TOPIC: Meet at the Inn

"Can anyone who doesn't need to heal or rest come with me. I want to check Ireena's body. Something Strahd said bothers me. I want to make sure he can't raise her."

(I say this to individuals to avoid Ismark hearing, not wanting to hurt him further.)

Breon walks with Widseth to examine Ireena's body.

Lexan follows the wizard and bard, his fingers unconscious hovering close to his wooden daggers.

Widseth wrote: "Can anyone who doesn't need to heal or rest come with me. I want to check Ireena's body. Something Strahd said bothers me. I want to make sure he can't raise her."

(I say this to individuals to avoid Ismark hearing, not wanting to hurt him further.)

You cannot locate the body, though it is hard to be sure what this means as most of the other undead were rendered to ash by the icons activation. It is possible the body may have met a similar fate.

"We left her here in Findaway's crypt. I want to check the coffin in the alcove too."

(Is the mystic silk that I draped Ireena still in the Sir Findaway's crypt?)

Widseth wrote: "We left her here in Findaway's crypt. I want to check the coffin in the alcove too."

(Is the mystic silk that I draped Ireena still in the Sir Findaway's crypt?)

The silk is a few feet from the remains of the crypt.

While the others are away Delmar speaks with Ismark.

"Ismark, is there anything you can tell me about the curse? Did you find any way to resist its effects? Also I would like to know what you know about the swords that our host is trying to destroy. Any piece of information may be useful in our quest to free your lands and people."

( I gather the silk and put it in my bag of holding. We'll check Strahd's coffin in the gated area 86. Is the lid back on?)

cdsmith wrote: While the others are away Delmar speaks with Ismark.

"Ismark, is there anything you can tell me about the curse? Did you find any way to resist its effects? Also I would like to know what you know about the swords that our host is trying to destroy. Any piece of information may be useful in our quest to free your lands and people."

"I am sorry my friend but I fear you know more of the curse then I. I suspect I contracted it when we fought the lycan in town but I only became aware of it when the moon began to rise tonight. In truth I thought I was dying so when the vampire opened the castle and offered to free my sister in if I took her place I thought Ireena would be free and perhaps I could even rob him of a bargaining chip. I was a fool to suspect he could be so easily outsmarted." Ismark says despondently.

Widseth wrote: ( I gather the silk and put it in my bag of holding. We'll check Strahd's coffin in the gated area 86. Is the lid back on?)

No, the coffin is still as you left it.

(We will research the crypts again hoping to find anything that might help that we may have overlooked, and then head back to the party.)

Barkley ponders. "Didn't the gypsy tell us the sword was in the tower? It seems like so long ago we sat in her camp. Was that really only yesterday?"

The first card she reveals is marked with five inverted cups. “This card is a symbol of great power. It tells of an ancient icon of justice, a silver light that protects against the darkness. A light lost, perhaps found hidden by the darkness in a place of great worldly wealth. I see a blazing lire protecting this place.”

The second card is shows the image of a road worn scholar, his robe marked with 10 pentacles “This card speaks of history. Hidden knowledge to help understand a fearsome foe forgotten in a place of dizzying heights that he is now loathe to travel. But beware the path to knowledge winds ever upward and the littered with sharp stones.”

The third card shows a knight impaled on seven swords, “this card is a dark card, the object of your search! I see a great darkness behind this card. A wicked thing, once a servant of the light, a pact with darkness and power over death itself, given time he will find you again,” she says with surprise as she mutters the last word, “ he is always watching. Always searching, still with luck and perhaps fate on your side you could take him by surprise in a place of supplication.”

“This card was meant to help you but instead it is an ill omen, a very bad sign indeed.” Madam Eva says grimly drumming pensively on the paper as she considers its meaning. “The card represents the very heart of darkness in these lands: his home, his source, the center of his domain and the one place to which he must return. It is a very dark place, still if you are there and your heart is true then the powers of light will not fail you even in that place of darkness.”

The root card as Madam Eva described it (if this is indeed the final card Madam Eva would not show you) is the Ace of Swords. The card is inscribed with the image of a brightly burning blade with a brilliant sun set in the handle where one would typically expect to find a gem. The sword in the picture is striking down a demon. Sergi has drawn a crude but urgent circle around the sun.

"Madam Eva's five cards to this point have been accurate. We found the raven behind the fireplace. We did find hidden knowledge with the statues. And I do think there is a fearsome foe (to Strahd) hidden in a dizzying place. I believe Strahd is the knight impaled, always searching and watching. We found his heart of darkness here where he must return (his crypt), and the powers of light did not fail us. We know he fears us finding the sword. I think we have to bend all our efforts to find the sword and confront Strahd with it, and if need be the demon that controls him. We must find a way to free Delmar from the demonic curse or Strahd may control him. What are your thoughts?"