The Village of Barovia - Session 7 Report
General Summary
Day 2 (continued)
After escaping the Death House through deadly fog and whirling scythes, the party congregates on the street and discusses what to do. The subtle sound of a squeaking pushcart wheel--almost imperceptible at first, but growing louder--begins to intrude on the party's collective perception. From down the street a hunched figure pushing a rickety wooden cart comes slowly into view. He moves from house to house, knocking on doors and proclaiming "Dream pies! I've got dream pies for sale!" With no answer forthcoming from the silent houses, the party approaches the figure and his little cart. The wrinkled visage of grey-haired woman peeks out from under a hood and greets our heroes: "Well Hello dearies! New in town are you? Well, you can call me granny. I've got the best dream pies in the land for just a few copper. Does this interest ye?" Morgana perks up and responds, "Oo! What is a dream pie? Is it quite dreamy? I'd like one. Here.." Nazgog stepping between Granny and Morgana says, "Are you crazy? Think about what we've been through the last couple of days." "But it looks dreamy," Morgana side-steps Nazgog, grabs the pie and makes quick work of the pie, devouring it with a few ravenous bites. For a moment, it seems almost as if Morgana is overcome with a strange, ephemeral trance, but before she can identify the feeling, it quickly passes passes. "Well, um, I guess it was fine. Maybe a bit dry." The party heads back toward the intersection where they entered this village and turns right, heading down the damp, cobblestone street. The party makes their way down the path, slowed by the curious lack of light and eerie silence of the quiet, dark street lined with dark, dilapidated houses which show the weary march of time to even the most casual observer from behind boarded up windows and sagging archways. At last, a single shaft of light beams out upon the road as the party comes to a crossroads with a large structure. A sign hangs precariously above a strained arch declaring this to be "Blood on the Vine" tavern. Entering the tavern, you find a large room with several tables arranged throughout the floor with no particular rhyme or reason. Among these is one table, near the door, where three ladies with garish, possibly Vistani, clothing sit. Behind the bar, a man absently cleans glasses with a worn rag. Elsewhere, in a darkened corner, a young man nurses a glass of wine alone at his table. The party approaches the bar asking what's available. The bartender responds from behind glazed eyes, "It's 1 copper for a glass and a silver piece if you want a pitcher." Confused they repeat their question only to be greeted with the same, monotone response from the bartender as he continues mechanically wiping glasses clean one after the other. Behind them, the young man speaks up, "You won't get much out of Arik. He just pours wine and cleans the place. Not much else left in him. Please come join me and we can talk. Arik, can you bring a pitcher for us?" As Arik places the pitcher on the table, the man continues, "Let me introduce myself travelers, I am Ismark, the son of the Burgomaster. And I guess I'm also the unofficial welcoming committee, such as it is." Immediately, the party asks if his father sent a letter to warn travelers to leave this realm? Looking at the letter, Ismark shakes his head, "No this isn't my father's writing. This is not something he would've done. However, since this letter mentions her, I would ask your help. I need to escort my sister, Ireena, to a nearby town, but it's dangerous to go alone." Sticky immediately asks, "You're asking a group of strangers to assist you, but what's in it for us? And what about that fog that rolled in last night?" "I'm sure my father can arrange adequate compensation," responds Ismark, "As for the fog, I'm sure it follows the wills of its master, but it shouldn't bother us within the valley." Fidelia interrupts, "Is there somewhere where we can get a bed and a hot meal?" Ismark replies, "We don't get many travelers. There is the Tiers Inn across the road, but I won't join you there. I'll be here when you're ready to assist my sister." The party steps back out to the courtyard and looks across the road where a three-tiered structure stands before them. A faded sign hangs limply, claiming against all appearances to the contrary that the building it marks is, in fact, an inn. As the party enters, they encounter two individuals playing a game of chess in the foyer. Rising up, the tall sleek lady introduces herself, "Ah! Hello weary travelers. You may call me Vahnya. I own this humble place--how may I help you?" Fidelia explains that they have come after speaking with Ismark at Blood on the Vine, and needed food. Vahnya nods and states, "Ah yes, young Ismark has been through so much. I hope that he didn't put a damper on our town. Do go on." Jagger questions Vahnya, "How does this establishment stay afloat? It's not like you have a thriving crowd here." "It's true the inn is not a source of great wealth, but then profit is not my goal. I purchased the Tiers Inn as my own version of retirement--I used to be a bounty hunter, where I earned many times over enough to keep me comfortable for the rest of my days. My late partner always thought we ought to help others, so I settled here with my daughter and nowadays we do our best to help those less fortunate. So yes, it's a quiet night here, but it's enough for me--you should see us on nights where we have events, whole town joins in!" "You're being kind?" Nazgog inquires, "Here? in this town where everything wants to kill us unless we kill it?" "That's quite an accurate way to put it," replies Vahnya. "However, is a place ever truly evil? Or is.. Oh hello my dear. Please allow me to introduce my daughter, Seraphine." A lanky female with long, straight hair and pale eyes approaches Vahnya. Morgana, visibly shaking with excitement, greets the newcomer, "Hello new friend! Where did you just come from?" At the same time Nazgog reaches forth and lightly pokes Seraphine as if to test if this pale, ethereal young lady were anything more than a trick of the light. Seraphine states to her mother, "Nicolay says the dining room is ready for our guests," and heads back the way she came. Vahnya leads the party into a small dining room just beyond a set of double doors. The dining area has a a half-dozen tables with maybe four people distributed across three tables. All of whom are hunched over, eating languidly. Inspired by the small crowd, Jagger pulls her lyre around and belts out an up-tempo song. Upon conclusion, the villagers raise their heads and clap as if their souls had been nourished. Feeling proud of himself, Jagger sits at the table while Sticky orders a breakfast beer with eggs and bacon. The rest of the party quickly joins and conversation ceases for a bit and gives way to the sounds of hunger being sated. After breakfast, the party remains at the table and discusses what they have seen, including Seraphine chatting with Morgana. Meanwhile, Jagger asks Vahnya more about Ireena and Ismark, and Fidelia expresses concerns about income in this land. The discussion finally haltingly closes out as Morgana stands up declaring that she's heading back to Blood on the Vine to ask Ismark more about Ireena. As the party approaches Ismark in the tavern, Fidelia initiates the discussion by asking the location of Ismark's father. Ismark, starts to answer, thinks better of it and arises from his chair, stating that it will be easier to take them himself. Leaving the small tavern behind, Ismark leads the party across the main intersection and down a deserted road. As the door to the Blood on the Vine tavern closes, the party's focus is drawn to a low, moaning sob coming from one of the buildings lining this street. The party starts to ask Ismark, who shakes his head and responds in a low voice that this is best discussed after reaching his father's house. At the end of this road looms a large mansion which has clearly seen better days. Twisted iron gates allow entry to unkempt grounds choked by weeds, and the house itself has not a single window which is not broken or boarded up. The only sign of a path to the mansion is marked by a long stretch where the weeds have been trampled down in something reminiscent of the shape of a footpath. As if this is the most natural thing in the world, Ismark confidently strides toward the front door, unperturbed by the strange sight of decayed glory before him. A young lady responds with suspicion at the party's knocking, and inquires why she should trust them. As Fidelia starts to respond Ismark quickly intercedes, making his presence known to Ireena and vouching for the strangers whom he has brought as guests to the house. The sound of a heavy bar being removed greets the party before the door opens, revealing a striking, if pale, young woman with auburn hair. She quickly ushers everyone inside before closing the heavy door and lowering the bar back into place. She sighs softly, then turns and brightly greets them: "Welcome to our home...such as it is. Forgive your reception--for several weeks now, wolves have been attacking the house. Though we've managed to defend against them, the Burgomaster's health continued to decline until he passed away three days ago, after which the wolves strangely have not come to bother us further. Since then, I have been trying to get my father to the cemetery for a proper burial by the priest, but he is far too heavy for us to move on our own and everyone in the village avoids me. Can you help me get him there?" Ismark responds, "Ireena, we need to get you away from here. Let's go to Vallaki. These strangers will help us." "No!" Ireena retorts. "I won't go to Vallaki or anywhere else for that matter until Donavich has buried our father. You may not be able to accept his passing, but I do not have that luxury--I must complete my duty, no matter what the danger so please cease pushing me to forsake it and help me get him to the cemetery." Ismark sullenly grows silent at his sister's chastisement. After a few tense moments, apparently caught between the reality of his father's death and his own guilt pushing him to avoid it, Ireena renews her plea over her brother's silenced objections, and asks the party to help her take the deceased Burgomaster to the cemetery so he can receive the burial he deserves. As she finishes her plea Ismark softly adds that she must assent to go with the party to a neighboring village once her business with Donavich is completed. The party reluctantly agrees with Sticky still pressing for a reward while Ismark continues to mumble insistently that his father will find a way to reward them for assisting him and Ireena. Picking up the body, the party marches back out into the sunless day back up the street they just came down. Upon reaching the wailing house, Ismark sighs: "This is mad Mary's house. She's been wailing for nigh on a week now. You may as well see if you can find out what's causing her disturbance." The party tries the front door, but finds the way is blocked, eventually breaking through a window and working their way upwards to the second floor. There they find an elderly lady clutching a doll with white knuckles and sobbing in the middle of the floor. Sticky interrogates her, but is met only with unintelligible nonsense from the haggard figure. Jagger approaches and consoles her and asks why she's so sad. Through fits of tears and sobs, the party begins to understand that she raised a daughter, Gertrude, hidden within the townhouse, but last week the teenager managed to break out and hasn't been seen again since. She sobs some more as she fears that her daughter is dead now, but the party promises to look for her and hopes to find her. The party then heads back out to the street where they lift the lifeless body of Kolyan Indirovich and begins heading onward to the cemetery.Rewards Granted
150 XP/ea for Roleplay - this should bring everyone's total xp to 2341
Character(s) interacted with
Vahnya, Serephine, Nicolay at the Teirs Inn
Ismark and Ireena Indirovich at the Burgomaster's mansion and at the Blood on the Vine tavern
Mary the mad
Arik the barkeep at Blood on the Vine tavern
Ismark and Ireena Indirovich at the Burgomaster's mansion and at the Blood on the Vine tavern
Mary the mad
Arik the barkeep at Blood on the Vine tavern
