Quoted By:
<span class="mu-s">Result</span>
Speak a prayer to Kossuth to expose Strahd's true nature: <span class="mu-s">24</span>
--
You can feel Kossuth's blessing fall over the room as you finish the unexpected prayer. Strahd, immediately upon seeing the pendant and hearing the prayer, he flinches - and not just slightly, but a full cowering, his body turned away from the pendant.
This was not the reaction of somebody who is merely averse to worshop of a god, as many of those as you have seen in your years of travel as a cleric of Kossuth before finding Barovia. No, the way he just reacted indicated something deeper; a primal fear of light, a slight shadow of the same terror you have seen lesser undead exhibit when you cast them away by channeling divinity.
"You're a vampire," you say to Strahd. Your eyes are set upon him confidently, drawing confidence from the blessing.
Strahd doesn't answer at first. He simply stares at your holy pendant, then back up at you with a perfectly neutral gaze, having fully recovered from his initial reaction. He is clearly capable of hiding his nature.
"Yes," he finally says, a hint of a smirk appearing on his lips. "If only you were the first to come to that conclusion, this confrontation may have been more exciting. But you are not wrong about me."
"The light always reveals the truth," you say as a matter of fact.
He scoffs. "I had, for some reason, assumed you already knew about my... affliction. That is the only reason your test caught me off guard. It's rare for somebody to test for something they already believe, although when it happens, it's usually the mark of a strong learner."
"Your nature puts the history of the land into perspective," you say. "You accredited your actions over the centuries to various lords bearing your name, but they have all been you. You have been here since your family settled the valley. You are immortal."
He nods, but maintains a stance of self-importance. "You yourself have just given me the last piece of the puzzle," he says.
What exactly does he mean by that? It's you who exposed him. You give him a quizzical look.
(cont.)
