Session 04 - Summary

Recap

Neyavr 1–2 — session opened with a recap of Session 3 (in-person): the party entered Barovia Village, answered "dead or alive," met Ismark Kolyanovich at the tavern, learned of a week-long undead siege, agreed to defend for the night, and ended combat hearing screams from the west (Session 4 @ 00:07:46).

Session 4 resumed as a blue-tipped raven led the party to the town square, where Ismark Kolyanovich fought a pale zombie amid fallen defenders. After saving him, Strahd von Zarovich's elven messenger delivered a written proclamation ending the attacks and naming Ismark burgomaster after Kolyan Indirovich's death. The party found Kolyan slain and Ireena Kolyana wounded at the manor, long-rested, then accepted three favors: escort Ireena to Vallaki, consult Madame Eva at Tser Pool, and bury Kolyan. At the church, Father Donavich asked them to retrieve his holy symbol from vampire spawn Doru in the undercroft; the party spared Doru after a blood-resistance test. Kolyan was buried; a cloaked mourner calling himself "Abraham" fled when pressed. Session ended as the party prepared to question Mary before departing for Tser Pool (Session 4 @ 02:38:18).

Key Events

• Blue-tipped raven with panicked shrieks led party toward screams from west of village (Session 4 @ 00:08:17)
• Johan and Elmo stayed on perimeter; shook hands with Sildir before party split (Session 4 @ 00:10:32)
• Town square: statue of a Kolyanovich ancestor; Ismark Kolyanovich severely wounded fighting last pale zombie of horde (Session 4 @ 00:11:14)
• Irredel Turned Undead on zombie; Saturno Booming Blade + greatsword; Sildir Lay on Hands on Ismark (Session 4 @ 00:18:22)
• Mercurio Vicious Mockery and Healing Word on Ismark; Sylalys sneak attack through nostril killed zombie (Session 4 @ 00:36:37)
• Elven messenger on ash-gray horse with twelve undead delivered Strahd von Zarovich's proclamation: siege ends if village submits; Ismark named new burgomaster (Session 4 @ 00:40:45)
• Mercurio heard psychic symphony of screams from messenger; Irredel received written scroll in mud (Session 4 @ 00:44:15)
• Kolyan Indirovich found dead in manor parlor; Ireena Kolyana crumpled by boarded window (Session 4 @ 00:51:18)
• Irredel healed six injured at town-square medical camp; party long-rested at manor (Session 4 @ 00:55:23)
• Overheard: Ismark sending Ireena to Vallaki; superstition about red-haired women and Strahd (Session 4 @ 00:56:30)
• Ismark's three favors: escort Ireena to St. Andral's Church in Vallaki; seek Madame Eva at Tser Pool; carry Kolyan to church for burial (Session 4 @ 01:02:36)
• Father Donavich revealed son Doru trapped as vampire spawn in undercroft; gave party key (Session 4 @ 01:18:43)
• Doru passed one-minute blood-resistance test; fangs retracted; party kept him alive in undercroft (Session 4 @ 01:45:41)
• Doru betrothed to missing Gertruda; party believes she may have gone toward Castle Ravenloft (Session 4 @ 01:48:31)
• Doru shared vampire spawn weaknesses and named Dr. Rudolph van Richten (disguised as Alanick Ray) (Session 4 @ 02:02:58)
• Saturno left notebook for Doru; party promised sheep for sustenance (Session 4 @ 02:06:59)
• Father Donavich performed Kolyan's funeral; tipped Abbey of St. Markovia in Krezk for refuge (Session 4 @ 02:15:10)
• Cloaked mourner "Abraham" laid flowers; fled when Mercurio caught him lying (Session 4 @ 02:24:29)
• Ismark pointed party to Mary's house; trails toward old Svalich Road opposite party's entry route (Session 4 @ 02:33:49)

NPCs Met

• Ismark Kolyanovich — burgomaster's son; new burgomaster after father's death; fought at town square (Session 4 @ 00:11:14)
• Kolyan Indirovich — former burgomaster; slain in manor parlor (Session 4 @ 00:51:18)
• Ireena Kolyana — adopted daughter; wounded; leaving for Vallaki (Session 4 @ 00:51:18)
• Father Donavich — priest of the Morning Lord; son Doru is vampire spawn below church (Session 4 @ 01:17:18)
• Doru — vampire spawn; passed blood test; remains in church undercroft (Session 4 @ 01:34:34)
• Gertruda — missing; Doru's betrothed; search parties organized (Session 4 @ 01:48:31)
• Strahd's elven messenger — unnamed; delivered proclamation with undead escort (Session 4 @ 00:40:45)
• "Abraham" — cloaked mourner at funeral; lied about name; pale platinum-blond man fled into mist (Session 4 @ 02:24:29)
• Johan — close companion of Elmo; stayed on perimeter with Elmo (Session 4 @ 00:10:32)
• Elmo — Vistani; suggested Madame Eva at Tser Pool (Session 4 @ 01:05:52)
• Mary — Gertruda's mother; deep in mourning (Session 4 @ 02:33:49)

Locations Visited

• Barovia Village — town square, burgomaster manor, church and cemetery, medical camp (Session 4 @ 00:11:14)
• Barovia Village church — undercroft with trapped Doru; damaged roof from assaults (Session 4 @ 01:16:33)
• Burgomaster manor — Kolyan dead in parlor; party sheltered and long-rested (Session 4 @ 00:51:18)

Quest Updates

• Reach Barovia Village — completed; party entered and sheltered in village (Session 4 @ 00:02:38)
• Defend Barovia Village — completed; survived night's undead assault (Session 4 @ 00:39:03)
• Escort Ireena to Vallaki — active; agreed to bring Ireena to St. Andral's Church (Session 4 @ 01:02:36)
• Find Gertruda — active; missing girl; trails toward old Svalich Road (Session 4 @ 02:33:49)
• Consult Madame Eva — active; Elmo directed party to Tser Pool Vistani camp (Session 4 @ 01:05:52)
• Lay Kolyan to Rest — completed; funeral rites at village church cemetery (Session 4 @ 02:18:59)

Loot & Clues

• Strahd's proclamation scroll (Irredel received) (Session 4 @ 00:45:52)
• Holy symbol of the Morning Lord — returned from Doru to Father Donavich (Session 4 @ 02:11:05)
• Doru's vampire spawn weaknesses: running water, stake to heart, divine light/sunlight, cannot enter residence uninvited (Session 4 @ 01:57:34)
• Dr. Rudolph van Richten hunted Strahd disguised as Alanick Ray; led failed castle assault (Session 4 @ 02:02:58)
• Abbey of St. Markovia in Krezk — hallowed refuge tip from Donavich (Session 4 @ 02:15:10)
• Escher Belasco — bard friend of Doru and priest's son; now Strahd's cupbearer (Session 4 @ 01:11:09)
• Saturno's blank notebook left with Doru (Session 4 @ 02:09:53)

Open Threads

• Escort Ireena Kolyana to Vallaki via Tser Pool and Madame Eva (Session 4 @ 01:02:36)
• Question Mary about Gertruda before departing (Session 4 @ 02:33:49)
• Identity of "Abraham" mourner — pale platinum-blond man in fine black cloak (Session 4 @ 02:26:15)
• Ismark rebuilding village; Ireena superstition as Strahd target (Session 4 @ 00:56:30)
• Sildir still distrusts Doru; arrow ready throughout undercroft (Session 4 @ 01:41:25)
• Doru needs animal blood sustenance; pen promised on return (Session 4 @ 02:07:47)
• Session 3 NPCs not yet entity-noted: protest leader, Oru (Session 4 @ 00:02:38)

Party Decisions

• Followed blue-tipped raven to town square instead of holding perimeter (Session 4 @ 00:08:17)
• Spared Doru after blood-resistance test rather than destroy vampire spawn (Session 4 @ 01:39:14)
• Promised Father Donavich to report Doru still lives (Session 4 @ 02:05:40)
• Accepted all three favors from Ismark Kolyanovich (Session 4 @ 01:09:04)
• Irredel spent spell slots healing wounded villagers overnight (Session 4 @ 00:56:12)