Legends of Avantris - Curse of Strahdanya | Ep. 17 | Fallen From Grace: Part 2

Episode Date: July 29, 2025

Something is not quite right about the Abbey of Saint Markovia, and the Azran Expedition must find a lost friend amongst the bizarre creatures that live there.    Gain access to an exclusive campaign, Shroud Over Saltmarsh, over on Patreon: https://legendsofavantris.com/patreon The Crooked Moon, a folk horror supplement for 5e, is available for preorder! Get the Crooked Moon at: https://thecrookedmoon.com/ Watch more D&D adventures in the world of Avantris live on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/legendsofavantris Check out our merch store: https://shop.legendsofavantris.com  Join our community on Discord: https://legendsofavantris.com/discord Watch our many campaigns on YouTube: https://legendsofavantris.com/youtube  All other links: https://linktr.ee/legendsofavantris   Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/s9IBS60dSrY?si=l8APSihKTfGDYREu

You're in the Vestani camp and listening to Curse of Stradania, a legend of a ventress podcast. Last time, these so-called heroes realized they were not as brave as they thought, and fled Bres and its hideous hag ruler to return to the relative safety of Volaki. They then rescued a small Vistani girl from a watery doom, and upon returning her to her people, it was revealed that little Arubel is a relative of Madame Eba, and me. This episode is brought to you by our generous supporters on Patreon. You can become a Patreon yourself by following the link in the show notes. We are eternally grateful for your support.

With that out of the way, let us proceed with the conclusion of Chapter 8, fallen from grace. You wake up to find yourselves in the Mastani camp outside of the loft. the sounds of people moving about getting wagons hitched is loud here. And you listen a little longer and you can hear that there are quite a few wagons rolling away. Because you slowly make your way out of the camp, you begin to look around and you see that the amount of Australia that had been here the night before now on their way down the road, cart after cart, heading this way and that you see as they,

veer off from each other. They all seem to have their own task at hand. And you are left. Not alone. There are a few Missani women around cooking and cleaning things up. A few men cooking and cleaning as well, helping their drunken brothers who are still feeling the effects of last night finally make their way to bed. But who your eyes linger towards are Ergovosh and Argo. They sit around the fire. you watch as Aragal is playing some game with Arabel's feet where he wiggles her toes and eventually tickles her and she giggles and her father holds her on his lap and they seem to be happy

is this after a longress? Yes. Should we pack up and let them know about the rug? I think it couldn't hurt to ask. I don't think there's anything nefarious. going on. I just want to know what they think. I'm curious how they come upon these treasures and fill these wagons. And we need our gold back. So yes.

Let's go. Say good morning. As you approach, Lubas notices you first. He moves Arabel off of his lap and places her next to her uncle. She's wrapped in whatever adventure her uncle is telling her about.

He makes his way towards you. Well, I hope that you slept well. Good morning. Yeah, we did. Thank you. Well, enough. Thank you for Housewitz. Well, as you requested, and he throws four sacks brimming with gold, some heavier than others, directly towards you. You're welcome to count it, but I've counted it three times. Well, we trust it.

And we'll make sure something of this nature does not happen again. I appreciate you. Thank you. I believe we should mention something before we go. Oh, yes. I did speak with Errol, and he is not a fan of you traveling alone with our bell. He's a lover protective uncle, but we had a long talk, and he agrees with me that it is time that she sees her gravel on. So, when you are ready, we will allow you to paper in your talking about.

Oh, that's wonderful. Yes, once we are able to, after we take care of this business, we may be making our way in that direction anyway, so yes, we would love to take her to Adam Eval. You'll be on your way then. Yes, we'll be leaving, but before we go,

we need to let you know that in the treasure wagon that we chose and unlocked, there was a rug. Congratulations. That was enchanted by a scrying style. You don't say. Does that sound familiar, correct you? What did the rug look like?

It had unicorns or something. Yes. You see, about a week ago, right after the death, the Burkomaster, in Arobia, we purchased a few things from his son. That was one of the purchases we made. It is a beautiful silver thread. I believe he said that it had been in the room of his sister. Of course it was.

All right. That explains everything. Thank you for letting us know. I took care of the magic spelled, and no one shall be spying on you any longer. For your full awareness, the Countess herself was the individual of the other end of that spell.

Well, she would find nothing here that would be important to her, I would guess. That was Shepard's deduction as well. There's nothing quite as dreary as the inside of a locked wagon. Yes. other than she may know that you were here. Hopefully that...

If you think she didn't know you were here, you haven't been paying attention. We have been... I have one personal request. The coins that I have procured as part of my payment. I had little need for. I was wondering, do you have valuable diamonds I could exchange the gold for?

You would have to look. it would be a great help to me I found myself recently wishing I had spent the time to find such diamonds and was only through the divine providence

of the fire lord Garrix that I was able to cast the magic I needed How many diamonds are you looking for? How many gold did we each receive? Did anyone math that out? I can pay for it. I didn't map it out

But I have all the currency, so we could... Three would be idea. Three worth hammer. $1,500 total. It could have a gold. Lots of diamonds. Yes, we can afford a three diamond. Well, I will give me a moment.

I will check the ledger and see what we have. I'll be back with you shortly. Is that the only request before you win? Yes, I believe. Yes. he turns and kind of glances over all of you and shakes his head, but he seems happy as he makes his way back towards the largest tent to the very top of this hill. And as he walks past, you see Arabel turn to look at him and her eyes catch on all of you. Oh, you're a fake. Where are we going today?

She scampers over to you, leaving her uncle sitting there by the fire. He watches you, but he makes no move to come over. You are staying here, child Why would I stay here? Because it is safe and there are no kidnapping drunks here. Well, he was nothing. You saw the way I beat him to a bloody pulp. After he was...

Alive and felt? What are you talking about? We were obviously not looking at the same place. Come on, Sarnaz. She did a good job. But you were not in the depths where she was thrown, Sheppel. I could have easily killed him. I had the dagger in my hand and I

because I had overpowered him with pure raw strength. You did what she had to do, and we appreciate, but the point still stands as Sarnax is right. Things are much safer here in camp than going out on the world with us. Not because you've never traveled with me. That's true. We haven't had that opportunity very often. Well, I believe hopefully one day in the future, we will have that opportunity. Yes.

Today's not that day. Then where are you going to take me and when? Well, I'm just... I'm just, uh, hypothesizing. And feel free to speak to your... Oh, no, what's that on your hand? She reaches out and grabs your hand. Her eyes go back.

Okay, you're not lying. Bye them. I see. Well, you just got dup. You're powerful. Indeed. If you know, Vande, you might be a quarter as good at telling the future as I am. And she winks at you and walks past.

I frankly doubt that to try. He is indeed powerful. Do I see Argy? Argyl? Yeah, he's still just sitting there, just watching. I want to walk up to him, approach him if he's still sitting by himself while they're talking

and give him a half bow and say, Argo, I don't think we've had a moment to introduce ourselves. That is true. If I wanted to know who you are, I would have asked. Understandable? Well, I just want to... You may have the ear of my brother, but I don't trust anyone who's not mistaken.

What would it take to earn the respect of a man as great as yourself? You know not my greatness. What do you want my respect for? I know that you... Be happy that your head is not on a pike. Be happy I'm not collecting the gold that was the bounty. for you, for all of you. It's one for that little girl.

I would have, and I would have batted an eye. Well, I hope that we can earn your respect in time. I'm sorry if I have disrespected you and you may, and not me to interrupt. But I just wanted to thank you

for allowing us to stay here in your camp. You are welcome for your life. I just smile at him and bowed my head. he watches you. He watches all of you, but he says nothing more. Did we, did he ever catch me that? I was doubt it.

They were far enough away, and you're talking to Arabel. I would say you could easily tell that he would not have been talking to you, like that had Arabel been next to you. But with her further away, he was more of himself than he would have been willing to be. Gotcha. So we've got quite the day ahead of us. What do you think? Yes, what do you think?

We see a wave from the water. That is a good idea he might drown. That's fine. We can talk about that, I suppose, but there shouldn't be any reason for us to go back out there. No. I say we... You weren't very good at steering that boat.

Take the woods to the edge of the lake. Well, you might want to be careful in the woods because the mad mage might get here. So I think if we're going to go, well, where are we going? What are you still doing here? You're supposed to go find your file. No, I know where he is. Go, and we'll come back and tell you... Why are you telling me this is my home, not yours?

We're leaving, and you're saying. But you could have breakfast first? We could if we got time for that, I guess. Look, we're going to go do some stuff. We'll come back with some great stories. I just don't know what you're doing. We don't even know yet. Maybe the professor knows he's our leader, he's in charge.

We're figuring it out. I'm trying to help you. I know, and you're being very helpful. I know, you were going to go through the woods, and that would have been so bad. We're looking for a friend. Who? An entertaining man with a monkey.

Do you mean Mr. Blinsky? Well, do you know, Octavia? Do you mean the carnival man? Yes. Yes, him. Okay. We're looking for him. I know what he is.

Where? He is in the old Wizard's Tower, cross Lake Baratok. So we're sure. We're sure that's where it is. Are you questioning me? No, I mean, the other day, you couldn't remember whether it was which, which, which lake it was. We were going to check, remember? Which Wizards Tower are you talking about?

I'm not talking about the Mad Nages Tower. I'm not talking about the Wizards Tower. Well, see, now this is very helpful information. Well, if you asked the proper questions, I would be able to answer them. I don't have any proper question. That's the first problem. There are two Wizards Towers each on a lake. You approach Kahn at this point.

She reaches up her hand and she grabs. her eyes do not change. He is mean to everyone. It's not just you, okay? I give her hand a squeeze. You pride. What does your uncle like?

Maybe I can earn his respect. Oh, no, good luck. Owned my beds. And then maybe his will come, but he's... I love him. She just kind of gives you a smile. Like she knows he's a crotchy old, you know,

bastard, but she loves them. No, no, no need to feel bad. He has much to worry about in these forsaken lands, and I think he's just happy that you are homesick. Yes, and he likes money a lot. So, I think he might have dropped him. So, yes, so we're going to Lake Bear talk,

and then we're going to walk across the little land bridge, and they're going to get to the tower, and then... We are. You can't come with us. But I could help you. I know, and you've been... more help than you can possibly imagine already. But what if one of you makes a bad choice? And then all of a sudden,

your futures change, and I don't tell you what's going to happen. When we just will just have to survive and come back, so you can tell us. If we've changed anything, you can let us know. We're going to come back. You still owe me that card reading. You have to be alive for me to do it.

We will. Nothing's gotten us yet, and I don't intend on dime anytime soon. That's what they all say. and then they die. Parabelle, you said late Baratok. Is you for certain that's where the mad mages? Even she questions me.

I see it. We're all just a little slow, is the problem. I've never been there myself before, but it is more littlerous than the big lake. And that's where the mad mages? No. No, she's saying that that's where... There is a wizard tower there.

And he goes there. Thank you. You saved quite a bit of time. I did? Yes, you did. Oh, great. They didn't take me with you. Okay, I'm going to go get my back.

No, no, no. You need to stay safe. This could be very dangerous. We could come get you. I could like he kick a bad thing if it was mean. No. That will help. I've got a rope.

I think we'd all feel more comfortable if you were traveling with us, but your poor father's, you can't leave him now. He needs you. That's a great point. Great point, Ms. Dior. I guess that's true because if I believe, then my uncle who is mad all the time will not be attention, and then my dad could get captured to buy a drunk. Great point.

So you got to stay here and do your bar. How does the child protect the-the-lawful? I like step on his foot. What did it mean how to protect me, father? You saw the way I beat up that drunk. I just punched him in the face. I literally covered him. I'm going to cover parties with my hand.

Like, stop him. It's going to be fine. No, you're going to do your part, and you're going to protect the camp until we return. I know. I will do it. I want to look over my shoulder and see if Argo is still watching this. He's still watching you.

The only time he smiles is when he sees the passion flare up in Aramel. Well, we appreciate your gumption, but your skills are needed here, and we will be back. So. Okay, fine. It looks like my dad's coming out of his tent now, so I will go. All right. Be good.

But come back and you will take me to see Madame Eva. Yes, we will. I cannot wait for that. She turns around and you immediately hear her, Uncle, you do not be a jackass to my friends. Do you understand me? And she's so stomping straight towards it. I heard you.

I knew you were going to say that and I hoped you would not. And you see him kind of mutter. roll his eyes as he picks her up and puts her down on the seat and they begin to talk. But he sees he looks over you and he doesn't smile. His face doesn't crack at all, but he watches each one of you slowly. Before glancing at his brother, who he gives a nod to, a solemn nod, almost an answer to a question you don't know that was asked. Louvosh walks towards you as Argyll picks up Arabelle and begins to head with

towards the tent. Goodbye, friends. See you soon. Don't die. He looks at you. Well, this is for you. Three. The gold. Oh.

Thank you. I will trust you. I will not count it here. But should you, they pull the fast one on me. You will pay. We're not those kind of people. Especially not Professor Azra. I believe this. We only strive to

to maintain your respect. I assure you it, it is all orderly, and I want to thank you again for your hospitality last night. It was much needed, especially after everything. You are welcome here anytime you need. Thank you. Forgotless of what he says. Yes, well, we should get on my way.

This won't be the last you see him. And stay safe. You'll be safe journey. Thank you. We will. Thank you very much for these. Not possible. Part of curiosity.

Well, thank you. It's been lovely. And, uh, just stay here. I feel. You as well. I'll turn and start to walk back towards Milwaukee. And, uh... Do we know how far this silver lake is?

Uh, I believe looking at the map. It will definitely take some time to get there, but I'm glad that she told us because we would have wasted quite a bit of time walking all the way around Lake Zorovic. Now, I agree. But maybe something we... keep in the back of our minds. I would like to check out any kind of, I know it seems far-fetched, some ghost wizard living off mad mage living in the woods coming as some giant elk or something, but it might not be the end of the world to check it out at some point. Not now, but you never know

when we might need another lead. Yes, yes, I agree. I think there's nothing too far-fetched in the sleigh. Exactly at my point. Thank you, Mr. Jorri. Yes. So if he could be an ally, clearly, at least at one time, fought against the countess. And for now, I just want to hear what Bamrick did ask to say to us. Yes, I agree. So I just have one question. Shoot. How can a tiny child protect her father from the...

Sorry, next. The brigands that had... We were plagiar. We were plagating her, all right? She's very powerful. There's no doubt about that. But we need come back. We were making up an excuse as to why she could not join us.

We didn't want to disappoint her, and we didn't want to... We're trying to let her down softly. Deception and lies, who pleading the child. White lies. Well done. Little white lies. No, we're not telling big lies. It was just enough to just put her at ease.

The white's a I see. We don't want to, bring her into danger, I'm willing. You think the child is sworn to have to have a preferred. I think so. Perhaps she'd not seen the Lord of suspicion. Perhaps. Perhaps. I find myself.

and please be curious how much you were like I frankly don't recall if we don't mind I would like to stop and see the children and it's not too far out of the way you tell me I'm not opposed as long I don't know how long it's going to take as all if we're in a hurry

How has it been since we've seen them? We haven't been back since that's been back to us. Yeah, it's been like four four days or something I'm... You know, I feel about it. I just don't want to miss... And the best thing has already happened while during this time. I want to miss Van Rik too as all.

I can't shake the feeling of the fortune that that child read that something was coming. Something dark with fangs. I just... It feels like danger's coming, and I would like at least to confirm, especially with what we learned about the rug. I just get a bad feeling that things are going to get bad, especially with Trudanya having to leave on business. It's just, professor, we should take great solace

that the doom that the prophecy spoke of was for you, yourself. Yes. Well, Sarnax up, boy. It was for me alone. And not for the children. That's right. That's right.

You are the one who is doomed. I don't know. That is my understanding of the prophecy. And perhaps that was what, maybe that was Shradan. his business is to come from me in the night. Other way, I would like to stop by and just check in. We haven't seen them in days, and now

that this is quite a bit of a jaunt from Velaki. Yes, agree. All right, we'll go stop by. As long as we make haste, it's not an issue. We've got all the time we need. We just don't want to miss family. That's all I'm saying.

I agree. So we will go back. You make your way, you make your way back. towards the gates of Balaqui. They open without a word from the guards. You seem to let you in. You know, the church is very close to this exit out of town,

and you make your way quickly towards it, walking up the steps, opening the large arched wooden door as you enter in to the cavernous church before you. Uh, hello? Is anyone there? It takes a moment that you hear the shutting of a door. Father Lucian wandering towards him. He has books and his own.

Oh, well, it has been some time. Do you have another child for me? It's not his voice, but it is right now. We nearly did. But thankfully, you know. Thank God. How has things been? Things have been that things should be.

These children are doing well. They are learning. Oh, that's great. Both play. It's been appropriate. Good. And festival that passed by without incident. Well, it was not without incident.

Some drunk Munzi Bergamaster, and it was a horrible show. The children found it quite funny. We heard. The children found it funny. They thought it was hilarious. Not to the church. All we did was dropped the drunk off.

We didn't go to the church. The burger, the burger, like, Burgo master. Burney Master. The old burger monster. Yeah. But he is in the loggie, right? Yes.

Oh, yeah. Okay. I wasn't sure if you had this. We've been back to the Lockhart. We just didn't, we didn't go see this. Too much at the church. Well, I'm glad the children found humor in the situation. Hopefully they even calls too much of a ruckus, but...

No, they're very well-behaved. I probably would have laughed, too. They appreciated the toys who had said for them sometimes. Oh, very well. Is that what you were doing with the whole Blinsky thing? You were buying the kids' toys? Which? Which, which?

which which which do you refer to which which which do you wish referred to I am confused me too damn it's fine did you want to see them yes oh yeah

well is they're in the first school room is Irene still doing all too Irene and I thought you know oh God's what what do you mean you thought we knew the gentleman that came by yesterday in the evening

that picked her up to take her to the abbey of St. Markovia said you had sent him No, no, we didn't. Who was this gentleman? I didn't think twice about it. He knew all of your names. What did he look like? He was tall, pale, blonde hair, blue eyes.

Seemed very nice. Did he offer a name? You let her go. I gave her the option. She wanted to go. She said that that is exactly where you had told her she was going to end up. But we

intended on taking her. I thought we were pretty explicit about her ever leaving these grounds. And I was completely fine with that until this man showed up. What time was this? How long ago?

Maybe around six or seven in the evening. It's only like yesterday. Yes. When did I get the Raven from Shreda Probably around seven Father, I'm sorry for my help

version, this is not your fault I was worried about this Shepherd by wondering what do you mean, how is it not to the father's fault? He couldn't have known. He couldn't have known. Irina was going to do what we told her to do. She thought she was doing

what we told her. One moment, and he filters through his books and he hands you a letter. Dear Father Lucian, I hope that you are well, and I hope the children are well. We are currently dealing with an issue on the lake

and we will not be back this evening. Please send Irene with Sifam. They're heading to the Abbey of St. Markovia upon our wishes. Yours truly, Professor Clayton Azran, the Azran expedition. Is it look at my handwriting? It looks very close.

The soldier. Huh. Dem it! We need to go right now. Farm Ritin can wait. Go where? They're not going to be Abby. They're not going there.

Professor, you've got to know that's not the case. We can go check it out, but that's got to be misdirection. I mean, look, you're right. It's the only lead we have, but there's no way in hell they're taking her. son, Abby. Can we call upon Irene with your magic? I do not believe. I do not think of that.

One moment. Irene, are you well? Where are you? Who are you with? Where are you going? Anything else? You did not send for you. You are in grave danger.

Act natural. You can respond to this. It takes a moment before you hear It's so good to you hear What does you mean? I'm in danger. I'm fine. I've just recently reached the Abbey of St. Markovia. The abbot has moved to me in a lovely room and I am scheduled to see the nurses later tonight

about the bites on my neck. I can't wait to see you all soon. When will you, when will you be here? I'm going to blow another fucking first. about the spouses. We'll think about it first because fuck this. I repeat that.

Let us all ruminate on that for a moment. We need to go right now. She's there. We need to go right now. Father, it has been a pleasure. We do not have time to see the children. Wish them well for us and I'm glad they enjoy the toys.

You hear a... And you see a small pair of eyes looking out at you. Is everything okay with Irene? You're being very loud. Is it, Tommy? Hey, hey, hey, buddy. Hey, you're all right?

I'm fine. I'm really tough, but I'm supposed to protect Irene and you look down and you see he's wearing a rough approximation of your outfit. Hey, hey, that's great. I like the way you're dressed, buddy. Thank you, Irene made it for me. That's very nice to her.

And don't worry about her. We're going to go cash up to her. Did you want to see my hat? I do. I absolutely do. Oh, okay. Hold on one second. He runs in really quickly and he comes back out and he brings out what appears to be a small leather hat.

And though he doesn't have horns, it still has the holes where yours would be. But it fits nicely on his head. Hey, look at that. I love it. That's perfect. That is a great look at. He looks at Father Lucian, who's giving him a stern look. I'm not supposed to wear it inside.

It's only to be polite. As the professor says what a true gentleman would do. And then he looks at the professor who's wearing his hat. Yep. Well, we're only going to be a moment. Listen, don't worry about Irene. We're going to go catch up to her. She's going to be fine.

And then we'll come in. Is she in trouble? No, no, not at all. She's going to be all right. Shepherd, what do you mean? Stop it. Stop it. Stop it.

It's all right, buddy. We're going to be back soon. It might be a few days. yelling because you're happy. Spray bottle. Yeah, well, Sarnax doesn't listen unless I use the right tone of voice. Is it because he's a dinosaur? Exactly. That's exactly what it is.

Dinosauri souls. We miss Irina a lot. She's been gone for almost one whole day. And we're going to bring her back. And she's the one who always tells us the best story. Yeah, I'm sure she's going to have even more when we get back. You know what? He looks at Father Lucian. I don't think he can hear me. He's old. Hey.

What? I think it's true, though. Just respect your elders. Sister Frances is very mean, and she yells a lot. Well, just try to be good, I guess. I don't really have advice for that one. It's beyond your best behavior, and we'll bring her right back here. So listen, get so asleep.

All right, and we'll be back in a few days. Be good. Watch out for the others. We need to go right now, but it's been good to see you. We won't be long. Just a couple days. protect the ladies because and he pulls out his little dagger and he flips it in his hand very dactiously i've been practicing and he goes to sheath it and drops it on the ground oh that's all right the dinosaur's proud of you and so am i good i'm going to

kneel down squat down in front of tommy oh she bit me yeah she's completely crazy she bit me she bit me She bit me with her teeth Where does she bite you? Do you want to see? Yeah. He lifts up his shirt and you see two bite marks on his side. They look like teeth marks? Yeah, they look like teeth marks.

Okay, not like a little bit of your kind of? No. Normal teeth. When did she do this to you? This morning. They don't let her have class with us because she is, oh mean. Well, thank this is stressful. But, you know, she cries a lot at night.

and it's kind of sad, so we sneak into her room and we sleep next to her most of the night, and she doesn't bite us then. But if we're still there in the morning, she gets very mean. Well, that's very nice. Thank you. Thank you. She said us all, and you're doing well to be kind to her. Her mother was very cool.

That's what Irene said. So, Irene slept in the same room with her, too, to make her feel better. But now that she's not there, she's easy. been more cranky. I've turned to Father Lucian. Has the lady walked him in bed? Well, I don't think she will be.

She has not so weird. There is still the word that her daughter is I think she sees it as I think she sees it as a good thing that Stella has been removed from her. I will grab him by the arm and pull him away from your time.

You don't need to pull this difficult, this heart. Have you seen any signs of any henchman? has anyone been taking a look at your church? Has anyone been swooping around? None that I have seen. You need to make sure that no matter what you do,

we do not let anyone else leave this church, unless we are here in person. Do you understand? I will do my best. And I'm sorry, it's not your fault. You couldn't have known. This is a very detailed forgery. I'll just know that you have to keep an eye

for any kind of duplicity. It's like, what? It's so fine. Oh, I'm sorry, Adam. I'm obsessed. It is fine. I feel terrible thinking that she might be hurt

or something because I allowed her to leave. It's not your fault. I gave her the choice and she wanted to go. It is only natural. We are losing precious minutes. All right, buddy. What is the abbey?

What's in? It is on the hilltop behind Kresk. I believe we know where it is. We have the map. It's fall to the west. We can follow the roads. We will leave quickly, but just put this church on lockdown. No one comes in, no one comes out.

Understand until we go back. I'm just going to lead down to Tommy and be like, all right, buddy, we got to go now. But stay safe, keep an eye off for everybody and do not leave the church. Do you understand me? He looks up at all of you. He looks scared for a moment. He pulls the rest of his body out of the room. and shuts the door slowly.

He leans up against the wall, kicks one leg over the other. You're not, I can get care of everyone. All right. I've left the church in good hands. That's my boy. All right. Professor, might we leave the

following to make up for the church be posed down? Oh, yes, I'm so sorry. I meant to ask. Do you mind if I make a donation? If you would like to make a donation to the morning, Lord, please. I will give them. I will give them 500 old houses. Okay, you do that.

Damn. I'll go more. Are you sure? Yes. Yes. We are in equal. You can last your hands. You're so grateful.

Please, just do what you can to take care of these children. We could expand making a schoolhouse. Yes, yes, please. There is so much we could do. Do what you can, and then once all of this is over, hopefully there will be a lot more of that. Thank you. Thank you so much. Please pray for this children.

I do every night. Whatever you do, do not. I know you haven't up until this point, but I know that Stella has been mistreated. She's going to take time. Yes, for her to. There is some thing, some magic on her mind.

I don't know the origin. Until I can figure it out, we must simply but care. Hopefully we can help one day. We just don't have the time right now. Good day, Father. And I would turn. You begin to turn and you hear a...

I turn back. Oh, I take it one of electricians. He puts it in a cell account. Don't worry. I will protect everyone. Thank you. And he opens the door and he's strong. into the room.

And as we'll be, how will this small one but, oh, hail duplicity. We're starting to catch on us a turn axe. Now let's hoof it. We got to get going.

We start fucking booking it down the west road. I mean, it's something else out of the fucking valley. So we're just going to full sprint. No, you're full sprinting to Cres. Not sprinting, but we will be

riskly walking all the way to Crenz. And, When we get back, there will be the Azran orphanage sponsored by Ms. Haller University addition. New sign. We'll be able to afford it now. So where are we headed on this map?

So we are here and we're going. Cresk is all the way here. Oh, fuck. So we could swing by. No. No. No. No, Arunism dancer.

We're moving. We'll just be talking. I am very, very concerned. I meant to ask you this, Arnax, is there any chance that that response to you was also a forgery? Is there any chance? There is your way.

No offense, but I know she has before with your powers. That is true, but I believe what I had been informed of by my God with his powers. However, I believe that we should that these nurses

that she is waiting for mean her harm. And perhaps if we can convince her to lock herself and try to escape. I don't think escape is wise because then they'll know that she's caught on. I think we just got to get there before any bad happens. Can you tell her to not go to any kind of nurse? He's the whole app being compromised. It's possible. I just can't believe that they would make up this elaborate ruse

and then just take her exactly where we thought she's going. We let her know that the letter was forged that we did not record. for her to go to the abbey and to delay as much as possible that we're on our way. I will do that. And as we go, I will cast sending again. There's another third of his bells on. And, uh... These text messages are expensive.

And say, peak hours. Peek hours. It's not only peak hours, but it's out of the country. Oh, man. Even worse. My date. It's even worse. The men who came to retrieve you were not sent by.

us. This was duplicity. Everyone that you are with has lied to you and means you harm. We are on our way. Do not consent to anything. No nurses, no inspections, nothing. We are on our way. Stay put. Act natural. Do not let

on that you know that you are in grave danger, but in grave danger you are. Be careful. We'll see you soon. You can reply to this message. It's a good face. Explant. The capital D colon. It takes a moment, but you eventually get a message back.

Don't you think you're being a little overlay dramatic? I'm perfectly fine. The abbot is lovely. We're having dinner now, and he is being quite cordial. He confirms, he assures me, that they'll be able to get to the bottom of these giant mosquito bites, just as soon as I'm able to see the nurses tomorrow. Don't fret yourself, but hopefully I'll see you before then. We need to worry.

The only thing I'm worried about is if the Abbey is compromised and we roll up, they're going to know we know. And I don't know what to expect. We're not going to be able to play off like, yeah, we sent that letter. They're going to know. If the Abbey is compromised, when we show up, they're going to know we know. I understand. As long as we're ready for a fight is all I'm saying.

we have no other choice. She clearly has some role in Tridania's greater plan, and we can't let her actualize that part of the plan, whatever it may be. Cresolone is seven miles by road. That's doable. So we're looking at several hours, but we can do it today. We'll move quickly. Yes.

And we know that Irina is the reincarnation of her longer. Tatia. Yes. Tatsiana. Tocciano. We should go quickly. So it just can. Yes. So I think we're just going to book it on the road,

on the old Spallock Road, and just go west and stick to the road. I don't think we're going to go through the woods. Because I'm not sure how much time that would even say about us. No, screw that. It would be safest to stick to the road. You imagine that the danger you would encounter going through the woods would make it take longer. So it's seven miles to roughly to Krezk and then however much further it

be to the abbey. You wouldn't know this yet, but you would have to go through Chris to get to the abbey. Got it. Okay. I'm going to fucking book it. You begin to make your way traveling along the path and you but care for nothing. You know that Irene's fate is in your hands. As you run along a path, you eventually get to a crossroads. Similar crossroads that you've seen before. The wooden post with the board showing Wizards Wines Winery, Valaki,

and one that you hadn't paid much attention to. Cres, you bolt it down the path and you feel like you with the noise you're making and the loudness of the volume

that you're speaking, that you should have come upon something by now, but you look up and you see swarms and swarms of ravens starting off in the forest around you, protecting you from what lurks within. Until finally, yeah, you did a good thing there.

Until finally, the road branches north and climbs a rocky escarpment, ending in a gatehouse built into a 20-foot-high wall of stone, reinforced with buttresses every 50 feet or so. The wall encloses a settlement on the side of a snow-dusted mountain spur. Beyond the wall, you see the tops of snow-covered pines and thin white wisps of smoke. The somber toll of a bell comes from a stone abbey that clings to the mountainside, high above the settlement. The steady time is inviting,

a welcome change from the deathly silence and oppressive fog to which you've grown accustomed. It's hard to tell at this distance, but there seems to be a switchback road clinging to the cliffs the lead up from the walled settlement to the abbey. So do access that switchback road? You have to get through town.

And to get to town, you have to get through this gate. Making your way closer to the gate, the air grows colder as you approach the walled settlement. Two square towers with petroves, flank a stone archway, which set a pair of 12-foot-tall iron-bound wooden doors. Carved into the arch above the door is a name. CREDS, the walls that extend from the gatehouse are 20 feet high.

Atop the parapet, you see four figures wearing fur hats and clutching spheres. They watch you. Nervously. I think the best way of course faction here is we all just play nice, and we get through yours where good as we possibly can. Professor, do the talking. Good day, James. Gentlemen.

It takes a moment. You see as they're like arguing back and forth, one of them pushing the other. And finally one of them steps forward. Hello, friends. Both brings you to friends. Hello. We are simply visiting,

hoping to gain entry to the Abbey, to visit a friend. You see a look of shop. on his face. Why are you lying? I'm not lying. Franz, go get the Bergamaster. Go. Get you. And you see, as one of them jumps down, skitters down a ladder, and you can hear

as he's making his way from down. What do you want here? What brings you to Christ? We have no need of whatever you and Countess Trudania have going on. We want nothing to do with it. Just tell him the truth. Tell him who we're here to visit. We're here to visit Arina, Corleana. Who? Irene Coligiana and the Abbey.

The Abbey of St. Markovia. No, I know the Abbey you're talking about. It's directly behind me, but there is no one in the abbey. Can I inside check him? Oh, what makes you say that? Fitchie. He seems to be honest. There is the abbot, but he does not take...

guests for the Abbey. Has nobody come through here? A young girl, I describe her. They haven't brought anybody to the Abbey in the last 24 hours or so. I wasn't on watch last night, but I, uh, yeah, all right, all right. You can talk to the Berger Master about it. Please. And he sets the sign as you see a man.

He looks wizened, older than his actual age. His eyes are sunken in. There's a sadness to him as he looks down over the parapet. He looks down at you. What brings you to Cress? We wish to gain access to the abbey. We've heard that it's a very holy place. We have a man of the cloth with us.

It was once, yes. It has not been for a long time. Why not? Why not? What happened to it? Creatures, they have overrun the abbey. Creatures. What type of creatures? Mongol folk.

They are like many creatures in one. So did anybody bring a young girl through here in the last day or so to the abbey? His name would have been Stefan. He had blonde hair and blue eyes. I've never heard of this person before. Nobody's come through your gates in the last couple days. Not that I've been told, but... There's no way.

We are very powerful adventurers. Yes, no, I know who you are. We will put an end to the vulnerable folk plague in the abbey. We do not let adventurers in Cresk. We stay out of Stradania's business. Not here. It calls trouble. We're just trying to find this young girl.

Even if we take care of the problem, we'll bring safety to your town. My town is safe. Let them in, let them in. Listen, I want to help, but if Irene's not here, we're wasting time. So yes, it's my fear that perhaps she's somewhere else and was told that the abbey and doesn't know the difference. She's never been out of the town before. No, they are. They may have been fooled.

There, I promise you, she is up there. That's my thought as well. Perhaps that's how they keep wandering eyes from going into the abbey. They've corrupted it and they use it as some kind of base, some kind of. some kind of a place to commit their foul magics. If you're right, then fine. But if we're wrong, then we're done. She's done.

We've spent all day traveling here. She's doing regardless. If we're willing to roll the dice, then that's it. I'm just saying, we may have one side of the valley. We don't know where else she could be. This is going to hopefully give us some needs. All I'm saying, saying is that if we're wrong, it's over.

I agree. And she's doomed either way if we are wrong. It's a gamble that I'm willing to take. I really don't have much of the choice at this point in a way. Let's not waste any further time. The gate opens up slowly and standing in front of you is the man.

He is shorter than you expected. He looks like he hasn't eaten in a while. Well, follow me. Please lead the way. You plan to just head to the Abbey? Yes.

We don't have a choice. Everyone always has a choice. What is your name? Mr. My name is Dimitre. Triskov. I'm the Bergoste. Maitre.

It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm sorry, we are shown up in a bit of a hurry. I just want to ensure that our friend is a great. I wish she is a good. You head towards the... very back and you will find your way on a winding road that will head you up but your fate is yours and not ours.

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that little house that way. As you look around, you see single-story pine cottages with stone chimneys and fast shrews. Pigs and chickens are kept indoors and pencoupes so they don't freeze. As you look, he points towards the building closest to the outer

gate. It appears to be his cottage. It's the largest building in town, but it's still a modest dwelling in Paris and the other buildings that you've seen. There are very few buildings here. This is incredibly small. And looking around, you notice

only houses, no shops, no trolley selling goods. there's a garden off to the side where it looks like they communally harvest their own vegetables and things, but it doesn't look like it's much more than a small grouping, this very, very small city. Me too, we'll come find you. Well, I hope so.

Some good news for you or some good news for me. Because my news has been nothing but poor. Well, be on your way. We will. Thank you for letting us see. Yes, thank you. For justiceness. Don't disrupt my talent.

You do not bring the countess down upon us. No, of course not. Let's move. Calm. Let's go. She may be upon us, whether we like it or not. Then we'll know who to blame. I'll just turn.

We'll start walking up towards the abbey. You begin making your way towards the abbey. you approach. The road from the village climbs above the mist to the wide ledge in which the abbey is perched. A light dusting of snow covers the trees and the rocky earth. The gravel road passes between two small stone outbuildings,

to either side of which stretches a five-foot-high, three-foot-thick wall of jumbled stones held together with mortar. Blocking the road or iron gates attached to the outbuildings by rusty hinges. They appear to be unlocked. Viewed through the gates, the stone abbey stands quiet.

Its two wings are joined by a 15-foot-high curtain wall. A belfry protrudes from the rooftop, the closer north wing, which also sports a chimney, billing Ray Smith. As you push the gates in, they begin to squeal loudly. You look up and see two guards onto that, but they don't seem to be awake. Excuse me? Hello? You call up, and as you look, you notice,

Oh, those aren't. Guards are all there. Scarecrows, dressed in guards' armor in here. A strong man. But as you yell, you see as two creatures appear out of the shadows and stumble forth towards you, they can't be more than five feet tall, not even. Four-nine, four-ten. One of them, standing upright.

looks like a beardless dwarf with patches of donkey flesh covering his face and body. He's one human ear and one wolf's ear and a protruding wolf snout in fangs. His arms and hands are human, but his legs and feet are Leonine, and he has a donkey's tail.

How far away is this thing? Maybe 20 feet by now. I immediately used... The other, about four feet, seven inches tall. The left side of her face and body is covered with lizard scales, the right with toughs... and then the right with tuffs of gray wolf fur.

Between these tuffs, our pale, is pale human skin. One of her eyes is that of a feline, and her fingers and hand resemble cat's paws with opposable thumbs. She's a gruff voice, which you know her, and wears a gray cloak with black fur training. They both move forward. What are you doing here? Seeing the man first, I immediately told your sense on it.

So I learn whether it could judge me damage, immunity, resistance, or vulnerabilities, and what they are if they're not hidden from divination. They are Mongol folk. Their faces like Kyberans, right? That's what it sounds like. I guess what the nurses are doing. Oh, no.

So what do you need to know about them? If they have any damage, immunity, resistance, or vulnerabilities. They do not. And what they are if they're not hidden from divin. So I just know that they're Mongol folk. Yep. Can you what kind of creature? Yeah, can you describe that a little bit if you can.

I don't, because I don't know what that means. it was essentially just what they looked like. I would say it's not something you've ever encountered before. We would know if it's a naturally occurring thing or if it is a... I would say it's a humanoid. So they're just stumbling towards us. And they said, what are you doing here? I'm just going to draw my weapon when I have in said,

point it at the guy and say, not another step. We don't mean you any harm, but do not come any closer. He rears back and he puts his arm out and pushes the other one away. Just because we look different, you think you can point your guns. What do you want in our abbey? Trust me, I know what it means to look a little different. We're not here to harm anyone.

Perhaps lower your weapon, Mr. Shep. Yes. For the moment. We are here searching for someone. We meet you no offense. That's what those are gloves. That's freaking out. I can't do it when you're looking at.

That's what he's doing while he's looking at you. Oh, that's funny talking. We're looking for a girl. A young woman we suspect was brought here, but perhaps in secret. Is there any chance that you could help us? Are you brave to the ad but's business? The other one says she steps out of the shadows.

Does the average want you here? Yes, yes, we are fine folk, and I wish to make a generous donation to the Abbey. Yes, please forgive me. This is Professor Clayton. Yes, I'm Professor Clayton-Azran, Ms. Harry University. I am the leader of the Aswan expedition to Borovia. And I have... Otto, go get the addict. I've quite a bit of funding, and I would love to make a generous donation, the name of Miss Harry University.

Well, come in and... follow. Yes, of course. She begins to lead you in, and if you want to get the biggest of those maps. Oh, fuck. The biggest? The biggest.

You're going to have to move everything. Yeah, we have to move everything on the table. This map is literally the size of the whole thing. And this table is six by four feet. It's a big-ass table. Think about it. You're on a little that shit. It's going to be a massive.

All right. So they're leading us with. They are leading you to the little, You see how both of those roads lead in towards the middle. They're leading you directly towards there. As you walk up, a 15-foot-high curtain wall joins the abbey's two wings. Behind its battlements, two guards stand in detention. Their features obscured by bomb.

Below them, set into the wall as a pair of 10-foot-tall wooden doors, reinforced with bands of steel. To the right of these doors, mounted the wall is a tarnished copper plaque. Looking at the plaque, it reads, the abbey of St. Markovia. May her light cure all illness. Be void here.

The habit will see. And she opens the door and leads you deeper in little sanctally. The thick fog that fills this courtyard swirls as eager to escape. The courtyard

is surrounded by a 15-foot-high curtain. wall in which stands several guards which are backs to you. So it seemed at first. It's clear now that these guards are merely scared birds. Wooden doors to the north and east lead to the abbey's two wings. In the center of the courtyard is a stone well fitted with an iron winch, to which a rope and a bucket are attached. Along the perimeter, tucked under the overhanging wall are several stone sheds with padlocked wooden doors, as well as three shallow alcoves that contain wooden troughs. Two wooden posts pounded into the rocky earth

Have iron rings bolted to them And chain to one of them is a short humanoid With bat wings and spider mandibles The quiet is shattered by horrible screams Coming from the sheds What in the non-hills is this abomination? You watch as the female of these creatures Moves forward and exits this way

Into the building Before she completely leave she turns and looks at all of you. If you will see you, he will come collect you. All right. Wait. Thank you for your hospitality. What the hell has become of these people?

I've never seen anything like it. Is it just that we're just in this room now with the back guy? It's an open courtyard. Courtyard. Why is that? Why is he chained up? What are those screens? I don't know.

Perhaps we could speak with this gentleman while we wait. So while we're waiting, I think what I want to do is as an action, I will expend one ranger spell slot, one minute per level of the spell slots. So I'll drop me, she's level one for one minute. It's a sense whether there are any aberrition, celestial, dragons, salmantles, fe, or undead, present within one mile of me. You do this? And almost immediately you pick up a sense of celestial.

Something's not right. But I even know what a celestial is. I would say you'd know of some celestial's. I've never sensed anything. I know I said this before, but I've never sensed anything like this before. But it's some sort of... How would I describe celestial without using that word? Does it is celestial mean...

Angels, heavenly. Like holy, there's some sort of heavenly holy force. If that's even the word to describe it, I've never felt anything like it before, but something's here. Something that I haven't felt at all in Borovia or my entire life. A being of the upper plains is here? How? I don't know.

Perhaps it means that there is good work being done here. I'm not one to say. These people are being tortured. It certainly looks that way. I want to walk up to the guy. Let's change up. Careful, professor. The creature changed the post, flaps its leathery wings, and takes to the air, but doesn't get far before its chains go top.

Damn. It flutters about madly, screaming nonsense. Why are you chained up? I take some dry meat out of my pack and I throw it up at it. She reaches out and grabs it and begins to gnawn it, and then she spits it all out. Flash. Good. Do you have raw flesh, you mean?

And she looks closer at her. She stands four feet, about five inches and has a hunched posture. Long, stringy, black hair hides much of her face, but clearly visible are the spider mandibles and teeth. They replace her human mouth. She has the arms and wings of a bat as well as a clove and hoof in place of her right foot. Jesus. What's happened to you?

Can you understand what we are saying? Yes. They've coming to get me. Who? Who's coming to get you? I don't know, but I can sense that. What is your name? Are you coming to get me?

We are here to help you, child. Come close. I will. I'll step forward as I'll take my lantern, and I'm going to shift it into a bullseimer. I'm going to shine it. her face. She rears back and skitters up against the

post and she hides her eyes. No. And there are agents everywhere. There's where I go. I'm sure they're watching me all the time. Calm. Calm. Calm. You're light. Lead them to me. Don't know. Come. Turn it off, Sarnax.

Calm down, child. She begins to start ripping and tearing at her face. You see blood as it begins to pour down around her. Come on, Sarned. And she tries to skitter around and around and around the post. And as the light shines on her, she's horrified. She's terrified.

She rips the flesh from her body. Eventually, she begins to choke, and she continues to run and run and run and run around this thing until she passes out. Oh, gosh. I'd give her warning next time before shining that at her. She might not have seen light in a long time. You're outdoors, Carla. This entire place is always covered in clouds.

It's our next. Very interesting, very curious indeed. What? What agents did she refer to? Can I watch she's passed out on the floor, like just bleeding from her face? Yep. And it is at this moment.

You hear the door open and one of the creatures step out. He awaits you. You see as she leaves the door open. As she's as she's I will approach the door. Don't let your guard down, professor. Not even for a second.

All right. I will approach. We'll follow. Gentle sounding music trickles down from above, played on a single-strained instrument by some unseen master. The ground floor is one large, 50-foot square room with arched leaded glass windows.

A cauldron sits on an iron rack above a fire in a hearth, while above the fireplace mantle hangs a golden disc engraved with the symbol of the sun. In one corner, a wooden staircase climbs to the upper level, while in another corner a stone staircase descends into darkness. Settle chairs surround a wooden table that stretches nearly the lengths in the room. Wooden dishware and gold candelabas are neatly arranged on the table, standing behind which is a young woman with alabaster skin dressed in a torn and soiled red gown. Her Auburn hair is neatly bundled so as not to touch your soft shoulders. She seems lost in her own thoughts.

A handsome young man and a brown monk's robe gently takes the woman by her hand. A painted holy symbol that depicts a son hangs from a chain around his neck. He moves with the grace of a saint. He looks up as he slowly leaves the girl to his seat off in the corner. Read a book, My Sweet. He hams her one of the many books that sits on the tape. there as he heads towards you, his robes flowing behind him. What brings you to the Abbey, St. Macombia?

Are you the abbot? I am. And you are? I'm Professor Clayton Azran, a Miasran expedition. And we heard that our friend may be here. You did? Yes. And who is your friend? My friend is Irene Koliath.

The young girl that was delivered yesterday. She's here? Yes. Where is she? She is in her room above. Who is she delivered by? A young man named after. He was told to prepare her Shredonia.

And you are doing so? I was in preparation, did you soon? None of us like to anger the counties. How do you prepare Shradania's victims? She's to be a bride May we see her? Well, what reason have I To allow you audience with the bride, the countess?

We wish to speak with her And I can make a very generous donation To the Abbey Aside for that, we've been traveling with her For some time, she is in our charge She looks like she's in my charge now The rest of you Your name.

Your old friends, I am Sarnax of the Edelwood, cleric of Garek's fire lord. I'm kind of to Cassidy, thunderbius. Name shadow. He looks you up and down twice. Where he looks to Victoria. I'm Miss Victoria, Isaacs.

You would make a great bride for the Countess. I'm flattered. It's really quite important that this arena. We've been away for some time and she'll be excited. What is so special about this arena? He seems tired. He's not really interested.

She was an interest to their countess and... Yes, but why? I was currently... Basilica, keep reading, Dawn. I was preparing for Donya abride. Have you prepared brides for her before?

Many. So you would know of the interests this Stradanya would have. No, she's never asked me to procure a bride that has been sent to me. Would you find it odd that she has, this is not the first bride she's had in her lifetime? Why would I find that hard? Normally one is the trolls committed to a single person for many years. Not here. long is it customary to be married to someone in the land of girl as long as you would like?

And how long have you been in a long time? What does he look like again? He is pale, his eyes very dark, almost so dark, it's hard to tell where the darkness of his eyes and the pupil begins. His hair is tucked up into an abbot's habit, and he's wearing long robes around him. Can you pass me a pair of scissors and I'll show you. Oh, shit. Hell yeah.

Oh, fuck. Does he have a lantern, too? I'm going to have a lantern battle? I fucking have. She's a spooky face? Yeah. I'm going to... Jesus, like some horrible mask.

I am going to... As soon as he says, I've been here a long time, I'm going to very subtly just tap Shepard with an elbow and going to say, you've been here a long time. What makes you qualify to prepare the brides of the countess? And I can't get a sense of what you're doing here. He looks at you and he blinks for a moment. I've been doing this job for agents, washing over the avenue.

When he nudges me, my eyes will narrow and I will use hunter's sense on this creature. Okay. So tell me how that works. So again, it is damage, immunities, resistances, and vulnerabilities, and what they are if they're not hidden from divination magic. I see, I see. I see. And I got one more use. That's three times prolonged rest. Yep, uh-huh. As soon as someone mentions that they're like a billion years old. Right, right. Like, let's too.

Yep. Fucking. Okay. So what do you learn? Damage, immunities, resistances, or vulnerabilities, and what they are, if they're not hidden from divination magic. He's a David.

I don't know. He is resistant to radiant, bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from non-magical attacks, and he's immune to charmed, exhaustion, and frightened. So then after he, like, nudges me, and I, like, narrow my eyes, like, star-knacks, if you're still looking at me, you just see my eyes kind of go wide. And I'll just kind of like gluck and go, hmm, yes, you were many-century ages, you said. In a lot of time. Clearly, you are a godly man.

I don't even know what you think that is. But how do you go about preparing a bride and why Irene of all people? I did not choose Irene. I had Irina thrust upon me. I'm simply preparing her by her fate. Unless, you think, Miss Elka would make a better mate, Mr. Dodd. Alas, Ryselka does not have a wedding dress.

Don't you think looking at him? He looks over. She would be quite striking. Yes, does she consent to marriage? Her consent is not my problem. It is our problem, however. To ask at the least. She'll do as she's told.

She's... The... A dress is all that is required to replace Irene with Veselka. Is that what you were implying you? Do you have a reason that Irene should be the one to be the countess of the bra? Why see no difference from one girl to the next? You may not see a difference, but Irene is not ready to be wed. she has no interest in the countess

and her interests are important to me in no way she is but a low-born the sister of the burgomaster of Barovia village the most pathetic town in this entire land is not worthy of the greatness

of the countess and that is my exact point then we are in agreement Are we not? But Dyselka has been crafted Mr. Dhania. If only,

she had a choice. He looks off. He seems to be looking. You sense something strange about the way he's talking and the things he's saying. While all this is happening,

I would like to, as suddenly as I can, sort of eventually casting the technographic. Okay. Can I incite, check him while he's talking? Just to see if, like, there's any change in his voice. He's not lying, but just hiding anything. Sure. Okay.

Yeah, he's definitely hiding things. Okay, good. But is he being truthful in what he's said so far? I do it. Yeah. Yeah, he's being truthful. And is his voice changed at all? It's basically the same.

Can I infer. from that what he's looking for something or like appearing? What was he? He's just looking around. He just seems out of sorts. And the dress like

he seems really focused on this wedding dress. How can we help you procure this dress? Come into my abbey. Seeking to help you. Seeking to steal for me. You don't want your friend to be wed to Countess, so I offer you a choice.

You may have her, but I need to trust. The Veselka. Did her Greener come to your Abbey in address, is one being made for me? That is Stradonia's problem. But if you want me to deliver Veselka to the Countess and not your sweet friend, Can I do so if she doesn't have a dress? Victoria, you are probably the most likely among us to know something about this.

How do dresses appear? Well, there's many sorts of dresses. I see as a wedding dress, a customer had to be quite large and white from, though I'm not sure of the traditions here. He looks at you and he blinks, a smile on his face. you would make a wonderful brand. But you're not finished. You would prepare these women.

The nurses clean them of their abnormalities. What kind of abnormalities are we looking for? Depends on the girl, doesn't it? Chardonia has been pleased with all use of it. And what is sending the cell code? And she'd notice that it wasn't. of course.

But she wearing a dress. And maybe she would care less. You see her a strange smile on his face. We wish to procure a dress befitting Veselka crafted for the countess.

But you know, Salca doesn't even know how to dance. You look like you could dance. Will you teach her? I could If you teach her a dance

I will less you see your friend You can then decide If you want to make this trade A girl for her dress You hear the bell Rains, hear screams and howls All over this avenue As he looks around

As he looks around Feeding a ton probably a minute or so or I mean it can be finished you notice on him that he is overcome with a change shape ability

where he is appearing as a humanoid but there's a magic from her on her yes you do I believe it would be magic bug I don't like any of this

I don't like any of this even a little bit down I guess, what's, what's it's, what is it called? Amputation. Yeah, maybe. I'm just really bad at the schools of magic. So it's something.

There has to be a song about the schools. If you know, like, divination is like, you know, like, I'm looking at that. If it's protection magic, that's abjuration, if it's, uh, something's created out of thin air, it's either conjuration or transmutation. Yep.

Any kind of shape changes transmutation. Yep. Evocation. Evocation. Or illusion. Illusion. There's illusory magic.

Anything that's more of like a general buff is enchantment. So like he would probably have a lyxerie magic. There's enchantment. Say transmutation. All right. But it might be wrong. That's fine. I mean, it gives us an idea, right?

Even if it's not. That's fine. I see. Ah, yes. I would love to teach this young lady how to dance. But settle her. Am I don't. Regalus, you see as she stands up and she begins to make her way towards you.

She rushes past you and this faint scent of lavender. She stands in front of you. You clasp her hands as you begin to see the stitches. The faint difference in color between her hand and her forearm. You look up two separate colored eyes. her chin a slightly different shade than her cheek

what the fuck I was too scared to touch it I didn't want to touch it she's like literally Sally together yep my old palpric is done yeah no that's cool

Fred she's yeah she's like literally how does she smell like laughing faintly like lavender oh my what in the absolute hell we have walked into

the house of horrors oh my dear god let me see you can you send yeah a little bit pass it around. It'll show us to our back. Look at that. What the fuck?

And you hear as the violin swells and the music from nowhere begins to echo throughout this place. I'll grab her and I will start teaching her how to waltz, like a three-step waltz. She seems confused and occasionally she trips, but she writes herself. How are you, darling? I'm trying to very quietly whisper. You wait, and you hear nothing. Are you well?

What is your name? You look at her and her eyes look pleading at you, a sense of horror, but she says nothing. How can I help you? Her chest rises and falls, and she looks straight into your eyes, almost pleading. She trips and joel. into you, but she writes herself as she looks back at the abbot. She holds her head

high and she continues to dance. Here we go. I say the deviousness of in Clayton's eyes, and I just hold my lantern up. I'm sorry, for this time this is going to do.

Are we meant to? And I will cast this spell magic on her. Oh, my God. God, roll for it. People have four pieces in front of us. I'm going to be sick. Oh.

20. Oh, no. Oh, no. You say this, as you immediately see, her eyes roll back in her head as her body limps forward. You all hear the sound before you really see what's happening, is the weight of her limbs falling slack, forces them to rip and tear at the seams as her arm falls and clatters to the floor.

The abbot looks at all of you. He looks up at you in this moment. Then I guess we will deliver your friend. Professor, what did you do? What is this? What's what you doing? I would, um, like to point,

subtly point up using a sorcerer point to cast a message pointing where I think Irene is above us and doing it subtle spell. So I will send this message to her.

Irene, are you alone? We are here downstairs. If you can escape it all, we will try to get you out of here. Can she respond? You can look at this question. You quickly hear back. I'm perfectly fine and wandering near the well. You're here.

As he looks around, Zig Freck. What was she? Shadanya's bride shut your mouth. And you wait as you see Zygfreck, the female of the Mongol folk, make her way and she looks horrified. Yes, I bet. It's feeding time. I'm going to run from the room. He looks towards you and extends his arms out and casts a whole person.

Oh, we don't fuck up! I will cast counterspell. Oh, for it. Oh, my God. He's casting a first in a second. Oh, yes, he is. It's a fit level. Oh,

to hell, boy. I'm sorry. She will make the next bride then. Clean up the mess. Zucre. Take her to the nun. You are not a man of any god. You are a mockery of faith.

You are a wicked fiend, and you will stop what you are doing this instance. I was bored with the moment she was. spook. You may leave. No. We are not leaving until you give us more answers,

and he throws his hand out. The doors slam open. You feel a gust of wind. Is there as we came in? Yes. You may leave. Where is Irina? I'm going to continue.

Now that I'm free, I'm going to run out to the well that we passed on the way in at it. You look around the well, and you see that she's not at the well. the bat-like mongrel folk is voraciously eating what appears to be human body parts and ripping flesh from bone is you see the two mongrel folk or you see the one mongrel folk that you had met and another one that you hadn't seen before one with two heads and a shovel

as they're shoveling human body parts down this hallway the opposite hallway the one closest to clayton on the map and you can hear the voracious ripping and tearing of meat from bone as these mongrel folk begin to tear apart the body parts that are there. The gates leading even further out are wide open. You can feel almost the stream of air that's pushing through them from the hand,

the power of the app. I'm going to... I assume they're still caught. Yeah? I'm going to point back to the professor. Professor, I mean, she said she was by the well. I don't see her here.

We have to find her quickly. I will... Where is she? then to student. I'm going to turn, I'm going to run out to the court guy with Victoria. Arena! I don't want to yell. Seeing the professor start

to make a move, I'm going to lose redemption and fire off a smoke screen. Oh, okay. And try to basically put the smoke screen between us and the Abbott to create cover for us to try to make a getaway.

I will say you can do that. You watch as this canister flies out of the tip of redemption. Yes. And the entire room itself begins to fill with smoke. Now, kids, go! You watch as the abbot begins to spin, his robes flailing out around him. A radiant golden light begins to shine from him as you see that the pale skin starts to glow, a faint golden color. His eyes, almost pure red, as wind swirls around him.

The smoke is still able to obscure enough for now. It's not going to last. Let's go. I'll be the last to bolt out of the room, just keeping my eyes on the avid until everyone's out. I start yelling. Arena, where are you? I'm going to yank the door's closed if I can to try and... Yeah, you yell, and you constantly yell out. The sound of the, the sound of the mongrel folk gnashing and ripping the flesh from bone is so loud.

it's almost hard to hear yourself as you yell out. So I still have to detect magic on. I want to run around. I want to run up to the well to see if I get any sense of magic anywhere else. Like if she's, if maybe she's invisible or... Okay. I say you can do that and you can easily tell that there doesn't seem to be

any more than the magic that you've already sensed on this place. It's going to take way too long to search this whole place. We got to try to narrow it down. Did you tell us that she responded? I did, yeah. And what's the rain isn't that far? It's 30. Oh, I didn't know that.

Sorry, I was thinking it more like, um... Sending. Like sending. So I'll say you got that message, but she technically wouldn't have fallen within 30s. Do we get a sense that she's smeared by, at least? You don't know. Um...

I'm going to yank the doors closed behind us. Um, as he approached... Pull on the doors, but the wind that's whipping through here is forced them firmly against the wall. There's no amount of human strength that would be able to pull these doors closed. And you see at this moment as he begins

to stop and rise up into the air. Gold glow glowing orbs in his hands. His eyes now red from red to pure black as his mouth drops open and he begins to hum out at you as he begins to float directly

towards the door and directly towards all of you. As I said, we need to get out of here. Let's go to the other side. So she must be the abar somewhere. Leave the way. I'm going to start running across, just trying to run away. I'm going to follow. You're running into the...

That's a building. I want you to know that's a building full of mongrel folk who are eating corpses. Oh, they're all good? Yes. And throwing corpses down there and eating. screaming and shit coming from that way. Professor, she contacted me.

She said she was by the well, but she didn't seem distressed at all. Surely with all this going around, she would have been upset by it. Is there another well? Have we seen any other wells since you've been here? We didn't pass anything. You didn't really investigate anything before you came straight to the abbey. The goal is great now.

Sorry. As we're running, I'm going to use my last third-level spell swat. And I'm going to cast send in it. To send two, what should call it? And to Irina, like, Irino, we already graved. We are at the abbey. Meet us by the gate. We are leaving this instinct. You must join us. You will die if you do not come. It takes but a mere moment as she says out to you. I'm simply down the hill at the well. Down the hill now, Professor, leave the way. I run out the front gates. I'm closely behind, trying to keep up.

I'm last, I'm looking behind us to keep an eye on the fucking diva dude. Where do we get it set? Back the way you came. Okay. I will say I didn't get enough time to tell you what she would say, but yeah. I'll start bolting out. I'm going to run down the hill, which is just out of the abbey.

Try to see if we see anything. Yeah, see it kind of well. You begin to run. and make your way out. You hear a loud, booming voice almost in time with the bells as they continue to jingle or as they continue to dong again. Do not return. As you make your way through the gates at the front fly open. As you run through, you hear them slam behind you. And just as they do, silence. All around your silence. The sound of gnashing, flesh being ripped from bone, completely gone.

The sound of the bells ringing back and forth, completely gone. Almost as if you would imagine it. Looking back, you can see the bell still moves back and forth, but no sound emanates from the abbey of St. Markovar. I cast alloturgy and boom my voice. Irene, where are you? It is almost just as quickly as you say this, that you see a head peek out around a shrub,

you notice this small cobblestone path. Well, look, simply over by the well. Oh, fine. Nine hells, come on! Bolt towards her. We're getting out of you. What on earth are you doing? Why would you grab me like?

No time! Where have you been? Talk and run! What do you mean, where have I been? I've been up at the Abbey. I had a lovely lunch with the abbot. He's a strange man, which is quite nice. And then I said I was going to go and stroll around the village.

So I began to come down here And, well, it was really steep And I'm wearing these heels And she shows you her heels And I didn't want to walk back up in these heels Did she gesture the same abbey That we just came from? And so I found this pass

And there's a pool and a shrine there It's really quite lovely Was it a well, which is a pool Or is it a fountain? I don't write for me now But I like it It's quite nice Come on, we gotta go

Who brought you here? Who's that man that you sent? You said no man, Irina. The letter that was given to Father Lucian's forge. Oh, but he was so nice. But you... He was a stranger, Irina. Your life was in detail with him.

Of course he wasn't a stranger. It was a forged letter. How? Yeah, of course. Let us lead us to the pool quickly and we'll make our leave. Oh, would you like to go see it? Yes. Oh, you are a holy man.

I'm sure that you'd like to see this. Follow me then. But walk softly. And she begins to casually stroll down the pan. We have no time. Let us hurry. Well, if we have no time, then why are we going to look at the pool? We see what nature this pool is.

It's quite literally a statue and some water. Come on, what is the statue of? What is going on with all of you? I don't believe her in immediate danger anymore. What is going on with all of you? Have you not been listening to Sarmas' messages? Yes, but she's been speaking absolutely. absolute ridiculousness.

I've stayed with the abbot for 24 hours. And do you think we'd be acting this way if we weren't being serious? I'm not quite sure. Are you feeling sick? Did you see the mongrel folk mishmashes of different animals and creatures? For what? The only thing up at the abit is, well,

Sifon before he left, and the abet himself, it's all that's there. More trickery. I wasn't even allowed to need the lessons. Oh, and that lovely girl was. Elka. She doesn't speak, though. No, no, come on. To the pool and we're getting out of here. Now! Let's go.

Fine, we'd comment. I mean, what did the abbot say to you? What did you speak about? Well, he told me that he was going to, he was going to take me to see the nurses the very next day. They were out. And that they would do what they could remove, well, these. And you look and you see that where the scars have been is now a fresh bite-marked. mark on her neck.

When did this happen? When did your wound reverse? Well, you know, wandering through these lands, those mosquitoes are everywhere. When did the mosquitoes arrive, child? I didn't see them myself. It was at some point when I was traveling, but it's all a bit fuzzy. Well, you know, you traveled here from Pallaki. You know that the road is windy and it's uphill, and I got faint, faint, faint,

Headed, light-headed. And I blacked out for a moment. Well, Sophan helped me the rest of the way. And then when we arrived, the abbot showed me that there was a new one, and I just told him I knew it must have happened on the way. Are we at the pond yet? No, she hasn't even moved. Let's go.

Please show us towards the pool. Please. Fine, but calm yourself stag. As we're walking. The entire village can hear everything of saying. What did Lushian look like? Who's... Do you mean the priest?

Sophan, excuse me. Well, he was tall, ruggedly handsome, piercing blue eyes. His voice was like butter. What accent? What did he sound like? Can you imitate the accent? Well, he sounded like most of the room,

of course. Yes. Blonde hair? Yes, long, blonde hair. Quite lovely. But anyway, you see as she's blushing for her exposed area of her chest is popmarked with bright reds as she is as she is obviously feeling a little flushed.

Anyway, when we arrive at the pool, we, the four of us will investigate Miss Victoria. I would ask that you do a thorough search of Miss Irene. No. When we arrive at the pool, go someplace private. A thorough search. Don't get too far away I won't

I'm leaving and she has to turn around and walk off forgive us but we've just seen some troubling things What could you have possibly seen

And there's no way To show up out of nowhere And talk to me like this I understand We've been quite rude I think we can all agree that Miss Irene is not a child

Everything you said to me I've responded back I told you exactly where I was That I was in Nohan When you show up out of nowhere screaming and raging When the entire town tries to sleep

Do you not have you not heard The burgomaster's son is asked Show a little bit of respect We had not heard It's terrible And keep your voice as though Let us go to the pool in the shrine And if I feel kindly

I will let you check out my wounds But you are no healer, Victoria Please do lead the way They will fill you in later Even under grey skies This pool at the north end of the village Shimmers and Sparkles Near its shores, it's an old gazebo on the verge of collapse.

A wooden statue of a mournful, bare-chested man, its paint chipped and faded, stands in the gazebo with arms outstretched as the waiting to be embraced. What you see? There's something so common and peaceful about this place. Do you know who this man is? Do you know, I've only heard a couple of people refer to it since walking around the village,

but the kindly old woman that I met said that the statue was in reference to the shine of the white sun, and I believe that that is the morning old. The white son? Well, yes. Hasn't everything related to the morning lord been like golden? Yeah. So would silver seem off to me? Well, yeah, but shouldn't say silver.

What did you say? White? Or white, sorry, wait. Maybe. White's, um. Yes, that's what they told me. Nonetheless, if you look, if you notice, it's just so peaceful here. And you notice that the grass is green. And the water is clear and sparkling.

Sorry, X, you ever see anything like this? I want to take my hand and put it in the water and pick it up and see it. It feels, and. it does feel different, but not in a bad way. Is there anything at the base of the fountain that I can see? It's just a pool and the statue. I am going to walk through these grounds very briefly. It seems like a place potentially touched by the divine,

but after what we just saw, even the divine can be corrupted. You know, that's exactly the word that I was going to use. I've never seen anything like that ever But what I felt It was not the outcome What was that creature? How can something that's supposed to be Heavenly or Divine

Be so corrupted I mean that's exactly Excuse me What do you mean heavenly corruptions You should tell Irene Shepherd Fine I apologize for the way that I acted before

but you must understand the severity of the situation. You must believe us, Eina. We are not joking when we say we go out to soon. We came upon some creature. He told us that he was the avid. And he was ancient. I mean, older than anything, I've ever seen before in my life. And I've got a sense that he was some sort of,

heaven here, holy, be. He definitely seemed like a religious man. But then his eyes went red, and then black in his mouth was wide open, and he was making some sort of humming noise, and he started to float. And there was some wind and energy.

And it took everything I could just to lay out some cover for us to try to escape. It was not, that was not holy, Not even a little spit And Veselka Oh, dear God The girl What happened

Veselka? She's dead She was What do you mean she's dead She was I saw her not for an hour She was some sort of sixed up course No, she was eating

She was made of multiple body pots Multiple eyes She wasn't a natural person And I released her Not even a little bit What do you mean you release her? I released her from her torment I dispelled the fact of...

No, I saw her. I sat at the opposite end of the table from her. Did he say a word to you? No, but... She fell apart. She was just a quiet girl. She was preparing to be married. How did the burgomaster son meet his end? What does that have to do with any of this?

Answer the question. An illness from what I was told. Did the body parts that were, that I saw, the human body parts, they looked like they were from children? No. They looked. like adult body parts. No, for some of us.

Marina, she was being, Veselka was being prepared by the abbot to be married to Stradanya. And he told us that he was, that they were preparing you,

the nurses. What does that even mean? Stradania has shown a great interest in you. The marks on your neck, my friend, please believe me, I don't believe that they are from mosquitoes. We fear that this forged letter that the professor had,

our intentions were not for you to be taken here. This is not, this is an illusion. The place you were in, we were surrounded by foul creatures that you didn't get to see, but Veselka was literally attached together. The average was all illusions or tricker. You are, you are, you are being tricked. The man that accompanied you here was Fadanya in disguise. eyes, be fed upon her.

If you think that why would she leave me here? Why wouldn't you just taking me back with her if I'm what she wants? I have no idea. She wanted you to be prepared for something. To be buried to her. The same way Veselka met that fate patched together like some kind of sick abomination

arena. We were so worried about you. That's why we ran here as quickly as we could. She puts her hand up and she begins to walk towards the water. of the poor, shaking her head. I don't, I don't know how to take all of this in.

The abbot you're saying is a monster. Yes, yes. SELCA is dead. Yes. And you claim that there were other monsters about the... Untold of horrors are there in that abbey where you were.

She begins to kneel down and she places her hands into the water. Who are you? Oh, I know your face. I'm so beautiful. I walk up next to her with, what does she do? I feel like I've met you before. And you see as a hand raises itself out of the water.

What the home? It reaches out and it grabs her face. Yes. I do remember. I do, yes. It's almost as if she's having a conversation. You can't hear what's happening on the other side. I got one hand on one hip.

I do love you, sin. Thank you. And she leans down as she places her face on the surface of the water. And for a moment, she looks like she's about to tip forward. And she comes to and she looks around. I'm so strange. Did you see that? Hey, are you all right?

Who are you seeking to? Kana, with your hand on her shoulder looking in. We were able to see a boy. Oh, man, a young man. It looked familiar. Roll of perception. Hey, I don't know. I saw a vision.

I felt a hand on my face. And then he told me he loved me. And I felt it too. And he embraced me. I feel different now. changed somehow. What did you get? You got a nine.

Twist it. Yeah. I'll probably twist that shit. I know where we are. That's better. Much better. 23. Though

The, though the vision was different, it was definitely a heavy resemblance just for Donya von Zaravitch. I'm going to step forward. And as I step into the ground, I'm going to reach down and grab a claw full of soil and examine it and feel the aura of this place if I can.

Do I feel like I'm on hallowed ground? You do. I'm going to look down. Shepard? Yeah, Sarnax. What's up? I'm going to hold out my lantern. You're going to grab it? Again.

I don't, I'm not sure I'm comfortable holding this thing. if there's anyone I trust with it it is you alright I'm going to go into the water how deep is it I do not know do you want me to stand by the edge

I'm going to look in and see how deep can I see the bottom of the You can see the bottom it's nearly crystal clear that's probably about eight feet did we see an actual hand coming out of the water

I'm sorry It's right. I have my hand on your shoulder. Let's step away from the water. I think so next. I don't want to. I want to watch you. You can, but let's step away a couple feet.

I'm a little worried. Did we see it like a watery hand or like a fleshy hand? A fleshy hand. Okay. I'm going to stand right here. If something starts to go south, I'll be right here, all right? You can grab it from my hand. The time comes, Shepard.

Channel the power of that lantern and leave. What? And I believe you'll be able to use it and they'll just dive in. Oh, damn it! You dive in and the water is crystal clear as you make your way to the bottom. A mosaic on the very bottom made of stone. No, not stone. Metals, gold, silvers, the radiant sun that shines and sparkles up through the tunnel,

not tunnel, but through the channel that you just swam down into. As you look around, you see it. A grate. You pull on the grate, and it takes a minute, but you pull it loose and you see the fronds of seaweed coming up out of a dark tunnel that leads directly forward. Are we able to see him at the bottom? You can see him at the bottom.

You just can't see the grate. Right. I'm going to pull the grate and look up, and then I'm going to go on my way. By the gods. You see is he, you see, is he, jets forward and disappeared.

There, no. He disappeared. Where did he go? I don't know. Did the pool eat him? That's not high. I think, keep your heads. Calm down.

I have to kill him back. I'm sure. Let him go where. There's nothing down there. He is a lizard folk. He will. He's able to breathe under water. That doesn't matter.

It looks like he just disappeared into pool. Nothing to worry about it. I'm sure he'll be back soon. Why don't we step away from you swim and swim and swim fronds of seaweed? spilling up around you. And the water is cold. The water is dark.

But all around you, stone, stone, stone. I want to turn to your, I mean, I need you to just calm down. You've been through a lot. We've all been through a lot. And there's one word that I say to myself when I'm feeling stressed. Do you know what that word is?

No. It's argumental. and I will cast suggestion on her. I need you. What did she roll? I'm not telling. You want to use your important. I need you to, I'm guessing she failed.

I mean, I would know if it passes or fails, right? Or no. Read the spell. I think it tells you whether or not they pass your phone. Well, look, I want to fucking sure. She rolled a 10. Yeah. Actually, that is exactly what she rolled.

That's fine. That's fine. It has to work. I need you to remain calm and just listen to what we say. These ladies will take very good care of you. Just do as they say. And just please try to relax. All right? All right. Okay. Will Narcana check? I will.

It is a 13. As you place your hand on her, There is some type of magic flowing through her. You have no idea what it is. Oh, fuck. I'm in the water. I don't need to fit. Can you join me?

Is it like a bench anywhere? Yeah. Can you just sit with me? I try to guide her away from the fountain. Of course, as you say. Sit with me and pray. To the morning old? To the morning old, yes.

And that's... I'll grab her hands and I will pretend to pray. For 10 minutes. For 11 minutes. Yes, indeed. Yes, quite right. And I will, hold on. Prayer things.

Pray things. Pray, prayer. Sorry, sorry. Sorry. I would like to hold her hand. And for 11 minutes, I would like to cast identify. On her. Okay.

And what that does is. Oh, I know what it does. So I believe if I'm touching a person, I can learn the, it costs, oh, but I got that. I got that in speed. I got it. Let me just look it out. I don't know how I lost late in here,

but I believe I learned any spells afflicting said creature. So that will take 11 minutes and I'll let you, you know, all the time. 11 minutes passes. And for the time, you're constantly swimming and swimming, swimming. and though you do not come, though you don't find any adjoining passageways, you do see that etched into the stone around you,

the symbol of Castle Ravenloved. I have a medic question. Do you have water breathing? I can hold my breath for an arm. It's a very long time. At least, okay. Yeah, just stronger than usual. Gotcha.

Maybe it's an hour for you. It's a long answer. I don't know. I'm sure. Uh, do I get the... And it's not everywhere, just every once in a while you'll see a stone that's etched with that same raven symbol. And it doesn't look like I'm getting any closer to any kind of end. It still looks dark and dark and dark.

I'm going to... Can I gauge the direction of which I'm facing? Of which I'm flimming? Roll a survival check. Survival? Let me just do this. Survival. Uh, ten. You are facing...

It's hard to tell. Down here in the water? It really is. You feel like you've been going perfectly straight, but you're not really quite sure of the direction you'd have to be upstairs, or you'd have to be up above, trying to figure out the cardinal direction before you went down in it.

But from down here, you imagine that you haven't made any twist or turns. You've gone perfectly straight. I am going to turn around. and just book it in the other direction. Try to sprint. I'm sprint my way back. All right, you do that. I'm going to be waiting for him.

I've both in my hands, and I'm just peering down into the well, and I'm just like either anticipating him or the face of Stradonia, I'm just like angrily hovering over the water with my weapon at the ready. Okay, and I need you to roll a perception check. All right, 11 minutes of past.

Try with me. Examinus, exomibus, and I'm holding a feather and a pearl. I didn't know. I didn't know that you spoke Latin. Of course I do. I'm a wizard. So if there are any particular spells affecting her, I know. You begin to sense the magic about her. For the first time, good news. There is, though it's a magic that you are not familiar with,

there is a form of abjuration magic a protection magic that keeps are protected from all scrying in any way to detect her. Holy shit. What did you roll? As you are about to make your way

towards the gate, you notice to the side something you hadn't seen before. A small pulley or it looks like a protrusion, but it seems that there's some sort of, there's some sort of handle of some sort that you can pull on. So this is actually like Starnex reaches the point. He sees the Ravenloft and he like like connects, connects, connects, and then it's like,

and then he immediately starts from me. And then I'll see the pulley and I'll like, I think of that. And I'm going to try to try to yank him. roll a you know, yeah, yeah, roll a strength, just roll up your strengths. Maddie one.

I am going to twist it. Can I twist it? Yeah, fuck. Yeah, you can. Hold that bully. I'm going to use my inspiration. Oh my God. Yikes. You see the good guys. I said, you know. Right, you're right. I'm using my

good D20. That's also going to get a one. Yeah. I don't care. Oh, okay. Take your time. Take your time. we go. It's fine. It's fine. It's fine. You just have to get a 10. Is it a natural 20? No, it's a 17. Hey, that's good. Well, you got it. That's more than a 10.

You reach onto it, you grab it and you pull it down. It's shaped. It shaped like a long rod and at the very top of it, there appears to be a sun. As you pull it down, you hear chains, grinding and bubbling as the water begins to enter, is the water, as the water begins to filter out through the bottom, grates have opened up in the floor, and as you look up, you see a ladder slowly unfurling from a hidden compartment at the very

top of the well as it slaps back and forth against the well. And just as all the water drains itself quickly from this well, from this pool, lightning strikes the air, and you hear a loud scream off in

the distance. Clouds, begin to billow around you. Rain begins to pour down as the lightning strikes through the air. It is hard to see each other as the water pours down around you. You, Sarnax, are covered for most of this, as you see the water hitting the bottom of this pool and beginning to drip down into the grates. It's all of a sudden you see the storm swirl into the form of a face.

Looking down from the sky around you, bat wings unfurling in pure elemental fury from the storm itself. You see the face of Srajanja von Zarovich looking down at all of you. I may not be able to see her, but I will find Irene. And I will do whatever I have to do to kill all of you. Thunder erupts around you as you see her face, shimmer and move. The storm does not subside. And that is where we're in the session.

Oh, fuck. So it wasn't hurt. It was very lion king where you see Mufasa and the clouds. Yes. Holy shit. Holy fuck. Oh, my God. Safe to say that I am done playing games.

With that dramatic message. stundering loud and clear over Borovia, we will see if the foolish Azuran expedition takes heed. All signs point to know, but at least I can say that I did try to warn them. If the evil that corrupts Berovia tainted the mind of even an angel from the heavens, what hope do these mortals have? We shall see in Chapter 9 of Curse of Stradania among monsters.

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