We begin by entering the Village of Barovia on the eastern side. As we make our way into town, it's early evening. The mist and overcast darkness is still with us. We notice there are almost no people around. The buildings we pass are more residential. It's a poverty stricken area with the builds in disrepair and the windows are boarded up with some of them. We found Wolfs Way and what we assume is a house that was mentioned in one of the deeds as a Durst owned property. At the next intersection, more of the same.

We continue into town towards an area that appears to be a town square. We come upon some people in a line headed towards a cart. Misty wanted to duck into the mercantile. Bildrath's Mercantile was the name of it. We also see a place called Blood on the Vine Tavern. Most of us entered the Bildrath's, Haldar and Zanfyr stayed outside. Misty and Rinn used their disguise kits to look a little more human so as to limit the questions about that. Misty started trying to sell some of the artifacts she found in the Durst Manor. She's not getting much money for any of it. She finally gives up and put's a mummified Goblin hand on one of the shelve's. Snoggly picked up some 20 feet of hemp rope.

After a bit of looking, we all leave and head to the tavern. It and the Mercantile are both in fairly good shape. The Tavern is a large building with multiple entrances. One entrance to the restaurant, one to the tavern, and one to the restroom. We enter and Snoggly goes straight for the tavern side. Most of the others find places to sit and they order some food and drink. There is a main barkeep and three servers moving around taking orders. There is another man sitting off to the side eyeing us. Snoggly can't seem to get a good drink. They keep offering him wine. They don't have Whisky or Brandy. He finally settles for ale. Haldar is staying outside.

The gentleman sitting alone comes over and introduces himself. Ismark Kyonovich. Rinn recognizes the name as the son of the Burgomaster. Alexa spoke of him and told us we could trust him. He asks us where we come from. He doesn't seem to know anything about Calimport or Waterdeep. He asks if we are for hire. He proceeds to tell us he needs someone to escort his sister away from this place. He keeps his voice down and eyes another table where three women are sitting. A couple of times, Snoggly speaks up but Ismark speaks in hush tones trying indicate that what we are talking about, he wants to keep quiet about. He indicates his sister is in danger and when pressed, said she's in danger from the devil. He tells us that locals fear to travel so there is so no one here he could hire. He also said that his father, the Burgomaster, had died of a heart attack. Now he is the Burgomaster and as such, he can't leave to take her. When pressed as to where to take her, he suggested Kresk or the walled city of Malachi, about two days journey. Kresk is not known for it's hospitality but perhaps she can hide there. Snoggly ask more information about the girl and he tells us that she is 21 and her name is Irena. When pressed about the devil's interest in her, he only said that he is. Snoggly asked if he was talking about the man from the castle. Ismark quickly hushed him and said yes. He tells us that the bastard in the castle could kill us with a glance. When asked about pay, he said 50gps. Snoggly asked about whisky and he said there was whisky at the house.

He asks if we would join him at his home, after we dine, and pays for our food. He can get us whisky, rest and a bath. Irena is there. He keeps glancing back at the ladies at the other table. We look at them a little more intently and see that they are colorfully dressed and seemed to be their own little click. We all indicate that we are interested in the job. The wench that brought our food ask about here we were from. Kyana told her, from Calimport. Asked from which direction we came, east, west, north, or south. We Kyana answered east. More questioning led to Ismark seemed to know what she was after and cut in, letting her know that he will ask us what we saw on the way in, then mentions that Tasha's had disappeared a couple of weeks ago. There are even more villagers that have disappeared. They probably lose someone every week or so. We told him about Alexa's group that we had run into, searching for Gurtruda. Kyana asks, why are people disappearing around here. He suggests that we can talk about that later, again keeping his voice down.

Misty goes outside to find Haldar so we can get his vote. After a little looking around she saw a coupe of other people walking by talking about the really good food from the cart. She continues chomping on the ribs she purchased as she walks around looking for him.

He tells us to head south to the house at the end of the road. He then leaves. After we finish, we head down the road.

Misty lightly calls out to Haldar and he eventually appears beside her. She tells him about the request to assist Ismark. He says he will do whatever the group decides. Zanfyr comes in, sits with the rest, and gets some Venison.

After we eat, we leave the tavern and head south down the road to the mansion at the end of the road. It's a little weary but we move through the broken gate to front of the house. The wood is scarred with scratches and heavy claw marks. Black marks indicate fires were used to assaulted the mansion. The windows seem to be missing their glass and they are bared and boarded up. It's not quite what we expected. Doesn't look very welcoming.

Rinn knocks with his mage hand. Ismark answers and seems happy that we showed up. We entered and it was nicer and well furnished but the fixtures show signs of great wear. You also notice the boarded up windows and the presence of holy symbols hanging in every room. Off the main room is an archway leading to another room. Ismark calls out to Irena. The symbnols are of the Morning Lord, Lathander. Irena enters the room, she is a striking woman with Auburn hair carrying a bow.

Snoggly asks the next obvious question, what has happened to the house. The house has been under constant attack from wolves, zombies, undead things, bat rats, and all kinds if creatures. They assail the walls. They've tried to set the house on fire. It's gone on night after night for the last few weeks. When asked what these creatuires want, Irena and Ismark look to each other and he responds, “They want her. For some reason, the devil on the hill, in the castle, he seeks my sister.”. It's suggested that he wants a lot of women but Ismark counters with “not to the degree he wants my sister.”. When asked what he wants from her, she replies, “I honestly don't know.”. The she pulls her scarf down and reveals two puncture wounds. Kyana takes a look at the wounds and though she's never seen the likes of this before, they fit the description of…a vampire! When asked, she has been bitten once she thinks. Ismark explains that her memory of the events are very foggy. Haldar takes a look and though he's never seen anything like this before, vampire does fit the the description of what has been defined. Zanfyr also looks, determining the same thing.

Kyana asks about the safety of moving her from here which started a conversation between Ismark and Irena. She doesn't want to leave but he is certain that she must leave. He tells her she would be more safe in a city like Malachi than here. She says she will not leave until father is buried. We enter the room where his body is placed. They decide to have Father Donovich bury their father in the morning. He feels like after the burial, we should take her and leave. Dain agrees that the further away from the danger she is, the safer she should be. She replies, “He is the land, he is the ancient!”. We remember that from the chanting at Durst Manor..

Upon hearing this, Ismark asks about it. Dain explains that we killed the monster, buried the family, and then the house aged and collapsed. Ismark, with hope in his voice suggested that maybe we succeeded where nobody has. She suggested that the house has been burned and still returned in ten days. Dain argues that this time, by burying the family and defeating the monster in the basement, that maybe this time, it will not return.

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