Endur's Expedition to Castle Ravenloft

[Le Noir Faineant]

Dareios looks at Imsark in an especially unfriendly manner.

"This is what you get from blocking my attempt to motivate them to solve their problems themselves. You are a worthy fighter, but a lousy mayor, friend."

The young mercenary spits on the ground and moves to Skorl's side.

"Hiya, my ogrim companion" he grins "what on the schedule today? - Drinking or showing these wimps how to defend themselves?"

 

[Rhun]

Skorl glances at his companions. "We should hunt woods. Kill wolves. Make new cloak."

 

[Kafkonia]

At Davreios' comments, Alessandra seethes, but keeps quiet. She turns her attention instead to the ersatz burgomeister.

"Ismark," she says, "I can only imagine how difficult this time must be for you. Let me stay with your people while you seek out those responsible for their troubles. I feel I would be of more use here." Her eyes betray that she still has not overcome her feelings of failure from the last battle.

 

[Pyrex]

Ashlyn shakes her head, "We should stay together. It's true, the townsfolk need a roof over their head, but the direction we provided yesterday should be enough to keep them busy today. Many here are capable of fixing houses, fewer can help them against the curse."

 

[Le Noir Faineant]

"Exactly!" exclaims Dareios from the distance, "Are these commoners just stupid children that cannot work on their own?"

 

[Endur]

As Ismark ponders his responsibilities and the advice from his new friends, he remembers that the fortune teller seemed wise, but that she never mentioned anything about a curse on the land, or anything to indicate the disaster that has befallen the village.

 

[Legildur]

Ismark sighs as the weight of responsibility sits heavily on his shoulders. He to spits on the ground as Dareious and the others speak their mind. Scratching his ear, he thinks for a bit before deciding and addresses the others quietly.

"We stay together. We'll start with the fortune teller. Even if she doesn't have any guidance on the problems that have befallen Barovia, she is wise and might yet see a way to organise these people so that I, and we, are free to hunt down those responsible whilst the work that needs to get done around here gets done."

Turning back to the crowd, Ismark raises his hands. "Why do you stand here?" he asks rhetorically. "You have work to do. You know what it is. And so do I," he adds.

Picking someone from the front who he recognises and knows can read and write, Ismark goes forward and grabs him by the shoulder and pulls him back to the rest of the party. "<insert name> here will record your concerns and grievances for when I return at lunch to consider them. He will act as my adviser until I say otherwise. Treat him with respect."

"In the meantime, return to your work, for there is much to do, and you won't get it down standing around here."

 

[Le Noir Faineant]

Clapping his hands sarcastically, Dareios walks away to find his horse...

 

[Legildur]

Ismark frowns in Dareious' direction, but doesn't air his rebuke.

 

[industrygothica]

Willow simply watches the goings-on with a stoic neutrality, her slender arms folded across her emaciated chest. Slithergleam rests happily coiled around the quarterstaff strapped to her back.