Ericina nods as she reaches into her pack to pull out a rather ratty coin purse that hard once been of excellent make. She pulls out a copper that she sets on the counter so she can get her wine.

The bartender reaches out to take the coin, but as he does, a voice stops him, "Arik!" The young man in the corner pipes up. He stands from his table and saunters over to the bar, cup in hand, his speech slightly slurred, "Put that on my tab, would'you?"

Standing and leaning against the bar, you can see that he seems to be well-dressed and on his hip he carries a well-made longsword. He gives you a sly wink, Ericina, as he turns his head to the rest of your party, "And drinks for your friends too," he says, "If you'll hear me out." Arik nods and methodically sets out enough cups for each of you alongside a pitcher of wine.

"My name is Ismark Kolyanovich; my father is- er, was Kolyan Indirovich He was the burgomaster of this village until the devil Strahd took him," Ismark spits on the bar at the mention of the name. Arik, unphased, wipes the spit from the counter with a rag before continuing to wipe down his cups.

"Now he lies cold and dead, Morninglord rest his soul. He died protecting my sister, Ireena, from that devil's 'advances." Ismark face twists in anger as he speaks of Strahd's actions.

"And he'll come again too if I don't do something. My sister must flee the village, the further we can get her from that devil's castle the better."

He leans in towards you, Ericina, the smell of his cheap wine fills your nostrils, "Please help me. There is a town in the west called Vallaki, I have heard it is well-fortified. If you can help me bring my sister there I would be in your debt, travellers."

Ericina raises a brow but smiles at the strange young man who was buying her wine. "Thank you Ismark...I a going to call you Haren since you look like my cousin. Well you would if your eyes were a different color...."

As shshe spoke she looked to the others and paused. "He wants us to help him...."

(Are we having notification issues again or is everyone just busy?)

(I’ve been busy :). Work has me down. Here, i’ll Say something.)

Strahd? Again. That’s the 3rd time we’ve heard that name in a day. A note, the other note, and now this.

"I suppose we can help, though we are supposed to meet with the Vistani who brought us here."

( OOC- there is still three potions of healing, a chain shirt, a mess kit, a flask of alchemist’s fire, a bullseye lantern, and a spellbook in the basket we got. I can hang onto everything for now if no one wants to claim anything else.)

(It's all good, just wanted to make sure where everyone's at. Take it easy :) )

Krolbrik would politely refuse the wine, asking for some water instead, and would calmly listen to the young man tell his story.

Of course, even as he listened, the big orange hobgoblin found it hard to believe that none had yet quailed in fear at his monstrous face. Krolbrik was, after all, a hobgoblin who tended to dwarf other races considerably.

What could be so bad in this land, that even goblinoids didn't inspire people into fearful hysterics as he had occasionally experienced at times when not travelling with his fellows?

Strahd... again. A devil, supposedly.

Whether that was in the literal sense or the mere figurative, Krolbrik intended to find out. The people here seemed so beaten down and downcast... there had to be something he could do to give them relief by Torm's providence.

"I have no issue with giving you aid, Ismark, but... something has been troubling me," Krolbrik rumbled, extending a large orange hand politely for a shake. "I am Krolbrik, by the way... Krolbrik Firemight, a humble servant of The Hand of Righteousness. Anyways... you mention this Strahd in the breath of a devil... is that a literal description, or is he merely wicked? We... have learned and read some things about him from a few different sources. Who is he, really? Our guide to this land claimed that he was in need of aid and redemption, and now you claim that he is a monster in need of justice. Can you help inform us? I am not certain what to believe if he is one or the other."

"A pleasure," Ismark says, shaking Krolbrik's hand in a firm grip, like a soldier's.

"Vistani..." Ismark spits on the bar again, "Of course they would say that! They're little more than the devil's own minions! They're free to come and go as they please and the wolves and abominations that stalk the night do not bother them. Why? Because they are one of them!" His face twists with rage as he speaks, "Don't believe everything they tell you, that devil is beyond 'saving.' He is a monster through-and-through, a wicked thing that feasts on blood, a vampire. I would like little else but to storm that damnable castle of his and rend him limb from limb..." he swallows what's left of his cup and sets it down on the bar. "Alas, all who oppose him meet the same end. If you stay the night in Barovia, meet me in the churchyard later tonight and you will see what comes of those who dare to defy the will of Strahd von Zarovich."

"Alright, Ismark. I think that you have had enough to drink for today. Time to go," says the senior-most Vistana, standing from her chair, "You can come back tomorrow morning and not a minute before sunrise, do you hear me?"

Ismark stumbles as he stands to his feet, looking straight at you now, Krolbrik. "If you are going to help my sister and I, follow me to our home. It is not far from here. Come on."

With that, Ismark shambles out the door into the mid-day air. Light filters in through the heavily-overcast sky, casting little light on the village of Barovia. Those of you who follow Ismark as he walks southward past Bildrath's Mercantile and several boarded up houses. As you continue down the street, the oppressive silence of the village is interrupted by a soft wimpering sound, that as you march along the street grows louder and louder as you stand outside a beaten-up house, much like all the others. The sounds of desperate crying fill your ears as you pass but Ismark seems unphased and continues his pace along the road towards the burgomaster's mansion at the end of the road.

Aka speeds up as he looks upwards and sees a Vulture following him. Does anyone see that? And why is there crying?

Ericina will move to follow, staring at their kobold companion. "I think he is mad..." She will whisper to the nearest person even as she makes noises at a rat that just ran her feet.

"I'll be the mad one if I don't get my treasure," Bala grumbles, his ears twitching at the whispers. "Gods this place is depressing..."

I’m not mad, idiot. You’re the mad one. You mean you don’t hear the crying?

Ericina pouts at the both of them. "The strange cat and now the little dragon are being rude.... I am going to only talk with the rat now." As she stopped talking she focused on the rat, kneeling down to let it run up her arm.

I hope that thing bites you.

"Bad little dragon!" Ericina says as the rat hisses at him and runs up on her shoulder.

Adira will follow, not really sure what she thinks of this very drunk man who is asking for their help. She'll pause when she hears the crying and see if Ismark will answer when she asks. "Do you know who that is? Is that your sister?"

"I shall go see!" Ericina decides as she and her new rat friend walk towards the sound of the crying, her hads at her sides and a skip in her mad step.

Ismark turns, "What, the crying? That's just Mad Mary. She started crying a week ago and hasn't stopped since. Nobody knows why she's locked herself in and won't leave."

Ericina, you and your rat friend make your way to the front door of Mad Mary's townhouse. The front door is well-boarded up from the outside. Make an investigation check to find a way in.

Aka, the vulture circling high above your party swoops down into an alleyways across the street out of view.

Ericina and her new rat friend she seems to be calling Fuzzball look around the house for a way to get inside.

Investigation: 8