Pizazz's Ravenloft and Beyond

"Agreed. Perhaps, also, they have some tea." Olin says, nodding, "A day like this needs tea."

The group wanders in out of the cold into the Blood of the Vine Tavern. This once finely appointed tavern has grown shoddy over the years. A blazing fire in the hearth gives scant warmth to the few huddled souls within. A barkeeper stands behind the bar, leaning on the top scratching something on a piece of paper. Three people who look like travellers, dressed in colorful garb that reminds you of the Vistani hunch closely around another table. Another young man sits by himself at a corner table, sipping wine, he has a handful of copper on the table that he seems to have been stacking. One spins on the table top, slowly coming to a halt and rolling onto it's side.  The barkeep tucks his papers away behind the bar and nods to the group. The three men at the table look over, and then back and continue to talk in hushed tones.  The man in the corner looks around at the others and seems to pay careful attention to the group. 

Meepo takes a seat and orders some food.  "Hot cider?"  He asks when someone comes to take his order.  "Meepo want food too..." He puts on.  he then can't help himself, but look for lost things...

Sleight of hand:  28

Olin approaches the bar as well, "And hot tea, if you please."

"Good day, barkeep. What a fine establishment you have here!" Mordekai says in a completely genuine tone. "It's so good to see a place well kept these days, so many let their taverns go to ruin. And did I spot you doing a little bookkeeping in the lull between customers? Very responsible and hard working of you. Good to keep everything in line as you go, I respect that.

How are you today? How is business?" Mordekai's wide smile has come back now that there are strangers to charm and he's not out on a hill surrounded by illusions of his own corpse. 

Kane requests a glass of cider and takes a seat beside the young man in the corner. “Well met.” He says, but does not initiate further conversation. He has learned from past experience that if someone wants to say something, they’ll say it.

The bar keep stares blankly at Mordekai's sarcastic jibes, then numbly walks around the bar and over to Meepo and Olin.  In a dull, hollow voice he says, "Wine or beer. No food." 

Meepo relieves the man of his apron which he's clearly lost, as well as his pencil which he'd forgotten in his pocket, along with 5 copper coins.  He doesn't appear to notice. 

Mordekai's smile falls.....this was going to be less fun that he'd imagined. 

(OOC: To clarify, they weren't sarcastic jibes, they were intended as entirely genuine, cheery compliments - Mordekai's attempts to turn on the charm and build rapport with what he assumed was probably a slightly dour, glum barkeep. I'm totally fine with the barkeep assuming they were sarcastic jibes because he's more used to that than someone genuinely being positive - that makes sense! - but just wanted to clarify that there wasn't actually a hint of sarcasm from Mordekai) 

(OOC: cool. My bad assumption.  lol.  But, the bar keep seems to neither notice sarcasm, nor genuine charm.  His eyes would best be described as "dead".) 

Mordekai sighs.  None of his usual tricks are working in this place.  He looks around and sees Kane sit with the stranger in the corner.  Perhaps Kane will have more luck.  Mordekai discreetly casts Guidance on Kane.  Then he saunters over and slumps into a seat at the table with Meepo and Olin.  "Wine for me, then" he says to the barkeep.  "Hey, we've been out for a walk, and were surprised to not see any wildlife.  Is that normal?  Are there just not any creatures native to the local region?  Not even any ravens, which are pretty common most other places?"

Kane shivers as a light tingling sensation descends on him, which he knows to be the effects of a spell. He winks at Mordekai and pulls out his pipe.

”I assume you are a local?” He says to the stranger, proceeding to light his pipe. “My companions and I are interested in gathering some information on this area. Perhaps you could help us?”

He pulls a couple silver pieces from his pouch and places them on the table.

Olin sighs, perturbed that he won't get his tea after all. "Wine then, if you will." As he speaks to the bartender Olin notices his hollow voice and dead eyes and tries to figure out if he is just beaten down by this dreary place or if there's something more going on. Like if he's not actually human, or not alive, or not in control of his own body.

Insight, 7

Mordekai, the bar keep stares at you as you ask your question about nature and wildlife. When you're done speaking he nods slightly and mumbles, "Wine..." and wanders away, ignoring your questions completely. Olin watches the interactions carefully. The man seems to be human, his body seems to be alive, and he seems to be in control of his own body, it's just as if....he's missing a crucial part of being alive. Honestly, he seems more like an empty vessel sleep walking through life than a real live person with a soul. 

Kane approaches the man in the corner. He looks up, a strange knowing look in his eyes as Kane speaks. He motions for Kane to join him. He slides Kanes silver over to his side, and scoops it up, dumping it into a belt pouch. With a somewhat dour mood and a quiet whispering voice says, "Perhaps we could come to agreement. My name is Ismark. It could be that I could use some help from you, and in return I could pass on some information about the locals."  He shrugs. "Look, there is a woman here in town. I wish to move her to Vallaki. This town is too close to Ravenloft, Strahd sees all, and I need to get her safe.  I've heard that Vallaki is well protected. If you help me escort her to Villaki, I'll tell you whatever you want. I may even help you. I'm not stranger to combat, and something tells me our goals may align." 

The three people at the table seem to pay close attention to Meepo, Olin, and Kane, though as soon as the bartender collects the coins for their wine, they go back to their hushed conversation.

Kane considers this proposition. “I must consult with my companions before I accept.” 

He joins the others and relays the man’s offer to them.

Meepo tucks away his new fines. These bigs were so bad at keeping things from getting lost.  he excepts a glass of wine. Sitting back and watching as his companions talk to the locals.

perception: 8

Olin listens to Kane's account. "It seems as good a chance as any for us to learn something, and it's not like we have any better leads. I say we help him." Olin nods, "Should we put all our sticks in that bundle, or ask around before we tie on with Ismark?"

After hearing what Kane tells the group, Mordekai says, "I think that sounds like a good offer.  We can certainly do that in the next couple of days, we're not getting much luck around here.  I suggest we try and speak to a few more people, and if we still have no other leads here, we take him up on it and it also gets us to Vallaki to continue our search there.  Speaking of which..."

Mordekai gets up, casts Guidance on himself this time, and goes over to the three people at the other table.  "Greetings, friends.  I'm sure you've noticed that we're new in town.  Forgive my interruption and my inquisitiveness, but there really aren't many people out and about in this town.  From what I've noticed, people seem to not want to talk to each other - which is why I ask your forgiveness for doing so.  Has it always been the case here?  Was there ever a time when this town was brighter and less...oppressive?"

Mordekai approaches the three.  Two are women, one is a man. One of the women looks up at your query, "Pay your tabs promptly and there will be no trouble." She looks back to the other two, dismissing Mordekai.  This place is literally NO FUN AT ALL.

Kane returns back to Ismark to accept his deal.  In continued hush tones he says, "Excellent, then let us be away.  The burgomaster of the town was named Kolyan. His daughter, Ireena, is there, I will take you.  Come."  

With a last few sips of the wine, the group leaves the thoroughly disappointing tavern.  Ismark is silent as he leads the group down a familiar looking side street and passed the burned out husk of the house the group nearly died in.  He leads further down to a weary looking mansion that squats behind a rusting iron fence. The iron gates are twisted and torn. The right gate lies cast aside, while the left sings lazily in the wind. The stuttering squeal and clang of the gate repeats in mindless precision. Weeds choke the grounds and press with menace upon the house itself. Yet, against the walls, the growth has been tramped down to create a path all about the domain. Heavy claw markings have stripped once beautiful finish off the walls. Great black marks tell of fires that have assailed the mansion. Not a pane nor a shard of glass stands in any window. All the windows are barred with planks, each one marked with stains of evil omen. 

Ismark strides to the front door, knocking on the door, then whispering, "Ireena, it's Ismark, let me in."  

A quiet voice inside, "Ismark?"  The door clicks open and Ismark strides in, holding the door for you. 

The interior of the mansion is well furnished, yet the fixtures show signs of great wear. Noticeable oddities are the boarded-up windows, and the presence of holy symbols in every room. The burgomaster is in a side drawing room on the floor--lying in a simple wooden coffin surrounded by wilting flowers and a faint odor of decay. Once rushed inside, Ismark closes the door and turns to Ireena, "Ireena, grab some things, we're going to Vallaki.  These....kind folk...have offered to escort you there in exchange for information."  

She looks to the group, curiously pausing on Meepo, and then looks longingly back at her father in the coffin. 

While walking into the mansion Olin tries to determine what sort of creatures made the claw marks, Nature 14

"Why out house scratched and fired?"  Meepo asks as he looks around the place, more than a bit off his stride, with this helping of a big get somewhere.  Bigs should just be able to go, shouldn't they?  He scans for lost things, looking for a normal to the changes he has been faced with recently.

Perception: 13

Sleight of hand:  14