Page 99 - Curse of Strahd_Neat

due. If the characters claim to be adventurers, Urwin
asks them if they would be so kind as to find out what's
holding up the latest shipment, promising them free
room and board if they return with the wine.

KEEPERS OF THE FEATHER
Urwin Martikov (LG male human) is a wereraven (see
appendix D) and a high-ranking member of the Keepers
of the Feather, a secret society of wereravens that op­
MILIVOJ
poses Strahd. Urwin's wife and business partner, Dan­
ika Dorakova (LG female human), is also a wereraven,
as are their two sons, Brom and Bray. The boys have
only 7 hit points each and, at ages eleven and nine, are
theft in the too young to be effective combatants.
hope that the At any given time, another ld4 wereravens (members
characters can of the Keepers of the Feather) are present at the inn, ei­
provide assistance. ther perched on the rooftop in raven form or huddled in­
St. Andral's crypt is side in human form. These wereravens are loyal friends
a 10-foot-square, 5-foot of the Martikovs and help protect the inn.
high chamber beneath the If the characters earn the trust of the wereravens
chapel. To reach the crypt, in Vallaki, the Keepers of the Feather will watch their
Milivoj used his shovel to pry up backs. The next time the characters get themselves in
the chapel floorboards. (The boards serious trouble, you can have a group of ld4 werera­
have since been replaced.) If one of the vens show up to rescue or otherwise help them.
characters confronts Milivoj and succeeds on a DC 10
Charisma (Intimidation) check, he admits that Yeska FORTUNES OF RAVENLOFT
told him about the bones. He also admits to passing If your card reading reveals that a treasure is hidden at
along the information to Henrik van der Voort, the local the inn, the Keepers of the Feather don't reveal where
coffin maker (area N6), and to stealing the bones for the treasure is until they know the characters are ca­
Henrik in return for money to help feed his younger sis­ pable of protecting it. As a way of testing their abilities,
ters and brothers. Urwin gives the characters the following quest:
The theft of the bones has left the church vulnerable
to attack by Strahd's minions (see "St. Andral's Feast"
in the "Special Events" section at the end of this chap­ Urwin takes you aside and keeps his voice low. "My sup­
ter). If the bones are returned to their resting place, St. ply of wine is nearly gone, and the next shipment is over­
Andral's church once again becomes hallowed ground, due. I'll give you what you seek if you bring me my wine.
as though the building was protected by a hallow spell. The vineyard and winery is a few miles west of here. Just

N2. BLUE WATER INN follow the Old Svalich Road and the signs."

Urwin fails to mention that his cantankerous father,
Gray smoke issues from the chimney of this large, two­ Davian Martikov, owns the local winery and vineyard,
story wooden building with a stone foundation and sag­ the Wizard of Wines (chapter 12). There's bad blood
ging tile roof, upon which several ravens have perched. between Urwin and his father (whom Urwin and Danika
A painted wooden sign hanging above the main entrance refer to as "the old crow"). Although Urwin could easily
depicts a blue waterfall. visit the winery himself, he considers dealing with his
father to be a worthy test of the characters' competence,
and he makes good on his promise if they complete the
The Blue Water Inn is Vallaki's main gathering place quest and return with his wine':shipment.
for locals, especially at night. The innkeeper, Urwin Urwin sends a wereraven in r.i,ven form to obs�rve
Martikov, considers the inn a sanctuary from the evils of the party's progress from a distance. If the characters
_
this land. In the event of tro�bi�; the·windows and doors get in trouble, the wererave.n_teports to Urwin at once.
can all be barred shut frofrt within> . ' . . ... :
°
A bed for the night costs 1 �p, Ghar�cters looking for N2A. WELL
something to eat are fed hot beet soup· and fresli bread A 3-foot-high stone rim surrounds the mo�tli of this
. at no additional charge. A cooked wolf steak costs 1 ep. 40-foot-deep, moss-lined well. Th� inn dr;:yv�'fiesh wa-
The inn offers a pint of Purple Grapemash No. 3 wine ter from this well. · · ·
for 3 cp, or a pint of the superior Red Dragon Crush N2B. OUTSIDE STAIRCASE
wine for 1 sp. Urwin is hurt if the characters complain
·
· about the wines, for his family makes them .. A wooden staircase hugs the outer wall of the inn and
The inn's wine supply is almost depleted, and the leads up to guest quarters on the upper floor (areas N21
latest delivery from the Wizard of Wines winery is over-. · and N2m). The· sturdy wooden door at the top of the
. �tairs can be barred from the inside.

CHAPTER 5 I THE TOWN OF VALLAKI