VII - False Prophet?

The others seem to be taken in by this trickstress and her street corner hustle. I am unwilling to abandon sense to the idea that our futures are cast by some drawing of cards. It also challenges credulity that we have all been drawn here to play some game or other at the behest of some entity that gets its pleasures from producing vague hints to suspiciously powerful artefacts with the capability to be his undoing. Why would such an entity not have rid the land of these items rather than risk their own destruction?

However, what I have seen of this land suggests I would do well to remain with the group for our mutual protection. Perhaps in time there will come a greater understanding of the game we are being forced to play. But for now we journey onwards towards Barovia village.

We are taken by wagon on the road to Barovia. And dropped off within walking distance of the village as the Vistani are not particularly welcome. They warn us cryptically not to worry about the ravens. Why is it no one can talk in straight sentences?

Not far along the road we encounter a dead body lying to the side of the road. In the trees around it are a number of ravens. The body has a letter from the Burgomaster of Barovia. 

Hail thee of might and valor:

I, the Burgomaster of Barovia, send you honor—with despair.

My adopted daughter, the fair Ireena Kolyana, has been these past nights bitten by a vampyr. For over four hundred years, this creature has drained the life blood of my people. Now, my dear Ireena languishes and dies from an unholy wound caused by this vile beast. He has become too powerful to conquer.

So I say to you, give us up for dead and encircle this land with the symbols of good. Let holy men call upon their power that the devil may be contained within the walls of weeping Barovia. Leave our sorrows to our graves, and save the world from this evil fate of ours.

There is much wealth entrapped in this community. Return for your reward after we are all departed for a better life.

Kolyan Indirovich

Burgomaster

Not knowing how this culture treat their dead we decide to carry the body back to Barovia for correct burial or cremation.

The Welcoming Vista of Barovia

As we reach the village we meet a far too delightful old lady selling pies at the extortionate price of one whole gold piece each! The others all buy a pie, I decline. The seller admits on questioning that the pies are imbued with magic that can impart peaceful dreams. The fact that the pies are laced with narcotics only seems to make the others more keen! 

We enter the local tavern. The barman either finished bottom of his class in customer service, or he is one of the soulless Barovians. Even telling the barman we found a dead body on the road and want to know where to take it for burial gets no response.

We meet a man called Ismark Indirovich - the burgomaster. His father the Burgomaster has recently died. Ismark confirms that the letter was not written by his father, it is a forgery. Comparing the letter to Strahd's letter from the Death House - They match!

Ismark tells us a story about a haunted house that seems to appear when strangers have come to Barovia - It seems this is the house of Death that I first encountered in this accursed land.

Ismark's sister Ireena is indeed ill having been bitten by Strahd. But no one knows why. His house has been under attack by wolves and other creatures every night for two weeks since Strahd bit Ireena - the stress is what caused his Father's heart attack. Somehow we volunteer for hole digging and cadaver movement duties.

We decide - as I had first advised - to visit the Church of Barovia. Father Donnovich.

Church of the Morning Lord - Inviting to all new worshippers

On entering the church we approach The Father and a scream eminates from under the church floor. "Father I am starving!".

The Father admits that he has locked as he has been bitten by a Vampyre and he is praying for him.

What is it with this whole place and its children?

We understand that the son may have been turned into a vampyre spawn - a condition which may be curable.

I would argue that no undead should be suffered to exist, but it seems my compatriots are more Liberal than I and make promises to return to help. Should the creature cause harm to anyone in the meantime then I fear my time with them may come to an abrupt end. 

This whole place is dysfunctional. The Father of the only church in town has no worshippers, their leader is dead and no one lifts a finger to help even with his funeral. The shadow of Strahd or perhaps more precisely the Fear of Strahd, lies deep across this entire Valley!

I find it confusing that the letter we now believe to be from Strahd seems to be written to specifically dissuade us from entering Barovia. Yet the more we learn, the more we believe we have been brought here and are being manipulated and played with. Mayhap this Strahd is nothing more than a bored child seeking playthings?

Laslow further postulates that the letter seems to be manipulating us towards Ismark. Perhaps this man is in league with Strahd. We determine to buy provisions - particularly to aid Laslow in gaining a spell that might aid us and head to the village's only shop.

We offer the shopkeeper the various items and equipment that the rest of the group have looted from our journey so far. In the hope of raising funds. I find the whole process vulgar and depressing so stay out of it. The shop keeper has little to no stock and his prices are ten times the norm. He has nothing we need.

I offer my coin purse to Laslow. The coin has no value but what it can buy, and in this case knowledge and ability is of far greater worth than trinkets. I am unsurprised that none other in the group match my gesture.

We continue to the Burgomasters house stopping at Gertruda's residence to return Lancelot. Her mother, Mary, depressed and sad beyond merely being distraught, tells us that her daughter broke out of the house and ran away a week ago. Judging by her journal Gertruda has a teenage infatuation with Strahd. She Also has a doll that bears the same label as the doll of rheuban. It bears the label "Is no fun Is no Blinksy." 

In questioning Mary I notice that she has two child beds and ask her about her other child she seems confused. By the looks of the clothes and toys it would seem that the other child is a boy. 

The children in this world are doing nothing more than strengthening my resolve to celibacy.

Yet again we make the offer to help where no one else does. At this rate we shall be so distracted from our main cause we shall die in Barovia - most likely of old age.

As we make it to the Burgomaster's Manor the destruction wrought on it by the continued night attacks by packs of wolves is evident. The place is run down and decayed. The muddy grounds are covered in paw prints and the house shutters and doors are deeply clawed.

Ismark introduces us to Ireena and I am surprised to see she seems in good health yet was bitten by a vampyre some weeks ago.

It seems we have many questions...