Corinne's D&D Game

Excerpt from the journal of Joybringer Aghub Bazaap, written on the 19th day of the 4th Moon of the Barovian year 735. Turns out, Gertruda (the young woman I rescued from Strahd) isn't from this village; it's another village she didn't want to go back to, so she should be fine here - at least for the time being. I left my zombie to guard her at the inn anyway, just in case. Her room cost me five silver pieces. I went out to the smithy where I found the alterations to my warhammer complete. The smith had the gall to ask for additional payment; I tried to brush him off as politely as I could, having just spent a rather hefty sum on his services, but in the end I had to be rather brusque. Finally, I returned to the inn to wait for the others to return, while Halborin took Strahd's carriage out to try to meet up with them along the way somewhere. When they return I believe it is probably time we made a plan to investigate the abandoned village mentioned to us by

  Excerpt from the journal of Joybringer Aghub Bazaap, written on the 19th day of the 4th Moon of the Barovian year 735. Investigating the castle further, at Strahd's invitation, we encountered a young woman who claimed to have fled the village. She seemed in no distress so we left her and continued exploring. Zynmar and Jerious appeared to have gotten themselves lost somewhere, but they seem capable of taking care of themselves so I didn't feel an immediate search was warranted. I found some valuable books and "borrowed" a couple. We then found some speaking statues; they seemed confused but potentially helpful if we but knew what to ask of them. Worth returning to if we have the chance. We saw a strange creature apparently made of blood, but it fled. We followed and saw signs of ghostly apparitions, but my lady's power tells me it was not a ghost we encountered. Of the blood creature we saw no further sign. And then Strahd struck down the young woman and left

  Excerpt from the journal of Joybringer Aghub Bazaap, written on the 19th day of the 4th Moon of the Barovian year 735. As Mr Zarovich had given us the run of the castle, and Lliira had given me an assurance of safety, we decided to do some snooping. Our first point of interest was a chapel, containing the remains of an unwelcome visitor, and an amulet that Strahd seemed reluctant to touch. Zynmar, of course, picked it up, but it seemed to do her no harm. I, having given my last helpful friend over to Strahd, raised the intruder's body to serve as my new assistant. Moving on, we became the victims of some sort of practical joke: a dummy "attacked" us from above and, regrettably, Zynmar retaliated, invalidating my divination of safety; Strahd did seem to be giving consideration to the possibility that I might borrow a suit of armour, and if we see him again I must restate the request as I now feel quite vulnerable in this potentially hostile place. So far thou

Excerpt from the journal of Joybringer Aghub Bazaap, written on the 19th day of the 4th Moon of the Barovian year 735. We finally met Mr Zarovich, and he seems about as much fun as a hike through a swamp. That much, I expected. But he also didn't seem particularly… monstrous? Megalomaniacal? Invested in crushing the peasantry beneath his heels like the lowly worms he undoubtedly believes them to be? In fact, he seemed… bored? Tired? Disappointed? I got the impression that he'd invited us to observe us at close quarters, as though he's waiting for the right kind of traveller to appear - but he's been waiting so long that he no longer really expects it and just continues the search out of habit or obligation - and evidently we were not what he was looking for. He also didn't really react in any strong way to any of the various provocations we attempted (some intentional, others probably not). The biggest rise we got out of him was an e

Excerpt from the journal of Joybringer Aghub Bazaap, written on the 18th day of the 4th Moon of the Barovian year 735. We met the baron, or burgomeister or whatever he prefers to be called. Mr Vallakovich will probably do. He seems surprisingly well-intentioned. The mandatory festivals of joy are obviously terrible, but he does seem to hold them with the aim of lifting the spirits of the people. One would think that he might notice that it wasn't working, but aristocrats are often good at seeing what they want to see. We also explored his house, in search of some missing servants. Unfortunately it appears that Vallakovich's son may have accidentally killed them. I would very much like to get the books of magic he's been experimenting with away from him and into safer hands, but unfortunately the boy took off while we were otherwise occupied. Hopefully he won't be eaten by wolves, but at least if he is then that would prevent him from doing further harm. One might cal

Excerpt from the journal of Joybringer Aghub Bazaap, written on the 18th day of the 4th Moon of the Barovian year 735. Ireena, it seems, has disappeared - of her own volition or otherwise - and so we seek her all over town. She seems to have visited the marketplace, but where thence is a mystery. We have learned some things though (of what significance remains to be seen) and we are following these clews. Baron Vargas Vallakovich holds regular celebrations. Attendance is mandatory, especially for children. No one seems willing to give any details of what goes on at these celebrations, and I find myself doubting them when they speak of the joy they bring. A letter, purporting to be from Ireena, claims that she has abandoned her escort and gone adventuring on her own, out of town. The gate guards refute this story and I found no tracks indicating she, or anyone else, had left on foot. The local junkyard is host to a creature that seems most fearsome, but is (safely?) locked up - at

Excerpt from the journal of Joybringer Aghub Bazaap, written on the 18th day of the 4th Moon of the Barovian year 735. After several uneventful days here in Vallaki, I feel that the Mistress of Revels has now set me upon a new path. The strangers I met in the tavern have told me wondrous tales of worlds beyond the sky - and I do not think they are mad. At least, not in that way. The elf is certainly… a strange one. But full of joy, it must be said, and I can find no fault in that. But what have they to do with the designs of the Everchanging Goddess? I believe that they are here, whether they know it or not, to set right a great evil and once again allow joy to flourish in this dark land. Am I the candle and they the flame? Or is it the other way around? That remains to be seen, but it is clear that their arrival heralds change. Already they have received an invitation to meet with von Zarovich and Our Lady assures me that no harm shall come to them (or to me) merely by accepti