Pizazz's Ravenloft and Beyond

"You want to use a woman as a bait for a vampire. After we got her brother killed." For a moment the dwarf looked his aasimar self. "No." It was a final answer from him. "There are things a man would not do if he is a man. I did not think the Temple affected you that much."

"We know our way around the castle, we found Strahd's crypt, we still can get help from Argynvost followers if we can get to the skull of the dragon. I intend to try."

     Ketch shrugs.  He’s never met the woman in question so largely just considered it a theoretical question.  Likely as not she was just another spiritless denizen of this land so barely registered as a person but Lionel seemed determined that the issue was settled so... *shrug*

     “Fair enough. There an issue with asking around after an armorer or such too?” Ketch asks, with no sass at all in his tone.

(So, is the plan to head back to Castle Ravenloft then to try and fetch the skull? Or to just go to the Argynvostholt?)

(Ketch, you've now completed the book. Are you looking for an armorer in Vallaki?  There is one there to be found.)

((Ketch is indeed asking around about an armorer as well as a place to sell some...  unique items?  Gems, opals... amber teeth?  As well as a slightly used Tome of Understanding! Will be needing some gold with which to pay an armorer if we can find one.))

     ((Ketch, from his dealings with Werewolves seemingly forever ago, believes they need the skull in order to make the trip to Argynvostholt beneficial...  But his newfound wisdom perhaps argues that werewolves are not the most reliable of creatures so Ketch is willing to defer to the others.  But he believes either should be after the party tries to see if they can up the armor worn by himself and perhaps Lionel and anyone else who we can afford to upgrade...?))

Mordekai casts Minor Illusion to make the image of Ireena Kolyana appear over Lionel's shoulder. 

"Fair enough, but she would draw Strahd out. It's not even like she needs to actually be there." Mordekai nods to the image over Lionel's shoulder.  "Although, if we're going back to Vallaki to find an armourer, we should at least deliver the news of her brother's fate."

(DM, did we last see her safely at the... Church of St Andral? That's the church in Vallaki, right? And it's Vallaki that we've been hanging out in recently? But we're currently still in Krezk?)

Correct on all fronts. The church in Vallaki is protected by st andrals bones, one of the few places in this realm strahd can’t go. 

     "So it is decided. We head to Vallaki.  We will inquire about the services of an armorer there and we can also inform this Ms. Kolyana of the ill news you have for her.  If she turns out to be a brave and vengeful sort, perhaps she would want to assist us..." Ketch says, "but we will of course not force anything upon the woman."

"Like we could force anything upon her." Meepo says with an amused grunt. He nods though, ready to head out when the group is.

"We will not. We will not ask either. Her brother was killed by some demon in the Temple, not by Strahd. If she is a vengeful sort, she would want to see dead first that demon, second - us, as those who brought her brother to that cursed place."

Other than that Lionel was agree to return to Vallaki. They truly did have to inform Ireena bout her brother some time ago.

The group heads to sleep, eager to head to Vallaki the next morning.  As some point during the night the door to the bedroom opens and the owner of the cottage stumbles out of the room holding the door frame for balance. He doesn't seem to notice the people all over his floor and steps immediately on Ulthan's ankle and stumbles, directly onto Lionel's head, his food sliding off as he stumbles into Ketch's side and goes down in a heap.  Swearing and confused he gets up and heads straight for the front door where he heads outside and vomits noisily while the rudely awoken group rubs ankles and faces and sides.  The man stumbles back in without a word, and closes the door, and slightly more aware, picks his way back to his room, closing the door and sliding a chair against it. The middle of the night interruption is a foggy memory by morning time. 

In the morning the group wakes up, the owner wanders out and comes back with a water skin, and seems to be nursing a terrible hangover. Eating dried rations, you quickly pack up with the intention to head to Vallaki. 

As you leave the cottage and look for the wagon you see the Burgomaster Dmitri approaching. He looks distraught. 

He walks up to the lot of you and looks about as if not wanting to be overheard, and says, "Say....you there....do you have a job after you return to the winery?  If they trust you...then maybe I can trust you. I....I need some help." 

Mordekai leans in with a serious look on his face, "Of course. You welcomed us kindly to your village, what can we do for you?"

Bah Ulthan needs better spot he thinks, no more stepping on ankles. Still as long as he's near the lighted one, it's part of the burden. Ulthan grumbles "hrmpfh bad kid huh hrmpfh".

     Ketch barely feels the drunken slot bumble into him and merely rolls over and continues snoring...

     in the morning Ketch leans in closely to hear Dmitri.”As my friend there says, we have goals but nothing that couldn’t be delayed to help a friend in need...  tell us, what troubles you?”

Lionel stood back - after the night escapade they probably owed the villagers some help. Though, that face-stomping somewhat mitigated his willingness to save local kittens from the trees... He shook his head - had to be just a bad dream. Could be worse after encounter with those monsters in the Abbey.

The man takes in a deep breath, and you're suddenly revealed the shaky true face of fear and concern that lives underneath this Burgomasters otherwise stoic face. It's clear he puts on a good show for everyone, but you wonder at his sudden revelation of his lack of confidence and wealth of fear to sudden strangers. Though, perhaps that's why he's willing to open up to you. Strangers that will leave his gates and potentially never return. Strangers who don't rely on him making life and death decisions every day. 

In a wavering voice he speaks, "Last week....last week my son died. The last of my four children...the only one spared by this cruel world until now. He died of illness a week past. He was fourteen. I....I was grooming him in the ways of managing the town. But..now he is gone. Early this morning....the Abbot came down from above and knocked on my door. He...he said he could help raise my son from the dead. Bring him back, right as rain, steal him away from the death shroud and bring him back to me. But...he said...he needed me to do something. He..he knew about you.....strangers in the town he called you....he said that if I convinced you to do as he asked, that he would bring my son back."  He stops for a breath, desperation plain on his face, "All he needs is a wedding gown. A fine wedding gown. If you deliver it to him, he will bring my son back. Please.....can you do this for him? I assume such a thing could be found in Vallaki."  

"Any fine wedding gown?  Or a very specific one in particular?"

     "This is...  odd.  I must say, such miracles can happen, we here can attest to that...  But a wedding dress?"  Ketch literally scratches his head.  "Did he by any chance give a hint as to why a wedding dress?"

"Uh...I didn't pry too much...I was distracted with other thoughts...but I think he mentioned it was needed for his battle against the devil. Not a specific dress.  Any dress, though we need it quickly...he said he must cast his magic within 3 days or it won't work. I don't think anyone can make a wedding dress in 3 days....so.....you may need to find one that already exists..." 

"Would feel safer if he needed it to marry his... creatures, though the thought of the children of such unholy union..." Lionel did not finish the thought. "The miracles of restoring life are known, though ... it is not always what one would expect or even wished for. Still, if there is a chance to get back your son, we would help, of course. Should you keep horses in the village it might help - on my honer of... On my honer I swear to return them!" Lionel was as confused by the request as everyone else, but all he had against Abbot were suspicions. Still, he asked: "Have you ever saw the man performing such miracle? And... have you being in the abbey lately?"

"No, no, we have not been to the Abbey in years....we....keep away. The sounds that come from that place are a plague upon our town. This is the first time he's come down and revealed himself in such a way. He seemed......like a very nice person....though something in his eyes...difficult to say, but...maybe like everyone else here, perhaps a touch of desperation."