Illmirth raises a thin, light gray eyebrow at Lorelei's suggestion that they split up. "I am pleased that Bella is going that way as well. I will remain back, but outside near the front door. Barovia does not seem like a place to take anything for granted." He trusted the clerics to deal with Mad Mary, but he didn't trust that anything here would be as easy as it seemed. If the days in Barovia were dangerous, the nights were downright deadly.
This place gives Alerya the uncomfortables. She doesn't think her new friends should be alone and she doesn't want to be alone either. She will happily help watch their backs.
Illmirth drops back to pace along Alerya. "What did you do before you started adventuring? You mentioned that you were looking for a unicorn. I would love to see one, they are very different that anything I saw, dealt with, or hid from in the Underdark."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
“Let him not vow to walk in the dark, who has not seen the nightfall.” — Elrond
"Well, I actually was saying we all should go," Crisaryn says softly. "No reason for us not..." She shakes her head, "Well, if people think it's better to not crowd the poor woman, I will do as Illmirth said and just keep back."
"Oh, sorry, I misheard you Crisaryn, I don't mind the company, you all do as you want of course." The young blonde priestess says blushing a bit over the awkward misunderstanding. "I just don't want you to feel obliged to come." She adds with a shrug and a weak smile.
Betta watched Elder Elsa head off for the Burgomeisters house to help Ismark and Ireena.
She led the party back to the chapel and offers bowls of soup to those that were hungry. Tell us about yourself Alerya are you just here to find a unicorn or are you on a quest? Barovia has need of stout hearted folk who are not afraid to face the darkness. Are you here to stay in the village or perhaps to join these adventurers?
Beta looked into her spare room and found the bed pushed against the wall, Murdocks coffin on makeshift legs. One of the villagers had made a wreath of flowers and twined them around his head. The bottom of the coffin was closed, a plate of soulcakes and a burning candle awaiting visitors.
She heard a wagon pull up and two men dressed in leather and fur armour got out, they looked dour and unforgiving wearing their swords as if they knew how to use them. Greetings cleric, we're here to gather the taxes for Lord Strahd, since the burgomeister is dead do you know where we should go?
Yes just head for the blacksmiths, he is the new burgomeister. You'll find the taxes paid in full
They nodded rudely Good then we won't have to report you.
Those words sent a chill down Bettas back, it was like they looked forward to debtors. She hated to imagine what this Lord Strahd would do to the village if they defaulted.
Illmirth looks to Lorelei with a sweet smile; she was young, kind, and powerful in her faith, so very different than the priestesses of Lloth. They hoarded power, to use for selfish and wicked designs; the young blonde cleric of the MorningLord seemed to consider others in all that she did. "I'll leave the grieving mother in your capable hands. I shall work on my new song from the woman's porch, if trouble arises you need only call out and reinfircements will arrive in haste."
The drow bard followed the group to the church, humming softly as they walked; the music in his soul seeming to escape from his lips in soft notes. He entered the chapel, and stopped to pay his respects to Murdock by eating a soulcake, although he couldn't imagine the devout paladin needed much help finding his final peace with his god.
He listened carefully as the two tax collectors spoke to Betta; it didn't take a diviner to know that these two brutes enjoyed their work a bit too much. He watched the transaction silently, the cleric seemed to know how to deal with them so he thought it wise to not stir the pot.
The large blue woman smiled and said, "I met a man and he said I could find a unicorn in the woods back there?" she gets a thoughtful look on her face "But this place doesn't seem familiar. I must have gotten turned around in the mist or something you know?" Tapping her lips she continues, "I..."
Her smile fades when she is interrupted by the tax collectors. They looked like mean, rude men. But everybody seemed to leave them alone so she would do the same.
"Oh so...I'm not afraid of the darkness at all. Kossuth lights the way!" and a brilliant ball of light appears in her hand. Then she mutters under her breath, it's not the darkness to be feared but what lives within it. "I'll be joining these adventurers for now, they seem nice and maybe we can all see a unicorn!"
"Thank you so much for the food too!"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
Illmirth shakes his sadly. "Can you tell us anything about the man who told you that? The mists, we have learned, guard the land of Barovia, which we are all now in." He waited a moment for the armored men to leave before continuing. "This land is ruled by a vampyr lord named Strahd. He controls the wolves, mists, and undead. The Vistani believe him cursed, and hope that he can be freed, even if that freedom means his destruction. His rule is a blight on the land and the people here. You are welcome, but be welcome with eyes wide open; we play a dangerous game at the table of the Devil Strahd. Only recently we battled a horde of ghouls led by the dread Lord himself on these very grounds. His influence is everywhere."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
“Let him not vow to walk in the dark, who has not seen the nightfall.” — Elrond
Vaelar overheard the conversation between Betta and Strahd's collectors with a barely-concealed scowl. A tyrant is an evil thing, but the underlings that serve him gleefully are their own kind of malevolence. He looks forward to the day when the collectors' power is lost with the Dark Lord's downfall and Barovia's people can deliver the men the karma they're owed.
"A unicorn would be a welcome sight in a place like this," he says as he finally turns his scornful eyes from the collectors.
As the tax collectors got underway again, following the sound of hammer hitting anvil, Betta sighed with relief. She could most likely have taken at least one of them in battle but the repercussions for the village would have been harsh. Best to save it for a battle that counted. She pulled her blade from the walking stick and gently wiped it over with clove oil before putting it back.
Do you ride Alerya? The others have horses and a wagon. I could loan you my horse, I won't be needing it for a while. It's a trained warhorse and large enough to take you.
Betta watched as the villagers sporting bright ribbons and embroidered shirts came one at a time to pay their respects to Murdock. The soulcakes being replaced with honeycakes automatically. She took one and bit into it, light and fluffy with a sweet tang. She set up a censer next to him and lit Temple incense. The Morning Lord would have no reason to turn his soul away.
The day wore on with chatter and laughter outside as people readied dishes for the Harvest table.
The ravens clustered over the Chapel watching. The red eyed raven flew inside and walked up to the coffin, peering inside. He tapped the side of the coffin once then turned and picked up a honeycake and flew away.
"Oh um, I haven't ridden anything in a while but I don't want to slow the group down. Thank you for the offer, I will do my best to take care of him." She looks upon the horse with admiration.
Such beautiful being.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
He will fight at your side, just command him to . His name is Dern. She stroked the palomino, scratching between his eyes. He looked at Alerya and whinnied, tossing his head nearer to her.
While the villagers came and went to pay their respect Illmirth strummed his lute softly. The melody was slow, sweet, and tinged with a sense of melancholy. He sang for the memory of Murdock, a song sad and sweet, giving comfort to the grieving.
Only fool's know all that glitters is gold, there's no buying the stairway to heaven. When they get there they know that the gates are all closed, with a sigh of remorse they don't get what they came for. There's no buying the stairway to heaven.
There's a sign on the wall, but he wants to be sure 'cause you know sometimes words have two meanings. On the roof with a look sits a raven that talks, and now all our respect has been given.
And it's whispered that soon if we all call the tune then the piper will lead us to freedom. And a new day will dawn for all those who stand strong, and the village will echo with laughter.
Crisaryn briefly watched the exchange with the tax collectors, wondering a moment about these seemingly normal people that served Strahd. She quickly turns her thoughts back to what they were doing. When the get to the woman's house, she is content to wait outside while others try to speak with the distraught mother.
As twilight arrived Betta and those interested walk down to Marys house. They knocked at the door and it was opened by an old woman, Marys mother.
Don't go in mob handed she is very fragile at the moment, but has some clarity when she wears her talisman of the Morning Lord as you suggested Reverand Mother. The old woman says
Just Lorelei and myself, we'll call for help if we need it. Betta says.
She makes her way upstairs to find Mary clutching the Blinsky doll, Mary no longer thought that it was Gertruda. Betta gently places her hand on Marys head drawing the sigil of the morning lord on her, a gentle light lit up the room, the light of pure dawn as the blessing took hold.
Mary looks at the two women and asks Have you found her? Is she lost?
Betta gently replies that they have not found her yet but keep looking. How will Gertruda know who we are if we meet her?
Mary nods then looks at the doll. It was a great wrench to her but she held it out, my daughter may not know you but she loves her Blinsky.
Betta gently takes the doll and hands it to Lorelei.
The young priestess with the blonde braided hair struggles to restrain herself as Strahd's minions has the audacity to come for taxes, giving them a cold glare. They had defeated his minions before hadn't they? But as Betta and the others keeps the peace this day she decides not to break it.
She would follow along to Mary's house, giving Illmirth a brief warm smile over his compliment. She stays quietly at Betta's side as the priestess talks to Mary and then accepts the peculiar doll with a small smile. "We will find her, but can you tell us anything about her disappearance? And how old is she?" She asks with a gentle tone and reassurance in her eyes.
She'd just celebrated her thirteenth birthday, my Gertruda...she wasn't a worldly child staying indoors all of the time rather than come to the devils attention. She opened the window at night, Mary said with horror on her face. The next morning she'd gone.
Mary grabbed hold of Loreleis hand, promise me you'll keep looking!
The adventurers outside heard the sound of small, wooden wheels rolling across the damp cobbles. You trace the lonely sound to a hunched figure bundled in midnight blue rags, pushing a rickety wooden cart through the fog. She is going house to house knocking at doors calling 'Dream pies come and get your dream pies here. Want to forget it all, warm dream pies! Celebrate the Harvest! Dream pies!
The villagers ignored her or didn't open their doors. She finally stopped at a house where they opened the door hurriedly and began to barter for pies, they didn't have the gold required. There was a shouting match from the villagers inside and they pulled a young boy in trews, no more than seven and an embroidered shirt forward and placed his hand in the womans. She quickly binds him up and slides him into the small cage under her cart. 6 dream pies change hands. The boy crys and screams kicking at the cage.
Illmirth is shocked to see what appeared to be people bartering a child for pastries. His practice session on Mad Mary's porch ended with a dull twang as his attention slipped. He rose quickly, carrying his lute in his left hand, and moved towards the woman with the cart. When he was about 30 ft. from her he stopped and called out, "Your wares must be fine indeed if families are willing to trade a child for them. Please, come tell us about what you are selling, and how much you charge in coin." He pats his coin pouch, making sure it jingles loudly. Illmirth tries to remain neutral in his tone and body language, although inside he is twisting in knots to with desire to simply take the child and pummel his derelict parents in the street.
***OoC: deception to hide his disgust 10***
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
“Let him not vow to walk in the dark, who has not seen the nightfall.” — Elrond
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
Illmirth
Illmirth raises a thin, light gray eyebrow at Lorelei's suggestion that they split up. "I am pleased that Bella is going that way as well. I will remain back, but outside near the front door. Barovia does not seem like a place to take anything for granted." He trusted the clerics to deal with Mad Mary, but he didn't trust that anything here would be as easy as it seemed. If the days in Barovia were dangerous, the nights were downright deadly.
“Let him not vow to walk in the dark, who has not seen the nightfall.” — Elrond
Alerya
This place gives Alerya the uncomfortables. She doesn't think her new friends should be alone and she doesn't want to be alone either. She will happily help watch their backs.
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale
Illmirth
Illmirth drops back to pace along Alerya. "What did you do before you started adventuring? You mentioned that you were looking for a unicorn. I would love to see one, they are very different that anything I saw, dealt with, or hid from in the Underdark."
“Let him not vow to walk in the dark, who has not seen the nightfall.” — Elrond
Crisaryn Melkial
"Well, I actually was saying we all should go," Crisaryn says softly. "No reason for us not..." She shakes her head, "Well, if people think it's better to not crowd the poor woman, I will do as Illmirth said and just keep back."
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
Lorelei Dawnwarden
"Oh, sorry, I misheard you Crisaryn, I don't mind the company, you all do as you want of course." The young blonde priestess says blushing a bit over the awkward misunderstanding. "I just don't want you to feel obliged to come." She adds with a shrug and a weak smile.
DM
Betta watched Elder Elsa head off for the Burgomeisters house to help Ismark and Ireena.
She led the party back to the chapel and offers bowls of soup to those that were hungry. Tell us about yourself Alerya are you just here to find a unicorn or are you on a quest? Barovia has need of stout hearted folk who are not afraid to face the darkness. Are you here to stay in the village or perhaps to join these adventurers?
Beta looked into her spare room and found the bed pushed against the wall, Murdocks coffin on makeshift legs. One of the villagers had made a wreath of flowers and twined them around his head. The bottom of the coffin was closed, a plate of soulcakes and a burning candle awaiting visitors.
She heard a wagon pull up and two men dressed in leather and fur armour got out, they looked dour and unforgiving wearing their swords as if they knew how to use them. Greetings cleric, we're here to gather the taxes for Lord Strahd, since the burgomeister is dead do you know where we should go?
Yes just head for the blacksmiths, he is the new burgomeister. You'll find the taxes paid in full
They nodded rudely Good then we won't have to report you.
Those words sent a chill down Bettas back, it was like they looked forward to debtors. She hated to imagine what this Lord Strahd would do to the village if they defaulted.
Illmirth
Illmirth looks to Lorelei with a sweet smile; she was young, kind, and powerful in her faith, so very different than the priestesses of Lloth. They hoarded power, to use for selfish and wicked designs; the young blonde cleric of the MorningLord seemed to consider others in all that she did. "I'll leave the grieving mother in your capable hands. I shall work on my new song from the woman's porch, if trouble arises you need only call out and reinfircements will arrive in haste."
The drow bard followed the group to the church, humming softly as they walked; the music in his soul seeming to escape from his lips in soft notes. He entered the chapel, and stopped to pay his respects to Murdock by eating a soulcake, although he couldn't imagine the devout paladin needed much help finding his final peace with his god.
He listened carefully as the two tax collectors spoke to Betta; it didn't take a diviner to know that these two brutes enjoyed their work a bit too much. He watched the transaction silently, the cleric seemed to know how to deal with them so he thought it wise to not stir the pot.
“Let him not vow to walk in the dark, who has not seen the nightfall.” — Elrond
Alerya
The large blue woman smiled and said, "I met a man and he said I could find a unicorn in the woods back there?" she gets a thoughtful look on her face "But this place doesn't seem familiar. I must have gotten turned around in the mist or something you know?" Tapping her lips she continues, "I..."
Her smile fades when she is interrupted by the tax collectors. They looked like mean, rude men. But everybody seemed to leave them alone so she would do the same.
"Oh so...I'm not afraid of the darkness at all. Kossuth lights the way!" and a brilliant ball of light appears in her hand. Then she mutters under her breath, it's not the darkness to be feared but what lives within it. "I'll be joining these adventurers for now, they seem nice and maybe we can all see a unicorn!"
"Thank you so much for the food too!"
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale
Illmirth
Illmirth shakes his sadly. "Can you tell us anything about the man who told you that? The mists, we have learned, guard the land of Barovia, which we are all now in." He waited a moment for the armored men to leave before continuing. "This land is ruled by a vampyr lord named Strahd. He controls the wolves, mists, and undead. The Vistani believe him cursed, and hope that he can be freed, even if that freedom means his destruction. His rule is a blight on the land and the people here. You are welcome, but be welcome with eyes wide open; we play a dangerous game at the table of the Devil Strahd. Only recently we battled a horde of ghouls led by the dread Lord himself on these very grounds. His influence is everywhere."
“Let him not vow to walk in the dark, who has not seen the nightfall.” — Elrond
Vaelar
Vaelar overheard the conversation between Betta and Strahd's collectors with a barely-concealed scowl. A tyrant is an evil thing, but the underlings that serve him gleefully are their own kind of malevolence. He looks forward to the day when the collectors' power is lost with the Dark Lord's downfall and Barovia's people can deliver the men the karma they're owed.
"A unicorn would be a welcome sight in a place like this," he says as he finally turns his scornful eyes from the collectors.
DM
Betta.
As the tax collectors got underway again, following the sound of hammer hitting anvil, Betta sighed with relief. She could most likely have taken at least one of them in battle but the repercussions for the village would have been harsh. Best to save it for a battle that counted. She pulled her blade from the walking stick and gently wiped it over with clove oil before putting it back.
Do you ride Alerya? The others have horses and a wagon. I could loan you my horse, I won't be needing it for a while. It's a trained warhorse and large enough to take you.
Betta watched as the villagers sporting bright ribbons and embroidered shirts came one at a time to pay their respects to Murdock. The soulcakes being replaced with honeycakes automatically. She took one and bit into it, light and fluffy with a sweet tang. She set up a censer next to him and lit Temple incense. The Morning Lord would have no reason to turn his soul away.
The day wore on with chatter and laughter outside as people readied dishes for the Harvest table.
The ravens clustered over the Chapel watching. The red eyed raven flew inside and walked up to the coffin, peering inside. He tapped the side of the coffin once then turned and picked up a honeycake and flew away.
Alerya
"Oh um, I haven't ridden anything in a while but I don't want to slow the group down. Thank you for the offer, I will do my best to take care of him." She looks upon the horse with admiration.
Such beautiful being.
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale
DM
Betta to Alerya
He will fight at your side, just command him to . His name is Dern. She stroked the palomino, scratching between his eyes. He looked at Alerya and whinnied, tossing his head nearer to her.
Illmirth
While the villagers came and went to pay their respect Illmirth strummed his lute softly. The melody was slow, sweet, and tinged with a sense of melancholy. He sang for the memory of Murdock, a song sad and sweet, giving comfort to the grieving.
Only fool's know all that glitters is gold, there's no buying the stairway to heaven. When they get there they know that the gates are all closed, with a sigh of remorse they don't get what they came for. There's no buying the stairway to heaven.
There's a sign on the wall, but he wants to be sure 'cause you know sometimes words have two meanings. On the roof with a look sits a raven that talks, and now all our respect has been given.
And it's whispered that soon if we all call the tune then the piper will lead us to freedom. And a new day will dawn for all those who stand strong, and the village will echo with laughter.
Oh-oh-oh-oh-whoa-ho
There's no buying the stairway to heaven.
“Let him not vow to walk in the dark, who has not seen the nightfall.” — Elrond
Crisaryn Melkial
Crisaryn briefly watched the exchange with the tax collectors, wondering a moment about these seemingly normal people that served Strahd. She quickly turns her thoughts back to what they were doing. When the get to the woman's house, she is content to wait outside while others try to speak with the distraught mother.
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
DM
Betta
As twilight arrived Betta and those interested walk down to Marys house. They knocked at the door and it was opened by an old woman, Marys mother.
Don't go in mob handed she is very fragile at the moment, but has some clarity when she wears her talisman of the Morning Lord as you suggested Reverand Mother. The old woman says
Just Lorelei and myself, we'll call for help if we need it. Betta says.
She makes her way upstairs to find Mary clutching the Blinsky doll, Mary no longer thought that it was Gertruda. Betta gently places her hand on Marys head drawing the sigil of the morning lord on her, a gentle light lit up the room, the light of pure dawn as the blessing took hold.
Mary looks at the two women and asks Have you found her? Is she lost?
Betta gently replies that they have not found her yet but keep looking. How will Gertruda know who we are if we meet her?
Mary nods then looks at the doll. It was a great wrench to her but she held it out, my daughter may not know you but she loves her Blinsky.
Betta gently takes the doll and hands it to Lorelei.
Lorelei Dawnwarden
The young priestess with the blonde braided hair struggles to restrain herself as Strahd's minions has the audacity to come for taxes, giving them a cold glare. They had defeated his minions before hadn't they? But as Betta and the others keeps the peace this day she decides not to break it.
She would follow along to Mary's house, giving Illmirth a brief warm smile over his compliment. She stays quietly at Betta's side as the priestess talks to Mary and then accepts the peculiar doll with a small smile. "We will find her, but can you tell us anything about her disappearance? And how old is she?" She asks with a gentle tone and reassurance in her eyes.
DM
Mary
She'd just celebrated her thirteenth birthday, my Gertruda...she wasn't a worldly child staying indoors all of the time rather than come to the devils attention. She opened the window at night, Mary said with horror on her face. The next morning she'd gone.
Mary grabbed hold of Loreleis hand, promise me you'll keep looking!
DM
Outside.
The adventurers outside heard the sound of small, wooden wheels rolling across the damp cobbles. You trace the lonely sound to a hunched figure bundled in midnight blue rags, pushing a rickety wooden cart through the fog. She is going house to house knocking at doors calling 'Dream pies come and get your dream pies here. Want to forget it all, warm dream pies! Celebrate the Harvest! Dream pies!
The villagers ignored her or didn't open their doors. She finally stopped at a house where they opened the door hurriedly and began to barter for pies, they didn't have the gold required. There was a shouting match from the villagers inside and they pulled a young boy in trews, no more than seven and an embroidered shirt forward and placed his hand in the womans. She quickly binds him up and slides him into the small cage under her cart. 6 dream pies change hands. The boy crys and screams kicking at the cage.
What will you do?
Illmirth
Illmirth is shocked to see what appeared to be people bartering a child for pastries. His practice session on Mad Mary's porch ended with a dull twang as his attention slipped. He rose quickly, carrying his lute in his left hand, and moved towards the woman with the cart. When he was about 30 ft. from her he stopped and called out, "Your wares must be fine indeed if families are willing to trade a child for them. Please, come tell us about what you are selling, and how much you charge in coin." He pats his coin pouch, making sure it jingles loudly. Illmirth tries to remain neutral in his tone and body language, although inside he is twisting in knots to with desire to simply take the child and pummel his derelict parents in the street.
***OoC: deception to hide his disgust 10***
“Let him not vow to walk in the dark, who has not seen the nightfall.” — Elrond