As our adventurers had just settled into Vallaki, it was only a matter of time before they drew the attention of particularly influential members within the town. Following the lead of a mysterious dinner invitation, our party came upon Wachterhaus where they were acquainted with the Lady Wachter whose intentions seemed as surreptitious as her invitation. After a brief foray into the manor's cellar while Lady Wachter entertained the rest of her guests inside. The party uknowingly stumbled upon a mass of skeletons lying dormant beneath the cellar dirt. They soon discovered there was far more to Lady Wachter than meets the eye after wandering into a secret cellar room by happenstance where a number of her "book club" members sat. Imminent disaster might have descended upon our party had Lady Wachter not possessed a modicum of patience and dismissed everyone present. It seemed that more questions would be raised than answers would be found as Lady Wachter gifted Malchior with a "symbol of good faith" that was lying in a chest of bones serving as the nest to a peculiar tome bearing the mark of Strahd. As our adventurers finally found their first truly well-rested night in Barovia, they were awakened by a rare glimmer of hopeful inspiration on the morning of the Blazing Sun Festival. Biding their afternoon hours with investigating a local toymaker, the Festival was soon in full swing as the burgomaster unsuccessfully lanced a wicker structure with a torch that sputtered out in the sudden downpour. The burgomaster might have faced humiliation were it not for the mercy of our party lighting it secretly for him. No sooner a symphony of screams mingled with the screech of bats emanated from Vallaki's church of the Morning Lord and as our adventurers were drawn to the source of chaos, only then did they behold the visage of a regal individual striding into the church with singular purpose. Then our adventurers realised that this man was none other than Strahd von Zarovich . Will they live to witness another sunrise? Only time will tell...
