Caine sighs and his shoulders slump slightly. 

"Oof. This place makes the Endshift back home look posh," Caine says as he takes in the main room. "It brings new meaning to depressing."

He heads to the bar, keeping an eye on the shadows in the corners that seem to dance in time to the movement of the flames in the hearth. The back of his neck prickles at the movement and he rubs it without thinking.

"Barkeep, what have you got that will make us forget this damn damp fog?" Caine begins before pausing "And do you know where we could find someone named Madam Eva?"

"Rooms as well, if you don't share the shopkeeper's same fear of customers."

Razi is feeling unwell, that poison gas from the haunted manor still leaving him short of breath.

Caine smiles.

”Well, that’s an offer I would never turn down.” Caine says at the offer of wine. He nods at the barkeep. “So what’s with mister excitement here? Bit slow?“

"Hang on!" Jim says. "I think I have something I could offer you for even greater value."

He then holds out his left hand, in a fist, over the bar. With his right hand, he begins to gesture and wave it over his left. He makes a grand spectacle of the action.

Under his breath, he mutters something indecipherable three times. Then he opens his fist and lets the contents of his hand fall onto the bar. It's a gold ring with a symbol on it.

"There you go," Jim says smiling. "That there is a ring from a royal family from the next land over. I'm sure that is worth alcohol and rooms for the night?"

(Casted Prestidigitation three times.
Deception: 18)

Unsure of how his roguish friends plan to handle this, Razi will allow them to do the talking for now.  Instead, he will walk the inside of the tavern, looking for art, decorations, or other indications of the history of this establishment, or the town it sits in.  Investigation:  9

Jim spins around to see the figure standing up in the corner, "I paid fair and square. Don't blame me if your employee seeks to make personal profit at a loss to you."

Caine watches the exchange with Jim and the stranger in the corner. Jim’s almost a bigger risk taker than Caine is. He’ll have to remember that.

He returns his attention to the man who offered to answer questions.

Caine holds out a hand to shake in greeting.

”Caine. Caine Turpin, of the Waterdeep Turpins. We seem to have been led to your charming village here under fairly sketchy circumstances. All we know is that someone named Madam Eva was who we should look up. And some old man gave us a fireside fairytale about some lord or wherever acting a bit weird.”

"We would really like to meet Madame Eva, maybe she has some answers for us we can use."

(If the man is whispering this, I assume Razi was not able to hear from across the room)

Noticing that one of the townsfolk was at last engaging with us in conversation, Razi makes his way over to Caine to hear what the man has to say.  Butting in, he tries to shake the man's hand.  "Good evening.  Pleasure to meet you.  Razikiel's the name.  We were sent to aid your community.  Got a bit tied up with a haunted house, no worries, though.  What can we do to help?"

Caine looks to the others at the mention of Strahd.

"We've seen what followers of Strahd get up to," Caine said. "We spent an eventful stay in a little house on the outskirts of town. Eye opening."

He looks at the sullen bartender.

"So where'd his soul go?" Caine says. "And how have you managed to hang on to yours?"

Caine looks back at the unnamed man, a puzzled look on his face.

"Vallaki? Is that outside of Barovia? Do you know a way out?"

Caine looks out the window to where Ismarck is pointing. The dark shape makes the back of his neck prickle. 

He looks around at the others and ushers them in closer and explains to anyone who didn't hear what Ismarck said about Strahd, the soulless, Vallaki, and Madame Eva.

"Sounds like we were conned into coming here," Caine says. "Don't appreciate that very much."

But he looks back up at the castle and smiles.

"But we might still be able to turn a profit on this venture. People with castles tend to be wealthy. I think we're owed a little something for our troubles."

He turns back to Ismarck and nods.

"Yeah, we'll . . ." he pauses after saying we'll and raises an eyebrow at the others to make sure they're on board before continuing, ". . .take Ireena to Vallaki if you give us directions to where Madame Eva is. She owes us too."