Gimble can not place the tenacles on any known creature he has studied or encountered.

(moving forward)

The consensus of the party is to move forward and both Ismark and Ireena are grateful, it seems. The party travels for another 4 hours, looking back over their shoulders only to see the mist, about 30 ft. away, envelope the road behind them, like it is dogging their every step. Occasionally the howl of a wolf can be heard in the distance only to be replied to by another wolf close by. Try as you might you do not see anything only shadows in the mist now and then. It makes the party feel uneasy as they move along.

At the end of 4 hours the mist seems to party slightly ahead and the road curves to the south. At the bend in the curve stands a wall and gate. Outside the gate stand 2 armored men holding spears. 
"We are here," Ismark says, his voice echoing his emotions of relief. 
The party makes its way to the city gates of Vallaki. The guards seem to stand a little straighter as you approach and one says "State yer business" in a gruff voice.
Ismark whispers. "I'd prefer I and Ireena not announce ourselves." 

DM: 
The party has made it to its destination.
What will you do now?
What plans do you have for the near and far future?
How will you survive here in this new place?
These are some of the questions that run through your character's mind. 

Welcome to level 4!

Gimble:

"We are weary travelers, seeking refuge from the walking dead that plague these lands.  Is the city of Vallaki proof against these corrupt beings?" responds Gimble.

Gillain steps up beside Gimble, “Blessings to you both, good sirs for guarding this village”. And she will literally bless them and hope that they feel the good, and truth, and light, fill them...

”We ARE just weary travellers, but our intentions are true and just. You will have no trouble from us… … Now if you would be so kind to let us find a place to rest?”. She flashes them her holy symbol across her shield, and clicks her heels together and gives a knights salute, fist over her heart.

Your journey has been a long one, from the Village of Barovia to your present location, The town of Vallaki. The town is surrounded by a 15 ft. wall of vertical logs held together with ropes and mortar. The top of each log has been sharpened to a point. 
What strikes you about the scene is something that seemed to be missed up until now. The wolf heads. Around the wall near the gate, on each side, are about 5 short pikes with the severed heads of wolves atop each one. The pungent smell of decaying wolf flesh wafts past on a slight breeze. 

You stand before an iron gate that has heavy chains and padlocks hanging from it. The iron gate is open at this time as you see people moving inside the walled town ahead of you. 
Two guards stand before you. One is a male, dressed in armor and holding a pike. He is the one who addressed you as you approached.
The second guard is a female human dressed in the same manner. 
Both eye the party suspiciously. 
Both Gimble and Gillain speak up, respectfully, and the guards say little but seem to respond favorably to Gillain. 
"Thank ya fer that" the male guard responds. "May tha Morning Lord bless and keep ya as well." 
The female guard stills eyes Gillain suspiciously but says nothing. 
"It's lucky fer you all that ya came here at this time. We was 'bout ta shut tha gates and lock up fer tha night." he says.
The man moves aside to let the party past but, the female guard steps up and points her finger at Tio and says. "What's with that?"

https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/11vLABGKdtBVDn-OeW6cBqCgJa7yZC0VeZ-xgJ4rvczc/edit

Link to a map of Vallaki. Arrow indicates the party's location. 

Tio will keep quite this time around, letting  Gimble and Gillain take the lead. She gently lifts her hood up, keep a low profile she focuses on her surroundings. Taking note grass beneath her feet and the guards breathing.

Stealth: 7

Gillain clinks her spear on the ground and crashes her shield against her chest, as she stands more formally. Polite, but firm, she says, “SHE IS MY SISTER… …”. And, as if to punctuate the remark, she drops concentration on bless. Maybe they feel it leave them, and the cold and doubt-in-their-own-abilities suddenly wash back in.

She lets that hang in the air for a second. In her own mind it’s utterly true.

Then she continues, “…And, the most accomplished warrior you’re ever likely to meet… And pure of heart and action…”, Gillain says proudly, chin up.

And if it even needed saying at this point, she makes it completely clear, “She comes under my protection, as do all who walk with me…”.

”As will the town here… if you’ll let us in… I’m duty bound…”.

Gillain offers a polite smile but may also be staring the female guard down.

Bob waves cheerfully despite the tension as the party begins to enter. "Not so keen on the decorations," he says with a nod and a grimace toward the wolf heads on pikes. "But a town like this could use any blessings it can get, be they from a holy woman like Gillain here or a druid like meself! Tio is one of us, simple as that." He nods firmly and taps his staff against the ground twice as if he's a judge slamming his gavel.

Tio will keep quite as the others speak for her “I do not wish to cause conflict. I would humbly ask to be let in as the darkness slowly reaches us… please.”

Persuasion: 2

Ban keeps her hood drawn and does her best to blend in with the back of the group and not draw attention to herself.

Stealth: 22

Quote from BeastyC >>

Tio will keep quite as the others speak for her “I do not wish to cause conflict. I would humbly ask to be let in as the darkness slowly reaches us… please.”

Persuasion: 2

 

 Persuasion: 4

[Adv. from Gillain and Bobs help.]

Things start to get a bit tense as the guard's hands move to their weapons. 
The party can hear Ireena whisper "I have heard they are suspicious of any and everyone." 
With that Ismark steps forward.
"I am Ismark Kolyanovich, son of the late Burgermeister of Barovia and I have come to speak with Baron Vallakovich. Those with me are my sister and my guard. I ask you to let us pass." he tells the guards. 

The guards look to one another and the male shrugs his shoulder. The female speaks up. "I know who you are. I lived in Barovia for a time. The Baron will not be please you tried to enter the gate of his town unannounced. I suggest you follow the road to the Blue Water Inn. The Baron will send for you when he is ready."

With that the guards part and allow you to enter the city.

"Welcome to Vallaki!" the male guard says as he steps aside.

The party passes through the gates, to escort Ireena and Ismark in, and follow the road to the west. You have put Barovia and the forest behind you and are within a walled town so you feel some relief from the day's journey. But as you make your way along the street you are brought back to the reality of this bleak and dark land as you witness the following: 

Along the side of the road, scattered here and there,  are wooden posts, the same you saw outside the gate, with the heads of wolves at the top. 

There are a couple of men walking about. From their gear and clothing, you surmise they are hunters. They walk past the party and their quiet conversation stops as they "eye" each of you. There is no remorse or kindness in their eyes.

Two people pass you by paying little attention to you. One is carrying a small ladder and the other, a hammer and a small circle of wood with yellow and orange streamers attached to it. 

The streets are cobblestone and are in a better state than those in Barovia but, not by much.

Rats. Some large, some small. Alone or in pairs scurry across your path from one side to the other. The rats do not seem to be concerned by your presence as one or two of them scurry only a foot or two away from you. 

You have picked up a not-too-obvious shadow while you walk down the street. A couple of men, dressed as town guardsmen, appear to be keeping an eye on the party and their movements. 

You see a few of the townspeople but they rush in the opposite direction or avert their gaze as you pass.

It is a short walk but the road leads you to the middle of the town and a large building with a sign hanging from over the door that reads "Blue Water Inn". Ismark and Ireena turn to the party and Ismark speaks:
"Thank you for your kindness in escorting us to this place. We had feared that we would never make the journey and we are grateful. The Baron will most likely summon us to his home so, I think we will part ways now." he tells the party.
"Our Payment," Ismark says as he hands a small leather pouch to Gillain. "And our thanks."

https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/11vLABGKdtBVDn-OeW6cBqCgJa7yZC0VeZ-xgJ4rvczc/edit

The Black Arrow indicates the location of the Inn/where you have stopped for now.

DM:
Pausing to let anyone post anything about the narrative or how their character reacts.

Gimble:

"Ismark, Ireena, I am glad we have arrived safely.  Hopefully our paths will cross again, and we may aid Barovia in some way," responds Gimble.  Turning to his companions, he says, "In the meantime, let us get some hot food, cold beverages, and soft beds tonight," with a smile towards the Blue Water Inn. 

Gillain thanks the two guards and passes through into the town…

As a squire to a Paladin, she’s been used to various greetings: gratitude, desperation, outright hate and loathing. And everything in between. In her experience, they all end the same: with her being let through (in one way or another)… She takes it in her stride. The ends justify the means. Often some senior guards don’t like being outranked by her divine authority and jurisdiction over everything. It’s only natural.

She knows she’ll not always be welcome. But she goes where she’s needed.

When the time comes to leave Ismark and Ireena, she bids them a melancholy farewell. She knows they would be safer with her, but can only walk with them so far. She’s fulfilled her duty to them, in bringing them to a safe haven. Although she eyes the wolf heads with some concern.

When Gimble turns to the party with talk of food and rest, Gillain’s mood lightens, and she looks more like a squire than a paladin again. “That sounds great”, she says honestly. She’ll gladly enter the Inn with the party.

It’s about that time that Gillain realises Ismark had handed her a pouch. It ready is her duty and any thought of payment had passed from her mind. She looks and checks inside the pouch to gauge what’s inside.

Once the party are settled in the inn, she’ll divide out whatever they’ve earned.

Tio bows as the guards agree to let the group pass “We are very grateful…” Tio will quickly head pass the gate, as they begin to see town folk run around doing errands. Tio will again try to expand her sense of observation. Listening for gossip and rumors, as they walk to the inn, once she sees the guardsmen she will keep her head down and out of trouble. 

When they finally reach the inn and Ismark says his goodbyes “What will you do now after the meeting with the Baron. I know you have to head back to Barovia but what of Ireena? What are your plans sweetheart.” 

Bob sniffles, wiping his bulbous ruddy nose as Ismark and Ireena depart, giving them a lingering wave. "Never did like farewells," he sighs, though the others' more cheerful moods and the prospect of a cozy inn lift his spirits somewhat. 

"Our plans?" Ismark repeats the question. "I do not know but I hope the Baron will help us with that." he tells Tio. 
Ismark and Ireena have entered the InN. 

Grey smoke issues from the chimney of this large, two-story wooden building with a stone foundation and sagging tile roof. A painted wooden sign hangs above the main entrance of the tavern depicting a blue waterfall. 
As you enter the grounds of the Inn,  you hear a loud "CAWL". Looking up you see several ravens take flight from the rooftop. 
You walk up the three steps and enter the inn. 
You find yourself in a 5 ft. x 10 ft. entrance to a 20 ft. x 35 ft. room. 
Just inside the entrance, to the left and right are two small tables with two chairs each, along the west wall. 
Approximately 8 ft. ahead of you sits a round table with 6 chairs surrounding it. A second round table and six chairs set about 5 ft. from the first and to the right of it.
Along the south wall is a small 5 ft. x 10 ft. alcove and a 10 ft. long table, with 3 chairs on each side, protrudes from the alcove into the room.
20 ft. to your west sit a 20 ft. x 3 ft., 4 ft high,  bar with several stools sitting on the east side of it. The bar runs from the south wall to the north of the room.
Behind the bar, you see 3 large barrels, approximately 4 ft. high, and sitting on barrel stands with the top facing you, There is a small wooden tap at the base of each of the barrels. 
Another rectangle table sits adjacent to the north wall of this room, near the northeast corner. It has 3 chairs on both sides of it and a chair at the head and foot of the table. 
In the northwest corner of this room is a small opening that leads to the stairs to the second floor. 
Finally, a third table and two chairs can be seen on the west wall of the room, close to the stair entrance. 

https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/1sMGF5uCGR0ET9zi8K-xG8opj4MvFr9yHMzP_O5d3Urk/edit

Behind the bar stands a human, about 5'9" or so, dressed in a shirt, leggings and has an apron strapped to his girthy frame. His hair is jet black and he has a large handlebar mustache. He is speaking with Ismark and Ireena you promptly turn and go back out of the inn past you. Ismark smiles and nods as they walk past. 
The man, you assume the InnKeeper, smiles and greets you.
"Good Evening my friends. Welcome to the Blue Water Inn. How may I serve you?" 

“I believe my friends would like some food and rooms if you have any available but, food first and foremost.” 

Remaining collected and blending into the small group without drawing attention to herself, Ban is alight at the sight of the inn. As they walk in, she claps Ismark on the shoulder with a hardy nod. Reseating her hood, tucking her hair back, the eladrin pipes up. "A big bottle o' wine and a big loaf of bread for me, if ya please." 

Gillain steps inside and pauses, to breath in the smells and sounds of the inn. A few moments of calm after an eventful few days. She finds an empty table and sits with the party.

“Yes, some rooms for the night”, she says to the innkeeper.

Then to her friends, “Would three rooms do? If we share?…”.

Then back to the innkeeper, “And some food. Something hot. And a beer. Whatever’s good…”.

She nods and smiles.

And with that she counts out whatever is in the pouch that Ismark gave her and passes their share to each party member for a job well done. ((What was inside the pouch?))