Curse of Strahdanya | Ep. 44 | Blood Moon: Part 3 [FINALE]

To our back at the end of all things and listening to the finale of Kursh of Strudania, in legends of a ventrospod guest. Last time, the Ashran expedition freshly resurrected by the light of the morning lore found me beneath the ruins of my throng room. My curse was finally broken and at last I was allowed to die. But before slipping into oblivion, I gave them my father's sword and told them of my plan to use it as the weapon that would destroy the eldritch entity that was my master and jailer for so long. After one final farewell to Victoria, Count Estrudania von Zorvich was no more. However, a danger to our heroes, Rovia and all of the realms beyond was only increasing. The blood queen rose to her heart in the highest tower and her corrupted veins pulsed through Castle Ravenloft, feeling it with a natural life. The only way to bring an end to the ritual beneath the blood moon was to face the cosmic horror directly. With Therga and Estrud splitting off to evacuate as many innocent from the castle as they could, the expedition began rushing through the corrupted corridors. However, with each passing moment, the blood queen's corruption increased. In each room they had to fight not just against her fleshy growth, but also their own minds. Finally arriving at the build tower that connects to the tower of the heart of Ravenloft. All that's left is to rise and face their destinies. This episode is brought to you by our generous supporters on Patreon. We also just launched hundreds of new products to our market store, including Pudys, Mugs, Posters, Hats, Stickers and more. You can snag some new merch or become a patron yourself by following the link in the show notes. We are eternally grateful for your support. Now, let us proceed with the finale. The finale of Curse of Stradania. It is difficult. And the room still unulates and rides around you. But you're able to rip away from its hold over you as you once again make your way into the hallway. You know that you are mere rooms from the tower. And you make your way towards the bellfree. You make your way into the final room before the bridge that leads to the heart. You stand in the castle's bellfree. The stone walls rising tall around you in three massive bells hanging above. The spiral staircase overgrown with boils and tumors is your only path to the arched doorway that is currently blocked by the blood queen who expects you as much as you expect her. Her fleshy veiled head tilts towards you and yet again a voice speaks to you. What? Where am I? Please let me go. I won't tell anyone about your garden where your cold ice swear. Girl, what are you doing with that knife? No, no, no, please, I'll convert. Praise the dragon, praise the fire, please. I'll do anything if I want to. Only one of you knows the voice. But it is not by name, Sarnax. As a younger lizard, you would thought that the numerous sacrifices of Eric Coper you witnessed would desensitize you when the time came. However, even now, years later, you still remember the terrified voice of the very first sacrifice made by your own hand. The voice that still haunts you has returned. And all around you, the stone of the tower seems to shift to a mighty tree, a cataclysmic storm raging overhead above the tumultuous skies of areas. There is no fire, no warmth. And from the tree tops, fall hundreds of brutalized corpses of the owl-like birdfolk. The cascade around you like raindrops from the massive storming cloud where the bells should be. This raven lofts. Falling all around you, the corpses of Eric Coper, the tree branches lash out and strike at you, the lightning, blooming ahead. It's so hard now to tell what is raven loft and what isn't. The madness, the delusions, all getting the better of you. I need you all to make a constitution saving throw. What is that? Did you know that person? Under these people. Yes. Who wants that? I can. Two, two. Anyone who fails, con. Anyone who fails is going to take seven points of thunder damage and you would technically be pushed, but you're not in the room yet, so that effect will not. What was our roleplay prompt for the past room I missed in, I apologize. Your roleplay prompt for the moment room was a vulnerable, insatiable hunger. But I kind of like the, like for glory. Okay, yeah. Yeah. I'll step forward and I'll say. I did that. Yes. What do you mean you did that? I carved her hard out. Out of her rib cage. It was my first sacrifice. What do you mean you're fast? There were more? Yes. Yes. Do you think that a secret cult trying to overthrow a totalitarian government does not spill blood? The ends that was told justify the means. Is there any plan to do that, Sarnas? You're going to sacrifice her? No. Oh, this time you told me I was the wicked one. When you all along with blood on your hands. I swore that I would serve the cult. But you heard at the music box just because I serve a god does not mean that the other mortals who do the same interpret the word with justice and morality. I was misguided. I will pay for my crimes like all of us do. Like I said, there is time for all of us. There is time for redemption. No way to go. But forward. And I. So we are hungry for glory. And I am at ten stacks of grand juror, grand illusions of printuror. Flick to creature to steal for pounds. So this is stability checks and saving through. We are trying. People will tell my story back home for many years to come. I want sure that defeat today is not in the cards. But I will be remembered for eos and people who fear my name. Game, Kana, Soyokaze. 30. 30. I think that is a square. You are not on this one. So you dash to get there or you don't have levels of exhaustion. I have one level of exhaustion. I am at ten stacks of grand illusions. That is my act. Oh, that is the coin. Where do I start? I am at the base of Damir's. I can use. If you use your actual dash, you can do the 30 feet. I will use my actual dash. 30. 30. 30. 30. 30. 30. 30. 30. 30. 30. 30. 30. 30. 30. 30. 30. 30. 30. 30. 30. 30. 30. 30. 30. 25. 25. 25. 25. 25. 25. 25. 25. 25. You did not see what her people had done, what they have done for years, for centuries. They have brutalized the entire forest floor. I will say that I believed what I did was just and was right, but she had not done those things. She should not have been punished for them, but I will continue. It is what I deserve. I must repent for my sins. I must. And I will cast a freedom of movement on myself as I blaze with a radiating purpose and hunger taking a paid from Claynavra. Have you noticed that as he casts this, almost his entire body goes up in purple flame. The transformation that the blood queen is filling all of you with is almost nearly overtaking you. And I would like to move 30 feet as much as I can. Rich, could you potentially help me here? I got one. I'm sorry. You could move three or five. You could move three or five. You could land the yellow. Yeah. Let's look and do it. I'm going as fast as four as I can. There you go. I'm going to come up here and I'm only going to move five feet. I think 10 to the eye. I'm going to go 15 because I got free in my movement. So even if I fail, I'm going to just as I'm kind of trucking up the stairs, taking my, I mean, I'm going as fast as I can and I'm not moving as quick as I usually do. I'm going to look up the stairs and saw an X and just say, saw an X. I'm, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for you. I feel myself actually throw. So I will take some damage. Against what? The green blood. Yeah, you can roll the geometry yourself. Oh, go for it. Yeah, I'm rolling the acid. I'm blinded by the wax. You do not need to see in order to press forward. Is the roleplay prompt only if you fail the ways in the cons? Or is it? No, the roleplay prompt is something that happens at the end of each room. So just for full clarity, because I think you were in the bathroom. One of the things that happened to you when you were inside of your death vision was that you, Connor, you were turned into a near inky void and you were consumed with a certain trait. And so at the end of each one of your rooms, the entire group is being consumed by that individual's trait. And so they're all stacking. And your bodies are also once again turning towards what the blood queen was trying to form you into. So you were becoming closer to an inky void. Clayton's was a hungry, an insatiable hungry. Got it. Is that? I will slowly ascend the stairs, feeling horrendously exhausted. I'm so tired, everyone, but I will break this curse. I will. I'm going to pop open my last health potion. I will down it and I will go 15 feet. Starts here. One. Middle through this guy. Around. A bit around. One. Two. You're in. Fucking. You can go through your friends. I'm about to be over three and a half. I can. This is fine. So I will stop here. I make it move. You make the straight statement. You can stop on the sword. I will just say, for the sake of that you can land beside Shepard. Okay. Just not in his spot. Okay, got it. Okay, I will say, or Shepard, we can do this. We can do this. And I'm trying to fix my real trying. And I'll look at my shifting, mosty colored skin. All colored. All colors. Ravenloft begins to lash out around you. Is the tree itself above you begins to shake the falling bodies of the dead, Eric, hook us, splattering into viscera at your feet as lightning pierces the sky. And you all to make the constitution saving throw. There's no point. I'm ready to say before. I have the world double 19. I'm going to say 24. Anyone who fails is going to take 20 points of thunder damage. And you are pushed 15 feet backwards. Down the stairs. Can I twist? I'm not getting started then, Jesus. I'm just at the basis. I'm never getting up there. There's no way. No. Is it 20 points? I'm never going to be able to get up there. It's impossible. But I'm gripped. So I actually don't get knocked back. Because I may believe or do I? To your grip? Is it strong enough to be ripped out of the fence? I'm so tired. I'm so tired. It's tentacle. No, I think you could move up to next, where the hole in the floor is, where Shepard was. That would have been 30 feet. That up was on the ground. I was grappled. No. No. So then you wouldn't be able to be moved. Oh, thank God. You were grappled until the end of... Thank you, tentacle. Or is there no... Oh, there's no doubt here. Yeah. There's no doubt here. It's hard for me to say. Okay, stop it. I'm just going to knock back out with 20 feet. I'll be about 15 feet. No, 15 feet. Okay, she just go into that knob. So I land on the green. With that is constant. Now I'll play. So I land on the green. So I have to do a straight saving throw. Yep. Great. Sorry. No. I'm going to start next. You've got to make it to the top. So I fail. I'll be restrained. So I take 46 damage. You want to stack. And you can start to ask the Tori. You're up. I can't tie a try to us. I haven't used my action yet. This is just me rolling down the stairs. Oh. Yeah, she rolled down the stairs and into us. Lucky for the downers. It is. It is. Okay, so 11. I'm going to do it. 10. Oh, okay. You want to end your turn here. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Oh, okay. You want to end your turn here. Wait. I said it only attacks me. Yeah, it's only when you end your turn. I was going to say. Oh, I thought it's because I got rolled down the stairs. You did, so you're putting you have more movement to get toward the top. Oh, sorry. That's why I was confused. Yeah, thank you. Hey. That's awesome. I will allow that. Because that's how it works. So, Con, it's your turn. Excuse me? Sorry. I'm a bit tense. 15. Try to go back up the stairs. I couldn't do 30 because I'm not exhausted yet. Yeah. I'm going to try to get a little more momentum to do that. And yellow is dead. I think we're facing up. What can you get past the yellow? I don't know if I can, is this considered a spell? Probably not. He probably did slam on the yellow. Well, is it, is it this? 15.30? Oh, if you can make it there, then yeah. I'm kind of like teetering to find my rip and then the squad down. You just return. Um, I will look at Saranext directly in front of me. And kill the reason we're stuck in this room. Get up there now. I won't be held back by you. Um, and we're going to get there. With my... Frenzy? Yeah, with my bloodthirsty. I will... smack in the face. You wish. I'll reach my bony hand out and knowing that you're cold. That lizard health frostbite you. Oh, yeah, I forgot she had to attack you. I didn't even know. That means it does what you do. Do I go all saving throw? No, what does it do? Do I go all saving throw or do you attack? Uh, yeah, saving throw. Con. Con. Con? I'm fail. Uh, 16, it was a 16 passes. Oh, no way. Yeah, you fail. Uh, and it's more V6. So, play out just wholely then. It's cold, I presume, because frostbite. Yeah, you're actually... Is that actually a metaphor for you? No, okay. It was just playing with that my head. I actually am not running, is it? Any time. 38, 9, 10, 11. Oops. I'm gonna be dead. Oh my god. I'm sorry, baby. It's too good. Why don't I do any damage when I'm actually fighting the things I'm supposed to do? It is with this that the effigy of the blood queen turns into a! It turns towards you, Sarnit. I don't deserve this. I don't deserve this, please. Please, it hurts. It hurts. And please, you are a man of the face. Please. And you watch as the blood moon rises. It's horrible. Crimson light shines over the room. I need you all to roll a constitution saving time. Oh my god, because I need you to fucking heal. Oh, that's great. No, I fucking fail. Anyone who fails will take one sack of corruption. And you will, you cannot regain hit points until the end of the blood. It's going to heal myself. So, what was the DC 21? 21. Okay, I'm good. I am going to just reach into my cloak and pull out and down the health potion. That Escher gave me finally using it. And I am just going to sprint as fast as I can. I have been paying for this in my dreams and my thoughts for years. You will not deter me. You are in the way of my goal and you will not stand in the way of my fate. As I look up at the blood queen, I'm just going to attempt to sprint with three-know-a-movements. So, I'm here. So, one, two, three-and-a-half, five, right? Yep. Six, seven. It is in that moment where a tentacle begins to move up out of the ground. The corruption of the elder, elder evils affecting you. And you hear inside of your head. No, I don't really think it happened that way. Snack it, snack it, it'll go. And you want your reality morphs itself as time changes. And quickly, it's almost as if you're sped up as you make it over the tentacle just before it works out of the ground to grasp you and get the full amount of movement. Oh, you do not have our bell's time more than you longer. Thank you, our bell. Thank you, our bell. I'm there, but I'm okay. Chop. Um, I'm just going to try to move 15 feet, 5, 10, 15. That's all I can do. That's what you're up in and above it. I'm going to come in and find your shop. You're doing well. One and a half, two and a half. I'm going to sprint for. As the professor is going by me, I reach out my hand and I help him upstairs. Five. Um, and I'll just wait right there. I'm coming. Thank you, Shepherd. I didn't mean what I said about your head. Oh, I think I'm just, I think I'm losing my mind. Lightning crackles all around you. I need you to make a constitution saving from. I'm going to catch one. I'm going to fit. Yes, you may have to. I really don't want to go in 15 feet back the other direction. And what you fail is take 13 points of thunder damage and is pushed 15 points or 15 feet. That's me. Is it a constitution? Yeah. 27. I just won 26. So I pass. If you pass, you take the choice by the way. You do not take any damage. I already took it. Only if I show you if you fail. Okay. Conno. The twist. Hold down the stairs. Oh, dammit, professor. It's like people will be going over again. We're getting too old for the shit. Oh, the fall makes us almost. I throw a wary glance over my shoulder at Victoria. I'm not. I'm not. I'm just kind of like. I'm just. I'm so sorry. I don't know what can move with me. I pass for a second. I reach for him. I'm just. I trust you. I throw her down. Oh, this is Barabbia. Yeah. Five. What is it? Jesus. Go away. Go away. Go away. This is a dide. You start calling a dide. This is dide. I would fucking get him. I would fucking get him. I would fucking get him. It all gets probably. I'm gonna end my turn there. Feeling the corruption is building, now that I met 11 stacks and looking down as more, I'm more of my body is being consumed by the void. So on next I stand with you, I'm behind you. I will follow and get his light in his path. You have my glade. We are so close, Connor. Thank you. Victoria. I'm here for you too. So far away. Thank you, all of you. I do not deserve it. I'm sorry I hit you. I'm sorry I hit you many times. I do deserve this. I do. Yes, I deserve this. It hurts so badly. My feathers are cinched. My blood is boiling, but you're right. I do deserve this. Ah! Tell my family I love them. Tell them I think I deserve them. As the blood queen lashes out at all of your minds. I need you all to roll a wisdom saving. I should have said I'll have to back. Yeah. Put that right there. I am. I need it. I fucking need it. wisdom. 16,000. Oh my gosh. Yes, 16,000. Anyone who fails takes a stack of bloody crepfen and rolls a D6. Oh my god. I just made it with a 21. How many two do we have? We're running love. 8, 9. You can use one if you need two. I'd like to use, yeah, I'd like to use one. Okay. Do it. See, when a mouse is not your own, you're incapable of mortal speech and you simply jibber and long forgotten and uncontransable times. You're incapable of spellcasting. Three. Hemophobia. You're overwhelmed by the fear of blood and you are frightened. You must use your action on your next turn to play. Oh Jesus. Oh. Oh. And that doesn't, that's not the same thing as your speech friends. No, this is, this is an elder evil that is beyond anything of anything. Oh, I see. I eat my veggies. I eat some pretty good food. Okay. Do it a lot. No. Oh, Richard. You can do it. Oh, has it taken? Let's go, Vail. You can do it. This is over. Oh, I'm not glad. I'm not glad. I'm not glad. I'll reach. Move that, Vail. I am sorry. I'll lift the veil. Your claws sink into the soft flesh of the veil and you raise it. Oh, I see. A feathery face with large yellow eyes, dares back with a mixture of fear and passion. It's almost a sickening lust. The level of fanaticism in her eyes is she screams and extolls the power of flame. It reminds you of you in your past. Yes, I see it now. My one life is nothing compared to the power of the Fire, Lord. My death is justified. The death of my people are all justified. The ends will always justify the means. My eyes have been open to the destructive power of fire. Let it all burn. You rely on your faith to steal your spirit and you continue to look. The owl-faced cackles as their beak clacks together with each heave. Her eyes are wild with bloodlust and passion as the entire head swells and bursts and feathers and gawr raining down on you like the aero-cocard corpses around you. You're all filled with an explosive lust for destruction as the last false representation of the blood queen separates and slathers back into the stone of the bell frame. You're wrong. And you're all to make your sense. I automatically fail. I can make a drop, Chef. I have to make things wrong. Yeah, I'm going to be honest. This is bad. Dex. I failed both. Wizz and Con. Who was in concert? Wizz and Con. I failed both. I'm having a blast. Last night, Con. What do you want to whizz? Con. Minus a jet for the little male. Oh, I think Con. Good. These are just one way. 31 minus two. Corruption and exhaustion. I'm really hot for these saves, even with the minus D4, so I still save that. I'm not going to go. Oh, are you all done? What you need to do? Yeah. Yeah. This is bad news, bears. As you all finally make your way to the top of the bell free, you feel the cool night air on your skin as it blows in through the open door beside you. You look ahead and we're expect to see more disgusting grows and protrusions you've seen none. The ancient stone of the bridge is bear, saved for the glowing crimson energy pulsing like veins within. Your eyes follow it to the tower looming above you and you nearly have to shield your eyes. The structure that contains the heart of sorrow, the heart of raven loft and the heart of the blood queen is absolutely blasting with red eldritch energy as the stone tower impossibly swells and contracts itself beating like the heart within. Don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't. However, you then realize that the never ending assault from the castle, the visions and the aberrations, which is worn you all down so tremendously, is completely ceased. You step out onto the bridge. Your corruption maintained, but no longer growing. It's hard to believe that it's real, but what is real anymore is a question none of you can answer. Then once more, your mind's here of voice. You whole finally arrived, who gaze beyond the stars and pide behind the veil. Yet still here you stand, every step of your journey is led you here. It's as if a chest chosen you or I have. You all know whom the elder evil is mimicking. She speaks directly within your consciousness. She uses the voice of Irina Koyana. The presumed voice is to be more preferable than previous ones. Someone you find norms threatening and soothing. Someone for whom you have affection. The one you began your journey in this land, my land. And soon, far more will be mine. Observe. You all feel compelled to look beyond the tower and realize now that you were very nearly at the highest point of castle Ravenloft. You can nearly see all of Barovia's stretches around you. The entirety of the valley of wash and red moonlight, the bloody eldritch veins creep out far beyond the castle now, snaking and splitting like rivers over the land. The moors in the forest twist and shift, corrupted by the dark power as its deep corruption sets in. You cast your gaze to Barovia Village and you see that it's been completely consumed by the veins. It won't be long until the infection of the blood clume reaches Vlokki. Do you see how the mortals are helpless before me? They always have been. They exist to serve and be consumed. You've proven your resilience, but in the end, you will submit just like them. Suddenly, you're conscious of snaps to the center of Barovia Village. Bloodening red veins cours through the town. All of the buildings have been flattened, splintered, or overgrown, even the death house lies in ruins. There are no villagers you can see, but you hear a commotion from the broken church of the morning Lord. It's desecrated grounds upturned with creeping corruption. The side door bursts open and a horrific abomination shambles out, bulging maggot white flesh, numerous tentacled appendages, three large, slimy eyes, the color of blood, tattered cloth hangs off several of its tendrils and constricting the bulbous protrusion that contains its eyes is the same medallion of the morning Lord that father, Donovitch, had worn around his neck. The creature unleashes a burbling groan, which is joined by a dozen more as one by one, a swarm of horrible creatures emerges from the ruined village. See how easily they turn. As soon as I'll accept my gift, as Stradonia Vanzarovitch did, as you will. But my aims are higher than mortals. Your consciousness shifts rapidly, moving from place to place in rapid succession, but in each vision, you peer through a dense red mist as it slithers and creeps over the dark domains of the Shadow Valley. You see the towering raven-topped peaks, plunging gold-filled chasms, stones that look like ancient skeletons long fallen, spiraling swamps lit the bewitching glow of will of the wisps, barren deserts dotted by enormous ruins forgotten by time, an inky black sea that royals and rages endlessly, a dense forest of gnarled dead trees with gnarled branches like arms reaching for salvation. The blood-mister Barovia begins to choke the realms of death. So now you see, death will be mine, then life. Your realm is mine by right. I will have what's mine, and then I will have my vengeance against the gods of good, of evil, of chaos, of order, and of prime. It was I who started this. It is I who will finish it, and you will bear witness. Come, join me in the tower. Join me at the heart. Join me. The voice stops. But the stones of the tower, the vibrating red still beat. Some thump, some thump, some thump. You stand on the bridge. A mere moment's peace may be more, but to the back of your mind you know the blood queen waits, and she will not wait for long. What's this? My feelings. My way, Matt. This is our chance. Connor, this is our chance, our one chance, your one chance. If you do not act, then we are doomed. Do you understand? Yes, sir. Do you have the sword? You're only going to have one shot. Make it count. Because I don't know how much longer I'm going to last. I'm so tired. Me too. It's a week. That is what she wants. But we are weak in body, but not in spirit. Comrades, allies, friends. I have faith in all of you. I have faith in us, and I have faith in the fire of Lord. Let us enter together. Then I will start heading in. I'll follow. Wait. Wait. Are you sure? We can still turn back now. We could outrun the mist. Clayton, you cannot outrun fate. You can simply attempt to change it. Right. It's now or never. Whether we never die, we have to try. We will be as collapsing in on us, all around us. We fight here, we fight now. Don't thump. Thump, thump. I go mad. You know what to do. The same goes for all of us. Any of us lose our minds. Cut. We will end it in a holy fire. Either way, or I will light your path. Kelsey, can you pass that bridge? Stay close. And I'm going to go for the door. The five of you enter the pulsing tower. As you enter, you're nearly blinded by the eldritch glow of the crystal above you as it rapidly beats to pump its corruption far and wide. The floor is covered in rubble and crumbled stone. As you look up, you can see the full blood moon directly overhead. Shining its eerie light throughout the town from the broken top of the tower. Far above you see a writhing mass of vile white and red tentacles in the mockery of a femenoid human form extending thin arms and a fleshy septor toward the heart of sorrow in an eldritch ritual. As the blood queen advances her dark machinations, you feel a strange calm and are compelled to ascend the stairs slowly. As you rise, Irene's voice penetrates your psyche once more. You rise to take your place in my cosmic plan, our cosmic plan. Although I am prime, I am the first of five. And the five of you will be our heralds. You are not able to stop this night of blood. You brought it into fruition. Your transformation is nearly complete and you cannot change your fate. You now realize that she is right about your transformations. Although you are still yourselves, your bodies have almost finished fully transforming into their corrupted states. Victoria leaves a slimy trail of bloody mucus behind her, skittering parasites fall from a shepherd's clothing as he walks. Conna nearly becomes invisible as she starts to consume all light around her. An eerie fire blazes from within Sarnax's pores as he radiates an oppressive heat. Clayton seems to shimmer with every possible color and even more. Despite your culminating metamorphosis, you manage to continue onward. And when you are reborn in our image, you will accept your roles as our heralds. Heralds of the true prime forces of the universe. Heralds of the elder evils. Heralds of the five. The blood queen. Each of worlds. Him who watches from beyond the stars. The violet flame. The hunger. Below. You will be the heralds of a doom. You all complete your ascent of the stairs to the top of the tower. Joining the blood queen as she manipulates the rapid beating of the crystal heart before you. As its speed continues to increase, its strains and groans pumping more and more might into the corruption of the Shadowfell. Shraddhanya was right. Its power is its weakness. As you all arrive on her platform, she shifts her incomprehensible form to face you. The veiled head towering above you as her bloated tentacles rise beneath her fleshy gown. After all I have told you. After all I have shown you, your mortal minds must be close to broken. But even you now must realize the futility of your will and the inevitability of mine. So I will grant you the agency to accept your destiny. Now bow. Bow before your queen. For just a brief moment, you no longer feel compelled. Despite the overwhelming corruption that has afflicted your bodies. The unspeakable eldritch horror looms so close and expectantly. And the labored crystal heart beating rapidly beside you. Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, you feel like you have the time. Did you just one thing with your newfound control? Conor, what do you do? I will look up at the blood queen. And I will falsely attempt to kneel. And then I will look up at her and say no matter how the wind howls, the mountain will not bow to it. And I will take out stradogna's dagger and I will get my entire sword. Sorry, I'll get my entire weight behind it. And I will lunge it into the crystal with all my force and might. In one swift motion, you drive stradogna's blade deep into the heart of sorrow. And while it was your only hope, you're still surprised when it actually pierces the hardened crystal skin and plunges deep into the ruby. Then for just a moment, the tower falls silent. A mournful call of an owl that almost sounds like a tolling funeral dirge. Noise returns all around you. And when the raven cross guard meets the strained exterior of the heart, the blade shatters, fragments of the sword shoot out in every direction, tearing the crystal heart apart from within and filling it with whistping streaks of deep, deep silver power, the power of striga, the power of death. The heart of sorrow palpitates chaotically. Struggling to beat it all is the bright glow of the ruby dims as the streaking silver fills its eldritch core. The blood queen lets out a gutterle, gibbering shriek from beneath her fleshy veil, and immediately hundreds of writhing tendrils shoot towards you from all directions, her slimy, warm-like flesh emerging from the stone of the tower. But then, from the broken hilt of the sword, burst a massive eruption of spectral humanoid forms, bursting, grasping hands and wailing faces with sunken eyes, filled with a grim desire for vengeance. The silver spirits immediately swarm the blood queen, and another sickening, burbling screech echoes around you as she is nearly consumed. The tentacles change course and rocket towards the lost souls of Barovia as they take their final revenge. The blood queen is now distracted, and the heart is clearly vulnerable. But you have no idea how long this opening will last. The rest of you have just a moment to act. Sarnax, what do you do? I will look at everything that's happening, and I will say, come well done, and I will ignite my lantern, and I will hold it up, and I will look at you, Shepherd. And I will say, Shepherd, I will guide your weapons strike true, and I will cast guiding bolts to ignite it in holy flame to help Shepherd. Does it do damage? It does. It will do max damage, so you tell me what the damage is. Does it hit? Or does it need a roll? It auto hits, and it will do max damage. Okay, I'm shaking. I'm shaking. I'm just going to do that. I cast guiding bolts. I lost my other D-Sex. Okay, it's fine. Oh, it does max damage. Oh, it does max damage. Oh, Nuriya. Four times sex is 24. 24 points of radiant damage, and if it works, the entire thing is glowing in divine red and gold light, and the next person has advantage, Armin? You watch as the heart struggling to beat as the blood queen is being forcefully attacked by the lost souls trapped inside Stradonia's sword as they tear at her and rend at her throbbing tentacles and flesh. She is not watching you as the glow reverberates around the heart. Shepherd, what do you do? Having been jarred by an asperr into action by Sarnax, without thinking, I quickly grab redemption and with a sweet flourish and a spin of the revolver. I drip it and I say, be the hellfire. And fan the hammer and I do 88 64 points of damage. You fan the hammer, you d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d Raise my hands up and burial dirt and soil will erupt from under the heart and blast it through with forceful damage. You watch as the grasping hands of the dead extend themselves almost to theoryally up hundreds of over a hundred feet up through the air as they slash and tear at the heart doing max damage 96. Holy thank you. Clayton what do you do? My whole life led to this and you may have cursed me forever but you will not curse my family and then I will raise my two fingers up it will crackle with magenta and blue arcane light I will hold it to my forehead to prove so and I will cast disintegrate at a knife level. Oh, thank you. Let's go. You are in 150 for damage. I'm in 24 damage. Special damage. The first of magenta arcane magic leaves your fingers and crashes into the eldritch ruby. Now on the cusp of destruction with the efforts of your expedition, your companions, your friends. The heart of sorrow palpitates violently and it's agonizing struggle as it is filled with arcane power until its bloody glow is entirely drowned out by the pinks, purples and teals of the destructive spells. The crystal heart slows its pulsing until it gives off one final awful beat. Thump thump. And then it disintegrates into a fine red dust. As the powdered remnants of the heart drift to the floor of the tower far below, you hear a foul gurgling groan that echoes through the tower. The tendrils of the blood queen have just finished dispatching the vengeful spirits, but now they arrive about chaoticly and indiscriminately as the physical manifestation of the blood queen begins to bloat and swell. Her slimy growth covered flesh bulges and contracts rapidly as if struggling to maintain its form. In the throes of her imminent destruction, her head flings back and her fleshy veil flies off with a sickening tear before you is the true face of the blood queen. It is not the face of a woman, queen or otherwise. You see bloated, oozing flesh that looks like a terrible amalgamation of maggot and rotting fish, a circular mouth like a leech filled with numerous rows of razor sharp teeth and three massive bulging pure red eyes in a vertical line. As the aberration continues to lose control over its physical form, becoming more and more and more amorphous by the second, you hear her final words with Irene's voice in your mind. To you only by time I am raven loft, I am brovia, I am first of five. We are the true prime ones, our whispers spread through all the realms, our servants are more numerous than the stars, we watch from beyond our work continues. Our's will be done. The whispers in your head finally fade as the flesh of the elder eagles material manifestation then loses its form entirely as it blows up to look like nothing more than a colossal bloody boil before rupturing with a hideous pop. The viscous bloody deluge crashes to the floor with a loud splash along with the tendrils and tentacles now withered and detaching from the walls around you. It all settles the bottom of the tower in a putrid heaping mass and a calm finally returns. Your bodies and souls no longer corrupted. The avatar of the blood queen has been destroyed. What the fuck? Is it over? But how can it be? I mean, after all that, how can it just be over? The whole thing was the seat of her power. How does it destroy? I'm going to collapse to my knees, to strad on your sword, hilt, whatever's left of it. It's going to go all the way to my clattering. I'm just going to start weeping. I'm going to say now, next to you, it's coming back up against the wall of the tower. Oh my gosh! I'm scared. I am me. I am me. As you all look around you, you see that though the blood queen has gone, the blood moon still hangs high in the sky. The mist still creeping out extending deep into the shadow fell on all sides. But the veins and the red mist seem to have stopped its invasion. Though it remains in the shadow fell. We've stopped it. Oh fuck do it. Wait and I want you to roll an intelligence check. What the fuck do we do now? 21. You feel that stopper on your magic you felt as the blood queen overtook Castle Ravenloft, truly making it up her. And you feel that your use of magic has returned. And even more so, with Stradonia now dead in the blood queen quelled, you have full use of your abilities. Like Erics. Erics, he praised Phael Lord. We owe this all to you. Thank you. Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. Fuck him. Praise him all. He's broken the silence. You will all hope it. Grand bonuses for this. Thank you. What's life so enough? I'm sorry for your loss. Victoria. She rests now. After how much time she can finally rest. All the Baruia can finally rest. Yes. You have all done tremendously. We have all relied on each other. And every step of the way. None of us have let the others down. We all did what must be done. Oh my God. We gotta find out if the Baruia and the kids are all right. Tommy's okay. We have found him. If anybody's still alive. If there's any chance again, anybody the fuck out of here, we gotta do it. We gotta figure out how the fuck we're gonna get out of here. You're tired. I'm sorry, okay. We have to find him. You do. I'm looking in the village of Baruia. Transformed. Yeah, fuck. Perhaps that stopped. Perhaps they've collapsed into a massive flesh like this. God's there. We gotta go. I want to look up at the blood moon. And see if I can sense any blood. From the moon now. Let us make our way down the stairs back into Ravenloft and find our way out of here. I'm tired. Let me go with him. But let me take a short trip. Oh yeah, I got you. All right, here we go. We're basically even though he's leading on me. I'm still like hobbling. And I'm doing my best to hold him up. And we're both hobbling. It has to be the best we can. And we're going to start leading us back down. As you finally begin to breathe, sigh of relief and begin to recover from your terrible, cursed night, you all hear a sound that's incredibly faint. But all the same fills you with a measurable dread. Some. Some. Some. No, I can't be. There's no fucking way. No, we killed it. No, I can't kill it. Do we? Do we? I can't just shoot it. Thump. You continue to hear the faint heartbeat slow and steady. It pulses from the very stone you stand on, which then begins to form the soft glow of red veins deep within. You look up the very top of the crumbled tower. Five tiny tendrils of energy sneak out from the walls. Merging at the center into an orb of crimson power. Within that glow, you see a tiny ruby beginning to form. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. What is this? Sarnaxe. I need you to make a religion. Shhh. I'm just no stopping it. Holding the while he's doing this. Holding the professor up though. I'm going. I got one of my pistols out and I'm like aiming at it. Fane's a twist. Almost. Yes. Absolutely. I'm going to stand protectively in front of talk, very not a talk, talk, talk. Another five. One more twist. Oh, yes, yes, yes, yes. Twist it into the nine hills. Oh, my goodness, oh, my goodness, oh, my goodness, oh, my goodness, oh, my goodness, oh, my goodness, oh, my goodness, oh, my goodness, oh, my goodness. I hate these fucking nails. Religion, religion. Last night. It was 18, so 26, 26, 26, 25. This is good. Sarnaks, you look around. The steady, some, some, some of the newly forming crystal, shaking in your head, pulsing. Almost in time with your own blood as you feel, as if your own heartbeat begins to slow down. You're at the door. Is this happened? Can you look out over the precipice? Down over Barovia. The veins. Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś I know what I do now. What do you mean? She is not defeated until Ravenloft has destroyed. As long as Ravenloft still stands, the blood queen will be in Barovia. She will continue her dark machinations until all is consumed. We'll figure out a way to take the castle down. I don't give a fuck if we have to do it. Shepard. Stone by fucking stone. Shepard. I already know how. What do you mean? I have said several times. I have seen things in the fire. Vision from Garex. I was perplexed, confused. Until this moment, it was this moment I have seen in the fire. Since the moment I came to this land, Professor, something. Do you have enough power to get everyone out of here? I've been skating for years. Is the castle this is the state of power? Yes. I realized something. After I gave so much of myself to destroy the heart, it did not work. Because I only gave most of myself. Not all. Sorry. No. It was all you. Together. All of us. You promised to me. I promised all of you that you will fall over, return home. I never made any promise about me. The only promise that I made was that I would end this terrible curse. Oh no, no, Sarnatch. No, I won't stand for it. That is not acceptable. There's no way in hell I'm leaving you here. There's no fucking way. Shepherd, not after everything we've been through. Shepherd. I told you once, weeks ago, that Garex chose you to be that shepherd. That is in fairs are ringing. Them home all who wish to leave. But just as you must fulfill your destiny is the shepherd. That is fair. You must let me fulfill mine. Let me be the inferno. Tamp. Tamp. Yes. Sarnatch. This is your divine purpose. It is. This is why you are here. It is. I sawed in the flame. My friends, I must say, when I first came into this land, I had thought all warm, blooded creatures, anything but gold, no fire burning within. I am happy to say, friends, that you have proven me wrong. You all have a brilliant flame, burning deep within you. And so I just make one final plea. For your friends are next. Hold your fire. Keep it burning bright. Don't let it go out. Spock by irreplaceable spark. Do not let the heroes in your soul die. Please. The life you all desire can be won. You have proven it. Time. And time again. And they know you will achieve it. I will step forward to Victoria. And I will reach into my cloak here. And I will pull out a wrapped parcel. And you'll see a stamp on it that says, is no fun, is no one's fun. Oh, and I will hand it to you. Victoria, I perhaps have been the most disgraceful of you. And certainly the most cruel. Please forgive me. There is indeed a war between the darkness and the light, but it is not within your soul. You chose your side long ago, as have we all. It has been an honor to stand beside you in this battle for the light. Oh, I can't do it. Please do something else. I miss you so much. I know we were at odds for most of this journey in this dark land. But I've learned from you that faith can carry you through anything. Can I take my faith with me? I think you would not feel so perfect. It's in the faith of a good just goddess. That warms me deeply. And I will wrap you up. I will wrap my arm and you would have noticed me kind of awkwardly pat pat. And this time I just give a warm, full hug before turning to Kanna, producing another parcel. And I hand it. Kanna, you and I have not always seen eye to eye of values in what we hold most sacred, almost antithetical, water and air, fire and earth. But we must all remember that nature cannot flourish without all four elements acting in harmony. It is a pleasure to enjoy that harmony with you. I miss you so much. I will open the parcel. To not open it yet. Wait. It is my final gift to you. I hope you enjoy it. Sardex. Kanna. Oh, always called me here. You're a great lawyer. You are. You're the greatest honor of all. Yes, fighting, fighting for shelter with you. That means so much to me, Kanna. You will always be the end to my game. I am happy to do so. And if you remember the first we met, I called you warrior. You're proven that that is what you are through and through. Thank you. You are going to be greatly Sardex and be able to serve some of us. Yes. I will tell great stories far and light and view. Any diary and through all of the address that will carry your story on. And pay respect to your world. And as long as my story is told, that will be mine. Thank you, Kanna. I will enter in a Clayton and reach out and pull a package. Of course. So it's me. Professor Azra. Clayton. I know I have never stopped questioning you. Questioning your leadership every step of the way. Much to your frustration. I have no doubt. But now I know it is your leadership that has brought us here. And I fully believe now that we wouldn't have never achieved this victory without your leadership. I pray for you, Professor Azra. I pray for your family. I pray for your life. I pray that your fate does not end in blood and bile. Please do whatever you can to change that fate. I know you can. I pray for your life. I pray for your life. I pray for your life. I pray for your life. I pray for your life. I pray for your life. I pray for your life. I pray for your life. I pray for your life. I pray for your life. I pray for your life. It's on X. Fate has led us here. I can see that now. I wouldn't be a diviner if I didn't. But know that my leadership pales in comparison to your light. If it were not for you, your prayers, your encouragement, your God, you, my light would have gone out long ago. But it didn't. You lit our path. And our path led us here. I will do this. What you request. I will stop it nothing. I promise. Your life will not be in vain. Just like fate has led you here, my fate will end my curse. I can feel it. I can see it. Take care. I will do the same. And I'll put my arm in your shoulder. Professor, if there's one person I can trust to stop it nothing, it's you. I'll then turn a shepherd. I'll reach out and grab a package and then a second and hand them to both of you. Does one of them or both of them say, I'm both of them. I'll fucking hell Sarnax. Now fucking Boonsky. Spend your money on this junk. It's custom made for you. Oh God. Well thanks, I guess, man. All right. They are now collector's items giving situation. Fair enough. The attempted levity. Given the situation. Shepard. The garden where I hatched. We were never told who spawned us, who laid us. We were never told who was from the same clutch. Familiar concepts such as brotherhood, strange, and alien to me. And I am ashamed to admit when we first met, when we first came here. I saw you as a tool. A weapon to manipulate. A weapon to serve garricks. I knew I could kindle you into a blazing weapon of the Fire Lord. And I did. We became a weapon more powerful than I ever could have imagined. But what I did not expect is that you would become a friend. A brother. Thank you for teaching me the power of brotherhood. And for allowing me to experience family. Just for a while in my life. My only regret in this moment is that we did not have more time together. But we did not get to choose how much time we have. But I know you will use yours to carry the flame and live a good life. Garricks has seen the fire in the heroism in your soul. More importantly, so have I. You are the one who shepherds the lost to the forest of darkness. For you are truly the gardens keeper and the savior of doomed children. And to lead your flock, you will need a lantern to light their way. So please take this. I could. I can't. You must shepherd. Please. It's my final gift. You will always be my best friend. And I love you because you are my brother. You are my brother. And they will meet again. We will. We will meet again in the blazing light of garricks and hodogarricks. And I do not need that lantern any longer. There is one thing that I have learned of all that I have learned here, friends. I used to think that that lantern was the vessel of the fire-thord's power. It is not I am. And so I want you all to get to safety. My dear brother, you go be the shepherd. And I will be the inferno. I won't let you down. I won't let you down. I know you won't. That is why Gareth chose me. That is why I chose you. Professor. Farewell, my friends. Farewell, my brother. I'm here. Spend my hands around you. Spend my hands around you. Spend my hands around you. And the ground, all around us, will begin to emanate with a magenta glowing light as ruins appear. Goodbye. Saw Max? Goodbye. Hold him. And I will cast telekore on everyone but, sorry. To the ruins of the world. I hope to look around. Now, finally alone, I break my facade of confidence. And I, weep, tears are screaming down my face, the strength that I've had for my friends. Now, no longer needed. As I look around, I'll touch my hand to the stone of the tower. I'll look up to the sky and look to my other hand. And I will call out Gareth's fire, Lord. Your light has guided me every step of the way in this land of darkness. Your flame has overcome every hardship. Burned every evil. I call on you one last time to finally bring the renewal to this cursed land. The renewal that only utter destruction can bring. Before, I was not strong enough to purge this evil because I only gave most of myself to the Lord. But now I offer everything to you. I give my praise, my body, my soul, my life, and with this final prayer. I ask you one last time, fire grant me the power to destroy. O Lord of dragons, fire, fly down and hear my cry. The elder evil slaughter, beheldless twist and die. These hongs of stone in tumas, a curse of old inside. Keep not thy power from us. Purge her bloody pride. And with that, I use auto-success, level 20, divine interaction. And burn, raven, loft of the ground. You finish reciting your final prayer and grip the holy symbol of your God, calling upon his divine intervention. Immediately you feel warmth all around you. Deep within, your fire prints, an avatar of garricks himself radiates with brilliant reds and goals as it begins to circle around you. Slowly at first, with increasing speed. Soon, losing its draconic form and transforming into a swirling vortex of flame. As you stand within, your own body begins to glow. And there's an overwhelming sense of fire's chaotic and terrible destructive power. But undercut with a peaceful certainty of the renewal and regroups to follow. It's in this moment you feel his presence. Even in this bleak, cursed land, the fire Lord is here with you. He always has been. You've arrived at the end of your burning crusade. Your sacred charge soon complete. And garricks is welcoming you home. You lift your arms toward the sky and look up as the flame that spins around you begins to consume your robes and flesh. The blood moon, the crumbling stone of the tower, the pulsing curse within, all of it seems so insignificant now. Such corruption, such evil, no matter how elder, is powerless in the blazing light of the fire Lord. You feel an eruption inside of you as you make your final sacrifice. You give your praise, your body, your soul, and your life to the fire. One last time, garricks grants you the power to destroy. And you become the inferno. The rest of you here, cacophonous roar and the crumbling of stone as a colossal dragon of gold and red flame erupts from castle raven loft. Bursting, it's ancient walls and lofty towers. The conflagration spreads, the entire structure crashes in on itself and the stone melts in the impossible heat of dragon's fire. The flame fans out, uncontrolled in chaotic, as the wildfire consumes the creeping bloody veins and slithering red mist until every last remnant of the blood queen's corruption is purged by holy fire. Just as quickly as it emerged, the draconic blade shrinks back down to embers, as plumes of smoke billow from the smoldering ruins of castle raven loft. The crimson of the moon overhead fades to that familiar haunting white. Gone is the mist that is shrouded in toomed this land for so many centuries, and the landscape beyond is dark, but with color. Rovia has returned to avantras. The curse of Stradonia has broken. Storm clouds form overhead and you feel a gust of cool wind blow around you as the glow of the castle's dying embers fade, a soft breeze whips through the lantern that you hold shepherds. And with a final flicker, the flame within extinguishes, a clap of thunder booms overhead and the skies open. It begins to rain. You all now stand on the hill leading up towards the ruined form. A bold bone wriner, where you begin, who's where you have ended, to stare up once had been castle raven loft is nothing more. She's done. That's refreshing. And for filled his purpose, it's why he came to Rovia. It's why faith led him to my expedition. But it's not be sad. It would not be sad. For he is in care now. There's nowhere else he would rather be. I will collapse. And I will open my case. And I will pull out just from simple camping materials, chairs. Put them around so that we can all sit together. Please, listen. Shepherd, are you alright? Maybe I'm down. I know. Because my piece of that, that's not that bad. This was him. He just got it. It's you. I'm going to go on my pack, and get us some of the cables, and put them in the winter room. Use my down-turned-in blanket. And just set it on the left. You would have appreciated that. We're going to need it. I want to look around to see if I see any sign of knowing that towards Dome Grindr, Clayton, thinking that it's far enough away from the castle where hopefully it wasn't corrupted, but close enough where we could hopefully find some survivors. Sergei, estuary. You see no one. The roads are quiet. All you hear, the sounds, the rain. You're still clutching the blinsey toys, wrapped up in their packages, and it's our next weekend. I don't know what comes next, and I still don't know how to help you get out of here, but we've got to find as many people as we can. We've got to bring them home if they want to go. And I know that if I hold this lantern high, if people are going to see it, no come, to find us, they'll be carrying it out of here. If you land to them, gentlemen, I will rest, and I will pull out the person that turns me. I think he would want us to show up. You're right. It's just a mistletoe. I will pull out my parcel, and I will open it. That's the sense of it. And inside, he's a fluffy werewolf dog. It has black fur and one eye. There is a drawstring, and it's back that causes it to howl when pulled. Oh, it's a bad stuff. I can open its mouth, and look down inside, and I find several stuffed clop-polly pots. It's nice. It's a human leg. Thank you so much. I found my well. Finally. This should be complete. Success I would say. Yes. Let's see what I got there. I put two subplatter. It's a stone planter shaped like the head of a woman with serpent eyes. It has dirt and seeds that were planted and watered growing creeping vines that look like wriggling snakes. They keep planter-looking. They're all spurt. Something must go wrong. Swap beast, quay brick. Squash is shaped with a swapsie with a still-stagned flutter. There is a small robot with a spot to place the quay. Sorry. I've got to discuss my hypothesis. I'm just going to start all over the thing I'm going to talk to. What do you do? A little opens. Is it a shabley board piece? A fluffy cry. Graces up to track. The crows are going to be a little bit more difficult to track, decoited to the make before he's so cute. I thought this is too common. He knows me too well. I love it. I will cherish it forever. He got me a dragonkin. Of course, he got me a fucking dragonkin. He's got the body of a dragon with interchangeable heads, wings and tails, allowing me to build five different undead dragons. Silver, red, black, bronze, and green. You can mix and match to my heart's content. But whatever whichever head I choose, changes the load that shoots from the dragon's mouth to correspond to their breath type. I almost feel bad about ragging on for spending his money on this crap. God, it's just like a modern case. I'll never ever, ever let anything happen to him. There's another box here. It's a music box. When I start to wind it up, the clockwork music box features an elaborate scene when bound up and played. And while it's a tune that I've heard Sarnix come before, it shows a single black scene being planted, followed by a black dead tree with a wailing face, followed by more and more until the withered forest rises from the box, sinking in the start again, after I finish winding it up, I let it go. Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś Ś and gently close the lid. Unceasingly. I'm a cherish this. I hope the rest of you do the same. I'll take out a one of my few coins that I have that I will often playfully slide it on the box. I'll watch as the boat comes out. Alexa, that was a minute. I'll just break down crying all the freaking edges. I'll keep the best. Are you ready? Well done, Brince. Well done. As a share quiet falls over the four of you, the sound of falling rain acting as Sarnax's funeral dirge. You hear on an earthly windy, as your attention is drawn to the sound from around a bend in the winding Moorland Road. You see the glow of torches as a crowd of dozens appear from behind a tall wet rock formation. At the lead of this group is Esher mounted upon Bicephalus. The fiendish steeds fire remain whips in the storm, but it does not harm the vampire that grips the reins. Nor does it harm the smaller one the rear of the nightmare. You can see the tiny arms, the little rovinovia wrapped tightly around Esher's waist, as she rides behind him miraculously unharmed. Walking in the middle of the crowd, shouldering two injured villagers to help them on their way is Sargev on Zaravic, the new count of rovia. You watch the crowd approach as the rain lets out. They look tired, hungry, and shaken, but they are alive. They go over here. Esher succeeded, and a smug grin of satisfaction proves it as he rides up to the four of you atop his new steed. Oh, mister. Well, as you can see, I've rescued most of the people inside the castle and Sarge. I rescued him as well. He did not rescue me, as you will know, but Sargev looks around, his eyes falling from one to the other. It looks like not all of us made it out of Ravenloft. Yes, his soul is now with Garyx. It was his sacrifice. His head whips quickly up towards Ravenloft and you see the look on his face. I knew what was to come. I believe they had the strength to do it. Morning Lord bless your soul, Sargev. You will be with us all, always, a savior of rovia. I will return to speak to you soon. This group will not make it the rest of the way to Vologi tonight. We will rest here with you if you will allow it. Let me help them to set up camp. Yes, let's set up a camp. We will rejoin before the evening's over. And as Sargev begins to usher the villagers. Villagers of Barovia, Balachian, Krez, all that were trapped inside of the castle that had been helped, that had been rescued from it. So he begins to usher them towards the hill to set up camp. They begin to move towards you, all of them shaking your hands and thanking you. The heroes of Barovia, the heroes of Antres. Shepherd, help me start a fire. We should set up camp. A Lucas, please set up a tent. Several. And then you'll see a Nizol Lucas come out. Excuse me. Not about. No. Oh. I'm a little vampire. That's so weird. Why would you call me that name? Sorry. I just went out and opened the key so I had soup on the door. No, I just wanted to let you know something like kind of what also had been my mom but wasn't. I got the dead. He's really nice too and she looks up at the back of Escher's head. Oh darling, hash yourself and not supposed to tell people that where the only two vampires left in Barovia. We don't want people to know our secret and he flashes his thanks before her. Oh you're so right, I'm letting them remember the truth. Good girl. You look tired. Crawl to me. And you watch as she skitters and crawls over his back and nestles up against his chest. Begins to rub her ringlet in crawls. Sleep now, little one. You've had a long day. I will hold you loved when the seconds. You're mine now and I look. He places a gentle kiss on her forehead. Do you know what that makes you, Ravenovia? One of her eyes pops open. She looks up in him. I know you can do it. You may speak to him. With teeth exposed. He knows what you are. My sweet rabbit. No. No, I don't know. Does that make me? It doesn't make you a vampire. What you did today makes you a hero. Yes. He looks up at Escher as a smile lights his face. Yes, my sweet. You are what you are. You stay. You too. Well, I've always been here. This late now, my sweet, can you start to once again play with her ringleted crawls? You have a lot of work before you. Before all of you. This land is no longer held aloft. In whatever plane we had found ourselves trapped. And though I know I can take care of myself, I'm not going to look down at the already sleeping form of Ravana over in his arms. This little one is not ready for what will happen when people find out who and what we are and where it travels fast. As much as I would love to stay and help you he looks up towards the ruined embers of the castle. To fill the destiny, your friend, our friend, Friend, Saul, before me. My good deeds do not end here, which I must take this little one to safety. We will ride now upon besetlers, but this will not be the last we meet. I will see you again, that I promise. But when I need a castle, you see, I no longer have a home. I lived in that castle that... Saul acts destroyed, so I am due and owed one, and now I have a small child that I'm a scapegoat, so... I will come to claim what he's owed me, Professor. You can find me at 77 Ambrosia Strait, if you agree. He reaches his free hand down, he shakes yours. To futures, both of them. Yes. You reach us down to Victoria. You're beautiful, and you are kind. You are not what they all say you are, but I know what wicked, truly feels like, and I have never seen a wicked on your face. He brings your hand to his lips, and he grazes a kiss across your knuckles. Thank you, John. You're beautiful. Always, with my life. Connor, you are strong. I have no doubt she will keep these hooligans in tow. With Sarnak's gone, they will lean on you for your strength. I see that, though, when we first met, you were innocent. Your innocence has been overrun by your strength of will. I fear not for you above all. Dave, Connor, sorry, I'm causing you. Is he places your knuckles against your lips, and slowly, kisses. I give him a deep bow. Chebun. Chebun. Though I can never be for you what Sarnak's was, and I would never claim to, and though you distrust and dislike who and what I am, for always, from this day, until your end or mine, you will have a friend in me. I'm glad to care yourself. Don't stop. You reach his hand down and he shakes yours. Feel his fingers linger just right on the area where your vein throbs. Your heart pulsing. He shutters a little. Well, I must away, you see. It is time. He leans down. He flants his small kiss on Ravana, Novius forehead. We bid you, would you. We will see you again. And justice quickly, decephalists, takes flight. And on fiery hooves you watch, as Ravana and Asher fly out of Berovia, and into the misty lands of Strega beyond. I will, and Sergei is sitting at Bottleville. He's helping all the people that were saved. Sergei is yes. I'll sit down by the fire that we... What's now? Hands for an expedition? First arrest. Yes. Maybe some tea. Yes, Lucas? Some tea fees. Sorry about your physical form, I'll get you back in shape. Fuck it, I need burry. Burbing too, and any other liquor we have. Yes sir. Who is all about doing it? She's probably in your kicks. All about all your down kicks. Okay. Now with that tenderlexe, someone is calling my name. And with Nadia's dropping at the door, but it's kind of so like, I'm going to lose the list. I'm not coming up this stairs though, unless you say it's okay. Thump, thumb, you clearly hear. I'm not coming up this stairs though. You better not be coming up this stairs. I'm not coming up this stairs, I'm going to be honest. You can hear that her voice is clearly much closer. Everyone should stop at the very end. Until I'm done with that coming up this stairs. Can't you hear my voice is so far away? It's very far away. You better be in your room. I need you to collect the things that I gave you. I will grab them right now before I come. What do you hear the pattering of feet and the slamming of the door? And a few moments later, the door creeps open. I have them, I'm much closer now. Can you hear me? I'm not in my room anymore. Yes. They're like, I'm not this stairs now. Yes, please join us. Why are these stairs so new? I've never seen them before. For the love of gods, don't drink so clots, but yes, please go. No, he fell, but he fell over and is like really dead. His armors just lying in the library. So he can give up. I'm going to throw him behind her just to make sure that no one else comes. But I really like him. I will, she prances out of, out, up and out of the case. As she sits down at your feet in the grass, her dress is a somber one. It's a dark blue, near black. Her hair is tied up away from her face. And you can tell by the puffiness of her cheeks and the redness of her eyes that she has been weeping. You know. I don't know what you're talking about. What I do know is that I'm like super powerful on those so expecting to light save your lives. And you didn't need it though. You only needed a little bit of help. That was really cool and I'm so proud of you. You did help us. Oh yeah, like totally. Because the thing is like Victoria's not great. Did a lot of things. So like that was sad. Right, I'm not. And you watch her, she sniffles and she chokes back a sob. And I know that's our next, if you get to the end, because of what to us, do come. So I made sure to take her. I'm glad you did the opposite of what I told you to do. Are you proud of me though? Because I knew it was coming and I didn't tell anyone. He told me to keep the secret. And I did my first secret ever that I can't. Thank you. I'm very proud of you. Grateful. I needed your help. It takes a great deal of strength. You have wrote so much. Mark. I know I'm like exactly one inch taller than I was. It's really cool. I was marking it on the wall in Kenja. That's something I made out of tomatoes. Oh, I like all that Kenja because every time I made it, Sir Clutch was never there. So it's like, Kenja, put it in some of this. I don't know what I'm done. The things that I had you. You can't do that anymore though. He's dead. You know, he's been there. Oh, no, I know. That's why I'm not sad about it. I have the things that I love you. You may have a Tuffy. I'm really sad. Tuffy. Oh, you're on the floor. You guys produce this a Tuffy. I won't look to you. Tuffy. 10. 20. I don't care. Lucas produces a large silver platter film with Tuffy. I'll put it in the center. Okay, I won't leave this in time. You know, when she nails you, what you have to wear. I get them safe and you know what? You totally tell if I was lying, but I'm saying right now I did not rate them. So. Right. Appreciate it. I trust you. And with that, I will throw. He totally didn't tell if I was lying. I'll throw the two letters that I handed her. Oh. Oh. Why would you get rid of them? Why would you have ridden them? You've ridden them. I don't need them anymore. Because you kept us alive. Sonax. kept us alive. So. So, you all kept yourself alive. I watched all of it. I could see it. And then this. And I'm moving the pouch. I'll take this home. And I'll put it in my jacket pocket. I don't know what is the come of my family, but Sonax's final wish for me was to stop it. Nothing. To. To learn of. God's willing break. Because. On my family. I can convene with every archaeologist with entrance. I can study. This gem. And I'll. Had the pouch in my jacket pocket. Mr. Hint. I do. I do. I do. It is at this moment that Sergei having talked to everyone in for the night, set them up with their tents. The villagers having said their thanks are exhausted and overwhelmed. They all begin to lay down for the evening. Quiet descends around you as their fires rage to keep them warm. They're being tended, but the villagers themselves treat into their small tents and find peace. The very first time in centuries. As Sergei makes his way towards you. I cannot begin to thank you enough for everything you have done for this land. For me. You have given everything that you had. And you have given me the glances towards the villagers. And all of Rovia are lives back. Our futures are family lives. And above all else you have given us hope. And there is nothing that I can ever do to repay you. But no. That as long as I stand, as long as my family line stands, as long as Rovia belongs to the Vanzorvich line, you are welcome, you are honored, and you are one of us. Always. In the morning I will head back to the abbey. I have every intention of proposing to that woman I love. If she will have me, our line will be strong. For God knows she is for strong than I am. And I hope that whatever is to come, this will not be the end of us. What will you do? What where will you go? And when will you come back? Are we right to the wedding? You said it has. Right, she said yes. Let's go. Well, let's not get too sure, but you would have an honored place. Far away. Connor, what will you do? I will do it. I will do it. See how my master is doing to the abbey. And thank you for your read of for everything that you've done to restore him to Fosatity Hills and for the insomment. But many questions for him. Many years. I have more to do these legs. The promise, the brother, that he had lost my master forever. And I reunited with him now. If you let him, we'll forget him. It's almost like a poem to the dark, to the deluge Musagi, to the proof, to the deluge, to all those who are hot, he lives. But I will make peace with that woman, and that marriage. I understand my place, and I'll always be flaky. But I hope he has me there. He reaches out and he embraces you and firm hug, can feel the warmth of the morning sun still radiating from his skin. As he slowly packs your hair and holds you, allowing you to cry into him. So let's the embrace go, he turns the rest of you to the rest of you. Do let rule you go, where can I find you? I hope it's all right in doing it. It's not quite ready to leave this loop. You see a smile at night on his face. Won't it feel near to him for just a little bit longer? I don't like to find my father. It's a very complete wizard. I'm such a woman. And I will reach into my pocket where I had kind of discarded my prayer beads a millimeter. I'll take them out, put them on my neck, where it once was, clasped hands. You can see black feathered wings now reaching around the hands and kind of squeezing them. He nods at you, he glances down at your prayer beads. He would love to have you stay. We will take the utmost care and I know that Irina would find great peace in having you with us. Table, Victoria. I'll go away from the Sergei Jetlion. I'll go away. Well, the hill. I'm Stradoggy, a sword. I'm Neil. I'm a grad, I'm presented to you in a full bow. The respect. You should have this, Paulis. I'll kneel down. You breathe zero. I've been astonished all the time. I know. Oh, good dince of food. Thank you so much. Even if you stay, Victoria, I'll make sure you're taking care of here and here and anywhere else you need to be. I'll make sure you're all taking care of here. Thank you. Paulis. Jet. Come here. Oh. Jet. Well, where will you go? I'm going to go home. I'm going to go back to the dock and find them. And God's willing if there's anybody here that doesn't want to stay and they want to start over. I'm going to take them with me. Where I'm going, you know, it's a good place to start over. And I feel like if I can shepherd some people back, look after them. It's what's our next little one of me to do. I don't need anything fancy. I just got to make sure that dock's okay. Many people as we can hear in Berovia are safe. For every single person that ever passes through rattlesnake ever again. We're going to hear about Sarnax of the Aylwood. Jet. Jet. Hell, I'm not going to live forever. I'll look after that town as long as I can. Somebody else will have to do it. I don't think there's going to be much travel in my future. Well, whoever does want to come home with us. They are more than welcome. Open arms. I think I should spend some days recovering. Resting. I'm still so tired. I have many things in my future but I want to. I want to see my family. And I want my family to meet you. And I'll get our bell. I'll get up with my head on her head. She um, snuggles into your leg. She's sleepy. She's been trying to hold on through all of this but she knew what was coming as she is falling asleep on you. Constantly raising her head up and smiling as if she hadn't started to sleep. She's. Well, as ran expedition, we should get some rest. I'm ready to go home. You all lay your heads down for the night. And the next day you wake up to a dazzling sunrise. The light of morning has returned to Barovia and the brilliant sun shines its pleasant warmth as it makes its journey through the sky. You make your own journey to the abbey of St. Markovia with Sergei, Arabelle and dozens of Barovian refugees in tow. When you arrive, I reenend the children greet you with a teary group hug filled with equal parts of disbelief that you truly were victorious and relief that you made it back alive. Four of you at least. The abit leaves that leads a small ceremony honoring your fallen comrades' sacrifice at the sanctified gardens Sarnaks created on the grounds of the abbey. A tiny sprout rising up from the seed he planted there. The displaced villagers are welcome to stay at the abbey for as long as they need and they show you the utmost gratitude. The four of you spend the evening in quiet contemplation of all that you've done, all that you've lost, all that you've gained, and where to go from here. You all spend the next 10 days recovering from the harming weeks of horror since the moment you first set foot in Barovia. Victoria, you spend much of the beginning of your time at the avian prayer, but not to ill-mater. You pray to the weight-raven queen and you feel her answer. Her blessing is in your blood. For the first time in your life, the darkness and shadow within you brings you comfort and peace. On the third day, Sergei tells you that you have a visitor. Sarah's, your father enters the room and you're able to truly connect for the first time. You tell him your plan to stay in Barovia and he makes a proposition. He was discovered that Barovia had entered a vantress in a valley within the borders of an entire kingdom of Shatterkhaeg called Skethrid Mill. An envoy from the nation had arrived in Barovia that morning and met with Sergei, the new count and Irina, who was due to be the next Countess. Theris was appointed to be the ambassador of Barovia to the dustbills that ruled the surrounding land and he asked your help in forging a peace treaty and furthering relations between the two peoples. You accept, as a half-elf, you were the perfect candidate to bridge the relations between human and elf. Conna, you finally have an uninterrupted conversation with Master Jentecki and he tells you how he ended up in Shraddhania's dungeon. Vastani had been on the search for powerful souls and vantress to trade for one of their own who had been locked in the dungeons after attempting to steal a relic from Castle Ravenloft. After their attempted deception to bring him willingly, they drugged his tea and kidnapped him. You swear to escort him home but you were honest with him and reveal your heart's desire. You do not wish to spend your life in Usagi. There's a wide world out there with many dangers and there are people all over vantress who could use your help. You wish to travel that world and lend your Naginata to anyone who needs it. Jentecki understands and tells you that you have become a true warrior, a true hero, and all should strive to achieve the honor that you have. Shepard, you spend most of your time with Tommy as he effectively cleansed you like a burn your boot that you just can't shake. You tell him that Mertle loved him very much but she couldn't, she wouldn't be coming back. He cries in your arms but takes comfort that he has you now. You promise that you'll never leave him and that the first thing you'll do with your earnings from the expedition is to have a custom made just for him. You also take your time to get to know the displaced villagers, many of whom have lost everything and fear for their future in Brovia, even with a land returning to a vantress. You offer to take them home to Raddlesnake in Yona. And get them set up on some farmland that the doc had been neglecting in his advanced years. Many graciously decline but a good dozen exceptions are eager for a new life away from this land. You have your new flock and you intend to shepherd them home. And every night you light Sarnax's lantern and say a prayer. Clayton, you begin writing your magnum opus and catalog the expedition's trials and tribulations to submit to Miss Hallery University as quickly as possible. You spend your time collecting as much evidence of Barovia as you can and you are confident you will go down in archaeological history. Your legacy is secured. All of your spare time is spent being a father and Arabelle does not give you many moments of peace and quiet but you gladly take frequent breaks from your important work to tell your stories of Emmy and Clara. Listen to her fairy tales, teach her how to read as well as how to cast a few new spells and eat whatever sweet she asks Lucas to prepare. Life feels remarkably normal again. Then the morning comes when it's finally time to leave Barovia. Three horse-drawn wagons driven by the Stani arrive fulfilling the final wish of Madameva. There is tells you that he has arranged a fast ship with a good crew at the nearest port town in Skethronil. The journey will take a few weeks but it will deliver everyone to their respective homes. When Gentekki Arabelle Tommy and the rest of the villagers are safely loaded into the wagons, Clayton, Shepherd, and Kana face Sergei, Irina and Victoria. Irina gives you all a hug and thanks you all for the wonderful adventure. Despite all the darkness and horror will be an experience she'll never forget. Sergei gives his arm and respect to each of you, thanking you for everything you did for him. His bride to be, his sister, and his people. He tells you that you will always be welcome in Barovia. The new Count and Countess say their last farewells and head into the abbey hands intertwined. A small bump slowly forming on Irina's belly. The three of you are left alone with Victoria. There is an awkward quiet between all of you. You all struggle to think of what to say. The Azaran expedition is coming to an end. And nothing feels quite appropriate after all you've been through. Victoria finally breaks a silence, simply announcing that this is goodbye. Kana agrees with the simple yes. Shepherd reminds the group that it's only goodbye for now, and that Sarnix wouldn't want the four of you to go your separate ways and never see each other again. Clayton chimes in that with his magic you could all be reunited within a day. And after all, he must return to Barovia one day to actually meet a werewolf. You share one last laugh and embrace as a group. You don't need words to express what you all mean to each other. An experience like the one you've just enjoyed changes you forever. And the bonds forged during those hardships overcome together can never be broken. After one last fond farewell, the rest of you climb into the wagons and Victoria watches you as you're pulled out of sight down the winding mountain road. The journey with the pastani is followed by one at sea until you all finally arrive at your respective destinations. Raddlesnake, Brieg, Usagi, Barovia, home. You go back to your old lives or begin your new lives, but no matter what happens, you all know that things will never be as it was before you wandered through the mist. And time, as it does so well, passes. A quaint cottage sits atop a hill in the newly built village of Barovia. Its architecture is clearly Barovian, but there are clearly the design flurshies of the most stylish homes from a city of fog far across the sea. You are nately carved door opens and a tall shatter chi man steps out. A number of official looking documents under his arm. He kisses his daughter goodbye as night falls over the sleepy town. It's the warm act of tenderness of a true father, one who is nothing but love in his heart for his children. The door closes, the gentleman makes a sway down the cobblestone path, and Victoria Isaacs walks through her house to the sitting room. A beautifully carved raven hangs on the wall, its wings and perpetual flight, and nowhere can be seen the iconography of any god of suffering or pain. She lights a cozy fire in the fireplace and pours herself a glass of one of wizard of wine's finest reds before sitting in her favorite chair. It's soft, yes, and what makes her so fond of it is the upholstery of red velvet and gold. Victoria grabs a folded letter on the table beside her and snaps the crisp wax seal. Her eyes scan the words and her lips curl in the museman. It's a love note from another persistent suitor and velocchi promises a life of comfort if she would only give him a chance. When she finishes reading, she rolls her eyes and takes a large gulp of wine before casually flicking the letter into the dancing flames within the fireplace. She washes it burn for a few moments before absent mind, replacing a hand on the locket veins around her neck. She sighs in a look of sweet melon collie washes over her face. She cuffs the silver locket with both hands and gingerly opens it to look at the small portrait within. Victoria sheds a single tear she gazes at the image of Stradonia on Zara Vouch. The cherry blossoms are in full bloom as they paint the landscape with beautiful pinks, purples and white. Nestled within the blooming trees sits Eugene fishing village on the river, the sound of a nearby waterfall casting a distant din over the quiet town. The boats are out hauling in today's catch and the market is bustling, smiling merchants and haggling customers. However, as the sun begins to sink into the sky, the frightened whispering begins as it always does. Question that everyone wonders hangs in the air, will another child go missing tonight? That question burns in the mind of a young mother returning from the fruit stand, a basket of pears and one arm and her sleeping infant and the other. In the past few months, ten children have gone missing and none were ever found. Every single night when she went to bed, she dreaded hers would be next. A glimmer of hope had come when a pair of travelers came to town vowed to solve the mystery of the disappearing children, but a week has passed since they've entered out on their quest and all hope of their return has faded. The young woman is so lost in her worries of the coming night that she starrows and drops her fruit when the town bell rings throughout the village. She hears the cries of jubilation from the town square amidst the cries of her infant, not pleased with being awoken so suddenly. The mother quickly gathers her pears and rushes to join the crowd to see what the commotion is about. Circled by a ring of cheering villagers, Connoisseu Causae Stamstall, holding the severed head of an ony high, its skin is a deep blue and two small horns rise up from a tangled mane of white hair, which the samurai grasps proudly. She declares that no more children shall go missing in eugen and justice has been done for those who'd been devoured by the ogre-like creature. The village elder emerges from the crowd and thanks her profusely, offering a feast in her honor for making the night safe for children once more. Connoisseu thanks the old man for his generosity and hospitality, but insists that the feast be held in the honor of her apprentice, as she places a hand on the shoulder of the young bronze dragonborn beside her. She says that it was his first mission of this caliber and the fledgling swordsman succeeded beyond her greatest expectations. The dragonborn samurai, Patonette, his hip, vows to his master into the elder deeply and thanks them for the honor. Connoisseu slap some on the back and encourages him to relax. Now is the time for celebration. It's high noon and the sweltering sun blazes down on the town of rattlesnake. The thoroughfare is empties the town's focusscape the heat and the comfort of the shop, saloons and gambling halls that line the street. A lone rider makes his way through the town top a horse with rust-colored hair, a single arcane pistol at his hip. The silver badge on his chest glints in the bright sun as the matum of a nearby brothel calls to the sheriff from Rebalkenian offers a free drink in his machine to wait out the hottest hours of the day. The sheriff tips hat and politely declines, stating he is business back home before the evening rounds, with aloud, yeah, the horse takes off with a thunderous gallop and fast out of town rides Silas Morgan, but most folks around here call him shepherd. He rides like a bat out of the nine hells through sprawling farmland, a true devil of the plains like his reputation once held. Shepherd blazes up to a farm set on the outskirts of rattlesnake with enough small wooden homes to be a miniature village all on its own. He has important business to attend to and he gets to work. First, he shows Kabul a far more efficient method of tilling the rye in cornfields. Then he gives Kira another riding lesson and keeps watch as he heard the cattle in from past year for the first time. Next, he lends a hand to Andre and preparing his family's leaky roof. Finally, by near sunset, he makes his way to a humble farmhouse with a large workshop attached and what looks to be a patchwork addition. Not far from the porch of the house, it's a log line with empty bean cans. And as the sheriff approaches, one practically explodes as it flies off the log and cladges the ground several meters away. Shepherd nearly jumps out of his skin and instinctively puts his hand on judgment before breathing a frustrated sigh and easing up. Tommy Morgan lets out a hoot in a holler as he spins redemption on a finger and holsters it before running out to shepherd, beaming with pride beneath a leather hat that actually fits him properly. For the hundredth day in a row, the boy asks if he's ready to be the deputy of rattlesnake. For the hundredth day in a row, shepherd says no, but encourages him to keep practicing. The rickety door to the workshop swings open and a wizard bearded gnome steps out wearing comically thick goggles in a filthy apron. Doc Cobbburn calls the boy in to try out the new set of firearms he made for Tommy, so the pair can finally stop sharing separate shepherd set. Tommy lets out an enthusiastic yeehaw before sprinting his fast as he can into the machine-filled room, followed quickly by the nervous old gnome as he pleases the child be careful before he breaks something. Shepherd slowly follows, but stops to turn around and survey the farmstead. The sun hangs low and huge on the horizon, casting everything in an orange glow. He takes a moment to watch the former Barovians go about the new lives they made for themselves here in his home, their home. As the sun begins to sink below the distant hills, he takes him the side of his flock once more before turning back. As he makes his way to the workshop, he looks over at the porch of the farmhouse. Hanging by the front door is Sarnax's lantern, it's fire ever burning. He takes off his hat and gives the flame a nod before joining his family. Sick fog shrouds men and women in the fine attire as they walk with purpose through the streets of Breake, passed by carriages rattling on cobblestone streets. The familiar scene can be observed daily through the square windows of a large townhouse on Imbrosia Street. Through one of these windows on the top floor is a large office lined with bookshelves containing hundreds of books and numerous artifacts from around the world. A small piano sits in the corner opposite a large oak table covered in papers, writing sketchings and arcane symbology string haphazardly across its surface. A black top hat rests on a round leather case beside professor Clayton Asran as he writes sphergely with an extravagant quill, with an elegant flourish. He places, a period at the bottom of the page, putting an end to the final sentence. He flips the page upside down and places it on top of a massive stack of papers held up only by enchantment. His work finally complete, complete. His treatise titled On Verovia, the lost land of blood and mist, will win him every award and any grant he could possibly hope for. Perhaps Miss Hillary University will even erect a statue in his honor. Clayton calls for Lucas to tidy his space in the arcane hand quickly straightens the stack of papers and places them into the curious case of the Asran's. With his magna'm opus now complete and sometime yet before dinner, he turns his attention to the one thing that's been eating away at him for months. Something he swore he would not address until completing his life's work. With a wave of his hand, the furniture of the room is pushed against the walls. With the point of his finger, the wooden floor is covered in a circle of arcane runes and symbols. This is a pattern he's agonizingly studied for months, taking any opportunity he could afford himself to study. To calm his nerves, Clayton asks Lucas to pour him a cup of tea. He takes a sip before placing the cup down on his desk, dawning his hat and grabbing his case. Clayton takes a deep breath and reaches into his coat pocket. He grabs at something for a moment in a sense of serenity washes over him. He is ready. With a long stride, he steps into the center of the circle and withdraws a scroll from his case. The writings of exothermator cover the ancient scroll and biving it with the forbidden knowledge of the amber temple. Clayton knows he cannot wait any longer for fear he will lose his nerve. He doesn't waste another second. With a quick incantation, he calls forth his arcane magic to tear the pieces. Immediately, the runes illuminate with a magenta cue as the brittle parchment disintegrates and a measurable power courses through his body. Clayton's eyes glow in the same magenta light as the energy from the spell radiates around him. He has never felt more powerful. He feels like a god even greater than a god. It is then that he makes his wish. He wishes desperately, pleadingly, for an end to the blood curse on him, his family and his entire line. In a single flash, the room is filled with magenta light, almost blinding in his radiance before it fades to nothing. Clayton blinks. Did it work? He feels no differently than before. He's never felt the unbreakable blood curse, but he's always known it was there from the moment it was cast upon him. He attempts to calm himself by finishing his tea and intends to consult the leaves for a sign. Perhaps they will provide the answers. Clayton lowers himself into the plush chair behind his desk and downs the rest of his tea in a single gulp. Closes his eyes and hesitates, but only for a moment before finally willing himself to look into the cup. Blood. The bottom of the porcelain tea cup, there are no leaves at all. Just blood. Clayton gasps and flings the cup across the room, it collides with the wall and smashes to pieces. He immediately digs his trembling hand into his coat pocket and pulls out the ruby gemstone, with shaking hands, he close landspacks it for some kind of sign. Nothing is still just as plain as it's ever been. There's a sudden knock on the door. And immediately the gem disappears into Clayton's clunch fist. The knock is followed by the sound of his wife, Clara. Clearly worried as she calls to him that she heard a crash and asks if everything's alright. The professor lies. He puts on airs and states that it was simply a clumsy mistake and they will have Lucas clean up the mess. That there is no need for her to worry. His wife so usually reassured reminds him that dinner will be ready soon. Clayton lovingly remarks that he will may taste and join her shortly. As her footsteps fade down the hallway, he slumps against the wall and attempts to regain his composure as Lucas tighties the room around him. He reaches for the door knob as he realizes that he's still clutching the ruby with his hand. As he motions to put it back into his pocket, he pauses from sides otherwise. Clayton pulls a drawer open on the desk and places the ruby within. Takes every ounce of willpower to close the drawer and leave his office in the ruby behind. As soon as he steps into the hall, two laughing girls collide into him, almost knocking him off his feet. Arbel looks up, cries beaming, filled to the brim with laughter and love as she tells him to get out of the way. There are no lame old dads in dinosaur land. Emmy agrees with a giggle and the pair run off stomping and roaring at each other. Clayton playfully threatens to turn them into actual dinosaurs before closing the door behind him. The door of the study clicks closed behind Clayton. All thoughts of the gem replaced with thoughts of his loving family. A warm smile dances across his face as he leaves his study behind to join the ones he loves for the evening. Inside of the study, the room is dark. All of the candles so recently extinguished by Lucas cast no light, only the soft tendrils of dancing smoke, and in the darkness of the still room, the pulsing red glow that illuminates the edges of the desk drawer is merely blind. Rain falls on Barovia, just before dawn. A lone woman in a black dress makes her way up a winding highland road beneath the cover of a dark velvet and lace umbrella. The slowly falling droplets hit the delicate cloth like the drumbeats of a funeral dirge, as Victoria Isaac walks through the rain. She makes her scent as the rest of Barovia seems to fade away behind her. Finally, she arrives at the top of the towering cliffs that plunge a thousand feet below. Here, there once stood a magnificent castle that pierced the clouds. Here, there now stands nothing but rubble and haunting memories. Although she's alone, Victoria speaks. She calls out to the gloom that surrounds her. It has been one year, one year since the death of her beloved, one year since her wedding, one year of grieving someone she should not love. And though she knows she should feel hate, anger, rage, she cannot bring herself to do so. Even after all this time, love is what remains when all else is crumbled around her. It is here in the ruins of this place that she found death, that she faced death, and it was in the arms of death where she finally learned what it felt like to feel alive. She makes a final, quiet proclamation of love before placing a bouquet of black roses on the remnants of Castle Ravenloft as the sky weeps so does she. Victoria turns to leave through the tears in the rain her eyes catch glimpse of color, a small sapling flourishing in the destruction at the center of the gray dreary ruins, leaves of red and gold. Unblinking, she stares down the small bit of color. And then the rain stops. The sun pierces through the parting storm clouds, bathed in brilliant golden light. Victoria feels warmth and hope as the tiny tree rises its limbs toward morning. And that is where this story ends. We finished the campaign, everyone. We finished the campaign! Oh my god! It only took us a year and a half but we did it! My Lord! So amazing, Nikki. Thank you so much. Thank you. I have no words. Seriously, I'm just tears. So, in same job, we got a quick wrap up for Nikki. Yeah, I can't wait for leading us to do this incredible journey. And the Edibles Corridor first real campaign finishing. What kind of amazing story. I can't even write now. On behalf of all of us here at Legends of Evantras, thank you so much for joining us on this adventure. We hope you enjoyed listening as much sweeted playing. The story may be over, but the ripples of everything that happened to Barovia with the Azran Expedition have affected nearly every other story across Evantras, including Edge of Midnight, Beneath Dark Wings and Prime. If you want to learn what became of Esher, Little Rafa Novia, the Amber Temple, Sarnaxe's Cult, the Curse of the Azrams, Seregay's Descendants, Mother Knight, and yes, even the werewolves of Barovia. Check out our other campaigns on our YouTube channel or watch them unfold live on our Twitch channel. In this is not the end for Evantras podcasts, we've just launched our official Legends of Evantras podcasts that will feature every one of our other campaigns and podcasts format all in one place. It would mean so much to us if you go subscribe to that feed as well. Just search Legends of Evantras wherever you get your podcasts. If you'd like to help us keep telling stories and get awesome exclusive perks, you can support us on Patreon. And we'd love to hear your thoughts in Curse of Stradonia and our discord. All relevant links will be in the show notes. Again, thank you for sitting at our table and laughing, crying, gasping, cheering, and clapping at the natural 20s with us. We're thrilled to have had you on this adventure. We'll see you in Evantras.