The party returns the gems to the Wizard of Wines and then returns to Vallaki to gather Kasimir. Everyone then begins the journey into the forest toward the mountains. Kasimir suddenly stopped and the party finds that they have come across an injured angel named Harune. His throat has been torn out as he lies dying next to a tree. The paladins attempt to heal him but he telepathically relays that their divine magic will not work on his extra-planar body. He has been searching for another like him, Baoul, who came to Barovia many years ago but has not been heard of since. Harune had attempted to come to Barovia many times but the dark mist would not let him enter until today. When he did arrive, something dark and fast attacked him, he could not tell what it was. He then rewards them for offering to save him and gives the party a golden feather that will heal wounds, diseases, poisons and curses. He then dies.
Kasimir thinks Strahd lured Harune here and then killed him. He could still be near and might know of their plan to go to the Amber Temple to find a way to destroy Strahd. He suggests going through the Sullen Vale, a place where Strahd, nor his minions ever go. There are rumors another terror lurks in that area that even Strahd does not poke with a stick.
The party venture in the Sullen Vale and begin to hear horrific waves of sound. The feel sluggish and foggy in the brain. A form of black smoke bamfs from spot to spot out of the woods toward the party. Unable to react, the party watches and the smoke bamfs toward Victor and grabs him. Victor looks horrified as the things clutches him and bamfs off into the darkness. The sounds reside and the party can move again. They notice Victor's bag and let the cat out. It senses its surroundings and begins to walk down into the valley. It leads them to a large cave with a kobold eating something at the entrance. Vannan discerns that it is eating Victor's arm. Gilly scurries up a tree to see if there are other creatures about. Bjorn walks up to it and smashed it up against the rock face.
The kobold transforms into a huge hideous monstrosity and attacks. It bamfs behind Bjorn and casts a fireball. Lideydri and Bjorn attack the creature as moves around. Vannan fires off some arrows and sends Grimtooth in to attack. The creature mauls Grimtooth who retreats. Gilly shoots an arrow and then runs into the cave to search for the rest of Victor. The creature sends another fireball at the paladins and then goes after Vannan. The stench of the creature is horrible but the party pushes the attack. Bjorn called on his god to assist him and he smites the creature low.
Lideydri heals Victor but he is still in shock. The party rests for the night in the dark cave. In the back of the cave they find a pile of human bones and also a potion of frost giant strength, a potion of superior healing, a potion of greater healing, a potion of gaseous form, a ring of evasion and a scroll of Slow spell.
After a good long rest Kasimir states the obvious, that they should stay in the Sullen Vale any longer, and the they head to the Amber Temple. Upon reaching the outer fascade, they notice a flickering of light toward one end of the ruins. Bjorn hears voices talking and Lideydri tries to persuade them to come out peacefully. A berserker attacks her and the other wild folk come running out the main entrance and begin to pound on Grimtooth. After some intense fighting, Lideydri knocks one unconscious and helps Bjorn defeat them as Gilly begins to master her stealth and sneak attacks.
Grimtooth survives with Victor's necrotic powers. Vannan convinces the sleeping dire wolf to wake up and vacate the temple. It runs away. The party take over the wild folk's campsite. When the prisoner awakens he tells them he serves Strahd, there is much evil this temple and that he was told never to open the north doors in the room. There is some discussion as to what to do with the prisoner until Kasimir sticks an arrow head into his throat.
