Legends of Avantris - Curse of Strahdanya | Ep. 9 | Phantasmagoria: Part 2

Episode Date: June 3, 2025

With a ferocious beast on their hands, the Azran expedition must stop its rampage before investigating the mysteries of a raven-flocked inn.   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/JMLnAW6Ykxc?si=Oes8QzC9EjGbL9S7

You are back at Rikovio's wagon and listening to Curse of Stradania, a legend of adventurer's podcast. Last time, the expedition found rest at the Blue Water Inn and learned of a mysterious stranger named Rikovio, who may be the fated ally foretold in a Taroka reading. After venturing out to search for this man with the monkey, they met the bizarre poymaker Blinsky, the one responsible for creating the abominable doll that is done. tormented, are easily frightened heroes. Finally, they discovered Rectavio's wagon, within they found no ally, just a bloodthirsty predator.

And no, I don't mean me. We will see if they can put a stop to the potential massacre they've unleashed. As always, the audio quality reflects our humble beginnings, but does improve over time. With that out of the way, let us proceed with the conclusion of Chapter 4. Magoria. And it sniffs and it looks, it rears its head up, and it lets out a snarl as

it turns and darts straight into town. No! Damn it! Before it does that, before it does that. No, it's doing that. Okay, as it does that, I will cast flow on it. What's the 16 saying you go? I got a natural 16,

plus one. Instead, it was a nine. So, Lee. Actually, actually, it rolls a night. I made you get like a pebble under his small. Yep. No, that happens.

Yes, so it fails. Divination wizards, my friends. Okay. I want to hear what the slow does before I make a move here, but I want to grab, I'm reaching for rope out of my pack. Oh, it's speed to snap. Okay. It takes a minus two penalty to 8C. Okay.

End deck saving throws. It can't use reactions. On his turn, it can be. use an action or a bonus action not both. It can't make more than one melee a range attack on its turn. The future attempts to cast a spell spell with casting, it's not a spellcaster, so whatever.

I want to see if I can, like, last though, like, after having seen this thing slow down. It slowly starts to slow. It slowly starts to slow, and it rears its head back and lets out a roar, a slow roar, but it still

continues to move towards. I I would say, I want to run after it, 50 feet of rope, trying to lasso the first. Yeah, try to lasso the... Only you'll allow it.

Yeah, no, go for it. I don't know, I guess an attack roll to see if you... I don't know. Just a straight attack roll. Would net rules work?

Yeah, sure. As I see this, I'm going to look at what happens and I'm going to put a hand on a shepherd's shoulder and say, may Garrick's guide your hand, and I cast guidance. One B4?

Yeah. I got a nine. No, no adding anything to it. I would allow you to add your proficiency. Just proficiency. So that becomes a 12 then. Okay, and that hits.

There was great. All right, easy now. Easy. I'll pull back on this thing. I mean, it made me way stronger than me, but I'm trying. You pull back on it, and it's rearing against you as it's clawing into the earth, but it's moving significantly slower than it expects it. I'm going to dig my heels in and pull and just try to like.

You begin to slide it backwards. Hey, hey, hey, easy. Make a strength contest. Oh, my. Frank's garbage. I'm at 12? So for the first round, you're able to pull it back a few feet as it tries to resist you and move the opposite direction. Don't do something.

I got him. So it's about 10 feet closer to you. I need you to roll another. I'm going to help him. Another false. Roll at advantage. Oh, at advantage. I'm going to reach it and grab my three hands.

Oh, it's a 21. All right. You slide him another 10 feet closer. He's about 20 feet away at this point. All right, roll again. Still advantage? Yeah. The first one was in 11 to 12.

24. So he is going to grip his feet in, and he's going to take off and essentially pounce forward. He's going to get 20 feet. I would like to cast to spell magic on him. Okay. You do, and he continues to struggle. Hold on. She's rolling

12s out the ass. 13. So he is once again going to pounce forward and he's now at 40 now he's at 60 feet from you. So both you and Sarnax have been drug forward 10 feet.

Yeah, yeah. I would like to run after them and well so he has his feet I know. That's why he's only going 20 feet 6 out of 40. 16. 18. Fuck. It's a four.

So you're able to pull him back another 10 feet as he's struggling against you. So what I would like to do after this initial, we finally gained some slack, I'm going to wrap it around my arm. So if he wins the strength contest, I won't lose slack. I'm just going to go with him. I'm not going to let slack out. I'm trying to reel this mofo in. All right.

Again. So what do we do? Ninety. All right. another, you're able to pull him forward another 10 feet. He's now 40 feet away from him. I would like to 10. 20.

So you're going to lurch forward 20 feet as he's able to. Is he ever looking back? Professor, con, please. He is trying to get away. I'm going to grab the rope and just try to help him. We already have advantage. So I'll say with a third person, you are able to outmaneuver the strength of this cat. And you're able to pull him in.

as you get to him about 10 feet from you, you notice that he is beginning to turn and draws attention towards you, seeing that his line of escape is diminishing. Up there, single down. Easy, easy, easy, come on. I will, I mean, I don't have anything else to cast. I've got fucking nothing. So I will, uh, instead, wait, do I do I?

I'm going to raise up my hand and cast, um, just kind of move the shadow of my, hand across his eyes and cast blindness. Okay. How does that work? I can blind or deafness, though. Has to make a constitution, saving throw. Fails the target is either blinded or definite my choice for the duration at the end of each of its turn.

Target can make a can saving throw. Oh. Eight. Okay. He is blind. After she's casted her spell, what I want to do is use Hunter Sense. Okay. As an action, I choose one creature I can see within 60 feet.

I immediately learn whether the creature has any damage, immunities, resistance, or vulnerabilities, and what they are if the creature is not hidden from divination magic. I can use this feature three times per long rest. Oh, wow. Okay. You see as the eyes on this creature go blind, is it lashes against the rope. It is now flailing around frantically, unable to discern it. surrounding you channel your innate ability with nature and wildlife and you

focus in on this creature and you see that it does not seem to have any damage, immunities, or resistances and it is simply a saber-toothed tiger. Fuck. I would, so it's blind, probably in rage. And tied out. How big is it compared to us? It's a large beast. I'm just going to step forward and say, do not scare me, beast, like I said, find comfort and calmness in the faith of Garex the Fire Lord.

And I'm going to step forward and I'm going to try to like sound as calming as I can, as I'm going to try to walk forward and put my hand on the space. What are we done? This is a nightmare. Not an A-plus move on our brain. You idiot is lashing ready. It can hear your voice. It can hear your voice, but it is tied up and now blinds. It lashes around, and it is, I'm going to say,

it's going to make an attack role against you at disadvantage. 12 to hit. And it attempts to bite into your hand. Calm beast. You're doing this and it is not calming itself down. It is, it is. in an absolute frenzy as it rise against the rope.

So if the three of us are able to outshend it. You're holding the rope, but you don't have your arms around this. No, totally, totally. But it's not, it's not able to both. I would,

I will. I should not hear, but I was going to say Con, I should like, I would say that you could utilize her to help you. Yeah, I want to try to write out of a lieu of, uh, I will cast Hiddy's laugh.

on it. Okay. While he does that, I want to run into the cart. And how does that work? It's a, it's a, what is the, yeah, with a saving throw? Doesn't it have, isn't there an int? Yes.

Okay? It has a negative fortuit. It's got a three inch. It says it's three. Yes. So it doesn't work. So it doesn't work. So what I'm going to do is shout to

Kana and to the professor and to Sarnax and basically say that we as, as you would. to cast hideous laughter on this creature, unaware of the intelligence of a saber-toothed tiger, the slow surrounding this being is dropped, and it immediately lunges forward and it begins to bolt. It is now blindly running from you. I'm going to have to make one more strength to see if you can hold on at advantage. A seven to you. Nine. You're able to hold on.

You lurch forward. It's you, Sarnax and Kana all holding on to this. But you feel like you have a limited amount of time before it's able to make its escape. This is so fucking bad. I'm going to cast web. And I'm going to try to run around as if it gets restrained. I'm going to sprint and try to run around it and stand in front of it with my field. And what is the, how does it work?

It's a deck save. I will say, this determines whether it gets away. So it either gets hit by the web or it's going to wrench the rope away and sprint. What's your... I use my last thing, so I can't... Yeah, you did. 16. I got a 14.

Hey. So it is now... No fucking way. ...natural 12 plus two. By webs. Oh, hell yeah. And so we have... Dines up, hurry!

So then what I'll do is run up with the slack of the road. that's around his neck, I'll begin to try to bind its paws, but pause. I'm going to try to help. With Kana and Sarnash, your Ava, it takes you about 10 minutes, but you're able to do this as this creature is flailing against the ropes and the web, and it's growling and snarling at you. You, I will say, look up, and the two, the elderly couple that runs this place is very, very unperceptive,

as they don't notice that this is happening in their stockyard. Once we get the creature bound, then we're confident that it's secure. You bound it. You're even able to, for all intents of the purposes, muzzle this creature. I'm going to have Sarnax and Kana basically help me, like, drag the creature back to the cart and try to put it in there, assuming that you have emerged from the wagon.

Not dead, yeah. Oh, you went to the wagon? Yes, I ran into the wagon. Oh, sorry, yeah. So you run into the wagon. And you notice that there is some loose straw in bedding where you can tell that this cat sleeps amidst a few other things here and there.

You also notice in the pile what appears to be a colorfully dressed Vassani doll. Very strong. lightness to Vistani, jingling coins and bells, bright colors, flashy embroidery. As you look over the doll, you see that there is a, and this is absolutely excellent craftsmanship and work. As you hold it up, you even can smell the smell of the Vistani camp. And you look along the hemline, and right there is the tag, is no fun, is no Blinsky.

continuing to look through, you check the front seat of the wagon. I need you to make a perception or investigation check. Perception is seven. You look around and it seems to be a spot where Rich Javier can drive the wagon, manage the horses, but also is able to keep a close eye on the contents of the wagon. in itself, which seems to be mostly used for the storage of this very large cat. Got it. You see where there are blood spots on the inside and the remnants of what appears to be a large

steak. As you look through it, it appears to be wolf meat, just like you had eaten with the bastani and the previous night when you had dinner. The common fare for this area, it looks like a very large wolf steak had been brought fairly recently to the wagon into this cat and the blood stains along the side of the wagon seem to be where the stake itself bleeds into the wood and it's been saving the outside.

I'm going to ask you later for some guiding help. Oh, good call. Yes. He's your thing. I am. So I am going to grasp my prayer beads with the clasped hands of the generator at the bottom and ask for the guidance. Okay.

So that will point me for one minute, that will point me in the direction of all secrets. You clasp the hands and immediately you're drawn back towards the front seat of the wagon. As you look around, you see that there is a. hidden compartment. As you move your hands, you are able to unclas the latch that holds the compartment closed.

And you find you're ready to write. An unlocked wooden coffer containing 50 electron pieces bearing straws profile and six gemstones, each worth about 100 gold pieces.

Holy crap. A small prayer book. worth about 50 gold pieces, with a green leather cover and indecipherable notes in the margins. A healer's kit. Three wooden holy symbols inlaid with silver and in the shape of a sunburst, worth 50 gold pieces each. A silvered short sword. A hand crossbow inlaid with mother of pearl worth 250 gold pieces. Jesus.

A bundle of 20 gold pieces. 20 silvered crossbow bolts, and a worn leather case with gold buckles worth about 100 gold pieces, containing three sharpened wooden stakes, a sack of garlic, a jar of salt, a box of holy waferes, six vials of holy water, a polished steel mirror, and a bone scroll tube with a silver stopper in chain. It's worth 25 gold pieces. As you open it and look inside, the tube contains.

a spelt's role of protection from fiends and a spelt's role of protection from undead. All right. Get it all? I got enough. What do I need to know? How to kill a vampire kit, L.O.L. I wrote this vampire hunter stuff. Yeah.

Fine. You'll have to determine what you would take and what you would leave. Okay. I'm not going to take anything with me just now. I am going to just take a final scan. Does the doll produce any? like glowing guidance? No, it seems to be just a doll.

Very well-crafted doll. Okay. And then just walking outside. As you walk outside, you see Sarnax, Kana, and Shepard. They are essentially at the door now. You see a long path in the dirt where they've been dragging this heavy body

of the saber-toothed cat as they look up at you, the cat. restrained in their arms as they are about ready to load it into the wagon. Mr. Cicorra, please get out of the way. My apologies. Please continue. No worries. The cat is not slowing, right?

No. We can't even get into the cap. Well, we're not going to unrestrain it. We're leaving the thing. We can't leave these ropes. We'll squeeze him in the back of the wagon. As we're loading the wagon into the thing, I'm not cutting the ropes, professors. Yes, you are.

Rackney. And I webbed in. the whole inside of the thing. Chuck them in the whip, please. Damn it! And we put the cat into the webbing, and I'll move out of the room. And I'll pull out my dagger and start, like, unbinding the cat.

Dexterity saving throw plants. Me? Yep. Uh-oh. Nid, you do it. Okay. Okay. You do this.

You shoot the web in. You throw the cat in. You cut the bindings. And just as you finish with the last cut, the cat seems with a natural 20 to have resisted the web as it lunges forward. Well, it doesn't matter anyway, because Clayton has been watching this entire thing unfold as he rips you backwards and slams the door shut because you got one point more than he did anyway. So slam the door shut as it barrels against the inside the entire wagon shakes back and forth. Damn, are you happy? I slammed the padlock shot.

It's almost like I told you that was going to happen. Like, I'm the divination wizard. Damn it, I drop webs. To be able to as soon as Sonak said, it's a humanoid. You're like, okay, get this padlock. I will say, roll an intelligence check. Or, no, actually, all of you roll an animal handling check.

What if I do? 11. Eight. Shit, well. Bye. Is that the stranger today?

Um, speak. Yeah, you have no idea why that seemed to work. I apologize for being mistaken. It's fine. This isn't any one in particular's fault.

We just got to stop doing stupid shit. Actually, I know that that was troublesome, but I found some very interesting things within that call. And I...

Great, you do. Yes. did. See, it was worthwhile. What do you love? We should never aim to be seen, Professor. Bleeden. I'm the anchors.

You need an achy. We got to get your little lace in the way from there. I'll make you one. Oh, my. Professor, in the sight, I find a doll, another of Beansky's stories. Well, can we see it? No, I've left it in there. That's good, good.

This is why. What? We have, I'm, frankly, I'm a little shaken from that. strip of toy store, and I'm not going to pick up anything that I don't have to, but that man was created. Furthermore, what else I found? Inside of the cart, there was a hidden compartment with quite a lot of ammunition, both magical and physical. This man is a fighter. We need to find him. What kind of ammunition? I rattle everything off that you said. Yes, you do. Oh, holy wafer, a silver thing, and garlic. He has seemed to take in the physical, the religious, every aspect that he can.

Does that just immediately sound to me like this guy fucks with I'm dead and, like, kill shit? Yes. Okay. This man is a holy warrior. He's a vampire hunter, as it were. So I would know, like, this is a best man? What was the gold pieces had strad on them? What have?

The electron. Yes. 50 electron pieces being Straud's profile. Why are they? I don't know. 25 gold pieces. So what you're saying is that, you know, had we just had a reasonable conversation with this man,

he might have just been okay with us, and now we jeopardized it all. He might have. Because he needed to leave rights now. Can we get the fuck out of here? Hold on. Hold on. It's precisely why I didn't take anything.

I think we need this. This is valuable information. And I think that this points of the, perhaps trust this now. So can we leave the man a note, like when we were originally, suggested. We must meet him.

He can't know that we're here in a Presidio, pursue you, I'm like, I want to wipe all the evidence of a shuttle in the dirt for like 100 feet. You go like 80 feet out and just

write you over the tiger track. Just leave him a note. If you're going to sit here and sweep up any evidence of things that went down. I would say roll a slide of hand to see how well you do it. Okay. Yeah, you clean up as a 12 would allow you to. There's nothing saying that after we don't have this meeting,

which we still need to talk about, by the way, and I'm like brushing myself off, that we can't tell him to meet us at the end. Well, yes, but now we have the important context that he's a holy warrior and has a saber-toothed captain. Can we leave him? I'm leaving him a note. He can't know we were here.

Then how are we going to contact him? He's staying at the inn. He'll be back later this evening. We'll meet him at the end. We are not leaving a note here. I'm sorry. The whole thing with a goddamn tiger really set me off. Can we please get out of you as definitely and quickly as well?

Yes. I proceed to walk. I just, I'm widely. I'm walking. I think I'm so invisible. All the motions is very clearly war. I have never liked cats. I don't actually do that.

You make your way out of the, out of the yards, the stockyard. As you glance into the general store, you see that the elderly couple still seems to be completely entranced by each other. They're laughing and playing a game of cards at the table, smiling up at each other with fondness. They both apparently very hard of hearing as you make your way out of the stockyard. You've just finished cleaning up after the encounter with the saber-toothed cat. And you make your way out of Aresex Stockyard.

So you begin to join the thoroughfare through town, people milling about, greeting each other. All will be well. All will be well. As you head back towards the Blue Water Inn. Professor, if we've got nowhere else to be until, uh, uh, Derek, then maybe we head back to the end and formulate a plan? Yes, yes, I definitely need to take a rest. At the very least, we can maybe have a bit of lunch and discuss and see what's going on.

I think it's wise we formulate some sort of tactics here. Yes, yes, of course. I am less and less convinced that anything that we will encounter is going to be as it seems. A man with the monkey is not in fact the man with the monkey. The carnival man is not in fact the carnival man. I now worry for the husband of our innkeeper. Perhaps he's on the side of the road. slaughtered over wine.

I mean, anything's possible, this is our next. I hope we just don't jump with any conclusions. You know, look, we know this place is evil. But that's just wine. I mean, it's just a wine. So shortage.

But if we hear that anything is amiss, it seems far darker and deeper and more evil. I'll give you that. You know, something is going not correctly. I'm sure it is not so bad. I believe it is at the point where we can presume that, yes, it is indeed so bad. I agree with you. I think you're on the soccer.

Well, I worry about, frankly, taking anything at face value anymore. Even this dinner, I... Now that I'm... ...have no arcane stores left. I worry about just walking in with flung halibu. The Countess. Perhaps we can ask for... I mean, unless...

Unless... Unless... Which dinner? ...with... Not with Stradania, but with... Now, now again, I don't presume to know much about these things, but... We could always just... You know, with this man not having any kind of invitation, and presuming we even meet him before,

we have to head out. That might not be an option either way, because I guess what I'm getting at him. And he may just be able to provide us some backup without being necessarily in the thick of it. And why do you presume that he would provide us back? Very much, listen, is somebody who's hunting for a living, that man is not just some entertainer or some circus channeling, he's got some serious weapon. Agreed.

He's very clearly a vampire hunter. It doesn't necessarily mean that he's on anybody's side, but at the very least, enemy of my enemy, if you know what I'm talking about. I believe his goal is likely to kill at least, at the very least kill vampires, perhaps a powerful vampire. So I think his aid will be valuable. We need to find a way to approach him and recover. request his assistance in a way that doesn't put us in game time.

It's that we use caution here. Jump straight to divulging any information. It's been to read of infose. We've not even met them. Of course. Absolutely. I would 100% agree. My point is, at the very least, especially if we're not going to meet this gentleman

before we head out tonight, we need to figure out what we're doing about this other dinner. We're so graciously suddenly invited. suddenly invited to. Yes. It's very clear we're walking into some sort of trap. Well, let's get back to the end. See who's there.

Perhaps we can visit Irene if we need to, but let's play by you. You make your way back to the end without any distractions and you're walking into the main area and out of the rooms.

Yes. You walk into the main area and you see that it is, it's nearly empty, but for the two men that you saw this morning, sitting off to the side, they are now drinking and talking and hush breaths to each other. Danica, the lady of the inn, is behind the bar, wiping down, cleaning, appeared to be the same glasses over and over again.

Sarnat, do you notice the fluttering of wings out of the corner of your eye. As you see that we haven't really looked around this room much, but in the rafters there appear to be nests. Ravens roosting among the wood. I'll point a finger and say, she has her eyes and ears even here. Duly noted, but I'm not so sure we should even, I guess, guard our speech that much.

I mean, she must know. We got to talk. Does it feel like we can speak without being like, listen, like, word? I mean, by people, yeah. Somebody around. Except for the two guys off to the sign. It seems suspicious that no one ever comes

in here. Professor, if you're asking me yet again if something here in Barovia seems weird, then the answer is going to be yes. No matter what it is that you're getting it. I do say that idle hands are the devil's play things. So perhaps just trying to keep this Perhaps it just seems awfully eerie.

How does a tavern in a town of very few visitors even stay open? That's the question. Maybe the reason for them not having wine is a front. It's a story they tell everyone. Maybe it's purely manufactured for us. Or this place has been around for hundreds of years. They don't really have any overhead, and they just kind of exist. We're here.

We know that there's at least one other guests here. What do they gain by having some kind of a front? It's the only in town. You're just standing in the middle of the tavern talking or you found a table? We're screaming at each other. I will like to get up and approach the barkeeper and say, do you give me tea? Tea? No.

That evening is approaching, so we do have some red grape mash number three. You'd like some wine. Oh, you have one? Only small loud. As I told you, we're running on one barrel. Oh, yes, I won't have a glass of wine. How about we will have five glasses of wine, please.

Not a none for me, Professor. I prefer maybe just a bite to eat since worked up an appetite. What food do you have? We have a fresh pot of wolf stew. Five wolf stews and Conn, we have any? No. She delivers you five bowls of wolf and potato stew and four goblets of red grape match number three.

No one consumed any. Did you put three? You see what the hell is going on? Here. Professor. Are you well? Are any of us, ma'am? I will

As he looks at you. As he looks at you in almost a mind-ravaged state, you hear the dingling of the dingle bells as the door opens. I didn't mean to say dingling again.

I was to say jingling of jingle bells. Dingle bells, the gingle bells, everyone. is dead. Fuck, I meant to say jingling of the doorbell as the door swings open

and you see a couple more patrons make their way in. They head to the bar, they lean against it. They order a couple of drinks and they sit down. They say hello to the gentleman in the corner and they find a seat

a couple more minutes later and you notice a couple more people. It seems like now that it's afternoon people are beginning to find the need for drink. I would like to just sort of casually cast detect magic over 11 minutes, or a minute and six seconds. There is nothing.

There is nothing about the food or the beverage that detects magic, but overhead the circling ravens illuminate the same strange magic. the one about the hags. We had proceeds with the line in stoop. Thank you. Well, I take my goblet, and I'll put it in front of Shepard. And I just push it towards the center of the table and say, uh, thank you, Sarnax, but not taking any chances right now.

I want to take a tiny little taste of a stew. It just tastes good. It tastes like potato and wolf stew. I'm gonna go ahead. It's kind of creamy and... It's not super flavorful, but it's probably the best that you're gonna get, at least for a while.

It takes me maybe like six minutes. We do when it's... I will consume it. You eat your stew. The ravens are what they seem as well. I give everybody kind of a knowing look. So I suppose then we should not... Do anything besides await our dinner for this evening?

Roll a perception check. Me? 22. You look up and you notice that the nests and things seem to be permanent structures. These ravens that are here, though they are watching you, and though they do emanate that strange magic, but they don't seem to be visiting and watching you. They seem to be denizens of this inn.

Like installation, like the inn was built with the purpose of... I wouldn't say that the inn was built with a purpose, but that at least the ravens that are, and I'd say there are about four of them, they are moving around, messing with their nests, et cetera, and they seem to be... They're not like overly watchfully,

of you that you do notice that one of them that is along the banister seems to be paying significantly more attention to you because there are two banisters that line the upper area, the guest banister, and then there's a banister that as you're drawn to it, you see that there's stairwell on the inside that leads up to an additional balcony. You're unsure of what is up there. But there's a raven that is on that banister that is gazing down at you. and watching you with interest, whereas the other one seemed to be just going about their business, they seem to be denizens of this place, not necessarily that this place was built for them,

or even with them in mind. There is little we can trust here in terms of the incident with the cat. I agree, but ultimately we need to decide if we're just accepting this invitation or doing something about it. Do we feel comfortable accepting the invitation? I don't think we have any other choice. I won't be of much use, in case to get into trouble. I hate to just let a lead go. Perhaps we could write and ask for a rain check.

For tomorrow night. It's not that idea. Just again, I hate to let it go, especially if they deny us and say no, that's it. But you are the one in charge. I wonder, Professor, yes. if we all recuperate this evening and awaken and we do

indeed push back this dinner what if another incident with the cat occurs and we are all equally or maybe even more retired we cannot foresee despite you being a divination wizard yourself

we do not know what tomorrow will bring I do not wish to underestimate a powerful ally of the Countess, as fated in the cards themselves.

It appears to me that if the Countess wanted us gone from her land, we would be gone. I agree. I won't say that they're enough since the things awaiting us, but I feel it's something you should explore.

At the very least, if we decide to try to move the dinner to perhaps another evening, then There's a much greater chance, a lot of the pleasure of meeting the owner of such incident. Yes. Perhaps we write them

a letter and say, oh, we would love to, unfortunately we have plans tonight. This was a late-notice invitation, but we would be happy to get dinner tomorrow. It's worth a shot as long as we're on the same page

of understanding that they may rescind entirely. Play very well may. And that is the case I express that we cancel our plan this evening to make it happen. Well, I don't want to make the decision here if you all would like to go to dinner. I agree with you concerned, Professor. It's a very dangerous place. If we run into seven vampires one again, it would be a very dangerous situation.

Again, it would be a risk if we feel compelled to take that risk. At the end of the day, we have to ask ourselves now, what are we doing? Are we just chasing liens? Are we just running around in the dark, trying to figure out what's going on? Or is this going to get us closer to getting the hell home? I believe it will do just that. Then we have to do it. Yes.

We don't have a choice. Yes. I agree. So, Victoria, take this down. Dear lady. I keep uh, walk up, walk up. Thank you so very much for your gracious invitation to dine with you at your home. We would love to. Unfortunately, we have plans tonight, but we would love to dine with you perhaps tomorrow, night or the following day.

Regards, Professor Clayton Azran from Ms. Hauerah University, the Azran expedition. Perhaps the innkeeper could... Yes, I know. ...to the inniburters for... ...sent someone along. Uh... All right, or yeah, could you please give that to her? I'll fold up the parchment and...

Oh, um... ...the letter. Of course, and... She looks up and she whistles, and one of the ravens flies from the rafters and takes the letter from her hand. Is that one of the mail? A bit of her.

Some, if you have... Birds that will allow it. They're kind. They help when they can. Oh, I'll see. That's wonderful. Yes. It should arrive shortly.

They deliver quickly, and if she has a response, I'm sure that that one will bring it back. And you see as there is an opening in the top area of the rafters. And it looks man-made when you see that the raven swoops. through and flies out into the skies of Borodian. All right, well, that sense? Perhaps we just take it easy and wait to see if Rattavio arrives. I very deliberately did not eat the stew. I kind of just played with it and smelled it.

I will say rule a survival check. 16. You are, you play around with it. And I will say for the sake of of many times when you be out of wilderness and doing certain things, you're able to kind of, you're able to look through the ingredients, and you don't see any ingredients in this that would give you pause.

For the obvious apparent, you can't know what the stock is made out of the shutter, but you get that. It feels like normal. It feels like normal. It's like wolf meat. It's actual potatoes. It seems to be.

You know, like, crushed bones of those. No, fresh bones of any of children. Okay. It's stock. Children. moving the stock. Oh, good. You spend, I would say about an hour talking in the end, just trying to drinking the wine.

It's not great. It's definitely not the best vintage that any of you have ever had, but it's nice to have a little bit of alcohol in this fury place. And it's about an hour that passes when a raven flies in and drops a letter on your table it flaps its wings and heads back up to the rafters. Reading the letter, once again, you get the same elaborate W as the header on the top. Dear Professor Clayton, I am sadden to hear you will not be able to join me for dinner this evening. I do hope that you find entertainment in town and that you're not lacking for enjoyment.

I'm indisposed tomorrow evening, so I'll be unable to meet with you. But in two days hence, I have an evening free and would be happy to host you at my home. Excellent. Is that a great response? Yes. Victoria, I just write up the response. I'll let you have it. Tell how we would love to.

Of course. That is the evening before the festival. This? Yes. Well, we're not really doing anything between now and then anyway. I, you know, besides maybe taking some time to keep training the kids. I have a feeling that the incident with the cat would be far more encumbering than we are presuming. Fair enough.

Is the bar keep, like, going through the tavern, like walking through, is she just a behind the bar? At this point, she's behind the bar, but you notice that she's talking with a man, a very tall man, dressed in similar outfits. He's quite stocky, well-built, and they seem to be having a hushed and hurried conversation. And she looks like she's almost reprimanding him. And as she goes to speak to say something, her face looks frustrated. He leans down and quickly kisses her. She laughs and shakes her head, smacks him on the shoulder. But then they continue their conversation.

She seems frustrated, but at least a little more appeased. Um, it looks like new husband is here. He survived the journey. Color me surprised. Seems he's made his way home safely. Maybe he's found out what's happened to the wine supply.

Couldn't hurt to find out, I suppose. Go on. Very well. Are we sure we want to send Sarnax to do this? I've already left. Very well. I hope that's what he was getting at. I walk up and I'll approach.

Are they, like, in the middle of an intimate moment that I can interrupt awkwardly? Hears open. I mean, yeah, they're essentially face-to-face. He's got his arms around her there, talking to each other and hushed voices. Every time that she looks like she's frustrated or wants to snap at him, he leans down, kisses her, gives her a quick smile and then continues. I thought you were going to kiss Mike for a second. I was going to give you inspiration.

Oh, well, we got to win this campaign It's on now. It seems as if your throat was not cut by highwaymen on your way back. They immediately stopped talking, and he tilts, or he had had his hand on her chin. His hand drops as they both turn in synchronization as they both look at. you. The new travelers in town, and he looks down at you and you see his face almost heartened. If there's something you need, Frank.

I am soon to be stating my relief that you were not waylaid by highwaymen and also would like to ask what the situation of the wine is. His eyes dart to his wife for a second and in shock. He talks about the wine. He came up in conversation. He looks back at you. I wouldn't recommend that you talk so openly about the situation of the wine. The townsfolk catch word that it is running dry.

It will not be a good day for anyone here in the life. Yes, the common folk are indeed weak and helpless, especially, we win the simple fleeting escapes from their terrible reality are withdrawn. Come on. Jesus. Dying so hard. He is trying so hard, Rich. Oh, but not too hard.

Dingle your dingles out. Just dingle your dingles out. Got to jingles. Simple escapes of their terrible existence withdrawn from them, for evened a single evening, isn't that true? in not so many words. Yes, that is, is there something I can do to assist you? I come from a land where the common folk are easily manipulated and guided to the appropriate responses. It would be a pleasure for myself and my companions to assist in whatever way we can.

You see a look of skepticism on his face. Roll persuasion. It's a bayroll. Who's your monitor? I'll get a 20. The skepticism on his face is bleeding as he continues to make, or attempts to make eye contact with you. You seem to be staring straight through him.

Honestly, we could use some help. We haven't received our latest shipment. if you happen to be heading out of town, if you head through the Westgate, just past the Bistani camp, you'll find a crossroads that will leave you down to the Wizard of Wines winery. If you wouldn't mind checking it out.

I have heard word from Verovia that they also have not received their delivery. We've got the festival in a few days. The last thing that this town needs the lack of alcohol, another one of the Barron's festivals. Indeed, the opiates of the masses are critical for their shallow, empty lives. Yeah. You just blinks at you.

Well. So if you're on your way out of town, you want to check on that for their shallow empty lives. I am not the leader of the expedition, but I have a feeling that we will find our way out there, perhaps even this evening. And we will keep an eye out for highwaymen. Not sure you run into many highwaymen, but I would keep an eye out for wolves. We will. We just ate wolves, in fact. In the stew, friend. Yes.

Goodbye. That was, that was even more painful. I knew it was going to be painful, and that was even more. What's your charisma for? It's actually pretty good. It's pretty good. It's pretty good. Yours is higher than mine. Oh, boy.

He's very persuasive. What was the winery and the wandering wizarding? It is not the wandering. It's the Wizard of Wine. I'll arrive back to the table. Wizard of wine's winery. I'll sit back down on the table. Boy, you definitely know

make it easy to RP and DC This is what I'm here for Well, uh, how to go there, buddy It went swimmingly What'd you find out I'm gonna look at the faces of the Of the man and women and just go to read They're both standing

They're going as they turn back to each other And continue their conversation There is a winery Where the wine is coming from that seems to be waylaid likely by highwaymen. So the gentleman never made it to the winery, I guess. I did not ask. I mean, I just assumed if he wasn't able to give you some kind of answer

about what's going on, and he never made it there himself. That seems to be my assessment was win. I believe that, however, if the wine does not arrive, that there will be mass panic in streets, perhaps even violence. Is there... is just something that we feel we actually have to look into? Well, if the professor feels inadequate to dine with a lady, I mean, perhaps smaller.

I do. I do. Indeed. I certainly don't want mass panic. That's going to make our jobs a lot harder if everybody's right. And if there is mass panic, then the agents of the county. test will slip around even easier than they normally would. So what do they ask?

They said if we are in the direction out of camp towards the Vastani camp to keep an eye out, I believe that securing the wine shipment will be critical for the success of the festival in only three days. Don't you think that would be a valuable service to the Baron that runs this town? It would be indeed perhaps you can see audience once we have convinced it. I would say so, but we got to make sure he's even aware of his shorts in the first place. I'd like to think that that's the case, but so far, nothing around here makes any sense. And we don't want to go around doing any way favors.

They don't realize they're getting favors. Four, if you know what I'm saying. So you mean to say maybe we send a letter to him and let them know, hey, we will deal with this for you? If you think that's a wise course of action, I don't see a problem. But not to bring this operation. It could be gained from this man, this baron. Well, what about his, uh, the dole? Right-hand man.

Much should we know enough to write an educated letter to make a legitimate flame? Perhaps we, perhaps what we do. is we, if we have the evening, you just go take a look and we see what may be the issue. We may resolve it in the meantime. They may find out that the entire winery has been sorted by beasts or highwayman, as Sonic says. At that point, we might as fear as blizzard the bad news that there's nothing that can be done. And then watch the world ascends into chaos around this.

Well, at that point, what more can we do? I believe that there will be wine. Perhaps if we have to be the ones to ship it, so be it. Well, as much as I like the idea, Sarnax, we're not carrying crates. Up and through these woods with what we know is out there. That would be a test sex. We'd be set upon by wolves almost immediate. Well, we may not know until we see what is available to it.

It's true, but if we could secure some kind of cart, And horses, and yeah, I don't see why not. Well, you have to pass a Bistani camp. Perhaps they will lend us something in a short term if we need it. Maybe. Oh, yes, I mean, it would be so live. Yeah, I'm kind of with you, Miss Victoria. Well, this is a, I believe, is this a different version of course camp, right?

Yes. Perhaps one could accompany us in it and be very short term. We'll just be buying it from them. Perhaps. You were obviously speculating pretty hard here. At the very least, I like your idea of at least checking it out. It also stands to reason that whoever was shipping this wine

for the first base must have had it on the car. And whoever has taken it if that's what's happened. Then must have had a cart themselves or have run off with the other one. If we can find this wine, we may come apart of cart at the same time. It's certainly possible. Is it at least reasonable to send a letter to the Baron now

requesting audience assuming that we look into this problem. I think that's a fair exchange. We look at the issue and hopefully he grants us audience if we solve the problem and maybe he hands over his name. Draft 11th, that sounds reasonable. Oh, please, that's not really my strong suit.

Mr. Victoria, do you mind? I suppose. How detailed do you want to be of this? Do not let him know where we found how the wine is missing if it is hush-hush. Just that we did. Oh, my.

Let him know it would be a shame if the festival would to arrive and there was no wine in Milwaukee. But we're happy to see what we can do, provide and he's willing to grant us audience. Oh, why? So I'll drop down a letter. It's come to our...

attention that wine has been going missing. We know that your important celebration is coming up soon. And we would gladly look into this shortage if you'd be willing to grant us. I'll get you. Okay. And you're holding the letter up in the air for the Ravens Bank? Or take it? No. I've written this letter, I'm actually sure that I'm actually sure that I no kind of deliberate. The Raven above seemed to work directly for the walker-house. Well, let's ask, say may we deliver the last letter? Yes. Miss Danigar.

Yes. Let me first apologize for our close friend. He's eccentric. But part of the start, I'm sorry. I'm just busy engaging in my shallow, meaningless life. Yes. I did overhear a bit of that. I'm so sorry.

The wine does indeed help. Anyway, I have another letter, and I was wondering if one of the ravens in this rooster work for the burgomaster. None of them work for anybody, but if you had something you wanted to deliver to the Baron, I could have one of the birds sent it yet.

Okay, that would be wonderful. And so many pencels, people so new to the village, she looks up and she makes that same strange noise and one of the ravens flies down and she looks at it almost as if she's communicating without words and reaches its hand out, grabs the letter and flies off. Thank you so much. Or simply trying to make the most of our time cool here.

Let me know if you need any other letters delivered and send one of the roots to do. Thank you. And another round of wine? None for me. Thank you. What time is it? I would say at this point is probably getting close to five, almost six. Dusk is starting to descend on the town.

I believe I'm all. All right, well, I'll be at the bar, should you need me? And she makes her way over to the bar. It takes maybe 15 minutes. It's really quick before the Raven arrived. drives back and drops a letter at your, a letter at your, at your people. And you open it up and it's this beautifully elaborate gold-fillagreed,

parchment, a big B on the very top. And all it says is, who are you? All will be well. The bear. This is not exactly the response that's, we were expecting. Perhaps you will be more amenable to an audience if we have already returned with the wine.

Yes. And it is right about this point that the entire room bursts into a loud cheering. Everybody's attention to the door as it swings open, wind blowing in and you see a finely dressed man, almost Vistani-esque, finely dressed in bright colors.

His jacket is a beautiful shade of pinks and purples. His vest on the inside striped. As he walks in with a flourish and he bows to everybody with flare. And you see as the gentleman behind the bar and Lady Deanna could both perk up and they smile and wave as he saunteres over and exchanges a quick bit of conversation, He leans sideways on the bar and looks around and waves and nods and does finger guns at people. He seems to be really well received here. You watch as Danica runs to the back and she comes back out with a brown paper satchel.

And it seems to be moist with something. She hands it to him and tosses him an apple. He nods his head to her, tips his hat and saunters back out of the end. You notice a, oh, you hear a little bit of talk around you. You know, he'll be back later. I can't imagine what story he's got for us tonight. He must have an amazing story tonight. I have no doubt last night his story was fantastic.

Who is that? Oh, hello, friend. Hello, I overheard you. There was quite a commotion. Who was that, ma'am? The name is Radu. Nice to meet you. Oh, my name is.

Mr. Clayton Azran, nice to meet you. That was the carnival man, Ritavio. I see. Every night he regales us in town with stories of a far-off land. At this tavern. Of course, he stays here. He should be back in maybe an hour, maybe two. What do you think?

Perhaps we wait. Where else would you go, friend? There's no better place to be. Then they blew water in. Now, and he raises his lass and chugs some wine. Do you happen to know what's up that step he said? I believe it is the private guest bedroom,

where Rikovio stays. And I believe it is the owners that they sleep up there. It is separate from the guests, but that's just what my observations are told me. I don't spend nearly as much time here as the, Vock their brothers, Nikolai and Carl over there. And he points to the two men that you've seen here all day, the drunkard from this morning.

Fuck. Fuck. And then, Platen says, fuck. Oh, over there, those two, right there. Yes, they look a little scruffy, but they're both fairly nice. Oh, I see. And how old are that, roughly? It's kind of hard to tell, but they're, like, late 20s, early 30s.

Once they get a little drink and then they become a little less fun as they drool on themselves and ask for more wine. But if you catch them before, the drink is fully set in, they're actually pretty nice. I'll come back to the table. I think I need to get out of town for a while. Why don't we go take a look at that vineyard? So, sure, if you want, it is getting dark. We can travel. It's certainly going to be a little more treacherous

than if we wait until first thing in the morning. Is everything all right? You seem a bit... Yeah, you're a little shaken. The two men that have been here all day, they are vaktas. The walkers, excuse me. Oh, no.

You mean of the mansion? Yes, they are presumably sons of this wealthy woman, me allah. To say they're not exactly what I would have expected. They're not nice. No, they're a pretty nice clothes. Now you actually take a look at them, their outfits seem to be perfectly tailored, and you just haven't paid much attention to them.

I heard drunks, and I just assumed they were, like, how lost trunks? And they, yeah, they seem to be fairly well-dressed. They're talking to each other. You occasionally see them laugh when they slams their hand down the table. They're both, um, they're both. fairly tall, broad-shouldered, dark features, mid-length dark hair.

They look very similar to each other. It's hard to tell which one's the elder, which one's the younger. If you absolutely have to get out of town tonight, we can go. We might be making camp somewhere out in the woods. How about this? Could everyone please join me to the room?

Of course. Is this like... I'll be brief. Yes, of course. We'll be right there. Who are you waving to? To the, just like, oh, don't clean up. We'll go be back.

Oh, to, to the, to, um, she nods. I put a coaster on top of one. Um, so we get to the room. Here's the thing. I'm convinced this evening. You get to the room? Yes. You walk into the room and you see in the corner of the room, a rocking chair that had not been there before. Flo.

And rocking on it sits this. I hate this more. Why? Nikki always tries to hand me the spooky stuff, and I don't want to say here anymore. Oh, shit, I need your face. You notice that it sits there. Its head is completely turned around the opposite way.

As if staring at the chair. So we can't see its face. No. Its head is completely turned around the wrong way. So you'll notice on that doll, the head's on the back. Uh, oh yeah, look this little featsy. Oh. That was not here.

Who would be left? No shit, sarnax. I cast a tech magic. Okay. Do I see anything? Yeah, you see transmutation and divination. Now, everybody just, I'm saying this, from my own state, everybody just calm down. Curio?

But I shove it in my case. This is a tag. Just for a damn it. Pull it out. And I take that. I take one of my guns and I like use the barrel, like flip it over and like try to see if I can find a tag. It's easily, you're easily able to find a tag that says, is no fun, is no Blinsky. I reach down.

Careful. Careful. I suggest we take, we, because we got two options because I'm getting real damn tired of this shit. We take the doll back to Blinsky. We ask them who purchased the damn thing because he seems to know who buys every one of his whole. horrible knick-knacks, or we stop fucking around, and we start cracking some skulls to get to the bottom of the shit. I have a plan. What is your plan, Professor?

May you please give that to me, and then I will tell you my plan. We are coming for you. And as you say that, you begin to hear the creaking as the rocking chair begins to move backwards and forwards, backwards. Is the rocking chair magical? It doesn't look to me. I would like to mage hand and extend the hand through to see if I can feel anything in the rocking chair. You feel around in the rocking chair and you feel nothing. And as your hand begins to pull away, you hear coming from the cabinet.

The cabinet? The mage hand flies across the room and throws the fucking door. And I'm pointing my gun at the cabinet. The door. swings open. There's nothing in there, except for the noose, empty, that have been hanging around the doll of morbid Molly's neck. Give me the doll, sonnacks, please.

One moment, and I'm going to squeeze to see if I can feel anything inside. Feels soft. Crakey. I'm going to cut it open. You cut it open. And as your blade hits fabric, you begin to see worm. and bugs wiggle and worm and plop out onto the floor, centipedes and spiders. A foul stench begins to spill out of this doll.

You should hold it in your hand. Burn it, just, just, just burn it. Sorry, take care of him, man. Come on. Very well, and I'm going to ignite it. I'll have some flame look out. And sacred flame, basically. You watch as the doll burns in front of you, the sizzling and popping sounds of the bugs,

as the heat causes them to burst. And all that remains is a pile of where the doll had once in. Do I feel any more magic, anywhere in the room? You do not. This place is safe. We're not safe anywhere. I believe this inn is almost manufactured. to keep an eye on this.

It is not it's not right. That doorway, that staircase, that second staircase where they live, why would it be separate from the guest rooms? Look, I'm no in-keep,

and I'm tired of trying to come up with rational reasoning for all these hypothetical questions. So here is my suggestion. We need to learn more about what is going on. in this inn. Hell, in the meantime, I'll sleep at a goddamn pew. Can we stay at the church?

I agree. We will not stay here tonight. But perhaps we could learn more before we leave. To the bottom of this. How do you suggest we do that, Professor? With ravens watching our every move, with patrons, every inch of those tables and chairs. I could make one of us get miserable.

Oh. Just one. Just one. And I would elect you, Mr. Morgan. I could make you invisible and you just, as selfily as you can, perhaps sneak up those stairs and see if there are any clues that these, the owner and her husband are even real. Or maybe are they in the employ of the countess? Or are they? are they undead abominations? I don't know.

All right. So let's assume for a second that this works. And now might be an okay time because everybody's down in the thing. And if I can get up there, I hopefully won't run into trouble. Let's say I do run into trouble. Then what? Y'all going to burst in and save my ass? We could sit and continue enjoying our drinks. and you give us a call, a signal, a sign.

I mean, the sound of gunfire ought to draw you in. Shoot your gun if you need to. We can get there as quickly as we can. All right. And please, I'm a part in the phrase, but I'm going to play devil's advocate here. Let's say that, you know, we get into a tussle up there, and I got to do what I got to do. What if this place is manufactured and we now have to deal with every patron in here? Are we willing to do that?

Just burn this. whole place to the ground, because then there's no way we're not drawing the ire of the bird master. And again, I'm not ending up in some stocks or being burned alive. God forbid. I don't believe the townsfolk themselves are guilty of anything. Not yet. And what are you insinuating, professor? What do you seek to learn? Isn't this powerful vampire hunter allegedly staying up those same stairs as the owners. That's what I'm wondering. Is he really?

Is he truly saying that? And maybe he doesn't know. Or maybe he knows that he's playing down. Or maybe the whole vampire hunter thing is just for sure to trick us. I'm here, be your employed. My number one goal is to get us out of here. If you think that this will answer some questions, I'll do it.

But you're going to have to give me your thieves tools. Do you know how to use them? I'm not necessarily practiced in it, but, you know, it won't be the first time I've ever tried to pick a lock. You know, I mean, are you okay doing this? Does it sound crazy? Oh, it sounds absolutely insane, but it's nothing worse than we witnessed yesterday. Or earlier today with a saber-toothed fire. How long do I have once you've, you know, done your thing? Wait, wait, wait, hold on.

I may be able to do... I believe I've just remembered something. I could send two. One should not be me. How are you with your divine energy, sonnets? I'm feeling very quipped. I did not exert as much energy against a beast as you did. I'm glad to hear that, Sarnex.

Had it not been for my energy, beastly rampaging around the tablet, right now. Let's just keep that in mind. We're not judging anybody, all right. Let's just focus. I should be able to keep Shepard alive long enough for the rest of you to join us. That's right.

I know this is dangerous. We just need an absolute backup. All-everything goes to hell plan. Burn it down. And draw the ire of the entire town, city, whatever you want to call this hellhole. Can you send a message? Can you send a message at all? Do you have any way to do that?

Not today, I do not. Send the message. How slow? Can they respond? Okay. What's the rain? Do you need to be able to see them? We've been range.

Oh, you can cast it through solid objects if you're familiar with the target, know it is beyond barrier. Beautiful. One foot of stone, one inch of common metal, all inch of life, three feet of life. This horrible, horrible plan is coming together. All right. Thank you, let you one.

So then why don't we do this? You get a good vantage point down back where we were at our table. Get closer, a different table if you have to. Yes. Make up a story for while half the party's not there. And Sarnax and I'll take care of the rest. Do it clook my lantern? Yes.

Everything you're holding. But if you cast a spell or make any kind of attack, the spell will end. Fertive movements. Got it. You should be able to use those tools, though, while invisible, I believe. Yes.

All right. If you're ready. I'm tape off my poncho and like all of my extra shit. I leave my hat. Can you put this in your case? Yes. I don't trust it here in the room. I'll put it like this.

We should bring everything from the room. I mean, if there's room in there, I can throw my pack in there and whatnot. You open your sand. I just like a backpack. And you see more. Molly hanging on to the side of your case looking up at you. She looks up to you. Hi.

Did everyone else see this? I'm not so sure I want to answer, Professor. Yes, I did. So... You're knocking coming from the inside of your case. So what you're telling me is the dispel whatever you did to unmagicate it just didn't work. It worked for a time. I open it up just a crack.

You see two red glowing eyes staring out at you. Do you want to play? I shut it. Please go. So with just my weapons and no extraneous cosplay bullshit on me, I am going slick, stealth, sleep, and I'm sticking with a lizard man. You hear like the jingling of my lantern. Starvex, hey, listen, we got to go.

quiet now, all right? Yes. Roll a a stealth check at advantage, please. Shepherd, please do not take this the wrong way. But so that we may not

lose each other, I suggest we hold on to each other's tails. Darn I. So I'm going to let that one slide. You tell no one about this. And I just handed my tail.

There will never be a soul besides you and I that know that this ever happened. Well, if Fredanya has her way, no one will know anyway, so it's fine. I'm blushing a little, I'm covering my mouth with a curtain. You can only hear it too. You can't see what's happening. Let us proceed. It's like they don't fully understand how invisibility works. I got a six.

Twist it. Can I? Yes, let's twist it. This is the most critical roll we've had all days. Much better. I got an 18 plus 8 is 26. I got a 17. That's for you.

Okay. I keep that as my lucky coin here. You begin to make your way up the stairs to the great balcony. So just real quick. So basically, we would all walk to together. How much time do we have? An hour. An hour. Right? Oh, thank God.

Yeah, that's an hour. And then so we would get settled and just make sure that our table has a vantage point of the balcony. The table you're out before had a vantage point of both of the boundaries. So you make your way down and you can at first still hear their footsteps as they make their way around. But as you join into the fray of the tavern area, the sound of drinking, clanking, of tankards, the pouring of wine, and the hum of chatter drowns out any noise that they've been making

as you take your seats and sarnax and shepherd as you make your way up the stairs towards the great balcony. Upon reaching the top, a wooden balcony stretches the full length of the taprook, enclosed by a wooden railing carved with raven motifs. The taproom's many lanterns illuminate the rafters and cast ominous shadow,

on the peak ceiling. So you are now along that balcony there. Without trying to make too much noise. We can get it on that we go. We're going to get the camera. I mean, we should be able to whisper to each other.

How close? Well, I guess all you guys see. So there's a door right at the top of the steps. How, how, looking down onto the first floor from up here, how many people seem to be paying attention to us, how can spiky as to be if one of these doors would be slightly adjust. The door can be seen, but not very well.

Just the first one or? Both of them, if you're looking specifically for them, you can see them, but they're fairly shrouded in shadow. The lantern light seems to be relegated solely to the tap room, to the tavern area, and it's illuminating that area. So it's significantly darker here. If the door itself swung open and just stayed open, it might gain notice. But if it were to just pre-field open a little bit and then shut, it wouldn't be something you think people would really see.

I'm going to whisper to Sarnax and say, all right, I'm going to try these doors, one by one. If they're unlocked, we're going to open it up, go in close, going quickly, and close the door behind us. Understood? Understood. Gerix. Watch over you. Guys. So once I get a sense that they are upstairs, I want to, too, I want to, excuse.

stand up in the tavern and say, I hear the great Rectavio is staying in this very end. Is that true? Yeah! I hear he's a great man of many tales. Is that right? Yeah! I heard he told quite the tale last night. Is that right? Hey, you heard he told a tale last night. I'm going to take it out of tail. And you don't really know what he's saying? This man is completely plastered. But the people around seem to understand. this person well enough. Everybody cheers loudly.

He stumbles over, trips onto your table a little bit. I'll look down. Well, unfortunately, I arrived this morning. But I will give 25 gold pieces to the man who can retail that tale from last night to the best of his ability. Best tail is 25 gold.

Who'd like to go first? And I want to try to, like, gather people. You see as he looks like super sad? As he looks at you. I'm going to tell. When you want to tell it, it will go on. You get a first cracker in my name. And everyone kind of quiets a little bit, and the man you'd originally talk to was like, he's literally said like five times that he's going to tell you the tale from last night.

Oh, it's a bit of hard to understand him. Well, he's a drunkard. I don't know what to tell you. Well, take your time. And would everyone else like to come and listen again? Yeah! And they all swarm. Aside from the two Wachter brothers, they, everyone else seems to mill about around your table.

the drunkard himself seeming a little affected by the fact that you were ignoring his outburst to tell you the story collects himself I'll talk a little slower then and tell you the story

All right, well go on and I just sort of as he's telling him I was telling this tale I'm a far off land his wagon made it to And so the story And as it's calls, I want to like very, you know how like people try to match volume level?

Yeah. I want to like active listen and be like, oh, wow. Like that. And as you do this, and everyone kind of reacts with me. Roll the performance check. Oh, fuck. Yeah. Yeah, you, most of these people are fairly tipsy by now.

So they're, they're loving this. This is probably the best moment that they've had all day. Your enthusiasm is infectious. And as you. lean in, Victoria, you lean in listening and occasionally you smile at this gentleman as he tells you the story and people are interjecting, oh, no, no, that's not right. He said this happened first. No, he said this happened first. And there, it's almost like a communal story telling. And you see that the, you see that the in-keeps are looking and there's a smile on their face.

They seem to be enjoying the overall tone. and feel of the inn right now. As they send over a round of free drinks, and you know that that is quite a large thing considering the shortage of the wine, but they're happy to perpetuate this ongoing joy. And you do that. Clever.

You make your way. I try the first door. You try the first door. You jiggle the dingles of this first door. You know, you know, you know, You attempt the handle, and this door appears to be locked. All right, I'm going to try to pick it. Natural 20, which puts it at 31.

Natural fucking doorway! Sorry, Maya's not here. Thank you, Maya, for the natural 20. Yes. No plus the three from the nights. The five from your decks, right? Oh, sorry, I thought it was just a self-check. apologize, it is plus five, not plus three, so

total, but still. Well, now it fails. Just making sure we get you have three or something. You really needed a right on, yeah, right on the cost. Thank you for correcting me. 28 total. You hear a fake click, and it's hard to hear at first with the noise that's reverberating

throughout this cavern, but you're able to tell that you were able to unlock it and you slowly turn the handle and enter in. Still got it. You look around, matching end tables, flank a large, wood-framed bed with a red silk canopy. Across from the bed hangs

a tapestry depicting a beautiful mountain valley. The other walls are dominated by a fireplates and a wardrobe. All right, Star Nax. I don't know how it's magic works. I close the door behind us. I don't know if using your lantern might break the effects. I don't know.

I think of who we should just take our time. All right. Well, well, not too much time and just be aware of our surroundings, we got to move. We've got other rules to check out. We're going to start investigating and trying to see me... Well, an investigation check with advantage.

Do you want to hold? My investigation is plus two. Oh, my plus four. Okay. I will help. I still have guidance? Or is that for one role? Well, so I would basically be like, oh, casting spells that includes cantrips,

drops your invisibility. Guidance was not a thing I did. I didn't roll guidance. You would have no way. You didn't tell you, and you would have passed that check without the guidance. I didn't use the guidance. Yes. I'm not guidance and you hold.

That'll be at 12 for investigation. You look around the room and it's quickly able to tell that this seems to be the bedchamber of Janica and Irwin. Yeah, Irwin. Erwin. Irwin. Sorry, he's like, excuse. Yeah, that's what I immediately found. And Danica and Irwin, as you notice a small painting of the two of them on the bedside table,

you mill about and there doesn't seem to be much in here. The thing that strikes your attention more than anything is the bed. It's finally, it's finally crafted and the linens and things on it are beautifully made. but there's almost a pristineness to it as if this bed has never been used I should check under the bed well another investigation check at advantage because science is something I don't like that uh 20 total you check under the bed and the floor seems to be normal you look around your eyes trail along the four posters of the bed

up into the wall and the ceiling as you notice There is a almost completely concealed trap door in the very ceiling of this room. Sorry, do you see that? I'm in power that. I look around. Echo prompting, yes, I do. You know, we've got no choice, right? I'm going to, I have to climb onto the bed to get to this trapdoor.

I'm going to go for it. Well, it sounds like there is an glorious laughter and applause down the stairs. perhaps the rest of the others are distracted. We may have time. All right. I'm going to climb up to the trap door and just give it a little tug and see if it'll move and wedge it, this wedge it. You poke at it with the barrel of one of, with judgment.

And it doesn't give way at first, but as you continue to put force, it pops up a little bit and move to the side. Some hay and dust begins to trickle down out of it. It looks like some strange dark attic. I think if I, I think if I jump, I can probably get up there and maybe I can pull you up after. What do you think? I think that that is a slender moment. All right. And I try to jump up and see if I can find out here. I'll boost you with my shoulder. Would that be advantage if he's helping? 13 for acrobatics. You jump onto the bed.

A loud groan fills the room as the wood settles in, not having bared weight in quite a while. It sinks beneath you, and you're not able to gain the leverage you need to grasp onto the edges of the trapdoor. All right, all right. One more try, start off. Get up on here.

Get up on here, and I'll use your knee. I'll use your knee as a boost. That okay, they're three, two, one, 18. You, Sarnax, this time, you adjust your lantern in a way that you have a little bit more leverage. And as you find yourself on the bed, you bear down, once again, a loud groan echoes throughout the room as the wood sinks beneath your weight. But you are able to time it appropriately as Sarnax helps to boost you upwards. You grab onto the edges of the trap door and you pull yourself up with that. all of your strength and you're able to pull yourself into an attic. This 10 foot wide, 30 foot long

attic has a ceiling that slants down toward the west, dropping from a height of eight feet to a height of five feet. Four strong nests cover the floor and a locked iron strong box sits against the north wall. A small square opening in the south wall leads outside. Two trap doors with iron hinges are set into the floor. I'll poke. I'll just poke my head back. back in the bedroom, Sarnax. I can pull you up if you want, but there's just some straw and it looks like a lockbox. I can try to make it quick. I will notice, though, that there seems to be an entry, we can exit.

So maybe I shouldn't pull you up. We can go check out the lockbox, and then we can just make an exit to the outside. We don't have to go back out the way we came in. Pull me up on my teeth. No, that's going to hurt. And what I'll do is I'm going to lay my body down so that basically just, just my head and my arm reached out the trap door and use

the floor of the attic as leverage to try to help pull him up. So I'm basically the way you would try to pull somebody out of ice if they've fallen through ice. I would say roll strength to see my strength is fucking abysmal. Able. Able 13. Yeah, I would say that

it's fairly easy enough to pull him up. So then once we get him up into the attic, I'll just like kind of point out the things I saw and motioned the lockbox and say, look, we came all this way. That may be what we're looking for. This is probably of great significance for the professor. I'm going to try to, I'm assuming it's lockbox. I'll see, I'll see if I can open it. And I'll just kind of take my, you know, cautiously approach the lockbox and see if there's a lock on it. You make your way past the four nests. I'm going to run.

On the iron nests. And you make your way to the locked iron strong box. Are there any birds in the room? Babineats. Not that we know this. It's a bird shit. You are now knelt before the strong box. You can tell even just at first glance that it is locked.

All right. I'm going to give this a try. Let's see what I can do. Come on, Shepard. Let's see. What is this trap doing? leading to. Maybe outside. I'm going to put my

earhole down to the trap door to get a sense. I love your whole. Roll a perception check to see what you hear. Perception, you said. I do. That is a 24. You listen and you hear

absolutely nothing. That's complete silence blow the trap door. So it's not back out, it's not back down at least into the main area. in the end, I would assume. I suppose not. I'm going for the... Let me work on this lot.

14. You use the tools and you're attempting to, but this is far more difficult than you had expected, and after a bit, you have not been able to unlock it. Perhaps we take it and give it to the professor. How big is it?

It's pretty big. It would be cumbersome to carry, you wouldn't be able to, you'd have to just drop from the trap doors. You wouldn't be able to climb while carrying it. Fair enough. Why don't we see where this other trap door goes? And maybe we just take the lockbox right outside. And then we can take it back up to our rooms. Granted, if the professor's right about all this,

they're going to know and we'll probably be a steep ship regardless. I agree. But let's take a look. After you, my friend. I'm going to try to open or pull it. You pull open the trap doors. You look down into a large, and you look down into a room. A large painted toy box rests between two small, cozy beds.

Murals, Ravens in Flight are painted on the walls above the loop panel. This podcast is brought to you by our Patreon. Become a patron today at patreon.com slash legends of Aventress and gain access to tons of exclusive perks, including a monthly movie night and a weekly Patreon exclusive campaign. set on the high seas shroud over salt marsh you can also go to the crooked moon.com to pick up your own copy of our first published supplement the crooked moon a folk horror tome for Dungeons and Dragons fifth edition and don't forget to

snag all the extra goodies like dice miniatures plushies a tarot deck and more thank you has to be a child's room a child's moon of sorts but I have you seen any children on the premises? Not that I recall, Sarnax. No. Well, we've got two options. We press forward with the lockbox. We have three options. We press backwards with the lockbox, or we just go back.

Give it one more shot, Shepard. Fine. We got one more. How much time roughly have we spent? Probably 15 minutes. You haven't been gone that long. All right, we got time. I'll give it another try or two.

Let me just, I'm rusty, all right? I'm rusty. No, that's a failing. 24 on my third attempt, just to give you a finance. You fail again, and you're beginning to get frustrated, but you know that you have to give this one more college try, one more Miss Hallory University try. For the professor.

For the professor. As you focus, you move it left and then right, and then just a little further in and clip lock pops. Shepard. Sorry, sorry. And then I will. Roll for initiative. Stop. I'm fucking.

No. Oh my God. I can't handle them. Stop there. I'm like, I just killed two people. I killed them. I ease the lockbox lid open. Looking inside. You find a small black velvet sack

containing 150 electron pieces, each coin bearing the profiled visage of Shardamia. Six pieces of elaborate jewelry worth roughly about 250 gold pieces each, and three potions of healing. Well, that's it? I mean, this is a lot of value, but there's no secrets here.

This is just a box. The jewels. This is not what the professor was looking for. I almost feel bad about taking it now, but we can use the potions. To be fair, we're kind of hard up on cash. What do you think? I do not believe in robbing these people. The potions.

We can take the potions. I'm with you. We don't need the money. We don't need the money. We can take the potions. I think that is a fair point. I'll take the potions. You have three potions of me.

I give one of them to Sarnax. I take the other. Okay. You have two potions of healing, you have one potion of healing. Now the question... First day, it's been about 30 minutes. I'm going to close the lockbox and relock it.

Perfect. I'll say you're easily able to do that. And now there are only one question really remains, Starvex. How curious are you where this other trap door goes? Well, we are already visible. Say no more, fam, after you. You both.

to lower yourselves into the room. The ceiling seems to be a little bit lower here and you're easily able to move the trap door back in place. And I'll say that you were smart enough to close the other one before you did all of this. Thank you. We definitely were. Yeah, of course.

Shouldn't, but that's funny. As you find yourself in this room, you find yourself in this room, the first thing that you notice as well is the beds as well addressing is beautiful and it's childlike. But staring at it, it looks

almost as if it's never been used. Be careful what we touch. But let's just give it a quick once-up. Is there a door in this room? Maybe only one way in, one way out. So let's just give it a quick once-over and get the hell out of here. This is all very strange. Briefly, untouched.

I believe the professors... You get your dog's barking from outside. The professor's... Some of these are insane remnants of... be correct. Look, I didn't want to say it. I didn't want to say it either. Your words, not mine, but to be fair, we've seen some pretty insane things in the last few days. I was worried he was not well. He might not be. We all might not be well, be well, I suppose. Anyway, let's just take a look. Give it a once-out. No, an investigation check. Oh, jeez.

An 11. Your attention is drawn to the toy box in the side of the room. the DM's done okay that's all you find of interest unfortunately for us sarnax my role is drawn our attention to this uh I am going to

step very closely and look at this toy box as carefully as I can all right and assert if there's anything immediately visible without even thinking about it as if it's second nature my hand my right hand is drifted to my holster okay I'm going to try to proceed if there's anything a

miss about it. Roll a perception check. Natural 20. Oh, got to give it. Natural fucking do want to. Gotta give it up for my lizard boy here. Perception, it'll be 28. Golf clap for natural TV.

Yeah. Gotta give it up. Gotta give it up. 28. Okay. Nothing seems to be a miss. Outside of everything else, this is the only part of the room that really looks used.

Shepherd. Let us go over the possibility. I believe there is a near certainty that if we open this, there will be a doll that's probably moving and will see us, and whoever is behind the scrying magic of said doll will be seeing us as well. Even if we're like this. We must see the bleed open, I suppose. Not that I'm provoking you into opening up a toy box for kale. But I'm just, you know, again, playing the advocate.

Well, if there was anyone to play a devil's advocate, Shepherd, I'm glad it had to be you. Thank you. And then there were two. This is the three stooges of Barone. Two stooges of Baroque. We need Kana here. And the music changed. You open the toy box to find a miniature puppet theater with appropriately sized marionettes.

of a king, a queen, a prince, a princess, an executioner, a tax collector, a dunce, a vampire, and a vampire hunter. A garish toy, the stony wagon pitched to a wooden horse and filled with tiny wooden mish figurines. A pair of painted wooden clown masks. One displaying a mean scowl and the other a frightened expression. A wooden top painted with images of scarecrow chasing children through the forest. a stuffed real bat on puppet strings.

What is it? We seem to bear the hallmark of Blinsey's sour. A completely unused room. One kind of used toy chest and some weird at Blinsky toys inside. Yes, that seems to be the situation. Do we need to take this with us back to the professor? Can we just leave this bee? We can leave this bee.

Just make a note of what is inside. I, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, I try to commit them to memory. I'll say it's pretty easy. There's not that much in there. Out the door, I guess. I suppose that's all there is too much. Let's see where this fits us out, I guess.

And we'll head to the room, the door of the room. You open the door and slip out. And you find yourself back along the grand balcony. You realize you were one door over from the room you'd entered. Oh, well, how much... time you think we got left. I believe there's enough time to investigate the far door. It is what the professor would want. One last door. It sounds like he's doing well down there. All right. Good luck. Colin and Victoria and the professor keeping busy. And I'm going to try this last door with the handle.

You attempt to open it and it jingles. Don't jiggles. But it does not move. It doesn't care to be locked. I don't know what's up with me. dingles and jingles. One more time. I love it. We'll see if I get this open. I think we got enough time. I don't know how you all. You hear a click

as the door itself pops up. You know, I don't know why ever you gave this up. Regardless, let's go. And I slip in and hopefully close the door behind the targets. This small gas room who contains a bed heaped with wolfsfer, a foot locker, a tall wardrobe, and a writing desk with matching chair.

In oil lamp, rests atop the desk, the desk near a journal bound in red leather in a red leather jacket. Looking around this room, you see things of color. Not much, but you could easily ascertain that this is probably the guest room of one Rikatovium. Sarnax, if you don't mind, not that I'm telling you what to do, but maybe go through the man's pockets and I'll check out the foot locker. Excellent idea.

All right, go up. So what are you doing? I'm going to go for the footlocker, and then I, you know, you mentioned the journal in his coat pocket. The footlocker has not locked. As you open it up, it contains nothing but common clothes and travelware. As for everything else, please roll an investigation check. Either advantage, yeah, or separately if he would.

Do you want to roll stuff? Oh, yeah, probably. I'm looking at his coat and I'll roll it for the journal, yeah. Oh, baby, man, this dice. I'm sorry, I ever down any cracking dice. I'm on fire right now. 21. I got a 22.

Okay. You look through the room. You're easily able to spot the journal. It seems to be the only thing of importance in this entire room. You pick it up and you begin to look through it. The writing makes frequent mentions of conversations with someone named Drusilla and recounts many long and tedious journeys by wagon. There are also notes about various audities that Rectavio seen as travels, including including a wear-hair child, a boy who transforms into a rabbit on nights of the full moon.

A half-work woman named Gorabacha who could chew through iron chains. A giant man-eating plant that had the most remarkable singing voice. A pair of conjoined goblins. A small man with no legs named Philmore Stunk, who could drink whole casts of wine without getting drunk. Well, I haven't found anything. There's nothing in the footlockery. Is there anything a note in the journal?

Seems to be strange, fantastical travels. Nothing more. Can you commit most of it at least to memory, or is this something we got to bring back to the professor? I believe if you bring it to the professor, Octavio will know that we've taken it. Man, he'll know someone took it. Excellent point.

We don't, my point is, no, no, Tarnax. I'm just saying, do you need to keep your... You see the journal floating. And it's just curious. I don't think we need to take it if you know, if you can tell the professor everything that's in there. I just don't know if there might be something he might find that is, you know. Shepherd.

Beyond us. May I tell you what I want? Please. I want to see you. Then take the damn journal Sarnax. It's fine. He's not going to know. I do not believe it wise.

I'm second fault. then put it back. Just remember what was inside and we'll report it back to the professor. I'll try to put it back as I left it. All right. Roll a sleight of hand. Actually, both of me roll a sleight of hand to see how well you do. It's 18.

Two. Okay, thanks. My slate of hand is a, I think it's, oh, yeah, plus five. It's just a second. Seven total. Well, that's it. We might as well get out of here before we run out of time. What do you think?

I just had an idea What if the journal has secret magical ink Where there's notes in the margin Okay, I didn't mean exactly that But that's what I'm talking about What if the professor saw something that we didn't You're right, we should see it Just take it

What's a journal? What's the worst that can happen? My first inclination was correct Look, I'm not an advocate We left the money, we're not here for wealth We're here for survival We need all the information we can get And if this guy is not what he seems and he's not going to give us what we need, then we'll take it. He doesn't need to know if we took it even if we meet the damn guy.

Perhaps he will think that the innkeeper stole the phone. Yeah, it looked like, well, shit, we got to get back. Is there a way that we could frame the end of course? Okay, I'm sorry. Is there a way that we could frame the inkems? I mean, I don't. Well, if their door still open, I guess you could. take something from the room and put it in here.

I mean, but you saw the room. It doesn't even look like we live in there. That's true. We can't put a picture of them in here. That doesn't make any sense. That would be due obvious. Do I recall anything from their bedroom? Do I recall anything from their bedroom that, I mean, you said it was like pristine, right?

So it's like, there wasn't, like, clothing or, like, like hair, right? There were, like, pieces of clothing and things like that, but it doesn't look like that's where they're, where they sleep. Tarnax, I don't, I don't know. This isn't right. Even if that is their bedroom and it's just fate. They're, it doesn't look like they're staying there.

I don't think like there's anything we have to plan. Well, I believe that we should bring this journal back to the professor, what he would want most. And we have to figure out where they're actually staying, because something's not right about this. A children's room? Something's not right. There must be some secret compartment that we missed.

I'm pretty confident, at least everything where we were, everything we saw. I mean, we did it. You might be right. Let's just get back. We're pressing our luck. I just had an idea, Shepherd. Hit me. We need to go back into the child's room.

Why? We did not move the toy chest. We didn't move it. We did not move it. It looked like it had been used. This is a house of trap doors. What does not be logical to fight a trap door beneath a toy chest? All right, all right, all right, all right.

Let's get in the room. This wears off. At least we won't be visible inside the room. All right? Yes. We'll slip into the... You have like ten minutes left. We'll slip into the children's room here.

Mm-hmm. And shut the door behind us. Can you do that? And move aside. On the count, on the count three. One, two, three. Oh, I hold up to the fuck out. With my, uh, with my, uh, zero plus zero in strength.

I got a 17. I got a nine. You, it's still a lot. You both grab onto the toy chest. You look at each other and you slowly count down to one. As you wrench the, the toy chest forward. It's not attached to the ground. It's just a toy chest.

Your strength overwhelms you as you, as you swing it backwards. smack it against the wall. There's nothing beneath it but floor. Do I hear those? Damn it. We're making it wrongness. It's too loud downstairs. Okay.

Quick, quick. Now, just let's get it up right and fix it and put everything back the way it was. Damn. Fucking dumb and dumber. I wasn't going to make you do that until you were like, until you were like, we both grab it.

I'm like, okay, well, they both grab it and try and move you just a fucking toy job. They're going to be like, they're going to try and move it thinking there's something there and they're going to throw it. So you did. We'll try to pick everything I'm and put it back in the toy chest and set it back where it was. Did you check the time of the tapestry?

What tapestry? In the other room? No, I went up in the other, the, no. We close the doors. We are now in, you have to understand that they may see us coming. We are out of time. Let's just quickly check the tapestry. All right, we look out of the tapestry.

Rule and investigation chair, a perception check. I'm rolling pretty hot fire right now. Perception, let me check. Sorry, I'm flipping back in the fourth year. 20 total. You slowly move your hands along the tapestry depicting the beautiful mountain valley. And at first you don't notice anything at all

as your fingers slip behind the tapestry. And where you expected your fingers just make their way all the way down, you hit a couple of bolts because it's mounted to the and there's nothing here but capture. They hear the word. I love how it does that like... All right, you're satisfied that, yes, yes.

All right, come on. And then we are going to basically book it. Close the door behind us and stealthily make it down the steps and try to like, out the front door. I will say you make it out the front door and the moment you take your feet

to the earth down the stairs, both of you become corporeal again. That's the invisibility. I'm going to basically like drop on the ground and like slump up against the inbuilt. They'd be like, oh, Jesus, why do I feel like that was all for nothing? Well, we learned that the professor is probably right. Something's up. Something's indeed up.

We should get the professor of this journal. Maybe he can discern something that we cannot. All right, keep it hidden for now. Let's get it to the professor. and let's just relax. Would you like a hand to stand up? Yes. You both feel a hand on either one of your shoulders,

and you immediately hear. Well, hello to the both of you. Are you on your way into the inn? Yes, sir. Well, the first drinks on me, and hopefully we'll have a round of stories, right, chaps? May he smash you on the back? Riccavio, great to me to.

you both. Oh, uh, shepherd. It's pleasure. He shakes her. He grabs it. There's a strong grip as he shakes it. There's a light in his eyes, a happiness. And you, friend. Sarnax of the able wound. I've seen men like you. Stricker, yes? So have I. Yes. You are also not from here. No, not at all. We have a friend that we very much like to meet you. Oh, that is great. When can, when will I have the pleasure? He's inside. 20 seconds from now. Then it looks like we both have a place to be and a time to be there. Follow me, chaps. And he walks in ahead of you as he swings open the door. I just look at Star and acts like, I was for. No, what are you with her, huh? You probably shouldn't have stolen his jersey.

And we follow them. Who doesn't notice you do that? No, I know. Oh, God. Okay. Yeah, so we follow, we follow them in. All right, so you're able, you follow in as Ritavio makes his way into the, into the tavern space. Everybody roars in tears as they usher him over.

He finds a seat. He's actually fairly close to the two of you as he kicks his boots up onto the table and leans back to listen to the story. as you're told the tale of a unicorn that brought candy to a town full of people who just really wanted candy. Cool. Who's telling the story? The drunk. You can tell that it's not at all the story that was being told. You've listened.

It's divulged from something that was significantly more sinister and interesting. And then someone had mentioned a unicorn, and now all of a sudden he's just on a tangent about a unicorn. He's making it up as he goes. But Ritavio seems to be interested and find it quite funny. So do I see them? So they're now not in this. They're walking in afterwards. You see Ritavio as he sits down and they're walking in.

I'm thinking of the professor kind of way. Well, thank you, my man, for that lovely story. And so then. And then what happened is the entire town had a big cough. Thank you. Yeah. And then a doctor came. man and gave them all lollipops

from the bellypops from the bellypops from the belly of this unicorn and then they didn't have that cough anymore and then what happened was that And he's the group kind of splits a bit as a few of them turn towards

Octavio to see if he's going to begin telling a tale and some of the more drunk patrons continue to clamor around the storytelling man and listen to the tale that he's weaving with all of its crap, broken

all this bottles. I'm sorry to, I know you just got settled, but this is the man we were talking about. This is, we call him the professor. His name is Professor Clayton, and he's very interested to meet you. I see. We made friends with this gentleman outside the inn.

Mr. Clayton, Erzran. Fritavio, lovely to meet you. It's a pleasure to meet you. Yes. A man with culture. can tell. Yes, as it seems are you. Where are you from, Fred? I'm from, uh, presumably far from here. Bargast.

Yeah, yes, do you know Bargast? I've been. Have you? So you're really, you're really not born here. No. Where are you from here? Where are you from, friend? Uh, secrets.

For now. Yes. But then, are you stuck here? Can you leave? Can you? Not that we know. If I could, I wouldn't be asking. And if I could, I wouldn't be there. Dana, I'm sorry. I'm just, I'm a little one edge.

Well, um, it's a pleasure to meet you. I mean, it's a plan to perhaps go home at some point. My plan is eventually to go home. But when? Well, who knows well? Until then, make the best of a bad situation, I'll say. Yes. How long have you been to?

Oh. You don't speak much. Well, I just heard quite a tale about you. You don't see half-elves here often. Yes. I suppose not? No. I'll fix my hair

I can't hide much from the man like me I hope I'm not being too presumptuous I'm not too presumptuous I'm not too much What brings a pretty lady like you To a dark and friary place like this Well I'm assisting the professor here

On this voyage I see I'm very helpful That's far Around a A round of drink, Fence. Yes, yes, please, absolutely. I normally spend the evening regaling the patrons with tales,

but I think tonight is a night that you should spend regaling me with yours. I think I'm about ready for one of those drinks. Rick Tavio calls over to Danica, and Irwin, both of them seem to be really receptive, and he pays for a round of drinks. It's very kind. Thank you. Hey, Big Jers, you, sir. Thank you.

Well, uh, how I'd love to hear more about you. It seem very well liked amongst the people. Yes, I've really haven't seen so much joy since we've been here. Certainly right in this year. Well, I do, tag here. But tonight's not about me. Tonight is about you. Regale me.

What a great man? you to Gorovia. How have you found yourselves here? Well, this is part of an expedition for Miss Hallery University. Have you heard of it? I've not. It is a university in the city of Brie in Barthas

like you... I've not been to a Greek. It's quite a great city. I do miss it. And yes, so my life's research has been about Brovia and What a strange place

to dedicate all lights work. Then you show up here and find that life is not so heavy here. Lacking is the one thing, life is the one thing this place is lack. That's right. That is right. I must say, after spending my life for searching it, I knew that it would seem dark or dangerous

if I ever found it, but it's far darker and more dangerous than I ever are possible. Well, as you know, most places have that fair share of danger. But yes, I would say I've encountered more danger here than other places.

You're a well-traveled man. I get around. Well, anyway, so, as I'm sure you were aware, When you arrived here, perhaps, that most thought that Gerovians not exist. And this is, I want to be talking like low enough where people can't piece drop easily. You're basically off towards the side now, moved over, you now have your glasses of wine.

Everyone else is really engaging in the stories with the, um, the strange drunk of his unicorn tails. So I believe, so most didn't believe it existed. And just based on the tales that I've heard and evidence that I found in my previous digs that I was convinced that it existed. And I wanted to prove that. And prove it I did. I just didn't realize that it was a place from which we could not escape, at least without the permission of the countess, Trudan. Well, that seems to be a lot of people's folly. But, as I've said, you do what you can with a dreary situation.

Yes. And the Velocchi, the Vistani, Popchies, they seem to be able to travel in and out as they choose. They mention that to us. So, it seems like there are ways in and out. If you were trying to go home, as often. we, perhaps we could help each other. I have a bit of

work left to do, stories to compile when I head home. I want to be able to tell all the time now the tales of what I've encountered to you.

I've never been. Venture spirit. Yes. A lot like what the professor is trying to do, at least the summer guard. Well, yes, of course. So I think I, too, I'm trying to learn

if I can. We're just in a predicament where if I can learn everything that I possibly can about this place, there's no clear way to get home. What are you doing while you're in town? How are you keeping you so busy? Telling stories. Learning from the locals. Going on three months.

My goodness, this town. In this and the other towns. How did you come to find you? herself here? The same way you did, friend. Along a lonely road, shrouded and missed. Was it a chapel

in Erios? No, but I believe I've heard the tale of the one you're thinking of. I don't want to be presumptuous because gentlemen such as yourself seems to know a lot about what's going on around here. But the Vassani told us that the only one

who really can let people go, or I guess even come in, is the countess herself. Do you plan on meet with them? You do. And how do you plan

on accomplishing something like this? She gave us an invitation from dinner, and we're hoping to seek her audience and go from there. You have an invitation to the castle?

Yeah, something like that. And do you plan on going? Well, to advise against? I do not deem myself worthy of advising you anything. You do what

you'd like to do, but should you go, I would like to hear all about it. We can arrange that. Have you been to be? No, I must not be worthy of the countess's eye. Rikavio,

do you know of a young woman suffering the bites of strange mosquitoes? You... Had a nerve. Which it is, so nice. Roll a perception check. You don't roll an insight check.

Not good. Oh, no. Thirteen, actually. His face doesn't crack as he looks towards you. That depends, friend. What type of mosquitoes? Where in adventress? Have you heard of such an affliction?

I myself dabble a bit in medicine. She was not in adventress. She was in Beru. she allegedly met with you not too long ago, when she was experiencing her strange bites. And allegedly, you said it was nothing more than a giant insect, when we all know that not to be the case. Well, it has been a lovely evening.

I find that it is time for me to retire. Oh, please, don't go on his account. He's a little antisocial, but... What he means to say, really, is that we had just heard of you and we were curious on your take. We've come into contact with the young girl, and she mentioned you. Well, a persuasion check. Ooh. That's pretty good.

That's good. That's good. Is a 24. Dang. I am. All right. He looks at you for a second. He seems like his feathers are a little bit ruffled as, well, if the half of, we're.

It's... I shall say, as you know, personally, that some women can get a little flustered when they fear. She was of a high-born disposition. I did not find that frightening the young girl was going to cause healing. As I'm sure you have looked at them and seen, the wounds themselves are not causing any adverse reaction. she's not changing.

Confirmed that, yes. So, I chose not to frighten her but fear she might attempt to run away and find herself in even more perilous danger. Is there any chance that she might change? Not at the present time that I left her. How sure are you? We left her with the kids. I'm positive that unless she's come into conversation,

with large mosquitoes of the same variety and incurred more wounds and in a different way than the first, that she is in no danger of changing. Yeah, Shepard, we examined her thoroughly. I believe what he is saying is still true. All right. Might I ask, how did you come to examine her in the first place? I was traveling through Barovia

And I heard that she was, the entire family, for that matter, were being shot by the locals. She had come down with some illness that father begged me to come and see her. The word had gotten out that not only do I tell the best stories, but I'm a bit of a medicine man myself. So, as I have not feared of illnesses of any kind, I visited the mansion, the mansion. and I took a look Have you encountered anything like this and the rest of your travels here? This is a strange place

You will encounter many things She wouldn't imagine to Don't get us started Yes we've had quite an interesting few days But Irene's case was the first of its kind That I've seen so far What significance to the mosquitoes Do you assume this girl to have

Well, that all depends. There must be something about her that's causing an attraction. But I wouldn't begin to understand the inner workings of a mind like that. I think she's safe for now. We've made sure of that. Now our goal is to begin to figure out our way out. So I believe you plan on staying here? Yes.

I will be here at least for the next few nights unless something leads me in a different direction. They call you the carnival man. Do you truly have a carnival? Rick Tavio's Carnival. You had a monkey? I did, yes. He was not Piggily.

It was not welcome here with Ian, so I traded him to that strange Blinsky man in exchange for his wares. If you haven't been there, you should. We've already been. It's quite an interesting place. Give me ideas for the carnival once I return to a ventricist. And you didn't get anything unusual from his shop or nothing's been out of the ordinary?

Everything in his shop is out of the ordinary. Touche. And I picked up a few things, but nothing to note. I don't mean to pry. I apologize. Don't you all mean to pry? Since I've met you. That's all you've done.

Well, to be fair, it seems like we've got a lot in common, and it seems like you might have some of the same goals we have. And that's why we are so quick to cling to something that we can kind of understand. It's very possible that may be true. But up until this evening, I've never heard of any of you. So unless you have a reason for being here to see me, I can't imagine that we know enough about each other to make a decision like that. I agree.

I'm just simply saying we don't like to go home. Someday. Someday, yes. Well, it was a pleasure to meet you, and if you need any help or any assistance from five very capable individuals, we'll be happy to help them anywhere we can. Duly noted for them. And I will be here telling choice, should you enjoy a nice break from the dreariness of the land round? Of course.

Do you believe in faith? you see his interest piqued for a moment I do believe there is an element of fate to the world around us yes Do you, are you familiar with Madame Eva? Vistani? For the first time you see his face crack for a moment. I believe that it is time that I turn in for the evening. Would you like to have a nightcap with me in my room?

Yes, sure. I wouldn't see. We would, yes. Well, let us make our way upstairs. Please leave the way. He stands up, he waves to everyone. I'm heading in for the night. Please, do not let the merriment cease.

Continue. Drinks on me. And he wakes at Danica as she once again starts to pour more wine. You can see that the stream of wine from the barrel marked red mash number three seems to be slowing down. or Great Mash number three as it begins to slow down. But she fills the tankards and begins to pass them out as he leads you towards the stairwell, up the stairs, and around the corner, and through or to the door that the two of you are familiar with, as he takes a key out of his pocket, unlocks the door, opens it, and waves for you to come in.

There's not much for seating space. That's fine. We appreciate the invitation. As you all file in, he makes his way to the desk. and quickly sits down behind it as he props his feet back up on the edge of it, one boot over the other. You were speaking about fate, friend. Before, Sarnas, I don't need to cut you off and please I don't need to be presumptuous, sir, but I just want to let you know that we are skeptic that the things said in this establishment are not necessarily secret or private. Depends on where you speak to them.

But if you're worried about the countess, this inn is not watched by her, though it's watched by someone. Interesting. Uh, Sarnat. Sorry, continue. Whom is it being watched by, if not the countess? What is this fate in Madame Eva you speak of? Have you received your... ...eaten from her?

I have. Is that what brings you to the blue water in? Yes. Go on. It is also what brings us to you. Go on. I imagine, perhaps,

that in your readings, you were told tale of the five of us, and in a similar fashion, our reading mentioned you, the entertaining man with a monkey, that you would be a great ally

in defeating the Countess. It seems as if our fates are intertwined unless I am mistaken about your reading. We're being awful for, because quite frankly, we're tired of mince in our words and get jerked around. More options. What exactly did this reading say, if you believe it's in regards to me?

He believes that there is someone who is not, as he seems. That he is a powerful ally. Betty has a monkey. You say you are being frank because you don't want to mince words, but to ask you a question and you talk in riddles. Either tell me what the reading said. Well, the conversation can end here. Victoria?

Just that card. Just that one. This card sheds light on one who will help you greatly in the battle against the darkness. Look for an entertaining man with a monkey. this man is moving who seems well Madame Eva is quite

a character Rudolf van Richtin at your service friends and he reaches out your hand to shake vampire hunter extraordinary and you

magic around him shimmers as he drops disguised self the man he had been before no longer the man who sits in front of you

you. This man is significantly older, but there's a coy smile to his face, happy wrinkles around his eyes. And you see his heavy leathers. He has stakes and holy water and all manner of things strapped about him that you had not been able to see beforehand. The colors of the carnival no longer present. Well, that was quite the joy, don't you think? I enjoyed every bit of that. That was the most fun that I've had since I've stepped foot in Borovi. I'm astounded. Rudolph. Mr.

Rudolph. Van Richten to you, sir. Van Rixon. Now, your name, Clayton, you said. Yes, yes. Last name. Tell it to me now. Asran.

Love it. Ms. Toler University. Yes. Been there, done that. You have. Oh, yes. I've written many a book there. I'm a famous vampire hunter friend.

You haven't heard of me. Have you? You've studied Barovia, friend, and you haven't heard about me. Have I heard of him? You see, is he snout. snaps his fingers and you feel a shimmer around the room. Don't worry. It's a silent spell.

They won't hear a damn thing we say in here. Whiskey, you brought some. He pulls out his black and he throws an adieu. I just looking at him. And Sarnax like, so you fools, you're the one that took my book. Yes? Give it back.

Yeah, we were just about to come thinking about that. What? We thought you would want to see his journal. In our defense, it was the professor's idea. I have no doubt such it was. This is a thought. Do you think I'd leave anything important in my room? Not a chance.

You stole his general. We thought there might be valuable information in it. To be fair. Look, we found a lot more than just that book. What else did you steal? We didn't take anything else. That's exactly it. We found a chest full of jewels and money, and we left it where it was.

We're not interesting to steal a professor. No, we did seal three health potion. But that's to save us and our hides because we're not getting any God's damn help around. Wait, you got all of those things. The one thing you stole was this man's general. And the health potions. But the health potions, there were four things. We figured the information was actually of value instead of actual valuables.

We're not interested, we're not common themes. I am so sorry for the man. Don't apologize. This is quite the entertaining event. You took my journal. We thought there might be some information about Borovia. Or maybe the professor might be able to read it in a way that we could. You would have been wrong.

Well, better safe and sorry, right? Fair enough. Can I insight check this guy? Yes, you can. I've any provision in that, so... Let me just check. Professor, can I get my hat back? You didn't put it in your damn case, did you?

No, no, no, I believe... When I went to put it in my cakes, I saw... Let's look right here. Thank you. As all your bags, here you go. Again, sir, I can't stress enough how sorry we are. You must understand that we're all just a little on age. He seems to be completely honest with you.

Have I heard of him? Roll an intelligence check. History, maybe? History, thank you, sorry. So that's a little better. Plus eight is 20. Yeah. You've heard tales of a vampire hunter named Van Richton,

Rudolph Van Richton. Wait, Van Richter. Yes, yes. I've heard of you. Of course you are. You're quite an acclaimed vampire hunter. And... And he bows before he flourishes his arm and he bows down.

Yes, you've traveled across Strigger and elsewhere, slaying countless untold scenes. I've heard of your exploits. How did you... Did you intend to come to Borovia? Professor, before we go any further, yes. Just in the full... honesty and disclosure, the thing in your case.

That is one of the dirtiest things you've said all night. Hold on to that thought, if you will. I wish that wasn't yours. Please don't brandish the thing in your case. I assure you, it's tough what you think. We just want to make sure you understand what's going on, and if this actually is a sanctum of sorts. The case is going to float up and spin around,

I love this. Quite an interesting trick. How does it work? It's an old family heirloom. Passed down. Old family later. Would you please take a look inside? He blocks down in the face.

And what am I looking at? Is there some horrific devil doll with red glowing eyes inside? None that I see. Is there a doll at all? Not that I can see. That's not good. There was this.

this creature. You mean that doll on your back? Uh. And as you all turn and look, you see as morbid Mary is slumped over your back. I dropped to the floor and like

roll and like try to get it off me. That is quite the reaction to a doll. And I'm like reaching for my weapon and like scrambling up against this. What is this? How? How? What? That. And I want to make hand and like

grab it around the neck. It looks like a blinksie toy. But it moves, and it's a sension of some sort. I don't believe it's sanction, but yes, it looks like a blinksky toy. Wait, it just does this. Probably. Let's me see.

I move the Maitchand over. Do you want to be my friend? Let's be friends. Would you like to go murder someone? Let's go murder. It's just a toy. I grabbed it with M-Chad. You're kidding.

You know. Those dolls are horrific, and they multiply. It hung itself in our world. Oh, yes, I'm sure to do other strange things. Wait, it's... It hasn't vomited on you yet. No. No?

Oh, its head spins. It'll vomit soon. So this is... It's a fucking toy! Well, yes. What are the strange children that live in this land, the ones that are not being used for ritual sacrifices? How well. This got dark very fast.

This land is dark. Yes, but I haven't had enough scotch to delve into that bit of trouble. Perhaps you should pour yourself more. We have much to discuss about that. We're all just moving on. Looks to be so, is your friend not mine? Let me take my jacket off. He takes his jacket off and gets himself a little more comfortable.

He kicks off his jacket off. boots. There's a hole in one of his socks is a big toe sticking out of one of them. There is a child's room beside us. I'm sure you know that you do. Oh, yes. Yes. And yet we've seen no children.

And Professor, from what we found, nobody's living in any of these books. Oh, well. Nobody's living in them, yes. That's true. But wait, the innkeeper? Not, not in their room. If they're living here, it's not in those rooms. Oh, no, they live here, just not in those rooms.

What does that mean? Well, they were ravens. They are what? I'm sorry? Yes, they were ravens. That's a thing? Well, there are people that turn into ravens, yes. But they have managed to be able to control it.

They can turn whenever they like. They sleep in the attic. There are a few nests up there for. Two for the parents and two for the adults. Or two for the parents or two for the kids. Yes. They're kind folk. Some order, I believe.

if I've been doing a bit of research on them. I don't quite have enough information yet to make a valid judgment. But those that run the inn are very kind, and the Ravens on occasion have warned me a wave. There's that horrific hag windmill up the way, and they frequent it warning people for going on. Not anymore.

Not anymore. I just want to go on the record and say that this, this day, this day in the history of days that I've existed, that I've known you, have been a series of horrible, horrible misjudgment of misjudgment of miscal. I would say that is going to continue to happen. Yes, yes.

I'm not blaming anybody, Professor, but I am just a little... The Keepers of the Feather. They're called the Keepers of the Feather. Keepers of the Feather. And so far, my experiences with them have been quite good. Wait, so you're saying they send ravens? No, they become ravens. There's more of them than just the Marchkov family.

They, and I've seen them in a few places, but I know they frequent the, the one, the raven that was watching the windmill. Was that a person? Oh, yes, the ravens that watch the windmill itself, and they watch the circle of stones. They warn people from approaching, especially travelers who knew to the area, for fear that they might succumb to their doom at the hands of those horrific hags. Order of the what? They're the keeper of the feathers.

Keeper of the feathers. We just can't win. We just can't, we can't catch a break. I suppose they watch the church as well. You know, I'm not quite sure. The church is hollowed ground. I don't know. They spend much time there, to be honest.

Would they not be able to fly above hallowed ground? Oh, no, of course they can, but what's the point of keeping an eye on hallowed grounds are safe? One smashed itself against the window, killing it instantly. Oh, no, that can't be a keeper of a feather. That must have been just stupid old raven. Does it make sense that a keeper of the feather?

You know that's not all ravens and brovia are keepers. That's not the day now, I suppose. Would a keeper of a feather, just theoretically, fall prey to a sleep spell, fall a simple 10 feet, and die? Does that say right? That depends on the age of the, the, human that was guarding, or that was transformed.

Some of them are capable of transforming at the age of four. The younger they are, the more likely they are to succumb to harm in Ravens' fall. I'm sure it was just a reuben, Professor. And rightfully so, the older they are as well, the more fragile their bones. Yes, yes, yes.

Well, yes. Yes. That is certainly, so keep her the feather, you say. You know, if you're a magical folk, like I imagine you are, just like I am, friend, then you can just simply detect for magic on them. And if they seem to glow with that glow, then you know that they're aware, raven, and not an ordinary raven. Yes, yes. I mean, it makes perfect sense now.

Yes. Now. Well, nothing can be done. Nothing can be done. What is the goal of these keepers of the feather? You know, as I've said, I haven't very well delved into it too far, friend. But I've been keeping my eyes on the Vastoni camp outside of town. Yes?

Vastani. Oh, I'm sorry. What were we say? Oh, you've been keeping an eye out on the place in the Stoney camp, yes. Yes. I'm not sure about them. You don't trust them? I trust about half of them.

And even the ones I trust, I don't trust. What are you concerned with? Not all of the Stony are what they seem. Are there any in particular we should keep an eye out for? More so the ones outside of town have caught my eye, traveling to and from Lady Wachter's house. And I'm assuming you've discerned so far that she is an ally of the devil's drop. Yeah, speaking of dinner invites, she gave us one as well.

Yes. Yes. She had you trailed, didn't she? She did. Oh, I knew it. Sarnax was the one to spot him. Yes, she had me trailed as well when she realized she couldn't get anything out of me.

She rescinded the invitation. Does she mean this farm? Well, that depends. Do you mean her? Do you mean Stradonia Hahn? She is a staunch ally of the lady Stadia. To be honest with you, I had hoped that once we had achieved some sort of

time with the countess we could talk to her and reason with her and she'd let us go but that doesn't seem to be the doesn't seem to be an option and if we believe anything about fate in these sorocca cards then harm is the only way

this is going to come to a head. So you intend to fight the lady walkie walk-tow? Well, we were going to see what happens if we set foot in there, fully prepared to do what we needed to do, to leave safely and in one piece? The cards spoke of a powerful

artifact, a relic, that she keeps buried with the bones of an ancient enemy. You don't say. Does that sound familiar? What's the reading say? Burbatham, Fred. Do we just want to tell him the whole thing?

So he has all the info or... Do you just want to tell him what? Do you mind, friend? Could you submit to a zone of truth? I would submit to it, but I can't guarantee that I won't pass the same. You will attempt to pass, or you can choose to fail. I know. I reserve my right to lie to you face to face.

Well? We've just met. I am extending a bit of trust, but I'm not, I'm not super enough to trust explicitly, complicitly, whatever that word is. Explicit. Yes. We had a bit of bourbon. We can all say.

in the zone, and you'd be able to ask us the same things. Yes. We could all be in the zone. We'd be willing to offer up information as well. Yes. Well, then I reserve the right to say nothing at all if I'm not ready to answer the question. It's up to you, Professor.

It's not necessary. It's not necessary. I just thought maybe we could prove each other's honestly. I think of coming, Professor, there is no reason to bring spells into it. Just a show of faith that I assume you can do the same thing. I figured we would all be subject to it, but

if you are against that, I certainly won't insist. But I feel comfortable sharing, given that I've heard of you, and you seem like all of the evidence points to you are who you say you are. Well, ask away, and I'll tell you what I can. Well, let us go through the readings and we will just confirm to you. Perhaps it will, it will it will perhaps you some kind of information. Well, by all means, read away.

The Nine of Cliffs, the traitor card. As card tells of history, knowledge of the ancient will help you better understand your enemy. Look for a wealthy woman, a staunch ally of the devil. She keeps the treasure underlocking... Ah!

With the bones of an ancient enemy. I should have known. Lady Wachta, what means hiding the journal of Stodonio. Van Zorovic right under my nose. Eternal. Eternal. Oh, yes.

An ancient tomb. Shadanya would want that with someone she trusts. Or locked away in Castle Ravenloft. I've been trying to get my hands on it since the day arrived. What is it? Why not keep it in the castle like you initially said? It must have walked away from her somehow. And she either doesn't know where it resides,

which is my thought, which makes Lady Wachter quite the tricksy woman. Or, I'm just not worried about it being with Lady Wachter, which, on its own, makes it even more of a formidable foe. Fair enough. So, there's a journal, and it's her journal. Shaghan. Oh, yes.

Oh, yes. And it means for sure. She's perhaps duplicitous. She is fooling the countess, you mean. The lady walked for it. Yes.

It's a traitor card. Quite right. Quite right indeed. Perhaps we can threaten her. And no blood need to be shed. Well, she has the same goals as we. I suppose either of those things could be correct, but we take this gentleman's

noting that this woman may be very powerful. That's right. That's, we proceeded with caution. This would be my only thought. So the countess does not watch over this inn here. You know, she doesn't keep much for eyes in the city of the Lockhe.

She has on occasion traveled in, but with the hollowed grass, the barricades around, the town being what they are. It's not as easy for her to manipulate here as it is in Borovia. What do you know about this Baron?

What do you want to know about this Baron? Why is it with children in these festivals? Why are children required? Why is attendance required? Because children and adults are required. Both neither one is discriminated against. The flyers explicitly

Required children are required. The Baron hates the Lady Stradonia. His family is from a long line of people. Original founders of this land before Stradonia came in with her armies and conquered it, far before her turning, as it were. And the Baron believes that his family is the rightful lord and master of the land of Boromia. He has a seething hatred for the countess. But along with that, a seething fear he is. can't seem to overcome his fear of the countess. And he believes that while he is the burgomaster,

as long as he keeps the people happy, that it will keep the lady away. Don't know how true that is. Actually, I'm lying. I do know how true that is. It's not true at all. But he's ignorant and he thinks that it works. So he puts on these stupid festivals.

he requires the people are there, but he fears that sure did the town fall into the same sadness and self-deprivation as the village of Borovia that Shardanya will soon lord over this town as well. When a soul comes,

he succumbs to despair. It's far easier to be harvested. This is true. Well, for the countess, it's neither here or there whether the person is wallowing in sorrow or not. As long as it's sold that Barovian has, then Stradonia's interest will be peaked. So if what all you're saying is accurate, then why doesn't Stradania just absolutely crush everybody beneath them? Sounds like she could. Of course she could, but why would she?

I don't know. somebody like this, this burger master could be removed, no problem. Especially if he opposes her open. Yes, he does. But isn't that half the fun? Doesn't the cat like the toy with the mouse

before it pounces? And why would she want to rule over an empire of ash? It's better to have land of people to rule than no people at all. It's much more fun to watch the mouse run than to watch the mouse run

than to watch to cower and fear. Speaking of souls, what is the nature of the soul in Borovia? Well, I'm glad that you asked. It took me at least a month or so to figure it out. As you meet Barovians, I'd watch them closely. Some of them do not function like normal people.

They're incapable of the normal range of human emotions. Those, Barovians, have no soul. What's happened to their souls? They were never born with them. Only about one-tenth of all Borovians are born with souls. Well, I don't understand. How's that even possible? Well, and I don't know this for sure.

The journal Stradonia would actually give me the information I need. I do believe on this, but whatever magic that Stradonia used to make herself what she is, this undead abomination, gave her additional powers. She bolstered the people of Borovia, creating from nothing, empty vessels, to give the area the appearance of a bustling valley of people. But those that were trapped here on that day long past,

those are the only souls that remain, and the adventurers that she tempted. in from the material prime of Ventress, material plane of Evantris. Additional souls she can add to her roster. What do you mean the material plane versus... Well, as it were, she can only gain nourishment from a Barovian that has a soul. So if she's feeding upon all of the Barovians with souls and there are none left to feed upon, as sometimes it can take a century before, a baby is...

born containing the soul of a past a long dead Barovian. So she uses the Vastani to lure and lead adventurous travelers like into the land of Barovia to feed on them. So, wait, are you saying that we are not in Adventurers currently? Oh no, friend. At all. Where are we then? You're in Barovia, friend. Yes, but I presume that Barovia was just some, some magical part of a ventress, maybe in Trigger or somewhere else. I've not fully discerned its exact location, but I have a few guesses. Do you mind sharing?

Well, you heard of the shadow fell, friend. Of course. Well, I think there's any plane of existence. I think that might be the one we're in. So we're not even an adventurous at all. You were in Borovia. And that's all I feel comfortable enough to say. Oh, shut up.

Makes so much sense. I can't believe I didn't see it earlier. We did cross over and trigger the professor. Yes, yes, of course. I should have known it was some kind of crossing. Everything I've read with the Vastani, it just seemed like it was a problem. Wait, you could get to. And therefore, Irene must have a soul.

Yes. Oh, she does. Oh, that little, little minx. She contains, I'm assuming you've put it together already, as smart as you are, the reincarnated soul of the lost love, of Shania, Tatiana. What? That poor girl was birthed with the soul, the reincarnated soul,

of Stradania's lost love. Such a shame. Poor thing. Badly, you know. Nothing that we can do about it now, that's for sure. Is she doomed? Well, as doomed as one can be, housing the soul of the one woman

that caused all of this to begin in the first place. Yes. Yes. But if we prevent her from being killed or fed upon, at the very least she'll be safe. Oh, she won't be killed.

No, I'm sure that Stradonia has other plans. What would she possibly want with her? Well, many things, I'm sure, but her fage will take her to the castle someday. I have no doubt of that. But until then, the best we can do is keep her protected, and her, I left her brother with many things to keep her safe. Well, he wasn't very affected.

he tasked us with bringing her here. You brought such a Vlaki? Yes, she's currently at the church. Oh, well, in that case. She's upon hollow ground. Couldn't be more safe. Good. You had me worried for a moment.

It feels, I feel confident that you've confirmed I believe. Excellent. You've got to unpack here. Oh, yes. Well, and I'm exhausted. I have to. I have a saber-toothed cat. Do you?

And he is quite... Oh, yes. Oh, well, that sounds very wonderful. Is it from Aventress, the cat? Oh, yes, of course. You brought a saber-tooth cat all the way from an antips here. Oh, yes. When you put on a facade like I do, you have to buy yourself a saber-tooth cat and bring him with you.

I don't trust the Vastani. There's a scent to the evil ones, the ones who are in league with fraud. I purchased a toy from Blinsky, and I've been treated. I've been training, Chad. It's my saber-toothed cat. I've been training Chad to sniff out these Ebro Vastani. He's harmless to anyone else, but he has the scent of them. He'll find them.

He'll hunt with them out wherever they are, and he will rip their throops from them. But it is quite a task to train him and to feed him. And he was quite the, he was in quite the mood when I brought him his steak tonight. And Drusilla, my lovely horse, the apple. Oh, Drusilla? Yes. Your horse. Yes, you stole my journal.

You've read all about her. Though I was clever. I made it seem like a friend, a traveler I'd trapped with. But no. That's what I had assumed. Sweet darling. So a traveler indeed. Yes.

Yes. Yes. When you put on a disguise like I do, you have to make sure that everything is pitch, puffed. Quite right. You leave no stone unturned. That's right. You steal no journal off the desk of a man, and do not replace it with another. It looks exactly the same.

With the same. Rookie mistake. Yes. Yes. We are not generally feeding, so it was a... That does not sound that way to me. Three health potions. It has been diar times.

At least you didn't take their jewelry or their electrum. To be fair, do we consider these... Do you consider these people an ally? I haven't decided yet, but as of right now, they're not on my radar as an enemy. They have been rather kind to us. I was thinking maybe we should just come forward and apologize. We could return the health potions immediately. This is just, this world is harsh and dangerous.

They won't notice that gone. They won't. All right. No. So we should abuse them. Might as well. You stole them. We didn't take their...

valuables. We only took what we needed necessary for Shavada. Well, depends on what you consider valuable. Me, I consider my health to be valuable. But, worry not, I don't think they'll notice. If you say so.

Perhaps we can make it up to them by securing some wine. It's a wonderful idea, Mr. Sallens. Yeah, you wouldn't happen to have any idea of heard about this wine short. I had begun to look into it myself. I've heard a bit about the tale.

The, um, did Erwin put you up to it? We had just heard tale from both... His father is the... The lord of the winery. But he wouldn't tell you as such. They got into a spat a few years back, and they're not on speaking terms. So, I imagine he's standing that way,

not only to look what's going on with the wine, but... Check on his father as well. You see, the land here is not fertile. and for wine to grow as it does magical means. So, I've done a little bit of digging. It's a joke once I finish this story. There are three gems or were that were planted in the ground,

creating fertile land for grapes. You'll notice there are three different types of wine here. Red grape mash number three. Actually, let me and look through my notes. Yeah. Hmm. Ha ha. Ha.

Let's see. Red grape mash number three. Yes, red grape mash number three. I see. I'm taking detailed notes. Yes, I would hope so. I would be. I'm not too.

My quill. It's dry. Yes. Well, here's a quill. Oh, this is the wrong place. I need to be looking over here. Great match. That one is the one that's most common.

It is the least of all of them. It's the least valuable of all of them. One is most easily able to come by. and then let's see, the wine storage, yes. And the, no, I apologize,

it's a purple great match number three. I always think red, because wine is red. Let's see. There's also one called Red Dragon Crush, which is the second tier on the list.

They're completely out of it here. And the other one is a champagne of some kind. Name. The name. escapes me. That one hasn't been seen for maybe a year. That, the champagne, is the one that caused the rift between father and son. You see,

without these gems, the ground is no longer fertile. And about a year or so ago, the gem for the champagne was mysteriously taken. Grapes were no longer able to grow and stock dried up. I believe there's only one vat of it left, and it's at the winery for very special occasions. Now, the other two, they were in plentiful supply, until recently, and I heard whisper that at least one, if not both, the other gems have gone missing. So all three gems are now missing? I can neither confirm nor deny, but a nose, and I've been sniffing out to the wine.

That's what. Do you know where these gems may have been brought to? Well, I haven't made it out to the winery myself, so I couldn't tell you. But I do know the entire areas infested with blights, needleblights, twig blights, like strange druids of the forest. It's a dark place there. How the inn was able, how the winery was able to stay. So well-guarded and understood.

disturbed by the horrors of the force for so long I couldn't tell you. I must admit, I am particularly interested in these gems that affect the soil composition. Well, cultivation of plants in this land, I find the soil to be quite amenable for my purposes. But my crop is very unique. Well, I can't speak to all that. I've not much of a green thumb. But it's definitely worth checking out.

Perhaps tomorrow morning, we will set out. Yeah, I mean, that was our plan, at least for tomorrow to maybe see if we could figure out what's going on with the winery. Well, I definitely wouldn't recommend going in the evening. Agreed. Highway. Not highway. The druids. All manner of things.

things. Well, it seems like this inn is safe to stay in. Oh, yes. It's really bad. Yes, having met you, I think it's much safer to be. Lock your door, though. Why was there a magical rocking chair and evil dolls? I believe I have already, I had already spoken on this.

The doors multiply. And the mad that they create rocking chairs. Well, where the rocking chair, and my assumption is they probably walk down to one of the other rooms and dragged it in. And just, just to be certain, I mean, we found fingers in the one doll. It is. Well, that is strange. I have known, on occasion, the dolls to do some pretty unusual things.

Collecting fingers does not surprise me. Does it look like the dog cut the fingers off themselves? And you notice blood on the outside of the door? Not that we noticed. Have you been near a cemetery any time recently? No. Yes. Well, oftentimes they'll dig through the graves and take back trinkets.

It's possible that someone was recently interred. It was a graveyard. Can we just burn it? And anyone... So I said cemetery. He said no. You said yes. And then he goes under his brother.

Yes, it was a graveyard. I was a cemetery. You're so right. Any... I don't know. So. We can just burn them all. Anytime we find one, we can just burn it and hope that we stop them from multiplied.

You can at least attempt to. I've never seen at work, but this seems a terrible. Why? Why would someone create something like this? Linski's a strange man. Can we kill him? Well, no. You could. I can't imagine that he would fight well for a man of his weight. But he's harmless, aside from his strange sense of humour.

Well, and, you know, the room full of Irene dolls. Yes. I haven't had the heart to tell him that they're modelled after an actual person. I think that's one of the few things that would actually repulse him. What would the Baron need with those dolls? Oh, it's not the Baron that uses those dolls. It's his strange henstman, Isaac. do you know what he uses them for?

Well, he sleeps next to them. For what purpose? He finds Ivina to be quite attractive. I've had enough. And he needs, what, one a month? Well, takes about a month for him to ruin the one that he has on him. Oh, dear God. Absolute heresy.

I don't even know what to say. Are you thinking sexual things? I'm not insinuating anything sexual at all. I don't know what you're insinuating, but the bottom line is it can't be good. Well, have you met him? No. Oh, well. Well, then it goes to show you wouldn't know much of anything.

Yes, no, he's a bit of a monstrous creature, Isaac. He has a fiendish deformity, a monstrous tiny arm that casts fire from it. The townspeaker, quite repulsed by him. And the hand seems to move about on its own and do things on its own, and it oftentimes lights the doors on fire. Oh. Well, I suppose that's less sinister. It's still an inchman.

It's not the mind of a child. Well, that depends. It doesn't have much of a mind at all. It's intelligences. Honestly, I think Chad. smarter than he is. Why does the Baron... Chad's a cat.

Why does the Baron keep this man around? Well, you haven't seen him, of course. He's quite huge and he's horrifying. I see. Gets a lot of things done. Now, people in town, they heavily disliked the Baron, but

there is fear, and fear gets a lot of things done. And why would the people of this town that fear the baron or hate the baron. Why would they put children into socks? Well, if they fought against it, then Isaac would take them and lock them away in the baron's house, and God knows what happens to the ones that go there. I sure don't. So it's part of the culture here where they punish children for being sad.

But not just children anywhere. Or adults otherwise. It's well. It is what it is, friend. If I were you, I wouldn't go poking my nose. into other people's business. There's a lot to be done here. There are evils that need to be addressed. Yes. We're just trying to make sense of things

and try to get somewhere that doesn't lead to another question. Oh, well, you're parking up the wrong tree. There are nothing but questions here. Many things will go unanswered for you. We've learned that in our time here. We'll let you get some sleep. We need some sleep as well.

is getting late. A lot of information were so pleased to have met you. It was lovely to have met you too, half elf. You know, now that I think that there are some shadow elves and you can't them. You don't say? Yes.

I'm not sure exactly of the location. They move about, but if anyone would know, where they see all. So if you're looking for someone, you could tell you about your heritage, That shatouy tinge to you. Oh, yes, you do.

Oh, yes, you do. What's you talking about? Drop it. Thank you. If you're interested in that, I would keep your ear about the ravens. No, thank you.

Yes. Put your hair down. You're trying to hide it. Though I do like it up like that. Frames your face nicer. Well, I'm off the bed. I'm going to get up. Burning.

Good night. Sarnax, don't look at me, buddy. Well, as for the rest of you, it was great to finally meet some friends in Borovia, and I will keep my ear out for more information about Lady Wachter. And eventually we'll get together again, and we'll have a conversation about the rest of these cards, and we'll see what I can tell you about them.

But in the meantime, unless you know if I hear anything amiss about town. Yes. And you do the same. Of course. Yes. And if you're in my room again, you're not going to find anything here. Next time, you rummaged through my cart.

At least take something. Make it worth your while. I hope at the very least you understand that we aren't thieves. No, you're definitely not thieves. Thieves would cover the track of the way they dragged my Chad through the debt. It was more like he dragged. Never mind. It doesn't matter.

We appreciate your hospitality, and we look forward to me. being you again in the morning. Yes, if you'd like to spend time with Chad, let me know. He's much more calm around me. Great. Thank you for the drink, and your cat is quite strong. Oh, yes, I know.

I've trained him well. Have a lovely evening. Good night. Good night. Good evening. I'm going to head back to the room with the men, and I assume Connett was with you. We're headed to... She probably would have followed you guys.

Victoria left by yourself. Okay. Well, with that, I'm going to go sit, think about trying to sleep. Fucking toys. Well, what the f. They're not malevolent, so we just have to understand this is how they are. And we'll deal with it. If they don't mean a harm, I suppose it's not the end of the world, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little vet.

And that's fine. I'm just saying, make sure you get some sleep. Don't stay up all night again. We need you in top form tomorrow. Fine. Can we go in? Yes. I still do think that the one from Mad Mary was

malevolved and bewitched. It is interesting that it was able to, uh, oh, well, maybe it wasn't the original one. God, how many damn things are probably in your case. I open the case. They're probably like cockroaches.

You see one, there's Demi's or Pontchrist. Are there dolls in it? You don't see a single doll in your case. Well, it's got them off somewhere. I'm going to bed. As he says this, you see as his hat begins to move up, as two

red eyes stare out from underneath it. But what you notice is that they're upside down and there's nothing on his head. And it slowly lowers. Did I feel that? I would say you felt your hat lift, but you feel nothing on your head.

Don't, I hate this. Please don't panic. Like I did. Admittedly, in the heat of the moment, I panicked. Let's all try to remain calm and we'll just deal with them as we see them. I agree. The magic is gone. At least the 11 magic, I believe, is gone. So you can tell that at least the new one that you found with the head backwards does have the transmutation and the divination magic.

But the morbid molly doesn't seem to have any magic affecting it that you can tell. It just seems to somehow be able to animate. So the new one is the one that you found on the pile of that. The one that you burned, that one did have stuff on it. But it's burnt. But you burn it, yeah. Wait, what did it have on it? It had divination.

Oh, oh, man, a transutation. So we probably have a scribele. Well, good night. We're reconvene in the morning. All right. Sorry, do you have one minute for you to have been? I do for you, Shepley. I had a dream last night.

it was not unpleasant a dream yeah I was I was flying over over Barovia I guess and I thought I was like riding something but I was actually

a giant silver dragon and I laid waste to all of Barovia and I got to be honest with you felt pretty good. It was just everything was burning and the destruction and everything. All

of this evil was gall and I just didn't know what else to really make of it. And I figured maybe you'd want to know. And you were this dragon. Well, I mean, it was just a dream, but presumably yeah, I guess I was the dragon

in this dream. I mean, it was just a dream. But I was kind of been expecting to have horrible nightmares after all the things we heard. before we fought those God's damn tags. But I don't know. There is great power in dreams, especially when the gods are involved

and experience many similar dreams in the garden. But you said silver of scale. I mean, from what I can tell, it was hard to remember, you know. Like once you wake up, you don't always remember everything. You don't always get all the details. And you bathed Barovia in fire. Something like that.

I mean, absolutely. Just laid waste to all of it. Does that sound off to me? A silver dragon breathed all of it. Yes, that sounds very off to you. You know the silver dragons don't breathe fire. There is something there, Shepard. Pay attention to your dreams.

Color is important in the dragon world. Garrix is not just of one color, but he's of red and of gold. Both dragons with the power of fire. Both utilize the power of destruction, one good and one even, to show the duality of fire that our very own Thomas is learning. That is a dragon of ice. And Frost, pay attention to your further dreams. Perhaps Garretz has approved for what you done to the wind.

Well, I, you know, I mean, like I said, at the end of the day, they're just dreams. It doesn't mean I'll even have any more. But sure, I'll try to make note. Nothing is coincidence, Shepard. I think you might be right, based on just the things we've experienced in the last, like, 72 hours. I look forward to hearing more. Please be forthcoming. Sure.

I'll do what I can. You want the bed tonight? No, thank you. Sleep well. Perhaps if you sleep better, you will dream better. Maybe. Good night, silence.

Good night, Shepard. Did you want to do anything before you go to bed? I just went to bed. Well, they were having that discussion. I was kind of trying to sleep. Um, kind of okay. Are you sure? You all find yourself drifting off to sleep.

Victoria, your dreams, you are awoken once again in dreams. You are attached to the bed like you had been the night before. But looking down, there is no hole in your abdomen directly to your spine. The blood spills out around you. Instead, you find yourself writhing. in pleasure. And as you look, you see as your belly gets larger and larger fruitful with life until the pleasure turns to pain as lash marks begin to appear on the flesh of your exposed impregnable abdomen.

You look down in horror as you see your belly stretch and move until bursting from it, pale as anything you've ever seen. Blood red eyes, wrinkly skin. An infant vampire begins to claw its way out of your stomach and make its way towards you. Its mouth dripping with the blood that is drained from your body. And as it gets to you, to your face, it looks down into your eyes, blood dripping onto your neck from its exposed fangs. Mama. As you wake up. Sheffern. I used to wake up. I used to die.

Is there a wolf for that? You wake up. You open your eyes to the sun, barely shining in from the window. And immediately in your face nestled next to you is Molly, holding a knife, dripping with a strange, bloody substance. So she looks up at you.

She pulls one of her fingers to her mouth. And that is always. session tonight. What? Oh my God. Well, well, well, Rudolph Van Richten, we may meet at last. Will this fated ally be the one to tilt the scales in the favor of the Azran expedition? All signs point to unlikely.

Especially with how difficult it was for them to wrangle a simple cat. And especially now that they've robbed the poor Martikovs and have become petty thieves, There doesn't seem to be much real heroism in store for them. Where will Van Richten guide the expedition? Find out in Chapter 5 of Curse of Stradania, Widows Watch. In the meantime, if you wish to watch Legends of Adventurus tell similar stories of Dungeons and Dragons every week, you can follow us on Twitch and join our community on Discord. All links are in the show notes.

We welcome you to our Ventress family.