The Abbot Unveiled: Wings, Lies and the Fallen Star

Characters:

• Shabasta: Porcupine Bard (Grant Haseloff). A performer with a flair for the dramatic who mixes enchanting music with prickly wit; his sharp melodies inspire allies and dishearten enemies. Tonight his Deception does the heavy lifting.
• Aera shan Ravanór: Wood-elf Rogue (Liz Mathews). The party’s lead scout and a deadly archer, legendary at finding and disarming traps and always first into the dark. Leaves the Abbey with bat wings of bone.
• Olfin Darning: Hexblood Paladin (Seth Booth). Bound by an oath to the light, with a hexblood heritage that hints at old bargains; both protector and enigma to his companions. Leaves the Abbey with eagle wings of bone.
• Malron Lichtstrahl: Reborn Cleric of Lathander (Christopher O’Toole). Raised by a resurrection gone wrong that let an ancient elven spirit share his body, he now speaks with spirits and understands Elvish and Sylvan.
• Crusty: High Elf Sage Wizard (Cole Smarr). A spectacled scholar with a crystal-crowned staff, a well-worn tome and a tawny owl familiar on his shoulder.

Two months after the last session, the party climbs the winding road out of Krezk toward the Abbey of St. Markovia, still sore from a run-in with scarecrows and dire wolves. Baron Dmitri Krezkov has begged them to stop the Abbot from taking his wife Anna’s heart, and the icon they carry has warned them to tread carefully and ready their steel.

Summary:

After a long rest at the Burgomaster’s house and a running fight with scarecrows and dire wolves on the road, the party climbs the winding road out of the village of Krezk toward the Abbey of St. Markovia. At the north gate they are met by Otto and Zygfrek Belview, two of the Abbot’s mongrelfolk, who anxiously ask whether the heroes have seen their brother Cyrus since he was sent to Castle Ravenloft to be “perfected.” The party knows Cyrus is little more than Strahd’s servant, but Shabasta tells them what they want to hear: Cyrus is nine feet tall, two men across, the strongest man alive, and so perfect that Strahd wants to keep him. The lie lands (Deception 16), and the Belviews are overjoyed.

Note: The table had not played in about two months. Ryan posted a picture of the abbey on the Discord and showed off a box of normal-sized minis he had been given. The party is still seven players, “eight in heart.”

Before they enter, the party remembers the warning from the shard in the icon they carry: “Tread carefully and ready your steel, for the Morning Lord’s rays flare only brighter when they perceive darkness before them.” They agree to keep the icon hidden from the Abbot for now. In the courtyard (S12) they meet Clovin Belview carrying bowls of cold porridge to the padlocked shed. Olfin repeats the story about Cyrus (with a 23), and the grateful Clovin keeps his promise of a reward. He leads them up into the tower (S17) and pulls a black cloth off a stand to reveal two sets of animated bone wings: modified Wings of Flying, one feathered like a giant eagle and one like a bat. Each set unfurls with a whispered command word, grants a 60-foot flying speed for one minute, and recharges daily. Olfin takes the eagle wings and Aera takes the bat wings.

Note: Command word brainstorming followed. “I’m Batman” was the early favorite, and Olfin’s “America!” carried the night. The table also briefly argued over whether a paladin or a rogue should be the one to fly.

The Abbot is found in the asylum (S15), a lightless corridor of cells whose occupants cackle and curse behind locked doors. A handsome young man in monk’s robes stands halfway down the hall with a prayer book under his arm, scolding Vasilka, the “perfect bride” he is building for Strahd, for tending the blighted mongrelfolk on the very day of her “operation.” Behind them looms the flesh golem the party once gave a flower garland crown. The Abbot soothes Vasilka with talk of the Morning Lord’s grace and everyone’s proper place, then turns to the party: “Visitors, welcome back to the Abbey of St. Markovia. What’s your reason for being here?”

The party’s real reason is grim: in Vallaki, at the Blue Water Inn, Baron Dmitri Krezkov of Krezk had begged them to stop the Abbot, who means to kill his wife Anna Krezkova tonight and take her heart for Vasilka. Malron remembers what Esmerelda told them: only by defeating the Abbot and unlocking his soul with the Icon of Dawn’s Grace can his corruption be cleansed and his sanity restored. The party debates luring the Abbot away from the golem, but the corridor is tight and the cells may hold allies for either side. Aera pulls rope from her pack and uses Silent Image to dress it up as a new flower crown, then walks up and gives it to the golem.

Note: Long above-the-table debate about distractions, illusions and whether a construct counts as a creature. Crusty rolled a 17 on History and learned that flesh golems understand their creator’s language but cannot speak.

Olfin ends the talking. He tells the golem, “We’re here to destroy your master. Will you help us?” and swings at the Abbot with a Shining Smite. The radiant damage barely seems to touch him. Light pours from the Abbot: towering white wings unfurl, his robes fall away to marble-white flesh, golden gauntlets and a golden sarong, and he rises to nearly seven feet. “If you will not obey, then I will make you.” The Abbot has become Ethereal. Vasilka flees in terror.

Aera opens with her moon-touched longsword and a sneak attack for 26, then disengages. Ethereal flies at her and fires a ray of light from his hands. Shabasta inspires Aera and casts Heat Metal on Ethereal’s golden gauntlets. Malron spots a lever that opens the cells (Investigation 18), and Olfin later pulls it, releasing four weak, blighted mongrelfolk. Ethereal smashes Malron in the face, though Malron’s Warding Flare forces him to roll at disadvantage, and Crusty answers with Fire Bolt while his owl provides a distraction.

Ethereal grapples Olfin and carries him 30 feet into the air. Then the flesh golem joins the fight on the party’s side, hurling a chalice at the Abbot and soaking his face in wine. From the ground, Aera crits with her short bow for 58 damage. Ethereal flies over her and drops Olfin on top of her; Aera dodges with Shabasta’s Bardic Inspiration and Olfin takes the full fall.

Ethereal answers with a burst of divine light. Malron fails badly and is charmed, falling prone to “grovel,” until the next ray of light breaks the charm. When Ethereal reaches for a 4th-level healing touch, Crusty Counterspells it, making the Intelligence check against DC 14, and the Abbot stops trying to heal himself. Shabasta inspires Olfin and keeps the Heat Metal burning until Ethereal seizes him too, turns his hand into a mace, beats him while airborne and drops him from 30 feet. Malron casts Protection from Evil and Good to guard against more charms. Olfin whispers “America!” to unfurl his eagle wings, drinks a potion of fire breathing and takes to the air.

Note: Rules talk mid-fight: Malron set the table straight that a concentration save is DC 10 or half the damage, whichever is higher, not 10 plus half. Ryan explained Legendary Resistance and confirmed Ethereal’s Wisdom, Dexterity and Charisma saves are all +10.

The golem keeps throwing whatever it can find: candlesticks, then a whole table, which shatters against the ceiling. Ryan reveals that the golem was always going to side with the party because of Vasilka’s original crown, but their kindness is what brought it into the fight. A gale from Ethereal’s wings drops Shabasta unconscious, and he fails his first death save before Malron’s Healing Word brings him back up. Crusty hits with Lightning Bolt, and Olfin breathes fire and lands a Wrathful Smite.

Then Aera rolls her second natural 20 of the night. Remembering the Abbot wanted Anna’s heart, she shoots him through his. His body drifts slowly to the ground and Malron rushes in with the Icon of Dawn’s Grace. But the form starts to mutate: his back arches, the feathers shake off into bat wings, and he becomes a beast with the head of a lion, the body of a ram, the wings of a bat and the tail of a crocodile, “the Fallen Star.” Its second form stands ready at full strength, and the session ends there.

Note: The first phase took about an hour, so Ryan called it rather than run until midnight.

Key Locations:

Krezk: The walled village the party has been staying in, including a long rest at the Burgomaster’s house.

North Gate of the Abbey (S6): Where Otto and Zygfrek Belview ask about Cyrus and Shabasta convinces them he has been “perfected.”

Abbey Courtyard (S12): Where Clovin Belview carries porridge to the padlocked shed.

Tower and Belfry (S17): Above the asylum; Clovin’s hidden stand holds the two sets of bone wings.

The Asylum (S15): A lightless, foul-smelling corridor of cells holding the blighted mongrelfolk. A lever releases the cells. Site of the battle with Ethereal.

Encounters:

Social: Shabasta deceives Otto and Zygfrek Belview about Cyrus’s “perfection” (Deception 16). Olfin repeats the tale to Clovin Belview (23), earning the wings.

Social: Aera gifts the flesh golem a rope crown disguised with Silent Image, and Olfin asks it to help destroy its master. It later joins the fight.

Combat: The Abbot, transformed into Ethereal. Ethereal grapples, flies and drops party members, fires rays of light, charms with a radiant burst and buffets the party with a wing gale. Highlights: Aera’s two natural 20s (58 damage, then the killing shot through the heart), Heat Metal on his gauntlets, Malron’s Warding Flare and Healing Word, Olfin’s flight and fire breath, and the golem hurling a chalice, candlesticks and a table. Ethereal falls, then rises in a second form, the Fallen Star (to be continued).

Loot:

• Bone Wings of Flying (eagle): Olfin. Modified Wings of Flying: an action and a whispered command word (“America!”) unfurl animated bone-and-feather wings for one minute (60 ft fly speed). Usable once per day. Requires attunement.
• Bone Wings of Flying (bat): Aera. Same properties as the eagle set.
• Potion of Fire Breathing: Olfin drank one he already carried during the fight.

Notable NPCs:

The Abbot / Ethereal: The Abbey’s master, who appears as a handsome young monk. Building Vasilka as Strahd’s bride and planning to take Anna’s heart for her. When struck he reveals his celestial form, Ethereal: “If you will not obey, then I will make you.” Defeated once, he rises again as the Fallen Star.

Vasilka: The Abbot’s flesh-built “perfect bride” for Strahd. Scolded for tending the mongrelfolk; flees when the fight begins.

The Flesh Golem: The Abbot’s hulking servant. Wears the crown the party gave it long ago, accepts Aera’s new rope crown and turns on its master, throwing a chalice, candlesticks and a table.

Otto and Zygfrek Belview: Mongrelfolk at the north gate, eager for news of Cyrus. Believe Shabasta’s lie.

Clovin Belview: Mongrelfolk who delivers porridge; rewards the party with the bone wings for the news about Cyrus.

Cyrus Belview (mentioned): Sent to Castle Ravenloft to be “perfected,” actually serving Strahd.

Baron Dmitri Krezkov and Anna Krezkova (mentioned): The noble couple who lead Krezk. Dmitri found the party at the Blue Water Inn in Vallaki and begged them to stop the Abbot from killing Anna and taking her heart.

Esmerelda (mentioned): Told the party the Abbot can only be cleansed by defeating him and unlocking his soul with the Icon of Dawn’s Grace.

Plot Points:

• The Abbot means to kill Anna Krezkova tonight and give her heart to Vasilka, Strahd’s intended bride.
• Per Esmerelda, defeating the Abbot and using the Icon of Dawn’s Grace on him may cleanse his corruption and restore his sanity.
• The icon’s warning came true: the Morning Lord’s rays flared brighter in the face of darkness.
• The flesh golem is now an ally. The party already talks about taking it with them across Barovia.
• The released mongrelfolk may not trust the party; Ryan hinted they may not have believed the lie about Cyrus.
• Ethereal’s second form, the Fallen Star (lion, ram, bat, crocodile), awaits at full strength next session.

Session Highlights:

• Shabasta selling the Belviews on a nine-foot, two-men-across, perfected Cyrus.
• Olfin’s command word: “America!”
• The Abbot’s transformation, gold sarong and all.
• The flesh golem joining the fight because of a rope crown it never realized was just rope.
• Aera’s two natural 20s, including a shot straight through the heart.
• Malron charmed into groveling before Ethereal.
• Crusty’s Counterspell shutting down the Abbot’s healing.