"I think that discretion would be wise, given our current circumstances," Veronica says. "Perhaps we could let one or two trustworthy people know we have arrived... especially if there are any priests who might be able to help keep that hag away."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
Skanon quietly listens to Ismark and Ireena as he looked at the impaled wolves heads and the gate.
"Hopefully the Vallakians won't be too hostile but if they do then that might be for the best." He takes a breath as he thinks about the entry point statement. "While this way might be the most convenient due to our current location..." He trails off slightly and glances towards the others as if to ask what they thought would be the best point of entry.
"If we're looking for a priest, the west gate looks nearest to the church steeple in town," said Ireena, "lets not loiter out here any longer than we have to, the woods are still filled with dangers."
{DM Note: Ireena will head to the west gate with the children to try a deception check to hide her identity from the guards and gain entry, unless anyone in the party has other ideas they want to implement...or be the one to introduce the group. I'll check back in some hours.}
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Ireena strode up to the west gate with Freek and Myrtle (the children) in tow. Ismark followed closely behind them. The guards immediately stood at attention, their long pikes readied.
“Please let us in! Our village was attacked and we have no place to go.”
Vicky would like to accompany Veronica, Ireena and the children.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Look at it! Beauty! A spoiler!
Look what you've done, spoiling it for you and everyone who can see this screen. You're a disgrace, you know that, right? You have nothing to be ashamed of but yourself, you moster!
But to be completely fair, every monster has a cute side, like have you seen people draw goblins? Goblins look so cool! You're fine, you may seem like a monster, but I bet you're cute on the inside!
Skanon circled Vallaki to the north, where the road leaving town led to a quiet mountain lake. Two guards with long pikes stood behind the north gate, which was closed to visitors.
What do you do?
For everyone else
The west gate creaked open as the two guards opened it for the party. One of them, a stout, dark-haired man said, “Come inside. Quickly now, the woods are full of wolves. Don’t worry, they can’t get past our walls. All will be well.”
“Hang on,” said the other guard, a taller man who looked like he needed a shave, “you don’t look like you’re from Barovia.” He pointed at the rest of the party.
“They’re with us,” said Ireena, holding the children close. “We would be dead if not for them.”
The first guard rapped the second guard on the helmet with his pike. “Do excuse Boris, he’s a little thick. Of course you would’ve needed protection to get here in one piece. It’d be suspicious if you’d arrived alone.” He addressed the rest of the party. “Vallaki welcomes you outsiders. If you need a place to stay, the Blue Water Inn at the center of town is your best bet. Tallest building in the area, you can’t miss it. Matter of fact, there’s another outsider staying there right now. Some half-elf fellow came in a carnival wagon a few days ago. Keep your noses clean and we won’t have any trouble, and remember, all will be well!”
Walking through Vallaki, it does seem to be slightly more lively than the Village of Barovia. Grim-faced townsfolk went about their daily business in the streets instead of locking themselves in their houses. There were still a few abandoned buildings with their empty windows gazing out onto the streets like blackened sockets, but their rarity spoke of a town enduring Barovia’s conditions better than Ireena and Ismark’s village.
You came upon the church. Though its stones and shingles were old, it was much better maintained than the one in the village. The church’s doors were open and welcoming. You saw an old priest and a young boy replacing spent candles inside, while the rhythmic scraping of a shovel against soil came from the graveyard as a sullen young man dug a new grave.
The road east led to the rest of Vallaki.
{DM Note: Map below shows info the party has discovered and buildings seen from outside Vallaki. There may be other undiscovered landmarks.}
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Skanon takes a breath as he looks to the two guards. He curses himself internally as he takes a step closer and prepares himself to speak. For a moment he wonders if the others had successfully gained entry.
"Excuse me my fair guards, but I am in need of assistance. I was cut off from my allies who were also headed here due to a wolf attack, I'm not sure if they managed to get away or if I am the only one who has arrived but... I could really use a safe place to rest and hopefully see if they managed to survive and arrive here as well." A worried look had crossed his face as he had approached but on the off chance that they didn't believe him he kept one hand near his coin purse just in case.
The guards looked at each other, suspicion written across their faces. One of them spoke up, “The baron has decreed we keep out people of little hope or faith like you. We have enough malicious unhappiness in Vallaki, go away and sell your sob story somewhere else.”
"I say, let's find an Inn and wait for Skanon. After those Hags, a little rest then perhaps see the priest. With such evil abounding, the priest may have some help or, at least, some hope."
Ismark agreed with Garavon, “It wouldn’t hurt to get settled down before looking for help with our hag problem and a safe place for…” he gestured at Ireena and the children without mentioning their names, glancing about worriedly at passer-bys who all seemed to ignore your group.
You arrived at the front of the tall building in the center of town, which the guard had mentioned was the Blue Water Inn. Gray smoke issued from the chimney of the large, two-story wooden building with a stone foundation and sagging tile roof, upon which several ravens had perched. A painted wooden sign hanging above the main entrance depicted a blue waterfall. Out here by the front of the building was a well, rimmed by a 3-foot high mossy stone wall and covered with a simple wooden lid. An upturned bucket and rope rested on the well's lid. The building's front wall hosted a wooden staircase on its exterior. The staircase ran to the second floor, where it ended at a sturdy wooden door. The windows of the building were fitted with thick shutters and crossbars.
It was now noon, and you saw a group of three sweaty men in workmen clothes entering the inn. Looking about the area, Garavon (passive perception 14) also noticed a cloaked figure who had been tailing your group since you had entered town.
Skanon shrugged his shoulders slightly before looking at the guards with an amused look on his face. It was probably for the best if he kept his annoyance with the situation at hand. "I see, so the baron is a smart man then. I would be devastated if I was in his shoes and a hopeless, faithless freak of nature like myself tried to gain entry to my s**ty town. I mean who would even want to live in a town where most of the notable buildings you can see outside of it's wall look like they are one bad storm away from collapsing? Maybe you'd have less malicious unhappiness in Vallaki if the buildings didn't look like one good wind gust could bring them down, although I doubt there are any builders worth their salt behind your walls."After the first statement the rest of what he said was done in a sarcastic tone before he turned away for a moment. Then he mumbled something underneath his breath as he cast Thaumaturgy on himself to make his eyes appear to shift from their normal grey hue to an almost sunburst like coloration as he stumbled slightly.
"Really, now of all times...?" He thinks aloud as he tries to stumble away from the gate and the guards.
The two guards gave each other a nod, laid down their pikes and came out of the gate, fists at the ready.
One of them said, “That’s it. We told you to leave and you chose to insult our fine town. Now you’re going to have to pay our insolence fee.”
{DM Note: The guards are going to try and beat up Skanon with their fists. If Skanon is going to do any intimidation or perform some other action, now is the time to do it. I am interpreting the actions as Skanon attempting to pass himself off as an avatar of the Morninglord, but I may be reading it wrong.}
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Upon hearing what the guard says Skanon will turn around as his tail twiches somewhat angrily behind him. His left eye twitches slightly as he straightens up letting the change be seen by them.
"You dare raise a hand to one of the few that have been chosen to spread my light through this cursed land?! I am truly disappointed, but I will forgive this act of aggression since the man has unintentionally insulted your fine town. However any further acts of aggression towards any of my champions that have entered your walls will be met with divine punishment! Once my light has returned to this once beautiful land the people shall no longer have to live in fear of the devil that has tainted this land." As he spoke he took on a more dignified tone and he stiffened slightly, preparing to take the hits from the guards.
{DM Note: Mixed result. One of the guard’s convinced, the other is not. Skanon gets inspiration for attempting to roleplay bits of Barovian lore.}
“If you’re a vessel of the Morninglord, then my mum’s Mother Night herself,” said one of the guards, as he prepared to lay down a beatdown.
“Hey. Hey! Don’t do that!” His comrade grabbed the guard’s arm and held him back.
“What? He’s obviously lying, we should just take his stuff and leave him for the wolves.”
“But what if he’s not? Look at his eyes!”
The first guard squinted at Skanon. “Bah! That’s just a party trick!” He sounded a little uncertain.
“Look, maybe the Baron’s festivals are really working. Barovia may finally be free of the devil Strahd, do you really want to be the one who beat up and ejected our salvation?”
The first guard figured he was not able to fistfight both his fellow guard and Skanon at the same time and grudgingly lowered his fists.“Fine, we can always throw him in the stocks later if it turns out he’s a cheat.”
The second guard opened the gate for Skanon and bowed low, “Vallaki welcomes you and your champions, O Lord! Do excuse my crude friend, he has neither attended a day or night of church in his life. Our festival of the Blazing Sun held in your honor shall begin three days hence. Meanwhile, please rest your mortal vessel in the Blue Water Inn at the center of town. It may be humble, but is always open to strangers.”
The first guard rolled his eyes, but said nothing. He picked up his pike and resumed his post.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
"I think that discretion would be wise, given our current circumstances," Veronica says. "Perhaps we could let one or two trustworthy people know we have arrived... especially if there are any priests who might be able to help keep that hag away."
Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
Provide feedback!
Skanon quietly listens to Ismark and Ireena as he looked at the impaled wolves heads and the gate.
"Hopefully the Vallakians won't be too hostile but if they do then that might be for the best." He takes a breath as he thinks about the entry point statement. "While this way might be the most convenient due to our current location..." He trails off slightly and glances towards the others as if to ask what they thought would be the best point of entry.
"If we're looking for a priest, the west gate looks nearest to the church steeple in town," said Ireena, "lets not loiter out here any longer than we have to, the woods are still filled with dangers."
{DM Note: Ireena will head to the west gate with the children to try a deception check to hide her identity from the guards and gain entry, unless anyone in the party has other ideas they want to implement...or be the one to introduce the group. I'll check back in some hours.}
Ireena strode up to the west gate with Freek and Myrtle (the children) in tow. Ismark followed closely behind them. The guards immediately stood at attention, their long pikes readied.
“Please let us in! Our village was attacked and we have no place to go.”
Ireena’s Deception: 24
Guard 1’s Insight: 18
Guard 2’s Insight: 4
{DM Note: Who's with Ireena and who wants to make their own way in?}
Veronica will stay with Ireena, and bring the children with her.
Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
Provide feedback!
Vicky would like to accompany Veronica, Ireena and the children.
Look at it! Beauty! A spoiler!
Look what you've done, spoiling it for you and everyone who can see this screen. You're a disgrace, you know that, right? You have nothing to be ashamed of but yourself, you moster!
But to be completely fair, every monster has a cute side, like have you seen people draw goblins? Goblins look so cool! You're fine, you may seem like a monster, but I bet you're cute on the inside!
Hope I've made your day!
Even though it's tempting to go with Ireena and the others, Skanon will try to make his own way in through the northern gate.
Garavon enters with Ireena.
"ALWAYS GIVE A MONSTER AN EVEN BREAK!"
1st Edition DMG
For Skanon
Skanon circled Vallaki to the north, where the road leaving town led to a quiet mountain lake. Two guards with long pikes stood behind the north gate, which was closed to visitors.
What do you do?
For everyone else
The west gate creaked open as the two guards opened it for the party. One of them, a stout, dark-haired man said, “Come inside. Quickly now, the woods are full of wolves. Don’t worry, they can’t get past our walls. All will be well.”
“Hang on,” said the other guard, a taller man who looked like he needed a shave, “you don’t look like you’re from Barovia.” He pointed at the rest of the party.
“They’re with us,” said Ireena, holding the children close. “We would be dead if not for them.”
The first guard rapped the second guard on the helmet with his pike. “Do excuse Boris, he’s a little thick. Of course you would’ve needed protection to get here in one piece. It’d be suspicious if you’d arrived alone.” He addressed the rest of the party. “Vallaki welcomes you outsiders. If you need a place to stay, the Blue Water Inn at the center of town is your best bet. Tallest building in the area, you can’t miss it. Matter of fact, there’s another outsider staying there right now. Some half-elf fellow came in a carnival wagon a few days ago. Keep your noses clean and we won’t have any trouble, and remember, all will be well!”
Walking through Vallaki, it does seem to be slightly more lively than the Village of Barovia. Grim-faced townsfolk went about their daily business in the streets instead of locking themselves in their houses. There were still a few abandoned buildings with their empty windows gazing out onto the streets like blackened sockets, but their rarity spoke of a town enduring Barovia’s conditions better than Ireena and Ismark’s village.
You came upon the church. Though its stones and shingles were old, it was much better maintained than the one in the village. The church’s doors were open and welcoming. You saw an old priest and a young boy replacing spent candles inside, while the rhythmic scraping of a shovel against soil came from the graveyard as a sullen young man dug a new grave.
The road east led to the rest of Vallaki.
{DM Note: Map below shows info the party has discovered and buildings seen from outside Vallaki. There may be other undiscovered landmarks.}
Skanon takes a breath as he looks to the two guards. He curses himself internally as he takes a step closer and prepares himself to speak. For a moment he wonders if the others had successfully gained entry.
"Excuse me my fair guards, but I am in need of assistance. I was cut off from my allies who were also headed here due to a wolf attack, I'm not sure if they managed to get away or if I am the only one who has arrived but... I could really use a safe place to rest and hopefully see if they managed to survive and arrive here as well." A worried look had crossed his face as he had approached but on the off chance that they didn't believe him he kept one hand near his coin purse just in case.
Deception: 6
Guard 1's insight against Skanon: 10
Guard 2's insight against Skanon: 14
{DM Note: You never know...they might both critically fail their checks...}
For Skanon...
The guards looked at each other, suspicion written across their faces. One of them spoke up, “The baron has decreed we keep out people of little hope or faith like you. We have enough malicious unhappiness in Vallaki, go away and sell your sob story somewhere else.”
"I say, let's find an Inn and wait for Skanon. After those Hags, a little rest then perhaps see the priest. With such evil abounding, the priest may have some help or, at least, some hope."
"ALWAYS GIVE A MONSTER AN EVEN BREAK!"
1st Edition DMG
For everyone except Skanon:
Ismark agreed with Garavon, “It wouldn’t hurt to get settled down before looking for help with our hag problem and a safe place for…” he gestured at Ireena and the children without mentioning their names, glancing about worriedly at passer-bys who all seemed to ignore your group.
You arrived at the front of the tall building in the center of town, which the guard had mentioned was the Blue Water Inn. Gray smoke issued from the chimney of the large, two-story wooden building with a stone foundation and sagging tile roof, upon which several ravens had perched. A painted wooden sign hanging above the main entrance depicted a blue waterfall. Out here by the front of the building was a well, rimmed by a 3-foot high mossy stone wall and covered with a simple wooden lid. An upturned bucket and rope rested on the well's lid. The building's front wall hosted a wooden staircase on its exterior. The staircase ran to the second floor, where it ended at a sturdy wooden door. The windows of the building were fitted with thick shutters and crossbars.
It was now noon, and you saw a group of three sweaty men in workmen clothes entering the inn. Looking about the area, Garavon (passive perception 14) also noticed a cloaked figure who had been tailing your group since you had entered town.
Skanon shrugged his shoulders slightly before looking at the guards with an amused look on his face. It was probably for the best if he kept his annoyance with the situation at hand. "I see, so the baron is a smart man then. I would be devastated if I was in his shoes and a hopeless, faithless freak of nature like myself tried to gain entry to my s**ty town. I mean who would even want to live in a town where most of the notable buildings you can see outside of it's wall look like they are one bad storm away from collapsing? Maybe you'd have less malicious unhappiness in Vallaki if the buildings didn't look like one good wind gust could bring them down, although I doubt there are any builders worth their salt behind your walls."After the first statement the rest of what he said was done in a sarcastic tone before he turned away for a moment. Then he mumbled something underneath his breath as he cast Thaumaturgy on himself to make his eyes appear to shift from their normal grey hue to an almost sunburst like coloration as he stumbled slightly.
"Really, now of all times...?" He thinks aloud as he tries to stumble away from the gate and the guards.
For Skanon:
The two guards gave each other a nod, laid down their pikes and came out of the gate, fists at the ready.
One of them said, “That’s it. We told you to leave and you chose to insult our fine town. Now you’re going to have to pay our insolence fee.”
{DM Note: The guards are going to try and beat up Skanon with their fists. If Skanon is going to do any intimidation or perform some other action, now is the time to do it. I am interpreting the actions as Skanon attempting to pass himself off as an avatar of the Morninglord, but I may be reading it wrong.}
Upon hearing what the guard says Skanon will turn around as his tail twiches somewhat angrily behind him. His left eye twitches slightly as he straightens up letting the change be seen by them.
"You dare raise a hand to one of the few that have been chosen to spread my light through this cursed land?! I am truly disappointed, but I will forgive this act of aggression since the man has unintentionally insulted your fine town. However any further acts of aggression towards any of my champions that have entered your walls will be met with divine punishment! Once my light has returned to this once beautiful land the people shall no longer have to live in fear of the devil that has tainted this land." As he spoke he took on a more dignified tone and he stiffened slightly, preparing to take the hits from the guards.
Intimidation?: 11
Guard 1's Wisdom save: 4
Guard 2's Wisdom save: 2
For Skanon:
{DM Note: Mixed result. One of the guard’s convinced, the other is not. Skanon gets inspiration for attempting to roleplay bits of Barovian lore.}
“If you’re a vessel of the Morninglord, then my mum’s Mother Night herself,” said one of the guards, as he prepared to lay down a beatdown.
“Hey. Hey! Don’t do that!” His comrade grabbed the guard’s arm and held him back.
“What? He’s obviously lying, we should just take his stuff and leave him for the wolves.”
“But what if he’s not? Look at his eyes!”
The first guard squinted at Skanon. “Bah! That’s just a party trick!” He sounded a little uncertain.
“Look, maybe the Baron’s festivals are really working. Barovia may finally be free of the devil Strahd, do you really want to be the one who beat up and ejected our salvation?”
The first guard figured he was not able to fistfight both his fellow guard and Skanon at the same time and grudgingly lowered his fists.“Fine, we can always throw him in the stocks later if it turns out he’s a cheat.”
The second guard opened the gate for Skanon and bowed low, “Vallaki welcomes you and your champions, O Lord! Do excuse my crude friend, he has neither attended a day or night of church in his life. Our festival of the Blazing Sun held in your honor shall begin three days hence. Meanwhile, please rest your mortal vessel in the Blue Water Inn at the center of town. It may be humble, but is always open to strangers.”
The first guard rolled his eyes, but said nothing. He picked up his pike and resumed his post.