The gentleman sitting alone perks up. He looks at you, Barnaby, like he's a perfectly normal, interested person, which - you realize - is the first normal encounter with a person outside your own party you've had since arriving in the valley. He waves for you to join him at his table, and, a moment later, recognizes that Kif and Puddin are with you. He motions for everyone to join him.
Say Puddin. looks like lonely dude might be willing to have a little chat (and if we toss him a couple quid I bet he'd be willing to put a little scare in moaning Mary)
The three of you sit down at the table with the young man.
He introduces himself: I am Ismark. Ismark the Lesser, I am called. I see you are drinking what Stefan calls "tea." Could I get you some wine? Stefan! bring a pitcher of wine. And, sure enough, he is drinking a little wine with his breakfast of biscuit and greasy bit of meat.
He looks over Kif's shoulder and sees the axe resting there. That is quite a blade you have there, friend. Where are you all from?
You can see a picture of Ismark on Roll20, in the journal.
Thanks, We're from all over the place, but most recently from Daggerford and Waterdeep. Name's Kif. How about yourself, you don't seem like the typical doom and gloom local?
It is a hard life, in the village. My neighbors here are afraid of their shadows. And with good reason! In Barovia, the shadows can bite. But no, I am not much like them.
Daggerford and Waterdeep? Are you fighters, are those fighting places?
Just towns on the Sword Coast, more worried about trade than fighting. I was a soldier up until recently. And we all have gotten into a couple scraps since we got to this land, including a house full of animated dead people. SO why is Barovia so blighted, do you think? We heard tales of wolfs than turn into men or men that turn into wolves. Even found this bundle of clothes on the road in....Kif shows him the bundle
Barnaby will take a moment to pack and light his pipe while he listens. He will then walk to the bar and purchase two glasses of wine, one of which he will deliver to Ismark. He will then sit down at Ismarks table, all the while listening intently to the conversation.
Just towns on the Sword Coast, more worried about trade than fighting. I was a soldier up until recently. And we all have gotten into a couple scraps since we got to this land, including a house full of animated dead people. SO why is Barovia so blighted, do you think? We heard tales of wolfs than turn into men or men that turn into wolves. Even found this bundle of clothes on the road in....Kif shows him the bundle
He looks down at the clothes. Wolfmen, probably. They're around. Not likely to see them in the village, but it never hurts to be cautious. But why is Barovia blighted? We are under Count Strahd's sway. In the shadow of his castle.
Barnaby will take a moment to pack and light his pipe while he listens. He will then walk to the bar and purchase two glasses of wine, one of which he will deliver to Ismark. He will then sit down at Ismarks table, all the while listening intently to the conversation.
Stefan recognizes that you are bringing a glass of wine to Ismark's table, and only takes a silver for both cups. Do keep track of your coins, please.
Ismark looks up as Barnaby approaches with a glass of wine. He takes it. Thank you. Ismark signals for Stefan to bring a glass for Kif and for Puddin. He puts a few copper pieces on the table.
I have a request of you, but it will be easier for me to ask if you answer this question, first. Why did you ask about Burgomaster Indirovich?
Well, for better or for worse, we seem to have come to the position where we are trying to rid your fine town of its curse. So far we have very little to go on and are, therefore, just beginning to collect information. With nothing else to go on, we were going next to meet your burgermeiser, but, I find, it is best to go into each situation with as much information as possible. I figured if I threw his name out, someone might show that they have some little nugget that might be of use, and, lo and behold, you have appeared.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
13 percepting
We've met the Count recently, bit of an unusual meeting, but does he seem to be after anything, or just being an evil overlord...seemed to have a few 'abilities' that are a concern
I will tell you fine folk what I am doing here and what I know about the curse, he says, his voice growing just a hair impatient, but please answer my question: Why are you seeking my father? Who suggested that path, and what were you told about him? Was it the Count? What did he say about him?
Kif, you don't notice anything. But if someone in the room was eavesdropping, it wouldn't be difficult, because Stefan is not bothering to keep his voice down at all. I will note that you are doing your part, though.
So the Berdermeister is your father. We have no nefarious plans, someone told us the meister was in charge of this town, it only makes sense we would want to talk to them. If you have a better place to start please let us know, we are new here
Kif takes a whiff of the local fare and pushes the plate away, although he enjoys a sip of wine
The count said nothing other than suggesting the burgermeister was the leader in this town, Our mission for the most part was suggested by the travelling folk like those over there
He nods toward the table of three
No matter where it came from things seem a touch screwed up around here, and that fog, look what it's doing to my friends hair
I encourage you guys sometimes to go back through earlier dialogues and look for details. If I'm hinting you should, then please consider actually looking, and if an NPC is getting impatient because you're not remembering something, then you should really consider going back through the thread and looking. Because this is the third time in just this one conversation that you've been slapped in the face with something, and the third time that you've missed it.
You can see, as you peer into the darkness below, the figure grin at your words, though its eyes remain focused on how Kif wedged a piece of timber through the legs of a chair as part of the ladder.
The figure vanishes into a puff of mist.
The mist rises upward, passing you, and entering the small upstairs space in which you've made camp this evening. The mist then takes the form of a man, roughly six feet tall, broad chested and handsome. Though it's dark in here, you all have darkvision, and your sense is that his skin is very pale. He looks down at the three of you, appraising. His hand shoots out Puddin, fast enough that she doesn't have time to duck out of the way. He caresses her cheek for a moment. If Puddin pulls back or slaps his hand away, he lets her.
"Enemies," little one? You, enemies of me? No. Perhaps one day we will be friends, though also perhaps not. For now it is enough to say that we are not "enemies." You are also not quite my guests here, though, in this village. Perhaps you will visit the burgomaster - the mayor, you might call him - and he might have something to tell you about hospitality in the village. You will go further into town, if you wish to see him, and then a right in the town square. You will go to the end of the road and find his mansion there. I am sure he will be quite informative, upon the matter and manner of hospitality in this place.
My name, little one, is Count Strahd von Zarovich, and you are in my domain. It is not time for me to invite you to Ravenloft, and enjoy my hospitality there, though who knows? That day may come. For one or two of you, maybe three or even all four.
He takes a step toward Kif, and drops to one knee. "Heavy steel," indeed. I won't test it, at the moment.
If you like, you can go to the Roll20 page and see a picture of the man now admiring Kif's axe.
There may also be times for the sake of roleplaying that we hold back what we might know and then, (sometimes clumsily), might try to integrate elements into the conversation without spilling all the beans that we may know, but yeah we may be missing something and will check back
That would have been a curious thing to say, considering what he's done.
The Count, you see, is a vampire. He is a curse placed upon us - upon the whole of Barovia, not just the village bearing the name - because of a great sin, long ago and long forgotten, committed by our ancestors.
We are trapped here. You, too, are trapped here. The valley is shrouded in a fog, and anyone trying to leave will soon die. Sometimes strangers come, like you did, but none ever leave. Only the Visanti may pass through thefog. He raises an eyebrow again, as if to express something else. Whatever he is intending to communicate, it is not admiration for the Visanti.
Now, if you will join me, I will show you why I stay here, and explain what I hope to accomplish.
He looks from face to face to see if there are any questions, as he begins to rise from the table.
The gentleman sitting alone perks up. He looks at you, Barnaby, like he's a perfectly normal, interested person, which - you realize - is the first normal encounter with a person outside your own party you've had since arriving in the valley. He waves for you to join him at his table, and, a moment later, recognizes that Kif and Puddin are with you. He motions for everyone to join him.
Say Puddin. looks like lonely dude might be willing to have a little chat (and if we toss him a couple quid I bet he'd be willing to put a little scare in moaning Mary)
The three of you sit down at the table with the young man.
He introduces himself: I am Ismark. Ismark the Lesser, I am called. I see you are drinking what Stefan calls "tea." Could I get you some wine? Stefan! bring a pitcher of wine. And, sure enough, he is drinking a little wine with his breakfast of biscuit and greasy bit of meat.
He looks over Kif's shoulder and sees the axe resting there. That is quite a blade you have there, friend. Where are you all from?
You can see a picture of Ismark on Roll20, in the journal.
Thanks, We're from all over the place, but most recently from Daggerford and Waterdeep. Name's Kif. How about yourself, you don't seem like the typical doom and gloom local?
It is a hard life, in the village. My neighbors here are afraid of their shadows. And with good reason! In Barovia, the shadows can bite. But no, I am not much like them.
Daggerford and Waterdeep? Are you fighters, are those fighting places?
Just towns on the Sword Coast, more worried about trade than fighting. I was a soldier up until recently. And we all have gotten into a couple scraps since we got to this land, including a house full of animated dead people. SO why is Barovia so blighted, do you think? We heard tales of wolfs than turn into men or men that turn into wolves. Even found this bundle of clothes on the road in....Kif shows him the bundle
Barnaby will take a moment to pack and light his pipe while he listens. He will then walk to the bar and purchase two glasses of wine, one of which he will deliver to Ismark. He will then sit down at Ismarks table, all the while listening intently to the conversation.
He looks down at the clothes. Wolfmen, probably. They're around. Not likely to see them in the village, but it never hurts to be cautious. But why is Barovia blighted? We are under Count Strahd's sway. In the shadow of his castle.
Stefan recognizes that you are bringing a glass of wine to Ismark's table, and only takes a silver for both cups. Do keep track of your coins, please.
Ismark looks up as Barnaby approaches with a glass of wine. He takes it. Thank you. Ismark signals for Stefan to bring a glass for Kif and for Puddin. He puts a few copper pieces on the table.
I have a request of you, but it will be easier for me to ask if you answer this question, first. Why did you ask about Burgomaster Indirovich?
Everybody give me a perception check. If you get a 14 or higher, check this out:
The copper coins bear the likeness of the man who introduced himself to you as Strahd.
Well, for better or for worse, we seem to have come to the position where we are trying to rid your fine town of its curse. So far we have very little to go on and are, therefore, just beginning to collect information. With nothing else to go on, we were going next to meet your burgermeiser, but, I find, it is best to go into each situation with as much information as possible. I figured if I threw his name out, someone might show that they have some little nugget that might be of use, and, lo and behold, you have appeared.
Barnaby looks very pleased with himself.
Perception:14
13 percepting
We've met the Count recently, bit of an unusual meeting, but does he seem to be after anything, or just being an evil overlord...seemed to have a few 'abilities' that are a concern
You seem like a bright lad, what keeps you here?
At least Kif is trying to keep his voice low, are the other guests reacting at all?
21 perceptin' again if necessary
I will tell you fine folk what I am doing here and what I know about the curse, he says, his voice growing just a hair impatient, but please answer my question: Why are you seeking my father? Who suggested that path, and what were you told about him? Was it the Count? What did he say about him?
Kif, you don't notice anything. But if someone in the room was eavesdropping, it wouldn't be difficult, because Stefan is not bothering to keep his voice down at all. I will note that you are doing your part, though.
So the Berdermeister is your father. We have no nefarious plans, someone told us the meister was in charge of this town, it only makes sense we would want to talk to them. If you have a better place to start please let us know, we are new here
Kif takes a whiff of the local fare and pushes the plate away, although he enjoys a sip of wine
The count said nothing other than suggesting the burgermeister was the leader in this town, Our mission for the most part was suggested by the travelling folk like those over there
He nods toward the table of three
No matter where it came from things seem a touch screwed up around here, and that fog, look what it's doing to my friends hair
I encourage you guys sometimes to go back through earlier dialogues and look for details. If I'm hinting you should, then please consider actually looking, and if an NPC is getting impatient because you're not remembering something, then you should really consider going back through the thread and looking. Because this is the third time in just this one conversation that you've been slapped in the face with something, and the third time that you've missed it.
Carry on.
There may also be times for the sake of roleplaying that we hold back what we might know and then, (sometimes clumsily), might try to integrate elements into the conversation without spilling all the beans that we may know, but yeah we may be missing something and will check back
Certainly! If that’s what you’re doing, and it’s not a case of forgetting, then carry on.
He arches an eyebrow.
That would have been a curious thing to say, considering what he's done.
The Count, you see, is a vampire. He is a curse placed upon us - upon the whole of Barovia, not just the village bearing the name - because of a great sin, long ago and long forgotten, committed by our ancestors.
We are trapped here. You, too, are trapped here. The valley is shrouded in a fog, and anyone trying to leave will soon die. Sometimes strangers come, like you did, but none ever leave. Only the Visanti may pass through the fog. He raises an eyebrow again, as if to express something else. Whatever he is intending to communicate, it is not admiration for the Visanti.
Now, if you will join me, I will show you why I stay here, and explain what I hope to accomplish.
He looks from face to face to see if there are any questions, as he begins to rise from the table.
With an appreciative nod to Barnaby, he drains his glass.