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

[James Heard]

Janis nudges past the others in the group, singlemindedly making her way back to the inn.

" I'll see to the townspeople, and then before we head out I'll need a day - uninterrupted. There is something I had not thought I'd have to do that necessity decides I must, and it shall require my utmost concentration in this black place."

She looks over her shoulder, her face hard but then softening.

" Catch them up. Maybe if they're lucky they won't end up like Selase and the rest."

 

[pathfinderq1]

"Hail! By the by... if what we're seeing is true, it appears as though our caravan has arrived. At least... I hope our caravan has arrived." He glances at Tessaryl and a very quick look of concern flashes on his face. "You... aren't all that's left, are you, Miss..." Curse him, he's forgotten the young woman's name. He didn't spend much time dealing with the bookish types on the journey here.

His eyes travel up to the monster of a young man who is escorting the woman. "And surprised I am to see you out here, son. I would have thought my Lumin Brother would have run escort out here. Things are still fine by the barricades, aren't they? We haven't been gone that long."

"I am Tessaryl of Westridge, but Tessa will do for now, I suppose," the dark-clad woman says in introduction. "The caravan, or what remains of it, is back in the center of town. We were attacked on the road, by wolves and undead and agents of the Emerald Claw. While I can't say I would rather have wanted to be here with the lot of you, it was not a pleasant trip either." The young woman shakes her head wearily. "Sir Khensu told us where you were heading, and he is back at the barricades with Mateush and the others. From the looks of things the townsfolk are starting to piece things back together, but I haven't seen anything like this since the war. Were you able to find anything of import in there?," she finishes, nodding at the manor.

 

[DEFCON 1]

"Were you able to find anything of import in there?"

Jarrith glances back at the front door of the house and his face drops into his lopsided grin. "A young girl who has become infatuated by a local lord." He then shrugs. "Other than that, nothing really. In any case, welcome Miss Tessa to the foggiest little hamlet you'll ever soon find."

The Stalker looks at Ashlyn and Daellin quickly, then his eyes gaze out to the retreating form of Janis as she heads back to the barricades. "I guess we might as well head back too, eh?" He speaks directly to Tessa and Perriwimple. "You don't have something you also need to do out here, do you? If not, please join us on our jaunt back to the barricades."

He then begins walking back into the town square.

 

[Kafkonia]

His eyes travel up to the monster of a young man who is escorting the woman. "And surprised I am to see you out here, son. I would have thought my Lumin Brother would have run escort out here. Things are still fine by the barricades, aren't they? We haven't been gone that long."

Perriwimple nods enthusiastically. "Everything is good. The nice man is helping."

 

[drothgery]

Daellin takes his usual point position as they walk back. He's hardly expecting trouble, but one couldn't be too careful.

 

[stonegod]

Ashlyn seemed lost in thought as the rest of you made your way through town. It has been a few hours since the Battle at the Church, and some sense of normalcy is beginning to return. There are more and more people on the street, and significant activity in dealing with the many remains that little the streets. Windows and doors are becoming unboarded. Life, as it is, continues.

Janis makes is most of the way to the barrier before being accosted. Some of the people she spoke to in the Tavern come up to her, saying that they have found a few more wounded but none of the walking dead in the city. Some wise woman that locked herself in a dank basement has been pressed into looking after them, she is told. The people seem to be taking some of their destiny in their own hands now, though Janis knows the strength is fragile, especially given the many dead.

As the others get to the barricade, it is clear that the majority of the people have left now, apparently thinking it safe to do so. More dead have been piled into the squared; the sheer numbers have caused the duty to spread out into the side streets. The square is also congested with a new arrival---the remains of the Barovian Expedition. Jarrith and Daellin are shocked when the shear lack of caravan survivors is confirmed. They had not reason not to trust Tessa, but the visual confirmation still comes as a blow.

Seeing the others return, the shifter paladin smiles and comes up to party. The cleaned up Mateusz also joins him. Before Khensu can speak, Mateusz cuts in. "So, what news of the Tome, or of those damnable Emerald Claw agents? Was this local king of the mud any use?"

 

[James Heard]

"So, what news of the Tome, or of those damnable Emerald Claw agents? Was this local king of the mud any use?"

Janis raises an eyebrow at the expedition leader's tone.

"There are definitely Claw agents about, unless they've met their fate at the hands of the undead. As for the Tome, securing it seems to involve several other archaeological sites that appear to be required before it can be had. Since those sites are all rumored to be held by hostile native powers I think you and the rest of the expedition might do best if you can ask some of the locals to help you secure some of the excess housing and see to it that, whatever else, there is a secure base of operations for us to do our work here from."

Janis attempts to be entirely reasonable in her tone, but after coming here having the Six's mercenary motives thrown in her face rests uneasily with her.

The people here needed them, and were a pleasant sort...in their own way. Untouched by the War, even with all this talk of curses and plagues of undead it was, in a way, a sort of unspoiled land.

They might look askance at outsiders, but it's not because we're Cyran refugees, she thought.

 

[stonegod]

The mousy Karrn nods, muttering, "Excellent. Excellent. Best we get down to the true business soon enough." As he speaks, the party notices Marot returning by himself, apparently finished with making rounds of the village. He nods as Mateusz continues. "We have already commandeered rooms in what passes for an Inn here---now that these unfortunate blighters have their homes to return to, the innkeeper was happy for some real coin. I need to know the details of what you have found---perhaps my team can put together something that you all have missed." Without waiting for a response, the archivist marches into the Blood on the Vine.

Janis and Daellin notice the sour turn of the few faces still working in the courtyard who overheard the archivist's unguarded maligning of the townfolk; they both notice some questioning looks towards Janis at Mateusz's questioning of them.

Marot agrees with Mateusz. "We should review our plans, as Master Ochiem said. Best solidify them now."

 

[James Heard]

Janis glares at the receding archivist, her chin cocked defiantly.

 

[pathfinderq1]

Tessa had worn a determined smile on her face until that moment- but in the instant that Mateush's back was turned, her expression turned almost poisonously sour. A heartbeat later that warm, friendly grin was back, and she had a few quiet words for the others. "Were any of you hurt in the fighting? I have healer's training, and the powers that the Sovereigns have granted me. And if you are all fully restored, might there be any worth to seeing if I might help the townsfolk- or using my skills to examine the fallen?"