Ashlynn nods. "I will stay, but please bring word back as soon as you hear of Thendrick or Mathilda. If you haven't returned by morning, I will come looking for you."
Phenia rustles in the pack for more components.
"Ashlynn, it makes sense for you to stay and keep guard, I think. Although it would help if you can give us some signal or phrase that would let Madame Eva know we're trustworthy. If you think we are, of course."
Tinker is in his element repairing anything physical, and so works on the barricade.
"No, I'm not sick." Izera replies as she works with Tinker on getting the barricade repaired. She seems amused by the question.
As Danea and Garret enter the tavern they notice that the sign originally read "Blood of the Vine Tavern," but an N has been scratched over the F.
Several frightened looking townsfolk occupy the common room. Another grim looking man sits near the door and chuckles to himself while shuffling cards. A somewhat overweight, middle-aged man stands behind the bar, cleaning crockery.
"No, I'm not sick." Izera replies as she works with Tinker on getting the barricade repaired. She seems amused by the question.
"So, you're cursed."
"No, I'm not sick." Izera replies as she works with Tinker on getting the barricade repaired. She seems amused by the question."So, you're cursed."
"No." she replies, as she keeps working. "I'm a githzerai, not human. We look different from you. Just like Tinker here looks different." She's in a rather jovial mood, given how many undead have been purged today. Izera always enjoys doing the work of the Raven Queen.
Danea gives the room a quick once over, looking for anyone who might be dressed in an affluent manner...
A man dressed quite affluently sits in a shadowed corner sipping from a goblet. Though his clothes are fine, they are dirty and stained.
The muscle-bound youth responds to Izera with a sagely "Ohh... Yeah, I've seen armor before, but you're like an elf. I never met an elf before, nevermind a githserwhat. My name is Parriwimple. My uncle owns the store here."
The other two men grumble in a quickly spoken variation of common as they work. They seem unhappy about the task, but keep at it.
Phenia finds a certain comfort in the work of rebuilding the barricade.
"How long has this been going on?" she asks generally.
Parriwimple drops the load he was carrying to scratch his head and then count out on his fingers. "This was the 5th day of dead people," he says rather sadly.
Danea approaches the affluently dressed man and asks him, "Are you Ismark, son of Kolyan Indirivich? My comrades and I have travelled here at his request. We're here to help your town and rid it of the plague of undead that besiege it."
The man tips back his goblet and holds it up inches from his mouth as the final drops of wine fall in. Then he slams it onto the table and wipes his mouth with his sleeve before answering, "I am, and good luck."
"It has been some time since I have been referred to as armor," Tinker remarks casually as he works.
"I'm like an elf, only much better." Izera says, with a jovial tone. She's enjoying the banter between the other workers and herself.
"Good to meet you Parriwimple. Five days of dead people. Do you know what started this - I mean, was there any warning at all?"
The man tips back his goblet and holds it up inches from his mouth as the final drops of wine fall in. Then he slams it onto the table and wipes his mouth with his sleeve before answering, "I am, and good luck."
"Good. So, do you have any aid to offer beyond well-wishes? Perhaps some information on your father's whereabouts?"
Danea nods at Garret in agreement. "Yes we need to see your father, Ismark. The sooner we find him, the sooner we can put a stop to this...this plague."
The young nobleman sighs dramatically and takes one more longing look at his goblet before speaking again. "My father is -was- the Burgomaster of Barovia. But the Burgomaster is dead! His body lies these ten days in the mansion. My sister remains with him, barricaded there against the zombies."
~
Parriwimple shrugs and shakes his head, then says "My uncle says I woke the dead by being too loud, but I think he's just upset when he says that." Parriwimple lowers his voice, "The dead people took his sister, so sometimes he gets mad." The big man's eyes seem to well up a little bit.
Phenia offers Parriwimple a clean cloth to wipe his eyes. "We'll help sort it out, you just give me a hand with this bit of barricade and tell me a bit more about your uncle. Maybe we can help him too."
Almost as an afterthought, she adds, "Do you know where we could find Madame Eva?"
Parriwimple rubs his face on his shirt sleeve and declines the cloth. Before he can answer one of the grim-looking men says in heavily accented common, "Go to the encampment west of town. Talk to Madam Eva. Maybe she will read your fortune." He then gives a toothy grin before returning to his work.
The young nobleman sighs dramatically and takes one more longing look at his goblet before speaking again. "My father is -was- the Burgomaster of Barovia. But the Burgomaster is dead! His body lies these ten days in the mansion. My sister remains with him, barricaded there against the zombies."
"The burgomaster's dead? That's a damn shame. So, where's the mansion? Either we'll save your sister or we'll avenge her death. Besides, maybe we'll be able to get something out of this deal." He finishes, a mumbled complaint hopefully not overheard by the nobleman.
"The mansion lies on the southern edge of town. A smart direction to go considering the plague began in the church. Danovich, the priest, used to ward the church and the village, but his vigil lapsed when his son Doru was slain by brigands on Old Svalich Road six days ago."
He walks over to the bar to grab another bottle of wine as he continues. "But I don't think you'll do much saving of Ireena. She's been sitting vigil by our father's body to make certain he doesn't become a zombie, and she refuses to lead." He pops the cork and raises the bottle to those assembled "Curses to the devil, Strahd!" As he takes a large gulp, many of those assembled repeat "Curses!"
Danea looks troubled by the new events and spends a few moments in thought. Turning to Garret, she says "We must help Ireena...but we must help Ashlynns companions as well. We may be able to save them both...but which would be best to try first? I fear I do not have the strength to do both...but I must try."
Edit: "...and she refuses to leave."
Phenia enters the inn in time to overhear Ismark's curse.
"Who, or what is Strahd?"
Danea looks curiously at Ismark with a curious expression on her face and asks "Who is this 'Strahd'?"
Ismark mutters something barely audible, "What is Strahd?" He pours some wine into his goblet and places the bottle on the table. He takes a swig before gesturing for you to help yourself to the bottle.
"A few months ago, he who rules the castle - that devil Strahd - tried to pay us a visit. I don't know why. However, my father bravely stood up to him, using the Holy Symbol of Ravenkind. Then the attacks began."
Anticipating your next question, he continues, "No, the zombies didn't get my father, the infection began after Kolyan was already dead, thank the gods. No it was the master of the castle, or his servants, that killed Kolyan Indirovich!"
Ismark lowers his voice and starts again, "The Holy Symbol of Ravenkind is a powerful amulet that hurt Strahd. But one morning we woke to find our father dead from poison. After that the power of the amulet would not work for me, or my sister. Perhaps she'll give it to you - much good it will do you."
"Oh, dear." Phenia is aware that her response is woefully inadequate.
"Where is your sister? Do you think she'd listen to us?" Phenia takes a few more moments to see if Ismark has anything more to add before heading outside to fill in the barricade builders.
"You know, going to see Eva is only one of a couple of visits we need to make. There's a girl called Ireena. She's got an amulet that might help. I'm worried though. These zombies must be coming from somewhere. This town is doing to be a literal, horrible ghost town if we don't stop them. The defenses won't hold for long."
"Sure, let's visit the Madame. If the girl's held out this long, she can hold out long enough for us to get our palms read or whatever it is she does."
"Last I saw Ireena, she was sitting by our father's corpse in the mansion." Ismark salutes you with his goblet of wine as you leave.
No more zombies have assmebled outside of the barricade and now seems as good a time as any to slip away. Ashlynn wishes you luck and the blessings of Pelor as you go off into the darkness.
A few blocks of travel brings you to the western edge of town. The road continues west, and a quarter mile later you cross an old wooden bridge over a slow moving river. The road continues to wind mostly west, and you have gone just over half a mile from town when a yell grabs your attention.
Approaching a crossroads, you see an armored man charging towards a graveyard, drawing a gleaming silver sword as he runs. A jet black raven flies at his shoulder. Then you see dark smears of air encircling him, like shadows cast by clouds over the moon.
The man has long black hair and a neatly trimmed beard. He wears full plate armor and carries a shield and longsword. An amulet shaped like a raven's head hangs around his neck.
Phenia holds her sunrod high and sheds light in an increasingly dark and dangerous world. In the process she loses her chance of making an early impact on the battle.
Phenia does not like what she sees.
The dark smears reach out to grasp at the man.
The smear out of reach throws bits of shadow at the man.
In response the man rubs at his eyes and looks about wildly.