2. Welcome to Borovia

[Zhym]

Gentlemen, I need at least two more rolls. Make it another eight to be safe. Thanks!

[Grognardsw]

18376 Vorkath Tsaridian - The Faith Hunter, Guardian of the Truth, The Sword of the True God Ravenloft [1d20] = 16, [1d20] = 10, [1d20] = 3, [1d20] = 8 11/7/2013 6:45:32 AM
18375 Vorkath Tsaridian - The Faith Hunter, Guardian of the Truth, The Sword of the True God Ravenloft [1d20] = 13, [1d20] = 4, [1d20] = 13, [1d20] = 11 11/7/2013 6:45:08 AM

The dice roller's clock is three hours off.

[Zhym]

The dice roller's clock is three hours off.

Or it's on Mountain time?

[Bouv]

After spending some time in the forests near town, Robert will come back and rejoin the party.

[Stirling]

[1d20+1] = 9+1 = 10 11/7/2013 8:43:27 AM
18402 Agrippo Ravenloft [1d20+1] = 18+1 = 19 11/7/2013 8:43:22 AM
18401 Agrippo Ravenloft [1d20+1] = 19+1 = 20 11/7/2013 8:43:18 AM
18400 Agrippo Ravenloft [1d20+1] = 10+1 = 11 11/7/2013 8:43:13 AM
18399 Agrippo Ravenloft [1d20+1] = 19+1 = 20 11/7/2013 8:43:09 AM
18398 Agrippo Ravenloft [1d20+1] = 13+1 = 14 11/7/2013 8:43:03 AM
18397 Agrippo Ravenloft [1d20+1] = 5+1 = 6 11/7/2013 8:42:59 AM
18396 Agrippo Ravenloft [1d20+1] = 8+1 = 9


cueing more grunting and groaning and a left hand under the table tickling the testicles!

[Zhym]

Date: Nouluna 3, 1221
Time: 12:40 PM
Weather: Foggy, overcast
Moon: Waxing gibbous
Location: The Blood of the Vine Tavern
**************************************

Vorkath challenges Agrippo to arm wrestle. "Elbow down, Spartan!” he bellows. Agrippo eagerly agrees. “Best me and I'll clean your horse's excrement until we leave town, lose and you'll be flagellating an extra 10 tonight!”

The gypsies gather ‘round for the show. Elbows hit the table, fist graps fist. Tumbler slaps his hand on the table as the signal to start.

At first, nothing happens, strength matching strength. Agrippo’s superior strength starts to take over, pushing Vorkath’s hand back, and back again. But Vorkath recovers, pushing Agrippo’s arm up! Agrippo redoubles his efforts, again powering towards victory. Vorkath erases that gain, then pushes on until their arms are both upright. It’s a new match! But Agrippo gets his second wind, slowly pushing Vorkath’s arm back, then further down, then slamming the paladin’s arm to the table with a resounding “thump.” The fighter is victorious over the paladin!

Agrippo feels much better after the contest of strength.

The gypsies cheer. Yuri slaps Agrippo on the back and congratulates him. Boris calls to the bartender, “Arik! Another drink for the victor!” The bartender complies. The gypsies sing a song with words you don't understand as they return to their table.

Robert joins you shortly after the end of the arm-wrestling match.

As Agrippo quaffs his victory drink, it occurs to you that the revelry will be short-lived. Somewhere, the vampyre lurks. Unless you want to adopt Borovia as your permanent home, there is preparation to be done.

Status: Robert: 37/37, Iluq: 39/39, Vokath: 40/40, Tibbius: 22/22, Randolph: 4/4, Tumbler: 39/39, Agrippo: 52/52

[Grognardsw]

"Still as strong as I remember!" exclaims Varkoth. "We'll need that strength."

The paladin eats, talks and listens to the gypsies songs. Eventually he'll suggest a visit to Madam Eva.

[Stirling]

Agrippo strokes his thick black beard and flexes a weary arm, "perhaps these vagabonds know more than we think, they say no one but the gypos' enter and leave through the woods, are they just cannily blessed or in league with this Strahd? I agree we should pay a visit to their Madam Eva"

[Bouv]

Robert looks about, "So while I'm gone you guys decide to arm wrestle. Anyway, I did find some stuff out. When I went out, the wolves came after me almost instantly. That is very unlike them. Secondly, a blackbird was able to tell me that the wolves are avoided. Even the animals think they are evil. Seems there are also some large birds they avoid. And as we witnessed first hand, the night is the worse. With green and white humanoids about.

[Stirling]

"seems as though the gypsies have little trouble with any of those...perhaps young Ireena ought to take refuge along with them, certainly she can't stay at the house forever and I doubt she'll have the courage to come to deal with this Strahd face to face."

[Zhym]

Date: Nouluna 3, 1221
Time: 1:00 PM
Weather: Foggy, overcast
Moon: Waxing gibbous
Location: The Blood of the Vine Tavern
**************************************

As Agrippo drinks his celebratory beer, you discuss your plans. Before you set out for the Blood this afternoon, Agrippo had planned a trip to Bildrath’s Mercantile after lunch. Vorkath has suggested a visit to Madam Eva, to which Agrippo agreed. It occurs to you, however, that you don’t yet know where to find her.

Robert shares what he learned about the creatures of the forest in this dismal place.

Tumbler, Tibbius, and Iluq quietly drink their drinks.

Actions?

Status: Robert: 37/37, Iluq: 39/39, Vokath: 40/40, Tibbius: 22/22, Randolph: 4/4, Tumbler: 39/39, Agrippo: 52/52

[Computer +1]

Tumbler asks around for directions to a local store that they can replenish supplies at.

[Stirling]

Agrippo will suggest to the others that we bring up the idea to Ismark and Ireena of them seeking refuge with the gypsies if both are willing. We could then accompany them to Madam Eva's. Perhaps Yuri and Boris could show the way?

[Grognardsw]

Vorkath / tavern

Listening to Robert’s warnings of woodland dangers, the paladin says, “Yes, let us travel only by daylight, and swiftly at that, to Strahd’s castle.”

“I am reluctant to put Ireena and Ismark in the hands of the gypsies, who we know nothing about, though there seems little alternative,” says Vorkath to Agrippo in the tavern. The Guardian of the Truth chews a mutton and vegetable stew soup, served in a peasant bread bowl, and washes it down with ale seasoned with Fall spices. He burps.

The Faith Hunter closes his eyes and concentrates his sixth sense to detect evil, particularly among the gypsies in the tavern. He hopes to gain a glimpse into their spiritual character, and give him guidance in deciding the wisdom of entrusting the burgomeister’s children to the vagabonds.

“Agrippo, while the others provision let us ask your new gypsy friends the location of Madam Eva and pay her a visit,” suggests the Sword of the True God.

[Zhym]

Date: Nouluna 3, 1221
Time: 1:10 PM
Weather: Foggy, overcast
Moon: Waxing gibbous
Location: The Blood of the Vine Tavern
**************************************

Tumbler looks for someone who he can ask for directions to a local store. He looks toward the barkeeper and decides not even to bother. The gypsies are still in song. Tumbler steps outside, hoping to find someone from whom he can ask directions. Looking through the mists across the empty town square, he spots a sign, still creaking on its hinges: “Bildrath’s Mercantile.”

Agrippo suggests that Ismark and Ireena could seek refuge with the gypsies.

Vorkath pretends that the bread, cold cuts, and weak beer of the Blood are mutton and vegetable soup served in a bread bowl and spiced ale. He concentrates on sensing evil, but, like yesterday, he detects no strong auras of evil beyond the background level that infuses the entire land. “Agrippo, while the others provision let us ask your new gypsy friends the location of Madam Eva and pay her a visit,” suggests the Sword of the True God.

When the gypsies stop singing, you ask them where you can find Madam Eva. “Take the road west,” says Yuri. “At fork, you go right. She is in gypsy camp there, about a mile from town. Tell her Boris, Yuri, and Mikhail send you! Sretno!”

Status: Robert: 37/37, Iluq: 39/39, Vokath: 40/40, Tibbius: 22/22, Randolph: 4/4, Tumbler: 39/39, Agrippo: 52/52

[Stirling]

Agrippo feels restless and still hungry on the 'spartan' fare served at the inn. Agrippo will go to the camp if everyone agrees. If it is only a league away then he'll walk carrying his spear and shield and waist equipped stuff, leaving his pack on the trailing Snowflake. If Izzie and Ireena want to accompany us that is fine but they need to come now or defend their home another day. He would like to talk with Robert along the way about the 'green and white' humanoids that inhabit the woods and unusual large birds...anybody notice any vultures gathering to feast upon the unwary party?

[Bouv]

Robert engages Agrippo, "The birds I would think would be something along the lines of vultures. As for the humanoids, who knows what. Golbins? Orcs? Elves? The animals tend to go off descriptions not names. And I wasn't wanting to spend more time out there with those worg wolves nearby. I was lucky the first time to turn invisible to them but I had only memorized that spell once. I love nature but these woods really creep me out."

[Computer +1]

Tumbler walks over to the mercantile and sees if the place is open for business. If it is he will head inside.

[Zhym]

Date: Nouluna 3, 1221
Time: 1:20 PM
Weather: Foggy, overcast
Moon: Waxing gibbous
Location: The Blood of the Vine Tavern
**************************************
If anyone is intent on splitting the party, please let me know. Otherwise, I'll assume that you all stay with Tumbler as you continue your discussions.

You head into Bildrath's Mercantile.

The front room of this store is about 40' wide and 20' deep. Food, candles, clothing, and other mundane household supplies sparsely populate the shelves that line the walls. A few barrels and boxes of other goods are scattered and stacked around the room. A man in a shopkeeper's vest stands behind a counter near the door. A curtained doorway on the far side of the shop leads, you guess, to the stockroom or the shopkeeper's living quarters.

"Hoy there! Welcome to Bildrath's! That's me: Bildrath. And you—you are clearly adventurers! What can I get you? Provisions? Fine weapons? Clothing? Something nice for your girl or your horse?"

Status: Robert: 37/37, Iluq: 39/39, Vokath: 40/40, Tibbius: 22/22, Randolph: 4/4, Tumbler: 39/39, Agrippo: 52/52

[Grognardsw]

Vorkath / path to gypsy camp

The paladin joins the spartan to visit Madam Eva. He hopes to gain a better understanding of the gypsies by seeing their home, to help form a decision on leaving Ireena and Ismark in their care. Or perhaps invite them to stay at the house, ponders Vorkath.

The holy warrior suggests to Agrippo they ride out on their steeds to make it a quicker journey and be back well before dusk. Along the way Vorkath reminesces with the fighter about old battles fought and other such manly matters. While the thought of talking about the ways of the True God rises in Vorkath's mind, he knows by now that Agrippo has no truck with religious ways.