Day 7 - Evening
The party has just returned to
The Blue Water Inn after rescuing Arabelle from Bluto. Jagger muses about the possibilities that tomorrow will bring stating, "Look, I don't trust this Burgomaster. For all we know as honored guests we'll be hung up and quartered. What if we just disappear tonight?"
Nazgog retorts, "No worry. I smash Burgomaster and rule town."
"You heard Urwin," Fidelia adds a bit of restraint, "If we don't show tomorrow, then we can never come back here. I say we show up and see what happens. If things go sideways, we can always run."
The party agrees to move forward with being special guests of the Burgomaster and head downstairs to the tavern to see what might be occurring there. As they enter the tavern room, it's exceptionally crowded compared to the last two nights. However, Urwin waves them over to the large table before heading back into the kitchen area. As they look around they can see familiar faces like Rictavio standing halfway up the stairs, Bluto and Lars sitting at the bar in front of Danika, and Szoldar and Yevgeni drinking heavily at a nearby table.
As Jagger and Fidelia saunter over to the bar to order a pitcher and chat with Lars and Bluto, they overhear Lars ask, "Danika, have there been any more reports of the purple lights from the Burgomaster's attic?" Before she can answer, the pair sit down and Jagger greets the other two, "Hey! How are you holding up after today's events?"
After a bit of smalltalk, Fidelia asks, "So we're honored guests of the burgomaster tomorrow, does he have honored guests often?"
Lars's face scrunches in fear as he responds, "I've been a guard for years and he's never shared the limelight before. Well, unless you count the folk that fill the stocks for him. But you better go or he'll do worse than place you in the stocks."
Jagger continues to chat as Fidelia wanders over to the wolf hunters and asks, "How's the hunting been?"
Szoldar grimly shakes his head, "Today was a bust. Something is spookin' em. So the wolves are leaving the area heading west maybe toward Lake Baratok. It was weird today. We'd look at a bush, then as we looked elsewhere we'd see it move away from us."
"The bushes walked?" exclaims Fidelia. "Does this happen often?"
"Trees and bushes are fixed. I don't understand it," states Yevgeni. "But sure as I see you, them bushes would be there one moment and gone the next."
Fidelia heads back to the table. Jagger joins as well as Fidelia shares, "The wolf hunters shared that wolves are leaving the area because walking bushes are invading. That makes no sense right?"
"God damn twigs!" exclaims Nazgog. "I smash them before and will smash again!"
Seeing the puzzled look on Fidelia's face, Morgana explains, "We've faced these things before we met you. A rogue druid created them from the
GulthiasTree. He was spreading that tree's fruit through trade. Do you think a seed could've made its way here?"
Sticky nods in rememberance as he adds, "
Blights they were called. Do we really think these are the same?"
"Okay, so these things might be real," Jagger cuts in, "What did it take to defeat them?"
Nazgog spits out, "Axe."
As that single word hangs in the air, Rictavio calls for attention. "Greetings Ladies and Gentlemen! Excuse me, I meant Men for there is nothing gentle within this world." The audience chuckles as Rictavio looks at the party and then launches into a story. The party listens intently as Rictavio tells of the four old gods and the jealousy of Mother Night.
Long before the everlasting darkness. Before the endless night. Even before the horrors of this land, four gods ruled together in the valley of Barovia. This included the Morninglord, the Easternwind, and the Westernearth. But it also included Mother Night. Each of the gods ruled in peace, but Mother Night felt shunned and alone. For she held power only in the darkest reaches of the land. Resentful, she twisted creatures of the night to her desires. Bent beneath her malevolence, these creations terrorized those that walked under the clear skies of the Easternwind, mined the depths of Westernearth, or rejoiced with the Morninglord. Many of these horrors were interred centuries ago by wizards of the greatest power in the south where still their souls burn balefully through amber, but others still roam this land. These children of Mother Night resist weapons of mortality and nary an iron blade can damage them. But have faith Barovians, for even in the darkest night, the Morninglord will rise and spew forth silvery barbs of pain unto these foul fiends. Lest you forget, I shall repeat that it is this silvery touch that weakens these beasts that walk like men.
After a round of applause, Rictavio concludes, "Thank you my dear audience, but tomorrow holds another festival and my throat is as dry as the tomorrow's effigy." A weak ripple of laugh echoes within the tavern as Rictavio heads up to his room.
After another hour, the party retires to their room as well.
Day 8 - Festival of the Blazing Sun
Rising the next morning, the party heads down to the tavern room and sees Danika behind the counter. As Danika greets the party, Urwin comes out of the kitchen with several plates of breakfast as he says, "Morning to you. To answer your bewildered expressions, we open for breakfast on Festival Days. The burgomaster is expecting you in front of St Andrals church by ten bells. I'd eat hearty as there's no telling when lunch will occur."
After breaking their fast, the party exits
The Blue Water Inn under dark and stormy skies where they head west to
St. Andral's Church. Thirty minutes later, they approach the church doors and several guards leading small ponies come from behind the church along with the Burgomaster. Upon seeing the party, he smiles broadly and greets them, "Good festival morning to you! As my special guest, you should feel honored. I'm sure together we can bring about great happiness for my town. Now, we're going to mount these horses behind our centerpiece, the sun, and then parade through the town to the square."
Nazgog looks at the pony, then declares, "Pony is puny, I'll walk along with you."
The Burgomaster spins toward her stating, "Are you defying my command? We need you to ride the pony along with everyone else. We must present an united front."
"My culture," replies Nazgog, "must keep their feet on the ground. I'll not ride, but I'll walk with you."
The Burgomaster's starts looking livid as Fidelia whispers something into Nazgog's ear. Nazgog then complies by stating, "Fine. I'll be on the pony as we go through town. Happy?"
The party mounts the ponies along with the Burgomaster and his wife, Lydia Petrovna before stately proceeding east. As Nazgog moves out, an astute observer might notice that the her pony's hooves don't quite touch the ground as Nazgog walks forward.
Citizens line the path as the parade heads toward the center of town, even Danika, Urwin, and their boys are among the crowd. As the horses pass, the townsfolk join the procession so that the entire town enters the square behind the party. The guards carry the effigy to the center of the square as the townsfolk encircle it.
The Burgomaster lifts his sputtering torch high and steadily walks toward the effigy. As he shoves the torch into the effigy, a loud crack resounds within the square and a deluge of rain pours from the sky, extinguishing the torch. In the echoing silence a single laugh is heard drawing everyone's attention to Lars who covers his mouth in shock.
The Burgomaster master cries out, "You would mock this sacred tradition! Guards! Bring the horses and that guard!"
Nazgog states, "You are going to punish him? It was just a laugh."
"Do you wish to join this traitor," screams the Burgomaster. "I'll haul you around as well!"
Nazgog replies, "No. He's not a traitor. It was just a laugh of celebration."
The Burgomaster rushes away from Nazgog toward the guards holding Lars yelling, "Arrest them! Arrest them all!"
Morgana quickly summons eldritch energies, looks at the guards and quietly states,
"We want no violence. Why don't you just sleep for a few." As the energies flow outward from her, three of the guards slump toward the ground. Following up, Jagger whips his lute around and strums bringing forth arcane energies around the remaining guards and the fleeing Burgomaster. Suddenly, a cube of whirling knives slice through the remaining two guards and the burgomaster knocking them all unconscious. Nazgog hefts her great axe forward yelling toward the imposing Izek, "Surrender to me! I'm in charge and there's no reason to die!"
Izek, drenched from the cascading rain, looks at the unconscious guards, the Burgomaster, and then glances at the small flame flickering in his hand. He looks back up to Nazgog and says, "You'll help him if I surrender, yes?" As Nazgog nods, the flame winks out and his shoulders relax. Morgana rushes forward to mending the wounded guards and the Burgomaster. Nazgog adds, "Morgana, let's make sure to tie him up with a nice pretty bow."
As Morgana works, Jagger sees a stealthy figure slip away down an alley.
As Morgana finishes her task, there's a loud roar followed by a crash in the distance. Suddenly, a large saber-tooth tiger comes loping into the square followed by Karl and Nikolai Wacther laughing as they poke and prod it. Rictavio calls out to the party, "Fluffy won't hurt anyone as long as she's not harmed."
Nodding, Jagger calmly approaches the tiger whispering "ps ps ps" before then tickling it. The large feline rolls over onto it's back for scritches as Nazgog strides between the Wachter boys severing both of their heads with a single stroke.
Urwin steps out of the crowd saying, "I think it'd be a good idea if we had a chat in private. You've got some decisions to make."
Suspicious Nazgog asks, "Why?"
"I'm just offering a private area where your group can discuss what comes next," Urwin replies.
"Fine," Fidelia confirms. "We'll bring our prisoners and follow you."
"We'll hold them in the stable if that works for you," offers Urwin.
Upon reaching the Blue Water Inn, the party sits their prisoners in a stall within the stable and then head into the tavern with Urwin. Sitting at the large table Urwin opens up, "So you've taken the town without any real blood spilled, well other than the Wachter brothers, but then you likely were already an enemy of Lady Fiona Wachter. What coomes next? Who will you place in charge of the town? Will you be staying? There are other areas that need your help."
"Why should we trust you," demands Nazgog. "How do we know you won't take town if we leave?"
Urwin muses for a moment and then his body shifts. Black feathers grow across his body and his nose transforms into a beak. He then quickly shifts back to a human form again. "I'm part of the Keepers of the Feather and I want to see the Lady Strahd defeated. This land has suffered under her for far too many generations."
Fidelia continues, "Okay. So you've been watching us, how do you know we need someone else to run the town."
"There are many who favor and serve the dark lady," responds Urwin. "Some are hopeful for attention, but others desire, even crave, power. Lady Wachter is one of those and if you don't have someone legitamately governing the townsfolk, then they will be undermined by allies of Lady Strahd and then you'll return to a town that is now hostile towards you."
Jagger quips, "So I assume that you are promoting that you should run the town? Even though you've been hiding who you are from us."
"Actually, no," responds Urwin. "I've got my hands full with this inn and with the Feathers. I'll do my best if you ask me, but I'd prefer to remain outside of the public spotlight."
Morgana asks, "What about Lars? He's not from here and we know he has a kind heart."
"Lars good guy," grunts Nazgog. "He knows loyalty."
"You'll also need to come up with a plan for the Burgomaster and his family," continues Urwin. "It's commendable that you didn't kill him, but now what do you do with him? And what about Izek?"
"Those are problems for regent," grins Nazgog.
"Let's go get Lars," says Fidelia, "and then we'll take the next step." The party gets up and heads to the western gate where Lars normally has duty.
After a thirty minute walk, they see Lars manning the gate. Approaching him Jagger states, "Hey Lars, we want to discuss something with you. Do you have a moment?" As they step to the side, Jagger continues, "So we've overthrown the Burgomaster for his cruelty, but we need a favor."
"Oh?" responds Lars, "If you need more murder, just point."
"We need our business protected," responds Fidelia. "We have to continue onward, so we need someone here to run things in our absence."
"Okay. I'm not sure I know anybody that's trustworthy," Lars says. "I've been here a decade and everyone has secrets."
"We were thinking that you would make a good mayor," Fidelia answers.
Nazgog chimes in, "You take care of your friend. That's important."
"And I'm sure Urwin will help," adds Jagger.
Lars agrees and swears he'll get the town to a higher standard for the group with the hope that tradesfolk will establish shops. With a newly appointed mayor, the group considers their next task. "Well, last night we heard that purple flashes are seen in the Burgomaster's attic," Jagger states.
Morgana jumps in, "Udo is still missing and he wasn't in the stocks. Maybe we'll get a lead on him in the Burgomaster's home too."
Fidelia concurs, "We definitely need a more thorough search of his home. We also need to gain a better understanding of what Izek will do if he sees Ireena. We can't leave her here until we are sure about him."
After a few minutes, the party reaches the Burgomaster's house. Morgana walks up and knocks on the door. A few moments pass without an answer, then Nazgog strides forward and kicks the door open almost knocking over the maid on the other side while saying, "Tired of this town. We make quick work of house."
The party steadily moves from room to room on the first floor finally coming to the kitchen where they find a second staircase leading upward. Reaching the second floor, Nazgog knocks open the first door and stares at an ironclad bathtub with claw-feet. She grunts as she moves to the next door and throws it open causing a wave of perfume to float outward. Looking into the room, the party sees a bridal gown and a floor length mirror. "Bah! Boring stuff," Nazgog grunts as she moves toward the last door in this small section of the upstairs hallway.
Throwing open the door, the party looks into a master bedroom with an obvious trap door in the ceiling. Pulling on its rope, the party ascends into a twenty foot square dusty room. Noticing a door, the party heads into the main storage area and follow a footpath to another door on the far side with a large skull carved into the door and a sign reading "All is not well". As they approach, they hear a young man's voice beyond so Nazgog slams open the door tripping a warding glyph that explodes in her face.
As the smoke clears, they see a lamplit dusty chamber with mismatched furniture. Several tables are strewn with parchment with strange unknown diagrams. There's also a bookshelf containing bones and a dusty rug covering the floor with a skeletal cat lounging on a pine box. Even more startling are three small children standing with their backs to you. Staring at the party, a thin young man sporting a streak of gray in his hair reading from a leather book cradled in his hands, asks "Why do you disturb me?"
"There's been reports that purple lightning flashes here in the night, so we wanted to find out what was happening," answers Jagger.
"What of it?" responds the young man. "It's my father's house. Why should it be anyone else's concern?"
Fidelia studies the book in his hand and notices strange sigils hidden beneath the weathered rug. "What spell are you trying to cast?"
"I'm trying to get out of here, if you must know," he replies.
Nazgog steps forward saying, "I'm boss now. We need answers, not riddles."
The man lifts a small cloth bag from his belt as he quickly whispers a few arcane words, then tells Nazgog, "I suggest you leave this house immediately."
Strangely compelled, Nazgog turns around and stomps outside.
Jaggers turns on his charm and says, "Look it sucks here. We can agree on that, but why don't you help us out."
"I've got nothing to say to Strahd's playthings," he retorts. He then whispers additional arcane words while tracing symbols in the air before disappearing from view.
Morgana rushes after Nazgog, finding her on the doorstep with a lit brand saying, "I'll torch this place."
"He's gone Nazgog," Morgana says. "Why don't we head back upstairs and finish scouring it."
