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

[somepagesturn]

[And here's Paige, running blindly into the danger, because PEOPLE SCREAMING. SHE MUST HELP. She's calling out as she runs.]

Nathan?! Nathan, are you all right? It's hard to tell, because you're generally vulgar all the time, so I have no point of reference, but-

[olreliable]

[The horrible sounds coming from the direction Nathan left (and by that, I mean both the monster noises and his screaming) have Willow taking a few hurried steps forward.]

We should-! [Run towards the monsters?? She's not really thrilled about it, but she can't just leave him to die. Even if he will come back, that sounds like a dick move, right? Sword back in hand and raised, she glances over her shoulders back at the others. But right as she does there goes Paige. Willow runs right behind her.]

[autorevive]

Harpies tongued me and now my hair is falling out!

[count_strahd_von_zarovich]

[The group takes a breather at the intersection Nathan was assaulted in, now halfway into the small village. All the commotion seems to have drawn more attention to them. As Nathan's hair divorces itself from his scalp in clumps, shambling dead plod toward them from behind, sealing any escape back that direction. Suddenly, a woman's voice cuts through the air;]

Hurry, and keep quiet! [The source isn't evident, but a rope ladder is visible soaring over the ramshackle barricade that guards the town square.] Unless you prefer your chances on that side of the wall...

[somepagesturn]

[Paige is not the type to think that maybe there's some poetic justice in that, so... thank your lucky stars, Nathan. She just looks at him with horror and sympathy, and then whirls at the sound of the voice.

She lowers her voice in a hissing whisper:]

C'mon. Before they come back.

[olreliable]

[Willow glances at everyone before edging towards the rope ladder.]

Is he..? [Uh, is Nathan okay? Should she climb this rope? They have no leader anymore. She figures at least one of them should check it out and she can't ask Nathan to be the guinea pig again so... up she goes.]

[autorevive]

Do you mean, me, ginge? I'm fuckin' dying! [on that lovely and optimistic note, he goes up the ladder after her, shedding his jewfro mane on the way down :'( ]

[count_strahd_von_zarovich]

[They clamber over the barricade, and see a woman clad in shining gold-flecked fullplate armor, wielding a massive kite shield and bastard sword, and shining blonde hair. An icon of the sun is emblazoned on her shield and armor.]

Welcome to Barovia! [She chimes, dripping with sarcasm.] You're here just in time for the fun! I'm Ashlyn, of the Lightbringers... We hunt undead. [She is way too chipper, given the situation.] That what brought you lot here? [She gestures at their blades] Cor! Nice hardware! That Silver? Color me jealous. [She could keep going, but she needs to take a breath.]

[olreliable]

We're uhm- [So scared of random monsters coming out of nowhere right now. Also slightly disturbed as she sees Nathan and his poor balding head follow after her up the ladder.] We're looking for our friend? A dwarf named Dovan? Have you seen him?

[count_strahd_von_zarovich]

[She presses her finger to her lips as she thinks...]

Dovan... Dovan... Nope! Not ringing any bells. Last Dwarf I seen was my companion Thendrick. He and Mathilda are out beyond the wall now. [She points over her shoulder to the North.] Investigating the situation at the old church. Townsfolk say that's where this whole zombie plague started... Then again, townsfolk also told the arrogant clods to go speak with Madam Eva first - Some sort of local wise woman, or some such - But noooo they can "handle themselves." Been gone three days now, the louts. Leavin' me to guard the survivors by my lonesome.

[somepagesturn]

[THAT IS NOT GOOD NEWS.] D-do you know why this is happening, ma'am?

[autorevive]

[loudly, from below willow] That's a girl voice up there! Is she sexy? You have to let me see her!

[count_strahd_von_zarovich]

Come on, come on, get all of you over and down before the dead nibble on you. You really do not want to get infected by them. You'll end up rotting like them, and then I'll have to skewer ya! That's all we know for certain; It started at the church, and if they bite ya, you turn... [Good point to mention Henry does still feel Sickened.. They all work their way over, and she pulls the rope ladder back to this side of the wall, then sizes the whole party up;]

We can fix it, if we cure the disease soon eno-Oh goodness! What's wrong with your hair, lad? [She stares at Nathan mortified.]

[autorevive]

[he just repeats the story he told his party:] Harpies tongued me and now my hair is falling out! Did you hear them, swooping out of the sky like — some ... swooping thing?!

[somepagesturn]

[as she gets down, Paige gestures for Henry.] Henry got bit, I think. Henry, sweetie, come here.

[count_strahd_von_zarovich]

[She eyes Nathan skeptically.] You mean Vargouilles? You're lucky you get here before your head popped off! [She takes turns cleansing Nathan and Henry of their respective diseases with clean-burning holy energy.]

There. Much better, premature balding aside. [She smirks at Nathan, and pats his head.] You could check with the old merchant Bildrath, maybe he's got a hat you can barter for? I should check the other walls, quick, and make sure there's no rotters getting through. Make yerselves at home. [You would notice two structures have their front doors open within the barricaded square, "Bildrath's Mercantile" and the "Blood of the Vine" tavern. We can jump this along to a new thread where we can branch out and explore the town square and the various survivors a bit more openly.]