"Sounds a good course of action." Fieslius straightens up his clothes and heads over with Dacyne. "Hello, fellows. Would you mind taking some time to talk? It seems we were each here to meet someone, but can't seem to find our contacts."
Dacyne hadn't expected Fiselius to follow, but goes along with it. After his introduction, she speaks up. "I'm looking for a Lord Strahd von Zarovich. Would any of you happen to know how to find him?"
Hearing your question, all the men at the table shudder. One of them, an older looking gentleman with a greyed grizzled beard speaks in a low, friendly voice; but you can tell he is trying to hide an overpowering fear. "Strahd von Zarovich, huh? Yeah, we know him all to well. He rules a land by the name of Barovia, a kingdom surrounded by deadly fog, that lets only a chosen few pass wether they are trying to gain access, or exit the cursed place. If your looking for the Lord of Barovia, I would recommend you stop your search. Srahd von Zarovich is a deadly vampire, probably one of the strongest you could find." After that, the man refuses to answer any questions, as do his compatriots. Sitting back down at your table, you both ponder on the next step in your respective journeys.
Suddenly, the tavern door swings open, and a hush falls over the room. Framed by the lamp-lit fog outside, a form strides through the doorway. His heavy, booted footfalls and the jingle of his coins shatter the silence. His brightly coloured clothes are draped in loose folds about him, and his hat hangs askew, hiding his eyes in shadows. Without hesitation, he walks up to your table and stands proudly in a wide stance with folded arms. In an accented voice he says, "I have been sent to you to deliver this message. If you be creatures of honor, you will come to my master's aid at first light. It is not advisable to travel the Svalich Woods at night!" He pulls from his tunic a sealed letter, addressed to both of you in beautiful flowing script. He drops the letter on the table. "Take the west road from here some five hours march down through the Svalich Woods. There you will find my master in Barovia." Amid the silent stares of the patronage, the ***** strides to the bar and says to the wary barkeep, "Fill the glasses, one and all. Their throats are obviously parched." He drops a purse heavy with gold on the bar. With that, he leaves. The babble of tavern voices resumes, although some what subdued. The letter is lying before you. The seal is in the shape of a crest you don't recognise. After counting the money, the barkeeper gives out a shout. "Free drinks for everyone all night!" Amid the loud cheers, he and his assistant come around topping everyone off. When he gets to your table, he gives you a wide grin. "HAH, you should have your friend over more often. With what he left in that pouch, I should be set for a few months!" He than disappears to grab more mugs of beer. After a little while, the excitement dies down a bit, with some costumers leaving, many stoping by your table to thank you for your friends generosity.
[The following spoiler contains the letter. Do not read unless you open/read the letter.]
Hail to thee of might and valour. I, a lowly servant of Barovia, send honour to thee. We plead for thy so desperately needed assistance The love of my life, Irene Kolyana, has been afflicted by an evil so deadly that even the good people of our village cannot protect her. She languishes from her wound, and I would have her saved from this menace. There is much wealth in this community. I offer all that might be had too thee and thy fellows if thou shalt but answer my desperate plea.Come quickly, for her time is nearly at hand! All that I have shall be thine!
Fiselius feels a chill run down his spine at the fear of Strahd and the mention of his vampirism. But as the figure comes in his mouth drops in awe. If he were willing to offer that much gold as a courtesy then how much more would be paid for helping Irene? "Talk about donors." he says to Dacyne in disbelief, "With that kind of pay I'd be able to fill the family purse for years." He turns to the bartender, "Would you mind sending a message back to my wife? Tell her I might be away from home a bit longer than I'd thought." He then asks for a goblet of wine to celebrate the offer.
After hearing that this Strahd was a vampire, Dacyne had quietly thought about her situation after sitting back down. She is quite surprised at the courier's entrance, extravagant spending, and letter delivered personally to her and this gnome she had just met. She discretely opens the letter to read it.
When done, she reads it over once again, the looks up at Fiselius. "I suppose if this lady is injured, I could try and help. And this Burgomaster claims to be in Barovia." She picks up the note, looking at it again. "Did that man really say in a five-hour journey we would be in Barovia? I suppose that is the path I must take if I'm to carry out my mission here."
"Seems so on the travel time." says Fiselius, realizing how strange that sounded now. "Shall we make the journey together in the morning? Sounded like the nighttime isn't the best and with just the two of us would be good to not have trouble."
"Well, I suppose company on the journey would be welcomed. And it seems the requests to aid Irene went to use both." Dacyne pauses a moment, looking closely at the gnome. "That was what your letter said? Perhaps I shouldn't have presumed they were the same." She then looks over towards the barkeep. "I suppose I should inquire about accommodations for the night then.'
Fiselius will take accommodations the inn for the night. And then it's off to Barovia in the morning. (Where I assume we'll meet the other party members.)
As the other guest start trickling out, you eventually decide it is time to turn in.
You both wake up early, just after six O'clock. The beds were pretty bad, but you're used to that. You meet up downstairs, and have a small breakfast; which the innkeeper says is on the house, along with the lodging, thanks to the generosity of your '***** friend'. As you take the west road, per instructions from the stranger, you notice that the early morning fog is getting thicker by the minute. After three or four hours, you come across an old dirt road, splitting right through the fog, which continues on the other side. {[You guys lost track of the 'west road' a while back, and have no idea which direction the new road is going, unless you have a way to find out, which you can do now if you'd like.]} The road continues in both directions, until it is eventually swallowed by the fog. Far off, you hear a few wolves howling, and you see a flock of ravens circle in the air a few times before flying of.
Do not read spoiler unless you have a way to find out which direction the road is going. It must be a magical way, as any normal, scientific methods will come up with different results each time.
The road goes East to West, with Daycne and Fiselius being on the south side when the come across it.
Dacyne stops at the crossroads, looking down the road in each direction. "When the messenger said follow the west road, I would have thought it would lead directly to the town," she says to Fiselius. "Any thought as to which way we go? I'd have thought if we were to turn off from our route he would have said."
"I'd say we keep going." says Fiselius. He's a bit unnerved by the fog and the lack of scientific methods to see where it's going, but that payday... "He did say it's about a five hour journey and while my sense of direction might not be the best, please don't tell my wife," he winks, "it seems we've still got some journeying ahead. Although I suppose we could take a crack at detecting magic to see if we can get a gander of where we're headed. Would take a little extra time to ritual cast if that's fine by you." He sticks a finger into his mouth for a moment and holds up in the air to get a gauge of the wind. Not so much for the information as much as habit of wanting to feel like he's doing something useful.
"Not sure what good detecting magic will do here," Davyne comments as she thinks over their situation. "I agree with you, let's keep going. Ahead. Through the fog." She does wonder about the wolves howling though. She'd rather not run into them. 'I hope they're not too close', she thinks.
As you cross the road and head back into the fog, you get a tiny feeling, deep down that maybe you should turn back. However, neither of you express it, assuming that the other would if they felt the same. You had only been traveling for roughly ten minutes, thought it's hard to tell with no sun, and it was the most taxing ten minutes of your lives. {[Both of you take one level of exhaustion please.]} You then come across another road, going the exact same direction. And although you can't be to sure about it, you both pick up a few signs that this may be the same road, and indeed the same part of the road from just several minutes earlier.You are now faced with the exact same predicament as before. Confronted with a mysterious road, which you have no idea what direction it's going. And, to make it worse, you feel absolutely wiped. Unable to pay full attention to your surrounding.
"Well if we're back here again, think I'll take some time to do a little ritual." says Fiselius. He takes the time to ritual-cast detect magic to help divine which way the road might lead. "I do wonder if anyone else has been this way. I'd feel safer with some more companions."
[[ Fiselius will help Dacyne with any tasks like survival to see what's around if she chooses. ]]
"Sounds a good course of action." Fieslius straightens up his clothes and heads over with Dacyne. "Hello, fellows. Would you mind taking some time to talk? It seems we were each here to meet someone, but can't seem to find our contacts."
This is a signature. It was a simple signature. But it has been upgraded.
Belolonandalogalo, Sunny | Draíocht, Kholias | Eggo Lass, 100 Dungeons
Talorin Tebedi, Vecna: Eve | Cherry, Stormwreck | Chipper, Strahd
We Are Modron
Get rickrolled here. Awesome music here. Track 48, 5/23/25, Immaculate Mary
Dacyne hadn't expected Fiselius to follow, but goes along with it. After his introduction, she speaks up. "I'm looking for a Lord Strahd von Zarovich. Would any of you happen to know how to find him?"
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
Hearing your question, all the men at the table shudder. One of them, an older looking gentleman with a greyed grizzled beard speaks in a low, friendly voice; but you can tell he is trying to hide an overpowering fear.
"Strahd von Zarovich, huh? Yeah, we know him all to well. He rules a land by the name of Barovia, a kingdom surrounded by deadly fog, that lets only a chosen few pass wether they are trying to gain access, or exit the cursed place. If your looking for the Lord of Barovia, I would recommend you stop your search. Srahd von Zarovich is a deadly vampire, probably one of the strongest you could find."
After that, the man refuses to answer any questions, as do his compatriots.
Sitting back down at your table, you both ponder on the next step in your respective journeys.
Suddenly, the tavern door swings open, and a hush falls over the room. Framed by the lamp-lit fog outside, a form strides through the doorway. His heavy, booted footfalls and the jingle of his coins shatter the silence. His brightly coloured clothes are draped in loose folds about him, and his hat hangs askew, hiding his eyes in shadows. Without hesitation, he walks up to your table and stands proudly in a wide stance with folded arms.
In an accented voice he says, "I have been sent to you to deliver this message. If you be creatures of honor, you will come to my master's aid at first light. It is not advisable to travel the Svalich Woods at night!" He pulls from his tunic a sealed letter, addressed to both of you in beautiful flowing script. He drops the letter on the table. "Take the west road from here some five hours march down through the Svalich Woods. There you will find my master in Barovia."
Amid the silent stares of the patronage, the ***** strides to the bar and says to the wary barkeep, "Fill the glasses, one and all. Their throats are obviously parched." He drops a purse heavy with gold on the bar. With that, he leaves.
The babble of tavern voices resumes, although some what subdued. The letter is lying before you. The seal is in the shape of a crest you don't recognise.
After counting the money, the barkeeper gives out a shout. "Free drinks for everyone all night!" Amid the loud cheers, he and his assistant come around topping everyone off. When he gets to your table, he gives you a wide grin. "HAH, you should have your friend over more often. With what he left in that pouch, I should be set for a few months!" He than disappears to grab more mugs of beer.
After a little while, the excitement dies down a bit, with some costumers leaving, many stoping by your table to thank you for your friends generosity.
[The following spoiler contains the letter. Do not read unless you open/read the letter.]
Hail to thee of might and valour. I, a lowly servant of Barovia, send honour to thee. We plead for thy so desperately needed assistance The love of my life, Irene Kolyana, has been afflicted by an evil so deadly that even the good people of our village cannot protect her. She languishes from her wound, and I would have her saved from this menace. There is much wealth in this community. I offer all that might be had too thee and thy fellows if thou shalt but answer my desperate plea. Come quickly, for her time is nearly at hand! All that I have shall be thine!
Kolyan Indirovich
Burgomaster
Fiselius feels a chill run down his spine at the fear of Strahd and the mention of his vampirism. But as the figure comes in his mouth drops in awe. If he were willing to offer that much gold as a courtesy then how much more would be paid for helping Irene? "Talk about donors." he says to Dacyne in disbelief, "With that kind of pay I'd be able to fill the family purse for years." He turns to the bartender, "Would you mind sending a message back to my wife? Tell her I might be away from home a bit longer than I'd thought." He then asks for a goblet of wine to celebrate the offer.
This is a signature. It was a simple signature. But it has been upgraded.
Belolonandalogalo, Sunny | Draíocht, Kholias | Eggo Lass, 100 Dungeons
Talorin Tebedi, Vecna: Eve | Cherry, Stormwreck | Chipper, Strahd
We Are Modron
Get rickrolled here. Awesome music here. Track 48, 5/23/25, Immaculate Mary
[The bartender promised to send word]
After hearing that this Strahd was a vampire, Dacyne had quietly thought about her situation after sitting back down. She is quite surprised at the courier's entrance, extravagant spending, and letter delivered personally to her and this gnome she had just met. She discretely opens the letter to read it.
When done, she reads it over once again, the looks up at Fiselius. "I suppose if this lady is injured, I could try and help. And this Burgomaster claims to be in Barovia." She picks up the note, looking at it again. "Did that man really say in a five-hour journey we would be in Barovia? I suppose that is the path I must take if I'm to carry out my mission here."
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
"Seems so on the travel time." says Fiselius, realizing how strange that sounded now. "Shall we make the journey together in the morning? Sounded like the nighttime isn't the best and with just the two of us would be good to not have trouble."
This is a signature. It was a simple signature. But it has been upgraded.
Belolonandalogalo, Sunny | Draíocht, Kholias | Eggo Lass, 100 Dungeons
Talorin Tebedi, Vecna: Eve | Cherry, Stormwreck | Chipper, Strahd
We Are Modron
Get rickrolled here. Awesome music here. Track 48, 5/23/25, Immaculate Mary
"Well, I suppose company on the journey would be welcomed. And it seems the requests to aid Irene went to use both." Dacyne pauses a moment, looking closely at the gnome. "That was what your letter said? Perhaps I shouldn't have presumed they were the same." She then looks over towards the barkeep. "I suppose I should inquire about accommodations for the night then.'
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
There was only one letter.
Fiselius will take accommodations the inn for the night. And then it's off to Barovia in the morning. (Where I assume we'll meet the other party members.)
This is a signature. It was a simple signature. But it has been upgraded.
Belolonandalogalo, Sunny | Draíocht, Kholias | Eggo Lass, 100 Dungeons
Talorin Tebedi, Vecna: Eve | Cherry, Stormwreck | Chipper, Strahd
We Are Modron
Get rickrolled here. Awesome music here. Track 48, 5/23/25, Immaculate Mary
Planning on getting an early start the next day, Dacyne will also head to bed.
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
As the other guest start trickling out, you eventually decide it is time to turn in.
You both wake up early, just after six O'clock. The beds were pretty bad, but you're used to that. You meet up downstairs, and have a small breakfast; which the innkeeper says is on the house, along with the lodging, thanks to the generosity of your '***** friend'.
As you take the west road, per instructions from the stranger, you notice that the early morning fog is getting thicker by the minute.
After three or four hours, you come across an old dirt road, splitting right through the fog, which continues on the other side.
{[You guys lost track of the 'west road' a while back, and have no idea which direction the new road is going, unless you have a way to find out, which you can do now if you'd like.]}
The road continues in both directions, until it is eventually swallowed by the fog. Far off, you hear a few wolves howling, and you see a flock of ravens circle in the air a few times before flying of.
Do not read spoiler unless you have a way to find out which direction the road is going. It must be a magical way, as any normal, scientific methods will come up with different results each time.
The road goes East to West, with Daycne and Fiselius being on the south side when the come across it.
Dacyne stops at the crossroads, looking down the road in each direction. "When the messenger said follow the west road, I would have thought it would lead directly to the town," she says to Fiselius. "Any thought as to which way we go? I'd have thought if we were to turn off from our route he would have said."
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
"I'd say we keep going." says Fiselius. He's a bit unnerved by the fog and the lack of scientific methods to see where it's going, but that payday... "He did say it's about a five hour journey and while my sense of direction might not be the best, please don't tell my wife," he winks, "it seems we've still got some journeying ahead. Although I suppose we could take a crack at detecting magic to see if we can get a gander of where we're headed. Would take a little extra time to ritual cast if that's fine by you." He sticks a finger into his mouth for a moment and holds up in the air to get a gauge of the wind. Not so much for the information as much as habit of wanting to feel like he's doing something useful.
This is a signature. It was a simple signature. But it has been upgraded.
Belolonandalogalo, Sunny | Draíocht, Kholias | Eggo Lass, 100 Dungeons
Talorin Tebedi, Vecna: Eve | Cherry, Stormwreck | Chipper, Strahd
We Are Modron
Get rickrolled here. Awesome music here. Track 48, 5/23/25, Immaculate Mary
"Not sure what good detecting magic will do here," Davyne comments as she thinks over their situation. "I agree with you, let's keep going. Ahead. Through the fog." She does wonder about the wolves howling though. She'd rather not run into them. 'I hope they're not too close', she thinks.
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
Just need to clarify, are you casting Detect Magic or not?
[[ Probably not. So let's go with no. ]]
This is a signature. It was a simple signature. But it has been upgraded.
Belolonandalogalo, Sunny | Draíocht, Kholias | Eggo Lass, 100 Dungeons
Talorin Tebedi, Vecna: Eve | Cherry, Stormwreck | Chipper, Strahd
We Are Modron
Get rickrolled here. Awesome music here. Track 48, 5/23/25, Immaculate Mary
As you cross the road and head back into the fog, you get a tiny feeling, deep down that maybe you should turn back. However, neither of you express it, assuming that the other would if they felt the same.
You had only been traveling for roughly ten minutes, thought it's hard to tell with no sun, and it was the most taxing ten minutes of your lives. {[Both of you take one level of exhaustion please.]} You then come across another road, going the exact same direction. And although you can't be to sure about it, you both pick up a few signs that this may be the same road, and indeed the same part of the road from just several minutes earlier.You are now faced with the exact same predicament as before. Confronted with a mysterious road, which you have no idea what direction it's going. And, to make it worse, you feel absolutely wiped. Unable to pay full attention to your surrounding.
"Well if we're back here again, think I'll take some time to do a little ritual." says Fiselius. He takes the time to ritual-cast detect magic to help divine which way the road might lead. "I do wonder if anyone else has been this way. I'd feel safer with some more companions."
[[ Fiselius will help Dacyne with any tasks like survival to see what's around if she chooses. ]]
This is a signature. It was a simple signature. But it has been upgraded.
Belolonandalogalo, Sunny | Draíocht, Kholias | Eggo Lass, 100 Dungeons
Talorin Tebedi, Vecna: Eve | Cherry, Stormwreck | Chipper, Strahd
We Are Modron
Get rickrolled here. Awesome music here. Track 48, 5/23/25, Immaculate Mary