"One final question, from me at least, and likely the one you expected as coning."  Gealin declares.  "Where can we find a good meal and a place to stay?"

"All these rules are a bit tiresome.  I mean do others enjoy these mandatory festivals?  Is the artifact viewable by patrons visiting the chapel?  What happens if someone mentions StrahhhI mean The Devil's actual name on accident?  Are there any good taverns here and where can a lady find a nice warm bath? Oh yeah, I am Reyna, I'm carrying this dagger and a light crossbow, but the most powerful weapon I hold is within."

"Yes, we must observe this artifact! I can't imagine how anyone would not be fascinated enough to at least learn what it is that protects them from the depravity that fills this entire land. I wonder if the festivals are a part of it..." Chompski's voice trails off as he falls deep into thought.

The Veteran says, "The Blue Water Inn is a great place to both get a wine, a wolf steak and a room to sleep in. The Artifact is not viewable for safety reasons obviously. I wouldn't let the Devils name slip from thy lips accidentally or otherwise."

Gaelin turns to Reyna.  "He didn't mention the bath specifically, but the Blue Water Inn implies that may be an amenity they offer.  Not sure how I feel about wolf steaks.  It seems rather petty to eat something that tried to eat us."

Reyna looks at Gaelin with a smile, "I hope to hell they do, I smell something fierce right now.  You have never eaten wolf before?  It isn't bad and if it's cooked right, it can be quite delicious."

She then turns back to address the veteran, "Well, I mustn't get too drunk than because when this girl gets liquored up, there is no filter.  Words tend to just fly out of my mouth."

Reyna with a look of discontent across her face turns back to the group, "How long do we plan on staying in this lame ass place with all the rules?  I mean I can do this for a night or too, but I'm definitely not staying around for that festival this guy is yammering on about, unless . . .,"

She spins back around like a top to face the veteran, "Thank you so much for your kindness and we appreciate you allowing us to stay within these protected walls, but whom may I speak with in regards to that nifty artifact you described?  I would love to learn more about how it works.  My family and entire village were slaughtered by Str. . . I mean the devil and would love to learn about how to keep him away, well until I figure out a way to kill the bastard."

"Father Lucian Petrovich over at St. Andral's Church is the one who keeps the artifact. I am afraid we don't have another artifact to spare for your village," the veteran says.

Reyna looks over at the rest of the group, "Let's head over to the Inn and check in.
 I could really use some ale and a hot back."

"Yes, this man has been quite patient with our questions, but we should let him get back to  recording what weapons various people are carrying.  The Inn does sound like a great place to head to first.  After all the walking and fighting, I could use a bath as well, and somewhere to sit down for a while would be good."  Gaelin replies.

Once getting inside the walls, the atmosphere of Vallaki hit you hard. But in a good way. The streets are teeming with people and there's the obvious sign of life everywhere. The volume of people in this area (while still light in comparison to most towns in Faerun) shock you after what you've seen in the Village of Barovia. Even the Vistani camp at Tser Pool, while lively and friendly, was surrounded by the menacing woods. Vallaki feels different, almost normal.

As you make your way into town you approach what could only be St. Andral's Church. This slouching, centuries-old stone church has a bulging steeple in the back and walls lined with cracked, stained glass windows depicting pious saints. A fence of wrought iron encloses a garden of gravestones next to the church. A thin mist creeps among the graves.

"Do we want to pop in quickly and have a look at the artifact.  Chompski, I have a good idea your vote, but what about everyone else?  We wanted to rest a bit before finding more mischief, but learning about the artifact may help us plan our next move.  Besides, we just have a quick chat with the priest, what could go wrong?"  Gaelin pauses before the church and asks quietly.

"Aye. I'm much less beat up than most of you. I can pop in with whoever else wants to join if the others want to get a head start on ordering some drinks and food."

"I would be happy to accompany you into that creepy-under-normal-circumstances-but-actually quite-inviting-for-this-realm, little church.  I too was able to avoid becoming a chew-toy in our most recent wolf encounter and I am definitely looking to push my rare streak of good fortune as far as it will go."  Gaelin replies to the gnome.

"I'll go on ahead to the inn. I don't think it will take all of us just to look at the church's artifact. I'll ask what you learned later." He asks the nearest person he can find for directions to the inn.

Gaelin and Chompksi head into the Church. Inside there are several people praying to some divinity and above the people is the priest making marks in the air above each person assembled. He looks your direction. He notices the state of your clothes and disarrangement then continues about his business of blessing his congregation.

Gaelin looks down and idly tries to flick the dried blood off of her clothing.  "Chompski, I've been meaning to ask for a while but keep forgetting.  You found a cloak in the house that nearly killed us that did show affects of age.  Do you think I could have it?  It might make me more presentable."  She says quietly.

She then looks around for where a powerful, vampire repelling artifact may reside and move over to it quietly once the priest goes back to what he is doing

OoC;
Roll(1d20)+4:  15,+4  Total:19 - perception
Roll(1d20)+7:  19,+7  Total:26 - sneak

Gaelin looks around the church but does not see anything here that would be an artifact to ward off evil.

Gaelin, not wanting to interrupt the proceeding waves her hands back and forth in front of her face to get the priest's attention and letting him know they would like to chat when convenient.

After a few minutes the Priest approaches. He says, "By his light." He then bows his head slightly and continues. "What can I do for you in this holy place."

"Yes, I did see the light coming out through the holes in the roof as we walked up, but that is hardly a feature of the building to dwell upon.  We have just entered this fine burg after being harried by he-who-shall-not-be-named out on the raods.  We heard tale that you had in this fine, but admittedly holey, building a artifact that protects the village from the aforementioned evil doer.  My gnomish friend and I would love a chance to inspect the artifact in all it's splendor."  Gaelin replies.  "By his light, of course."

The priest looks a bit nervous and says, "The artifact is not to be viewed and kept in a secretive location. He has mortal spies that could steal the object. You say you have been in conflict with the master of this realm? Many have tried to stop him in the past. Perhaps you will be the ones to see him undone. I fear if he is not stopped this town will soon fall."

The gnome takes a minute to think back, and then recalls the cloak. "Aye, it feels like so long ago, I had forgotten. I meant to study it to figure out how it remained in such pristine condition." He produces the cloak. "If you would like to use it to cover up, it might reduce some questions. I only hope it isn't tainted, given everything else. If you are able to give it back to me later, I have some tests I read about back at the university that I can run overnight on it."

Chompski turns to the priest. "Quite understandable. We've encountered his manipulations several times first hand in the last few days. Do you know what gives the artifact it's power, or where it came from? How did it come into the church's possession? We aren't of this realm and would like to return home. It seems the only way we will be able to do so is if we do manage to defeat him, as you suggest. We will need some powerful means to do so, however, and are eager to learn how we might start down that path. Is there something we might do to verify our loyalty before we might be allowed to see the artifact?"
This message was last edited by the player at 22:35, Sun 30 May 2021.

Gaelin takes the cloak and puts it on.  Nodding thanks to the gnome.  "We have heard about others attempting to stop him, have any of them taken shelter in this town?  Also, what's with all the celebrations?  Seems a bit excessive to have them so often.  Finally, soon is a bit of a relative term, for us elves, that could mean 50 years, for you humans tomorrow.  Can you give a more specific amount of time you think the village can hold?  Oh, and lastly, how do you think the town will fall?  Intrigue from infiltrators?  Attack by overwhelming numbers?  Mysterious strangers claiming to be friends?  Meteorite impact?  Crop loss?  Poisoning of the water supply?  Civil insurrection caused by all the celebrations?  Disease caused by insufficient waste management protocols?  Rapture?  Plague of mindless undead?  Sorry to take up your time, does this cloak make me look less bloodthirsty?  Does it make me look fat?"  Gaelin responds to the priest.

The man says, "Yes of course they have stopped here. Some have even tried to take the artifact that protects this town. As far as the celebrations go. They are to bring some joy into this gloom filled realm. Of course the Burgomaster believes that the mandated fun is uplifting. At this point though they are more of nuisance than anything. I think once he who shall not be named gets to sniffing around here he will see that things are not as they once were and he shall overwhelm us for not falling under his rule."

"Interesting.  How does the artifact protect you, does is provide some anonymity that he can't pierce without concentration?  Does it clear to fog to make it difficult for his agents?  Turn vampires into angsty teenagers?  It may just be simpler to let my friend inspect said artifact than answer all of my questions.  We are not here to steal it and anything else nefarious.  But any information about the weaknesses of he-who-shall-not-be-named will help us in our effort to destroy him and thereby benefit the entire realm."  Gaelin replies.