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

[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!

[somepagesturn]

[Paige makes the most DISTRESSED FACE EVER in the ensuing silence after Nathan screams and then whispers:] Thank you, Nathan....

[count_strahd_von_zarovich]

[Silence? Who said anything about silence... Nathan's shout is met by an eerie faint sound, as if of something groaning, echoing hollowly from deeper within the settlement. The muddy path underfoot gives way to slick, wet cobblestone. The streets are choked with mist, limiting vision to only a few dozen feet. Ahead, an overturned cart blocks an intersection.]

[pickyourbattles]

[ aurelius' hand goes to the silver shortsword now hanging at his belt. ] Do you all hear that?

[autorevive]

Guess we've got company. [gulp. whoopsie. he'll just ... get out his shortsword, too...]

[olreliable]

[Willow also stands with sword in hand, trying to be brave.]

Just...everyone stick together.

[count_strahd_von_zarovich]

[Drawn by Nathan's shouts, figures begin to appear in the mists, and draw closer. The stench of carrion grows heavy, as the figures become visible through the fog - The dead stalk the streets of Barovia. They shamble towards you, clawing at the empty air as they walk.]

[From the crooked narrow alley to the left, a skeletally thin cadaver's eyes flare purple in the shadow, and a charnel energy churns down it's arm, splaying across it's fingertips. Corpses stomp towards the ruined cart. A pair of gore-streaked animals - something between a grotesque rat and a rabid wolf - Their prodigious jaws hang loose and slavering.]

[Battle Maps: Image Link Roll20 Link]

[Special Rules: Doors are simple wooden and barricaded (For opening/breaking down purposes.) The Cart provides cover when adjacent (+4AC vs Ranged)]

[olreliable]

Caracas Eaters! [she points at the little animal things.] Just...don't fall. They'll rip you apart if you end up on the ground.

[pickyourbattles]

Zombies? [ oh bother ] I- I don't think much but the swords is going to harm them. And, [ he pales, looking past into the alley ] that one's casting something!

[autorevive]

[ uhhh nathan is GETTING OUT ANOTHER GRENADE] Sounds like time to blow his undead brains out to me!

[count_strahd_von_zarovich]

[Far ahead, beyond the cart, a door swings slowly open with an ominous creak, and out plods another zombie. It joins it's fellows near the cart, and they all begin to slowly shamble towards the team. The entire road is now choked with them, reaching with grasping hands towards their next meal. Between them there's a flash of motion, and one of the snarling Carcass Eaters darts eagerly ahead, and claws at Henry. Atk: 11, 2 Damage if that hits vs Flat Footed AC.]

[Updated look at the map]

[autorevive]

[nathan is gonna try to take care of the magic zombie first, hurling a grenade down the alleyway with a ranged atk 18. same as before, it goes off in a burst radius of 20 ft and does 21 slashing dmg without a dc 15 ref save. SLASHING DAMAGE!!!11]

[pickyourbattles]

[ aurelius pushes in front of paige, hands extended as abruptly a plane of white hot flames of druid fire burst from his hands in a 40 foot semicircle, 15 dmg to those in the zone. creatures can make a ref save dc 23 to halve it, but it cuts through SR if they have any. ]

[olreliable]

[Assuming that the rat toasted from Aurelius' spell was the one in front of Henry?? Willow will rush towards the zombie right in front of her and give this sword thing a try. (attack 18, damage 6).]