TOPIC: Meet at the Inn

To a party of seasoned adventurers such as yourselves, this is
but another dull tavern in another dull town in some nameless
province. It is but another passage of time between the challenges
of true adventuring. Such is the doldrum of existence
—waiting for another opportunity.

Outside the Inn, a fog lies over the town this evening,
draping everything in its clammy grasp. The damp cobbled
street shines as the light of street lanterns dances across the slick
stones. The cold fog chills the bones and shivers the soul of
anyone outside.

Yet inside these tavern walls the food is hearty and the ale is
warm and frothy. A fire blazes in the hearth and the tavern is
alive with the tumbling voices of country folk.

Suddenly, a hush falls over the tavern. Even the flagons of
ale seem to silence themselves. The tavern door swings open.
Framed by the lamp-lit fog, a form strides into the room. His
heavy, booted footfalls and the jingle of his coins shatter the
silence. His brightly colored clothes are draped in loose folds
about him and his hat hangs askew, hiding his eyes in shadows.
Without hesitation, he walks directly up to your table and
stands proudly in a wide stance with folded arms.

His accented voice speaks, "I have been sent to you to deliver
this message! If you be creatures of honor, you will come to my
master's aid at first light. It is not advisable to travel the Svalich
woods at night!" He pulls from his tunic a sealed letter,
addressed to all of you in beautiful flowing script. He drops the
letter on the table. "Take the west road from here some five
hours march down through the Svalich woods. There you will
find my master in Barovia."

Amid the continued silent stares of the patronage, the gypsy
strides to the bar and says to the wary barkeeper, "Fill the
glasses, one and all. Their throats are obviously parched." He
drops a purse heavy with gold on the bar. With that, he leaves.
The babble of tavern voices resumes, although somewhat
subdued. The letter is lying before you. Dated yesterday, the ink
is still not dry and the parchment is crisp. The seal is of a crest
you don't recognize.


What do you do?



Character thread:
truedungeon.com/forum?func=view&catid=8&id=164923

Castle Ravenloft Map:
i967.photobucket.com/albums/ae159/paulmiszczak/misc/floor1_zps3cfa1045.jpg

Second floor
i967.photobucket.com/albums/ae159/paulmiszczak/floor2_zps595cf1d5.jpg

The catacombs
i967.photobucket.com/albums/ae159/paulmiszczak/cats_zpsca49b0b3.jpg

I turn to my friends at the table and ask, "If it is so dangerous to travel the woods at night how did he come here and when. Is it not night now and is he not leaving to traverse the woods again? Ah, but then again my friends you all know by now the suspicions that run through this Paladin's mind."

I snicker, replying "Suspicions? Paranoia is more like it. Not every shadow hides a fiend, my friend." I reach for the letter, break the seal, and begin to read aloud to the group.

If this is anything like my games the quest giver is already on the floor bleeding thanks to our Rogue. Hope he was carrying doccumentation on the quest otherwise we are going to drink mountain dew for 8 hours and shoot magic missles into the darkness... le sigh.

SageSTL wrote: I reach for the letter, break the seal, and begin to read aloud to the group.

The letter reads as follows


Hail to thee of might and valor:
I, a lowly servant of the township of Barovia, send honor to
thee. We plead for thy so desperately needed assistance within
our community.

The love of my life, Ireena Kolyana, has been afflicted by an
evil so deadly that even the good people of our town cannot
protect her. She languishes from her wound and I would have
her saved from this menace.

There is much wealth in this community. I offer all that
might be had to thee and thy fellows if thou shah but answer my
desperate plea.

Come quickly for her time is at hand! All that I have shall be
thine!

Kolyan Indrirovich,
Burgomaster

I 'whisper' (loud enough to be overheard) to another friend at the table, "Sure, paranoia. It was just such paranoia that pulled his ass out of the fire in the Caves of J'nogith." and then go back to listening with a smile.

"Something is strange about that seal, let me see that letter a moment if you would."

Examines seal closely.

cdsmith wrote: "Something is strange about that seal, let me see that letter a moment if you would."

Examines seal closely.

The dark red wax of the seal is cool to the touch and bears the mark of a Burgomaster's seal as you would expect but upon closer inspection a subtle but all to familiar sent of decay can be detected on the item. Bringing the wax disk closer to the candle light your suspicions are confirmed. If appears as if there was a good deal of blood on the seal when it was last used and some trace amounts have become lodged in the wax.

I relay the information to the table and add, "So much for paranoia eh?" I sit back and wait to see what the other adventurers have to say about our situation.

OOC: It is a good idea in these adventure to state your class in your first post so we know what you are playing. Also trying to not get to far ahead before the rest of our party notices and joins in, whomever they may be. Thus the waiting for comments.

Barkley absentmindedly traces the curves of his greater holy symbol.

"Clearly there we are being taken for fools. Just as clearly, we cannot turn our backs when the blood of innocents has been shed. May Pelor bless us all."

"Besides," he thinks, "between defeating this evil and making a sizable donation to the temple thereafter, my advance through the hierarchy may be more rapid."

Kryndal says, "One way or another, this is worth investigating. If there truly is a "great evil," and the request is legitimate, then there's an opportunity for us to help those in need. But if this is some sort of trap, or if there's an attempt at deception--we're best off finding out what's going on, as we were targeted so specifically with this message..."


(OOC: Ranger here...)

Looking around for the Bard, "Where the heck did our Bard get off too now?!? Probably fraternizing with a local again. Not sure if this blood on and in the seal is human or not."

Sighs, "I guess if there is yet another 'great evil' it will be our honor and Pelor's glory (sotto voce) may he bit my... I know Pelor never gives us more than we can handle but sometime I really wish he had a tad less faith in us. I Delmar, shall remain Pelor's faithful servant even unto death I suppose."