stonegod's Expedition to Castle Ravenloft: Ch. I [IC]

[Stormwind]

Ashlyn continues in soft even tones, trying to take advantage of the role she is playing in this little drama, "What exactly were you to watch that we did not meddle with, and who sent you to watch?"

She then waits patiently for a response.

[Diplomacy (to improve reaction by taking advantage of her 'role'): 1d20+10]

 

[stonegod]

Struggling a moment, the man stops at a movement from Bear-Janis. Pleadingly, he grasps visually at Ashlyn. "Get them off me! The Green Crone! She knew you were coming! Warned me she did, in thought, in mind! She thought you try to stop the summoning, but none can now! We will break the power of the fane with Raven's might, then corrupt it to punish the Dark Lady's folly! The Verdant Lord will be avenged!" His fear temporarily abated in his fervor, he cringes again when finished. "Free me! I beg!"[sblock=Ashlyn]The Dark Lady---Sir Urik's name for the founder of his order. It sounds like she may have battled this so-called 'Verdant Lord' in the past? But why would the Raven serve the 'Green Crone' unless it is corrupted itself? Too many questions.[/sblock]

 

[DEFCON 1]

Jarrith glances over at Lady Ashlyn and raises his eyebrows. "He's trying to break the fane too? Good. Save us the time."

He wanders around the area looking at nothing. He then throws a glance at the man being held. "So your green lady has the symbol of the Raven does she? And the summoning can't be stopped? The summoning that is occuring with the new moon in two days time? It can't be stopped. Really. So you think? You willing to bet on that?"

 

[stonegod]

The man says nothing, alternating between looking defiantly at the Stalker, fearfully at the bear, and pleadingly at the lady paladin.

Tessa does not hear or see anything out of the ordinary besides the interrogation.

 

[James Heard]

Ordering her animal companion to keep the prisoner from fleeing, Janis backs away and shifts back into her normal form.

"If he cannot or will not tell us where to find this Czernovog can be found...my friend hungers, and it seems an age since he has tasted the sweet sweet marrow of an enemy."

Janis picks a bit of straw out of her hair, looking down at the man.

" Foolish man...You think your priests of leaf and blight mean very much to me? I am the shadow of the morrows storm taken flight, and when I'm finished with this land I shall wash the flesh away of those that oppose me."

Janis turns and stalks away.

 

[stonegod]

"If he cannot or will not tell us where to find this Czernovog can be found...my friend hungers, and it seems an age since he has tasted the sweet sweet marrow of an enemy."

The man spits and blurts out, "You may find the Verdant Lord in the Dark Places of the Eternal Forrest, were all the great and terrible power lives! But come two nights, he will walk in Barovia and reward his chosen!" The bear grumbles and pulls the man arm to shut him up.

 

[James Heard]

Janis looks at her companions.

" Perhaps we should return to the village then with this one, and ask his comrades of what he speaks and rest - before we ride the lightning into the leave and show the one who would call himself lord what is terrible about true power.

Because it is a bitter friend that steels your soul, but does not guarantee salvation, Janis thinks, looking at the wrapped corpses upon the horses sadly. None for Selase. None for Daellin. Everyone is ashes - it is no wonder life grows such sour fruit in this valley.

Janis spits and looks darkly at the prisoner.

 

[DEFCON 1]

Jarrith shrugs and nods. "Fair enough. I have some rope. We can tie this guy up and sling him over the backs of one of the horses."

He reaches behind him and pulls the rope off his pack, then sets about tying the man up (taking whatever assistance from him comrades that would improve the knotwork). When he is bound securly and thrown over the rump of one of the horses, he himself climbs back up on his own. "Let's get back to town. I would not want to spend a night out in this cold if I could avoid it."

 

[stonegod]

When Jarrith agrees to bind him, the man thrashes wildly, out of control. "NO! The Lady will kill me!" But, a few bites and scratches later, he is trussed up and tossed on one of the horses.

The party is quiet on the journey back, a sullen mood hanging over them. The only diversion was a swarm of bat that burst out of the hangman's cemetery at the fork in the Road. They hung in the air, screeching into the night, but distant enough not to cause harm. It startled the horses and caused the man once again to give fright before they disappeared into the night.

Passing by the farm settlements, they notice lights in some of the houses that had been until recently abandoned. There are no lights at the Andrzej cottage, though chickens can be heard.

Assuming no other stops, the group makes it back to town in the late evening.

 

[James Heard]

"I wonder if Perriwimple had family?" Janis wonder aloud.

Janis looks over her shoulder at the prisoner.

"Urik might do to tell us more about our magpie, and better yet to watch him so we can be abed. I'd slay the Dragons for a bath too."