With your purpose affirmed, you do not linger long in Barovia.  Indeed, with Ireena in your company, you do not seek out the services of the Vistani who remain in the village trusting to the young woman to lead you to the gypsy encampment where Madam Eva may be found.

The path plies its way through the mists in more or less an arrow-straight line, leading you to a bridge of ancient stone above the turgid Ivlis River, then twists and turns, affording infrequent glimpses of towering trees to the south where you hear the occasional howl of a wolf or somesuch beast.

Despite the forbidding surroundings, your spirits are buoyed by the aura that surrounds the priest of Pelor, though Caesius nevertheless maintains a vigil, ever alert for the taint of evil, as the conversation turns to the vow of poverty that Qvar has taken, Zertin exhorting Violet to work around its strictures as the young woman details her horrific encounter with a man-wolf. 

Though the mage does not hear all the gruesome details, Ireena does and the young woman pales as she listens, all but gasping with relief as you near a fork in the road ahead ...

An old wooden gallows creaks in a sudden chill wind blowing down from the high ground to the west.  A frayed length of rope dances from its beam. The well worn road splits here, and a signpost opposite the gallows points off in three directions: "Barovia" to the east, back the way you came, "Tser Pool" to the north and "Castle Ravenloft" to the west.

Across from the gallows, a low wall, crumbling in places, partially encloses a small plot of graves - presumably the final resting place of those who died at the end of that rope.

Violet has been considering the sorcerer's offer for the entirety of their journey to this place.  It has not, however, kept her from her watchful task; she knows these misty lands hold horrid demons.

Worse, though, is the difficult decision she now faces.

To fulfill her task, she potentially needs to put the holy relic in the hands of one of Satan's pawns: a sorcerer.  Worse, a sorcerer who revels in his power, who strikes down his enemies with blasphemous magicks.  The conundrum spins about in her thoughts, chasing its own tail endlessly, and her stomach rolls in nauseated response.  Is this the test?  The true test?  And what answer is correct?

But this is Hell; perhaps all choices lead to failure.

At sight of the gallows, she grimace, dragged back to the reality of Hell itself.  Her eyes dart left and right, searching for any of the Un-Dying who stagger through this land.   And she sidles up to Qvar, not meeting his gaze.  "Is it true?  Does your brother carry holy water for you?  How is it blessed?"

Perhaps there is a clue in this to help her navigate the convoluted maze of her indecision.

Zertin glances around at the scene around the gallows and he sniffs in distaste.

"Let us not linger here," he recommends.

"Which way? Not to the castle, I think, so to Tser Pool?" he asks Ireena.

Saeko walks quietly, matching Caesius in keeping a watchful eye to the other side of the road, though she does listen to her new friends' conversation.  She gives Violet a thoughtful look at the end, wondering what the remarkable young woman is thinking.

Reaching the crossroad, she leaves directional decisions to others, keeping her own eyes on the small graveyard.  She doubts a patch like this has been consecrated, and the graves look entirely too shallow for her liking - even at home, she'd have been wary, but in this place?

Caesius ignores the gallows, for they are a common enough site.  The majority of his attention is focussed on the graves - hardly surprising, considering the threats the group have encountered in this dark land.

At Zertin's question, he turns to look at the sign post.  "If that is our goal, then best we get there quickly.  This whole land carries the stench of evil." the paladin growls, irritably.

Qvar listens to Violet's tale thoughtfully, sympathising with the young woman for her ordeal.  He returns her frank gaze with his own, understanding but pondering his response quietly as Zertin discusses options and the the group walks on.

Reaching the crossroads, her question brings him out of his reverie.  "Yes, I have been known to lean on my brother from time to time."  He flashes a grin at Zed, then explains to Violet.  "Zed is wealthy enough to buy blessed water from priests who trade in such.  I would never presume that he take responsibility for my expenses, but his generosity does sit comfortably with my vow of poverty."  He quirks a wry smile.  "It would be altogether different if I were to borrow any of Zed's magical items and use them.  The same would be true of the gift you offered me ... in using it I would break my vow.  Whilst I am acutely aware of the holy power radiating from your pouch, and take great comfort in its presence, I may not channel that power."  He smiles ruefully.

'Salvation', he ponders, and 'rightful ordained holder'.  "Have no doubt, Violet, that we are here at the will of the gods.   You are chosen by a divine power for this task.  Divine powers, however, rarely tell us exactly what it is we are required to do.  That much we decide for ourselves.  Have you considered that perhaps your path to salvation and the rightful holder of a diving man's gift are one and the same, and it is simply the ordination that has not yet come to pass."  He looks at her speculatively and smiles.  "The paths we take to vocation are many and varied.  I would be happy to offer my prayers with your own should you feel called." 

"That's a pity," Zertin responds. "I thought I might have found a loophole there, but I should have known the gods would have that one covered already."

He shrugs apologetically at Violet.

As you draw near the crossroads, Caesius and Saeko maintaining their vigil while those to the rear discuss the finer points of Qvar's vow, a sudden shout draws everyone's attention.

Looking to the source, you see an armoured man charging towards the graveyard from the north, drawing a gleaming silver sword as he runs.  A jet-black raven flies at his shoulder.  The man has long, black hair and a neatly trimmed beard.  He wears full plate armour and carries a shield and longsword.  An amulet shaped likes a raven's head hangs around his neck.

Then all around you see shapes appear, dark smears of air, like shadows cast by clouds.  Three of them encircle the armoured figure, as they resolve into the wavering silhouettes of humanoid figures, roughly the size and shape of a man but with the merest suggestion of eyes ...

OOC: Map of the proceedings updated ...

Violet's hope crumble like rotted masonry at Qvar's revelation; somehow she keeps this from her visage, nodding along with his words.  It makes sense; trickery and word-games with oaths, in the stories, lead to naught but a most poor ending.  Curses, it seems, as well as the given word, are wiser than people might think.

The bright priest's next words bring a tremulous smile to her lips.  "I...worship no god, and know of none beyond the Father of Abel Christ," she replies, wary of offending.  "I fear I have never heard of your...Pelor?" Violet dimly recalls, hoping she has spoken correctly.  "Though Pelor's gifts cannot be contested."  It would be foolishness to say otherwise despite her upbringing; the pagan priest's powers are clear, and equally clearly do they come from the light.  She wonders what Father DuVallier would say of such; likely, he would claim Qvar worships at the feet of God, all-unknowing, or one of his angels, like Mikail or Gabriel.

But Violet feels a faint suspicion toward this simplistic reasoning.

"I might --" she begins, then a shout grasps her attention, dragging it to where an armored man's rush presages a beginning battle against blackened beings.  Un-dying?  Demons of hell?  Spirits of shadow and darkness?  Violet has no idea, but a maybe-mortal man is more wholesome than they, and an arrow slips into place as she hurries forward, off the path.

OOC - Violet will take a full-move, mostly sideways but one diagonal upward, in order to arrive at the top corner of the broken-down wall on the right (from the bottom left corner of the map, 10 squares in to the right, one square up).  If the wall is big enough for her to perch on, she plans to get up there to take high ground for loosing arrows.  If not, she'll likely use it for cover.

Zertin is startled by the knight's sudden arrival and the shadowy apparitions that converge upon him, and by Violet's sudden dash toward the graveyard wall.

It only takes a moment for him to recover though. He whips out his wand and speaks the arcane words to launch a string of five orange-glowing missiles at the shadowy creature to the left of the path near the gallows.

OOC: Zertin rolled 18 using 5d4+5.  Magic missile damage.

Caesius, alerted by the man's cry, moves towards him.  As he enters the graveyard, he holds forth  the silver lightning bolt that represents the might of Heironeous and calls out, "Lord Heironeous, hear the prayer of your servant!  Lay your hand upon this place and drive forth the minions of darkness!"

Qvar is startled by the sudden turn of events and Violet's rapid departure.  She does seem to think things through most thoroughly before ever she speaks ... it will be interesting to learn where her thoughts have arrived, in due course.

He follows Caesius into the graveyard, wooden Sun symbol in hand and ready to turn the shadows.  It seems he may not need to.  He grins broadly as Caesius takes the inishituv.  "How could Lord Heironeous refuse?"

Ashlyn too follows in Caesius's wake, dragging her sword from the scabbard as she closes with the foe, her expression grim.

"In Lathander's name I charge ye shades begone !" she challenges the undead, though is relying upon the name of her god and the blade in her hand to rout them.

As you see the undead approach the armoured man, you surge forwards.

Violet is swiftest, closing the distance between herself and the lich wall in short order and, judging the construction to be sufficiently solid, quickly clambers up, gaining the top before unshouldering her bow.  Ireena follows nervously on the young woman's heels, but pauses at the base of the wall, drawing her blade, her awkwardness betraying that while she may know how to use the sword, it has been some time since last she did so.

Not needing to take even a step, Zertin levels his wand at the shadowy creature lurking to the north, besides the gallows, loosing five glowing missiles which strike true.  Your ears are assailed by an inhuman scream as its form is rent asunder.  At the mage's side, Saeko's eyes turn in the other direction, as if expecting an ambush.

Dropping the reins of his horse (which are quickly if unnecessarily taken up by Randall who knows where he is most of use in this fight) Caesius enters the graveyard, stumbling over the scattered stones of the collapsed wall as he boldly thrusts his token of Hieroneous towards the shades, calling upon his god to drive the creatures hence ...

... and as swiftly as they came, they flee.  The four remaining shades fly in the face of the Paladin's demand, soaring away into the mists, as Qvar and Ashyln also navigate the rubble to join him. 

The knight can scarcely believe his change of fortune as he lowers his blade, calling his raven back to his shoulder as he thanks you gratefully.

"Well met, strangers !  A lucky day indeed that brings you to my side in my hour of need !"

"I am Sir Urik, Knight of the Raven ..." he looks to you expectantly.

OOC: Map of the proceedings updated ...

"Well met, Sir Urik. I am Ashlyn, my sword sworn to Lathander.  The townsfolk in Barovia spoke of you.  Her ..." the warrior woman looks around but doesn't see Ireena behind the stone wall "... Ireena's brother Ismark, the son of the late Burgomaster, expressed his admiration that you have been fighting the evil in this realm for so long !"

"Or at least he was impressed that you were still alive," she admits, ruefully, her vows getting the better of her.

Qvar grins back at Zed then gives Caesius an emphatic nod of appreciation.  "Comprehensively routed."

"Qvar, priest of Pelor whom you recognise as Lathander in this world."  He indicates himself then peers at the knight and raven.  "Are you injured?  Or your raven?"  He reaches halfway toward the bird perched on the knight's shoulder, a restrained gesture, uncertain of permission.

Zertin walks over an rests his hand on Qvar's shoulder.

"Well met, Sir Knight of the Raven. I am Qvar's brother, Zertin. You rather startled us, yelling and charging in like that. Did you already know those shades were there? I didn't even see them at all until after you had charged into the graveyard," he says.

Saeko gives an easy nod to the knight, but remains quiet, and returns to her duty keeping watch elsewhere to let others focus their attention on the new arrival.

"Well met, indeed.  I am Caesius, son of Horianon, son of Agresaide, son of Gamlach, of the House of Moliondes."  The paladin gives a shallow bow.  "Fortunate it is that we are here to aid you, for we are far from our homelands, and merely passing by."

"I serve Heironeous, though I know not what he is named in this place."

The knight seems pleased that Ashlyn at least has heard of him.

"Truth be told, 'twas I that hunted them.  Murks those shades are named by those wise in such matters.  And say rather that I sensed their evil, and they the strength of my vow."

"Servants of Lathander," he elects to include Qvar in that, "and Hieroneous of whom I know not.  But no gods of good are native to these fell lands, so glad I am that they led you here."

"I am unhurt, as is Hurrn here," the bird allows Qvar's hand to draw close, then hops further up the knight's shoulder, out of reach.

"Yourselves ?  Did any suffer harm in the battle ?"

"Hmm, fascinating," Zertin murmurs to himself, although perhaps not as quietly as he might have imagined.

"Who would have guessed that an overly evil demographic would generate such an abundance of paladins to fight it? Could it just be random chance? Or divine intervention, perhaps? Or are they simply attracted to it like flies to a turd? Hmm, I shall have to give this more thought."

After a moment or two of quiet reflection he realises that a question was asked and has not yet been answered.

"I believe we are all well, Sir Urik. Those murks were driven off before any physical contact could occur."

Saeko gives Zertin a curious glance as he mutters, and asks, "You believe in chance?"  Her tone is genuine piqued curiosity.

So much talk of different, heathen gods and cults ensures Violet hangs back; rather than move to where the others discuss, she keeps to her perch, peering out through the mists.  Relief courses through her; it seems that Qvar isn't the only one of the group capable of sending the shades of the un-dying into abject flight.  Perhaps there's something to this knight, Caesius, after all.

Something, in fact, to consider.

Slowly her stomach settles; with the shades driven off, the young woman finds her forehead covered in the chill sweat of reaction, unused chemicals coursing through her system.  It's all she can do to keep from shivering in the damp.  Rather than succumb, she forces herself to turn her back on the conversation below, choosing to focus her senses on their surroundings.

If the shades return...

...if they bring friends..

...she will be prepared.

Zertin favours Saeko with a smile.

"Most certainly. I have watched dice roll often enough to credit the existence of random chance. I must admit it does seem unlikely in this particular case, though."

"Chance doesn't exist, but sometimes the Gods don't tell mortals the whys and wherefores of their decisions." Caesius states, with a smile.  "Chance is simply an illusion of randomness produced by insufficient knowledge."

He turns towards the night, "Sir Urik, we are bound for Tser Pool.  Are we likely to run into more of those... what did you name them... murks?  Are they common in this region?"

Zertin looks around casually. Graveyard. Gallows.

"Just give them a minute. I'm sure they'll be right back," he comments dryly.

"Personally, I would prefer to be well on our way before they do. No doubt we will find plenty of other excitement today without waiting around for it to find us."

The knight is pleased to hear that none of you had suffered harm,  "The creatures' chill touch can weaken body and soul", he explains in the manner of one wary of such things but equal to the challenge.

"The gypsy encampment ... you should be safe from Murk's there - they linger near graveyards and crypts and places of death.  Though more like you will lose your coin, aye and even the shirts upon your backs if you would beard those thieves and vagabonds in their lair !  Be vigilant !"

Thanking you again, Sir Urik departs, taking the western fork in the path ...

Heeding Zertin's suggestion, you press on down the Northern path, leaving gallows and graveyard behind you ...

The canopy of mists and branches overhead suddenly gives way to open sky - though the sky is black with roiling storm clouds.  A circle of colourful wagons and a scattering of tents are ranged around a dancing bonfire, and a handful of men and women in colourful garb sit quietly near the wagons, eyeing your approach with suspicion and open appraisal, though they voice no greeting.

Beyond the camp a small lake reflects the angry sky above.

As Sir Urik departs, Qvar grins at Caesius and places his hand on the paladin's shoulder.  "It was you."  He notes that Violet is watching, includes her with his smile.

On the way to the pool he falls in with Zertin and is drawn into his debate with Caesius and Saeko.  "Of course there is chance, for most things.  If the gods decided every die roll then a die would dance on its edge as powers vie to decide its fate."  He chuckles at the mental image, then sobering as he continues.  "But have no doubt, our arrival here was not chance.  We choose what we try to do here, but the gods vie to steady us or topple us."

Having no coin to lose, Qvar approaches the gathering at the bonfire.  He raises a hand in greeting.  "We seek Madame Eva."

Those they meet are not the only ones with suspicions lurking in their eyes.  Violet struggles to keep her face flat, betraying nothing of her emotions.  Zinner, she considers with disgust.  Certainly their clothing seems similar, as does their hair, their wagons...for a moment, she wonders if it's possible she somehow stumbled from the streets of Chaville to the forests of Moth, and has been wandering in them all of this time and finding the truths of the children's stories of horror.

But no; this is not Gaia, this is hell.

Speaking, she leaves to Qvar; her own voice might betray her disgust.  She keeps to the fringes of the group, making no signs of a threat, but her eyes are wide and her ears open for movement.  One never knows with Zinner.  They're no most trustworthy than she, herself, used to be, and no, the irony is not lost on the young woman.

OOC - Listen 16, Spot 28.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:18, Sun 26 Apr 2020.

Zertin walks forward with Qvar, stopping just a step behind and to the left of his brother. He nods agreement with his brother's words and nods a greeting to those who turn their gaze his way.

Zertin rolled 3 using 1d20+1.  Listen check.
Zertin rolled 14 using 1d20+4.  Spot check.

The armoured woman slows her pace to stay close to Ireena, little caring for subtlety as she takes up a protective position between the young woman and the Vistani.

"Your brother warned me of these folk and their underhand ways," Ashlyn mutters to Ireena.  "Stay close."

Caesius, like Ashlyn, slows as the group approach the camp.  His eyes rove over the area, taking in details.  These folk apparently have a reputation for theft and trickery and, whether or not it is deserved, it makes the paladin cautious in his approach to them.

At least until he finds out for sure, one way or the other.

OOC: Spot=7, Listen=8.  Ooh look... a butterfly!  :\

None of you are minded to trust these Vistani, though in truth there are but few of them here, maybe half a dozen seated near the wagons.  None of offer a greeting in return as Qvar addresses them.  Indeed all of them continue to stare ...

... until one at last rises, with almost deliberate slowness and with a desultory gesture bids you follow him.

You notice a few colourful round tents pitched outside the circle of ornately decorated wagons, and it is to one of these that the man strides.  In contrast with his earlier indolence, he walks quickly, seemingly with little concern whether you keep up or not, though he does not take you far, for the largest of the tents is set not much distant to the others.

Ducking his head inside, your erstwhile guide speaks, his words muffled. You hear no response, though it is but a second before he turns back, lifting the flap and waving you inside with a derisive smile.

Within the tent, sitting on a low divan that is festooned with cushions and draped with brightly coloured material, is Madame Eva, though she is perhaps not what you expected.

The old woman before you is enormous, for a moment seeming more like an ogre or a small giant than the ancient, wrinkled human she is.  She hunches over a table that is dwarfed by her bulk, and her black eyes gleam as she shuffles a deck of weathered playing cards.  A small lantern hangs above her, bathing her with flickering light.  Her hands are bony and spotted with age.  When she speaks, her voice crackles like dry weeds.

"At last you have arrived !"

Zertin smiles when he hears Madam Eva's words.

"Greetings, Madame Eva. It is a pleasure to meet you at last. I am Zertin and with me here are Qvar, Ashlyn, Ireena, Saeko, Violet, Caesius and Randal," he introduces his companions. "We come to you seeking information and guidance, but no doubt that comes as no surprise to you."

So... Madame Eva has been expecting them.  Caesius smiles - there are three possibilities that he can see: first is a genuine gift that allowed her to foresee their coming, second is that her wors are just a bluff to make her seem powerful, and third is that she has a good spy network in the area.

Whichever it is, it makes no difference.  They have been told that she can help them, so whatever she uses, be it magic or some form of trickery, there is little they can do but talk to her.

"How may we defeat the terror that haunts the good folk of this land?"

Violet eyes the tents with definite suspicion, her mind tallying numbers against what she sees.  Her math might be basic, but it's good enough, and her grimace speaks volumes.  The young woman sidles up to the bright Lady Saeko, and speaks to the Ryuan woman in a low whisper.  "There are many more than apparent," she whispers, avoiding sibilants.

Her hands stay on the grips of her hand weapons, eschewing the bow; if an attack comes, like as not it will be close, with knives.  Though the Zinner Violet knows would never dare attacking armed and armored knights, who can say what these ones might do?  And whether they possess dark sorcery of their own?

Certainly they seem confident in their disdain.

She's the last into the tent, moving to the side of the opening and taking a few more steps, keeping at least two paces from the tent wall.  Her brown eyes remain guarded and watchful as the ancient crone speaks, and her ears strain toward the sounds without rather than the conversation within.

OOC - Violet will continue to try to hear any sounds coming from outside, focusing especially on things like, oh, large groups of people moving around. 

The necessary introductions are complete, if not completely unnecessary, so Qvar blurts out what's on his mind.  "And I seek the sunstone.  It's a platinum amulet shaped like the sun with a large golden crystal embedded in its center, and around the crystal are inscribed symbols of light and truth. It was stolen from my church in, well, a distant land."

The young woman gasps in surprise as Qvar speaks of the sunstone.

"You have described the Holy Symbol of Ravenkind that was my father's but was stolen from us !" she states, in some confusion.  "I seek that also - it is that which will protect me from the master of the castle !"

"And I would know where the legendary Sunsword might be found," Ashlyn adds her request to the list of those laid before the old crone.  "I was told that you know where it is or at least had the skill to find it with your gifts of foresight."

Violet whispers in Saeko's ear as the rest of the group address their questions to Madame Eva. 

The old woman smiles at Zertin, shrugging her shoulders.

"The cards foretold your coming," she tells the mage, smiling at him as she looks at each of you in turn, though Caesius gains her widest smile and Qvar a frown as she seemingly takes a dislike to the Priest of Pelor.

"The 'terrors that haunt this land' is it, my pet ?" she nods at the paladin's question regarding him warmly.  "And the Holy Symbol of Ravenkind and this Sunsword as well."  Perhaps it is the disfavour in which she holds Qvar that she uses the name Ireena uttered in preference to Sunstone.

"Aught else ?" she asks as she continues to shuffle the cards, her fingers almost caressing them "or shall I consult the cards and see what Fate has in store ?"

OOC: this was written after Ashlyn's post but before I read Skald's post.  I'll write something else later to respond to Skald's post about the grumpy crone... Happy Mothers Day.

"How strange?"  Qvar's puzzled gaze moves from Ireena to Madame Eva and then back to Ireena.  "Yet, perhaps not strange at all.  Two identical relics stolen in two different worlds, and the two of us questing after them.  Truely we are not here by chance.  I wonder, are all quests paired?  Perhaps Caesius should quickly lay claim to a holy sword?"  He flashes a grin at the paladin, certain that such matters should not be a topic of jest, but buoyed by the overwhelming feeling of the rightness of this strange gathering in the tent.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:33, Sun 10 May 2020.

"No man lays claim to a true holy sword, Qvar." Caesius replies, shaking his head, "It is, rather, t'other way about.  The weapon lays claim to the man, if he be worthy.  While any man can pick up a blessed blade, if he is unworthy then it will be no better than a common stick in his hands."

Still, he considers, a man can always try to prove his worth...

"Aught else?" Zertin ponders Madame Eva's question.

"This fellow Strahd, the master of the castle. What more do we need to know about him?"

While others discuss -- both with the Zinner and one another -- Violet continues to keep watch.  The silence outside of the tent relaxes her not a whit; it seems unnatural, the product of planning.  Or sorcery.

She would expect to hear the low hum of voices, the laughter of children.  Movement.  But nothing?

No camp is this quiet.

"I like this not at all," the young woman whispers again to Lady Saeko, keeping her eyes upon the tent flap.  Hand on the hilt of her blade, she moves to the entry and -- carefully, but without hesitation -- edges back the flap to take a look.

Qvar's buoyant mood vanishes the instant the crone frowns at him.  He has rarely had a bad reaction from good folk.  His eyebrows shoot up betraying his surprise, and the glow about his head wavers.  Hints and suspicions about these Vistani, that he had tried to ignore, unwillingly align in his mind.  He notices the wary stance of some of his companions.  Perhaps this constant gloom suits these sullen folk, rather than afflicts them.  Perhaps they even profit from it; trade with the tyrant on the hill rather than live in fear of him.  Well to be wary.

He settles his face in a tight-lipped, mirthless smile as he watches the old woman for clues that betray deceit.  He brightens his glow to pale the flickering lamp above her head and push the shadows back to the corners of her tent.  Her tent, but here he is.  As it is meant to be.

14:10, Today: Qvar rolled 11 using 1d20+5.  sense motive, crone.

Ireena only looks more confused by Qvar's explanation, though in truth the young woman is distracted, obviously eager to hear what the old crone can tell her, though fearful of what she might learn, and further unsettled by Violet's obvious disquiet about being in the Vistani camp.

Yet Ashlyn is more sanguine, shrugging her shoulders at Qvar's suggestion that Caesius should also lay claim to the sword and nodding her head at the paladin's words.

Madame Eva, however, cackles loudly.  "Well said my pet !" she tells him approvingly, "'tis the same with the cards - it is they who know what was, what is and what will be, not an old woman such as I !" 

"Strahd is master of this land, dearie," she addresses Zertin next, "what ills abide fall under his stewardship."

She thumbs through her deck and pulls one card from the pack, placing it face down upon the table.  Though the card is old and worn, the worksmanship is obvious, the depiction of a winged and horned, goat-faced bloated creature on the upturned face all too clear and real.

"This is the Devil," she tells you.  "This is the focus card for the master."

She selects another, a robed woman, her head covered and with a cross upon a chain about her neck.  "This one the Priestess, which stands for the Holy Symbol of Ravenkind."

She turns back to the cards in her hand, searching through them until she finds the one she seeks, that of an infant upon a white horse, beneath a stylised image of the sun, placing it besides the others.

"And lastly the Sun ... the focus for the Sunsword."

She gathers the remaining cards back into the pack, shuffling them expertly, neither quick nor slow, before placing the pile on the front of the table, nearest you.

"Cut the deck for me, my pet," she smiles at Caesius expectantly and you shall have your reading."

Without even a heartbeat's hesitation, Caesius reaches for the deck  and cuts it, though he doesn't handle the cards as expertly as the crone.  "This reading, will it... ?" he starts to ask, quietly, and then changes his mind, "No matter... just do it, and we can decide after whether it guides us truly, or not."

"In any case, if this Strahd is responsible for the woes of this land, then we must stop him, no matter what the cards tell us."

Qvar watches the scene silently, so as not to further antagonise the crone.  Let any malice be revealed of itself, not in response to his goading.

Zertin nods thoughtfully at Madame Eva's words, but refrains from agreeing with Caesius's pronouncement too soon. His face shows no emotion at all as he waits to hear what the cards foretell.

"The cards do not lie, my sweetling," Madame Eva smiles as she responds to Caesius's musing, "but what they can tell us is down to the skill of the one who reads them and the wit of those who hear.  Now hush my pet and listen well ..."

The old crone takes up the cut deck, placing the lower pile upon the upper.  She cradles the cards in her hands and closes her eyes in concentration for a moment then takes the first card from the top of the pack.

"He who dwells in Castle Ravenloft is a powerful man whose enemy is light and whose powers are beyond mortality.  You will seek him in the castle, and though he might find you many times you will find him only once."

She places the card directly atop the Devil, the first of the focus cards representing the Master, so as to conceal it completely, revealing the Ace of Coins as she lifts her hand.

"You will find him where the light lies dead, slain by his own darkness.  Grief haunts the lord of the castle, grief for the brother he slew.  Seek his brother's tomb in the deepest recesses of the castle."

She draws another card.

"Out of the darkness and chaos, this card finds its reason and foundation.  It shows the purpose all all things - the key to life and death and else beyond."

She places the card, the Ten of Cups, atop the first but perpendicular to it.

"There is no reason, no pattern to this chaos.  The darkness seeks light, desiring fulfillment ... or perhaps destruction ?  Yet the powers of good will ward you in this place."

"The lord of the castle has sunk into madness," she lifts her head to look suddenly at Ireena, "perhaps because of his love for a woman ?"

Ireena gasps as Madame Eva lowers her gaze back to the cards, turning her attention to the next focus card, the Priestess which represents the Holy Symbol of Ravenkind, plucking another card from her deck.

"This symbol is a powerful force for good and protection against the forces of darkness.".

On top of it she places the Seven of Coins, once more covering the focus card completely.

"Seek it in the place of blasphemy, where humans plumb their darkest nature."

"This is a card of debasement and debauchery. The symbol has been brought low, to the hill where the witches gather."

The next she draws she again places perpendicular to the first.

"The holiness in this item waits for hands of holiness to touch it once more, but that is not enough to bring its power back to life."

You see the Nine of Swords.

"You must bring the symbol home, to the last remaining shred of sacred ground in the defiled castle."

"In the grounds of the castle there once stood a chapel.  Perhaps it yet holds some remnant of goodness."

She turns now to the last of the focus cards, the Sun, representing the Sunsword.

"What you seek is a blade of light, a weapon for vengeance."

The old crone places the Five of Batons atop it.

"Seek it in the heart of the wilds, far from human hands."

"This card speaks of the wildness of nature.  The weapon is deep in the woods, perhaps guarded by a fey spirit."

One final card she draws, the Six of Coins, and places perpendicular to the last.

"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."

Hands trembling, Madame Eva rests the remainder of the pack down upon her table, her shoulders slumped as she wearily looks up once more.

"There my pet, there is your reading.  May it guide you true."
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:34, Mon 25 May 2020.

The swordswoman struggles to follow the crone's pronouncements, choosing to work with the practical aspects of the reading and ignore the esoteric.

"Sword and symbol," she muses, setting aside the small matter of Strahd's madness for the moment.  "The one lies in the woods guarded by fey, the other on the witches' hill.  Both must be awoken at the castle."

"Very much like a knight's quest of old," she grins at Caesius. "And perhaps such would be an enjoyable pursuit were not the stakes so high !"

Zertin nods agreement to Ashlyn's summary.

"Yes, and we will find Strahd in the castle, where he holds the advantage, for he would know it well and can find us at will, whereas we will only find him once. Let us hope once is enough. Clearly we should seek the sword and the symbol first, before we go anywhere near the castle."

He looks around at the other members of the party.

"So, have you any preference which item to go after first? Ashlyn seeks the sword. Qvar seeks the symbol. Ireena seeks the symbol to protect her from Strahd. Quite apart from the nobility of seeking to protect this young lady, if Strahd is somehow responsible for the ills that plague this land, then I suspect our problems would become worse if we fail in that task. Therefore, I think we should seek the symbol first."

Qvar keeps his face neutral through the reading.  Nothing in this reading gives him any cause to doubt the sincerity of the crone, or to bolster the notion that the Vistani may be in league with Strahd.  The crone's significant regard of Ireena corroborates the young woman's earlier account of the bite marks on her neck, and reinforces the group's decision to keep Ireena under their protection.  He nods his agreement with Zertin's suggestion, protecting those who seek to destroy Strahd should be their first priority.

Saeko nods her own quiet agreement with Zertin.

After a moment's further thought, she steps closer to Ireena and looks seriously at the young woman.  "She spoke of love," she notes.  "But do not mistake obsession for love.  If it is that his actions are guided by desire for you, it is a desire to possess and control, not to care."

Overhearing Saeko's words to Irena, Zertin turns to them and lifts his hand, index finger raised as a thought occurs to him.

"She spoke of love, yes, but love of whom? Ireena, you mentioned another name earlier, from your dreams. You said Strahd called you 'Tatyana'..."

Turning back to Madame Eva he asks, "Does the name Tatyana mean anything to you, Madame?"

"The Symbol, aye," Ashlyn agrees. "We need find both before we storm the castle and," she eyes Ireena with sympathy as the girl suddenly becomes much the centre of attention, "even so it may afford our charge some comfort and protection."

The young woman takes no comfort from Saeko's well meant words ... indeed they seem only to increase her concerns.

"To be loved or to be controlled and possessed ?  Neither fate has much appeal," Ireena bravely tries to jest, but her voice breaks, the smile on her lips forced.

She nods at Zertin's question.  "Tatyana, yes, but that was but in a dream.  The name means naught to me."  She looks to Madame Eva for her reply, uncertain as whether to wish the old crone knows or fear she does.

Violet has little enough to say at the moment; the practicalities of keeping watch have left her absent from the mysticism of the Zinner.  Unsurprisingly, she distantly considers, Hell is populated by those who traffic with the devil.  Which she concludes, in all fairness, makes her no better.  After all, she finds herself in the same place, and standing alongside a sorcerer.

Perhaps Hell is something to be withstood, rather than transcended.

Now the talk turns to love; having no experience with such, Violet continues to occasionally peer out the door and never ceases to listen carefully for signs of danger.

"Sword or Symbol?  I would suggest we go for whichever is closest." Caesius adds his own opinion.  "It doesn't matter which it is.  If they are both items of holy might, then having either will strengthen us, and help us to get the other."

Apologies.  I could have sworn I posted here last week.  Remember writing and posting a (somewhat longer) message which has, apparently, vanished into the Mists.

Qvar smiles reassurance at Ireena, a reminder of the protection that was promised her.

Madame Eva sits, head bowed, seemingly unaware of your discussions, though she does look up wearily when Zertin poses his question.

"I've not heard tell of any woman by the name of Tatyana, dearie," she tells the mage, "but if it fell from the lips of the master of the castle , then perhaps he himself wrote of her ... but the ancient Tome of Strahd is long lost.  Perhaps the cards might know ..."

The old crone raises her shaking hand towards the deck, but slowly, painfully lowers it.

"If you'd learn more," her breath is ragged, "then it must wait until I regain my strength.  Seek out the sword and symbol and then return to me."

"Ye have the right of it my pet," she smiles at Caesius, "the witches hill lies to the south west of the path that leads to the Castle, the deepest heart of the woods sit north of the village."

"Now ye must leave me ..."

"Thank you, Madame. I understand how draining that sort of gift can be. We will leave you to rest. I shall look forward to visiting you again another day."

Zertin will bow (as to an equal) to Madame Eva then leave the tent.

Outside he will suggest to the others, "If the witches' hill takes us closer to the castle, shall we go to the deepest heart of the woods to find the sword first?"

Qvar nods his agreement to Zertin.  "A stroll in the woods sounds nice."  His smile is a little forced.  He settles his glow to a less conspicuous brightness and walks with Zertin.  He watches the woods for signs of wildlife, hoping to catch a glimpse of birds and small animals that should be there.

Caesius gives a shallow bow, and says, "We thank you for your help, and I pray that it helps rid this land of the foulness that taints it."  Then he turns to exit the tent.

Outside Caesius nods his agreement.  "The heart of the woods, and the blade, it is."

If the the young woman is disappointed that you choose to seek the sword first, rather than the symbol that might protect her, she does not show it ... indeed, her reaction is more one of relief that your path will take you away from the castle.

You politely take your leave of Madame Eva, the old crone acknowledging your thanks with a dip of her head and a small smile reserved for Caesius.

Without the tent, you brave once more the sullen, silent stares of the Vistani as you skirt the circle of wagons and retrace your steps through the prevailing mists to the muddy roadway.

Half a mile of walking brings you back to the crossroads, but this time there is sign of neither the shadowy spirits nor of the knight, Sir Urik.  You continue on ...

Another mile with the woods close by to your south, and no sound of any beast save the distant howling of what sounds like wolves, and you re-cross the bridge over the Ivlis River as the roadway bends north eastwards, and half a mile further takes you back to Barovia.

Pausing, you consider your options - whether to strike northwards here where Ireena tells you the Svalich Woods lie but a quarter mile north of the road ... or to pass through or around the town to follow the roadway further, where the woods draw ever nearer till the all but engulf the path.

"Madame Eva did say the deepest heart of the woods sit north of the village. Something tells me to take her words literally. So, back to the village then head north from there?" Zertin asks.

Qvar is quite literally lost, in thought as well as geographically.  No birds then, only wolves.  He smiles at Zed and nods his agreement.  "As there's no safe way around, we may as well not go the long way around."

"Either way," Violet states quietly, her shrug fatalistic.  She edges to the lead, studying their surroundings dubiously, keeping eyes and ears focused on the misty land rather than the converse of the people about her.

Then her voice rises slightly, in a question.  "These people, do we trust them?"  Her lips thin.  "Perhaps they send us to be fleeced of all we value, by others who lie in wait.  Or worse."

Her hands rise, helplessly, before removing her bow and carefully stringing it, readying the weapon for possible foes.  "I have no other paths to take, myself.  But I feel we should be wary of more 'natural' threats than simply the un-dying."  Violet has spent her life avoiding more human dangers, herself; though speaking of the un-dying comes more easily to her now, her senses remain alert for the ambushes of mortals.

"Fleeced you say?  I doubt the locals have e'er seen sheep more fierce than this flock." Caesius says, grinning.  Then, more seriously, "To my mind, 'north of the village' seems the most likely choice.  The old woman did not seem the kind to misspeak directions."

Saeko's lips quirk into a grin at Caesius's comment, but she nods to Violet.  "Trust or no, there is wisdom in your thoughts.  The Breathless are all too powerful here, but it would be foolish to forget that beating hearts, too, can carry darkness.  Thank you."

In the end, the decision is an easy one ...

You re-enter the town and head down the main street.  With the defeat of the mad priest and the end of plague of undead, you see the townsfolk venturing out into the streets once more, and the wary glances cast your way become smiles and waves as they recognise you.  Indeed, you'd likely have gained an entourage were it not for Ashlyn and Ireena persuading the gathering crowds not to follow you.

Where you are going, it is best that innocents do not.

With the town at your back, you continue on the trail, retracing your steps towards the gate, though long before you reach it, you become aware of the treeline, glimpsed through fleeing opening in the mists, pressing ever closer to the roads edge until it seems to swallow it whole.

Here the Svalich Woods loom on both North and South sides of the path.

"How should we do this," the armoured woman ponders, staring into the darkness of the trees.

"Are any of us skilled at finding and following tracks, if there are any such, or have any spell at their command that might guide us ... or do we simply blunder in and trust to our gods and our luck ?"

Zertin stops walking as he considers the puzzle that Ashlyn has identified.

"Madame Eva said it is a blade of light, a weapon for vengeance. She told us to seek it in the heart of the wilds, far from human hands, deep in the woods, perhaps guarded by a fey spirit.

"Ireena, who in the village would have the best knowledge of these Svalich Woods? A druid or a ranger, perhaps? Someone who might know where such a fey spirit might be found?" he asks.

Violet shrugs at the question.  Her ways are not those of the woods; while she might catch sight of discrepancies others would miss, or pick odd sounds from the forest's whispers, she is of no assistance in divining the traces of a passage.

Better to leave that to another who holds such skill.

"I have no skill in that regard." Caesius replies, shrugging.  "If I hunted, it was with a tiercel or a hawk, so I had little need to learn to track."

"That said, I have a good eye.  I might see where others have been, but could tell you little of how long since they passed that way, how many there were, or whether they were heavily burdened."

Saeko nods graciously to the crowds as they pass through the town.

She looks a little bemused at the topic of tracking.  "What kind of trail does a sword leave?" she muses.  With a small shrug, she adds, "I was never the best at it, but I can follow tracks, should we find some."  She is clearly envisioning little pommel-shaped dents left in the ground as the sword went hopping through the forest.

"My fellow townsfolk are farmers and shopkeepers, nothing more," Ireena tells Zertin.  "Even those who gather firewood do so from the outer fringes of the forest and would never dare press deeper."

"There have been sightings reported of Elves in the woods, though naught more than fleeting glimpses.  I certainly have never seen them and they have never ventured into our town."

"Evil I can find, but not Good !  We must hope that the sword lies in some obvious place and not merely lies hidden beneath a bush or has been buried under the earth."

"Perhaps the magic within it might be noticed by our wizard, if we pass close.  Or perhaps our blundering about will be noticed by these elusive Elves and they will take pity upon us and offer to guide our steps !"

Zertin didn't look particularly heartened by what his companions had to offer but he just shrugged and turned back to face northwards, toward the forest again.

"Well, then, there is nothing to be gained by standing here, so we might as well set forth. Between us we may see and recognise the clues that will lead us to our goal. Or perhaps those mysterious elves will show themselves, if only to ask us why we venture into their domain."

Saeko nods.  "Or perhaps it will be the only brightly glowing artifact shining through the depths of the woods," she suggests, encouragingly.

"Ha, yes indeed. I just suggest you check with Qvar or one of the paladins before you race toward the light!" Zertin chuckled.

With at least the basics of a plan, you leave the path and enter the woods, pushing north.  Any concern that Hammer might struggle to squeeze through are soon set aside, as the big horse easily pushes aside the smaller saplings ... and Zertin's misgivings also seem to be proving unfounded as the wizard is able to direct your steps with growing confidence to where he thinks the heart of this forest lies. 

Yet your trepidation grows ...

The towering trees, their tops lost in heavy grey mist, allow only dim shafts of light to reach the dusky forest floor. Moss-covered trunks form a living labyrinth.  The woods have the silence of a forgotten grave - until the wolves begin to howl, nearby.

You may well find your way in, but getting out again is perhaps another matter.

Suddenly you find your path blocked by a single figure, an Elf of the woods by his appearance and attire, with features less fine than others of his kin.  He wears leather armour and bears a greatsword and longbow which he holds at the ready, arrow nocked, though pointed, for the moment at least, at the ground.

[Language unknown: "La om u ek intlarbut ie waca streveess ?"] he calls out, eyeing you levelly and unafraid.

Zertin held up his hands to show he held no weapons and to signify that he offered no threat.

[Language unknown: "Ureithoulnde, icaruthas. A navir ss fiofie. Oursonove outtervor n es asttrathuder er fi herel U san pr i aralna pa ineouning arfi al m encla toeswh ithat Usbeos omnc-pric."] he said to the elf, then turned to translate for his companions.

"This gentleman's first question was, what evil do you bring to this forest? I have told him we come in peace and have said I would translate as a number of you do not speak his language. Please, nobody do anything to upset him. I doubt he would stand there so fearlessly if he did not have sufficient allies all around us already to deal with us swiftly, if necessary."

Then he turned back to the elf and spoke first in the Elven tongue then translated each statement to the common tongue as he went along.

"We bring no evil with us. Quite the opposite, in fact. We are here in Barovia to fight against the evil that plagues these lands. We have come to this forest only to seek that which will aid us in that quest," he explained.

Qvar glows pleasantly in the gloom, smiles and nods helpfully when Zertin says something he can understand.

Saeko remains wary, but tries not to do anything that will upset the Elf.

Caesius stands silently, and still, happy that Zertin is able to translate for them, because the language is entirely unknown to him.

The accusation that they are bringing evil to the forest, though, gives him pause.  Perhaps the questioner is evil, and seeks to cloud  matters?  He studies the Elf carefully, with narrowed eyes.

Not that he expects to learn much.  Elves are somewhat different from Humans...

Violet glumly waits while the sorcerer speaks with the...'elf'.  It frustrates and concerns her that she caught no trace of the being's presence until it appeared before them.  Sorcery?  Or skill?  And the question -- along with Zertin's response -- nearly brings a snort from her.  Sorcery, an inhuman being...and hell.

And they speak of evil?

With a chance to study the being, Violet's tension grows.  Thin...too thin for a human.  Shorter as well.  And those ears, and unearthly beauty?  Perhaps this is one of the Sylvain, of whom the Church has warned Violet.  Or worse.

And that bow - it puts her own to shame.  Not to worry, so much, as the sword does much the same for the weapons of her compatriots.  Clearly the 'elf' is stronger than it appears.

Slowly the young woman turns in place, eyes and ears searching for any possibility of other hidden watchers.

Spot 16
Listen 24
This message was last edited by the player at 16:17, Mon 27 July 2020.

The Elf does not seem reassured by Zertin's words, perhaps due to there being so many of you, though his reply is in the Common tongue, albeit somewhat accented as if he is unused to speaking thus.

"You are the first outsiders we have seen in these woods for many years," he tells the mage, "we keep to our own.  What help do you seek here ?"  He looks around, weighing you all up.

Zertin bows his head slightly as a sign of respect for a fellow linguist.

"We have been told that which we seek lies in the deepest heart of the woods, perhaps guarded by a fey spirit. We would greatly appreciate any advice and guidance you could offer to help us narrow our search, for I have no doubt you must know this forest better than any human could ever hope to," Zertin responded in the Common tongue.

Turning his attention to Hammer, Caesius combs his fingers through the horse's mane.  Zertin seems to have things well in hand, for the moment, but the paladin listens with half an ear, just in case the situation takes a turn for the worse...

Can't be too careful.  Or too prepared. he thinks, What was it Callum used to say?  A sword in the hand is worth a dozen in the armoury?

Qvar keeps his silence also, content to let Zertin speak for the party.  He wonders whether the elves will help or hinder their quest.
08:33, Today: Qvar rolled 19 using 1d20+5.  Sense motive elf.

The Elf snorts with derision at Zertin's question, shaking his head.

"The ignorant villagers no doubt told you such as you wished to hear ! What would they know of the woods ?!"

Zertin shakes his head.

"Not the villagers, no. Have you heard of Madame Eva? Her insights are profound, although whether they are arcane or divine or from some other source I do not know. Still, I trust her guidance in this matter. We seek to cast off the shadow of evil that plagues all of Barovia. She has told us what she can of where to find something which will aid that cause. So, would you aid us, or turn your back on us, or stand in our way?" he asks the elf.

"Has this land always been dark?  And so few animals?" Qvar can't help but ask, sure that the elves are missing the point.
"Or has it only been like this since the coming of Strahd?"  He glances toward the bushes behind the party and smiles encouragingly, then looks back to the elf spokesman.  "We seek a holy relic known as the Sunsword.  We need it to defeat Strahd, and we're hoping you can help us find it."
18:17, Today: Qvar rolled 26 using 1d20+12.  Diplomacy with elves.

"Good point, Q. I hadn't thought about how badly the lack of sunshine must be affecting the flora and fauna of the forest. The whole balance of nature is upset, isn't it?" Zertin observes, looking quite impressed by his brother's understanding of the natural world.

OOC: Zertin rolled 17 using 1d20+3.  Diplomacy check DC10: aid another.

Qvar's remarks cause Caesius to tense.  Revealing their intent before the elf has  shown himself to be cooperative could be an error on the priest's part.  Zertin, however, seems to ignore the mention of the Sword, and focuses instead on the things Qvar mentione that, most assuredly, cause problems for the natives of this land.

Lack of crops, kine and game can result in war or, as Caesius has heard, rovolt among the populace.  Perhaps, in this case, famine, or the threat of it. can turn the elves against the devil who holds Barovia in a grip of nightmare.

The Elf starts to react scornfully to Zertin's plea for help, but he bites back on his response as Qvar speaks up, turning his attention to the softly glowing cleric, moved by his words.

Though Caesius is concerned at the mention of the Sunsword, the Elf seems somewhat saddened, raising his hand in a gesture of supplication. 

"The forests are not the same as once they were," he agrees.  "Though that was more years ago than you would ever know, my people still remember."

"The heart of the forest has become corrupted, as have all who dwell in these lands. Perhaps there you will find what you seek."

"If you ask it of me, I will guide you there ..."

The faint sounds around them draw Violet's attention for some time; she focuses on the danger, allowing her compatriots to speak with the...'elf'.  When he makes the brief gesture, the young woman relaxes...somewhat.  The danger, it seems, has eased a touch, though how much she can trust these beings, she has no idea.

Then again, they are all in Hell and she travels with a sorcerer.

Slowly the young woman replaces the arrow in her quiver; better not to give offense, since things appear to be proceeding in the direction of quiet, if not peace.  Moving up net to the Lady Saeko, she murmurs, "Others in the woods.  All around us.  But maybe not a danger."

Yet.  Unconvinced herself, she keeps her eyes and ears focused on the perimeter of this discussion, not the centre.

OOC - Apologies for the lateness, and I WILL try to keep up now.  Said before, but it's my hope, now.

Qvar beams at the elf.  Plain speaking and a friendly smile have usually served him well.  Having Zed speaking their language and a group of grim-faced warriors at their backs probably helped too.  "Thank-you, yes, please guide us there.  We will not stay longer in your woods than we need to recover the sword.  Perhaps in doing so we may lessen the corruption in the heart of the forest.  I am Qvar, and my brother here is Zertin."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:12, Sun 16 Aug 2020.

Zertin smiled and bowed his head to the elf and to Qvar as well.

"Thank you, your assistance would be greatly appreciated," he agreed.

The Elf does not seem inclined to friendliness, though his gaze lingers upon Zertin and Qvar as if committing both names and faces to memory, before he turns away.

"Follow me, then," he tells you as he leads off into the dark woods ...

The path you tread through the trees is discernible as a trail, yet only just, for as far as you can tell it is more worn by infrequent use than created by any design, though at least your eyes adjust to the dim light which makes the going somewhat easier.

The howls of wolves grow more frequent - and louder - as you make your way further into the forest, Violet keeping a close watch on your flanks and Ashlyn on Ireena.  Here several patches of tangled growth, sometimes separated by wide expanses of bare ground, seem to direct your passage.

None of which troubles your Elven guide as he forges ahead deeper into the woods (and while he seems careless as to whether you are keeping up or not, you sense he is travelling slower than he is capable, for your benefit).

At last he holds up a hand, turning back to you.  Just ahead you can see that the trail widens to reveal a huge rock outcrop which juts up from the forest floor.  From where you stand you glimpse a dark opening in the side of the rock.

"There," says the Elf grimly, his voice low.  "There lies the heart of the forest."

"There you will find the guardian ... or what she has become."

"Thank you. Is there anything you should tell us about the guardian, if only so that we do not accidentally do something out of ignorance that would upset the trust you have placed in us by bringing us here?" Zertin asks.

The wolves don't overly bother Caesius - they are just animals, after all, and he has heard that hunting wolves don't howl.  Howling is a signal to mark territory.

The elf is, potentially, another matter.

Arriving at their destination, Caesius peers, suspiciously, at the door in the rock.

"Thank-you."  Qvar smiles at the elf then walks into the cave, brightening the entrance with his golden glow.  There, its not so bad now.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:19, Thu 27 Aug 2020.

"The Guardian is one with the land," the Elf tells Zertin, obviously troubled as if by his words he is betraying the forest itself.  "As the corruption has tainted the land, so too has it tainted her."

"While I lament what has become of the Guardian, still I can not raise my hand against her - I can but hope that you might free her from corruption, if such is fated to be."

Caesus turns his gaze away from the Elf to the opening in the rock, frowning. 

Thanking the Elf, Qvar walks fearlessly forwards, the glow that surrounds him lighting the entrance as he approaches to reveal a perfectly smooth column of translucent green rock which stretches from floor to ceiling in the middle of the cave entrance.  Within, the ground is littered with rock rubble, the stones wet and slippery underfoot, the area to the north particularly rough.  The ground slopes down either side of a huge boulder, twenty feet or so high, which stands in the centre of the cave, rivulets of water running over the rocks to feed into a pool of dark water in the south east corner of the cave. 

OOC: Map of the proceedings updated ...
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:41, Sun 30 Aug 2020.

She doesn't trust these 'elves'; beings of magic, no doubt, and thus linked to the adversary.  Small wonder they live here, in Hell.  And their words fill Violet with misgiving.  The 'guardian of the forest', that's one thing; a heathen spirit or devil, no doubt.  But 'What she has become'?

It seems even her worshippers fear her now.

"The only freedom from corruption is..."  Violet shakes her head.  Burning at the stake was the most common penalty for witchcraft and sorcery, or so she had heard; none had truly been tried and sentenced in Chaville in her lifetime, though she had once glimpsed an Inquisitor.  Still, it seems rather foolish to make such a point here, in the middle of a forest, when discussing the 'guardian' of said forest.  'Burning' might be offensive.

And the thought - regardless of the victim - has always sickened the young woman.

Slowly she moves to stand beside the holy man, eyes flicking here and there to study the sight before her.  Her bow is out, an arrow now knocked and ready to draw.

OOC - Violet will move to stand between Qvar and the shiny rock.

"'Ware!  That column is thick with the stench of foulness!" Caesius warns, moving into the opening, Razor gripped in one hand, and the holy sign of Heironeous grasped in the other.

"The Evil here is palpable."

Zertin nods thoughtfully at the elf's words.

"We will do what we can to help," he assures the elf, then follows Q, V and C into the cave with wand in hand.

He will join Q and V over by the green column, close enough to his brother to bask in his glow, but no closer to the green column than necessary.

Qvar had been about to touch the fascinating green column, but his eyes widen in response to Caesius' warning and he draws his hand back.  "Thank you Caesius."  The paladin's keen senses are far better than his own overly-optimistic ones.  "I can try to lighten the mood here, drive back the darkness.  Maybe that will give the guardian a chance to regain herself.  I know I've already used up your supply, Zed, so I'll improvise."  Holding his hand out towards the green column he asks for Pelor's aid with a prayer, "Shning One brighten this place.", then spins around with his arm outstretched, laughing and sprinkling a wide area with silver glitter and droplets of water, "Whee-hee!  Ha!  I like this spell."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:28, Sat 05 Sept 2020.

You advance towards the dark opening ...

Ashlyn and Saeko hang back, between them shielding Ireena from any harm as the rest of you, following Caesius's warning, approach the tainted column with weapons drawn.  Violet seeks to interpose herself between Qvar and the dark green rock, noticing as she draws close that the light pulses slightly within its depths, though it seems to lose some of its brightness as Qvar gleefully casts a warding spell. 

OOC: Map of the proceedings updated ...

Qvar looks quizzically at the green stone column, then at Caesius.  "Is that better?"

Curious, he moves around the rock to peer at the pool.  Any sign of a guardian?

Whatever spirits to which the armored knight pray, whatever heretical deity to which Qvar calls, they seem to at least have a grasp upon the devil's machinations.  Violet notes the pulsing of light within the unnatural column fade a hint as Qvar's prayer and - dare she consider it? - holy water are released into the room.

"The light of this -" said with a small wave toward the column "- dimmed a touch at your...your prayer, Qvar."  Further indication that whatever heretical beliefs the priest holds, they are anathema to evil.  Acceptable to the Church?  Not hardly, Violet guesses.

She has never been a perfect child of the Church, herself.

"Be wary, Qvar," she murmurs, slipping past him to eye the stalagmites in the second chamber.  "Danger might hide within."

OOC - Basically, Violet will try to keep up with Qvar and - hopefully - keep between him and and the 'next' potentially dangerous area.  All the while listening and searching.

"Not at all." Caesius growls in response to Qvar's query.  "Whatever you did had no perceptible effect on the aura that surrounds the thing.  The foulness still makes my skin crawl."

The paladin draws out his Holy symbol and holds it towards the pillar...

"Heironeous!  I call upon thee to drive forth the thing that taints this place!"

Zertin follows after Qvar and Violet, with a wary eye on the rough ground to the north.

"Those stone littering the floor look very sharp, don't they, Violet? You would really have to pick your way through there carefully to avoid slicing your feet open, I would think. I wonder if that is natural?" he muses.

Qvar frowns at Caesius' news. "Oh.  Not what l'd hoped for.  Maybe it was the improvised silver dust and holy water, do you think?" He looks questioningly at Violet and Zed, aware that they are protecting him but also wondering what they makes of this failure.

Hearing Caesius invoking the name of Heironeous to dispel the evil power, Qvar turns from the pool to face him.  He senses the power of that prayer (peeked at the dice roller) and smiles "That's more like it!  Perhaps if we all pray together it will be enough?"  He motions for Violet and Zed to precede him as he hurries back to the green column.  Holding out his own well-worn wooden Sun-face symbol, he ads his call to the paladin's "The Light be with you Caesius."  OOC: aid another with turning check.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:06, Sun 13 Sept 2020.

Warned by Zertin to avoid the sharp rocks to the North, Qvar heads south to cast his eye over the pool, warded by Violet who pushes to the fore, though her eyes look not just to the surface of the dark waters, but also to the stalagmites that hang above it.

Despite the priest's spell and the dimming of the light within, Caesius senses no lessening in the evil that lurks in the stone column in the mouth of the cave and calls upon Heironeous's aid to vanquish it.  Hearing the Paladin's words, Qvar hurries back to add his own voice to that effort, passing his brother as he retraces his steps.

Yet even so, once the pair lower the symbols of their gods and Caesius reaches out once more, it seems to no avail - the evil within the stone remains unpurged.

But the attempt does not go unnoticed ... for from the surface of the pool Violet and Zertin watch as a figure slowly rises, a beautiful fey, draped in a brilliant blue mantle embroidered with the symbols of good fortune, with wild auburn hair and equally wild green eyes.

OOC: Map of the proceedings updated ...
This message was last updated by the GM at 13:28, Mon 21 Sept 2020.

"Greetings to you, fair lady of the lake," Zertin calls clearly for all to hear. "I hope our coming here does not offend you, for we mean no harm. Indeed we have only the best interests of this land and its people at heart."

Saeko watches Qvar and Caesus' efforts quietly.  After a moment, she asks curiously, "What is supposed to happen?"

Caesius frowns and shakes his head slowly, "The will of Heironeous and Pelor should have purified this place, and driven out the darkness that taints it, but it didn't."

"I cannot explain why."

Qvar shrugs in reply to Caesius and Saeko. "It was worth a try.  We don't really know what manner of evil power we're dealing with yet.  But I suspect it will reveal itself before too long.  Ah!..."  Hearing Zertin's cordial greeting he hurries back to stand with Zed and Violet and see who it is.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:18, Sun 04 Oct 2020.

As Saeko and Caesius ponder the mystery of the stone column, Qvar rushes to the side of his brother and Violet, the priest's mantle of light enveloping the pair as Zertin greets the woman in the pool.

The woman tilts her head to one side, giggling as she considers the mage's words, her eyes widening as she stares frankly at Zertin.



OOC: Map of the proceedings updated ...

Zertin's mouth opens and he breathes just one word.

"Wow!"

He stands staring at the beautiful lady of the lake.

Qvar's gaze flicks from the fey woman to his brother.  "Oh dear Zed.  Not again."

He places his hand on Zertin's shoulder and whispers a prayer. "Have another go."

Appalled by this apparition, Violet keeps an arrow nocked to her bow, though she as yet refrains from drawing.  Her lips move, the entreaties to Abel Christ barely breathed for fear of giving offense to the terrible figure before her.

"Qvar?  Do you feel any... oh... now where has he got to?" Caesius tears his attention away from the mysterious pillar, and looks about for the priest.

Fortunately the man's glow is bright enough to spot easily in this gloomy realm.

The paladin starts towards the light.

Qvar watches Violet, puzzled by her reaction to the fey.  "Violet, I see a beautiful woman with green eyes.  What do you see?"

Hearing Caesius approach he adds "Caesius, what do you see?"  He shuffles his itchy feet, dismissing a notion to rush around to the other side of the pool.  :-)

OOC ... just asking a question ...

Zertin's mouth still hangs open and he breathes that one word again.

"Wow!"

He still stands staring at the beautiful lady of the lake.

As his eyes alight upon the green woman, Zertin's jaw goes slack and the wand in his hand falls unheeded to the ground.

Though this does not pass unnoticed.  Violet steels herself, resisting the urge to raise her bow and let an arrow fly, while Qvar hurries over to his brother's side, seeking to fortify the wizard with his prayers, though Zertin remains entranced.

Caesius too moves closer, curious as to what has attracted the attention of his companions.

Noting the Paladin's approach, the priest asks him and Violet to confirm that the woman is indeed what she seems.

Drawn by his words, or perhaps the shining light that surrounds him, the woman takes a step closer, smiling in fascination as she directs her gaze towards Qvar. 

OOC: Map of the proceedings updated ...

"I see a young woman.  At least she appears as such." he replies to Qvar.

And then, to the newcomer herself, "Who are you?  What do you in this place?"

OOC: Today: Caesius rolled 18 using 1d20+5.  Sense Motive (Yeah, right... ).

"She has ensorcelled Zertin with her gaze, and tried the same on me."  Qvar glares at the woman in the pool, then beseeches his brother to shake off her spell "Last chance Zed, avert your gaze from this harpy." He steps in front of zertin as he says this, blocking his view of the pool.  He watches Zertin for any hint of reaction while he decides what else he could try.

Zertin's mouth still hangs open and he breathes that one word yet again.

"Wow!"

He still stands staring at the beautiful lady of the lake.

"I like this not," the armoured woman tells her companions, chafing at remaining idle while others brave the dangers.

"Stay here," Ashlyn tells Ireena, "and ward her well," she adds to Saeko, aware that the burgomaster's daughter can wield the blade she holds, but not confident that she has the experience to stick the edge into living flesh.

So saying, the Lightbringer begins to pick her way over the broken ground, guided by the glow that surrounds Qvar.

Saeko simply nods her understanding and agreement.

Giving the woman in the pool one last frown, Qvar carefully guides his brother away to the other side of the rock, out of her sight.  "Come now Zed, just rest here for a while."  As he walks Zertin away he tells Caesius and Violet "I don't know what she is, only that she tried to stun me as she did Zed.  She is very powerful ... prepare yourselves ... and avoid her gaze.  Caesius, what do you sense from her?  Violet, does her charm affect a woman?"

Settling Zertin against the rock he looks to Saeko and Ireena.  "Watch my brother please.  He's fallen under a spell.  Don't let him wander off."  He sighs, uncertain and out of words.  OOC: though he did get out a good 6 seconds worth :-)

08:15, Today: Qvar rolled 10 using 1d20+8.  knowledge religion - what is she?

Violet shakes her head at the first query, her stomach turning over in fear.  Finally she speaks in answer to Qvar.  “She seems to be as I’ve been told the Sylvain were – beautiful, unearthly, and inhuman. “  The young woman partly draws her bow as the fey creature nears.  “That she holds power surprises me not at all.”  Her arrow-tip sketches a rough cross in the air before her, pointless as that might seem against what stands before them.  “The devil gives unholy might to those who follow him.”  Curious, that this tainted being has assaulted Zertin.  Perhaps it recognizes Qvar’s brother as one not fully under its master’s sway.  Or perhaps, Violet reasons, it has seen a path through the brother to attack the holy man before it now.   Her arrows, likely, will prove useless against this terrible being; but should it come to that, it never hurts to try and Violet stands ready.

For all that her knees are shaking.

Unable to release his brother from the glamour, Qvar gently leads Zertin away, supporting the mage as he stumbles on the rough ground and guiding him to a cleft in the rock wall that the priest hopes will provide a safe haven. 

With Saeko warding Ireena, Ashlyn quickly moves to join her blade to those of you facing the green woman, though heeds Qvar's warning and keeps the rock between them that she might avoid Zertin's fate.

Violet starts to pull back on her bowstring, arrow at the ready, fearing to look away from the creature she names Sylvain more than she fears to turn away from that terrible gaze, though it is Caesius who challenges her. 

At the Paladin's words, the green woman tilts her head once more, smile and laughter fading away as she considers both the man and his questions.  When she replies, her manner bears the taint of madness.

"The darkness is in the land," she tells Caesius, "born of man and not-man and now part of all.  Not even fire can purge it."

She gestures ... and a ball of flame blossoms besides her, seemingly moving in response to her quick fingers, the smile on her face blossoming once more as stares at it in fascination.

OOC: Map of the proceedings updated ...

Caesius replies, "If a Darkness is upon the land, it is the duty of all good men to strive to bring Light.  And, no matter the difficulty, no matter the danger, that is a duty which I can no more shirk than I can grow wings and fly."

The paladin displays the holy symbol of Heironeous to the woman.

"But I do not stand alone in my duty, for Heironeous stands with me at all times.  He guides my hand, and His might flows through me to smite all creatures of ill intent."

"Caesius is giving her a good talking to."  Qvar chatters reassuringly to his brother, peering at him closely in the gloom of the cave and trying to figure out the nature of the spell on him.  "She's not for you Zed."  He casts a spell which he hopes may help "In the Light of the Sun all things are brighter." 

Coincidentally, he notices the flickering light from around near the pool and beams at his brother "Look there Zed, someone's lit a nice cheery fire."

11:52, Today: Qvar rolled 23 using 1d20+5.  identify spell on Zed. Spellcraft.

Zertin slowly turns his head and looks where Qvar pointed. A dazed smile lights his face.

"Pretty ... so pretty ... pretty lady ... lady nymph ... so pretty," he murmurs softly to himself, then sighs.

The sylvain woman speaks of darkness upon the land, then summons fire to attend her.  Were Violet not so appalled, she would be amused by the irony.  The devil's power clearly flows strongly through this being.  Her eyes flick to Caesius as he enters a parlay with the creature, speaking of his god and its stance against evil.  Heathen he might be, but for a moment Violet feels a warmth of appreciation for the knight's strength of will and purpose.

There is little she can do here but take his example and struggle to find something similar within herself; thus, she holds her ground, bow not yet drawn but arrow nocked.  And hopes nobody will see her shaking knees.

Born of man and not-man.  Living and not?  The un-dying?

It may well be; fortuitous that Qvar stands with them.

"We mean you no harm, My Lady, unless you attempt to block our path."  Caesius continues, smiling.  "There is a thing we seek... a weapon against he who holds this Land in thrall... and we have been told that it may be here.  Or, at least, that one who knows of it may be found here.  Do you aid us?  Or hinder us?"

"Will you see the Land set upon the Path of Righteousness?"

"Oh no," the green woman assures Caesius fervently, her eyes alight with madness.  With a flick of her wrist she sets the flames she conjured to slowly spin, following it with her gaze as she continues to converse, somewhat angrily, if rather absently.

"The light has long gone from this benighted realm - only the darkness now remains."

"All will burn until it is consumed and only the darkness is left."

She raises her head to smile at Zertin's words, and eye Violet speculatively, but the Paladin's mention of the weapon sees her gaze flick to the top of the huge boulder besides her, before turning back to Caesius, her brow creased in a frown, moreso as Qvar whispers a prayer.

"You would ... resist this fate ?  Struggle against the darkness ?"

"Always." Qvar replies.  He pats Zertin reassuringly on the shoulder then steps closer where he can see the green woman.  "You know now what we seek.  If you would help us then what may we give you in return?"

It's on the stone! Caesius realises, and a smile touches his lips briefly.

"Yes, I would resist it.  It is my duty, and that of all good men." he replies.  "The Darkness must not go unchallenged.  It can not be permitted to simply crush this Land, or any other."

Zertin follows docilely after Qvar with that same dazed smile on his face.

"Kisses ..." he murmurs, apparently in answer to Qvar's question.

"Eeewww!"  Qvar pushes Zertin back behind the boulder.

The armoured woman nods silently to Qvar as she positions herself in front of Zertin, prepared to let the priest deal with the green woman while she wards his brother from harm.

Violet's arms fall, the bow and arrow she holds ready falling to the rocky ground with a clatter as the young woman stares at the fey as if mesmerised by her. 

The green woman smiles slyly.  "I'll take ... this one," she tells Qvar in response to the priest's offer, flicking a languid finger towards Violet.

Caesius's response sees her gesture again and another ball of flame appears at her side which she stares at greedily before setting it too to spinning.

"You seek the Light, then ?" she questions the Paladin in return, the flames mirrored in her wild green eyes.

OOC: Map of the proceedings updated ...

"No, I don't seek the light, for I found it long ago, and carry its power within me, always." Caesius is not at all sure he likes where this is going, but if he can keep the creature occupied, then perhaps somebody else will find a way to deal with her, and allow him to retrieve the sword.

"I look within, and the light of Heironeous fills my soul.  This emblem, a fist grasping a lightning bolt, is his sign."

Qvar's hopes sink with Violet's bow.  That price is too high.

Caesius has the right of it.  We carry the light within us, whatever name we give it.  Despair has no place in our souls.

"That's quite enough!"  Now Qvar is cross.  He shouts a prayer "The Light has a name. Pelor!" and blazes like the Sun. 

With deliberate steps he approaches the green woman, placing his staff for balance.  He stands resolutely within 10' of her, watching her intently between the fires, their light wan in his golden brilliance.  Ardently he reminds her who she is.  "Give up this madness!  You are the Heart of the Forest! Guardian of the Wild!  Who tends your woods now?  Your land is beset with darkness!  Help us free your land from the interference of Strahd and return it to your stewardship!"  Then in the barest of whispers "Show us the Sword!"

"Wow! So bright! Clever Q!" Zertin exclaims as he peers over Ashlyn's shoulder.

Violet can do nothing but stare; inside, some part of her is shrieking with horror at this theft of her will, but none of that shows on her face.

Even Qvar's brilliant eruption cannot stir her from her daze.

OOC - Sorry about the long wait, again.  :(
This message was last edited by the player at 01:58, Thu 19 Nov 2020.

As the clatter of the falling bow echoes through the cave, Saeko gives Ireena a look and then, with a "follow me" nod of her head, starts moving deeper in.  She goes around the north side of the stone blocking her view of what's happening, pressing against the rocks and leaning out to see what's going on.

Saeko moves quietly around the north side of the huge boulder, Ireena dutifully following her.

"Light ... is but a flickering candle," the green woman's tone mocks Caesius.  "Struggle though you might to kindle the flame, it is a fragile thing and soon enough the Darkness will snuff it out !"

She flinches away from the circle of light that grows to envelop her as Qvar approaches glowing with the aspect of his god,  the madness flaring in her eyes, perhaps moreso that the Priest has placed himself as Violet's protector as the young woman succumbs to the same enchantment that grips Zertin, as to the touch of that holy light, but reacts not at all to the demand for the sword.

"The Heart of the Forest is the Darkness !" she asserts angrily.  "You love the Light so much ... may it consume you as it dies !"

With a gesture she flings one of the fiery spheres at her side at Qvar, another springing into existence in its place.

OOC: Map of the proceedings updated ...

"A candle can be protected, to extend its life, and that is my duty!" Caesius proclaims, drawing Razor, and moving towards the woman.

"It is the Will of  Álmighty Heironeous that Darkness not be suffered to thrive!"

Qvar does not flinch away from the flame, even as his homespun woolen robe is singed.  If the flame harms him, he does not show it more than a sigh of resignation.  From within the fire he smiles in reassurance as Caesius moves in, and again when Saeko appears on the far side of the pool.

Raising a hand toward the green woman he calls a prayer "Let the light of the Sun burn the darkness from your soul!" and fires a ray of sunlight at the Heart of the Forest.

21:54, Today: Qvar rolled 33 using 1d20+18.  Concentration check for spell casting.
21:20, Today: Qvar rolled 20 using 1d20+4.  Ranged touch Searing Light.
21:21, Today: Qvar rolled 18 using 3d8.  Searing Light dmg.

After the beam of sunlight ends, Qvar holds up his hand to forestall any further attacks on the Heart of the Forest.  Let whatever consequence comes of his retaliation fall on his head.  "Give us the sword and we will leave."

Zertin peeked out from behind the rock just enough so he could see Qvar.

"Q, the lady is a Nymph, a type of fey that are an embodiment of nature who dwell near bodies of clear water in secluded wilderness areas. They are renowned for their stunning beauty, which I should have remembered before I was so stunned. I seem to be recovered now, though," he told his brother.

From within the fire, Qvar turns his head to smile in relief at Zertin's voice.  The anger and worry he felt at his brother's and Violet's condition falls from him and his blazing glow softens a little.  Facing the nymph once more he tries to see what his brother saw, and says softly "There is no bird-song in your woods, Lady."

Too quick to anger, he chides himself as he awaits her response.

The green woman looks curiously towards Caesius as he holds up his blade, but turns away dismissively, her smile turning first to puzzlement as Qvar does not react to her flames, and then to fear and pain as the Cleric holds up his hand and a ray of light strikes her, burning her flesh.

The two spheres of flame at her side are abruptly extinguished as she takes a step back into pool where she stands, panting, but taking comfort from the dark waters.

Ashlyn pauses in her attempt to restrain Zertin, realising from the warning he gives his brother that the Wizard has finally thrown off the Nymph's bewitchment, even as Violet shakes and almost stumbles as the young woman is also able to escape the glamour.

At Qvar's command Saeko holds her advance, though stands ready with her blade as the green woman raises eyes full of hurt, to reply to the Cleric.

"I remember the birds ..." she does not seem even interested in the sword or Qvar's offer.

Then the madness flares once more within her and she smiles, a strangled laugh escaping her throat.

"And then the Darkness descended and I saved all of them from the Light."

"I must save all of you as well !"


OOC: Map of the proceedings updated ...

A faint, shrill whine escapes from between Violet's lips, the ground-down remains of the scream caught between her clenched teeth.  Fear and fury explode in her as the demon's enchantment cracks, and she sweeps her fallen arrow from the ground before taking a few steps for a better vantage point.  Deft fingers fit the arrow to the string, and her wiry arms pull the stout bow to full draw.

"Say the word," the young woman whispers, her voice trembling, and she takes aim at the sorcerous monster clad in a liar's seeming.

OOC - Violet will take whatever 5' movement is necessary to get a clear line of sight - probably down to the right, I guess - and hold her action.  At any sign of an attack of any kind, or if her group begins any attacks, she will loose her arrow.  Probably won't do a lot of good, but one never knows. 
This message was last edited by the player at 15:38, Sun 06 Dec 2020.

"You have seen that Darkness does not affect us!  The Light protects us, just as you protected your land, until you fell!"  Caesius swings Razor before him, weaving a glittering pattern of steel.  "Now it falls to us to protect that which you failed."

There it is!  The briefest reflection of the light.  The guardian is not yet lost to the darkness.  This bodes well, but curing her madness is beyond him today.

The flames went out, sparing his only robe.  And then Violet recovers too.  His relief is substantial!

Qvar glances behind to where Voilet, Zertin and Ashlyn wait.  He beams at them, sunlight streaming from his face. "She's still here, but she has no interest in it.  Once we've found the sword, then we can leave."

He stands with Caesius, just above the waterline.  Once again it seems the paladin has the right of it.  The nymph showed a brief hint of her former nature, but there is no reason to assume her threats are empty.  Sternly her watches her. "We will drive the darkness from this land.  You will stand aside and let us take what we came for."

21:50, Today: Qvar rolled 22 using 1d20+8.  Intimidate the nymph

"I cannot help her today, either. I think the cleansing fire of a fireball would do more harm than good, and I have little else to offer today. I will be back there, investigating this place a little more deeply, if you need me, Q."

With those words Zertin walks back to 10ft west of the green glowing pillar, points a wand at the pillar and speaks a word to activate the magic within the wand.

Recovering from the enchantment, Violet likewise swiftly recovers her weapon, moving lithely behind Qvar as she nervously holds her shaft at the ready, the priest moving to the water's edge as he and Caesius see if threats might do what words can not, in the hope of avoiding bloodshed.

On the other side of the boulder, Zertin heads for the pillar that stands in the cave's mouth, Ashlyn sticking close to the mage (perhaps out of concern for his physical safety, perhaps equally as worried that he may yet not be entirely free of the green woman's spell), watching as he raises a wand and invokes the magics contained therein.

The guardian is obviously shaken by the resolve displayed by both Paladin and priest, but screams her defiance.  As she starts to gesture, Violet looses her arrow, grazing her shoulder, but it is too late.

The green woman vanishes ...

OOC: Map of the proceedings updated ...

Thus far, their little group seems to be gaining ground on the vile spirit, but Violet - now bitten - knows well-enough not to relax her guard.  And indeed, events prove her correct in her wariness.  "Abel damn you, witch," Violet grates out as the sylvain demon disappears.  "Is she gone?" the young woman wonders, her voice shaking.  "Or merely hidden?"  Fitting another arrow to the string, she slowly turns in a circle, listening intently while searching for any sign of movement.

When the mists took her, she learned something of creatures that make themselves unseen.

OOC - Holding action, ready to loose at anything that pops up. 

Zertin beckons Ashlyn to follow him and walks around the green pillar to the great boulder east of it.

"Strangely enough, that glowing pillar is not magical at all, but there is something on top of this boulder with the strongest magical aura I have ever seen. Almost certainly that is the sword of light we are searching for," he tells her quietly.

OOC: How high is the boulder? How difficult is it to climb?
This message was last edited by the player at 13:49, Tue 15 Dec 2020.

The armoured woman seems happy enough to follow Zertin, though truth be told her motives are more in the nature of keeping an eye on him in case he falls under the green woman's spell once more, and, as she casts her gaze around, also to protect him from the guardian, wherever she has gotten to.

Yet the wizard's revelation that the object of their search might lie atop the boulder sees Ashlyn raise her gaze eagerly, judging the height of the rock before her.

"That must be at least twenty feet high," she judges, "perhaps a bit more."

"I do not think I could scale it either easily or quickly.."

Qvar glances from Caesius to Saeko to gauge their reaction.  Turning to Violet he shrugs ever so slightly in reply, his corona of sunlight slowly fading.  He smiles and asks,  "Abel?  I don't know this name, but I'm glad they stand with you.  We need all the help we can get.  Now lets find the sword."  He turns from the pool and joins Zertin in staring up at the top of the boulder.  He's not much of a climber either.

Zertin reaches back to his backpack and swiftly retrieves a coil of silk rope and a scroll case.

"I have a feeling that Violet may be a better climber than the rest of us, but if anyone else is eager to show their skills you are welcome to try. The rest of us will watch your back."

Padding after Qvar, still keeping a wary eye on the area, Violet catches the tail-end of the discussion.  Lips thinning, she turns to regard the boulder.  "Sword of Light," she murmurs.  "You say...this is not magical?" she queries, dubiously studying the glowing stone.

It certainly appears tainted by the devil's touch.

But after a moment, a quizzical look spreads across her sharp-planed visage.  "Lampyridae," she murmurs, reaching out a hesitant hand.  Perhaps it is similar to the stone mined in the New Continent, that shines in the water-filled lamps of Chaville.  Her brows draw together for several heartbeats before she nods.  "I think I can climb this," the young woman states, "if it bears no deadly taint."  Her gaze darts around the company.  "Others must concern themselves with watching for the demon."  Clearly the demonic woman is the sword's guardian...or gaoler.

OOC - Seems likely I should make a climb roll about now, barring something exploding under my hands when I try.

.....

Hopefully that will happen, because otherwise I need to deal with that 1 I just rolled.  Of course.

Caesius silently shakes his head at Zertin's question regarding climbing.  He knows that he lacks the ability to scale the rock.

Instead he turns to face away from the rock, in the general direction of the pool, sword held ready to protect the climber from anything that tries to stop the retrieval of the weapon.

Qvar puzzles over the various auras detected by Zertin and Caesius.  The nymph is clearly not undead, The green glowing pillar is evil but not magic.  There is something magic atop the boulder, but Violet asked if the boulder was evil.  "Caesius, is there any hint of evil on the boulder?"

He readies a random act of kindness, to cure bruises should an intrepid climber fall.

It does not take long for all to agree that Violet is by far the best climber amongst you (indeed, Hammer might well be expected to have more luck ascending this boulder than Caesius !) and a moment's concentration is all Ashlyn requires to confidently declare the boulder free from the mysterious taint that infects the nearby column of stone.

As Qvar and Zertin watch on anxiously, and with Saeko and the two Paladins standing guard, the young woman begins to climb ...

At first her nervousness betrays her, and she struggles to make progress, but then she manages to set aside the concerns of the moment and concentrates on nothing more than the physical challenge posed by the rock, fitting hands and feet to whatever purchase the rugged stone grants her, fingers seeking crannies, toes finding ledges, swiftly gaining the top ... and returning with her prize.

The Sunsword. Or rather the hilt of that legendary weapon, with a hilt and guard forged of purest platinum, both shaped like the rays of a stylised sun ... but lacking a blade.

Zertin looks at the sword hilt with a mixture of fascination and amusement.

"I suppose that omitting the blade of a sword would certainly make it light!" he chuckled.

"Well done, Violet. I suggest you hand it to Caesius or Ashlyn. Let's see whether the firm grip of a paladin's hand is the key to unlocking the secrets of the sword. If not I will need to study it for a little while to learn what I can about it."

Caesius glances over his shoulder to see what Zertin is talking about.  A smile touches his lips.

"What a fine jest this would be.  If Madame Eva sent us for a weapon, and neglected to mention that it lacked a blade.  Perhaps our next quest is to find a legendary fey smith to reforge the sword."

"Or perhaps, as Zertin suggests, there is some magic at work here."

Qvar chuckles as Zertin and Caesius make light-hearted speculations.  The gods do like their jests, and tricks.  "Is there any sign of the blade up there, Violet?"  Qvar watches, a hopeful optimism lighting his upturned face.  "Buried?  Or rusted?  It is damp in here.  Or magically hidden as Caesius said; invisible?"  One can hope.  He tries to recall any stories he's heard like this.

12:03, Today: Qvar rolled 13 using 1d20+8.  Knowledge religion xSunsword.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:06, Tue 29 Dec 2020.

Saeko looks at the hilt appreciatively.  "It is beautifully crafted," she notes.  "Though platinum seems like a soft choice for a sword.  Even an enchanted one."

"Perhaps it needs sunlight?  That seems in short supply here."

Qvar's ears prick up at Saeko's suggestion.  "What a wonderful idea!" He moves closer to the hilt and smiles encouragingly at it, the dwindling remnant of his earlier blaze favouring the hilt with as-close-to-real sunshine as it's likely to see anywhere in Barovia.

The armoured woman can not conceal her delight that the Sunsword has been found, and suffers the jests and speculations with good humour as she gazes upon the item in Violet's hands with respect and reverence.

"My companions and I have sought this legendary weapon for a long time," she tells them.  "I know something of its history ... I know that the devil Strahd feared the blade and the power of Light that was within it and so tried to destroy it."

"I know that he bade a powerful mage separate hilt and blade ... but before the parts so rent could be destroyed they were stolen."

"And I know that the body of the thief was later found ... but not so the hilt or blade ... till now !"

"Yet if only the hilt be here ..." Ashlyn pauses, thinking.

"Madame Eva said the sword needs be awakened.  'Bring the sword to join the other treasures of the castle' she said, 'a blazing fire protects the place where the lord hides his wealth'."

"Perhaps that wakening will reunite hilt and blade and the sword will be whole once more ?"

You stare at the hilt which provides more questions than answers, and while the metal gleams in the light that surrounds Qvar, it remains unchanged.

Saeko's mouth quirks in a half smile as Ashlyn proposes her theory, and she shrugs.  "We've already tried shaking it," she agrees.

Growing more serious, she looks mostly to the brothers as she asks, "Now that we have it, do we simply walk away, or do we need to do something about," she tips her head slightly in the direction of the pool, letting the question trail off into the gesture.

All of this discussion of legendary swords becomes...worrisome for Violet, and she carefully hands the hilt over to the Lady Saeko.  "Perhaps you might take this," the young woman quietly requests.  "It does not befit the likes of me...nor would I know how to use it."

She barely manages to keep from wiping her palm on her clothing; the idea has come to her that the hilt may be enchanted in some fashion.

"I saw nothing of any blade, shards, or rusted pieces atop the stone," she verifies, shuffling backward slightly and turning to keep an eye out for returning forest demons.  Arrow back on string, bow held ready...she's set.

Caesius gazes thoughtfully at the hilt.  It seems that the quest was not as simple as it had first appeared.  "Since the Sunword is, apparently, of no immediate use to us, we should seek out the Holy Symbol which Madame Eva spoke of."

"Ashlyn, do you know anything of a hill where witches are reputed to gather?"

Though, he thinks sourly, in this gods forsaken land, that could easily be every single mound of dirt.

Zertin holds up a hand to forestall further discussion.

"Not here. The nymph may still be listening. Take the hilt back near the mouth of the cave. I will scan the rest of the cave for other magical auras in case the blade is also here. It should only take a minute or two. Whoever stays to guard me while I am scanning this place, stay behind me so any magical auras on you or your possessions do not complicate the search."

When everyone steps back Zertin will use a wand to cast Detect Magic and will begin scanning each sector of the cave, eventually moving around to the south of the huge boulder so he can scan the nymph's pool as well. If the spell needs to be cast more than once to scan the whole cave he will do so.

Saeko accepts the hilt from Violet with a bow.  "I shall be honored to bear it, for a time," she agrees.  With a nod of understanding to Zertin, she turns and walks outside the cave.  She pauses at the opening, scanning the forest thoughtfully, and then takes a few steps out.

Ashlyn shakes her head at Caesius's question, but at Zertin's request does not elaborate.

"Would you ward the mage or Ireena ?" she asks the Paladin, prepared for either duty.

The question startles Caesius.  It simply hadn't occurred to him that he wpuld be asked to protect just one member of the group.  "I will stand with Zertin." he finally decides.

Qvar nods his quiet agreement with the decisions made by his companions.  In reply to Saeko's question about the nymph he smiles apologetically.  "There is nothing we can do for her now.  We should keep true to our goal, and look after eachother."  His gaze too drifts towards the nymph's pool.  "We should return after we've dealt with Strahd Von Zarovich."

He remains at his brother's side as he scans the cave.

Violet offers an awkward bow back to Saeko, clumsily adjusting it as she does into something a touch deeper.  Chaville has enough visitors from Lannet that she has at least seen Ryuan people interacting with her own, and Lady Saeko's customs seem at least similar; it's logical that the lower class...caste?...person bows lower.  "It's my pleasure, my lady."

Backing off, she watches as the mage begins to 'scan' as he puts it.  While leery of sorcery - understatement! - it seems logical to Violet that a sorcerer would be the best bet to detect traces of satanic power...lacking an Inquisitor, of course.  But the only one of the group that seems close to a Church-warrior would be Caesius, and he worships heathen gods.

And, clearly, has no quarrel with sorcerers.

Hence, reliance upon Zertin.  She holds no animosity for the man, himself; certainly he seems decent of personality and not - obviously - given to cruelty.  It is his practice of magery that offends her.  Perhaps he seeks to use the powers of the devil for good, but as the Church teaches, no good may come of such things.

But here in Hell, already, it seems foolish to make a sore point of it.

Thus she offers her support, moving to watch the blinds spots of the others, arrow on the string of her short, hunting bow.

Zertin begins to quarter the cave, seeking to identify any sources of magic, watched over by the vigilant Caesius, wary Violet and his brother Qvar, the three almost dancing around him as they seek to keep out of his way.

Ashlyn ushers Ireena out of the cave and they stand in the entrance where they are joined by Saeko, bearing the hilt of the Sunsword.  They notice that your guide is nowhere to be seen, and Randal can but shrug, uncertain as to where the Elf has vanished to.  If Hammer knows he does not say.

If the green woman is nearby, she gives no sign, and within her cave, Zertin finds no sign of her either, nor indeed of the Sunsword's blade or any other magic. 


OOC: Map of the proceedings updated ...

When his search of the cave is completed, Zertin leads his guardians back outside to rejoin the rest of the party.

"There is no trace of anything else magical in there, so I assume that Madame Eva's foretelling means we must take the sword hilt to the Castle to restore it.

"Madame Eva said the witches' hill lies to the southwest of the path that leads to the Castle, so that must be our next destination," he suggested.

Qvar leaves the cave with only one  backward glance to catch a glimpse of the nymph should she reappear.  Without a guide he's content to follow whoever cares to lead.

Walking beside Violet for a while he asks "Violet, when you sought to drive off the nymph you invoked the name Abel.  I'm not familiar with your deity.  Can you tell me something about them?"
This message was last edited by the player at 13:28, Tue 12 Jan 2021.

Violet is the last to leave; while she 'trusts' Zertin (using the word loosely) to be the best choice to seek out any sorcerous beings, mistakes could be made.  Or the Sylvain woman could be a being of power, one capable of hiding herself from a mortal wizard's spells.  So it is that she finds herself next to the shining figure of Qvar as they exit, with many a backward glance of her own, arrow still nocked.

And a question comes her way.

The young woman blinks; she should have expected this, with her own fearful curiosity about the heathen gods worshipped by her companions.  "Abel?"  Not an avid church-goer, she takes a moment to collect her thoughts.  "Abel was...more than seven centuries ago, the world suffered under the dominion of magic.  Cruel spirits and beasts stalked the night.  Sorcerers ruled, bending those without the devil's gift of magic to their will.  Then Abel appeared."

It takes some work to remember the story in some details.  "He preached forgiveness, kindness, and a humanity free from the shackles of magic.  Many flocked to Him, and listened to his words.  Even humanity's rulers, the wizard-kings of Yehudah, finally grew fearful and sent soldiers to slay him and his followers. They came upon him and began to kill the crowds..."  She bites her lip.  "They say with tears in his eyes, the boy Abel picked up a sword.  And the soldiers faced the Son of God in his wrath."

Drawing a breath, she continues.  "Abel travelled the world, throwing down despots and gathering an army.  He slew heathen gods with his own sword, and one of their high priests became his most dedicated follower, ordaining him as the Christ - 'the annointed one'.  Twelve other disciples of different strengths joined thatman and became his apostles.  He defeated Yehudah.  He expelled the Sylvain and other satanic beings from our lands.  He drove forth the taint of magic.  The only true fear was the empire of the Duk'Zarist, and with his holy light Abel convinced them to leave humanity in peace.  Finally he faced the last vestige of sorcery within our lands: the ancient city of Solomon, once the capital of the Empire of Solomon that existed in glory before Yehudah, before falling in the Seven Hours of Fire."

The young woman shoots a sidelong glance at Qvar, awkwardly self-conscios and ill-used to speaking so much.  "But Iscariot, one of his devoted apostles, betrayed him, his payment thirty cursed pieces of black metal.  And Abel Christ died, crucified on the walls of Solomon."

Another heavy breath.  "But his Church, the Holy Church of Abel, lives on in the name of Abel and his Father."*

Grimacing, she checks their backtrail once again.  "It is the Church of the Sacred Holy Empire of Abel, of the lands of Gaia."

*A rather vague version of the story of Abel, Solomon, the Thirty Pieces of Black Metal and the other parts of the War of the Cross, but Violet doesn't exactly have the kind of skills to know the full story.

Qvar listens quietly as Violet paints an inspiring picture.  He beams at her when she glances his way.  "Ah, the reluctant hero.  Usually the most trustworthy kind."  He gestures toward her satchel.  "Was it blessed in Abel's name?"

Saeko turns quietly as the others emerge, her eyes tracking Violet as she listens to the story curiously.  She doesn't say anything, just watches openly enough to be clear that she's also following along.

Caesius considers Violet's words as he prepares to travel to their next objective.  An interesting story, though it differs somewhat from the tale of Heironeous, which places more emphasis on duty and martial prowess in the fight against the forces of darkness.

Heironeous teaches his followers that the world is a deadly place, filled with perpetual challenges and trials for those who battle for justice and defend the weak and innocent.  These challenges are to be faced head-on, with calm and resolve.  Followers are taught that they should always act with honour and chivalry, and uphold justice.  Those who defeat evil are rewarded with Glory, while those who uphold the tenets of the Arch-paladin are rewarded with Virtue.

Lacking a guide, you do your best to retrace your path through the woods, hoping at least that you should reach the road should you continue long enough in a roughly straight line, the road that should eventually bring you to the witches' hill if Zertin's recollection is correct ...

As you walk, Qvar presses Violet for the tale of her god, for though he has heard of many divine beings in his time, the young woman seems to come from some far off realm unknown to the priest.

The rest of you listen, lost in thought ...

Violet suddenly stops as, glancing back, something catches her eye.  To your left she points out a flattened area of ground, the soil marked with what appears to be the pawprints of many large wolves.

Following the tracks but a short way brings you to an area choked with underbrush and filled with the stench of death.

Zertin frowns and mutters to himself before speaking up.

"The nymph said something about the lack of birds in the woods, didn't she? Something like, when the Darkness descended she saved all of them from the Light. She said she must save all of us as well. Perhaps this wolf pack does her bidding? I think we should make sure we have proper shelter tonight."

After staring at the tangled area of underbrush for a long moment he asks, "Are we going to investigate what has happened here?"

Caesius gazes at the tangled undergrowth, and replies quietly to Zertin, "How can we not?"  Razor slides from its sheath with the faintest of whispers, and is held ready.  If anything emerges from the bushes, the paladin is prepared for it.

Qvar nods his agreement.  He speaks a quick and rather direct prayer "Pelor, was poison used here?" and stares at the flattened area.  Poison would seem a rather optimistic outcome given the usual cause for the 'stench of death' in this land.

Saeko draws her swords, watching.

Her story cut off before Violet can claim ignorance, the young woman indicates and area of interest - soon the group has found something that captures the attention more keenly than her relating of the history of the Holy Church of Abel.  Keeping an arrow knocked, she crouches down and surveys the area, searching for danger, then stands as the others make their decision.  Lips thin as the others draw their blades, then Violet comes to a conclusion.

"Perhaps - there is no poison - I should go first..."  One corner of her mouth twitches in a nervous smile.  "I likely have best odds of spotting any ambush," she offers.

Zertin smiled at Violet's brave offer.

"Just allow me to scan ahead first. If that stench is from anything undead I should be able to detect it, and I wouldn't want you to lead the way into that type of trap."

With that he takes a pinch of earth from his belt pouch and crumbles it between finger and thumb beneath his nose as recites an incantation.

Though Qvar at least might hear more of Violet's tale, circumstances dictate otherwise.

Weapons are drawn as those with the means be they spells or gods-given gifts, reach out for any sign of danger ... but no evil lurks there (at least no longer), nor is there any sense of foul undead or lingering poison, nor any sound that might betray itself to sharp ears.

With an arrow held ready, Violet presses forward, grimacing as the stench that guides her grows stronger, until she stops, looking about her for a moment before bidding you follow.

There is a corpse mostly, indeed purposefully hidden in the tangle of ferns and vines.  His clothes are torn and his body partially eaten, but one dead hand still clutches a folded piece of parchment.

Kneeling beside him, the young woman notes a seal pressed into red wax holding the parchment closed, the impression of a simple "B".

From the rear of your group, warded by Ashlyn, Ireena gasps as she sees the parchment.

"That is my father's seal !" she exclaims, her voice catching.

"Very dead," Violet muses in a breathy whisper.  "Animals?  Demons?"  She shakes her head; what killed the man is beyond her, much like this horrific realm.  Her eyes narrow at the crudely sealed letter - not even an envelope! - and she nods sharply at Ashlyn's words.  Taking a slight risk, she removes her hand from the string of her bow - holding the arrow with one finger of the other) and carefully slips the letter free, holding it out behind her, blindly.

"Your father's seal, your message," the young woman whispers, her eyes scanning the foliage before her.  "Take it."

"Whoever he was, he deserves better than this for his final resting place," Zertin suggests. "We should take the poor fellow back to the village so his family can give him a proper funeral. It shouldn't be too difficult to cut a couple of saplings or branches for poles and make a crude stretcher to carry his body on."

He looks at Ireena and adds, "But please do read your father's message first. Whatever it was, it was important enough to cost this fellow his life."

The young woman steels herself and steps forward to take the proffered parchment from Violet, patting her hand in uncertain thanks.  Seeing Violet's concentration on the thicket before her, Ireena quickly returns to within your ranks, breaking the seal and unfolding the letter with trembling hands.

She wastes no time scanning the message first, choosing instead to read her father's words aloud, perhaps fearing that she might not be able to do so a second time ... though the reading is punctuated with gasps and pauses as she composes herself, she eventually makes her way to the end, tears streaming from her eyes, her body shaking with fear and grief.

Hail to thee of might and valor

I, the Burgomaster of Barovia, send you honor - with despair.

My adopted daughter, the fair Ireena, has been these past nights bitten by a creature calling its race "vampyr". Over four centuries and more, he has drained this land of the life-blood of its people. Now my dear Ireena suffers from an unholy wound caused by this vile beast. Yet I fear, too, that the creature has some more cunning plan in mind. He has become too powerful to be fought any longer.

So I say to you, give us up for dead and encircle this land with the warding symbols of holiness. Let the holy ones call upon their power that the Devil in our land may be contained within the walls of weeping Barovia. Leave our sorrows to our graves, and save the world from this evil fate of ours.

Kolyan Indirovich
Burgomaster of Barovia

Caesius swings round, Razor still in his right hand, and his left lifting the sign of Heironeous from his breast.  He glares at Ireena.  "Speak truthfully, and swiftly... have you been bitten, as the parchment describes?"

Zertin looks at Caesius for a moment before speaking up.

"I thought you knew, but perhaps you were not present when Ireena told us. That was when she announced she would come with us to see Madame Eva. Ireena seeks the Holy Symbol of Ravenkind, which was stolen from her father, as that will protect her from the master of the castle," he reminded the paladin.

Then he turns back to the body and begins looking around for suitable saplings or branches to serve as poles for a stretcher.

'Vampyr'?  Violet grimaces; with each thing of passing familiarity, she hears another of which she knows nothing.  The name is a curious one, unpleasant to her ears, but holds no actual meaning.  An unholy beast of some kind, she imagines, one the burgomaester clearly believes to hold some fiendish cunning and evil plots.

But Caesius clearly has some understanding of the word, judging by his reaction.

"Has she become tainted?" the young woman quietly inquires, her stomach twisting at the though of an innocent poisoned with evil.  "Is there aught we can do, if so?"

Qvar places a calming hand on Caesius' sword arm.  "Ireena is no more undead than I am."

He smiles reassuringly at the young woman.  "The bites will heal in time.  And we will recover the Holy Symbol of Ravenkind.  You've shown courage to accompany us, and in your resolve to defeat Strahd.  Meanwhile you will be safe with us, and your company is most welcome."

Gesturing to the messenger's body, "Did you know this poor fellow?  And does he have family in the village?"    He places a hand on the man's head and casts Bless.  "Be at peace."

"I am sorry Qvar." Caesius says quietly, shaking his head, "My Code, given to the Order by Heironeous Himself, requires that I test, and judge, all those who may bear the taint of Evil.  While I can delay that judgement for a short while, in extenuating circumstances, the day must come when I will have to judge Ireena."

Qvar nods his understanding and replies sombrely.  "Then judge by her words and deeds, not by any taint of evil she suffers unwillingly."  He smiles at them both, each so strong in their resolve.  "We will see this through, and feel the Sunshine on our faces."

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...