Lessons from the Mists: Session 26 - Dinner with the Devil

Welcome back to Lessons from the Mists! This session, the heroes dine with Strahd at Castle Ravenloft, and get to know their lord and captor a little better while he seeks the same information about them... Let's get started!

The Recap

The heroes look on in horror at Ezmerelda’s prosthetic that Rahadin brought them. They all attempt to put on a brave face, but inside they are confused and frightened. Rahadin invites them into the carriage, and they are off to Castle Ravenloft.

During the journey, the heroes discuss their hopes, fears, and goals for the dinner. Ylenia still would like to free Emil Toranescu from Strahd’s imprisonment to fulfill her bargain with Zuleika, one of the last remaining members of the werewolf pack. Mary Sue Ann is still unsure of how much she might care about Ezmerelda’s safety. Kane and Angvar both do not know what to expect. Ylenia confides in Mary Sue Ann that she is terrified of Strahd, and does not want to stay with him, begging the other heroes to ensure that does not happen. She may play coy and lead him along, but under no circumstances should they leave her with the vampire.

The carriage arrives at Castle Ravenloft after an hour of travel. Rahadin steps out of the carriage and asks a hunch backed mongrelfolk servant named Cyrus if all the preparations are underway. Cyrus assures them they are on schedule. Rahadin dismisses the servant and tells the heroes that Strahd has given them rooms to freshen up before the dinner, and to follow him. They climb one of the spires of the castle, all the while hearing a deep, rhythmic beat that grows louder as they ascend.

They arrive in the guest rooms and meet two people inside: The first is a dashing, flamboyant vampire spawn named Escher who has very strong opinions on each hero’s fashion (or lackthereof); the second is a teenage girl that Ylenia recognizes, Mad Mary’s daughter, Gertruda. Ylenia attempts to ask Gertruda if she is okay, and determines she is under some enchantment. Mary Sue Ann immediately dislikes Escher, and sends him out of the room to assist the men in getting dressed while she and Gertruda help Ylenia. Escher scoffs but obliges.

The players describe the fine clothing that is provided for them. Ylenia opts for a more revealing black dress reminiscent of how she appeared in mourning attire when the other heroes first met her. Mary Sue Ann’s dress hearkens back to her days as a governess. Kane finds clothing that is similar to his formal attire when he had to attend dinners while the Sundered Blades were in service to a rich lord. Angvar intentionally attempts to annoy Escher with his unfashionable tastes and destruction of perfectly good fine clothing. After they are all set up, Rahadin knocks at the door and says they are summoned to dinner.

Entering the dining hall, the heroes see a richly appointed table, a massive hearth burning on one side of the room, and a huge organ behind the head of the table. Sitting at the table is Strahd von Zarovich, as well as two of his brides who he introduces as Ludmilla Vilisevic and Volenta Popofsky. Ludilla is vigilant and stoic, while Volenta quietly seethes with anger. Strahd thanks them for coming to his home, and wants them to know they will not be harmed while dining with him tonight. They are guests of his, and he is a man of his word. He commands wine be poured by Escher and another bride of his who is serving the dinner named Sasha Ivliskova, and brings out a course of hor d’oeuvres - canapes with smoked fish, cheeses, and savory crackers.

Strahd, as a matter of introductions, wants to know more about the heroes that have influenced events in his realm. Angvar speaks up first, about his past of soldiering, losing his brother, then eventually becoming a gravekeeper before pursuing a life of adventure. Strahd comments on the nobility and stoicism of the dwarves, and how he regrets that he did not keep many in his court. He wonders what marvels their genius may have brought to the construction of Castle Ravenloft.

Mary Sue Ann tells about her past as a woman who had a knack for the arcane but did not pursue it for years, instead deciding to live a common life of being a mother and a servant to a noble house. It was only when an unknown curse began to afflict her did she pursue the arcane arts. Strahd says that she need not be ashamed of her common past. He himself sometimes wishes to be given that same opportunity.

Kane tells about his past being a soldier of fortune, and after his company met with grave misfortune, he pursued a life dedicated to Kelemvor. Strahd has not heard of this deity and is curious about it, amused that these mortals venerate death. He says that the Morninglord was brought by his people to this land, once called Delmor, but he was never much of a praying man. Mary Sue Ann and Ylenia are curious to know about the land he came from, but he regrets to inform them even he cannot remember its name.

Strahd’s eyes finally fall upon Ylenia, and thanks her personally for coming. He wishes to know more about her past. She tells about how happy her family was, and how she is still mourning her father, and hopes for the best for Ismark. Strahd offers his condolences for Kolyan Indirovich, says he was one of the most noble men to hold the station of burgomaster of Barovia.

Strahd then makes a mental connection to Mary Sue Ann and telepathically asks her to what end she pursues the arcane arts, and she tells him that she wishes to return to her family. He tells her he sees great potential in her, and asks if she will speak with him tonight, and she accepts.

The second course is brought out - roasted root vegetables, potatoes, fresh baked bread, and jam. Strahd tells the heroes that he understands how confused they must be, and offers insight into whatever he can about Barovia. The heroes have many questions, and Strahd informs them of the following:

His family’s conquest of Barovia, the integration of the Delmorans, and his love for the Vistani. Ylenia asks him what happened to Tatyana, and he says a great tragedy befell her. Angvar asks about the nature of the mists and how they trap people within, mentioning Darklords and other Domains of Dread. Strahd tells about how his people that migrated to Barovia and the Delmorans still live on, in a way. He questions Kane about Kelemvor’s teachings regarding an afterlife, but says that it is not so simple in Barovia. The souls cannot escape the mists, and find new vessels whenever a baby is born. Though personality and memories do not carry over, this new vessel always appears remarkably similar to the original person whose soul inhabits them.

Strahd opens a mental connection with Kane, and challenges his faith, asking what he might believe is the point of those that die seemingly meaningless deaths. Kane is steadfast in his faith, and believes that meaning is for worshippers of Kelemvor to decide. Strahd thinks this line of thinking is amusing.

Volenta finally explodes with rage and anger, asking why they are all pretending that their guests did not murder her beloved sister Anastrasya. Ludmilla and Strahd attempt to quiet her, but she demands to know which of them did it, and threatens them. Kane admits to it, and Volenta sits back down, a chilling smile across her lips.

The third course is brought out, an entree of roasted pig, lamb, and beef slathered in savory, herby sauces. Escher informs them that they have run out of wine, and Angvar volunteers to assist Escher in grabbing another cask. Escher brings Angvar down to the wine cellar, and passes by a kitchen where through the open door he sees a dead middle aged Barovian man, naked and hanging upside down from his ankles. His throat is slashed and he is obviously dead, his blood draining into a basin beneath him. Angvar asks Escher what the Barovian did to deserve this, and Escher sighs and says he wandered too far from the herd. “You didn’t forget you were dining with monsters, did you darling?” Escher says, and Angvar firmly says he did not forget. They retrieve the cask and bring it up.

When the wine is brought, Sasha drops a note into Ylenia’s lap and she signals to Mary Sue Ann they must leave the room to read it. They do so and it simply says, “Not everyone here is an enemy.” They are unsure what Sasha might mean by that, if she is talking about herself or Escher. They return to the dining hall.

When Angvar returns, Strahd opens a mental connection between the two of them and asks what the relationship between himself and the old baron’s attack dog is. Angvar says that Izek is a troubled man with an obsession with him that he is still attempting to understand. Strahd nods, and offers his condolences to Angvar.

With all the heroes again present, Strahd moves on to the topic of business. He tells them an assassin stalks these lands, hunting his beloved Vistani, a vengeful murderer. He wants this monster brought to him. The man’s name is Rudolph van Richten. Strahd knows the heroes they have a connection to him because he knows they are familiar with his protege, Ezmerelda. Sasha wheels her out into the dining hall, Hannibal Lecter style. If van Richten is brought to him, he will reward the heroes richly from his coffers. The heroes say they will keep an eye out for him, though if Strahd cannot find him, they are unlikely to either, keeping their knowledge of the monster hunter secret.

Mary Sue Ann says that is a fine reward, but he knows what they really desire: escape from Barovia. Strahd smiles wryly and says that such a fine reward requires a sweeter prize. He asks that the dessert be brought out: a layered cherry pie.

Strahd tells the heroes that he will allow them to leave Barovia if Ylenia is left with him. Mary Sue Ann bites back, saying that where they come from, they allow people to make their own decisions. It is up to Ylenia.

Strahd opens a mental connection to Ylenia and attempts to get through to the soul of Tatyana within her, asking if she will stay with him. He offers his devotion to her, and while Ylenia does not accept, she does not outright refuse either.

The dinner concluded, the heroes ask to release Emil Toranescu from Strahd’s dungeons. They tell him that the pack is broken and Kiril is dead, and Strahd tells them that he has no need of the dogs any longer, they can take Emil. Strahd invites the heroes to dance while Escher plays a melancholic tune on his violin.

Strahd and Ylenia dance, and Strahd makes romantic gestures towards Ylenia, but she does not reciprocate. Angvar and Ludmilla dance, an awkward and silent affair. Sasha and Mary Sue Ann dance, and Sasha compliments Mary Sue Ann on her dancing. Volenta and Kane dance, and she asks him a series of morbid questions, then asks him to see her art project. She leads him down into the depths of Castle Ravenloft, to the Hall of Bones - a macabre ossuary of thousands of bones, consisting of hundreds of dead people and animals alike. She is intensely proud of her work, and asks what Kane thinks. Kane says this is cruelty for the sake of cruelty, and that she has lost the point of it. Angvar, who disengaged from Ludmilla and followed Volenta and Kane down, enters the hall and reiterates Kane’s point to rile Volenta up. Volenta screams obscenities at them, but the heroes remind her that they were promised no harm would come to them at Castle Ravenloft tonight. She storms off, promising both of them they will die.

Strahd invites the heroes on a tour of some parts of the castle, proclaiming the genius of the architects Khazan and Artimus Fidatov, and talking about the esteemed guests the castle once hosted. Afterwards he allows the heroes to retire to bed.

In the guest quarters, the heroes share all of their conversations with Strahd via telepathy. Mary Sue Ann tells them that Strahd wants to meet with her alone to discuss some business, and the others encourage her. While they prepare for bed, Mary Sue Ann explores the halls and quickly finds Strahd. He leads her to a study and says he is impressed with her arcane accomplishments. She would make a fine ruler, and she could even bring her family here. Once he has achieved his goals, he means to abdicate, and offers her the throne of Barovia. She tells him she must think about this offer, and he dismisses her.

The heroes take a long rest and advance to level 8!

The next morning, Rahadin invites them into the carriage to take them anywhere they like in Barovia. They decided to pick up exactly where they left off, close to Krezk and the werewolf cave, with Emil and Ezmerelda.

And that’s where we left it!

So How Did the Session Go?

This was probably my favorite session of this campaign, and one of my favorite sessions in any RPG I’ve ever run. Let’s talk about why.

As I was prepping this session, I was doing a lot of browsing online for how other DMs did the dinner. I only started prepping a few days before this session, even though I had weeks to plan. That’s on me! Some pictures the DMs who ran this dinner posted online showed their immaculate food arrangements, decorations, lighting and set dressing in order to make this session a LARP. I asked my players to come to this session in modern dress, but make the outfit evoke some sense of this character. In other words, a very low effort, modern dress cosplay of our characters for the dinner. After seeing these DM’s full dinner photos online, I ran the idea of making this session a potluck style dinner by them, but it would have been a lot of work in very little time, so they were less enthused by it. I learned a few things there: first, remember how much time you have to prepare. If you want an elaborate session, you can’t decide to do so 48 hours before show time, lol. Second, rather than going all out on immersion, my players valued getting to the table and playing. Really useful lessons in everyone’s priorities.

That being said, when we arrived, we all had on our fancy, character appropriate outfits. I brought wine, goblets, candles, and a black tablecloth to set the mood.

I prepared this session in a much different way than I usually would. I basically prepared a “script” for the dinner and what events might come up. For example, I knew the general order of things was going to be the heroes arriving, then going to the guest quarters, then summoned for dinner, the courses, and then after dinner activities. I prepared the events like running out of wine and Volenta’s outburst to happen during certain courses, and each course also corresponded to Strahd’s telepathy with each of the heroes, meant to throw them off their balance.

When Strahd was speaking to the heroes with telepathy, I brought the players to another room to really isolate them from everyone, and that worked a charm. I never wanted to spend too much time on any one conversation, so I only prepared two to three questions Strahd was asking them. The momentum of the whole dinner was kept up the entire time.

I had an absolute blast roleplaying all the different personalities, how they clashed with each other and the heroes. The heroes really don’t know if they can trust Escher or Sasha, but know that Strahd, Volenta, and Ludmilla need to die. Strahd’s advances on Ylenia were fun but difficult to roleplay, because I had to make him unlikable and make the heroes uncomfortable, but not make the players so uncomfortable they stopped having a good time or were taken out of the narrative.

One of my favorite sessions I have ever run. Even though we did not go crazy with making the dinner with the devil an actual dinner, I think it would have distracted from A+ roleplay we got from everyone at the table. I could not have asked for a better group to play this campaign with.

Until next time!