JudyMacs Curse of Strahd

Illmirth

"Nothing missing or out of sorts here," he calls out.  He does pause to smell the herbs, curious if they are to be used for a religious ceremony or to make some delightful tea.

***religion.16 ***

Lorelei Dawnwarden

"Do you have any idea what he could have taken? What do you have here that would be worth taking?" The young blonde priestess asks.

Crisaryn Melkial

As other items still seem to be present, Crisaryn suggests, "What about the relics you had at the service? Or other items that are in the church? Is anything missing there?" 

Illmirth

"Good thought," the bard offers as he rejoins the party.  "Many were at the service this morning, surely the coffers overfloweth with the generosity of the fine folk of Vallaki.  Perhaps he took the donations."  

Lorelei Dawnwarden

"You are right, the bones." The young blonde priestess says. "Father Lucien, you need to see if the bones are still here!" She tells the priest.

Father Lucien bustled forward. Surely not the bones, he'd need a key. He reached into his wardrobe and opened a secret panel, inside was a sword and censor flail and his chain mail with tabard. There was no key on the hook. The bones are what was hallowed in the chapel, they gave defense against the creatures of the night. They made this chapel a safe place for the villagers when Strahds wives come here to sate their hunger. Surely Milivoj didn't take them. There is real gold in the sigils of the Morninglord here. We must see.

He strode determinedly through the inner door to the chapel, looking closely at the golden regalia searching for anything missing, and hurried to the altar. The cloth was in disarray, and the altar itself had been moved and a key was still in the lock. Lucien touches the sides with both hands and the top slid off sideways. The bones of St Andral were gone!

Lucien sighed and said I think that we have a serious problem.

Lorelei Dawnwarden

"Do not despair father, we will reclaim the sacred bones." The young blonde priestess tries to reassure the priest, feeling confident in her own skills as an investigator of dark deeds.
"Someone likely put him up to this. Do you have any idea where he could have taken the bones?" Lorelei asks efter explaining where she saw Milivoj disappear.

Illmirth 

"Who does he spend time with?  Family, friends?  And where does he live?"  the bard asks.  His mind immediately drifts back to the Underdark.  His people were among the most devious lot imaginable, what would a Drow do? he asked himself.  The irony was not lost on him.  "Money!  If Strahd didn't get to him somehow, who would have the coin and desire to obtain them?"

Crisaryn Melkial

"Yes, we should definitely find out where his family lives and pay a visit there," Crisaryn agrees. "Perhaps also," she turns to Lorelei. "Where did you lose sight of him? Maybe amongst all of us we could pick up his path. Figure out where he went with the items. I'm thinking that he wouldn't just take the relics to his family."  

Milivoj is a shy boy, he normally walks around with a shovel. He digs peoples gardens and the graves in the cemetery. His family live in the tanners district. With the death of his father they couldn't afford better. Now his mother is bedridden, I couldn't heal her of the wasting disease that she has. The doctor won't visit because they can't afford the fee. The cottage is small but is well kept, the shutters are painted red. It's the only cottage with painted shutters there. Just follow your nose to the tanners.

There are few truly rich people in the town, I'm not sure who would do this sacrilege and pay for the bones. I just can't understand why the boy did it. I'll stay here and make sure that if he returns I can question him

Lorelei Dawnwarden

"Thank you father, we will seek out Milivoj and see what he has to say." The young blonde priestess says with a reassuring smile, then turning to the others. "I suggest we look for Milivoj at his home. Even if he's not there we may come upon cluse to what happened to the bones." She suggests, ready to leave for the tanners district.

Illmirth

The bard stands ready to depart when Lorelei is ready.  He also calls to Frederik, sharing the description of the lad.  "Can you seek him from the sky? We will move towards the tanner's district, will you meet us at the cottage with red shutters?"

If the party ends up near the roasting pig Illmirth will try to get some more raven snacks.

Alerya

The blue warrior woman grumps. "Always the criminals out to ruin your day...."

"Oh well maybe a ...uh...bully telling the boy what to do."

The thought of stealing bones is unnerving to Alerya, especially ones that are supposed to be blessed.

Crisaryn Melkial

"I think we shouldn't be too accusatory with the family," Crisaryn says. "Maybe they will help us figure out where he might be if he's not there." 

Lorelei Dawnwarden

"Yes, while quite possibly trying to get the gold to save his mother I sincerely doubt she was the one to suggest this theft, more likely someone who was prepared to pay gold for the bones." The young blonde priestess agrees. "Still, the family might know if Milivoj have been seeing any such person."

DM

As Lucien says you head for the poor half of town, the air is filled with the scent of urine from the large tanners yard. You follow down the road looking for red shutters. Finally you spot a well kept cottage surrounded by flowers. Someone lived there who cared. Those open to magic feel that the genus loci is happy and tended. There are flowers surrounding the small well, and a small vegetable patch. In another part of town it would seem welcoming, here it is a puzzle. Someone loved this place.

Frederik waited for them on the chimney pot, tapping away in a language that only Ravens understood.

Lorelei Dawnwarden

The young blonde priestess takes note of the genius loci and knocks on the red door to the quite picturesque dwelling.

DM

The door creaked open to reveal a young girl of no more than 12 summers. Her apron is covered in flour. She looks carefully at you. Can I help? she says, brushing her hands clean. She stares intently at Lorelei, Did Lathander send you? Can you heal my mother? 

Lorelei Dawnwarden

"Yes, in an sense he did send me, I will try to help as best I can, but first I need to speak to your brother Milivoj." The young blonde priestess says with a warm smile.

(Persuasion if relevant: 12 Insight: 9 Perception: 9  :-P)

DM

Mili? He's not here, he should be back soon. Do you all want to wait inside? What's the festival like? Is there any free food? I'm Mellora, but I'm mainly called Melly.

She reached out for Loreleis hand and gently guided her towards the kitchen. The furniture is all very old, but the smell of beeswax permeates the room, that and lavender. You see a small fire with a kettle on it a cauldron to one side, vegetable soup is what it smells like. The table is covered in flour where Melly had been making bread and dumplings. There is an older girl cleaning the floor with cheap soap and a scrubbing brush. They might be poor but they made the best out of what little they had.

The older girl stood up, Be Welcome in our home, I'm Lily, how can we help you? Please sit and drink some tea with us. Normally we take the pot into mothers bedroom so we can all share it, would that be fine with you?