Star Notch Stories Session #3

 

Boy and Co Vs the Rattlesnakes

 

  

Session 3- Death Among the Pines, Conclusion

5/31/25

• Boy and his party find the entrance to the Serpent-men Fane.

• 8 out of 10 Thundercrack Boys are poisoned and don’t make their 

  saves.

• Tarp is briefly possessed by the ghost of Pansy, and the party learn 

  that her death wasn’t an accident.  She had been killed by her 

  husband after he had been corrupted by dark forces.  She wants 

  her remains interred at the Sovereign Temple graveyard.

• Boy asks Adelaide to use 6 of her 10 healing scrolls to help 6 of 

  the 8 Thundercrack Boys.

• Boy’s team enters the Serpent-men Fane in time to see that 

  Braar Obray and Chase Mashburn are poised to sacrifice Trill and 

  Nollie.

• Boy shoots his compound bow at Braar Obray, but misses.

• 5 additional Serpent-men appear from behind columns and a battle 

  between Boy’s team and the Serpent-men plays out.

• Chase Mashburn escapes with Baby Nollie.

• Boy’s team kill Braar Obray and the 5 Serpent-men, then they release 

  Trill and pursue Chase through the tunnel he escaped through.

• The team spot Chase in a cave that opens to the surface.  The team 

  splits.  The Thundercrack Boys run after Chase and the rest of the 

  team kill 12 Rattlesnakes in the cave.

• Trill is relieved to have her Baby Nollie safe back in her arms.  She’s 

  grateful, but asks Boy’s team one more favor.  Can they save the 

  villagers who had been turned into human headed snake 

  monstrosities that are trapped in a pit in the fane?

• Boy asks Adelelaide if she is capable of that kind of magic.  She isn’t 

  powerful enough on her own, but for a 100 GP donation to her temple 

  in Thundercrack, she can bring enough Scrolls of Remove Curse back 

  to Holler Hollow to help the poor wretches.

• When Adelaide returns and the villagers are saved, Boy and Adelaide 

  lead the town in cleaning up and reconsecrating the Temple of the 

  Sovereign.  Boy gives a speech to warn the villagers to remain vigilant 

  and not allow evil to erupt here again.

• Pansy’s remains are interred.  Her soul can now rest.

• The Thundercrack Boys and Adelaide return to their town; Boy and his 

  team return to Star Notch and the Hendershot Farm.

• A wedding invitation has arrived at the farm.  All on the farm are 

  welcome to attend Cousin Dode’s cousin’s wedding in Sour Spring 

  Hollow.

• Braar Obray, Serpent-men killed = 10 XP

• Chase Mashburn, Serpent-men = 10 XP

• 5 Serpent-men killed = 50 XP

• 12 Rattlesnakes killed = 900 XP

• 3 Garnet Candlesticks, 50 GP each = 150 XP

• Snakeskin Altar Cloth = 100 GP = 100 XP

• Chest of assorted silverware, jewelry, and coins = 250 GP = 250 XP

• Total XP = 1470 XP

Ox ---> Tiger --->Rabbit --->Dragon --->Snake Campaign Session #181

 

Shelby's Ceremonial Robes

 

 

Session 181- A Return to Barovia Part 31, “Dreams in the Wow Cottage”

”The Spirit of Kevin Shinn AKA Kenijy”

6/7/2025

• I, the DM, narrate a dream sequence for Shelby, Gugula, Tim, 

  and Fecus.  I ask for a few reactions or small details 

  for the players to add to the dream, then I ask them for their 

  reaction when they wake up from the dream.  The players’ 

  reaction will be in purple text.

• Shelby finds herself in the Chapel of Castle Ravenloft presiding 

  over a marriage ceremony of Strahd and Ireena.  Shelby is 

  wearing her ceremonial Cleric of Tiamat robes in the colors purple, 

  white, red, and brown.  When Shelby pronounces “You may kiss 

  the bride”, Strahd lifts Ireena’s veil and instead of kissing her he 

  sinks his fangs into Ireena’s neck and induces vampirism upon her.   

  Shelby wakes up, says a prayer, gets a glass of water, and goes 

  back to bed.

• Gugula also finds herself in the Chapel of Castle Ravenloft.  She 

  is shocked to find herself not in armor, but instead wearing a 

  wedding dress.  She feels quite naked.  When the priest presiding 

  over the ceremony says “You may kiss the bride”, Gugula is 

  horrified to realize the groom is Strahd.  He leans in to kiss her.  

  Gugula wakes up, yells “fuck”, and puts her armor on before going 

  back to sleep.

• Tim has been asked to be a wedding guest at Castle Ravenloft.  

  When he arrives, he discovers that the ceremony is instead a double 

  funeral. He walks up to the coffins and opens the first one which 

  contains a dead Ireena.  She is dressed in a wedding gown.  The 

  second coffin bursts open… it’s Strahd!  Tim wakes up, yells “ah fuck”, 

  chugs some wine, then goes back to sleep.

• Fecus is a guest at Strahd and Vasilka’s wedding.  When the priest 

  says the part of the ceremony “Speak now or forever hold your peace” 

  Fecus wants to speak up, but cannot.  His throat feels blocked and he 

  feels his pants get warm.  When the ceremony is over, Strahd and 

  Vasilka begin murdering the guests.  Fecus wakes up, discovers he 

  peed himself, cleans himself up, and hides the bedding before going 

  back to sleep.

• The party has breakfast at the winery then begins traveling towards 

  Castle Ravenloft.

• On the way there, Ezmerelda tells Tim that she can lead his party out 

  of Barovia because all of the Vistani have the ability to travel out of 

  the land.  Tim asks her if that could possibly include Strahd, if they 

  are able to capture him.  Ezmerelda is unsure of that, but is willing 

  to try.

• They arrive in Vallaki and are greeted at the Sunset Gate by guards 

  that recognize them.

• Tim, Fecus, Shelby, and Gugula go to Targalov’s Smithy, run by Hans 

  and Ruxandra Targalov.  The commission silver manacles (1000 GP), 

  silver bullets (bag of 100 for 20 GP), and 2 gold-plated silver wedding 

  bands (500 GP).  The work will take 4 days.

• Tim, Victor, Shelby, and Ezmerelda intend to make scrolls in their 

  downtime.

• Fecus goes sneaking around town and picks up the following rumors:

• Lady Wachter’s book club is actually a diabolical cult.

• Kasimir Velikov has an odd relationship to Strahd.

• Shelby and Tira have tea and discuss religious matters in the office of 

  Father Petrovich at St. Andral’s Church.

• Gugula trains with her silver short sword at the stockyard.  Semyon 

  and Fritigern join her for training.

• The Abbot and Vasilka spend the time drinking at the Blue Water Inn.

6/15/25 Perchance Prompt Shelby finds herself in the Chapel of Castle Ravenloft presiding 

over a marriage ceremony of Strahd and Ireena.  Shelby is 

wearing her ceremonial Cleric of Tiamat robes in the colors purple, 

white, red, and brown.  When Shelby pronounces “You may kiss 

the bride”, Strahd lifts Ireena’s veil and instead of kissing her he 

sinks his fangs into Ireena’s neck and induces vampirism upon her.   

, horror concept art

Ctyri Ctvrt Chronicles Session #28

Blazoj and Adalfuns

    

Session 28- Meeting the Other Cultists of Graz’zt

4/19/2025

• After what they’ve seen at the dungeon under the grain silo, Danika’s 

  team need a drink and a rest, so they head over to The Devil’s Cup 

  when they walk back into town.

• It’s early evening and quite busy at the bar, but the bartender knows 

  the table in the corner is open and sends the waitress Zuzu over to 

  take their order.  Danika orders 2 pitchers of beer and gets the 

  tavern’s specialty, pasties, for everybody at the table.

• Zuzu still hasn’t seen or heard from her boss, Latka, since the last 

  time the party visited the tavern.  She drops a new bit of information to 

  Danika; Latka is a worshipper of Mammon.  She also admits that her 

  own sister, Zuzaka, is a part of Dobravka’s swinger circle.  Zuzaka and 

  her boyfriend live at Dobravka’s ranch house just southwest of town.  

  Zuzaka’s boyfriend Blazoj and the other man from the swinger circle, 

  Adalfuns, have been loitering around the tannery lately.

• After the refreshments, Danika decides to take the party to investigate 

  Dobravka’s ranch house where they encounter Zuzaka and Kaja just 

  hanging out getting sloppy drunk in the filthy house.  Danika’s team 

  confront the women, who try to cast Command spells to defend 

  themselves, but they’re too inebriated to be effective and Danika’s 

  team knock Kaja out with Sleep.  Then they subdue and question 

  Zuzaka about the dungeon and what happened down there.  Zuzaka 

  claimed that Dobravka was the only person in the circle responsible 

  for the killings of Father Guz and Mirek.  She doesn’t know who killed 

  Dobravka, but suspects Latka.  She doesn’t know that Lonka has been 

  turned to stone by the basilisk or where the basilisk came from for that 

  matter.  Dobravka’s motivation to kill Father Guz was to keep 

  knowledge of the Cult of Graz’zt under wraps.  His motivation to kill 

  Mirek had been financial, he owed Mirek money.  He also owed gobs 

  of money to Latka.  Danika decides to spare the female cultists and 

  tells them they should probably leave the area if they know what’s 

  best for themselves.

• Danika and Co go back to their rooms at the boarding house for an 

  uneventful night’s sleep.

• The next day they go talk to Mila and Krk to deliver the bad news 

  about finding Mirek dead.  Krk wants to take over the tannery and start 

  leather production, again.  He has a few supporters behind him.  

  Danika thinks this is a great idea and tells him she will probably have 

  to clear out the creeps Blazoj and Adalfuns from there before Krk can 

  take over.

• Danika’s team begin a search of the tannery and encounter Blazoj and 

  Adalfuns, who say they are in charge of the tannery, Dobravka left 

  them in charge.  Danika doesn’t take them seriously, and they try to 

  kick her and her team out, but instantly regret it.  Her team eliminates 

  them.

• Blazoj and Adalfuns (Cultists of Graz’zt) killed = 900 XP

• Danika receives 450 XP

• Hinek and Jare each receive 225 XP

Perchance Prompt 6/21/25 2 cultists cornered in a leather tannery by a mercenary group led by a female alchemist

Ox ---> Tiger --->Rabbit --->Dragon --->Snake Campaign Session #180

 

Vasilka and the Abbot Leave the Abbey of St. Markovia

 

 

Session 180- A Return to Barovia Part 30

5/24/2025

• Shelby casts Augury on the question of attacking the Abbot.  Base 

  chance + Shelby’s level = 79%.  The secret DM roll was 29% and 

  the determination of the result was WOE.  With that knowledge, 

  Rams choose not to attack the Abbot and instead ask him if he would 

  like to bring Vasilka to Castle Ravenloft to wait for Strahd and hold 

  the wedding there.  The trip will include a stopover at the Wizard of 

  Wines.

• The Abbot thinks this is a wonderful idea and wants to bring Clovin 

  along as well.  Rams arrange to meet the Abbot and Co at the gates 

  of Krezk in one hour.

• While walking down to the village, Tim and Fecus ask the raven 

  creature, Rabe Voron, if their plan of action is a good idea or not.  

  Rabe Voron’s reply is “You’ve jumped out of the frying pan and into 

  the fire.”  It then determines that Rams don’t need it at this time and 

  collapses itself back into the red and purple gems.

• Back at Anna and Dmitri Krezkova’s cottage, Rams speak to Anna 

  whose spirits are much improved by her son’s Ilya’s return to a more 

  content state brought on by the skeletal cat that Fecus has given to 

  the family.  They say their goodbyes to Anna and go to wait at the 

  Krezk gate.

• The Abbot, Vasilka, and Clovin meet Rams at the gate and the group 

  proceed to the Wizard of Wines.

• At the turn off from the road to the Wizard of Wines driveway, Rams 

  encounter 2 shifty young men that appear to be Vistani.  Drasha and 

  Ezmerelda yell at the men in a language no one else understands.  

  The men yell back a little, then they take off down the road to the 

  north.

• The shouting draws the attention of Stockholm, the former Druid (#4) 

  that Rams took mercy on and allowed to live and stay at the winery.  

  Stockholm is excited to see his old “friends” and leads them to the 

  main house where lunch was about to be served.  Stockholm 

  mentions that the young couple sent from Krezk to assist in rebuilding 

  the winery are getting married next week.

• Davian, the Martikov family elder, sees Rams and yells obscenities at 

  them from a second story window.  His daughter, Stefania, steps out 

  on the veranda and welcomes the party.  She leads them into the 

  house and up to the family dining room for a huge home-cooked 

  luncheon.  Gugula asks Stefania if Stockholm is a good worker.  

  Stefania replies that he has been quite useful in the vineyard 

  especially.  Gugula asks Tim to cast Enlarge on her, then she 

  disappears to go find Stockholm for some private time;)

• Clovin plays some beautiful music after lunch.  

• The party muses about their recent experiences.

• Shelby is settled into her duties as a Cleric of Tiamat, but she is 

  distracted and distant.

• Fecus feels like the party is getting closer to eradicating Strahd.  He 

  feels a little foggy and strangely connected to Barovia.

• Tim is feeling hopeful to have allied with the Abbot, but is concerned 

  about the fallen angel’s mental stability.

• Semyon reveals after a few cups of wine that he was married once, 

  but his wife left him because he was always drunk.  He still seems 

  bitter about it.

• Drasha wishes that her brother was still alive.

• Ezmerelda thinks the 2 Vistani men encountered earlier might be 

  trouble later down the road.

• The Abbot asserts that it has been a beautiful day with wonderful 

  new friends.  He’s pleased that the association hasn’t been marred 

  by violence.  He asks Tira to say a prayer to the Morning Lord.

• Tira Jarvie says a prayer to the Morning Lord.  She then asks the 

  Abbot if he ever thinks about having the Abbey of St. Markovia 

  restored to its former glory.

• Victor tells the party that he was formerly married, and his wife left 

  him.

• Fritigern has been stranded in Barovia for 2 years and misses his 

  wife and 2 children.

• Yevgeni and Szoldar wish they had had time to skin the Dire Wolves.

• Gugula arrives back at the table, chugs a large amount of wine, 

  then shrinks back to normal size and extra drunkenness.

• Clovin was afraid to leave the Abbey and the village of Krezk, but 

  thinks today wasn’t so bad.

• Party intends to spend the night at the Wizard of Wines guest 

  cottages.

6/1/25 Perchance Prompt A mad angel masquerading as a young handsome abbot accompanies a beautiful young woman in a wedding dress to a small village palisade.