As the talking winds to a close, Casdin will walk around the table, checking people for injuries.
Vasilios feels better after the conclusions reached during the conversation. "Well, it seems we can definitely do something." The warm food and tasty wine also helped. He is still aware, though, that his magical energies are almost depleted.
"As much as I would like to go right now and talk to Urwin, I think it would be wise to rest for the night. Some of us are exhausted, magically and physically speaking, and we all have learned first hand that travelling at night is not a wise option here."
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"I'm with Vasilios. I'd prefer not to be a wolf's dinner tonight. We can start fresh in the morning."
"Agreed, another sleepless night would not do any of us any good".
Casdin will expend the rest of his healing on whoever needs it, doing his best to get them back to full health.
The group is given a handful of spare bedrooms, though the house is not so expansive that you all get your own. A few of you need to double up. There's still an earthy and herbal odor in the air, but the beds have been kept clean enough. And each of you find yourself drifting to a well earned slumber.
The next morning. freshly cooked sausage and a few earthy greens await you on the dinner table. It seemed the night of sleep has done wonders for the family as well, and you can almost see a hint of a relaxed smile on their faces.
Outside, there is a large cart and wagon, loaded up with wine from the breweries.
"It might slow you down a bit, but the town will welcome you as heroes for returning their drink. We also have a few 'watchers' above, but if you could do us this lasst kindness, I'm sure even my paw wouldn't skimp you."
"I see no reason not to escort this back. You have given us much to think about."
"Agreed. We have nothing to lose by helping. If we're going to be here for some time we may as well amass as many friends and allies as we can. Selûne knows we'll need them."
"Plus it'll be nice to be thought of as heroes for once."
Victor nods in agreement, "This would not be the first guard duty I've pulled".
With the majority of the party agreeing, they set off onto the trail, the wooden wheels creaking on the stamped earth, the slight clinking of of the bottles reminding you of your charge.
You are making your way down the trail, when you hear angry yelps of pain in the distance. Round the corner, you see a grisly sight, five of the vicious wolves the plague this land lie dead, decapitated or bleeding out on the trail. What looks to be a zombie clad in rusty armor, pulls out its sword from the chest of the last wolf killed and turns to face you. His hand clenches the sword, its blade gleaming, and he looks ready for a fight.
You can see intelligence and hate in those sunken eyes, and while it looks ready for a fight, you notice is hasn't attacked yet.
Vasilios raises his hands and tries to engage in an unharming conversation.
"Wow, sir, we mean no harm. We've actually had problems with wolves before, and would have had them with these ones were it not for your intevention. Is there any way we can assist you?"
Whispering to his nearest companion, he adds "I guess we can always use an ally, even a dead one..."
"Let's stay back for a second. There's something unusual about this zombie." Sheva mutters to Galador.
"You've done us quite the favor with slaying these wolves. Yes, please allow us to help. Or at least to thank you. We're not your enemies."
She's prepared to cast eldritch blast just in case, but keeps her pact blade sheathed to give the impression of being non-threatening.
"We have no quarrel with you, speak to us and we shall speak back".
"As my companions have said, we will only offer you violence if violence is offered in return."
The zombie-like creature makes it's way over to you, its weapon still in hand, but it does not attack. Rather it responds...
"If thou are enemies of Strahd, speak. If thou are allies of the accursed creature of the night, then thou wilt be laid to rest."
You can still see swirling hate in his eyes, and now you can clearly tell this is no zombie. The telling signs of a revenant soul are now apparent. You see a silver dragon just barely remaining as decorative art on its helm. Its chain mail is rusty and its sword looks in bad repair as well.
"Believe me," Sheva says, relaxing, "we are definitely enemies of Strahd."
She motions to Galador to stand down.
"If you have information that can help us destroy the vampire, then we have much to discuss my friend."
"My name is Sheva. With me are Galador, Vasilios, Casdin and Victor." she adds, gesturing to each in turn.
"What may we call you?"
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Galador nods to Sheva, but mumbles back, "If it's all the same to you, I'll stay ready. You can accomplish more with a kind word and a shillelagh, than you can with just a kind word."
Victor relaxes but is curious about the symbol on the helm, "Where did you hail from? That symbol on your helm means you belonged to some organization of some kind once long ago does it not?"
"My name...."
A look of sadness crosses his face, breaking through the anger for only but a moment.
"It has been so long since we have been damned to this land. My name has been long lost."
However, at the declaration of your enmity to Strahd, he seems to relax, though his weapon remains drawn.
"I urge you to travel to Argynvostholt and convince my lord and leader Vladimir Horngaard to aid you in this noblest of tasks. He is the commander of our organization, the Order of the Silver Dragon. I can lead you if need be."
"That is a thing that we will certainly do" is Vasilios answer, with all the charm he is capable of. "We will, first and with your permission, deliver this wagon of wine barrels to its goal, since it is something we've promised we would do." He points to the whole thing with his open arms. "Perhaps you want to accompany us?"
"Please do join us. I would love to hear the history of your order, and the realm you hail from."
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Galador starts and looks surprised. "The Order of the Silver Dragon? Oh! Well, why didn't you say so?" he says, standing up and relaxing. "Ah, yes, as said, we are currently going somewhere, but after we've been there we can go there and then we'll all go from here to there to there and THEN we shall see what will be said and heard and done.
How's that?"
Victor looks flabbergasted at the suggestion, "I have to disagree here. Our nameless friend would stick out like a sore thumb in that village. If the locals did not try to burn him with torches, whatever spies this Strahd has will know we have aligned ourselves with an organization he must know is his enemy.
I will wait here with our friend and we can become more acquainted while the rest of you make the delivery and meet us back here. That is the more sensible solution, perhaps not a sensible decision, nut more sensible than what is being proposed now".
There is mistiness over the revenant's eyes, unfocused drive and rage. It shakes his head from side to side.
"I will not go near the cities of this land. Strahd's evil is spread so far and freely, I do not believe I could surpress myself from attacking them. Many of my brothers and sisters have caused havoc this way, and many of them were lost. We go now, I return to my hunt alone. I will at least tell you the way should you wish to see my lord."
"That's...fair, I suppose. Please let us know how to find your lord and we'll visit him the first chance we get."
The Revenant gives you a solemn nod, and stalks off into the woods, most likely looking for more of Strahd's beasts and terrors. The rest of the day's travels are quite calm compared to a meeting with an undead knight.
Eventually, you see the tell tale signs that the twilight of the daytime will be fading to the darkness of night soon. From the trip up you remember there should be a clearing up ahead if you'd like to stop for the night. You could press on, but it would be close to noon tomorrow before you reached town.
You also find a few flagons of wine set aside for you all in the wagon, something to keep you comfortable during the trip back.
"Uh... guys... I think this is a nice place to stay, ain't it? I don't really want to be ambushed in the middle of the woods..."
Before even the wagon stops, if it does, Vasilios jumps down from it and walks a bit.
"My legs are a bit clunky. Can I do the first guard shift?"
"As I recall, there are wolves around here. I would vote to keep moving, since moving means that we're all conscious and armed. I would also recommend that anyone who can carry torches. Might help scare them off."
The revenant gave you general directions, nothing too useful, but enough to head in the right direction. His memory has taken quite a hit as a vengeful spirit.
Victor sighs with relief as the creature stalks off, "I am with Casdin, we can rest an extra day at the Inn if necessary but I do not want a repeat of the night the wolves kept us on the run..."
"Remember to stand behind Galador the Meat-Shield when we get attacked."
"I also couldn't throw fireballs when we last met the wolves. We may have a second helping of roast beast tonight."
And so the group continues onwards, through the thicket of the Barovian woods on the semblance that even the least experienced Ranger could call a 'trail.' Indeed, as they walk forward with nothing each other and the sounds of the creaking trees for company, who knows what lurks beyond the veil of night?
As you move through the night (what are you using for light by the way?) you can spot what looks to be a few humanoid shapes on the trail in front of you, as if resting.
Casdin will cast light on his rope, then hang it from the front of the cart.
"Looks like something up ahead. We should check it out."
Vasilios looks amazed. "Uh... is that peopl? In the middle of the road?"
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"Remember to stand behind Galador the Meat-Shield when we get attacked."
"Aye lass. Many have said that their lives are much improved as they stand behind me," he says with a wink, wiggling his taut, round buttocks.
As the party comes across another party, laid out in the middle of the road, Galador draws his sword. "Easy now. I like this not. We'd run over them were we not careful. They are either more drunk than even Victor would say is healthy, or they've run themselves to exhaustion and we need fear whatever chased them. Either way, stay behind me.
Sheva, if I don't return, I want to always remember...I want an open bar at my funeral."
That said he stalks forward with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer. "Ho there! Have you wine enough to share? Our thirst is no less than yours! I would say that we have a cart of vin for the drinking, but you seem to be ahead of us in that arena! Come now, rouse at least one of you to sitting position so we can get past without mucking our wheels, eh?"
Though he carries his sword and shield easily, inwardly his battleheart is already coming upon him, secretly looking forward to a red, roaring ambush.
"Hold a moment Galador. I'll go with you." says Casdin as he moves to join Galador. "I'd hate for you to be killed before I can reach you." he says with a smirk.
Victor shrugs at Galador's commentary, "As long as you can swing a sword you're never too drunk..."
As Casdin and Galador approach, Victor slings his bow getting ready for trouble.
Perception .
Victor, you can't tell much in the darkness of the night and the dimness of your lights.
Galador and Casdin approach the shapes and Victor takes a readied stance with his bow.
The shapes themselves don't seem to notice. And they do seem to notice. and they seem to be moving to you. Wait, not moving. Shambling.
A piercing call seems to ring out and you can see one in the back, its vocal chords seemingly hanging out as it screams and screams and screams.
They are about twenty feet from Galador and Casdin, and seem to number 8, spread across the road. The screaming one in the back is about 40 feet away.
Galador, Sheva, and Vasillios you're up!
"Oh, shut up" moans Vasilios at the screaming zombie, hurling some bolts of fire.
"Fear not Galador, we'll protect your divine and immaculate rump from harm!" Sheva says with a smile.
She then hurls a fireball at the group of shamblers in front.
"M҉y ͜F͘͢a͘ç͟e҉ ̶҉i̶̧͘n̡̛ ̸t̴ḩ̵͞e fi̷r͟͝e̵̢ m͜҉̀ý̛͜ ̶͘͠fą̶i̵͜t̶̀́h̨̀͢ ̛i̵̧͟ņ̧ ̸̴t̡̨͡h̷͞e̷̛ ̴̢f͘͝i̸̡̛re"
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"It's a perfect circle. The sages at the bibliotheca calibrate their instruments by it. Accept my bum! ACCEPT IT BEFORE IT DESTROYS YOU!" and then he's off, charging, racing down the road. Sheva's fireball passes him like a meteor, crashing into the undead horde. With perfect timing, as the shock wave is receding he CRASHES into the first survivor!
"Huh" is all Casdin has time to say as the fireball whistles in and Galador then subsequently charges.
Maybe they're more reckless because I can heal them with Oghma's gift? Casdin thinks as the heated wind from the fireball washes over him.
Vasillios' rays of fire reduce the screaming zombie to ashes, and Sheva's fireball incinerates a few more, leaving only three charred lumps of flesh slowly making there way towards you. That's when Galador appears in their path, striking one down with two swift cuts.
The two remaining zombies lunge at Galador, the closest lump of tasty meat.
Casdin will move up and heal Galador, then hit one of the two remaining Zombies with Sacred Flame.
"Galador! Left!"
But the advice comes too late, and the two remaining zombies pile on Galador cutting his flesh. Vasilis decides then to help him more effectively.
Sheva reflexively fires a pair of eldritch blasts, each at a different zombie.