Act I: An Inauspicious Start

[Ioan Nicolae Costache]

Ioan quickly writes out a short note and shows it to Adam.

Rcvd: one chalice, two bells, two curatives. Chalice & bells to be delivered to the burgmaster. Curatives will be paid for to same.

He then drops it in the hollow beneath the altar.

"There. Anybody who gets here to clean up before we come back, they'll know where the church's stuff is."

Ioan then gathers up the chalice and the bells, carefully wraps them in a linen from his pack, and stows them. The potions, however...

"Yemam, Lorelei..." he says. "You should each take one of these. Marius has my spells to abide with him, and Adam can heal himself. Hassid..." he looks to his frighteningly competent warrior friend "... Hassid will never slow down to use any of this. I will need to reach out and heal him myself, should the occasion arise."

"Now... shall we get back to the town center, and see how they're faring?"

[Ikoma]

EDIT:  Forgot the items actually on Danovich.  Thanks to Adam for the reminder!

Danovich was wearing a set of +1 full plate armor, holding a +1 heavy steel shield, and wielding a masterwork morning star.

NOTE:  This was a cleric encounter... hence the heavy armor.  Lighter armor of magical nature will be found relatively soon.

[Marius Ionescu]

Marius looks over the equipment recovered, but can't really use any of it.  The armor is too bulky and would interfere with his magic.  He gathers up the arrows released from his expert hands and examines them to see if any might still be of use ... he manages to get six, satisfied he turns to the groups, "I'm ready when you are friends."

Arrow recovery= 17,91,21,52,34,97,16,34,21

[Yemam Silverman]

Yemam has no interest in the weapons or armors that are available. Looking at Adam and Ioan take their new belongs, Yemam says "Those will suit you well, friends."

Yemam also gratefully takes the potion from Ioan.  "Thank you.  I am sure your own magic would be better, but this might just keep me ticking long enough for that magic to come in these desperate times."

"I agree that we head back to the inn and let the village know the major cause of this disaster is now dead.  Maybe not mention who it was, since that might cause some to lose the faith they desperately need."

[Ikoma]

((All this talk of treasure leads me to post this thread where I would very much appreciate input from each of you.))

The group makes their decisions about the recovered treasure.  And about returned and reporting their success.  Walking back out of the church, they immediately sense that something is different.  It is later afternoon but the sun is strong in cutting through thick afternoon clouds.  Heading back into town their is an undefinable difference.  Perhaps it is distant sounds of roaming undead that are now silent.  Perhaps it is the sounds of animal life that somehow knows it is once again safe to venture forth.  You see a dog running down a side road though you cannot see what it is chasing.

Getting back to the center of the town, you begin to tear through the barricade.

(I'll leave you to decide how you want to announce your success.  You will be greeted as heroes by everyone.  Feel free to play that up!)

[unkabear]

Hassid leaving Adam and Ioan to talk led the way through the city.  Even though everything within him screamed that they had saved the town from the plague, there was that one runecarved zombie that survived the death of Doru, and Hassid and the others did not have the opportunity now to search the homes one by one.

So Hassid led the way his blade at the ready walking at a confident walk, the walk of an arrogant fighter that knew that there was nothing left in this town that could face him head on.  He took the most direct path that was clear mindful of Irena, he also avoided where he knew the zombies congregated as if they had fallen in heaps she might catch sight of former friends and he wanted to spare her the sight.

Upon reaching the wall he could hear people milling about behind it.  And there was someone upon the roof of the inn.  They were spotted well before the reached the barricade, upon reaching the wall he again sheathed his sword.  And looking to the others began to take the thing apart from this side.

Walking into the mobbing hoard Hassid felt a more than a little embarrassed at the attention.  He was a a Royal Guard, pride of the palace guard.  He was used to ceremony, and then being ignored as the furniture until he was needed.  But the cheering people, he was beginning to feel anxiety, it was not until a young boy leaped into his arms, followed shortly by another.  Hassid smiled at the children from the night before.

He looked at the two and said “I told you the nightmare would soon be over.  Now are you two ready to be the men that this city needs to rebuild?”  He found their mother not too soon after pressing through the mob that her boys so smoothly went under.  “The nightmare is over, and as I promised my friends raised their blades against the undead and finding their root we cut it out.  There will be no more Undead plaguing the streets and you and your boys may begin to rebuild.  For only in living can you spit in the eye of the tyrant on the hill.”  Or you may move on, he almost added, as he let one of the boys monkey across to his mother, but the other one clung so tight that he could only shake his head and let her know it was alright for now.  Hassid would not be able to substitute for the boys father, but he would be able to offer a moment of comfort.

He pointingly avoided Ismark as his anger at the man still burned bright and he could not promise himself that he could stay his hand.  In the end Hassid found himself as out of the way as he could muster and accepted the pats on the shoulder with what patience he could gather as there was still much to do and daylight was burning.

[Ioan Nicolae Costache]

Ioan greets the crowds shyly, and painfully aware of the fact that he is now wearing the armor and carrying the shield once borne by their priest... and the man responsible for the deaths of so many of their friends and family.

He turns to Adam: "You want to make a speech? Maybe prop Ismark here up a bit?"

[Marius Ionescu]

Marius walks and looks at the crowd, "now did I not say that I was going to take care of this?  Oh course I did, that's right Marius Ionescu strikes again, literally!  That's right friends I have done it, saved the town sort to speak.  Please no thanks are necessary," Marius speaks with much bravado ... "oh yes, my friends helped of course," the last part comes in a semi-soft whisper

[Adam Godson]

Adam watches his friends interact with the crowd in their own peculiar ways.  It was good to see the villagers in such high spirits.  He let the town savor the emotion of the moment; for the message he had to deliver would be a serious blow to their collective morale. 

He made sure to keep Ireena at his side as he moved through the crowd.  She would need to provide witness to the events as they unfolded.  He also searched for Insmark in the crowd.  He carefully studied his reaction as he saw Ireena accompanied by Adam.  He didn't trust this young man, but he was the leader of the town and he had to respect that. 

Climbing onto a wagon taken taken from the barricade he stood above the crowd and waited for them to quiet.  He motion for Ireena to join him on the wagon. 

As the crowded quieted he began to speak.

"Good townspeople of Barovia, the undead plague has ended!!!! The source of this vile infestation has been located and eliminated.  The town is yours once again!!!!!!!  Praise be to the Father."

As the crowd celebrates their victory Adam choose his next words very carefully.  Lowering his voice he begins. 

"I'm afraid I must also be the bearer of some rather grim news.  The source of undead infestation was the priest Danovich." 

Adam felt Ireena shudder beside him as she nodded in agreement and witnessed the slack jaw looks appearing in the crowd.  Many shook their heads in disbelief while others openly weeped.

"We believe he did this in an effort to bring back his son, Doru, from the dead.  But no reason, not even that of flesh and blood, justifies the heinous acts done by this man to you, his flock.  He has betrayed your trust and violated sacred vows to Deity.  He will receive the rewards for his actions as he stands before the Father.  I do truly pity him."   

As if on cue a light rain begins to fall from the heavy clouds overhead.  It begins to wash away the soot and dirt encrusted on the faces of the villagers and the blood and gore on the weapons and armor of the party. 

Adam stretches forth his hand and watches the rain fall into his palm and between his fingers as he wiggles them.  He continues in a loud and strong voice. 

"Barovians, you are a strong people.  You survived this nightmare as a town and I know in my heart that you can weather this spiritual betrayal.  Danovich must be banished and forgotten.  He desecrate your church and violated your graveyard.  These symbols reminding you of his evil acts must be removed.  A new chapel and graveyard, emblems of faith and hope, must be erected to heal the wounds so grievously inflicted upon the village." 

"I stand before you a man ready to put his shoulder to the wheel to bring this work to fruition.  So that the healing may begin quickly I will donate 500 gold pieces to the construction of the chapel and pledge an additional 1,000 gold pieces when I return from my journeys."

Holding out both hands as the rain cleanses the shining armor he wears Adam continues.

"Friends,  the Father loves each of you.  You are his children.  Although you have been betrayed and beaten He hasn't forgotten you.  As He has taught through the One it is each of our tasks to bear the burdens of the other.  Together we will find joy in that service and the love that the Father has for us."

A smile broadens on Adam's face as he finishes. 

"Enough of the morose, you have won and it is time to celebrate.  Three cheers for Barovia, Huzzah, Huzzah, Huzzah. 

 
OOC- Adam will cast any remaining healing spells that evening to help whoever in the party needs it.  He will also begin to read Danovich's journal to understand why the man did what he did. 

[Ikoma]

((Nice!  Marius, you would have gotten a check mark for boastful, but you've already filled those three up.  Adam, you get your final check for Charity which completes your matrix!  As a 6th level PC, you get a bonus 3,000 XP.  Congrats!  It leaves you just short of 7th level... close enough that end of month XP awards will put you over the top!))

Okay gang, feel free to continue this but we need to decide where and what the group wants to do next.  Along the way, I've tried to drop hints about other things to investigate.  If you need it, let me know and I'll point them out.

[Marius Ionescu]

"Ok mine was good ... his was better," Marius smiles at Adams speech though he realizes Adam just stole his thunder.  Marius jumps up on the wagon next to Adam and summons the voice deep within, "Let my good fortune be your good fortune.  I donate another 250 gp to your cause.  Tomorrow we can begin the rode to rebuild, today ... today good people of Barovia, we celebrate!"

Marius looks over to Adam and whispers, "how did you make it rain like that?  Nice trick," he smiles toward his brave friend.

[unkabear]

Hassid stands at Adams words.  His heart fills with a strong mix of shame and pride.  Pride that he had a chance to stand with these men, shame at that he was but a step away from Danovich.  Still within him the evil calls.  How easy it would be to crush the will of these people, they had almost lost, and in truth they were but a day away.  If Hassid and his companions had not arrived...But that was it wasn't it.  They had arrived, and the Dark Gods of THIS world were thwarted this once.  Perhaps there was a greater good involved.


Hassid's mind filled with confused thoughts, but the rain washed more than just the suit away, the clean drizzle washed away his doubt.  The Sorshef had delivered him to this place, into the hands of good men and women to cleanse himself.  He was on the right path, to fight not only the darkness in this world but that within his own soul.

"I will pledge 500 of my own gold to the cause of rebuilding the church." Hassid said pulling the divided bags out and standing up to prove his point.

Hassid pushed aside all thoughts of despair.  It was easy when he was in the dance of the blade, he was in the moment then, but when he was not fighting it became more and more difficult.  But for now he immersed himself in the emotions of his companions and the villagers.  He felt hope, for himself as much as the villagers.

[Marius Ionescu]

Though happy his brother in arms put in gold as well Marius jaw drops in disbelief and he mumbles to himself, "what is this one-up Marius Day?"

"Good people my friends are being so helpful - 300, 300 gp then" Marius bellows out!

[Ioan Nicolae Costache]

Ioan grins from ear to ear (it's not a pretty sight, but fortunately comeliness is not the sole measure of charisma). This is how heroes should act.

He stands for at least a full minute before he realizes that more than a few people are looking at him... expecting him to get on the wagon.

"OH!!

Ioan climbs up next to Adam and gives him a clanking, smelly hug.

He then shouts. "A thousand gold now, to the creation of a new chapel. And what money I have left I will spend here, equipping myself and my friends." He nudges Adam and mumbles "that's about 800, maybe 900 more. I hope they have stuff we need."

Again to Adam... "We need to delay our adventuring by an additional day. That way I can devote all my invocations tomorrow to feeding these folks. They're going to need at least a day to turn what's left of their crops and flocks into meals."

And then shouted... "If you're hungry, an' I know you're hungry, the Morninglord will provide! Meet back here tomorrow morning!"

(OOC: "Create Food and Water" will feed  24 people for 24 hours. If I cast it three times, I can get 72 people fed for three meals.)

[Ioan Nicolae Costache]

Privately, to Adam...

"Not sure how you feel about this, but we could question Davinovich's corpse. I've never asked for this invocation before, and I suspect it's unpleasant, but if you really want to know what he was up to, and the book doesn't answer it for you, we can ask his corpse four questions tomorrow."