Just about managing to hold down the feelings of nausea, Gillain says, “It was.. nothing... Truly”. As she stands there, the blood from her wound runs slowly down her arm and eventually starts to drip onto the ground... ‘drip... drip... drip...’.

“But I fear that’s all the help we can be t-...”. She glances around at the perpetual gloom, “...tonight?”.

”Could you point us towards somewhere we might rest and recuperate? If you’d be so kind...”.

Gimble:

"Perhaps we should retire to the Blood of the Vine tavern to recuperate from our...excursion, once we are done with our business here," suggests Gimble, uncertain what to make of this self-styled Lord Strahd, but sensing something wrong--and very powerful--in his presence.

Insight: 11

Seeing Gillain in a trouble state Tio will take a step forward "Well, if there is nothing else we can do for you we should be on our way. My compaions are in need of a rest, the house was quick troublesome. Unless there is something you wish to disclose, Count?" Tio will study the Count, She was already wary of him but with the recent events in the Death House she can't help but be on guard.

"Mr. Gimble do you happen to know the way to this tavern? when we arrived to this village we went straight to the Death House..." 

Bob falls to his hands and knees as they escape the collapsing house of horrors and kisses the ground once, twice, thrice before realizing they were in the presence of the stately Strahd. He stands, clearing his throat and dusting himself off - though no amount of dusting would rid his bushy beard of the stuff. He finds to his astonishment as he does so that his robes were cut from the slashing blades but they had merely sheared off a layer of the hardened fungal crust that had grown over his skin, leaving him unharmed.

As the others take a breather and speak with the Count he casts Goodberry as he's wont to do when they had a moment's respite and began passing them out one by one. He had some left over so he ambles over to Strahd and holds them out in his palm with a good-natured smile. "Partake o' the bounty o' nature, m'lord Count! Only thing t' make y' feel righ' an' alive again after a trial like tha' mansion."

The eladrin composes herself, brushing down her clothes and tucking her hair back into her hood. Approaching demurely, Ban addresses Strahd in a gentle tone and a courteous bow. "It was my pleasure, Count Strahd; your Eminence. My name is Banhani of Sildëyuir, and it makes me happy to hear your praise." She again bows in reverence.

Ban looks to the side as she continues, "If I may, I do not have recollection of having been chosen for you nor of how I came to be here. As such, I don't have any knowledge of agreements or contracts I may have made." With a bright smile, Ban finishes with a polite expectedness, "If I may be so bold, I would assume the was a manner of payment for cleansing this House of Death?" 

The party all tries to engage with Strahd but he doesn't seem interested in all the questions and offers.

"You were a worthy investment," Strahd says looking at each character individually. "Rest. Heal your wounds. I am sure Barovia will have need of your services soon enough." 
With those words, Strahd turns and starts walking away.
"The gnome is right," Strahd calls back as he walks away. "The Blood of the Vine should be the best place for you to find rooms and heal from your ordeal."

The party notices the Mist that had surrounded the house when they were able to look outside had vanished, leaving the area in clear view. But now, as Strahd started walking away the Mist started creeping in from the surrounding area. A cool chill can be felt as it starts flowing in like a storm cloud. The Mist envelopes Strahd as he walks and in an instant, he is gone from view. The party can not see 3 ft. into the Mist and it is heading in their direction.

Gillain looks a little pale. “We should get to the Inn...”. She says, with her voice wavering now the Count has gone. She stows her gear and weapons securely, and if everyone is ready she will head with the party in that direction.

As quickly as the demure Ban came out, the façade falls to a pissed off replacement. She reaches out to Strahd as he turns to draw his attention, but he's already gone. Letting out a frustrated puff of air, Ban curses in Elvish. She looks to the party with eyebrows pulled together and cheeky scowl and back to where Strahd stood. The eladrin shouts, an arm out, "Guh, what a jerk! Nobody turns away from Ban!" 

Mid angry rant, Ban recalls she didn't recover her throwing knives and calls out to the mist, "Oi, and you owe me expenses too!" She picks up a nearby stone and throws it in the direction Strahd went. Chest heaving and a look as sharp as daggers, the eladrin makes some space between her and the group to frustratedly rant. Most of what is heard are expletives and unintelligible words in anger.

Gimble:

“Indeed, back to the inn,” says Gimble, heading that way, pulling out a wooden box he just recently lifted, but deciding to wait and open it up once he gets settled back at the ‘Vine.

Quote from Hanyouslayer >>

As quickly as the demure Ban came out, the façade falls to a pissed off replacement. She reaches out to Strahd as he turns to draw his attention, but he's already gone. Letting out a frustrated puff of air, Ban curses in Elvish. She looks to the party with eyebrows pulled together and cheeky scowl and back to where Strahd stood. The eladrin shouts, an arm out, "Guh, what a jerk! Nobody turns away from Ban!" 

Mid angry rant, Ban recalls she didn't recover her throwing knives and calls out to the mist, "Oi, and you owe me expenses too!" She picks up a nearby stone and throws it in the direction Strahd went. Chest heaving and a look as sharp as daggers, the eladrin makes some space between her and the group to frustratedly rant. Most of what is heard are expletives and unintelligible words in anger.

 Being a step further than the rest, Tio will go to Ban placing a calm hand on the shoulder. “Worry not we have some expenses. He gave us earlier don’t know how much but I think enough to buy equipment.” Taking a quick nod she will lead Ban back to the group.

Quote from Grwobert >>

Gillain looks a little pale. “We should get to the Inn...”. She says, with her voice wavering now the Count has gone. She stows her gear and weapons securely, and if everyone is ready she will head with the party in that direction.

 Taking those steps Tio notices Gillain’s pale visage “Are you okay my friend. The house was... a different experience. 

Quote from BOBDUR >>

Understanding elvish, Farris goes a bit wide-eyed as Ban goes on her rant. Never heard anyone string together THOSE phrases before...

"Yes....he didn't particularly engage when I mentioned his invitation either. My research." 

He turns toward the inn, ready to head in that direction when everyone else seems ready. 

"But some rest seems like a good idea..."

 

Quote from Scott_R_Simmons >>

Gimble:

“Indeed, back to the inn,” says Gimble, heading that way, pulling out a wooden box he just recently lifted, but deciding to wait and open it up once he gets settled back at the ‘Vine.

 

 As the group begins going to the tavern Tio will strike up conversation with the others. “Tell me how is this tavern? You’ve been there before?” 

Quote from stronglyworded >>

Bob falls to his hands and knees as they escape the collapsing house of horrors and kisses the ground once, twice, thrice before realizing they were in the presence of the stately Strahd. He stands, clearing his throat and dusting himself off - though no amount of dusting would rid his bushy beard of the stuff. He finds to his astonishment as he does so that his robes were cut from the slashing blades but they had merely sheared off a layer of the hardened fungal crust that had grown over his skin, leaving him unharmed.

As the others take a breather and speak with the Count he casts Goodberry as he's wont to do when they had a moment's respite and began passing them out one by one. He had some left over so he ambles over to Strahd and holds them out in his palm with a good-natured smile. "Partake o' the bounty o' nature, m'lord Count! Only thing t' make y' feel righ' an' alive again after a trial like tha' mansion."

 “Thank you Bob.” Tio will place her berry in a pocket. 

Bob wilts slightly, shoulders slumping, as Strahd ignores him and leaves the group's questions unanswered. Seeing the mist come filling back into the area he shudders and waddles quickly next to Tio, not leaving her side as the start the journey to the Blood of the Vine. He tries to keep a cheerful tone as they walk. 

"Well, I think I overcame me fear o' ghosts! Undead in general, really. Once I started lookin' at them like they were part o' nature, just sort of... put on hold, so t' speak, it really helped." He turns a ruddy shade of red as he realizes that he was probably the only one with a phobia of undead in the first place, but he still felt proud of himself nonetheless.

When Tio comes to retrieve the eladrin, Ban huffs and calms down at the mention of new equipment. With renewed positive energy, Ban gladly rejoins the group and follows as one to the inn. 

When Bob shares his personal growth, she pops the goodberry into her mouth hungrily and laughs lightly. "Master Dwarf, I mean no disrespect. Good on ya. Looked more like you had it together all along, I'd say." With a smile, she adds, "Would you perhaps be interested in assisting me with something later? I think you'll find the experience enlightening, and I could use a dwarven craftsman's set of hands."

Gimble:

Responding to Tio's query, Gimble says, "Yes, I have stayed there since wandering through the mists and ending up in this forsaken place.  It is somewhat gloomy and the people are aloof, but it is comfortable enough.  It was there I learned of your group investigating the house we just left, as the Burgermeister's son offered a reward for helping you."

“We also had found this on a body a few miles back. We had plan to see the Burgomaster but got side track because of the children.” Tio will hand the note from earlier (post#101) to Gimble.

Gimble:

Reading the note as they walked to the Blood, Gimble sighs with resignation, saying, “This vampire the note speaks of is Count Strahd, I suppose?  And here we are, trapped by the mists and unable to depart this unholy land.”

“Well, at least there was a reward of 20 gold apiece for solving the mystery of the Gustav manor.  And the Brugermeister’s son should see this missive,” says Gimble, adding, “And this body was found on the Barovia side of the mists, yes?  Let us pray that there were other messengers who escaped so others will not suffer our fate.”

Hail thee of Might and Valor:

   I, the Burgermeister of Barovia, send you honor with despair. My adopted daughter, the fair Ireena Kolyana, has been these past nights bitten by a vampire. For over four hundred years, this creature has drained the lifeblood of my people. Now my dear Ireena languishes and dies from an unholy wound caused by this vile beast. He has become too powerful to conquer. 
   So I say to you, give us up for dead and encircle this land with the symbols of good. Let holy men call upon their power that the devil may be contained within the walls of weeping Barovia. 
Leave our sorrow to our graves and save the world from this evil fate of ours.
   There is much wealth entrapped in this community. Return for your reward after we are all departed for a better life.
                                                       Kolyan Indivovich
                                                       Burgermeister

“How do you know he’s a vampire? Granted it’s odd that he’s been there every step of the way. But why would he “invest” in us? It’s not logical.”

Gimble:

"Maybe, maybe not a vampire.  But he gives me the creeps, and vampires have been known to transform into mist like that.  He seems the type to be a powerful unnatural creature," replies Gimble, now hurrying along to get to the inn.

Picking up on Gimble and Tio’s conversation, Gillain adds, in a hushed voice, “That’s exactly what he is!... I’ve sensed it on him”.

”But we should get inside... ...I feel like there are eyes and ears everywhere, and the mist is closing in”. She will beckon everyone onward, and follow the party members that have been to the Inn before.