Galqarin looks thoughtful. "Wasn't Rictavio in search of a crazed wizard? One powerful enough to have fought toe-to-toe with Strahd before? Like the one the Vistani storyteller spoke of...". His voice tails off as he mentally connects the dots.

Cerio tries to piece this info together.  "So, I--Tatyana, if'n ya die again, ya gonna come back as Ireena, or whoever, again?  'N if we die, would th' same happen t'us?"

While the prospect of being trapped in Barovia is certainly bleak, there is a cold comfort in knowing that death isn't necessarily the end.

Of course, Cerio already knows that death is not the end.  A shiver runs down his spine.

Quote from IrRy0 >>

Sandu - "I do not know," Tatyana says, attempting to piece together memories.  "But, as Dormark says, it must have been several.  It has been some 400 years have passed since I initially traversed these lands.  Ireena is the first to have had the epiphany, others would have been blissfully unaware of their true self -- that they were the reincarnation of Tatyana."  She looks around the shrine and pool.  "It is this place -- someone or something has ensured that a link to the world outside of Barovia has been kept open."

She looks at you directly in the eyes, her gaze penetrating to your very soul.  "You, of course, realise what this may mean," she says, attempting to gauge your reaction, "a link between Barovia and the world outside."

 'A way out.' Sandu softly replied. It was as if a tiny sliver of light pierced through the dark skies at the notion of it: a faint hope that escape was possible.

 Sandu pondered the implication of what Tatyana and Dormark said. Not just the flesh but the soul as well was trapped once within Barovia's borders. It seemed that even death did not grand respite. The soul would reincarnate into a new person without any recollection of its previous life. An endless torment without even being aware of it. Was that why the local inhabitants were all so dour? It did beg the question: how old were the people of Barovia? Or rather: how old were their souls? Had every single one of them died and be reborn into a new person? Sandu was loath to think about it and he certainly did not want to find out the hard way. Getting out of Barovia jumped with immediate urgency to the top of his to do list.

"It would appear so," she replies when you mention a potential way out of Barovia.  "Though I'd guess that it would take a spellcaster of some ability to be able to transport you through," Tatyana looks over to Sandu for guidance.  "Have you heard of any such spells, Sandu?" she enquires.

Sandu was startled out of his musings. 'There are such spells, yes.' He replied. 'Teleportation or stepping between planes or existence is not unheard of but...' His eyes shifted from one side to the other. What he had to say was not encouraging and he sought a manner of speech to state it best. 'Such magic requires significant power. Most such travelling is done by permanent fixtures like circles or gates to not tax the spellcaster too much.'

He looked at the ragtag group of companions he travelled with. 'Afraid to say that such magic is out of our reach for now.' He said with a sad shrug. If only I had more power...

Quote from Buxton >>

Galqarin looks thoughtful. "Wasn't Rictavio in search of a crazed wizard? One powerful enough to have fought toe-to-toe with Strahd before? Like the one the Vistani storyteller spoke of...". His voice tails off as he mentally connects the dots.

'He did mention a crazed wizard to the north of lake Zarovich.' Sandu answered. Honestly, is everything here named after Strahd? 'Van Richten believes said wizard might stand a chance matching blows with Strahd and if so, I'd imagine them to be quite powerful indeed.'

He brought his index finger to the side of his head and traced a couple of circles with it. 'But crazy wizards tend not to be that helpful to anyone but themselves in my experience.' Another shrug. 'Might be worth the effort though.'

Dormark finally calming down says, "We will have a lot of work to do tomorrow. It might be best for us to retire for the evening."

“We should keep a watch through the night”, opines Galqarin. “That is when werecreatures are most likely abroad.”

Dallid holds his hand up.

"First watch."

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Dallid holds his hand up.

"First watch."

 Sandu tapped the chestplate of the animated armour next to him and produced a hollow, metal sound. 'Doubt this one needs sleep so you'll have a buddy at least' 

"I can take second watch." Dadeveth speaks up.

“I should take the middle watch, when it is darkest. Unless you too can see in the dark?” Galqarin realises he knows nothing about the physiology of his strange companions. 

“Technically I can watch the whole night as well, but with the weird dreams, I’m not so sure,” says Dormark.

Cerio slinks to the side, hoping no one pegs him for watch duty.  

Seeing the others debate over who would take watch when during the night made Sandu put forth the more important question: 'So where's this cottage the Burgomeister lent us the key to?'

Evening - Day 7 - A Cottage in Krezk

Ismark, still dumbfounded by recent developments, snaps to attention when Sandu mentions the key to the cottage.  "Ahh yes, let me see," Ismark says, trying to focus his mind.  "I believe we passed it on the way here -- it was on the left at the split in the road."

The cottage is a short walk away from the shrine and pool.  It is a single-story pine cottage with a stone chimney and thatched roof.  At the back of the residence is a pig pen and a chicken coop, both of which seem to be well cared for.  Inside the rooms are well furnished and it has a cozy-feel; though it is clear that functionality has been emphasised over aethetics.

"Might not look like much," Ismark starts, "but given some of the places we've stayed recently... it seems like an improvement."

Tatyana stands next to Ismark and places a hand on his shoulder.  "I quite like it," she says, looking around.  "You'd be right to keep watch here, however.  What with reports of werewolf attacks."

All - This period would count as downtime, for any that wish to undertake any activities ((don't worry about posting retrospectively)).

Dallid & Dormark - Please make Perception checks for the first watch.

Dallid and Ferelyon make actual patrols around the cottage, with a torch in hand for his watch. This is no random campsite. 

Perception by Ferelyon 24 and at advantage for smell or hearing 7 

Dallid perception 10 

As Dormark gets ready to stand guard he says to the party, "The Baron's son based off Galqarin's investigation of the wine cellar may suffer from more than poor health. I believe the son may be a werewolf and the baron are hiding this issue about his children,' says Dormark.

Perception: 25

Dallid - As the rest of the party settle down for the night, you elect to undertake patrols of the small cottage.

Dormark - You watch the front door as the light fades and night takes hold.  Occasionally Dallid and Ferelyon enter your sight, the wolf's snout plastered to the floor.

Perception checks:

"Don't blame 'em," Cerio says glumly, rolling onto a straw mattress with a heavy but satisfied sigh.  "But what could anyone hope to do about bein' a werewolf?  Makes me wonder what sorta operation this Abbott's got goin' on."

"Shh there is something outside," says Dormark going towards the back door following Ferelyon. Raising his shield Dormark opens the door and checks what is outside the abode. 

The cottage Ismark led the party to was small but serviceable. In some idyllic version of Barovia where the sun did shine and the air was not heavy with the stench of evil, one might even call it quaint. For Sandu it was four walls and a roof and that would have to do. Only question was if they were all going to fit inside. And if it was safe. Sandu figured nothing in Barovia was ever truly safe so he decided not to dwell on it.

'You keep watch and stand guard at the door.' Sandu instructed the animated armour. It nodded once and took up post outside next to the door, standing as still as, well, a suit of armour. He joined the others inside and picked a spot where it looked like it would be the least uncomfortable to spend the night. He had not volunteered for watch duty but the armour was filling in for him so that counted, right?

He put his pack down to use as a makeshift pillow with his cloak for a blanket. Sandu lied down and tried to get some sleep. There was a mention of werewolves before he dozed off but those were worries for the next day. Unfortunately the worries permeated his thoughts and Sandu spent an hour between the waking and the dreaming world followed by an hour of dreams plagued with fur and fangs. Something hard jabbed into his side when he turned over and fearing it to be a wolf's tooth made Sandu jolt awake. There was no wolf but there was something cold and hard poking him in the side through his pocket. He reached and pulled out a golden chain attached to a platinum disk in the shape of the sun. It was the amulet he had found back at the wizard's tower. He stared at it for a couple of seconds before remembering that he had to talk to Dormark about it.

'Hey Dormark,' Sandu said while slowly getting up. 'If you have a-'

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"Shh there is something outside," says Dormark going towards the back door following Ferelyon. Raising his shield Dormark opens the door and checks what is outside the abode. 

Sandu fell silent. He swallowed and hastily stowed the amulet back in his pocket. Against his better judgment he quietly made his way over to the door with a dagger in one hand and the other clutching the silvery pendant beneath his shirt. He did not venture outside however, there was a fine line between courage and foolishness and he was in no hurry to cross it. He stayed indoors, close enough to peek outside the door yet able to duck behind the wall or pull the armour in front of him, whichever would be necessary. 

Dallid opens the door for Ferelyon to get out, and runs after him. His first real alarm since this whole adventure began.