Having broke into the Coffin Maker's Shop, The Pack moved to investigate. Henrik van der Voort pleaded with them not to, clearly fearing whatever the force that rested upstairs. He stalled, refusing to give any information on his captors, and Shakti noticed that they were being watched from the broken window. She went outside and found Ernst Larnak, a thief and messenger employed by the Wachter family; Vallaki's second-most important family had invited them to dinner. The Pack took a minute to regroup and decided that it may be a bad idea to immediately pursue this lead without rest and information. Ghalwin left coins to pay for the damage to the window, and they went to explore the town.
Jarmo employed two children to lead them to Blinsky Toys, where they met the eccentric Gadof Blinsky and Piccolo, once Rictavio's monkey. In the workshop, they found a host of twisted toys, including a doll that eerily resembled Ireena Koyana. Jarmo pressured the toymaker into revealing that he was regularly employed by Izek Strasni to make new dolls, all looking exactly like her. Gadof also informed the party of his dream: to see the "myasterwork" clockwork man made by the toymaker Fritz von Weerg. He believed the clockwork man to be in Castle Ravenloft, and requested that if the party find it, to bring it to him. They left the shop having bought a mummifying matryoshka doll set for the kids, a headless doll with exchangeable heads for the Vistana child Arabelle, and a ventriloquist-style Strahd dummy for Ghalwin.
The Pack made their way to Arasek Stockyard, where they met the owners Yelena and Gunther Arasek. They found a variety of potentially useful items there, including a carriage, many horses, and a plate-mail set; on inspection, Ghalwin found a scribbling on the inside breastplate indicating it had been previously owned by "Brokk", likely an Orc. He also learned that it could be possible for Yelena to make Lancelot a set of dog-armor, though it could take days. Finally, the party found that a large cat-like creature was living in Rictavio's wagon, snarling and smelling of raw meat. The Pack decided to leave the stockyard without further investigating, attempting to be as respectful and careful as possible.
They instead went back to the Blue Water Inn. The bartender Danika Dorakova was expecting them, and revealed the truth that she was a Wereraven, unaffected by physical damage. They met her children, Brom and Bray, as well as her husband, a cook named Urwin Martikov. After some deliberating, Urwin revealed that he was the spymaster of an organization called the Keepers of the Feather, a society of wereraven spies dedicated to protecting Barovia. He offered some basic information on the village of Krezk, but apparently did not wish to divulge much further, citing that previous adventurers had turned to the side of Strahd. To prove that they could be trusted, Ghalwin offered to travel to the Martikov family winery, Wizard of Wines, and inquire why the shipments of wine were late; this absence had put the Inn in a compromised position.
As they were already at the Inn, they spoke to Rictavio, who remained charming but obviously guarded. The Pack were unable to get much out of him, dancing around the subject of a beast in his wagon; Rictavio feigned suprise and promised to investigate the matter. After a short chat, they returned to the orphanage, repairing the damage caused by that morning's fight and having a quick rest before their dinner at the Wachterhaus.
That evening, they dined with Nikolai II and Karl as well as the twins mother, Fiona Wachter. After a pleasant if useless conversation, Fiona dismissed her sons and revealed the truth behind her invitation; she wanted the party to befriend the Baron Vargas Vallakovich and report any dirt that they could find. She showed open disdain for the authoritarian methods of the Vallkovich family and clearly was interested in some sort of revolution. She also inquired on The Pack's relationship with Stahd, remarking that the vampire lord may be "somewhat misunderstood," and Ghalwin sensed that a small fiendish presence was noticeable below the house.
The party requested to see her daughter, and Fiona eventually relented. Stella Wachter was locked in her room like an animal, and seemed to believe that she was a Cat. Fiona informed the party that she had been set to marry the Baronet Viktor Vallakovich, but after weeks returned insane, and the wedding was called off. Clearly still enraged, Fiona requested that The Pack investigate Viktor to find out what happened to her daughter.
After a day full of demon-fighting, information gathering, and extensive property damage, the party retired at the Inn. They had learned many things about this town, but still had no idea who they could trust.