Party 17

Thorvir casts a glance over at Ismark, and then at his other companions. "I suppose we can talk to him for you. I presume we'll find young Milivoj out on the grounds of the graveyard." He sighs, and to no one in particular adds, "it seems our list of tasks keeps piling up, doesn't it?"
 
Magnus listens to the priest's dilemma and struggles to keep the smile on his face, nodding to Thorvir. "They seem to be. We should get around to actually completing some of them." He's weighing the possibility of yet another task getting in the way of their objective, when Ireena gives her thoughts about the plan. "Seeing that we've already almost died, I wouldn't call them wonderful adventures. And your brother is right, it will take no time to get all the answers we're looking for."
 
ismark.jpg"I don't like it myself, Ireena," Ismark says to his sister. "If you prefer, I will stay here with you if the Father will allow it. Or, you and I can set out together to find some better place beyond Vallaki. What I can't see doing though, is asking these people, new to our land, to accept the risk of continuing to travel with you, who are Strahd's target. Out in the wilderness, we'll be constant targets for the Count and his agents. Don't think for a minute he won't threaten them to get to you."
 
Despite a bit of awkwardness at the siblings' argument, Thorvir decides to intervene. He shifts in place for a moment, looking back and forth between the two, and then says, "We don't mean to cage you, Ireena. Your brother only wishes to keep you safe. I, for one, think that we are prepared enough for trouble to not have to warrant shutting either of you away - at least while we remain in civilized lands."

He gestures towards the exit and continues, "For now, we should try to cross off some items on our list. What say we head out to the graveyard?"
 
Kiv nods after Thorvir mentions their growing list of tasks.

"Yes, let's talk to the big lout and find this magic bone. It must be a powerful relic if it can keep Strahd at bay." He tugs uncomfortably at his armor. The lad was a big one. He could be trouble. A question was nagging at him, however, and he wanted an answer. While the siblings argued, he leaned in toward Magnus. "What is the girl's importance, anyway? Strahd seeks to possess her?"
 
"All Ismark told us was that Baron von Sunshine is interested in Ireena, for whatever unholy reason, and tried to get to her at their house. Twice." Magnus gets nervous and starts to fidget with his pan flute not even realizing he took it out of its holster. "Those visits stopped after their father's death, a few days before we left Barovia and encountered you by the road here. We have no idea if he's still after her. Better safe than sorry anyway."
 
Kiv steps up to the burly young man, nearly eye to eye with him. He couldn't imagine a worse job in this land than digging graves. He felt bad for this poor soul, but it was likely such a low position would reduce him to simple theft of such an apparently important artifact.

"What do you know about the saint's missing bone? Tell us what you did with it and we'll let you get back to your important work."
 
Magnus kindly pushes Kiv to the side, stepping in front of him. "Okay, pal, calm down. We are not judging you for what you've done to make ends meet, we've all been there. But, just as you got paid to get the bones, our job is to get 'em back. We thank you for your honesty." The half elf says calmly and flips two silver pieces to the man before turning back to the others. "I guess the guard was right after all, we need to pay a visit to the coffin maker!"
 
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ismark.jpg"I wonder if it will come as a surprise to Father Petrovich that this coffin maker is behind the theft," Ismark muses. "He must have some opinions about the man. I think the guard said his shop was nearby the city gate."
 
"Then lets go. The sooner we bring this to an end the better. We need to get back to our main task."

Rolax pauses and thinks for a moment "Although, I guess this is our main task. Chances are good that this Coffin Maker is working for Strahd, or at least being influenced by him. Why else steal these now?"

Grinding his teeth he mutters "Why must everything be layers upon layers?" He laughs and looks at the group. "I prefer solutions that my Axe can fix. But if we can do more good with words, then so be it."
 
Thorvir takes another look at the boy. He feels a measure of pity for the young gravedigger who already feels so much resentment towards the world. "You've done nothing wrong, boy," he states. "We need to get that bone back, but we won't implicate you or blame you for any of this."

He readies himself to leave. At his barbarian companion's comments, he chuckles, and adds, "Agreed. I've no love for mysteries like this. I'd take a bloodthirsty monster over a schemer any day."
 
ismark.jpg"No sir, I'm afraid that won't do at all," says Ismark through the closed door. "It's far too late for these denials and refusals. We are strangers in Vallaki, but we come on church business. I think you know of what I speak. The gravedigger gave you up with no trouble at all. Why not admit this scheme of yours is a botch and remit what has been stolen?"

"On the bright side, who are we six petitioners out here? Wanderers from elsewhere, mercenaries even! We don't care at all the reason for the theft, nor do we wish to exact vengeance. Our commission is merely to return the bones and be on our way. Compare this outlook to what will likely happen if we return empty-handed, with only the words, 'We could do nothing. The coffin maker is suspected, but has locked himself in his shop and refuses to cooperate.' Think then on what becomes of your reputation, your livelihood, your very life. Very well, if that's what you wish, it's much the same to us, but wouldn't you really rather we return with what we seek, and leave your name out of it entirely? That way, life can carry on as before."
 
Rolax pulls out his Axe and whispers to Ismark "We will give words ago first. But if it takes too long, I'm smashing the back door in."

He steps away from the group towards the side of the building. Standing in front of the door, he sets himself ready to hack at the door.
 
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Magnus waits to see if the coffin maker would respond to Ismark's words. After no answer is heard, he unholsters his pan flute and whispers to the others. "Let's scare him a little bit." He then mutters some arcane words, casting message, and pulls his flute up to his mouth whispering into it. "Oh, poor man, we know you're inside. Just let us in. Things will be quite hurtful for you otherwise..."
 
Diplomacy having failed, Kiv resorts to his old tried and true method, putting all his might into a blow that shatters the door. He walks right past the man without looking at him and starts for the stairs, then freezes, and turns back to him.

"Vampires? Downstairs? How many of them?" He looks from the coffinmaker to the others, hoping they had a better idea if this was a fight they could handle. "For what purpose did they seek the bones?"
 
Magnus skips a heartbeat as he hears about the visitors in the basement. "Shit, we should get out of here. Now." He smiles and touches his mask, approaching the grave digger still tightly holding his pan flute. "So, a big change of plans, ok?" He raises the flute and plays it close to the shopkeeper's face, purple smoke coming out together with the faint notes. "Buddy, you'll go up there and grab those bones, then you'll bring them to us. ok?"
 
Rolax had been ready to destroy the back door, his first swing did only superficial damage.
Hearing the front door smash down he went round to the front to hear the Coffin maker talk about Vampires.

"Vampires? Here? Fantastic... as soon as he gets the bones, we go back to the priest. I feel we are under equipped and prepared to handle them right now. " Raising his Axe and grinning. "Although it would be good to remove some heads from the necks of these pests"
 
Returning a few steps ahead of his companions, Thorvir bursts into the church. He's already mid-sentence as he clears the entryway and looks for the priest.

"Father Petrovich? Good news and bad. We found your bones... But we're going to need some backup."
 
ismark.jpg"Your coffin maker was behind this theft," says Ismark, "though he begs off responsibility, saying some vampires that have made their den in his workshop are the true instigators. I admit that in our haste to secure this relic, we did not confirm the man's tale. He represented his plans now as departing for an abbey of Saint Markovia, where he can perhaps be found in the future. So I ask, what now becomes of his shop, and the vampires contained therein?"
 
"Not only haste, but also the slight fear for our life", adds Magnus, "he said there were six vampires, if we went to check there's no guarantee we'd get back here in one piece. And I'm pretty sure getting my blood drained is not on my to-do list."
 
Rolax looks at the Altar boy "Ready to kill some Vampires lad?"

Turning to the group. "So, shall we head back to the coffin makers? I feel we are in for a rough time of it. Are we ready for a fight?"
 
Thorvir shoots a worried look around the room. "I've yet to face off against any vampires in my time, and I fear what they might do to us. Success is certainly no guarantee, and I doubt any guards will be able to take them alone."

His expression changes slightly - his furrowed brow sets, and he sighs deeply for a moment with closed eyelids before opening them once more. "But I don't think we can let them run amok in this town. If they decide to rampage and kill, it will, in some indirect way, be blood on our hands. So yes, I'm in. Lead the way, Rolax."
 
ismark.jpg"Now that the church is a safe haven where Ireena can stay for at least a while, I will return to that coffin workshop with the four of you, if that is what you wish. But is now the time to test our strength against Strahd and his kind, without first finding the "keys" Madame Eva foretold? In Barovia we've learned to live with terrors at our doorsteps. You might have to fight your instincts and do the same. If we set out to slay every one of Strahd's agents and minions, we might not live to face their master."
 
"I agree," Kiv says. "I'm not one to shy from a fight, but fighting these minions could bring the dread lord himself upon us." He sighs and looks to Ismark. "Assuming this old lady was telling the truth, if these items will help against Strahd, surely they'll help against his creations as well." He thinks of the dreariness of this town, this land, and shudders, an icy hand trailing up his spine. "Why anyone would stay in this awful place is beyond me. These monsters aren't exactly new arrivals, I take it. Still, if it's a fight the rest of you are after, I won't leave you to die on your own."
 
Magnus nods silently as they both speak. "I think getting the artifacts the fortune teller told us about might be our best play right now. I don't think we are ready to fight six vampires, regardless of how weak they might be." He walks over to Kiv and pats him on the shoulder. "For the same reason we don't leave this place, buddy. No one can find a way out apparently."
 
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