Faron

History: 6

Faron

"That name sounds familiar. I think he has been mentioned by some wizards I met."

Arcana: 6

Doru responds to Nylin, "It was a chance meeting, he was at the local in, looking for anyone who was willing to help fight Strahd, most just turned their heads away from him, but I thought I could help."

Faron - You feel like you've heard the name before, you think he was a member of The Circle of Eight, from many years past. They were a group of powerful mages who stood against an evil force, until almost all of them were slaughtered by a vicious warlord.

Vaalu
Lvl 3|Goliath|Ranger/Hunter

Vaalu dutifully kept her head on a swivel. Seeing Andres approach from the corner of her eyes, she starts to smile. But the silence and dark look about him made it a faltering one. "I take it the others have not seen sense yet?" She states more than ask, but patiently waited for an answer all the same. "They are making a mistake. If it weren't for the code, I would..." She trails off there, and with a click of her tongue focuses on keeping watch. 

Faron

"I'm not 100% sure but if he's the mage I heard about he was very powerful. He opposed some evil forces as part of the Circle of Eight but most members were slain. Any foe able to face a much head one will be formidable for sure. We need to be careful." 

Andres paces a bit at the interest, his mage hand carrying his viol his following behind him with each turn around.  He stood and looks at Vaalu. “He’s not a monster he is a victim.  This is a man with a fate far worse than death thrust upon him.  To kill him is to end his suffering of this twisted disease, a tragic blessing in the end... he calms his nerves with a deep breath To call for his death with the respect to put him down like a lame dog is to dishonor his memory.  His father is in there for Torm’s sake.  Be cautious, continuing down this path.. we may become the monsters ourselves.  That’s the real curse of this place.”  Andres just leans on the wall next to Vaalu and slumps down to be sitting on the ground.  The mage hand disappears and the instrument falls into his lap.

Vaalu
Lvl 3|Goliath|Ranger/Hunter

Vaalu's knuckles audibly pops from having balled them into tight fists at her sides. "A victim?" She parrots after a brief period of silence, her arms having been trembling at her sides up to then. "That is no victim. Whoever that body once belonged to has long since perished. The only thing there in the beneath is a twisted mockery to make fools of the living, and spread death wherever it goes." When Vaalu looks to Andres next, there is a coldness and deep seated loathing never before seen out of the giantess. "The only victims in there are those that allow the charade to continue. Rather than do what must be done." Vaalu looks to the Church doors next. "... And I... cannot... allow it again." She says through gritted teeth. At that, she will storm her way inside, looking for either the priest or an obvious way down if not impeded somehow. 

Andre musters up “ We both know what has to be done.  That doesn’t mean we need to be heartless.”

Vaalu
Lvl 3|Goliath|Ranger/Hunter

Vaalu stops and glares back at Andres. "Yes. We do. Or you wind up like the priest in there, if not worse... I should know." She turns away on the solemn note, continuing on her original course with at least one handaxe in hand.. 

Andre gets back up.  ... “you speak as if you’ve gone through this before?  What’s this code you mentioned before?”

Vaalu
Lvl 3|Goliath|Ranger/Hunter

Vaalu growls, but she stops again. She then closes her eyes and takes a deep breathe. 

"Prakt, Strev, Rang, glang byrd.
Stomm rang glang du.
Blod ettin er blod kong.
Gi tusen val nul.
Trut zund stommpaart."

With each line spoken in giant, the visible fury in her trembling and tightening of her grip eases to the point of disappearing altogether. "Bravery, Effort, and Honor over birth. The tribe's honor over yours. The blood of the runt is the blood of a king. Give a thousand for nothing. Truth is the honor of the tribe." She repeats in common after turning back to Andres. "That is the code. I may not be of there blood, but the I am one of them. And so it follows that I obey the Code. Even if...." She huffs and sheathes her axe. "Before I was taken in by the lower reach giant-kin -- what most of your ilk refer to as 'Firbolg', I belonged to another... until they were all twisted and killed and puppeted about by another." Vaalu states solemnly. 

"If I had just been older... stronger... If they hadn't hesitated..." She tilts her head up and sniffles as if reign in budding tears. 

Andres comes up behind Vaalu.  “I didn’t know.”  He puts his hand on her shoulder (if he can reach) to be honest if you were older you could’ve ended up just like them.  It’s not a perfect world but you carry on their legacy, their teachings, their strengths.  You put the weight of the world on your shoulders.  You have others to ease your burden.  Andres steps in front of her but is looking away.  You know I’m a bastard right? Andres  Winters... born when the snow was heavy.  My mom was all I had.  The only legacy I have is Alexander’s, don’t get me wrong he is a wonderful man and I owe him my life..... he begins to trail off.  But we have a job to do yeah?  You don’t have to do it alone.  He goes back to the slumped position quickly wiping away a tear.

Vaalu
Lvl 3|Goliath|Ranger/Hunter

Vaalu scoffs. "How you know when I never talk?" She jokes, though without much mirth. Andres might not quite reach her shoulder. She was an eight foot tall mountain of a person. But either way, the goliath huntress looks back to Andres from any contact. Her anger wasn't fully gone. But neither did it look as if she might take off someone's head at a moment's notice. "I do not know what this word 'bass-turd' means still. But I assume it is bad. And you are no bad, Andres of the Winter. So, you are not bass-turd as far as I am concerned." She claims, puffing out her chest with her hands on her hips and turning up her nose up as if either proud or daring him to challenge her words.

Maybe both? "And who said anything about doing things alone? I only don't tell story because no one ask. Now come. You are better with words then I think little Brom is. So, you help me convince others now." She says in a matter of fact tone. She would then chuck Andres onto her shoulder if he can't escape her grasp and start walking back inside. 

He totally can’t escape the grasp... he starts to begin to protest but it’s just mumbled words and never gets a full sentence out.  Then he just kind of gives up.

Brom

Brom is even more unnerved that this powerful mage was so easily dessimated by Straud. "This is not good. This is not good at all." Brom backs up to the ladder ready to leave the basement.

Once Andres is put down. He goes to Alex and whispers “ we can’t let this man suffer anymore”

Alexander Wenzel Eusebius Beaumont 
Lvl 3 | Human | Paladin/Oath of Vengeance 

Alexander will draw his longsword, "Doru, if you ask it of me I will end your suffering. No one should have to suffer the fate that has befallen you. It is one worse than death."

When Donavich sees what Alexander is about to do he steps forward, "No! You leave him alone! I will find a cure for him!" but Ireena and Ismark hold him back. Ireena says "That's not Doru anymore, let these people free him from Strahd's grasp"  Donavich continues to struggle but with less force, as his anger gives way to sobs. 

Ismark turns to Alexander, "Go ahead, its the right thing to do, I hope."

Doru looks to each of you, fear and pain and anger in his eyes.  You can see both vile creature and frail boy that he is. "Please, just do it if it is to be done."

Alexander Wenzel Eusebius Beaumont
Lvl 3 | Human | Paladin/Oath of Vengeance 

"Do not believe I do this lightly Donavich, this is far from a trivial matter. But consider this, when his hunger becomes to much for him or you to bear what will you do than? Will you sacrifice your own life's blood to sate his hunger or will you sacrifice someone else to his unnatural hunger? And how do you plan to keep watch over him hill you search for a cure for him? No, I do this because it is what's best for everyone." Sword in hand, Alexander goes behind Doru and forces him to his knees. With no hesitation he swings at his neck.

Doru doesn't flinch and the blade cuts through cleanly. His head falls to the floor and Donavich falls to his knees. 

...

It's later now, and you all find yourselves back upstairs. Doru's body and the body of Ireena and Ismarks father have been interred, prayers have been said, tears have been shed.  It is getting towards nightfall as you all prepare to continue on your journey.

**sorry i fast forwarded a bit, you can always let me know if you wanted to do something in that time and i can tell you what happened**