The point of the blade at least rouses the young woman from her grief, if only to fear and anger.

"Yes, it is true !" Ireena tells Caesius heatedly, eyes blazing in her tear-streaked face as she heedlessly crumbles the letter in her fist.  She pulls back her cloak and the collar of her blouse to reveal two marks on her neck.

"I have suffered dreams, awful dreams where the Master chases me and when he catches me he kisses me and calls me 'Tatyana'.  But how the dream became the reality I know not !"

She ignores Qvar's reassurances and questions as she continues to speak to the Paladin.

"If the evil taint is within me ... if I am doomed to become his creature or worse, then slay me now and so spare me that evil fate !"

Caesius frowns, and replies, "For now, there is no need.  You have not yet succumbed to the monster."

He puts up his sword.

"Forgive me.  Unless the creature's curse is lifted, it will become necessary, one day, to perform that sacred duty.  But that day is not today."

For all she likes the girl, Ashlyn stands with Caesius in the need to test Ireena, though she is relieved as she too can find no trace of darkness tainting her soul.

"Evil may consume even the innocent," she tells Qvar sadly before turning back to the young woman, assuring her, "We are sworn to protect you from that fate."

Saeko gives Caesius a small nod.  "I will stand at your side if the time comes," she promises, speaking to both him and Ireena, and then turns more to the girl.  "But we must first do what we can to prevent it."

Eilieen slowly relaxes the draw on her bow, looking away.  A tightness crosses her lips as she lets out a long breath.  A woman assaulted by a demon...and blame falls upon her.  Blame and judgement, even, with swords raised.

A faint edge enters her voice.  "Is there naught other choices?  Exorcism?  Or your sorcery -" it pains her to broach that topic, and yet? "- that might save her?  Or do..."  She waves her hand, now free of her arrow, in a vague motion.  Do these gods you worship protect only their servants?  Much the same as it is in Chaville, in Gabriel, on the face of Gaia itself, she imagines, though she has not travelled the length and breadth of her world.

But she cannot speak it aloud, and Violet lets it go with a shrug, choosing another path.
 With quick steps she stalks to where the distraught Ireena stands, her hand diving into her pouch.  For a long moment, Violet bites her lip.  Her salvation...

I am already damned.

With a swift movement, she draws a small, velvet bag free.  "Carry this," the young woman whispers to Ireena.  "I know not if it will help, but it does me no good and I have it on good word it is an artifact of brightness."  One corner of her mouth twitches slightly, and she shrugs.  "Perhaps it will avail nothing, but it is all I have to give."

Said and done, she steps away from the group, turning to search the forest with her nervous eyes, her shoulders set against any discussion.

Qvar's regard turns to the Caesius, Ashlyn and Saeko, a slow bow of his head acknowledging their committment to protect the innocent ... and do what needs to be done, later, if it becomes necessary.  He hopes it does not come to that.

He watches his wizard brother making a stretcher, yet another gesture of respect for the victims of atrocity in Barovia.

Although the young woman's back is turned and she does not see, Qvar beams in appreciation of Violet's empathy and determination to comfort and protect an innocent victim.  He too does not know whether this gift will protect Ireena, but he's certain it is the best anyone can do at this moment and he hopes the gesture brings Ireena comfort.  To that end he smiles at Ireena, his curious arched brow enticing her to open the bag.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:53, Sun 14 Feb 2021.

The young woman's anger falls away as Caesius begs her forgiveness while reaffirming the necessity, and first Ashlyn then Saeko add their own staunch words of comfort.

But it is Violet's words and gesture that bring her back to the brink of tears.

At Qvar's silent urging Ireena opens the bag and tips the contents into her hand, revealing a small dark leather box inscribed with holy markings affixed to a leather cord.  Some of you are familiar with such things, but all of you have heard of them, for this is a phylactery, a holy item and the bane of undead.

Not trusting herself to speak, the young woman mouths heartfelt thanks to Violet now withdrawn once more to stand a vigilant guard.

The forest seems less dark now, if but a little, the gentle lifting of the messenger's mutilated corpse onto Zertin's makeshift stretcher a kindness, something long absent from these woods.

Though darkness still holds sway here, it seems the trees themselves are keen to see you on your way and as you attempt to retrace your steps, the path seems easier, the sense of danger less palpable ... and you pass unchallenged, before long finding yourselves back on the Old Svalich Road ... and from there it is the walk to village of Barovia is not long.

Though scant hours has passed since last you trod these streets, it seems that the few souls who ventured forth last time has now increased, though any initial jubilation at the routing of the undead plague seems now to have been replaced with a fear of retribution.

You reach the main square, the road now substantially cleared (though you note that those barrels and tables and the like that formed the barricade have been merely set to one side, ready to be used once more in need).

"Where best to lay this brave man to rest ?" Ashlyn asks as you pause for a moment, glancing at the body of the messenger.

"The cemetery perhaps ?  I believe the dead now rest peacefully."

Remaining watchful, Violet allows the others to deal with the issue of the body.  Perhaps there are rites and rituals that must be followed in order to prevent it from rising as one of the Undying in this hell.  For her, burials are a matter for the Church, not a true concern.  There had been little time, coin, or potential for graves when living on the cobblestone streets of Chaville.

Graves were for those with the money to spend upon them.

Zertin already had an answer prepared for Ashlyn's question.

"The cemetery would be as safe as anywhere now and more appropriate than anywhere else, unless this poor fellow had any relatives here who would wish to see to his burial. Shall we ask at the inn first? There maybe someone there who knows who he was and whether he had family here."

Caesius helps bear the corpse and, perhaps oddly, his mood lightens a little as he does so.  A single act of kindness, the removal of a dead man from the forest, seemingly improves the air of evil that hangs over this land.

The paladin finds this encouraging.

Surely it is a sign that the land is not permanently scarred?  That it will recover quickly when its evil overlord is cast down.

"If any here know him, my brother would," Ireena suggests.  The young woman feels some responsibility for the messenger's death since he bore the letter both at her father's bidding and concerning her.

Her fingers brush the pocket wherein she place Violet's gift, glancing once more towards her benefactor before striding into the Blood on the Vine tavern a mask of confidence upon her face ... and comes out with an unsteady but abashed Ismark in tow, and a gaggle of other townsfolk following.

"This man ... he worked for our father," she points at the corpse on the makeshift stretcher.  "Do you know him ?  We would bury him and would know his name."

"Gavril," her brother replies.  "Gavril Arcos.  His parents Petru and Daciana died last year.  He was loyal to our father and deserved better."

He nods his head slowly.  "I will help."

Standing next to Zertin, Qvar chuckles as he waits for Ireena to return from the tavern.  "I don't dare tell her that its usually worn on the forehead."  He smiles self-consciously toward Violet, hoping that his levity has not offended her.  "I think we can spare her that.  It will protect her perfectly from the safety of her pocket.  How is it worn in the Land of Gaia?"

When Ireena returns with Ismark, Qvar will offer to say some words of blessing when Gavril is buried.

"Good idea, Q. I am sure that will reassure folk here that Gavril Arcos will truly rest in peace. I don't mind admitting it will certainly reassure me, at the very least," Zertin murmured to Qvar as they watched the locals sort out among themselves the details of the funeral procession.

In a town where the streets are still being cleared of corpses, some not even once-risen, it does not take long to put together what is more burial detail than funeral, though the presence of the Burgomaster's children commands more respect and ceremony than most of those being interred are afforded ... and Gavril at least has the honour of a marked grave as he is laid to rest with his parents.

Since Ireena does not know the dead messenger and her brother is clearly still affected by drink, the young woman is grateful to Qvar for his offer to speak a few words ...

... that done, you find what supplies you need, the townsfolk happy to help, though their resources are meagre.

OOC: do you intend to rest a while, or press on now to seek out the Witches' Hill ?

What time of day would be t be after the burial? If it is still morning or early afternoon we could press on straight away. If it is less than 3 hours until dusk I would suggest we stay overnight at the village before tackling the next task.

Violet grimaces as Qvar makes his point about the gift.  "No idea myself," she murmurs quietly.  Such things are not the norm for her, nor seen in the churches of Chaville.  No offense is taken, mind; only some concern that the holy relic will not prove at all efficacious for Ireena.

Better with her, the young woman finally decides, than wearing a hole in Violet's pouch for no good reason.

Upon arrival in the town, she stares up into the grey sky, estimating how much daylight remains to them.  "I would not travel at what passes for night, here," she decides.  Hell is unpleasant at the best of times, but at night?  Even with this group of stalwart souls, it might prove too dangerous.

OOC: Dusk and dawn have no meaning in this realm of eternal gloom and mists ... though it has been a long day and while true sleep may prove elusive, the chance to rest might do you good - if naught else it would allow those who call upon arcane or divine power the chance to replenish their strength.

After considering the time of day Zertin is of the opinion that a rest would be a good idea before continuing their quest.

“Ireena, would you mind if we all stayed at your house tonight? It seems to make more sense than trying to find rooms for all of us elsewhere. It would keep us all together and we can help to guard you while you sleep tonight as well.”

"Time might be of the essence here." Caesius says, thoughtfully, "However, it would do little good to fight the demon while we are exhausted.  I believe rest to be more important than haste at this juncture."

Zertin's plan seems like a good one, and the paladin signifies his approval.

Violet shrugs her agreement.  "Should set up watches, truth," she mutters.  The homes here are proven to be no true protection, and some evil hunts Ireena.  What new demon has hell spawned?  The numbers are likely endless, but still Violet shudders slightly at the thought of meeting yet another evil.

"Not," Violet continues in low tones, "that we will sleep.  You know that, don't you?  Nobody sleeps here."  Her lips twist into something that isn't a smile.  "Just get more tired."

Saeko looks briefly disturbed as she realizes she's not entirely sure how long she's been here, but she lets the thought go and offers Violet a nod.  "Then it will be easy to keep our watches."  She chuckles a little, her own face lightening with a genuine grin.  "The laws of this place are unpleasant, but we can still turn them to our advantage."

"I no longer sleep," Qvar pipes up, smiling. "I can keep watch over all of us."

"The Master will not harm you this night," he assures Ireena.

Ireena agrees gladly with Zertin's suggestion on the heels of Caesius's approval, and you make your way from the cemetery that lies to the north of the town through the still, grey streets to the former home of the Burgomaster on the town's southern edge.

Though the undead incursion might be past, the mansion remains aged and dilapidated, marked by claws, fires and ominous stains and with every window barricaded.  Inside is but little better, the well furnished rooms showing considerable wear, though the holy symbols hung in every room draw attention from the soiled divans and ratty carpets.

The eyes of your host stray to the now empty front parlor where her father's body lay in state, bowing her head in remembrance before ushering you in, there to take your rest, nourished by what poor offerings remain in the larder.

The night passes not quietly, for heavy rain begins to fall hard, almost angrily, upon the rotted shingles in what might be the early hours of the new day, waking those who have managed to find sleep despite Violet's misgivings.

But pass it does, and without incident, though you know not whether that is due to the watchfulness of Qvar and anyone else who elects not take advantage of wakefulness as Saeko suggests, or who simply cannot sleep ... or merely that the evil that dwells here chooses to bide its time.

When morning comes and prayers are said (perhaps somewhat more fervently than usual) and Zertin has studied his eldritch tomes, you gird yourselves once more, ready to resume your quest ...

OOC: Continued in new thread - link to a message in this game...