"A touching speech." A low voice calls out from nearby the church. As you look up to see, you find a strange man approaching the group slowly. He is a well-kept man with long, black hair and a tawny complexion, contrasted by what seems to be a glowing pair of honey-colored eyes. His attire makes him seem like a noble warrior, but crashing a funeral makes him anything but. Aside from that, you notice his pointed ears, something you recognize in your own reflection, but you figure since it is day out, this man is not a vampire... but an elf. You've seen elven adventurers, so its an educated guess you are able to make.

This man stops his approach about 20 feet away from you all. He extends his hand, in which he clutches a scroll. "I come bearing news for the dearest Ireena Kolyana. My master, Lord von Zarovich, extends his fondest greetings to you and..." this man casts a glance at all of you with a look of disgust. "... yours."

"...What? Why is he- No. Please leave. I do not want to deal with you or that... man." Ireena practically spits the word "man" out like poison. She narrows her eyes at him. "Leave."

"I cannot. I serve a greater power than you, Miss Kolyana."

"You would do well to do as she asked Master Elf. This funeral is for me and those that knew my father. You are interrupting something private and I will not tolerate you causing a disturbance while I say put my father to rest." Darya says, glaring at the elf with pure spite. She unknowingly bares her fangs, feeling an urge to rip opdn the elven man's throat and gorge on his blood. The feeling quickly passes as she shudders and shakes her head. 

(This man might see that, I will roll and you can contest with stealth, if you wish: 17)

"Disturb this sad occasion, I must, young lady." The man takes a few steps closer. "Accept this letter, Miss Kolyana, and my master will be satisfied. You wouldn't want the attacks to go on into the night, would you?"

Ireena looks frozen in place. Should she go grab the letter, someone else, or you?

(Honestly I figured he would know and use the knowledge to screw with her since she yet to come to terms with it. Let's see what she can get with stealth 8

If glares could start fires then Darya would have turned the letter to ash in the elf's hand but alas all she can do show her anger. She  considers calling upon her magic to simply burn it in a more traditional way but pauses as the parchment was meant for Ireena. "I think you should burn it or better yet not touch it at all. But the choice is yours to make."

(Miss with her he shall with that stealth haha)

The man's eyes flash as he turns his gaze to Darya and a cruel smirk plants itself on his lips. He remarks, "I heard some of my master's spawn broke loose. Terrible thing, really, as one of them had been particularly cursed to spread one piece of the gift my master bestowed onto him. It interests my master greatly to know who may have received such a wonderful blessing."

"Wh-What?" Ireena stutters. "What does that have to do with anything?"

The elf considers Ireena as she seems stuck in place, like she might come closer, but isn't quite sure. He paces closer, moving slowly. As he moves, he speaks, "Never you mind, Miss Kolyana. Know only that there is no escape from this land, and if you desire a happy life the only thing required is..." Here he locks eyes with Darya, a threat glowing in his expression. "Obedience."

He has come close enough that Darya and everyone else starts to hear the sounds of screaming, shrieking, all of it seeming to come from the elf himself. They are all cursing at him, begging him for mercy, or just weeping. It sounds like hundreds of different voices in symphony with each other, all of their focus on the elf himself, who doesn't seem to notice or if he does... he doesn't care. One thing becomes clear, as all the voices scream and shout and cry at him, his name is...

"You may call me Rahadin. I'm Lord von Zarovich's chamberlain. One day, a day coming soon, those among you who have a lost feeling will be found at Castle Ravenloft. For now," Rahadin tosses the scroll which lands in Ismark's hands, "I leave this matter in your capable hands, Burgomaster."

"But he's not-" Ireena begins.

"Isn't he? I guess we shall see soon enough." Rahadin grins and in a snap of his fingers, vanishes.

As Rahadin disappears, Ismark suddenly lets out a gasp, struggling to breath. He puffs out, "That bastard cast some sort of spell on me! I couldn't speak at all!" 

Darya hides anything she might be feeling after what the elf said, stopping a hand from going to her neck where she had been bitten only days before. She turns back to the others, nodding at what Ismark said. "There are such spells that can make on unable to move. My father would have known more. For now I think we should be relieved that he had not resorted to violence.... I do not think we could have done much against him..."

"Damn that vampire..." Ismark's voice, laden with venom, cursed. His body quivered with rage which only stalled after Parry put his hand on the other man's shoulder.

"Later. For now, this is about Darya." Parry's words emerged as a whisper, his eyes leading Ismark to the coffin about to be interred into the ground.

Father Donavich begins the final rites for Darya's father, his voice as fragile as glass as he attempts to bring a sense of closure to those present. Yet his words were engulfed, not by grief as it should have been, but by an oppressive feeling. In the not-so-far distance, the cliff that overlooked the village acted as a dark cloud. Standing tall was Castle Ravenloft and, somewhere inside, was that damned vampire lord, Strahd von Zarovich. His essence clouded the occasion, and he didn't even need to be present to ruin this.

Once the funeral concluded, Father Donavich withdrew into the church, the sound of his son Doru wailing escaping for the brief moment he opened the door. Ismark, Ireena, and Parry stood quietly for a moment, before Parry asked, "Ismark... are you the burgomaster now? Did something happen?"

"No. That man was mistaken."

Darya is clearly agitated throughout the rest of the short funeral for her father, jamming a wooden marker into the ground above the place of his burial. Taking a few moments to say a final goodbye to her only family member, she slowly moves to join the others.

"If that elf is truly so close to Strahd then I fear to ignore anything he says even if it sounds ridiculous. We should check on your father."

All of you, even Parry, make your way to the burgomaster's manor only to find the front door broken in. Ismark dashes inside without a moment's hesitation. Ireena stares at the pieces of the door now laying strewn across the ground.

Darya draws out her arcane focus, moving to follow after Ismark while having Parriwimple stay with Ireena since she seemed to be to stunned to move.

You enter the parlor, your heart racing as your gaze falls upon Ismark standing with his back to you. The burgomaster is laid out before him, a dark pool of blood surrounding his body and thick rivulets of red pouring from multiple gashes in his flesh. His face is ashen and lifeless, and yet it is unmistakably that of the burgomaster.

Despite your alarm, there are no signs of intruders save for the cold air coming through the broken front door.

Parry and Ireena join you after a few moments, her face drained of color. Her mouth opens, but she cannot gasp. The air in her lungs refuse to visit such a horrid scene.

Ismark's deep voice is tight with emotion as he addresses you without turning away from his father's body. His fists clench, as if trying to ward off the pain of his loss. "It's not safe here," he starts, his voice rising with desperation. "Ireena must leave the village and head to Vallaki. Darya and Parry… you must guide her there, please." He finally looks up at you, his eyes pleading.

"We need supplies and a plan before we take even a step out of the village. Last time I attempted my father lost his life." Darya says as she nods to let him know she will help but the stern look on her face shows that she will not do so until there is some sort of plan set up.

"Yes, of course," Ismark nods, relief coming mixed with sorrow. "Darya, stay with Ireena. Parry and I will... take care of father." Ismark says, meaning to have Darya lead Ireena out of the area.

Ireena seems to be in shock, her eyes stuck wide. She simply nods.

Darya nods with a sigh as she pulls Ireena out of the house gently by the hand. She leads her friend to her own small house, figuring it would be a quiet place for Ireena to be.