[Major mutterings, great gossip, and terrible tellings throughout Barovia]

[Geiger]

[These are the stories, rumors, and tales that are wild enough spread throughout the whole of grim Barovia, even to its most isolated extremities...]

[Geiger]

It is the the month of November, 8th day, and 770th year of the Barovian calendar.

  The terrible choking fog that rose nearly a week ago has yet to blow away. This deadly, isolating fog has plagued Barovia throughout its history and seems to in the minds of many precede great, evil happenings in the land - leaving many to wonder what terrible thing has transpired that the people of Barovia will need suffer again. Merchants throughout the Core that depend upon Old Svalich road to peddle their ways and access the wider markets of the world are cursing and worried for their investments. Though historically the fog always leaves, it is never certain how long it will stay. Only time will tell the true impact this will have...

  Chancellor van Holtz's surprise visit to the Municipality of Vallaki has not yet ended. Though he arrived under the supposed intention of inspecting the city, he has seen fit to continue to reside in the city - having ended his inspection for a call for 'brave heroes' to come to his aid at a meeting in the ancient hunting lodge and inn, the Blue Water. After choosing his champions for the assorted wanderers there (a handful of humans, an elf, a half-elf, a dwarf, and a halfling) - no further information has transpired. The people of Vallaki and the masters of the other cities and villages of Barovia are like to, quietly, wonder what all this means, its purpose, and why the Count's man lingers at this time of crisis for Barovia...

  The infamous Carnival apparently still lingers near that same Municipality - though more worldly members of Barovia's populace have trekked to the Grey City to experience the sights of that terrible and wonderful show known to many in the Core - its more mundane serfs and rural people begin speaking of the arrival of this strange menagerie as perhaps one of the reason the great fog has returned, that these strangers and ill minded foreigners have provoked the land itself. Their shows however, are becoming less frequent, and were it not for the choking fog around Barovia one could certainly believe that would have left in a land where they are slowly losing their welcome...

[Geiger]

It is the the month of November, 13th day, and 770th year of the Barovian calendar.

  The terrible choking fog has finally left Barovia's borders. As quickly as it had appeared, it was blown away. Though merchant traffic had suffered for the last two weeks, the borders returning to the normal state of affairs saw both losses recovered and even greater gains to be made from the tiny Barovian market. Merchants all throughout the Core breath a sigh of relief, though, a few are still looking for routes that avoid Barovia entirely just to avoid this rare occurring malady. Why it has passed, is as mysterious, as why it came...

  Chancellor van Holtz's visit and stay in Vallaki ended abruptly upon the evening of the 12th. He returned to eastern Barovia to report whatever findings he had to the great and terrible Master of the Land. Whatever his champions did on his and Barovia's behalf, remains a mystery...

  The Carnival joyfully made its way out of the Vallaki area and westward, it did not stop until it arrived to put on a show somewhere near Levkarest in Borca. It is certain the tales and the sights of the Carnival will be remembered in all who saw it in Barovia and perhaps one day they might return. But not before the mutterings of serfs about black magic and monstrosity dies down...

[Geiger]

It is the month of November, 15th day, and 770th year of the Barovian calendar.

  Fliers, postings, and Burgomasters alert their people to the news - the news that Strahd von Zarovich, 11th of his name, is dead! Though there isn't any open celebration (perhaps in a few isolated Gundarakite villages) many throughout the land will drink a toast or say a happy prayer upon hearing the news. Though these thoughts of joy will soon turn to the darker thoughts of his successor. There have been so many men who have taken the name Strahd before this one, and each has been as cruel and vile as the last - it would be naive to think it could be any other way. Outside of Barovia, the passing is noted but not widely cared about or followed - except by a handful of merchants who despised the tariffs and taxes imposed by Strahd the Devil.

[Geiger]

It is the month of November 18th day, and 770th year of the Barovian calendar.

  The whole of Barovia roars in joy - all for a single message that came early in the morning. Barovia's new master has been chosen, and she is the Countess Lyssa von Zarovich. Her edict one of great change and hope for the future, her very rise a visible marker for change in ancient Barovia. Every word of her couriered message is something that the rattles the hearts of Barovians and no more is this true in the city of Zeidenburg, where Lyssa maintained her great manse before her rise. It was here that her heart became known for she championed the Gundarakite people, named them her friend, and critcized Strahd von Zarovich XI and all who came before him for their cruelties against these people who are leal Barovian subjects. Though, among all this, there are still holdouts perhaps shocked by the sudden change or just truly unmoved by her words for change, too broken to believe them. Outside of Barovia the news will be nodded at with approval, a slight care, and those with interests in the land there can only hope this shall benefit them as well, in time. Interesting times for Barovia indeed...

[Geiger]

It is the month of November 21st day, and 770th year of the Barovian calendar.

  Nearly a week has passed into the reign of Countess Lyssa von Zarovich and throughout Barovia there seems to be a calm. The good feelings of her initial edict seem to flow warmly through most of the Barovian people like the spirits they drink to mark the Devil's demise.

  In Zeidenburg there seems to be some sort of turmoil as in the face of local law, Countess Lyssa has given her estate over to a man of Gundarakite race. Burgomaster Jacenty Girgiu has made no measure against it.

  In the village of Picelburg, whose last Burgomaster was put to death for supposedly being short in his taxes that year, they have already destroyed a statue that stood in honor of Strahd VI. The Burgomaster that was appointed by Strahd XI in his wake has since been removed, exiled to the live in the village as a serf, by the son of the man who was executed who now reigns as Burgomaster by edict of Lyssa.