![[baratok.webp]] North of the mountain lake, the trees begin their steady climb up the slopes of Mount Baratok, its monolithic presence oppressive at this distance. The ground here is rocky, uneven, and tiring to navigate. Even the wolves avoid this neck of the woods. Soon, you climb above the blanket of fog that engulfs the valley. Dark thunderclouds roll overhead. --- # History ## 8th of Ottyavr, 737 BC MacOonnie, Belvedere, Nora, Wormeyes, and Jelenneth are commissioned by a mysterious figure named Hevel to go retrieve an artifact known as the Sunstone. Hevel has created a device to carry the stone safely, known as The Eclipse. The party followed Hevel to the entrance of a secret cave (opened by a chant now known by Wormeyes and Belvedere), that leads to an ancient underground temple. In the temple the party first fought miniature suns and light beings, housed in what was revealed to be sunrise and sunset temples. They then entered an inner temple where they fought a golem powered by the Sunstone and a few dragons. After defeating the golem they put the Sunstone in the Eclipse and brought it back to Hevel. Following Hevel back to his house/lab/greenhouse, they discovered his plan was to use the Sunstone to basically cultivate healthier Barovians for him and Strahd to feed upon. He believed that if Strahd fed upon humans exposed to sunlight it will make him a kinder ruler. The party killed Hevel and his minions and freed most of the Barovians. Finally, the party returned to the temple, and buried the Sunstone deep in the rock. In an epilogue it was hinted that the rock in the temple was animated by the Sunstone, the same way the golem was before. Adventure Link: https://enter-ravenloft.github.io/adventure-archives/2023-10-10__sun_seeking_stranger_(macoonnie’s_arc_quest).html ## 10th of Ottyavr, 737 BC The Party were approached to enter a strange cave and given clues but everything was in initiative: Part 1: The first part was a cave that they had to get through and find a riddle on the exit that was different for each of them. Part 2: This transported them to a very large arena where there was a jabberwok and lots of swarms of things where they were gradually given cryptic puzzle statements that lead to one answer. Part 3: This brought them to a Medusa's (Hythonia) lair where they were surrounded by other statues that were all looking at other different statues. The puzzle here was to work out what was looking at what and realize that there was one missing, and once they filled it in they were complete. This brought them face to face, now able to look at the Hythonia, who was Mother Night, they RPed with her and found out. **Adventure Link:** https://enter-ravenloft.github.io/adventure-archives/2023-10-12__keep_your_friends_close.html # 6th of Fenravr, 738 BC The mists had pulled a powerful sphinx to Barovia. Hearing of this, and that she was going to perform some sort of ritual Korvin, Fuji, and Fritz investigate. After a battle of magic and steel the party is triumphant, saving Batovia for the time being. **Adventure Link:** https://enter-ravenloft.github.io/adventure-archives/2024-02-05__mother%2C_may_i%3F.html ## 29th of Martavr, 738 BC A mining operation on the western slopes of the Baratok mountain had a dispute with its contracted mercenary company and hired four adventurers -- Calasar, Miro, Mystique, and Oriana -- to take up the slack until they find more guards. After several days of uneventful escort up and down the mountain, a wintry storm drove the adventurers and the miners into an abandoned shaft. When a young porter watching the deeper tunnels went missing, the adventurers were sent to find him and remove whatever's making the cave unsafe. They encounter a deliberate trap set by a variety of ice creatures, organized by some unknown intelligence. Defeating the last of the creatures, a young remorhaz, leaves the frozen cave unstable and it collapses behind them as they rejoin the miners. Soon after, the storm clears and they complete their journey back to Krezk and their paycheck. **Adventure Link:** https://enter-ravenloft.github.io/adventure-archives/2024-03-30__frostbite.html