We march through the night, making as much distance as we physically can while sticking to the tree cover. In the morning, Fen attempted to use Sending to contact the Guards holding our cart of supplies and let them know of a rendevous, but Strahd (he is the land, he is the air) intercepted it, helpfully saying he’ll let them know when he meets them. Bran had a dream that Strahd invaded, where he offered Bran power, but he would not speak further of it.

As we continue our march towards Mount Ghakis, we each have more strange dreams, reminding us of how cursed this land truly is, to neither be safe awake or not. With the climb, we encounter decreasing wildlife, with the notable exception of a giant bird carrying what sounded like a full size cow in its talons.

Following tracks, we find a most unwelcome sight - an abandoned campsite, torn asunder by massive unorthodox slashings, with black-veined severed hands still bearing spear. Nearby we come to a frozen lake, with dire wolf tracks lining the shores, and as we ponder if its worth the risk to cross, we hear a child’s cries from the middle. Fen’s twilight Step of Night allows quick flight over the slippery surface, but the little boy he finds is actually trying to wave Fen away, before a large wolf of ice emerges and launches a violent blast of icy wind. Gerggwen’s reactionary fireball offers an opening to grab the kid and fly back to shore. The winter wolves approach, and one asks in a strange broken Common:

Wolf: Put down child! We protect! :D

While surprising, this pauses the violence.

Wolf: We spirit protectors! Give child! We show great treasure! :D

Sensing room for debate, but that they may be trying to trick us, Orrrs transforms into his Alpha Werewolf form and explains that, well actually, we’re the ones here to protect the boy, amen, #MorningLord.

The wolves, while deeply confused, seem to actually believe Orrrs, and turn tail - evidently somehow buying the same story they were first proposing.

The boy, now feeling better, explained his people were out hunting for their village Ydrig, but were attacked by a wolf(man?) with glowing eyes and a poison stinger. Presumably like a platypus’s venomous hind leg spurs, or something equally bizzare.

+1 child!

– Recompiled by Darkwalker Fen von Stoker
Zombie Cleric of the Moon (and non-evil lycanthropes)

Previous Chapter: Strahd claims Van Richten

Next Chapter: Facing Orrrs’s Future

Dramatis Personae

• B - Darkwalker Fen von Stoker, Zombie Cleric
• T - Bran von Stoker, Deathlock, Strahd’s Favoured
• N - Orrrs, Murderhobo, Sensei to Misha, Werewolf Alpha, Bearer of the Spear of Khevan
• N - Normal Hands Misha, spiderful sidekick
• M - Sarandiel, Shapeshifting culture vulture, Irena #3
• D - Dorvil the Blue, Artificer of Splendifourous Gadgets
• T - Gerggwen, Panic Fireballer and keeper of the cat Bonedaddy

With Guests

• Van Richten, aka Ricktavio, seasoned veteran of Monster Slaying, Loremaster
• Child of Ydrig village, worthless