Burr stumbles downstairs obviously not well rested.

" Seems Sorens witch has decided to enter my dreams as well.....i guess she can't get enough of us outlanders and our wild imaginations."

Soren, it appears that there were two people wearing commoner type footwear.  They had tools as the digging was done with a shovel and not by hand.  From what you can see, it looks like they exited out through a ground-level window into the undercroft, just barely large enough for a person to squeeze into.  

When you notify Father Lucien, you find him upstairs, tired and sweeping the church much as you found him in the morning yesterday.  He is at first confused by what you tell him, but upon following you down into the undercroft, he grows quite alarmed.  Looking at the hole under the altar, he goes ashen white, and sits down heavily against the stone lid.  "It... it was said that the bones of the Saint were interred here, beneath the cathedral.  I never saw them, and was never certain they were truly there... sometimes truth and legend grow blurry with time.  Yet... something is different.  I felt it last night, but thought I was just tired, or worrying over nothing...".

He looks up at Soren, deadly serious.  "I am fearful that this holy place has been desecrated.  I no longer sense the hallowed protection that I and my parishioners rely upon for sanctuary here."  He looks back at the hole.  "Who would do such a thing?  And why?  This makes no sense."

Back at the Blue Water Inn, Urwin and Danica have baked fresh bread which they toast for the adventurers, before wishing you well on your journey to the winery.

Zefla almost bounds downstairs smelling the fresh bread wafting it's way up the stairs.  She doesn't feel great, but rested and the smell is enough to get her moving.  As she enters the common area and sees Burr, she stops.  Seeing the long face, bags under his eyes and his worn down look, she asks, "Are you alright?  The witch entered your dreams? Oh man, that isn't good.  I sure hope Soren was able to sleep it off last night.  What did you dream?"

She also greets the proprietors, "Morning Urwin and Danica.  Thank you so much for the fresh bread, it's one of my favorites!  Once Soren gets here, we'll be on our way."  She glances at Burr to make sure he is still on board with this statement.

Desecration...

Soren's heart sinks at Father Lucien's words.  A faint, yet gut-wrenching echo of his feeling when the volcano had rendered his forest home a fiery inferno.

"The... bones of Saint Andral?  They protect this place?  Or did...  Perhaps that is why I noticed that something seemed to hold back the encroaching mists when we first arrived here with Ireena and Saskia.  This hoped for safety is why I took refuge here to escape Morgantha's preying on my dreams."

Still sleepy but more lucid than yesterday, he tries to think, finding himself torn.  "Father Lucien.  My companions and I have promised more than one pack that today we will visit the Wizard of Wines, whose wares seem to keep the people of this town happy, as well as those just outside it.  Yet I see how grave the situation is here.  I can tell you from the tracks in the disturbed dirt that it appears to have been two humanoids wearing ordinary shoes.  One of them must have had a shovel and some other heavy tools to dig and pry up the altar.  With your permission, I can quickly attempt to follow the tracks?"

Thinking further, he adds, "At the same time, might it be wise to for you to make a circuit around this territory to see whether any of those who reside or work here, or who kept vigil last night, appear to be missing when they should not?  Or have dirt covering their clothing or shoes?  Or have a shovel?"

Knowing Burr, Zefla and Giles are waiting for him at the Blue Water Inn, if Father Lucian gives him permission, Soren immediately attempts to follow the tracks in the dirt from the undercroft window as best he can while they are fresh.  Beseeching Silvanus' for guidance once more.

Soren Survival plus Guidance:  10 + 3 = 13

Quote from kqstark >>

Zefla almost bounds downstairs smelling the fresh bread wafting it's way up the stairs.  She doesn't feel great, but rested and the smell is enough to get her moving.  As she enters the common area and sees Burr, she stops.  Seeing the long face, bags under his eyes and his worn down look, she asks, "Are you alright?  The witch entered your dreams? Oh man, that isn't good.  I sure hope Soren was able to sleep it off last night.  What did you dream?"

" Death. A friends death."

" I was hag-ridden and could not assist or escape...."

Soren, Father Lucian gives you his blessing to perform your search.  You are able to follow the tracks from the window, out to the main road in front of the church.  It appears one set of tracks splits off to the south, where there is only one small neighborhood between the church and the wall.  The other set of tracks heads off east, deeper into the town.  Unfortunately, you lose both tracks less than a block away from the church.

Bitterly disappointed with himself at the failure of his usually sharp tracking skills, Soren lopes back inside Saint Andral's to find Father Lucian, explaining what little he found of the two sets of tracks to the priest.  He then hesitates for a moment, truly torn as to what to do next.

"Father Lucian.  I feel in my own bones that we must aid you.  When we brought Ireena here two days ago, she was escaping the darklord's reach.  I could not help but feel that the storm which followed after reflected his wrath.  From the tracks, some who dwell in this joyous town may be part of his pack, or have been fooled or intimidated by him, stealing Saint Andral's bones which ward this cathedral to remove the protection they offer.  My little group have promised to help with the Wizard of Wines today.  And I have no scent to follow here now."  (Once again, Soren looks crestfallen at his own failure).

"I will return, perhaps tonight, enlisting my companions' help if I can to track the bones.  Meanwhile, as I suggested, perhaps consider if someone in your pack here at Saint Andral's may have been one of the two thieves, providing safe passage.  Keep your senses open for any who have smudges of dirt on their clothing, face or shoes, or who shy away from facing you.  Or for a shovel with signs of fresh dirt.  Any clue may suggest how to recover the bones.  I do not know if you should alert Izek and the Baron's men.  They seem heavy-handed and misguided.  I leave that up to you."

With that, if Father Lucian has nothing more for him,  and if he himself sees no one who appears to have dirt on them or be holding a shovel, Soren trots back through the streets of Vallaki to the Blue Water Inn, his heart heavy.

Giles descends the stairs with a stretch, reaching up to barely touch the support of the stairs above as they wind upwards, stretching and smiling like a runner crossing the finish line.  He has a self pleased look on his face, like he got lucky the night before, smiling in his own thoughts as he finallly reaches the last step, smelling newly baked bread and following his nose.  “Morning.” he announces to the room, and no one in general.  He walks forward, scratching his sides, sitting at the table with Zefla and Burr.  He takes one look at Burr and says, “What the hell?  Have nightmares, did ya?  You look a mess!”  Giles has a seat and raises his hand, calling over for some of the bread and any juice or other usual morning time fare.  

Soren, Father Lucian is joined by Ireena as you depart.  She promises to assist the priest in his investigation and will help him keep this matter as quiet as possible to avoid panicking the parishioners.  

[Soren arrives back at the Blue Water Inn, in time for toast...]

Soren rushes into the Blue Water Inn looking much better rested, though still not quite at full health and slightly out of breath.  Yet trouble clearly creases the druid's brow and he looks ready to launch into an explanation for his companions, and perhaps for Urwin as well.

But that is when he notices the state that Burr is in and color drains from his already pale face.  (Passive Perception:  16)

Soren looks at the big man with a sinking heart and whispers a name, a statement, not a question.  "Morgantha."

Zefla turns to see Soren enter and she notices the trouble etched on her friend's face.  As he states, Morgantha, Zefla nods.  "I'm afraid so.  He had a terrible nightmare about a friend's death.  But what happened to you?"

Soren walks slowly up to Burr and looks up at the man's face.  There are tears in the corners of the druid's eyes, and his voice sounds half-strangled.

"I... I saw and felt the destruction of everything and everyone I loved.  Maybe you did too.  I am sorry.  For me it was... the fire.  I will never forget it.  She made me relive it the entire night while crushing me.  Sitting on my chest and draining all the life out.  And behind the flames, the creaking of a windmill."

With a shuddering gasp, he brings himself back from remembering the witch-induced nightmare, turning to face Zefla.  But his voice remains quiet.

"I feel better today, though not fully recovered.  Perhaps Morgantha can only haunt one of us on any given night.  Or perhaps the cathedral of Saint Andral's wards protected me where I slept.  But those very wards - the ones that may have protected me, that keep the encroaching mists at bay from the cathedral... I think they may even have shielded Ireena who is there, a sanctuary the darklord cannot reach.  My instinct tells me that is the cause of the violent storm two days ago when we arrived.  The darklord's anger and frustration that one he considers his own was taken from his grasp."

Soren draws a deep breath before continuing.  "Those wards have been stolen.  The Bones of Saint Andral, Father Lucian believes.  He feels the absence of their protection.  Thieves, perhaps coerced by the darklord, dug last night underneath the altar using a shovel and some form of block and lever, leaving dirt everywhere.  The two sets of tracks leave the grounds, then split, one towards lairs just between the cathedral and the city walls, and the others east, deeper into Vallaki.  I am ashamed to say I lost the trail from there.  I have told Father Lucian we have made promises to many that we will visit the Wizard of Wines today, but also assured them that I will help him hunt down the bones if I can upon returning, and that I would try to persuade you three to do the same.  He and Ireena will investigate the cathedral today and check if anyone saw any interlopers or has smudges of dirt on them."

Burr clasped Sorens shoulder with a silent nod.

" It seems from having little to do we find ourselves with jobs overflowing....lets get this wine business sorted then....if the bones were keeping the place safe we cannot delay long on that front."

He jammed his remaining breakfast in his pockets and headed toward the door.....though lethargy stole some of the lustre from his bravado....

"Aye, Wizard of Wines first."  Soren takes a small bit of bread if offered before joining Burr out the door.

"Then help Father Lucian recover Saint Andral's bones, and then I fear we may need to confront the witches at the windmill before it is too late for all of us.  The werewolf den over the mountain lake in the Forest of Wolves may have to wait."

He stops for a moment to look back at Urwin.  "Who should we speak with at the Wizard of Wines?  Who leads the pack there?"

"His name is Davian.  He's kin of mine, though we're estranged.  He's an old and stubborn man, but honest to a fault and dependable.  That's what has this delay bothering me.  I'm worried one of their wagons may have found trouble on the road.  Most of his ferriers are my kin as well, so it's an unwelcome thought."  He looks like he is debating what to say, and then he adds, "If you have trouble with him, let him know I sent you.  It might not help... but I hope he still has enough respect for me to trust my character judgement." 

"Safe travels."

At the western gate, the guards step aside to let you pass, with the customary 'All will be well's along with a reminder that tomorrow is the Festival of the Blazing Sun, and that all Vallaki residents and visitors are expected to attend.

Urwin's well wishes were prophetic.  The walk from Vallaki is clear and easy.   You start out, passing the cluster of fortified huts just outside of town and continue on west, retracing some of your steps from yesterday's exploring.  You spot several estates, set off from the road.  Most look long abandoned, but a few of them show signs of fortification and may still be occupied. 

Eventually, you come to a crossroad described by Luvash.  You see a weatherworn signpost next to the road.  The three arms of the sign point along the three branches of the road.  The arm pointing north reads 'Krezk'.  The arm pointing back east reads Vallaki.  The arm pointing southwest reads  'Teufeldorf.'  Below that, there are empty nail holes where another sign was once tacked to the post, and further below that, on a smaller sign, is 'The Wizard of Wines'.  

Following this road, you pass row after row of long abandoned farms, their fields gone wild from ages of neglect, some only identifiable by the raised earthen berms that once delineated where each farm began and ended.  The road rises to greet a ridgeling of low mountain peaks.  As you approach the bottom, you encounter another one of the large, peculiar gates such that you first saw on the road between Barovia and Vallaki... a stone wall flanked by massive statues, with a metal gate blocking the way.  As before, the gate opens on its own accord as you approach, and swings closed behind you with a rusty squeal.

The road continues through an easy pass over the ridge.  To your northwest, you can see a small fortress built into the side of one of the peaks that lines the pass.  Something about the fortification fills you with unease and you hurry to move past it.  The mists are thicker here, or perhaps it is only your imaginations.  Another gate marks the far end of the pass, opening for you as before.

When you emerge on the other side, it has been roughly four hours of walking since you left Vallaki, and based on the map and Luvosh's directions it should be less than an hour from here to the vineyard.  Before you can take more than a dozen steps past the gate, a pair of ravens appear overhead.  They begin cawing loudly and obnoxiously at the sight of Soren.

Soren:

 After cawing for a bit, the crows wheel and take off over the ridge to the northeast.

Soren caws back at the ravens, clearly taken aback at first, then with increasing urgency as they fly away:

The druid starts to run after the departing birds for a few moments before giving up the futile chase.  When he turns back to his companions, he has a rueful look on his face, and his voice holds equal parts exasperation, bemusement and affection as he shakes his head and exclaims, "Ravens!"

With a deep breath, he relays the birds' message to the others.  "The ravens have scouted the Wizard of Wines, and tell me someone or something has hunted the human pack there and driven them from their lair.  Those who fled have taken refuge in the trees a short walk from the winery."

Soren shakes his head again as he explains how far and to which side of the winery they fled to.

"The ravens flew off before answering who or what the attackers were.  We have heard of many threats since coming to this land.  Werewolves, zombies, the ravens told me earlier of other druids, only 'twisted and tormented'.  Or perhaps it was the Baron of Vallaki and his pack, led by that nasty henchman Izek for some reason.  Could even be Vistani, though after speaking to Luvosh, I do not see why they would hunt their own wine source.  Or maybe it was that frightening lackey of the darklord we saw in the carriage by the Tser Pool Vistani camp.  Rahadin.  Or whoever stole Saint Andral's bones..."

Sighing and hunching his shoulders, Soren finishes:  "Should we head that way into the woods to find the fled pack from the Wizard of Wines first?"

Burr took his maul into both hands, " Then lets go do so!".

He began running toward the winery keeping an eye out for the woods Soren spoke of....

Zefla is not sure what to think of the massive statues and gates that they pass again, but stares at them in silence as they make their journey to the winery.  She's glad their way has been without hiccup, but the scenery sure is daunting.  What has happened to this place to make it change so?  It looks as though at one point it was a flourishing countryside and now?

She chuckles a bit at the exchange between Soren and the ravens and listens to her friend as he explains.  "Hiding in the woods?  Well, I'm thinking we head to the winery then?  Flush out the issue then bring them back?  But I'm up for either.  Also, Soren.. are you keeping a list of all these people we are dealing with?  I mean I appreciate it, then I don't have to think about it, but man, what a memory." she shakes her head at the thought.

The party hurries the last few miles, first down toward a river crossing, then back uphill towards the same ridge you just crossed, but at a different angle.  20 minutes later, you see the forest opening up ahead of you into a vast vineyard on the south-facing slopes of the mountains.  As you slow you pace to be on the lookout for threats, a crossbow bolt *twings* overhead.

Four dark clad figures step out in ambush from the forest, two in front of you and two behind, crossbows raised.  

A voice calls out a halt.  "Wait!  They're not druids... nor are they those mountain mongrels." 

A fifth figure steps out from the woods.   A bit stooped, this figure wears the same dark cloaks as the others, but when he pulls the hood back, it reveals an old, wizened face with a long white beard.  The features - sharp nose, dark eyes -  are remarkably similar to Urwin Martikov.  He turns his voice to you then, and any hope that it might be immediately friendly is extinguished.  There is steel behind his words.  "Just who are you, to come charging down my road at this time?  Why have you come this way?"

Responding to Zefla between breaths as he tries to keep up with Burr, Soren's voice is matter of fact.

"When you are in a strange land, as I was even in Daggerford, I do my best to remember as much as I can to fit in.  Though sometimes I find myself doubting my success in doing so.  You city folk often remain a mystery to me.  But I am thinking we find those who fled from the winery first to learn who attacked their lair.  So we can understand what kind of pack we are dealing with."

Soren skids to a halt in front of the four crossbowmen and the man who almost certainly is Davian Martikov.  He gives a brief, strange bow, like a wolf bending and stretching, taking the chance when bent over to whisper to Silvanus for Guidance, then responds, hands out from his sides, unthreatening:

"We are sent by Urwin Martikov, a human who runs the lair at the Blue Water Inn in the city of Vallaki.  He and many others in and around Vallaki are distressed by the absence of the wine you make.  You must be Davian Martikov?  Urwin described you as honest and dependable, though estranged..."

(Soren stumbles on this word, estranged, as he does not really know it)

"... suggesting something has gone wrong.  I am Soren, a druid I admit, though one of Silvanus, come recently from a different world past the mists.  I can speak with animals and minutes ago, two raven allies who had scouted the Wizard of Wines suggested you had been attacked and driven from your lair and in need of aid.  By whom they did not say.  Was it by these other druids, or... mongrels...?" (Again Soren stumbles on the word mongrels).

"My companion with the heavy maul and heavy heart is Burr.  The halfing with the quick wit and blades is Zefla, and the priest of Lady Fortune is Father Giles."  (Soren just barely avoids saying "not-Father").  "We are sent to help you.  Recover your lair if need be from the invading pack."

Soren makes his strange bow once more and when he straightens, his owl, Nettle, is upon his shoulder, blinking slowly.  (Wild Companion).