Towering trees, whose tops are lost in heavy gray mist, block out all but a death gray light. The tree trunks are unnaturally close to one another, and the woods have the silence of a forgotten grave, yet exude the feeling of an unvoiced scream.
Following the stench, you come across the half-eaten, shriveled, maggot filled corpse of a man, now barely recognizable from rot. His muddy clothes are raked with claw marks and his stomach is torn open and his innards are spilt all over the ground. In his hand, he holds a sealed letter.
Devious serpent folk devoid of compassion, yuan-ti manipulate other creatures by arousing their doubts, evoking their fears, and elevating and crushing their hopes. From remote temples in jungles, swamps, and deserts, the yuan-ti plot to supplant and dominate all other races and to make themselves gods.
Emre would like to use her Medicine to see if she can tell how this man died. She will look over him with great attention, not giving the maggots a second thought, as she holds up the letter for someone else to open and read. 7
"Everyone, hold on just one minute. Let me retrieve this letter safely."
Then, Aranna begins muttering an incantation, and a spectral hand pops up, She then tries to grab the letter using the spectral hand before Emre can pick it up.
She then tries to open the letter using her actual hands.
The claw marks are obviously those of a wild beast. Some sharp-toothed creature appears to have tore open his stomach. His clothes are that of a commoner's.
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Devious serpent folk devoid of compassion, yuan-ti manipulate other creatures by arousing their doubts, evoking their fears, and elevating and crushing their hopes. From remote temples in jungles, swamps, and deserts, the yuan-ti plot to supplant and dominate all other races and to make themselves gods.
I, the Burgomaster of Barovia, send you honor—with despair. My adopted daughter, the fair Ireena Kolyana, has been these past nights bitten by a vampire. For over four hundred years, this creature has drained the life blood of my people. Now, my dear Ireena languishes and dies from an unholy wound caused by this vile beast. He has become too powerful to conquer. So I say to you, give us up for dead and encircle this land with the symbols of good. Let holy men call upon their power that the devil may be contained within the walls of weeping Barovia. Leave our sorrows to our graves, and save the world from this evil fate of ours. There is much wealth entrapped in this community. Return for your reward after we are all departed for a better life.
Kolyan Indirovich,
Burgomaster
This letter is written in a different form of handwriting from the first letter.
Devious serpent folk devoid of compassion, yuan-ti manipulate other creatures by arousing their doubts, evoking their fears, and elevating and crushing their hopes. From remote temples in jungles, swamps, and deserts, the yuan-ti plot to supplant and dominate all other races and to make themselves gods.
"...Yay! An adventure!" Aranna laughs. "It's bound to be perilous, but we'll get to see things most people couldn't even dream of! At the same time we are almost surely going to die, but I don't care!"She says the last thing too fast and in too quiet of a voice for you to really hear.
The howl of a lone wolf pierces the silence. The howl sounds nearby.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Devious serpent folk devoid of compassion, yuan-ti manipulate other creatures by arousing their doubts, evoking their fears, and elevating and crushing their hopes. From remote temples in jungles, swamps, and deserts, the yuan-ti plot to supplant and dominate all other races and to make themselves gods.
"Only light can dispel the shadows, and only song can chase away despair," intones Valanthe. "If the road continues to Bavoria, then we must continue down this road - these people need the light and the song of my Dark Maiden, and we will all be the deliverers of both." She looks down at the body, sullenly, turns to Erme saying "Last rites if you must; we can try to burn the body to ash so that we can spare this poor man anymore indignities in his death, but we haven't much time - those howls seem close." With that Valanthe turns around heading back down the road to Barovia, pausing for the others, humming a melancholic tune, softly under her breath.
"I agree with Emre and Velanthe." Rangiel said,his determination renewed. "We shouldn't give up on the people of Barovia. After all, it wouldn't be very heroic to accept this quest and follow through with temptations to give up. I say ve KILL ZHE DAMNED VAMPIRE!!" Rangiel said as his determination overflowed, ending with a shout, raising his scimitar overhead, while forgetting the importance of silence currently. "Agh, dumnkopf, I'm sorry for making such uneccesary sounds." He said in a quieter voice immediately after, hoping he didn't alert the wolves.
"And did I hear you correctly? Vampires... hmmm." He opens the book of lore from the pack slung around his waist, attempting to find an entry regarding vampires. ((OOC: ROLL?)) "Yes, but Valanthe, what's that you said about light dispelling shadows... that gives me an idea. This one was given a warning of what lies ahead. It's possible he came prepared. Check his pockets, he won't be needing what's in them, for he is embarked upon a new journey." Thpas reaches across his shoulder, removing a length of chain that he wears across his chest. Only now, it remains stiff, solid and straight as if the links were suddenly fused to one another. A mutilated corpse, howling wolves, and warning of Vampiers, Thpas is now aware of the clear danger laid before them.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Byllemura shivers under the cloak. "Thank you, Thpas", she says with a shy smile. "Now, now. Vampires... Do you have anything in your book? I have a feeling we should be well prepared if we are to face one of them.". She tries to remember if she has ever stumbled upon lore about these creatures during her research (Arcana: 9)
Byllemura recalls the following information about vampires*:
-Vampires can't enter a residence without permission from one of the occupants.
-Running water is like acid to a vampire.
-A vampire can charm you with its gaze.
-Sunlight harms vampires.
Continuing down the path, you finally reach Barovia:
"Tall shapes loom out of the dense fog that surrounds everything. The muddy ground underfoot gives way to wet cobblestones. The tall shapes become recognizable as village dwellings. The windows of each house stare out from pools of blackness. No sound cuts the silence except for mournful sobbing that echoes through the streets from a distance."
Devious serpent folk devoid of compassion, yuan-ti manipulate other creatures by arousing their doubts, evoking their fears, and elevating and crushing their hopes. From remote temples in jungles, swamps, and deserts, the yuan-ti plot to supplant and dominate all other races and to make themselves gods.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"With a gaze?" Valanthe asks Byllemura, continuing, "I guess we'll have to fight blindfolded - or in the dark." Her ears perk up on hearing the "mournful sobbing," "Oh, no - do you hear that? Someone is sobbing... they probably could use our help - at the very least, we can bring her the Song of the Lady and maybe singing will replace the sobbing." Valanthe, while keeping out for dark things lurking on the streets and alleyways { Perception 18 } does her best to follow the mournful sobbing. She starts looking up at the tall shapes looming in the fog as she walks and the area around her as she continues on the cobblestone path, "Is this.... Bavoria?"
// OOC What does Valanthe see (regarding the buildings, town, etc, are there people around)? What time of day is it? Does the fog continue into the town or did it stay out on the road before we reached the cobblestones? Thanks! //
// OOC What does Valanthe see (regarding the buildings, town, etc, are there people around)? What time of day is it? Does the fog continue into the town or did it stay out on the road before we reached the cobblestones? Thanks! //
The time of day is about late morning (almost noon) and the fog leaks into the town but only obscures the ground. The village is unusually empty. No one is outside. The buildings all have a gothic - style architecture.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Devious serpent folk devoid of compassion, yuan-ti manipulate other creatures by arousing their doubts, evoking their fears, and elevating and crushing their hopes. From remote temples in jungles, swamps, and deserts, the yuan-ti plot to supplant and dominate all other races and to make themselves gods.
// OOC What does Valanthe see (regarding the buildings, town, etc, are there people around)? What time of day is it? Does the fog continue into the town or did it stay out on the road before we reached the cobblestones? Thanks! //
"Tall shapes loom out of the dense fog that surrounds everything. The muddy ground underfoot gives way to wet cobblestones. The tall shapes become recognizable as village dwellings. The windows of each house stare out from pools of blackness. No sound cuts the silence except for mournful sobbing that echoes through the streets from a distance."
"The time of day is about late morning (almost noon) and the fog leaks into the town but only obscures the ground. The village is unusually empty. No one is outside. The buildings all have a gothic - style architecture."
"Erme," says Valanthe, "what are you looking for?" Noticing that Erme is looking around, Valanthe also looks around the town for further detail {specifically establishment/office signage denoting what any of the particular buildings are being used for}, but then continues as if the mournful sobbing found her all over again, "We need to find out who is crying so sadly and bring them light and Song!" A wide smile appears on Valanthe's face. She begins to tug on Erme's arm a little in the direction where she thinks she hears the sobbing from, but does not pull further instead waiting for Erme's reaction, and then looking back at the others for support. "Someone needs our help now."
Following the stench, you come across the half-eaten, shriveled, maggot filled corpse of a man, now barely recognizable from rot. His muddy clothes are raked with claw marks and his stomach is torn open and his innards are spilt all over the ground. In his hand, he holds a sealed letter.
Devious serpent folk devoid of compassion, yuan-ti manipulate other creatures by arousing their doubts, evoking their fears, and elevating and crushing their hopes. From remote temples in jungles, swamps, and deserts, the yuan-ti plot to supplant and dominate all other races and to make themselves gods.
Emre would like to use her Medicine to see if she can tell how this man died. She will look over him with great attention, not giving the maggots a second thought, as she holds up the letter for someone else to open and read. 7
DM - Storm King's Thunder PbP | Yet Another Storm King's Thunder PbP
Current: Eogard Duramastar, Human Twilight Cleric/Star Druid | Eiren Lathrana, Shadar-Kai Eldritch Knight/Bladesinger | Arugula, Rabbitfolk Armorer
Survivor: CrispyDM's Saltmarsh as Syltra | SarcasticFury's Strahd as Hadrian Frozenspark | Forge of Fury as The DM
"Everyone, hold on just one minute. Let me retrieve this letter safely."
Then, Aranna begins muttering an incantation, and a spectral hand pops up, She then tries to grab the letter using the spectral hand before Emre can pick it up.
She then tries to open the letter using her actual hands.
The claw marks are obviously those of a wild beast. Some sharp-toothed creature appears to have tore open his stomach. His clothes are that of a commoner's.
Devious serpent folk devoid of compassion, yuan-ti manipulate other creatures by arousing their doubts, evoking their fears, and elevating and crushing their hopes. From remote temples in jungles, swamps, and deserts, the yuan-ti plot to supplant and dominate all other races and to make themselves gods.
The letter reads as follows:
This letter is written in a different form of handwriting from the first letter.
Devious serpent folk devoid of compassion, yuan-ti manipulate other creatures by arousing their doubts, evoking their fears, and elevating and crushing their hopes. From remote temples in jungles, swamps, and deserts, the yuan-ti plot to supplant and dominate all other races and to make themselves gods.
"Well, that letter strikes a bit of a different tone," Emre quipped. At the mention of vampires, she had stiffened just slightly.
DM - Storm King's Thunder PbP | Yet Another Storm King's Thunder PbP
Current: Eogard Duramastar, Human Twilight Cleric/Star Druid | Eiren Lathrana, Shadar-Kai Eldritch Knight/Bladesinger | Arugula, Rabbitfolk Armorer
Survivor: CrispyDM's Saltmarsh as Syltra | SarcasticFury's Strahd as Hadrian Frozenspark | Forge of Fury as The DM
"...Yay! An adventure!" Aranna laughs. "It's bound to be perilous, but we'll get to see things most people couldn't even dream of! At the same time we are almost surely going to die, but I don't care!"She says the last thing too fast and in too quiet of a voice for you to really hear.
The howl of a lone wolf pierces the silence. The howl sounds nearby.
Devious serpent folk devoid of compassion, yuan-ti manipulate other creatures by arousing their doubts, evoking their fears, and elevating and crushing their hopes. From remote temples in jungles, swamps, and deserts, the yuan-ti plot to supplant and dominate all other races and to make themselves gods.
"We should probably press on," says Emre. "This is a good sign from the gods. Undead are a blight on the natural order that must be eradicated."
She sounds as if she's mostly trying up convince herself.
DM - Storm King's Thunder PbP | Yet Another Storm King's Thunder PbP
Current: Eogard Duramastar, Human Twilight Cleric/Star Druid | Eiren Lathrana, Shadar-Kai Eldritch Knight/Bladesinger | Arugula, Rabbitfolk Armorer
Survivor: CrispyDM's Saltmarsh as Syltra | SarcasticFury's Strahd as Hadrian Frozenspark | Forge of Fury as The DM
"Only light can dispel the shadows, and only song can chase away despair," intones Valanthe. "If the road continues to Bavoria, then we must continue down this road - these people need the light and the song of my Dark Maiden, and we will all be the deliverers of both." She looks down at the body, sullenly, turns to Erme saying "Last rites if you must; we can try to burn the body to ash so that we can spare this poor man anymore indignities in his death, but we haven't much time - those howls seem close." With that Valanthe turns around heading back down the road to Barovia, pausing for the others, humming a melancholic tune, softly under her breath.
Storm King's Thunder - Ink, Elven Bladesinging Wizard
Core City: APbPA - Ormond, Human Twilight Cleric
The Inferno - BG:Dia - DM
They keep me rollin'
"I agree with Emre and Velanthe." Rangiel said,his determination renewed. "We shouldn't give up on the people of Barovia. After all, it wouldn't be very heroic to accept this quest and follow through with temptations to give up. I say ve KILL ZHE DAMNED VAMPIRE!!" Rangiel said as his determination overflowed, ending with a shout, raising his scimitar overhead, while forgetting the importance of silence currently. "Agh, dumnkopf, I'm sorry for making such uneccesary sounds." He said in a quieter voice immediately after, hoping he didn't alert the wolves.
Avast ye mainster! Timber me portside and buckleswash the poopdeck!
"And did I hear you correctly? Vampires... hmmm." He opens the book of lore from the pack slung around his waist, attempting to find an entry regarding vampires. ((OOC: ROLL?)) "Yes, but Valanthe, what's that you said about light dispelling shadows... that gives me an idea. This one was given a warning of what lies ahead. It's possible he came prepared. Check his pockets, he won't be needing what's in them, for he is embarked upon a new journey." Thpas reaches across his shoulder, removing a length of chain that he wears across his chest. Only now, it remains stiff, solid and straight as if the links were suddenly fused to one another. A mutilated corpse, howling wolves, and warning of Vampiers, Thpas is now aware of the clear danger laid before them.
Byllemura shivers under the cloak. "Thank you, Thpas", she says with a shy smile. "Now, now. Vampires... Do you have anything in your book? I have a feeling we should be well prepared if we are to face one of them.". She tries to remember if she has ever stumbled upon lore about these creatures during her research (Arcana: 9)
PbP: Curse of Strahd: In the Shadow of Ravenloft - Byllemura Ziasebek, Tiefling Sorceress (4)
Byllemura recalls the following information about vampires*:
-Vampires can't enter a residence without permission from one of the occupants.
-Running water is like acid to a vampire.
-A vampire can charm you with its gaze.
-Sunlight harms vampires.
Continuing down the path, you finally reach Barovia:
Devious serpent folk devoid of compassion, yuan-ti manipulate other creatures by arousing their doubts, evoking their fears, and elevating and crushing their hopes. From remote temples in jungles, swamps, and deserts, the yuan-ti plot to supplant and dominate all other races and to make themselves gods.
"With a gaze?" Valanthe asks Byllemura, continuing, "I guess we'll have to fight blindfolded - or in the dark." Her ears perk up on hearing the "mournful sobbing," "Oh, no - do you hear that? Someone is sobbing... they probably could use our help - at the very least, we can bring her the Song of the Lady and maybe singing will replace the sobbing." Valanthe, while keeping out for dark things lurking on the streets and alleyways { Perception 18 } does her best to follow the mournful sobbing. She starts looking up at the tall shapes looming in the fog as she walks and the area around her as she continues on the cobblestone path, "Is this.... Bavoria?"
// OOC What does Valanthe see (regarding the buildings, town, etc, are there people around)? What time of day is it? Does the fog continue into the town or did it stay out on the road before we reached the cobblestones? Thanks! //
Storm King's Thunder - Ink, Elven Bladesinging Wizard
Core City: APbPA - Ormond, Human Twilight Cleric
The Inferno - BG:Dia - DM
They keep me rollin'
"Sadly my friend, I believe this is Bavoria." Rangiel said as he followed Velanthe, since he's the rear guard.
Avast ye mainster! Timber me portside and buckleswash the poopdeck!
Emre stays close to Valanthe, taking out her shield but leaving her weapon hand free.
DM - Storm King's Thunder PbP | Yet Another Storm King's Thunder PbP
Current: Eogard Duramastar, Human Twilight Cleric/Star Druid | Eiren Lathrana, Shadar-Kai Eldritch Knight/Bladesinger | Arugula, Rabbitfolk Armorer
Survivor: CrispyDM's Saltmarsh as Syltra | SarcasticFury's Strahd as Hadrian Frozenspark | Forge of Fury as The DM
Devious serpent folk devoid of compassion, yuan-ti manipulate other creatures by arousing their doubts, evoking their fears, and elevating and crushing their hopes. From remote temples in jungles, swamps, and deserts, the yuan-ti plot to supplant and dominate all other races and to make themselves gods.
Emre looks for any obvious signs that one of the buildings might be the residence of the Burgomaster.
DM - Storm King's Thunder PbP | Yet Another Storm King's Thunder PbP
Current: Eogard Duramastar, Human Twilight Cleric/Star Druid | Eiren Lathrana, Shadar-Kai Eldritch Knight/Bladesinger | Arugula, Rabbitfolk Armorer
Survivor: CrispyDM's Saltmarsh as Syltra | SarcasticFury's Strahd as Hadrian Frozenspark | Forge of Fury as The DM
Storm King's Thunder - Ink, Elven Bladesinging Wizard
Core City: APbPA - Ormond, Human Twilight Cleric
The Inferno - BG:Dia - DM
They keep me rollin'