Baern smiles at Ismark and says in jest "I didn't want to have to put Dormark back together again on account of the rain."

"Mr. Blinksy was nice" he continues.  Leaning in to whisper he adds "he says my mother is in Krezk!"  "We're going to go find her once Ireena is safe!"

Valerie looks at the sick young man with worrying face. She turns to Sandu. "Did you learn anything? Is he alright?"

There seemed to be more kids in this room than in the whole village where Ioben grew up. He had never had the chance to experience such energy and chaos as the children reverted back to what appeared to be their usual routine. He followed behind Ms Belasco, trying to avoid becoming the target for quickly moving bodies.

As they reached the room, Sandu stepped up to speak with Milivoj. He appeared comfortable doing this sort of thing, and Ioben was happy to let him do it. However, the boy was clearly in bad shape, seemingly unable to move or speak. So, while Sandu focussed on the young man, Ioben had a quiet word with his keeper. "Does Milivoj have somewhere that he tries to hide things from you? Somewhere he believes is safe? We think that he may have come across some items that are having quite a negative effect on him."

Ioben - Ms Belasco shakes her head and gives a brief expression of uncertainty, "I am not sure where he would stash such an item.  I guess that would be the point."  She looks grimly at you, "You are welcome to question some of the children, but I would ask that you refrain from scaring them.  They have been through a lot recently."  She briefly drops eye contact before continuing, "Might be that one of them is aware of what is going on."

Quote from Kimvilla111 >>

Valerie looks at the sick young man with worrying face. She turns to Sandu. "Did you learn anything? Is he alright?"

Sandu gave Valeria a tentative look. 

'He's struck by a magical ailment.' Sandu held onto the clammy hand slick with sweat. Milivoj's condition was stable at the moment but it did not look promising. 'This is not my area of expertise but we need to return those bones: it's our best shot at the moment.'

Sandu used his sleeve to wipe away some of the blood and bile from Milivoj's lips and cleaned it with a swift casting of prestidigitation.

'You wouldn't happen to have some holy water, miss Valerie?' He asked her in between wiping and cleaning Milivoj's sick. He turned his attention to the young man. He squeezed the clammy hand hard to give the sick man a signal.

'Milivoj,' Sandu spoke slowly with a loud, grave voice. 'I promised Father Lucian that I would help. I extent that promise to you. I believe your condition can be helped but to do that, I need the bones you took.'

Another squeeze. 'I do not approve but I can sympathise with why you did it. But your health comes first now. Please, tell me. If not for yourself, then for Yeska and the other children here.'

"Ismark you and your sister should be careful while your in this town. The mayor's henchmen with the weird arm seems to know that your sister exists, He has been having Blinksy make Ireena dolls for his  personal collection," says Dormark warning and telling Ismark what he saw in the toy store and the list he found.

Valerie shakes her head. "No. I’m not a cleric or a priest... but let me try something." 

She gets near to the kid and holds his hand. She closes her eyes to concentrate. Her hair glows in blue radiant energy as well as the palm that is touching the kid. After a moment, she takes her hand off. "That’s all I can do for now. Hopefully, it’d help."

(Cast: Lesser Restoration)

> "Mr. Blinksy was nice" he continues.  Leaning in to whisper he adds "he says my mother is in Krezk!"  "We're going to go find her once Ireena is safe!"

"And give Bear to girl Arabelle", adds Galqarin, flourishing his earlier purchase.

Sandu & Valerie - Milivoj's eyes move more rapidly under his lids at your words.  Perspiration pools on his brow.  He pushes his lips together trying to form the words to answer your question, but once more go lax as though he lacks the strength to form even the simplest of words.  At this point your Detect Magic picks up the faintest taint of necrotic magic.

After Valerie casts Lesser Restoration on Milivoj you see some of the colour return to his face.  Though the ailment does not seem to have subsided it looks as though the spell has had a positive effect.  Once more Milivoj attempts to form words, his voice comes out hoarse and weak, "Dan-ger... in... Orph-an-age..."  Veins begin to show either side of his head as he attempts to draw upon his remaining strength to say more, "Night-mares" he whispers before his head lolls to the side.  Milivoj is still alive, but is now unresponsive. 

Dormark - Ismark blinks at you disbelievingly as you reveal what you learned at Blinsky's.  He takes you to the side and hisses, "He does what?!"  He lowers his voice and continues in a whisper, "This is all too much Dormark.  Ireena draws pictures of him and he in turn has 'dolls' made in her image?"  His face darkens, "Thank you for bringing this to my attention.  I must admit I do not like this one bit.  It might be best that we attempt to hide Ireena's identity, lest the burgomaster or this henchman of his learn she is in Vallaki."  He sighs heavily, "Vallaki was supposed to be a safe haven Dormark, though I fear we have run into different types of threats here."

Galqarin - Turning from Dormark, Ismark nods at your proclamation.  "Ahh yes - I am sure this Arabelle will be very fond of the bear."  He pauses briefly, "Who's Arabelle?"

"She Vistani girl, live outside Vallaki. Her father their leader. She nice, him not", replies Galqarin.

Ioben looks around the room to see if there are any of the children that are taking particular note of what is happening with Milivoj (Insight: 10).
If there is, he will step a few feet aside and call them over.

 If not, he will return his attention to Valerie and Milivoj.
"Is there anything I can do to help?"

Valerie tightens her eyebrow. She shakes her head and looks to Ioben. "I don't know. My spell seems to have an effect but not fully. He also said danger in the orphanage? I think we should check out the other orphans."

“It is strange, it is almost like that they have met, but they don’t remember it. Tell me have you ever recalled something, but it actually hadn’t happened yet? Think you humans call it deja vu,” asks Dormark.

Ioben's Insight check:

Ioben, Sandu & Valerie - Ms Belasco, accepting the party's eagerness to assist, goes over to Sandu and provides him with a set of keys.  "Please - try not to disturb the children too much.  But if you are looking for further information which may be needed to save Milivoj, you will need these."

You go back to the main social hub of the Orphanage and look over the children, checking for any suspicious behaviour - the following stands out;

• One of the little girls playing dollhouse has a series of splotchy bruises up and down her arms
• The older girl reading to the toddlers rubs at her lower back every few minutes

Dormark - "Deja vu?"  Ismark says, repeating your words back to you.  "Not sure.  Is that similar to what that Madam Eva does - fortune telling?"

You notice that there is something Ismark is holding back as he answers your questions - not necessarily that he is being deceptive, just that he is not telling you something.

Quote from IrRy0 >>

Ioben's Insight check:

You notice that most of the children are at least mildly curious in the party and their reason for being in the Orphanage.  Though no child seems to exude guilt, many of them seem frightened and on edge.  A couple of the children openly avoid eye-contact with you.  In your summation the children likely know something relating to the events unfolding at the Orphanage.

((Further information on the children in the room below - I am going to make it more public information as it is likely that all party members would have discerned the information.))

Ioben, Sandu & Valerie - Ms Belasco, accepting the party's eagerness to assist, goes over to Sandu and provides him with a set of keys.  "Please - try not to disturb the children too much.  But if you are looking for further information which may be needed to save Milivoj, you will need these."

You go back to the main social hub of the Orphanage and look over the children, checking for any suspicious behaviour - the following stands out;

• One of the little girls playing dollhouse has a series of splotchy bruises up and down her arms
• The older girl reading to the toddlers rubs at her lower back every few minutes

Sandu leaned slightly in to Ioben and Valerie and whispered: 'Any of you good with kids?' 

Leaving the two to their decision, he crossed the room towards the girls playing with the dollhouse. If anything, young kids might open up more to someone who at least looked like he could live in Barovia. And if that would not suffice, he could perhaps perform a little magic to dazzle them. He knew his younger self would have been amazed by that.

Sandu took care not to walk directly at them. Rather he took careful and slow steps with his hands resting on his back and a smile on his face. He had enough experience with adults talking down to kids. He just had to avoid those mistakes.

'Hello.' He said to the girls. He sat down cross-legged with his hands on his knees, a very open position. 'I'm Sandu. I'm new around here. May I ask you something?'

With Sandu approaching the younger girls, Ioben indicates to Valerie to follow and walks over to the group listening to the story. "Do you mind if I sit here?" he whispers to one of the Toddlers and scooches in beside them. He then sits quietly, paying full attention to the girl sharing the story.

Valerie follows Ioben and sits beside the older girl. She tries to glance at the place where the girl keeps rubbing to see if she can spot anything. 

Sandu - The girl buries her face in to her arms as you speak to her.  Her friend speaks up, "Sorry sir, Nia's a bit shy.  Can I help at all?"

Ioben & Valerie - The older girl smiles at you as join the toddlers, she continues on reading the book, showing illustrated pictures at points.  The story references a queen with unsurpassed beauty who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son.  The story takes a twist when the midwife, a homely woman, develops a deep attachment for the queen's son believing it to be hers.  Though the midwife attempts to steal away the son from the pretty queen she is thwarted and subsequently banished from the lands.  It is revealed that the midwife is a witch in disguise, she makes a deal with Mother Night to curse the queen.

At this point the older girl reaches down and scratches her back, you glance and are sure you see something ((Perception check please)).  She continues on with the book, "Sadness struck the kingdom, for it seemed the evil midwife's curse had taken hold and the queen became very sick."  A number of the children look around nervously.  "Thankfully the grace of the Morninglord shone through and helped the queen and her son."  Many of the children are now visibly relieved, you note the symbol of the Morninglord depicted in the illustration.  "Though the queen went on to perish a little later, her son became a kind and wise ruler, restoring peace to the land... and everyone lived happily ever after."

The older girl turns to you and smiles, "Afternoon - what can I do for you?  Are you here about Mili?"