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]

[Just moments into their vigil, the sudden jarring noise of applause cuts through the air, echoing around the dank cellar. Strahd slowly walks forward, having appeared in the basement as if from out of nowhere.]

I knew you could get the job done, with the right... motivation. [Strahd stops clapping, and folds his arms, and stares at the altar.] I trust you don't intend to try anything foolish, now. We were just beginning to get along... [A wicked fanged grin cuts across his face.]

[somepagesturn]

[Paige's eyes snap open as she realizes they're not alone. She stands slowly, shielding the altar with her tiny body.]

We didn't do it for you.

[olreliable]

[gdi strahd. They didn't even have time to rest and regain spells. You're the worst.]

We did what you asked. Now help us find our friend.

[That was why they were doing this right???]

[autorevive]

Yeah! Fair is fair! [right....???]

[pickyourbattles]

As they say. [ aurelius eyes him nervously, one hand going to the hilt of his sword b/c he doesn't trust this cocksucker lbr ]

[count_strahd_von_zarovich]

[Strahd paces ominously for a moment...]

Of course. It would be rather uncouth to not uphold my end of the bargain.

[Strahd concentrates for a moment, and opens up a portal. The familiar black iron gates that bar the passage into and from Barovia are visible through the magical vortex.]

If you'd be so kind as to follow me... [And he strides through, arms folded.]

[pickyourbattles]

[ aurelius looks at the others, uncertainly. ] I don't see what choice we have. [ with a shrug, he turns to follow him through. ]

[autorevive]

[nathan shrugs and follows with a] I can't say I haven't done more arsebackwards shit than this.

[somepagesturn]

[PAIGE LOOKS LIKE SHE'D RATHER DO... ANYTHING BUT THAT, and keeps holding onto the Icon and looking at the altar like but... but... Ritual??? Until it occurs to her that this wasn't really what they were here for, and Dovan could die before they actually save Barovia, so... Into the portal she goes.]

[wanttobeahero]

[ Henry is...just as uncertain as Aurelius, but they'll do this as a team, like everything else they've done here. If one person goes, they all go. So, he steps through the portal as well. ]

[olreliable]

All for one, one for all. [Willow mutters as she brings up the rear.]

[count_strahd_von_zarovich]

[Strahd looks them over as they step out, seemingly amused. With a wave of his hand, the gates of Barovia groan open, and the strange mists that surround the place seem to stretch and grope their way out of the gate like large foggy tentacles.]

Your friend has been walking in circles in the mists for... quite a few days now. Nothing gets in or out of Barovia unless I will it, but I'll see to it that he stumbles across your path on your back home.

[somepagesturn]

[PAIGE LOOKS SO MORALLY OUTRAGED RIGHT NOW.]

So Dovan's been safe this whole time? [well. safe is relative in Barovia, but.]

[autorevive]

Safe except for his bloody hands!!

[count_strahd_von_zarovich]

[A wry smile crawls across Strahd's face.]

Actually those particular Dwarf hands belonged to an underling of mine named Varikov. You might recall barging into his home unannounced, and killing him. Useful, even in death, it seems.

Yes, Dovan is safe - though I would imagine quite frustrated and rather hungry.

[somepagesturn]

[Paige literally looks like she's going to scream and hurl herself at Strahd's throat at any moment, and the only thing stopping her from doing it is the fact that she doesn't want Strahd to murder anyone and also a 26 will save.]

Then this is good-bye. And, if you'll pardon me being extremely impolite, good riddance.

[pickyourbattles]

Wait. [ aurelius speaks up, looking troubled. he glances over at willow, before turning to strahd. ] My sister.

[olreliable]

[Willow moves over to Aurelius' side and gives him a little nod, trying to convey that she'll totally stay behind with him to find his sister if need be.

And to Strahd:]

She wasn't with the witches- so where is she?

[wanttobeahero]

[ What the hell, Strahd. But at least Dovan is safe. Mostly. He looks over at Aurelius silently, hoping for his sake his sister is safe and silently vowing to help in some way if he can. ]

[count_strahd_von_zarovich]

[Strahd's eyes narrow, almost imperceptibly, and he locks his gaze on Aurelius.]

Ireena is in good hands. No harm will come to her.

[His eyes widen, and his will presses down hard of Aurelius' mind, Will save DC20 vs dominate. This is a supernatural effect, so it doesn't give anyone clues as to what's happening]

You would be wise to forget about her, and leave this place, before I change my mind...

[With the slightest twitch of his wrist, the gates creak and groan - a reminder that he can snap them shut if it pleases him.]

[pickyourbattles]

[ oh my god he rolled a nat 20 i'm cry ] Yes, we should forget-- [ the moment where his mind fogs over breaks, and he shakes his head violently ] No. No I can't. [ he looks desperately back towards the gates, vacillating, and strahd's growing impatience seems to make one thing very clear – if they don't go now, they might never go back. ] I can't forget about her. But we... we have a duty to return. [ his eyes swing to the others and they can see how torn he is: staying could easily mean his death, and it very likely will mean never returning to their world and the knights again. But going means that he might lose this chance to help this woman who may or may not be his sister forever. He's clearly vacillating between the two options, and his eyes entreat them to try and sway him one way or the other. ]

[olreliable]

[Catching his gaze as he looks to each of them for guidance, Willow isn't sure which side she should stand on. This place is terrible, and Strahd wouldn't allow them to live. If they escaped him now and chose to remain, it would be a life constantly on the run. But she knows how important saving his sister is. How could she ask him to abandon that?

Reaching down, she takes his hand- the one not holding onto that wand and gives it a small squeeze.]

We do have a duty. And...resources. [Look she doesn't want to say they can find a way back while the asshole is standing right here, but she can try to imply it for Aurelius. She would work day and night with him to find a way back. Wynn would find it a worthy cause, she thinks. Knightly backing on this one would be great to have.]

[somepagesturn]

Aurelius, please... [Paige follows Willow's line of thinking with her... nat 20 wis lol good job Paige.]

[pickyourbattles]

[ he looks between the both of them, seeing their reasoning, and they can tell that they're swaying him. still, he glances at the others as well, to see what the other dudes think. ]

[count_strahd_von_zarovich]

[Strahd folds his arms. "This spineless little wretch has more willpower than expected. Troubling." He thinks.]

It seems that, once again, I have failed to properly motivate you. Why don't we try it this way - Kavan!

[And a wisp of gaseous fog roils in, and takes form - a bestial, savage looking vampire. Yet with a glint of unnatural cunning in his eyes.]

Allow me to introduce Kavan. The culmination of my efforts to build a better Vampyr. Blood of the ancient Noferatu, a dash of my essence; all of the strengths of a Vampyr, and none of the vulnerability. Infused with the necromantic curse I was able to test on that priest's son. Kavan is an engine of destruction. And he is just the first of many.

[He breaks away from fawning over his creation to wheel back towards the party.]

You have performed admirably in removing the one threat to my machinations. But now you have me troubled. Kavan, go forth and take stock of these "Resources."

[And in an instant, the silent brute discorporates back into fog, and surges forward out of the gates...]

[Strahd faces them, with a large fanged grin on his smug face.]

Somebody should probably warn someone about him.