Session 25 - Summary

Recap

Evening of Neyavr 10 outside Wizard of the Wines after the previous session's assault. Davian Martikov arrived with his son Adrian and daughter Stefania; the third Martikov gemstone had been taken during the occupation. Davian explained that three The Seeker-blessed gemstones power the winery's vintages: one was lost ten years ago under Urwin Martikov's watch, one is with Baba Lysaga, and the third is with druids gathering at Yester Hill for a ritual tied to Winter Splinter. The party agreed to recover the third gem, with Davian agreeing to speak with Urwin about returning to the vineyards, and Davian gifted Ember Shadowseeker.

After dinner and a long rest, Mercurio read Chapter 2 of the Tome of Strahd, producing a vision of Strahd's siege of Argynvostholt. The party fought Sir Godfrey Gwilym in the vision; Sildir woke with Godfrey's silvered longsword and heard the familiar dark voice urge him to wear the amber ring. At about 4 a.m. on Neyavr 11, the Martikovs woke the party, gave them breakfast, and sent them toward Yester Hill with a raven whistle for Keepers messaging. The party adopted the name Mistwalkers.

Key Events

Davian Martikov, Adrian, and Stefania approached the cleared winery (Session 25 @ 00:09:46).
Adrian checked the winery and confirmed that the third Martikov gemstone was gone (Session 25 @ 00:11:28).
Davian explained that three gemstones blessed by The Seeker power Wizard of the Wines' three vintages (Session 25 @ 00:13:37).
Winter Splinter was unfamiliar to Davian; the druids had repeated that it was coming (Session 25 @ 00:15:02).
Scout intelligence placed the druids at a ritual at Yester Hill, with the stolen third gemstone possibly involved (Session 25 @ 00:16:47).
Davian said the first gem was lost ten years ago under Urwin Martikov's watch and the second was taken five days ago by Baba Lysaga (Session 25 @ 00:17:59).
The party accepted the task of recovering the third gemstone from Yester Hill (Session 25 @ 00:19:02).
Davian identified The Seeker as the ancient power that blessed the gemstones (Session 25 @ 00:22:18).
Davian described the death of his son Elric Martikov during the failed march on Castle Ravenloft with Doru roughly three months earlier (Session 25 @ 00:24:15).
Stefania urged Davian to reconcile with Urwin Martikov, and Davian agreed to speak with him if the party recovered the gemstone (Session 25 @ 00:28:05).
Davian gifted Ember Shadowseeker, a +1 short bow that can cast Invisibility once per long rest (Session 25 @ 00:32:56).
The party rested at the winery after a modest stew-and-bread dinner; Davian said dawn was about 5:30 a.m. (Session 25 @ 00:34:21).
Davian said the Mists trap everyone in the valley except the Vistani; he had only heard rumors about Ezra, including that the Mists might be her remains (Session 25 @ 00:39:01).
Sildir disclosed that his prayers to Torm feel blocked in Barovia; Davian suggested that Strahd might be able to interfere with divine will (Session 25 @ 00:44:31).
Mercurio read Tome of Strahd Chapter 2, revealing a vision of Strahd's siege of Argynvostholt; Alexandra Gwilym led one assault force and Rahadin held the tree line (Session 25 @ 00:47:14).
The party chose to support Alexandra Gwilym's assault in the vision and planned to question her under cover of Mercurio pretending to lose his memory (Session 25 @ 00:57:13).
The party fought Sir Godfrey Gwilym and two infantry at the castle gates; Ember dealt a 39-damage critical hit and Sildir finished Godfrey with Divine Smite (Session 25 @ 01:44:40).
Sildir woke with Godfrey's silvered longsword, bearing the symbol of the Order of the Silver Dragon (Session 25 @ 01:47:01).
The familiar dark voice identified itself to Sildir as connected to Hoar and urged: "My champion. In your hour of need, don the ring. And seal our bond." (Session 25 @ 01:47:19).
At about 4 a.m. on Neyavr 11, the Martikovs woke the party with leftover stew and travel rations before the march to Yester Hill (Session 25 @ 01:48:32).
Davian gave Mercurio a carved raven whistle that calls a Keepers messenger; the party agreed to use it sparingly (Session 25 @ 02:19:23).
The party formally adopted Mistwalkers as its name (Session 25 @ 02:25:19).

NPCs Met

Adrian — Davian Martikov's son; checked the gemstone and larder and carried scout information to Davian (Session 25 @ 00:11:28).
Stefania — Davian's daughter; pushed him toward reconciliation with Urwin Martikov (Session 25 @ 00:28:08).
Sir Godfrey Gwilym — general of the Order of the Silver Dragon encountered in the Tome of Strahd vision (Session 25 @ 01:02:10).
Alexandra Gwilym — Strahd's commander in the historical vision and Sir Godfrey Gwilym's sister (Session 25 @ 00:58:17).

Locations Visited

Wizard of the Wines — exterior grounds, kitchen, guest rooms, and departure point for Yester Hill (Session 25 @ 00:07:50).
Argynvostholt — historical siege vision from the Tome of Strahd (Session 25 @ 00:47:14).

Quest Updates

Investigate Wizard of Wines — party reported the winery cleared to Davian Martikov; the occupation was ended (Session 25 @ 00:10:42).
Recover Gemstone at Yester Hill — party accepted the task of stopping the ritual and recovering the third gemstone (Session 25 @ 00:19:02).
Seek Sir Godfrey Gwilym at Argynvostholt — the vision strengthened the party's interest; visit deferred until after Yester Hill (Session 25 @ 02:07:12).
Depose Strahd von Zarovich — Chapter 2 of the Tome of Strahd showed Strahd's siege of Argynvostholt and the roar of the silver dragon (Session 25 @ 01:46:02).

Loot & Clues

Shadowseeker — +1 short bow; once per long rest it can cast Invisibility; held by Ember (Session 25 @ 00:32:56).
Godfrey's silvered longsword — well-worn, marked with the Order of the Silver Dragon symbol, and now held by Sildir (Session 25 @ 01:50:28).
Raven whistle — carved dark wood in the shape of a raven; calls a Keepers messenger; held by Mercurio (Session 25 @ 02:19:23).
Three Martikov gemstones — blessed by The Seeker; one lost ten years ago, one with Baba Lysaga, and one at Yester Hill (Session 25 @ 00:13:37).
Hoar — name disclosed by Sildir for the deity or power associated with the dark voice (Session 25 @ 01:59:48).

Open Threads

Reach Yester Hill by dawn, stop the druid ritual, and recover the third gemstone (Session 25 @ 00:34:21).
Determine what Winter Splinter is and whether the ritual requires all three gemstones (Session 25 @ 00:21:09).
Recover the gemstone held by Baba Lysaga in Berez (Session 25 @ 00:17:59).
Investigate Sildir's amber ring and the dark voice urging him to wear it (Session 25 @ 01:47:19).
See whether Davian Martikov and Urwin Martikov reconcile after the gemstone recovery (Session 25 @ 00:29:18).
Visit Argynvostholt after Yester Hill and test whether Godfrey's sword is recognized by the bridge knights (Session 25 @ 02:06:10).

Party Decisions

Negotiate Davian's conversation with Urwin Martikov as a condition for recovering the gemstone (Session 25 @ 00:27:59).
Rest at the winery and wake around 3–4 a.m. to reach Yester Hill by dawn (Session 25 @ 00:35:21).
Join Alexandra Gwilym's assault in the Tome of Strahd vision (Session 25 @ 00:55:33).
Defer Argynvostholt until after the Yester Hill objective (Session 25 @ 02:07:12).
Have Mercurio carry the raven whistle (Session 25 @ 02:20:26).
Adopt the group name Mistwalkers (Session 25 @ 02:25:19).

Canonical Names additions from Session 25: "Adrian Martikov" → Martikov son (Session 25 @ 00:11:28); "Stefania Martikov" → Martikov daughter (Session 25 @ 00:28:08); "Alexandra Gwilym" → distinct from Alexandra (Session 25 @ 00:58:17); "Hoar" → deity or power (Session 25 @ 01:59:48); "Shadowseeker", "Godfrey's Silvered Longsword", "Raven Whistle", and "Martikov Gemstones" → items or clues (Session 25 @ 00:32:56; Session 25 @ 01:47:01; Session 25 @ 02:19:23; Session 25 @ 00:13:37).