Pizazz's Ravenloft and Beyond

"True..."  Meepo says with a sigh.  "Meepo would have liked horse though." He says, thinking of the horse the vampire had ridden.  He shrugs it off though and gets back on track.  "Find wizard, good next plan."

The priest looks thoughtful for a moment, "The path through the night to reach the morning can be long and fraught with nightmares. But...if you persist, and don't give up, the dawn will come...it can not be stopped."  He looks to the group, then smiles apologetically, "I'm sorry.  I fall into sermon mode very easily. I think you may just have to put in the time looking for him...."

Following guidance from the priest, the group decided to investigate their options. They depart out the north gate of Vallaki and head towards the lake to get a layout of the land.   It's perhaps a half mile from the north gate to the south edge of the large lake, which is nestled in the misty forest at the foot of a mountain. The water is perfectly still and dark, reflecting the black clouds overhead like a monstrous mirror. Pulled up along the south shore are three small row­ boats. A fourth boat can be seen in the middle of the lake, with a lone figure sitting in it, fishing pole in hand.  North of the mountain lake, the trees begin their steady climb up the slopes of Mount Baratok, its monolithic presence oppressive at this distance. The ground there looks rocky, uneven. 

The lake appears to be about a mile across. Several creeks can be seen tumbling down the mountain, cutting through the foggy forests and bubbling into the lake. The dark foggy forests surround the entire lake which is probably about three miles long. 

"Anyone hiding in this place can safely do so for ages," concluded Lionel after studying the scenery. "What would you say if we borrow one of this boat, get to that man in the middle of the lake and ask him? Most likely the boats belong to him, anyway, so in order to ask we would have to get to there anyway. He might also know if someone lives near by."

"Seems as good an option as we have. Though if this land has taught us anything it is that we should be wary."

Olin asks Silvanus for [Tooltip Not Found] and looks out to the man in the rowboat, trying to see anything he can about him.

Perception, 20+2

The man is several hundred feet out into the water, so is quite distant. But even from here Olin notices that the man seems strangely still. He appears to be alive, but...he hasn't tilted his head to look at the group, or moved at all, and is just staring into the distance. The boat he's in wobbles slightly...but...it's not from his movement...and there are no waves.

"Meepo have Rat scout."  Meepo suggests to the others, nodding towards the man in the boat.  "Rat go." He says, and sends the familiar flying haphazardly out over the water.

Meepo readies an action to send Rat to his extra-demintional home if anything dangerous shows itself.

"Just like everything about this cursed place, something does not seem right with that man," Olin says. "He and the boat do not move naturally." Hearing Meepo offer to send Rat to scout, "Thank you, Meepo. That is an excellent idea."

Fearing this will end in a fight for their lives, just like most things they've encountered here, Olin stows his spear and shield and readies his longbow. He watches as Rat flies out over the water and once again asks Silvanus for guidance.

Rat flaps over out over the lake, with Meepo waiting to protect his familiar if necessary.  Cat flaps about and then heads back to the group.  To Meepo cat reports, "Moving bag in bottom of boat. Big bag. Something squirming inside. Maybe....very very very large fish. Or a large dog? Or could be person. Or a very small deer."  

Lionel begun to untie the closest boat the moment Meepo informed about the group about big moving bag. "Not the place to leave such things unchecked. Even if it is just another goat," (her shuddered remembering witch hut) "here it would mean yet another unholy ritual." He found the paddle "Anyone else wants to come?"

"If it were just another goat, why the illusion of someone fishing? At least, I assume that's what it is. It's not like this is a busy lake and needs to be disguised. Although, I guess, the five of us are out here, so maybe it does. Let's check it out."

"Meepo come."  Meepo agrees, hopping into the boat.  "Zombie 1 and Zombie 2, you stay put." He orders his undead, who continue to just stand there, clearly not planning on moving anyway.

"I will come as well." Olin says, moving to the boat.

Olin intends to keep alert for danger (both above and below the water) while Lionel rows.

Olin, Meepo, and Lionel hop in the weathered wooden row boat. Though wide, two of you are large heavy men and the boat wobbles side to side as you step off the creaking boards of the dock. Ripples flow away from the boat. Lionel sits on the center plank, grabbing both smooth worn handles of the oars.  Olin uses his spear butt to shove off and soon you're rowing towards the other boat. It's about 400 feet out, but Lionel's strong arms make quick work.  The water that splashes onto faces, legs, and arms from the oars is icy cold. You all stay very cautious as you close the distance, scanning the dark placid water along with the shores and sky.  As you approach, the man shows the first responses, as he glances over at the group.  He seems to mutter to himself, and then leans down in the boat.  He seems to be hefting something, and a moment later, he flips a large burlap sack containing a squirming body within, into the water with a heavy splash. He watches it begin to sink. You're 50 feet away. 

Without hesitation Olin drops his weapons and shield, muttering a plea for guidance, and dives into the dark water and begins swimming toward the sack.

(Mordekai was going as well, by the way.  That might mean that Ismark and Mordekai would need to take a second boat perhaps.  I figured the "Let's check it out" implied as much, so sorry if I wasn't clear enough on that.)

Olin got that, so, Lionel did the next reasonable thing - with last burst rowing he reached the man's boat and fixed it with the paddle. "You move - you get hit. Am I clear?"

(OOC: Ooops, sorrrrry.) 

Mordekai sits at the front of a second boat as Ismark rows it powerfully forward through the water.  

Olin tosses down his stuff and dives into the water.  (Roll an Athletics check please.).  

The rowboats practically skim across the smooth surface of the water as Lionel and Ismark push the boats near to the other. The man looks up, unarmed, and looks down at his fishing rod....thinks about grabbing it, but then doesn't.  He sits, a mixture of placid disinterest, and a slight furrow on his face.  There's something amiss with this fellow for sure. He glances about at the group, but his eyes are a bit blank. 

"Why throw sack in?"  Meepo asks the man as he watches for Olin.

The man looks at Meepo. His eyes look empty. A shiver runs up Meepo's spine seeing the lack of....something...vitality....in the mans eyes. He mutters, "Fish. No fish last week. Maybe a sacrifice will help. Need to catch some fish."