2. Welcome to Borovia

[Grognardsw]

Vorkath will put his horse where he did last night, unless Ireena lets him stay in the entrance foyer.

"Stay close to me, like last night, should there be an attack," advises the paladin to Ireena.

[Zhym]

Date: Nouluna 3, 1221
Time: 6:00 PM
Weather: Foggy, overcast
Moon: Waxing Gibbous
Location: The Burgomaster’s House
**************************************

I’ve edited the previous update, per your posts, as follows. The time on this update reflects those edits (i.e., time to get from the town square to the Burgomaster’s house and to rub down and put away the horses):

When you reach the house, Agrippo walks Snowflake to the garden shed. Iluq follows with his horse, The two horses will not be very comfortable in the tiny shed, but putting them in the cramped and rickety tool shed seems safer than leaving them in the open overnight. With no other shelter for his horse, Vorkath ties Repentance out front after giving his war horse a good rub down.

Ignoring Ismark’s questions, you start straight into preparations for the night. As Agrippo starts barricading the front hallway (I still need more detail on how), Ismark follows him. "What? Are you being chased?" He turns to Ireena. "Get my sword—quick!"

Ireena runs down the hall and returns with two swords. She hands one of them to Ismark. "What is pursuing you?" he asks. He readies his sword and paces the front rooms, checking the boards on the windows.

Ireena stands before the front door and readies her sword as well. Vorkath steps to her side. "Stay close to me, like last night, should there be an attack," advises the paladin.

"'Should?' " repeats Ireena with a querulous glance. "Then we aren't under attack right now?" She drops her guard and calls into the other room. "Izzy! It's okay. We're not under attack." She turns back to Vorkath. "You may be mighty adventurers, but you're sort of stupid and rude. By the way—if we're attacked, I fight."

Ismark tries to guide you into the drawing room again. "Please," he asks, "did you learn anything from Father Vorkath?"

[Computer +1]

Thats the way lass! Stick em' with the pointy end! Tumbler says with a smile. An' I'm sticking with the big headed brute too, he seems to be the only thing that keeps the nasties at bay. With his wisdom being imparted Tumbler inspects his crossbow and looks around to try to find a good target for some practice.

[Zhym]

The Burgomaster's house is large, and may qualify as a "mansion" in Barovia, but its designers regrettably neglected to include an indoor archery range.

[Computer +1]

A bucket or cutting board from the kitchen st upon a chair and a long hallway will be sufficient for Tumbler's tastes.

Dont tell my parents how I practiced BB gun target shooting in the winter months.

[Zhym]

Have you ever been invited to a stranger's house and started taking target practice in his hallway? If you want to play Tumbler that way, forge ahead, but this is the town mayor's home you're in, not a barn.

[Grognardsw]

"Aye, we did more than see Father Donavich," answers Vorkath to Ismark. "The good priest told us to look for Strahd's journal in the Ravenloft library."

The paladin does not reveal that Ireena is not the borgomaster's daughter. If Strahd seeks to possess her, perhaps he is the father, but Vorkath has never heard of undead siring young.

Vorkath is reminded about the stolen holy symbol sun medallion. "Ismark, are there any more of these medallions in your family pr the chirch?"

"The group then provisioned and visited the gypsy camp to see Madam Eva," continues Vorkath. "She gave a tarot card reading to Agrippo."

Vorkath, though he does not put too much stock in gypsy prophesies, thinks over her words as described by the other party members. Perhaps there is some kernel of truth, something to give them an edge against the formidable vampyre.

The paladin recalls the Strength card. "Do you know of any legends of a fallen prince, an old source of good in the area?" asks the Faith Hunter to the burgomaster's son and daughter.

Thinking of the Queen of Wands, Vorkath asks: "Your family lineage must date back quite far. Do you know when Strahd came to be, who his mother is?"

Contemplating the Sun card, the Sword of the True God inquires: "Is there a mountain or high tower in the area with legend of a weapon of light to fight evil? A 'place of dizzying heights all are loathe to travel, where 'the road twists ever upward and the rocks live?'"

"Your library may be a source of local history and legends," surmises the Guardian of the Truth, looking at Tibbius and Iluq. "Perhaps our mages could bring their bibliophilic skills to bear in finding helpful clues?"

[Computer +1]

That is what Tumbler would want to do alright! The same way he thought it was ok to throw flaming cocktails in their house too. LOL!

He is a worker who only focuses on getting a job done. Cleanup is not a concern of his.

I think it would be an amusing exchange to roleplay but if you dont want to then thats fine.

[Stirling]

"Stay close to me Ireena, like last night, should there be an attack," will mimic Vorkath to the others, (outside of his hearing of course), giving himself a cuddle with his arms and making a smoochy pouty face.

As far as barricades are concerned we saw big wolves leap through the barred windows before and they are the size of dire wolves by my reckoning, so Agrippo will recommend a wall of upturned tables.

[Bouv]

Robert will take his shift as needed but will also make sure he has down time to rememorize his spells.

[Zhym]

Date: Nouluna 3, 1221
Time: 6:10 PM
Weather: Foggy, overcast
Moon: Waxing Gibbous
Location: The Burgomaster’s House
**************************************

Vortkath answers Ismark’s question and follows up with several of his own.

“Be careful how much faith you put in Madam Eva," he responds. "Her Sight is real, but just try getting a straight answer out of her!”

“Alas, the family holy symbol was the only one of its kind,” continues Ismark. “I do not even know where it came from. It had been with the family for generations. As for other legends and local history, you’ll find that our library mostly contains books on agricultural theory, government administration, law, that sort of thing. I’m afraid we haven’t gone in much for writing down our own history. But I will tell you what little I know.”

“They say that a thousand years ago, Castle Ravenloft was the keep of a good and true family of nobles. Old stories recall Ravenloft’s great halls, treasure, and glory in that time. The town of Barovia grew happy and prosperous near the castle on the cliff. No one knows why or when, but many centuries ago, Ravenloft fell to the domain of Strahd. Some claim that Strahd is a punishment, that Borovia became too prosperous and too prideful, or that the people of the town committed some other unspeakable sin.”

“The mother, the fallen prince, the place of dizzying heights—I have to think the answers to all these lie within the castle itself,” he concludes. "No one knows what hides within the castle. Ancient tales tell of catacombs and dungeons deep under Ravenloft's spires. Perhaps you'll find your answers there."

-----

Meanwhile, Tumbler decides to try some target practice with his shiny new crossbow. He heads to the kitchen, grabs a butcher board, and takes it to the hallway in the east wing. He sets it on a chair and takes aim.

“What the hell are you doing?” shouts Ireena. She grabs the dwarf as he shoots, sending his bolt into the ceiling. “If you want to take target practice, do it outside on your own stuff, not our kitchen tools!” She takes the butcher board and stomps off to the kitchen. “Stupid and rude!”

Agrippo looks for tables to upturn. There aren’t many of enough size to make a difference. Ireena passes him on her way to the kitchen as he’s trying to drag the dining hall table into the entry hall. “Gah!” she exclaims as she rolls her eyes and continues into the kitchen. “Stupid and rude!”

-----

When you all set your watch schedule for the night, please let me know your positions, what shift everyone is taking, when you plan to sleep, etc.

Robert will need four hours of sleep and half an hour of prayer/meditation to recover the two 1st-level spells he used today. Tibbius needs the same. Iluq will need six hours of sleep and two hours of prayer. Add 15 minutes/level for any spells memorized to replace uncast spells.

[Computer +1]

Tumbler walks over to Agrippo with a look of disbelief on his face. What an ungrateful bunch! She took my target!! He gestures in the direction of the makeshift archery range. A vampire with a legion of undead wants to kill us all and she is worried about tables and cutting boards? What a joke!

[Eulalios]

Tibbius stands nearby. "Quite honestly," he says quietly to Tumbler and Agrippo only, "this whole story makes no sense. On the one hand, the townies in hundreds of years have not had the wherewithal to simply burn the castle down. On the other, the vampire in hundreds of years has so well controlled his appetites, that the townies survive to this day. He has free right of entry into this house, has come here twice - at least - has drunk from our fair hostess ... yet left her, and her brother, alive ... but when we are guests, he sends in the wolves? Moreover, no one admits to writing the letter that summoned us here. Who's left as an author? The dread lord himself? And our own hosts' attitude ... toward us ... we are treated more like surprise cousins, than like rescuers. We are in a situation that we do not understand. Are we using the right tools, or even facing the right direction?"

[Computer +1]

Tumbler nods at Tibbius's words. I'll tell you one thing I'd like a bit more damn appreciation from our hosts. This whole thing is a pile of crap, I say we head out in the morning and test this whole impassable fog thing. Its probably just more bullshit to get us to work for free.

[Eulalios]

"that...or," Tibbius says with a sly grin, "Perhaps tonight I should introduce myself to our true host, the lord of this land. Prince to prince, he owes us better hospitality than what we've seen!"

[Zhym]

Please let me know your plans for the night. Once a schedule has been set, I'll move the action forward. Thanks.

[Grognardsw]

Vorkath will guard Ireena in her room of choice. If necessary he'll board up the windows in said room. The paladin will try to make small talk with the girl, asking about her noble family - what were her parents like, her grandparents? When did she first encounter Strahd? What did he say and do? Why does she think he takes an interest in the family? Who would be motivated to fake a letter to the group? For what purpose?

[NJWilliam]

Iluq

Iluq looks about at the oddball group that are his companions.
"If I'm to be of any use tomorrow, I need to rest so I can beseech for more magic.
"Iluq then finds a quiet corner, away from the crossbow target practice, and pulls his hood over his eyes to get some rest."

[Eulalios]

Tibbius nods to Iluq. "Good point. I also should rest, perhaps to wake before the evil arrives." he fits actions to words, laying out with his head on his mule pack.

[Computer +1]

Tumbler will stick by Vorkath and Ireena and will move to blend into the shadows.