Orilo kept his mouth shut, and expression placid throughout much of the exchange. Though he looked on the verge of frowning ever since the burgeonmaster decided to arrest the guard over a laugh. "After, Corrin. Anborn. As he said. For now we... enjoy the festivities. Maybe learn of means of further ingratiating our host, least we wind up like the last."  After speaking his piece, Orilo breaks away during the festival to ask about a local toy maker, and any gossip on recent business in town outside the church incident. Which as far as he could tell was probably kept quiet about for at least a day. 

Maybe even try his hand at bringing in real cheer in others by finding a spot just out of the deluge to play an inspired, upbeat tune.

Persuasion: 22.

Viol Play: 8.

Couple things happen, Oreo. You learn that:

Vallaki has endured at least one festival every week for the past several years. Some Vallakians believe that the festivals keep the devil Strahd at bay. Others think they provide no protection or benefit whatsoever. Most consider them dismal affairs. The burgomaster’s personal bodyguard, Izek Strazni, has a history of violence as well as a fiendish deformity: a monstrous arm with which he can conjure fire. Fear of Izek keeps the baron’s enemies at bay.

You're also asked nicely to stop playing your viol as you're "creating a distraction from the festival".

After the festival, you can easily find the Burgomaster's manion.

THE BURGOMASTER'S MANSION

This mansion has walls of plastered stone that display many scars where the plaster has fallen away from age and neglect. Drapes cover every window, including a large, arched opening above the mansion’s double entrance doors. You knock. A maid lets you in and escorts you to the den. Padded chairs and couches line the walls of this cozy, carpeted den. The room reeks of pipe smoke, and mounted on the east wall is the head of an angry-looking brown bear.

The maid leaves, and you are alone in the den.

The festival didn’t interest Winter, the shifter looking a little more uncomfortable around the children more than anything. Unless there were more creepy bobbles to collect (she may have picked up a few of those before they left), she remained on the sidelines, keeping herself busy by organizing some stuff in her bag. Once they did leave she felt and looked more at ease.

When they arrived at the mansion, she kept her face stoic but once they were left alone she finally spoke. “Not creepy at all,” Winter says idly, taking a look around the den.

Perception: 23

Anborn remains standing, wondering how long the Burgomaster is going to take and contemplating whether or not he should cast any buff or protection spells at the moment. When did I get so ******* jittery? What happened to the Anborn that left the monastery a few years ago to fight for his country? He decides against it after shaming himself. "I bet the burgomaster is singlehandedly keeping the tobacco business in Barovia afloat." His quip falls a bit flat, as if he's too distracted by something to put his full snark behind it. That was weak. I'm really off, aren't I?

Winter: Just outside the window, from the den, you can see a a few tombstones placed in the garden about 50 feet away.

Anborn feels more like himself at hearing his unofficial rival tell him not to let Izek unnverve him. "Please. After all the shit I've seen so far, you think I'm going to lose nerve over a bodyguard with a weird arm?"

The burgomaster appears after a short while. 

"Ah!" he says approaching. "The visitors from the festival. Excellent! I am Baron Vargas Vallakovich. This is my wife, Baroness Lydia Petrovna." Lydia is a tall, gaunt woman. She nods but says nothing. "Welcome to my home. Tell me, what brings you all to my village?"

"A few things. A man hired us to escort him and his sister here." Anborn says, referring to Ismark and his sister as if his creator hadn't completely forgotten about them over the last few days, only to find out that said quest had been completed to the knowledge of everyone except them. "We're also looking for information about where we can find a dead nobleman."

"I see." The burgomaster nods, sitting down. He gestures you all to do the same. "A nobleman, you say? Interesting. Tell me more."

"Oh well, I'd like to, but I can't, because I don't know anything about him other than he's dead and guarded by his widow. Hence, why we're here, hoping that you might give us some information about him."

The burgomaster thinks for a minute, nodding. "I see." He ponders. "Why, that almost sounds like-"

Suddenly, a very loud explosion can be heard, and the burgomaster startles out of his chair. "All will be well!" He shouts as him as his wife quickly leave the den and go outside. "I must see to this! We shall talk later!"

Anborn buries his face in his hands for a second. Of ******* course. Right as he's about to say something that could be of use. "Who does he think he's convincing when he says that? **** it, I suppose that we can't let him go it alone, can't we?" He says, turning towards the rest of the group, most particularly Elya, who has nagged tried to get him to give a shit.

Corrin, after initially ducking from the sound of the explosion, rushes after the burgomaster and his wife to see what caused such a sound. "What in the world was that?!?"

As the Burgomaster and his wife leave to hurriedly attend to the latest town disaster, the maid who opened the door for you all stands in the doorway - closing the door. "Looking for a dead nobleman, you say?"

"Who's asking? Other than a maid that I can't imagine that the burgomaster and his wife will be pleased to know is listening in on their conversations."

"You're right." she says, cooly. "My mistake." She turns and heads towards the kitchen.

Winter opens her mouth to speak to the maid, but was cut off by Anborn being a RUDE as hell. The rogue promptly smacks Anborn in the back of the head with a grimace. "She was going to give us information and your first concern is that she was eavesdropping in our conversation?!" She could have pinched his ear right at the moment, but the cleric was quick to fix up his mistake. Men.

"Ouch! Fine." Anborn quickly moves in front of her. "Uh, uh. You don't get to pull some cryptic "Looking for a dead nobleman, you say?" act and then back out when mildly confronted. Who are you, how much did you listen in on, and do you actually know something that can make this entire trip here worth it?"