Adira will continue to dash, swearing under her breath the entire way.

Assuming there's nowhere else in the house you wanted to explore, all five of you make a run for the exit of the house. You run up the flight of stairs in the sub-basement, through the twisting tunnels and over the bodies of ghouls you've slain before. You look behind you and the massive creature follows in pursuit, squeezing it's massive form through the tunnels. You only have a second to catch your breath before running up the cobweb-clogged staircase to the attic.

As you ascend, you hear the sounds of the monster drift further and further away. You pile out into the attic room, breathless but safe for now. An eerie calm washes over you as you regather yourselves and see streams of pale sunlight streaming in through the windows, reflecting off of ancient clouds of dust you've kicked up in your haste. Out the window the fog seems to have been lifted and the pale light of morning fills the streets. You all make your way downstairs, quickly but not at breakneck speed and push open the double doors that lead to the outside. Free from the house you feel a burden lifted from your shoulders.

(For surviving this ordeal everybody advances to level 3! From here on out, the story opens up to you all. You're free to go anywhere and do anything.)

Sitting just outside the entrance to the house, you notice a wicker basket sitting in the pathway. A cursory look inside reveals several items of note: a folded cloak of protection, a small wooden coffer containing four potions of healing, a chain shirt, a mess kit, a flask of alchemist’s fire, a bullseye lantern, a set of thieves’ tools, and a spellbook with a yellow leather cover. Laying on top is a note which, in a flowing hand reads:

Welcome to Barovia, travellers. May these serve you better than your predecessors.

Until we meet in person, 

Strahd von Zarovich

Krolbrik walks over to the note and narrows his eyes.

Even in light of his oaths on justice and redemption... he had a bit of doubt. Could even this fiend, this Strahd, ever hope to be redeemed?

He was not sure.

"I don't know about you all... but this mess has exacted a toll from me. We should seek an inn and some rest, if there is any to be had."

True. And Strahd again. Didn’t we see his name earlier? Well, I don’t care. Aka sets the lit torch on the house, unprotected, deliberately trying to light it on fire. Someone have any idea how to set fires on houses easier?

Adira will examine the note with curiosity, thinking back on the figure she saw the night before watching the house from the fog. She will crouch by the basket examining its contents. "Well... I'm not sure what to make of all this. We should go to further into the town and see if we can find Stanimir and the other Vistani- Oh look Bala! Lockpicks! Now you won't break anymore claws!"

"... You're mocking me, aren't you?" Bala narrows his eyes up at Adria before looking back down and pulling out the orb and longsword. "Well, I don't need these. I say we follow the holy man to an inn. Imma sell these a 100 gold piece."

Aka, it takes a few moments but the house eventually catches. Before long the whole house goes up in a fiery inferno. It billows black, acrid smoke into the sky, choking out what little sunlight remained. As you turn to leave, the structure comes crumbling down, collapsing into a pile of smouldering ash.

You pass rows and rows of rundown houses and shops with boarded up windows and doorways. Few villagers fill the streets, their grim and dour faces turn towards the smoke. Some shake their heads and sigh in resignation, but nobody seems especially alarmed by the arson.

You follow the road that you followed into Barovia to the town's square. Unlike the boarded up shops of the outer village, two shops here, rundown though they are, still seem open for business.

On the left, the sparse light from the shop spills out from behind drawn heavy curtains. A sign over the door, creaking on its hinges, reads “Bildrath’s Mercantile.”

On the right, a single shaft of light thrusts illumination into the main square, its brightness looking like a solid pillar in the morning fog. Above the gaping doorway, a sign hangs precariously askew, proclaiming this to be the Blood on the Vine tavern.

Ericicna sees the new cloak and moves to take it as she shuffles off the that that is covered in the slime and much of the other monster.

(If no one wants it Ericina will take the cloak...)

(Keep in mind that the bonus doesn't work with Wild Shape, so you'll have the +1 AC and Saving Throws in your humanoid form but not as Bearicina)

(Maybe give it to Adira. She has the least AC, after all.)

Try not to look like you just burnt a house down, guys.

Adira will take one of the potions and tuck it into her bag. She will carry the basket of unclaimed items for now unless someone objects. She'll look at Bala eyes, wide.

"I wasn't making fun! I mean it! And we should finish divvying up this stuff..."  She'll pause, spirits lifting at the warm glow from the tavern. "Come on! Let's go inside!"

Ericina will wait for the rest of the party but seems to be eager to head into the tavern to rest. She is keeping a hand on her scimitar and looks as if she will pull it out at the first sign of anything that is out of place.

This plade seems weird. If these guys are possessed or something, I say to burn down the whole town. Aka whispers to you all. 

"Just don't hurt the rats..." Ericina says as she watches one run by with a crazed smile on her face 

(Thread bump) 

so.. we going inside?

Since no one seems to object, Adira will lead the way into the tavern. "Maybe I can perform and swing us some free food."

(Sorry all, been a little busy)

You all approach the front of the Blood on the Vine. This once finely appointed tavern has grown shoddy over the years. A blazing fire in the hearth gives scant warmth to the few huddled souls within. They include the barkeep, three Vistani sitting together at a table near the entrance and a young man sitting alone at a table in the corner.

The barkeep doesn't notice your lot walk in, he continues about polishing glass after dusty glass, not even looking up from his work. The Vistani women pay you little more than a glance as you walk in. The young man, however, watches you carefully over his cup of wine.

The common room is deathly quiet as you step in but the voices of the Vistani women drinking and laughing amongst themselves fills it again quickly after you've lost their interest.

Uncomfortable around so many people, Aka moves outside for a second, and looks around. You guys think this would be good hunting grounds? After looking around, he sees a vulture flying above his head. He eyes it, and slowly backs up back into the tavern.

Aka looks at the man and talks to his companions. hm... anyone getting a sense of hostility? And why’s that guy all alone? And who wants some wine?

Ericina will walk over to the nearest empty sest and flop down, closing. She lets out a sigh and seems to be trying to get comfortable despite the fact she is not in the best of shape. "I would like wine..."

Ericina, you take a seat at the bar and the bartender looks up at you from his glasses, he watches you with cold eyes and recites: "A cup for a copper, a pitcher for a silver."