Baern has trouble taking his eyes off of Ireena, but is more shy about it than overtly gawking at her.  When they see her father his eyes get a bit wider and he says "I'm sorry, Ireena."

Ireena smiles at Baern, "Thank you Baern.  He was a good man and a great father.  You understand why I cannot allow Strahd to use this time, use him..." she beckons at the corpse, "... to manipulate me."

"We'll help.  Sometimes a bully just needs a punch in the month, my father once told me.  Maybe he seems scary but isn't really all that tough?"

Valerie puts her hand on Ireena's shoulder and squeeze lightly to comfort her. "We will help you taking your father to the cemetery at all cost." 

“I treat it with the proper respect all dead deserve,” he says going towards the body. He studies the body and looks for any cause of death,  praying for guidance from his god.

18 3

Alder hangs back, a faint scowl on his face.

"I do not understand any of this. I have never been anything more than a soldier, one of thousands. Before I came here I was scrounging every day simply to survive on scraps. What possible use could this person have for bringing me to this place? And what does it have to do with any of the rest of you?"

"Maybe we should compare our notes a bit more closely?  In mine this Count Strahd called me 'son' and talked about my mother, or at least, I think he means my mother.  Did he call anyone else son?"

Domark's Medicine Check:

Ireena smiles as Valerie, "Thank you, it warms my heart to think that there are still decent people out there."

As Baern mentions being referred to as Strahd's son Ireena stares at him in disbelief, "Wait... what?  Son?  You do not believe yourself to be a descendant... or I mean its not likely.  Do you think he could be playing a cruel joke on you?"

Alder shakes his head.

"He refers to me as soldier, which is at least accurate. Or was, at least." 

Sandu took out his version of the letter. 'Just some ominous warning that only he has the means to release me from this land and a mention of Ismark and his sister.'

He put it away again. 'He does mention that he brought me to this land so that's kidnapping and imprisonment at the very least. Don't know why though, I'm nothing special.' He added with a shrug.

"I'm just a stone mason" says Baern with a shrug.  To Ireena he responds with confidence "no, of course not."  "I'm a dwarf, of course, just like my mother and father.  I guess cruel jokes are his thing, huh?  I may not be much of a fighter, but it sounds like this guy needs a good knock on the head."

Dormark was surprised at what he found so far on the body, but wasn’t sure he missed something. Standing back up he says, “Strahd will not be a easy opponent from what I learned he is a vampire. A very powerful form of undead able turn others to his cause. We must watch everyone around us for marks that could consider bites, since there are few distinguishing marks between them and the living. Also, based on what you have told me Ismark Strahd is also a powerful magician so we must assume he his always watching us. Based on the creatures we ran into earlier he wants these lands to be filled with vile evil creatures. Oh, while you are going to Mary’s you had a raven following you, so it may be an animal spy or familiar and if you here a voice in the church crying to be let out don’t there is a vampire locked in the basement.” He says, finishing his report. 

Looking back at the body he sighs and says, “Anybody else could give me a second opinion that would be great. Currently I thinking he died from fright.”

"Yes that all sounds very similar," Ioben says as he reflects on his own message he has received. The language sounded very formal and polite, but he knew that the right person saying the right words could hide many deep secrets..

 Also, based on what you have told me Ismark Strahd is also a powerful magician so we must assume he his always watching us.

"Does that mean he has the power to send us home? Does anyone know of any other way home yet? We will probably need to speak to him at some stage, or else become permanent citizens of this 'fair' land."

Valerie quietly stands beside Ireena and listens to the conversation. She remembers in the letter he called her 'Angel'. But why did he call her that? Is it because of her celestial blood? 

She takes out the letter from her pouch and read it again. "Stradh, he addressed me as 'Angel'." She looks to the others and continues. "He said he brought me here to test my resolve to devotion. And he also said..." She turns to Ireena. "... he also said he’s here for you if you ever need him."

She put away the letter and sighs. "What I find unsettling about him is that he seems to know everything about us. Our history. Our history."

'gulp'  "Always watching?  And listening, too?"

“Ahh, if it only were that easy, but I doubt he would send us back if we said please. I warning you now though if he can do this to a region of the world we are no more than flies on a horse. Pests, but no more than that.  If we encounter him it would be best for our health to be polite or run. Also, concerning the letters they are titles given to us by Strahd most likely concerning a personal aspect of our identities. Our paladin friend here looks mostly human, but some of her characteristics are off. Based off the title I assume one of her ancestors was celestial. And our rough friend over here said it himself he spent a fair amount of time as a soldier, then there is me,” he says removing his letter from his arm pulling it open to show them that he was addressed as Thing.

“But that seems to end of our leads, the only other thing I know is someone name Madam Eva. Is that name familiar to anyone,” asks Dormark.

“Yes a funny thing about mages they do like to keep tabs on the play things they bring to their worlds. We are vastly unprepared to deal with Strahd throws at us, but if we are to return we will have to survive and rise to the challenge and reforge ourselves in the flames that shall be our tribulations... sorry got a little preachy there,” he says with a shrug nervous about what lies ahead.

"That is quite disconcerting I suppose, but I think we will have to meet him eventually." Valerie takes a deep breath. 

Suddenly, the name 'Madame Eve' comes up in her mind. She looks at Ismark and Ireena debating whether to ask them about the name or not, since other said to not reveal anything just yet. However, for her, these two are trustworthy. Also, they need as much information as they right now.

She hesitates for a moment. "Do you know who Madame Eve is?"

Ismark and Ireena listen intently to the group as the revelations come to pass.  At the discussion of Strahd's power over people coming and going from Barovia, Ismark interjects, "That's right Ioben, I have only heard of the Vistani entering and leaving this place.  You must be wary of them - many are in league with the Devil."

Ireena looks upset, addressing Valerie she says, "I would never turn to him. No matter how desperate the situation got."

"It is true, he has servants everywhere..."  Ismark pauses, "...but I do not believe him to be 'all-seeing' as such; I may refer to him as a 'Devil', but he is no God."

At the mention of the raven Ireena makes an off-hand comment, "Never harm a raven, lest ill fortune befall you!".  She smiles to herself, "You remember the saying Ismark?"  Ismark nods.

"Madam Eva?  Madam Eva?"  Ireena thinks aloud, "Ismark do you know who..."  Ismark nods solemnly, "I have heard mention of that name in passing.  She is Vistani, a fortune teller of sorts if the rumours are to be believed.  I've heard she's currently with the lot camped at Tser Pool to the west of here.  I would warn you to take heed of my previous advice though, be wary around the Vistani... Do not let their charm fool you."

Baern swallows hard again out of fear of how others are now describing Strahd, the Vistani and Barovia in general.  The young dwarf hesitantly and politely says to their hosts "um, if we are to help you with your father, any chance you have any good weapons, or armor?"  "I mostly just have this."  Baern pats a hand on the top of the hand axe on his hip.