Kartakass: The Barovia Chapter

[VAN]

As walking to the long corridors Van feels the oppressive atmosphere of the castle. Despite all his adventures and the strange places he had been, it was the first time he feels like this. Like having no power and be at the mercy of this strange, extremely powerful Count. Van wishes that the dinner will not last for long and get as soon as possible out of this castle where he would feel powerful and important again.

The evoker was almost sure that the Count wanted something for them, maybe information or to do a task for him. Otherwise he wouldn't bother to get them a day ago and escort them with his zombies to the Castle. Van had also the feeling that during the battle with the zombies and the devil the Count was studying them, maybe the encounter with the undead was only a test! It seems they have passed it if the Count has gestured them to join him for dinner.

Van isn't also surprised with the magic canddles. It was the least he waited from the castle of such a powerful wizard. Besides he has already noticed how the doors opened and closed when they passed.

Lost in his thoughts, Van almost stumbles on Valerian when the Warden stops, gets out his holly symbol and seem to talk to the air. Thinking that he might cast a spell, the wizard says in low voice:

"Maybe you shouldn't cast spells here Valerian."

But immediately after sighs adn says, always in low voice:

"On the other hand your spells might be useful if the dinner doesn't go as the Count expects."

[NeoTiamat]

Valerian's head moves from the air to the door and back again a few times, then after a pause, he nods curtly. It is only then he notices Van speaking to him.

"Hmm...? Ah, no, no spells now, though.... however powerful our host is, he is but a man, and none but Ezra's plan is inviolable. I think the Grand Scheme will see us out of here safely. It would not be Ezra's will that we die here, purposelessly."

The Warden nods and rumages around in his pack for a piece of string, placing the holy symbol about his neck. He heads for the dining room, nodding to Van again, and then to the empty air beside Van, politely.

Valerian takes a seat at the table, halfway between Strahd and Sefi. His eyes wander across the room, suddenly stopping at the painting above the fireplace.

"Well now.... Ezra works in mysterious ways indeed." He murmurs. "I wonder who she was...."

[steveflam]

Tarlyn follows the Count and enters the grand dining room, observing the paintings on the wall and the food that's been set on the table. Frowning at Gordo's moaning words, he walks around, stopping near the head of the table, admiring the beautiful artwork of the painter who painted the woman in the painting. Who was she, I wonder, to merit such a place of importance in the dining room? Looking back at the rest of the party as they enterred, he frowned. Why was Valerian gesturing to the air, then almost at a loss for words at the sight of the painting over the fireplace? Looking at Marentor's reaction to the painting his suspicions were confirmed at the Hua's facial expression.

After Valerian sits, Tarlyn approaches him, and taking the chair next to him. turns it around and sits, arms draped over the backrest. Turning to Valerian,he whispers, "So what is with the painting? And what are you gesturing to the air? Have you gone mad or are you seeing things? Marentor seems fascinated by the painting. And why is Gordo saying the Count's name over and over again?"

[VAN]

"Really weird!" Says Van to himself as understanding that Valerian was speaking to the air. The wizard thinks that the Warden might have had a shock adn started see things. "Poor man, I hope we can find a way to heal his madness."Thinks the evoker as walks in the room.

As getting a seat at the other side of Valerian, noticed the painting on the wall and how Marentor and Valerian look at it. He also notices that Gordo moans "Strahd" a few times. Van heads closer to Valerian and whispers:

"Do you feel ok Valerian? Have you seen the painting and the zombie they seem... unnatural to me. Marentor cannot get his eyes off the painting, like recognising the woman and Gordo keeps moaning "Strahd!" Any thoughts Valerian and Tarlyn?"

[NeoTiamat]

Valerian chuckles at this show of concern.

"It's quite alright, I'm not hallucinating and I'm certainly not mad, no more so then any other man. As for the young lady in the painting, I'm nearly as ignorant as the rest of you."

The Warden takes a bottle and half-fills his wine glass, holding it up to the light.

"Now hush, and let us see what our host has in store for us."

[lostboy]

Draven listens distractedly to the coversation between the others. He too noticed the portrait, but aside from the fact that the painting is probabley worth quite a bit, there isnt anything that unusual about it.

He perks up slightly at the mention of Valerian having hallucinations, maybe Im not the only one afflicted by this evil place, the sooner we get away from here the better... he thinks.

The warmth of the room brings back some sense of normalcy to him, the dark is gone for now but not forgotten. He feels pangs of hunger as if he hasnt eaten in days and reaches for the nearest loaf of bread.

[steveflam]

Marentor sat at the table, unable to take his eyes off the painting of the woman. It's her, the woman from my dream. Father was trying to tell me something. Evidently she must be important otherwise he'd not have shown her to me. Hmmm.

Speaking in a low voice he said to the party, "I had a dream about the woman in the painting. Just her face. I saw her in my dream. She must be someone important." He stops talking and continues looking at the portrait of the woman.

[BigBadQDaddy]

William enters the room and immediately takes to one side, letting everyone else enter and take a seat. He himself remains standing.

"I don't know what's goin' on here, but now it seems as if this lot I set off with have more an more secrets than an alter boy of Ezra." He thinks. William takes a moment to wipe the copious amount of sweat pouring from his forehead and neck away as he surveys the surroundings. "Hrm...seems as if this Count has one fer that there brunette in the portrait. Wonder where she is...probably ran off somewhere due to the standing of this here old castle. Wouldn't blame er'. Girl like that have fellas linin' up like...like, say...now why does this here Count keep these wretched undead as company? a wee bit unsettlin' if ya ask me." William makes no effort whatsoever to disguise his obvious discomfort.

[Ail]

Lucius walked almost automatically to the dining room, never noticing the others and paying little heed to his surroundings. He was immersed in deep thought and remorse. Absent-mindedly, he sat at the long dinner table, oblivious to the painting that seemed to interest so much the others. Gordo was the first being that he acknowledged, addressing the servant in a rather unsuitable fashion for the time and place

Please, a hot cup of tea for me.

His mind was still focused on what had caught him during the fight with the devil. The memories began to crowd in his mind, and he could not deny that she had attacked Josephine and contributed to her near death. But more important than that, he remembered his cry of despair, and the name that escaped his lips at that time... Sophie, he had cried... He hadn't forgotten her yet. Try as he might, he still felt guilty for her death and such guilt came to haunt him again. Perhaps if he could save another he'd redeem himself, and come to peace with the ghosts of his past, but for now, all he felt was melancholy and doubt.

[steveflam]

The Count observes you all with a calm expression. Once you are all seated and eating he speaks. "Please do partake of my table, Gordo worked hard today for you. I do have a question though. Pray tell, why have you brought a Werewolf with you?", drumming his fingers as if he were bored, then continuing, "and which one of you dared to summon a Devil into my home?"

[NeoTiamat]

"I wasn't brought, I came." Sefi said from the far end of the table, in a voice that was rather like a snarl. "And I wouldn't think a werewolf or devil would bother a dead thing like you."

Even from here, she could smell him. He didn't smell like a living creature. Living things smelled of sweat and food, and warmth. The strange man smelled of nothing but blood.

[steveflam]

Inclining his head slightly, he hardly acknowledges Sefi."My question still remains. Who invited a Devil into my home? Hmm?" The Count stopped drumming his fingers on the table and stood.

[ewancummins]

Cornelius had been picking at his food, his usually hearty appetite lessensed by the frightening turn of events. This castle was obviously a VERY BAD place, and he didn't wish to stay here for much longer. Still, a sudden departure could prove dangerous, given the Count's demonstrated abilities and rather fearsome reputation. Best to be civil and polite, lest he offend the host...


''My Lord, Josefine is travelling with us. She is, as you say, sadly afflicted with the disease of lycanthropy. Please excuse her manners, she is unaccustomed to polite society. She travels with us of her own will. We've promised to help find a cure for her condition, if such is possible.

As for the fiend, I have no idea how it came here. My own magical abilities are quite obviously inferior to yours, but perhaps I can somehow help you to solve the mystery of the devil's appearance?''

[lostboy]

His mouth full and his attention on the bread, Draven misses the Count's intial questions, but Sefi's reply from next to him jerks him back to the current events.

He chokes on the bread, unable to believe she would display such antagonistic behaviour towards what was obviously a very powerful man, and he stares at her with wide eyes.

Unfortunatly that isnt the only revelation he hears, the counts words cause him to spin round in his chair and his jaw drops even further. "Devil?? What devil? I dont recall......." He trails off as the realization hits him that he doesnt in fact recall anything at all since stepping over the threshold, until he was dumped at the bottom of the stairs.

He stares around the faces of those about him, his mind working overtime to shake the misery that shrouded him since he awoke. "I saw crushed corpses, and assumed there was a fight, but a devil? What in the name of all thats holy just happened????"

[VAN]

Van was eating a piece of bread when Sefi answered the Counts question. The evoker almost choke as he listens the werewolf say "a dead thing as you!"

Trying to mask his fear, pretends to keep eating but many thoughts come to his mind. He has heard of undead that cast spells, he has also heard about liches these use to be powerful spellcasters. Van wishes that the man before them isn't an undead and Josephine has only made a mistake, but now he feels even more unease at the presence of the Count. The wizard doesn't even think to cast a spell and see if the man has an illusionary appearence. That would be a suicide. His glance goes from Sefi to the Count and then to Valerian. Van wanders if the Warden has noticed Sefi's words.

As Draven says nothing about the devil and seem to not remember anything, Van says looking at him:

"You really don't remember anything Alexander?"

Looking to the Count, Van says trying to make his voice as steady as possible:

"My Lord, the devil was not summoned, in a certain way it has been unvolontarily released. I really don't know how though, I'm not capable to do such things."

AS talking Van studies the Counts.


OOC> Sense motive check, I got 11.