Church of the Morning Lord - Session 8 Report
General Summary
Day 2 (Continued)
Having returned to the street, Ismark questions, "So did you find out why she's been wailing this past week?" Morgana responds, "Yes. Her teenage daughter, Gertruda, has been missing and Mary feels that she must surely be dead. It's heartbreaking, but we'll be on the lookout for Gertruda." The party notices that there is a window with light spilling out of it which appears to be a store called "Bildrath's Mercantile" based on the creaking sign above. However, Ismark and Ireena lead the party northward past the Blood on the Vine tavern and past the Tier's Inn. Another cross street passes by and then as they top a small rise, the party sees a sagging, grey edifice backing up towards the granite cliffs which lead to the castle high above. As the party nears the battered doors of the church they see that it bears a dedication to the Morning Lord. Opening the doors, the party hears a soft voice reciting a prayer in a small chapel cluttered with broken furniture. A sudden scream pierces the air, "Father!!" "Um, what's going on here?" Sticky asks Ismark. Ismark quietly responds, "It is perhaps best for you to find out for yourselves. Come let us hasten to the chapel where Donavich awaits." As the party enters the main chapel, it's disorderly appearance is as if a wild animal had run rampant through the room. Pews are strewn haphazardly, many of them splintered and broken, and claw marks mar surfaces and objects throughout the chapel. After the initial shock of this scene of destruction, the party locates the source of the sound: a man kneeling in fervent prayer behind a claw-scratched alter. The priest flinches slightly as another shriek pierces the air, "I'm hungry Father!" As the party approaches he stands and croaks out, "Greetings my children. What brings you to our humble church of the Morning Lord? I am Donavich, a humble priest in service to the greater good" As the priest finishes his introduction, Morgana makes a startled gasp. "Could it be? Perhaps! These symbols they have to be referencing him. Everyone, Celestian is giving me a vision that the Morning Lord might be able to help us!" A perplexed Nazgog asks, "Your god is telling us to worship another god?" Morgana continues, "Not exactly.," as she turns to the priest, "Father Donavich, is Pelor another name for your Morning Lord? Pelor is known as a staunch defender against evil and the bringer of day. If I'm remembering correctly, there are fairy tales and myths that mention him. One in particular speaks of a group of heroes who come upon a small village in the deepest of winter. Following the call of Pelor, they assisted spirits turning an old miser from the brink of destruction, all within just a single night. If it is truly him, then surely we shall find assistance here, as well." Donavich wrinkled face manages to form a tired smile replying, "We know him only as the Morning Lord. He has always been thus." Anguish echoes within the chapel as another scream pierces the conversation, "Father! Why won't you feed me?" Fidela asks Donavich, "Could we feed him? Would that help?" The color runs away from Donavich's face as he gasps, "You would offer him your very life's blood??" At those words Morgana squeaks, "Oh! I've just remembered more regarding Pelor. If rumors are true, then ages ago some of his followers took to blood magic and turned their back upon him. In his fury, he cursed them from his presence and they were to never bear the light or warmth of the sun again. These followers supposedly became vampeera." Fidelia asks, "How long has he been down there?" "Nigh on a fortnight," replies Donavich, "And I've had no respite, not even a single, peaceful night's rest since he returned." Ireena interjects, "I don't mean to interrupt, but aren't we here to provide my father peace?" "So Kolyan has finally passed from this world." Donavich mournfully states, "He has done much for you my child and we will find him a worthy resting place. However, burials only occur at dawn. Perhaps your new friends would be so good as to grab a shovel and prepare the site." Turning to the party, he continues, "I'll need you all here before sunrise so that he may be laid to rest with the rising sun. There is no need for you to stay here as both I and her brother will provide protection over Ireena and her father." The party leaves the church as yet another shriek assaults their ears and head toward the Tier's Inn. After greeting them, Vahnya happily rents the party a quiet windowless room for the night where they are able to rest and recover with some semblance of peace.Day 3 - Before dawn
The party arises, fully rested, and finds the dining room empty save Nicolay the chef. After ravenously consuming their breakfast, they head up the road to the church and find Donavich, still kneeling in prayer. He has each member of the party grab a shovel, although Nazgog grunts and grabs two, and follow him out to the graveyard behind the church. Within a few hours, the sun has fully risen and Kolyan Indirovich has been consecrated to the ground. Pulling the party to the side a bit Donavich relates, "She likely doesn't know this, but Ireena isn't really Ismark's sister. Kolyan found her as a young girl without memory on the edge of the Svalich Woods." Jagger exclaims, "Ireena is like me. She was found on a meadow." Donavich continues, "You would do well to get her as far from Castle Ravenloft as possible. Perhaps the Abbey of Saint Markovia or at least the fortified town of Vallaki would keep her safe." As the party rejoins Ismark and Ireena, Sticky questions, "Ismark, you're pushing us to head out of town immediately, but why? What's the reason behind this urgency?" "My sister seems to be the object of obsession for Lady Strahd," responds Ismark, "I fear that she is on the brink of being lost forever." Sticky presses, "Have you been there for these visits? Do you know what Lady Strahd does to Ireena? Are you even sure that Lady Strahd has been at the house?" Ismark nods while replying, "I've never been there directly, but I've seen the evidence after a visit and Ireena seems to drift further away after each visit." Fidelia turns toward Ireena, "So do you have any answers of what Strahd wants from you?" Ireena's eyes lose focus a bit as she absently replies, "The lady just comes to chat with me. Although, I can't seem to recall what we did or discussed." Morgana chimes in, "I just remembered another detail about vampeera. Stories claim that vampeera can charm their victims so they don't fight back or remember what happened. Exasperated, Fidelia asks, "Just who or what is Lady Strahd?!" Ismark replies to Fidelia, "She has been here as long as anyone can remember. She was here before my father's father and she rules over our land rigidly." With a bitter tone Fidelia retorts, "Well, thank you for nothing." The party spends nearly half an hour weighing the merits on leaving town with haste, despite the long, 30-mile journey to Vallaki, or making a fresh start at dawn tomorrow. Concerns and benefits are brought, dismissed, and brought up again. Finally, Ismark presses the party, "What's the harm with leaving today and spending the night on the trail?" Jagger immediately questions, "And what if we get attacked?" "Aren't you a group of brave and noble adventurers?" responds Ismark? Jagger retorts, "No!!" "Then," presses Ismark, "how have you survived within this land?" Jagger quips back, "Dumb luck!" Sticky then offers a more reasoned response, "More a certain level of smarts and skills. In fact, I'd say our survival is more about being smart than brave." "Look Ismark," Morgana explains, "There's a greater risk to us when we proceed without knowledge. Can you tell us what we might meet out there on the road?" Ismark smiles grimly as he replies, "You want to know what's out there? Think of the scariest creature you can. Imagine that creature hunting you. Never relenting. Never stopping. It's always on your trail. Think of your worst nightmare where anything you touch morphs into something that will kill you. This is the world you are now inhabiting." Nazgog asks, "Does that mean staying here is a greater danger?" The party decides that the best next step is to prepare for the road and to investigate what exactly attacked the church and the burgomaster's manor. Fidelia and Morgana head out toward the mercantile store across from the tavern, while Nazgog, Sticky, and Jagger explore the church more carefully. Starting within the chapel itself, Nazgog and Jagger scrutinize the broken pews and claw marks within the altar and quickly recognize that there are five claw marks instead of four per scratch. This rules out that it was any canine beast whose paws only have four digits. However, the scratches burrow too deeply to be a normal humanoid, like a human or orc. They are also able to determine that the pews were thrown several feet before breaking up on impact. Discussing this with Donavich, they learn that his son was able to lift and hurl the pews as if they were sacks of potatoes. Moving onto the four rooms leading up to the chapel, the party finds little of interest in the first three rooms, but in the final room they explore find a trap door that has chains securing it. Donavich readily confirms that Doru, his son, has been locked within the undercroft for two weeks at this point. Sticky concerned about Doru forcing his way free, examines the chain, the eyebolts, and the door itself, and decides that this should hold for some time more. The party then heads toward the burgomaster's house with Ireena and Ismark leading the way. Meanwhile, Morgana and Fidelia have perused Bildrath's Mercantile Store and realized that everything has had its price wildly inflated by at least an order of magnitude. When they try to haggle with Bildrath, he firmly repeats, "If you want it bad enough, you'll pay." Recognizing that they cannot move him from his stubborn position, Fidelia and Morgana decide to see if the Tier's Inn can provide hardtack or other reasonable travel fare. Upon entering the Tier's Inn, Fidelia approaches Vahnya stating, "Kolyan has been buried and..." Vahnya gasps, "The burgomaster's dead?" Morgana replies, "Yes he died a few days ago and we'll be taking Ireena out of town." "Really?" Vahnya asks with concern. Morgana and Fidelia both clarify that they aren't taking her, but rather they mean they'll be helping Ireena travel cross-country because she fears staying in town. Vahnya inquires, "Where would you take her?" Fidelia states, "We're not entirely sure, but we were thinking the Abbey of Saint Markovia, which should get her away from the dangers she is facing." "Dangers?" responds Vahnya, "What dangers? I thought the village was an area of relative safety in this land." "We're not entirely sure," continues Fidelia, "Ireena hasn't been entirely clear." Morgana jumps in, "With the loss of her father, we're just wanting to help." Vahnya's voice softens, "That's very kind of you, especially considering you are strangers to her and this country." On a hunch, Morgana scrutinizes Vahnya looking to understand her intentions, but Morgana can't get a definitive read. Morgana questions, "We've been to Bildrath for hardtack, but his prices are just insane. Are you able to help with rations for our journey?" Vayhna responds, "Bildrath is such a crook. I'll check with Nicolay. Usually we're creating delicious meals, but perhaps he can gather up some supplies for you." Morgana graciously responds, "Thank you. We appreciate the effort." Several hours pass, when Nicolay brings forth several days worth of travelling packs. Morgana and Fidelia quickly pay for it. And Mogana states, "Please tell Seraphina I said 'hi.' " They then head out to meet up with the rest of the party. As Sticky and the rest examine outside the manor, he asks, "What made these footpaths? Both the one leading up to the door and the one that encircles the house?" Ireena quietly answers, "Wolves paced around the house, although maybe something else was with them." "It was always wolves," clarifies Ismark, "I never heard or saw anything besides the black wolves snarling and pacing outside. I don't know why they came nor do I know why they left." Jagger and Nazgog closely examine the claw marks and trails looking for additional information. Unfortunately, there's just too much traffic to understand what was there. However, the claw marks are definitely made by a larger canine, likely wolves. Having discovered as much as they can, the group moves inside the manor which allows Ismark and Ireena to gather some few possessions for their journey ahead. As Sticky roams around the sitting room, he inquires, "I don't mean to be a parrot, but how are we to be compensated?" Ismark retorts, "Material wealth seems to be more important to you than the dangers around here." "Well," Sticky delays. Ismark strides off to a different room returning with a small opened chest stating, "Here! This has roughly one hundred to one hundred fifty gold. Does that confirm your assistance?" Sticky backpedals a bit stating, "I'm not saying that paying us was the only way to secure our help, but wealth is needed just for survival. Here and anywhere else." Shortly afterward, the Indiroviches are ready to embark and the group heads out toward the center of Barovia. Fidelia and Morgana meet them along the way and being to explain how their side-trip went. As they see their companion's faces on relating that they told Vahnya that Kolyan died, each starts to defend themselves. Although neither Ireena nor Ismark show negative emotions. Morgana states, "Well, at least, I didn't state where we were going." The party looks at Fidelia, who shyly replies, "I might have mentioned the Abbey." Nazgog grunts, "When smuggling someone or something out of town, you should never tell anyone else. First rule for smugglers is to keep mouth shut." "It's also interesting," Morgana speaks up, "Normally, I can read people really well, but I couldn't read Vahnya at all. She was just a blank slate to me." "I guess I know now that she's good at deception and I won't eat their food." exclaims Nazgog. "I've got the jerky you wanted," Morgana claims. "Oh yea?" Nazgog perks up, "From who?" "Ummm Vahnya," Morgana sheepishly answers. The party starts to head southwest out of the town of Barovia.
Rewards Granted
175xp/person
Missions/Quests Completed
Bury Kolyan Indirovich
Character(s) interacted with
Notes
Expenses:
-5gp/party for room
-10sp/person breakfast on Day 3
-20gp/party to Tier's Inn for 5 days of rations
-5gp/party for room
-10sp/person breakfast on Day 3
-20gp/party to Tier's Inn for 5 days of rations
