A New Barovia: Chapter One

[Zilfer]

"Yeah.... about that.... I kinda ran away." said Coin in response to Del's question. "Didn't expect anything to be you know... living in a cemetery. They are supposed to be dead, though that's not what bugged me. Zombie's I've heard of. Men with eyes as red as those Goblyn's and his presence.... never felt anything like that before. I knew just from being near him that he permeated evil."

[steveflam]

Delsenora isn't that surprised by Zombies, but a man with red eyes that permeates evil? She blinks, then swallows. "Describe him to me, this is very important. We can walk back to the cemetery while you talk." She takes his hand and guides him through the alleys of the city with expert ease.

[kintire]

Marilee glares around, flushed with fury

"Who was that smug scumbag? I'll be takin' him down a peg or two when next we meet, himself an' 'is corpses!"

She gets a hold of herself, and her accent slides back up a social class or two

"In the meantime, we should find Coin, fast!"

[Zilfer]

As Del led him through the streets he tried to remember the image. Surprisingly it was clear, probably because he had just had that happen. He had a feeling however, the memory would be vivid for times to come.

“He was standing on top of a Mausoleum. He wore a dark cloak around himself with a cane, though it didn’t look like he needed a cane. He wore cloths that would seem to imply he was a noble. I’ve seen enough of those cloths to last a life time. His skin was pale, paler than mine. It was like his body had given up on living but his will continued to move it. His eyes as I said glowed red, perhaps deeper than those Goblyns.” Said Coin as he looked around the empty streets.

“This town feels dead at night,” said Coin a bit of a hallow voice, as they continued on through the alleyways. He was trying to remember the layout of some of them, taking mental notes. It was night however, and he knew he probably wouldn’t memorize much of the travels through this town. It was still his first day in the city. Hadn’t even been 24 hours yet.

[steveflam]

"Strahd! Shit!" is all she says. "Grab my hand, Coin. This will be much faster" She utters a strange word and lo and behold you are in front of the cemetery along with the rest of the party.

She breathes a sigh of relief when she sees everyone is alive. "Okay, is everyone safe? Noone is injured? What happened. Was that Strahd?"

[Zilfer]

“Strahd? Who the hell is Strahd?” asked Coin wondering why she was suddenly ten times more interested. She then asked for his hand and rather than waiting took it. “What to you mean it will be fast-“

Coin felt his ears pop, as his surroundings were suddenly different. He almost fell down backwards from the disorientation. “What was that….” Muttered coin for a second before answering the question for himself. “More Magic… I don’t think I’m going to get used to that.”

“Hello again, I’ll try not to let that happen again,” said Coin slightly bashful at the moment. He tried to make the best of it however, and didn’t look away. “Again, who in the name of sanity is Strahd?”

[steveflam]

"Strahd. Strahd Von Zarovich. Presumed dead for ten years. He was the ruler of Barovia. I am no expert, of course. Some called him the Devil Strahd. I just know he was one powerful man and Barovia was better off when he was ruling it. Now some Lord Soth does. Thomas or Khalfani, maybe you could elaborate to Coin about Strahd. My father never told me anything about him."

[Zilfer]

"Well that explains the skin issues.... why did people think he was dead? I mean he looked pretty alive to me... if not a bit creepy." asked Coin thinking back to the guy. If this place was better off with him ruling, then this was a pretty chaotic place. "So do we think he's behind the murders of the women?"

[kintire]

As the pair appear in front of her she jumps back and sets herself, but on recognising them relaxes, a bit. She eyes Coin and sniffs slightly, but says nothing.

"well he was obviously a necromancer, commanding those corpses. I guess being dead might be considered research? anyway he'll probably be fighting this Soth for control here. nothing to do with us. I can't see how murdering women would help either."

[Zilfer]

OOC short and sweet.

"I don't know, stories my mother used to tell me before bed time, a lot of them said that the monsters gained power with each kill," said Coin but then gave it a second thought. "I guess those were just bedtime stories...."

[Ail]

"Yes, I hope so, Darren."


Robert then looks at Marilee, gauging her.


"So, you're a first class brawler, aren't you? Always ready for a fight... But sometimes"

he pauses and touches his foreheard several times with his index finger

"sometimes, this must be more valuable. I don't think we are any match for this... Strahd. Not from his confidence, and Del's attitude. I can call you dell, can I not, erm... miss?
But again... I'd rather not be a walking corpse under this necromancer's command, and if we have to fight him eventually... then I want to know all I possibly can about him and his allies. BEFORE I we start the fight."


He then eyes at the corpses, scans the area for any movement inside the cemetery and tests the gate. He's ready to go check it.

[Ken of Ghastria]

"Strahd. Strahd Von Zarovich. Presumed dead for ten years. He was the ruler of Barovia. I am no expert, of course. Some called him the Devil Strahd. I just know he was one powerful man and Barovia was better off when he was ruling it. Now some Lord Soth does. Thomas or Khalfani, maybe you could elaborate to Coin about Strahd. My father never told me anything about him."

Khalfani speaks solemnly. "Delsenora, troubles me this to say... but it was Strahd. No piece of misthought... err, doubt, yes, doubt... exists in my mind as to his identity. He said he had returned to 'reclaim' what is his, from Lord Soth. His reason for being here, now...? That I do not know. But his warning to stay out of his way -- that is a chill felt in my ka, my spirit."

He pauses. "Many tales have I read or heard of Strahd in my time here. Stories of him as a crafter of dead flesh... necromancer, yes? But tonight... how he looked, what he said..." He shudders. "No doubt have I of the truth of the other stories, that he is a vrykolaka. A vampire."

The gnome steps forward toward Delsenora. "Things are going to be very bad very soon, I fear."

[steveflam]

Delsenora sighs. "You may be right, Khalfani. I do think however that Strahd means us no harm. Let him do what he must for the good of Barovia. It survived centuries with his family ruling it no? As for this murderer I don't think he has anything to do with it. This is a separate entity entirely." A glimmer of light shines at Delsenora's shoulder and appears a tiny dragon like creature!

"Hey, Rizzin. I have a treat for you, my friend. These are all people I met today and seem to be good people. Thomas is William's son, imagine that! Here's a treat, you pig." The dark elf reaches into her pouch and pulls out a large piece of dried meat. The pseudodragon's maw opens and she tosses it right in without looking. A Faerie Fire suddenly illuminates the area from a the gate itself. The tiny dragon belches and flies up atop the entrance, looking at you all.

"Ok, so are you going to go back in?"

[kintire]

Marilee shrugs

"Bah. Nobles fight each other for power all the time. Its their job. Soth, Strahd: who cares? If they're smug in my face I'll take them down a peg. If not, let them fight! We've got a murderer to catch."

She glances towrds the drake and grins

"well isn't he a handsome beast?"

She turns and heads towards the gate

[Ail]

Robert shrugs and goes into the cemetery as well, heading for the corpses he saw the zombies eat. he studies them for any important signs or clues.