Adventure 1 - In which the Heroes find their journey was all too easy…
The rain had not let up after two days. The countryside inn at Triboar was filled with visitors from far and wide. Their muddy boots tracking brown patches as visitors came in from the wet.
Some of strangers were like the Wizard Zeff, looking to remake their life far away from the hustle and bustle of Waterdeep. Called this far from civilization and yet called further along into lands more remote. Others were more like Garrik the doctor who new that they were called to important work in the hidden realms. Places were the safety of Neverwinter were a distant memory across the horizon.
Garrik & Zeff met a few other travelers, Magnolia the botanist and Kai the warlock. Each had secrets. Each of them were ready for a long, cold and wet road. Each of them had yet to figure out how to get to their destination - Barovia. Although the goal was in common the procedure was murky. Just how where they supposed to find this far off county that nobody had ever visited.
However , The answer would come, surprisingly easy, on that rainy day. A commotion at the front attracted everyone's attention as a pair of men held back someone from the door. With a hacking cough and regular sneezes some poor soul was intent on delivering a letter despite the weather.
The heroes had their interest piqued when the messenger said he needed to make the journey before returning to Barovia.
Obviously the heroes volunteered to help.
A deal was struck. Garrik, Zeff, Magnolia & Kai would take the sick man's stead. They could easily take the envelope and ensure it would reach the right hands. Even better Arrigal, a messenger brought down with the flu, would loan the heroes a wagon.
Quite the Cakewalk - and then on to the true destination.
Arrigal's instructions were quite clear take the Old Svalich Road east to Grimsby. Deliver the letter to AdanHel who lives there. Then continue east past the mountains into Barovia. The heroes wasted no time setting off at once and sending Arrigal back to bed.
There was hardly any trouble on the road, and after setting off the rain let up. Although none of them had much experience driving, the horses were well trained and knew the journey. The Old Svalich road grew increasingly unkept and muddy as they proceeded. In the distance they cold regularly hear wolves howling in the night. Inside the carriage it was a smooth ride keeping the cold and wilderness at bay.
Only once did they find their way blocked by a tree that had fallen down. Although the wolves in pursuit took this opportunity to attack the 4 heroes were more than able to fend off a half-hearted assault. Zeff threw a beast into the weeds coopting its momentum as it lunged at him. Kai was the most injured having been bitten and dragged into the mud by the beast. However he was managed to strike the wicked creature dead just as it tried to lock jaws for a 2nd time,
They cleared the road and calmed the horses. Shortly thereafter they arrived in Grimsby, a tiny town 2 days east of Triboar. Not but several thatched huts and farmsteads.
AdanHel they learned lived an unremarkable existence along with all of the other villagers. The one standout quality of the elf was his age. Surely difficult to tell on creatures so long lived, but Garrick could see it his grey hair and face that he had a long stressful life behind him. AdanHel was initially suspicious of any visitors - he could see no reason why anyone would have anything to give him.
When the players procured the letter AdanHel cared not for the contents, he merely asked the players things they could not answer.
"Did Rahadin Send you? Is that how it will be? What is wrong with you all?"
The letter had nothing more to reveal, inside was just a dark smudge, that ate the truth.
Unfortunately our heroes could only apologize, for they didn't know who the letter was from. They tried to comfort the ancient elf but here shrank into despondency. They tucked him into bed and watched over him that night.
They they awoke the next day Garrik found the elder had passes away in his sleep.
Curious who Rahadin was and what dark business Arrigal was doing they proceeded east to Barovia. The Old Svalich Road and wagon bringing them over the mountains. A few more surprises were to be found on several days crossings.
First Arrigal's Brother Luvash came riding up to them in the middle of the night. He recognized his brothers wagon and merely asked were Arrigal was - the heroes had left him resting in Triboar. Luvash departed with the Wagon without a moments hesitation. So fast he left his own horse behind.
Although Magnolia knew the Druidic secrets of talking to Animals, Luvash's horse was tight lipped. Not even giving up his name. It did accompany everyone as they made a wide birth around Mount Ghakis. This is when they encountered a 2nd strange sight.
As the heroes started to descend from the foot of the mountains back into the woods they saw a wall of fog covering the forest. Short dots of evergreens poking up from the white canopy. As they walked into the Forest they found the fog deafening as well as obscuring. It was eerily quite and they couldn't see more than a few yards deep into the forest beside them. Magnolia was convinced that this weather was not natural.
The old Svalich Road continued forward. The Heroes pressed on.
After another day in the cold fog the heroes reached the Gates of Barovia. The gateway was open guarded by 2 titanic statues. From mountainside to mountainside the wall stretched, the fog lifting to reveal this spectacle. Something it never did in the woods behind.
Luvash's horse, without prompt walked through the open wrought iron into the county. Shortly behind, Kai, Magnolia & Garrik followed behind. Only Zeff gave a moments pause, to examine further the gatehouse and to wonder they nobody was there. He quickly hurried up to fall in line with his fellows.
Each of them were now in Barovia.
