Emron's handaxe buries itself into the wall as Doru dashes to try and get through Urrnir, but she was waiting for him and plunges her sword into his heart.
Doru collapses on the ground barely breathing and close to death, unconscious from his injuries with two gaping wounds in his chest. There is an unsettling rasping sound from the holes in his chest.
"This... thing... I don't think it should be allowed to live any longer, and cause terror and destruction to anyone else. I would have to agree with Urnir on this. Besides, she seems to know more about this place than any one of us."
As you discuss what to do with the body, you can hear the loud sound of a door opening, and footsteps walking across the wooden floor above you. Urrnir's blade takes some time to cut fully through the neck of Doru, but his head is removed with a sickly crunch. No blood flows from the wound.
As Urrnir removes the creature head, Bazim says a prayer over the body in hopes that the poor boys soul can be redeemed and sent to his proper resting place.
Emron takes the sheet from Doru's bed upstairs, and doesn't see the priest though he can hear sounds in his office. You cover the body easily, there's no blood and the body was in basically one piece. Tying the sheet tight it is obvious it covers a body but it hides the state Doru is in.
You find Donovan in his office preparing an old aspergillum that has details of the sun. He speaks softly but with a steady voice, I assume that since you are both here that you have cured my son of his curse... I am not prepared to thank you, but please spend the night at rest under my roof. We will bury him in the graveyard at dawn, the blessing of the Morninglord will mean he is finally at a permanent rest.
Donovan turns with red, irritated eyes, Before then, can you nail some of the boards of the pews over the window you broke? The night is when the Devil sends his agents to torment me. They don't ever enter the building, but I still would feel safer without a free entrance.
Bazim nod his head and turns to leave. He finds some wood and carries out the old priest's wishes. He then approaches the alter once again and prays for the young man's soul and for the safety of his friends.
Urrnir heads out the front door of the church as Bazim repairs the window of the chapel. It doesn't take long, the pew wood is dry but sturdy and the nails drive into the masonry easily enough.
Urrnir:
You find the graveyard easily, and you even find some supplies outside prepared for the burial of Doru. It appears that Donovich has hope in your appearance and tried to start the process of making a grave while you fought. Given his body shape and drunkeness, it is not a good sight.
You begin to shovel the dirt. It pulls away easily, the soft earth of Barovia has always been rich and easy to till. Still, it seems even damper. The valley known for its sunny days is still overcast and foggy.
You are outside for 15-20 minutes when you first notice a shadow outside the gate of the graveyard. It's not moving much, and in the darkness of the evening it is hard to make anything out from where you stand.
As the dusk turns to night, Urrnir finishes her task and enters the church to find the rest sitting and speaking with familiarity. The priest has formally introduced himself to the rest of the group as Donnovich. His family has been int he town for generations, though it appears he will be the end of the line for this church. He is still hopeful, and he references the Abby of Saint Markovia to the far west in Krezk still being a symbol for what the people of the land can accomplish. He also says the church in Vallaki has a much more faithful and sizable congregation which is good because the political unrest in town.
As he speaks more about the local town he says Barovia is probably under the worst circumstances. The town literally sits within view of Castle Ravenloft and that alone prevents many people from staying instead of moving to one of the cities less touched by the Devil's wrath. He does say that the leaders in town are noble and just even if most of the prominent townsfolk are a%@#%$&s (like a man named Bildrath Cantemir), but the Burgomaster Kolyan Indirovich as well as his children Ismark Kolyanovich and Ireena Kolyana are very good people who never let their hopes die. Donnovich admits that while he hopes for change he no longer has the will to resist any longer.
Donnovich is also very curious about you guys. He keeps insisting that Emron and Bazim must be related to both have such extreme proportions, and he seems very shaky on Balandusk not being a lycanthrope of some kind. He mentions that the livery Urrnir wears is ancient, that perhaps she is using it just because good arms and armor are rare but it is very bold for anyone to be wearing the symbol of the now defunct Barovian army.
From his office, Donnovich has set out enough dry bread and hard cheese to fill you. He offers a spiced wine to you all, and has no water but says the water of the stream to the south is clean.
Bazim says a short prayer over the food, then eats only enough to be polite. He does not wish to deprive the priest of his food when it looks to be a rather scarce commodity.
"I thank you for your hospitality. We are not from your lands and are trying to find a way home, however while I am here, I would help your people against this "devil" you speak of."
Turning to Urrnir's hand he says, How did you manage to dig a grave with such an injury? It's stable and clean - but I cannot fix this with my meager faith. I have heard the Vistani have a power much greater. I must warn you it comes at a cost, and it is always a deal favoring them. A family of those damned gypsies owns the Blood of the Vine Inn in the town center.
I am too cowardly to speak the name of the Devil, but I must urge you to seek survival in this cursed land. You are far from the first to come to this land with heroic aspirations, please break this endless cycle... you may understand more tonight. It is starting.
A small layer of mist begins seeping into the church, swirling on the dusty floor. The pale apparition of a man wearing olatmail with the same Barovian army symbol strides through the back wall marching to the front of the church. A series of more and more army members follow suit behind marching through the pews and walls and even all of you. Following the army comes townsfolk, men and women poorly armed. A leader is normally scattered in the crowd; priests, soldiers, adventurers. As time goes on more exotic adventurers are seen, with more exotic races and abilities not of this land. The marching ghosts continue for some time.
At Bezim's prayer the ghost begin to give a wide berth around the holy man's prayer, causing a wide part in the march. Nothing seems to stop the progress forward, and it is an unnerving amount of time as possibly hundreds of individuals pass in the night.
Sleep is hard to come by, the night seems much more alive than the day in a way. Howls of wind and wolf, moans and wails, and the sounds of nearby footsteps all interrupt sleep and alert watches but nothing enters the church despite something knocking on the wooden doors in the middle of the night - a sound that Donnovich says is common and to ignore and it will go away.
Though you can hardly tell the difference, Donnovich gathers his things at some point, Maybe the world is just what I am used to, but it is nearly dawn. Help bring the body and we will put my son to rest.
Balandusk follows Bazim and the priest outside after a not-so-restful night. He starts to tear up as this is something he remembers having to do back at the monastery.
Enron tears up a bit for the opposite reason. This is something he remembers not doing with his comrades. He gloomily starts to help put the body inside the grave.
Donnovich gives a simple prayer over the body, buried in linens in an unmarked grave. At the end he says, There is too much death in this land. I think the burgomaster is not long for this world too. I know that Ismark sent for a coffin in Vallaki some time back. Such sadness, besides his children there are no good people left in this town.
Anyways, thank you for keeping these old bones company for a time. You should head west as soon as possible, though. Get out from the direct thumb of the Devil and find peace in one of the free towns, he looks Balandusk up and down, Though some of you might not fit in very well out that way. It's still better than here. Just never take the southern roads, they dead-end into what remains of the last of us to defy Strahd. The path of rebellion is always death.
He pats his robes and produces a letter with a wax seal, Here, with this letter you can always find shelter in the church in Vallaki even with creatures like your friend here. I understand that he is no mere monster, but I recommend keeping his face hidden as much as you can... most will not be as drunk and mad as I was and won't have the proof of true nobility like I had. Just... be careful out there.
With the fatherly advice given he leads you back inside for your things, If you are ever back here, you are welcome here anytime. Even if it is to lie low, my cellar is open to you.
A single shaft of light thrusts illumination into the main square, its brightness looking like a solid pillar in the heavy fog. Above the gaping doorway, a sign hangs precariously askew, proclaiming this to be the Blood on the Vine tavern.
On closer inspection someone has vandalized the sign so that the "f" in Blood of the Vine appears to be an "n." Entering the doorway, this once finely appointed tavern has grown shoddy over the years. A blazing fire int eh hearth gives scant warmth to the few huddled souls within. They include the pudgy short barkeep cleaning a glass mug with a cloth, three female Vistani sitting together who go silent when you enter, and a young man who sits by himself at a corner table sipping his wine.
Bazim opens his senses to the otherworldly once more, though he is used to the profane sense he gets from the land itself. Nothing seems out of order in this place, though. The men and women show no indications of being anything but humans.
----
Emron shoulders past Bazim as he focuses his attention on getting a drink. At his request, the bartender sighs and fills the glass he is holding with a viscous liquid of a deeper purple than you had at the church. He carelessly slams the mug on the bar top, reaches below the counter, and produces an identical mug as the one he just used. He spits into the new mug and begins "cleaning" the new mug just like he was the old one.
One of the woman chides, Arik!
The bartender reacts slowly, not changing his gaze from somewhere out in space. He simply says, Er, right. That will be 1 copper.
Urrnir attracts a lot of attention from the three women, two of whom stand and approach, Let's see what the damage is... oh that is something way beyond my abilities, but I know where you can get someone to help you. Madam Eva has anchored her vardo near Tsolenka Falls - seeing the lack of recognition she adds, If you take the road west of the village and then the trail north to the water you can't miss it. If you reach the bridge over the falls you went the wrong way.
At the mention of the camp the young man calls out, You there! Please bring your group over here... I'll buy your drinks!
So as not to cause too much of a commotion, Balandusk waits outside around the corner. He kneels down just below the window, and keeps his ears open to the conversations inside as best he can. Taking into account what the old priest said about his appearance. He makes a mental note to ask one of the others to find him a cloak with a deep hood, and possibly a cloth to cover his face.
The man smiles as you find a seat around his table, Bring a pitcher and some glasses, Arik. Put it on my tab.
Sitting, the man speaks quickly possibly excited or drunk, You three are an interesting lot. No one has dressed like you, miss, in generations - and you two, are you from a foreign land? Are you warriors? You only get a moment to speak before he talks over you in his haste, Of course you are, look at this equipment. You certainly smell the part.
I hear you need to head west. I beg of you, when you leave take me and my sister, Ireena, with you. Our father has died under the nightly attacks of the devil, and my sister is injured. We need to find refuge away from this cursed town.
The pitcher and glasses are dropped heavily on the table.
