As our party of confused, sweaty, schizophrenic adventurers looked at the rubble of the Thurst mansion, they felt the need to recuperate. Some horribly needed rest later, each adventurer felt revitalized, about two metaphysical levels stronger, and a little less confused and sweaty. The schizophrenia remains to be seen.
The party continued down the path, deeper through the Svalich woods. They arrived at the town of Baroviatown. The place seemed deserted, gloomy, nobody outside, with most of the buildings seemingly abandoned or boarded up. Kevdormu decided they could knock on some doors to learn what happened here and where the party could rest for the night. Many residents did not answer, and those that did brought little information other than telling the party how unwelcome they were from behind closed doors. Narmo shrugged and sighed as the group continued on.
Near the town square the party found an alleyway with the sound of a woman wailing next to a shop. Investigating the sound, the party went into a home and up the stairs to see a woman crying profusely (Mad Mary). Her daughter Gertruda went missing a week ago. Not much is known about Gertruda, except that she is not the first girl to have gone missing and she did nothing out of the ordinary as far as Mary knows. The party will try their best to help find Gertruda and bring her home.
The shop next door is Bildrath's Mercantile owned by the gnome Bildrath. The shop has a bruiser named Perrywimple, a huge but seemingly dumb alpha chad. After the party tried to buy some overpriced stuff with cheap tricks, they got thrown out by the bruiser.
Next stop: the town's Blood on the vine tavern. Here a deadpan barman dryly responded to our requests, denied us lodgings (everything was booked) & served us the only thing on the menu: wine. The tavern was mostly empty except for three Vistani women that told us Madame Eva would be at the Tzer Pool, which coincided with Sierra Del Panadero's vision which set her off on this journey in the first place; going to the Tzer Pool to find an answer to the tarokka card she received. All party members got one in fact. When the Vistani ignored us, a finer dressed man invited us to his table and introduced himself as Ismark Kolyanovich. He said his sister, Ireena Kolyana is currently at the manor of their father, the Burgomaster's Manor. Ireena is being kept there, hidden from the Dread Lord but he is after her and a safer place is needed. Ireena Kolyana needs to get to the more fortified town of Vallaki safely. This has become more urgent since the manor has been under attacks by wolves and.. worse.. for weeks. The Burgomaster himself passed away during a recent attack. Ismark Kolyanovich can help but a little in the preparations for the journey (A cart/carriage for his sister?) and will stay in Baroviatown to manage the town as the supposedly new burgomaster.
As Ismark Kolyanovich leaves the inn, the party rests a bit before joining him at the manor. They talk and get to know each other a bit better. Sierra Del Panadero trusts in nature and the natural order of things to guide her actions. Kevdormu puts his trust in his Archlich patron that will prolong his life. Kokmadon trusts his ingenuity and craftsmanship to overcome the challenges of tomorrow. Narmo believes her skill and the items she made herself will prove invaluable time and time again. As for Grayson Black, he chose to guard his motivations and focus on the task at hand.