It all started in the Town of Hawthorne...
During a relatively pleasant afternoon in the Guild Tavern, a group coming from Baldur's Gate settled in after signing up to the Hawthorne Guild. Piper Porfirio, Fortune, and Claire were approached by a strange gentleman, who spoke with in a strange accent and presented a letter that contains a seal that they don't recognize.
(Contents of the Letter Below):
Hail to thee of might and valor.
I, a lowly servant of Barovia, send honor to thee. We plead for thy so desperately needed assistance.
The love of my life, Ireena Kolyana, has been afflicted by an evil so deadly that even the good people of our village cannot protect her. She languishes from her wound, and I would have her saved from this menace.
There is much wealth in this community. I offer all that might be had to thee and thy fellows if thou shalt but answer my desperate plea.
Come quickly, for her time is at hand! All that I have shall be thine!
Kolyan Indirovich
Burgomaster
The man promptly leaves when the letter had been delivered proper.
Moments later after reading the letter, the party, lead by Piper, decides that this is an opportunity to prove themselves with the resolve to be heroes! So they take a trip to the Trollbark Forest where the man directs them in order to get to a place called Barovia.
Once they got there, a decrepit sign point deeper and deeper in the forest to the direction of Barovia. As Piper, Fortune, and Claire wander deeper and deeper in the forest, a creeping mist rolls about as the trees appear to be more knotted and dead. Eventually, they come to a clearing on the other side, with a camp along the road filled with colorful tents and people wearing colorful clothing.
Meanwhile, already inside the greater of the tents, a hunter by the name of Elaine the Phantom walks in and is greeted by Madam Eva.
Madam Eva is a fortuneteller and is very aware of the current happenings of Barovia, expecting Elaine to arrive in her tent in order to get an idea a to how to rid the land of its afflicted malady. However, Elaine was given notice that she was not to be alone in her venture, and despite what the hunter had said, she was going to be met with outsiders who will accompany her on this journey. Coincidentally, Piper, Fortune, and Claire entered into the tent and were similarly greeted by Madam Eva. Once all four have gathered and met up with each other, they are let on that the land of Barovia is plagued by the presence of its ruler, the Devil Strahd, and that at some point the newly formed party is entrusted to free the land from his influence.