Iron & Gold, Curse of Strahd
Game Mechanics / Characters / Ismark / Ireena
Please think of these as first drafts. Though I do go back and try to make sure it’s clear who is speaking, I often don’t put in enough description. I might fill that in later (especially if you comment on it).
9 - Ireena[1]
Hrelgi looked at the boxes on Ireena’s bed and said, “Do you have a horse and cart? Because you’re not going to be able to carry all of that.”
“I think Ismark is planning on renting a cart.”
Ismark came in, carrying a metal breastplate, followed by Ninefingers. Ismark said, “I have polished this because I know you, and the Morninglord forbid you appear in tarnished armor. You must wear it tomorrow, on the journey to Vallaki. There are reports of dire wolves on the road. And I am not planning on renting a cart; so you must take less than this.”
Hrelgi asked, “How far is it to Vallaki?”
“A day’s walk, with a little left at the end. I have done it on horseback in a morning, but on foot or carrying all of Ireena’s things…”
Ireena asked, “Can I not ride Sunblossom?”
“If you want.” He indicated Hrelgi and Ninefingers.“They will be on foot. You do not want to outpace them; they are your protection from his agents.”
“The lord has taken an interest in me,” said Ireena. She pulled the choker aside to reveal two ragged bite marks on her neck. “I have no idea why.”
“Maybe because you are a redhead? We have not seen any others,” said Hrelgi.
Ninefingers asked, “Where did the previous bite happen?”
“Bites,” said Ismark. “Both outside…fortunately, because a vampire requires an invitation to come into a home; if he had been invited here, we could not keep him out.”
Ninefingers said slowly, “Your father was burgomaster. And his father, going back to when Strahd was still alive?”
“Yes.”
“Then Strahd has been invited in, probably countless times in the centuries.”
Ismark looked stunned. He said loudly to the room, “I revoke those invitations. I am now the burgomaster, and the ruler of this home, and I revoke them. I revoke all invitations to Strahd.”
Ireena said, “I am told the bites we know about happened outdoors.”
Hrelgi asked incredulously, “You do not remember?”
“I remember his eyes burning with hunger, but nothing else,” she said. “We were riding, Ismark and I. We came upon a stag and doe, and the stag charged. We were separated. I could not find him again, and night was falling, so I found a family of farmers—the Nimirova family. They warned me that night was falling, and so they put me up. I dreamed of those eyes, for the first time.” She looked at the dresses on the bed. “In the morning, they saw the wound, and shunned me.”
“And the second time?”
“My father found me outside. Apparently I had been sleep-walking.”
Ninefingers nodded. “Which you’ve never done before?” Ireena shook her head. “And the doors have bars across them.”
“It is not…a satisfactory explanation,” said Ismark.
Hrelgi said, “Do you have staff?” She waved at all the boxes. “You don’t maintain this place yourself.”
“You would be surprised,” said Ismark.
Ireena said, “A maid, Sorina. She comes every day. Our mother insisted. She wanted to keep this place presentable, and she wanted to help the economy. The family gets a stipend from being Burgomaster. Since my mother died, we have a cook Sorina who comes in at noon, prepares a meal, and leaves it out for us. She is also responsible for getting the food.”
There was a knock at the door. “Perhaps it is the other two,” said Ismark and hurried out.
“So if the burgomasters are the nobility of this land, do you know the burgomasters of the other towns?”
“I have met them,” Ireena said. “Vallaki, in the north by Lake Von Zarovich, has Baron Vargas Vallakovich. He has an uneasy truce with Strahd, to whom he is distantly related. He is married and has one child, Victor. Victor is slightly younger than I am, but I had heard that Lady Wachter was trying to arrange a marriage between Victor and her daughter Stella.” She smiled sadly. “I pay attention to who has been betrothed to whom, because that will be my fate.” Ireena stroked a dress on the bed. “So pretty. Father held a ball as an excuse for the burgomasters to meet me; I wore this. In the far west is Krezk, whose burgomaster is Dimitri Krezkov. He is married to Anna, and only one of their four children, Ilya, survives.[2] Ilya is too young to be married.”
“Did they die of…vampires?”
Ireena shook her head. “Illness. All of the children have been taken by sickness. Dimitri and Anna are much closer in age to Ismark and I than to Father.”
“That leaves few people to you to marry.”
“There are nobles besides the burgomasters. For instance, the Wachter family, I mentined them, also resides in Vallaki, and they have two odious sons of marriageable age.” Ireena made the decision that the pretty dress would not make the journey. “Lady Wachter discomfits me. I have long suspected that she thinks she would be a much better burgomaster than the Baron.” Ireena laughed. “I am sure that she thinks I would not be a suitable bride; Father’s family is the least noble of the burgomasters. Even the vintners are better regarded.”
Ismark came in with Felewin and Uthrilir, who had already washed their hands, necks and faces after their work.
Felewin looked at the piles on the bed and said, “This is a lot.”
“She will not take all of it,” Ismark assured him. “Come; Sorina left us a meal, and I had asked that it be big enough for six. I think I can safely reheat it. I have the oven lit.”
“He’s teasing,” said Ireena. “He’s quite good in the kitchen.”
“You break my image as a wastrel or a man of action,” said Ismark. “Come; let us eat.”
The meal was rabbit, and as they ate, Uthrilir and Felewin told of their encounter with Strahd. Ismark blanched when they got to Strahd’s comment about Ireena.
“The devil Strahd wants you,” Ismark warned his sister.
“We knew that,” she said.
“Not one of his spawn, but him. He wants you. Now it is urgent to move you,” he said. “We start at dawn tomorrow. And I should tell you what Donavich told me.” He looked at the others. “I am sorry, but this is private family business.”
“They can hear,” said Ireena. “I am trusting them with my life tomorrow; and if Donavich knows, anyone might know: what he knows, Doru knows and from there…him.”
Ismark looked at each of them in turn. “Do you swear to secrecy?”
Felewin said, “I do.” Each of the others agreed in turn.
Ismark took Ireena’s hands in his. “Ireena, you are adopted. I knew this — Father had told me — but Donavich also knew. He had been the one to christen you, so of course he knew.” He reached for the jug of wine and poured himself a new glass.
Ireena laughed. “I knew,” she said. “Mother told me before she died, when I reached maidenhood, but she told me not to tell Father.”
“Oh.” Ismark started again. “Father found you near the Pillarstone of Ravenloft.”
Felewin asked, “The Pillarstone?”
“The mountain that the castle Ravenloft rests on. Father had, I think, some business that required going to Ravenloft, and on his return, he found you, in the Svalich woods, with no memory of who you were. The Svalich woods are no place for a three or four year old; he brought you home and grew to love you. He and Mother adopted you.”
“Others must know,” said Uthrilir.
“Mother was often visiting her relatives for lengths of time, and Sorina was not our maid at the time. The visible part of the pregnancy and the infancy could have all happened without locals seeing. People are not, generally, curious,[3] and it was never spoken of.”
“Where I come from, people are very curious,” said Felewin.
“It must be an odd land, with everyone knowing each other’s business,” said Ireena.
“It has its moments,” said Ninefingers. “But the news about Ireena has no effect on our plans for tomorrow.”
“I had hoped the Vallaki family would give Ireena shelter but now I am not sure. The Baron is likely to refuse if he hears. Donavich suggested that the Abbey of St. Markova might hide her.”
“An abbey might provide some protection,” said Ninefingers. “If it’s the right kind of Abbey.”
“Saint Markovia fought against Strahd,” Ireena assured him.
“A convent might be better yet,” said Uthrilir.
“We have none of those,” Ismark admitted.
“So the abbey would be the best bet?”
“It would avoid the Wachter family,” said Ireena. “The Baron does not seem to be a bad man, but staying out of his way might be best.”
“Then you’ll travel in disguise, without all of….this.” Ismark indicated the bed and boxes.
Hrelgi looked her up and down. “You have armor. Can you handle a sword?”
“A rapier,” said Ireena. “I have one with my initials on the hilt. Ismark gave it to me.”
“For her birthday. I had to pay extra for the Vistani to bring it in.”
“Can you use it?” Ireena nodded. Felewin asked Ismark, “How good would you say she is?”
“It is forbidden for women to…” Ismark grinned. “I did not give her the rapier just for her birthday, but as an honour, when she finally scored a hit on me.”
“Oh, for goodness… Ireena, come to the parlour in riding trousers. Ninefingers, help me push the furniture to the rim of the room. We need some space for this. Do you have practice swords, Ismark?”
“I do. I find them useful for rehearsing forms.”
In a handful of minutes, the room was prepared and Ismark had fetched the practice swords.
“First, we check your general form. Attack me, please.”
Ireena grinned. Her first pass was wide and Felewin batted it aside easily[4]. Her next phrase started much better[5] and she managed to touch Felewin.
He laughed and said, “Excellent! Again!”[6] He parried the next time, and the next, and the next.
Ireena said, “He is better than you are, my brother.”
“Concentrate,” said Felewin. “Now we will try a few phrases with me trying to hit back.”
Ireena squared her shoulder and said, “I am ready.”[7]
She tried to attack, but Felewin got inside her defenses easily once and again. “I see a thing or two that might be improved, but your brother has taught you well.”
“Well…” Ismark had been ready to be defensive, but the compliment caught him off guard.
“She can be a sell-sword with our group, our native guide,” said Hrelgi.
“That breastplate is ornamental; she needs something simpler,” said Felewin.
“Don’t worry about that,” said Ninefingers. “There is a hauberk that might fit, and boots.”
“More stuff you forgot to discard? I wondered why my pack was so heavy.”
Ninefingers ignored him and asked the group, “What is our goal, then, if we are traveling with a sell-sword?”
Hrelgi said, “What kind of troubles have you got?”
Ireena said, “We are a land ruled by a vampire. There are many troubles.”
“Something in the direction of Vallaki, to start,” said Ninefingers.
“You must go to Vallaki before you get anywhere else,” said Ireena.
Ismark said, “The wine shipment to the inn is overdue; there might be something there.”
“Perhaps,” said Ninefingers, “but wine to one town might not be a significant enough problem to warrant travel in a land ruled by a vampire.”
“In Barovia?” laughed Ismark. “Many think that wine is all that makes life worth living. Still, if you need a bigger problem….” He thought. “There are rumours of a mad wizard at the base of the mountain just on the other side of the lake, at the base of Mount Bararat. He is supposedly an enemy of Strahd’s.”
“Perfect!” said Felewin. “We are seeking the mad wizard.” To Hrelgi he said, “That’s our story.”
“I know what a cover story is.”
“I just didn’t want you to think we don’t have faith in your magic.”
“I never thought that. But thank you.”
“If you are to be a sell-sword, most of these packed clothes are distracting and reveals your true identity.” Felewin turned to Ismark. “So would you, so you should not come with us.”
“Best to take up your new position as burgomaster,” said Ireena, “and dismiss the staff for a week, saying that Ireena needs time to grieve.”
Ninefingers said, “Then, on the fifth day, send a wagon of her belongings to Vallaki, along with a note asking for permission for her to stay.”
“As a distraction?”
Felewin nodded. “By then we’ll be out of Vallaki. If the Baron says yes, he will store the clothes. If the Baron says no, the wagon returns to Barovia.”
Ninefingers added, “Do not tell the wagon to go to the Abbey if they say no.”
Felewin said, “Actually…Ismark, are you required to meet the other burgomasters officially?”
“Eventually. It’s understood that I will be busy at first, taking over.”
“So you can come to the Abbey in a moon time’s, perhaps, and check on Ireena. It’s near Krezk, right?”
“Yes,” said all of Ireena, Ismark, Ninefingers, and Hrelgi.
Felewin laughed. “I’m glad we agree. Ireena, pack one dress befitting your station. Just one, and remember that it might get lost or torn on the journey, so not your best. Otherwise, only one change of clothes: you are a poor sell-sword now.”
“No Sunblossom?”
Felewin shook his head. “I am afraid not. If we had five horses, perhaps, but I’m not sure anyone but you and I can ride.”
“Horses?” said Uthrilir. “Nasty beasts.”
Felewin nodded. “Ninefingers, we found some furs with the berserkers’ things, and I told you to get rid of them. Do we have any?”
“Of course not.”
“Ninefingers.” Felewin stared at him.
“One,” Ninefingers admitted. Felewin kept staring at him. “And a spare.”
“Ireena may have it. It is in keeping with her new profession. Hrelgi and Ireena will sleep together at any inns or homes. At inns we will take rooms, rather than sleep by the fire. You three have saved coin?”
They nodded guiltily.
“Good. It turns out to be useful.” He smiled. “Let us help Ireena pack and then to bed, because we start at dawn.”
10 - On The Road[8]
The Barovian custom was to eat something light before starting the day and then a heavy meal before nightfall; they had some leftovers from the night before and set out. Ireena was game but faltered quickly; she was not used to this kind of walking.
Felewin asked her questions about Barovia to keep her mind occupied. He quickly learned that Barovia had no export and insufficient farming to keep everyone alive, but everyone was, in fact, alive. He couldn’t figure out how, and after many questions, Uthrilir finally said, “It’s magic, Felewin. The Dark Powers want this place to continue, so it does.”
Felewin was quiet about it after that, but it didn’t seem like a satisfactory answer to him.
Shortly after that, Hrelgi noticed a raven. “I think that bird is following us.”
Felewin asked Ireena, “Does Strahd control ravens?”
“No,” said Ireena. Hrelgi nodded and began flipping pages in her spell book. “Do not harm it; it’s bad luck to hurt a raven. Even the Vistani believe that.”
Hrelgi looked at her. “Oh.” She put away the spell book.
Shortly after that they reached a stone bridge over a clear river, like a winter’s sky at dawn. “It is the Ivlis. This entire area is a floodplain, and the floods irrigate the grasslands, which are then freshened for the farmers. Barovia produces most of the grain for the land. Downstream is a marsh; it is a dangerous place, but berries grow there which are delicious, when ripe, and they travel reasonably well. They are one of the things we trade with Vallaki and Krezk.”
“There’s no mill nearby,” said Felewin.
“Barovians grind their own grain,” she said. “We had a mill—we will pass the road to it on the way to Vallaki—but it is not usable any more.”
“Millstones broke?”
“I do not know. Someone still makes fine flour — an old woman goes through the village offering what she calls ‘dream pastries’ — they offer you dreams, but to take them means that forevermore you must eat the pastries or die. Mother warned me about them. I am told the crust is fine, as if made from thrice-ground flour.”
“You’ve never seen them?”
Ireena shook her head. “The woman only offers them to parents with children or older siblings who are responsible for the others. The first two pastries are apparently free.”
“Magic,” said Hrelgi.
“Addictive,” said Ninefingers. “And once you’re addicted…”
“I suppose you’ll do anything,” Ireena said. “If life seems hopeless, any respite no matter the cost seems worth it.”
Eventually they came to an intersection: one road veered off to the right, and one angled left. There was a sign that pointed in each of the three directions: back to Barovia, to the Tser Falls, and to Vallaki.
The intersection was dominated by a gallows, and the rope still swung. Eleven graves of varying ages huddled at the bottom.
“Criminals,” said Ireena, “or those deemed by Strahd to be criminals.”
“The sign is correct?”
“I would like to take whichever path is shortest,” she said. “These boots are…” She winced. “Ismark always takes the left path; the right leads to the Tser Falls. There is a path to the Old Svalich Road there, and the way is slightly shorter, but you cannot take a horse or cart up to that bridge.”
“Your brother is probably wise in this,” said Felewin. He turned to the others, but was interrupted by a rabbit darting across the road. Four men in colourful clothes followed at a run, with bows out, but they stopped when they saw the group. One let off an arrow after the rabbit and hit it,[9] spearing it to the base of the gallows. He gave a cry of triumph and trotted over. He twisted the head of the rabbit and it fell limp in his hands.
The leader of the group looked at Felewin as if to ask if they were going to claim the rabbit and there would be a fight; he didn’t look like he cared if they fought or not.
Felewin shook his head. “Your rabbit; you caught it.”
“You are lost?” The head man said, “We will guide you, for gold.”
Felewin shook his head no, but Ireena affected a deeper voice than normal. “How much?”
The head man took this information in: Felewin looked like he was in charge, but the female Barovian contradicted him. He addressed Ireena. “A hundred. My lady.”
She named a lower figure.[10] He countered, she scoffed and they eventually settled on seventy-six. “To Vallaki. Some now, the remainder when we arrive.”
“Done.” They both spat on their palms and shook. She opened her backpack and withdrew a purse. She took out twenty-five gold pieces and counted them for the man.
The man winked at Felewin and said, “Hard taskmaster, that one, no matter how you costume her. I am Radu. We have a camp up by the lake; come up there and I will make the arrangements. I think you would like to travel inside a wagon so that people do not see you, no?”
Ireena looked at Felewin, who shrugged.
Hrelgi pulled on Felewin’s shoulder. “They’re Vistani. You remember what Ismark said about Vistani.”
“Undoubtedly that we are a handsome and noble people,” said Radu.
“Undoubtedly. Radu knows we are here,” said Felewin to Hrelgi, “but he will keep other suppositions to himself as part of the seventy-six gold pieces.”
“We will negotiate that,” said Radu. “Come, up this road.”
They went up the road, but Hrelgi heard a sound and turned back to look.
Hrelgi saw herself hanging there, dead, and her corpse opened its eyes and looked straight at her.
Hrelgi flipped pages and checked for magic.[11] Definitely, but more atmospheric than directed. By the time she looked up, the corpse was dissolving into the air.
“Hrelgi! Hurry up,” called Uthrilir from ahead.
Hrelgi ran after the others.
Game Mechanics
[1] Mythic suggested theme: Propose art (PC Positive)
[2] Actually, Ilya died several days before the adventure begins, but Ireena doesn’t know that.
[3] This is true in a place where only 10% of the population have souls.
[4] Ireena rolls 11 for a margin of -5; Felewin rolls a 10 for a margin of 0.
[5] Ireena rolls a 5, margin 1, and Felewin rolls a 9, margin 1. She manages a touch.
[6] Ireena rolls an 8 (margin -2) and he rolls 11 (margin -1).
[7] 11-7, 5-4: so Ireena rolls with margin -5 and he has margin 2; he bats it aside easily; on the return, he has margin 5 and she has margin 2, so he beats her easily.
Rolls are 5-5, 4-5: she gets margin 1 but he gets margin 5; he then gets margin 6 and she gets margin 1.
[8] Mythic suggested theme: open competition (Ambiguous event); I forgot to give experience to the PCs; they got 8 through Death House alone and there is experience from the end of the Borderlands adventure. Call it 15 total. Felewin out to have brawling and he ought to have a higher Etiquette, given his background. So let’s say +1 to Etiquette and Brawling 2. Ninefingers is going to improve his finesse (+1) and needs to start on composure (Composure 1). Hrelgi wants to improve her Ge, of course
[9] The Vistani rolled a 4, which is margin 3 for him, and hitting the rabbit is a Complex task.
[10] Ireena rolls a 5 and her negotiation is 8-, so margin 3; he doesn’t have negotiation, but I suspect it’s cultural. He rolls a 7, which is a failure even if you assume he has it at 5.
[11] Hrelgi rolls a 7 on her Sphaera roll
Characters
Ismark
| Fitness | Awareness | Creativity | Reasoning | Influence | Vocation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Courtier (Veteran in D&D) |
| Skills | Archery 3, Dueling 4, Melee 3, Brawling 3, Etiquette 4, Leadership 4, Riding 3, Composure 3 | ||||
| Gimmicks | None. | ||||
| Equipment | (Bonus from Fitness added in) Rapier (3 inj), Chain armour (3), Crossbow (3 inj) | ||||
Ireena
| Fitness | Awareness | Creativity | Reasoning | Influence | Vocation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Courtier (Noble in D&D) |
| Skills | Duelling 4, Etiquette 4, Literacy 4, Leadership 4, Negotiation 4, Performance 4, Riding 3 | ||||
| Gimmicks | None | ||||
| Equipment | (No bonus from Fitness) Rapier (2 inj), Studded leather hauberk (1); she owns but is not wearing a (mostly ceremonial) breastplate (4) | ||||
Studded leather is an invention, and not in Iron & Gold; straight leather provides protection against fatigue damage, studded leather protects against both injury and fatigue.
