Session #2: Trust? What's that?!

[istainion]

Return to Leilon

 

After the situation at the carnival, we returned to Leilon again for a well deserved rest. Before the stores would close, Tibirin and I decided to pay Bruno a visit. Our reasons differed but the blacksmith half-orc could help us with both our cases. I have told him that the letter arrived safely. Of course, the man asked what she said but Ana wasn’t even given the time to read it nor to respond to me. It’s naturally that he asks me that and I will bear that in mind for the next time. Tibirin helped me reassure the man that it has. Though something about the blacksmith was off. He looked like he got released from his obsession or magically cured from his lovesickness.

 

I am still suspicious of Ana, the traveling fortune teller. Why is it that a single woman has such an effect on many different men? Sure, she looked charming but … I don’t feel obsessed about her in the slightest.

 

Tibirin placed his loot onto the desk so that Bruno could inspect the quality of the shortbow(s). Of course he was curious how he got his hands on some poor condition weapon(s) and I really did try to convince him that we had bought them elsewhere to try them out. Yes, about that, it didn’t really convince the guy and he had his questioning eyes all over us. What didn’t help was the big grin on Tibirin’s face when the subject came up! Dammit Tibirin! I was trying so hard!

 

When we came back from our visit at the blacksmith, we returned to the tavern for a delicious dinner. I was so stuffed! And it was so nice and warm inside! Really comfortable … I have tried to find out more about Ana when the topic came up in the conversations of the visitors. None of them seemed out of the ordinary and they sound like regular, legit people. More men couldn’t stop talking about Ana’s beauty and I really tried to drop my suspicions but it was odd to experience. Maybe humans in general, have a stronger sense of attraction to the opposite sex?

 

Planning: Journey to Barovia

 

We decided to call it a night. Tibirin and I shared the room again for the night (It was cheaper) and we woke up to a new surprise in the morning. Shevat, Yshvara and, of course, Naedithas were up early in the morning. Not many visitors were present at the time. Tibirin and I joined them at the table which had a map spread onto. The group was already planning the trip to our next destination. According to Shevat, the forest we must cross to reach Barovia is a dangerous one if we were to get too close to the core and have suggested a detour. This will grant us another week of traveling and I’m not sure if we are really prepared to make that long of a journey. Playing hero can truly be a pain sometimes …

 

Yshvara was revealing her concern with the pressing situation and limited time related to our quest. It seemed of urgency and it is already at least a month old. The question if this is worth our time is really pressing. Then Shevat remembered that he had a mentor back in his homeland which could help us with a shortcut to cross the woods. And how will he do that?! Don’t mentors pass their knowledge onto their students? …

 

So with no other choice to avoid danger, we put our bets on Shevat’s suggestion. We went south from Leilon and made a turn to the east to find Kryptgarden Forest. The homeland of both Naedithas and Shevat. To reach the meeting spot for the group they appear to be a member from, this travel would take us five days in a row! Now, how is that going to save us time?! But we have no other way …

 

 

New location: Kryptgarden Forest

 

After hours of traveling, we found ourselves in the comfortable and soothing surroundings of the nearly enchanted looking forests. With clear heavens above our head, the cool atmosphere and lively animals, I felt at ease. I could finally breathe in and out without disturbances. There are no better places than forest, I’m telling you! I enjoyed my time exploring this unknown environment.

 

When nightfall came, it slowly turned colder and most of all, it became a little humid. A fog slowly rose which clouded our sight but it was still decent. Nothing out of the ordinary, just some weather. Much like Shevat has told. I am not sure how he did it but the man could forecast the weather. Is his connection to nature this strong? It is impressive …

 

Our condition began to wear down and we were exhausted from traveling, so we decided to set up camp with a nice and warm campfire. When we finally came to a little bit of rest, I grew curious about my traveling companions and broke the silence by questioning each of them about their story. And to my own surprise, they seem fine with sharing. I have learned the woman’s name of the group is Yshvara and a story how Shevat and Naedithas became inseparable partners. Shevat told me that he can transform into an animal! Why haven’t I learned this during my studying sessions back at home?! Why didn’t Mother and Father let me learn about druids?! They were probably afraid that I would use it to escape their grasp earlier than I had planned … And Yshvara, what’s this stuff about a curse?!

 

As time passed, we made up our minds, to finally get to sleep. Before this, we decided to take night shifts to guard over the others to sleep and I decided to take the first shift. While my feet were tired and my body was barely holding on, after trying my best to keep up with their pace, I was wide awake. I was watching everyone take a resting position and slowly get to sleep. In the distance, I could hear a wolf howling but Shevat reassured me that it is common around here and that they would not attack us with a fire near us, neither are travelers to fall victim with a larger count than three travelers. I trusted him but I wasn’t at ease. There is just something about Shevat that always seems to get to me. He has this calm and collected aura, which could put anyone in distress at ease with just the share of a look. I eased up and focused on what mattered, which was everyone’s safety.

 

The longer I waited and nothing happened, I grew curious how Tibirin’s fur would feel. From a distance AND an extremely low angle with my height compared to his, his fur looks really soft. I couldn’t contain my urgency to touch his fur and stroke past it a few times. It was mostly really soft but there were spots which felt rather sticky. Ew! Tibirin, you need to take better care of your fur! …

 

My shift ended and I was unsure who I had to wake, the last thing I remembered was to wake up Shevat but I remembered in what bad state he was from the previous battle, that I aimed my attention at his servant. Or what was his role again?! The stoic guard guy could take the job for him! That’s what he is there for, right? Guard us~?

 

I didn’t imagine that it would actually be that much of a deal when I just gently nudged his shoulder. He woke up and was immediately pissed at me! He told me not to touch him! Then how else am I supposed to wake him up without alerting the others? The stoic guard slowly got up and gave me this fierce look and didn’t let go of that! Even after explaining how I’m sparing his precious princess from waking up and instead wake him up! Nothing changed! But somehow he felt a little less hostile for a moment … Though when he told me again not to touch him, I simply told him another great method. Next time, I said, I will throw a rock at you! I thought it was a fantastic idea but mister muscles-for-brains wasn’t very fond of it and drew his axe to aim it at me! Is he threatening me?! Did I ever feel sorry for this guy?! Let’s scrap that! He’s an ass!

 

Well, he took the shift (serves him right) and I could finally get myself some well deserved rest.

 

. . .

 

Or so I thought! When SUDDENLY I felt this kick inside my side accompanied with a yell that I am needed. Needed for what?! You half-elf fiend?! Your pleasure of watching me suffer?! Is that it?!

 

Well, it took me a while to realize, but we were surrounded by a thick, very thick fog. I could barely see my hands if I were to stretch them in front of me and I noticed that it became so difficult to breathe, too! Now only that, I could feel how hostile the surroundings felt and the howling from the wolves, which I have heard before, they sounded much different. We heard rustling in the distance and we could sense that danger was upon us. Naedithas and Shevat were acting suspicious and kept talking to each other but didn’t spill a thing. It was suspicious …

 

Not that I could pay that much attention to it anyway, there was an enemy approaching and we needed to move as fast as we could! Mr stoic guard came up with a clever idea and asked each of us if we had any ropes on us. I offered mine but he didn’t accept it without a remark. Making up for something for offering my escape plan?! Are you kidding?! Naedithas, I’m not feeling guilty for anything!

 

The five of us connected our ropes and connected all of us to each other to get away as fast as we could. In the distance, the sounds of the wolves were getting louder and louder as they closed in on us. What did Shevat say about the wolves again?! Shevaaat?!

 

And if my trust issues haven’t already been acting up, while we were on the run, neither Shevat or Naedithas have told us about their suspicions until later on. Those wolves were right at our tail! Literally speaking, Tibirin was right behind me in the back of our line! Ha-Ha! We had no moment to discuss while we were making our way to safety, but those guys could have at least told us that we are NO LONGER in their familiar surroundings. They knew this from the moment the fog closed in on us but not a word left their lips ...

 

New location: East Gate of Barovia

We don’t travel to Barovia, Barovia travels to us?!

 

When the thick fog gradually lifted, we found a path in front of us. A road with only a single direction.

 

With the wolves closely behind us, according to the sounds at least, we hurried on to follow the path that led us to a large gate. It looked like a large, worn gate which survived a war of some sort. Who knows how old it is! We couldn’t really enjoy the sight either because the growling of the wolves was still present! But when we actually did turn around, we saw this thick, solid wall of fog behind us. Everything about that was unnatural and we definitely came from there. It looked much like an illusion. With the decreased sound of the wolves, we continued to proceed our path and untie ourselves on the way when the danger slowly disappeared.

 

We learned that we have arrived at the gates that would lead to Barovia after investigating the surroundings a little. So how come that Barovia comes to us before we even get to the place?! I’m not going to complain! But where are we! Are we trapped in here? No, right? No, this is probably just my imagination! We can still head back into that curtain of fog, yes? Right?! … Shevat?!

 

I’m so exhausted from all this running around! My side still stings! … What happened to a forest so peaceful?! And a fire so calming … I miss watching the dancing flames of comfort … Am I sweating?! Ugh …

 

We passed the East Gate and followed the road to a large manor with an open gate. This is where Barovia is, much like Ana told us. (I still don’t fully trust her even after learning she is a legit fortune teller. Something feels off about her.) From the distance, beyond the manor gates, our eyes met two figures right next to a fountain. They appeared distressed from their posture. I thought it was suspicious. After all we just went through, this cannot be just any harmless situation! It’s impossible that we have made it here so fast and in such an odd manner, too! That thought only occurred to me when I saw how quickly the team approached the children with nothing but concern. You guys are so reckless, you know that?! This could be a trap!

 

 

 

New location: Barovia, the Manor

 

I kept my distance from the situation at hand and picked myself a good spot to hide. I readied my weapon in case anything sudden would happen while the others get dragged away by their feelings for the danger that could possibly be luring in front of us. At first these figures, which I recognized as a young boy and girl, of which the young boy was crying, were surprised with the sudden approach of the three heroes. (What else was to be expected) They were alert but their stiff posture dropped when both Yshvara and Shevat spoke with them. They calmed down a little and when I realized it was safe, I caught up with the others and discovered the story behind them in the connection with the large house behind them.

 

Inside, their parents and little brother are pestered by a monster of some sort. These children named themselves Rosa and Thorn. For me it was complicated to understand what age they were exactly, I hadn’t had a lot of contact with human beings to learn about their lifespan. They at least looked like helpless children with odd, noble outfits on. The fashion style was something I have never seen before but neither did it bother me much when a new case caught our attention.

 

From inside the building, we could hear a loud cry of a young baby. It came from the direction of the balcony on the second level. While normally, I would rush inside, beat the monster and save the child, I felt hesitation about this case. There is this odd atmosphere around us and I couldn’t focus well. That went differently for the others when they made up their minds to go to the front door. None of them allowed me to question the kids about our unknown opponent because of some reason! I understand that they are upset, but we are going to risk our lives here, too! And why does this house make me feel so nervous?! Why do I get an odd sense that this is all planned?! So many questions and no time to spill them!

 

_______ Text correction: End, the rest is in progress  ________

 

New Location : Barovia, The Manor (Inside the house)

 

We moved on and picked up the pace. There was no time for explorations and while I did feel convinced to follow the others, I was wondering if haste wouldn’t just put us at higher risk. We went through a room with a fireplace and staircase that would lead up the stairs. Multiple doors could lead us to different rooms but the life threatening danger from upstairs had us in its spell and that didn’t change when we headed up the first pair of stairs. At the first floor, we quickly moved on and rushed our way to the second floor, where the origin of the crying came from. It should be at the side of the balcony, that much we learned from outside. While the team charged inside, I had my eyes fixated on the large armor positioned against the wall and already readied my weapon for an attack but it hasn’t moved. It felt off but that hasn’t changed any second. I felt watched, I felt something was off about this place. It never once changed when I entered the room the rest of the group went into.

 

It looked like an ordinary bedroom, besides the dust, the dirty environment of the abandoned looking place. Why is it that it looked so abandoned when there were kids standing outside? Is it common around here? Isn’t this all just a trap that we got lured in? I came deeper into the room and apparently, the kid that we have been looking for, the scream … None of it was here. There was no child, just an empty kid’s bed hidden behind a side-door. Odd? Absolutely not! This is normal for an ordinary, haunted house! They told me that they saw a ghost, while I was skeptical about it at first, I began to believe it more and more, the longer I was in the place … You’re kidding me? Well, I wish that was the truth, that I was kidding, even myself …

 

Tibirin looked outside the window at this time, he told us that the children had suddenly disappeared. The ones standing outside at the fountain have gone missing from our sight. Surprise! Any more surprises? I’ve learned to hate surprises at this point and we only just got started!

 

Knowing it was possibly a trap, again, confirmed. Our pace slowed down and we began to investigate the environment more. We stayed on this floor and walked to the room positioned on the opposite side of the room we have just visited. I took this opportunity to double check the armor. It was empty, entirely empty! So I caught up with the others again and I truly wish I hadn’t, because what we found there … Was horrifying.

 

A silhouette, a figure of a man, was hanging down the ceiling. He took his own life and the sight was everything but pleasant. I felt how my stomach was causing a stir and there was this … This touch. I’m certain I felt it! Something tried to touch me while I was distracting myself from the sight of the man to search his desk for any journal of some sort. We could learn a thing or two about the situation around here. I have found nothing but papers, letters which were signed with Gustav Durst, the man who hung himself in his own bedroom. This room definitely belonged to him. When I looked over to the man for a second, I noticed that the man was holding a letter in his hand.

 

 

“My Beloved Children,

I wish I could do what all fathers do and tell you that monsters aren’t real. But it wouldn’t be true.

Life can create things of exquisite beauty. But it can also twist them into hideous beings. Selfish. Violent. Grotesque. Monstrous. It hurts me to say that your mother has turned into one such monster, inside and out. And I’m afraid the disease that afflicted her mind has taken hold of me as well.

It sickens me to think what we’ve put you through. There is no excuse. I only ask you, though I know I have not the right to do so, to try and forgive us. I despise what your mother has become, but I love and pity her all the same.

Rose, I wish I could see you blossom into a strong, beautiful woman. Thorn and Walter, I wish I could be there for you. But I can’t.

This is the only way.

Goodbye.”

 

 

At this moment, the message had little meaning to me. Though the children who tricked us inside, have spoken of a monster as well. If this letter could be taken as literally as they have addressed us with the problem, this would mean that this monster could … Have taken over their family members without their awareness.Maybe I am taking this message a little too literally, who knows, but the truth remains that in this place, nothing is what it seems. They speak of a disease which controls the mind of the innocent and it appears to be contentious. Father Gustov became a victim of this disease as well. Enough to drive him into madness and to hang himself in his own bedroom. Creepy … Hopefully I won’t catch it ... Please, let us leave this place and go back to trivial quests?!

 

While I was occupied with everything besides watching over the man, the team with Tibirin’s help got the man down and gathered some additional items. One of these items is a jewelry box holding a green emerald and another letter. This letter came from a different person, it was addressed to a certain Mrs. Petrovna.

 

“My Dear Mrs. Petrovna,

Your advice on dealing with the unwanted fiend in my home is quite good advice indeed. Tonight's ceremony will proceed as planned when the moon is at its highest peak - without, of course, the attendance of Mr. Durst. I must agree with you that, with the assistance of such a remarkably innocent subject, the results of our proceedings may be far improved. “Innocent," of course, is not quite the term I would use.

If nothing else, I am relieved that I shall soon no longer have to suffer the harlot’s insufferable presence each time we must pass through her quarters to our meeting-space. We shall be well rid of her indeed.

My Thanks,

Mrs. Elisabeth Durst”

 

 

Whatever is going on here, it sure reeks. And I hate it here! So far, we haven’t met any offense and our exploration trip went on when suddenly there was a clicking noise. Right after we managed to read the letter. We hurried back to the previous room, the room with the side door to the crib. And in that room, Yshvara found the shattered pieces of the mirror. I was watching from a distance. I wasn’t scared?! Who is scared?! I’m not! In this room, a new pathway exposes itself, close to the mirror. We followed the hidden passage with some hesitation. It led us up the stairs, to a new environment. It’s so strange to have it hidden here. How do they handle the rooms here? It must be terrible to work as a house maid here … You’ll just get lost on your way to attend your job …

 

From there, we had four different doors to pick from and any of these doors could hold a new danger. We moved with caution and found ourselves to a storage room of some sort. There were pieces of furniture covered with white sheets. Nothing out of the ordinary, you’d say, until you stand eye-in-eye with a corpse on a chair! Totally normal! Also for it to lose its limbs upon us entering the room, one-by-one! Yes! Normal!

 

Shevat learned that this woman was murdered by an excessive amount of stab wounds. Oh that’s great, wonderful even ... So are their spirits with us and watching us barge into the house? What if they put a curse onto us?! Blame Tibirin?! I was just … You know? Following my companions? Hoping to save the day without dying? Normal things …

 

I was confidently leaning on the door frame to keep a good eye on the situation from a safe distance when suddenly the door from behind me had something or someone bouncing against the wooden surface. I felt how cold my body became just from the sound of it. I took a very good decision to remove myself a few meters away from the door and have someone else distract the monster while I keep my aim at whatever the door wants to surprise us with. Tibirin quickly picked up the fact that we were dealing with spirits and kept his distance after opening up the door. I’m not going to blame him?

 

So our spirit whisperer, Shevat decided to be a brave man and enter the room full of confusion. I had hoped that he would come out and tell us that nothing is going on but then suddenly the door began to shut. Naedithas strong and most desperate urge to guard his squirrel held the door with his manly strength. That just to slip inside the room when the door slammed shut. You’re kidding me … Tell me that it was Shevat’s doing? And he’s just trying to tease me … Cut me some slack and … Let’s leave?

 

I could even notice how upset Tibirin was with the situation, he is entirely disorientated and this sight is not entirely putting me at ease, either. I can’t tell how often I’ve felt my pulse rise and fall with each new discovery. We aren’t here for long, I haven’t seen a lot of paranormal activity going on yet but those corpses were enough for me. Thank you, let’s move on? Trivial quests are calling my name … And I mean Ailoton!

 

When the door slammed shut, I couldn’t entirely let go and charged to the door to bounce on it when I heard the voices on the other side of the door speak. These voices came from Shevat and Naedithas. There was no yelling. They just spoke … And hopefully they aren’t begging for their lives?!

 

We then opened the door and it simply went open as if there was never anything that forced it close. Inside, the surprise awaited us. There were skeletons laying on the floor and it reeked again, it was terrible … And it hasn’t stopped being this way. I should probably write less about how terrible things were, I’m slowly running out of words to describe how disastrous this environment is or how much I’m begging to go back! Inside, there were two ghostly figures standing and Shevat was speaking to them as if it was the most normal thing to do!

 

We were all updated about the situation. These children have told us that they were locked inside their rooms by their parents for whenever business hours occurred. Every time they would do anything special, the kids are locked up in their room. I reminded myself of the letter. I am unsure if this is related to the disease. Could it be linked to the madness that drove them to insanity? It seems like the children were inside here for so long, that they possibly starved to death. But enough about the kids!

 

Their corpses are laying close to something that caught our attention. A miniature house, one that matches the current environment. Not only that, there are figures inside this house, figures that match our appearance. They give away our exact position in the house. Even Tibirin, who stood outside the room, was also accurate. We could hear how he was doing something from inside the room but he didn’t sound like he was in danger.

 

This house, it could be linked to our current threat. We could be trapped in a spell and these children are connected to the case. What I didn’t fully realize until later on, is that we are trapped inside this house, this building and I still didn’t realize that, when I saw Tibirin attacking the door with no success. I was already disorientated with the structure of this unknown environment. And it wasn’t just the environment that had me distracted, these ghostly children suddenly disappeared when Shevat was talking to them. He told them that we would take our leave and they refused to let him leave because they were terrified to be left alone. Isn’t that funny?! A creepy ghost is afraid to be alone?! Release me …

 

Ever since this situation. Both Yshvara and Shevat have been acting off. Shevat suddenly lost his brave nature while Yshvara appeared a little distracted and acted a little more persistent than she has previously shown herself as. Strange people … Can I truly trust them all? I feel like I’m being left out on a lot of information and situations going on …

 

I have asked Shevat if he’s doing fine. He hasn’t been willing to open his eyes ever since the children were gone. Of course, he told me he was fine but asked for comfort. While I offered him to hold my hand, Yshvara was revealing a more protective side to herself as if she needed to defend him. I simply accepted it, without giving it much of a thought. Another click was sounding and a new route revealed himself again. All according to plan, am I right?! Ugh …

 

We followed it, as foolish as we were. And we made our way down to the basement.

 

New Location : Barovia, The Manor (Inside the house)

The Basement of untold mysteries

 

So, with the heroes, Shevat and Yshvara, hand in hand and the rest of the group closely following behind them, we found ourselves with another mystery at hand. What the hell is this place?!

 

We followed the path to the north and took a turn to the left. There was a larger room with a large dining table and four chairs around each side. Deeper into this room, there are beds of straw made and divided into four smaller sections in the room. I didn't quite understand, but it looked like they were hosting a place for guests. I am not sure about it, but it feels like some sort of environment for a cult. Maybe they were trying to summon a God? A Demon? Who knows … They referred to a fiend in their house and I’m not very fond of what it sounds like.

 

The farther we moved, we discovered four new rooms surrounding a well. The well was still seeming in a fine condition, according to our well expert, Yshvara. Each of us visited a room and discovered different items. I found myself something of value. A silver short sword. Amazed by its everlasting beauty, I have decided to give it a comfortable place, tied firmly around my belt. It could be of use, perhaps. This could have a meaning to solve the mystery of this puzzle. Another one of us has found yet another letter.

 

 

“My most pathetic servant,

I am not a messiah sent to you by the Dark Powers of this land. I have not come to lead you on a path to immortality. However many souls you have bled on your hidden altar, however many visitors you have tortured in your dungeon, know that you are not the ones who brought me to this beautiful land. You are but worms writhing in my earth.

You say that you are cursed, your fortunes spent. You abandoned love for madness, took solace in the bosom of another woman, and sired a stillborn son. Cursed by darkness? Of that I have no doubt. Save you from your wretchedness? I think not. I much prefer you as you are.

Your dread lord and master,

Strahd von Zarovich”

 

 

Now … This feels like a wonderful trip and all, but these letters make me wonder what is going on in this place and what will await us at the end of it all. If I were to connect all these letters, it seems like these people were trying to find a cure to this disease of some sort and that Strahd seemed in charge of this project. Or maybe, he was summoned by their summoning and is now roaming over the place, refusing to refer to them as masters of his call. But even then, none of it makes sense.

 

There is no obvious, direct connection and I am just wondering in an endless loop here! So what is this bosom of another woman? He sounds like an angry ex lover … And now he’s no longer willing to support their demon summoning! Who knows, I’ve read plenty of tales …

 

Our path continued and we covered more and more of the place. A room with human bones? What? Were they cannibals? Is this place like a prison? I took a closer look to see if there were monsters kept here. Of course, the sight was everything but pleasant. I would use better ingredients for my cooking than this but … These bones are carefully stripped from their flesh. I could even tell that whatever chose to eat this, used cutlery or at least a knife for eating. This may as well have been the work of men. The thought disgusts me but there was some hope resisting inside of me. This could have been the work of the people who were kept here, to remove the flesh of the bones. These thoughts just send shivers down my spine … Cannibalism …

 

I have continued my quest while the others hesitated and discovered more about the environments. There are chambers inside the section between the entrance and the room with the bones and large table in there. These four champers, divided in two different sections, have names written on the door. These fit the names of both the children as well as their parents. I was brave enough to open the door of each of these chambers. Hidden in each of these, there was a large coffin and I already knew what I was expecting and shut the door. While these rooms could contain valuable information, I simply couldn’t bear to look inside of them!

 

So where is Walter’s chamber? Is he truly still alive? And what did that message mean about siring a stillborn son? What about that hidden alter that souls were killed on? What about this disease? This curse? When did this all happen? The place looks abandoned! Is the disease still contagious?! … Slowly, really slowly, I’m beginning to lose my grip ...