Date Unknown, Barovia
The shadows in this land deepen with every step I take, every new revelation clawing at my resolve. Today, the weight of this place pressed heavier than ever upon my soul.
It began in the church, where I sought refuge after the horrors in the village square. Father Donavich welcomed us and another lost soul, Lucian, a man who, like us, was drawn into this cursed land by the mists. He seems earnest in his desire to help, though I wonder if his hope can endure what we have seen today.
In the dim light of the chapel, Donavich confided in us about his son, Doru—a boy now trapped in the church basement. My heart ached as he spoke, his words faltering with grief and guilt. He had kept Doru locked away because of the boy’s strange condition: a hunger, insatiable and monstrous. When we descended into the dark, we found Doru, a shadow of the boy he must have been, his eyes wild with bloodlust. He cried out to us, begging for freedom, for food—for blood.
I prayed to Selûne for guidance, for a miracle to lift this curse, but none came. I could not bring myself to harm him, though the rest of the group seemed more ready to do what might have been necessary. In the end, Donavich’s trembling voice called us back, insisting there might still be a way to save his son. I fear there is none, but I could not take from him the hope that sustains him.
After leaving the church, we met Ismark and Ireena again, siblings whose home has been the site of repeated wolf attacks. The beasts are relentless, smashing against their doors and windows, driven by more than simple hunger. When they spoke of their plan to travel to Vallaki, a village they believe to be safer, I offered my aid. I cannot leave them to face this peril alone, especially not Ireena, who seems marked by the same malevolence that hunts this land. Before we departed, we encountered a woman called Mad Mary, her cries of anguish echoing through the streets. Her daughter, Gertruda, has gone missing, and she fears the worst. The poor woman was barely coherent, clutching a ragged doll and begging for someone—anyone—to bring her child back. Lucian and I promised to look for clues, though I wonder if such a promise is false hope. In this dark place, even the smallest light feels fragile.
Later, we were drawn to a Vistani encampment, where a woman called Madame Eva performed a reading for us. Her words were veiled in riddles, yet they spoke of truths that chilled me. She spoke of an enemy we have already made, though we know it not, and laid out cards that foretold paths of power, loss, and salvation. I fear I missed some of the nuances of her reading, my limited grasp of her language betraying me. If only I had studied more diligently. Perhaps the rest of the group understood more, though they too seemed unsettled by her words.
And so, all I can do is move forward. Ireena must reach Vallaki safely, and I must aid those I meet along the way. The weight of this land and its people’s despair bears down on me, but Selûne’s light is still within me. I will not let the darkness win, not while I still have strength…..May the Lady of Silver guide my steps and protect those in my care.
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