Ioben follow Valerie and Mary up the stairs, looking carefully around the house. The lock on the outside of the door, in particular, caught his attention. "I see you sought to protect your daughter." As they enter the room, he soaks in everything he can about Gertruda. While Mary continues to talk to Valerie, Ioben walks over to the window and inspects it, hoping to see if the window had been tampered with, or if it can be opened from the inside.

Quote from Hexblade37 >>

"I know" replies Baern to the advice about replying on oneself.  "But, I've been trying to find her for years."  "My mother" he clarifies after a pause.

Displaying the small metal holy symbol in his hand, Baern continues "I saw her, in the fog, and I was holding this symbol., this very same one."  "It was just a dream, perhaps, but I had it several times.  I decided to go in search of this symbol, and found a temple to Kord.  I don't really know if it means anything, or if I'm just a fool.  I don't know why this god of storms and battle would help me or my mother if Moradin did not.

'Looking for your mom, eh?' Sandu leaned against the tree and closed his eyes for a bit. He sighed. He began to feel a little kindship with the dwarf and he was not sure he wanted that.

'How can you be sure she's still alive?' He asked with one eye half open.

Dormark pauses wanting to help the person calling, for even a cleric of Moradin was one who help others when not attending to the forge, but he tempered his want with caution knowing there were many serious inflictions that can turn once good people into horrible monsters. “I’ll help, but I also need a explanation as well Ismark,” he says helping everyone move outside the church.

Valerie follows Mary up to the room. "Yes, we’re not from here. To be honest, I don’t know how I even get here." She sighs and continues walking. 

She is surprised by the insane amount of locks that are on the door. She curiously looks at Mary wondering why she had to locked her daughter up in a room like this. Though she does not say anything.

When the door opens, she walks in and have a look around taking in everything that she possibly could. "Can you tell me where are Rose and Thorn are? I would like to ask them some questions." She then points to the cushion. "Does Gertruda have a pet?"

Quote from Losman >>

Dormark pauses wanting to help the person calling, for even a cleric of Moradin was one who help others when not attending to the forge, but he tempered his want with caution knowing there were many serious inflictions that can turn once good people into horrible monsters. “I’ll help, but I also need a explanation as well Ismark,” he says helping everyone move outside the church.

As Dormark helps Ismark lift a broken-hearted Donavich outside the church the cries persist; "FATHER!", "HELP ME", "PLEASE".

The group collapses outside, Father Donavich looks a wreck and Ismark is po-faced.  Ismark speaks, his voice wrought with determination, "Sorry, Dormark.  I should have told you before we entered".  He takes a deep breath as he continues, "Let me start from the beginning - there were people here, in Barovia, that attempted to oppose the Count, the Devil".  Ismark considers his words carefully, "Strahd Von Zarovich is not what he seems.  He is a Devil, people fear uttering his name, he treats us Barovians as his playthings - for his amusement.  Are you familiar with Vampires?  You may believe them to be tools used to frighten young children in fairy-tales.  I can tell you that they exist.  That Strahd IS a vampire".

Ismark lets the revelation resonate before continuing on, "Doru", a wail comes from Donavich, "Is... was... a great and loyal friend, a young man of great character and conviction, and... to Father Donavich, a beloved son.  I ask you Dormark, if you were the things I described could you remain quiet whilst people were being tormented in their homes?!  Doru couldn't".

"We opposed the Count.  A group of us from the village.  We went to his Castle up there".  Ismark points angrily at the Castle overlooking the village.  "The fighting did not last long.  We were no match for them - a bunch of village folk with farming tools against all nature of foul demon.  Doru was... taken".  Ismark struggles to continue on, "He DONE things to him Dormark.  Killing the lad was not enough for Strahd!  He wanted to send a message.  He MADE Doru his message - turning the lad, Doru, into the demon he opposed.  Turning him into a... Vampire."

A great weight seems to have come off of Ismark's shoulders as he blurts out the tale.  A weary looking Donavich looks up at Dormark, his voice so broken and frail that is hard to hear, "It is... true.  Doru, my dear son, an... abomination.  Cursed in the eyes of the Dawnfather.  Beyond salvation".

Quote from Kimvilla111 >>

Valerie follows Mary up to the room. "Yes, we’re not from here. To be honest, I don’t know how I even get here." She sighs and continues walking. 

She is surprised by the insane amount of locks that are on the door. She curiously looks at Mary wondering why she had to locked her daughter up in a room like this. Though she does not say anything.

When the door opens, she walks in and have a look around taking in everything that she possibly could. "Can you tell me where are Rose and Thorn are? I would like to ask them some questions." She then points to the cushion. "Does Gertruda have a pet?"

Valerie's words snap Mary from her daydreaming, "What? Oh, sorry, yes.  That blasted dog of hers - Lancelot, she called him.  Still, having the thing did keep her amused, provided her with some company, you know", Mary smiles fondly at the reminiscing, "she is ever so good with animals.  Truth be told I have not seen Lancelot since Gertruda left, I assumed that she had taken him with her."

"The Durst house is to the Northeast of the village.  It's a strange place.  I would treat it with some caution.  Oh I should never have let my little Gertruda associate with those children!  Look what has happened to her!"  Once again Mary appears to be on the brink of tears.

Valerie quickly reassure Mary. "Don’t worry. We will find out what happened to your daughter and bring her back to you." 

She turns to Ioben. "Do you want to ask anything?" Then she walks out of the room. 

“It is not a strange thing in the line of a cleric to hear of undead beasts, but vampires are another class all together ... and I don’t think there is any know way to bring someone back from it,” he says shaking his head in pity of the situation. 

“So as I expected Strahd is a powerful and dangerous person, but we still don’t know why he brought us hear,” he mutters.

“So Doru is being lock in the basement out of the sun, how did that come to pass,” he asks trying to understand the situation more.

"Exactly as you say Dormark.  I am afraid we neither have the means or the ability to put him to rest."

Ismark whispers:

 "The Count played attempted to play us as fools when he sent Doru back - myself, Ireena and a number of the villagers managed to subdue him.  He was in a weakened state at the time - his mind is not stable."

"There was another matter I require your help with... as I mentioned earlier it is of a personal nature.  My father..."  Ismark pauses before continuing, "He passed recently.  His body still resides in the Burgomaster's Mansion."  he coughs awkwardly, "I was going to move his body to the church earlier but... well, I am afraid Dormark.  Afraid that there will be an attempt to take his body.  Afraid that the Devil would use this opportunity to further mock the people of the village.  I require an escort."

Regarding being sure his mother is still alive, Baern hangs his head low and replies "I...I can't be sure."  "But I must know what happened to her, at least.  She just disappeared from our home one day, more than two years ago."  The dwarf reaches for the letter in his pocket.  "Could this Count Strahd really have something to do with it?  He mentions the fog, 'his fog', in his letter, and mentions my mother, I think.  He said she was trying to find her way home.  Did everyone receive a letter?"

“Understood the dead should be left alone to there peace... but I should inform you that I spent a long night out in wilderness with the others, and spent most of my abilities fighting off monsters we met on the road, scarecrows, he said hoping that the mention will let Ismark know what they dealt with. My ability to protect you will be lowered until I have a chance to properly heal, and prepare myself, if you wish to take the risk,” he says not sure how dangerous Ismark believes the transportation to be.

Quote from Hexblade37 >>

Regarding being sure his mother is still alive, Baern hangs his head low and replies "I...I can't be sure."  "But I must know what happened to her, at least.  She just disappeared from our home one day, more than two years ago."  The dwarf reaches for the letter in his pocket.  "Could this Count Strahd really have something to do with it?  He mentions the fog, 'his fog', in his letter, and mentions my mother, I think.  He said she was trying to find her way home.  Did everyone receive a letter?"

Sandu suddenly remembered that he had, indeed, a letter. 'Now that you mention it.' He reached into his inner pocket and pulled up a slightly crumpled piece of paper. He had originally planned to read it when he had a moment to himself but in all the ensuing chaos he had all but forgotten about it. He folded it open and scanned the content. 

'Brought you to this land... Enigma... Barovia... Ismarck... sister... Von Zarovich.' Sandu mumbled. It did not seem there was much in the letter to go on. 'Sounds like old nobility.' He shrugged when he reached the end of the letter. 'Nothing about fog but clearly gives the impression nothing happens here without his permission. Old nobility indeed.' Sandu added with a sneer.

Von Zarovich. The name lingered in Sandu's thoughts. The name itself held or rather seemed to demand reverence. What kind of man is he?

Alder frowned, thinking about the letter stuffed into his own pocket. 

"Whoever this person is, they seem like they enjoy playing with people's lives. I don't really like the idea of being manipulated by some rich bastard in a castle." 

Ioben - Upon inspecting the window you see no clear signs of it being tampered with.  Though you imagine that it might be able to be jemmied open from the outside, there is no sign of that having been the case.  ((Apologies for not responding to your post earlier!))

Dormark - "I understand, certainly.  It may be wise to meet with the rest of your companions before we attempt to move my father.  In truth, the Count's servants have made attempts previously to break into my house.  I can only assume that they wish to take my father's body before we can put him to rest." Ismark at this point turns his attention to Donavich, "Father Donavich, my friend here was hoping you may help perform burial rites on this body he came across in the woods.  I'm afraid that no-one seems to know the identity of the corpse.  Mayhaps we could put him to rest whilst we are here?"

A little of the colour appears to have returned to Donavich's face since the events that recently transpired, "Of course Ismark.  A grave will need to be dug."  He looks expectantly at Dormark. "You look like an industrious fellow.  Are you able to assist?"

Ioben - Upon inspecting the window you see no clear signs of it being tampered with.  Though you imagine that it might be able to be jemmied open from the outside, there is no sign of that having been the case.  ((Apologies for not responding to your post earlier!))

((That's fine, if you didn't reply I was going to point it out))

Ioben continues to move around the room, inspecting it as Valerie talks. He could only imagine what it would have been like to be locked in here with a mother who still treated you like a child. I wonder when the last time Gerturuda was actually in this room? As he made his way back around to the door he thought back to his own youth, and the night he walked out on his parents. He knew what it as like to feel trapped.

She turns to Ioben. "Do you want to ask anything?" 

Ioben looked up from his reverie. "Oh, yes. When was the last time you saw Gertruda?" Ioben struggles with the disconnect between the picture they saw in the hallway and the way Mary describes her 'little child'. As he talks, he ponders how far he should push the old woman to break down this delusion.

Mary turns to face Ioben, "What's that deary?  The last time I saw Gertruda?  Just over a week ago, sir.  Please find her.  I don't know how she'll be able to survive alone out there, especially without me to protect her."

“I will help, but I would need a shovel to help if you have a spare,” says Dormark thinking about what Ismark has said feeling maybe something wasn’t fully adding up.

Donavich scratches his head, "Shovel... shovel... Ismark there should be a couple of shovels next to the entrance of the graveyard."

((Graveyard behind the Church))

Approaching the graveyard Dormark sees a fence of wrought iron with a rusty gate enclosing a rectangular plot of land behind the dilapidated church. Tightly packed gravestones shrouded by fog bear the names of souls long passed. All seems quiet.

"Here Dormark, over here!"  Ismark yells bringing with him two shovels.  "Multiple hands should make light work - especially given one of us is made of metal!"

Dormark - please make a Strength Check to see how long it takes you to dig the grave, you may make it with advantage (as Ismark is helping you).

As they walk back toward the front door, Ioben pauses one more time by the portrait in the hallway. The large eyes caught his attention, looking lost. "We will do our best to find her." As he is about to leave, something pricks at his mind. "I'm sorry, but I couldn't help but notice that those locks were on the outside of the door to Gertruda's room. What exactly were you trying to keep inside there? Were you scared of her?"

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