An update from the DM who dared her players into shaving Strahd - Dolls and Business Edition.
We got to Vallaki around the end of the 7th session. I’m a slowish DM and I like rp heavy stuff when they happen, so we really only got around to doing stuff in town the last session. And I don’t mind the slow pace now either because it’s public knowledge by this point that this campaign gets... clusterfucky. Quick.
Yesterday was the 9th session, the party setup is what you would expect around this point, 3 PCs, namely Cedric Proudfist(human fighter), Lucky of Serethost(tiefling? bard), Stonovius Roneheart or “Stoni” (drow sorcerer), 2 NPCs, Irina Kolyanovna and Ismark Kolyanovich Soronin (the grumpy big bro) AND Broo, from the Durst Manor (Cedric’s under taming Animated Broom). It’s day 4, “Monday”, and Irina has yet to make her visit to the temple of St. Andral. My party... gets up to shenanigans.
Lucky had been busy picking up side quests (and NPCs) previously (day 3), so our handsome bard had his errands laid out for him for that day, while Cedric and Stonovius made their own plans. Yesterday, back at Madame Eva’s after their reading Lucky chatted up the local Vistani for info and got a request from one Eliza and her magpie - buy her little niece, Arabelle a Blinsky doll while in Vallaki, if he would be so kind. Lucky accepted. Meanwhile Cedric and Stonovius enjoyed the local culinary delights. Aka got to various levels of drunkenness to Ismark’s chagrin and Irina’s amusement; they later fully sobered up at the wind mill for obvious reasons. Lucky got a little too personal with one of the local baker sisters there. A different story for another post with it’s own flavour of DM panic. (Yes, Lucky boned, YES, the PCs know it now, Irina and Ismark don’t, YES I had to open that corebook; it was both hilarious and terrifying).
Back in Vallaki, Blue Water Inn, on day 4 morningish, after tersely discussing their dreams, some pie induced and some uh... magic vistani liqour induced our party heads down to ask Urwin about the 4th tennant in their room and catch up with the Soronin siblings. Irina fills them in on the current political atmosphere (Wacthers and Vallakoviches) and Ismark is still a little grumpy from yesterday (for the delays). The party then discuss their goals for the day and split up into two groups. Lucky and Irina go to buy the Blinsky doll Lucky promised to deliver to Arabelle and Stonovius, Cedric and Ismark go to the local smithy first and then the temple to talk with Father Lucian. While on their way kids seem to stare at the troika and Stoni waves it off that they are staring at the all armoured up Cedric. Broo stays at the inn for now, contently resting in a corner.
Lucky and Irina make it to Blinsky’s shop and make a wierd discovery before even entering the shop proper. The spit image of Stonovius is sitting in the display in all his tiny doll sized glory with a few other macabre toys on display. A little shellshocked, they both enter and are presented with a setting and dolls that Tim Burton himself would cry tears of joys at. They are immediately greeted by Blinsky and his happy and heavy accent and Piccolo, his pet monkey. They searched for a toy for Arabelle, and Blinsky noted on the side that Arabelle was recently in the shop. Lucky is presented with two dolls, one in a yellow frilly dress too similar to a doll in the Durst Manor and a badass Vistana doll, with big curly hair, a headband, regent era captain coat, a frilly and colourful skirt and a very intricate prostethic leg. Lucky was creeped out by yellow dress doll, so he picked the cool Vistana doll. Cool Vistana doll is 5 golds more expensive (25gps), than what he got from Eliza (20gps). Lucky tries to barter it down to 20. Blinsky offers 22.
Then Lucky, on purpose, points out the toy next to doll!Stonovius. Blinsky happily obliges and brings it over.
In a mock Strahd voice - “Pleeased to myeet you, bleh-blebleh!” (or something along those lines, I had Blinsky say a few more things like that). The players loose it and play is put on halt until people can breath again at the table. Cedric’s player mentions a spell that can trap people in dolls in their likeness.
Lucky WANTS this doll. Ventriloquist Strahd Doll is 10 gp.
Lucky doesn’t have that much money or doesn’t want to pay that much, and tries to haggle. Blinsky and doll!Strahd explain that business hasn’t been that good, so it is as it is. Lucky then makes a proposition. Doll!Stoni is not investigated further here. Yet. Lucky has a great idea as most bards are prone to:
*
He is going to go out and get Blinsky some much needed advertisement with his talents. Lucky’ll pay 20 gp for Cool Vistani Doll now and IF he manages to get at least 10 paying customers, he gets Ventriloquist Strahd Doll as a freebie after. Blinsky agrees, and Irina is drafted as an assistant for the improvised show. Lucky’s plan of attack is to tell musically assisted stories that end happily, and Irina gets the stage name Starlight. Irina agrees to this. They head to the town square with it’s dingy fountain and the stockades and stay here for the next 3 hours, putting on an improptu show roughly until noon. We’ll get back to them and the fruit of their pursuits in a little while.
Stoni, Cedric and Ismark meanwhile quickly reach the local smith, one one-eyed Rowley, a veteran of many adventures. Rowley is busy talking with the captain of the guard, Izek Strazni-Rones. The party already met a then helmeted Izek yesterday in the Blue Water Inn. He was “chaperoning” a visiting Rahadin then and our local drow-boy, Stoni, managed to freeze everyone’s blood while he and Izek, like two alpha machos from JJBA, made acquaintances with badass stare downs and meaningful one-liners. Stoni’s smoke was lit with Izek’s fire bullery, patrons were scared shitless and no blood was spilt that night. Both men are roughly 4′11″/150cm.
Today Izek was helmetless and complaining about subpar swords to Rowley. Turns out the good captain is a drow too.
Cedric and Ismark pay Rowley’s assistants to use the stone thingy for sharpening swords. Stoni eavesdrops then steps over, cowl and mask down, to the shopkeeper and captain before they finish to also note that the swords aren’t up to code and that’s no good if it’s for guards. Stonovius also silently notices the better quality swords inside the shop. Izek finishes his business and shortly leaves. Ismark and the smith helpers silently sweat and panicked the whole time. Cedric was busy sharpening his swords.
Stoni then tells smith Rowley how to make faulty swords that appear good, correctly assuming that the smith isn’t too fond of the town guard. (the player described pretty well how to make the handles shitty). Rowley approves of the idea, and the two discuss that Stoni wants 2 swords to be silvered. Rowley was willing to give a 10% off the price for the clever tip, but Stoni tried to push the price down. He offered up Cedric to help in the next 3 days with the guard sword repairs (Cedric has proficiency with blacksmith tools) and came to agree on a cheaper price of one silvered sword/75 gps. Cedric is informed of the dealings and he agrees to stay. Stoni and Ismark leave our young and friendly fighter in the Cracked Anvil and set out for the town temple. (the players want silvered swords for werewolf hunting, they earlier made a bet with a leatherworker in Vallaki that they can get her the hide of a werewolf still as a werewolf. This was also for haggling purposes)
Stoni doesn’t like civilised temples and wouldn’t go in, but Ismark insists. They agree to go in at once, arm in arm, and like the grown men they are, try to trip up each other in the entrance. Both enter with a bang and a closer inspection of the floor tiles, after Stoni succeeded in tripping Ismark and the taller man dragged the garden gnome with himself. Everyone inside is aware of the newcomers now, Father Lucian included. After getting up, straightening out themselves, Stonovius traumatises Yeska the altar boy with one sentence and then the duo present their case to Father Lucian in private. Irina’s stay is negotiated and Stonovius asks the priest for some info on the dusk elves, where they can be found and where the mage tower is. Father Lucian also advises them on who to ask for as guide; either local wolf hunters, or one of the traveling accountants from the Town Hall.
Cedric back in the smithy tries to milk his coworkers and his semi new boss for information on what’s their relation with the townguard, how things are going here, how business is going for them. The colleagues are cagey on anything townguard related, but Rowley is less so. Cedric finds out Rowley came from beyond the Mists too and he had been stuck here for 35 years after his party foolishly offed themselves. Rowley also provides some background info on the Vallakoviches, that the current burgomaster’s father was much more prone to torture and more of a dictator, while Vargas is “less of a fighter”. He promised to go in more detail about the current burgomaster after work. By the by, Cedric rolled very well on his 3 smithing tool checks. All were somewhere between 17 and 24. His swords will be good. :) (Rowley below)
On the town square, Lucky made some insane rolls as well on his performance. 29 and 30+ respectively (I have to check his bonuses next time to more appropriately set DCs for him). The stories are a great success he gathered a good crowd and he could see at least 18 people go in the shops direction. Near noon Parriwimple from Barovia Town turns up too with his cart. The travelling accountant, Irina and Ismark had been worried about, Vasili, was with Parriwimple now. They both join in with the on-lookers and listen to the bard’s and Irina’s show. Even Izek and some of his townguards stop by for a bit while they do their business, but don’t linger too long. Karl and Nikolai Wachter were in the crowd too, before Izek chases them off to do their actual daily chores.
Meanwhile, Ismark and Stonovius wonder, where the hell Irina and Lucky are. Neither are in the temple with the doll. Nor on the street. They notice the nearby St. Andral’s Orpanage and Stonovius convinces Ismark for a small detour. They yesterday heard from the wolf hunters that 3 kids from here ran away and wanted to ask around. They have a brief talk with Headmistress Belasco about this, learn some backstory, but Stonovius and Ismark agree to come back at a later time to further investigate.
Irina is still nowhere, so the duo decides to go to Blinsky’s. There are a lot more people by the shop now, and the shop is full, thanks to Lucky’s stories based on the dolls. Stonovius notices just in time his doll self in the display, to drag Ismark back, stare at it and theorised whether everyone who gets registered at the gates get made into a doll. They barge in to first search for an Ismark doll, but realise there isn’t any. Ismark keeps searching for Irina, while Stonovius elbows his way to the counter. Players like even more the shop as it gets a little more in depth description off more horror toys. Blinsky mistakes Stonovius for a child, gets corrected and asked about the doll in the display and how much for it.
Doll!Stonovius is not for sale because it was commissioned, and everyone gets to watch Blinsky go white when he is asked who the commissioner is in whispers. When refusing to answer, the Devil (Strahd) comes up as a possible suspect and the even more scared Blinsky denies it after an uncomfortable laughter. However Blinsky can tell Stonovius after he closes up shop. Ismark interrupts the conversation, Irina and Lucky are not here and the two of them promptly leave. They soon realise on the street that there is some happenstance going on on the town square on the other side of the block, with music included. Deadpan sighs are exchanged.
Lucky and Irina wrap up and get some coin for the show too. Lucky’s stories were a great success. This will definitely help later on. The two performers meet up with Parriwimple and Vasili von Holtz, the latter of which introduces himself to Lucky of Serethost, the Humble. Both really liked the performance and Vasili joins Irina and Lucky to go back to Blinsky’s. I fished out my old glasses for our twinky little accountant while he was suspected to be in a talking role and as this trio was leaving they were met with the not so amused Ismark and Stonovius. After some talk and another round of introductions prompted by Stoni’s polite “I’m sorry, but who the fuck are you by the way?” at Vasili, all PCs and NPCs present went back to Blinsky’s shop.
At some point Vasili also answered Stonovius what an accountant was exactly (our drow sorcerer spent most of his life in the surface wilderness) and that he is one of those few who travel around the valley with their business. He also told WHERE he has to take the documentations for the tax which was only a silent pointing at the distant silhouette of Castle Ravenloft in the east. He does meet Strahd, but mostly talks with Rahadin. Stonovius notes that “...If there is one in the alley, then yours is the shittiest job of all.”
Vasili and Lucky go into the shop for Lucky’s prize, while the others wait outside. Ismark is not too happy, Irina is a little abashed, Stonovius is Stonovius. Blinsky’s warm and booming welcome at their sight stops Vasili in his step (dubbed introvert panic by a player), while Lucky basks in the lime light. Blinsky presents Lucky with the Ventriloquist Strahd/Devil Doll and Vasili freezes. He walks out with a face on the border of either crying or laughing, which ever it is, something definitely broke in him. Stonovius and co watch his silent, blank faced struggle before he breaks out laughing, doubling over with a red head.
Lucky comes out with his trophy and does his own round of mock Devil/Strahd lines sending most of the party, and the table, into stitches, again.
We are now around the last 15 minutes of our session, so Irina and Ismark are walked to the temple and dropped off there. Considering what had just happened very recently, Irina’s big bro is not too happy with her, and Irina is a little embarassed too, but they’ll be fine. Vasili on the way learns that Lucky and now Stonovius too plan to go to the nearby Vistani camp and he asks if he can join them on the way. He has a client there, Celegal, a fletcher. The present part of the party agrees.
Irina is also told where Cedric is and she blushes a little (oh right, Cedric and Irina has a bit of a crush going on :3c). Cue other NPC reactions, a sage nod from Ismark and a small “oh” from Vasili.
Stonovius, Lucky and Vasili say their goodbyes for the afternoon and head for the western gate of Vallaki. The guards easily let everyone out. They likely assume that it’s another paying gig for the PCs with one of their traveling accountants, as they earlier were introduced as the Soronin siblings’ bodyguards. And so, all our paper health PCs and an accountant NPC set out to the Vistani Camp to the West, just about 15 minutes off from the town. Cedric, our brave fighter stayed behind in town in the name of future werewolf hunting endeavors (and of course making sure runaway the kids weren’t snatched by those mean werewolfs). All will be well!
Writing in this journal continues to be a useful exercise in maintaining records. The perpetual cold presents practical challenges with the ink, though prestidigitation proves remarkably useful for maintaining its temperature. A simple cantrip solving a practical problem - further evidence that supposedly minor magic often proves more valuable than more ostentatious spells in day-to-day activities. Vesstan's mood continues to deteriorate, which is hardly surprising given the circumstances. The loss of his sword arm weighs heavily upon him, perhaps more so than when we first arrived in Lonelywood. Six months have passed, yet I still catch him reaching for things with a hand that's no longer there, followed by that haunted look in his eyes that mirrors the one I saw in Menzoberranzan when he was nearly sacrificed to Lolth. The bitter irony that his dominant arm was lost during our escape does not escape either of us. I've been discretely inquiring about magical restoration, but such services command prices far beyond our current means. The barkeep, Danae, seems to hold his attention at least, though I suspect she's more interested in the coin he spends drowning his sorrows than in any genuine affection. Still, even false hope might be better than none at all. Perhaps I should suggest he train with his remaining arm – I've heard tales of warriors who became even more formidable after such adaptations. Though suggesting such things to my brooding brother requires a delicacy I sometimes lack. Today brought an interesting diversion, at least. Dannika – that excitable researcher – arrived with a proposition to study Chwingas, tiny elemental spirits she believes might hold answers about this endless winter. Her enthusiasm borders on the excessive, but she secured funding for the venture, which is more than I can say for most of her theories. The prospect of venturing out alone to chase these spirits was less than appealing, but fortune smiled upon us in the form of several capable-looking individuals at Speaker Nimsy's house. Initial observations of my newfound companions prove interesting. Drosha, the half-orc, while socially awkward and somewhat clumsy, possesses the physical capabilities I prefer to have between myself and any threats. The southern woman, Kamilia, carries herself with the practiced grace of someone accustomed to operating in shadows, though her dedication to justice suggests she's not a common cutpurse. Caliban's physical frailty mirrors my own, but his contemplative nature and magical abilities could prove complementary to my own capabilities. Elion, a cleric of Kelemvor, maintains an appropriately serious demeanor fitting his profession - his healing abilities make him perhaps the most practically valuable member of the group, despite his rather dour personality. The expedition proved successful, though my attempt at throwing snowballs was embarrassingly poor. Vesstan would have laughed, had he been there. Instead, I stuck to what I do best – magic. Between Caliban's dancing lights and my own arcane contributions to Elion's music, we managed to attract several of the spirits. One has taken quite a liking to my hood – "Hoodlum" seems an appropriate name, given its mischievous nature. More importantly, this group has agreed to help escort Dannika to Termalaine and Bryn Shander. The girl's plan to travel alone was foolish beyond measure. They've also expressed interest in investigating the rumors of awakened creatures and kobold activity in the mines. The prospect of steady work with capable companions is... promising. Perhaps this will help generate the funds needed for Vesstan's restoration.
Speaker Nimsy's report on the food situation is concerning. The towns' supplies are steadily depleting, and this endless winter shows no signs of abating. This will need to be addressed soon, preferably before scarcity leads to increased prices or social instability. I should factor this into our resource management. Speaking of resources, I should speak with Speaker Nimsy about keeping an eye on Vesstan while I'm away. Some purpose might do him good, though I suspect he'll resist any attempt to help him that he perceives as charity. The surface has granted us the freedom to be siblings openly, but old habits of distance die hard, particularly when he's in one of his moods. Later addendum: Left some gold for Vesstan. Must remember to stock up on ink before departing
Rode up the old road towards Millport from Warblewood, delivering potions or something of the like. It’s not my business.
Bandits appeared on the crossroads towards Parham, offered to parley for safe passage. Told the man to get bent if he wanted anything more than a couple gold
He did not take this well, to the tune of 6 arrows to the chest from him and his goons.
I’m getting weaker at keeping my emotions in check on the battlefield. The two of the sods that begged for their lives made me smile with wicked glee.
say ‘Teapot’ say ‘Teapot’. Bastard
It’s the money that matters, you old fool. Don’t enjoy the kill, enjoy the reward.
Today's session was with omega again, and I had alpha online joining us by Skype cam chat but kept it from omega ;)
After I put the collar, wrist cuffs, blindfolds, and the ball gag on him, and linked the wrist cuffs behind him together, I told him about alpha watching online, but by then he had no other options :P
I took my time playing with the riding crop until there was a big stain on his panties. Then I took the panties off and stuffed it in his mouth and put the gag back on. And after a littel while, alpha was ready for the cam chat and I had the cam on him then took the gag off and slowly pulled out the panties in his mouth, which was really hilarious for both me and alpha.
Then I started with deep heat on his cock and balls, add riding crop and clothes pins, and he couldn't stop kicking in the air everytime it got intense. So alpha suggested that I tie his legs, unfortunately, I only had enough rope for one foot lol.
Then I fliped him over and started working on his ass with the riding crop. And alpha had another brilliant idea, I had him open his legs wide and pulled his cock back out under his belly. So when I was working his ass I got access to his cock every once in a while. I enjoyed suprising him by hitting it unexpectfully lol.
After that, it's prostate milking time! (Yay!)
Everything went quite well up to the point that I tried and tried and tried but nothing is comming out lol. He said I was doing it the right way and it felt really close, but just not getting any closer. I guess I'll have to try it on someone else just to see what the problem was. Either I'm doing sth wrong or he just can't be milked lol.
And he ran to the bathroom when I started to use two fingers lol, appearently, the same accident almost happened as the last time I get him to prostate milk himself on cam :D
It was quite funny after I realized what happened, but it ended the milking part of the session as well. Then I had him lie on the bed again and decided to try some trampling on his chest and belly. But I found it difficult to keep my balance on him so I just had one foot on him while supporting myself with the other one, I moved my foot around his upper body for a while and teased him before getting my toes into his mouth and had him licking them :)
After a while I got really tired so I sat on his belly for a small while, it felt great btw ;) he certainly makes a good chair.
So to close things up, I stretched him up well with the dildo and got the strap on out to play ;)
It was quite tiring to fuck him with it to be honest, but before that, when I had him sucking it was really funny. From time to time I held his head tight to try some deepthroat, although I thought it was too short to really get in his throat, but didn't really had a chance to confirm that point with him after the session.
Then I was ready to finish up, I remembered he's been under orgasm control for quite some time, so I asked him if he wanted an orgasm. Of course he said yes and I had him stroking his cock with his legs up against the wall and told him to cum into his mouths. However, most of his stuff ended up on his chest :P
There was one drop on his face though, and I cought that in time just before he was about to clean up himself and wiped that drop from his face into his mouth ;)
I went to the Camden Market in the morning with sub E. It was quite interesting, and I found sth I thought would be wonderful for my friends back home.
Then I got back to my hotel and arranged the session for the night. He arrived at about 10 pm and we started with clothes pins and a thread on both of his sides. Then I tried his hands behind his back and he made the mistake of telling me he has sensitive balls and I started to kick his balls with my boots on :P
After rippng the pins off him by the strings, I had him lie face up on the floor and focused more on his balls lol. I had clothes pins all over them and stepped and kicked while getting him to worship my other boot.
He brought three dildos and I had him tried all of them, even fucked him with the biggest one. lol
It was the first time I use the dildos, and the experience was quite interesting and inspiring at the same time. Certainly showed me how important the lube was in this situation ;)
Although, when I'm finished with him, he didn't get to orgasm, as all the guys from my previous sessions, but he really made a fuss about it, can't get his hands off his cock and balls lol. So no promise of pleasure when playing with me ;)
Day 3 (Second half) -- Pedestal & Real life session 3
So I went to Pedestal last night with sub E, to be honest, it was not very much like what I've imagined, and I'm not really that good at social with complete strangers, so most of the 3 hours I was there spent on a sofa and just watching other people doing what they were doing.
It was worth the time though, to get an idea of what other people do is quite inspiring.
The fun started for me when we got back to my hotel room. He didn't actually bring anything to the club, so he borrowed a riding crop from a friend of his so I had my first try with it last night, or this morning, technically speaking :P
It was suprisingly loud lol. I wonder if people in the other room heard anything, but it was quite exciting and I got carried away a bit after I got a hang of it. Which is not good news for him appearantly :P
The toleration of pain is different on each part of the bottom, and I experimented on him by hitting the same spot continusouly and it varies from as less as 25 to as much as over 100 hits. Then I tried the inside of his thighs, balls, cock and the bottom of the feet, it was halirous how his cock reacted instinctively to the position of the crop when he can see where it was coming lol.
Although his bottom was covered in red marks last night, they were almost totally gone this morning. I find it rather disappointing since I imagined they would stay a bit longer lol.
So I had my first attempt of CP too, so far my trip is really quite fulfilling in the kink aspect :P
So Friday started with another session with omega. With all the things going on my mind, I found it quite distracting so I got my mind off for a while during the session.
Before my trip here I tried to get omega to try deep heat on cam, but didn't happen, so I asked him to bring it along this morning, and started off with it right away.
I cuffed his hands to his collar and had him lied down on the bed, put the blind fold on then started rubbing the deep heat cream on his balls, cock and the head of it ;)
Then, when the cream started taking effect, I grabbed his cock and started to stroke, didn't realize it would take that much effort though, definitely qualifies as physical labour :P
And I've developed an interest of nipple clamps on his balls lol. I had them on him twice and gagged him so he can't protest if I don't take them off when he wanted me to. ;) and I can get the max. reaction with absolutely min. effort, just a tiny touch and he'd be jumping all over :D
Then I tried anal probing for the first time. I put the rubber gloves on and lubed up. I could feel his ass hole tighten up around my finger and it felt really weird but interesting. I tried two fingers but didn't get in, maybe I should push harder next time :)
After the usual play with vibe egg and butt plug, I tried the toothpaste I brought on his cock, but it didn't do anything, so I guess the toothpaste trick only works with some types of toothpaste. lol
In conclusion, it was a more tiring session for me than him, I was sweating after that lol.
As I have mentioned in the previous update, I'm going to pedestal tonight, but unfortunately, the guy I planned to go with cancelled on me earlier, so seems like I'll have to go myself. Will update again when I get back ;)
