Barovia (Village): Burial

The wolves burst in and are immediately ripped asunder by our reflexive counter-assault. There is a brief moment of tension that finally rests; regardless of hearsay, it is all but absolute that Strahd was behind both this attack and the one outside Durst Manor. These swipes are running my patience down, and it is limiting my willingness in hearing out any claims of reflexive misunderstanding.
 
As we wake in the morn, we (rather, my companions) assist Ismark in carrying the casket of the Burgomaster to the dilapidated church. This place of worship is stained in sorrows spanning generations and it reeks of their pain, residual psychic imprints of countless tortured minds wandering through it. Within, the portly keeper of faith (Donavich? He did not enunciate and I am without clarity or interest) is locked in prayer. His dysfunctional and erratic mannerisms mark a broken mind. Shortly after, Lenore and I detect the pained pleas of a young adult human male-- apparently this keeper's son-- and the story becomes clear. The keeper's son was part of a failed raid on Strahd as far back as a year ago, and was turned; a desperate father has locked his progeny up in hopes of a cure becoming available, and has spent an entire year listening to the sound of his son rave and beg for freedom from starvation. Belmont and others suggest a mercy killing, which this man refuses in palpable desperation. I refrain from commenting that this ambiance is common fare in kin colonies throughout the Underdark.
 
With the keeper's escort, we exit the building and commence the burial. His rites are spoken and his children weep while the companions all keep their distance from the mourners. Beyond the graveyard's retainer wall, a carriage arrives upon the road. Ismark's emotions turn to broken fury as he calls out, blaming the passenger for this loss. We experience a collective double-take before looking back to the carriage, its occupant standing within the mists beyond.
 
That is he, the "Devil" Strahd.
 
We are silent together, absorbing this moment and the information it offers. The figure's voice pours charisma upon the air, a reassuring statement of condolences before calmly taking his leave.
 
Ismark waits until the carriage has disappeared in entirety before reiterating the importance of getting Ireena to Vallaki. In agreement, we get the last of our preparations resolved before departing Westbound.