Hammer does indeed seem pleased with himself, snorting self-importantly at the praises Caesius heaps upon him, and moreover disinclined to even acknowledge the burial ceremony.  Rocks there are aplenty and if the rain makes things uncomfortable and decidedly sodden they prise free of the earth easily enough.

Violet reluctantly accepts the Sunstone from Qvar's hands and watches with a trepidation shared by both Randal and Ireena as Zertin brings forth a wand to cast a divination first upon the corpse, then upon the vials that Randal proffers. 

With Ashlyn pitching in to help, she and Qvar soon manage to cover the dead Vistani with sufficent heavy rocks to dissuade any predator, perhaps even to prevent any fell spirit that might possess it from rising from its final resting place.

Through the rain and mists, you set off, heading back towards the Village of Bavaria and shelter, there to rest before you brave the castle and what threats lie therein.

Within a couple of minutes Zertin announces that the two vials hold an Elixir of Hiding (+10 on Hide check for 1 hr) and an Elixir of Sneaking (+10 on Move Silently checks for 1 hr). Nothing else on the corpse was enchanted.

"Well, I would say that just about proves he truly was a thief, after all. I doubt I would ever have cause to use such potions myself, but if anyone else would like to have them, now is the time to speak up," Zertin suggests.

He was happy enough to help with the task of piling rocks on the dead man and even happier to be heading back to the village after that task was done.

More than happy to return to some sort of shelter, Violet hunches her shoulders against the rain and takes the lead, eyes and ears ready to catch the barest hint of danger.  She keeps her own counsel during the walk as much as possible, the better to keep tabs on her surroundings.  The rain, though, makes her loathe to keep her bow strung and she opts to release its tension, trusting in the short blade at her side.

And, to be honest, the far greater power and ability of her companions.

Zertin’s announcement brings a looks of faint disgust to her face, and she shakes her head, waving off any thought of her taking the ‘elixirs’, as he names them.  The young woman does sufficiently well, herself, in those areas, and would rather avoid pouring tainted sorcery into her body.  No, depending on hard-learned and practiced skills seems a far better choice.

Qvar, of course, declines to own either of the potions.  "If anyone wants them, please take them." he urges.  "I'm sure my brother won't label you a thief if you do."  He favours Zertin with a mock frown.

He walks with Ireena and Zertin as they return to her home, chatting away as if he hasn't noticed the weather or the grim moods of those about.  "... Though I've seen it many times, on Bright Days and festivals, that was the first time I've held it.  Its quite a weight." he muses.  "Cold and lifeless you said.  Of course you don't wish to carry it until its been restored, in the chapel at the castle, as Zertin said.  Its in good hands meanwhile.  This is not the first time Violet has been chosen to carry a holy relic, she's an old hand at it you might say ... are there no birds in these woods?"

"I'd say it's too dark for birds.  Bats, mayhap.  Or it may be that it's simply too wet for bird and bat alike."  Caesius lifts his head to gaze, thoughtfully, at the forest roof, as Hammer trudges over the rain-soaked earth beneath.

"For how long has this land lain thus, shrouded in gloom?"

"I've known naught else," Ireena advises Caesius.  "All my life the land has been dark and covered in the mists, though it is said that before the Master came, the mists lurked only at the borders of the realm, preventing any from leaving and gathering up the unsuspecting from elsewhere and bringing them here."

Even with Qvar's quiet jest, it seems nobody wishes to lay claim to the two potions, leaving Zertin to pocket them, the mage being of a more practical turn of mind and unwilling to set aside anything that might prove of use in the trials ahead.

Violet leads the way back down the trail as you turn away from the path that leads to the home of the Master and retrace your steps back to the crossroads, and from there to the bridge over the Ivlis river and the village of Barovia beyond.

As night approaches (or so the weariness that you feel suggests, for the lack of sun provides no guide) you reach your destination.  The streets of Barovia are emptier than when last you walked them as most of the villagers seem to have chosen to keep to their ruined homes ahead thinking there they might find safety ... but at least the undead no longer hold sway and you soon arrive at the aged and dilapidated mansion that was the Burgomaster's demense and is now Ireena's home.

The young woman sets out what food she has, perhaps assuming that come what may on the morrow she'll have no more need to ration her supplies, kindling a fire in the grate as she offers you a glass of red wine, her father's she confirms as you settle down to eat and drink and make your plans.

"Thankyou, Ireena. A good meal and a small glass of wine will certainly help us sleep peacefully tonight, although I suggest we post a guard at your door tonight too.

"We will make preparations in the morning for our next mission - tomorrow we visit the castle up there on the mountain above the village. We must try to restore the Symbol and the Sunsword to their full power if we hope to defeat the darkness that holds sway in these lands."

Qvar enlists Randal's help to venture into town in search of spoiled food or ale, which he freshens up and leaves with townsfolk who Randal advises will welcome it. 

Returning to the mansion he releases Randal to rest and eat.  He smiles agreement with Zed.  "I too bid you all sleep peacefully tonight.  I'll keep watch.  I've ho need of sleep.  I'll wake you all at Dawn."  Then to Caesius and Ashlyn he adds, "I'll ask Pelor to help repair the corrosion of your swords in the morning if you wish."

He carries two chairs into the entry hall where he sits in a pool of warm golden light near the front door.

Grimacing, Violet nods in reluctant agreement to the sorcerer's words.  "I will join as part the night watch," she volunteers, before continuing in a more quiet tone.  "Better to have two sets of eyes and ears.  I doubt I will sleep, regardless."

Sleep does not come so easily in this hell, especially after all that she has seen.

"As for the castle..."  A shrug follows.  "I expect we'll see what awaits there tomorrow."  More horror, to be sure.

"Horror?  Certainly.  Perhaps worse than what we have witnessed thus far." Caesius interjects, his tone oddly calm.

"But the greater the horror, the greater the satisfaction in its defeat.  After we sleep, I will pray to Heironeus for the valour to face, and destroy, whatever the castle and its ruler set against us."

Violet's smile is wry.  "I wish, sir knight, that I possessed an ounce of your faith," she abruptly states, surprisingly clearly.  "Or yours, Qvar."  Or, she cannot help but muse, a hint of satanic sorcery, the better to assist those in the group.  For as much as she detests his methods, she young woman must admit Zertin has certainly done just that.

"I'll take your prayers" - heretical as they may be - "and hope for your satisfaction in this endeavor."  The woman takes a small sip of her wine and stares moodily at the boarded up windows.  "My only satisfaction lies in survival, now."

To die in hell...the thought is appalling.

Qvar is not normally a proselytiser, but he knows when someone is in need of the warmth and comfort of Pelor's gift.  "Pelor has an ounce, or more, to spare for every soul seeking the light." he beams at Violet.

He glances across at Caesius, thinking that with her instinct for combat, Violet would make a fair paladin as well.

Another smile, this one tainted by a hint of bitterness.  "Pelor must carry a lot of weight," Violet murmurs, "for every soul entombed in this hell.  Would that your god could free them all, Qvar."

A larger sip of the wine follows.  It doesn't matter; she'll stop shortly, with no wish to leave herself insensate.

Another smile, Qvar notes, musing on the pervasive nature of Pelor's warmth even in this mist-shrouded land.  "Already some of them have joined us," he glances towards Randal, Ashlyn and Ireena, "and we have driven out the corruption from Lathander's church and recovered two holy relics.  We're carrying their hope, Violet.  And with Pelor's help we will free them all." he replies confidently, settling into his chair by the door to await the Dawn.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:12, Wed 08 June 2022.

Ashlyn accepts Qvar's offer to mend her damaged blade ... indeed, perhaps with even more gratitude than that with which she embraced the food and drink that Ireena provided, welcome as the meal was.

"I'm more surprised to even find a church to the Morninglord in this Hell," the Lightbringer replies to Qvar, freely choosing to use Violet's term for this benighted realm, "than to find that it was tainted by the all-pervading corruption."

"The Holy Symbol of Ravenkind and the Sunsword ... what were Madame Eva's instructions ?  For the symbol, to seek a chapel in the castle grounds; for the sword to the blazing fire within the castle where the Master hoards his treasures."

"Much as I would see the sword restored, might I suggest that we attempt the former task first ?"

Having pressed Randal into service and proceeded forth to do good works, Qvar returns to take his brother's advice and sets up a watch out the front of the mansion, his holy aura providing a comforting light that seems to perhaps hold the mists at bay, if but a little.

After all have eaten and drunk their fill, and the semblance of a plan for the morrow has taken shape, Violet joins the priest on his watch.  Despite her misgivings that rest will not come easy in these fell lands, at length she finds that weariness overcomes her and she is grateful when it is time to stand down from her post.

As a canny Bard once wrote, sleep still has its place even in Hell, for what power would Hell have if those there imprisoned could not dream of release ?

Ashlyn too takes her turn, as does Randal, the rest of you freed by Qvar's long vigil to rest the night through the better to be refreshed for the trials ahead.

The night passes without incident, yet when morning comes and you stir from your beds, it is not long before someone checks upon Ireena, and Saeko who did not leave her side ... to find the Daughter of the Wind slumped upon the floor, insensible, as if drugged, and the Burgomaster's daughter lying still upon her bed, covered by a funerary shroud.

Hearing the rising sounds of alarm, Qvar hurries to the sleeping quarters.  Frowning, he looks at the scene for a moment.  "Ashlyn, Caesius ... what do you sense here?"  He kneels on the bed and pulls away the shroud from Ireena's face. 

08:41, Today: Qvar rolled 15 using 1d20+6.  heal - diagnose illness.

Zertin curses softly beneath his breath when he sees the scene in Ireena's room.

Although he has no skill in the healing arts he does what he can. His first impulse is to check Ireena's throat to see whether there is any sign of another bite there. He checks Saeko, too.

OOC: Zertin rolled 5 using 1d20+1.  Heal skill check DC10 to aid another. - Failed

Worse and worse, and Violet has come to expect such.  Even so, this deviltry surpasses her most vivid nightmares.  Swiftly, she hurries to the Lady Saeko's side, for once not shying away from Zertin's approach.  "I know nothing of medicine, nor of any physician's arts."  Such things are not unknown in Gabriel, though only the rich have any practical familiarity.

"How did this transpire?  Sorcery?"  Turning left, then right as if searching, the young peers at the entrances to the room - including any windows - then curses viciously, refusing to leave the unconscious warrior.  We've failed again, and one of our own now suffers for it.

If only she hadn't slept!

Caesius appears in the doorway, tightening the straps of his hauberk with his right hand.  Razor, sheathed still, is grasped in his left, and ready to be drawn.

Qvar's question is a good one, and the paladin's eyes scan the room.  "Are they bitten, Zertin?"

Pulling aside the shroud, Zertin swiftly determines that Ireena yet lives and, thankfully, her neck shows now sign of a new bite.  Indeed, the young woman begins to rouse at the mage's touch.

Following his lead, Violet confirms that Saeko has not been bitten, though her breathing is laboured.  Glancing over at the window she sees that the latch is still in place, barring entry.

Finding Ireena slowly regaining her senses and unable to find any sign of illness upon her, Qvar joins Violet and after examining Saeko, concludes that she has indeed been drugged, though her wine glass, the likely source, lies on the floor beside her, the carpet bearing a dark stain where what remained in the cup spilled out as it fell.

At the priest's prompting, Caesius searches the room for the taint of evil, but finds nothing, not even a lingering aura.

At last Ireena's eyes flicker open, widening in alarm as she sees all of you gathered about her.

"Wh.. what has happened ?" she pleads.

Zertin looks slightly embarrassed by Ireena's question.

"We found Saeko lying on the floor, apparently drugged, and you lying still upon your bed, covered by this."

He holds up the funerary shroud that was covering Ireena.

"We feared the worst. Thankfully you both seem to be unharmed."

"Perhaps this is just a warning - that we cannot protect you here? The question is who could have done this?"

Qvar is hugely relieved that both Ireena and Saeko will be well.  He could have a pretty good guess who could have done this.  "Yes, perhaps a warning.  I was awake all night, and saw and heard nothing.  I will do what I can to ward us next time we sleep."  Mentally working out a list of spells to pray for before they set out, and silently chiding himself for 'wasting' such a warding spell the day before rather than holding it for the night as he had intended.

After a few minutes of prayer he begins searching for the source of the drug that affected Saeko.  "Sunfather, is this poison?"  He starts with Saeko and the spilt cup then stalks through the house, reporting to the others anything that he discovers.

Eventually he settles next to Ashlyn, smiling as he casts the promised Mending spell on her corroded sword, "Sunfather, brighten this besmirched steel."  He looks toward Caesius and asks "Caesius, could your sword also use some Sunshine?"

"A man would have to be a fool to refuse any blessing in this Gods' forsaken place." the paladin says, drawing his blade and holding it out to Qvar.

"Barring magic, of some description, I'd say the sealed window shows that the cause of whatever affected Ireena and Saeko was inside the house."

A warning?  Curious. Violet supposes it could have been - some sort of noble's game, to feed their ego.  Where she comes from, such things are common among the upper class.  Not so in her own, where a warning is simply a wasted opportunity.

She has never committed such murders herself, but has seen the results far too many times in the back alleys of Chaville.

"The Lady Saeko remains insensate," she murmurs, distraught.  "Will this pass with time?  Or is the toxin a..."  Her lips twist.  "Sorcerous one?  That will not leave her?"  A curse, in effect.  She has only heard of such things in stories, but if it were to transpire, it would be here.