You see Vladimir and Morgan taking off, both of them following different strategies to get information - after a while they return with the following information -
- Someone says that the burgomaster died a couple of days ago
- the son of the priest went away with a group to attack Strahd, " I could swear I saw him return...but he hasn't been around town after that night"
- Ireena has been visited by Strahd
The lack of emotion in this tells makes it almost impossible to know if these are facts or rumors
"Well good thing we just got out of bed isn't it?" Morgan says with a chuckle. Even if they were going up against some all-powerful creature as this, it felt good to be doing something again. He had wandered without purpose for too long now. "Won't have to face those dreams again for at least a few hours huh? Don't expect them to be any nicer after all of this talk though..." He sighs as that thought dampens his good mood at starting a new adventure.
Wilhelm chuckled. "No, I can't imagine so. If anything, Strahd might just turn the intensity up, where those dreams are concerned." Wilhelm just hoped they could gain an acceptable enough lead on the vampire before then, and that Strahd wasn't on to them..."Well, no use thinking about that, now. We're in this, whether we like it or not."
"Right. Follow along, Mado. We've a lot of ground to cover, to slay this enemy."
As the tiefling marches along, he sidles up to Mado. “You... have a story. They all have stories, you know. All of them. And this Strahd, he keeps them to himself. Struggle against him. And keep struggling. Tell me your story, and be the first step in that struggle.” Black Philip looks at you with eagerness, Mado.
"Huh?" Mado looks up. "Mado can't tell stories. Mado can't read." He looks back down. "Mado born in hole. Everything try to eat Mado. Mado kill...grow stronger! Undead try to kill Mado. Mado kill undead! Kill Strahd!!" Black Philip can see that Mado is currently frothing at the mouth.
Black Philip pulls out a rag and dabs at Mado’s mouth, careful to mind the teeth. “Stories that start in holes are the most beautiful, inspiring, or terrible stories around. Remember that when you take action tonight. Because I’m sure this night will be a long one.”
As you exit the inn you notice how tall shapes loom out of the dense fog that surrounds everything. The muddy ground underfoot gives way to slick, wet cobblestones. The tall shapes become recognizable as village dwellings. The windows of each house stare out from pools of blackness.
((Here's the map of the village:
You started on the center of the village near the big building which is the Blood of the Vine tavern.
The church is all the way north and the house of the mayor/burgomaster is all the way south.))
Atop a slight rise, against the roots of the pillar stone that supports Castle Ravenloft, stands a gray, sagging edifice of stone and wood. This church has obviously weathered the assaults of evil for centuries on end and is worn and weary. A bell tower rises toward the back, and flickering light shines through holes in the shingled roof. The rafters strain feebly against their load.
Once you approach the church doors, you notice the following:
The heavy wooden doors of the church are covered with claw marks and scarred by fire.
"Nice place isn't this..." Morgan says in his soft voice as he takes in the scarred and singed doors. Moving forward he checks to see if they are unlocked and, if so, opens them. If not he knocks loudly on them.
The doors open to reveal a ten-foot-wide, twenty-foot-long hall leading to a brightly lit chapel. The hall is unlit and reeks of mildew. Four doors, two on each side of the hall, lead to adjacent chambers.
You can see that the chapel is strewn with debris, and you hear a soft voice from within reciting a prayer. Suddenly, the prayer is blotted out by an inhuman scream that rises up from beneath the wooden floor.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Well, someone is not having fun." Morgan comments as he steps through the door and into the building. He scans the area, looking for any threats as his companions come through behind him.
Wilhelm follows, steeling himself for potential combat, his hand wrapped around the hilt of his sheathed sword, should he have to suddenly take it out. "Welcoming atmosphere." He chides as he steps in behind Morgan. He scans the area carefully, tense and alert.
You see Vladimir and Morgan taking off, both of them following different strategies to get information - after a while they return with the following information -
- Someone says that the burgomaster died a couple of days ago
- the son of the priest went away with a group to attack Strahd, " I could swear I saw him return...but he hasn't been around town after that night"
- Ireena has been visited by Strahd
The lack of emotion in this tells makes it almost impossible to know if these are facts or rumors
"I'd like to go talk to the priest," Arrila pipes up.
Elra Skylash - Human Cleric | Vanzaren Tanidoni - Half Elf Wizard
Mindartis Liadon - Eladrin Barbarian | Naivara Siannodel - Half Elf Ranger
Arrila Evenwood - Half Elf Paladin | Callaphe of Setessa - Human Rogue
Katernin Nemetsk - Aasimar Cleric | Melody - Tiefling Bard
"Seems like as good of a place to start as any." Morgan will agree with a shrug. "Shall we head that way now, or does anyone have a better option?"
"Sure. Can't say I want to go to bed after hearing all of this." Getting Eloris stands and gets ready to leave.
"To the priest, then." Wilhelm agrees, rising from his chair. "We should make haste. Who knows if Strahd has his intruding gaze upon us, even now."
"Well good thing we just got out of bed isn't it?" Morgan says with a chuckle. Even if they were going up against some all-powerful creature as this, it felt good to be doing something again. He had wandered without purpose for too long now. "Won't have to face those dreams again for at least a few hours huh? Don't expect them to be any nicer after all of this talk though..." He sighs as that thought dampens his good mood at starting a new adventure.
"Preist..." Mado mumbles. He hops off the table and looks up at Wilhelm. "Mado follow."
Wilhelm chuckled. "No, I can't imagine so. If anything, Strahd might just turn the intensity up, where those dreams are concerned." Wilhelm just hoped they could gain an acceptable enough lead on the vampire before then, and that Strahd wasn't on to them..."Well, no use thinking about that, now. We're in this, whether we like it or not."
"Right. Follow along, Mado. We've a lot of ground to cover, to slay this enemy."
Black Philip straps on his pack, and follows the group, still plucking away at his lyre
Paladin - warforged - orange
As the tiefling marches along, he sidles up to Mado. “You... have a story. They all have stories, you know. All of them. And this Strahd, he keeps them to himself. Struggle against him. And keep struggling. Tell me your story, and be the first step in that struggle.” Black Philip looks at you with eagerness, Mado.
Paladin - warforged - orange
"Huh?" Mado looks up. "Mado can't tell stories. Mado can't read." He looks back down. "Mado born in hole. Everything try to eat Mado. Mado kill...grow stronger! Undead try to kill Mado. Mado kill undead! Kill Strahd!!" Black Philip can see that Mado is currently frothing at the mouth.
Black Philip pulls out a rag and dabs at Mado’s mouth, careful to mind the teeth. “Stories that start in holes are the most beautiful, inspiring, or terrible stories around. Remember that when you take action tonight. Because I’m sure this night will be a long one.”
Paladin - warforged - orange
As you exit the inn you notice how tall shapes loom out of the dense fog that surrounds everything. The muddy ground underfoot gives way to slick, wet cobblestones. The tall shapes become recognizable as village dwellings. The windows of each house stare out from pools of blackness.
((Here's the map of the village:
You started on the center of the village near the big building which is the Blood of the Vine tavern.
The church is all the way north and the house of the mayor/burgomaster is all the way south.))
Once you approach the church doors, you notice the following:
"Nice place isn't this..." Morgan says in his soft voice as he takes in the scarred and singed doors. Moving forward he checks to see if they are unlocked and, if so, opens them. If not he knocks loudly on them.
"Well, someone is not having fun." Morgan comments as he steps through the door and into the building. He scans the area, looking for any threats as his companions come through behind him.
Perception: 4
Wilhelm follows, steeling himself for potential combat, his hand wrapped around the hilt of his sheathed sword, should he have to suddenly take it out. "Welcoming atmosphere." He chides as he steps in behind Morgan. He scans the area carefully, tense and alert.
Perception: 4
Mado gets on all fours, ready to pounce on the first thing he sees.
Perception: 15
Is there a stairway leading down?
Black Philip
perception/investigation - 19
(holy crap, lead the way Mado, the rest of us rolled terribly)
Paladin - warforged - orange