In this session, the party faced a tense encounter during their rest when Rahadin, a servant of Strahd, arrived on a rotting horse to challenge their protective spells and demand proof of Ireena's safety. Ireena emerged briefly to satisfy his demands, and Rahadin warned them to remain cautious in Vallaki before departing. Later that night, a pack of wolves surrounded their camp but posed no immediate threat, allowing the group to complete their rest with some interruptions.
The next day, the group reached Vallaki, where they encountered refugees from Ireena's village who were denied entry due to fears of sickness and contamination. The refugees revealed they were left defenseless outside the gates and were occasionally taken by wolves. After negotiating their way past the town's heavily guarded gates, Thrain reluctantly surrendered his silvered crossbow bolts for passage, gaining 30 copper and good standing with the guards. Meanwhile, Edric successfully sneaked in with his silver to avoid confiscation.
Inside Vallaki, the party split into groups. Thrain and Edric went to the Blue Water Inn with Ireena. There, they met Rictavio, a flamboyant bard recording tales of adventurers, who showed great interest in their exploits but seemed to hide something beneath his jovial demeanor. They also secured rooms for the party, noticing a cloaked figure from earlier attempting to remain hidden. Meanwhile, Fenrick and Elara visited a merchant, Soldar, where they negotiated trades and acquired silvered weapons, including a rapier for Edric, a cat-o'-nine-tails whip, and three spears for Elara. They also obtained a credit at the shop and commissioned additional crafting.
The group reunited briefly to visit St. Andral's Church. They discovered the sacred bones protecting the holy ground were missing, and the priest seemed nervous and evasive about the situation. A young boy, Yesica, hinted at knowing more and suggested the group return at night when the priest was asleep. The party ended their day back at the inn, preparing for the next steps amidst growing tension and the ominous presence of Strahd’s influence.
