Ismark sipped his own wine and said, “Your arrival here was no accident. The devil Strahd controls who passes through the mists. Outsiders find themselves wandering into Barovia all the time, but none may leave without his permission.
Speaking of which,” he looked at Vicky, “you are right in guessing that I need your help. The devil Strahd has taken an interest in my sister Ireena.
He has come to our house twice and my father, Kolyan Indirovich the burgomaster, let him in. Both times, he ignored my father’s pleas to better the lives of Barovians. Both times he spent his attention on my sister, inviting her to live with him in the Castle and she rejected him. When he left, we found Ireena bleeding from two deep wounds in her neck and no recollection of how it happened.
So when Strahd showed up a third time a week ago, my father refused him entry. The devil left without incident, or so we thought.
Our house has been attacked by wolves every night since. Growling and howling through the night, clawing at the doors and boarded up windows, trying to find entry."
Ismark drained his glass and poured himself another before continuing his story.
"My father died three days ago, his heart couldn’t take the stress.
Please adventurers, we need to move my sister away from the village and out of Strahd’s view. The town of Vallaki in the center of the valley is well-defended, but the roads are dangerous and we won’t make it alone.
Skanon's tail began to twitch slightly as he listened to what Ismark had to say. At the mention of bleeding wounds on his sister's neck he shivered slightly and quick down the rest of his glass trying not to panic at the thought of someone biting him. His mind began to wonder as he thought about it more only for his train of thought to be brought back to the conversation when he heard Ismark mention the death of his father.
"My deepest apologies, it is never easy losing a loved one. I am truly sorry for your loss." He says with a saddened tone. "I do not know about the others but I would happily assist you and your sister get to a safer location. It's not the first time I've helped someone get out of a dangerous situation and hopefully it won't be the last time either."
Veronica fidgets uncomfortably at the mention of 'bleeding from the neck.' She remembers inflicting the exact same wounds on an unfortunate would-be suitor once... when she was younger and less able to control her own thirst for blood. A shudder runs down her spine at the unpleasant memory.
"I... I would be happy to help your sister however I can," she says after a moment's hesitation.
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Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
Vicky winces at the mentions of Strahd: 'Why would you reject Strahd? You're bound to be in danger now!'
But then her true horror came from when she realised what had been said. A couple seconds after the mention of two bleeding wounds on Ireena's neck, Vicky's look turns to one of pure terror... Then the wolves, the very things Strahd could watch you through, attacking your house...
Vicky would want to help, but knows that doing so would tell Strahd that she am not on his side... she would be a target...
"I'll... I will help you however I can."
Vicky takes multiple sips of wine quickly, worrying about what lengths she would have to go to while helping.
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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!
“I must apologize for not having more to offer you adventurers,” said Ismark as he nodded gratefully at your support, “my father gave away most of our possessions to the other villagers who needed them more.”
He stared into his wine and soon began to shake with relief, like a burden had been eased from his shoulders. Ismark sniffled, tears welled in a wet sheen within his eyes and dripped into his glass. He gathered himself and said, “Thank the Morninglord you’re here adventurers. Come, let us finish our drinks and be on our way. We must be away before nightfall and Strahd realizes my sister is leaving the village.”
You finished your drinks and Ismark led you south through the village toward the burgomaster’s mansion.
Along the way, you identified a hollow townhouse from which still echoed the mournful sobbing you had heard when you entered the village. Its unlocked door sat ajar, revealing only blackness within.
You also heard the sound of small, wooden wheels rolling across damp cobbles. You traced the lonely sound to a hunched figure bundled in rags, pushing a rickety wooden cart through the fog. The figure went from house to house, knocking on doors, but no one answered.
{DM note: Going to wait a bit for replies in case characters want to investigate other things in the village rather than head directly to the burgomaster’s mansion.}
While walking south through Barovia, Vicky begins talking:
"I am Vicky Traakimash of the Tainted Woods. I am native to this land. North West of here is my home, inside the Tainted Woods. I wasn't always intending to tell you but," Vicky looks around for any bats, ravens, wolves etc. "I do not trust the Vistani, they are under Strahd's lead. Please trust me, I- I can't cope with being the only one here that could go back to the world they know..."
Persuasion: 17
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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!
Ismark furrowed his brow. “I know that place…the Tainted Woods are near Krezk, a settlement on the far western end of Barovia. It can’t have been easy growing up here as a non-human. Most Barovians are taciturn and insular humans.
It could explain why your parents chose to live away from town.” Ismark sighed.
“Not all adventurers who end up in Barovia choke in the mists trying to leave, or die in their attempt to break Strahd’s curse.
A small number try to settle and start a life here. I’d wager your parents are those who picked this path. I wouldn’t be surprised if the other Barovians viewed them as parasites and ejected them from their settlements.
For what it is worth, I think you’re a better person than most other Barovians Vicky. You saw a man in need and offered to help.
As for the Vistani...I've heard the rumours about them working for Strahd, though I've never paid them much mind. There were three in the tavern just now while we were planning, do you think we should do something about it?”
"Do something about it? No. Not directly, they are a hundred, and we are just 6. They are an army compared to us. It's best we ignore them. However, it wasn't hard much to live there. I bet you've gone soft. I've been on the farm for my life..." Vicky then realises what Ismark meant by 'not easy', "Oh... Hard... Mentally, I suppose you meant. I've got Latagu and my family, but... That's it... You are right, the Tainted Woods are indeed near Krezk. I take it you couldn't be far from the truth with my parents.
"On another note. You need help, but with what? You don't want us to fight off the wolves?"
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!
“The main problem isn’t the wolves. It’s the fact that Strahd knows where Ireena is. If we fight off the wolves, he can simply send other nastier things against us. We have to get Ireena away from him.”
You arrived at the burgomaster’s home.
A weary-looking mansion squatted behind a rusting iron fence. The iron gates were twisted and torn. The right gate lay cast aside, while the left swung lazily in the wind. The stuttering squeal and clang of the gate repeated with mindless precision. Weeds choked the grounds and pressed with menace upon the house itself. Yet, against the walls, the growth had been tramped down to create a path all about the domain. Heavy claw markings had stripped the once-beautiful finish of the walls. Great black marks told of the fires that have assailed the mansion. Not a pane nor shard of glass stood in any window. All the windows were barred with planks, each one marked with stains of evil omen.
Ismark lifted an old iron knocker in the shape of a gargoyle and rapped it against the great wooden doors.
“Ireena, I’m back. I’ve found a group of adventurers willing to accompany us to Vallaki!”
You heard the sound of heavy beams or furniture being moved aside behind the doors, before they groaned aside to reveal a striking young lady with neatly tied auburn hair and a grim expression. She was dressed in a finely engraved breastplate and had a rapier at her hip. A thick red scarf around her neck completed the ensemble.
“Morninglord’s blessings upon you adventurers. I am Ireena Kolyana.” She moved aside to let you into the mansion.
The interior of the mansion was well furnished, yet the fixtures showed signs of great wear. The old walls bore host to boarded-up windows and sunburst holy symbols in every room. The burgomaster was in a side drawing room on the floor, lying in a simple wooden coffin surrounded by wilting flowers and a faint odor of decay.
“That is our father, Kolyan Indirovich,” said Ireena, “now that you are here, will you help us bring him to the church where Father Donavich will perform his last rites?”
Ismark’s jaw hung slack. “Are you out of your mind? We need to seize every bit of daylight and head to Vallaki as soon as possible.”
Ireena gave her brother a steely eyed stare. “I may not remember much of how I got these wounds from him brother.” She touched the thick scarf around her neck. “But I do remember the blazing hunger in his eyes. Strahd wants me to be his prey, to run scared so that he may relish the thrill of the hunt.
Well, I refuse. I am not prey. I am Ireena Kolyana and I will give our father the burial he deserves.”
{DM Note: Ireena will not willingly leave the village while her father lies dead on the floor. If any character would like to try and convince or trick her into leaving immediately, the DC is 17 for Persuasion/Deception. I’ll take the first result rolled.}
Veronica gives the distraught woman a sympathetic look... in all honesty, she would be willing to help bear the dead man to the church for last rites. Still... it would be foolish to make a stop and waste the daylight.
"I'm terribly sorry for your loss," she says gently. "But... your brother is right that it would not be wise to waste the daylight. If you feel it is your duty to take care of your father's mortal remains then I understand... but if it is what you must do, perhaps it would be wiser to start our journey at daybreak tomorrow morning. Maybe the good Father Donavich will even be kind enough to offer us safe haven over night to keep you out of the clutches of your pursuer until we are ready to take to the road."
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Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
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Skanon kept a short distance behind Ismark, Vicky and the rest of the party as they entered the mansion. He gave Ireena a soft and rather friendly smile as she introduced herself. When he saw the coffin and caught the faint odor of decay he looked down at the floor for a moment before looking back up as he heard the siblings speaking. An idea popped into his head as he looked between the body in the coffin and Ireena.
"I... I know a spell that might be able to assist us with your father, dear Ireena. Of course... it's not the most glamorous of spells but it would keep his body from decaying so we could get you to safety and then come back and bring him to Father Donavich so he can have his last rites and be buried."
Ireena looked at Garavon. “There were many in Barovia who bore anger against Strahd and would gladly oppose him. They just needed a spark. That spark came last year, a charismatic mage, an adventurer much like you, came to the valley and riled the people up against Strahd. They followed him to the castle en masse. That night, fire and thunder filled the sky above Ravenloft.
There has been no sign of the adventurer mage and villagers who followed him since then, yet Strahd still stands.
If those who refused to fight were afraid of Strahd before, they are doubly convinced now.”
Ismark nodded in agreement. “I went around the village seeking help to carry our father to the church. Nobody responded.” He gritted his teeth and spat. “Those ingrates. Our father gave them everything he had. EVERYTHING.”
Ireena laid a hand on her brother’s shoulder. “Do not blame them brother. They are afraid, like you were when the mage came calling for us to take up arms, and it kept you alive.”
Ismark stared at the ground, thoughts roiling in his mind, before looking at each of you in turn. “Thanks to the devil Strahd himself, that fear is gone. He has killed my father and is coming after my sister. Help me get Ireena to safety adventurers and my blade is yours for as long as it takes to see Strahd undone.”
Ismark opened a cabinet, began donning the splint mail within and arming himself with a longsword, shortsword, and crossbow.
{DM Note: I’ll wait a bit for Vicky to respond before moving things along. It seems Garavon and Veronica are fine with heading to the Church for now, while Skanon has an offer to preserve the body with magic and come back for it later after Ireena has been moved.
If Vicky wants to help Skanon with the Persuasion, she can roll Persuasion with Skanon’s modifier (i.e. give Skanon advantage on the check) or just roll Persuasion again with her own modifier.
If the Persuasion succeeds (17 or higher), Skanon’s offer is taken. Otherwise, the party heads to the church.}
Vicky, staying near the front of the group. However, Vicky understands what must be done. "If you are stubborn with taking your father to this, Father Donavich, it will be done.I apologise, Ismark, but if it is completely needed, we could rest at the church until sunrise tomorrow."
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!
“Thank you for your offer,” said Ireena to Skanon, “but it seems your party is confident we can hide out in the church and await daybreak tomorrow.”
Ismark returned, armored and armed to the teeth. “Still, we should take precautions.” He looked at Vicky and Garavon. “I know the three Vistani at the tavern, Alenka, Mirabel, and Sorvia. They’re the tavern owners and if they truly work for Strahd, carting our father’s coffin through the streets would surely raise suspicions and tip Strahd off to our location.”
“Agreed,” said Ireena, “let’s go the long way around.”
She showed you to a heavily-barred back door of the mansion and the party worked the coffin containing the dead burgomaster laboriously along the outskirts of the village.
Atop a slight rise, against the roots of the pillar stone that supported Castle Ravenloft, stood a gray, sagging edifice of stone and wood. The church had obviously weathered the assaults of evil for centuries on end and is worn and weary. A bell tower rose toward the back, flickering light shone through holes in the shingled roof and the rafters strained feebly against their load.
The heavy wooden doors were covered with claw marks and scarred by fire. The party swung them open with a mighty groaning creak and entered.
Inside, a ten-foot-wide, twenty-foot-long hallway led to a brightly lit chapel. The hallway you were standing in was unlit and smelled of mildew. Four doors, two on each side of the hallway, led to adjacent chambers.
You could see the chapel ahead was strewn with debris. A soft voice emanated from the chapel, reciting a prayer to the Morninglord. Suddenly, the prayer was blotted out by a sharp inhuman scream that rose up from beneath the wooden floorboards. “Father! I am STARVING!”
Ireena and Ismark halted, hands on their weapons and muscles tense.
They looked to you, the adventurers, for guidance on the right course of action.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Vicky gets a scare at the shout. What was happening?
"Is this... normal? Should we enter or not...?"
Out of character: I saw this and didn't know what to say, and I guess nobody else did (Insight 13) so you just waited for someone else to say something.
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!
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Skanon looks to the others for a moment when he heard the inhumane scream before taking a deep breath. As he exhaled he shifted his gaze towards the door, wondering if the others had heard it as well. Hearing what Vicky said he shrugged slightly.
"It honestly wouldn't surprise me if it turned out that this place was haunted or something. That being said, perhaps someone should accompany Ismark and Ireena to speak with Donavich. I would offer but I don't have the best history when it comes to speaking with priests and priestesses... for reasons..." He trailed off slightly and subtly motioned towards a somewhat hidden book that he had on him. Then he scratched the back of his neck before slowly stepping inside. "But that's neither here or there, if we stand around all day we'll be putting Ireena in danger and that would be rather counter productive, yeah?" As he says this he walks over to door 3 and places a hand on the door but before trying to open it he will also place his ear against the door to try and see if he hears anyone or anything on the other side.
Skanon heard nothing as he pushed up against the door. It was unlocked, and opening it carefully revealed a dirty, lightless room containing a wooden bed with a straw-filled mattress. Mounted above the bed's headboard was a wooden holy symbol in the shape of a sunburst. The thick coat of dust that had settled like snow over every inch of the room suggested it had not been used in months.
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Ismark sipped his own wine and said, “Your arrival here was no accident. The devil Strahd controls who passes through the mists. Outsiders find themselves wandering into Barovia all the time, but none may leave without his permission.
Speaking of which,” he looked at Vicky, “you are right in guessing that I need your help. The devil Strahd has taken an interest in my sister Ireena.
He has come to our house twice and my father, Kolyan Indirovich the burgomaster, let him in. Both times, he ignored my father’s pleas to better the lives of Barovians. Both times he spent his attention on my sister, inviting her to live with him in the Castle and she rejected him. When he left, we found Ireena bleeding from two deep wounds in her neck and no recollection of how it happened.
So when Strahd showed up a third time a week ago, my father refused him entry. The devil left without incident, or so we thought.
Our house has been attacked by wolves every night since. Growling and howling through the night, clawing at the doors and boarded up windows, trying to find entry."
Ismark drained his glass and poured himself another before continuing his story.
"My father died three days ago, his heart couldn’t take the stress.
Please adventurers, we need to move my sister away from the village and out of Strahd’s view. The town of Vallaki in the center of the valley is well-defended, but the roads are dangerous and we won’t make it alone.
Will you help me?”
Skanon's tail began to twitch slightly as he listened to what Ismark had to say. At the mention of bleeding wounds on his sister's neck he shivered slightly and quick down the rest of his glass trying not to panic at the thought of someone biting him. His mind began to wonder as he thought about it more only for his train of thought to be brought back to the conversation when he heard Ismark mention the death of his father.
"My deepest apologies, it is never easy losing a loved one. I am truly sorry for your loss." He says with a saddened tone. "I do not know about the others but I would happily assist you and your sister get to a safer location. It's not the first time I've helped someone get out of a dangerous situation and hopefully it won't be the last time either."
Veronica fidgets uncomfortably at the mention of 'bleeding from the neck.' She remembers inflicting the exact same wounds on an unfortunate would-be suitor once... when she was younger and less able to control her own thirst for blood. A shudder runs down her spine at the unpleasant memory.
"I... I would be happy to help your sister however I can," she says after a moment's hesitation.
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Provide feedback!
Vicky winces at the mentions of Strahd: 'Why would you reject Strahd? You're bound to be in danger now!'
But then her true horror came from when she realised what had been said. A couple seconds after the mention of two bleeding wounds on Ireena's neck, Vicky's look turns to one of pure terror... Then the wolves, the very things Strahd could watch you through, attacking your house...
Vicky would want to help, but knows that doing so would tell Strahd that she am not on his side... she would be a target...
"I'll... I will help you however I can."
Vicky takes multiple sips of wine quickly, worrying about what lengths she would have to go to while helping.
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!
“I must apologize for not having more to offer you adventurers,” said Ismark as he nodded gratefully at your support, “my father gave away most of our possessions to the other villagers who needed them more.”
He stared into his wine and soon began to shake with relief, like a burden had been eased from his shoulders. Ismark sniffled, tears welled in a wet sheen within his eyes and dripped into his glass. He gathered himself and said, “Thank the Morninglord you’re here adventurers. Come, let us finish our drinks and be on our way. We must be away before nightfall and Strahd realizes my sister is leaving the village.”
You finished your drinks and Ismark led you south through the village toward the burgomaster’s mansion.
Along the way, you identified a hollow townhouse from which still echoed the mournful sobbing you had heard when you entered the village. Its unlocked door sat ajar, revealing only blackness within.
You also heard the sound of small, wooden wheels rolling across damp cobbles. You traced the lonely sound to a hunched figure bundled in rags, pushing a rickety wooden cart through the fog. The figure went from house to house, knocking on doors, but no one answered.
{DM note: Going to wait a bit for replies in case characters want to investigate other things in the village rather than head directly to the burgomaster’s mansion.}
While walking south through Barovia, Vicky begins talking:
"I am Vicky Traakimash of the Tainted Woods. I am native to this land. North West of here is my home, inside the Tainted Woods. I wasn't always intending to tell you but," Vicky looks around for any bats, ravens, wolves etc. "I do not trust the Vistani, they are under Strahd's lead. Please trust me, I- I can't cope with being the only one here that could go back to the world they know..."
Persuasion: 17
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!
Ismark furrowed his brow. “I know that place…the Tainted Woods are near Krezk, a settlement on the far western end of Barovia. It can’t have been easy growing up here as a non-human. Most Barovians are taciturn and insular humans.
It could explain why your parents chose to live away from town.” Ismark sighed.
“Not all adventurers who end up in Barovia choke in the mists trying to leave, or die in their attempt to break Strahd’s curse.
A small number try to settle and start a life here. I’d wager your parents are those who picked this path. I wouldn’t be surprised if the other Barovians viewed them as parasites and ejected them from their settlements.
For what it is worth, I think you’re a better person than most other Barovians Vicky. You saw a man in need and offered to help.
As for the Vistani...I've heard the rumours about them working for Strahd, though I've never paid them much mind. There were three in the tavern just now while we were planning, do you think we should do something about it?”
"Do something about it? No. Not directly, they are a hundred, and we are just 6. They are an army compared to us. It's best we ignore them. However, it wasn't hard much to live there. I bet you've gone soft. I've been on the farm for my life..." Vicky then realises what Ismark meant by 'not easy', "Oh... Hard... Mentally, I suppose you meant. I've got Latagu and my family, but... That's it... You are right, the Tainted Woods are indeed near Krezk. I take it you couldn't be far from the truth with my parents.
"On another note. You need help, but with what? You don't want us to fight off the wolves?"
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!
Ismark shook hia head.
“The main problem isn’t the wolves. It’s the fact that Strahd knows where Ireena is. If we fight off the wolves, he can simply send other nastier things against us. We have to get Ireena away from him.”
You arrived at the burgomaster’s home.
A weary-looking mansion squatted behind a rusting iron fence. The iron gates were twisted and torn. The right gate lay cast aside, while the left swung lazily in the wind. The stuttering squeal and clang of the gate repeated with mindless precision. Weeds choked the grounds and pressed with menace upon the house itself. Yet, against the walls, the growth had been tramped down to create a path all about the domain. Heavy claw markings had stripped the once-beautiful finish of the walls. Great black marks told of the fires that have assailed the mansion. Not a pane nor shard of glass stood in any window. All the windows were barred with planks, each one marked with stains of evil omen.
Ismark lifted an old iron knocker in the shape of a gargoyle and rapped it against the great wooden doors.
“Ireena, I’m back. I’ve found a group of adventurers willing to accompany us to Vallaki!”
You heard the sound of heavy beams or furniture being moved aside behind the doors, before they groaned aside to reveal a striking young lady with neatly tied auburn hair and a grim expression. She was dressed in a finely engraved breastplate and had a rapier at her hip. A thick red scarf around her neck completed the ensemble.
“Morninglord’s blessings upon you adventurers. I am Ireena Kolyana.” She moved aside to let you into the mansion.
The interior of the mansion was well furnished, yet the fixtures showed signs of great wear. The old walls bore host to boarded-up windows and sunburst holy symbols in every room. The burgomaster was in a side drawing room on the floor, lying in a simple wooden coffin surrounded by wilting flowers and a faint odor of decay.
“That is our father, Kolyan Indirovich,” said Ireena, “now that you are here, will you help us bring him to the church where Father Donavich will perform his last rites?”
Ismark’s jaw hung slack. “Are you out of your mind? We need to seize every bit of daylight and head to Vallaki as soon as possible.”
Ireena gave her brother a steely eyed stare. “I may not remember much of how I got these wounds from him brother.” She touched the thick scarf around her neck. “But I do remember the blazing hunger in his eyes. Strahd wants me to be his prey, to run scared so that he may relish the thrill of the hunt.
Well, I refuse. I am not prey. I am Ireena Kolyana and I will give our father the burial he deserves.”
{DM Note: Ireena will not willingly leave the village while her father lies dead on the floor. If any character would like to try and convince or trick her into leaving immediately, the DC is 17 for Persuasion/Deception. I’ll take the first result rolled.}
Veronica gives the distraught woman a sympathetic look... in all honesty, she would be willing to help bear the dead man to the church for last rites. Still... it would be foolish to make a stop and waste the daylight.
"I'm terribly sorry for your loss," she says gently. "But... your brother is right that it would not be wise to waste the daylight. If you feel it is your duty to take care of your father's mortal remains then I understand... but if it is what you must do, perhaps it would be wiser to start our journey at daybreak tomorrow morning. Maybe the good Father Donavich will even be kind enough to offer us safe haven over night to keep you out of the clutches of your pursuer until we are ready to take to the road."
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Provide feedback!
Skanon kept a short distance behind Ismark, Vicky and the rest of the party as they entered the mansion. He gave Ireena a soft and rather friendly smile as she introduced herself. When he saw the coffin and caught the faint odor of decay he looked down at the floor for a moment before looking back up as he heard the siblings speaking. An idea popped into his head as he looked between the body in the coffin and Ireena.
"I... I know a spell that might be able to assist us with your father, dear Ireena. Of course... it's not the most glamorous of spells but it would keep his body from decaying so we could get you to safety and then come back and bring him to Father Donavich so he can have his last rites and be buried."
Persuasion: 14
As the conversation unfolded, Garavon kept a close eye on the three women.
Once out of the Tavern, he informs the others of the three's attention to the conversation.
"Are there none who oppose this Strahd? Nature seeks a balance, and nothing is ever unopposed."
"If we must take your father to this priest, then let us get it done. Mayhaps, it is a more defensible place."
"ALWAYS GIVE A MONSTER AN EVEN BREAK!"
1st Edition DMG
Ireena looked at Garavon. “There were many in Barovia who bore anger against Strahd and would gladly oppose him. They just needed a spark. That spark came last year, a charismatic mage, an adventurer much like you, came to the valley and riled the people up against Strahd. They followed him to the castle en masse. That night, fire and thunder filled the sky above Ravenloft.
There has been no sign of the adventurer mage and villagers who followed him since then, yet Strahd still stands.
If those who refused to fight were afraid of Strahd before, they are doubly convinced now.”
Ismark nodded in agreement. “I went around the village seeking help to carry our father to the church. Nobody responded.” He gritted his teeth and spat. “Those ingrates. Our father gave them everything he had. EVERYTHING.”
Ireena laid a hand on her brother’s shoulder. “Do not blame them brother. They are afraid, like you were when the mage came calling for us to take up arms, and it kept you alive.”
Ismark stared at the ground, thoughts roiling in his mind, before looking at each of you in turn. “Thanks to the devil Strahd himself, that fear is gone. He has killed my father and is coming after my sister. Help me get Ireena to safety adventurers and my blade is yours for as long as it takes to see Strahd undone.”
Ismark opened a cabinet, began donning the splint mail within and arming himself with a longsword, shortsword, and crossbow.
{DM Note: I’ll wait a bit for Vicky to respond before moving things along. It seems Garavon and Veronica are fine with heading to the Church for now, while Skanon has an offer to preserve the body with magic and come back for it later after Ireena has been moved.
If Vicky wants to help Skanon with the Persuasion, she can roll Persuasion with Skanon’s modifier (i.e. give Skanon advantage on the check) or just roll Persuasion again with her own modifier.
If the Persuasion succeeds (17 or higher), Skanon’s offer is taken. Otherwise, the party heads to the church.}
Vicky, staying near the front of the group. However, Vicky understands what must be done. "If you are stubborn with taking your father to this, Father Donavich, it will be done.I apologise, Ismark, but if it is completely needed, we could rest at the church until sunrise tomorrow."
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!
“Thank you for your offer,” said Ireena to Skanon, “but it seems your party is confident we can hide out in the church and await daybreak tomorrow.”
Ismark returned, armored and armed to the teeth. “Still, we should take precautions.” He looked at Vicky and Garavon. “I know the three Vistani at the tavern, Alenka, Mirabel, and Sorvia. They’re the tavern owners and if they truly work for Strahd, carting our father’s coffin through the streets would surely raise suspicions and tip Strahd off to our location.”
“Agreed,” said Ireena, “let’s go the long way around.”
She showed you to a heavily-barred back door of the mansion and the party worked the coffin containing the dead burgomaster laboriously along the outskirts of the village.
Atop a slight rise, against the roots of the pillar stone that supported Castle Ravenloft, stood a gray, sagging edifice of stone and wood. The church had obviously weathered the assaults of evil for centuries on end and is worn and weary. A bell tower rose toward the back, flickering light shone through holes in the shingled roof and the rafters strained feebly against their load.
The heavy wooden doors were covered with claw marks and scarred by fire. The party swung them open with a mighty groaning creak and entered.
Inside, a ten-foot-wide, twenty-foot-long hallway led to a brightly lit chapel. The hallway you were standing in was unlit and smelled of mildew. Four doors, two on each side of the hallway, led to adjacent chambers.
You could see the chapel ahead was strewn with debris. A soft voice emanated from the chapel, reciting a prayer to the Morninglord. Suddenly, the prayer was blotted out by a sharp inhuman scream that rose up from beneath the wooden floorboards. “Father! I am STARVING!”
Ireena and Ismark halted, hands on their weapons and muscles tense.
They looked to you, the adventurers, for guidance on the right course of action.
Vicky gets a scare at the shout. What was happening?
"Is this... normal? Should we enter or not...?"
Out of character: I saw this and didn't know what to say, and I guess nobody else did (Insight 13) so you just waited for someone else to say something.
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!
DM suggestion: Start exploring areas of the church. Here are some places to get you started.
Doors number 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the hallway you've arrived at.
The Chapel at the end of the hallway where the soft prayer is emanating from.
Find some way to get underground where the scream came from.
You can also request Ismark and Ireena back you up...or that they go first and you'll back them up.
This may help...
Skanon looks to the others for a moment when he heard the inhumane scream before taking a deep breath. As he exhaled he shifted his gaze towards the door, wondering if the others had heard it as well. Hearing what Vicky said he shrugged slightly.
"It honestly wouldn't surprise me if it turned out that this place was haunted or something. That being said, perhaps someone should accompany Ismark and Ireena to speak with Donavich. I would offer but I don't have the best history when it comes to speaking with priests and priestesses... for reasons..." He trailed off slightly and subtly motioned towards a somewhat hidden book that he had on him. Then he scratched the back of his neck before slowly stepping inside. "But that's neither here or there, if we stand around all day we'll be putting Ireena in danger and that would be rather counter productive, yeah?" As he says this he walks over to door 3 and places a hand on the door but before trying to open it he will also place his ear against the door to try and see if he hears anyone or anything on the other side.
Perception?: 15
Door 3
Skanon heard nothing as he pushed up against the door. It was unlocked, and opening it carefully revealed a dirty, lightless room containing a wooden bed with a straw-filled mattress. Mounted above the bed's headboard was a wooden holy symbol in the shape of a sunburst. The thick coat of dust that had settled like snow over every inch of the room suggested it had not been used in months.