"You have much to learn then it seems."  Lavena says with a sigh.  "The He is Strahd.  For now just know that he rules these lands and has spies everywhere."

Elias will ask Lavena: "So, Are you from these strange lands? And what do you mean when you say this is foretold? We do appreciate your help and guidance."

"From these lands?"  She asks, considering the question more than it should need considering it seems.  "I don't think my people are from any lands, we travel and call no where home.  I would say that these lands though are as close to a home as we have though."  she does not answer about how this was foretold.

Glancing around at the thought of being watched "So we just need to go and put this Strahd fellow down? That settles it for me, lead on "

Something like that..."  Lavena says under her breath, as she leads the way towards town.

Guenhyvar frowns, "Perhaps he's the one who sent us that dream."

"A dream?"  Lavena says with a frown, glancing back.  "What dream would this be?"

"We had a shared dream, of being ambushed and slaughtered in the night. Presumably this fiend thought it would frighten us, he was sorely mistaken," Guenhyvar's clenced jaw and white knuckles betray his anger at the gall of the act.

Nebin nods at Guenhyvar's words. "It is true, there is nothing to fear in death. The dead are the lucky ones."

Lavena nods, as if she expected as much.  She continues onward, leading the group on towards town.

Black pools of water stand like dark mirrors in and around the muddy roadway. Giant trees loom on both sides of the road, their branches clawing at the mist. They whisper and creak above you, though the air is still and silent. 

The path winds for an hour or so. The fog spills out of the forest to swallow up the road behind you. Ahead, jutting from the impenetrable woods on both sides of the road, are high stone buttresses looming gray in the fog. Huge iron gates hang on the stonework. Dew clings with cold tenacity to the rusted bars. Two headless statues of armed guardians flank the gate, their heads now lying among the weeds at their feet. They greet you only with silence.

"Welcome to Borovia."  Lavena says as she leads the group on towards the town. 

It fails to look like a place of great wealth, itching to reward brave saviors, doesn't it?

As you approach the gates, they slowly swing open with a blood-curdling shriek. After you step through, they slam shut forcefully, as though invisible hands were closing them.

"Any place in particular you wish to go?"  Lavena asks the group as the gates slam closed.  "There is a tavern, where you can get rooms.  Unless you have someplace you are suppose to go instead..."

Guenhyvar gives the fallen statues a mournful look, "They look to have guarded this gate for centuries, and been neglected. Perhaps when this evil is vanquished, someone might restore them."

Elias will look to the group and ask: "Who has the letter? We should show it to Lavena. She may know where we need to go."

I still have it R says taking it out and showing to L ((there are images of letter and seal on the shared doc link posted in chat, does DM have the text?))

Rontevich neatens the archaic handwriting for Lavena to read:

Hail to those of might and valor,

I, a lowly servant of Barovia, send honor to thee. We plead for thy so desperately needed assistance.

The love of my life, Ireena Kolyana, has been affected by an evil so deadly that even the good people of our village cannot protect her. She languishes from her wound, and I would have her saved from this menace.

There is much wealth in this community. I offer all that might be had to thee and thy fellows if thou shalt but answer my desperate plea.

Come quickly, for her time is at hand! All that I have shall be thine!

Kolyan Indirovich,

Burgermaster

((DM can describe the symbol in terms Lavena knows? It's like a skinny shield with a castle behind a griffonish birdy thingy))

(DM, does Lavena recognize anything from the letter?)

"hm..."  Lavena says as she looks over the letter, then hands it back.