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Zandeyr broke the stillness when he approached the Abbot’s body, carefully removed four wing feathers and started to draw some blood from the perfect — but perfectly still — body.

Shaking yourself out of shock, finding out who was left in the Abbey became the next priority. After Viktor, with a supernaturally booming voice the reached every corner of the Abbey, made it clear none of the mongrelfolk were to leave, you moved upstairs past the still sleeping Clovin and over the battlements to the rooms above the Western wing.

The first room was an office of some kind, with smashed and rotting wood furniture. The next was an infirmary, lines with long unused cobwebbed steel cots. The doors out of this room were each labelled: Operating Room, Nursery, and Morgue.

In the Theatre there was a solitary stone bench, sides and top covered in old bloodstains — which Bannor determined in closer inspection could be as fresh as several weeks. As he drew close to the bench, a terrifying and terrified scream rang out, as if the room was in great pain. It was followed by another, and another, each growing weaker until the room fell quiet again. Bannor couldn’t see the source, and he threw dust over the table to see if a hidden figure might lie there, but saw nothing — just the screams again.

The Nursery was next, the wreckage of old cribs the only sign of what was once here. As he investigated, Bannor caught sight of a solitary nun in white robes reflected in the window, but when he spun to face her there was nothing.

The Morgue was empty except for some old and rotting beds. A Raven looked down at you from a broken window pane, cocking its head before flying away. The last room you checked appeared to be some kind of barracks, long abandoned, though one rotted ‘bed’ appeared to have been used somewhat recently.

---

You moved downstairs toward the cacophony of the mongrelfolk contained within. Their racket was occasionally quietened by a huge thumping sound, like a wall being hit with a sledgehammer, but not for long.

As you rounded the corridor leading to the cells, you saw what was making that noise: a huge stitched together mound of flesh with hammers for fists and a face made of nightmares. As soon as it saw you it charged down the 10ft corridor, smashing into Viktor and Zane who had setup ready to take the blows.

Zane’s flashing blades started slicing chunks off the creature, but slowed it down not a jot. Viktor’s holy blade seemed to be more effective, driving hard into the fleshy horror. Xarann opened up volleys of flame and Bannor dug his daggers deep, and despite some crushing blows from it’s huge fists the creature fell without too much trouble.

Eight doors lined the corridor, and you slowly moved past each one, inspecting what was inside. The rooms contained mongrelfolk, and each one deepened your feeling of unease and confusion.

From a terrified three clutching a brass candle to protect them from you, to a brawling five who fought over a 5ft statue of Saint Barovia whilst ignoring you completely, to a circle of chanters muttering gibberish.

Sixteen starving creatures crammed into a filthy 10ft square cell, begging to be fed, and eating what looked like parts of each other. One had a conga line of dancing figures, following one who held a brilliant gold statue of Saint Markovia aloft.

Viktor sensed the statue contained magic, and demanded it be handed over, eventually wrenching it from the poor creature’s grasp. The dancers stopped and wailed in sorrow, like their souls had been torn from them.

Another room contained a fort of wood within which hid two cackling mongrels. And most disturbing of all, a nursery, with ten drained and hollow eyed mongrelfolk coddling three babies: the next generation of the Abbot’s hideous experimentation.

---

Back in the Chapel, you talked to Clovin, and it became clear that he had little idea about how the mongrelfolk were cared for and fed. He did the feeding, but told you that the Abbot would provide the food each day.

You hauled Zygfrek out of the well, and snuffling Otto emerged from hiding to join her, but they too were clueless when it came to how this place operated. You didn’t know what to do. Someone had to care for these creatures, someone had to feed them.

Viktor had determined that these creatures weren’t evil, no more than any citizens of any town. And yet they posed a threat to the town below, and a threat to themselves. Bannor and Zane favoured burning the whole place to the ground, but also realised that wasn’t a real option.

You eventually decided that the mongrelfolk were Krezk’s duty now, and that meant talking to the Burgomaster.

---

You wrapped the Vistani woman and the Angelic figure in a cover and made your way back into the village. The Burgomaster came to greet you, a recovering Ilya tucked under his arm. He thanked you again for his son, and questioned the two bodies.

When you told him you had killed the Abbot he went pale and took a few steps back: “You killed him? But he has lived here for centuries. And he has catered to the mongrelfolk. Who…who will look after them now?”

You told him it was now his responsibility, and he reacted strongly, telling you in no uncertain terms that it was beyond the capacity for the villagers to feed and tend to the creatures in the Abbey. They had food enough for their own subsistence, but not nearly enough for 60 more. He insisted upon this, despite your fierce return arguments, and furthermore he stridently claimed this was your doing, and you must be the ones to provide a solution to this.

Viktor turned to Ireena and suggested that she work with Dmitri in working out a way to feed these creatures, and while she empathised, she doubted there was supply or will enough to do so — and it would be weeks before she would know enough to be confident.

Bannor became fed up with this, and offered to provide a quick, easy, and final solution. He suggested to the Burgomaster that Krezk had an opportunity here, to become a great stronghold in this land, an unrivalled political power.

Dmitri took a moment when he heard this, and you could almost see the gears turning in his head. “You should do what you can, what you think is best — but please, leave me out of this.”

Viktor was incensed that Bannor would take things to this extreme, and made his displeasure known. Bannor stormed away to start brewing his ‘solution’, and Viktor turned his wrath on the Burgomaster. He shoved him to the ground, stood over him, and spelled out that it was Krezk who would keep these people, and Krezk who would feed them.

The Burgomaster stood and dusted himself down. He told you he had nothing further to say, and walked calmly into his house. Viktor chased after him, hauling him back out into the street and throwing him to the ground again.

Xarann tried to calm Viktor, but it was impossible. Ilya watched his father thrown down into the dirt as Viktor threatened all manner of woe should any harm come to the mongrelfolk, and all manner of retribution should they disobey. He wouldn’t let Dmitri speak, the proud Burgomaster reduced to nothing.

Anna Krezkov emerged from the house, walked over to Viktor and spat at his feet, before lifting her husband to his feet, and retreating inside with her family. The other villagers who had witnessed all this also withdrew, leaving you standing alone.

There was nothing for it but to leave, but as you made to depart, Bannor told you all he was staying. Staying to look after the mongrelfolk, whatever that took. The acrimony, disgust, and guilt was overwhelming everyone, and Bannor couldn’t be talked down, so you left without him. Xarann was tempted to stay too, but his loyalty to Viktor won over.

Bannor’s parting words stung: “Leave, go and kill yourself some more Angels”.

---

Your motley and grim faced crew arrived back in Vallaki, somewhat relieved to be back here where there was some semblance of normality.

Garn greeted you heartily, and you were somewhat surprised to find he had spent his time productively, rallying the town behind Ireena and the new order, and becoming something of a celebrity in the town — Zane’s guard insider Danya even coyly suggesting he stay for good and lead them to future glory (“Master Garn is unmarried, isn’t he?").

Father Lucian was initially pleased to see you too, but the conversation quickly turned to the dead Abbot, and his deep unease at what you had done. He observed that death followed you wherever you went, and an Angel’s death was hard to see as anything but an act of evil. You told him of the Abbot’s machinations, and he took you at your word, but still showed clear discomfort.

Viktor appealed to him for advice, and he said that the mongrelfolk were your responsibility now. You had removed their one means of survival, and you must be the ones to restore that.

Zane and Garn reacted badly to this, accusing the Chaplain of eschewing his own moral duty — here you were trying hard to make this land (not even your own land!) better, and all you hear from locals is accusation and judgement. Zane went as far as accusing all Barovians of being “cowards” for not challenging Strahd with every fibre of their being, and every day of their life.

Lucian defended himself quietly, saying he merely answered the question Viktor asked, and no judgement was intended. He told you his duty was to care for his parishioners, and he did that to his best ability. Fighting Strahd was not something he was destined to do.

Garn mocked this, saying that everyone able should be fighting, and to not do so was to doom the people of Barovia to their terrible fate. The Father countered strongly that many had fought — had you not been to Argynvostholt? Had you not been to Saint Markovia’s abbey? — and all had perished under the dread hand of the devil Strahd. It was an insult to those noble people to say the Barovian’s did not fight. But look around you: how many in Vallaki could challenge the vampire lord?

In some anguish, Viktor asked for the Father’s help with the cremation of the Abbot, and the holy man grimly agreed, as did you all.

---

Back in Krezk, Bannor discussed options with the Burgomaster, who was clearly interested in the ‘clean slate’ possibility. Bannor knew that Viktor wouldn’t countenance that, but found himself none-the-less painting a picture of Krezk as a powerful fortress once the Abbey was annexed with the rest of the town. He also explained that Ireena was a good soul, and her offer of assistance couldn’t be discounted. Dmitri said he would think on it for the night, and Bannor took himself up to the Abbey for the night.

He tried to get Clovin to show him how the vegetable gardens were farmed to no avail. Zygfrek and Otto also weren’t able to help. Bannor bribed all three with raw potatoes, which they guzzled with glee, Clovin thanking his new ‘Master’. Bannor settled in for an uncomfortable night, the starving mongrelfolk never far from his restless thoughts.

---

A huge bonfire was built on the shores of Lake Vallaki, and the body of the Abbot placed carefully atop just as dusk settled in. Viktor lit the flame, and the flames quickly rose into the night sky. A deep sense of disquiet filled the butcher as he watched the Angel burn.

As you watched the embers rising, you noticed they were obscured by something flying high above. The temperature suddenly dropped and wisps of fog started covering the ground. From out of the smoke filled sky, Strahd rode on his jet black steed, settling to the ground in front of the flaming pyre.

“You killed him. My pet Angel. I should be surprised, but I’m not. You are nothing if not destructive. And so very entertaining!”

Garn growled out a reply, telling him that you were not here for his entertainment.

“Oh but you are! This is my game, and you are playing it. Alas though you still play at chequers — the dear Abbot and his ridiculous creations were a fun distraction but I grew tired of them some time ago. I’ll be more interested when you raise the stakes. I will see you when you’re playing chess — I shall send you an invite! I fancy a formal dinner will be warranted.”

Dipping his head in mock salute, the devil rode off into the night sky, leaving you cursing his name, and pondering your uncertain fate.

---

In Krezk, Bannor rose early, intending to find some way to feed the starving mongrelfolk with what meagre food he could rustle up. He left the Chapel building with Clovin, Zygfrek and Otto, only to find the Burgomaster waiting outside in the courtyard. Ignoring the mongrelfolk flanking Bannor, the Burgomaster looked him directly in the eye and spoke:

“Do it”

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Meta:

The statuette of Saint Markovia grants any good aligned character that carries it +1 to saving throws. Decide who gets it!

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Session played: 16 December 2019