Upon realising that Nelyna's disappearance must be magical, Jim places his hands into the air. He reaches out trying to sense anything magical in the air. Any sign of any magical energy that he might be able to detect.

(Roll 18 Arcana: 23 or Perception: 18
Should be a -1 to Perception roll)

Caine looks up and down the road, drawing his rapier.

"Let's head back towards Daggerford," Caine says in a hushed voice. And not wanting to admit that magical dark forces may have just scooped up their companion, he adds "Maybe there was a fork in the road we missed and that's where Nelyna went."

He looks around for the other three.

"Where's Sleet?"

He moves closer to Jim and Razi.

"Back to back to back," Caine says, a touch of frantic energy fraying his voice. "Make sure no one can sneak up on us."

"The mists..." Razi mutters, as if in a trance.  He shakes his head and then beams a baffling smile, given the circumstances.  "There we are, reunited again.  Are you two alright?" he calls out to Sleet and Nelyna as he claps a reassuring hand on the shoulders of Jim and Caine.

Nelyna shakes her head. She is deeply troubled by this place and only slightly reassured at the reappearance of her companions. Now it seems they are all trapped in the mists. She wonders if this is some sort of magical illusion or trap or even if they have been transported to a different plane of existence entirely. 

Arcana - 21

@ DM

"I am alright my friend, thank your asking,  I believe we are in fog bound, we may need to rope ourselves together."

Jim gives up after a moment not being able to discern anything concrete.

"I do have a rope," Jim replies to Sleet. "Fifty feet long should be enough to tie us all together."

He then throws his backpack onto the muddy ground and begins to search his bag for the rope.

"Everyone to Jim and grab a section of the rope!  We must stick together!"

Caine looks around the clearing a little and at the pool where they found Sleet and Nelyna. At the sight of everyone here and unharmed he relaxes a little but only a little.

"So it would seem we've found the mists at sunset," Caine says, putting on a brave face. "But where are our guides."

As he steps over to the others as Jim gets his rope sorted out, Caine cups his hands and calls into the mist.

"Anyone out there? Stanimir?" Caine calls.

Then he looks at the others.

"Who were we supposed to meet? Madame somebody. Steve? Eve? No, Eva."

He turns back to the mist and shouts again, "Hey, Madame Eva, you out there?"

"I believe Madame Eva is in Barovia," Nelyna says, her voice shaky. "What a place to meet...this mist is awful."

She moves closer to Jim as he searches for his rope. Tying themselves together is a good idea. She doesn't want to spend another moment on her own in this mist.

"I wonder if this is part of the curse."  Razi looks out at the grim and twisted landscape.  "It looks like we have walked into a nightmare.  Don't let it get to you.  The light is with us and no darkness can stand against us."

As if to prove his own point, he touches his hammer and casts light.  The hammer glows, illuminating their surroundings on the dark and dreary road.

Caine nods in appreciation of Razi’s light, a touch of a real smile at the corners of his mouth.

"Well, I wasn't exactly paying attention to the story," Jim adds. "You'd have to tell me what that old man told you."

Recalling that Jim had missed much of the travelers' sales pitch, Razi does his best to relay the story.  "They said their ruler was once a great warrior prince.  They saved him when he was caught behind enemy lines and they escorted him home.  As a reward, he granted them rights to come and go from his lands as they pleased.  Now though, they say the ruler is beset by a terrible curse that has turned him into a monstrous tyrant.  But they still harbor love for the prince he once was and asked us to come and end his curse, and lay his soul to rest."

"The mists... the twisted trees... there is a dark power afoot here.  But whatever awaits us here, we are up to the challenge."  He checks to make sure they are all secured by rope.  Then he smiles, "So who is ready to get moving again?"

Nelyna shudders as Razi recounts the tale of the cursed prince again. Now that they are on actually on their way in this cold mist it is very easy to imagine the dark form of the prince, lurking in the shadows, waiting for them.

She double checks the rope tied about her waist and gives Razi a faint smile. "Ready."

"Why do my legs ache so much and my pack feel so heavy? We didn't go that far did we? I should not be this tired.  Does anyone recognize this place?  I sure don't."

"Magic," Caine says to Sleet. "Lots of magic. Those travelers conned us. They didn't mention any magic gate in the mist but that's what must have happened. We could have been in there for days or minutes."

He looks up at the headless statues and shudders as a chill runs up his spine.

"Might as well find what passes for a tavern here and get something warm and sit by the fire while we figure out what to do next."

Looking at the others, Caine shrugs and heads through the gates.