OOC: Sandu has the best Arcana roll? It's a sad day when the Warlock has to be the wizard :p 

Sandu looked into the coffinmaker's shop through the open door and swallowed. Dormark, and apparently also Galqarin, had already gone inside but he was feeling hesitant. He really did not want to tangle with vampires, even if less than half of the stories about them were true. But he swallowed down his fear and stepped over the threshold, carefully taking stock of everything around him and moving ever so slowly, lest he made any noise.

He had just cast a look through the shop part of the building when Dormark came back speaking of a bag secured with some kind of magic. Likely the same sort of security measure that was on the box with the book, Sandu figured. It did not register until the warforged asked him to disable it.

'Say what now?' Sandu was a tad flabbergasted. 'You want me to untangle this... this magical trap?' He could have phrased it better, more eloquent, but the daunting task took most of the wind out of his sails. He stared at Dormark, blinked around four or five times and shrugged his shoulders with wide open eyes. He was not feeling it but looking around at the others, he slowly came to the realisation that he did have the most knowledge on the arcane, if not the actual practice of it.

He followed Dormark's directions and went up the stairs where the aforementioned bag was. Caution guided his steps and when the bag came into view, Sandu heard himself say 'Dezvãlui' and the edges of his vision became slightly blurry when he knelt down for a closer inspection.

OOC: Casting Detect Magic before Sandu starts every bomb disposal sketch ever

Dormark will help Sandu with the arcana check.

(Or maybe have someone else help and I’ll cast guidance on Sandu)

Sandu's Detect Magic:

Dormark - ((For the purposes of the 'bomb disposal'; I'd say that Ioben or Baern might well assist Sandu, whilst you maintain concentration on guidance.

Quote from IrRy0 >>

Sandu's Detect Magic:

Sure enough, as you cast your spell you sense powerful Abjuration magics at work - interwoven around the sack.  In all likelihood there are powerful glyphs at work here; more than one, likely two.  You are aware that any miss-step whilst 'disarming' these glyphs will result in them triggering an effect; but you are unsure as to what this may be.

Sweat builds on your brow as you crouch near the trapped sack.  As you look to your right, towards the other side of the house, you can sense further magics at work - you are able to discern that there is likely a link between the magic affecting the sack and the source of magic coming from your right.

Dormark - ((For the purposes of the 'bomb disposal'; I'd say that Ioben or Baern might well assist Sandu, whilst you maintain concentration on guidance.

Sandu crouched down to have a better view of the situation. His blackened eyes blinked slowly as he examined the tangled arcane web. It was as if a spider had woven a thread crisscross over the bag and the surrounding area. Simply lifting the bag out of the closet would trigger it. Nine hells, he was sure even touching the bag would set it off. Sandu felt a whole lot less secure the longer he looked at it. And then he saw the other thing that disturbed him.

'There's... Uhm.' He pointed to his right. 'There's something else there. It's hard to explain but there's something there that's linked with the magic surrounding this bag. I fear that tampering with the magic here will alert whatever is over there. And even if I manage to dissipate the arcane glyph here, I think it's still going to be noticed.'

He twisted his torso so he could speak to the others directly. 'I uhm... also don't know what would happen if I accidently trigger it. So best be prepared for the worst.'

Sandu looked at the others. 'Shall I go ahead then?'

Dormark nods and whispers,  “As soon as it is free we get to the church, as quickly as possible. We don’t stop for anything.”

Sandu gave a single nod back and turned his attention towards the arcane sigil again. He swallowed hard. He knew how to do this. Well, he knew the theory behind it. Some of the theory at least. One of his mentors had spoken of a specific spell that could undo magic after it was cast, as well as one that could nullify magic while it was being cast, but he had never taught Sandu how it went. It was above his skill level and, the mentor cited, what self respecting wizard would teach someone else how to undo their hard work?

The tiniest smile escaped from Sandu's lips. He was about to undo someone else's spellwork. If he ever got out of Barovia, he might even track down that former mentor just to rub it in his old, bearded face. He focused back on the task at hand. He imagined it to be akin to untangling a knot: pull a bit here, push a bit there, loop that bit over and under that one and presto. The only difference was that a knot could be started over again while this might just as well blow up in his face. Not to mention actually blow him up.

A bead of sweat dropped from his temple past his eye. There was always plan B: the old wizard's adage of "Use magic. If that doesn't work, use more magic." Screw it. He thought and channelled magic into his hands. Here goes nothing!

OOC: attempting to disarm the magic bomb
Arcana check with help and Guidance: 21 + 2 = 23

Sandu - Your hands move deftly over the arcane threads covering the sack, using your knowledge of the arcane to untangle them and render them inert.  As the sweat drops from your brow you believe that you have successfully disarmed the glyphs.

Eager to inform your party of your success, you turn to look around to where Dormark should be standing but instead your eyes see blackness.  This is followed by a memory, or possibly a dream, not your own but likely of the glyph's caster;

The images fade and you notice you are back in Henrik's bedchamber crouching in front of a now glyph-free sack.

The tension grows within Valerie with every second they are in this place. Upon seeing something wrong with Sandu, She rushes up to check on him as well as casts her eyes on the surrounding. "Are you alright? What happened?"

Sandu sat motionless. He was sweating. Why was he sweating? He touched his forehead: it was cold and clammy. Cold sweat. A pit formed in his stomach. Every fiber in his being screamed to get out, to get away from this place. He snatched up the bag. The bones inside clattered with the dry sound of bone hitting bone.

'We need to go. Now.' The front of his shirt was stained with sweat drops and strands of spittle. 'While the sun is still out. I'll explain but we need to move.'

He feebly pushed himself past the others gathered around him and nearly fell down the stairs in his weakened state. Only when he was outside and felt the sun on his face, did Sandu pause to address the group. 'We have to get to the church. And quick!'

Sandu stumbled his way into a jog. His legs felt like jelly but fear gave him wings. 'Something happened when I dispelled the glyph.' He told the ones keeping pace with him. 'Some sort of magic backlash. I saw a memory or something.' A sharp, stinging pain began to build in his side.

'Rahadin gave me orders. I mean, the person whose memories I saw. Ludmilla.' It had been a strange sensation to be on that end of the conversation: speaking with a voice not his own, both receiving and giving orders. 'There was also a third one. Volenta.' That one had just oozed trouble.

Sandu took deep breaths to subdue the pain in his side. He could also do without the bear trap's wound flaring up in his ankle but he would worry about that when he could sit down in the church. 'Agents of Strahd.' He turned his head to see who was running beside him. 'I don't think we can face them. Not without Saint Andral's protection.'

With that final warning Sandu poured all his effort in his footrace to get to the church. To where Saint Andral waited. To safety, he hoped against hope.

"Let me", says Galqarin, "I run much faster".

Dormark follows Sandu out of the building towards the church. Making sure they aren't being followed. 

Valerie stops Galqarin. "We should stay as a group, so we have more swords when we get ambushed."

"When?", queries Galqarin.

Morning - Day 6 - The Streets of Vallaki

Scooping up the bag, Sandu dashes the coffin shop entrance, aware that speed was paramount.  As the party bursts into the landing above the stairs, a cracking and a splintering noise can be heard from the room across from them.  Fight or flight kicks in, the party choosing the latter, and the group run down the stairs and into the street.

Outside the day is clear.  The streets contain people going about their daily business, unaware and unaffected by what has transpired within the coffin makers shop.  The party pay no heed to the common folk as they run towards the church; many cast curious glances and huddle away from the commotion caused.  It does not take much time to reach the church.

Standing in the entrance to the church is Father Lucian, a look of concern plastered to his face.  "Quickly friends!  In here!  Do you have them?  Do you have the bones?" he says in hushed tones.  He stares at the street behind you, checking for any would-be pursuers - there are none.  Leading the party into the quiet of the church he turns to them, "What news?".

“Henrick did pay the boy to take the bones, but he was intimidated to do so by vampires. They are the agents of Strahd. We manage to snatch the bones and get out before they could chase us down. We need to put the bones back now and activate the church’s defense,” says Dormark.

Sandu stood to the side using one arm to balance himself against to while to keep him from toppling over. He heaved deep breaths and tried to keep his sides from acting up from the physical exorcise. He held out the sack of bones with his other hand.

'Take... these and... protect... the church.' He said to Father Lucian. His speech was laboured as every word required a new breath of air. 'There's... something.. out there... hurry!'

The exhaustion had finally caught up with Sandu and he slumped unceremoniously onto an empty peg. His eyes were transfixed on the entrance, constantly searching for any sign of trouble heading their way. Something had splintered wood back at the shop and the last time that happened, an undead child rolled out of a crate. He would rather not experience something similar. He looked around. Maybe they should barricade the entrance?

Father Lucian's eyes widen as you hand him the sack filled with Saint Andral's bones, he cradles it in his arms, "Certainly, at once.  I made sure the church was free from prying eyes in case you were successful in your search.  You have no idea how much this means - not only to me personally, but to the town of Vallaki".  The old man is almost in tears as he clings on to the sack.

"Dormark... you mentioned Henrik and his deal with Milivoj.  What happened to him?" the Father asks curiously, "You didn't have to... well you know."  He looks at you out of the corner of his eye, before quickly changing the topic.  "Valerie, I could use some assistance with the restoration of the bones to their rightful resting place.  Would you come with me?"  He asks politely.

Galqarin checks the church's doors to see if they can be barred from the inside, then takes up position outside the door. He doesn't want to lock them yet lest townsfolk come seeking sanctuary from whatever they may have just unleashed. "Any more doors?" he questions as he does so.

Valerie unsheathes her weapons and follows the Father. "Of course father."

She turns to the party. "I will be with father. If something happens, call out to me."