Rhun's I6: Ravenloft - IC Thread

[Rhun]

There is much work to be done prior to the actual burial ceremony, including digging a hole for the casket. Father Danovich leads you out behind the church where a large cemetery sprawls. Amazingly, you find this place quiet and peaceful.

Danovich provides shovels, and you set to work. One the grave is dug, Danovich performs a short service, similar to others that Delkat has attended, lacking only the sun and full scape of ceremony that would be found in a more grand setting. Still, it is a peaceful and dignified service. Both Ismark and Ireena stand like statues during the ceremony, unable to shed any further tears for their father.

With the service ended, you fill in the grave. Only a blank piece of rough granite and the freshly disturbed dirt are left to mark the place when the Burgomaster now lies.

 

[Rhun]

While the others mill about Ireena and Ismark, offering final condolences, Father Danovich moves away from the grave site, a bit further into the lichyard. He motions for Delkat to follow. "A private word, brother-in-light?"

 

[s@squ@tch]

Delkat Kraylin

He looks to the older priest,"Of course, my friend."

He then follows Father Danovich away from the others so that they could speak more-privately.

 

[Rhun]

[sblock=For Delkat/S@squ@tch ONLY]
The Barovian priest leads Delkat some fifty or sixty feet away from the rest of the group, before he stops to speak. He keeps his voice low, to ensure he is not overheard. "I do not know what you plan to accomplish here, but if it is to seek out the Count, then I find it best that I offer you what counsel I can. You obviously know that he has shown an undue amount of interest in Ireena. While I don't know why, I can tell you this: She is NOT the natural daughter of Kolyan Indirovich." He pauses to scratch at his wispy white beard. "Kolyan found her near the base of Ravenloft's pillarstone, at the edge of the Svalich Woods when she was just a tiny girl. She had no memory of her past, and Kolyan, bless his heart, took her in and raised her as his own."

Danovich locks his eyes with Delkat, and clutches him by the arm. "You will surely not overcome Strahd Von Zarovich by strength of arm alone...many have tried, and failed. I know, for their bodies rest all around us here. He gestures at the many unmarked headstones in the graveyard. "It is said that Strahd took meticulous notes in the days of old; there is a book, called the Tome of Strahd...if you can find it, you might find therein some hint of his weakness. It is said the book was once kept in the castle's library, but that was years and years ago."[/sblock]

 

[s@squ@tch]

Delkat Kraylin

[sblock=DM]
"Father, upon my arrival in this land, even I did not fully understand my plan."

"At first, to be honest, was to trace my roots, as I found some old piece of text in an old tome that perhaps my family was from this place."

"But, after I saw the undead walking freely, without regard to the rays of the sun, my plans have been somewhat altered."

He grimaces.

"You've been here all of your life, correct?"

"When did this begin?"

"For how long has the golden light from the heavens been shut out?"

He shakes his head.

"It is a tribute to your will that the church still stands."

"I wish that there was some way to keep the foul evil of this land from possibly desecrating this graveyard and using these souls to rise up and live on in undeath, but Aditi has not graced me with that yet."

He pauses as he considers what Danovich has told him regarding Ireena.

"I examined her last night, and attempted to assuage her poor health -- but the means to heal her escape me at this point."

"I fear that another 'visit' from Strahd will finish her off, and then she will become his mindless spawn. And Aditi only knows what his plans for her are after that..."

"Their house is under attack each night by hordes of undead -- clawing at walls, windows, and doors."

"I really don't know how much longer they can hold out."

"Have you ever seen Strahd out during the daylight hours?"

"If not, perhaps an infiltration of his castle could occur during these times with unfettered access?"

"Oh, I forgot for a moment -- what relevance is this pillar of Ravenloft in the Svalich wood? Is this some holy site?"

He shakes his head.

"This land has already taken two of the people over there -- we lost one last night to possibly some lackey of Strahd, while we lost another just at the steps of the church today."

"Who are Strahd's allies? Are the lycanthropes in league with him as well?"

"By the way, your holy symbol -- it has wings of the raven on it, correct? How did that come to be? I've never seen any scripture about that."

[/sblock]

 

[s@squ@tch]

Delkat Kraylin

[sblock=dm]
boo-ya!
[/sblock]

 

[Queenie]

Esme says a few quiet prayers of her own over the gravesite, finishing with a flourish of herbs thrown over the fresh earth. She turns to her companions.

"This has certainly been an odd day. I wonder where our road will take us next. What say the rest of you? Will you be following Donner's lead and departing or shall we stay and figure a new path? It seems the enemy Strahd is more powerful than we are but we are not without our own strengths and cleverness."

 

[kinem]

Ryan bows respectfully. He's not much of a praying man; he assumes the gods don't need his permission to take action. Where were they last night?

"The enemy seems numerous and powerful" Ryan admits. "If it were but us and Ireena's family at risk, I might say that we should all leave, taking Ireena to possible safety. But the other villagers too need protection. We have no choice but to take the fight to the enemy, now in the daylight when the undead may be weaker. I will stay, and I hope the rest of you will help. We just need more information - where to go and how to fight this Strahd."

 

[Strahd_Von_Zarovich]

Ares

Now that we have been noticed by the land and the land’s ruler, leaving is not an option, unless you want to depart to the other world and return as a bag of bones to hunt the place.
I will not be surprised to meet Donner in the future again, as undead.
Ares replies to Esme
We have only on choice, to deal with the land

 

[Rhun]

OOC: My goal is to get the next posts up tonight. Sorry for the delays.