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| Host of Degravo Playhouse, Ivan Dilisnya |
Session 236- A Return to Barovia Part 86; Borca 13
9/21/2026
Along the way to Degravo, Team Rams give a hype pitch to Quintinus
and Eogan and an additional 10 GP each.
At the bottom of the driveway up to Degravo (the Dilisnya Estate),
a family of bears appear to be having a picnic in the last grove of
trees before the treeline.
The dog that followed Team Rams through the Borcan countryside
positions itself between them and the Teddy Bear Picnic and barks
in a warning way and tries to herd Team Rams away from the scene.
Team Rams push forward to investigate a little more closely and the
dog runs away.
As they get closer to the “Teddy Bear Picnic” they realize that the
figures are clockwork manikins and their food and drink is spoiled
and rotting. A cloud of insects seems to be attracted to the feast.
Team Rams decide not to investigate further and climb up the
driveway to knock on the door of the main entrance of Degravo.
A female voice can be heard on the other side of the door, and
the door opens. Alyna Dilisnya (Ivan’s manikin “daughter”) invites
them into the entrance hall and escorts them into the concession
stand to pick up snacks before the show.
Manikins behind the concession counter serve International Delights
instant coffee and stale pretzels. The Abbot casts Purify Food and
Water on the refreshments and the pretzels become more palatable.
Alyna returns, apologizes for not introducing herself and apologizes
for her bad manners. She then leads Team Rams into the Playhouse
beyond the concession stand.
Rams are seated in the front row of the theater. A curtain opens and
a manikin “magician” puts on a magic show.
After the magic show, the curtain closes and re-opens to reveal a
string quartet of animal headed manikins; Squirrel, Fox, Toad, and
Crow play some songs for Team Rams.
When the string quartet finishes, the curtain closes. Team Rams hear
some thumping and mechanical noises before the curtain opens
again.
When the curtain opens for the last act, Ivan Dilisnya is there in his
mechanical hospital bed. He is excited to meet his guests and quickly
proposes they “play a game” with him.
The game he proposes is a convoluted scheme to embarrass his
cousin Vana Boritsi at a future Garden Party. He dangles the location
of a piece of the Vorpal Sword Team Rams are searching for in Borca
as the reward for participating in the game.
Although Ivan’s appearance is quite monstrous, Team Rams seem
charmed by him and politely discuss Ivan’s schemes with him.
Ivan invites Team Rams to be his guests at Degravo between the
upcoming Summer Garden Party Series events.
Ivan’s mechanical bed starts making an alarming sound and it takes
him away from the playhouse.
Alyna shows Team Rams to the guest rooms of Degravo. They are
decorated according to gender. If you are in a “boys room” the color
scheme is blue and the toys are an adult sized rocking horse and a
set of toy soldiers. If you are in a “girls room” the color scheme is pink
and the toys are the adult sized rocking horse and a doll house set.
Rams set watch. On the first watch, Tim does stretching and memory
exercises in the hall to pass the time. A soldier in a wagon toy comes
rolling down the hall past Tim, cruises to the end of the hall, trunks
around and moves past Tim, noting his position, before returning from
whence it came.
On the second watch, Fecus sorts inventory and uses his X-Ray Ring
to peer into the surrounding rooms. He is able to detect all of his team
members sleeping in their rooms, except the Abbot, who is meditating.
Elise sits the third watch and it is uneventful.
