These men appear grim and have haunted looks in their eyes.
The older, balding hunter replies. "The answer to both of your questions is yes. Yevgeni and I are responsible for the meat you eat, and the heads that are on the wall."
His tone is brusque.
The other hunter, perhaps younger, only nods as the bald one answers.
Blaze nods her head in acknowledgement, one protector to another. "How long has this land had such a problem with wolves? I have seen little game for them to hunt. Is this why they attack so fearlessly? At home, predator populations cycle naturally with those of their prey, but that doesn't seem to be the case here."
Rictavio, where did you come from? Could you tell us something about these lands?... Or about other lands, if you are not from here, like me and my friends?
"I have travelled many unusual lands! And indeed, I am by no means from this place. Thankfully, the good innkeeper here has generously offered me hospitality here."
Rictavio pauses and takes a sip of his wine. "Back home, I have seen many of the great cities of my lands. Waterdeep, Neverwinter, and Baldur's Gate come to mind. Have you been? Actually, my most memorable stops always seemed to be the smaller, homier farming towns in between the great cities. There always seemed to be more interesting travelers to enjoy my time with in those places."
Blaze nods her head in acknowledgement, one protector to another. "How long has this land had such a problem with wolves? I have seen little game for them to hunt. Is this why they attack so fearlessly? At home, predator populations cycle naturally with those of their prey, but that doesn't seem to be the case here."
The older of the two hunters appears annoyed by Blaze's continued inquisitiveness, but seems content to answer. "The wolves are an insidious problem in these lands. This is why we can have no large flocks of grazing animals in the valleys. I do not know what they normally eat, though it's not uncommon to see rabbits and other small game in the fields and woods near here. I can only assume they find and eat these creatures."
The younger hunter finally pipes up. "Szoldar, you and I both know that the wolves favorite prey is US." The hunter holds his arms out, making a gesture that makes it clear he is referring to everyone in the inn, and by extension, any human in these lands.
Blaze wishes that she understood more about wolves, and predators in general. But at home she'd been a soldier, not a hunter. All she knew was that if there were a lot of deer, there would be more wolves. And that the wolves knew better than to attack the centaur's village.
Still struggling to make sense of it, she said, "Surely the wolves can't be eating enough people to support their population?" She looks again at the many wolf heads on the wall, and thinks about the heads on the outskirts of town. "You have killed so many."
She shook her head and mane in frustration - she knew she wasn't being helpful. It was just so wrong. So much about this country was wrong. Turning to Sven, she asked, "Do you think this could have anything to do with our new quest? Perhaps these man-hungry wolves are part of it?"
I've never heard of these cities, Rictavio. She leans closer to him, numerous jewelry i in the local manner tinkle softly, and Shandi asks conspiratorially, But in any case, have you thought about how you can return to your native land from here?
Still struggling to make sense of it, she said, "Surely the wolves can't be eating enough people to support their population?" She looks again at the many wolf heads on the wall, and thinks about the heads on the outskirts of town. "You have killed so many."
This Szoldar, the older of the two, replies to you. "If you stay inside at night, and stay behind the walls of this town, you are most likely safe from any wolves. But if you venture out onto the roads at night, you are sure to be attacked by the wolves...or worse."
Szoldar takes a long drink from his cup of wine.
I've never heard of these cities, Rictavio. She leans closer to him, numerous jewelry i in the local manner tinkle softly, and Shandi asks conspiratorially, But in any case, have you thought about how you can return to your native land from here?
"I will be forthright with you: what I am hoping for is a miracle. A grand conjunction of magic and circumstances that open the right door back to my home. Perhaps the door to your home will open as well. Meanwhile, we must do what we can to survive here."
Rictavio then looks to the innkeeper and says "Urwin, the usual please." Turning back to you, he adds "I must be off, but I shall return. I am taking food to a friend."
A moment later the innkeeper returns with a small bundle of food wrapped in a cloth.
Velspira didn't seemed pleased. It sounded like whatever this place was, this strange land, it wasn't in any case close to where they lived, no matter what realm or place they resided. Maybe at one point they had, or maybe, never was. Whatever the case seemed to be, the tiefling felt now pressing matter of being like an animal stuck in a cage, one that seemingly had no apparent walls and was crowded with things. A menagerie.
The tiefling would rock her chair, boot rocking it back and forth as she sighed, "Great" she mumbled to herself, taking a sip of her drink.
Does your friend not go to taverns? Shandi is watching the half-elf closely. Everyone seems to have secrets here.
Does your friend not go to taverns? Shandi is watching the half-elf closely. Everyone seems to have secrets here.
"No, my friend prefers to lead a more quiet existence, and doesn't like much company. As a favor I attempt to make sure he has something to eat in his house."
Rictavio holds up his bundle of food, gives you a nod, and heads for the door. "Perhaps sharing another cup would be in order upon my return. I'll be seeing you..."
Sensing that she was no longer welcome with the hunters, Blaze carefully stood. She overheard Shandi talking to the half-elf, who was about to leave. A frown crossed her face. "Would you like company, friend? I would happily escort you to your destination and back."
The centaur didn't know how safe people were inside the walls, but her conversation with the two hunters left her feeling unsettled.
Sensing that she was no longer welcome with the hunters, Blaze carefully stood. She overheard Shandi talking to the half-elf, who was about to leave. A frown crossed her face. "Would you like company, friend? I would happily escort you to your destination and back."
The centaur didn't know how safe people were inside the walls, but her conversation with the two hunters left her feeling unsettled.
"I prefer to take care of this business on my own. The person I am delivering this food to is often a little skittish...perhaps even shy."
With that, the stranger disappears into the rapidly darkening evening.
Szoldar and his partner also get up to leave. They let all of you know that they would be happy to serve as guides for you. Of course they would ask to be paid a fair wage for this type of work. "Find us here most evenings. We will do our best to show you these lands."
Blaze nodded to the two hunters. "Thank you. We may take you up on that."
As the tavern emptied, she sat with the others and said, "What do we do now? Are we going to try to follow the clues in the cards? How would we even start?"
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"There is a town where all is not well... There you will find a house of corruption, and within, a dark room full of still ghosts..." Remember? Shandi turns the glass of wine thoughtfully in her hands, and then looks at Blaze and the others. There's definitely something wrong in this city. Although are there any cities in this cursed land where everything is well? She smiles, takes a sip. I'll be right back. She gets up with an empty glass to the tavern keeper (it seems she is not quite sober), asks for more wine and then casually clarifies: If you were asked in this city to point out the place that most accurately fits the description of the "house of corruption", what would you name?
"You think all that means stuff," rolled her eyes as she rested back in her seat, drinking, "Something of course is wrong with this place, ya think wolf heads on skewers are right? Heck, same could be said of the last town. This whole land is strange, and ghosts and zombies ain't even the weirdest part don't ya think."
She looks to Shandi for a moment and then to Blaze before drinking once more from her glass, wine dulled the frustration and the pain from walking on the trail. She didn't want to talk about the rose she found on her person, "Our clue is some fortune tellers' mumbo jumbo, but I guess that be all we got."
"There is a town where all is not well... There you will find a house of corruption, and within, a dark room full of still ghosts..." Remember? Shandi turns the glass of wine thoughtfully in her hands, and then looks at Blaze and the others. There's definitely something wrong in this city. Although are there any cities in this cursed land where everything is well? She smiles, takes a sip. I'll be right back. She gets up with an empty glass to the tavern keeper (it seems she is not quite sober), asks for more wine and then casually clarifies: If you were asked in this city to point out the place that most accurately fits the description of the "house of corruption", what would you name?
The innkeeper pours Shandi a new cup of wine, and looks her over carefully, as if attempting to ascertain if he can trust her. Finally, he responds quietly, even whispering. "While this town has many corners of corruption, the burgomaster is the one most would say is an icon of corruption within these walls. I certainly have no love for him and his silly festivals."
He returns to his duties behind the bar.
Shandi returns back to the table with her friends. I understood everything. We need, she goes into a whisper, to break into the burgomaster's house!
Now breaking into some lords house, that was something that she could get behind, stretching up from her seat after drinking and eating for a bit, "Now that's something I got some experience in Shandi. Back in Baldur I used to do that since I was small lass, though, with a trained crew of course," she says, making herself look like she was in charge of things like that back in the day. A lie of course, she was just another spare hand in the business.
"If you excuse me though, I'm gonna go to bed. Think about it all in the mornin' eh."
Blaze looks at Shandi, surprised. "Why must we do that? I thought we had to find the pool with white light? Or do we not have to do the tasks in order?"
As Velspira stands up, Blaze grabs her wrist. "Wait. If we need to break into his house, isn't it better to do it at night?"
Because there's evil out there, Blaze. So the maps indicated and the locals confirmed it! She turns to Velspira. You saw my training in that mansion and in the fight with the wolves. I'm capable of a lot... Who knows what horrors await us here at night? Let's better attack the local stronghold of the forces of evil before it falls on us.
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I'm better out in the woods and fields, but I can move quiet enough anywhere.. Though I'd prefer to do it at night, tonight or tomorrow, if breaking and entering will come up. As I'm not the most well liked by those who don't know me already. Daniel says, unsure whether to go to his room or not just yet.
Shandi seemed very sure of herself, and Darrien and Velspira seemed to agree, so she carefully stood up. "It's dark now. Shall we go?"
The tielfling Velspira puts her hands on her hips, seemingly not in a hurry at all, "Of course it's a good time but let's case the place out, get a feel for what the place is ya know," she says before sighing.
"Fine, if you all want to go bumbling in the dark I'm all for it right."
Though you are behind the substantial walls of Vallaki, the night still has an indescribable essence of fear. The air chills you, and many corners of street have clouds of mist settling in. A momentary breeze blows one of the one of the flyers that seem to be plastered across town across your feet .
As you approach the burgomaster's mansion, you note that it has walls of plastered stone that display many scars where the plaster has fallen away from age and neglect. Drapes cover every window, including a large, arched opening above the mansion's double entrance doors.
Blaze's hide ripples with nerves, and her human skin breaks out in gooseflesh. It is creepy here, no mistake about that. She holds her weapon at the ready, and stares at the unnatural mist pooling in the corners.
The burgomaster's house looks neglected, as all the buildings seem to. Not that Blaze isan expert in human architecture, but this seems particularly bad.
Remembering Ismark's home, Blaze trots around, looking for signs that this burgomaster has been harried by wolves or other, less natural creatures. She also scans for other entrances.
With a bit of scouting, Blaze takes note of a back door to this abode.
There does not seem to be the same evidence of wolf attacks or other damage caused by creatures that you saw in the village of Barovia. This building simply hasn't been kept up well.
Returning to the others, the centaur says, "This guy isn't getting harassed the way Ireena was. Maybe he's not as pretty? But there is a back door."
"Well we are the ones doing the harassment now so hopefully he doesn't mind the change," Velspira smiles, stretching out. Larceny could be pretty fun, though this wasn't likely as easy as something like that, especially with folk with her likely frowning on things being pilfered so easily.
In the dark, it was easy case the place, using her vision to peer into the cold Barovian night.
"You think that doors unlocked?"
Blaze lifts her great axe and her shield, and prepares to shield Velspira with her body. "I'll cover you while you check."
Around back, you take note of some well-taken care of gardens. There is a back door, and as you peek through a nearby window, it appears to be a darkened kitchen.
The door is locked.
I'm not great with locks. I could try, but, I don't have any tools either. Could always just kick it down. He says looking around.
Though, that's bound to cause a scene.
Shandi casts a spell on herself and her eyes turn red briefly before taking on their natural color.
Looking at the back door, she says, I can make one of you invisible and he will go to investigate. This will not solve the problem of opening the door, but it may help in the future.
Velspira, you look quite experienced... in this. Maybe you'll try to open it with a dagger? Not a master key, of course, but with a bad lock, I think it can work.
Quietly, or at the least as quiet as she could, towards the back door that had been spotted. With no way of going in discretely, they'd be hard pressed to find a way in without essentially busting in the hard way without some thieves tools to work with, "You're half right, but I don't got no picks to make this clean," she says mumbling as brings the dagger out, improvising. She was trained in using these sorts of tools but daggers made things more complicated.
And doesn't do too well even after being careful.
The lockpicking fails.
Luckily, it doesn't seem anyone notices the attempt to get through the lock.
Come on, you can do it! In a whisper, Shandi tries to encourage Velspira.
"Son of a... hold on," she says, continuing to fiddle with the lock. She wasn't happy having eyes on her, wiping away a bit of sweat on her brow as she tried again.
Blaze shifted nervously as the goat-girl struggled with the lock. She considered offering to kick the door in, but decided that stealth was probably more important than speed right now. Instead, she kept her attention on their surroundings, watching their backs as they worked on the door.
There is a clicking sound as the lock finally gives way. The exterior door creaks on its hinges, revealing what is unmistakably a well appointed (though currently dark) kitchen beyond.
There is a staircase in one corner, and three doors--two in the east wall, and one to the north. The northern door is partially open, and it appears to be a pantry.
The house eerily quiet.
Blaze listened carefully, then moved cautiously into the house. She held her shield in one hand, her axe in the other, ready for trouble. She tries to go silently, but hooves were not meant for stealth.
Moving to the north-most of the two eastern doors, Blaze listens carefully before motioning the rest of them to come forward.
Blaze's hooves are simply too noisy to be stealthy at all. Luckily, there doesn't seem to be much activity on this floor of the manor. Nobody notices your breaking and entering, at least not as of yet.
Shandi stealthily goes inside, holding the dagger at the ready with a reverse grip. It seems the alcohol has already worn off and the feeling of danger makes her move very very slowly. She opens the next door as quietly as possible, leading deep into the mansion .
Blaze cast an uninterested, and untrained eye across the fancy kitchen wares. The centaur had no concept of the value of such items, though she could appreciate the artistry of any decorated crockery.
She whispers to the others, "It seems quiet so far, come on in."
Ignoring the pantry for now, she cautiously opens the door before her, to see what lays beyond.
Shandi opens her door and finds herself looking into a preparation room. Are those...turnips? And beets? Many baskets, overflowing with them. Silverware and serving utensils are also arranged neatly on tables here.
Blaze sees a long, carpeted hallway with several doorways along its length. It appears to terminate on the far end at what must be the front door of the mansion.
Shandi looks out into the street, silently makes a hand sign for the partners to come in and stands behind Blaze. I don't think we should split up... especially while we don't know what we're looking for and what might be here.
I'll keep my eyes peeled for anything out of the ordinary. He moves in, bow in one hand, blade in the other.
After determining that there was no immediate danger, Blaze stepped back to let Shandi take a look. "Which way do you think we should go first?" The centaur saw her role as guard - keep the others safe - not as decision maker.
"Ha, I knew I'd be able to unlock it, was there any doubt?" she says with a grin. It felt nice to come up on top, watching as the horse girl stepped through haphazardly, changing her tone of one more hushed, "Watch it will ya, don't wanna cause a scene here."
No doubts, Velspira. Shandi nods, letting tiefling go ahead. Blaze, oddly enough, you shouldn't go first this time. Let it be done by those who can quietly look behind the doors and tiptoe away. You will always have time to rush to the cries of battle. She hesitates a little. Velspira, do you want me to make you invisible?