Urgog grunts after completing the inspection and returns to the group. "How often are the attacks?"

"The terrible creatures would attack the house night-after-night for weeks. His heart couldn't handle the stress anymore, and he died. There have been no attacks since he passed away three days ago." Ireena says, while keeping a close eye on the coffin as she speaks of the burgomaster. She instinctively fiddles with her scarf again, scratching at her neck as if she has irritated skin.

"That is the Burgomeister?!?  I didn't realize...I have a letter from him, asking for help.  He also said you were bitten by a vampire.  Are you OK?  Did you get the healing you needed?"

Urgog grunts and moves over to squat near a wall to wait on the rest to get ready to move.

Ismark's and Ireena's eyes widen as Winter mentions the vampire bites and the letters from the burgomaster. Ireena scratches at her neck again. Ismark chimes in. "Letter? What letter?" Ismark asks, while Ireena stares down at the floor.

Ireena then decides to unravel her scarf to reveal the scars on her neck that resemble a vampire's bite. "I have been bitten, several times. It's Strahd. He torments me." Ireena says in a hushed tone, feeling morose upon mentioning Strahd's admiration toward her.

"This letter?" Thademar proceeds to show them the letter he was given.

Urgog looks from the orc to Winter then back.

Ismark takes the letter from Thademar and studies it closely. His eyes narrow upon reading the scripture. "This letter is fraudulent. This isn't my Father's handwriting. Where did you get this letter?" Ismark is rather distraught by the letter. Meanwhile, Ireena feels ashamed that her secret was exposed.

After having read the letter Nixus speaks up. "It sounds like someone was simply trying to lure you here Thademar."

Winter presents his letter as well.  Are these from the same person?

Alarmed at Ireena's shame, Winter addresses her: "You have nothing to be ashamed about. It is not your fault that a vampire, this Strahd you mentioned, bit you."

Winter casts Minor Illusion and creates a patch of beautiful roses at her feet.

"Furthermore, from what little I know of vampire bites, you will be fine as long as we get you to a proper healer, or person of the cloth that can use their divine abilities to heal you."

Ismark takes both the letters and is just appalled that someone had forged these documents to lure adventurers to their home. He's so distraught that he storms off to a different room. Ireena smiles lightly upon seeing roses at her feet. "Thank you. It's quite a burden to be targeted by a tyrant who just desires to torment you for amusement. That's why Ismark wants me to leave this village. He thinks I'd be well-protected in Vallaki, and I won't be judged so harshly by others." Ireena sighs, trying to hold back tears.

"Enough of this. Regardless of who or what brought you here, you're here. We need take the burgomaster to the cemetery for a proper burial. You'll escort us?" Ireena asks, as she shuffles over to the coffin, looking to see where Ismark stormed off to.

"I'll be damned if I let someone fool me and get away with it. I'd even be more ashamed if I were to ignore the cry of help from such woman as yourself. By Kord you have my hammer." Firmy boast Thademar taking out his warhammer and batting it on his shield.

"And my staff!"

Winter says without a trace of a lascivious grin on his face.

"You have Baelar's assistance in this matter of utmost urgency as well." Nixus says after listening to Ireena's plea. "So first thing, we have to bury your poor ole' dad?"

Ireena smiles wider upon seeing the enthusiasm emitting from the party. Moments have passed and Ismark returns after soothing his mild manner from reading the fraudulent letters. "We'll leave now if you're ready." Ireena says, as she steps over to grab onto the coffin. Ismark steps onto the other side, and grabs onto the coffin as well. Urgog and Nixus move onto the side of Ismark while Thademar and Winter moves to the side of Ireena. They all work together to hoist the coffin off the floor so they can carry it to the church.

It's a bit later in the evening at this time, sunlight is barely piercing through the thick clouds covering the sky. The streets of the village are quite bare, since everyone spends their time indoors as much as possible. The pallbearers will march through the village en route to the church, which is the northern most area of the village.

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. When you reach the entrance of the church, you can see 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. Ismark and Ireena stare at each other awkwardly upon hearing the muffled scream.

The chapel is a 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. Next to him hangs a long, thick rope that stretches up into the bell tower.

Ismark and Ireena prepares to sit the coffin down as they reach the altar. After resting the coffin, Ismark calls out to the priest. "Greetings Donavich. We've come to host a burial for our father." Ismark folds his hands as glances to Ireena, whom of which is quiet as she feels uncomfortable after hearing the scream from under the floors. Donavich stops praying, and stands up to address the party.

Image of Donavich.

Donavich looks bothered as he looks upon the group. "Oh, you managed to find an escort. I'm glad. We can commence the funeral." Donavich says with a weak and hoarse voice.

What does the party think about the situation thus far? How do they react to the scream?

Nixus glances from side to side awkwardly waiting to see if any of our three guides plan to acknowledge the screaming. After a moment of silence he speaks up.

"Do any of you care to explain what that monstrous noise was just a moment ago?"

"Not only that but, what happened in here, why is everything torn to shreds?"

Donavich stares down at his feet as Nixus asks about the scream. "That's the sound of my son crying out for help. He's in the basement." He says coldly. "The church would be ravaged by wolves frequently. That's why the church is in the state that it's in." Donavich walks over and begins to lift debris off the floor, straighten candlesticks, etc.

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

Donavich doesn't appear to be content with the situation he's in. He can notice the group is uncomfortable with what's transpiring. "A little more than a year ago, my twenty-year-old 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. By all accounts, the wizard died by Strahd’s hand, and so too did Doru, who returned as a vampire spawn. I was able to trap Doru in the undercroft, where he remains to this day. I've been praying and searching for a possible way to return Doru's humanity, but I've found nothing."

"That doesn't sound good.  Why did they storm Castle Ravenloft? What were they revolting against?"

"They were revolting Strahd." Ismark says to Winter. Donavich nods in agreement.

"Strahd governs this land with an iron fist, tormenting the inhabitants. He's an evil tyrant that needs to be stopped. Many adventurers have come and gone who inevitably were perished by Strahd. I always advise folks not to contend against Strahd. Anyone will be better off by seeking refuge at the Abbey of Saint Markovia in Krezk or by finding residence in the fortified town of Vallaki to the west. Once you're brought to Barovia, there's no leaving. It's best to try to live a comfortable life as best as you can. You won't be able to do that here in the village." Donavich proclaims, as he looks onto Ireena during his sequence of warnings.