OOC: Is there a door we could knock, or how far out are we?

Martha is surprised, as she was not paying much attention to her surroundings. She waves, “Oh! Um, hello! My name is Martha. Sorry, not used to people not trying to kill us immediately here.” Martha gives a bit of a chuckle.

OOC > Hm. Sorry, I was doing family stuff. I guess Kia, confronted with either tending to the whole flock of children herself, or letting them go with Zuleika, agreed to the latter. But it ain't going to do her demeanor any good.

Kia basically snarls at the party and stalks past Imryll, ignoring her. As she passes the zombie horde she lashes out at one, taking a good chunk of its head. She takes the scouting lead on the way to Krezk. She has not washed the blood off, it cakes her neck and chest. Occasionally she will drift back to the party and report on a blind turn, or a small bridge, but for the most part she is mostly just within sight ahead.

As we arrive at the gatehouse, she will stop just out of bowshot and sit on her haunches, waiting for the rest of the party to arrive, peering at the place.

Perception roll to determine if it is manned, by how many, of what sort, if they have noticed us, if they have a pattern to their actions, etc: 7

When the party arrives she will perfunctorily inform them of anything she has noticed, then move apart from them.

"What do you know of our quest? How is it you've been watching us?"

More tomorrow, but keep talking! :P

Martha respectfully excuses herself and follows Kia out before placing a hand on her shoulder. “Hold on. We need to talk.”

Odmun nods. "Yes. If this Dark Lord sees fit to personally try to tempt us away, well, that means we're definitely on the right track. At any rate, we shouldn't dawdle. I don't like the idea of staying in one place too long while we're here." He climbs into their cart and light his pipe. The bugbear takes a few tentative puffs as he cracks open the book. Time to find out what secrets are hidden within! 

Finally they arrive at a village gatehouse, stirring Odmun from his study. He motions to say something, but he's quickly cut off by the gentle tolling of a bell. It's bittersweet in a land such as this. "Hmmm what better place to find a holy symbol than a church?" He hops out of the cart, and that's when he notices this person approach them from the shadows and brush. "It feels like someone is always watching us in this place, Imryll. How exactly can we be of help to you?"

OOC > Timing is out of whack, but yes, JcAndD, lets do this conversation before we leave the cave.

Kia (after smacking one of Grishkar’s friends) is stopped by Martha. She shrugs Martha’s hand off with a growl. “This will end badly for those children, and it will weigh heavily on me when it does. I no longer am sure it will on you.”

Briella stays quiet for most of the trip, spending most of time with her animals. When the next dawn come and she sadly says goodbye to them as they disappear, she pluck out one of the new little balls of fur from her bag and tosses it out when they stop. She smiles as  the ball touches the ground and Sniffles jumps back toward her.

"Hey little guy." She coos and gather the rat into her arms.

"Don't want to leave me so soon, do you?"

"I apologize ... didn't mean to startle you." Imryll abruptly mutters, as her face turns a crimson similar in shade to her hair.   <you get the impression that Imryll is rather blunt, and doesn't appear to have a filter between her mouth and brain>

"Willow and I are wanderers.  These lands are our home, and we're very protective of them.  I've been worried ever since those strange wolves appeared just over a month ago.  The pack kept growing and growing, and they're decimating our deer population.  Very concerning.  Very."   <Imryll babbles on and on and on and ...>

"Sorry, I don't talk with other beings very much.  Quite lonely out here."

"aaaaaaaaanyway, when you fellow explorers showed up yesterday, I was worried that you might be associated with whomever or whatever was bringing that evil scourge into my woods, but when I saw how you fought off those nasty fiends, I knew you were friends walking the same path as I."

"Willow and I appreciate your actions here today, and we propose a mutual partnership.  I'll help you find whatever or wherever it is you're looking for (as I have a natural talent for finding things...), if you'll help me rid these lands of the EVIL that is showing its ugly head more and more recently."

Briella walks forward from the group toward Imryll.

"Greetings Imryll. If your words are the true, then I welcome your assistance. My name is Briella. Second born of Shava and Galinndan. Cleric sworn to the service of Ehlonna,Goddess of the Woodlands. You appearance must be a blessing after our what happened with our previous encounter." The elven woman gives a quick bow to the ranger. The giant rat in her arms sizes up the woman  and gives her a few quick sniffs, before snuggling back into his master's warmth.

OOC: Shy, your critters are adorable!

OOC: The smaller ones are. The bigger ones can be scary. Well Briarfang and Honey can be scary. You all haven't even met Bakin yet.

OOC: Badgers are cute 

From the distance you are at currently, you can see the gate to the town has two guards standing watch, and regular rotations of other guards walking on top along the walls that surround the town. If you move closer they will see you.

Imryll dismounts, puts the cloak of her hood up, whispers to the group "I'll be right back...I'll go get us a closer look".

Stealth check (at advantage, due to cloak): 29

Success!  She low crawls and scoots from tree to tree, cover to cover, until she closes in on the gate.

Investigation check: 14

She draws a map of the guard gate and the town beyond, making notations as to where she sees various guards and their meanderings, before returning back to the group to report on her findings.

The town is like a miniature forest with about 20 wooden shacks for homes surrounded by a large wall that wraps all the way around. There is a massive abbey in the northeast section. Finally, there is a rickety altar with an usually bright pool in the northern area. Otherwise, it looks like a typical, soulless village in Barovia. There are not much people around except the guards lazily keeping watch.

Quote from Mingofaust >>

OOC > Timing is out of whack, but yes, JcAndD, lets do this conversation before we leave the cave.

Kia (after smacking one of Grishkar’s friends) is stopped by Martha. She shrugs Martha’s hand off with a growl. “This will end badly for those children, and it will weigh heavily on me when it does. I no longer am sure it will on you.”

"The way I see it, those kids have a hard life either way, and we've got no time to figure out where they belong and certainly can't bring them with us."

Back at the cave, before we leave for Krezztzrr (sp?)...

“The least of evil is still an evil that must be defeated,” Kia retorts. “Mercy is for kittens at play. You and I, we have work that must be done, work that chose us. Arkiel has shown me this, and he would find you wanting, Martha...”

She pauses, as does her tail, as some unrecognizable emotion fleets across her face. ‘...as do I,” she finishes and turns her back.

She nods to Bors, acknowledging his statement. The practical question. It is why she does not follow Zuleika and disembowel her after the party leaves.

Martha frowns and sighs as she shakes her head. She returns to the party.

Anyway! Back to Imryll!

Martha looks over the map, “Oh wow. That’s actually really impressive. How’d you do that so quick?”