A New Barovia: Chapter One

[VAN]

"Indeed. But I don't like the fact that heads were missing and then the whole bodies. The first thought that gets my mind about the missing heads is a mind flyer. You know monsters that feed with brain and use to cut the heads of the victims so pass unnoticed that the brain has been extracted. They use to live in underdark but sometimes I have heard that they come to the surfice. I have no theory for the right arm, maybe the victims had a ring or a tatoo or something that could be recognized. So maybe there is a connection there that we don't know. The missing bodies alas might mean that could be undead now...So among my spells will be those that fight undead. I know that all this sounds unrelated right now, but are just my first thoughts."

Adam finishes his ale with a last remark.

"If we stay together and with all the good deities on our side we will purge the undead. So tomorrow if you don't mind I think we should go to the cenetery again. Trust me will look better in daylight. Also we should visit militia Headquarters as well and talk with the guard that was on duty when the documents have been stolen. We might get something from that."

[Ail]

Robert knocks Marilee's glass enthusiastically, also beginning to feel the effects of the drink. With his last rays of common sense, he says


"The victims were eaten? Then it must have been zombies. Remember the guards in the cemetery were eaten too?"

[VAN]

"The zombies don't eat, ghouls do. They are hungry dead, a different type of undead and anyway they don't cut heads. They use to eat the whole body not live them half-eatten. No, I think it's something else. Maybe someone or something killed the victims, cut the head and the right arm and the ghouls or an animal eat the left over till someone came and stopped them. This is what I think. We just need to find the relation among the victims and who was the one that did or ordered this to be done."

[Ken of Ghastria]

Khalfani raises an eyebrow. "A great amount of information you are assuming about the undead, Adam... how they act, what they do." He shakes his head. "Please do not assume so much, especially here in Barovia. From what I have seen and studied, the undead are as varied as the birds in the sky. Expecting each vile creature to fit precisely into a definition is a dangerous path." The gnome stands up, wobbling ever so slightly. "Oh... that drink is most powerful. Excuse me, all. I must go to my room and rest... as perhaps many of us should. Tomorrow will be a busy day, I expect. I wish that you all sleep without nightmares, though that is probably a wish that will fail."

[Ail]

Robert barely hears Adam, and doesn't take much notice of his words, nor Khalfani's. All he understands is 'going to bed'.


"Yeah... sheems a good idea..."


He asks for a tankard of water, to ease his drunkenness... and hope that it will make him recover faster. After he gets it (assuming he does), he will get up and go to his room and bed by whatever means available.

[kintire]

"Yeash! to bed now, to gather our strength for tomorrow!"

Marilee rises, salutes the company (Darkon style) and weaves her way towards her room, singing a song about Goblins.

[VAN]

Adam smiles to Khalfani.
"I'm from Darkon and I'm a priest. Fight undead is part of me, I can destroy them sometimes not only turn them away. But yes you are right, they can be different here a bit but the main charattestics still stand."

When almost all decide to go to bed Adam orders some water as well and says:

"Yes good idea, a good night sleep to clear our mind. Good night everyone. May the light be with you."

[steveflam]

Monday, May 2nd, 785
Krezk, Barovia
Dying Embers Inn

The evening passes without incident. Those who haven't drunk wake easily. Those who have drunk the full tankard or more, have a
nasty headache and can not concentrate properly*. Once you've prepared for your day, you descend below to a hubbub of activity! People mill about the Inn, especially several people in uniforms. They seem official enough.

A man with an air of authority moves about, questioning guests and employees of the Inn. Only Quorrin is seen. Cornelius and Delsenora are nowhere to be seen.






*= Constitution -4 until sundown, Concentration -4 and any check requiring some concentration at -4 as well. Ex: Spot, Search....

[VAN]

Adam wakes up with a nasty headache. It's long time he hasn't had one. He gets a bath, wears his clothes, prays for his spells and goes downstairs to get a breakfast while waiting the others. When he sees the man qusetioning asks a maid.

"Has anything happened today? And who is that man?"

[steveflam]

The maid is startled at Adam's question, edgy. "Oh, sir, it's terrible! There's been another murder this very night. That is Sergeant Dmitri Kholov of the militia. He's been here with his men not long asking questions of all the guests." She bows and scurries off before Adam can ask any more questions.

[Ail]

Robert comes down with a heavy head. It's always like this, he think. I could learn, yeah, but hey, drinking is good, and let's be merry and happy while we can, he continues his thoughts.

At length, he comes down, slowly, very conscious that he's not the most amiable person that day, with that heavy headache.

He hopes to have a quiet breakfast for a while before the others get down too, but as soon as he comes down, all his hopes shatter at once. Men asking questions around, in a general display of confusion and disarray.

Slightly upset at the contrariety, he approaches the bar.

"Uh... maid, please, I can well see this is not a normal day, it seems, but can I still get a tea with toasts? And a bit of butter please. And meanwhile, perhaps you can tell me what happened."

He winks at her, hoping to sound charming despite his hangover. Hes's got enough sense to deduce these men must be part of the militia, and that someone, again, must have been killed. From the looks of it, though, in the premises or very near it.

He looks at the maind, trying to understand if the tea is coming or not.

[VAN]

"I understand."

Says Adam and since the maid totally run away from him he approaches the bar. Noticing Robrt there he says:

"Goodmorning Robert. Hope you slept well and most important woke up well, at least better than me I hope!"

Then turns to the bartender and asks:

"Can I have a coffee, some bread and fruits please?"

[steveflam]

The maid merely nods at Robert and scurries off. Soon enough, both Robert and Adam are in the dining hall. Cornelius greets them at the bar. "What kin I git yer this mornin', fellers? Coffee an a meal p'raps?"

[VAN]

"Yes sure a coffee, some bread and fruits will be perfect, thank you very much."

[BigBadQDaddy]

Having spent the morning going over his equipment and performing his weapon maintenance, Thomas takes special care to note the locations of his stakes in his pack and that his holy symbol of Ezra is secured in his pocket. He didn't believe for one second that such basic precautions would affect the Lord of the land and on the other hand did not expect many more run-ins with him in the near future. It was his spawn that concerned him.
After securing everything and having already readied himself for the day, Thomas leaves his room with his gear and heads down to the common room below where he spots the others...and the commotion.
He heads to Adams table and solemnly greets him.
"What has happened? Why are the militia here?" He sits down, bracing for the worst of news. He hoped against hope that this had nothing to do with the murders or worse that one of the people he had met the night before had become the next victim.