Page 20 - Curse of Strahd_Neat

The characters can interrupt the messenger at any time.
Suddenly, the tavern door swings open, and a hush His name is Arrigal (NE male human assassin), and he
falls over the room. Framed by the lamp-lit fog, a form is a Vistani. The other tavern patrons regard his people
strides through the doorway. His heavy, booted footfalls as friendly folk who travel about in covered wagons and
and the jingle of his coins shatter the silence. His brightly usually keep to themselves.
Arrigal describes Barovia as a valley of great beauty
colored clothes are draped in loose folds about him, and and his master as a remarkable man. If the characters
his hat hangs askew, hiding his eyes in shadows. Without question Arrigal about the identity of his master, he
hesitation, he walks up to your table and stands proudly claims to serve Burgomaster Kolyan Indirovich, but in
in a wide stance with folded arms. truth he serves Strahd. After delivering the letter, Arri­
In an accented voice he says, "I have been sent to you gal mounts his horse and rides off. He doesn't wait for
to deliver this message. If you be creatures of honor, the characters to follow him.
The crest depicted on the letter's seal belongs to
you will come to my master's aid at first light. It is not Strahd, though the characters have never seen it before.
advisable to travel the Svalich Woods at night!" He pulls Show the players Strahd's crest on page 239.
from his tunic a sealed letter, addressed to all of you in The letter, which seems to have been written by the
beautiful flowing script. He drops the letter on the table. burgomaster, was actually penned by Strahd. If the
"Take the west road from here some five hours march characters read the letter, show the players "Kolyan In­
down through the Svalich Woods. There you will find my dirovich's Letter (Version 1)" in appendix F. The letter is
bait to lure the adventurers to Barovia. If the characters
master in Barovia." take the bait, they arrive at area A (see chapter 2, "The
Amid the silent stares of the patronage, the gypsy Lands of Barovia").
strides to the bar and says to the wary barkeep, "Fill
the glasses, one and all. Their throats are obviously MYSTERIOUS VISITORS
parched." He drops a purse heavy with gold on the bar. The details of this adventure hook assume that your
With that, he leaves. D&D campaign is based in or near Daggerford, a town
The babble of tavern voices resumes, although some­ on the Sword Coast in the Forgotten Realms, but you
can change the location to suit your campaign.
what subdued. The letter is lying before you. The seal is
in the shape of a crest you don't recognize.

CHAPTER l I INTO THE MISTS
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