"I suppose so, but I'm more concerned about Ireena - not a word? Is she okay? Who's house is this? How does she know its owner?" 

Thpas opens the door to follow Ireena.

"Thpas! Wait!" then turning to the guard. "Our friend is a bit.. impulsive but he means no harm. Our mission was to escort Lady Ireena to safety and we have to make sure she is well."

The guard says to Valanthe, "This is the house of burgomaster Vargas Vallakovich. She must have business to discuss with him."

Then he says to Byllemura, "No one can just walk into the burgomaster's mansion unless they're on town business."

"Right, yes... of course. I was.. just showing you that I'm not a vampire...heh. OK let's go!" 

Smiling at Thpas, Byllemura says to guard: "Could you show us the way to the Blue Water Inn?"

Sylciss, perched on his Master's shoulder begins fussing, pulling on Thpas' ear and pointing toward the manor. Thpas swats about, clearly annoyed. "Would you just calm down? We have no business there, at least not yet. So just knock it off." At this point, the imp turns invisible.

"Great," Thpas exclaims sarcastically, "now he's sulking." As Thpas' gaze darts about, trying to locate the tiny devil, it re-appears, nestling into a comfortable perch on Byllemura's shoulder. Sylciss sticks out his forked tongue, wagging it menacingly toward Thpas. 

Thpas let's out an exasperated sigh. "Byllemura, is he bothering you there?"

Startled at first, Byllemura looks at Thpas, then Sylciss, then Thpas again: "Er, not at all. Don't you mind him spending some time on my shoulder? My infernal is a bit rusty and I would love to have a chat with this little trickster." she says with a wide smile.

Turning to the imp, in infernal: "What do you want so badly in this manor?"

As Valanthe walks with the group, although seemingly amused with the imps antics, she's taking in everything around her - any citizens, guards, others that seem to stick out and if the mist prevalent in Barovia has followed them here.

To the guard, she eventually asks, "Any issues here as those experienced over in Bavoria? This town seems - more alive than the other."

Sylciss says to Byllemura, "I sense madness and corruption! I must have it grow!" it cackles like a maniac and turns invisible.

The guard leads you through town, eventually taking you to a large building at the west end of the town:

Gray smoke issues from the chimney of this large, two-story wooden building with a stone foundation and sagging tile roof. A flash of lightning illuminates the rooftop, revealing at least fifty beady-eyed ravens perched on top, staring down at you with intelligent eyes. A painted wooden sign hanging above the main entrance depicts a blue waterfall.

"Well, here you are." Says the guard and departs.

"Ooooo...  Look it's a - not a flock - hmm... ah - an unkindness of ravens - you think they followed us?"

Nodding at the ravens, Valanthe asks, "Does your town always have so many ravens?" 

Assuming you asked the guard before you lost sight of him: "Oh sure! They always perch on the roof of the inn. But they only perch on the inn. That's the strange part."

"Interesting. Thanks." 

Looking at the others, "Well, shall we go in? A hot meal would be good about now."

Valanthe opens the door and enters. 

Damp cloaks hang from pegs in the entrance portico. The tavern is packed with tables and chairs, with narrow paths meandering between them. A bar stretches along one wall, under a balcony that can be reached by a wooden staircase that hugs the north wall. Another balcony overhangs the entrance to the east. All the windows are fitted with thick shutters and crossbars. Lanterns hanging from the bar and resting on the tables bathe the room in dull orange light and cast shadows upon the walls, most of which are adorned with wolf heads mounted on wooden plaques.

A stern-looking woman with raven feathers in her equally black hair tends the bar. Among the people in the tavern, there are two men with wolfskin cloaks seated at a table drinking. Also, there is a colorfully dressed half-elf bard telling stories to about 5 commoners. Two young men of about twenty-four years old are also listening to the half-elf. Their clothing is somewhat finer then the common clothing of the other people in the tavern.

// Were the ravens eyes glowing red like before? //

Emre wrings the rainwater out of her hair as she enters the portico. "Where's the fireplace?" she asks. "Valanthe, if you're ordering food, I'll have whatever's hot."

"A hot meal sounds good, but a cold pint sounds better!" Thpas claps Valanthe on the back before gesturing the others to enter, bowing deeply as the most kindly, hospitable smile brightens his face. 

He follows them in.

"I'll go see about food, but I want to hear that bard's stories next!" 

Valanthe approaches the woman with the raven feathers and asks about some hot food for the group, and the bard. 

The woman at the bar says, "Our hot beet stew and fresh bread are free. The cooked wolf steak costs one electrum piece. We also have some fine wines that our family makes themselves." With this last sentence, she strokes her raven feathers. "The half-elf is Rictavio. He claims to be a traveling ringmaster. He's been staying here for the past three months. Boys! We have new guests!"

A door opens behind the bar and two children of about seven and eight rush out carrying wooden plates.

Note to Awaypturwpn: Yes, the raven's eyes were red.

"Are those your boys? They are adorable!" After watching them run about set things up for a moment, she continues, "The stew and bread will be fine for now, but I'll ask my mates about the wolf steaks - I confess some curiosity in them."

"Three months you say? What has he been doing here for three months? Besides spinning tales and drinking your wine," she says with a chuckle.

Valanthe waves at her party members motioning to the places the boys have set up. 

Byllemura follows the group: "Guys... The imp told me it sensed 'madness and corruption' in the house where we left Ireena. I don't like that a single bit. Let's be careful and not lower our guard even if this town looks safer."

Turning to Valanthe: "Oh and I guess we'll have some reading to do tonight, after a good meal and drink of course." with a big smile.