### **The Secrets of Morgantha** Morgantha had secrets to sell—but at a price. The party had already bargained for one, but each additional revelation would cost **50 gold**. Short on coin, **Brisinger** turned to **Lady Wachter** for aid. She agreed to fund the exchange, but only under one condition: Brisinger would deliver a **letter to the Abbot of Saint Markovia in Krezk**. Since the party was already bound for Krezk, they accepted the task and secured the necessary gold. With the payment in hand, Morgantha revealed **three dark truths**: - **The Amber Temple**: A hidden vault of forbidden knowledge buried deep within the mountains. It was here that **Strahd von Zarovich** first encountered the entity with whom he forged his terrible pact. Though Morgantha knew of its existence, she had no knowledge of its location or the exact nature of Strahd’s deal. - **Strahd’s Escape Plan**: Strahd seeks to **defy the Mists** and break free from Barovia. His plot hinges on the **power of three ancient shrines**—one of which lies among the **standing stones** at the base of Old Bonegrinder’s hill. Morgantha knew little else, only that the shrines played a critical role in his dark ambition. - **The Traitor in Castle Ravenloft**: Unbeknownst to Strahd, his eldest wife—**Sasha Ivliskova**—harbors **treacherous intent**. Though merely a vampire spawn, she walks a dangerous line between loyalty and betrayal. Morgantha found the situation amusing and had taken no steps to inform Strahd of Sasha’s divided heart. With these revelations in hand, and the **Heartstone** gifted to **Nala**, Morgantha made one final demand—**Lady Wachter must bring down her barrier**. The Lady complied, and with a wicked grin, Morgantha and her daughters **vanished into the Ethereal Plane**. ### **The Descent into the Basement** With the hags gone, **Victor** explained that in order to **retrieve Stella Wachter from the Ethereal Realm**, the ritual had to be performed upon a **Leyline**. Lady Wachter revealed that **one such Leyline** ran beneath **her manor**—a place of old magic. The party followed her into the **basement**, but what awaited them was unsettling. **Deep scratches lined the walls**, remnants of something that had once struggled to escape. The word **"TRAITOR"** was scrawled **over and over** in deep, jagged lettering. Lady Wachter spoke grimly: > "Something was imprisoned here, long before my time. But it's gone now." ### **The Ethereal Realm & the Spirits of the Past** As the ritual was completed, reality twisted. The party found themselves **in the Ethereal Realm**, face to face with **Stella Wachter**—but she was not alone. Another **spirit lingered near her**, a young boy who introduced himself as **Erasmus van Richten**—the lost son of the legendary vampire hunter **Rudolph van Richten**. Erasmus warned them: > "You must protect Stella and Victor. If anything happens here, we may never escape." Then, the air grew **cold**. A looming presence manifested before them—**the same spirit Stella had warned Victor about**. The figure **stepped forward** from the mists, his form flickering like a dying flame. He introduced himself as **Leo Dilisnya**. ### **Leo Dilisnya’s Vengeance** Leo spoke with **venom** in his voice: > "A debt is owed—the blood of Stella Wachter. She must die." He revealed his tragic fate—once a man of flesh and blood, he had been **betrayed by the Wachters** when they aligned themselves with Strahd. After being **turned into a vampire**, Leo was **imprisoned within their basement**. There, **he was killed again**, his soul twisted into a **Gallows Speaker**, a vengeful wraith formed from the suffering of countless betrayed spirits. The party refused to surrender Stella. Leo's response was simple: > "Then you will die in her place." ### **The Battle in the Mist** The fight was brutal. **Leo was relentless**, a force of pure vengeance. - **Yanki and Nala** came within inches of death, their souls nearly claimed by Leo’s spectral talons. - **Dain's own anger** was turned against him—Leo twisted his mind, forcing him to **betray his allies multiple times**. - **Victor fought desperately** to maintain the ritual, his magic the only thing tethering them to reality. But despite the overwhelming odds, the party **prevailed**. With a final, echoing wail, **Leo Dilisnya was defeated**—his form **shredded into mist**. Yet, as he faded, his voice lingered in the air, a **whispered promise of doom**: > "This is not over. I will return. And I will have my revenge." Silence fell over the Ethereal Realm. But the weight of Leo's curse still hung heavy in the air.