OOC > Kia won't make any move to take the letter, she is sufficiently spooked by having her name on it. Also, sort of excited that something might (finally!) be happening. So someone else will have to do that.

Bors is a tall, strongly built human sitting with his back to the corner, facing the door.  Though clean, his skin has a sheen and color as if he was covered in soot.  His dark eyes in a perpetual glare, he watches the messenger leave.  "Ever since I arrived in this cursed place, this would be the first time I recall being invited to anything, not that I got many invitations back home."  Without waiting for his drink, he reaches for the letter and breaks the seal.

When she first arrived at the inn, Kia requested the barkeep fill her waterskin, and retrieved a low stool to sit at the table (sitting in a backed chair is not terribly comfortable when you have a tail). She agreed to a shared meal, and threw coin in to pay for it, but took only water to drink.

Brief description (again): Kia stands over six feet, but is slender and lean, and folds up well, so she does not seem so tall. She is a tabaxi (cat folk), with leopard-like black spots on orange fur, darkening to black at her paws, her ears, and her tail. She wears nondescript clothes, carries no weapons save a small belt knife, and keeps just a sack with her personal items (like that waterskin). A small ring in her ear and a scarred brooch are her only adornment. Two sounding horns, one dark and misshapen, one gleaming and polished are slung across her body.

She does not speak up, sharing a word only once or twice with Martha, but when pressed (your turn, girl), she tells her story, briefly.

"I was sent by my Celestial guide to fight a great Evil," she says the last with a quiet growl. "It has been... tedious. There is a great amount of Evil here. I have been fighting, alone... a long time now. It is good to meet others who have... similar stories. Perhaps it is an omen, perhaps it is finally time, and the true fight is to be joined."

When the stranger approaches, Kia tenses up, tail twitching. You have noticed in the short time you have known her, that she tenses at a lot of things. She makes no move to take the letter.

Bors, the letter says:

"Hail to thee of might and valor:

I, a lowly servant of the township of Barovia, send honor to thee. We plead for thy so desperately needed assistance within our community. The love of my life, Ireena Kolyana, has been afflicted by an evil so deadly that even the good people of our town cannot protect her. She languishes from her wound and I would have her saved from this menace. There is much wealth in this community. I offer all that might be had to thee and thy fellows if thou shalt but answer my desperate plea. Come quickly for her time is at hand! All that I have shall be thine!

Kolyan Indrirovich, Burgomaster"

I'll give the other players a bit of time to make introductions, and allow you all to discuss what to do next.

Outside the inn, the streets are barren save for four figures flanking the door. While all others are driven to shelter, these ones seem to welcome the cold night with a level of comfort. A newcomer passes through the entryway and the figures pay no mind until a raven sounds a *CAW* from above. With mechanical precision, two follow the man in and take positions inside mirroring their previous post.

Inside, the man seems to draw attention from the whole building with his news. The party he addresses responds to varying degrees, but one under thick, travel-worn robes sits hunched with arms withdrawn into voluminous sleeves and head hidden under a hood. After the newcomer leaves, a raven outside lets out another *CAW* and the two figures by the door retreat back outside. After consideration, Grishkar's head emerges from his hood. His eyes are a milky white, the left side of his face rent and scarred from some ancient trauma. "Not advisable to travel at night," the elf's voice was a gutteral, hissing whisper, "I can't think of a reason why. He seems to be travelling out of town without any trouble. Perhaps his Master is favored by my own...?"

Standing in the corner of the tavern Briella sips at her water. She shifts uncomfortably, unused to being in crowded place that is not her home's Temple, with beings that she has had little experience with. She is thankful for the heavy cloak that she wears as it hides most of her features save the long silver that spills out from the hood. A small rust colored weasel has perched itself on her shoulder and she takes a second to feed it small bites of meat. Focused on the small animal, she is startled when the door is thrown open by the ***** man. As he speaks to the tavern she slowly move throw the crowd to get a better view. 'A call for aid?' She wonders. By the time she makes it to where he had been, he has set the letter on the table in front of a human man and is making his way out of the tavern. She goes to examine the letter and-

"Oh my... how unsettling." She says quietly, a chill run down her spine when she realizes her name is among those written on the envelope.

Sitting huddled underneath the group's table is a dirty little street urchin dressed in rags with a scared face and frizzy mane of hair... one-half black, the other half white in color clutching in her arms the ugliest doll you have ever seen. Of the assembled group she looks the most out of place as she is totally unwarmed. Up until now, she has been very quiet, mostly just whispering to the doll she calls Loo Loo.

"Oh, do I have to sit in a chair, I don't want to," she whines talking to the dolly. "MARSHA, MARSHA, MARSHA," she suddenly squeals as only a young girl can and jumps up suddenly from under the table. A mouse-trap in her hand, as she pulls off the piece of cheese from it popping it into her mouth. "MARSHA, MARSHA, MARSHA," she repeats like a mantra, her wild eyes darting about, her scared mouth frozen in a perpetual creepy unnerving smile. "MARSHA, MARSHA, MARSHA, my name is not Marsha," she giggles, "It's Lilitu... some people are alright but mostly I feel like poisoning everybody, how about you?" She stares at Kia's twitching tail as it moves back and forth, and looks towards the group and asks, "are you going to eat that?"

Briella lets out a squeak when a figure emerges from underneath the table, shouting. Stepping back she begins to grab for the mace at her side, but stops when she sees that the figure is a... 'child? Is that a child? Who's child is that?'  She stares at the small human, unsure and spooked by their sudden appearance. She relaxes, but slowly steps to the opposite side of the table away from the strange...child.

Kia wrinkles her nose as Lilitu emerges after Bors reads the letter, but does not take her eyes off of Grishak Grishkar. He may smell wrong, but what he says makes some sense. The child, whose name is also on the envelope, changes things, however.

”Best not to travel at night with a kit in tow,” she points out. “Perhaps best to wait until dawn,” she adds, with a glance where Grishkar’s friends recently stood. 

It is clear she has assumed we are taking up the invitation.

OOC > autocorrect keeps wanting to type Lilith (fitting) and Bros (maybe not so fitting, he seems more grim than frat boy).

Lilitu turns looking, "a child where?" Her eyes suddenly meeting the doll's gaze, "what do you mean I'm the child... when did that happen, why didn't anyone tell me before this I was so going to make my move on Mr. Elf ears over there, hubba, hubba, hubba..." Gives Grishkar a sly wink, "sugar is sweet lemons are tart, I love you more than a unicorn fart."

Bors lays the letter on the table after reading it gesturing to the others.  "I have no idea why I was sent here, or if there was a reason at all, but this place unsettles me.  If we were sent here to save this girl, I say the sooner we get to it the better.  Maybe then we'll find a way back to where we belong."

Lilitu looks at the doll and whimpers, "tell them I am not a child... not, not, not..." she squeals and stamps her feet in frustration, "I cannot help that I have had a hard life and malnutrition stunted my growth and my face looks so youthful because of the Celestial Auditors... I have no idea why, but better than a glowing nose I guess, so I will have to get back to you on the exact hows and whys they never did tell me why rotten soddy bastards."

OOC > I’m waiting to let Martha and Odmun introduce themselves before Kia makes a fuss about Grishkar’s friends. But that’s going to happen before we leave the table. :)

BAROVIA

Never in your life have any of you been to this particular place, and time. You have never heard of a region called Barovia - even more so, to expect a letter requesting aid from adventurers like yourself.

It seems dark, foreboding, and almost alien in nature to you - this place, this land. It's early evening about right now. If you look outside, it's foggy, a full moon is high in the sky, and no one who lives here is outside.

What unsettles you the most..you don't recognize any of the star formations in the evening sky.

I'll give the others a chance to post before we continue. Be prepared to announce what you'd like to do. 

OOC: oh dear I’m late!

“I don’t like this. First, I’m led here by a shadow, and now we’re just getting letters from strangers? How has this Burgeomaster even heard of us? Kia, Odmun, what are your thoughts on this? You both have a sharper nose for this than I do.” Martha shifts her stance as she looks over the note. Over the time she’s been here, Martha has tried to remain confident, but this place is too much like the Underdark. The Overdark? Yeah...

Grishkar smiles, though the emotion is distorted by his unblinking, ivory gaze, and looks at Mathadriel, "I rather like it here. It seems The Reaper has embraced this land more than anywhere I've seen and yet, no one seems to know of my Master. The powers that be seem to thrive on death and darkness."

Cocking his head to Bors, "You said save a life? I doubt someone would pen my name to that task. Now if they seek peace of death, that can be arranged."

(OOC > Working mostly via mobile, so using different fonts or colors may be tough)

Martha gives him a side eye, “Right...” and turns her attention back to Odmun and Kia. Oddly enough, the cat and the bugbear seemed to be her type of people. Perhaps the others might be as well, but who knows in this kind of place. Although, the small girl said something that caught her attention, “Miss, did you say something about Celestials?” Martha walks over, trying to look as unimposing as possible. She gives a warm smile, which is odd to see on any Drow. And adjusts her habit and robes to smooth them out. “I would love to hear more if you don’t mind?”

"Oh dear, I'm so sorry I didn't mean to upset you." Briella says, her previous fear now forgotten, as she moves to Lilitu. She pulls her hood back in the hopes of appearing non-threatening. The elf is now revealed in the dull tavern light, her skin is a mocha brown color, clean and unblemished, and her face framed by long, wavy silver hair. Her kind blue eyes filled with guilt and worry at causing the young one's distress.

"I'm Briella and this is Scout." she says letting the small weasel crawl down her arm to sit on her palm. She turns slightly to address the rest of the table.

"You all wouldn't mind if I join you, would you? My name is among those written and I am curious about the evil this Burgomaster speaks of."

Kia ignores the questions, green eyes intent on Grishkar. “Is the peace of death you promise the one you have given your servants?” Her fur is raised, and her tail is lashing now. “I have dealt enough death to know its necessity, but the veil is crossed only one way by those of good intent.”

Quote from ShyVideoGamer >>

"Oh dear, I'm so sorry I didn't mean to upset you." Briella says, her previous fear now forgotten, as she moves to Lilitu. She pulls her hood back in the hopes of appearing non-threatening. The elf is now revealed in the dull tavern light, her skin is a mocha brown color, clean and unblemished, and her face framed by long, wavy silver hair. Her kind blue eyes filled with guilt and worry at causing the young one's distress.

"I'm Briella and this is Scout." she says letting the small weasel crawl down her arm to sit on her palm. She turns slightly to address the rest of the table.

"You all wouldn't mind if I join you, would you? My name is among those written and I am curious about the evil this Burgomaster speaks of."