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]

Oh god... [Willow backs up, horrified.]

Is that..? I mean, it might not be... Right??

[somepagesturn]

[Paige has been clinging to her silver harp ever since Strahd almost made her lose it, so she's all but digging it into her flesh as she leans over the box.] Well, they're... definitely dwarf hands.

[She cringes.] Sweet Milil, he did invite me down to the dungeons and I told him no. For all I know, that's what he wanted me to see. I shouldn't have panicked.

[autorevive]

Don't be too hard on yourself, love, we could be lookin' at your hands, too.

[olreliable]

Exactly. [Agreeing with Nathan is weird. But Willow is not okay with Paige taking any guilt for this whole fucked up situation.] When the creepy vampire invites you to the dungeon? You say no. Every time.

We just... we need to try to figure out how to get to Dovan before this gets any worse.

[Aggressively believes he's still alive!!]

[somepagesturn]

Well, we have Strahd's... diary now. It ought to give us a place to start. [She still looks crestfallen.] We're not gonna be able to complete all these rituals with him in the castle, so we need something else to take him down a peg. And, honestly, going to the witches and hoping they can distract him a little while seems like a last resort plan.

[pickyourbattles]

It's not entirely a bad one either. There must be a reason that Strahd isn't taking them on himself.

[autorevive]

[100% serious] Maybe he's afraid they'll turn him into a bat. You know witches.

[somepagesturn]

[Paige looks at Aurelius, since... he's 85% why she figured it was a last resort.] So long as they don't succeed in their plans either, I guess it wouldn't hurt to pay them a visit... This all just seems so backhanded.

[hahahaha horrible pun unintended. she glances at DOVAN'S FUCKING HANDS.] But he did lie to us.

[olreliable]

Maybe they'll side with us and help us deal with him? [NOT ALL WITCHES ARE BAD WITCHES OKAY.]

Either way, it's probably better if we head that way before he gets any more angry.

[pickyourbattles]

We need to make certain that Ireena's going to be safe.

[wanttobeahero]

[ It's all horrifying, and Henry just keeps hoping they'll find Dovan all in one piece. :( ]

Yeah, I agree.

[olreliable]

I guess we just... should head for the witches, then.

[count_strahd_von_zarovich]

[They can take some time to prepare before leaving town. Small Recap: Reviewing the Tome of Strahd reveals to them that Strahd is immune to daylight due to some artifact referred to as "The Dayheart" No other details are provided. They also learn of his three wilderness fanes - originally sites holy to saints Bogdan, Markovia, and Ecaterine - fouled by Strahd and bent to his will. This also teaches them how to purify these places, and claim them as their own, though no clues are provided as to the whereabouts aside from the names "Mountain, Forest, and Swamp."]

[It is noteworthy that Lysaga Hill, the location of the coven which Strahd wants you to wipe out, is in the mountainous region of Barovia - so they should keep their eyes peeled for anything looking like an old shrine while there.]

[They can visit Bildrath's Mercantile before they depart, if they wish to sell some excess equipment, or purchase some new gear. I'll list the stock here, he's willing to barter. Anything you want to sell is worth 50% of the purchase price (So, +1 Silver Longswords for instance would sell for about 1,200 Gold Pieces) I'll also make a Plurk where we can discuss minutiae.]

- Chain Shirt (+1 armor) (1250 gp) This ornate armor once belonged to the human ranger Gery Sone, leader of the Iron Council.

- Necklace of Fireballs (type I) (1650 gp) This distinctive item was taken from the hoard of the dragon Sadukasz.

- Wand of Scorching Ray (20 Charges) (1800 gp) This thin hawthorn wand once belonged to the elf alchemist Marielye, leader of the Emerald Wolves.

- Philter of Love (3000 gp) The corked bottle is engraved with several lewd displays.

- Potion of Sanctuary (50 gp) This clear admixture smells salty.

- Ring of Feather Falling (2200 gp) This gold ring was taken from the crypt of the lich Theodaba.

- Potion of Cat's Grace (300 gp) This swirling admixture smells metallic.

- Potion of Endure Elements (50 gp) A bubbling green liquid, contained in a cylindrical flask with a glass stopper.

- Potion of Enlarge Person (50 gp) A luminous potion, contained in a battered flask with a porcelain stopper.

- Potion of Enlarge Person (50 gp) A swirling ruby ichor, contained in a fragile flask etched with arcane runes.

- Potion of Guidance (25 gp) This watery indigo elixir causes a warm sensation when used.

- Potion of Shield of Faith (50 gp) This silver ichor smells like mint.

- Lesser Prayer Beads (9,600 gp) This finely crafted item was created by a goddess of light for her most loyal champion.

[count_strahd_von_zarovich]

Recap - Loot you people's got for bartering:

3x +1 Silver Short Swords (Worth ~1,200 GP Each) [From Sir Urik]
3x +1 Silver Daggers (Worth ~1,200 GP Each) [From Sir Urik]
1x Mundane Half-Plate Armor (~300 GP) [From Thendrick & Mathilda's remains in the old Church]
1x +1 Chainmail (Worth ~600 GP) [From Thendrick & Mathilda's remains in the old Church]
1x +2 Greatsword (Worth ~2,200 GP) [From Thendrick & Mathilda's remains in the old Church]
1x +2 Chain Shirt (Worth ~1,200 GP) [From the crazed dwarf Varikov the Trapper]
1x +1 Dwarven Waraxe (Worth ~1,200 GP) [From the crazed dwarf Varikov the Trapper]

So, depending on what the party wishes to barter with, and depending on Diplomacy or Appraise checks (Haggling is totally a viable option) you've got potentially up to about 12k gold worth of loot at the moment.

[pickyourbattles]

[ aurelius got a whole 14 diplomacy check to try and haggle, in other words, he'll be paying full price today. BUT HE WANTS THE WAND OF SCORCHING RAY PLZ and a potion of shield of faith. ]

[olreliable]

[Willow only got a 15 on her diplomacy so she's only slightly more charming that Aurelius :/ That necklace of fireballs looks swell, though. She would like that. And the potion of Sanctuary.]

[autorevive]

[meanwhile, this guy...] I don't suppose you've got any fancy hats back there, do ya? I'm building a collection.

[wanttobeahero]

[ Well, Henry's diplomacy check of 5 is the worst of the bunch. :| But he would still like the Chain Shirt and Potion of Guidance if possible. ]

[count_strahd_von_zarovich]

[Well, you lot have more than enough spare magical equipment to trade for all of that, so despite your less than stellar haggling skills, you manage to all leave happy. Even Nathan, as Bildrath throws in a dusty old Fez. It's not magical, but it does give Nathan a +2 to looking distinguished -or- a +2 to looking like a complete idiot: Depends on who's looking.]

[And with that, they can set off after a night's rest, fully stocked and equipped to deal with the Witches of Lysaga Hill. It's about a day's trip, mostly off the beaten path. All the while during their trip, they are constantly aware of the oppressive nature of Strahd's clutch on the land. What had previously been just a general eerie discomfort, or momentary sensation of feeling watched, takes on a whole new level of discomfort. Regularly a murder of crows flies lazily overhead, replaced by bats after dusk. Wolves and eerie humanoid forms appear at the edges of thickets, and watch them, retreating slowly when noticed or called at. None of the agents of Strahd move to harm or hinder you, however, and the journey is otherwise simple.]

[Shorty after nightfall, you come upon a burned-out tower. It is merely a husk of a building, with only three portions of the outer wall yet standing, and only just about 20 feet from the ground. Within, some shorter walls reach 10 feet, remnants of the interior walls of the first floor, delineating the chambers of this ancient site, while piles of rubble choke much of the open space. Among the ruins, several figures shrouded in dark cloaks stand around a bonfire blazing an unearthly green fire. A many-pointed star is traced betwixt them on the earth, glowing with green powder. The air above the fire cracks, and seems... thin somehow. The witches are guided by a deep gravelly voice, coming from a hulking monstrosity that sits bound nearby in a runic circle - an Aspect of Chernovog, called to assist them in opening the rift to the Abyss...]

[somepagesturn]

[Paige has been the idiot who probably tried shouting at all the agents of Strahd following them in order to shoo them away, but once that proves to be a fruitless effort, she gives up and sticks close to the rest of the party, looking fretful and anxious. Upon their arrival, her eyes light upon the monstrosity and she grabs her pin tightly in her hand, expression stricken.]

Well... This is happening, isn't it? [hahahaha why.]

[pickyourbattles]

[ aurelius' attention is definitely drawn by that fiendish looking creature. in kol-world, i count anything abyss/hell related as knowledge: religion, and he got a 30, so maybe that tells him something??? he puts a hand on willow's arm, to stay her from getting any closer yet. ]

[olreliable]

[Willow keeps back at Aurelius' warning, but is ready to jump in and get into some shit if need be. She doesn't like the idea of fighting witches but this place is sort of all crazy evil. She's still hoping they can convince the witches to work with them but she...will keep those thoughts to herself for now.]

[autorevive]

[meanwhile ... nathan is trying to get his fez to sit on his head just right. at least he remembers to whisper??] D'ya think I look more Jewish or more like Aladdin? I can't decide.

[count_strahd_von_zarovich]

[Aurelius would have heard very little about Chernovog, though simply due to there being very little to know. Only a few documents even mention him; an old Slavic deity whose name literally translates to "The black god." The documents detail how the people would pass a bowl, and spit curses and epithets to Chernovog in ceremony, but little else is recorded. Also, he was in Disney's Fantasia, as a manifestation of pure evil. So there's that.]

[Aurelius would also notice, due to his close inspection, that the horrible form of the demon is wavering and inconsistent - for now he remains merely a projection, issuing commands to the coven, until they can tear a hole through reality for him to crawl through...]

[pickyourbattles]

[ ignoring nathan entirely, aurelius whispers fiercely: ] They're... they're trying to rip a hole open to the hell dimension that creature hails from, to set it free, no doubt. If we allow them to succeed, there's no telling what evil that thing might bring to this land. [ the other part goes unspoken, but is clear in his voice - he's rather doubtful that they could fight that thing, either. ] We have to stop them.