Ismark nods at Anthony’s words, a bit of the tension melting away from his body. With a sigh he says, “To be honest, even though Strahd has been here for centuries, not a lot is known about him. No one is allowed at his castle unless they are bidden by invitation, so no one really talks to him.”
He turns back to watch Ireena in her sleep. “Vampires can only enter a building by invitation, and small vermin and predators of the night obey their will. The Devil’s spawn are much weaker than himself, but they are still powerful. They have only a few weaknesses. They burn in the sunlight and running water eats away at them like acid.”
He shrugs, still watching Ireena. “Like I said, I don’t really know too much about Strahd.”
Finding a quiet spot to take a rest, Kora finds herself more tired than she thought she should be. She isn't sure why, but maybe those pies made you sleepy? Unless someone disturbs her, she falls asleep, knowing tomorrow was going to be a long day.
Zathon lets his family enter the home, finding a quiet spot in the dimming light. He takes a knee, drawing his sword as he does so and striking it into the earth. He leans his head against it as he speaks quietly to himself. "I'm not one for prayers, I have lived too long, and know where my soul is bound when all this ends, but I swear, Aeolwyn that I will do what I can. I will not falter, I will not let this dark place sway me, and I will protect our family and those too weak to protect themselves. You've set us on a path. I will see it through."
He lingers there, head bowed, and kneeling. His resolve strengthened. After a time he rises, entering the building and finding a place to rest. He enters trance with his sword across his lap, his head against a wall.
Seeing that Ireena is still asleep, Akyan sets the remaining pie on a desk or dresser top, "Well, whoever wants this can have it I guess."
He nods in agreement with Anthony's words. There are a few things he could say in response to Ismark's words, but he feels they would not help the man's feelings towards the situation. He's done plenty of talking today anyways.
Now that things have been taken care of...sort of. The drow decides to follow suit with Kora, and find a place to rest.
"Thanks for sharing what you do know. And for your hospitality." The man scrubbed a hand over his face. "I'll be nearby trying to get some rest, but wake me if you need anything." He's too on edge to sleep here without someone on watch, so he takes an early shift intending to wake Akyan or Zathon to take over knowing they didn't need much rest.
His breathing is calm. Sunlight takes on a green hue as it barely penetrates the forest floor. Mud oozes between his toes as he makes his way through the ancient woods. A faint breeze passes and he catches the scent of something that makes his belly rumble. He hasn't eaten in days. His pace quickens, flitting from tree to tree. He stops dead when he hears the snort. Crouching down he moves slowly. The buck's head shows through the brush, moving back and forth, its antlers cutting through the air like a King's Crown. Slowly, methodically he creeps forward. He can smell his prey. The musk from its hide promising a satisfying meal and food for the next few days. The wind changes and the buck leaps through the brush. The chase is on. His breathing is even as he sprints. The buck leaps and turns left then right as it tries to escape. He leaps and he and the buck tumble through the undergrowth, it kicking furiously to dislodge him and he sinking claws and fangs deep into the creature's flesh. He crawls on all fours to the open stream, Its waters are cool to the taste as he laps it up. He dips his face into the water, letting it wash away the blood. Through the ripples, he notices his visage more beast than man. He exhales, Relief and contentment washes over him. He is as he should be. A twig snaps behind him. He turns, crouching, and a low growl comes from deep inside him. The elven woman approaches him. Her beauty and radiance bath him in their glory. "Remember, you are my son!" she tells him as her hand brushes under his chin. "Mum?" A loud crash echoes through the room as Jared ends up facedown on the floor. Jared jumps up immediately. "I'm fine," he tells anyone who may see, his hands brushing off the dust of the floor. He sits down and leans back, still unnerved by the"Dream?" He closes his eyes and tries to go back to sleep. A voice deep, savage, comes from somewhere inside him. "And you are also mine." it whispers. Jared is back up, walking around, deep in his thoughts.
As Kora starts to drift off to sleep she thinks of the past days with her siblings and how quickly and efficiently they have managed to bring her out of her typical shell. It makes her smile as this was not what she expected or what she remembered from her past. Maybe they all grew up differently than expected?
Thinking about the day she realizes that even though her world has completely turned upside down, she is doing her best to traverse it, though she needs to wise up about a few things. Like standing alone next to such a deep seeded feeling of evil... what possessed her to offer to do that? And for no reason as they decided following the crazy priest was a bad idea. She falls asleep focusing on how to help herself make better choices...
While the others sleep, Anthony takes off his leg brace and massages the knotted muscle and goes through the routine of trying to rebuild some strength in it. He doubted the feeling would ever return, but it could be worse - besides the obvious - he at least has some control still.
As darkness falls upon the land, so does sleep fall upon the group of siblings tucked away in the burgomaster’s mansion. For those who keep watch, it is eerily quiet all through the house, almost like as if the building was holding its breath in anticipation for something. Shadows in the darkness of the rooms almost seem to dance and twist sinisterly as you sleep on.
Just as Ismark said earlier, no attacks come this night, just as no attacks had happened for the past three nights. You all awake remarkably refreshed once morning come around. The sun almost seems hesitant to shine over the land, a gloom seeming to cling to the mountainous valley.
Zathon, once awake keeps watch, and when the sunrises he makes his way outside to do his morning exercises and practice his forms. He then does a patrol of the property.
Anthony bolts awake, lurching himself upright, heart racing until he remembered where he was. Scrubbing a hand down his face he began the process of methodically putting himself back together. Leg brace, clothes, armor. He then checked in on Ismark and Ireena. "How are things going?"
Aoufie is slow to wake not wanting to leave the warmth of his bedroll. He stays curled up and listens to Anthony speaking to Ismark and Ireena. I am sure the day will probably bring some other horror. Best stay comfortable as long as possible.
As Anthony starts to head up the stairs, he finds that Ismark and a recovered Ireena coming down the stairs. They both hesitate on the stairs for a moment at seeing Anthony, a flash of worry crossing their faces at the sight of seeing someone coming up their stairs. Once they realize that Anthony is the one coming up the stairs, their worry fades away. Ismark gives a cheery smile and replies, "I'm feeling wonderful!"
Ireena just nods in agreement. She still looks a bit pale and clammy, but at least she's up and about. "Is everyone ready to leave?" she asks in her breathy voice.
Zathon made his way outside early in the morning for his exercise routine. As he works his body, he keeps an eye out for anything potentially dangerous. As he does, he notices that despite the gloom of Barovia, it is quite beautiful. The majestic mountains all around the small valley added a rugged beauty to your surroundings, and as the sun began to rise, the warm pinks and purples of the sky was quite striking against the jagged mountain peaks. The air is fresh and pure, and the dark pine forests of the valley added an almost primal feel to Barovia. Yes, it would be quite beautiful here if it weren't so dangerous and forlorn.
He directs his greeting to Ireena first "It's good to see you well. Both of you.." Anthony finds Ismark's response a little socially awkward given his sister had nearly died... Was this place getting to him, or was it more than awkwardness?
"I would rather go earlier over lingering. You understand we are here looking for information about a couple of people who might be here or have traveled through? So we are stopping to check if the Vistani have information. I appreciate that you have your reasons to mistrust them, but it's not a negotiable stop." "His tone wasn't without empathy for the position it put them in, but he wanted to make sure there were no surprises.
Kora wakes early enough but stays in her bedroll, listening to the sounds around her. She wonders if that old woman was out in the street again, she sure could use another of those pies...
As talk starts of heading out, she reluctantly rises and puts her things together. Joining the rest, she gets ready to leave as well.
Aoufie also reluctantly gets ready to leave as he rolls up his bed roll and takes a drink from his waterskin. "I am ready as I'll ever be. Let's get going."
Under Anthony’s scrutiny, he feels like Ismark is putting on a brave, cheery facade in an attempt to lift his sister and possibly the party as well. Underneath his veil of positivity, you can see he is tense and worried about the upcoming travel to Vallaki.
Seeing that everyone is about ready to head out, Ismark asks the assembled group, “Before we head out, would you accompany us to the cemetery so we can bury our father?”
Ireena nods, still looking slightly weary. “We need to bury him before we can leave.” With a slight scoff, she says with a pessimistic tone, “Not sure what good it will with what’s happened at that church.”
"If you can scrape together 25 gold worth of silver, I could give him proper last rights. It might give him some peace. For a little while." It was the best Anthony could offer. Though a pyre would be better in a place like this.
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Ismark nods at Anthony’s words, a bit of the tension melting away from his body. With a sigh he says, “To be honest, even though Strahd has been here for centuries, not a lot is known about him. No one is allowed at his castle unless they are bidden by invitation, so no one really talks to him.”
He turns back to watch Ireena in her sleep. “Vampires can only enter a building by invitation, and small vermin and predators of the night obey their will. The Devil’s spawn are much weaker than himself, but they are still powerful. They have only a few weaknesses. They burn in the sunlight and running water eats away at them like acid.”
He shrugs, still watching Ireena. “Like I said, I don’t really know too much about Strahd.”
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
Finding a quiet spot to take a rest, Kora finds herself more tired than she thought she should be. She isn't sure why, but maybe those pies made you sleepy? Unless someone disturbs her, she falls asleep, knowing tomorrow was going to be a long day.
Zathon lets his family enter the home, finding a quiet spot in the dimming light. He takes a knee, drawing his sword as he does so and striking it into the earth. He leans his head against it as he speaks quietly to himself.
"I'm not one for prayers, I have lived too long, and know where my soul is bound when all this ends, but I swear, Aeolwyn that I will do what I can. I will not falter, I will not let this dark place sway me, and I will protect our family and those too weak to protect themselves. You've set us on a path. I will see it through."
He lingers there, head bowed, and kneeling. His resolve strengthened. After a time he rises, entering the building and finding a place to rest. He enters trance with his sword across his lap, his head against a wall.
Seeing that Ireena is still asleep, Akyan sets the remaining pie on a desk or dresser top, "Well, whoever wants this can have it I guess."
He nods in agreement with Anthony's words. There are a few things he could say in response to Ismark's words, but he feels they would not help the man's feelings towards the situation. He's done plenty of talking today anyways.
Now that things have been taken care of...sort of. The drow decides to follow suit with Kora, and find a place to rest.
"Thanks for sharing what you do know. And for your hospitality." The man scrubbed a hand over his face. "I'll be nearby trying to get some rest, but wake me if you need anything." He's too on edge to sleep here without someone on watch, so he takes an early shift intending to wake Akyan or Zathon to take over knowing they didn't need much rest.
His breathing is calm. Sunlight takes on a green hue as it barely penetrates the forest floor.
Mud oozes between his toes as he makes his way through the ancient woods.
A faint breeze passes and he catches the scent of something that makes his belly rumble. He hasn't eaten in days.
His pace quickens, flitting from tree to tree. He stops dead when he hears the snort.
Crouching down he moves slowly. The buck's head shows through the brush, moving back and forth, its antlers cutting through the air like a King's Crown.
Slowly, methodically he creeps forward. He can smell his prey. The musk from its hide promising a satisfying meal and food for the next few days.
The wind changes and the buck leaps through the brush. The chase is on.
His breathing is even as he sprints. The buck leaps and turns left then right as it tries to escape.
He leaps and he and the buck tumble through the undergrowth, it kicking furiously to dislodge him and he sinking claws and fangs deep into the creature's flesh.
He crawls on all fours to the open stream, Its waters are cool to the taste as he laps it up. He dips his face into the water, letting it wash away the blood.
Through the ripples, he notices his visage more beast than man.
He exhales, Relief and contentment washes over him. He is as he should be.
A twig snaps behind him.
He turns, crouching, and a low growl comes from deep inside him.
The elven woman approaches him. Her beauty and radiance bath him in their glory.
"Remember, you are my son!" she tells him as her hand brushes under his chin.
"Mum?"
A loud crash echoes through the room as Jared ends up facedown on the floor.
Jared jumps up immediately.
"I'm fine," he tells anyone who may see, his hands brushing off the dust of the floor.
He sits down and leans back, still unnerved by the"Dream?"
He closes his eyes and tries to go back to sleep.
A voice deep, savage, comes from somewhere inside him.
"And you are also mine." it whispers.
Jared is back up, walking around, deep in his thoughts.
As Kora starts to drift off to sleep she thinks of the past days with her siblings and how quickly and efficiently they have managed to bring her out of her typical shell. It makes her smile as this was not what she expected or what she remembered from her past. Maybe they all grew up differently than expected?
Thinking about the day she realizes that even though her world has completely turned upside down, she is doing her best to traverse it, though she needs to wise up about a few things. Like standing alone next to such a deep seeded feeling of evil... what possessed her to offer to do that? And for no reason as they decided following the crazy priest was a bad idea. She falls asleep focusing on how to help herself make better choices...
Aoufie too tired from the day unrolls his bedroll and falls asleep, Happy not to be sleeping directly on the cold floor.
While the others sleep, Anthony takes off his leg brace and massages the knotted muscle and goes through the routine of trying to rebuild some strength in it. He doubted the feeling would ever return, but it could be worse - besides the obvious - he at least has some control still.
As darkness falls upon the land, so does sleep fall upon the group of siblings tucked away in the burgomaster’s mansion. For those who keep watch, it is eerily quiet all through the house, almost like as if the building was holding its breath in anticipation for something. Shadows in the darkness of the rooms almost seem to dance and twist sinisterly as you sleep on.
Just as Ismark said earlier, no attacks come this night, just as no attacks had happened for the past three nights. You all awake remarkably refreshed once morning come around. The sun almost seems hesitant to shine over the land, a gloom seeming to cling to the mountainous valley.
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
Zathon, once awake keeps watch, and when the sunrises he makes his way outside to do his morning exercises and practice his forms. He then does a patrol of the property.
Anthony bolts awake, lurching himself upright, heart racing until he remembered where he was. Scrubbing a hand down his face he began the process of methodically putting himself back together. Leg brace, clothes, armor. He then checked in on Ismark and Ireena. "How are things going?"
Aoufie is slow to wake not wanting to leave the warmth of his bedroll. He stays curled up and listens to Anthony speaking to Ismark and Ireena. I am sure the day will probably bring some other horror. Best stay comfortable as long as possible.
As Anthony starts to head up the stairs, he finds that Ismark and a recovered Ireena coming down the stairs. They both hesitate on the stairs for a moment at seeing Anthony, a flash of worry crossing their faces at the sight of seeing someone coming up their stairs. Once they realize that Anthony is the one coming up the stairs, their worry fades away. Ismark gives a cheery smile and replies, "I'm feeling wonderful!"
Ireena just nods in agreement. She still looks a bit pale and clammy, but at least she's up and about. "Is everyone ready to leave?" she asks in her breathy voice.
Zathon made his way outside early in the morning for his exercise routine. As he works his body, he keeps an eye out for anything potentially dangerous. As he does, he notices that despite the gloom of Barovia, it is quite beautiful. The majestic mountains all around the small valley added a rugged beauty to your surroundings, and as the sun began to rise, the warm pinks and purples of the sky was quite striking against the jagged mountain peaks. The air is fresh and pure, and the dark pine forests of the valley added an almost primal feel to Barovia. Yes, it would be quite beautiful here if it weren't so dangerous and forlorn.
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
He directs his greeting to Ireena first "It's good to see you well. Both of you.." Anthony finds Ismark's response a little socially awkward given his sister had nearly died... Was this place getting to him, or was it more than awkwardness?
"I would rather go earlier over lingering. You understand we are here looking for information about a couple of people who might be here or have traveled through? So we are stopping to check if the Vistani have information. I appreciate that you have your reasons to mistrust them, but it's not a negotiable stop." "His tone wasn't without empathy for the position it put them in, but he wanted to make sure there were no surprises.
((Paranoid insight check on Ismark 14))
Jared wakes from his uneasy sleep and joins Anthony, but says nothing.
Kora wakes early enough but stays in her bedroll, listening to the sounds around her. She wonders if that old woman was out in the street again, she sure could use another of those pies...
As talk starts of heading out, she reluctantly rises and puts her things together. Joining the rest, she gets ready to leave as well.
Aoufie also reluctantly gets ready to leave as he rolls up his bed roll and takes a drink from his waterskin. "I am ready as I'll ever be. Let's get going."
Under Anthony’s scrutiny, he feels like Ismark is putting on a brave, cheery facade in an attempt to lift his sister and possibly the party as well. Underneath his veil of positivity, you can see he is tense and worried about the upcoming travel to Vallaki.
Seeing that everyone is about ready to head out, Ismark asks the assembled group, “Before we head out, would you accompany us to the cemetery so we can bury our father?”
Ireena nods, still looking slightly weary. “We need to bury him before we can leave.” With a slight scoff, she says with a pessimistic tone, “Not sure what good it will with what’s happened at that church.”
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
"If you can scrape together 25 gold worth of silver, I could give him proper last rights. It might give him some peace. For a little while." It was the best Anthony could offer. Though a pyre would be better in a place like this.