Lessons from the Mists: Session 40 - The Beacon of Argynvostholt

Welcome back to Lessons from the Mists! This week, the heroes take the skull of Argynvost back to the mansion of the silver dragon, and redeem the Order. Let's get started!

The Recap

We begin this session with the heroes recovering after the battle against Baba Lysaga. They begin to discuss how best to lift the skull out of the ravine that it is stuck in currently. Mary Sue Ann inspects the skull and finds magical runes inscribed behind the teeth of the dragon skull. She realizes that she may be able to fuel it with magical energy and get it to fly once more. She spends a 4th level spell slot and climbs inside. The runes glow, and the skull lifts off the ground. It’s a success!

She only has a limited time to fly, and so she takes Edelia and flies back to where the horses were tied up on the outskirts of Berez. The rest of the heroes spend a few hours trudging back through the marsh to meet back up with her. Van Richten says that is one of the strangest things he has seen in all his years hunting monsters.

The heroes tie the skull of Argynvost to the top of Rictavio’s carnival wagon. They travel back north along the Raven River to the crossroads west of Vallaki. On the way, they try to convince van Richten to escort Edelia back to Vallaki, but he is resistant to the idea because of the vampire spawn and the leadership of Vallaki being loyal to Strahd. Ylenia informs him that they solved both of those issues, and he is impressed with them. He agrees to take Edelia to the outskirts of Vallaki, but will avoid the town still.

Waiting at the Raven River Crossroads is Ezmerelda d’Avenir with her own barrel-topped wagon. She and van Richten exchange pleasantries and the heroes decide to split up from van Richten. The heroes and Ez travel north along the winding roads to the decrepit mansion of Argynvostholt. When they arrive, they find three knights waiting, kneeling in front of the mansion with their swords driven point first into the dirt. They rise, as one, and the lead knight tells them Vladimir Horngaard ordered them to keep the heroes out. The heroes are too dangerous to let live. He flips down his visor and charges. It’s initiative!

Kane summons a spiritual weapon to harry the lead revenant while Mary Sue Ann exchanges ranged attacks with two spectral archers that join the fray. Ylenia engages one of the other knights while Angvar charges towards the lead knight. It is Ezmerelda, however, that dashes across the battlefield, felling the knights one by one. Shortly, the battlefield falls silent.

The heroes decide to sneak up the collapsed south side of the mansion. Angvar throws a grappling hook to the second story and the heroes climb it. Kane casts locate creature, targeting Vladimir Horngaard, and detects he is on the roof of the mansion, guarding the way to the beacon. Peeking out into the grand foyer, he sees seven more knights arrayed in defensive positions, and their old friend, Sir Godfrey Gwilym on the stairs. Godfrey sees them, and tells them that he cannot oppose Vladimir’s will, and that he is sorry. He charges along with the knights. It’s initiative again!

The heroes have a plan to cast reduce on the skull to allow it to get through the passageways up to the roof. While Mary Sue Ann and Kane dash up the spiral staircase to get to the roof, Angvar, Ez, and Ylenia cover their allies’ retreat from the undead knights. When Godfrey falls, he whispers “free us…” All but two of the knights are killed, and Kane casts stone shape to hinder their pursuer’s ascent up the spiral staircases.

Reaching the roof, the heroes find over a dozen knights of Argynvost arrayed here, led by Vladimir Horngaard. He tells them that he cannot allow them to go further, because to kill Strahd is to free him from his torment. Vladimir wants him to remain in this hell, forever. It’s initiative, once more!

While Ezmerelda and Kane engage many of the minions, Angvar and Ylenia dash to Vladimir to lock him down. Angvar throws a net on Vladimir, which restrains him. Mary Sue Ann floats above the battlefield in  the skull of Argynvost and casts wall of fire, which destroys many of the undead. Ez uses Curse of the All-Seeing Eye on Vladimir, which sets up Ylenia to deliver the killing blow by smiting him judiciously. With that, the mansion grows silent. The heroes take Vladimir’s sword and the sunburst holy symbol he wears around his neck. The heroes ascend to the beacon.

When Mary Sue Ann places the skull at the end of Argynvost’s skeleton’s spine, a couple cutscenes play out. Here’s what I wrote and delivered to the players:

When the skull is placed at the end of the great dragon’s spine, a coiling white energy begins to glow in the empty sockets. This light expands through the dragon’s skull, then cascade down into the rest of the body. Silver white light begins to shine in each and every bone of the dragon’s skeleton, and the bleached white bone seems to flake away like old paint. Soon, the entire skeleton is aglow in silver radiance, almost too much for your eyes to handle. You begin to hear a chorus maybe? A thousand singers fill your ears with their voices, harmonizing in the glory of a soul put to rest. Then, a flash. You go blind.

When your vision clears, light seems to shine from every surface of this room. Standing before you is the immense apparition of Argynvost in his true form, sitting on his great reptilian haunches, wings curled behind him. His eyes are pools of liquid silver starlight that sees through your very being into the truest soul beyond. This creature projects nobility and honor.

“You did well, comrades. I commend you for your great service. My knights have known nothing but hate these many centuries. And now, they can find rest.”

Two apparitions materialize before you: Sir Godfrey Gwilym, his long blonde hair and fair face restored to that of his in life, and Lord Commander Vladimir Horngaard, stoic and regal, with his chiseled jaw and short cropped hair. They no longer wear their armor for war, but noble finery. They lay eyes on one another.

“Oh, Godfrey.” Vladimir embraces Godfrey Gwilym and sobs into his partner’s shoulder. “I’m so sorry.”

“Peace, my love. The torment is over.” The huge man collapses to his knees, and Godfrey cradles him against his chest. He regains his feet and looks to you.

Vladimir looks to you all and regains his feet. “I was blinded, but I see clearly now. My brothers and sisters would not die, but you released them. Released me. Thank you.” He looks to Godfrey. “What of the devil?”

“Lives still, if you can call it life.”

Vladimir looks back to you. “I realize I ask too much of you, but he is a blight. It will be a kindness to release him, no matter the villain he is. Slay him, and release us all.”

Godfrey takes his partner’s shoulder. “This is a burden for the living. Come, love, let us rest.” They turn and fade into nothing.

Argynvost remains. “They speak the truth. He could chase these knights away with a wave of his hand, so great is his power over death. But you are granted protection from him. And if the Order can offer succor one last time, let it be in service to your noble quest. Farewell, friends.” The apparition fades.

Meanwhile, at Castle Ravenloft…

He felt it come on slowly, like the crawling of insects over his very soul, damned though it was. It began as a feather’s tickle, then an itch that could not be scratched. Then, like insect bites over every surface. Then, a burn. Not quite the burn of sunlight, but a burn nonetheless. 

Strahd was in his study, draining a young Barovian man of his life’s essence. Volenta and Sasha were gorging themselves at the man’s stomach and his femoral artery. Golden firelight danced on the naked pale flesh of all four of them. Strahd’s gaze was not on his wives nor the man whose eyes rolled back in his head, his mouth agape in a silent, orgasmic scream of pleasure and pain. His eyes were on the painting of Tatyana.

Strahd tried to ignore the feeling, not wanting to accept what he felt. Until the burn. He untangled himself from the carnal knot with a snarl and stormed out of the room. Volenta and Sasha looked at each other, mouths slick with blood that ran down their necks and across their breasts.

“What’s wrong with him?” Sasha asked.

“Another one of his episodes.” Volenta purred. “Not to worry dear, you get used to that sort of thing when you’re a favorite of his,” she said, stroking a long nailed claw across her sister wife's chin. “I doubt you’ll live up to Anastrasya’s cunning, but he will be doubtless enamored by your… beautiful savagery.”

The man was choking and gasping for breath that would not come. The two women looked upon their feast, half finished. “Come now.” Volenta whispered, moving snakelike, flesh sliding against flesh. “More for us. We don’t like to waste here.” Volenta straddled the man. His wide eyes, half conscious, fell upon hers, black pits of hunger. His hands shakingly reached up to her hips. She leaned down and licked his ear, slick tongue traveling down to his neck. He exhaled a shuddering breath, and Volenta tore out his throat.

Strahd pulled on a robe and ascended the towers of Ravenloft. The Heart thundered and boomed, shaking the stones, a pet project of his, an insurance of his immortality. He reached the tallest tower, and looked out across his land.

A beacon, silver and glorious, stood defiant on the slopes of Mount Ghakis. A beam of light shone into the heavens, piercing the cloud cover above. Nowhere in Barovia was hidden from its light.

He ground his teeth and his claws scraped the ancient bricks. He pulled the wings off that dragon, but it had taken flight yet again, even after death. It was a monument to resistance against his unyielding rule. He felt it in the hearts of all those that hated him in his valley. Their hearts, the cold dead things he thought he had silenced, had begun to sing. Hope blossomed in his subjects. Hope for his destruction.

A figure melted out of the midnight blackness to stand beside her husband. Ludmilla looked out to the beacon and Strahd sighed.

“It is the outsiders. I know it. My old Baba has stopped pestering me. She is dead, finally. But at what cost?”

“They seem to have become quite the thorn in your side, love.”

“I have shown them every hospitality and they have thrown it in my face. They protect Tatyana, keep her from me. If I could only show her… what a terrible mistake she is making.”

“A lord’s hospitality is wasted on traitors.” Ludmilla offered.

“Yes. You are right. Their crimes have gone unpunished for far too long.”

“It is your justice they will taste.” Ludmilla sighed in his ear.

“Yes. I am the ancient. My word is law.”

“The girl…”

“Is misguided. I must show her the grave mistake she is making. What are campaigners’ protection against that of mine?”

“And what if she will not listen to you?”

Strahd was shaken out of his lulling enchantment and whipped around and grasped Ludmilla by the face. His claws dug into her skin, ripping open the flesh that would not bleed. She flashed her fangs at him, but he hissed back. Stormclouds flashed overhead. Lightning struck the tower, and in that flash she saw a dark, winged shadow behind Lord Strahd von Zarovich, hands on his shoulders. Faceless and terrible. Greater than the lord of Barovia. More ancient than ancient. Her eyes went wide with fear.

“Do not test me, Ludmilla. Remember who was the apprentice first. You overstep yourself. You are the oldest, yes, but you will not prevent me from fulfilling my destiny. Tatyana will be mine. Remember your place.”

“Your wish is my command.”

“Watch them and report back to me.”

“Yes, my lord husband.”

“Calling me husband is a privilege. One you are not offered until the outsiders are dead.”

He finally released her. And she felt she was being watched by something greater and more terrible than Strahd. She shuddered.

“You are dismissed, Ludmilla.” She stalked away, her face an emotionless mask.

Strahd stared at the beacon of Argynvostholt for a very long time.

And that’s where we left it!

So How Did the Session Go?

Really well! Both the heroes and the players were aware of their mission, and knew where to take the skull. They had basically explored Argynvostholt as a dungeon on their first journey here, which means that it would have been pretty meaningless to play it that way again. I decided that the knights were aware of and could sense Argynvost’s skull being brought back (and if not all of them, at the very least Vladimir could). So all that mattered really was the resistance they would face in order to ascend to the beacon.

I did not expect Mary Sue Ann to be able to pilot the skull. I took a page out of a lot of dungeon crawler RPG advice and told my players that if they come up with a clever enough idea to get this thing to Argynvostholt or up the tower, I may eschew die rolls entirely. However, Mary Sue Ann’s player came up with the crazy idea of flying it herself, which I went along with and it entirely changed both the tone of this session and how much of a pain in the ass it would have been to get up the tower at Argynvostholt. I ruled that she needed to pump some magic into the skull, requiring her to spend a 3rd level spell slot to pilot it. She spent a 4th level spell slot each time she flew it, which allowed it a longer time for flight.

As for the combat encounters, I used the standard statblocks for Vladimir and Godfrey reinforced by wights, wight siphoners, and mummies from Flee, Mortals! The spectral archers were straight up from Curse of Strahd. I did, however, change some of their to-hit bonuses because I felt that the heroes’ ACs are rising high enough that it is hard to challenge them outside of saving throws. I decided that a bonus of between +8 to +11 would be pretty good.

How did I decide this? I looked at each of the heroes’ ACs and found the average to be roughly 17.75, which I rounded up to 18. Generally speaking, 5E’s design expects a 30-35% chance to miss an attack, and creatures should be hitting about 70% of the time. Regardless of my feelings about the “Do I get to take my turn? die” (which is why I vastly prefer Draw Steel’s combat), this was what the math and design space expected. So how do I hit an 18 AC roughly 70% of the time? The math told me a bonus of +11. I decided not everyone is going to hit that, so I just felt that the range should be +11 as the maximum bonus, and +8 being the minimum. Many of these creatures had a base to hit bonus of +5, which I increased to +8, and the stronger foes like Vladimir and Godfrey I bumped their to hit bonuses up to +11. It worked really well!

The cutscenes were really fun to write, and got some good emotional responses from my players. I wanted to show off the sadness of the knights who finally were restored after centuries of corruption, and the horror of the vampiric barbarism that takes place in Castle Ravenloft. Both worked well.

The heroes got access to Vladimir’s +2 greatsword which I named “The Silver Dragon’s Tooth”, the Holy Symbol of Ravenkind, the +1 bonus to AC and saving throws from lighting the beacon (straight out of the book), and access to call upon the knights of Argynvost with this ability:

The Silver Dragon’s Call. A creature who relit the beacon of Argynvostholt can call upon the spirits of the Order of the Silver Dragon as an action. The spirits of the dead rise in a 30 foot radius sphere at a point you can see within 120 feet. Each creature of your choice in the area makes a DC 20 Constitution saving throw. On a failure, each target takes 5d8 force damage and 5d8 cold damage and is dazed (save ends at end of turn). On a success, the targets take half the damage and are not dazed. Once the Order has been called upon, they cannot be called upon again for 1 year.

The heroes also advanced to level 10! Next time, they will look more into the Tome of Strahd and begin their preparations to travel south to the Amber Temple. Lots of mysteries will be unveiled there!

Until next time!