Valerie is looking out to the stormy sky through a window thinking about her parents. ‘Does someone notice that I’m missing now? Did the news get to them?’ No! I have to find a way to return home.’

Her through is cut off by the question from Sandu about missing time. "Missing something? What did you lose?"

Quote from Kimvilla111 >>

Valerie is looking out to the stormy sky through a window thinking about her parents. ‘Does someone notice that I’m missing now? Did the news get to them?’ No! I have to find a way to return home.’

Her through is cut off by the question from Sandu about missing time. "Missing something? What did you lose?"

 Sandu spun around to face Valerie. At the very last second he adjusted his stance so that she would be fully within his right peripheral. He already hated needing to do so.

'In the dream-' He stopped and corrected himself, 'vision, Radu handed something to Rahadin. Something wrapped in cloth. Seemed small enough to hold in one hand.'

Valerie's question did give him pause and Sandu took to checking his belongings, silently cursing that he needed to lift object closer to his good eye and taking much more time than he would have wanted.

Baern - Ireena smiles and thanks you, gladly accepting the cloak.  "I'm afraid I cannot say that I have heard of either of those names."  Her face is downcast, "Sorry."  Ismark nods and adds, "Only gods I've heard of worshipped in Barovia are the Morninglord and Mother Night...  Some say that the Count is a god... But I don't think so.  If he were all powerful he'd know all the goings on in this place."  He thinks on it a little, "Tell me Baern, are your gods benevolent?  If they are in this place why do they not intervene?  Why not remove him?"

Sandu - Ismark looks at you questioningly, "Radu?  Sure he is a shyster of sorts... but why would he sell us out?  You keep mentioning dreams and visions?  What do you mean?"  Ireena looks up and at Sandu, "My word... Sandu.  What's wrong with your eye?!"

“Hmm strange, lands these are, little to no people of other races and not even hearing about some of the greater gods, Barovia has been isolated for a long time,” says Dormark in response to Ismark’s first comment. 

Then as Ismark panics about Sandu’s eye the Warforge turns and looks at Sandu’s face.

Sandu quickly closed his eye at Ireena's outburst.

'Oh, it's nothing.' He contorted his mouth into a comforting smile. 'Must have gotten something in my eye yesterday with all those plants swarming us.'

He gave the Barovian native a thumbs up with his left hand he could not see. 'No worries: I'm a fast healer. I'm sure it'll be over in a day or two.' 

'About the dreams: ever since we got here, we seem to be having the same collective dream every night.' Sandu shrugged. 'Well, I say dream but it's more a vision, I suppose. Can't really dream of things you don't know, can you?'

He began counting on his fingers. 'There's the one about Strahd fighting a bald sorcerer. Followed by one about a Vistani girl named Ezmerelda along with some older gentleman. And now Radu meeting with Rahadin.'

A flicker of confusion befell Sandu's face. 'Strahd knows we have met Madam Eva.' He looked up. 'Stefan was a spy.'  

"Are you sure it was Radu?" asks Baern.  "I couldn't see their faces.  I did see a shop with a coffin on the sign though."

Regarding their gods and the question of benevolence, Baern replies "of course."  "Well, certainly Moradin is.  He encourages us to be better, and to coexist with the other races, since dwarves often like to isolate themselves.  At least, that's what I've been taught.  Dormark, what do you think?"

"As for the Stormlord, I suppose I'm less sure, but the stories say he fought the evil dragons and others like them, and seems to be on the side of good.  He's probably more violent than Moradin, but that makes sense to me, being related to storms and fury and all of that.  Perhaps you need one like the Stormlord to defeat evil like....you know...HIM."

Baern thinks for a second and adds "maybe they do intervene, or plan to?"  "Where we're from the gods don't walk among us, but they choose champions and grant strength, the powers of healing and other things to good people to carry out their deeds.  Maybe that's why others have been brought here before?"  Pausing briefly again he continues "maybe that's why we're here?"  Baern appears to be slightly comforted by the thought of someone other than Strahd being at least part of the reason he and the others were brought through the fog.

Galqarin, despite - or perhaps because of - his upbringing being at the grace and mercy of the church, is not of a religious persuasion. However, feeling he should contribute to the ecumenical discussion, he interjects, "Saint Andral has church in Vallaki".

Ismark perks up a little at the mention of St Andral's church.  "Yes, that's right Galqarin.  The Morninglord's church in Vallaki is named after Saint Andral - do you know it well?  It was Father Donavich's belief that..." A look of realisation crosses his face, "Why - I never mentioned to you... that was why we were heading to Vallaki!  We hoped that Ireena might be able to take refuge in the church.  Father Donavich believed she might be protected by the sanctity of the place."

Fidgeting a little under Baern's cloak, Ireena speaks up, "If Strahd does seek to get to me... well I think I'll be safer in Vallaki, surrounded by friends."  She looks at each member of the party in turn, her smile attempting to hide the sadness in her eyes.

Valerie is leaning against the wall listening to the conversation. She turns to Ireena and Ismark. "What’s make you think it is safer here in Vallaki? Is there anything special here?"

"I, I, I'm not sure"  Ireena says, struggling for the words.  "Father Donavich believed there to be a powerful relic within the Church of St Andral which may protect us from the Evil one."  Ismark says firmly.  "Besides, I had hoped that the walls of this place would help provide protection."  Ireena nods in agreement with her brother, "The Burgomaster here - Vargas - has always stood in defiance against Strahd.  It could be that allies are able to be found here."

Listening to what Sandu was saying was confusing Dormark. One when he had the vision he couldn’t tell who were the two people talking to each other. Two accuse another person back at the camp without any know proof of betrayal. “Sandu are you feeling alright? Let me take a look at you. I do have the ability to help those who are injured,” says Dormark standing up and walking towards the man trying to look at his face.

Valeriess nods. "If what you say is true, I guess we should pay the church a visit as well as the Burgomaster. Maybe we could gain some knowledge or advantage in confronting Stradh."

"Vargas is snake", exhorts Galqarin with unexpected vehemence.

"I would be willing to take any help we can at this time to get home. If the church has something they can offer, I wouldn't turn it down."

Quote from Losman >>

Listening to what Sandu was saying was confusing Dormark. One when he had the vision he couldn’t tell who were the two people talking to each other. Two accuse another person back at the camp without any know proof of betrayal. “Sandu are you feeling alright? Let me take a look at you. I do have the ability to help those who are injured,” says Dormark standing up and walking towards the man trying to look at his face.

Sandu turned his head to the left, shielding his bad eye away from Dormark.

'I'm okay, really.' He said half trying to convince the warforged and half to convince himself. A tension hung in the air for a couple of seconds. Sandu would have whistled to break it if he knew how to but even trying to ignore the cleric made Sandu realise that he would not drop the issue.

'Fine, if you must see.' Sandu faced Dormark and removed his hand from his left eye. The outlining of the pupil and the iris were barely visible and the eye itself looked more like it was a fake one made of frosted glass. 'It'll pass. Come morrow I'll be right as rain, you'll see.'

He stifled a chuckle at the pun. It distracted him from seeing only half the world. Sandu rolled his one eye towards Galqarin.

'I take it he's the one who had you hanged?' If he was going to undergo an impromptu health inspection, he might as well keep the conversation going.

"This is unexpected... Sandu did something new happen to you last night? Did you hurt yourself or did you try to attune yourself with a magical artifact," asks Dormark,  going through his list, but he knew Sandu suffered no damage in the fight they were in. Looking over his body he notices a ring he didn't see before. He expends a spell slot to use detect magic to examine  Sandu's  body.

> 'I take it he's the one who had you hanged?'

"Not him. He has henchman, Izek. Monster with devil arm", Galqarin explains, whilst looking curiously at Sandu's eye (medicine: 24).

Ireena is about to agree with Valerie before Galqarin speaks up.  "A snake?  Is this true Galqarin?  I must admit that it has been many years since I last saw him.  Please, if you have any knowledge of him which might be important?"

Ioben, Ismark nods along in agreement, "I think it best if we seek help there.  That said, I am quite aware that you all might have things you would like to do around Vallaki.  You might be able to get more answers to the questions you seek."

Dormark's Detect Magic:

Galqarin's Medicine check:

"It blind", Galqarin offers as his prognosis on Sandu's ocular anomaly. To Ireena he explains, "Baron say all will be well. Izek punish anyone say not." 

After a distinct pause, as if such a prolonged conversation is wearying for him, "Baroness sister of Father Petrovich. Invites poor folk for tea with her." 

Quote from Losman >>

"This is unexpected... Sandu did something new happen to you last night? Did you hurt yourself or did you try to attune yourself with a magical artifact," asks Dormark,  going through his list, but he knew Sandu suffered no damage in the fight they were in. Looking over his body he notices a ring he didn't see before. He expends a spell slot to use detect magic to examine  Sandu's  body.

'Interesting that's the first idea you jump to.' Sandu remarked, getting a tad annoyed by all the attention they were heaping on him. 'You got some experience with magic items, Dormark?'

Quote from Buxton >>

> 'I take it he's the one who had you hanged?'

"Not him. He has henchman, Izek. Monster with devil arm", Galqarin explains, whilst looking curiously at Sandu's eye (medicine: 24).

The bugbear's words sparked a memory in Sandu's head. He waved his right hand at Dormark and Galqarin to shoo them away a bit before opening up his backpack and retrieving a crumpled up piece of paper. Opening it up revealed a child's drawing of a bald-headed, scowling man, his left arm a twisted, demonic limb coated with jagged scales.

'Like this?' Sandu asked after he flattened out some of the creases and showed it to Galqarin.