Black Roses

Walkthrough

Getting the quest

There are two ways in, and both end at Ignat the lamplighter (Ignat the Lamplighter).

• Urwin's rumour. In the taproom of The Blue Water Inn, ask Urwin Martikov "Heard anything interesting?". Among his news he mentions black roses on Pyotr Petrov's step, and the quest opens at Rumored. Urwin won't talk while the festival is running, and if you backed Lady Wachter he won't give you more than a bed, so in either case go straight to Ignat.
• Ignat himself. Ignat only comes out after dark, from 19:00 to 06:00, walking his round of Vallaki's lamps: Wachter lane, the edge of St. Andral's churchyard, the east gate and the main street. If you've heard the rumour, tell him "There were black roses on the chandler's step this morning." If you haven't, ask "Who are the lamps really for?", hear about his daughter Catalina, then ask "Have there been roses since?". Either way the quest moves to Asked.

Step by step

1. Hear Ignat out. He asks you to watch the Petrovs' house tonight and not to hurt whatever comes. Before you agree, you can look at him properly with Insight DC 13 or notice the scarf with Medicine DC 12. Pass either one and he shows you the bite marks: Catalina comes to his window every night and he lets her feed (journal Fed). This is optional, and it adds a line to his thanks at the end. A failed Insight is gone for good. A failed Medicine isn't: pick "Not tonight", talk to him again and you can try it again. Once you say "We'll watch the house tonight", the chance to ask is gone.
2. Watch the Petrovs' house after dark. It's at the far end of the lower town, the quarter by the west gate, and its shutters are nailed shut. Go there between 19:00 and 06:00. Catalina walks up and speaks first when your leader gets within eight squares of her. The journal moves to Vigil. She only comes once, so decide here.
3. Talk to Catalina. Your options:
   • "Where do you sleep, Catalina?" costs nothing, so always ask it first. She tells you she's under the stone with the lamb in St. Andral's churchyard, next to Irina and Daria. This puts the grave on the map.
   • Persuasion DC 14, "Go home, Catalina." If it works she drops her roses on the step and climbs away over the roofs to her grave, and you learn where it is. If it fails, she calls the other two girls and the street fight starts. A failed Persuasion can't be tried again.
   • "Let her go home to her father." This ends the quest the bad way (see below).
   • "Attack." This starts the street fight.
4. The street fight (roses_street) happens in the lower town at night. At level 6 or higher you face Catalina (60 HP) and two more Vampire Spawn, Irina and Daria. At level 5 it's Catalina (50 HP), Irina and a Swarm of Bats. At level 4 it's Catalina (45 HP) and Irina (55 HP). Below that, Catalina (40 HP) comes with two bat swarms. Their claws grapple, and the bite that drains maximum HP only works on someone who is grappled, restrained or incapacitated. Free a grabbed friend before you do anything else.
5. Or go to the grave. Once you know where Catalina sleeps, a "Three small graves" spot appears in St. Andral's churchyard, on the town map at the east end of Vallaki, beside the church door.
   • By day (06:00–19:00): "Dig them up now, while it's light" is an Athletics DC 12 check, and you can retry it if you fail. If it passes, the coffins come up at once. If it fails, the dig still works but takes two hours. The girls wake surprised and weaker: at level 6 or higher it's Catalina 40 HP, Irina 50 and Daria 50; at level 5 it's 35/45/45; below that, only Catalina (30) and Irina (35). Start digging before 17:00. If the two slow hours carry you past 19:00, you get the night version of the fight instead.
   • By night: "Wait here for them" gets you the full-strength fight. At level 6 or higher that's Catalina (60 HP), Irina and Daria; at level 5, Catalina (50), Irina and a bat swarm; below that, Catalina (45) and Irina (55).
6. Tell Ignat, after dark. Winning either fight moves the journal to Slain, but the quest isn't over yet. Find Ignat on his lamp round between 19:00 and 06:00 and talk to him. He thanks you, the quest moves to Ended, and he gives you Catalina's mother's ring, the Ring of Resistance (Necrotic).
7. Collect from Pyotr by day. Pyotr Petrov stands outside his house in the lower town from 08:00 to 18:00, but not in a storm. Once the girls are destroyed or Ignat is dead, he pays you 200 gp for Mila's life. You can do this before or after seeing Ignat.

Choices and endings

• Catalina laid to rest (Ended). You destroy the three girls, in the street or at their graves, and then tell Ignat. You get the Ring of Resistance (Necrotic) from Ignat and 200 gp from Pyotr. Liriel Dawnsong and Godrick Pendlebrook approve (+2), and so does Thistle (+1). Destroying the spawn adds a mark to Strahd's attention. Ignat keeps lighting the town's lamps, all but the one outside his own window, and Urwin's later gossip mentions that he sleeps at night now.
• Ignat lost (Ilie Lost). You let Catalina go home. Time skips to 07:00, and the watch finds Ignat dead at the lake gate. He's gone from the streets for good, so there's no ring. Pyotr still pays 200 gp because Mila lived. Godrick and Liriel disapprove (-2), and so does Thistle (-1). If you asked Catalina where she sleeps before you let her go, the graves stay on the map and you can still fight the girls there, but the journal stays at Ilie Lost and nobody is left to give you the ring.

If you're stuck

• The journal says Slain and nothing more happens. The quest only ends when you talk to Ignat on his evening round, 19:00 to 06:00. If the fight ended near dawn, wait for the next evening.
• Catalina won't appear. She only comes at night, and only after you've promised Ignat to watch the house. After your first meeting she never comes back.
• No graves in the churchyard. They only show once Catalina has told you where she sleeps (by asking her, or by persuading her home) or once the girls are destroyed. Ask her before you pick "Attack".
• Ignat isn't around in the daytime. Look for him after dark.

Rewards

• Ring of Resistance (Necrotic)
• 200 gp

What your companions think

• Liriel Dawnsong: +2 you laid Catalina to rest and kept her father alive; -2 you let Catalina go home to feed on her father
• Godrick Pendlebrook: +2 you laid Catalina to rest and kept her father alive; -2 you let Catalina go home to feed on her father
• Thistle: +1 you laid Catalina to rest and kept her father alive; -1 you let Catalina go home to feed on her father

Fights

• Two more girls come over the rooftops at Catalina's call, barefoot, in nightgowns, their arms full of black…, in Vallaki: Vampire Spawn, Swarm of Bats. Scales with your level.

• The lids come up slowly. The three of them climb out into the grey daylight blinking and slow, like children…, in Vallaki: Vampire Spawn, Swarm of Bats. Scales with your level.

Journal

Related

• People: Ignat the Lamplighter, Catalina, Pyotr Petrov, Urwin Martikov
• Places: Vallaki, The Blue Water Inn
• More in Vallaki: Lady Wachter's Book Club, One Lantern Too Many, Ribbons, The Attic Circle, The Bones of St. Andral, The Cat in the Window, The Count's Portraitist, The Doll Collector