This Baron was mad, he was sure of it. His wife likely too. His eyes though did scan the Half man, half demon shark steward. This whole land was strange. Shaking his head slightly. he just nods in greeting to the Baron and his wife. Let the human do the talking. They like to do that he thought.

Brankx, still leaning against the wall, didn't make any moves. He was one that hated formality...he spoke plainly.

When the baron arrived, he rolled his eyes. great....this guys hens have left the henhousehe thought.

He, however, made no moves to talk. He was brash and forward, but this was a baron.

 ...he wasn't stupid

Skuldja did not know how to respond to the Baron and his wife. She thought Izek looked handsome though. "Jamboree? Will there be yummy food?"

The dwarf snorted at the barbarians question. "I hope there's none of those bloody cupcakes again" he muttered

Baron: “food?!? Bahahaaahahaha!”

And his wife laughed three times higher pitched.

Baron: “ya. Ya do you need some food now? Are you hungry from traveling? Let’s put a smile on those faces. I could eat. The best way to keep strahd away is pleasure and happiness. He only wants to keep us in misery. I know how to hit him where it hurts! Haha! Izek! Fucking smiles izek!”

Izek nods his head, his lipless mouth constantly in a salivating smile.
“Fucking smiles boss!”

Then he moves toward you to help you with your smile...

(You can smile, let him help you smile, or resist...)
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:39, Sat 01 May 2021.

Lando smiled broadly and spoke up, "Do you know what makes people smile? Joyful music.  I left my viola in the carriage.  I'll fetch it straight away.  Master Brankx, would you give me a hand please?"  He bowed pleasantly to the Baron and his wife and gestured for Brankx to join him outside.  Before he left, he shot the Seti, Skuldja, and Zakrud a subtle look of concern.

Brankx, still leaning against the wall, has the same sour disposition while looking at the baron and his 'servent' with a mixture of confusion and disbelief.

When lando went outside, he nodded. "aahh....'scuse me a sec will ye" and followed him out

<Brankx, being the sourpuss he is, will resist>

Once they were outside and beyond earshot he said, "sorry, to hustle you out, but you're an honest man, and that wouldn't have served you.  You were right in your concern. I fear the Baron is mad.  I only hope the others got my signal."

"Lizard do not touch me. This is my happy face. Let us not make it unhappy." Zrakrud offers to Izek as he approaches. Looking to the Baron "I appreciate the offer of food and drink. But we just wanted to make our presence know within the city. To see if there was a way to aid your city."

Lando and Brankx leave with polite bows from the Baron and Baronness and Izek just grins. "Have fun!"

Izek comes over to Zrakrud, leads in close that you can smell the skunk on his breath. "I understand. This is how his face looks boss! He can't help it. He's just an ugly mudder fudder boss. But he's happy. I can tell."

The Baron claps his hands, "Well! Let's put a smile on that face!"

The Baronness giggles and pulls out lipstick from between her breasts. She bobbles over to Zrakrud and giggles, "Let's put a smile on that face!" The red lip paint nears your mouth.
(Zrakrud dex save or we'll paint you like a clown!)

The Baron laughs and coughs and wipes his sweaty forehead, "You CAN help us! A couple of things, actually. First! Join us for tomorrow's Jamboree as my special guests of honor. Tell everyone that all will, indeed, be well. Make sure they smile! HA! if we can make everyone in Vallaki happy, the town will slip free of Strahd’s dark grasp.

"Number Two. The butler and the baroness’s lady-in-waiting have gone missing this past week. I charged Izek with finding out what happened to them, but investigation isn’t Izek’s forte. Searches have been organized, to no avail. I'm quite sure you can do better."

Zrakrud was ready for an attack, but not what the mad Baronness was going to do. As she began to smear the lipstick on his face he tried to pull away... Only making the matters worse. He grumbled and continued to try and pull away.

"Oh no no no!" The baroness draws a squiggly line across Zrakrud's cheek instead of a smile. "Oh poo." She frowns, then realizes that her husband might see her frown and quickly turns that frown upside down. "It's beautiful darling!"

she presents Zrakrud to the Baron.

He smiles, "Better than you usually do, Lydia! HAHAHA!"

Then she busts up laughing.

Brankx, still serious looking, managed a half, ironic smile. "A bit mad? I think his top pasture is empty boy. No...don't apologise fer that boy, shows ye are smarter than I gave ye credit fer. That kinda crazy is dangerous...fer himself and others. If he believes smiles can save them from a vampire, then he's a fool too."

He looked around the town. "Gods know the people need reason to smile in this dung pile, but that...." indicating the house and baron. "....I think we have ter save the people from him as much the leech."

Skuldja smiled as she watched the Baronness smear lipstick on Zrakrud's face. "I can help Izek with the investigation and I would be honored to be a guest of honor."

The baron laughs, “Fantastic! Thank you so much for your help! I will see you tomorrow! Oh I almost forgot are you staying for dinner? It’s my privilege to feed you! We must stay merry!”

Zrakrud shook his head slowly to the Baron "I will find an Inn for the evening." Bowing slightly he begins to move towards the exit.

Baron laughs, "Even better! The economy needs your support! YES! Be sure to tell them all is well!"

"Heh."

"All is well."

He sounds like he believes it.

"This has been fun, but I better go after my friends and keep them out of trouble." Skuldja scurries after Zrakrud not wanting to be left behind with these weird way too happy people.

Zrakrud exits the Baron's manor wiping away the lipstick with what ever rag he has at his availability, including some of his clothes, muttering softly to himself as he makes it outside.

You stumble through the night. The only establishment with lights on-welcoming or not-is the inn.

Gray smoke issues from the chimney of this large, two-story wooden building with a stone foundation and sagging tile roof, upon which several ravens have perched. A painted wooden sign hanging above the main entrance depicts a blue waterfall.


Damp cloaks hang from pegs in the entrance portico. The tavern is packed with tables and chairs, with narrow paths meandering between them. A bar stretches along one wall, under a balcony that can be reached by a wooden staircase that hugs the north wall. Another balcony overhangs an entrance to the east. All the windows are fitted with thick shutters and crossbars. Lanterns hanging above the bar and resting on the tables bathe the room in dull orange light and cast shadows upon the walls, most of which are adorned with wolf heads mounted on wooden plaques.

There are 10 people here.
A group of 6 townies are dressed like nobles, have their noses buried in copies of the same book, and try to ignore you.
At another table are two powerful men dressed like hunters who size you all up and stare you down.
At a corner table sits a half-elf dressed to the nines in an elaborate blue white yellow and red carnival showman suit. He's got his eyes on you from under his top hat, curling his black mustache with mild curiosity.
Finally the barman, a middle aged man in decent shape who looks exhausted, but welcomes you and prepares to be of service.

Urvin(barman): "Sad-tidings and greetings! Ismark! Ireena. I am sorry for your loss. Welcome to you travelers. Do you need rooms? We have plenty of warm beds and hot soup."

(info updated on Vallaki thread)

Lando nodded to the barman as he took a seat at an empty table, "yes please to both, and a glass of your finest wine as well."

action: Lando got a room, with a soup dinner, and one glass of red dragon crush wine.

Urvin brings you a key, a bowl of soup that looks devoid of mmm mmm good, and a glass of wine. When yoh taste the wine yoh realize he poured you the inferior wine by mistake, or perhaps on purpose.

The dwarf follows after lando and sits with a sigh. “Give me some real food and ale....and if ye make it cheap and watered down, by th’ gods, ye’ll see an upset dwarf.”

He frowns at him as he takes out a dagger placing it on the table. “And yendont want ter see me upset boy!”

Does it seem like an honest mistake or a slight against Lando?

23:28, Today: Lando rolled 20 using 1d20+5.  insight.

In reply to Lando (msg # 42):

It seems almost like he's embarrassed to have run out of good wine.