"Strahd..... sympathizers? No, the cultists don't attend. We average around 20 members each night. It's from 9-10 pm. I haven't seen any half elves around."

The church is very simplistic in its design. It has one hall leading to the chapel with two doors on either side. The chapel itself only has the altar, pews, and holy symbols painted on the back wall.

"Hm...How about an old man with a cane then, new in town?" Perhaps he likes to show his true face before his god. Insane acts of 'worship' were commonplace back home.

"Evening. Appropriate." remarks Chipper on the service, "I believe clerics of Azuth prepare their spells at dusk. And I do have a question of curiosity, Fr. Lucian. How do saints work here in Barovia, particularly with the reincarnating souls and all we've been told of. I'm more familiar with cases of mortals such as Azuth himself being raised up to demigod status by other deities. But for St. Andril, does his spirit resist that and work in other ways? It fascinates me."

"I'm sorry, I haven't seen anyone to that description."

"Reincarnation? What do you mean? As far as I'm aware, Saint Andril is resting on Mount Celestia."

Ada observes the cracked stained glass and the creeping mist and tries not to shudder. At least there is a church in this dreary place. As the door opens and the priest greets them, she introduces herself. "Ada Kendrick, your reverence, aasimar and paladin of Lathander."

As Father Lucian gazes at Ireena's neck, Ada notices the bite marks for the first time herself, and she scowls. "Let me guess, Strahd himself?" she mutters, following the priest and Ireena into the church.

When the Father mentions the bones of Saint Andril, Ada tries to remember what she knows about him.

History - 4

Religion - 16

Ada winces when Ireena says the word twice. "He bit you twice?" she exclaims, slightly louder than necessary, the divine glow in her eyes brightening. "When do I get to kill this bloodsucker again?"

You can't recall anything about Saint Andril. Ireena answers, "The first two were by Strahd. This one was by one of his consorts. She's..... gone. By Strahd's hand, most likely."

Kessintra looks distant for a moment as Ireena recounts the last bite; it's twice now they've failed to protect her, when she was captured and then that attack. She shakes her head, forcing the thoughts away.

"Father Lucian, how long ago did Saint Andril pass away? And what were the circumstances, if you don't mind saying?" Perhaps the saint died before Barovia was cursed. Frankly all of this religious talk means nothing to her, but it is a distraction from her guilty conscience and the voices at least.

"It was over three hundred years ago. Strahd wasn't very... content with the church back then. I guess he feared it, to a certain extent. When he came to eradicate the church here in Villaki, Saint Andril did his best to stop him, but it wasn't enough. The Morninglord, with his fleeting powers, preserved the saint's bones and consecrated the church grounds, which kept the Devil at bay. Things like that don't happen anymore. I can't help but feel that Lathander is more..... distant nowadays."

"He is trying to help where he can.  There's much in this land that feels like it's sole purpose is to stifle his presence." Razz says while lifting up his amulet of the Moringlord and for an added flare, he casts Minor Illusion on it to sparkle as he holds it up but he doesn't concentrate on the spell to keep it going past that.  "Also, if it's alright with you, I'd like to start trying to mend up some of the windows and other parts of the church as best I can before the service tonight."

Yes I can help mending as well. It’s the least we can do for your hospitality.

Ada sighs at Ireena's response. "Well, we'll make him pay...eventually," she says.

Turning to Razz, she smiles at his offer of help in fixing the church windows. "That's a great idea, Razz. Sadly, I don't know any magic that would help you, but if you need any physical help let me know." 

To Father Lucian, Ada says, "Don't give up hope, Father. It may seem like the Morninglord is far from us here, but his light shines even in this dark place."

Persuasion to rally Father Lucian's morale maybe? - 10

Kessintra plays a short melody to give Ada Bardic Inspiration on her persuasion attempt (+5). She has no interest in religion, but if the priest loses his faith he is more likely to join the cultists and betray them.

"Of course. Who am I to deny your help? And..." He turns to Ada. "Thank you. I needed that."

Quote from CameronTheMistical >>

"Reincarnation? What do you mean? As far as I'm aware, Saint Andril is resting on Mount Celestia."

"Strahd's beliefs around Ireena seemed be centered on the idea of souls being trapped in Barovia even after death. Was the attack St. Andril beat back before or after his... vampirization?" asks Chipper.

With Garrick and Razz using mending, Chipper would offer to use prestidigitation to clean the church. Getting any stained glass windows in pristine condition or cleaning up the rafters.

"It was after his death...... Goodness.... Trapped souls.... reincarnation.... I've... I've given a lot of bad advice...." He starts hyperventilating, then tries to calm himself down as he talks to himself. "Hope... Barovia needs hope right now. Especially here in Villaki...."

“That’s why we are here Father, to bring that hope. Just see how your church shines now, repaired and cleaned, a new beacon to others. Hope is contagious.”

Hope...Kessintra is familiar with that at least, though hers is more of a long shot than the others'. She reaches out to lightly touch the priest's shoulder, playing a quick note with her other hand and casting heroism on him. She can't bring herself to say it will be alright, but at least he'll feel like it for a minute or so.

Razz is busy flying around near the ceiling and windows of the church making sure he didn't miss any spots.  "Thanks Garrick for the help.  This is going way quicker than I thought it would."  Razz will use druidcraft to relight any of the candles or lanterns in the church to make sure it's as bright inside as it can be.  He'll also ask the priest if he can cast light on any of the darker spots in the church as well.  He'll wait until right before people start arriving to cast it so they last almost the full hour of service.  He figures he can recast them before the end to keep it up until after everyone has left besides them.

"Yes..... Yes. Thank you all. I don't know how I'll repay you for all of this. Why, the repairs alone are more than I can pay for."

Thinking for a moment, Garrick scratches his chin. “It’s a lot to ask, but by any chance do you or any of your parishioners have any holy relics or weapons that could aid us in this struggle? Any little bit could make the difference.”