Prologue - Expedition to Castle Ravenloft

[unkabear]

Hassid follows the others but does not immediatly go to the table.  He first makes a stop with the innkeeper and arranged for a bottle of warm spiced wine to be delivered to the table with a round of glasses, though it was not until the Innkeeper corrected his math that he realized that Adam and a young lady were sitting at the table with the others.

Hassid approached with aprehension as he was still yet new to this world and the party had been recieving a remarkably cold if not welcome (free movement through the streets with a horse is always welcomed) reception. 

He first greeted Adam with a nod and "Well met Adam Godson" and to the lady the turned and touched his hand to his forehead, his lips then out between them while offering a slight bow as he said in a low tone "My lady." before taking his seat.

[Ioan Nicolae Costache]

Ioan (OOC: It's pronounced "yone," rhymes with "bone") plants himself in a chair at the table and sighs deeply.

"H'lo, Adam. We missed you. Coulda used a good blade." He looks around at his friends and corrects himself.
"We coulda used ANOTHER good blade. You should see Hassid here. He fights like ol' Edgypoet used to talk. You know, in circles around everybody else?"

Ioan throws back a glass of whatever's closest. He's not a storyteller, but Marius encouraged him, and he feels like decompressing. The words come out in a jumble:

"Our ride into this town turned out to be a wolf lord. I let him and his pals chew on me for a bit while Hassid, Yemam, and Marius turned the whole pack into crow bait. An' THEN it got confusing. Son o' the Lady o' the Realm was takin' over, an' needed to kill his mother in some ritual. We got in the way. On purpose, you know? I mean, we didn't know EXACTLY... some Vistani sort of aimed us that direction and let fly. So I guess we were Vistani tools for the night, but I think everybody did well by 'em. 'Cept the Dukkar. That's the new Lord o' the Realm, or whatever they call him. Would've been more than that, but for us."

Ioan continues to ramble, but his story descends into an incoherent mumble. He's tired, and the ale he threw back landed in an empty belly.

[allornothing]

Lorelei's brow rose as the group approached, watching them with her lavender pools. A soft smile was offered, but on the inside her nerves were jumbled. Always have to be wary of those you do not know, especially in these realms. But when Adam greeted them, and they joined the table with neither a weapon drawn or a lewd word.. Lorelei relaxed. Slightly. She nodded to those that acknowledged her, and with tongue in cheek listened to the stories of the adventures they just had. It's when Hassid came over with the drinks that she sincerely perked and welcomed them, shifting her chair over to make more then enough room. "It's good to see that you're all in one piece. I may be presumptuous in that regard. You.. are all in one piece, yes?" Her voice was melodic and light, but managed to carry over the tavern's noise. "I am just getting to know your friend.. as I hope to do with you all. I'm Lorelei Feybourne, and I've come with a message.." The scrolled up letter is held out to whomever wishes to take it..

[Ikoma]

The wax seal on the scroll is stamped with a single ornate "B".

LETTER CONTENTS

Hail to thee of might and valor:
   I, a lowly servant of the township of Barovia, send honor to thee.  We plead for thy help so desperately needed assistance within our community.
   Our village is nestled in the Svalich Woods, an ancient forest that has long lay quiet with the weight of ages upon its shoulders.  But recent nights have brought the howls of wolves to our ears, and the night of the last full moon brought far worse out of the forest.  Enormous wolves attacked with unnatural savagery, killing many of us and leaving many more wounded.
   The love of my life, Ireena Kolyanna, was one of the wounded, and I fear for her.  Her injury refuses our healing remedies, and she languishes abed.
   There is much wealth in this community.  I offer all that might be had to thee and thy fellows if thou shalt but answer my desperate plea.
   Come quickly, for I drea the rising of the next full moon!  All that I have shall be thine!

Kolyan Indirovich
Burgomaster of Barovia

((Message designed to be read if you have the font Pristina installed on your computer.))

[Yemam Silverman]

"I think it is best we leave soon, and this man seems in dire need of help.  I care little for this reward and would rather just help him.  It seems like we have become the ones people call on when their love lives are in the most mystical of troubles."

[Ikoma]

((I'm going to leave this hanging for another day.  I think it's pretty important to get everyone's thoughts so I can take your PC's attitudes into my planning.))

[Marius Ionescu]

Marius smiles as Ioan tells the tale, he sits down next to his friend and listens intently, when Ioan finishes he adds, "now that my friend is how you tell a story.  Told you, you had it in ya."  He raises his mug and drinks.

"A Lady in need of our help and the full moon is involved, my work it seems is never done.  I will need to pick up a few things, and rest would also do this body good, but if need be we can head out now," Marius speaks with his usual arrogance.

He turns to Lorelei, stands up and bows, "I do apologize for my rudeness my lady, I am Marius, Marius Ionescu and the sound of battle still echo in my head, " ... "which is better then watching the shadows I suppose," Marius mumbles to himself as he returns to his seat," his eyes scanning the surroundings.

"Hey Locke, I do believe we finally have time for that drink.  What ya say?"

[allornothing]

Lorelei had no idea what the message held, but sat quietly as they took turns reading it.. or it was read aloud. Quietly she sized up the situation, and the crew esembled before speaking. "I think you men, need a lady amongst your ranks. It would do your manly ways some good." Pearly whites were flashed and she rummaged through her sachel for a flask she kept tucked away, never trusting the brew of local taverns. Spinning the cap off before bringing it to her lips, after a not-so-dainty sip was drunk she capped it and slipped it back into her confines again. "We leave come morning?"

[unkabear]

Hassid took the clay mug with hot spiced wine and savored the smell.  Inhaling the aroma and allowing it to permeate his woozy head.

Hassid let the words of the letter flow over him, really only catching that there was something to do with wolves.  They would go or not, it was not for Hassid to decide.  There was nowhere for him to be, to go at this time.  Hassid was committed to the groups destiny wherever it led.  And this realm it would seem was no longer a safe place to be unless he was committed to yet another dark power, and Hassid was not about to become beholden to any dark power.  The cards were still upon his mind.  Potential.  He had begun to walk a new path, it was still within him to walk the dark path as easlily as he now walked the path of light.

It had begun with his Masters final lesson and sacrifice.  The seed had taken time to sprout, and Hassid risked all to nurture it. 

Now he was in this strange land and were already banished from this land to never return upon pain of death or worse.  No, his blade would be with this groups, and if his limited experience with them told him anything his blade would soon be at the defense of Barovia, and Hassid was remarkably at peace with this thought.

Hassid nodded his head subtly as he began to sip his wine.

[Ioan Nicolae Costache]

Ioan ponders the message...

"The mists and a liar brought us to Karina," he says. "Next place I go, I wanna choose for myself."

He looks back at the scroll on the table, and then stabs a finger at it.

"An' I choose this."

[Marius Ionescu]

Marius smiles at Ioan and stands, "morrow then."

[Yemam Silverman]

"It seems we are all on the same page then."

Looking at Lorelei, "And I for one would be happy to welcome a lady such as yourself into our group."

Responding to Marius' offer for a drink.  "Yes...Locke and I have owed you a drink for far too long." Yemam orders a pitcher of ale with several mugs and sits back down at the table.  "Drinks are on me."

"Let us celebrate our achievements and move onward before trouble meets up with us.  Tomorrow will be a long day."

[Adam Godson]

Adam reread the letter as it is passed around the group.  Yes,  he would go with his friends and help fight evil where ever needed.  As he listened to the battle stories he felt a pang of regret as he thought of this companions fighting without him. 

As he drank the mulled wine he mused about the past several days which are a hole of darkness in his memory.  As in the past he awoke on this bed with no recollection of the past days.  The lapses still happen although much less frequently than before.  A worried frown crossed his face as he realized the length of time he had been blacked out during the latest relapse.  He tried to remember what had happened and where his mind had gone to, but it was no use.  He couldn't remember.  Perhaps this was the price he paid to travel in the service of The Lord. 

As he laid the letter on the table he announced to the group that he would travel with them to assist this village. 

Turning to Lorelei he asks, "How did these villages know to send you to us?  How are we known to them?"

Then, extending his hand to her he continues, "Welcome to our party.  A finer group of comrades you won't find anywhere in this world or any other." 

 

[Ikoma]

With that decided, the group made preparations to leave the next day.  For some, that meant getting some sleep.  For others, it meant getting equipment repaired or ordered.  All it all, it was a busy day.  The tenor of Karina has changed now that carnivale is past.  The city has become much more like the Ravenloft most of you are used to.  Citizens don't talk to strangers anymore.

((Okay, I need a list of what each PC wants to accomplish this day.  Feel free to post in simple list form or go whole hog and post in character.  You are going to succeed at almost anything so don't worry about that.  Well, you won't find Wands of Fireballs lying in the streets, of course, but you could buy them, if you wanted to and had the resources.  Karina is a pretty flush city.  You should be able to find a dealer for most things you would be looking for.  Also, I need to know what form of transport you plan on taking; walking, horse back, wagon, etc.  Remember, that you have a contact (Helene Morgurn) more than willing to help you with this trip.))

[Marius Ionescu]

With that Marius sits and drinks with his friend Yemam and others, sharing in the stories and reminding himself and the group of how accurate his shots were.

Upon finishing Marius looks at Yemam, "my friend I am need of supplies, arrows really.  You fired off a few as well, if you are in need of some let us head out and find the good stuff." 
With that Marius searches around town for some fine quality arrow, both silver and normal.  He insists on inspecting anything he buys, and out right refuses to buy anything he isn't able to inspect for quality and marksmanship.  If possible he would also like to purchase 2 vials of holy water and 2 alchemists fire.

Upon finishing Marius, lets himself get some rest, and a good massage if he can find one.  With that he will join his friends for a final meal before retiring for the night.  He will need his rest to prepare the magic within and the long trip that is sure to follow.