Ravenloft game thread

You pass through, and after gaining 50 feet of ground, the gates clamp back together with a solid rattle which echoes quietly towards you. Towering trees, whose tops are lost in heavy gray mist, block out all save a death-gray light. The tree trunks almost touch. The thick, damp undergrowth presses in on you, making it impossible even to see one another at all times. The woods have the silence of a forgotten grave, yet exude the feeling of an unsounded scream.

A lone wolf cries in the distance.

Another wolf howls in conversation with the first, and it appears difficult to determine their location by the sound alone

You hear three wolves. They are a little more distant this time but it is hard to discern their intentions. You do notice, however, a dead figure in the underbrush, wearing a grey cloak. A shortsword lays by his side and the other hangs from its sheath. He holds an envelope crumpled in his hand. The remains of his armour and clothes are torn and raked with claw marks. Paw prints of many large wolves are pressed into the clay around the body. The man has obviously been dead for a short time.

The letter is sealed with a large "B." The parchment is worn and flimsy. Unmistakably now, this is the shredded remains of the traveller who shunned you before you began your journey. A pack of wolves sound their cries in the distance, and you think you can count four such beasts.

Carefully scanning the text, you recognise that the writing is similar but a little untidier:

"Hail thee of might and valor:

I, the Burgomaster of Barovia send you honor — with despair. My adopted daughter, the fair Ireena, has been these past nights bitten by a creature calling its race "vampyr." For over 400 years he has drained this land of the life-blood of its people. Now, my dear Ireena languishes and dies from an unholy wound caused by this vile beast. Yet I fear, too, that the creature has some more cunning plan in mind. He has become too powerful to be fought any longer. So I say to you, give us up for dead and encircle this land with the symbols of good. Let holy men call upon their power that the evil one may be contained within the walls of weeping Barovia. Leave our sorrows to our graves, and save the world from this evil fate of ours. There is much wealth entrapped in this community. Return for your reward after we are all departed for a better life.

Kolyan Indirovich,
Burgomaster"

You are chilled to the bone by the intense howling of five wolves, surrounding you, nearby and just detectable through the folds of mist.

As they approach, their eyes seem to glow faintly red through the fog, as if reflecting light. But from what source?

all but Lysander and Iskandil are surprised. All PCs are granted inspiration. Sindar may execute a readied action at the end of the surprise round

I will do this from now on. I think I have your DEX scores memorised?

Katerina 23
Lysander 22
Wolf 3 21
Sindar 21
Wolf 1 19
Faelor 14
Grizel 10
Wolf 4 9
Wolf 2 8
Iskandil 7
Wolf 5 6