romania ♔ in the end of the night i can feel you breathe

[pickyourbattles]

♬ Night - Zola Jesus

WHO || Willow, Paige, Nathan, Henry, Aurelius, Dovan [Closed]
WHAT || The Knights travel to Romania to investigate a mysterious, magical fog
WHERE || Romania
WHEN || April 11th [back dated]
HOW || Actionspam. Single thread, don't worry about maintaining tagging order.

February in Romania isn't very comfortable, so hopefully everyone bundled up for this little trip into the countryside.  The appearance of a mysterious bank of fog into which several locals have gone inexplicably missing upon entering, has caused Wynn to speculate that it might be connected to the mist that appears when the Veil brings people from other worlds.  Could this be the first instance of a door going the other way?  If so, here's hoping it's a round trip...

Comments

[olreliable]

Aurelius! [She has no idea what is going on but she's gonna try to magic it away??? Gotta save the boy she has a crush on, duh. Magic missile time, yo. 3 damage if it doesn't just... pass right through them.]

[somepagesturn]

[Now that she's had time to look at them, Paige recognizes the creatures and puts a hand over her mouth in surprise.] Those are Murks! Aurelius, you have to get away from them or they'll sap the life out of you.

[she casts turn undead, holding up her silver harp pin. Her turning check is 16 and if that works, then her total damage is 17. Hopefully, that will... at least save Aurelius.]

[count_strahd_von_zarovich]

[Paige unleashes a blast of holy energy powerful enough to completely destroy the remaining murks. (End Init) After just a few moments of intense action, the land again falls under a heavy blanket of silence. The monsters leave no remains, the only evidence of the battle is the pockmarks of shrapnel and the blood of the knight, who takes this moment to Lay on Hands himself, before approaching the group.]

Many thanks. Had you not interceded when you did... The situation would have been most dire. I am Sir Urik, the last of the Knights of the Raven; sworn to crusade against the evils that plague Barovia, and friend to all the good folk who have the misfortune of coming here. Tell me friends, what brings you to this gods-forsaken land?

[pickyourbattles]

[ aurelius flinches and puts a hand to his temple as the murk evaporates in front of him. ow, his head. it takes him a moment to tune in and process all that. ] I'm er, Aurelius. Greyfire. We're with the Knights of the Silver Dragon, and we-- well, we really didn't mean to come here, if we're being entirely honest.

[autorevive]

Yeah, I was hoping for vikings, but the mist mucked that shit right up.

[somepagesturn]

[Now that safety is in sight, Paige runs over to Aurelius to... mother him a bit. She doesn't have any spells to restore wisdom, tho. :(] We're looking for our friend- a dwarf named Dovan. You haven't seen him, have you?

[olreliable]

[At the same time as Paige, Willow is moving to get over to Aur, concern etched into her features despite me sleeping through most of this. Paige already asked the most important question, so she can just help fret over the half elf and look to this possibly kind stranger??? for answers.]

[wanttobeahero]

[ Relieved that Aurelius seems...well, better than he was, at least - and also super impressed by Paige, wow - Henry directs his attention to Sir Urik for the moment. ] I'm Henry. And, yeah, if you know anything about Sir Dovan, we'd appreciate it. We came here to find him.

[count_strahd_von_zarovich]

[The knight looks at Aurelius with some concern, and begins digging through his pack as he speaks.]

Well that's a curious tale... You don't much look like knights. I'd assumed by your garb that you were some relation to the Vistani of the region... I can't say I've ever seen, much less heard of these Vikings you'd hoped to encounter, nor have I seen any Dwarves of late. They are quite a rarity here in Barovia. Ah, here we are. [He produces a small scroll, tied with a small knot or prayer beads, and hands it to Paige. (Scroll of Lesser Restoration)] I trust you know how to use that, it should help Sir Greyfire's condition... I would perform the magics myself, but I fear it may be a tenday or more before wit enough returns to me after that battle. [11 Wisdom drain is a problem.] You might check in at the town, just follow the east road. Perhaps they have heard news of this Sir Dovan.

[somepagesturn]

Thank you so much, Sir. [She takes the scroll from him with a polite nod.] We were headed that way before we ran into you. If I could... How did you come upon those creatures?

[and are there more??]

[autorevive]

You wanna come with us? Sorry I almost blew you up, mate.

[nathan young: expert recruiter.]

[pickyourbattles]

If it's not out of your way, that is. It's just we-- might be a bit out of our depth here.

[olreliable]

We have food? [Willow offers to idek sweeten the deal?]

[count_strahd_von_zarovich]

Murks are not uncommon, especially at this crossroads. The souls of many evil men are tied to this graveyard, and it's rejected all of my attempts at consecration. I make a habit of passing through every few months to clear it out, to try and keep the road safe for travelers like yourselves.

[He frowns, looking more upset with himself than he is with Nathan, and he reluctantly returns to rummaging through his pack.] Wounds of the flesh are the least of my worries, friend. I fear I cannot tarry here long, I am hunting a Dwarf of my own. A sadistic lunatic who goes by the name Varikov the Trapper. However, I shall give you what little assistance I may... [He produces a small parcel consisting of a blanket bound by a belt, and passes it to Nathan.] I had intended to trade those for gold coin on my next visit to town... They should aid you in your travels, should you happen upon any more Murks, or worse... [The package is heavy, and there is clearly some shining silver blades, wrapped in simple leather, protruding from one end, and gleaming hilts from the other.]

When my business to the west is concluded, I shall stop in at the hamlet to resupply. We can speak more then, if you'd like. Shouldn't be more than a few days.

[autorevive]

[nathan takes the parcel and yanks one of the blades out, immediately recognizing ... what a sword is.] Holy fuck! We're like proper knights now!

[somepagesturn]

I really hope we're not still here in a few days, but I think that's a moot point. [she's going to use that scroll now. 4 wis restored, which is... probably over what he lost so that's also moot. She rolled that d4 like a badass.

And she just... makes pained faces at Nathan and those swords. sobs.]]

[olreliable]

It's an upgrade from the knives at least. [She gingerly takes one from the bag and tries to get used to the weight.]

Thank you. And good luck finding your dwarf.

[count_strahd_von_zarovich]

[The parcel contains three +1 Silver shortswords, and three +1 Silver Daggers. They gleam bright, are of perfect craftsmanship, and haven't a nick or scratch marring their surfaces.]

Indeed. You would do well to try and find yourselves some armor. [He eyes Nathan skeptically] Steel doesn't afford much protection from apparitions like these Murks, but if you cross paths with a werewolf, you'll be wishing you had at least some leather.

Good fortune in your journey, and much luck in locating your missing dwarf as well. I hope you are right, and your time here will be brief. Plans have a way of... going awry, in Barovia. [He gives them a grim smile, claps Nathan on the shoulder, and begins to set off along the west road.]

[autorevive]

[nathan stares off as urik sets off into the distance, grinning stupidly like DID I JUST MAKE A NEW RANDOM SURROGATE FATHER FIGURE????? yep.]

[somepagesturn]

What a nice man. [Paige eyes the blades, frowning, but takes one of the daggers after a moment to put on her belt with her whip.] I hope Dovan hasn't run afoul of his dwarf. If they're rare, they might not take kindly to newcomers.

[she doesn't want dwarf highlander. : (]

[olreliable]

All the more reason for us to... head for that town so we can ask around and maybe figure out where he ended up.

[autorevive]

Let's do it, then! [he holds out the bag.] Everyone grab a sword. They're sort of midgety, but they'll do. Then let's all walk in slow motion.

[count_strahd_von_zarovich]

[Marching onward, meandering eastward and crossing yet another bridge over the Tser river, the party would find themselves coming upon the village of Barovia within the next hour. Mist blankets the village, smothering streets and marooning the buildings, forming an archipelago of crumbling masonry in a gray, hopeless sea.]

[At the village's lonely edge, most buildings are abandoned burnt out husks. Charcoal lies thick on the air, but that choking odor can't overpower the underlying sickly sweet smell of carrion and spoilage. Claw marks rake some of the vacant homes, ominous not merely because of their presence, but because of the five-fingered hand-like shape they suggest.]

[Welcome to Barovia...]

[somepagesturn]

[Paige wraps her arms around herself as she enters the village, looking around for some sign f actual life on this side of the village (spot 22).] It looks almost abandoned....

[autorevive]

[nathan tests her theory with] HEY, IS ANYONE ALIVE? THERE ARE DEAD GYPSIES DOWN THE ROAD!