Endur's Expedition to Castle Ravenloft

[Le Noir Faineant]

"Maybe this finished him."

Dareios has stood silently while Jack was giving his report, but now raises his voice.

"I mean, for some reason, Barovia's without any leading force, be it knights, or be it some form of official. Yet that castle stands there at the cliff, looming over the village. I wonder why the people here haven't tried to find shelter there. It would have been difficult to assault it for any army, even more for those mindless undead we fought last night."

Then he seems to think again. "Vistani are those... Gypsies, aren't they? - Maybe we should pay them a visit. After all, it was them who got us involved here with that" he spits on the ground "cursed letter."

 

[hafrogman]

Cedric nods at Dareios's suggestion.

"Perhaps we could get more sense from the fortune teller. Who can say what she might know."

 

[Rhun]

Skorl absentmindedly fiddles with the bindings on his armor as he listens to the others talk. He looks up briefly to add "First save Ismark's sister." He then returns to making sure that all of his equipment is secure.

 

[Pyrex]

Ashlyn nods, "I agree. We should definately speak with the fortune teller, but first we need to check on Ismark's sister."

 

[industrygothica]

Willow listends to Jack's tale, and notes the effect it seems to have had on him. She looks at Ismark when they are finished. "Lead they way, then," she says quietly. "And tell us of this strange count and these gypsies."

 

[Legildur]

"I don't think it coincidence that my father, the burgomaster, and his friends, Sir Urik and Varikov, disappeared, leaving the village without leadership," Ismark the Lesser remarks.

"Danovich will have much to answer for. But at least we now know what has caused the plague. And maybe the Tome of Strahd will provide us the means to undo it."

"But first we rescue my sister and recover my father's body. Then we search for the Tome."

 

[Endur]

Without further incident, the party arrives at the Burgomaster's house on the outskirts of the village of Barovia, the largest house in the village (only the castle on the cliffs above is larger).

An aged and dilapidated mansion squats behind a rusting iron fence, but the gates have been twisted open. One gate lies torn from its hinges, while the other gate swings crazily in the wind, screeching and claning with mindless repetition. The house beyond is marked by claws, fires, and ominous stains. Every window is boarded, every door barricaded.

Ismark knocks on the front door, and his sister Ireena soon invites the party inside.

Although the outside of the mansion has been marred, the inside of the mansion is in much better shape. The well furnished mansion shows wear from many years of use. Holy symbols of Pelor hang in every room of the house. A man's body in the robes of the Burgomaster lies in state in the front room.

The body has begun to smell because the Burgomaster has been dead for ten days.

The scared and beautiful Ireena is overjoyed to hear that you have come to conduct a proper funeral for the Burgomaster.

 

[Legildur]

The body has begun to smell because the Burgomaster has been dead for ten years.

The scared and beautiful Ireena is overjoyed to hear that you have come to conduct a proper funeral for the Burgomaster.

Ismark draws his sword and walks purposefully to the front door, eyes scanning the surrounding grounds for trouble. As Ireena answers the door, Ismark smiles and steps forward and gives her a short hug. "My pardon to you for taking so long, sister," Ismark says in apology. "But things are far from normal. But now I am here to see the right thing done. Thank you for caring for father."

Ismark gestures for them all to enter and introduces each person to Ireena as he closes and secures the door.

"Alessandra is willing to perform the ceremony," he says, indicating the cleric of Pelor. "We really should do that as soon as possible," he adds. "And then we should speak on how to end this mess."[sblock=ooc]I think you meant dead for 10 days, not 10 years. [/sblock]

 

[Le Noir Faineant]

Dareios greets Ismark's sister with respect, but not with friendliness, as he moves into the house.

"How many days have you been locked in here? - How could you defend yourself alone against these dark denizens? Are you a priest or a magician?"

 

[industrygothica]

Dareios greets Ismark's sister with respect, but not with friendliness, as he moves into the house.

"How many days have you been locked in here? - How could you defend yourself alone against these dark denizens? Are you a priest or a magician?"

Willow nudges Dareios and leads him away from Ireena. She whispers quietly to him, "I think neither, but a worried and loyal daughter. Mind yourself, for it is her home, and her father is not yet at rest."

She turns away from Dareios, hopefully leaving him silent for the moment, and looks to the others, keeping fairly silent herself.