Bounding up to the front door you notice Ismark knock on the door in a pattern, THWACK-THWACK! followed by a tiny sequence of taps.

"Ireena!  It's Ismark, open up!  I think I might have found a few folk willing enough to help us.  Ireena!"

As the tentatively door opens you notice a striking looking woman standing in the entrance.  She is young, early twenties, and has beautiful auburn hair.  She embraces Ismark and gently kisses him on the cheek.  "Welcome home brother.  Who is it that you have brought to see me?" she says gently looking around at the party.

((Ireena Kolyana))

Can any party members that are paying close attention to Ireena please make a Perception check.

Baern perception: 13

Using Guidance since Dormark is wary from looking at the place.

perception

9 4

Alder is paying almost too much attention to Ireena, struggling to hide his somewhat gobsmacked expression.

Perception: 19

Baern and Dormark's Perception checks;

 Alder's Perception check;

Valerie makes her usual greeting. "Greeting. I’m Valerie Ghalal. Pleasure to meet you." She bows and smiles at Ireena.

Valerie seems to distracted by the marks and footprints in front of the house. "May I ask what are those claw marks? And the footprints?"

Ireena glares at Ismark, "Have you not told them brother?!".  Ismark looks a little sheepish, "I told Dormark here, but I...".  Ireena sighs, interrupting her brother.

"Nice to meet you Valerie Ghalal.  My name is Ireena."  She smiles politely.  "The tracks around this house, along with the missing windows, and general disrepair are down to one man."   You see her smile slip away and replaced by a look of pure loathing, "Strahd Von Zarovich", she says the name without an ounce of fear - noticeably different in this respect to Ismark.  "He has taken to plaguing us with his minions.  All nature of foul creature has visited us since... well my father he..."  You notice her struggle a little with her composure,  "... he was frail I think his heart gave out in the end.  Tormented by Strahd and fearful for me.  He passed not more than a couple of nights ago."  She bites her lip a little as she continues, "Ismark and I, we... we want to see our father buried.  Laid to rest.  But we are fearful that Strahd may try something on the way - one final torment if you will.  My father was not only much loved by his family but he was respected in this village.   I WILL NOT ALLOW STRAHD TO... to... TO USE HIS... his... BODY for his... ILL-INTENT!"  There is grit and determination in Ireena's voice, regardless you notice tears flowing silently down her cheeks.

"Sister, we WILL not let that happen"  Ismark says comfortingly.  "These people, they will help us to take our father's body to the church.  Once they have had a chance to rest.  It'll be ok, you'll see."

"H-H-Hello Ireena" says the young dwarf, now intimidated by her beauty.  "I'm Baern.  I will help you bury him."

Alder nods in appreciation of the iron in her voice. He thinks little of what he noticed, his mind instead going to concerns about what threats might be lurking.

"Fearful for you? Why would that be? And why does this Strahd von Zarovich seem so concerned with the two of you?"

His hand slips inside of his coat and pulls forth the by now somewhat crumpled letter that Alder found on waking. He offers it to Ireena to read. 

"Wha... what trickery is this?" she pales as she passes the note to Ismark.  He proceeds to narrow his eyes at Alder, "Is there any reason why the Devil should be writing to you?  I assume you are the Solider he refers to.  He would mock us vicariously it would seem.  I have no knowledge as to why the Count should take an interest in me or my family...  Sure, we have opposed his plans throughout the years, but why should he ramp up the torment now.  Or..."  he pauses before continuing, "... bring others into any conflict.  This provides us a lot to think about."

((Sorry for the delay, I currently have a break from work :) ))

Perception: 24

((With this result I also took Alder's observations))

Dormark was stunned by her beauty, but with his current thought pattern made him wary of Ireena as he listen’s to the others talk. He will watch and consider Ireena’s responses to the conversation. 

insight: 7

"How does he mock you? I too got a message from Strahd. We all did when we arrived here. Mine at least says that 'I am here for her should she ever need me.' Those were his exact words, or there about. Why then would he not let you bury your father if that is what you need from him?" Ioben looks intently at Ireena. There is clearly more to this story then we are being told. 

Insight: 21

Well, this just keeps getting better and better. Sandu thought bitterly to himself as he took in the surroundings of the manor. He had not much experience with armed conflict but he recognised a battlefield when he saw one. And this definitely almost looked like a siege. A shame really because the mansion still had that look of splendor, of bygone glory now tarnished beneath the booth of this von Zarovich.

Sandu's thoughts were momentarily put on hold with the appearance of Ireena. She certainly was a beauty, though anyone with a dab of colour would be a breath of fresh air compared with the drabness of the village. She stuck out like a sore thumb and Sandu knew from experience that the pretty flowers are the ones that get plucked out of the ground the fastest.

'This Strahd sounds like old nobility.' Sandu remarked, keeping his hood up and taking pains not to stare at Ireena. 'If I had to hazard a guess, I'd say that he asked dear old dad for your hand in marriage but dad said no. So he took to harassing until dad kicked the-' He switched to a more polite phrase, 'pardon, until your father passed away and now he's playing up the understanding noble who is nothing but concerned for your well being.'

He kicked a pebble with the tip of his boot. 'I've seen it happen before. Wouldn't be the first time some high born prick thinks he's entitled to whatever he lays his eyes on.'

Valerie gives out a long sigh. It seems like the city has many troubles lurking around. This make her concerns about the people here. 

"Do not worry. We will make sure your father have a proper burial." She pauses for a moment and looks at the others. "I can’t speak for others. But I will help you deal with this Stradh Von Zarovich."

 She takes out the letter that they found on the corpse. "Also are you wounded? We found a letter mentioned this." She shows Ireena the letter. 

Alder shrugs, his face troubled.

"I had never heard of this person until I found that letter. I can think of no reason for him to give that to any of us, really. There is nothing holding any of us together besides having been brought here against our will."

Ioben - In response to your question, Ireena smiles and says, "He mocks me in more ways than you can imagine.  He feels a need to constantly position himself in my life - I don't know what I have done to warrant his attention...  I do not doubt he would show his face at my father's funeral.  You can imagine that I am not shocked when a group of strangers turn up, out of nowhere, to my house and mention his name."  She sighs, "He is relentless!"

Ioben's Insight check:

Sandu - As you say your piece Ireena's smile drops, Ismark scoffs, "Glad to see you have this all figured out.  The idea that the Devil would lower himself to asking my father for anything is an amusing notion."  He shrugs, "You do however have the right of the current situation - feigned concern for mine and my sister's well being."

Valerie - Ireena absent-minded raises her hand to her neck you ask whether she is wounded.  "I.. It... uh.. no not wounded, I am not sure why the letter says that."  She looks embarrassed and Ismark looks angry.  "Thank you for you aid Valerie, all of you."  The smile returns to Ireena's face. 

Alder - "Maybe it is as you say"  Ismark replies, "However, the Devil generally does not act without reason.  Even if that reason is to play some cruel trick on you for his amusement or break your will.  Is there truly nothing that links your group together?  That is strange."

Dormark's Perception Check:

Dormark sits silently for the moment still wary , but decides to extend his trust to the siblings than says, “I don’t believe your telling us the whole story of why Strahd is after you, but we should get inside. I need to tell the others what I’ve have learned, I would also like to see the body to see cause of death.”

"Who-what are you?  That body you refer to is my father, up until recently the Burgomaster of this village, you will treat his body with respect." Ireena says coolly to Dormark. 

As she leads the party into the house the interior is well furnished, yet the fixtures show signs of great wear. Noticeable oddities are the boarded-up windows and the presence of holy symbols in every room. The burgomaster's body is in a side drawing room on the floor — lying in a simple wooden coffin surrounded by wilting flowers and a faint odour of decay.

Crestfallen Ireena simply says, "Kolyan Indirovich - Burgomaster of the Village of Barovia.  My father."