Quote from PapaKlaus >>

Lando grabs one of the shovels and begins digging with Ismark. After he moves a few spades worth and finds his rhythm, he begins whistling a somewhat melancholy tune.

"So Ismark, what was with all the screaming and yelling back in the church? There is obviously someone trapped down in the basement, yet Father Donavich ignored it."

 

"I have no idea to tell you the truth. I have my suspicions as do others in town. Over a year ago Donavich's son Doru died while storming Castle Ravenloft with a bunch of other villagers. Ever since that night, he has been acting strangely and locking himself in the church. People say his son returned that night, but not alive."

Ismark shrugs as he continues digging the grave. 

"If that's true then most likely his dead son is locked in that basement. I've had my own problems as do all Barovians to go meddling in someone else's problems."

Andrei, digging with an ease that shows years off practice, grunts at this, but says nothing further.

The wrought iron fence that surrounds the cemetery is in desperate need of repairs. Just beyond the fence are towering trees, whose tops are lost in heavy gray mist, block out all but a death-gray light. The tree trunks are unnaturally close to one another, and the woods have the silence of a forgotten grave, yet exude the feeling of an unvoiced scream.

As you are nearing completion of the grave Sizan notices a man, roughly four and a half feet tall that is dressed in dark clothes, peering at them from behind a tree.

Seeing this, Sizan will come to a stop and narrow his eyes at the man, or... dwarf? Or -- The train of thought comes to a screeching thought as Sizan reassigned his focus to slipping out the copper wire from his pocket, and begin wrapping the wire about his hand. All without hopefully accidently breaking eye contact on the fellow. It might take a few tries, but eventually Artus followed by Lando the following message: 

 The messages sent, the 'Yuan-ti' will pocket the wire if there's time, and casually fold his arms across the chest to better hide readying one of his daggers for in case the man became hostile. Otherwise, in the meantime he'll just keep a close eye on him while the others made their own moves. 

Lando immediately stops digging when he receives the message from Sizan. He looks to the man. "What?, why are you whispering in my head? Just speak man!"

Then, remembering what the message was about, he looks to the direction where the stranger is. "Lads, it would appear we have a spectator"

Reggie looks at Lando and then at the form behind the tree. "Not our first," Reggie grunts, noticing Sizan watching the unknown creature. "The new guy's keeping an eye on them." He stops shoveling and measures their work with his eyes. "Think this is deep enough?" he asks the group at large.

Artus looks around worried as the voice of Sizan enters his head, a type of magic he has not been exposed to yet. He looks to the new figure. "Well it's not something we haven't happen to us before since coming. Strahd likes to keep his eyes on us." 

Sizan almost takes his eyes off the man to facepalm. Almost. But he was no lesser man. Instead, he balls his hands into tight fist at his sides before letting out a huff. If the "spy" in question was within 60ft of the remaining party, Sizan would approach the man with at least one hand on the hilt of a blade, but otherwise without any semblance of aggression in his veneer. Once he got into easy speaking range he'll say just barely above a whisper, "Well met, 'friend'. To what do we owe the pleasure of your notice?"

And if further than 60, Sizan will say the same through magical means instead, but keep in mind to mask the need of the wire for the spell.

Quote from Orileo >>

Sizan almost takes his eyes off the man to facepalm. Almost. But he was no lesser man. Instead, he balls his hands into tight fist at his sides before letting out a huff. If the "spy" in question was within 60ft of the remaining party, Sizan would approach the man with at least one hand on the hilt of a blade, but otherwise without any semblance of aggression in his veneer. Once he got into easy speaking range he'll say just barely above a whisper, "Well met, 'friend'. To what do we owe the pleasure of your notice?"

And if further than 60, Sizan will say the same through magical means instead, but keep in mind to mask the need of the wire for the spell.

As you start to approach the man, he notices you and bolts deeper into the foggy woods.

The grave looks deep enough to bury a coffin safely inside with room to spare.

"I thank you for this," Ismark says.

"Yes, our father deserves a proper burial. He was a good man in bad times." Ireena chips in.

Ismark nods. "Aye, Now what are your plans? We need to come back tomorrow for the ceremony, We will be at the mansion if you need us or if you would like to join us. Otherwise we will be here a little before dawn tomorrow and afterward, we can prepare for the journey to Vallaki."

Lando collects the shovels and returns them to the tool shed.

"We have rooms at the tavern in town here. I reckon we'll head back there for the night, then meet up  with you in the morning"

Sizan squints, but resist tempting fate further chasing after the man alone.

"Another time then..." He mutters.

After returning to the grave he will try signaling the watchers disappearance. Whether or not the group understands however, he will largely shrug off. But after hearing of Ismark and (presumably Ireena)plan, he awkwardly coughs into the back of his hand to grab folk's attention, briefly eye Reggie, then rest a hand one of his swords before warily speaking up, "On the matter of plans, the good Father would like to have word with us before we go. As for what, however, I... cannot say." 

Quote from Orileo >>

Sizan squints, but resist tempting fate further chasing after the man alone.

"Another time then..." He mutters.

After returning to the grave he will try signaling the watchers disappearance. Whether or not the group understands however, he will largely shrug off. But after hearing of Ismark and (presumably Ireena)plan, he awkwardly coughs into the back of his hand to grab folk's attention, briefly eye Reggie, then rest a hand one of his swords before warily speaking up, "On the matter of plans, the good Father would like to have word with us before we go. As for what, however, I... cannot say." 

"Father Donavich wants to speak with us? I must have missed that. Very well. Back to the church then?"

As you make your way back into the church Father Donavich is sitting on one of the benches, You can hear him sobbing as you walk into the main part of the chapel but as you get closer your footsteps echo throughout the room and he quickly stops and wipes his eyes on his robes. 

"Ah, your back. Then it is in agreeance that I will perform the ceremony for your father at dawn tomorrow when the Morninglord is at his strongest. I do have a request of you if you have it in your heart to help me. My son Doru."

The priest frowns at the mention of his son's name. 

"Doru died a year ago. I have him locked in the basement. Long story short he was slain leading a revolt against Strahds castle. Strahd thought it would be funny turning my son into one of his creatures and have him come back and kill me. I need help destroying that abomination. It is not my son anymore as Sizan pointed out and he is only a danger to everyone in the village being down there. Can you destroy that creature for me? Please?"

Reggie nods. "Of course, Father." Without another word, the fighter turns and heads back toward the entrance, looking for a stairway. When he gets between the four doorways, he turns and looks at Donavich, pointing at the different doors with a question on his face.

It takes every ounce of willpower, but Sizan manages to keep his visible disappointment limited to just facepalming and shaking his head. He perks up a second later at Reggie's response, and would spend the better part of the trip staring at Reggie's back with the most puzzled expression on his face. Of course the moment anyone points this out, he'll curtly look away and pretend to be interested in the décor. 

Which... oddly enough doesn't take much effort. The structure of things fascinated him almost as much as researching more alchemy related topics. 

Father Donavich hands Reggie the key and tells him where the trap door is leading to the undercroft. You unlock the padlock and head down the stairs.

The church’s undercroft has rough-hewn walls and a floor made of damp clay and earth. Rotting wooden pillars strain under the weight of the wooden ceiling. Candlelight from the chapel above slips though the cracks, allowing you to glimpse a gaunt shape in the far corner.

As you get down the stairs the figure says in a quiet voice. "I can smell your blood!"

Reggie draws both his swords, the radiance of his moon-touched sword adding to the shafts of candlelight from above. He does a little flourish with both swords, adjusting his grip. "Curse Strahd for this place. Curse Strahd for you. I now send you to rest." He lifts a foot to begin advancing, but then stops. He pauses for a second and then nods and puts the standard longsword away. Looking at his empty hand, his eyes glow red and a roiling ball of energy appears in his palm. It is deep red and angry and agitated. Looking back at "Doru," Reggie extends his arm and the ball of energy rockets across the undercroft at the gaunt shape.

Eldritch Blast Attack: 6; Damage: 6 force damage

Combat Order:

Artus (32/32) Andrei (31/31) Doru (6) Reggie (27/27) Lando (27/27) Sizan (26/26) Tilo (24/24)

Reggie draws both his swords, the radiance of his moon-touched sword adding to the shafts of candlelight from above. He does a little flourish with both swords, adjusting his grip. "Curse Strahd for this place. Curse Strahd for you. I now send you to rest." He lifts a foot to begin advancing but then stops. He pauses for a second and then nods and puts the standard longsword away. Looking at his empty hand, his eyes glow red and a roiling ball of energy appears in his palm. It is deep red and angry and agitated. Looking back at "Doru," Reggie extends his arm and the ball of energy rockets across the undercroft at the gaunt shape.

The force bolt hits Doru in the shoulder and he grunts in pain before he stands up and turns towards the group His skin is pale as freshly poured milk and his fangs protrude over his thin blue lips, Doru begins to hiss at Reggie. "Thank you, Father. You have sent me food. And so much of it. I will not kill you today Father."

Artus will pull out his axe and charge the monster. "I'm sorry Doru, but we only wish to put you to rest." Artus enters a rage and begins to swing his axe recklessly. As Artus closes the distance you watch as an ethereal blue Minotaur appears behind him. Reaching out towards the Vampire the ghostly minotaur grapples it.