"Then I will bear the symbol of Ravenkind, and use its power against our foe." Caesius affirms, "Though I will, of course, need time to complete the vigil before that power becomes mine to wield.  That I shall attend to during the next night, or what passes for night in a world of eternal gloom."

Removing his guantlet, he reaches for the Holy Symbol of Ravenkind, but pauses before he touches it, smiling, "By the will of Heironeous, Lathander, and Pelor, naturally."

And then he picks it from the altar.

At Qvar's words, Zertin suddenly looks hopeful and he reaches for his backpack, but his hopes are soon dashed.

"Nothing but trail rations, I'm afraid," he replies to Qvar.

He does become more thoughtful after that, though.

"Did you notice how that great bat-creature's demeanour changed about the same time that Caesius says its evilness suddenly became more apparent? That voice, those deranged words it spoke. I have a feeling it was somehow possessed, perhaps by the master of this place. Perhaps he was using it to scry upon us in some way, to see through the creature's eyes, as it were? Then perhaps he seized total control of it and spoke through it as well? I can't think of a spell that can do that at the moment, though," he commented.

Violet groans, covering over her eyes with a forearm.  "Such thoughts are not helping me sleep," she mutters, rolling over and now attempting to shield her ears with her hands.

It puts her in an awkward position, making sleep elusive, and finally she gives up.  "Pointless," the woman mutters, sitting up and raking fingers through her hair.  "Never mind."  Better to just stay quiet and doze along with the group's conversation; something important might come up.

"You still have an hour before breakfast."  Qvar smiles at his companions.

"And the Sunstone is in safe hands." he smiles with relief as Caesius takes up the precious jewel.

He kneels again at the altar in silent prayer, eyes raised to the imagined sunlight pouring through the high windows.  After an hour he invites his companions to gather and clear an area of rubble into a makeshift table and seats, weaving the invitation into a prayer "...bless those who toil against the darkness with food and water ... over here away from the copse ... and let our meal bring courage  and strength ... prop that on top ... and remind us this day of the warm Sunshine above the mists ... oh, nice touch! ... my mother's pumpkin soup ..." and inviting you all to name a food that makes you happy "...and best if it reminds you of Sunshine if I don't know the flavour ..."

The crystal at the centre of the Holy Symbol of Ravenkind continues to glow as Caesius picks it up, though unlike Ireena and Qvar, he does not feel the warmth that those who have stood vigil could sense within it.

While Qvar meditates, the rest of you take pity upon Violet and for the next hour any conversations between you regarding the creature and the powers of its master are conducted in low voices as she sits and dozes.

Having offered up prayers to Pelor for His divine aid, Qvar causes a veritable breakfast feast to appear, consisting of both provisions that the priest thinks you might like and any other food that you care to name with which he is familiar, arrayed across one of the less-broken pews that you press into service as a table.

Having hurled herself back into her bedding and struggled to sleep for an hour - a near-impossibility, despite the consideration of the others - Violet breaks free of the restraints of her blanket and lurches over to where Qvar has...apparently called upon his pagan god to provide.

It's a shock, to be sure.

Well, beggars can't be choosers.  And while Qvar's god is undeniably not proper by the standards of the Church, the priest is a good man wielding powers of light, not a sorcerer.  Violet uncertainly picks at the food for all of four heartbeats before shrugging and giving in.  "My thanks to your lord," she states around a mouthful, very serious.  "Must be popular with the have-nots."

Having lived a life shy of nourishment, the young woman isn't going to turn down food untainted by toxin or magery.

"What's the word about the stone?" she quietly queries.

Zertin spent the hour poring over his spellbook and was oblivious of anything else most of the time. Finally, he stood and stretched, packed the book away and strolled over to enjoy the feast Qvar had provided. He cheerfully helped himself to a bun, carefully sliced it open, buttered it and neatly folded in several rashers of bacon.

"Thankyou, Q. That's just what I needed," he said as he raised an icy cold mug of clear, sweet water in salute to his brother.

Used to a soldier's rations, and worse since she arrived in this benighted land, Ashlyn too is impressed by the provender that Lathander  provides in answer to Qvar's prayers, adds her own thanks to both priest and god for the bounty.

"The stone is awoken," the armoured woman replies to Violet, "yet Ireena lacks the training to use it and Qvar's oath prevents him from doing so.  Caesius has taken up the burden, and will needs perform the vigil himself though we don't wish to linger here for much longer, as the creature that paid us a visit most likely has reported back to its master."

Qvar smiles as his companions settle to eat, glad they can each find something to their taste.  There is plenty of fresh water and honey oatcakes to wrap for the rest of the day, as well as any other yellow foods they have named that will keep.

"A night well spent," he confirms to Violet, "and perhaps another vigil tonight." he smiles at Caesius, looking forward to witnessing more of the paladin's prayer style; with Heironeous so much is the same and different at once, fascinating.

"A great bat?" he muses as the others eat.  "Was this our first sign of wildlife?  I'll just pop up and take a look.  Keep your wand to hand Zed, and your bow please Violet.  I'll be just up there, and back before you know."  He nods toward the balcony and disappears up the creaky stairs that Violet found.

Caesius thanks Qvar for the food, smiling as he lifts the plate and savours the smell, then he quietly says grace and thanks Heironeous too.  After all, without His intervention, Caesius would not have fallen in with the priest and his other new companions.

"While this would have been the best place for the vigil, Qvar has the right of it... the Master of Barovia is, undoubtedly, aware that we are here now.  While his minions might be barred from this chapel, the same can not be said of arrows and crossbow quarrels."

After a moment's thought, he add, "I can create a makeshift shrine to Heironeous - I have my blade and His symbol, which is all His warriors need when they wish to offer up prayer, or perform a vigil, even though they be on the field of battle."

Violet accepts Ashlyn's explanation with a nod - she's not in the know, she knows she's not in the know, but at least it's clearly making sense beyond a shallow level to the others, so that's good enough for her.  But when Qvar decides to hare off on his own up the stairs, she heaves a heavy sigh and levers herself to her feet, abandoning the meal.

"We go nowhere alone," she reminds the priest, trudging in his wake.  "Arrows and crossbow bolts are not the only threats; we should beware knives in the back, as well."

Or claws.

Ashlyn agrees wholeheartedly with Violet.

"Sit," she tells the young woman kindly.

"Stay," she instructs the carefree cleric with a mock frown.

"Most of us need to eat.. we do not want to have to interrupt our meals to come chasing after you if you awaken something awful, and in this fell place there will always be something awful around the next corner or lurking in the shadows."

"We must stay together or we are all lost."

Qvar barely makes the first step, "But ... droppings?", before turning about and coming back to sit for the meal.  "You're right, of course." he smiles sheepishly.  He fidgets with a frayed hem... then helps secure the non-perishable left-overs into whatever wrappers Pelor thought to provide.

"Does anyone know where we might find a blazing hearth?  Shall I ask Pelor to guide us to the closest such?"

"Let's see, Madame Eva told us, to wake it, bring the sword to join the other treasures of the castle. I see a blazing fire protecting the place where the lord hides his wealth. So, a blazing fire, not necessarily a hearth.

"Yes, Q, if Pelor would be consent to offer you guidance, it would be churlish of us not to accept," Zertin replied.

Qvar smiles back at his brother.  "I'm guessing there can't be many of those in this dreary place."

When the meal is finished, wrapped, packed and all are ready to leave the sanctuary and search for the Sunsword, he prays "Sunfather, guide our path.  Show us where to find a blazing fire."

You enjoy your meal without interruption, while Qvar seeks guidance from Pelor, and prepare to break camp.

The priest, aided by his brother's more exact recollection of Madame Eva's reading of the cards, reaches out, trying to locate the nearest blazing fire, turning to face the central doors on the West wall of this chapel, then raising his unseeing eyes up, and up again.

Finishing his meal, Caesius pushes himself to his feet and looks around the chapel while he waits for others.  In particular, his eyes return often to the balcony where the great bat had stood. 

"This place... this chapel in particular... was once a place of righteousness.  It troubles me that it has fallen into darkness.  The castle once bestowed comfort and protection upon all who lived nearby.  And now it squats on the crag like some foul toad, spewing a miasma of terror and misery across the land."

Zertin nodded agreement with the paladin's words.

"We can but take one step at a time and hope our journey will take us to a better place," he commented philosophically.

Violet grimaces.  "A chapel in hell.  Curious; someone clearly had some hope," she mutters.  "Perhaps once we put a stake in the evil that inhabits it, the light might return."  A safe oasis in the pit of despair...the young woman shakes her head, dispelling such hopes.  "Any place would be better than this," she whispers in reply to Zertin's words.

There is no succor in hell; there is only existence.

With a small sigh, she follows the priest's gaze.  "Upward, then?"  A grimace twists her lips.  "Could have been worse; could have been down."

"It could indeed!"  Qvar echoes Violet, smiling.  "The nearest blazing fire is somewhere in the centre of the castle, perhaps two floors above where we now stand." 

He looks up optimistically at the balcony again.  "Shall we start up there?  Perhaps that will give us a safe passage for the first level up."  Not to mention looking for bat droppings.

Zertin looks toward the stair and shrugs.

"It seems as logical as any other choice," he agrees.

Finishing your god-gifted meal and with the leftovers packed away for later, you take one last look around the chapel, perhaps the last glimmer of light and life in this benighted land, before heading to the northern stairwell. 

Guided by Qvar, you traverse the short, arched-roofed passageway that lies between the vast chapel and a rising, wooden staircase.  Either side of the passage is an alcove each holding a shadowy humanoid statue within its dark confines.  The stone forms display mighty muscled arms and legs, but their faces are hidden in black shadows.

Thankfully neither statue stirs beneath your watchful eyes, and satisfied that they are harmless you take to the stairs.

The old wooden steps climb shakily up a stonework shaft, with a wide landing punctuating the midpoint.  With each step upon it, the wood strains underfoot, creaking and groaning, trusting to Zertin's assessment that it is sturdy enough, matter not how alarming the noises. 

The staircase leads you out on to the upper balcony that overlooks the rubble-strewn chapel.  Two large, ornate thrones stand in the middle of the balcony, facing the altar far below. 

OOC: Map of the proceedings updated ...

"Well that was easily done."  Qvar says brightly.  "We're halfway there already."

He inspects the balcony where he'd heard said a great bat sat last night, and points out claw marks that have scored the stone railing.  "No droppings." he muses.  "Perhaps it was as you thought, Caesius, no natural creature but a minion of Strahd sent to spy on us."

He concentrates for a moment to reset his divinely inspired bearings "...blazing fire, blazing fire.." and looks toward the door to the west.  "Perhaps through there next?"

"That does seem the logical next step," Zertin agrees.

Naturally, he is not going to be the one to step forward to lead the party onward. He will wait patiently for someone more suited to that role to take the lead.

Violet stares uneasily at the claw marks graven in the stone.  "Cut right through boiled leather, that would," she mutters with some despair.  Her head swings left and right as Qvar notes the direction of travel, and the young woman waits a beat, and a beat more as Zertin holds steady.

Finally she sighs.  "All right," Violet murmurs, readying her bow, arrow nocked but not drawn.  "There could be traps -" they've already discovered that fact "- so I'll take the lead.  Someone stay behind me - close, but not too close - with the light."

That said, the young woman sidles to the door Qvar indicates, and proceeds to give it a cursory once-over before proceeding.

OOC - Yes, Violet is going to search for traps.  If I can I'll take ten, thanks, for a total of 15 + 2 (trap sense) + 10 = 27.