ON THE ROAD TO THE WINERY
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We fought Strahd today. His wicked little crows watch us still. No dead on our part, somehow.
He brought a pack of wolves and bats, along with some kind of hellish horse, and to make matters worse, attempted
to mentally influence Ireena. Summoned a web to catch her, and the vampire countered with arcane magic.

Arcane magic of a common sort. Seen spells like it cast before. So he follows traditions we can learn from. Worth noting, his hounds seemed to be protected in some manner. He's made all of his minions just a bit tougher than the varieties we're used to from the real world. And that is, what I am convinced, this area is. Not the real world. I don't even know what do with this information, so I haven't felt the need to bring it up as of yet.

As we worked to turn the tide against the wolves, he chucked a fireball and slaughtered half his group, only bringing down our unlucky Paladin in the process, before getting on his horse to ride away.

Brooks fired a bolt that landed firmly in his back, wiping the smirk off his face.

Not the wisest decision, but easily the most satisfying. We angered Strahd enough to get him to settle matters himself in close combat with Brooks. Went poorly for Brooks, of course, vampires are extremely physically strong, but upon waking up, he didn't seem too put off. He understood the same thing I did.

After all the cautious walking around, we ran into the dread tyrant himself, and survived. Rather than existenstial dread, it was a very physical and fightable reality.

The next time we meet, we should be much better prepared. Considering he knew we'd be making our way to Krezk, maybe a detour may be worth our time. The winery has offered shelter if we assist them, might give us time to figure out a plan. If the visions of the Madam Eva are true, we may be able to find a way to fight the tyrant.

A lot of questions have been answered today.

CURRENT PARTY OPINIONS
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Martin:
    Unstable, but finds his ground when the looming threat of death stops him from existenstial thought.
    -----

    He reminds me of an acolyte I knew once. Trembling, after his first kill.
    Gideon made sure I was the one to put him down. Knew I felt disgust for his weakness.
    That disgust is still in there somewhere. I can still feel it.
    But I deny it. I will make sure he does not fall.
    -----

    He's growing slowly. Not the most graceful thing to watch, but I can see him battle with himself.
    Killing the past is really the only way forward. Maybe I'll get lucky and get him to believe in
    himself instead of his god. It's the wildest thing; I don't think he's been divinely blessed to be as strong and implacable in combat as he is.
    I think he's just that damned strong.
    -----

    He's treading the water admirably, considering we just found ourselves in a direct and violent battle with Strahd.
    These druids at least, seem like something more physical and less terrifying. Let's build up his confidence and crush theirs.

Brooks:
    A true free spirit, but a principled one.
    -----
    Sometimes I wonder if he's run the same gambit I did. In the now, I doubt it. While suffering on the streets at the mercy of the uncaring populace twisted me into a hateful prick, I don't think it did him.
    Enviable.
    -----
    His hope is fading.
    It's in his risky actions, his need to atone, his drive.
    But most of all the in eyes I've only seen before in a mirror.
    I can show him the same thing that helped that man.
    The satisfication of thwarting a man that thinks he's a god.
    -----
    Well that didn't take long.

Vince:
    Insanely brash, but fairly reliable.
    -----

    Despite loudly declaring how little he cared for the people of Barovia, he jumped kneedeep into a well filled with undead. On the Sword Coast, you'd call him an adventurer. Here, you'd call him a walking contradiction.
    I am content to not understand him. He is, at least, a fairly good drinking companion.
    -----

    Agent of the Lady of Doom, thief, torturer, and also defender of children. The little seer we found today found her defender in form of Vince. I'm finding my lack of paranoia around him startling. I feel the need to break an unspoken agreement and ask him of his past if I'm to trust him with the seeress.
    Torturer.
    The cabal would have loved him with a title like that.
    -----



Stevun:
    The most noble man in the most dim of places.
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    I've killed noble knights like him with the Pretia-Cruento many a time. Laughed about it. Saw it as a mark of pride.
    If he knew my past, he'd probably gut me too. Don't blame him for it.
    As odd as it feels to be fighting alongside him, I feel happy too. If there's anything that can bring the light of the gods into this dark place, it'd be him.
    Seems nothing like the other Beshaba worshipper. Maybe Vince causes the bad luck and Stevun catches it.
    -----

    It's incredible. He's basically unaffected by the sights we've seen. The man's so stoic, I could see Strahd genuinely thinking the man's got a card hidden up his sleeve. I know I keep expecting a vision detailing how the man's an avatar of Beshaba, come to finally catch up with Strahd's machinations.
    In spite of all this, I don't think the man's dim. He's just perfectly in control of himself at level I've never seen.
    -----

Ismark the Lesser
    He flails hopelessly against the abyss. Not a bad fighter. Maybe he'll win.
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Ireena
    She's doing her best to be brave in the face of the creeping attentions of an evil that should not be.
    She's doing admirably at it. I hope to show her a reason to smile.
    -----