Asvard and Horrick left from the castle and headed west back toward Vallaki.  The sun was warm and pleasant on the companion’s faces as they walk.  It took several hours but they eventually arrive at the village before sundown.   Asvard then pulled out his drum and began to play as they approach the east gate:

“Hail and well met Vallaki!” called Asvard.  “Throw open your gates and rejoice in the sun. The devil STRAHD is no more.  Now it the time for revelry and a true festival!” 

At the wall, the guard stood dumbfounded.  They could scarcely believe the news.  The devil dead?  Could it be so?  There is the sun – shining brightly, maybe it is true.

“It is true,” called Horrick “Open the gates for those who have delivered you from bondage.  We have spent the night in a dark and terrible place to free this land.  We seek drink and food.”

As if in a trance, the guards open the gates and the friends stroll into Vallaki.  As Asvard beats the drum, summoning the attention of everyone within hearing distance Horrick proclaims, “Let the joyous news be spread, the devil vampire Strahd is dead!”

Down the Old Svalich Road the adventures marched.  People poured into the streets to hear the news.  Asvard fished a handful electrum coins out of his pouch and handing them to kids and young adults instructed them, “Spread the news.  Tell everyone the devil is no more!”  The youth shots off north, south and west spreading the news.  As Horrick and Asvard marched towards the Blue Water Inn more and more people were lining the main street.  There was cheering and clapping, tears of joy were being shed.  The friends noticed that the town seemed to be less populated than the last time they were here.  When they arrived at the inn, Urwin was there on the porch, his eyes sparkling and his face beaming.

“My friends, is it true?  Are we really free of the tyrant?”

“It is my friend.” Asvard told the corpulent innkeeper.  “Come, we have passed through darkness and death and that is thirsty work.  First a drink, then the tale.” 

Leaning towards Urwin, Horrick gave him a knowing look and whispered  “Spread the word quickly.  As fast as a raven flies.” he said with a wink.

“I will, oh most assuredly I will,” and he sped off into the stables.

As they entered the Inn, Danika grabbed each hero and hugged them will all her might.  She kissed each on the cheek and put mugs of wine into their hands.  They she raced off to serve the crowds.  The inn was packed with people who had correctly assumed that the hero’s would come there, and they all wanted to hear the tale. 

Urwin returned and informed the friends of what had transpired in the last couple of days. “Since the arrival of the black carriage and with the death of Karl Wachter (and the confession of his conspiring with the devil), much has changed.  Baron Vargas brought in a dozen cruel thugs to act as his personal guard, and has solidified his grip on the town.  Even that creepy son of his, Victor, has seemed to join with his father’s new oppressive regime.  Those who had supported the Wachter family have either reversed their position, or have been mysteriously found dead.  One was found frozen solid in his study, another’s house burst into flames.  A third was bludgeoned to death in his garden by a localized hail storm.  The baron says it is the work of the devil, and the people believed it.  Through fear and brutal oppression of any resistance, he finally has an iron grip on the town, and I’ll wager he will not welcome your news.”

Asvard and Horrick exchanged glances, they both suspected the same thing.

“Stand aside for the Baron and Baronet!” came the shouts of the new village guard.  In strode Vargas and Victor Vallakovich.  The baron was clearly perturbed by this impromptu celebration that he was not the architect of.  At his side came Victor, gone was the foppish look of a week before.  Victor now had the look of a predatory animal, sharp eyed and dripping with malice.  Horrick and Asvard again exchanged glances, it was a good thing that they had returned to deal with this problem.

“What is the meaning of this?” demanded the baron, whose very presence stole the joy and happiness from the room. “On whose authority do you spread these unsubstantiated rumors?  The devil dead, preposterous.  Why he was wreaking havoc here just yesterday, isn’t that right Victor?”

“Oh yes father, most assuredly.” Hissed the baronet, nodding like a marionette.

Asvard and Horrick told their tale.  It was a strange event, the crowd was clearly joyous to hear the tale but kept silent as the baron glared and made faces, shaking his head side to side.

When the tale was complete, Asvard finished with “But we cannot take all the credit, nay not even the lion’s share.  There was one here who supported us wholly and without wavering.  It was he who orchestrated this joyous turn of events.  He walked a fine line, seeking a better life for you all while taking on all the work and danger himself.  I speak of course of the great Baron Vargas Vallakovich, the highest ranking noble in the entire valley.  His part was the most difficult to play, and only the most masterful could have pulled it off.  This is too small a compensation for you baron but as a token of our esteem, I present to you, recovered from the devil’s own wine stores, a bottle of Strahd’s exclusive vintage, the Champagne-Du-Stomp.” 

The baron was caught somewhat on his heels.  He was planning to discredit the hero’s tale, but hearing Asvard call him the ranking noble of Barovia and seeing an avenue to taking the credit for Strahd’s destruction, changed tactics.

He took the bottle, and with a bow said “You are most welcome.  I know that you tell the truth, having personally worked so hard for its possibility.  Have your revelry everyone, It was I and of course my son here, who made this night possible for you all.”  And with that he turned, and left with Victor and the guards.

As they left, the mood immediately brightened and the celebration began.  Horrick and Asvard were immediately the center of attention, and they played their roles.  The shook hands, drank toasts and joined in the festivities.  After about an hour, they slipped away to their room upstairs.

No words needed to be spoken, Victor had clearly been using his magic to enforce his fathers will and Vargas had become cruel with power.  Neither could be left to suppress the people.  Horrick touched the mirror and recited the incantation.  The assassin appeared and when Victor’s name was said set off to the Vallakovich house.  Asvard and Horrick followed at a distance waiting to confirm the deed.

The assassin strode to the door, easily dispatching the pair of guards that tried to stop his passing.  Up to the master bedroom and through the trap door into the attic he went.  Asvard followed the Assassin, while Horrick checked the baron’s study.  Face down on the desk lay the dead body of the baron, and on the floor were his two mastiffs.  The bottle of the poison labeled Champaign Du Stomp lay on the floor, its contents spilled out, and making a stain as it soaked into the rug.  The foolish dogs had jumped at a chance to get a treat that fell from their master’s desk, lapped up the poison and died.  Horrick turned, when the name on a book spine caught his eye.  It was the complete collection of his favorite poet, Edgy Gallon Poe.  He took down the book and began to lovingly leaf through the pages.

As Asvard passed the baroness room, he saw the door was open.  He peeked in and hanging from a rafter was the baroness.  She was sad about the path her son had taken, and hearing the Baron’s new plan to become the new lord of Baronial was too much for her.

Asvard entered the bedroom to hear the familiar sound of the lighting glyph going off.  As he climbed into the attic he could hear the sounds of a scuffle.  Blasts of magic and a wave of cold washed out of the far room.  Victor stumbled into the storage room clutching a pair of nasty wounds that were already turning gangrenous from the assassins poison.  He lurched forward, saw Asvard and raised his hands, but Asvard struck first and cast Toll the Dead on the dying mage.  That was too much, and Victor toppled over.  Asvard entered Victor’s workshop, killed the skeletal cats and recovered the spell book.

As Asvard left the bedroom, he saw Horrick coming his way.  Asvard nodded at the book in Horrick’s hands and said “Here is another for your collection.” 

Together they left the mansion and returned to their room at the Blue Water inn.  Staring into the mirror, Asvard finally said. “I will leave this with you Horrick.”  Horrick nodded, they turned out the lights and went to sleep.