Session 18 - Summary

Recap

Session opens mid-fight vs Volenta in the Court hideout alchemical lab (8th of Neyavr, afternoon). Four patrolling assassins burst in; Sylalys arrived unmasked and impaled one from behind. Irredel Turn Undead panicked the rest; Volenta slipped through oil hazards and escaped deeper into the dungeon. Party dispatched remaining assassins, explored a bone-throne court chamber (dark-entity altar; Irredel drawn to throne), and found Dr. Rudolph van Richten and Father Lucian Petrovich chained in a torture room—rescued, healed, and escorted out with two stabilized thrall-conversion victims and lab notebook. At St. Andral's Church, Dr. Rudolph van Richten confirmed his identity to the party (secret); intel: Volenta is a bride of Strahd running a false Court to eliminate threats; Izek was Court's mole who chose kidnapping targets. Father Lucian Petrovich restored Saturno's Henrik halberd as a +1 halberd; pledged to reverse thrall victims with van Richten's help. Lady Fiona Wachter collected Izek's severed hand as proof; plans burgomistress takeover tomorrow at the Festival of Blazing Sun (9th). Evening (~6 p.m.): Blinsky toy deferred; party dined at Blue Water Inn, checked on Ireena Kolyana, learned Urwin Martikov's father Davian Martikov at Wizard of the Wines is over a week without contact and four days late on wine shipment. Long rest at inn; party leveled to 5 (Session 18 @ 03:17:15).

Key Events

Combat resumes round 2 vs Volenta—20-ft smoke cloud; four assassins enter from west (Session 18 @ 08:27)
Sylalys arrives unmasked; impales patrolling assassin from behind (Session 18 @ 10:03)
Irredel Turn Undead—assassins frightened/incapacitated; remaining dispatched after Volenta flees (Session 18 @ 16:09)
Volenta escaped through dungeon hazards; too slippery to catch (Session 18 @ 01:38:23)
Bone-throne room: obsidian floor, bone throne, marble altar to dark entity; Sildir religion 22—premonition of dark power (Session 18 @ 01:44:40)
Irredel drawn to throne; party restrained her; afternoon still 8th, day before full moon (Session 18 @ 01:42:35)
Torture chamber: Father Lucian Petrovich on table (days captive); Dr. Rudolph van Richten chained in vigilante garb (Session 18 @ 01:46:41)
Irredel Cure Wounds + Sildir Lay on Hands; both freed and stabilized (Session 18 @ 01:48:06)
Sildir nat 20 perception—faint Volenta footsteps receding, no reinforcements approaching (Session 18 @ 01:53:52)
Party carried two stabilized lab victims; Sildir/Saturno opened locked stone door with smith's tools (nat 20) (Session 18 @ 02:00:20)
Irredel collected crushed werewolf-transformation stone from moon room for safekeeping (Session 18 @ 01:55:03)
Exited via main grotto entrance to Lake Zarovich woods; returned to St. Andral's Church (Session 18 @ 02:05:00)
Father Lucian Petrovich introduced; youth with Henrik; recognized halberd on Saturno (Session 18 @ 02:09:03)
Father Lucian Petrovich cast Mending/enhancement—Saturno receives +1 halberd (Session 18 @ 02:09:49)
Dr. Rudolph van Richten intel: Izek in league with Court; picked kidnapping targets; convinced Baron all was well (Session 18 @ 02:12:39)
Volenta = bride of Strahd; false Court of Wolves led by vampire bride eliminating Strahd threats—targets included Father Lucian Petrovich, seer Arabelle, and (via Izek) Lady Fiona Wachter (Session 18 @ 02:14:56)
Party chased Volenta out but did not kill her; van Richten concedes working alone was mistake (Session 18 @ 02:18:37)
Dr. Rudolph van Richten forbids party spreading identity (secret) (Session 18 @ 02:27:59)
Lucian: no divine permanent lycanthropy cure; suggests Abbey of St. Markovia abbot in Krezk—Dmitri Krezkov may block entry if werewolf known (Session 18 @ 02:38:37)
Lab notebook given to Lucian; with Dr. Rudolph van Richten's help may reverse thrall-conversion on two victims (Session 18 @ 02:41:09)
Lady Fiona Wachter: collected Izek's hand proof; coup at Festival tomorrow (9th)—announce as burgomistress (Session 18 @ 02:45:50)
Vasili von Holz and Volenta still at large; Fiona returning to Wachterhaus with guards (Session 18 @ 02:44:57)
Lucian + Fiona upstairs re Stella Wachter conjuration affliction (Session 18 @ 02:49:30)
Lucian restored church wards; Feast of Saint Andral preparations resume (Session 18 @ 02:50:10)
~6 p.m.: Blinsky's Toys closed—Arabelle gift deferred to 9th morning (Session 18 @ 02:52:30)
Blue Water Inn: Ireena Kolyana safe; Fiona promised refugee housing once in power (Session 18 @ 02:58:51)
Urwin Martikov: father Davian Martikov runs Wizard of the Wines; no shipment 4 days late; no contact 1+ week (Session 18 @ 03:07:35)
Route: Old Svalich Road west, left at fork → Wizard of the Wines (Session 18 @ 03:12:12)
Party plans investigate winery after festival; long rest at inn; level 5 (Session 18 @ 03:16:43)

NPCs Met

Father Lucian Petrovich — rescued from torture table; head pastor returned (Session 18 @ 01:46:41)
Dr. Rudolph van Richten — rescued; Court intel; identity confirmed (secret) (Session 18 @ 01:46:41)
Volenta — boss fight continued; escaped hideout (Session 18 @ 08:27)
Lady Fiona Wachter — Izek hand proof; festival coup plan (Session 18 @ 02:44:09)
Ireena Kolyana — evening check-in at Blue Water Inn (Session 18 @ 02:55:37)

Locations Visited

Lake Zarovich — Court hideout (combat through escape); afternoon (Session 18 @ 08:27)
St. Andral's Church — priest rescue debrief; Fiona parley (Session 18 @ 02:05:52)
Blue Water Inn — dinner; Davian Martikov thread; long rest (Session 18 @ 02:55:37)

Quest Updates

Investigate Vallaki Disappearances — Father Lucian Petrovich rescued; Volenta escaped; Court leadership intel; 14 undead + hideout remains (Session 18 @ 02:14:56)
Overthrow Baron Vargas Vallakovich — Izek hand delivered; Fiona coup scheduled 9th at festival (Session 18 @ 02:45:50)
Seek Aid at St. Andral's Church — Lucian returned; wards/feast resume; Krezk abbot lead for lycanthropy (Session 18 @ 02:50:10)
Deliver Arabelle's Gift — Blinsky deferred (~6 p.m.); try 9th morning (Session 18 @ 02:52:30)
Escort Ireena to Vallaki — Ireena at inn; refugees may gain housing after Fiona coup (Session 18 @ 02:58:51)
Investigate Wizard of Wines — Davian Martikov missing; shipment overdue (Session 18 @ 03:07:35)

Loot & Clues

+1 halberd (Saturno)—Lucian restored Henrik's old weapon (Session 18 @ 02:09:49)
Crushed werewolf-transformation stone from moon room (Session 18 @ 01:55:03)
Necromancy notebook (thrall conversion)—with Lucian for victim treatment (Session 18 @ 02:37:01)
van Richten intel: Izek–Court deal; Volenta = Strahd bride (Session 18 @ 02:12:39)

Open Threads

Volenta escaped—still at large (Session 18 @ 01:38:23)
Vasili von Holz alive; role unclear (Session 18 @ 02:44:57)
Festival + Fiona coup + full moon 9th—party at inn for morning (Session 18 @ 02:47:22)
Irredel wolfsbane potion before nightfall 9th (Session 17 @ 39:25)
Buy Blinsky toy; deliver to Arabelle (Session 18 @ 02:52:17)
Stella Wachter—Lucian consult upstairs (Session 18 @ 02:49:30)
Reverse thrall-conversion on two lab victims (Session 18 @ 02:41:09)
14 undead behind obsidian door; flood chambers? (Session 18 @ 02:22:48)
Investigate Wizard of the Wines / Davian Martikov after festival (Session 18 @ 03:12:12)
Tell Henrik Lucian is safe (Session 18 @ 02:07:38)
Avoid Baron visit until post-coup; Mercurio claims Victor's book already returned (Session 18 @ 02:51:16)
Party level 5 (Session 18 @ 03:17:15)

Suggested Canonical Names

Davian Martikov — Urwin Martikov's father; runs Wizard of the Wines (Session 18 @ 03:08:59)