istainion

5 July, 2021 [8:00 PM - 11:30+ AM (GMT+2)]

Day: 4, Time of day: 7 PM - 12 AM+
Location: Mansion von Holtz, Vallaki
NPCs met: Lydia Astarova, Stockyard lady, Guard #1, Guard #2
Side Note: Green Bottle (Haste), Poison bottle (Extremely concentrated) Cost: 800G, are available at the stockyard in Vallaki

(Remarks marked by * ~~are written in abyssal~~, remarks marked by - are written in celestial, the rest of the entry is written in common)

We left the mansion and informed Muriel about the change of plans. She wasn't exactly happy with the new plan and neither do I truly care for her opinion. We won't hold a moment down that space with Tibirin's current state. So I asked her if she'd rather have us risk our lives or not. I don't have a lot of energy left to recover anyone's health or to be of any help with my magical abilities. The exhaustion is simply too much and whatever will await us down those stairs is unlikely to go easy on us. She left with a sigh when she finally seemed to have taken the situation seriously but it wasn't without remarks. The guards that were with her took the position of the previous guards and I can tell that those two are already a lot more reliable, alone from the looks on their faces.

Location: Blacksmith, Vallaki
Side Note: Tibirin has borrowed armor in return for 100G, is now capable in battle again.

We continued onwards, to meet Morgu the Blacksmith not too far away from the mansion. Shevat refused to enter the place and held his feet firmly on the ground while the others moved inside to update the blacksmith about the situation. I requested Arvirin to keep him company which he accepted. With the two (*~~tree huggers~~) outside, I entered the shop to talk with Yshvara-El who was previously interested in obtaining something from the blacksmith but she seemed unsure. My attention went to the large tiger and the store owner. Repairing that armor would take a fair price, not only that, it will take longer than a single day and the other armor he is still working on, hasn't been finished yet. What Morgu offers Tibirin is armor that he can borrow but since Tibirin isn't sure whether or not he can return it in the same state as he received it in, he has been given a fee to ensure the damage won't be as heavy on the blacksmith's business. A fine price of 100 G. With a loan from Yshvara and Pyre, Tibirin managed to afford it. I have also made a suggestion but the sentence with which I expressed it with, seemed unfit and I needed to withdraw. So be it ...

Location: Stockyard, Vallaki
Side Note: Lady (Owner) sells handmixed positions

We left the blacksmith when I notified the others about my suggestion. I have heard that Yshvara spoke of a stockyard where she found some cart which she refuses to share any details about, other than that it belongs to a so-called Rictavio that seems to play an interesting role. I wonder if the journal will back me up on that missing information, for I feel that there is more to it. But the stockyard and the goods we need from there have top priority as of now. With Tibirin's leadership skills, we made it to the shop. I noticed a cart that we passed by to enter the building. How long has it been standing here? Who knows how many more traitors there may be around here in Vallaki if you cannot even trust a noble.

We all went inside and the kind seeming lady greeted us, eager to serve us. I addressed our needs. Healer's kits and any healing items for when the fight becomes overwhelming. I remember the previous battle and how it could have ended and I would not want to risk that in a more dangerous environment. It's likely to be filled with traps as well ... I'm not eager to explore but if that's what it takes to learn more about this man then that much I am willing to do. The sooner Vallaki is safe, the faster we can get to Castle Ravenloft to beat some sense into that vampire Lord and I can move on with my life.

Arvirin was quick to put his pouch with gold on top of the counter and said he'd pay for the healing kits, she had six in total but none of us had even started to discuss before the boy decided to buy them. Such a fool ... I have no need for such a thing ... Well, he insisted ... Shevat seemed to be interested in some herbs, so he can brew something ... Interesting when we're back, probably. I am sure that he will manage to do something good with it. Yshvara then mentioned that she indeed considered getting the tools she needed, to which the woman behind the counter was quick to respond.

She seems very familiar with them and owns a few of them to sell them to, by her words, reliable customers that she can trust when I questioned her whether or not it is common to sell such items to just any visitor. What makes a stranger trust another stranger? The kindest, most harmless face could hide a serial killer. Even Yshvara is familiar with illegal behaviorism. I could see right through her lies when I asked her about it.

Once the lady recognized our interests in those tools, she was quick to present two other potions on top of the counter for us to buy. A (haste) potion of a strange liquid that is supposed to give us a temporary boost at the cost of my full money and another position that is more like a concentrated poison. I asked if she had tested it, when she admitted that she had mixed them herself. For what purpose would a lady like her need a deadly poison, I wonder? She gave me this look. She certainly has and even suggested using it on others.

The thought simply sickens me … I can't believe that I am forced to work with people who are familiar with illegal behavior or watch people who sell tools for thieves to use and the deadliest poison with the advice to use it on other people. It is such a cruel way to face death ... (*~~Well, I guess I'll let that slip, we can feed it to the Count~~.)

(- Sometimes, I need to remind myself that I am off duty, I won't earn a single thing from following this mindset. I do not serve Barovia, I don't ... I am here to make it out again ... Or to die ... In any case, I won't let the enemy have their fun while I am here. I will make sure to give them a hard time before I go out, in the name of justice. Bring peace to the people even if it lasts only for a little ... May Ilmater be with me. If they will use it against the enemy, there is nothing I will mind. I guess I will have to calm down and have faith in these people.)

I left the store and waited outside until the others were done when I returned Arvirin the money, who followed me after a moment. I made the boy pay for those tools, so I wouldn't dirty my gold for it nor my morals. This leaves me with a better feeling, but the realization is still bothersome. It's difficult to simply dismiss behavior which I would normally arrest. (*~~Hopefully, this company won't taint my morals~~.)

Location: Headquarters, Vallaki
Side Note: The corpse in the attic has been interrogated. Her name is Lydia Astarova, she owns her cat for seven years, is not close with Stella Wachter and unfamiliar with the child named Yugo who is assumed to have transferred the holy relic. The corpse will be transferred to the church once the position of her husband has been confirmed.

We went back to the Headquarters where Shevat made his way to the kitchen to brew a potion. I gathered the others and addressed my concerns related to the corpse. They needed to ask it a few questions before they wanted to remove it and so we discussed a few questions. Only some of them would come with me, both Shevat and Tibirin remained downstairs, while the rest went up with me to interrogate the corpse. To my own surprise, it was still the exact same as it was and the cat ... She was still with her owner. Disgusting.

I moved in and started channeling my energy through my hands to awaken the memory of the corpse. We learned that the corpse's name is Lydia Astarova, she isn't close with Stella Wachter and doesn't seem to know the child named Yugo, but what we did learn about her cat is that she has owned her for seven years. Yshvara has some suspicions about a connection between Stella and the cat but I believed the coincidence would be too high, I am certain that there are many more cats in Vallaki for this one to stand out as much. At last, we learned about her preferred location to be buried. With her husband, she said ... What a tragedy ... I will make sure to make that vampire freak pay for this, for the sake of the people who have suffered for his amusement. I am eager to return the favor.

That's when the whispers surrounded us. I felt my heart skip at the sudden sound. Why would they reach us here? Aren't we far away from the church? They became louder ... The voices, their words, it was directed at my actions. It seems like we have confirmed a suspicion, Shevat was right, this time. He's not going to be happy about it, I thought at that moment, but then again, I don't do this for my own satisfaction, I interact with these memories for their sake, not mine. A bright light appeared right next to me, taking the shape of a large reaper that carried a scythe in its hands. It was rather bothersome that those whispers have established a vessel of some sort, to fight with. Not only that, it was quite fascinating to see as well but there was no time left to admire it. All of us were forced to draw our weapons. With the support of Tibirin who entered through the window (*~~are you OUT OF YOUR MIND?!~~) and Shevat who ran up the stairs. I wonder how the two have noticed the trouble inside this isolated space but I was happy to rely on their help when a magical tiger dashed on top of the bed to attack the other reaper. During the battle with the final reaper, it suddenly sank down through the floor. It was a strange sight but I cannot afford changing my position but that's when Pyre did a similar thing. What is this woman? ... And why has she not done this before? Those doors in the mansion wouldn't need to be opened up by force ... It's good to know when this will happen again ...

When the fight was over, I noticed a pair of glaring eyes aimed at me coming from the entrance of the room. Shevat, of course. He scolded me, almost like a parent would and demanded me not to use this same technique again. I knew that my words would not be able to reach him but I managed to share our finds with him anyway. His expression paused when I added that I asked her where she would prefer to be buried. He was surprised, almost touched and questioned me again if it was true. I returned him the answer he needed to hear. Shevat was so very touched, that he told me that it would make up for everything that has been done in an odd manner I have never witnessed before in my life. I saw that mixed expression on his face and it truly was ... Different. The man turned around and left. I glanced over to the others and suggested that we should put everything as before and deal with her body tomorrow. She will get her well deserved rest in a place where she belongs. With her loved one ...

After the work was done, I moved to the library and all of us split ways. I spent my time reading the journal and the manually kept encyclopedia which I took with me. I also gave the stone tablet another glance. A productive night until nightfall came and I returned to the room I assigned to myself, close to the library. I felt rather comfortable in my own space again, especially when the door fell shut and there was not much but a nice, big bed awaiting me. I remember smiling at the sight when I took my position and read through a few more pages of the journal with the dim, candle light. I shut my eyes to rest a little. As usual, those memories ...

But differently from usual, a voice suddenly reached out to me. I felt it ringing loudly in my ears when my mind connected to the message. A voice I have never heard before, sinister, dripping with dark intentions. It offered me help for my interest in the dead, or better said, the undead. I looked through the window but I saw no one there, I looked in the room I was in but there was no presence. Who is it that the voice belongs to? Why has it chosen me? I need to know what bastard comes with the idea to interrupt my rest for such insolence! ...

(OOC: During his study, Ireena and Pyre had a friendly match to show off their strength in the backyard with Tibirin. Both were in pretty bad shape afterwards and needed rest but Ireena was eager to do it more often. She was also sad not to have accompanied them when they fought those spirits because she was busy with all the paperwork. Muriel showed up as a raven and was quick to return her to her duties. Ireena is motivated to try a match against Viiris and Tibirin.)