Act II: Ill Fortunes

[Yemam Silverman]

Yemam felt incredibly bad for this woman.  To lose so much in such a short time...it was too much.

"Come...let us all attempt to get some rest.  We can post some watches throughout the night...just in case...and then discuss things in greater detail in the morning."

[Ikoma]

The night passes uneventfully.

[So, you need to decide what you want to ask the corpse, what you want to do next, etc.]

[unkabear]

It was odd sleeping on a bed.  He was not used to sinking into anything.  Such things were forbidden him as only a guard.  No matter what other titles he carried.  Eventually fell into a dreamless sleep.  It was nice in itself compared to the last few nights.  To wake in the morning he found himself sitting on the floor gain with crossed legs, two blades out and bared, one silver with a mirror polish, one that was a familiar weight, one that he until recently had only been on the receiving end of. One that was an extension of himself.  And the other, an incomplete tool of great power.  Something that would be able to bring the Lord of this Land to his knees.

Hassid sat most of the morning, until the sun came up weighing both blades in his hands, measuring himself as much as the blades.

[Adam Godson]

After Adam arose, washed himself, and ate breakfast he searched out Ioan.  He found him outside enjoying breakfast on the 2nd story balcony.  And yes, he did have food in this teeth. 


Smiling he patted his friend on the shoulder and coaxed him from his comfortable chair.

"Come, we have some unpleasant business before us."

Adam and Ioan find an unused room with the house to use the Divine Magic.  Before Ioan begins Adam casts Protection from Evil spells on both of them.  When the corpse becomes animated Adam asked this series of questions. 

Were you involved in the death of your father?
Did you plot with someone to steal the Holy Symbol from your family?
Have you had contact with agents of Strahd?
Have you had contact with agents of the werewolves?
Who else in the village has been in contact with Strahd or the werewolves?
Were you involved with other inside or outside the village that wanted to bring harm to the village?

After the unpleasant conversation Adam asked the group includeing Ireena and Ulrik to convene in the main parlor.  Adams asks Ireena and Ulrik if they know anything about the Tomb of the Ravenia?  He believes the next step should be to find the tomb and activate the Holy Symbol. 

[allornothing]

Lorelei sleeps better in the manor, then she did in the woods. But not by much. She's restless, and uneasy. The thought of speaking to a corpse gives her chills, and though she'd be interested in sitting in on the information gathering.. she just couldn't bring herself to participate. So, instead, she sat with the others.. quietly.. until Adam came and gathered them up.

[Marius Ionescu]

Marius slept from exhaustion, but it was better sleep then the last few nights.  The group had accomplished much in the last few days, unfortunately the hard part was about to begin.

After waking, Marius made breakfast and ate at the table with the others.  Adam and Ioan had a task before them, when done there would be answers,  but probably more questions as well.  "Whatever our next task, the symbol or the sword, the answer to both probably lay in the place we have been avoiding - the Castle.  Sir Ulrik.  Irena.  Before we make that trek, I would like to acquire more arrows tipped with silver.  Do you know any place where that would be possible - whether purchase or trade?" Marius spoke as he ate.  He knew this wasn't the proper breakfast conversation, but tack was not Marius' strong suit.

[Yemam Silverman]

Yemam rose from his light sleep and checked his belongings as usual.  Talking to himself, "Can never be sure...right Locke?"  While the night quiet, it seemed short.  The scout would not mind taking time for himself and sleeping restfully.  Then again, who would sleep restfully in the climate they are in.

He checked his rapier and gave it a good cleaning along with his mace and throwing axe.   He adjusted his armor and then joined the rest of the group for breakfast. 

After Adam had gathered everyone, Yemam just sat and waited for a response from either Ireena or Sir Ulrik.""

[Marius Ionescu]

Marius continued his breakfast as he waited for Adam and Ioan to finish their dealings with Irean's brother.  He hopped that a warm house, despite the place it was in, was enough to rest his friends and fill them with new strength.

[Ioan Nicolae Costache]

Ioan agrees with Adam's choice of questions. The invocation is... uncomfortable.

[Ikoma]

[Sorry about disappearing for a few days.  Been in bed with some illness for 24 hours.  Still not feeling great but I am up on my feet again.]

Many choose not to participate in the grim business of communicating with the dead.  Understandably.  Insmark died bleeding of tears and rips in his flesh.  As the magic takes hold, his wounds begin to ooze a trickle of blood.  A stench grows as the body opens its mouth to answer the questions as best it can.

Were you involved in the death of your father?
Did you plot with someone to steal the Holy Symbol from your family?
Have you had contact with agents of Strahd?
Have you had contact with agents of the werewolves?
Who else in the village has been in contact with Strahd or the werewolves?
Were you involved with other inside or outside the village that wanted to bring harm to the village?

Insmark knew nothing sinister in regards to the death of his father.  He certainly did not plot to have him killed.  He knows nothing more about the Holy Symbol than his sister.  Some representatives from Strahd sought it out.  His father tried to protect it.  He has had contact with agents of Strahd.  After his father's death, Lief Lipseige, the steward of the castle came to give Strahd's "condolences".  Insmark threw him out.  Lief reminded him that he would have to work with Strahd if he intended to govern Barovia.  The only contact Insmark had with the werewolves is when they killed him.  Insmark had no ill will for his father, the village or the villagers.  In fact, he had no desire for the responsibility of governance.  His behavior and skills during his brief time as burgomaster of Barovia bare that out.

After the unpleasant conversation Adam asked the group includeing Ireena and Ulrik to convene in the main parlor.  Adams asks Ireena and Ulrik if they know anything about the Tomb of the Ravenia?  He believes the next step should be to find the tomb and activate the Holy Symbol.

Both Ireena and Ulrik can give a little information.  The Tomb of the Ravenovia is final resting place of Ravenovia in the Von Zarovich crypts.  It would next to the tomb of Barov.  It would be in the catacombs under the castle... at least two levels down from the entrance level.  Ulrik tells you that the three holy relics that will enable you to destroy the fanes that give Strahd power will probably be down there as well, as will the Tome of Strahd.  Neither Ireena nor Ulrik have ever been down there.  Ireena has never been in the castle... period.  Ulrik has never left the main floor where the chapel is found.  He will tell you re-activating the sunsword will be easier than activating the holy symbol.  Ireena volunteers two platinum candlesticks to serve as the material for re-forging the hilt of the sword.

Ireena can tell you a little of Barov and Ravenovia.  They are rumored to be the first Strahd's father and mother.  But the line of Strahd has been in power so long, no one is sure.

[unkabear]

The platinum candlesticks would do well for the sunsword.  Hassid accepted them as he held the blade...but for how much longer.  After searching for a weapon to better fight the undead...he had come to find that he already wielded such a blade.  Already he began to flow through is mind the others, and was searching in them who would be worthy of the blade.  Already he was finding his mind falling up on those that stood with him in the vistani camp.

[Ioan Nicolae Costache]

Ioan performs last rites on Insmark's... shell. The prayer, a rote formality he has known for years, does not feel like enough. He adds words of his own, quietly.

"Insmark, I'm sorry for what we had to do to your body. I'm sorry we brought all this down on you, and pray that you, wherever you are, will forgive us."

"I fear that one or more of us will be joining you soon enough. Leave a light on."

He washes the corpse with wet rags, and, after a moment's experimentation, confirms his suspicion that the invocation of "Mend" applied a dozen times or more will now work to restore the corpse to a state suitable for viewing. It would seem that with all life gone from the body it is no different than a wine-skin or a wagon-wheel, at least in the sight of the gods.

Ioan had prepared little besides "Speak with Dead" and "Mend" today in the hope that this would be the case.

It is mid-afternoon before Ioan in finished, his daily invocations almost completely depleted. Insmark's corpse and clothing are now, to outward appearances, as good as new. Ioan joins Ireena and the others...

"M'lady... your brother's body is fit for viewing now. It is the very least I could do."

[Ikoma]

Ireena is extremely grateful for what you have done.  With the recent... loss of their cleric, she had been worried that he might rise and... become something unpleasant.

So the path is set.  The group has accepted the task of taking on Strahd.  They currently have three preliminary tasks set forth.  Take the blade of the sunsword and the platinum donated for the purpose and reactivate the divine weapon by spending eight hours praying in the chapel on the main floor of the Castle Ravenloft.  Find and recover the Tome of Strahd, a history of the Strahd line and with information on how to sever his connection with the land and the power he draws.  The tome is said to currently reside in the tomb of one Sergei von Zarovich.  Finally, they can activate the Holy Symbol of Ravenkind by performing a bonding ritual at the Crypt of Ravenovia.  Both the tomb and the crypt are most assuredly found deep in the bowels of the dark castle.  Looking out across the village of Barovia from the front of Ireena's mansion, you can see the brooding structure high atop the cliffs.  The only route to gaining entrance will take you north, past the crossroads where you saved Ulrik from the spectres, past Lysaga Hill (said to be inhabited by witches), across the Tser Falls, through the Ravenloft pass to the Castle.  (Or grandma's house!   )

[Congratulations!  You have completed Act II: Ill Fortunes.  Look for Act III: the Face of Evil to begin shortly.  <bwa ha ha>]