. You will all die. I cannot tell you the time.

I cannot sell you the place. This gift, the dark gift of the Blood Queen, was forced upon Stradanya by a fake mother, Baba Lysaga. And only the love that courses through that hairpin, the love of a true mother, can begin to break the curse. And that is what I know. My mother put a piece of her in that pin. She will save us all. You, all of you, will save us all. Earlier, you said that someone had deceived you.

Did you mean your mother? When my father died, Stradonia begged for my mother to make the trip from her homeland to Barovia. She did not survive the trip. Even before, I had worked with her to turn from the Raven Queen to the Morning Lord. My God, our God.

She told me that she had shared her ways. She had seen the light, and she had turned to the right from God. I see now that she never let go the Raven Queen never released my mother and for a moment I was said to know that she would lie to her son but now knowing that I know and seeing what I've seen

if she hadn't we might not have the salvation that we have her faith was strong and regardless of who her faith was in I am glad that she had it even into her dying breath. Yes. Thank the gods for that.

So at her weakest moment it has to be at the ceremony. It will be after that. More private. Intim. It's the worst. While Victoria is alone, no.

Exactly right. We don't be ready. I think that we have to strike sooner than that. And how do plan? Whether you are alone after or during, how do you plan to keep her at bay? If she sees even a moment of hesitation on Victoria's face,

she will not hesitate to strike you down, regardless of how she says she feels of you. We cannot allow Miss Isaacs to actually become wed to buy Shredania. Such a thing is unthinkable. We do not even know if she intends to drink and feast. And how do you plan to stop a wedding, whose wheels have already even put into motion? No, those innocents, those people that have accepted this invitation. If you cancel the wedding, she will slaughter them all.

Yes. So we did not take a chance of that I'm attacking at it. No, I think it needs to be done there. You two are together at the ceremony. who will not be far away any later when you're alone with her there's way too much risk

she could kill you in an instant now I'm with the professor on this one we don't know what will happen when the hairpin strikes the gem and it's we can lose everything I agree the longer we wait the worst things are going to be and when you're up there with her

you're going to be closer than anybody else can we presume that she will get married without armor or sword how do we ask Escher? Escher He wipes his mouth and can tell he's actually been imbiving in the food before you Well Knowing what I know of Shatonia She would never show up to a wedding

Clad and steep But in a gown to rival all gowns, save the one, the dress that hangs in your closet, her mother's wedding gown. It's here. Well, she won't be armed.

Or on her own. It's our best chance. Well, we hope, at least. She is somewhat aware of our intentions. It's foolish to think that she wouldn't be awarded in something, maybe not physically, but magically. Things that I do not understand, of course,

she indeed Kana will be powerful even without armor or a sword but any boon we can take. Power You said it was the power of your mother's love.

Yes. There is love in the people. The love of us are children. I can feel it when I hope it. And isn't it you alone who remind me that the lullaby of

Shredania was written and sung by your mother, yes? It was not the lullaby it was the lullaby Ravnovia for her chitrin. But yes, I know it. I do. I did it many a night.

I thought that path was lost. We didn't find any trace of the second part in my saga's hut. You know the whole thing. I could never forget it the sound of my mother's voice singing me into Sloan

Perhaps we sing it to her, so do her she will be weakered Yes You can sing it I will sing it for you Not here, not now But when the time

Is right She has asked me to facilitate the wedding But you must promise me If I do this for you you that you will not hesitate. For if those words leave my lips and you do not do as you are asked, she will slaughter me where we stand. And I could not do that too, Irene.

So you will be there with them. Yes. A foot away. Standing beside you to guide you and to watch. Sergei is it foolish at this stage. to you, I presume that your sister can be saved. After all the horrible things she has done, and the witness today with your...

I have never met my sister. If the vision that you have told me you saw is true, then the babe I grew up with was already tainted, was already marked. Though I loved her in our youth, and she was kind and strong. Blood runs deep, and hers is dark. She cannot be saved. She must be killed.

What I would say is, perhaps we'll know her true intentions, if the pin strikes the gem in her choker, and that frees her. And whatever bombs she's in, perhaps she'll have an immediate change of heart. If she wishes not to fight, then perhaps we can reason the other. But not forget the evil that she has done for centuries.

Well, that was cursed. She was cursed with her youth. Regardless. Judgment comes for us all. That's right. Correct, Shepherds. You'll see how she reacts. If we can break the curse,

and she, even so much as thinks of hurting anyone in the ceremony and we killed her. But if we free her and she's as relieved as we are, maybe there is still some good left. I believe that people's past actions,

given a true heart, perhaps they have the best intentions. Perhaps. But I suggest we don't gamble with hundreds of lives. So when the blow is dealt, we do not leap to strike her immediately. We prioritize evacuating all of the civilians. Sergei, you will keep singing the lullaby while we evacuate them from the cathedral.

Yes. And we will not strike until everyone is safe. And the lullaby will, as long as you sing it. If what you told me is through. She will not be able to break from her stasis. She will be frozen until the last note falls. How much time do we have? Minutes at most.

It will have to be quick. You will have to lunge forward. You will have to pierce the emulet immediately and then run. You will have to get everyone out as quickly as possible. Anyone left behind is all. shortly dead. It would be very dangerous, yes. All right, fine.

As much as I hate complications, we need to evacuate. You're right. Do you think that that was her plan all along to invite hundreds of innocents to protect herself, hundreds of human shields? Perhaps you're right.

It is possible. So Farma may be correct in the sense that she doesn't trust. but by having the people there as ensures that we don't need to... Oh, she definitely does not trust you. The only one she trusts is Victoria. The rest of you, she would slaughter you just as soon as she could. She will not risk turning Victoria away from her.

So you live. For now. But yes, I have no doubt that she's invited the whole of Moravia here as a shield, knowing that she will be in a weakness. state but knowing for well that the honorable band of the Azran expedition would never dare to risk harming hundreds upon hundreds of people of innocence. So you find yourself in quite the bind. But she has no idea that we know about the lullaby.

She does not. Right? And she certainly cannot know about the nature of the hairpin or what it can do. Otherwise, she would never have willing to. given it to anyone, much less Victoria. We got a couple aces up our sleeves. We can do this. We have a chance.

You will have to do it without my help. Unfortunately, both myself and the rest of the brides have been denied entry to the ceremony. For you see, Anastasia Ludmilla and Valenta are quite irritated. There's another will be added to our ranks, and they have become. Uncuth, quite unladylike. To make sure that all goes as plan and is as lovely a ceremony as possible that none of the bride should ruin

Victoria's special night. She has asked that we do not attend. And all was said and done. Of course you can find you. No, indeed. Well, let's say you accomplish all this. I'll wait you on the gate

I'll wait you at the bridge outside of the gates All right And perhaps you could Assist if we can Get these innocents outside the castle Perhaps you can help us I will do as much as I can

I'm not as concerned But then As I am as I am from my own skin. You see, should you fail at any step of the way, should she find out I've helped you at all? It is my neck on the line.

Okay. Escher. The road to redemption, and penance begins with a single step. Oh, blah, blah, blah, all that. A vampire can't be redeemed. I suppose that's true. The abyss waits for you.

There's nothing but darkness before you. Yes, and don't I know it? And you have a plan. And you're trusting all of this on her shoulders. The one that teeters between the wicked and the good. What if in that moment she chooses to be wicked? What if she chokes? Then this plan D.

Which is all die. Wow, sounds like a good plan. This mutton is delicious and takes a huge bite off of one of the haunches. I don't think any of us even really expected to make it out of here alive after a certain amount of time that we've spent here anyway. So the fact that we even have a shot is more than I could have hoped for. And no matter what happens, I trust Victoria. and at the end of the day something were to happen

where she weren't able to execute so be it I'm going down to swing that's all I can ask for speak for yourself Shepard I don't intend to die I intend to get out to Barovia

if Victoria fails us none of you will raise a weapon do you understand but Professor Haka I don't understand, Professor. If Victoria fails and she submits to darkness, then we watch her get married, enjoy the festivities.

We let her succumb to her inner desires, and we find a way out. Meanwhile... We'd be damned. Meanwhile, Sergei has stunned the bride, drawing her ire, slaughtering him, surely drawing suspicion to all of us. Not necessarily. She knows.

I truly believe she knows that she will succumb to my blade. A life for a life. It would not shock her that I would turn on her in her moment. Because I do not believe she asked me to facilitate the wedding because I am her kin,

because you keep your enemies closer. I think Clayton may be right. If you fail, the wedding commence. We do what we can to survive. We find a way out. That is not acceptable to me, Professor. You can have a plan B, but your plan B will be running from Dragon's Fire. So be it.

Victoria, if you fail us, I may perish myself and I may fail, But there will be in horrible inferno. And it all ends in fire. At least my end. But you won't fail us, will you? Do you swear, look at all of us, and swear it? I swear that our wound times the kindness to bring death to death to say. My thoughts exactly.

I do not view us as for bringing an end to Stradania. I think it will be a kindness, despite her lack of ultimate agency and her terrible life. As I was told earlier today, there is no wickedness in time. Exactly right. Who told you that?

All right. All right. We have a plan. And if... I'm so sorry. I've got the hiccups. I've been trying to swallow that because you're like being really serious.

But they're going to be really all... Thank you so much. She starts chugging water. After that, it's every man for themselves. You know, I'm going to help you. Arabeau, you have helped us so much. I know. I'm so good at helping.

It's really awesome. We must keep you safe, too. Yes, I know. And so, like, I will help you tomorrow. I made a sword out of some paper, and I have a little armor set that I will wear, that they also made out of paper, and that will charge forward

and say, you die now. You know? Armour. And you made armor and a sword out of paper. Yeah, like, I folded it really cool. I found a book in the library that talked about how to do, like, armor out of paper and stuff. It was real awesome. Did you make a helmet out of paper?

Like, duh. I would like to see it later. Okay, I will show you. I put little blossoms on it, too, because your armor has blossoms. It is quite a lot. But, like, mine are pink, you know, because it's, like, way prettier. an ugly yellow, but that's fine. I don't mean to interrupt.

Professor, yes. Something just occurred to me, and maybe you can answer the question, but the case and everything in it, what happens to that if you croak?

That's like a really good question, because I'm probably not going to be inside. But you know that, like their Sir Clutz will be inside, and he's like kind of dead already, but... I think Sir Clutz will be fine. Destroyed or otherwise. But Lucas is going to be inside, too.

It is a family heir to. It passes down from Azran to Azran. It has always successfully been passed down. Presumably, I would die, and it would be... granted over to... To me? To my daughter. So I do get the case. That's so cool.

But I don't know. I've not tested it, obviously. Well, maybe then, uh... Maybe at the end of the day then, your, uh... your fate's already sealed, and you aren't going to die here. Maybe that case has to make it to your daughter's hands. who's to say that

if I die it doesn't how did you get it I got it from my father how did you come upon it did you give it to you yes he did he retired

he passed it on to me and if I die wouldn't be able to be opened until my daughter was able to to learn how. So, everyone inside would be trapped until that time comes.

And perhaps someone with ill intent could learn how to destroy it. At that point, everyone inside would be eviscerated in the nothingness, even if I'm understanding how things work correctly. But that will not happen. I have faith, as I've been saying today. So, like, am I going to have to stay in the case tomorrow, because that's really spooking me out a little bit.

How you can help is you and Sir Clutz need to guard this house. It's very important to make sure that there are no vampires besides Escher. Oh, yeah. So, like, speaking of Sir Clutz, like he may have tripped a couple of times and ruined some really valuable, like, artifacts and family heirlooms and stuff. And you also had that really cool portrait of yourself that looked super old because you were like really young in it

and you're really old now. And so like he was walking by it and he kind of slashed it with his sword. So, I mean, like, that's fine, right? Seems that have a good character for him, no? Thank you for telling me. Oh, yeah, you're welcome. We weren't going to tell you

because I didn't want him to get in trouble, but, oh no. There are all just things. That's fine. They can you repent. But I need you to stay in the case. Yeah, sure. Like, I will do that.

It's my number one priority. And that's why if things don't go well, I will be doing what it takes to survive. I understood. If things go poorly, and you need someone to hold them back, do whatever damage we can, that will be me. Shepherd, I would pray that you would stand shoulder to shoulder with me in battle.

But as soon as the battle is lost, you will guide everyone home, ensure they survive. I will hold off anyone who attempts to pursue. I will bring great fire and furious anger upon them. That is my plan B, Professor. Too as you will. And maybe it's a trick.

And none of this will work and will all die. At least this will all be over. Sergey and what of the main host of the Crystal heart that's up in the tower. Destroying this amulet may free Stradania, but the blood queen will continue to terrorize these lands. Barovia will forever be cursed. She will simply find a new host.

That is a very good question, Kana. And of it I do not have the answer. I have simply the path that the morning lord has guided me on. I know all that I have told you. and not a thing more. I fear that though there are things you will have as an advantage against my sister, that the lack of knowledge will also be a disadvantage.

I don't know if we will have those answers. You're right. I think that our first step is the one that we have. But I hope that if we are lucky, The twin the tie is broken. That thing that calls itself the blood queen who find itself trapped yet again at the Amber Temple. That is simply a theory.

No longer a host, but waiting for another. Yes, yes. If that's what happens, then we could just put every possible God on the Amber Temple and lock it away for eternity. None of this will have to come to pass. Nice thought at the very least. But all we can do is the next best thing, every step of the way. And we know that we must shatter the amulet, the gem, and we must kill the stradanya.

And that is our quest, that is our charge at this point. We have our plan. Does everyone know their part? Yes, totally. Yeah. What is your part? to help you as the best I can for sure.

By doing what? Staying inside the case and making sure our clothes doesn't break more stuff. Exactly right. And God in the front door with Lucas. Yes, okay. Also kind of this too, okay?

And she jumps off her chair and she scampers over and climbs up onto your lap. She straightens your spectacles. and she leans in and she gives you a gentle kiss on the cheek. I just want you to know that I love you and I believe in you. She jumps down off of your lap and to each of you, she scampers up, embraces you, gives you a soft kiss on the cheek and tells you she loves you and she believes me. And as she finally says this to Sarnax, she scampers up onto her,

seat again and you all feel graced by the hope of the innocent. This podcast is brought to you by our Patreon. Become a patron today at patreon.com slash legends of avatrous and gain access to tons of exclusive perks, including a monthly movie night and a weekly Patreon exclusive campaign set on the high seas, shroud over salt marsh. You can also go to The Crookedmoon.com to pick up your own copy of our first published supplement, The Crooked Moon, a folk horror tone for Dungeons and Dragons fifth edition. And don't forget to snag all the extra goodies like dice, miniatures, plushies, a tarot deck,

and more. Thank you. Oh, I love you too, Arabat. Oh, I totally know that. When all this is over, I think you and my daughter, Emmy, would be wonderful friends. Do you think she would like me? I think she would love you. Do you think she'd want to play games? Absolutely.

Do you think she would like the stories that I tell? I think she would love to tell you stories as well. Do you think she would pick on me because I can see into the future and I have magic and stuff? If she's a true Azran, of course not. I like her already. I want to have a friend, like a real true friend. Sorry, Sir Clutz. You will.

You will very soon. I promise. We love you very much, Aramette. And as you will accept our friendship. We consider you a great friend. Ew, I can be friends with adults. It's so gross. Jack, no.

Yes. Whatever. So is it time for dessert or no? Yes, yes. It's all because of dessert. It's my stomach really. He's the trifle. Arabelle is the saying goes,

and I said this last night feels like a lifetime ago. that I love you and you love me. We're a happy family and so on and so forth. With a great big... I already did the whole thing last night, Kana. And a kiss from me to

do our bell. Won't you say you love me too? Yes, yes, we all love each other very much. I'm really like this. Eat some cake. I offer him the egg. It's called a trifle, okay? Like, Clayton literally, I'm sorry. Professor Azran, like, literally said it.

I literally said it. He said, Lucas, a trifle, and then a trifle up here. There's cake with custard and coffee and some fresh berries. Lucas, these berries are fresh, right? Well, it's all like magically. It's all wizards. It tastes delicious. It really does, and as you look over, the trifle smothered, like, all over her face,

all over the front of her pajamas. She's eating it with her hands. This is like really good. I like some of that. Me too. Could not have a second one, you know, because we're all probably going to die tomorrow. Yes.

Seems fair. It does. That does that answer, yes. Are we forgetting anything? That we are very deeply exhausted. Yes. We're horrifically exhausted. We need sleep.

You look over an Arabella's face burst in our trifle snoring. Oh, God. Well, we've exhausted the wee little one. You watch as Escher scoops her up. He takes his kerchief and he wipes the chocolate away from her face. I will take her to bed. I should leave or stay.

His eyes linger on Connor. Oh, you have a meeting with Connor and Shepherd this evening. The self-improvement meeting. Yes. I can provide a suitable room for such a meeting, a conference room, if you will. Oh, I was not invited to that. I'm sorry. I need to pray. You agreed? Yeah, yeah, I agreed. We'll learn a lot, Shepard. We'll be okay.

Oh, my God. All right, all right, yeah. Whatever you say, Conn. If I might interject, I just not forget that we cancel that thought. No, please do continue. Never mind. Well, I very eagerly like to learn about all the battle tactics there are to... I will come for you when I played the Little Winterrest. And we must provide Escher a path home out of the case for... I presume Shredaanyu'll be expecting him somewhere.

So he needs to keep on appearances. Well, if Connors is eager a pupil as she seems, I'm not sure I'll be leaving until morning. Lucas will see you out whenever that happens. He nods, and he exits the room. Sergei, without a word, looks at all of you and nods and leaves as well. I'll grab my lantern and stand up. I'm like, I look, it was fucking terrible. My eyes are even more deeply set than they normally are.

And I'll say, uh, if we all know our role and our path tomorrow, there's nothing left for me to do besides pray. and sleep I will pray for us and if we fail I will pray for our souls all of you thanks Arnax good night good night good night I'll go to my room I'm just gonna pray to make sure like I already gotten the sense that Garrick's is there from the cathedral I think but like I'm just still I'm like shit he's getting late I believe I will retire you at alternate alter Nashira he's gone You left with our bell.

Okay. Well, turn to my study. Just be alone for it. Good night. Good night. Night, professor. And I'll get up, and I'll go to my study, attached to my room,

and I'll pour myself another drink, and I will open my case and then fade away. I'll do the same. I'll not do that, but I'll accept the case, and I'll kind of, of like feel some of the fabric from the wedding dress in the closet and then I'll go over to the bed, take off my prayer beads, and put them on the nightstand and go to bed without prayer. Okay.

Well, I am very eager to hear about all of Escher's tales of war's past, aren't you, Shepherd? All right. Hold on. I don't know what you think is going to happen here. But the only reason I even said for a second that I was going to come to this meeting is because when he was talking to you, he was saying some creepy shit, all right? And I know that we saw him acting all innocent and fine with Arabelle, but at the end of the day, he's still the fucking enemy. And he might have a heart somewhere deep down in that undead soul of his, but I'm keeping my fucking eye on, all right? That's a fair assessment.

I appreciate that you're joining me for all the knowledge we'll be gaining to me. Although I feel like if he had any evil intention, he would have slayed Arabelle, a child. that we left unattended in the professor's case. Oh, goodness gracious. Okay. Look, I'm not mad. I know I sound a little gruff and upset, but I'm not. I'm not mad.

I just need you to not let your guard down, all right? That's all I'm asking. Okay. And at the end of the day, you are an adult and you can do as you see fit, but I'm just making sure that motherfucker doesn't try anything weird. Oh, okay. Very well. I will assure you I will not let my guard down.

I don't wish to be pushed off of any bridges anytime soon. Yeah, yeah. We're going to get that motherfucker, too, by the way. Oh, yes, yes. He is on my shit list. Anyway, just keep your eyes peeled and your wits about you. And just don't, you know, look, I know. He looks like Escher.

Yeah, yeah, all right, yeah. Looks like I'm going to sit down, like, for myself another glass of bourbon and just, like, sit on it and wait. Very keen to hear more about his fast. He seems like he's, um, quite ancient. Yeah, well. You hear a soft thud

as Escher leans up against the wall. His shirt completely unbuttoned to his waist. His abs rippling with muscle. His chest taut as can be. A light sprinkling of blonde chest hair between his pecks. His hair is completely down

and flowing over his chest. You can see the rise and fall of it as he breathed. leave. Connor, come, it's time for our lesson. As soon as I say him, I'm just gonna... Oh, Garrick's help me. Asher, what are you doing?

I'm going to teach Connor a lesson. Isn't that what you wanted? Little samurai. I do. Then come, and he motions to you. He moves one finger. Connor. Well, he's just going to teach me a lesson.

I've done this before in training. we normally change down into our just our geese. I mean, unless it's quite warm in here. Would you like to change down into your geese? Would that make this easier for you to practice? Oh, well, I am bleeding out quite a bit here, but... I know. I can smell it. I mean, right now this is weighing quite heavily on me.

Shepherd, I hope this means no offense. I just start taking my arm off and put my helmet down on the cushion, I just start strapping up my wrists as if we're about to wrestle. Yep. Come. You walk closer and quick as lightning. He spins around behind you and pins you to the wall, flipping you around, pressing his body up against you.

You can feel the cold chill of his skin as his hard chest presses into your body. He leans his lips down next to your neck. never let you guard down for a second, Connor. Or it will be the last time you do. Asher, I'm speechless. Yes. Now I'm like, don't people. What do you feel, Connor?

Hot and like I've felt before, I'm unsure of this sensation, but I don't see that there's any immediate danger, Shepard, and I'm looking over Ash's shoulder at Shepard. He spins you around and pushes you forward. Be daft, girl. You are far too strong, far too powerful to let a vampire in the night seduce you in such a way. And he walks up to you and he tilts your chin up.

You have failed the first test. Never let the devil so close. As he swiftly moves around you, you feel his stomach, or you feel his hand on your stomach. What do you do? Is it by my wound? Yeah, I would say it's near your wound.

Ah. Careful. But you just told me how to let my guard down, and I'm getting in his face now. I'm angry. I'm shoving him, I guess, away from me. You can see the smile on his face. He's enjoying this.

He continues to do this with you, pulling you back and forth, yelling at you and fighting with you until finally your stance becomes that of the warrior. He is trying to, to fight with you, and you have let him far too close. What are you going to do? He looks at you like prey as he slinks towards you.

His eye is vibrant and bright, as he licks his lips, his fangs exposed. For a second, you see the corner of his eyes as the eye as shepherd up and down, seeing how he's perceiving this entire situation is once again you feel him pressing up against your back. Solid. I'm going to attempt to make a sweeping motion with my right leg and try to attempt to trip him from behind. Okay. Side step and I'm going to try and push him down on the ground.

Roll for it. Dex? Dex, you say? Ooh, 21. As he presses into you, his finger, his hands move towards the wound. As you feel the tip of his long fingernail graze the wound. You do not hesitate as you quickly like the wind. move behind him, kick, and he falls flat on his ass.

He lets out a loud laugh as he looks up at you and says, finally, the warrior spirit has learned. And this is why I have faith in you, above all else. Do not ever, and he looks at you directly in the eye, let lust take control of a heart as pure as yours. and if you're lucky someday when it is the first it will all have been worth it. And just as quickly as he says it, you watch as he turns into bats and floats out of the door. I look at Shepard.

I start gathering up my armor. You're all right? You know, I'm just, I'm really glad you were here, Shepard. Yeah? I would normally be embarrassed by this. My master would have shamed me. Yeah. It's a lot.

It's just not really what I was, well, you know, did he really need it to have a shirt off? You know, I thought the same thing. I thought, well, maybe we'll get into some wrestling, but then he seduced me just as all vampires do. I was suddenly, well, you know, as I said, very hot and feeling unlike anything I've ever felt like, have you felt this sensation before? I'm going to bed. Good night, town.

Good night, Jeffrey. Well done, the two of you. That was great. Very good. Not at all. Thanks, Andy. Kelsey is so disappointed. I'm fucking disappointed.

Thank you, Mickey. I was like, yes, yes, damn. Fucking salivated. Oh, God. And with that, You all make your way to your respective rooms or to the room that you share outside of the outside of the case. Is there anything you want to do before bed? I would if anyone.

I'm just going to brow. I feel very cold too. I'm like tired. I feel like to browse the internet and falsely. So I'm going to just curl around my fire as quickly as possible and just like pray until I physically can't. Can't stay awake anymore and then just pass out. I'm like a lizard around a heat lamp. There isn't so much what I would do.

the night before. Oh, we know what you're gonna do. Oh, I'm sorry. I don't need to browse the internet for what I will be doing, Kahn and we'll be doing in her quarters tonight. Oh, Huxedle Samurai in my area. Swipe, right?

Oh, my God. Oh, my God. I would like to do something before the wedding, but that's, I'm good otherwise for the next. Okay. Uh, so about an hour or maybe two after, uh, I went to my study, I would get up and I would go to, uh, Arabel's door. Okay, so you go back into the case and you go to Arabel's door. You hear the loud snoring of Arabel.

She is out like a light. I'm off three times. Oliver? Oh, what do you want? I was sleeping. I was having this really weird dream. Mind if I come in? Yes, but okay. I'll generally open the door.

She's laying in bed. Her hair is tousled all around her. You can see a spot on her pillow where she's been drooling for at least the past hour or so. But she wipes her face and she tries to make some something right with her hair. She sits up and pulls the blankets tight around her. You can sit down on the bed if you want to. Right there. It's warm because my feet were there.

Oh, all of course. Thank you. The whole bed was warm because I was sleeping in it up until like three minutes ago. Like, toasty warm with like the body of a small child sleeping in here. You know, because tomorrow her favorite people are going to die and like she might be stuck in the case forever. So she was like sleeping peacefully like right here in this bed. You know, like three minutes ago. I'll sit down.

Thank you. Okay. And I'll sit down. Arabel, I know... That is my name. You want to help tomorrow. Yeah, I know, and so I will do that. I need you to stay alive.

Well, yeah, look, I'm not going to die. I'm only six, so that'd be really stupid. I'm just begging you. And however you... I know you're very powerful. Really powerful. More powerful than you, for sure. To help us tomorrow, under no circumstance,

are you to endanger yourself in any way? Do you understand? She reaches out and she grabs your hand. I'm not going to endanger myself. But I know what comes, and I know what is coming. I can feel it, and even in here, I hear the beating of the heart. And I can help you, and I will help you, but I don't even have to leave the case. I've been practicing, and I know I can do it.

You just have to trust me. It just squeezes your hand. Trust me the way I trust you and know that I would never do anything that would endanger me or you. Okay? I do trust you. And that's why I trust me with this.

And I will reach into my pocket and I will pull out several envelopes. I was worried him off. What am I going to do? This one is for my family. Okay. For my daughter, Amelia. Yep.

You will not to open it. Are you sure? Unless I die. Okay. Cool. Yeah. And this one. This is for you.

For me? Yes. Can I read it right now? No. Oh. You will also not to open it unless I die. But if it belongs to me, then how come you get to tell me what to do with it? It's very important.

I know. That's why I'm asking really important questions. My number one goal tomorrow is making sure that you survive. Don't open it then unless you die. But you won't, okay, because like, you won't. I won't die. But if I do, I'm going to make sure that you survive. that you don't die in this case

and that you can get home where I'm from. She nods at you. There are tears streaming down her face, but she's trying not to show it. She's trying to stay strong. It's very important that no matter what you will survive. I'll survive too, but I'm just making sure that you will survive and that no matter what you do

you find where I'm from, you take this other letter to my daughter. And there will be further instructions in the letter. Okay, I will do that, but let's don't die, okay? I won't.

That was, like, really not cool way to wake me up. And finally... Oh, there's more, okay. I will pull out a... Small pouch. You are not to touch this unless I die. Do you understand? What is it?

It doesn't matter what it is. I'm defeated? No. You don't need to do anything unless I die. Okay. To be within the instructions from my daughter, or in the letter to my daughter. I want to place it here, and I'll open the drawer of the desk that's in her, the rain isn't in her room. It's going to be safe here.

We're okay. You're not under any circumstances to open it. Do you understand? Yep, totally got it. Mm-hmm. Unless I die. And you will know when I die. This case will not

stay exactly like this, I have a feeling. I'm your parent. I've seen what it would look like. I know what it would feel like. So just trust me and I'll trust you, okay? We can trust each other. And no matter what, I need you to get home

so that my daughter, Andy, has a friend. Yeah, and that can totally only happen if you let me sleep, though. I will. One more thing, and I'll pull out a little package in my last package of Tollica. Only if you die, right? No, you can have this now. Are you kidding? Is it candy?

It is. You are a liar. You would love me have candy at the middle of the night? It's a special circumstance. Oh, no, you are going to die tomorrow, aren't you? And I will place a bag of toffee in the bag of the bag of next one. Eat that whenever you care to. You know, we trust each other right, and we would tell each other everything and no secrets.

Yes. I'm going to eat that whole bag of candy the moment you leave. Every single little bit of it, I'm going to eat it right now. All right, well. Enjoy. Okay. And I'll kiss around the forehead. I love you, too, and so, like, don't die.

And I promise that I will help you, and you just have to trust me, too, okay? All right. Okay. Are you like my dad now? Because, you know, I don't have one anymore. I know you don't. I won't replace you, father, but I'll take you under my wing. I don't know if I can teach you anything.

Smarter than I am. Yeah, I know. Don't see what I can do. But I can't read, so... Maybe that's where we'll start once this is all over. I like that. a lot. Okay. Thanks, Dad.

Good night. Good night. Love you. I'll tuck her in. I'll turn and I will. The candy, please. Oh. You tucked me in. I can't reach it. So far by my feet. Thank you. Good night.

Good night. And I will close the door. I love candy. She starts eating. Oh, God. My heart. My heart. I go to bed.

Ow. You all find yourselves in a deep, deep slumber. So deep, with innocence and the Raven Queen on your side, that as you awake, all semblance of exhaustion has been wiped from you. Oh, my God. Thank you. That's true. You feel better than you felt since stepping into Borovia.

You feel fresh. feel new. You feel boldened and empowered. You're awake. Sweet. All right. I was like, I saw most of you girding your loins for some like horrific dream. Yeah. Not again. Do we still have, so we have the Raven Queen's Blessing, which, or the Ravens Queen Blessing, extend your hero's feast. And, um, Arabelle, the hope of the innocent helped to wipe away your exhaustion. Oh, sweet. Thank you, Arbel. Thank you. You wake up feeling refreshed and renewed, better than you have in a long, long time. Today is the day, and it is already almost noon as you arise.

Good morning, everyone. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning. Everyone. You should be ready in the room in case we'll someone. Agreed. We all look like you're fit for a wedding? Yeah, I guess as much as we can be. I'll have put on one of my nicer,

more cleaner geese that I had in my pack that I tried to scrub and get some of the dirt off on and try to look more presentable for today, just in case Plan A fails. All right, well, I need to finish my tea, but I believe we should make haste. Ready when you are? I look down and at the bottom of my cup.

That's my favorite part of the day. I read the tea leaves. Is Richie writing down how he's going to, you know, fuck me. Which I should I do? The little one. Always are the little one. And then my old trusty. Which should I start with first?

Digger little. Little. Let them all writ. Little. You get them all ripped. I had three. I let them all rip. Oh.

you get three? I got three. At 19? I've had three. I don't know that. Interesting. All right. I guess that makes sense.

I'll write them down, obviously. Keep me honest here. While the professor is finishing off his tea, I'm going to take out a small tincture that I've had since the beginning of the campaign. I'm going to pop off the cork, and I'm going to lay out my naginata, my katana, my blood spear and yeah I'll do that for now and I'll pop open the tincture and I will apply for one minute to each I'd like to apply my oil of sharpness okay by pieces of slashing or piercing ammunition I'm sorry I can only do it to one

weapon so it'll be it'll just be my naginata then which is my it is a slashing weapon. Yep. And then yeah, I'll just be coating it with oil of sharpness which is going to give me a plus three bonus to attack and damage rules. Damn, damn, all right. For one hour.

So keep me honest on if we've been longer than an hour and I'll take it off. I'm sharpening my blades and getting my trusty bonus. Presumably the wedding will be in more than now. Yes, you know that the wedding doesn't start until the evening. So you imagine you have a

a couple of hours before someone's probably going to come to take you, someone to take Victoria to get ready and then someone to take the rest of you wherever you're headed. And then it'll be a few hours from that point before the wedding actually happened. Well, I have like some time to find somewhere to do that without being suspicious, I suppose, like back at the case. I don't know if we'll find a time to... Well, presumably, I think they would mention that we would participate in some way. so we need to be told what to do, and maybe after that point,

before the ceremony starts, you take a quick minute. That's a good idea. Is there anything else you need to do them? Once we part ways, I'm likely to be a part of you until the ceremony. Professor, any chance you have some jade in your handy briefcase? How much?

Just a few beads. Oh, that's it. Just a few. Easily. Curio. You can't do those noises around Cald. And in my hand, there's a nice handful, probably like 10 or 12 GPs. Okay.

I will take them from you, and I'll find some string in my bag, and I'll thread them through and tie them. And I'll approach Victoria, and I'll ask for your wrist. And I will put the jade bracelet on your wrist, and I will sit. say, beads of jade for beauty. That's lovely, thank you, Miss God. You will bring honor to all of us. I trust you. And I know that you need to go to you.

I'm so grateful for you, that's. Forgive a bagel. Just keep that in mind. What a wife? It's been there reagents for spells. What a waste. I can't promise, though, the last forever. The beauty.

It looks as to, yeah, looks good enough. It's with this, that you hear the door. thud open as Escher saunteres in. He looks immediately to Connor, where a blush rises to your cheeks for a second before you regain your composure, smiles. His eyes trail over to his shepherd as he looks you up and down. Well, I hope you all slept well. Surprisingly so. Well enough. That is great to hear. Now, as you know, I will not be able to join you at the wedding, and I did hear that there will be sending up

separate parties to retrieve Victoria and the rest of you. So this is when we will say our goodbyes. Goodbye. We'll meet you at the gates. Yes. And now,

as one does, I dabble in a bit of falchemy. So Sonax, catch. And he reaches into his pocket and he throws you. Oh, fuck. A vial.

You are able to catch it. He then throws a vial to each of you. Oh. What is this? They're health potions. The superior or whatever the highest health potions are. They're really good shit. Hell yes.

I've had these for a while and I dust them off, checked the potency. So hopefully you don't need them, but if you do. Supreme? Yes. Pure. You would thank your good pal. Escher, his abilities. Holy shit. Thank you,

Escher. Of course, I think we all learned a lesson last night. We did, we did. Thank you for your wise teachings. Any time, darling. Do you know, dear? Oh, my, don't we be blush.

Escher. Yes, Anex. I want to thank you for this and for all of your assistance. I admit I am surprised that a creature of the night has done such good for the light. But I just want to say, in the end, you have a long life ahead of you, an eternal life, and a long path of atonement and redemption and penance remains.

Think of the first step, and then the next, and then the next. perhaps centuries from now, you won't recognize yourself as you are. The first step is why I helped you in the first place. Freedom. And with mine, I hope you find yours. Good luck. You will need it. You have surprised me.

And I hate to say, I am rooting for you. And I hope you surprise me yet again. now, adieu. You bows before you're going to flourish. Kana, you see as his shirt pops slightly open. You can see the faint tuft of hair on his chest. See Rice himself and saunters from the room. Sneak in a quick biting of the lip.

The door shuts softly behind him. You all begin to look around, and you notice Sergei is nowhere to be found. But sitting on the side table one of the beds, you see a note quickly scrawled. In Sergei's what appears to be Sergei's hand and signed with Sergei von Zarovich. My business began in the morning. I regret I could not wake you. You all slept so peacefully.

I will see you at the wedding. Do not forget the plan. Victoria, I believe in you. You are friend, your family. Sergi von Zalry. All right. This is it. Let us go.

And I will lead the party up the stairs out of the case. Wait, we were still in the case, right? You slept outside of the case, I thought. I didn't. I slept inside. Fine, and you're outside of the case. Oh, sorry. Irrelevant.

Yeah. Where you slept, doesn't matter. Okay. I will lead everyone out of the case into the room that was provided for us. And I'll get to the top of the stairs and I'll say, well, come on them. This is for you. I'll grab the dress out of the closet.

Hopefully, whether they send, they can carry this with some kind of respect. And now we wait. You wait for near an hour. Silence drags on. Your energy waning. the anticipation nagging at all of you before finally the door itself opens and you see two wraith-like women their skin a pearlescent white as they walk in their tattered dresses around them their nails long and dark is they look towards you Victoria one of them rushes over grabs the

dress from the closet and ushers to you to follow See you see you. Victoria, darkness and death are not wicked. Only the mortal actions we make. Please. See. As you exit the room,

they lead from room to room along passage after passage until you finally find yourself in beautiful hallway, lined with large, gilded paint, or paintings of the Von Zarovich line. And lastly, into one of the largest rooms you've seen since entering, only slightly smaller than that of Stradanya herself. The bed hangings in here are clean and beautiful, plush, blue velvet.

It's gorgeous. The wraiths begin to fuss with your hair, apply makeup to you. They begin to slowly help you undress. You spend time. with them, you at a couple points attempt to talk to them. And one of them opens her mouth to show you where her tongue had been cut. They cannot speak.

They can only assist. Is in silence and fear, hope, and uncertainty, you begin to get ready for the wedding. Is there anything you'd like to do while you get ready for the wedding? Other than, I don't know if they would be doing this, but when the veil goes on pending it. As the veil goes on, they recoil from the hairpin. They're on death not allowing them anywhere near it. As you slowly slip the pin into your veil, securing it in place.

The rest of you, wait for another hour or so. Before finally you hear a rat on the door. I get up immediately. I look at the divester. Not open the door. You open the door in Rahadine's hunched figure as they are staring. at you. Your service has been requested.

You shall usher the guests into the wedding. Yes? Yes. Yes. You are dirty. Do you have anything else I can wear? Cisciio. He nods. He nods at you in thanks.

That was my dirt. Well... That has some too. Let us away then. He leads you through the castle, through passageways, and secret, secret rooms until you find yourselves in the grand entrance hall. And it is beautiful.

The doors flung wide open, draped in red velvet drapery, large black garlands placed all over. Beautiful, pristine red and purple roses, dot everything. Ornate golden vases lined the entranceway, filled to the brim with flowers. The scent of lavender, the scent of roses, the scent of love. It is loud as you walk in. The cathedral, the other end of this level of the castle, is already teeming with life. As Rahadine ushers you towards the doors that lead to the cathedral, he places Kana and Clayton on one side, Sarnax and Shepherd on the other. He hands you small parchment.

to pass out to each guest as they come through. He explains to you to greet them and to show them where to sit, that you choose. Make sure that no side is more heavy than the other. As you glance around the cathedral, you see that it is so vastly different from what it had been before. What had been the night before, it is now full of color, ready for true wedding.

And if you didn't know any better, this would be the grandest wedding fit for a queen, not a countess, not Stradamia. It is beautiful. And your heart lightens just a bit as you see the Barovian comiters milling about, some of them looking truly joyous to actually be at an occasion, sitting down with their family members. There are undead servants milling about offering hors d'urves, but they look to be piping hot, fresh.

No rot to be found. The Barovians hesitantly take them and eat them, and it's delicious. And joy for the first time and a long time has come to Barovia. You both take your positions, or all four of you, take your positions to the side of the cathedral as you begin to hand out pamphlets. Oh, right this way. Welcome to the wedding of Isabella. von Karshtine. Mr.

Mrs. and Mrs. Isabella. Anyway, please come in. Stradanya von Zorovic. Oh, I said Von Karshtzai. I've signed a moment of madness. And Isabella. God damn it. I'm not there.

Someone's been screaming. That's entirely the wrong name, you're feeling all right. That's not even good. I'll have one and I'll say, there's no bride side or bride's side. We're all family here. Sit where you like.

Huh? What? Yeah. Let's go sit down. Yeah, you know, that way. Sit down. Here. This is nice.

Perhaps Stradanya intends well. Connor, don't forget her name. I'm sorry. Part of the dream, you know, it's very well-rested last night. Anyway, I apologize. This way. On this way.

Sheppard, are you well? You look as if you've been up late drinking your whiskey. No, no. I mean, I had a, I had a drink before I went to sleep, but no. I also saw a drink before, but the drink before you went to sleep. All right, I had a couple drinks.

I'm just saying, Shepard. It's not unusual for me. Could you hold out your hand for me very quickly? Okay, you're fine. Sorry. Okay, come on. I'm trying to make light of the situation in all honesty. We need to focus, all right?

I am very nervous. Yeah, I can tell. I can sit down over there. We don't believe even... As you reach out another pamphlet, the person grabs the pamphlet from you, but also grabs your hand. it is good to see you again. And as you look up, you stare into the eyes of Davian Markov.

Oh, my goodness, I'm sorry. I didn't even recognize. Freshly cleaned his staff in one hand. It is good to see all of you. I regret to be here, unfortunately, but an invitation was sent to the family, and one of us had to accept. And it was a chance to see your beautiful shining. faces. So I have taken it. Whatever happens,

just let no, we're not going to land any bad avenue, all right? I have no doubt in my mind that with you present that all are safe. Yeah, you can all here. You're just one on either side for the sake of visuals. He's the family well. How is Vasha?

Is she doing well? She is a skimp, but she is doing well. She misses you, all of you. Still alive? Yes, very much alive. All right. She does not take a single day for granted. Relieved to see a friendly face.

I know what you can do, so if this was poorly... He smiles at you and he tilts his staff a little bit towards you. I may be old, but I am not stupid, and I always come prepared. All right, well, be safe. Hopefully they're serving some of your wine at the ceremony. We delivered a new batch of champagne du la stone. Thanks to the efforts of all of you. It is the first we have made in many, many a year.

I hope you will take a chance to have a glass for us. Looking forward to it. You'll seat right there. He grabs each one of your hands and shakes it, pats you on the back as he almost waddles in his old age towards his seat. Welcome, welcome.

That's not. She would invite one member of the family. Seems like a... I mean, obviously, there's a threat involved. I don't like this. He can handle himself. He saw what power he's capable. I'm glad he's here, frankly.

I am, but I get a bad feeling. It's at this moment that you hear, a loud clanging as you see a form tumble from a door off to the side. The clanging, the sound of Pidilich II being thrown across the entry hall, as Blinsky stumbles out of a room, apologizing profusely, as he rushes over and picks up Piddlewick, they both laugh, as he holds him on his leg, you will tell me many stories, great stories, and I will learn how you are created. Piddlewick looks up at him, his sinister smile, but he seems happy, contented. As you watch is in the room from once they came.

Gertruda steps out in a beautiful dress, a pale, pale pick, and follow directly behind her, her mother. In a matching gown, but to fit her age, is the four of them walk towards you. Mad Mary immediately looks to you, Clayton. Thank you for checking on my daughter. We spoke last night in the very wee, wee hours of the morning when I arrived, and she told me that you brought her daughter back to her. Yes, yes. When you have a chance, when things settle down after the wedding,

I would hope that you would come to Borovia, and I would love to offer you a fine dinner in my home. Yes, thanks. We've not been back to Barovia. village since we left the first time. I apologize it took us so long to find your daughter, but almost as if it was divine providence for you to meet her the very next day. Hopefully, you can get some time with her. Maybe take her home for a little bit. She squeezes your hand and smiles up at you as Blinsky rushes over to Sarnax and embraces you. You have spent a lot of money.

I have. Binski, it is good to see you. I just put my head in my hands. Sheffered missed you very much. He holds Piddleick the second by the scruff of his color. Have you seen these really cool clockwork, man? Yes. Look at them. And he taps on his stomach, the sound ringing out throughout the cathedral. The Barovian commoners look at all the commotion that's coming from Blinsky,

but he does not seem to have the social graces that everyone else has. I'm glad that you were able to come here. Do you have any additional toys on you? I don't have any coin on me, but I could give you an I-O-U. No, just his clockwork man, but I tell you, he took a large bite out of my shin, and it is going to bruise. I lost a nail and cracked my skull, thanks to him. There will be a scar. Yes, no, I don't doubt that.

That is a whole. I mean, be careful. He very dearly murdered off Ranconiard. He almost pushed me off a breach. Clever little creature. It's such a fixture. I cannot wait to find the ways that he works. A scamp, really, yes.

Yes, really. Good luck. He's mine now. I'm truly excited now for a wedding. Yes, enjoy. Here is your, I will guide you to the seat. May I have a second, Fort Piedelwick, please? Of course.

Thank you. I will guide you, Sirpard, keep away. This is mine. You watch as they all make their way in. For another 45 minutes or so, you continue to usher new guest after new guests, some that you had seen in Barovia and Balaki and Krez. Many familiar faces, many you'd never seen before. Hundreds of people have arrived at Castle Ravenloft.

As you're distracted communicating or talking to each other, you feel a warm hand on your shoulder, Shepard. The children are safe. Young Tommy inquires about you. Oh my goodness. Father Lucian stands before all of you. Father, how have we been? Well, I was asked to come to facilitate.

the wedding. And when I arrived this morning, I was told that it was going to be handled by someone else. But I have been asked to stay and to watch. And so I will. Because it has been a long time since Joy found its place in the world. I'm glad the kids are all right. They are. You will have to come see them. They worry for you. Yeah. Yeah. We'll be sure to do that. Did Johnia include any kind of threats in your invitation? The same threat she included in everyone's invitation. That declining was not an option. At least one from every family invited must appear.

I could not bring the children, though they wanted to come. Thank goodness they're back in the Locky. They will not forgive me that they've missed out on such an event. But I could not trust them to not ruin it and incur her iron. Father Lucian, how is Velocchi doing after everything that happened? It is weakened, but the people have hope. They work tirelessly. Things are being rebuilt.

New paint is finding its way on old buildings. It looks better than it did before. But only time will tell. That warms my soul to hear, thank you. And mine, Sarnax. and mild. You all look well. I will not lie and say I was not worried for what this would entail, but this is love me. I am glad I've come.

Me too. Now, where should I sit? I'll take your seat. Come on. You lead Father Lucian to his seat and help him to sit down. As the guests begin to come in more slowly. One after another, the time between them longer and longer and longer. Until finally, it's been a significant amount of time until you've had a new arrival at all. As the doors of Castle Ravenloft open, a hunched figure walks in, covered in a shawl.

Figure begins to hobble and move towards you slowly, bones old, hunched beneath her cloak. and as she gets to you, she pulls the hood back in her bright, sparkling eyes. Madam Ava smiles at you all. You will not see me on the guest list. But I hope for a friend you will allow me entrance to my sister's wedding.

Of course, we will never deny you. You weren't invited. Of course not. We thought you left. The Velaki are still. safe. My kin, that's what I said. I am old. Do not correct an old woman.

Very true. The Vistani are safe. My kin are safe. But I could not miss a wedding. I could not miss this. Well, I've been taking very good care of Aradha. I know. She tells me so. Oh, you still? talk of course

that's impressive I will do what I can to raise her she'll be a very powerful wizard one day more powerful than I could ever hope to be she will put all others to shame but she's of my blood

now my knee's weak in my back tires Clayton escorts me to my seat please take my hand You all look so well. It is wonderful to see you, Madame Havu. It is wonderful to see you. I feel well, Madame Eva.

Do you feel it? Fate culminating? Yes. And joy. I feel it as well. Thank you. As we kind of walk down the hall, I'll say to her, I'll lean in.

Once we're coming away, I'll say, I'm going to be honest. Madam Mava, I can expect to see you again. I know. I saw it in the crystal ball. Do you see anything else? Many things. All right, well, like Sonic said, I have a good feeling about all this.

She pats you on the back. As do I, my dear, as do I. The cards have fallen and they have not strayed from their path. I think, regardless of what happens, I think we might do this. Is with this the loud, bell begins to ring is Rahadin rushes up.

You must all take your seats. Shepherd, first quadrant, second pew, third seat in, and he starts to give you seats. First, second, third, fourth piece of the cathedral.

Take your seats. Sure. You will. Thank you. We're not seated together. Stradania. does not wish for you to be, so you will not be. All right. Very well, we find that amenable. We'll just have one final conversation before the ceremony begins.

Make it quick. You will. The doors will be closing in minutes. You best start applying your own now. Is this a... You can... Yes, you're fine. I'll just like take out, just dump it into some, like, a cloth and just start...

This makes it even more critical. that we do not focus on lighting up Stradania when Victoria makes her strike. We must ensure that all of the civilians in our respective quadrants are taken care of. We will escort them before the first gunshot. The first flame was flung. I believe that if Victoria can strike,

then if we have a few more minutes, we should be able to get everyone out of here. Okay. Yeah. We'll be in a different portion of the cathedral. Let's each of us focus on those around us. Yes. And one more thing, all of you, my comrades and companions.

I have stared into the fire every single night since we've been here. And I do not know what will happen today, but I have seen a victory in the flames, a victory in the fire. I've had doubts Especially after yesterday in that heart But I have faith in Garex I know you have faith in Garex I hope both of you is Faithless as you are

I hope You have faith in Garex And if not Garex Have faith in me I do have faith in you saw next I have faith in all of you I have faith in all of you as well And I have faith in Victoria

as do I think we need to be ready I do too as well Clan B's be damned This is going to work I have faith and loyalty In each of you You wonder why I'm not I did not follow our of Garricks

I believe in all the less I trust you all with my life And I hope you trust me as well Yes, of course Of course I hope this isn't the last time We see each other We all make it out alive

But if it is And there has been another It has been an honor and I'll be heading first my seat. Shepherd. Yeah. Remember when why Garex chose you, be the shepherd. All right, sardis. Good luck. You too.

Good luck. You all find your seats as the doors close with a loud reverberating thud. Everyone begins, the noise of the hum in the room begins to get louder as everyone's looking around. You too begin to look around. seated next to people you've never met before, but they introduce themselves, you introduce yourselves, you make pleasantries as you wait, as you wait, as you wait, as you wait, you look behind yourselves and you see that this cathedral is two stories high, and at the very back of the room, one on the left and one on the right are two wooden spiral staircases leading up to the second

floor. And for a second, you see a glimpse of white. And you know that on one side is Victoria. as everyone is finding their seats and getting ready for the wedding to start, Victoria, you find yourself looking down over the cathedral, staring at the room before you. It's beautiful. It's absolutely beautiful. And so are you. Your hair has been done to the utmost perfection. Your makeup is pristine in every way, and the dress fits you perfectly, as if it was made.

for you. The two raids that move about you getting you ready, silent. If they do anything that you wish? Is there anything that you'd like to do before the wedding begins? It is with that that once again a bell tolls. As music begins to play, the wraiths usher you towards the stairs, and you know what you need to do. As you pull the veil over your face, you begin to to descend the steps. Everyone in the room rises to their feet as they all turn and look towards

the stairwell on the right. Victoria, a vision in white. She begins to descend the stairs, turn after turn, her dress trailing behind her. The beating, catching the glimpses of the candlelights, it flickers over her

as if she's almost shimmering with beauty. She makes her way to the to the back of the room, and out of the shadows, step someone you remember. Your father takes his arm, grabs you, places your arms together. He leans down, and he says, I've always loved you, and I loved your mother too.

I'm proud of you, my daughter, of your strength, who you have become, into one day you will become. As he squeezes your hand, he begins to. to lead you down the aisle. Sergei stands in a beautiful, radiant gold suit of armor. His helmet off as his dark hair flows around his shoulders. A book held out in his hand. As you slowly make your way to the end of the,

as the end of the row, you take your spot up next to him. He looks down at you and smiles. A tear rolls down your father's face. He lets your hand go and he takes a seat at the very front of the pews looking up at you in awe, in wonder, and in love. Sergei looks to you. I have faith in you, Victoria, look beautiful. May the morning Lord shine his light on you this day. As everybody lets out a loud gas,

is standing at the very top of the left staircase is Stradania, clad in a beautiful black wedding dress. It hugs every curve of her body. The veil touching the very floor that she walks on. And as she moves step after step as she descends from the alcove that she had been in, it looks almost as if she's not walking, but floating on air. She gets to the very end of the pews.

No one comes to collect her. for she needs no one. Her head held high as she moves down the aisle heading towards you, her eyes locked on you. You can see it through the veil, her face filled with joy, love, passion.

Her eyes never leave yours as she walks gracefully towards her brother. And as she stands in front of you, towering over you. You see it for the first day. time. Trust. She looks down you with the eyes of someone who's deeply irrequivably you love in love with you. She reaches out and you feel her hands cold on yours as she turns to Sergei. A hush falls over the entirety of the chapel. As Sergei raises his voice,

begins to deliver the sermon. We are all gathered here today to witness the marriage of Miss Victoria Isaacs and Countess Dordanya von Zorovic. If there is anyone in this audience hall

that protest to this wedding, may they now do so or forever hold their peace. He looks out over the over the cathedral and not a single person stands. It's almost as if not even a single person is willing to breathe.

Victoria, you are the only person that notices a sigh of relief ripple across Sredonia. She sees that no one will stand to oppose. She squeezes your hands just a little bit tighter and there is worry. She's nervous. If a creature like this can be nervous, she is in this moment. Sergei continues. He preaches on about the sanctity of marriage, the importance of love. It lasts for a near hour as he pleads out to all gods,

all beings of higher power to honor the wedding between the two of you before he finally looks between his sister and you, Victoria. It is now that I would ask my beloved sister, Stradanya von Zorovich, to recite her vows. Shredonia let your hands fall for a second. You can see she's partially shaking. I'll be a very quick smile. She smiles back at you and you can see her relax in front of you.

I vow that for the rest of our lives, for eternity always, that I will watch you, that I will protect you, that I will love you, that no harm shall come to you as long as you are mine. In the d'wifly ceremony, I pledge to be yours always. Sergei nods his head and he looks towards you. Victoria Isaacs, your vows. Victoria Isisks, take you, Stradonia, to be my eternal partner, to have and to hold in shadow and at night,

from this day until the end of our days. My joy shall be your joy. your sorrows shall be my sorrows. And as of today, we shall bind ourselves together for better or for worse. I have come to accept that my path to you has been no accident, and it is in fact what I've been searching for my entire life. My suffering for El Mata has led me to this dark land so that I may finally bring an end to our lonely anguish.

It has guided me to you, Stradonia, and I vow to bring you to peace at any cost. My soul is yours. She squeezes your hand in herns and you see all semblance of reservation fall from her face as she smiles down at you. A true, genuine smile as she mouths the words, I love you.

Sergei turns to you both. It is with the power vest in me that I and Sergei begins to sing. The song is soft at first and Shredanya shakes her head, unsure as to what is happening. As she slowly begins to turn his head, her head towards Sergei,

she realizes all too late as her body locks up and she freezes. She looks directly at you. Her eyes wounded. As she begins to mouth the words, why, as she is frozen in place. Sergei looks at you and with desperation. Now, as he slowly finishes the song. So with that, I will reach up to her face,

and I don't know if she's like paralyzed. Yeah, she can't move. She's in her stances. I'll move around to the front of her and close her eyes and kiss her deeply. And then I will pull the hairpin and thrust it into her choker. As soon as the tip of the hair pin meets the ruby within Stradonna's choker, there's a flash of shadow magic as the pin shatters and a loud crack echoes through the cathedral

that drowns out the gasps of the wedding guests. Stradania's paralyzed green eyes are filled with shock, rage, hatred, betrayal, and sadness as she is knocked back by the eruption of magic. As the initial cacophony dies down, the cathedral is deathly quiet for just a moment. and all that can be heard is the faint beating of wings where Victoria's father had been is now a cloud of falling raven's feathers. Then you hear a sickening, slimy-sounding pop

as your attention is drawn to the cracked gem and in a single moment it bursts into bloody red energy that lashes out across the entire cathedral and tendrils of power. They almost look like tentacles as they strike every living creature in the room. I need you all to roll a charisma saving throw at disadvantage. Yes.

We still get to add the 1d4 to save me. Yep. Yep. Yep. Um. Oh, wow. 16, 17. Oh, 17.

Yeah. Oh, good. Oh, boy. I got a 2 plus. I have a 10. Uh, you said charisma? Yes, that's not. At disadvantage.

Oh, that's not good. 13. Who needs to twist? I need, I should twist. I should twist. I got a 16. I should twist. Okay, two twists?

Yeah. I got a 19. I'm all my 16 roll. Okay, that was even worse. I'm sorry, I got a dirty 20. I realized I have... Okay, I'm getting... One more twist.

Okay, thank you, chat. That's that. That's all I'm doing. We're panicking, we're panicking. Okay, I fail. I accept my fate. 16. 24.

Dirty 20. Shepherd? 16. You all feel your body's lock up as if the blood in your veins is working against you, puppeting you into a helpless observer as arcing streets, of Eldridge power course over everyone in the cathedral, including Sergei. His eyes are wide with realization as the lullaby loses its hold over Shardania, and she begins to move. The wriggling, bloody tendrils from her gem shrink back from the crowd to completely consume her in red energy.

They seem to affect her worse than anyone else in the room. She lets out a pained scream as her body is covered from head to toe and pulsing, bulging veins of corrupting energy. Stray bits of flying power escape from the gem. In an instant, her proud, beautiful, youthful exterior ages centuries, until she looks like a withered crone. Her fangs sink back to normal teeth, human once more. But only for a second, as her vampire body rejuvenates a moment later. Her beauty returning, the rapid shifting and changing back and forth happens again and again and again and again, human to vampire, vampire to human, young to old, until the countess lets out a brutal roar of anguish, flash of crimson light relative calm returns to her.

Standing before you with maddened eyes full of betrayal is the mighty undead warlord you all know too well. Her previously unblemished pale skin is marked with coursing, writhing veins of Eldritch magics that seem to be empowering and torturing her all at the same time. Her face is sunken and otherworldly. Her fangs longer than they'd ever been before. Her eyes, once a soft green, have turned to pure red. and streaming down her cheeks are two endless streams of crimson tears, blood streaking her porcelain face.

As she looks at all of you, you can see the malevolence of a lifetime of evil carved across her face. Her face, her countenance is cracking as you see genuine sadness as the devil cries. She turns to you, Victoria, in a single swift motion, she grabs you by the throat, her long, sharp nails digging into your flesh, piercing into you. Her red eyes are filled with equal parts.

hurt and hate. You were supposed to be different. You are supposed to be my one light in the darkness. You are supposed to feel devoid inside me. Shredania suppresses a bitter sob as she attempts to wipe away the streams of blood from her cheeks, but the bloody tears remain. They continue to flow. After everything I did for you, I let you and your friends traips around my land on your

little expedition after I promised you everything. Everything you could want. After all I thought we had, you would dare betray me. You steal the reincarnation of my first love. You lock her in a church. You bring my brother back from the dead to turn against me. You use my mother's hairpin, the only token of remembrance I have of her to do this to me. Shredonia gestures to her entire presence with a melodramatic flourish of her arm as her grip around your throat gets tighter and you feel your windpipe. closing. Her nails dig deeper as blood trickles down your neck. She hesitates a moment before releasing her grasp and throwing you to the cold stone of the cathedral floor. She turns to all of you, to everyone in audience. No, good deed goes unpunished. I was a fool for thinking things could be different. And you are all fools for coming to this land. You've doomed me. You've doomed yourselves. And you've doomed Barovia.

You've doomed even more than you could possibly know. You cannot comprehend the dark powers you are evoking. Stradania raises her arm in the air. The crackling, pulsing energy that's held the entire cathedral at bay shoots back to her arms, freeing everyone from their blood-puppeting stasis, except for the five of you and Sergei. Immediately, all of the wedding guests scream in terror

and attempt to flee. But with the pulled magic in each of her hands, the countess sends a coursing blast of eldred power to the doors of the cathedral, which hit and spread across every inch of the walls and windows. A magical barrier shimmers into existence, pulsing and throbbing, preventing all escape. The horror in the room erupts as the Berovians almost trample each other to find exits. Did you all forget? Gerovia is a prison, not just for me. We are all prison. and there's heed. And we all serve, and now you will die. The Countess turns around to survey the panic and terror of the scene, and she inhales as if to savor the fear. And for the first time since your betrayal, the sadness seems to be soothed as a horrible grin of acceptance comes to Stradanya's face. The bloody tears still streaming down her face, she looks at each of you. Her irises as red as the cracked gem around her neck. However, she cannot bring herself to match eyes with Sergei. Her voice drops to a more measured volume. If it's blood you want, it's blood you shall have.

Horsemen! She raises her right arm in the air and calls to the death nights in the corners of the cathedral. They immediately snapped to attention and face her. You are my will, my horsemen. You are my blade. You wield the power of death. Now kill them. kill them

all! With a furious spin Stradanya drops through the floor of the cathedral leaving all of you completely helpless as hundreds of panicked Barovians scream, cry, plead, and beg around you. You see each of the four horsemen, formerly knights of the morning lord,

raise their weapons into the air as four beams of sickly, necrotic magic streak through the air and collide in a single point near the ceiling at the dead center of the room. From sword, scythe, flail, and lance, The arcs of blue, purple, green, and white converge into a vile black energy that rains down upon the crowd below. The wailing of fear turns to the agonized death throes of the countless souls around you as the necromanic magic shrivels and withers the flesh of the trapped wedding guests, bringing them to a brutal, torturous demise.

Gertruda and her mother mad Mary clutch each other in one final embrace as their lives are ripped from them. Blinsky gyrates wildly while feebly attempting to shield himself with pittle with this. the second, who is immediately splintered into scraps and cogs as soon as the blast hits him. Davy and Mardukov raises his staff against the nearest death night, but he is too slow as the staff splinters and he stumbles forward. Father Lucian kneels in quiet prayer, seemingly accepting his death as it comes surely, but not swiftly and not without pain. Isaac is smashing commoners out of the way with his fiendish arm as he attempts to flee, dying in absolute terror. Rahadine turns his blade around and falls on it to spin.

himself the familiar magic he knows so well, granting himself a swift death his victims did not always receive. And poor Cyrus covers his eyes with his hands, perhaps hoping that if you could not see the descending death, it could not see him, but he was wrong. As the wholesale slaughter seemingly comes to the entire cathedral, you all feel no pain as the crackling black magic seems to miss each and every one of you. And Sergei, as if fate itself was protecting you. You then all notice at the back of the cathedral, the small form of Madame Eva, extending a gentle hand outstretched toward you all while holding a crystal ball in the other. Although she has clearly been horribly withered by the power of the horsemen, her face shows

no pain or fear. A soft smile comes to her face as the apocalyptic ritual comes to an end and the still quiet of death washes over the cathedral. She looks towards all of you with her milky white eyes and struggles to open her mouth. Fate has chosen you. Go. Win. With a final sigh,

Madame Ava's eyes closed for the last time, and her crystal ball shatters as she collapses. And as the orb shatters, so does the bloody eldritch power that holds you. You all regain control of your bodies,

and while every single other person around you has perished, the six of you still live. And that is where we'll end the session. Oh, my God. How could Victoria do that to me? After everything. I did for her. How could it all come to this? It's all true. It really is different this time.

It really is now that we must all face our destinies. Where do those destinies lie? Find out in Chapter 20 of Curse of Sturdania, Lament of the Damned. In the meantime, if you wish to watch Legends of Adventress tell similar stories of Dungeons and Dragons every week, you can follow us on Twitch. You can also enjoy our many campaigns on YouTube, shop at our merch store, support us on Patreon, and join our community on Discord. All links are in the show notes. We welcome you to our Ventris family.