Fate Casters: Shadows of Stravia

A cart full of magical wares. Two beloved boars. One very suspicious gate guard. Ptitty and Tuggs are bringing their business to Slavoka—if they can get through customs first.

In Episode 63 of Shadows of Stravia, the goblin merchants return to turn the empty Martin’s Mercantile into a working magic-item shop. Between a disastrous sales pitch, some ambitious name-dropping, and the practicalities of housing Muffin and Loaf, getting established is an adventure of its own.

Then Luma arrives with an unusual commission: a glass that can reveal the truth inside magical agreements. The deposit is tempting, the deadline is tight, and Ptitty and Tuggs have a little sourcing, a little tinkering, and a very late night ahead of them.

Elsewhere at Skorn Manor, the party follows up on the unsettling happiness surrounding the Unveiling Ball. Old family relics reveal a hidden pattern, and Reginold’s unfinished bargain takes on new urgency.

Join Fate Casters for goblin entrepreneurship, questionable persuasion rolls, and gothic-horror Dungeons & Dragons actual play.

Shadows of Stravia • Episode 63 • Dungeons & Dragons 5e

Shadows of Stravia is a gothic-horror D&D 5e actual-play campaign from Fate Casters. In a vampire-ruled nation, former Blood Cloak enforcers navigate low magic, high politics, rebellion, and consequences that carry from one session to the next.

Start Shadows of Stravia from Episode 1:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcycM15cJey9OWn6EOhiSZBBUlwkdBT0Z

Previous episode — Drinks with Baba Yaga:
https://youtu.be/9tzGrKVIGZg

Would you trust Ptitty and Tuggs with your next magical purchase? Tell us what you would buy in the comments.

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MUSIC CREDITS
“Achaidh Cheide”, “Morgana Rides”, “Ghostpocalypse - 3 Road of Trials”, “Darkest Child”, “Blue Feather”, “Ghostpocalypse - 6 Crossing the Threshold”, “Folk Round”, “Aftermath”, “Night of Chaos”, “Echoes of Time v2”, “Thunder Dreams”
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Music edited, mixed and ducked for this episode.

“The Devil’s Dance” — Fate Casters
Closing music: “secrets_shadowsv4” — modern_monster

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A night of enchanted wine turns into drinks with Baba Yaga. In Shadows of Stravia Episode 62, the party's downtime in Slavoka brings dangerous offers, unexpected connections, and a fireworks rehearsal with something to say.

Zelphira and Luma try to enjoy a quiet evening in Skorn Manor's cellars, but Purple Portal wine opens the door to strange visions—and Grandmother herself. Reginold faces a question bigger than his missing holy symbol: where does his devotion belong?

Across the city, Nyx introduces Requiem to Iskar at the House of Tricks. A conversation over tea uncovers troubling questions about Winter Mercy and the manor's unnatural happiness. Back on the lawn, Luma's fireworks offer more than a preview of the coming Unveiling Ball.

Join us for character-driven Dungeons & Dragons actual play, dark fantasy intrigue, questionable decisions, and a very unusual girls' night.

What do you think Luma is trying to tell the party? Leave your theory in the comments.

Subscribe for more Shadows of Stravia and follow the party into the next episode.

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Reginold needs his holy symbol back. Baba Yaga has a solution—and all she wants is a little public recognition. What could go wrong?

In Episode 61 of Shadows of Stravia, a missing coin turns into a crisis of faith. Nyx and Requiem follow Plop to the academy, where a spectacularly questionable disguise leads to an unexpected trade. Meanwhile, Ellian’s search for his sister finally produces a lead—and a reply that raises more questions.

Dangerous bargains, terrible disguises, and unfinished business before the Unveiling Ball. Join Fate Casters for a gothic-horror Dungeons & Dragons actual play.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Welcome and recap
02:27 Back in the wine cellar
05:45 Reginold’s missing holy symbol
16:02 A warning about his oath
21:30 A voice in Luma’s kettle
40:04 A delivery for Plop
45:57 The coin behind the wall
56:04 Following Plop to the academy
1:04:00 Meet Squish
1:11:14 Ellian’s search
1:22:44 A needle for a name
1:30:24 A coin cannot settle a crisis of faith
1:35:20 Back to the academy
1:45:25 Naille’s placement record
1:47:20 A message to Naille
1:51:00 Next time

Would you accept Baba Yaga’s help if the price sounded this simple?

Previous episode: https://youtu.be/MwYZXdt2RLE

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In this dark fantasy D&D 5e actual play, Grimfang wants more than blood. Traghoul feeds Orlak's soul-stone to his living blade—and it immediately asks for more.

Back at Skorn Manor, Requiem fights an impossible happiness, Nyx follows luminous threads through memory and time, and the party makes dangerous plans for the Unveiling Ball. King Lariel Stravos I is coming. Sevran's interest is not.

This is The Gilded Cage: a character-first gothic-horror episode of Shadows of Stravia from Fate Casters.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Opening recap
02:45 Grimfang and Orlak's soul-stone
07:54 Requiem brings home a warning
14:08 Karina identifies the hidden spear
20:00 The manor's impossible happiness
25:55 A tailor-off for the Unveiling Ball
36:36 Nyx sees the threads
41:04 The guest list becomes a minefield
42:37 The house carries sorrow
52:56 Sevran's third notice
58:30 An empty place for Selene
1:04:28 Security and the Prince's staff
1:19:35 The King answers
1:21:22 Seven friction, two favor
1:31:15 The secret in Nymera's tea
1:33:58 Wine tasting and the ThirstZ plan
1:42:12 Only the dead hear the Ghostsong
1:50:58 House Blackheart is crumbling

▶ Start Shadows of Stravia from Episode 1:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcycM15cJey9OWn6EOhiSZBBUlwkdBT0Z

Shadows of Stravia is a low-magic, high-politics gothic-horror D&D 5e actual-play campaign set in a vampire-ruled nation. Former Blood Cloak enforcers stand between the Crimson Court, the Order of Bone, and a growing human rebellion.

What would you fear most: the blade that wants another soul, the house that carries away grief, or the spirit offering one true answer at an unknown cost? Tell us below.

New episodes weekly. Subscribe and step into the darkness.

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In this dark fantasy D&D 5e actual play, victory lies behind the party—but not everyone is ready to return home. As Slavoka prepares for a grand celebration, familiar roads lead toward a welcome that feels almost too perfect.

The Unveiling Ball draws closer. Strange comforts wait behind old doors, and some questions become harder to hold onto the nearer home gets.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Previously in Stravia
03:24 A prayer in the rain
07:25 Church of the Shaper
11:04 Finding Requiem
16:27 A warning for the road
19:21 Plop returns
21:52 A shorter path
29:49 Posters and promises
33:25 A gift of joy
38:00 Slavoka transformed
42:39 Welcome to Skorn Manor
45:11 A meal made for everyone
49:52 Traghoul’s hunt
54:26 A rare vintage
1:03:28 Blue fire below the manor
1:09:58 A tour of the house
1:17:07 The hidden door
1:25:45 A sealed room
1:31:39 Fresh blood on an old blade
1:34:43 Nearing home
1:39:25 Nymera waits at the steps

▶ Start Shadows of Stravia from Episode 1:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcycM15cJey9OWn6EOhiSZBBUlwkdBT0Z

Shadows of Stravia is a low-magic, high-politics gothic-horror D&D 5e actual-play campaign set in a vampire-ruled nation. Former Blood Cloak enforcers stand between the Crimson Court, the Order of Bone, and a growing human rebellion.

New episodes weekly. Subscribe and step into the darkness.

#DnDActualPlay #TTRPG #ShadowsOfStravia

Support the show

The battle for Greydale rages on — and the reinforcements arriving on the field aren't all friendly.

Borislav the Bear finally stands face to face with Vishni, and years of grief demand an answer. Traghoul Frostbite returns to the fight at the worst possible moment — because Orlak Bonecrusher has come to Greydale too, and the ogre champion isn't leaving without blood. As the pyre pens burn and the Aegis Solis press their assault, Oathrender changes hands in the chaos... and through it all, Nyx hears something ancient whispering his name. The Eye of Odin is done waiting.

Shadows of Stravia is a low-magic, high-politics gothic horror D&D 5e campaign set in a vampire-ruled nation, where the party — former Blood Cloak enforcers — are caught between the Crimson Court, the Order of Bone, and the human rebellion.

Hashtags

#DnD #DungeonsAndDragons #ActualPlay #TTRPG #DnD5e #ShadowsOfStravia #GothicHorror #DnDActualPlay #TabletopRPG #Homebrew

Support the show

The battle for Greydale rages on — and the reinforcements arriving on the field aren't all friendly.

Borislav the Bear finally stands face to face with Vishni, and years of grief demand an answer. Traghoul Frostbite returns to the fight at the worst possible moment — because Orlak Bonecrusher has come to Greydale too, and the ogre champion isn't leaving without blood. As the pyre pens burn and the Aegis Solis press their assault, Oathrender changes hands in the chaos... and through it all, Nyx hears something ancient whispering his name. The Eye of Odin is done waiting.

Shadows of Stravia is a low-magic, high-politics gothic horror D&D 5e campaign set in a vampire-ruled nation, where the party — former Blood Cloak enforcers — are caught between the Crimson Court, the Order of Bone, and the human rebellion.

Hashtags

#DnD #DungeonsAndDragons #ActualPlay #TTRPG #DnD5e #ShadowsOfStravia #GothicHorror #DnDActualPlay #TabletopRPG #Homebrew

Support the show

The road home runs through Greydale — and the Order of Aegis Solis has turned the village into an altar. The party slips into the occupied town under cover, and Requiem walks straight through the enemy's checkpoints wearing the face they worship: Saint Elyra.

Then the infiltration breaks, and the battle for Greydale begins. Borislav's Moonbeam melts the Order's great ice lens to slag before it can ever be seated — but Vishni refuses to be stopped, beginning the consecration chant without it. With ~40 villagers roped at the pyre pens, the party fights a desperate race against the ritual clock. Half are pulled free. Half are not. Twenty souls go into the pit to feed the charge.

And then Vishni sees the bear. One roar of pure rage shatters his concentration, the chant collapses — and the duel Borislav has crossed a country for finally begins.

Part 1 of the Battle of Greydale. To be continued.

Shadows of Stravia is a homebrew D&D 5e gothic-horror campaign set in a vampire-ruled nation where the party — former Blood Cloak enforcers — are caught between a crumbling Crimson Court, a necromancers' order, and a human rebellion.

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Borislav's been gone a while. You might've wondered where he wandered off to.

Turns out the answer is: somewhere cold, somewhere quiet, and somewhere with unfinished business.

This episode opens on him — alone, on the road, carrying his axe Hjarta Rifa ("Tear the Heart") and a whole lot of memory he'd rather not be carrying. Then he sees a face across the snow.

Vishni.

And Borislav is no longer on the road. He's back in the Glade. Back in the worst day of his life.

The flashback hits like the axe is named.

By the time he catches up with the rest of the party — who are busy processing their own delightful weekend of undead ravens, the Faceless God's job offer to Nyx, and whatever the Light of Doruusk did to everyone's soul — there's no time to sit in the trauma and share feelings.

Because Greydale is burning, the Order of Aegis Solis is already there, and the clock is very much not on anyone's side.

Feelings later. Running now.

⸻

Highlights

🪓 A cold open on Borislav, alone on the winter road
🗺️ We finally learn what he's been up to all this time
❄️ Hjarta Rifa — "Tear the Heart" — gets properly introduced
👁️ Borislav spots Vishni across the snow
💥 A brutal flashback to the Glade rips the past wide open
🖤 The rage returns — and it has a name attached to it
🐦‍⬛ The party reels from the undead raven and the Faceless God's offer to Nyx
🌫️ Everyone's still shaking off the Light of Doruusk
🤝 Borislav rejoins the party mid-emotional-crisis (perfect timing, buddy)
⏳ No time to grieve — Greydale needs saving, right now
🏃 The party races toward the fight before it's too late
😬 We are all extremely normal about Borislav right now
⚔️ The stage is set for a reckoning that's been years in the making

⸻

👉 Like, subscribe, and ring the bell to follow the campaign live and never miss an episode.

⸻

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#TTRPG #ShadowsOfStravia #FateCasters
#LightOfDoruusk #Doruusk #Stravia #Greydale
#Borislav #Vishni #HjartaRifa #TearTheHeart
#Nyx #Requiem #Zelphira #SmileyTinkersmith #Bumbo
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Back in the Grey Plane, beneath the impossible boughs of the exiled Gulthias tree, the party finally stands before the source of the soul plague.

But the horror of what they find is far worse than the tree itself.

From its vast, twisted branches hang strange fruit.

Not apples.

Not offerings.

Not anything the world was ever meant to grow.

Within each swollen fruit, shapes stir in terrible silence—humanoid forms curled in darkness, suspended as if in utero. Half-formed. Waiting. Breathing. Becoming.

Around them move root-like shadow puppets, thin and twitching things made of bark, darkness, and stolen instinct. They tend to the fruit with awful devotion, crawling across the branches and roots like servants caring for a nursery.

A nursery of souls.

The party has only moments to take in the truth before the tree becomes aware of them.

The air changes.

The roots shift.

The fruit trembles.

And something deep within the massive trunk begins to wake.

Whatever has been feeding on the plague, whatever has been gathering souls from Light of Doruusk, whatever horror has taken root at the center of the Gulthias tree—it emerges.

Not as a beast.

Not as a spirit.

But as the tree’s will made flesh.

A guardian born from rot, shadow, and stolen life rises to defend the fruit. And it does not come alone.

The shadow puppets stir into violence. The roots begin to move. The Grey Plane twists around the party as the boundary between worlds grows thin and unstable.

What follows is one of the most dangerous battles the party has ever faced.

Seriously.

Eric might TPK the whole party.

WTF.

With the strange fruit hanging overhead and the souls of another world trapped in the balance, the party is forced into a fight where retreat may be impossible, victory may come too late, and every mistake could mean becoming part of the tree’s next harvest.

Because the Gulthias tree is not simply surviving.

It is growing something.

And now the party has seen it.

Some evils do not hide in darkness.

Some bloom.

Some are tended.

And some defend their fruit with everything they have stolen.

⸻

Highlights

🌫️ The party continues their journey inside the Grey Plane
🌳 The Gulthias tree is revealed in its full, horrifying form
🍎 Strange fruit hangs from the tree’s massive boughs
🧍 Humanoid creatures are seen stirring inside the fruit
🕷️ Root-like shadow puppets tend to the fruit like a terrible nursery
🩸 The harvested souls appear to be transforming into something new
👁️ The tree becomes aware of the party’s presence
🌑 Something at the center of the tree awakens
⚔️ A deadly guardian emerges to defend the fruit
🛡️ The party is thrown into a brutal, high-stakes encounter
💀 The battle nearly becomes a total party kill
😱 Eric almost ends the entire campaign and everyone is emotionally unwell
🌌 The Grey Plane twists as the tree fights to protect what it has grown
❓ The party begins to understand that the soul plague is not just feeding the tree—it is helping it create something
⚠️ The true purpose of the strange fruit remains terrifyingly unclear

⸻

👉 Like, subscribe, and ring the bell to follow the campaign live and never miss an episode.

⸻

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#LightOfDoruusk #Doruusk #Stravia #Slavoka
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#FantasyMystery #TabletopRPG #LiveDnD

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