Pizazz's Ravenloft and Beyond

 Before Burgomaster left, Lionel, happily reunited with his weapon, expressed his gratitude for restored justice - he did not expect less from a wisdom of the head of this city - and said his most polite farewells.

"I have to thank you again," he bowed his head to Mordekai, "your interference was most fortunate. I am afraid my debt to your group keeps growing. My only hope is that I will be able to pay at least some of it."

Feeling a vague sense of familiarity about Baroness Petrovna, Olin says a prayer for guidance and tries to remember where he'd seen her, or someone like her, before. Insight, 12

"Adeptly handled, Mordekai. Now, where do we sleep tonight? Back to the church, or is there an inn nearby?"

"I suspect that, now that the bones have been returned, the church may be the safest place - assuming the saint's bones are indeed continuing to offer their protection."

Turning to Lionel, Mordekai says, "Think nothing of it.  I am glad to be able to have some influence in this strange land.  I'm sure that if you stick with us long enough, there'll be plenty of chance for us to be in your debt instead."

"Meepo glad." Meepo says, patting the new warrior's thigh.  "Back to church?"  He asks.

"Then I will be happy to accompany you wherever you are going," concluded Lionel. "Where are you going, if I may ask? Me and my friends - we came on purpose, though I would not be able to explain how exactly we managed to came here, it was not my doing. We came to free that land from Strahd. Now it sounds as if we decided to free the Nine Hells from it's ruler, but back than it seemed doable. What are you seeking in these lands? Or, perhaps I am mistaken and you are native to that place?"

"Let's head back to the church, we have much to discuss." Olin smiles somberly at Lionel as they walk. "It seems our meeting was fated. We too came here for that same purpose. And just as you have lost your friends, we have lost one of ours." Olin nods. "We were recruited by the Vistani. One of them, a diviner named Madam Eva, read our fortunes in her cards. She showed us allies and information that would help us in our quest. We have already found Ismark here, and by bringing Ireena to the church have enlisted his aid. We still have much to do and discover."

You arrive back at the church as night falls.  Candles are lit in the main room of the church where several groups of people are making themselves comfortable and setting up sleeping rolls on the floor.  Ismark and Ireena approach you with the Father.  As the Father approaches, Olin you realize Father Petrovich has a strong resemblance to the Baroness you met.  He confirms your follow up question, "Yes, the Baron married my sister Lydia. We are, unfortunately, brother in laws. I despise the man. He is vain and cruel, and his constant festivals and confirmation that 'all will be well' is nauseating. Throwing a party every few week does not make things all well. Regardless, I'm glad you were able to retrieve your friend." 

Ismark speaks up, "Well, you've done as I asked and brought Ireena safely to this church. You've done more by ensuring this church remains a place of sanctity. I will now join you fully on your quest to destroy the Devil Strahd."  

The priest looks amongst you all, "You're not the first to try. There have been many before.  Already it seems you've lost a friend and ally.  Obviously this mission will not be easy. But I will do what I can to support you from here.  If there's anything I can help you with, please ask." 

"If Meepo bring lost things, you find home?"  Meepo asks the most burning question on his mind.

"Lets take stock of what still needs to be done." Olin says to the group. "Madame Eva directed us to an ally who would help us, that is Ismark." Olin nods at Ismark. "She also told us that ravens could lead us to an evil tree atop a hill where ancient dead are buried. She told us to find the mother of evil--perhaps the devil's own mother?" Olin shakes his head. "Lastly we're to find a nest of ravens, but it seemed like different ravens than the ones who could show us the tree." Rubbing at his temples, Olin closes his eyes. "I would really love a pot of tea."

Not really familiar with predictions, Lionel still had his own request to Father Petrovich: "May I ask you about those, who came before us? How did they fall? What did that devil do with them?"

Father Petrovich looks down to Meepo, "Indeed my friend. This land is barren of goods. What people have are handed down for generations for as you might imagine, not much comes to use from outside our lands. If you find lost things, I can indeed find a home for them.  And bless your heart." 

Father Petrovich looks to Olin, "Amen to that. Yeska, please prepare some tea for our guests."  A few minutes later a platter with six mugs of warm tea is presented by Yeska. 

Meanwhile, Father Petrovich says, "I'm afraid I can't help you with those things. I mean, there are ravens all across the land and around Vallaki. But no hill with a tree atop it. And if the devil has a mother, I know not of it. As for your questions good sir, I'm afraid the ways that Strahd disposes of his enemies are not advertised, though often gruesome.  We have found them killed in all manners of ways, driven mad, turned into horrid mindless beasts and set up the land.  Mostly however, they are just never seen again. Unfortunately I do not know more. Perhaps if you ask around town they can find more. The only other options might be to seek out the Mad Mage of Mount Baratok. However there have been no recent sightings of the him. Folks used to see him skulking along the north shore of Lake Za­rovich, shooting lightning bolts into the water to kill the fish. If you're interested in meeting him, I'd suggest you use the fish­ing boats on the south shore to cross the lake, because it's shorter and a lot less dangerous than walking around the lake." 

Ismark says, "Well, I have not been much to Vallaki.  This town is much larger and more interesting than the village of Barovia. There may be people here who know more if we wish to dig about.  We could go out tonight a bit and ask about. If you prefer to search for this mad wizard, I suggest we wait till tomorrow." 

Meepo sits down on a bench, the day having been fairly long at this point already.  "Meepo tired." He announces to everyone.  "Maybe sleep, then see what to do morning?"

The group suddenly feels exhausted.  Mordekai was brought back to life, you saw your first glimpse of the devil, you saved a church, burned down a nest of vampires, and met the mayor. Enough accomplishments for one day you all suppose as the exhaustion eases into your bones.  

"I'm afraid I don't have good accommodations. You are welcome to make yourself a place anywhere here with the folks from the village. If you really seek some privacy, I have a supply room that you can partake of, though it's quite dusty."  

The room is filled with about a dozen adult villagers and a half dozen children. They have a routine that makes this feel like a regular affair, as if sleeping in their own homes is a luxury they've all abandoned.  The common room is filled with sniffles, coughs, snoring and heavy breathing as the night progresses.  They largely keep to themselves though the children do show interest in Meepo.  The adults however are not particularly friendly and don't watch.  

Mordekai gets up as people are settling down and makes his bed in the store room without an explanation.

The next morning people are up early, bleary eyed and groggy the folks pack up their goods and shuffle out into the dim morning light. The group pokes through their bags for food. Father Petrovich says, "If you seek a warm breakfast, the Blue Water Inn is a safe place. I go there often. Today I must work on making sure the bones are more secure."  Ireena smiles to him, "I'm happy to help Father."   He smiles warmly back at her, "You thought your stay here was free then?"  They both laugh and the two head off together into the store room to get supplies.

The group heads out into the day. For the first time since you've arrived, the sky shows patches of clear sky.  Blue between the grey patches. It's a cold, dry day with a firm wind pushing the sky along.  The town is not small, though it's not large either and it takes less than thirty minutes to walk around the whole place. Cutting down side streets and so on you get a good idea of the town's layout. 

The Blue water inn is near the center of town along the main road, nestled among homes and small businesses. Gray smoke issues from the chimney of the large, two­ story wooden building with a stone foundation and sag­ging tile roof, upon which several ravens have perched. The group eyes the ravens with curiosity, given the Vistani cards that were drawn.  A painted wooden sign hanging above the main entrance depicts a blue waterfall.

Before heading in you do a bit more exploring. 

To the east of town, along the main road is a stockyard.  It's a large stockyard that has several locked sheds along its periphery and lies adjacent to a roomy warehouse. A wooden sign above the front gate reads "Arasek Stockyard."  Parked at the south end of the stockyard is a sturdy carnival wagon, its colorful paint peeling off. Faded let­tering on its sides spells out the words "Rictavio's Carni­val of Wonders." A heavy padlock secures the back door.

You've already passed by Blinsky's Toy shop once, reminding you of the strange doll you found back in the cursed house.  The cramped shop has a dark entrance portico, above which hangs a wooden sign shaped like a rocking horse, with a "B" engraved on both sides. Flanking the entrance are two arched, lead-framed windows. Through the dirty glass, you see jumbled displays of toys and hanging plac­ards bearing the slogan "Is No Fun, Is No Blinsky!"

The burned down remains of the coffin makers shop is nearby. 

Just north from there is the main townsquare.  The shops and homes that enclose the town square are decorated with limp, tattered garlands and painted wooden boxes filled with tiny, dead flowers. At the north end of the square stands a row of stocks, locked in which are several men, women, and children wearing crude, plaster donkey heads. One of which you recognize, despite the donkey head, as Henrik. 

In the center of the square, peasants in patchwork clothes eye you suspiciously as they use cups and vases to draw water from a crumbling stone fountain. Standing tall at the center of the fountain is a gray statue of an impressive man facing west. All around the square are posted proclamations:

There is a main gate leading north out of the town towards Lake Zarovich. There is a main east gate and west gate along the main road. There are two smaller barred doors in the south of the main walls that lead to foot paths south of town into the woods.  

A few buildings lie outside the walls by the east, west, and north gates.  The north gate especially leads to a small fishing village by the lake shore. 

After a quick exploratory walk you head into the Blue Water Inn, eyes still on the ravens purchased along it's roof.  Upon entering, you see you've found what seems to be the most 'normal' and 'lively' place in all of Barovia so far. The Inn is packed with people, talking quietly while eating and drinking their breakfasts. A man strolls confidently around the room, clapping people on the shoulder and smiling. He gets smiles in return but they're quick to fade as people go back to their meals. Two young boys bus and serve tables. 

The man walks up to you eyeing you appreciatively, "Visitors, I'd heard a thing or two. I believe you're close personal friends of Henrik yes?"  He laughs from his belly.  "My name is Urwin, the keeper of this establishment."  He dark eyes and dark hair seem to pause as he reflects for a moment. Some thoughts of import seem to go through his head, but then he smiles once more and the moment is gone.  "Please, have a seat here, and let me know what you'd like for breakfast.  I'm afraid our wine stores are a bit low, but I can still offer you a cup of Purple Grapemash or Red Dragon Crush."   A woman's voice yells out from within the kitchen, "Beet soup up Brom!"  One of the boys heads to the kitchen.  

"As you can hear, we have beet soup, as well as eggs, bread, and left over wolf steaks."   

"Meepo like wolf steak."  Meepo chimes in as he climbs up onto a chair.  "You know raven nest, dead tree on hill, or mother of evil?"  He asks the man without any real hope of an answer.

"Beet soup and bread, please. And tea, if you have it." Olin says, watching the assembled patrons to see if any of them react to overhearing Meepo's questions. 

Perception, 18

 "Eggs, please, with ham if possible. Nice day today." Lionel did not flinch at the mentioning of Henrik, but did ask about the crowd outside: "Are those people in stocks part of the festivities? How come children are there?"

Urwin responds to Lionel's question first, "The people in the stocks? They have in some way broken our most honorable Burgomasters rules. Or spoken ill of a festival. Or spoken up about anything the Burgomaster doesn't want to hear, or committed some sort of crime. Or looked at the Burgomaster wrong. Or ...well...I think you get the idea. Our Burgomaster keeps us all safe and well, in case you didn't know, and so undermining him isn't a great idea. All will be well, after all." 

Then he turns to Meepo, "Keep your voice down please. We will talk after breakfast." 

The meal you're served is probably the most flavorful and filling one you've had since arriving in Barovia. The wolf steak, eggs, soup and tea are all well cooked and seasoned.  The Inn begins to empty out after a while, though still has a number of people milling about, with some coming and some going regularly. 

After lunch Urwin walks out of the back and pulls up a chair at your table. His black hair light on his head, his dark eyes penetrating. "I may be able to help you with part of your quest. In fact I know I can. I felt it from the moment you entered here.  But, I will tell you no more and help you no more until you both prove yourself and do something for me.  All in one go."  He keeps his voice low, "My sup­ply of wine is nearly gone, and the next shipment is over­ due. I'll give you information, if you bring me my wine. The vineyard and winery is a few miles west of here. Just follow the Old Svalich Road and the signs to the Wizard of Wines Winery." 

"Your wine lost?" Meepo asks, ready to go.  "Meepo find.  Meepo good find lost."

"One moment, Meepo, if you please." Olin says, trying to slow down his eager companion. To the bartender, "What can you tell us about the late shipment? Is there a matter of payment to be settled? Does the winery usually deliver the wine to you, or do you send someone to get it who hasn't returned? Who should we ask for at the winery?"