We last left our headstrong adventurers trying to suss out whether Fiona Wachter's request for help overthrowing the government was a good idea or not by talking to the townsfolk, with Jaro suggesting a visit to the burgomaster's mansion.
Note: Azog's player was not present for this week's session, so Azog sits this one out. Also in the confusion of last sessions interrogation with Fiona Wachter, the DM forgot to give us the burgomaster's name. Retroactively, she revealed his name to be Vargas Vallakovich. Also I've been misspelling Vloki in these posts, it should be Vallaki.
The burgomaster's mansion is a large building, with two full floors and an attic visible, encompassing at least 20 rooms. The estate is encircled by a low stone wall with a gate opening onto a path leading to the front door. Elle, Jaro and Balasar (Or Triple Trouble, as Talna has taken to calling them) walk up to the front door. Elle knocks, followed by knocking from Jaro in quick succession. Shaking his head at this breach of party etiquette, Balasar kicks the door. A man in the uniform of a city guard opens the door hurriedly, and asks "What do you want?"
"We'd like to talk to Victor," Elle says.
"Victor does not talk to people," the guard replies, looking the trio over.
"I'm not just any person," Elle says.
"And looking at you, I think it's not a good idea for you especially to talk to Victor," the guard says, clearly recognizing them from the commotion of the previous few days.
"But I want to talk to Victor," Elle insists.
"And I don't want to deal with the trouble that would cause," the guard replies, evenly.
"Could you just send him a message that we're here to talk to him, and let him make up his own mind?" Jaro suggests.
"Fine, I'll bring him a message." With that, the guard closes the door.
After a few minutes waiting, the trio decide the guard is not coming back. They immediately begin discussion how to break into the mansion, when they are interrupted by the door opening again, and a distracted looking woman comes through. Her clothing was once very fine, but has faded with time, and not been replaced with more recent fashions. She shuts the door behind her, and then jumps back into the door when she notices the three non-humans standing before her.
"Ah, you startled me. I am sorry, can I help you?" the woman asks.
"Are you ok?" Jaro asks.
"I was not expecting anyone to be here is all. Normally people knock."
"We did knock," Elle says.
"Oh."
"Yeah, the guard left us waiting here, that mewling lout," Balasar says offhandedly.
"Ah, well," the woman stammers, "If you've been helped, I'll be on my way..." Jaro and Balasar notice a piece of paper in her hand with what looks like a list of some sort as she scurries past them.
Jaro shrugs at the group, then tries the doorknob to the mansion, which turns easily in his hand and he pushes the door open. "That was easy," he whispers to himself.
Elle pokes her head around the doorframe, looking left and right, then quickly moves into the entryway, Jaro walking in behind her.
"I'm not losing another hand over this," Balasar says, "I'll stay out here."
Elle and Jaro find themselves inside a well appointed foyer, lit by lamps and candles along the walls and sitting on exquisitely carved end tables. Portraits of dour looking men and women line the walls. At the far end of the room a staircase leads upstairs, and closed doors stand on both the left and right walls. Bundles of twigs are gathered in clumps and lean against the walls.
"Ok, we need to find Victor," Elle says quietly. "I have a plan."
"I'm not sure this is such a good idea," Jaro replies nervously, "we're not in the best standing with authorities here as it is..."
"I could go on alone if you want to stay outside with B," Elle says, walking to the door on the right.
"No, I'll stick with you. Probably best if we stay together but out of trouble?" Jaro suggests, as Elle opens the door. Inside the right hand room is a parlor with several couches in brightly colored upholstery. Lace curtains and drapes around the room add a feminine touch to the decor, and two windows look out on a small garden. Elle and Jaro simultaneously walk to the windows and open both of them, with the shared thought of 'escape route' going unspoken between them. There are no other doors in the room however, apparently a sitting room for entertaining guests or meeting unimportant visitors, so the pair returns to the foyer and moves to the door on the left side.
Beyond this door is a long hallway lit by lamps hanging from the walls. Five more doors line either side of the hall, and a second staircase leading upstairs is in the middle of the hallway. Seeing nobody around, Elle begins to move down the hallway. Jaro, deciding stealth is enhanced without the light, casts a minor thaumaturgical charm that puts out the flames in the lamps. Having thus blinded himself, he puts his hands on Elle's shoulders as she relies on her darkvision to lead them to the far end of the hall. As they pass one of the earlier doors however they hear a voice on the other side say "Who turned out the lights?"
Moving with a little more haste, they reach the final door, and Elle slowly prods it open. Inside is a well lit room lined with pantry cabinets and cooking utensils. A man in an apron is busily preparing an afternoon meal at the wood stove, and does not notice as Elle and Jaro quietly enter the room and sneak around behind him to a small stairwell in the back of the room, and ascend the stairs.
They find themselves on the second floor in another long hallway. To their left a window looks out over the estate grounds, while to their right lie more doorways. Jaro once again magically snuffs the lights in the hallway, though the late afternoon light of Barovia still streams through the window next to them. Opening the window, Jaro can peer out beyond the stone wall and see the town of Vallaki beyond, making out townsfolk going about their daily routines.
Deciding he has had enough exploring for one day, Jaro pulls a grappling hook and rope from his pouch, affixes the hook to the windowsill and climbs out. Halfway down, his grip slips, and he slides the rest of the way to the ground, landing with a thump on the dirt outside. He shakes his hands to relieve the rope-burn and listens to see if he has been heard.
Balasar, still outside the front door, hears the thump and comes swiftly around the corner to find Jaro picking himself up. They share a look of mild panic as they hear a voice from inside the mansion say "What was that noise?"
Jaro looks up at Elle, still inside the house, and urgently whispers to her "Either come down or stay up there, but I need to leave here now. Either way, could you get me my grappling hook?"
Elle, deciding her plan is not going to work after all, opts to follow Jaro out the window. Landing with significantly more grace than the satyr, she hands him his rope and grappling hook and the three begin making haste towards the exit of the grounds.
Just before they reach the gate, they hear a voice behind them call out "You there, hold!" Fortunate remains with them however, as the guard is interrupted by a shout from further away, and the trio scurry away, escaping to our rooms at the Bluewater Inn.
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Entirely unaware of the escapades of the troublesome trio, Talna, Gilligan and Sadun exit the Cathedral of St. Andral after their conversation with Father Lucian last session.
"That blacksmith we commissioned seemed to dislike Izek, and if he dislikes the guard captain he may have an opinion on the burgomaster," Talna says, pondering. "Perhaps we should pay him a visit." Having no better ideas, Gilligan and Sadun accompany her.
They find the blacksmith in his workshop, in the midst of a late lunch. The blacksmith's assistant is not present. Looking up, the man greets us. "Your orders are not ready yet, considering you only placed them this morning. Are you here to make any other purchases?"
"No," Talna says, "but we do have some questions for you. Is anyone else here?"
"No, the apprentice has gone out for his food."
"Ok, these may be delicate questions. We gather you dislike Izek?"
"I have no fondness for the man, no."
"What about the burgomaster, what's your opinion of him?"
"Well, he can be a bit overzealous in his efforts to protect the town, but it is what it is."
"Is he a good burgomaster then?"
"No," the blacksmith says, with a wry chuckle.
"Would anyone be a better burgomaster then?"
The blacksmith laughs at this. "Not anyone in this town, that is certain!"
"What about Lady Wachter?" Talna continues, "What do you know about her?"
"I don't hear much about her," the blacksmith allows. "I know she runs a 'Book Club' at her house, but she certainly never comes in here."
"Do you know anyone in the book club, or have any other information on who visits her house?"
"No, I have no reason to know anything like that."
"Who, other than the burgomaster's appointed people, have power in this town?" Gilligan asks, after a pause.
"And does Lady Wachter have any sort of power?" Talna adds.
"Other than the burgomaster, no-one here has any particular power. Lady Wachter is the only one in town who openly questions the burgomaster's authority however, and as she still has her house and her life she must have some power."
"Do you know what Lady Wachter does?" Gilligan asks.
"I haven't the foggiest notion. She has money, but it's old money. Who can say what people with money get up to?"
"Alright, sorry to question you like that, we're just trying to suss out the situation here," Talna explains. "By the way, I'm Talna, this is Gilligan and this is Sadun. I don't think we properly introduced ourselves this morning."
"Great. I'm Mike," the blacksmith replies. "If we're done here, I have to get back to work. Some of us have to work for our living. Where is that boy anyway, he should be getting back from his meal soon."
"While we're here, could you polish up my armor?" Gilligan asks.
"Sure thing."
Some time later, as Mike the blacksmith finishes polishing Gilligan's armor, the youthful apprentice returns.
"Where have you been?" Mike asks sharply.
"I've been at the tavern sir," the apprentice replies. "I am sorry to be late, but I saw a big red lizard man with one hand, a man with goats legs and a small woman there, and it was so fascinating to watch them. The red one sure can drink!"
"Ah, I think it's time for us to leave," Talna says, as she hurries us out of the shop and back to the tavern.
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Sadun, Gilligan and Talna find the Troublesome Three at the bar. Taking seats nearby, Talna turns to the three, about to ask where they have been.
"So we snuck into the Burgomaster's house." Jaro blurts out before anyone can say anything. Elle punches him in the shoulder.
"We have to stop taking the snitch with us," Balasar observes to Elle.
"But they're our friends, they should know!" Jaro protests.
"Oh lord," Talna says, burying her face in her palms.
Irwin approaches the group, asking if the newcomers want something to drink.
"What do you know about this festival coming up?" Gilligan asks Irwin, as he passes out the new drinks.
"It is hard to know for sure, the festival is different every time it is held. Last month the burgomaster had people wandering around dressed in wolf heads and wolf skins. Supposedly it keeps the wolves away, though the late wine shipment may indicate that any effect that last one had has worn off."
Gilligan nods thoughtfully, and turns back to the group as Irwin wanders to the other end of the bar.
"Where do you come from Jaro?" Gilligan asks.
"I come from here!" Jaro says, pulling out a faded old map with a flourish. Gilligan and Talna lean over and examine the map, but do not recognize it.
"Ah, interesting," Gilligan says, and changes the subject. Speaking in goblin, he turns to Talna and Elle. "So we know Izek ordered that Irena doll, but what do we do about it?"
"What do you suggest we do?" Talna asks, also in goblin.
"Steal it?" Gilligan suggests.
"I don't want to get Blinksy in trouble," Talna says.
"We could just stake out the toy shop, and see what happens when the doll is picked up."
"Ooh, I like stakeouts!" Elle says.
"Alright," Talna says to the group at large, "We're heading back to Blinksy's."
---------------------------------
"Is no fun, is no... oh no, not you again," Blinksy says, his standard greeting trailing off as he sees us come in his store. "Blinksy gets so much company recently, but always it is you and often you are trouble. What do you want?"
"Is B's hand ready?" Jaro asks.
"No, that is not how it works," Blinksy says. "You only ask for it yesterday."
"We just had some questions about how it the hand was being made," Gilligan interjects, as Elle attempts to subtly check if the Irena doll is still on the shelf. "What will it be made out of, are you drawing up the plans and then having a blacksmith do the metalwork?"
Blinksy looks confused. "No, I make it here. It will be very articulate wooden hand, what you asked for."
"Will that hold up in battle?" Gilligan wonders.
"Blinksy makes toys, why would you use toys in battle?" Blinksy asks.
"Well, I asked for a weapon mount, I thought it was implied." Balasar states.
"Why would you come to a toy store for that?" Blinksy asks.
"Look, we obviously have had a misunderstanding here," Talna breaks in. "We need something that will let Balasar fight at full effectiveness again. The rude gestures cannot take precedence over that. Is that not something you can provide?"
"No, Blinksy's is a toy shop," Blinksy reiterates.
"Can we withdraw our order then, with a full refund?" Talna asks.
"If it means you go away and stop bothering me, yes absolutely."
"What happened to that pretty doll?" Elle asks, after Blinksy returns out money. She points to the vacant spot on the shelf where the Irena doll had been.
"Oh, that was picked up earlier today," Blinksy explains.
The group leaves Blinksy's toy shop to the sound of a loud sigh of relief from the owner, and makes its way back to the blacksmith's shop.
"You are back again?" Mike says, as we enter.
"Yes, we realized we do have another purchase to make," Talna says.
"Can you make something that will allow our friend here to attach a weapon to his stump?" Elle asks, holding up Balasar's left arm.
"Hmm, yes I think that can be done. It will be a sort of metal cap with a place to attach say a dagger?"
"Could we make it a short sword? I'm used to short swords," Balasar asks.
"Yes, but it will cost more. The workmanship will be more difficult to account for the balance issues of a sword over a dagger."
"And this will hold up in battle?" Gilligan asks.
"Do I make things that don't?" is Mike's droll response.
Talna pays for the new order and the group departs the shop for the second time that day.
"Let's check in on Irena," Gilligan says. "I'm worried about her safety with this whole doll business."
"Well, I need another drink. I'll see you later," Balasar says.
---------------------------------
At Father Lucian's direction, the group (except Balasar) finds Irena in a secluded room in the inner reaches of the church building. "This was the safest place I could think of," the priest explains, and leaves the group at Irena's door. Talna knocks gently on the door.
"Who is it?" comes Irena's nervous voice from inside.
"It is Talna," Talna replies.
"And Jaro," Jaro adds.
"And Elle!" Elle shouts.
"Yes, it is your friends," Sadun says, "We are come to visit with you in your isolation!"
The door opens slowly, revealing Irena beyond it, holding a rapier at the ready.
"Ah, so you already know?" Jaro asks. Elle slaps him.
"How do you fare?" Talna asks.
"Father Lucian and the people of this church have been very kind to me," Irena says. "Than you for bringing me safely here. How are all of you?"
"Balasar lost his hand!" Talna blurts out. Irena looks shocked at this news. "Of course, he did steal a barrel of wine," Talna adds.
"That I had to pay for," Elle says grumpily.
"I did hear rumors of some trouble going on in town," Irena says, after a pause. "I had prayed that you were not mixed up with it."
"We did kill some vampires," Gilligan admits.
"We found the bones!" Jaro says happily.
"We made certain the church would be a safe place for you," Talna says firmly.
"Ignore Jaro," Elle says, when at Irena's confused expression to his reference to bones. "He is not the smartest satyr I've known."
"He's not a fool," Irena replies, "He's just different." Jaro looks pleased at this description.
In the pause after this statement, Talna looks Irena over, and notices a distinct lack of bite marks or hickies about her person.
Gilligan clears his throat. "The man who cut off Balasar's hand is named Izek. He seems to be the law in this town, and he seems a dangerous person. We... discovered he had ordered a custom doll from the toy store here that looks exactly like you. We are not certain you are safe in Vallaki after all."
At this, Irena seems to shrink in on herself, and her smile turns brittle.
"On the bright side, there is a festival tomorrow!" Jaro says, trying to be comforting.
Irena sits back on the bed against one side of the room.
"Gilligan!" Talna says severely.
"It's better that she know about it!" Gilligan bites back.
"I thought I would be safe here," Irena says, tears welling up in her eyes.
"You're safe in this church, we made sure of that," Talna says. "Look, we consider you a friend. We will watch out for you and do everything in our power to keep you safe."
Irena gathers herself together again with visible effort. "Than you," she says, when she can speak evenly again. "I know nothing of this Izek person, it is certainly not a name I am familiar with, and before now I have not had cause to travel all this way."
Jaro uses his magical abilities to form an image of Izek's face. Irena studies the image a moment, and then says with confidence "No, I definitely do not know that man."
"Do you know any Victors?" Elle asks, innocently.
"You mean the burgomaster's son?" Irena asks.
"Do you know any stories about the burgomaster here?" Talna asks.
"My father has had dealings with Vargas, and told me Vargas is not the easiest person to deal with, but beyond that..."
"We were approached by a woman named Fiona Wachter about replacing the burgomaster here. We are not certain if this is a good idea though, so we have been trying to find out more information on both parties. Do you have anything you could tell us about Lady Wachter?" Talna explains.
"I don't know anything about her, I'm sorry," Irena says.
"Did your father have actual problems with the burgomaster here?" Elle asks.
"They had different styles and different ideas on how to do things, certainly, but except in rare circumstances the burgomasters of the various towns do not have to deal with each other."
"Do you know anybody in this town?" Talna asks, "Anyone we should talk to?"
"No, it was Ismarck's idea to come here. He says I should stay here, and help out in the church. Father Lucian says that arrangement is acceptable, and that I may remain as long as I need to."
"I think I speak for all of us when I say I am relieved to hear that," Talna says.
The group bids farewell to Irena and begins to make their way out of the church.
"If the bones protect us from the undead," Gilligan ponders, as they walk, "does that mean it is safe to say Voldemort's name here?"
"I still would not risk it," Talna says. "He probably has means of magically scrying on his victims, and saying his name may allow those spells to locate us more easily. Of course, scrying works most effectively if you have a piece of your target's body, like a hair or something similar."
"Speaking of body parts..." Elle begins.
---------------------------------
Outside the church gates, Balasar waits. The sun has set, he has purchased a jug of local ale and he stands by the gate, bored but waiting for the rest of the group to come out again. He is just taking a sip of the ale when a familiar voice speaks from behind him: "Why are you drinking in front of a church?"
Balasar jumps in surprise and spins around. "Who goes there?" he demands.
"Your friend, Strahd," says the voice. Balasar sees the vampire himself standing a few feet from him. Strahd is wearing a voluminous dark cloak to hide his features. A small top hat sits atop his head, and he wears a fake mustache on his upper lip. "I dislike drawing too much attention in places like this," the vampire explains, seeing Balasar's look.
"Well, you certainly are not dressed like people would expect," Balasar allows. "What are you doing here?"
"I am merely checking up on you. Are the rest of your... band in the church I assume?"
"Possibly," Balasar says cautiously.
"I see. Would you mind sharing your drink? It has been a long journey."
"Sure, just don't poison it," Balasar says, handing the jug over.
"Why would I poison this?" Strahd says with a chuckle. He leans nonchalantly to the side, placing his hand on the invisible field surrounding the church and takes a sip from the jug. "Ugh, I have not had that taste in a long time." With that, Strahd hands the jug back to Balasar.
"Yeah, you're probably used to the good stuff by now," Balasar observes.
"Are you planning to stay with them?" Strahd asks, pointing behind him towards the church as he relaxes against the forcefield.
"Yeah, for awhile at least. I need to get my hand back."
"Yes, it is terrible what Izek did to you," Strahd says sympathetically.
"I'll get him back for it," Balasar says vehemently, "after I get my hadn't back." He massages the stump of his left wrist absentmindedly.
"I could grant you power to help with your revenge," Strahd says invitingly.
"What kind of power?"
"What do you seek?"
"Infinite booze? But short of that, I want my hand reattached, my actual hand. And I want it to be better than Izek's demon arm."
"What would you do for me in exchange for this power?" Strahd asks.
----------------------------
"So, when we stole B's hand back from the display pike, he noticed the nail on the middle finger was missing," Elle says.
"Oh no, that could be used in a scrying spell! Where is Balasar?" Talna says, picking up her pace.
The rest of the group speeds up to match her. They exit the church to the sight of Balasar talking to a cloaked man at the gate. Despite the top-hat and mustache, Talna and Elle instantly recognize Strahd from the statue in Death House.
Balasar, what are you doing!?" Talna shouts. She scoops up a stone from the path and hurls it at Balasar.
Strahd turns around and waves at the group approaching him. Jaro waves back.
Balasar glances in the direction of his friends, but quickly turns back to Strahd. "Alright, let's talk business..."
"I would like Balasar's fingernail back please," Talna says to Strahd, interrupting Balasar.
"Why?" Strahd asks.
"I don't like scrying," Talna says. She walks up to the edge of the church property, staying just on the safe side of the forcefield. Jaro and Sadun stand just behind her. Gilligan and Elle pass through the gate and walk directly up to Strahd though. Gilligan begins the motions to prepare one of his holy smiting spells, while Talna and Jaro, sensing the sudden tension, prepare spells of their own. Elle keeps walking right up to Strahd, and stares up at his 6 foot tall figure aggressively.
"We can't just talk?" Strahd asks, looking down at the three foot gnome. "What happened to forgiveness?" He adds, looking at the paladin and cleric, both obviously prepared for a fight.
"You're thinking of a different god," Gilligan says.
"Yeah, my god's not so into the forgiveness thing," Talna adds.
"Who is your god then?" Strahd asks.
Talna points at the holy symbol on her shield.
"Ah, I've heard of him, but I've never met him," Strahd says, smiling.
Elle takes the opportunity to poke Strahd in the knee, testing to see if he is the real thing. Then she reaches up and attempts to grab his hand, but the vampire jerks away from her, hissing, before regaining his composure and smiling down at the gnome.
"Look, forget these people, what about my hand?!!" Balasar says, trying to get the conversation back on a favorable (to him) track.
"Balasar, you want help from the man who tried to have us killed?" Talna asks, incredulously.
"I never tried to have you killed," Strahd says, puzzled.
"You don't remember the Dusk Elf on the bridge?" Talna says, accusingly.
"Oh, that," Strahd says in a dismissive voice. "I was merely testing your strength."
"Can I test my strength against you here?" Gilligan says, smiling innocuously.
"Very well little man," Strahd says, bending down to Gilligan's height and closing his eyes. "Let me see what you can do."
Gilligan steps behind Strahd, pulls out his mace, channels a Thunderous Smite along with his channel divinity and fury of the small, and swings. As he swings, Jaro taps into his Wild Magic source, growing a third eye as he casts the spell Enlarge, causing Gilligan to double in size. The mace connects with Strahd's cheek and lifts the vampire from the ground with a massive crash of thunder, hurling his body into the forcefield. Strahd bounces off the field and falls to the ground behind Gilligan with a slight sizzle. At the sound of the boom of Gilligan's mace connecting, birds on nearby roofs take to the air with a clamor, and several people stop their activity and look over at our group, slightly aghast. None of the townsfolk seem to recognize Strahd though.
Sadun pulls out her great sword, preparing to rush to Gilligan's aid if things go where they seem to be going.
"By the nine hells!" Balasar curses, "That boil-brained bugbear is going to ruin my deal." With that, Balasar turns and walks down the road angrily, cursing as he goes.
Strahd picks himself up off the ground. Tapping his cloak thrice, the dirt of the road simply falls away. "Well little goblin," he says, "you pack quite a punch. Did I deserve that? Are you mad at me for some reason?"
"You're a bad person!" Gilligan says with conviction. "And we want to go home!"
"You didn't hit me with your fist?" Strahd says, eyeing Gilligan's mace.
"I never said I would use my fist." Gilligan replies simply.
Strahd nods. "Does anyone else want to take out some anger on me?" he asks, turning to the rest of the group.
Talna immediately sends a Chill Touch at the vampire, but the ghostly hand fails to get a grip through his cloak.
"I came only to speak with you, but talking does not seem to be one of your strengths," Strahd says.
"Not for all of us!" Elle protests.
Strahd turns back to Elle. "And what is your name?"
"E... Elle?" Elle quavers, nerveuse to be in the vampires full attention.
Strahd walks over and takes Elle's hand, and bending over, kisses it. Elle blushes. Talna smacks her own forehead with the palm of her hand.
Strahd turns to the now three-eyed satyr. "And where are you from?" He turns to Sadun next. "And what is your name?"
"I am Sadun," Sadun says, cautiously, not relaxing her grip on her sword.
"Nice to meet you Sadun," Strahd says with a smile. Sadun nods cautiously in response.
"Why are you here?" Jaro asks.
"I am stuck here."
"In this town?" Jaro clarifies.
"No, in this place generally."
"And you made us stuck here with you?" Elle asks.
"No," Strahd says, "I did not do that."
"But you won't let us leave!" Elle protests.
Strahd sighs. "I am from here, but it is a long story, and I have to prepare for the festival tomorrow."
"Don't the festivals ward you away?" Elle asks, puzzled.
The vampire smiles. "I am here, am I not? Perhaps I shall see you at the festival tomorrow."
"Why are you obsessed with Irena?" Talna asks, before the vampire turns away.
"She belongs to me," Strahd replies.
This causes a collective gasp of disbelief from the group.
"She belongs to herself!" Talna exclaims.
"People don't belong to other people!" Jaro says.
"No, she does belong to me," Strahd insists.
"What, are you her father?" Elle asks, confused.
"No, we are soul mates." Strahd explains. "Well, this has certainly been fun. I am sure I will see you again soon." The vampire looks hard at Gilligan as he says this last. Despite the smirky demeanor, Gilligan gets the sense that Strahd is not at all happy with him.
"Wait, one more question! Is the burgomaster your best friend?" Elle calls out.
"Good hells no!" Strahd says, laughing. And with that, he walks off and disappears.
"Should we tell Izek Strahd was here?" Jaro asks, as the group gathers its collective wits. The people around us still don't seem to have paid any attention to his presence.
"Well, that felt really good," Gilligan says, putting his mace away.
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Elle runs back into the church looking for Irena. "Have you ever actually talked to Strahd?" she asks, when she locates the woman.
"He has tried to put me into a trance before, and said I belong to him when he would visit my father's house," Irena says in response.
"Why would he say that?" Elle asks.
"I have no rightful idea," Irena says.
"Well, he definitely cannot get to you in here," Elle says, reassuringly.
"Oh, I forgot to mention earlier, Ismarck was going to leave today, but I convinced him to stay for the festival. I wanted his company a few more days before I am left here alone," Irena says. "He will leave for Barovia once the festival is concluded."
"Good to know," Elle says, and runs back outside to rejoin the group.
---------------------------------
"Look, I know he may not believe us," Jaro says, "But I am going to warn Izek anyway. Maybe he will increase the guard at the festival."
"It is worth a try," Gilligan says.
"Where are we going?" Elle asks, running up to them.
"We're going to try and warn Izek that Strahd was here," Gilligan explains.
"Sadun and I are going back to the tavern, we need to keep an eye on Balasar," Talna says.
"Izek sounds more fun, I'll go with you two," Elle says.
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"What do you want?" Izek says, in a carefully neutral voice, as Elle, Gilligan and Jaro are ushered into his office.
"Strahd was at the church!" Jaro says.
"Ok," Izek says, still neutral.
"He said he was going to be at the festival tomorrow," Gilligan adds.
"Uh huh," Izek grunts.
"So you may want extra security on hand in case he does something terrible," Gilligan concludes.
"Sure, sure."
"You seem unfazed by this," Gilligan observes.
"Well, I don't really believe you," Izek responds.
"What do we gain by you having more security at the festival?" Gilligan asks, exasperated.
"You tell me," Izek says. "Maybe you are planning to use this as a distraction so you can commit more theft elsewhere in town. Maybe it's a whole new scheme you have come up with. Well, it has been a nice chat, please leave now."
As the three turn to leave the room, Elle says, over her shoulder "I hope you're enjoying that doll!" And she runs giggling from the guard house, leaving a stunned Jaro and Gilligan behind her.
"Oh, uh, I didn't give him the doll yet!" Gilligan says, trying to cover. He pulls out the Strahd ventriloquist doll from his pouch. "We... we thought, maybe you would enjoy this doll."
Gilligan's words are met by stony silence.
Jaro takes the doll and quietly lays it on Izek's desk. Izek still says nothing.
"But Strahd was really here though!" Gilligan tries once again.
"GET OUT!" Izek thunders, and Gilligan and Jaro dash away. Behind them, a fiery red streak explodes against the closing door.
TO BE CONTINUED
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