Andrei sighs and leaps after Reggie, ice ax in hand.

Acrobatics: 14

Artus folls Reggie and Andrei. "Finally out of this wretched place."

Acrobatics 13

Tilo waves to Reggie affirmatively as he catches his breath. Then he turns his mental focus inward to his core where his ki resides. Anatomically located in his abdomen, he mentally visualizes it as a churning pool of energy that circulates the flowing energy into channels that spread throughout his body like a heart moving blood through vessels. With some mental focus he can guide the process himself, to some extent, and, this time, he pushes the energy towards his brain and eyes. 

Immediately the world seems to slow around him, the blades now spinning as if through water, as his reflexes sharpen significantly. Even his own movements seem horribly slow, but he knows through use he'll now be able to react much more quickly than before. He steps towards the blades.

Acrobatics 13

Lando still feeling injuried from the last doorway, takes his time and let’s everyone else go through the final door first. 

When it’s his turn, he counts the timing in his head then lunges past. 

(Rolling in discord)

As you all come through the last door one by one and get up from the mad rush the fog begins to part and a man is walking towards you. The man is dressed in dark brown leathers with splashes of red on the front of the shirt. He is tall, around 6'3" in height and has a very average build for one so tall. The things that stand out the most about this man is his pale white skin and the large incisor teeth that are very pointed, giving away the fact that he is a vampire. It is Baron Strahd Von Zarovich.

He begins to clap as you all turn to stare at the man. "I am surprised you made it out of the house. I am going to have fun with you. A gift for you." He says as he opens his hands wide and the mists begin to part and you can now see the rest of the town that you are in. "I suggest you head to Blood of the Vine Tavern, if you head south down this road and turn west at the intersection and go two blocks it will be on the north side of the street. You can't miss it. Tell them the Baron sent you. " Strahd chuckles before he turns and begins to walk away. He gets maybe three steps before he turns into mist and floats away.

The sun is hard to see through the thick clouds and you have no idea what time it is but judging from the light you can see you guess it to be close to noon time. You have no idea how long you've been in the house but you are finally free. 

The village of Barovia is the saddest place in the land, its residents so terrified of Strahd that they rarely venture from their homes. The village lies in the shadow of Castle Ravenloft, buried under fog but still unable to hide from the vampire’s sight.

The muddy ground underfoot gives way to slick, wet cobblestones. The tall shapes become recognizable as village dwellings. The windows of each house stare out from pools of blackness. No sound cuts the silence except for mournful sobbing that echoes through the streets from a distance.

Artus huffs at Strahd, "It'll take more than a cursed house to deal with us." As Strahd vanishes he says "I think we should visit that inn though, we seem to be in some rough shape."

Andrei growls in Abyssal after Strahd floats away.

 He shoulders his ice ax with a sigh, then turns to face the others, raising his thin eyebrows.

"Well, we're out, but I don't think we're safe yet."

Reggie turns to look at the others. His face is again very white. He swallows hard and nods at Artus. "Yes. The Tavern." His voice is thinner than normal. For good measure, he draws his moon-touched sword. He looks at Tilo. "Lead the way?"

"We're just play things to him..."  Lando spits on the ground in disgust.

At the thought of a stiff drink however, is expression softens somewhat. "I think we've all earned a round or two eh lads? Might as well make our way to this tavern and collect our wits"

With that, he sets off using the directions the vampire gave them.

A single shaft of light thrusts illumination into the main square, its brightness looking like a solid pillar in the heavy fog. Above the gaping doorway, a sign hangs precariously askew, proclaiming this to be the Blood on the Vine tavern.

The tavern building is about 60 feet square. Close inspection of the sign reveals that it originally read “Blood of the Vine.” (An “n” has been scratched over with the “f.”) This once finely appointed tavern has grown shoddy over the years. A blazing fire in the hearth gives scant warmth to the few huddled souls within. They include the barkeep, three Vistani women sitting together, and a young man who sits by himself at a corner table, sipping his wine. 

A pudgy little man tends bar. Mindlessly, he cleans glasses, one after another and when he is done he starts over again. One of the Vistani women look up when you enter and she studies you for a few moments before turning back to one of the others and continue their conversation. 

 

Reggie walks automatically to the bar and sits. When the bartender approaches him, he places his flask on the bar. "Fill this up. Nothing fancy. And pour me one for right now." He slumps over the bar, looking like he's already had a few, and waits for his libation.

Artus walks up to the bar next to Reggie, "Ale please." He looks around, taking interest in the man alone. "And a wine." He puts a gold piece on the counter He takes his ale and the wine and goes over to the man. "Sir, might you be interested in another drink and some conversation?"

Quote from DirtyDogP >>

Reggie walks automatically to the bar and sits. When the bartender approaches him, he places his flask on the bar. "Fill this up. Nothing fancy. And pour me one for right now." He slumps over the bar, looking like he's already had a few, and waits for his libation.

 The man looks up and sees Reggie for the first time. In a monotone voice, he says. "I have cups of wine and pitchers of wine." He takes the flask and fills it with wine and slides another cup in front of Reggie as well. "That will be 4 copper pieces." The bartender says. After Reggie slips him the money he goes back to cleaning the glasses ignoring Reggie until Artus walks up and asks for an ale. 

"I have cups of wine and pitchers of wine." He takes the gold piece from Artus and hands him back 9 silver and 98 copper pieces as he slides two glasses of wine over to Artus. He goes back to his glasses with a dull expression on his face.

Artus takes the glass of wine over to the man at the table and asks "Sir, might you be interested in another drink and some conversation?"

Reggie and the others can hear one of the Vistani women sneer "Ismark the Lesser” 

The man looks up at Artus and is taken aback for a moment before smiling. "I'm sorry sir. It is not common for someone here in Barovia to meet a minotaur. Let alone a talking one. I think you are the first. My name is Ismark," He stands and makes a gesture for you to sit. "Please have a seat, Let me pay for that wine and many more." He holds his hand up to the bartender. "Arik, keep their glasses full and put it on my tab."

The Vistani women look over at Ismark and frown, one of the women is now watching Artus with interest while the others are looking at the rest of the party. They are making hand gestures towards each other as they watch the group.  

Ismark looks up at Artus. "And your name is?"

"I understand that minotaur are an uncommon site, but something tells me vampires are more Barovia's thing. My name is Artus, my friends and I found ourselves in your forests one morning strangely enough." He watches intently as he says the word vampire. Curious to see how the room takes to the word.

Reggie downs the cup of wine fast and with ease. He raises his hand as if to order another, but doesn't. His hand slowly lowers to the bar top and he puts the flask away. Turning on his stool, he sees Artus addressing "Ismark". The fighter gets up and walks to join them at Ismark's table. On his way over, he brushes by Andrei and hands him a fistful of money. (38 GP and 184 SP). "From the house," he says in passing, and then continues on. "Reggie," he huffs at Ismark. He sits in the best possible position to keep an eye on as much of the tavern as possible as he listens to Artus and Ismark talk.

Lando takes a seat at the bar with Reggie. "The Baron recommends your wine. I'll have a cup if you don't mind."

He stays at the bar when Reggie goes over to to sit with Artus. He sips his wine and keeps an eye on the Vistani women.

The middle Vistani lady frowns when Artus mentions vampires but quickly wipes the frown away. The third one smiles as the first one sneers. 

Ismark holds up his hands and makes the sign of the cross in the air. "I would not speak lightly of Vampires friend, The Devil may hear you and pay you a visit."

"I think we may have already been visited by your Devil. Strahd has seem to taking a liking to us. What can you tell us of him?" 

Artus takes a sip of his wine, not a big fan of it he puts it down for now. Moments later, realizing it's all Arik has, he takes a bigger swig.

Quote from PapaKlaus >>

Lando takes a seat at the bar with Reggie. "The Baron recommends your wine. I'll have a cup if you don't mind."

He stays at the bar when Reggie goes over to to sit with Artus. He sips his wine and keeps an eye on the Vistani women.

Arik looks up with a surprised expression on his face. "Baron? Do you mean Baron Strahd von Zarovich?" He looks over at the Vistani woman and nods. 

The First Vistani woman gets up and walks over to Lando. "You know the Baron? Very interesting. My name is Alenka, please, come, have a seat. We need to talk."

Quote from Agonzo516 >>

"I think we may have already been visited by your Devil. Strahd has seem to taking a liking to us. What can you tell us of him?"

"He is the devil, Until recently, Strahd had been paying nightly visits to Ireena Kolyana, my adopted sister. Strahd keeps us here as his playthings. We are meat suits for him and his kind. If we try to leave he will track us down and bring us back about a quart or two low on blood. He terrorizes everyone in his land. If only I knew some adventurers. I am in need of a task to protect my sister from that devil."