Dageron watches Shavaris and Johnathan carefully for queues that something is wrong that may be imperceptible to the others. Otherwise, he would have noted the grid-like nature of the streets on the way to the garage, sketching a basic map based on the position of notable features (buildings, rivers, neon signs, billboards, etc...). He makes a mental note to check with Gavin's crew later to see if they have a solid understanding of how to get back to this building if needed. 

During the ride Travin casts message and speaks into shavaris's mind, "I thinks it's time to gives Gavin back his orb hmmm? For now it's doing hims more good than harm, but Travin will keeps an eye on the situation, and if situation changes, Travin will handle it yeh yeh!".

As the group reach their destination, Travin get Gavin's attention. "Here, I haves this for you, a magic ring, seriously yeh yeh, with this ring Gavin will never be colds or lonely again, hmm? Gavin, you have your big brother back, and I'm nots going away again, yeh! You needs me here. But first we needs to fix a few things hmm?" Travin gives Gavin a Ring of Warmth, and instantly the chill of the night air does not effect the young man, nor will it ever as long as he keeps on the ring.

As the group arrive and leave the van, Travin hesitates, before getting out, then once out he turns to face the three humans who are staying behind. He gives each of them a smile and then casts a message to Gavin "weapons in the back, if things go wrong, protect yourselves and run. I will find you." 

Entering the hall, Travin doesn't hesitate, a feast is laid out and so he finds a seat at the table and begins eating, glancing up to the others and their hesitancy he figures that maybe he's doing something wrong, and so Travin gives a little 'oh!' of surprise before turning to Strahd and raising a chicken leg in his direction, "cheers! Yeh yeh!".

If the others do sit, or when the mood becomes a little less tense Travin asks through mouthfuls of food, loudly so all can hear, "where does it comes from hmm? Travin tried to cures all vampirismses because i'zza curse yeh? But it didn't works, why? Hmmm? Wheres is the curse from?"

Johnathan clenches his fist as he sees the vampire in front of them. When he taunts Shavaris with a drink he almost begins to scream. It takes all of his willpower to sit at the table without making a comment. Damn, this was not a good idea. I could never serve a vampire. NEVER.

Adam walks to the table, near Shavaris, in a protective manner.  “Your lady?  She’s not your lady, pally.  Why don’t you just cut all of the frilly crap and tell us why we are really here.  How did you know we are the Dawn Guard?  What do you know of our world, Mister… Straaaahd.  My name is. Adam by the way.  Of Eternia.  I don’t know what kind of a freakshow town we are in now, but we are here to listen to what you have to say.  So please, proceed.  Tell us how our interests are aligned…”

Ward sits back for the moment watching Straud closely, at some point taking out a bottle of holy water and slowly sipping it but nothing else.

As they head back in the van, Shavaris sits as far from Severen as she can and never takes her eyes off him.  Until Travin sends her his message.  She sighs, then digs in her pack for the orb and silently hands it back to Gavin "I didn't mean to steal this from you, I just...I'm worried about Sarah and want to find her.  Here, if you can find her?" 

The feeling of deja vu was weird, do people enter all buildings like this in this place? she wonders.  She aches for the safety and comfort of a forest and it makes her think of her Wandering Forest...she hopes the twisted maladies that happened to the forest near Adam's home did not reach to Hylia, she sighs, most likely though especially the way Dageron talks.

She raises an eyebrow at Severen when he offers juicy fruit having no idea what that is and was not going to take anything offered by this man.  The feeling the elevator gave her as it continued it's journey up was very dissettling and she was very glad to have her band mates with her.

The place was insane.  How did a home of vampires look so elaborate?  So luxurious?  It didn't make sense to her.  She cracks a smile as Travin runs over to the feast and starts digging in, but then her attention is fully on their host.

As he attempts to kiss the back of her hand, she recoils immediately, taking the hand he grasped and wringing it with her other one unsure of how to handle the situation.  How does he know who they are?  But as he offers her a chalice...

WIS save 10

Her pupils start to dilate and without realizing it she licks her lips and slowly nods...

Ward straightens up when Shavaris reaches for the chalice and turns to her, casting Enhance Abilities for wisdom and saying “Shav, are you sure?” 

Previously...

Gavin takes the ring and slips it on, and smiles at his brother.  

"Hey Travin...wow man.  That's really thoughtful."  He reaches out, hugging his older sibling.  "I'm sure this will all be over soon Travin.  I can't wait to have you home.  Things have just been so crazy.  I really appreciate what you've done to make things right for us."  

Strahd watches as Shavaris's eyes dilate...she nods her head yes...and then, somehow, refuses the offer he's made after Ward asks if she's sure.  Strahd just smiles and looks at Ward, then back at Shavaris.  

"Some people, huh?  They just suck the fun out of everything?  But!  More for me."  He says, withdrawing the offer of the chalice and taking a drink of it for himself.  His lips stain red with blood, and he licks them clean as he leans forward, uncomfortably close to Shavaris, before taking a deep inhale of air.  "Such a shame.  You'll have to embrace this side sooner or later...and I'd say, for you, it's sooner.  It doesn't hurt, just so you know.  I never knew the moment I died and became a child of the night."  

He stepped away from Shavaris after that, making his way back around the table.  He visibly rankles a bit at Adam, but it's clear he's controlling his temper as the genuine smile he had only seconds ago becomes a put on.  He's not very good at hiding his ire.  He takes a few deep breaths, and the flux in his smile seems to iron itself out and become genuine again. 

"Oh Adam.  Adam, Adam, Adam.  Sweet boy.  Didn't I tell you not to ask how I know that just two minutes ago?  I take it you're not very good at following instructions."  

He sits down and swirls the chalice, holding it up to his nose and giving it another sniff.  

"Let me put your mind at ease a little bit.  The sweet little donor who made this contribution..."  He holds the chalice up a little higher for emphasis...  "...is still alive.  You know what comes with money?  Capability.  Everyone always says ridiculous things like 'power'.  'Money and power, blah blah blah'.  Let me assure you money can be power...but power is nothing without capability.  My network of resources has found a wonderful supply of donors who are more than happy to come up every now and then and give blood.  A little needle stick and a tube and then...this.  I have the capability to make that happen without violence.  Without anyone getting hurt.  Without spreading the blessing to anyone who doesn't want it.  And that's where you all come in."  

Strahd sits the chalice down for a moment and claps his hands before looking back at the Dawn Guard in confusion.  

"Go on then, sit, sit.  We didn't prepare this meal for no reason.  It's perfectly fine to eat.  If I was going to try something against you all I would have done it while you were sleeping and vulnerable."  

A door in the back of the room opens, and a young man comes into the room carrying a folder before handing it to Strahd, who lays it on the table in front of himself.  

"Thank you."  The vampire says with a cordial smile, then dismisses the fellow with a flick of his wrist.  "Anyway.  I have issues.  A few issues, in fact, that I need help with.  And I want to be very clear about this before we move forward.  I have something of yours, as I instructed Severen to inform you.  I'll have it brought out shortly.  I'll be giving it back to you on a timed loan.  Should you fail to uphold any portion of your end of the bargain, you'll lose it forever.  I've already made the necessary preparations to assure this.  That may seem a bit heavy handed but..."  

Mr. von Zarovich shrugs and holds his hands out as if to say 'what do you do?' before picking up the chalice and taking another drink.  

"...you don't get to be as successful as I have been by being a complete idiot.  I am prepared to be fair with your team, but, as you may appreciate, I have to make sure my own interests are sufficiently protected.  You can like it or not, but you would do the same to me if you were in the dominant bargaining position.  Once you have completed the two jobs I have asked of you, your property will default back to you and I will never trouble you again.  As a matter of fact, I may even help you, should you need it.  But that will be completely dependent upon how things go."  

The vampire picks up the folder and pulls out two documents.  The first is a piece of paper with an address.  The second is a picture of the front of a corner-building.  He passes the information around for everyone to look at. 

"First of all, let me address the elephant in the room.  Obviously I'm a vampire.  Obviously I'm aware of this, and you're aware of this, as are my associates.  You'll be glad to know we are not in the business of spreading the blessing anymore than we absolutely must, and we haven't welcome new family in many, many decades.  We try to do everything the clean and consensual way.  We like keeping a low profile.  We want our success without all the bibs and bobs of bad behavior.  I know you can all appreciate that.  We haven't needlessly killed anyone in a long time, and yes, this includes even for feeding.  Only those who have attacked us and would otherwise do us harm.  Real harm, mind you.  Not the supposed harm of attacking our reputations, our business, or so forth.  By real harm of course I mean they've tried to stake us or...well, whatever.  Now...here's where we meet in the middle..." 

Strahd points at the paper that is making its way around the table. 

"I am no idiot.  You don't get where I am by being blind and stupid.  I alluded to something like that already, yes?  I've heard rumblings of what is going on with the Carpathian.  Ooh, what a title.  We have spies in his multitude, and I assure you, it is multitudinous.  His tendrils have leached their way into every crack and crevice of this city.  And to be fair, sure, I have my own out there...but discretion is my game.  It comes with money and at least a little loyalty.  We keep our numbers small and we don't hurt people.  The Carpathian, however, doesn't have these same values.  Bodies are piling up.  Arcane forces are escaping into the city.  And then of course there is this portal and these Stormtroopers...and all of that is from your world.  I am sure that has more than a little bit to do with why you're here.  I'm also sure that the fact that he has taken a woman that seems to be of keen interest to Jareth and some in your cohort has something to do with it as well.  I need rid of the Carpathian, you have business with the Carpathian, whatever that may be, and the Carpathian has this woman, and I can get you to him, and by default, her.  Now..."

He takes another drink and then claps his hands together.  A servant comes through the door with another chalice and sits it in front of him.  Strahd thanks his servant and then steeples his fingers.  

"...we can get to this together.  Sure it'll require more blood on your hands than mine but you won't be staying in New York anyway.  I will be.  And the more distance I have the better.  I have assets.  I can support you.  As a matter of fact, I have some fancy little magical gizmos I can give you that will disguise you as humans, and even change the appearance of that monstrous vehicle that's all over the news.  If you're interested in helping me, I'll give them to you at no cost, no expectation of return, and no hidden agreements or any crap like that.  They're yours.  And I'll give you your property, which I'm sure will be very, very useful.  I can even help you get the position of Vigo's lair.  All I need first is for you to eliminate the threat at that address."  

He points again to the documents.  

"The people at this location are the equivalent of wizards.  They posses arcane knowledge and capabilities that are a direct threat to me and my retinue.  I need them eliminated.  And before we make this a philosophical game, let me assure you that if the tides were turned and they found her first..."

He points directly at Shavaris.

"...they would not hesitate for a single second to destroy her.  They stand directly between us and Vigo, muddying the path to the Carpathian anyway.  Four men.  A woman.  And I'm sure you can find some wonderful toys there to play with."  

He takes another drink.  

"So what's it going to be?  You scratch my back, I scratch yours?  Or shall we finish eating and call it a night?  I hate to waste your time if you're not interested."  

Ward grins back at Strahd when he gets annoyed at Shav resisting the blood. "Not all of us have said resources for a constant stream of ethical blood, and need to be careful regarding it. Something it seems your status may have made you forget. Our world doesn't exactly have the same capabilities in that department." Ward says as he drops the grin. 

"You say that these I'm guessing vampire hunters are indiscriminate if I understand. Why don't you let us put that to the test? Maybe we have one of us, probably me since I likely have the least risk of whatever they may do to my body, coming across as a newly turned vampire, looking for help and going to them. If they attack me, we shall deal with them, if not, and they are reasonable. I'm sure we could work out an arrangement between the two of you, because quite frankly with the capabilities and indiscretion that The Carpathian is showing we could both use however many folks to deal with them." Ward says, looking to both the group and Strahd for their reactions.

Travin swallows the gob full of food he has and begins pointing at Strahd with a chicken bone, "you knows, people what are actually clever don't need to reassure themselveses of that fact multiple times during a verbals tirade hmmmm?

And you still didsn't answer Travin's question yeh yeh! This 'blessings' where is it froms? Hm? 

As for the location, it is easy to blow up a corner building, hmmm? Faulty Gas pipeses, letter bombs, house fire, hells even stealth assault.. vampires are capable adversaries yeh yeh! So what is the catch? Hmm? Why do you needs us? We are loud and usually cause a scene" Travin takes a golden hand from his pile and places it on the table, middle finger extended and facing toward Strahd, as if to make his point on their loudness as he continues speaking through his food "you either think Dawnguards is more capables than your force, OR you is using us for other reasons? Hmmm?" 

Blessing? Blessing to lose yourself and morals, to have a hunger that never ceases and to always be a threat to anyone that is close. Blessing? Johnathan hand shakes with rage as he listens to Strahd describing the curse. Believe it or not I was once like Shavaris as well so I know exactly how it feels. The constant pressure to feed, it nearly destroyed me. Johnathan stops himself from saving any more on this. He didn’t want to cause a fight for that party with vampires. 

Johnathan continues to listen as Strahd explains the mission ahead of them. So we have to fight wizards that hunt any with vampirism? They would hunt Shavaris if left unchecked. Very well, if it means we can get what we lost back and help keep Shavaris safe. Johnathan looks to the others to see how they are reacting to this.

Strahd picks up the first chalice, finishes the contents, and then sits it down before picking up the second one and swirling it about, watching the crimson ichor inside cling to the sides.  He makes a show of ignoring Travin's stunt with the finger. 

"You'll find that sometimes the simplest solutions are the best."  He says in answer of Ward's idea before shifting his gaze to Travin, his smile once again fading.  "And perhaps not, but I get the feeling from the tones and condescending responses that I'm receiving that the lot of you have an impression of me that may be inaccurate.  And perhaps when you've found a way to live like this..." 

He raises his arms and gestures around the room for emphasis.  

"...and to do it without being unnecessarily cruel and destructive...well.  It does a little certain something for the ego.  Did you know that, in this world, people donate blood all the time, for many different reasons?  Sometimes it even pays very well, such as in the instance that a rich corporation uses it to satiate their innate needs without causing harm, all under the guise of pharmaceutical research?   Ah, but you wouldn't know anything about that.  What's the difference in what I'm doing, and what anyone else is doing that buys blood?  As for the catch, didn't I explain to you that I wanted distance?  Without blood directly on my hands?  That you didn't have to stay in New York when all this is done but I do?  And that they were a direct threat to me and my associates wellbeing?  Maybe I wasn't clear enough with all that.  I apologize for being long winded.  You start blowing things up in New York City, and then you get a lot of undo attention.  I'm an opportunist.  I have an opportunity to use an elite team to dispose of a problem that will be out of sight and out of mind once they've done their business here and it can never come back to me.  What is hard to understand about that?  

What if I told you that I don't know where the blessing comes from?  I suspect it has something to do with the Carpathian.  But I don't know for sure, and my creator disappeared a long, long time ago.  We have a saying around here.  In this world, I mean.  'Don't look a gift horse in the mouth'.  Do you know what it means?  Horses are generally assessed by the condition of their teeth.  Old, dirty, rotten, wore out teeth are an indicator of age and longevity.  Young, vibrant, long, healthy teeth mean you've been given a good, young horse.  But by looking the horse in the mouth, you've tried to assess the age of a gift, you understand?  It's terribly rude, when what you should be doing is thanking your friend, who has given you the gift."  

Another drink of the chalice.  His eyebrows raise as he drinks, as if in realization.  

"I mean that about being blessed with the gift I have received, of course.  That's not a dig at my guests by any means."  

The smile.  

"If a cure is what you wanted, then I'm glad you found it."  Strahd says to Johnathan, raising the chalice to toast the air in the Warlock's direction.  "The blessing isn't for everyone.  C'est la vie.  I do appreciate you being the pragmatic one.  Thank you."  

He rolls back his sleeve and looks at a device on his wrist.  

"Lady and gentlemen, I am a busy man with many important things on my plate.  What's it going to be?  Do you want to sit here and continue to try to insult your patron, or are you ready to get this show on the road?  There are only a few sins, in my book, and one of the greatest is wasting time."  

Dageron stands from his seat a few moments after Strahd finishes speaking. "I am General Dageron, of the Aureki. My people's legions had served under many undead, but never Vampires. That said, we studied all kinds for strengths... and weaknesses. Perhaps I can bridge the obvious trust gap here." He waves a hand between Strahd and the Dawn Guard. "What you present is an empire built in the shadows of this world of seemingly magicless, ignorant Humans. Aside from the innate disdain most amongst my team have for Undead, much less intelligent and proud Undead fully willing to use their gifts to subserviate Humans, they are also one and all agents of chaos. Your presentation is one of promises, assurances, entreaties of logic and civility. Theirs is a world of emotion and emotional damage - both carried and inflicted. They are not a diplomatic envoy, they are a tactical weapon of disruption. You seem to understand their capabilities, but not their limits. Trusting you is outside their capabilities. It won't happen. That said..." He looks to the others, "...there is no reason we cannot proceed without trust. The Dawn Guard do not need assurances to prevail, and will come to their own conclusion on the information you provide. If this group you seek us to destroy are righteous liberators of Human-kind from your expansive shadowy organization, rightly seeing you as an existential if not literal threat to their world, then the team will likely take pause in destroying them. In that case, as Ward has alluded, they would seek another solution. But... if they are operating in conjunction with this Carpathian, then a tool of an enemy is still an enemy. I believe your entreaty carries promise, and suggest to my fellows we use you as you would use us - as much as possible. Does that not meet everyone's needs?" With that, he sits back down. Dageron does not eat or drink anything provided by a Vampire. They are notoriously untrustworthy and opportunistic. 

Ward points at Dageron and gives a thumbs-up. "What he said. As well, if we are going to be dealing with this Carpatian later on what specific I guess breed of vampire they are? I noticed you don't like what is in my flask obviously, but to what degree they are weak to such things, spices like garlic etc. would be helpful. From what it seems you two groups could very well be divergent species based on your missing bit of history of how your bloodline got here." Ward smiles at the accidental pun as he says it

Strahd smiles and slow claps for Dageron as he succinctly summarizes the impasse.  

"It's a pleasure to meet you, General Dageron."  Strahd says, smiling toward the Hobgoblin as he digests what he's said.  "Well said, well said.  I do want to be clear about something, though.  I don't trust you.  I don't expect you to trust me.  I expect results.  And I'll be very upfront that I have taken certain precautions to protect myself from any action you may want to take against me.  I'm just trying to be honest with your team because, well, frankly, I have no reason not to be.  If I wish for you not to know something, I just won't tell you.  Such as when I said 'a good magician doesn't tell his secrets' or however I said it.  No lie.  Just not going to tell you."  

He leans forward, his elbows on the table, his hands splayed as if offering up some profound...something...to the group as he speaks.  He pauses long enough to look at Ward.  

"'Breed of vampire', as if you're shopping for a puppy."  He says, his voice clearly suppressing offense.  He takes a moment to turn his neck to the side and crack it as if to release pressure.  "Boy, you're a trying one.  I'm not going to give you that information, at least not right now.  I might tell you later, after this job is complete and I have a reasonable expectation of your confrontation with the Carpathian not blowing up in my face, but as far as telling you now?  Absolutely not.  I just told you not ten minutes ago that I'm not an idiot.  I believe in my assessment."  

He turns his head over his shoulder and snaps his fingers, then says something about 'bringing out the contract kit' or something to that effect.  A servant brings out an ornate wine glass, a small, black knife, a feather pen, and a couple of rolls of vellum.  

"Please.  I entreat you.  Please pay close attention to what I am about to say because it will save both our parties a lot of pain in the ass later, okay?  I'm going to say this again, so there is no misunderstanding of deception.  I have taken precautions against you.  Do you all understand that?  You're dangerous.  I'm dangerous.  We don't need any sort of conflict between us.  

I expect a commitment to perform this job in order for you to get your property back.  

I have already begun the process of placing an enchantment on your property that ensures you can't receive it and just skip out on your commitment.  I'll finalize it when the property comes out.  You will not receive it without this finalization.  This enchantment comes with a time limit.  Less than a week total.  Maybe five days.  I won't know until I seal the deal, so to say.  If you decide you're somehow the moral arbiters who get to choose what happens to this first group of targets, well, you have the same timeline to get the job done.  

At the end of that timeline, or should I be destroyed, the enchantment will be triggered and your property will be obliterated.  I want to be very clear about that.  I will not, and I'll say this again for emphasis, I will NOT lift the enchantment until I'm rid of these first targets as well as the Carpathian.  Once that is done, I'll break the enchantment, perhaps issue a bonus, and see you on your way with the full support of Barovia International."  

Strahd picks up the glass, shows it around the table, turns it upside down, demonstrates it is in fact empty, before sitting it back down on the table.  Next he picks up the small knife, shows it off, turns it about so that the band can see it is, in fact, just a small knife.  Taking it in his right hand, he uses the heel of his right hand to push back his left sleeve, showing there is nothing up it (except sleeve tattoos) and shows his hand off to demonstrate there is nothing there save for his flesh.  Slowly he slides the blade across his palm, opening a gash for blood that is so dark it is almost black to flow out, before squeezing his fist over the top of the wine glass.  Blood speckles the sides and fills the bottom of the glass.  

"Anticipating a need to move forward is all.  Should you change your mind, I dump the glass, and you are beholden to nothing.  On that note, you can leave at any time.  There is nothing I or my retinue will do to keep you here or impede your departure.  Ah, General Dageron, I meant to say this..."  

He picks up a cloth napkin and makes a fist around it to staunch the bleeding.  

"Everyone is someone's hero...and someone else's villain.  I have no desire in world domination, or destruction, or actual harm.  It's counterintuitive to my longevity.  Look at me.  I'm comfortable.  I want to live out my days, for lack of a better term, in peace and contentment.  Sure, that comes with a little discomfort for others, and you can choose to believe me or not when I say we don't hurt or kill humans, but I ask you this; do I deserve to be hunted, hounded, and destroyed for existing when I have simply played the hand fate has dealt me in the least destructive way possible?  Righteousness is in the eye of the beholder, General, and I assure you that this world would destroy everyone at this table if they were given the opportunity."  

The vampire pauses for a moment, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath as he thinks about something.  

"You can have whatever opinion of me you want.  I'll accept it.  But I assure you that whatever you think of me, the Sorrow of Moldovia is infinitely worse, and an actual threat.

That's all I have to say.  I apologize for being so long winded.  I just make sure I give business partners as much information up front as I can.  It's for you to do with as you will."  

Ward nods knowingly when he is called a pain in the ass. "I will say, I did not mean offense with that one. It is simply my best descriptor, nature, and animals are more of what I best understand. As well, we don't intend to kill you, obviously, you don't need to trust us but I mean if you never reached out any confrontation with you would have been by chance is what I mean to say. I trust your intentions are clear, I just have doubts about if you and this group have made fair assessments of each other. " Ward says, trying to be genuine as possible. "Now come on, what is the item? We have our guesses but you have put us in quite an amount of suspense. And for my part if we do capture them I would simply like to bring them here and hash everything out that way. Our group isn't exactly, well-suited, for diplomacy." Ward chuckles at the last part

"I am undoubtedly the villain to my fellows any other day than the end of days which we have known in the time we have served together. I understand your words and their intended meaning. Though I believe in your case the greater truth is that you cannot conquer this world and never could. If the Humans, en masse, knew of you they would destroy you. That is their nature, and you almost certainly know they would succeed in the trying. An entire world of just Humans... that is the nightmare of the perceived inevitability of our own world for many of the hard races. Humans devour everything eventually..." He pauses, letting the twinge of the threat sink in - if you betray us we won't have to beat you, this world can do that for us. "You had earlier mentioned revealing what this item that once belonged to the Dawn Guard is. I admit, I do not understand the reason for the suspense here, though you may have keen reasons for it. Perhaps you could now tell us what this object is, so its value can be assessed by the others? I say the others, because there is nothing I hold so high in value as to merit so much... preparation on your part. No item which could achieve what I seek. The time limit you intent to impose may be moot if they do not deem the item worthy, and regardless, we may still have cause to work with you."

Trav looks surprised and actually quite pleased with dageron and his affirmation of the group, or at least what Travin understands as an affirmation, and then Strahd keeps talking, laying out the plan though not addressing Travin or his "Travin thinks we should fight yous anyway, yeh yeh! test your defensees when's this is all dones hmm? Show you where your weaknesses lie, though travin knows one weakness already, yeh yeh! answering damn questions" it seems Travin is getting frustrated at this point, to the extent that he has stopped eating and several items of silverware  have gone missing from his place.

Let’s stop messing with Strahd at this point and get on with the mission. He is not why we are here. We need to save Sarah and the more we argue with him the more likely she will be killed. I don’t particularly like working with vampires but his terms are reasonably and we gain much from this so let’s just agree and move on. Johnathan stops to look at Travin as he seems to want to fight for some weird reason. Travin, please don’t fight Strahd over some test! Vampires are not easy opponents and we would lose our only lead. Besides, I don’t think Strahd sees his forces are weak, I think he just wants to remain anonymous when eliminating these wizards. Remember, he might have other enemies and if he exposes himself now that might bring them here. However, the dawn guard don’t care who we upset and will just complete our mission. 

Adam is standing there taking in all of these words, hearing the proposal, the “wine”, yadda, yadda, yadda.  Something is bugging him.  Something that Strahd is purposefully keeping murky.   He speaks up and asks, “The equivalent of wizards you say.  Who exactly are they?  “Four men and a woman.”  You must know who these people are, what they are aiming to do, you must have more information than this.  I need to know more before I could make any agreement.  And this object, this property of ours, what is it, exactly?  I don’t know how you can hope for us to reach an agreement with you when you are so vague in certain parts of this arrangement.  I have a bad feeling about this…”.    Adam stands with his arms crossed, a look of disapproval on his face about the whole thing.