A Curse of Strahds [IC]

“Alright.. I’m in.. as long as they show us where this mansion is when when we get there. Probably some more ghasts in there though.. Bah”

Ireena looks down at her feet. "There is one more thing we need help with before we leave. You see, we can't just leave my father lying here, but the villagers have been too scared to even be willing to help us get him up to the church for proper burial. We even had to construct the casket ourselves."

“As a cleric of the mother of ravens I cannot overlook this task friends. We will assist you with a proper burial Ireena.”

I see no problem with giving the dead a proper burial. 

Zander nods.

She looks relieved. "Thank you all so much. It is sad that I can trust strangers more than the villagers who have known me for so long, but I thank you for your kindnesses. The cart brother?"

Ismark leaves and a nervous silence ensues. In an attempt to break the ice, Ireena begins telling her story. "I don't know how I got here to Barovia, nor where I came from, though I know it is not here. I know He has come to me twice, but the memories are very fuzzy, though I remember the hunger in his eyes. Wolves and other creatures came to attack our house night after night for weeks. My father, Kolyan the Burgomaster, his heart couldn't stand the constant assault and he died three days ago. Sorry about the smell." She looks puzzled for a moment. "Oddly, since his death, the attacks have stopped. The church is just at the other end of this road."

About this time, Ismark returns. He and Ireena enter the drawing room and, in a somewhat surprising show of strength, lift the coffin themselves and carry it out to a waiting small horse-drawn cart. They lift the coffin higher to load it and Ismark climbs into the single seat to drive the cart.

The cart begins to roll with Ireena and the rest of you following. Ireena now begins to cry a bit, though whether from sorrow or gratefulness (or a bit of both), you cannot tell. The street is still oddly silent. Where you would expect some curiosity evidenced by villagers peeking out of doors or Windows at such a procession, there is nothing. You get the feeling that if people are still in the homes, they are making a point of minding their own business.

Your procession passes by Mad Mary's townhouse, then Bildrath Mercantile. At the crossroads, you continue straight down the street and pass the Blood of the Vine Tavern. The road bends northwest, and you pass more silent houses. Another crossroads and you once more go straight across. ("Mother said, 'straight ahead'...."--Sorry, that song came to my head as I narrated this lol)

Atop a slight rise, against the roots of the pillar stone that supports Castle Ravenloft, stands a gray, sagging edifice of stone and wood. This church has obviously weathered the assaults of evil for centuries on end and is worn and weary. A bell tower rises toward the back, and flickering light shines through holes in the shingled roof. The rafters strain feebly against their load.

The church lies in a clearing, slightly away from the town. Roll perception--anyone.

perception 12

Anyone who looks to the northeast sees a figure just in front of the mists. He looks the same as the figure Embir described to you, Lae. He also looks the same as the one who pulled his hood off on the dungeons below the Death House (with the cult). He looks at you and you watch as he steps back and disappears into the mists.

The heavy wooden doors of the church are covered with claw marks and scarred by fire. The doors open to reveal a ten-foot-wide, twenty-foot-long hall leading into a brightly lit chapel. The hall is unlit and reeks of mildew. Four doors, two on each side of the hall, lead to adjacent chambers.

You can see that the chapel is strewn with debris, and you hear a soft voice from within reciting a prayer. Suddenly, the prayer is blotted out by an inhuman scream that rises up from beneath the floor.

“Not again,” Lae sighs. “I don’t suppose that could be a scream of joy?”

Probably not. Probably not. Zander draws his bow.

Lae hefts his mace and walks towards the chapel, “I really hope this isn’t a trap!”

Yeah, again. And what's with this creepy guy who keeps watching us, and seems to be everywhere we go?

Ireena starts at the mention, almost dropping her end of the casket. "What did he look like?"

Uh, I don't know, like a pale dandy? Real fancy like, no facial expressions, exudes creepy.

The color leaves her face. "It can't be....but it must. How many times have you seen him?"

Well, we've all seen him twice, once just now, once in some haunted cult house, and one of us saw him another time before that.

She looks panicked now. "He knows....He knows...." (shaking her head), "He knows I am here. He knows you are with me. It may be that nowhere is safe now, but we must try and we must hurry."

"Will this is just great" necros  says

Does Lae hear any more screaming up ahead?

Zennas readies his crossbow and prepares for what comes next.