Esther approaches the bar and looks down at the letter and yes indeed there, in truly excellent penmanship, is her own name. At least, her first name. The rest is conspicuously smudged. Esther finds that she is not truly surprised. It was all too much to ask, she supposed, that she could just go off and be unimportant somewhere. It all had to have meant something. It all had to be leading somewhere, didn't it? Or else why bring her back at all. It only takes her a moment to resign herself to whatever doom this letter portends.
"I am Esther. And I already know Álfarr. I take it the rest of you gentlemen are... The rest of you gentlemen?" Esther looks around at all the others gathering around the letter. She reaches out to take the letter and with no small amount of irony in her voice, she says "Well, gentlemen. If no one objects, I'd like to open my mail."
Not waiting for objections, Esther takes the letter in hand, unsealing it with a small knife from her belt. She removes the contents and begins to read aloud. It says...
"Yes, I'll be heading off shortly. The locals may be afraid to adventure out into the fog but I do not harbor the same fear as they do." The messenger replies before taking another step towards the door. "My name? My name is Arrigal."
He pauses for a moment when he hears what Terrax says about taking his own advice and almost rolls his eyes, but at the mention of talking about his master he seems to perk up a little. "I don't see any harm in telling you about my master and a little bit about Barovia. Although when I'm done with thatI'll really have to be going."
Esther-
The letter reads:
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!
After finishing reading the letter, Esther hands it off to whoever else wishes to look at it, saying "That answers both of my questions, I suppose. Though I have several new ones."
She moves closer to Lenn and Terrax and their conversation with the messenger. She comments "Your Master Indirovich must be a powerful magician indeed to be able to scry out seven specific strangers for his task on the one night they all happen to be resting at the same inn. One wonders what marvels he expects the lot of us to accomplish for his beloved that he himself cannot."
After this she goes silent a while, arms crossed, waiting for Arrigal the Messenger to say his piece.
Wisp's eyes narrow under his hood at mention of his name, and when Terrax offers a place at their table he subtly shifts his chair back further into the shadowy corner.
He hadn't been joking earlier when he said few knew him, and none by his full name, not in these parts. What magic was this?
And then the pale noblewoman asks the questions that were burning through his mind as well. He listens intently, his eyes never straying from this, Arrigal.
"Kolyan is a remarkable man but he is no magician. After the initial attack on the village and Ireena, he wished to find a way to stop the creature who was behind it and decided to pay a visit to a nearby seer in the hopes of finding a way to defeat it before it completely destroys the village. Perhaps it was fate that brought you all to the same inn on this night." Arrigal replied, casually shifting his gaze between Esther and Lenn. Although he could have left without answering the questions that had been presented he had a feeling that they wouldn't let him leave without answers. "The creature that attacked the village has also gotten a taste for pour Ireena's blood. It has unfortunately bitten her again since the first attack on the village."
Álfarr, from where he is still standing by the fire, finally moves towards the group and the messenger, though still keeping a decent distance between himself and everyone. He raises his voice nervously. "You... said it attacked her again. Were they... killing blows? I mean, I'm happy to—I'd like to help her either way. If you know. I... would Kolyan know more?"
Arrigal paused slightly and turned to face the hooded figure. "The Barovians call this creature the Devil but it is not. The creature is an undead being, a vampire."
When he hears Lenn speak he nods slightly before quickly turning his attention towards Álfarr. "If it wanted to it could have made them killing blows but for some reason it seems to be keeping her alive for the time being. I don't know if it's going after her to torment my master but it feels like that is the case." He starts to move towards the door again and glances back for a moment. "Kolyan would know more about it than I do."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
After hearing this talk about vampires, Harald nervously eyes Daenorin. Worried there may be a link between his accident in the fog and the moths. Daenorin says he should have been killed. Harald wonders what this accident was. Perception to see if there's any marks on his neck or other signs of being undead. 21
At the mention of the undead Wisp stands and places his paws on the table, his chair screeching back along the floor behind him as his claws dig into the tabletop.
"I will also be there", he says in the now familiar loud whisper, a low growl escaping his throat as well.
Lenn looks over Wisp and nods in understanding. He refrains himself to say to Arrigal that he will go with him that very same night. His Lord are waiting form them in the morning and he would like to bring as much help as he could muster so he decides to stay at the tavern and try to convince anyone who is reluctant. Hunting down and killing a vampire was no small task and even if he didn't like to talk to others or make acquittances fate have other plans for him. Another mocking joke from fate to him he guess.
Esther finds in herself once again that strange feeling that she ought to be afraid, but that she just can't quite manage it. Like some trick gear in the machinery of her mind has passed over vampire and seer for their prescribed terror, leaving bizarre omissions in her internal logic. But even if she were properly afraid, it wouldn't really matter. Esther already knew she would be going to Barovia the moment she read the letter, skepticism be damned. Someone needed help, and that was that. Her friend in the flames had saved her once, and so would she save this stranger. And if it was all some trap, well, what did she have to lose anyway? Death likely gets easier the more you do it.
"I'll be going as well,"she tells Arrigal."Women suffering under the curse of the undead is somewhat a specialty of mine, as it happens. Give your master my compliments on his lovely penmanship and tell him we'll be there as quickly as we're able."
Álfarr nods after a moment of hesitation. "I... should go. I will go. I'll try to help." He nods again, attempting to add emphasis to his weak agreement. Even if someone hadn't been in trouble, he probably would have come along simply for being summoned by name. Also, everyone else seems to be going. He is very aware that peer pressure works very well on him, but it's probably worth giving in, especially to help someone out.
Kosef was surprised when the messenger arrived with the letter addressed to him. What trickery is this? No one knew he was here, and he did not know any of the others listed on the letter. As he listens to the questions of the others, and the answers of the messenger, a strange, but familiar voice presses against his mind, muddling his thoughts. He looks up in surprise when the creature is named a vampire.
“I will go” Kosef, silent for some time, speaks up at last, a surprising vehemence in his voice “the undead are an affront against the gods. It cannot be allowed to destroy the lives of others.”
Arrigal nods slightly as he finally reached the door. "I will be sure to relay your compliments of his penmanship and tell him to be prepared for when you arrive." And with that, he leaves.
The babble of tavern voices and music resumes, although it is somewhat subdued. The bartender glanced towards the door for a moment before turning his gaze towards the adventurers for a moment before hesitantly taking the purse off the counter. "It's been a while since someone has made such an entrance. And to think that it was just to deliver a message..."
Harald-
You don't notice any marks on his neck but there's rather unique looking scaring on the lower half of the left side of his face that seems to cover his arm as well. He doesn't appear to be of the undead persuasion but he looks as though he has definitely seen better days.
As the messenger leaves Terrax looks around at the 'creatures' that had assembled around the table were he sat. He stands, and with a wide smile he announces "I am Terrax, and I assume that you all would be the others the letter mentioned. Now would be a good time to get to know one eachother, as it appears we will be working together"
"I am but a simple dragonborn, I move goods through from place to place, it is true I have some limited knowledge of the arcane arts." He sits back down, waiting for the next creature to introduce themselves.
Smiling at Daenorin, Harald raises his cup slightly, "Well my friend, may you future be brighter than you past. It looks as if destiny is taking me elsewhere this evening."
He strolls over to the fireplace with the rest of the group. "Well hello. What a interesting group we make, don't you think? Strange to think why our names would be intermixed in this mystery, but I am not one to turn down such a venture. I must admit I am quite fearful of what we may face, but yet so excited of what can be learned in the process." Harald smiles and sips his wine. "Oh sorry. I'm Professor Harald Sturlson, though you may call me Harald."
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Esther approaches the bar and looks down at the letter and yes indeed there, in truly excellent penmanship, is her own name. At least, her first name. The rest is conspicuously smudged. Esther finds that she is not truly surprised. It was all too much to ask, she supposed, that she could just go off and be unimportant somewhere. It all had to have meant something. It all had to be leading somewhere, didn't it? Or else why bring her back at all. It only takes her a moment to resign herself to whatever doom this letter portends.
"I am Esther. And I already know Álfarr. I take it the rest of you gentlemen are... The rest of you gentlemen?" Esther looks around at all the others gathering around the letter. She reaches out to take the letter and with no small amount of irony in her voice, she says "Well, gentlemen. If no one objects, I'd like to open my mail."
Not waiting for objections, Esther takes the letter in hand, unsealing it with a small knife from her belt. She removes the contents and begins to read aloud. It says...
Lenn and Terrax-
"Yes, I'll be heading off shortly. The locals may be afraid to adventure out into the fog but I do not harbor the same fear as they do." The messenger replies before taking another step towards the door. "My name? My name is Arrigal."
He pauses for a moment when he hears what Terrax says about taking his own advice and almost rolls his eyes, but at the mention of talking about his master he seems to perk up a little. "I don't see any harm in telling you about my master and a little bit about Barovia. Although when I'm done with that I'll really have to be going."
Esther-
The letter reads:
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
After finishing reading the letter, Esther hands it off to whoever else wishes to look at it, saying "That answers both of my questions, I suppose. Though I have several new ones."
She moves closer to Lenn and Terrax and their conversation with the messenger. She comments "Your Master Indirovich must be a powerful magician indeed to be able to scry out seven specific strangers for his task on the one night they all happen to be resting at the same inn. One wonders what marvels he expects the lot of us to accomplish for his beloved that he himself cannot."
After this she goes silent a while, arms crossed, waiting for Arrigal the Messenger to say his piece.
Wisp's eyes narrow under his hood at mention of his name, and when Terrax offers a place at their table he subtly shifts his chair back further into the shadowy corner.
He hadn't been joking earlier when he said few knew him, and none by his full name, not in these parts. What magic was this?
And then the pale noblewoman asks the questions that were burning through his mind as well. He listens intently, his eyes never straying from this, Arrigal.
Lenn says nothing, waiting for the reply of Arrigal to Esther's questions and then he offers another one.
"What happened to this Ireena Kolyana? What kind of wound is that?"
PbP Character: A few ;)
"Kolyan is a remarkable man but he is no magician. After the initial attack on the village and Ireena, he wished to find a way to stop the creature who was behind it and decided to pay a visit to a nearby seer in the hopes of finding a way to defeat it before it completely destroys the village. Perhaps it was fate that brought you all to the same inn on this night." Arrigal replied, casually shifting his gaze between Esther and Lenn. Although he could have left without answering the questions that had been presented he had a feeling that they wouldn't let him leave without answers. "The creature that attacked the village has also gotten a taste for pour Ireena's blood. It has unfortunately bitten her again since the first attack on the village."
Wisp leans forward and from within his hood speaks in an audible whisper, "The term creature is vague, describe this thing that plagues you".
His interest is piqued now, and knowing that there was another out there in trouble made him think of his sister. She was out there...somewhere.
Lenn tenses. He then says in low voice.
"I cannot speak for the others. I will be there. "
PbP Character: A few ;)
Álfarr, from where he is still standing by the fire, finally moves towards the group and the messenger, though still keeping a decent distance between himself and everyone. He raises his voice nervously. "You... said it attacked her again. Were they... killing blows? I mean, I'm happy to—I'd like to help her either way. If you know. I... would Kolyan know more?"
Arrigal paused slightly and turned to face the hooded figure. "The Barovians call this creature the Devil but it is not. The creature is an undead being, a vampire."
When he hears Lenn speak he nods slightly before quickly turning his attention towards Álfarr. "If it wanted to it could have made them killing blows but for some reason it seems to be keeping her alive for the time being. I don't know if it's going after her to torment my master but it feels like that is the case." He starts to move towards the door again and glances back for a moment. "Kolyan would know more about it than I do."
After hearing this talk about vampires, Harald nervously eyes Daenorin. Worried there may be a link between his accident in the fog and the moths. Daenorin says he should have been killed. Harald wonders what this accident was.
Perception to see if there's any marks on his neck or other signs of being undead. 21
At the mention of the undead Wisp stands and places his paws on the table, his chair screeching back along the floor behind him as his claws dig into the tabletop.
"I will also be there", he says in the now familiar loud whisper, a low growl escaping his throat as well.
Lenn looks over Wisp and nods in understanding. He refrains himself to say to Arrigal that he will go with him that very same night. His Lord are waiting form them in the morning and he would like to bring as much help as he could muster so he decides to stay at the tavern and try to convince anyone who is reluctant. Hunting down and killing a vampire was no small task and even if he didn't like to talk to others or make acquittances fate have other plans for him. Another mocking joke from fate to him he guess.
PbP Character: A few ;)
Esther finds in herself once again that strange feeling that she ought to be afraid, but that she just can't quite manage it. Like some trick gear in the machinery of her mind has passed over vampire and seer for their prescribed terror, leaving bizarre omissions in her internal logic. But even if she were properly afraid, it wouldn't really matter. Esther already knew she would be going to Barovia the moment she read the letter, skepticism be damned. Someone needed help, and that was that. Her friend in the flames had saved her once, and so would she save this stranger. And if it was all some trap, well, what did she have to lose anyway? Death likely gets easier the more you do it.
"I'll be going as well," she tells Arrigal. "Women suffering under the curse of the undead is somewhat a specialty of mine, as it happens. Give your master my compliments on his lovely penmanship and tell him we'll be there as quickly as we're able."
Álfarr nods after a moment of hesitation. "I... should go. I will go. I'll try to help." He nods again, attempting to add emphasis to his weak agreement. Even if someone hadn't been in trouble, he probably would have come along simply for being summoned by name. Also, everyone else seems to be going. He is very aware that peer pressure works very well on him, but it's probably worth giving in, especially to help someone out.
Remaining in his seat, and simply smiling the whole time the other agree to assist, He finally agrees to answer the call for help as well.
Kosef was surprised when the messenger arrived with the letter addressed to him. What trickery is this? No one knew he was here, and he did not know any of the others listed on the letter. As he listens to the questions of the others, and the answers of the messenger, a strange, but familiar voice presses against his mind, muddling his thoughts. He looks up in surprise when the creature is named a vampire.
“I will go” Kosef, silent for some time, speaks up at last, a surprising vehemence in his voice “the undead are an affront against the gods. It cannot be allowed to destroy the lives of others.”
Everyone-
Arrigal nods slightly as he finally reached the door. "I will be sure to relay your compliments of his penmanship and tell him to be prepared for when you arrive." And with that, he leaves.
The babble of tavern voices and music resumes, although it is somewhat subdued. The bartender glanced towards the door for a moment before turning his gaze towards the adventurers for a moment before hesitantly taking the purse off the counter. "It's been a while since someone has made such an entrance. And to think that it was just to deliver a message..."
Harald-
You don't notice any marks on his neck but there's rather unique looking scaring on the lower half of the left side of his face that seems to cover his arm as well. He doesn't appear to be of the undead persuasion but he looks as though he has definitely seen better days.
As the messenger leaves Terrax looks around at the 'creatures' that had assembled around the table were he sat. He stands, and with a wide smile he announces "I am Terrax, and I assume that you all would be the others the letter mentioned. Now would be a good time to get to know one eachother, as it appears we will be working together"
"I am but a simple dragonborn, I move goods through from place to place, it is true I have some limited knowledge of the arcane arts." He sits back down, waiting for the next creature to introduce themselves.
Smiling at Daenorin, Harald raises his cup slightly, "Well my friend, may you future be brighter than you past. It looks as if destiny is taking me elsewhere this evening."
He strolls over to the fireplace with the rest of the group. "Well hello. What a interesting group we make, don't you think? Strange to think why our names would be intermixed in this mystery, but I am not one to turn down such a venture. I must admit I am quite fearful of what we may face, but yet so excited of what can be learned in the process."
Harald smiles and sips his wine. "Oh sorry. I'm Professor Harald Sturlson, though you may call me Harald."