Journal of Rollo Lavius 2

Entry #346 - Off to see the King

(G346 24/02/2018 via Roll20 - AP(GM), JF) RL11

DAY 349 (16th Alturaik)(February)

Before retiring to my room, I talked to Ireena for a few hours, into the small hours of the morning in actual fact. She's a lovely girl, but I wouldn't say she's too bright.

Her brother Ismark seems to be a lost cause as well, just happy to drink himself into oblivion. I talked to them and wrote down pages of notes, plans for Barovia going forward.

It looked like there was no one suitable to take over the running of the town so in the end I elected myself to do it!

I asked everyone for as much information on Damara and the politics of this region as they had and noted it all down too.

After that I went to bed.

In the morning I called everyone together and issued my orders.

- Yli and Tie-Pie were sent to scout out the town's surrounds, the roads in and out in particular

- Ireena, Ashlyn and Urik were sent around the town identifying which houses still had undead in them and marking

them with 'DEAD INSIDE' warnings.

- Tallmer was to see what books he could find about the place and read them for useful lore.

- Sylvia was to set up a small hospital somewhere to heal the sick and wounded of the town.

- Myself - I would check the towns food and water supplies.

My task didn't take long. There was plenty of food and casks of ale, more than enough for the town for the rest of the winter since half the inhabitants were dead.

As I walked back to the tavern I saw two giant humanoids with bat wings flying over town carrying a person each in their claws. Looking closer I saw it was Yli and Tie-pie! What sort of trouble had they got into?

I followed them, as an eagle, as far as I could, but they were too fast. I had an idea they had gone to Strahd's castle though and flew there.

Keeping high above it, I spied it out. It was pretty large, with three large towers, a surrounding wall and a chapel. It looked deserted, but I was too nervous to land and take a look. If Strahd had them, and they were still alive, then I needed a proper plan to rescue them. I flew back and joined the others for lunch.

I handed out more tasks for the rest of the day (mainly clearing out the rest of the undead) and talked to Ireena about the whole situation with this region. There were very few men of military age left in the town, all the ones brave enough to fight the undead were already dead, but from my scouting about there seemed to be no danger in the nearby lands, no big zombie hordes anyway.

It turned out that Ireena suspected that her father had not sent work of their predicament to the King of Damara or if he had the message had not got through. I decided the best thing for us to do was go see him, from what they told me he was a powerful paladin so one of his barons being a vampire would surely be of interest!

'Very well my dear, pack a travelling bag, for tomorrow me and you will fly to see the king!'

DAY 350 (17th Alturaik)(February)

It's been a long day, but at least I've got a comfortable bed for the night. I'll just write down what happened today before I blow out the candle.

Myself and Ireena set off from Barovia at dawn. I was a giant owl and I carried Ireena on my back. It is a fair distance over the mountains to Bloodstone Village (where the King of Damara currently resides) but as a giant owl I covered the distance quickly.

There was a pretty big castle outside the village and I did a few circuits of it before landing. I think we scared them though as I had to persuade the gate keeper of our friendly intentions before he would let us in.

We were ushered into a waiting area where some guards eyed us sternly, but then after an hour a chamberlain or someone like that came and talked to us. We were relieved of our weapons and armour then presented to King Gareth Dragonsbane himself.

He was fairly old, with grey hair, but still looked like a strong warrior.

He seemed very interested to hear about Strad as you might expect. I wonder if he had been too busy lately dealing with a war or something with the neighbouring kingdom or an orc horde or somesuch and had taken his eye off the ball a little on the homefront. We didn't go into it, but he seemed to want to go sort out the vampire situation straight away which is good news for Yli and Tie-Pie anyway.

Blowing out the candle now. That Ireena, she's a fine young lady you know. She's got a room right next door to mine.

No, naughty Rollo! You are a married man! Good night, dear reader!

DAY 351 (18th Alturaik)(February)

Myself and Ireena mainly just waited around eating the king's food and drinking the king's ale in the morning while he assembled a force to go and kick some vampire butt!

From what I'm seeing he's going to muster up a force of about five hundred men-at-arms. Not bad for short notice.

An advance squad was sent out, which included us, the King, and a few dozen of his beast warriors.

We made camp in the mountains.

DAY 352 (19th Alturaik)(February)

A full day of travel. The King has set a blistering pace (my backside and thighs are very stiff from being in the saddle all day, I am not an accomplished rider), but these are his best horses.

Spent the night in a small roadside inn.

DAY 353 (20th Alturaik)(February)

We rode into Barovia this afternoon and right up to the 'Blood OF the Vine Tavern'. I admit it did feel rather gratifying to have gone for help three days ago and returned with the King at our side!

We entered the inn and the king made his plans for the assault on the castle of Strad. I greeted Sylvia and the others.

It was defiantly good to have brought back so much help, but it did feel odd not to be in charge. The King would value the help of two powerful healers (me and my cousin) but he was calling the shots now. It was his country after all.