Ismark turns to Ireena. She is a beautiful woman in her late 20s with auburn hair.

"Ireena," he says, gently, "I believe I may have found those who will help us." 

Ireena turn from him to look at all of you.

"My name is Ireena." She says, "I find myself in a very dangerous situation. I have been bitten by Strahd twice in recent memory. I don't remember my early past, I don't know how I came to Barovia or where I came from. Moreover, my encounters with Strahd are fuzzy memories, but I can recall clearly the blazing hunger in his eyes."

She pauses for a moment. She gestures to the coffin.

"The burgomaster is dead. Wolves and other terrible creatures attacked the house night after night for weeks. The burgomaster’s heart couldn’t stand the constant assault, and he died three days ago. Strangely, since his death, the house has not come under attack. No one from the village has been brave enough to help Ismark take Kolyan Indirovich to the cemetery for proper burial. I beg of you to help me, if you would be so kind as to help Ismark deliver my father’s body safely to Donavich, the local priest. I won't go to Vallaki while the my father lies dead on the mansion floor."

Insight check to see if Ireena is telling the truth about her past:18

Regardless of whether he picks anything up, he'll agree to help Ireena. "Sure. If it gets you to leave here and ensures that the undead won't be able to add another soul to their ranks, I'm fine with it."

She is absolutely 100% telling the truth.

"His dues are unpaid. Seeing them settled will.. in this case be payment enough." He casually points a thumb in his direction. "At least for this one." If any look to him for meaning, he just gestures to the corpse. "What else do you know of Vallaki? Both of you. And of this Donavich, fellow. Faith aside, I find it hard to believe this blight hasn't paid a visit." He requests plainly. 

Ismark says, "Donavich is the only spiritual beacon in this cursed village. He is a good man. Located close to the shores of Lake Zarovich, the town of Vallaki is the closest thing to a safe haven against the evils of the Svalich Woods, if not Strahd himself. The town lies beyond the sight of Castle Ravenloft and doesn’t seem as depressed as our village of Barovia. I strongly believe Ireena will be safe there - I just cannot escort her there myself."

Ireena pulls her turtleneck undertunic to reveal two healing bite wounds on her neck. "We must hurry. I have no idea why Strahd has taken an interest in me, and I don't intend to find out why. We must bury my father and leave as soon as possible."

"Of course we will help. We do have some priests of our own, I believe, so perhaps we can do some rites or something here and then bring him to the cemetery?"

"Oh, uh, my condolences for your loss."

Corrin shudders seeing the bite marks on the woman, grasping his amulet and clutching it close. "Perhaps his interest is dietary...," he mutters, a chill traveling down his spine. Superstitiously, he looks over both shoulders, reaching into one of his pouches and pulling out some random herbs and leaves to rub on his coat. 

"Let us be on our way."

"I'd imagine that if his interest was dietary, he would have just completely drained her the first time. This is something else entirely. I imagine that he has other things planned for Ireena than dinner." Said Anborn, directly in front of Ireena and Ismark, completely failing to notice that he's supplying some high-octane Nightmare Fuel.

Seeing the man in the coffin, Song says something in Celestial in prayer. "I'm so sorry for your loss. We'll do all we can for him. I think Orilo and Anborn would be best to carry him. What should we know about this Donavan? Would he appreciate us barging in with, well, someone who's departed?" Hearing Anborn's statement, Song's eyes widen, and he says behind his teeth and under his breath. "Anborn! Some tact, will you?!"

"She's being attacked by Strahd. Some scary words aren't going to do her in."

“Neither will Strahd, so long as I draw breath.”

After "hmming" quietly in thought in the background, Orilo curses beneath his breathe. "So much for fortunes." He mutters, and then more frankly to Ismark asks, "Your transport? Undamaged?" Once he had his answers and maybe directions for bringing it forward, he walks out without another word to see it done. And if Ismark decided to handle that himself, no argument comes from the giant. He simply finds a wall to lean against and listen. 

THE CHURCH

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 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 to 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 wooden floor.

"Donavich?" Ireena calls out, looking concerned at Ismark.

"I guess that nothing is sacred in Barovia. All right everyone, you know the drill. Let's go meet this undead ****er and put it out of our misery.

Elya snarls and barges in the front door, heading directly for whatever caused the scream, if she can tell. Perception: 10

The chapel is in shambles, with overturned and broken pews littering the dusty floor. Dozens of candles mounted in candlesticks and candelabras light every dusty corner in a fervent attempt to rid the chapel of shadows. At the far end of the church sits a claw-scarred altar, behind which kneels a priest in soiled vestments - Donavich. Next to him hangs a long, thick rope that stretches up into the bell tower.

"Ismark! Ireena!" Donavich looks at them, in such a panic he doesn't even realize the rest of you are with them. "I've been praying all night." His voice is weak, and hoarse.

Ireena tries to comfort him, "One day, whatever Gods remain, one will answer your prayers, Donavich.."

From beneath the chapel floor, you hear a young man’s voice cry out from below, “Father! I’m starving!”

"Um, Father Donavich, would you mind explaining what's going on with the screaming downstairs?"

Donavich looks startled as you speak, composes himself, and says, "A little more than a year ago, my son Doru and several other villagers stormed Castle Ravenloft in revolt, having been lured there by a wizard in black robes who came to Barovia from a faraway land. Doru returned to me as a vampire spawn. I was able to trap him in the undercroft, where he remains to this day. He hasn’t fed since he was imprisoned, and he cries out to me at all hours. Meanwhile, I pray day and night, hoping that the gods will tell me how to save Doru without destroying him."

"Why are you here..?" He asks.

Ireena says, "We are here to bury my father. Please, may we? I cannot leave until I do."

Donavich nods, weakly, "Of course.."

In the undercroft, the young man who was once Doru continues to scream.

Anborn backs up to the rest of the party. "I don't think that he's getting better, but one of you that's more tactful than I am can try and let him down easy." He whispers.

Winter tries not to snarl at the priest, her now cat like eyes starting at him intently waiting for him to answer Anborn's question.

Insight: 17