Page 174 - Curse of Strahd_Neat

CHAPTER 12: THE WIZARD OF WINES

INE IS THE LIFEBLOOD OF THE BAROVIAN Adding to Davian's misery, the wereravens have been
people. It is one of the only indulgences fending off frequent attacks by Baba Lysaga's scarecrow
left to them. Without it, many Barovians constructs. Three weeks ago, during one such attack,
would lose their last shred of hope and another gem was found, dug up, and taken. Davian be­
succumb to utter despair. lieves that it is in the possession of Baba Lysaga (see
Although the Vistani often bring wine chapter 10, area U3).
from distant lands, they share it infre­ Davian's belief is correct. The gem was a lucky find for
quently. Thus, most of Barovia's wine comes from one Baba Lysaga, who had previously suspected that magic
source: the Wizard of Wines winery and vineyard. was the root of the vineyard's health but knew nothing of
The Wizard of Wines was founded by a mage whose its source. Even after this great discovery, Baba Lysaga
name is buried in the annals of history. The wizard fash­ continues to send her scarecrows against the winery,
ioned three magic gems, each one as big as a pinecone, antagonizing the wereravens like a bad neighbor.
and planted them in the rich valley soil. These "seeds" Five days ago, evil druids stole the third and final gem
gave rise to healthy grapevines, which produced sweet, and bore it to Yester Hill (chapter 14). The wereravens
plump grapes. Even after Strahd's curse settled over launched a counterattack on Yester Hill, hoping to get it
Barovia, the gems kept the vines and their grapes from back, but to no avail. The druids and their blights proved
succumbing to the darkness. more than a match for the lycanthropes.
Strahd bequeathed the winery and vineyard to the Two days ago, the druids returned with a horde of
noble Krezkov family as a reward for the family's loyalty. blights and drove Davian's family from the winery.
Later, an arranged marriage between the Krezkovs and They've also poisoned the fermentation vats, leav­
the Martikov family led to the land being taken over by ing the winery with only a few bottles and barrels of
a Martikov descendant. The winery and vineyard have drinkable wine.
been tended by the Martikovs ever since. At some point, Even if the characters succeed in helping the Mar­
the Martikov family became infected with widespread tikovs reclaim the winery, wine production in the valley
lycanthropy. The current patriarch, Davian Martikov, is will eventually stop as the vineyard dies off. Only by
a wereraven, as are his children and grandchildren. recovering the magic gems and replanting them in the
The wereravens provide the wine to Barovian tav­ soil can the characters ensure that the Barovians aren't
erns for free, knowing the good it brings to the Baro­ without wine to comfort them on dark, wretched nights.
vian people.
The winery is known for three wines: the unremark­
able Purple Grapemash No. 3, the slightly more tanta­
lizing Red Dragon Crush, and the rich Champagne du
le Stomp. Ten years ago, one of the vineyard's magic
gems was dug up and stolen, and as a result, the winery
stopped producing its best vintage, the champagne. No
one knows what happened to the gem. Davian Martikov
blames his middle son, Urwin (see chapter 5, area N2),
for the loss because Urwin was on watch the night the
gem was taken. Davian is convinced that Urwin shirked
his duty to spend time with his betrothed, and the two
men have been at odds ever since. To this day, Urwin
steadfastly denies his father's accusation.

WHY, IT IS NOTHING TO BECOME AN
animal, for that is the true nature of
every man. We are not meant to wear
crowns and drink from goblets .
..:.strahd von Zarovich