Alcazar grunts, frowning slighty. "You therefor intend to stay with her in this Valliki place? Starting alone, with no allies, in a new town is not an easy thing to do, believe me."

"Well, it's a start at least. Once we get to the fortified town, I will try to arrange some guards. I have money and some influence, being the son of the Burgomaster.

And my sister herself also practices her martial skills and is not helpless. We will have to take it one step at a time and see where it leads us. As long as the path is away from Strahd, we should count ourselves lucky"

The blonde elven maiden nods and smiles warmly at Ismark. "Let us eat, drink and be on our way then." She says, taking another sip of her wine.

"Yes," Janek agrees with the Elf. He tries to signal to someone to see what they have to offer. "Frankly, it might be nice to be out of this town." 

Alcazar sighs loudly, "I shall of course follow along, though after this meal I had hoped to sleep in a real bed for a change."

He looks around the room, considering the dismal setting and the miserable people, "Perhaps it's for the best. But what of this missing child that you all promised to rescue?"

As your group has chosen to have its meal, and appears to have no further questions for Ismark at this time, he leaves for the house to prepare for the journey. "Thank you all for agreeing to help. I will go to the Burgomaster manor, the large house south of here, and await you there with Ireena. I will pack some provisions and equipment for the journey. Come find us there once you are ready." He then bows politely and takes his leave.

The group eats the meal bought at the pub, which is quite good, and enjoys their various drinks of wine or beer. (About an our passes, by the time you have all eaten and drunk your fill)

(You could stay at the Inn longer, head off to the Manor, explore the rest of the village, or just do something else)

"Aye we did tell Mary we would help find her daughter, though I have a sneaky suspicion I know why the suck faces lackeys stopped trying to get to Ismark's kin, and it's got nothing to do with his pap's passing." Thulewyn stares at his cup letting his words sink in. That girl was as good as gone, but we owe it to her mother to find something to offer closure. Perhaps he was wrong, he really hoped he was but life is crueler more times then not, or perhaps it only feels that way. When things go good it's because you help make it so, but when it's bad, everything's seems out of your own hands. "Well, where do we start? Perhaps a few more places to show that picture around too aye? We should probably return it too before skipping town"

As Ismark stands to leave, the blonde elven maiden smiles warmly and nods. "We will be with you soon Ismark." She says in a warm comforting tone

"I was thinking of bringing the picture to Valliki, here I would expect most people to know Gertruda but in Valliki it could be of great help with finding her." Celeste calmly explains to Thulewyn in her warm melodious voice. "I don't believe there will be much use asking around for her in the village but I would like to visit that church I saw before we head over to the Burgomaster Manor." She continues, looking around at the others to see if anyone would care to join her as she finishes up her meal and empties her glass of wine.

Rodan stretches his arms and shoulders as he rises after the meal.

[How much did the tavern charge us for lunch and drinks?]

He shrugs at Celeste's mention of the church.  "Right, I'll 'ave a stroll down to the church with ya', I will.  Might cop a better squint at that castle sittin' up on the crag from that part of town, too.  See what this Count's been splashin' the cash on, all them hard-earned coppers he's no doubt taxin' from the folks...".

Janek gives Thulewyn a long look, considering his comment but not saying anything. "We probably ought to at least ask about the girl a bit more before we leave town. But I agree with Celeste that we keep the picture to ask in Valliki.  I imagine we'll be back this way anyhow to return the portrait." He then considers the Elf's comment about visiting the church. "Perhaps we can all stick together. Go to the church, I'd like to find a shop to try to sell a few things. We could ask in both places if they've seen her."

The blonde elven maiden smiles a warm appreciative smile as Rodan and Janek agrees to follow her to the church. "I believe we passed something called Bildrath's Mercantile on our way here, it's just next door, sounds like a good idea going there to make sure everyone is properly equipped for the journey to Valliki, and maybe they would even know something about Gertruda, but I doubt she is still in the village though. Shall we go gentlemen?" Celestes say in her pleasant melodious voice, standing up and grabbing her gear, ready to head over to the trader next door.

Entering Bildrath's Mercantile, you are welcomed by a rotund and overly friendly trader. "Ah, Welcome Welcome! Please. Welcome to my humble establishment, my dear friends. Are you looking for gear or provisions? I stock only the best. We even have gear imported especially by the Vistani."

He shows you some of his wares, which seem pretty much like most shops you are familiar with - just a lot more expensive.

(Feel free to buy anything from the standard list of equipment that's less than 25gp. Due to the inability of most people (other than Vistani) to leave the valley and trade with the outside, all prices here are 10x what is listed in Players Handbook or DMG and stocks are limited to only a few items of each (one per person, not more).)

Quote from Bartjeebus >>

[How much did the tavern charge us for lunch and drinks?] 

(Celeste paid 5sp for wine, Thulewyn 4gp for a couple of bottles and meals for the rest of the group. Ismark offered for the group to join him, so he paid for anything else)

Having no interest herself  in trading, the blonde elven maiden still approaches the rotund and overly friendly trader. "I believe these gentleman will be interested in what gear you can provide them with, but first, let me ask, where can we find these Vistani that brings you your goods through the fog? Also, do you know anything about where we can find this girl..." She says with gentle melodious voice, showing the trader the picture. "...I suppose you recognize her, she lives next door."

Persuasion if needed: 23 Another roll if less than an hour has passed since we met Gertruda's mother: 18

Perusing the shop and sneering at the prices, Rodan stops at one shelf, thinking.  Then he grabs all 6 of the signal whistles they have in stock and then sets them on the counter, producing 30sp with an exasperated sigh. 

Then he hands a whistle to everyone, keeping the last for himself.  "Ere, 'ave a butcher's at this, mates.  Take a whistle, see?  In case we end up all on our lonesome in that ruddy grey fog, we can blow these to track each other down."

(You beat me to the whistles!)

Thulewyn grabs 2 flasks of oil, 3 candles, a piece of chalk, a flask and 2 sacks for 28sp 

"Highway bloody robbery this is, you and that bar keep must be in cahoots!"

Janek approaches the shop keeper. "If you don't mind my asking, I have a number of items we've been carrying, and I wondered if you might be willing to take them off our hands for some coin?" 

Responding to the accusations of high prices he says: "My friends. Please. You are outsiders and may not understand. This valley is isolated. No one can come and go, so everything we have and use has to be made right here. The only exception is the Vistani, and they are well aware of their position and charge a hefty mark-up for any 'imports'. So, my friends, believe me: these prices might not be what's you are used to, but they are the best I can offer"

Quote from Culuril >>

Janek approaches the shop keeper. "If you don't mind my asking, I have a number of items we've been carrying, and I wondered if you might be willing to take them off our hands for some coin?" 

 "Of course. As I said, it is hard to get hold of good wares. I'll be happy to buy anything of value from you my friends."

(He will buy any loot at the price which I think I gave you when you found it.)

Quote from Oberon99 >>

Having no interest herself  in trading, the blonde elven maiden still approaches the rotund and overly friendly trader. "I believe these gentleman will be interested in what gear you can provide them with, but first, let me ask, where can we find these Vistani that brings you your goods through the fog? Also, do you know anything about where we can find this girl..." She says with gentle melodious voice, showing the trader the picture. "...I suppose you recognize her, she lives next door."

Persuasion if needed: 16 Another roll if less than an hour has passed since we met Gertruda's mother: 12

 "Ah, the Vistani. They come and they go, and they camp in various places. But I think they currently have a small camp down by the river, on the way to Valliki. Ah, my friends, perhaps you are in need of a map? For good customers, such as yourselves, I could offer you a map for 5sp and show you on that where the camp is.

I know the girl, I visited her a few times. And I heard that she is gone, but I have no idea where she might have gone. She's got her head in the clouds and fairytales."

He looks at Celeste and says

"Perhaps a maid such as yourself might be better able to guess where a naive girl might go on her first trip into the real world"

The expression of the blonde elven maiden is not an altogether pleased one as the rotund trader suggests she would know where a naïve girl would go, but her common sense tells her that any girl leaving a village like this would head to something like Valliki, if she even had left her home and this village out of own free will. "Thank you..." She says with a slightly strained smile. "...I will have that map then good sir." She adds, handing the trader the 5 pieces of silver for the map.


(What does the map cover? Is it a handout even? :-)