Session 18 The Gallows of Vallaki

Urihorn slipped out at night to fetch his panther companion. The beast bounded over Vallaki’s palisade, jaws clutching a severed arm scavenged from some earlier raid. Urihorn coaxed it free and guided the cat back into hiding. Even loyalty carries blood in Barovia.

By morning criers shouted charges: murder, mayhem, defiance of authority. Daermon hid among burned ruins, Urihorn scaled a rooftop with his panther. The prisoners arrived bound in a cart. Radley wore a heavy iron mask that blinded him. Traxidor slumped sedated, unable to resist. Guards prodded them onto the gallows, Wardens in black robes watched with glowing amulets.

Lady Wachter gave her speech, painting them as brigands. The Reeve stepped forward to list charges. He never finished. Daermon’s arrow struck, Urihorn’s followed with a Hail of Thorns that burst into shrapnel, killing the Reeve outright and wounding his guards.

The square erupted. Wardens conjured Spiritual Weapons, spectral blades that swung at rooftops, and hurled necrotic bolts. Lady Wachter raised Sanctuary, warding herself so none could land a strike. At that moment, allies arrived: Urwin and Danika Martikov, revealing their wereraven forms, swooping down to fight.

Radley fought blindly, headbutting a guard with his iron mask, breaking bone. Traxidor swayed, drugged. Daermon struck from cover, Urihorn loosed arrows, the panther roared. But Wachter healed her wardens, reviving them. Slowly the adventurers faltered. Radley fell. Daermon followed.

Then the Martikovs made their stand. Stabbed and bleeding, they hoisted the fallen heroes onto their shoulders, pushed through spears, and loaded them into a wagon. Urwin cracked the reins, driving hard through the streets. Urihorn leapt down, panther at his side, chasing until the wagon vanished into alleys.

Only Traxidor was left behind in chains.

The survivors were stashed in an abandoned cellar. Dannika, healing quickly from her wounds, whispered that search parties would soon comb the streets. She disguised the hatch with crates and baskets, then transformed into a raven and flew into the sky.

The Reeve was dead. Radley and Daermon survived. Urihorn had proven himself. But Traxidor remained in Lady Wachter’s grasp.

This is the rhythm of Barovia: victory and loss, bound together. Every triumph is poisoned. Every survival incomplete.

FAQ & Glossary

Heroes

• Radley: Human Eldritch Knight, fighter + spells.

• Daermon: Elf Arcane Trickster, rogue + illusions.

• Urihorn: Halfling Beastmaster Ranger with panther.

• Traxidor: Half-elf Cleric of Light, healer.

• Sören (fallen): Aasimar Paladin, executed earlier.

Enemies

• Lady Wachter: Burgomistress of Vallaki, ally of Strahd.

• Reeve Ernst Larnak: her enforcer, slain by arrows.

• Wardens: black-robed clerics using necrotic magic.

Spells Highlighted

• Hail of Thorns: exploding arrow.

• Sanctuary: prevents attacks on the target.

• Spiritual Weapon: floating spectral blade.

• Inflict Wounds: necrotic strike.

Allies

• Urwin and Danika Martikov: wereravens, guardians of hope.