On the blood-soaked hill below Van Richten's tower, our beleaguered adventurers lick their wounds as adrenaline fades and silence reigns. Valarith summons his trusty celestial steed, Alice, as Laela informs Lucian, Nikael, Valdr, and Daven that she and Valarith will return to Vallaki, continuing their work at St. Andrals church. The mood is dour as the warm bodies of Ireena and Malchior sit still, the spirit of the latter watching on eerily and attempting to catch the attention of the still breathing to no avail. Lucian burns the corpses of Ireena and Malchior before the party departs from the scene of slaughter, leaving their enemies where they lay and heading out. Back on the Svalich Road, a sign post informs our heroes of the nearby destinations, with Vellaki to the east behind them, the Wizard of Wines to the south, and Krezk, to the west. As everyone turns towards the mountain hamlet of Krezk, Valdr's mind rings with the whispers of his ancestors just like in his dreams, calling to him from the south, and he doesn't take notice of the sudden disturbance. Lucian's elven senses and animal kindred alert him to a presence in the woods, ravens fleeing their perches en masse, as he reflexively hardens his skin like tree bark for a fight! The figure that greets them is entirely foreign, but Lucian knows better, and Malchior knows it too. Briefly freed from the grips of his rage for Strahd, Malchior's new yet old body, decomposing and decrepit, throws clothes on and rejoins the travelers while describing his ordeal. Valdr pipes up, having heard of revenants, souls with unfinished business in life, and that here, they mostly come from Argynvostholt, the headquarters of the Order of the Silver Dragon. The astute half-orc also voices that despite having recently died, Malchior seems to have "gotten better," and that he's glad for it. Lucian boldly asks if he may keep Malchior's salvaged tiefling horn, and the newly risen revenant has to chuckle in agreement. Halfway to their destination the group crosses a bridge wreathed in mist, the towering half-man calling attention to a rider approaching, which is soon revealed to be skeletal, man and mount! Carrying a strange lantern that seems to consume light, the knight charges through everyone, knocking Malchior over before speeding off into the mistwall in the distance, letting loose a terrible unholy screeching as they presumably are destroyed by whatever lingers beyond. Krezk sits nestled into the side of a snowy mountain, above it the abbey of St. Markovia visible against the dark backdrop of night. Krezk's crenellated walls and gated guard house greet the exhausted and downtrodden group of vampire hunters, the guards looking wary and with good reason. Daven smoothly makes the case for them as simple travelers desiring rest, but their paranoia and talk of werewolves triggers a subtle but startling metamorphosis to begin to take place in Lucian. Druidic instinct battles cursed power, as undead Malchior under the guise of a kooky bush healer finally deduces the cause. Unfortunately he is too late and Lucian's newly furred form distends and towers over him with trembling muscles and bright yellow fangs. Recognizing the affliction for its association with witchcraft most foul, Malchior unwinds the threads of shadow and frees Lucian from the curse! The group's ruse succeeds, gates opening into a village of small self-sustained farms and buildings puffing smoke into the snowy sky. The druid, stressed beyond belief, blearily interrogates each and every puddle on the wet ground if they happen to be alcohol.Villagers stare as they make their way to the cottage barn in which Daven has secured living arrangements, everyone divesting themselves and settling in to rest for the night. Nikael sets down and meditates on the Sunsword, that vampire's fear in physical form, attuning himself and its essence. The platinum hilted crystal blade gives off a sense of gratitude to be wielded for a purpose once more, eager even, to join power with Nikael and hunt down Strahd. Malchior, no longer needing to sleep, offers to take the night watch in its entirety, using the time to centre himself after the harrowing events of the day. Daylight breaks with a light brighter than expected for a place in these shadowed lands, as the charming wife of the Burgomaster welcomes the entourage to Krezk, inviting them to dinner that night. That evening, while partaking of lovingly prepared food but no wine, Daven observes the Burgomaster as seeming exceedingly glum. The table quiets as news of the recent death of their son, Ilya, at fourteen, is shared, the atmosphere never quite recovering. The mood sours and the Burgomaster suddenly slams his fist down on the mahogany table with wrath at the group supposedly having brought werewolves to his village, all too happy to see them out and on their way as soon as possible. Apologizing for her husband, Anna wishes our heroes good fortune investigating the winery, hoping for swift success for her husband's sake. As our intrepid monster slayers venture forth to tackle the drought plaguing Barovia, the gloomy walls of the abbey above Krezk echo with inhuman wailing and horrifying screams, casting shivers down the spines of all who witness. Taking the Old Svalich Road eastward, the mists coalesce around the group and a palpable sense of anxiety creeps over the clearing, while in the depths of the fog a mysterious humanoid form looms...
