Followers of Lathander say that the night is always darkest before dawn, that with the morning comes salvation and succor, giving shelter to the flickering and hopeful hearts of Barovia, few they may be. When Valarith and Laela burst from the forest with a crescendo of light and vengeance, the night was pushed back in the wake of the new dawn. However, as this bright and glorious morning arrives and inevitably passes, day turns to night, and in the face of true darkness will these brave heroes be tested! Our adventurers find themselves beset upon by an endless tide of nightmarish horrors at the command of the devil himself, Strahd Von Zarovich, eyes glittering in silent rage. Like the bleak curtain of night cast over the land at sundown, Strahd descends, blanketing the air with his very presence, austere, dominant, and visceral. With the simple snap of his fingers, the supernatural tyrant twists Laela's physical form into that of a fluffy white rabbit, collapsing her brilliant wall of light before fading from sight. In amongst the thrash of melee, the furocious bear form of Lucian makes broken toys out of the scuttling vampire spawn, lightning arcing down from the roiling sky as Valdr lays about with brutal destruction, overcome with ursine rage! Surprising the newcomers, Daven cunningly strikes like a trap-door spider, swiftly dispatching foes ambush predator style before scooping up Laela, Nikael similarly dancing from shadow to shadow fending off the aggressions and grasping claws of the formerly living Barovians. Suddenly Valarith is lifted and tossed from the base of the tower like leaves, and the vicious sound of flesh rending tears through the clearing as it appears the Lord of Darkness has finally taken his due. Unconscious as he is, Malchior is in no state to resist, and Strahd casually ends the life of the one who thought to parlay with devils. All at once the swarm of vampire spawn descend on the body of the tiefling, feasting and ripping until nothing remotely recognizable remains! Just as suddenly, the vampire spawn scatter with single-minded purpose, ignoring the attacking party in favour of a full retreat, no doubt at their master's command. The silence is deafening as the aftermath of the confrontation slowly sinks in, Laela's imprisonment ending for her to tragically explain there is nothing to be done for the ruined mess that used to be a warlock, helping to patch up the survivors. An uncertain future awaits our heroes as they gladly make haste out of the woods, leaving behind only nightmares and regrets on their journey to depose the evil that is Strahd, and wake Barovia from its oppressive slumber.
