DM Strahd's Ghost Stories

[DM Strahd]

~The Road to Hell...~

Characters Involved:
Vala
Vex
Zilv'eari
Jar'laste (initially)

Synopsis:
In an attempt to save his beloved Vala from the taint of the demonic blood in her veins, awakened by Zilv'eari's experiments with Balor sanguine concotions (usually, coating the dagger with which she stabbed her Tiefling victim...), Vex risks everything dealing with Eliphas himself (the Demon Lord) to have a chance to break the hold a misterious demonic presence has on her.
In the depths of the School of Necromancy in Sshamath, a dark ritual takes place, and its results are not exactly comforting...but after all, what can you expect dealing with infernal powers?


Rewards/Penalties:XP rewards, RP justifying the RCR of Vala and Vex, new objectives

[DM Strahd]

~The Proposal~

Characters Involved:
Unknown

Synopsis:
A meeting took place in the School of Necromancy. It is said that the Vampire keeper Vashtrae Tor'ret ordered the Dreadknights to keep everyone not invited out of the building. The contents of the meeting itself have been successfully kept secret, so far.


Rewards/Penalties:XP rewards, risky business.

[DM Strahd]

~The Road to Hell...~

Characters Involved:
Vala
Vex
Zilv'eari
Jar'laste (initially)

Synopsis:
In an attempt to save his beloved Vala from the taint of the demonic blood in her veins, awakened by Zilv'eari's experiments with Balor sanguine concotions (usually, coating the dagger with which she stabbed her Tiefling victim...), Vex risks everything dealing with Eliphas himself (the Demon Lord) to have a chance to break the hold a misterious demonic presence has on her.
In the depths of the School of Necromancy in Sshamath, a dark ritual takes place, and its results are not exactly comforting...but after all, what can you expect dealing with infernal powers?

Letter 24

Rituals...
Oh sweet rituals...
I have done many..I have witnessed many.
One more gruesome than the other.

Unfortunately I only witnessed at this one.
But to think I was the pebble that started the events towards this ritual...
ah, that makes it all the more interesting to watch!

He wanted to help her, my little pet.
Drive the demon out of her by performing a ritual.

Little did he know it would cost him probably everything...

He came to the school of necromany, asking if he could take Vala with him.
For an extreme price I agreed...

He had some strange ritualistfemale with him.
Unfortunately, after Jar'laste played with the woman during my pricenegotiations,

she died...

I can't blame him too much, these rivvil are just extremely weak.
A jalukapprentice of the school said he could do some form of exorcism as well.
Probably much better than that rivvil filth anyway.

We went down to a temple under the school of necromancy...

There, I saw a Demon and a woman,
standing each at a side of an altar.
They appeared to be Vala's father and mother...
At least, that's what she thought...

I looked back to the jaluk and I noticed he was just as confused as I was...
Something was wrong here.
Nothing of the ritual had been performed...
Yet..there they stood...

A huge demon appeared behind us.
Even I had to swallow once at the sight of this huge creature.
He was the one who took possesion of Vala all along.
Eliphas, The demon lord...

Both the demon and the woman at the altar fell down. Into nothing...
They never excisted...never had...
No mother, no demon..no nothing!

Something so cruel, I could have invented that, Adin.
The expression on Vala's face was priceless!

He came to claim what was his...
Vex's soul... his bargain was made...
Vala was no longer...'possessed'.

He towered above Vex, draining his soul from his body.
Then he left..as sudden as he came...
Leaving the soulles body of Vex on the floor.



What a fool to struck a deal with demons...
And most of all, this one in particular.
He got what he asked for...

As for Vala...I wonder if the girl can handle this,
now that she even lost him, her mother...
and in a way even her father.
If she kills herself...I don't care...
I kind of expect she will...
She is kivvil after all.

Rewards/Penalties:XP rewards, RP justifying the RCR of Vala and Vex, new objectives

[DM Strahd]

~Cold Trail~

Characters Involved:
Valaklith Sshamath
Natalya Vaentsoss
Izz'irik Xarran
Istran No'quil


Synopsis:
It is whispered that agents of the Yath met in the Gloura's Wings and started to ask questions that few understood, mentioning a "Shadow Cult" of sorts. They reportedly put under pressure the Gloura's Bartender, albeit the winged creature denied anything happened, and did not call upon the law enforcement in any way. The mysterious Circle blademaster Istran was also seen on the scene, and a shady stranger never seen before who claimed to be a "returning traveler".


Rewards/Penalties:XP reward, acquaintances...

[DM Strahd]

~In Fire and Blood~

Characters Involved:
Inxun
Shur Silverblade


Synopsis:
A very dark recess, a laboratory...an obscure ritual being performed...power-hungry members of an obscure secret society hunting for others...


Rewards/Penalties:XP reward, interaction with less than recommendable beings, some answers, a bit of frenzy...

[DM Strahd]

~The Long for ... Serenity~

Characters Involved:
Sereniti Waerlonga


Synopsis:
In an attempt to free herself from the Fey entity Xolti that hounds her since the day she was born, Sereniti and her gremlin..."advisor"...Aslat risk it all and call upon the girl's demonic patron, Glasya, to help her get rid of the monster. However, bargaining with devils is never easy, and given the fact that it's hardly possible to beat them at their own game (a game they have been playing since the beginning of time itself...), generally what you lose is always vastly more than what you gain...


Rewards/Penalties:XP reward, bad intentions...

[DM Strahd]

~Home, Part 1~

Characters Involved:
A Zhentarim Surgical Strike Force


Synopsis:
By the will of the Revered High Priest Fzoul Chembryl, an elite force (small in numbers to try an attract the least possible amount of "attention") of Zhentarim agents has been assembled, and sent to scout the surroundings of Darkhold as a first step in the path of retaking it. The skilled agents gathered important data concerning the area and status of the Undead defenders (leftovers from the rearguard of the Alhoon army, at the time marching towards Sshamath), and vital information concerning their reaction time, among others, before they were discovered and driven off by the enemy's superior numbers.


Rewards/Penalties:XP reward, a detailed tactical map, the foundations for a plan

[DM Strahd]

~"Preparations, Part 2"~

Characters Involved:
Ilphryssin Arkentlar
Jaraaste
Vala
Zilv'eari
Mili Zirrah
Natalya Vaentsoss


Synopsis:
Archmage Arkentlar and some of his most trusted officers as well as relatively new additions headed towards Varalla's Passage, and then teleported somewhere unknown. Some say they headed for the surface, some that no, they decided to strike at the Duergars...others mentioned the Khanaraun...Wherever they went, they were armed and ready, and it appeared a carefully planned operation...


Rewards/Penalties:XP rewards, gold for the lvl 30 characters, a brand new "home", lots of cleaning work to do...

[DM Strahd]

~Cold Trail, Part 2~

Characters Involved:
Nhilvrae
Lilith Sshamath
Kar'Myr Sshamath
Cazna Sshamath
Valaklith Sshamath
Trielyl
Iam'rael
Xercia
Xune


Synopsis:
A pleasant cycle for the Yath members, started with a Strategic Council, and continued with a disappeared Shield Breaker duergar (a mysterious case, really...no one saw him ever since), missing Yath'Sargtlinen and a very interesting conversation in the darkest corner of Sshamath...
The full force of the large group of jabbresses strolling through the City of Dark Weavings was an unsettling (some would say terrifying) sight to behold...


Rewards/Penalties:XP reward, gold for the lvl 30, clues

[DM Strahd]

~The Blood of the Enemy~

Characters Involved:
Shur Silverblade (you all know him, anyway...)
7x hooded members of a somewhat secret association known as "The Maw"


Synopsis:
The Drow Druid of Talona known as Shur Silverblade and a sizeable number of dark clad, hooded figures with him were spotted crossing silently Varalla's Passage, dragging along a bound, unconscious kivvil. They opened a portal soon after reaching the West of Varalla's, so that prying eyes could not follow further. When they came back few candlemarks later, signed by what looked like a hard, if winning battle, the onlookers thought it wiser to steer clear from the sinister group...


Rewards/Penalties:XP reward, a few notions on the enemy acquired in an...unforeseen way.

[DM Strahd]

~"The Ceremony"~

Characters Involved:
Ilphryssin Arkentlar
Drem
Vier'illian Dris
Zilv'eari


Synopsis:
The loudest rumor in the City concerns Archmage Ilphryssin Arkentlar, Grandmaster of the 7th Circle, who was elevated to Conclave Seat within Undrek Valanar's fortified halls by the very authority the Conclave itself granted to their Envoy and Lord Castellan Raevirr, currently in command of the keep.

Rumors say an attack was tried against the fortress, but it is unclear if it happened before, during or after the ceremony, nor if it happened at all...


Rewards/Penalties:XP rewards, gold for the lvl 30 characters, huge political implications, unexpected guests bringing their own idea of gifts.

[DM Strahd]

~The Long for ... Serenity, Part 2~

Characters Involved:
Sereniti Waerlonga
Berek Silvermane

Synopsis:
After a long research through dusty books and extraplanar advice, the fey creature Aslat, his mistress Sereniti (now empowered by her infernal mistress' "gift") and her close friend, the celestial-blooded dark clad knight Berek Silvermane reached a secluded glade in the heart of a silent, dark wood. Knowing their clues pointed to this very place as the lair of the immortal fey creature Xolti, they steeled themselves and forged on though the clearing...
As the time drew near, and the dusk became night, they prepared to confront the Immortal Fey Lord, while all around them the spirits of the forest awakened from their slumber...


Rewards/Penalties:XP reward, a long sought after freedom...but a costly one

[DM Strahd]

~ Lolth Tlu Malla! ~

Characters Involved:
Lilith Sshamath
Cazna Sshamath
Valaklith Sshamath
Trielyl
Xune
A very (un)lucky Jaluk...


Synopsis:
The Drums kept rolling for the grand ceremony taking place in the Temple. Important members of House Sshamath were guiding the ritual, and the set-up was very solemn. Nobody, however, went close enough to check what all the fuss was about, lest they became sacrificial victims themselves...


Rewards/Penalties:XP reward, a girl's night of fun at the Temple...

[DM Strahd]

~The Blood of the Enemy, Part 2~

Characters Involved:
Shur Silverblade
A few old an new Maw agents


Synopsis:
Shur Silverblade and a number of his agents (old and new ones) teleported to a fortified remote encampment in snowy mountainside, in the dead of night. Their reasons or biddings are unknown, but onlookers (some say an Illithid merchant traveling to Sshamath rather regularly) saw them coming back scorched and battered, obviously after a big fight, the smell of brimstone still filling the air. The witness could not swear it, as he was afraid to get too close to the grim commando, but their leader (and not only him) looked thoughtful...perhaps somewhat troubled...


Rewards/Penalties:XP reward, gold for the lvl 30, a special guest invited long ago, and finally coming...with somewhat unexpected ripercussions.

[DM Strahd]

~Home, Part 2~

Characters Involved:
A Zhentarim cell's High Command
Their very special and powerful allies


Synopsis:
Following Chembryl's orders with zealous efficiency, the Zhentarim cell key members and their powerful allies managed to establish an advanced war camp right in view of Darkhold's high walls, fortifying a glade just short of the steep mountain on which top the castle is built, embedded in its very rock. Supply lines, previously regularly disrupted, have now been established as the road's control has been seized by the advancing army. With all the pieces in place (on both sides, as the attack will be two-pronged), the plan to retake the Citadel can finally proceed to its final stage...


Rewards/Penalties:XP reward, gold for the lvl 30 toons, a good surface location to start the siege from