Endur's Expedition to Castle Ravenloft

[Endur]

Thredra responds,
"The Count also asked that I congratulate these heroes on their rescue of the village.

"Ismark, you personally were asked to attend so that you could be confirmed in your position as Burgomaster of Barovia, and for one thing more. It has been many years since the Burgomaster of Barovia has raised rents or taxes on the villagers. The Count is authorizing you to raise rents and taxes so that a suitable reward could be paid to these adventurers for their efforts. The Count trusts your judgment on how much to raise in rent and taxes. The Count will expect an accounting in writing the next time Cyrus visits the village to collect supplies.

"And now that we have discussed ancient curses and monetary rewards, let us discuss the doom that I mentioned earlier.

"That grief-stricken fool Danovich caused much death and destruction with his theft of the Liber Blaspheme. The book was far too dangerous to be read unless equipped with a prepared mind and significant magical protections. Since then, we have put in place additional protections to make sure that no more of the ancient texts are stolen.

"Yet there are many coincidences about this whole affair. Too many coincidences.

"How did Danovich know when to sneak into the castle and steal that book, only that book from an entire library?

"Why did the wolves of the Svalich forest attack Danovich's son in broad daylight in the middle of the village, something they had never done before?

"How did Danovich, a priest of Pelor, learn some of the most powerful black magic arts so that he could bring his son back as an abomination and blight Barovia with a zombie plague?

"It is too many coincidences to be believed. Some other agency must be at work. An evil force that plots destruction for Barovia.

"There have always been rumors that some of the wolves of the Svalich woods walked on two legs instead of four. Yet even if the wolves are supernaturally aggressive, that would not explain Danovich's mastery of the black arts.

"But a coven of Demon-worshipping witches? That might explain who taught Danovich the black arts. The witches might even have assisted in casting the Zombie Plague upon Barovia, content to let Danovich take the blame if their fiendish plot failed. They might have guided Danovich to the book. They might even have manipulated the wolves into slaying Danovich's son, to provoke Danovich into reading the book.

"But how would you fight such a coven? During the day, they would be disguised as normal villagers and go about their business, the hex sign hidden beneath their clothes. They could be sitting in church next to you, singing hymns. Any woman in the village could be a member of the coven.

"Unless perhaps you knew where and when the coven gathered. Then you could obliterate them when they gather and prevent them from casting further plagues of undeath.

"Such a coven could gather anywhere, but if the members met in the village they would not long be a secret. Likewise, although they could gather together at any time, night would be the time when the fewest people would notice their gathering.

"If they are casting spells during their gathering, it is possible they may want to go to a site that increases the effects of their summoning spells. There are few such sites near here. The most prominent site is the ruins on top of Lysaga hill.

"The witches might also pick a time and date that is most effective for black magic. Perhaps midnight on the night of the new moon.

"This is all theory and speculation I have gleaned from ancient texts, of course. But an educated guess says that if you strike Lysaga Hill on the night of the new moon, you will save Barovia from destruction.

"It is several weeks before the next night of the new moon. I am not sure what efforts you could pursue in the meantime, but I am sure you have your own thoughts on the matter. Perhaps you could drive the wolves away from the village while waiting for the coven to come out into the open."

 

[Legildur]

Ismark twirls his moustache as Thredra speaks and outlines a series of maybees. "It seems convenient that you would install me as Burgomaster and order a raising of taxes in the same breath."

"The people have suffered greatly in the last weeks with this zombie curse thanks to that fool Danovich. Yet if it weren't for these adventurers, then they would surely be suffering still."

"I will grant you as you say under three conditions. Firstly, that the Count himself instal me as Burgomaster. For while we hear your voice and your claim that you speak on the Count's behalf, we do not know this for sure. Secondly, that the Count himself order the raising of taxes."

"And lastly," he says, looking around the others. "That the adventurers themselves demand payment for their work and sacrifice."

"As for the next steps, I for one will spend all my energies in crushing this evil. But some assistance would not go astray with access to the Count's library and yourself for information that perhaps we do not hold."

Ismark the Lesser, then goes quiet as he waits for the others to speak.

 

[Le Noir Faineant]

Dareios grows increasingly uneasy as he listens to Thredra.

When she has finishes, he puts his sword back into his sheet.

"Mylady, I have to apologize. When I was a young lad, my hometown was attacked by a coven of demon worshippers as well. - They were harmless comoaired to what seems to happen here. They just killed all of my father's sheep. We later went to their hideout and destroyed it, but it took a long time until their evil shade faded from the land. I will hunt them one by one if that is what is necessary. And not for money, but for honor only. Yet -"

Dareios stands up from the table and begins to rearrange his armour, eager to leave, " - I do not see the connection between the village priest and the witches. When they knew what the magic book was able to do, why didn't they use it themselves? - Besides, I repeat, and I won't leave until I get an answer -"

Dareios put up his helmet, and now seems ready for battle, "what is it that haunts Count Strahd?"

 

[Rhun]

Skorl looks up from his food eagerly at the mention of a reward. "Gold good," he says. "Make Skorl happy." He doesn't seem surprised at all by the battle-ready Dareios' overzealous actions. He turns his gaze back to Thredra."For gold, I kill witches and wolves."

 

[Kafkonia]

"To fight against the evils that plague this land is my calling," Alessandra says. "I could not accept a reward. I wish only to be able to help in my own way." She pauses. "If there is a coven to be found, we would do well to root it out lest its corruption spread. That being said, we must be on guard against being corrupted ourselves -- in a world of light and darkness, it is all too easy to strike out at shadows while the real threats pass unnoticed."

She turns to Dareios and Ismark. "The count is unwell and has suffered greatly, yet still he shows concern for his subjects and his lands. Is that not enough to earn at least a modicum of trust?"

 

[Legildur]

"Could you stand before your people and declare yourself Burgomaster without having heard it direct from the Count's mouth yourself?" Ismark queries Alessandra. "People put great store in the observance of formality as a sign of authority."

 

[Kafkonia]

Alessandra nods.

"I apologize, Ismark," she says. "I did not mean to question your desire to hear of your appointment from Count van Zarovich -- that is quite understandable. I was referring to your desire to have the Count raise your people's taxes himself; I believe Thredra was indicating that you were authorized to raise them, not that you were required to. And so ultimately that decision rests with you as Burgomaster -- once you are satisfied with the nature of your appointment."

"But I speak too much and dominate the conversation." Her face colours slightly. "I apologize."

 

[Legildur]

"...I was referring to your desire to have the Count raise your people's taxes himself; I believe Thredra was indicating that you were authorized to raise them, not that you were required to. And so ultimately that decision rests with you as Burgomaster -- once you are satisfied with the nature of your appointment."

"But I speak too much and dominate the conversation." Her face colours slightly. "I apologize."

"No apology is required for these times," Ismark replies as he waves off Alessandra's apology. "But a 'request' from the Count should, in my view as Burgomaster, be heard as a requirement. Should I oppose the Count's request, then I would need to satisfy myself that the taxes are not required."

 

[Rhun]

Skorl leans back in his chair, a content look upon his face as he finishes his meal. The others will have noted, the half-orc probably ate at least three times the amount of anyone else. Of course, it surely takes a great deal of food to fuel the muscles bulging beneath the warrior's armor.

 

[Le Noir Faineant]

Dareios has been standing next to the table, quietly listening, and all the time watching Thredra for a reaction.

"As I said earlier, I consider it vital for our mission that we know the whole story. I am not willing to risk my honour without being aware of all the facts."