Theodora appears satisfied with whatever she sees in the girl's aura.
"I'm very sorry to have to tell you this, but the Count is not what he appears to be. Behind his regal exterior lies of the heart and intentions of a monster. We can protect you if you are willing to trust us. I am a holy warrior of Sarenrae, bound by oath and honor to follow the righteous and lawful path, I speak truly to you." The paladin reveals to the girl plainly in a sympathetic tone.
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"She really is. Honourable, righteous and lawful. It's hugely irritating, but you can trust her."
Petracleus, as discretely as he can, talks in hushed tones with Celowyn, "We were really only there for one night before we ended up here... As to someone going missing, there was nothing specific... although it certainly seems in keeping with Strahd's rule"".
Smiling broadly, Petracleus asks Gertruda, "Tell me... Did the lord of this place tell you much about this grand ball? Who is invited... and in whose honour the ball is being held?"
Verran simply nodded along while his companions spoke as he didn't really have anything to add. Well, nothing productive at any rate. They seemed to understand the implications of what was going on with this girl just fine, but neither she nor they had any idea where this could lead. At least it seemed she was being treated better than Verran was by the lords of Geb.
Gertruda still seems a bit wary of Daimon, and seems a bit confused as to how to take his comment.
But at Theodora's comment, the girl seems rather indignant. "How can you say such awful things about the Count? He has been so kind to me, and he's going to throw a ball, just because I asked! He said it will be a beautiful ball!"
At Petracleus' question, her face brightens, and she begins gushing like a child much younger than her apparent 16 years.
"Oh, he said it shall be the grandest ball Barovia has seen in decades! He said that he has invited all of the lords and ladies from the surrounding lands, and they all shall be coming! Do you even need a reason to have a ball other than the dancing?" She then picks up the heavy leather-bound book again, and flips through to an illustration of a lavish ballroom in a grand castle. "He said it will be just like this... Oh, wait!"
Gertruda then walks over to one of the tables and opens a drawer. She takes out a clockwork music box, and opens the lid. A small figurine of a woman in a dancing pose rises from the box. Gertruda turns a large brass key that protrudes from the side of the box, and it makes a clockwork ticking sound as she turns it. She then presses a button on the box and it begins playing beautiful music, like tiny chimes. As the music plays, the figurine in the box spins slowly, as if it were dancing.
As the music plays, Gertruda places one hand on her shoulder and extends the other, and she begins dancing to the music.
"Wait... Did you say that your name was Gertruda Ruczika? Is your mother Mary Ruczika who lives on Manor Street?"
At that, Gertruda pauses in her dancing and looks at Ireena apprehensively.
Thrown by both the girl's willful disregard for her warning and her sudden dancing, Theodora can only stand by and blink rapidly for a few moments as she considers another tactic.
Countessa looks on with concern. The girl was obviously deluded or charmed by this Strahd. If the latter, then surely he is a monster to take advantage of one so young and naive. She idly casts a light spell between her fingers and dismisses it silently, almost as a subconscious action.
Smiling at Gertruda, "It will be a fine ball... and I'm sure that you will be the fairest of all the dancers".
"A fine tune... but not of these lands. I think it is originally from Varisia? Gertruda, who gave you this music box?"
Something is not quite right here... if this is from Varisia and it didn't come with Gertruda then someone who travels beyond these lands may be working with Strahd, Petracleus' mind wanders back to their encounter with the travelling folk... a time that seems an age away already.
Looking to Ireena, Petracleus whispers, "You know this girl or her family? Is it likely that she truly came willingly?"
Gertruda's joyful demeanor returns at Celowyn's and Petracleus' compliments. To Celowyn, the girl replies, "His servants have all been unfailingly polite to me! Miss Sasha in particular has been very kind—She brought me this very dress! Let's see... I didn't get all of their names, but there have been two different stewards who have served meals in the upstairs dining room, and there's a chambermaid that comes in to clean up the room. None of them have spoken to me much, actually."
To Petracleus' comment about her dancing, she beams and claps her hands excitedly like a little girl. "Thank you! I do hope so! The music box is the Count's. It was in this room already when I was shown in here, but he pointed it out to me. For that matter, so is that storybook. I had asked him if he had any books of tales that he could let me read, and he let me borrow this one from his library. My mother had a copy of a very similiar book, but this one has beautiful pictures and more stories!"
Ireena leans toward Petracleus and whispers, "I'm not sure... but old Mary Ruczika lives by herself in a townhouse on Manor Street. 'Mad Mary' we call her... They say that ever since her husband died about fifteen years ago, she's been kind of touched in the head. Mary doesn't come out much, and never lets anyone inside her home... I wonder if she's been hiding a daughter in there all these years..."
"Has the girl been mentally controlled by something? Could someone check if she has magical auras?" Theodora asks the group, still nonplussed by the girl's behavior and not hiding it.
In reaction to Theodora's question, Gertruda crosses her arms and pouts. "I am not being controlled by anyone!"
Surreptitiously, Countessa checks for magical auras via detect magic.
As the rest of you engage Gertruda in conversation, Countessa casts a spell, causing her eyes to glow with a faint blue light. No magical auras emanate from Gerturda. Other than the magic items she knows her friends to carry, Countessa picks up a few other auras.
Ireena seems to have a few items that radiate magic: specifically her sword, her shield, and the silver headband that's holding back her hair. But there's another moderately-strong aura about her in general... and Countessa doesn't recall that any of you cast a long-lasting spell on her.
And, disconcertingly, there's another aura radiating from a point in the air about two feet above Ireena's head.
Countessa looks at Theodora and shakes her head casually. She also shifts her eyes to Ireena and arches an eyebrow. Meanwhile, she continues concentrating on the auras, particularly the ones around Ireena's person and above her head.
Countessa studies the two strange magical auras around Ireena.
Maybe I am reading too much into it... the Ustalavians have a penchant for Varisian lore - maybe this music box is nothing more than that... a simple trinket that I could buy in any small town around these parts.
Seeing Countessa's attempts to look for the arcane, Petracleus - his curiosity piqued, does the same... and is somewhat perturbed to see something that has probably been staring him in the face since the moment the friends left the Kolyana house. Moving out of earshot of Ireena and pretending to examine something across the secret door through which they entered, Petracleus whispers to his friend, "Do you see it to Countessa? Someone... or something has put an enchantment upon Ireena... and, worse still, someone - that same someone? - is watching her."
Gertruda seems to notice neither Countessa's nor Petracleus' spellcasting, and she also seems oblivious to the sudden scrutiny they are paying Ireena.
In response to Celowyn's question, the girl replies, "Miss Sasha? She's beautiful! She's tall, with long black hair. She wore a red dress the last time she came into my room, and she was the one who brought me the fine dresses I've been wearing. They're all in that closet." She points to the doors behind which she had been hiding. "She said that she works for Count Strahd, and that he has treated her very well over the years. She also said that she had once been a village girl much like me before the Count asked her to move to the castle with him! She said that the Count trusts her with many tasks around the castle, including making all of the guests feel right at home. She's so nice!"
Ireena notices Petracleus and Countessa both looking at her intently with magically-glowing eyes and whispering together. Her expression becomes both puzzled and concerned. "What?"
Theodora also looks over with concern to the others when Ireena speaks up, "What's wrong?"
Petracleus is very careful with his words, recognising that apart from the scrying against Ireena there is also some type of enchantment here... in fact, he goes so far as to omit to tell her - or indeed anyone other than Countessa - about this other magic...
"Ireena... Countessa and I were simply looking for the arcane within this room... and then we both saw it, a magical aura above you - moving where you move. Of course, I can't be entirely sure but I would surmise from the behaviour of the spell that it is a scrying effect. Ireena... someone is watching you and, through that, watching all of us".
"A scrying spell! I suspected as much, but could not be certain. I have not the spell required to get rid of it, either."
At the revelation, Ireena seems to become nervous, looking around the room as if invisible eyes are everywhere. "A... a scrying spell? Someone is watching me?" But then her expression becomes angry. "It's probably that devil Strahd. I wonder how long he's been watching me..." She then looks at the ceiling and makes a rude gesture.
And at Ireena's calling of Strahd a 'devil,' Gertruda pouts again. She points at Ireena and says, "You take that back! His Grace is a fine gentleman, and would never do such a thing!"
"So... whoever was watching Ireena, and I think we have to guess it was Strahd... they've stopped but we should keep our wits about us".
Petracleus nods at Celowyn's suggestion, "Gertruda... please do not feel ill of us but we have business with 'His Grace'", the words stick in his throat, "Until we meet again...". Petracleus bows with overstated formality.
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Not wanting to give up on the girl, Theodora gives it one more try, "Listen, Gertruda. I know you really don't want to believe that the Count is not a good man, but we have no reason to lie to you and I am forbidden by oaths to my faith to do so. If you don't want to come with us, that's fine. Could you at least give us the benefit of the doubt and allow us to bring you proof of what we say? Can you give us until tomorrow morning, hiding yourself in the meantime between twilight and dawn?"
Verran keeps his tounge bitten, though he's straining at the bit. Should Theodora's words fail though, he knows he'll have to say what has been on his mind. The girl had to be warned what she was getting into.
At Theodora's words, Gertruda seems to finally become a bit concerned. "Well, I guess I can hide in the closet tonight, if you're that concerned... It sure seems silly to me, though. Everyone in the castle has been so nice to me!"
At that, she opens the curtain to the west-facing window. The view is of the Svalich Peaks: a breataking vision of snow-capped crags tinted orange from the low sun against a cloud-speckled blue sky. It's a little after dawn. The night's storm seems to have passed, and the sky seems to bode fair weather for the upcoming day.
Gertruda then looks at the secret door you all came through, and notices a wall sconce that seem to be extended out of the wall. She looks at it askance, and then pushes it in toward the wall. There is a grating sound of stone-against-stone, and the door closes, meshing itself almost perfectly into the wall.
"That's amazing!"
Verran sighed with some relief, but there was still something he needed to say. He'd been through far too much not to. "Just be wary child, Strahd is not what he seems. He and his servants may seem normal, but he is a dangerous being with dangerous intentions. I've dealt with his kind and while you may be lucky enough to be treated well, his kind see mortals like us as little more than cattle. I should know, I've been in their pens."
Verran nodded, a clear look of anguish appearing on his face. "Undead creatures like him, yes. I, thankfully, don't remember much. It's rather blurry you see, when you're treated as we were you try to black as much as you can out. I was young then and was on a ship that was attacked. I was taken, chained, and then eventually sold to some men in dark robes. We were taken to what I later found out was Geb, a land ruled by undead creatures like Strahd. They didn't want us for work, not really. They wanted us for food. We were livestock."
Verran pauses for a moment, the telling clearly being painful to him. Eventually, he manages to continue. "What I saw, what they did, I do not have the heart to go into that. I, thankfully, was one of the fortunate souls that was rescued by Pharasman crusaders from Lastwall that raid Geb to kill those unnatural creatures and save the few they can. I don't want to think what would have happened had they not come."
Ireena regards Verran with a look that's half horror and half pity. She puts her hand on his shoulder and says, "I'm so sorry. And I thought we had it bad in Barovia!"
Gertruda looks at Verran with an expression of incredulity. "Wait... what do you mean by 'creatures like Strahd?'"
Theodora appears relieved when Gertruda accepts her compromise, nodding with a soft smile as the group prepares to depart.
Her expression darkens, then turns sympathetic as Verran relates the story of his youth. After he finishes, she says softly, "I'm very glad they were able to rescue you. It must be a little difficult being in a similar situation now, but we appreciate your help and expertise dealing with these creatures."
Theodora does not explain yet what the creatures are to Gertruda, allowing Verran or one of the others to do so.
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Damion mutters to himself, "And I thought my childhood sucked..."
Verran doesn't really react to Ireena and Theodora's words. Over the years he'd had plenty of pity and that's not why he told his story. As he starts to speak, Verran reaches into his pack and pulls out his healing kit and waterskin and places them down on one of the tables. He keeps an even tone, though his face is a lot sterner.
"Child, Strahd, despite his appearances, Strahd is not human nor is he among the living. In fact he is one of the most dangerous sorts of undead creatures known as a Vampire. They all vary slightly in their abilities, but they have two things in common. First, they are sustained by the blood of the living. Secondly, they have the ability to control the minds of others, often by magic though many, like Strahd, have silver tounges as well."
Verran stopped for a moment and looked to Theodora and then to the bandages in the kit. "Could you do me a favor and wet one of those, I'm going to need in in a moment.I trust your hands with this more than anyones." His voice was less sinister with the request, as if the request was intended for himself. As he continued, he rolled up his left sleeve and started unbuckling his vambrace, wincing slightly as the item loosened.
"I serve Pharasma not just because her clergy rescued me, but because I don't want to see anyone suffer what I had to. And beleive me Gertruda, whenever any undead creature gains power, no matter how charming they may seem, the end result is always the same. They live by consuming the living and they, like us, will always ensure they have a source to feed on. I don't want you," Verran momentarily shifted his gaze to Ireena,"or any of your people to suffer that fate. That's why Strahd must fall, now."
Verran winced more as he finished removing his vambrace and then looked at Petracles."Remember how when we first met you constantly asked why I never took off my bracers or gloves and always wore hoods and cowls? This is why. I only ever showed Merrick because we served on the Wall together. Given what happened and since it might serve as a warning, this is as good a time as any for you to know. Someone hold my arm down and Theodora, please be ready with that bandage."
Once someone had a firm grip of his arm, Verran took a deep breath, his expresion twisting into one that indicated he was preparing for something painful. He then pulled off his glove, revealing his arm for the first time to any of his current companions. As sooon as air hit the skin, Verran grimmaced and was barely holding back a scream as his wrist started burning. Those who looked could see an area of almost black skin on his wrist the same size and in the same position as a shackle would be. The longer the area stayed exposed, the worse the burning got, though Verran managed to supress a yelp. After a few seconds, unable to get any words out, he looked to Theodora expectantly.
Countessa listens to Verran's story with interest, but winces and suppresses a yelp of her own when the reminder of his past is revealed. "I... I never knew. Gods, I can't imagine!"
With a look of horror, Ireena exclaims, "By the gods!"
"The light burns you? Are you a vampire too!" Damian asks, obviously confused."Or just your hand? How can just your hand be a vampire?"
Wincing as he sees his companion in pain, Petracelus urges Verran to replace his glove, "I'm sorry... I truly am. I never knew... you have borne the pain well my friend - and... there is nothing that can be done? Could the Pharasmins not aid you in some way?"
Resting his hand on Verran's forearm, the bard hums a tune softly... and some small healing passes from Petracelus to the tainted cleric.
The healing spell numbs the pain just enough for Verran to take the moistened bandage and wrap it around his wrist and hold it tightly with his other hand.
"Sorry if that disturbed anyone. And no Damion, I don't think that's what it is. The healers and clerics I've had look at it aren't really sure what triggers it, but it was clearly intended as a method to make sure we didn't attempt to remove our shackles. There's one of those on each wrist and on my neck, where the collar was. As long as they're tightly covered, they don't do that, but as you saw, even loosening the bonds is painful. Healing spells and water, especially holy water, seem to be effective as well."
After the banadage had been on a few moments, Verran pulled his glove back on and started replacing his vambrace.He then pulled back his hood slightly and moved the collar of his undertunic to reveal the leather collar he still wore underneath.
"And to answer your question, even the most powerful clerics in Lastwall couldn't do anything but make the pain less intense. When I was first freed, I would have passed out in that amount of time. That's one of the reasons I was so eager to get to Kavapesta, I was hoping one of the high priests might help."