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

[DEFCON 1]

As Ireena, Janis, and Ashlyn converse with each other... Jarrith wanders about the home looking at the various memorabilia and items of interest with regards to the lands they are in. He glances back at Ismark and asks him frankly "Ismark, by any chance would you have detailed maps of this area? Lady Ashlyn drew us out a quick map, but it did not have may details. I'm thinking specifically of Lysaga Hill, plus a wooded glen that supposedly has some fey inhabitants." As he quickly realizes that there is one if not a few more areas of special import that they'll need to find, he adds "And any other areas of special interest. We will be travelling to some, if not all of them."

The conversations and questions between the three women continue, and Jarrith listens with half an ear... only perking up when items of specific intent are mentioned. He notices the chilly reception Janis' questions invoked in the girl, and he can't help but smile inwardly to himself about it. But until the three of them get the pleasantries and the inital inquiries out of them way, he holds off asking the pointed questions he has... since it's quite possible the girl will not be taking kindly to them. Better to wait until all other conversations have dried up before taking a step out onto the precarious precipice of good manners and tact.

 

[drothgery]

[sblock=Daellin][Knowledge Religion]

While the others were talking, you kept your eyes on the room. The various holy symbols bothered you for some reason, and you would not let it rest. The raven's were similar enough to the standard on Urik's shield, but the drop of blood... then, it came to you. The statements about 'True Blood' and the drop in the holy symbol... these were not Sovereign tenents, not any you had ever heard of. But that Blood of Vol cult that used to openly have its grip on Karrnath sounds too similar...[/sblock]

Daellin seems shows a flash of shock when looking around the room, but quickly regains composure.

 

[pathfinderq1]

After Mateush finished, Khensu spoke up. "Someone should let the others know the caravan has arrived." The archivist grinned---a small, tight affair reminiscent of skull---and added, "Of course. Tessa should go. She's familiar with the happenings, aren't you?"

With the mystical light of her lantern now stowed away, Tessa seemed somehow shrunken, a small and quiet shadow of a woman, in her drab dark clothes- her gaze darted this way and that, examining the situation in town with the practiced eye of a dedicated survivor. Her determined attempts at a smile withered as she watched the other healers tend to their fallen brother- while she had Bergeron had many differences, his songs had brightened the early parts of the caravan's journey. More importantly, she knew that the loss of his impressive healing gifts weakened their already tenous position here- every bit of power counted.

While she spoke but little, she was still listening as Sir Khensu related their troubles here, and as Mateush tells his own tale. Even before the archivist offered her as a messenger, she had already shouldered her voluminous satchel and picked up her crossbow. "Of course I'll go. We need to tell them what we encountered, and perhaps I may be able to lend assistance if the situation they have found is perilous. Now where is it that they have gone to, and is there someone who can provide directions or act as a guide?" The faded smile had returned to her face, and she seemed almost eager to be on her way- or perhaps simply eager to be away from Mateush's cold smile...

 

[stonegod]

" The villagers are fine. We've attended them and they're well on their way to recovering once they've had some fat and salt to suit their vinegar. They only needed a little bit of reminding."

Ireena nods as she is setting a small serving of a red liquid---wine---before the group. "Barovians do preserve in despair, but there is no reason to hoard what we have when others suffer, regardless of my brother's appetite." Ismark scowls, though Ireena's smile indicates the statement was partially in jest.

" You've had visitors. The people of the village seem to be singularly uninformed of even the rudiments of the news of the outside world," Whatever the reply, Janis appears to ignore it - still engrossed in the trappings of the manor.

Ireena tightens her lips again at the request about visitors. "In my father's time and his fathers, visitors were unheard of. In the last year or two... less than a handful. All seemed lost, and the visanti brought them here. They are the only ones who can freely move about. The curse.... it does not touch them."

" May we examine him? There is a sickness that infects the dead and spreads itself to the living in the town. It should not be here, but..." Janis continues. "The priest's son, he was twisted in death. I've recommended that the dead in town be burned or else allowed my companions blessing over the bodies." Janis moves to examine the body unless Ireena stops her.

Ashlyn seconds the request, and after a moment, Ireena nods reluctantly, biting her lip. "He fell ill suddenly, a few days before the dead arose. We have not been able to inter the body as of yet. We shall do so when the town is seen to." The woman is still obviously upset about the death.

[sblock=Ashlyn][Sense Motive]

Ireena is trying to hide something about her father's death.[/sblock]
[Heal Check]

An examination of the Burgomaster's body does not turn up anything obvious such as open wounds. It would be inappropriate to search fully under the clothes, however, with Ireena present. Both Ashlyn and Janis note a paleness about the eyes and mouth that would indicate a possible disease, though Ashlyn thinks poison is possible culprit as well. The signs to not point to that necromantic infection, assuming it was a disease.

" It must have been a terrible bother not having servants to cook for you during such a pressing time. How did you survive here alone? Have there been any other visitors recently?" The questions are deliberately paced and without inflection, as if Janis were for all the world conversing about the weather or a cobble turned out on the road.

Ireena deflects the question, simply stating that she made do what was in the larder. "We make do when the wolves are at the door, as all Barovians do."

" What can you tell us about the castle?" The smile that settles onto her pale face is not entirely wholesome.

"I-I have never been there. It has been abandoned by all that is good for time beyond counting, the heart of the blackness in our land. None sane venture there. Avoid it at all cost." She is obviously uncomfortable talking about it.

 

[stonegod]

He glances back at Ismark and asks him frankly "Ismark, by any chance would you have detailed maps of this area? Lady Ashlyn drew us out a quick map, but it did not have may details. I'm thinking specifically of Lysaga Hill, plus a wooded glen that supposedly has some fey inhabitants." As he quickly realizes that there is one if not a few more areas of special import that they'll need to find, he adds "And any other areas of special interest. We will be traveling to some, if not all of them."

The Burgomaster's son grunts noncommittally. "My father had a map from a the early days of Barovia, before the convent that no longer stand was on that cursed place. But glens? The forest is a danger to walk alone or with company---the wolves love travelers, but not in a way they would like."

 

[DEFCON 1]

"Really? Hmm. Indeed. Well, I would very much like to take a look at your father's map if you don't mind." Once Jarrith is presented or brought to the map, he takes out the crude map that Ashlyn made and compares the two. He then spends several minutes drawing a copy of the Burogmaster's map on more of his paperwork (assuming Ismark doesn't let him take the map with him).

While the conversation continues with the women, Jarrith pulls out the priest's journal and reviews the section where he spoke on how the Burogmaster found Ireena at the base of the mountainside. He also does a quick review on pages before and after to see if it says anything else about the girl.

 

[James Heard]

Ireena nods as she is setting a small serving of a red liquid---wine---before the group. "Barovians do preserve in despair, but there is no reason to hoard what we have when others suffer, regardless of my brother's appetite." Ismark scowls, though Ireena's smile indicates the statement was partially in jest.

Janis takes the wine and as she moves about, nonchalantly sets it in front of Ismark while she listens to Ireena talk.

' Perhaps, but sometimes the true test of character is not in what you have or do, but in what you don't have and refuse to."

Janis tightens her lips in an indulgent smile at Ismark.

" Here, it is whispered on certain tomb walls that it contains courage."

Ireena tightens her lips again at the request about visitors. "In my father's time and his fathers, visitors were unheard of. In the last year or two... less than a handful. All seemed lost, and the visanti brought them here. They are the only ones who can freely move about. The curse.... it does not touch them."

" So, where are these other visitors now? Perhaps it would be possible to meet them?"

Janis cocks her head.

"Why doesn't the curse touch the Visanti?"

An examination of the Burgomaster's body does not turn up anything obvious such as open wounds. It would be inappropriate to search fully under the clothes, however, with Ireena present. Both Ashlyn and Janis note a paleness about the eyes and mouth that would indicate a possible disease, though Ashlyn thinks poison is possible culprit as well. The signs to not point to that necromantic infection, assuming it was a disease.

" Puzzling. If possible I'd like to examine him further, and in a manner that might be a bit upsetting to observe. See this paleness? That might indicate disease, but given all other coincidences I think that unlikely or at least suspicious. It's not the same disease as in town, in any case."

" Did your father meet with Father Danovitch much recently?"

"We make do when the wolves are at the door, as all Barovians do."

Janis keeps her back to Ireena as she replies, and despite the sudden urge to turn, remains still.

" Curious. There were wolves at Father Danovitch's door as well, as we left. Did these have anything to say?"

She cocked her chin over her shoulder to look at Ireena and shrugs before turning away again.

" Perhaps the wolves that come to the door do so because they disguise men within them," Janis muses.

" Men's hearts are darker and more dangerous than tooth and claw, in any case."

"I-I have never been there. It has been abandoned by all that is good for time beyond counting, the heart of the blackness in our land. None sane venture there. Avoid it at all cost." She is obviously uncomfortable talking about it.

" The heart you say? Good. If it is the heart we shall kill it."

The blackness that lies upon your land breeds only death and weakness, instead of tempering your people properly. Perhaps, after we have stabbed the heart, I shall consume it and steal its power.

 

[Kafkonia]

While she spoke but little, she was still listening as Sir Khensu related their troubles here, and as Mateush tells his own tale. Even before the archivist offered her as a messenger, she had already shouldered her voluminous satchel and picked up her crossbow. "Of course I'll go. We need to tell them what we encountered, and perhaps I may be able to lend assistance if the situation they have found is perilous. Now where is it that they have gone to, and is there someone who can provide directions or act as a guide?" The faded smile had returned to her face, and she seemed almost eager to be on her way- or perhaps simply eager to be away from Mateush's cold smile...

Perriwimple was fidgeting. The lady needed help; she was a stranger, she wouldn't know her way around, it could be dangerous alone -- although she did have a crossbow. Maybe she was another person like in Grandma Margaret's stories? But she was only one. If his uncle found him gone... the 'venturers in the stories didn't have uncles to worry about.

His hand was in the air before he realized what he was doing. "I can go," he said. "I don't know where the other strangers are. But I can help. I like to help."

 

[pathfinderq1]

Perriwimple was fidgeting. The lady needed help; she was a stranger, she wouldn't know her way around, it could be dangerous alone -- although she did have a crossbow. Maybe she was another person like in Grandma Margaret's stories? But she was only one. If his uncle found him gone... the 'venturers in the stories didn't have uncles to worry about.

His hand was in the air before he realized what he was doing. "I can go," he said. "I don't know where the other strangers are. But I can help. I like to help."

Tessa looked over at the man who had spoken- he was big, almost imposing, but seemed somewhat out of place here. Not softer, really, just odd. Still, he looked like he could shift the barricade by himself- just the sort of guide for this kind of environment. "My thanks, and the blessings of the Host upon you," she said quietly before returning her attention to Sir Khensu. "So, then, where is it that our friends have gone to, that I may bring these further tales of woe to them?" While she was focused mostly on the shifter, her gaze swept across the others assembled. Surely someone must know the destination well enough to let this hulking local know where they were headed to...

 

[stonegod]

Tessa and Perriwimple

Khensu looked surprised at Perriwimple's sudden desire to assist Tessa, but said nothing of it, instead addressing Tessa's question directly. "They are at the local Burgomaster's estate, supposedly on the south part of town. The dead Burgomaster's son wanted to check on his sister's well-being."

Perriwimple know where big house for Burgomaster be. He had never been inside, but it was hard to miss.