Curse of Strahd [CLOSED]

Imps, wolves, and now vampires? How did I end up in this mess? Thoughts spin around Ina's head as she listens to Moire and Hircus' recollection, her annoyance at her and Syvis' earlier...wander suddenly forgotten in the face of the new information. She tilts her head, curious about the name which Moire leaves out for her own sanity. Hardly promising. She remains quiet, a frog in her throat as Syvis' declaration. She'd heard, hells, made false vows such as this in the past - but now she felt only sincerity - if amongst grim resignation - in the other elf's words. Runrunrun, that small voice crept in, what use are daggers against the dead?

"O-of course," she stammers and clears her throat, repeating herself more clearly.

Nodding grimly to Ina, Moire looks at her three companions and says, "Consider now what we may need for the battle ahead. We might pay a visit to the warehouse we slept in this morning and see if we can purchase some torches and a tinderbox. I think Tegan had the pair we found." The Paladin's expression grows briefly wistful before she presses on. "We'll need light to go down after it. Otherwise, we haven't much time to lose. We want to come after it before it comes after us tonight."

If the party is generally agreeable, Moire sets out in the direction of their 'lodgings' from the prior night.

Hircus has been quietly watching up until this point. He takes a few short, quick steps toward the group. "I don't know if we have that kind of time, Moire. There is a time for preparedness, but this situation calls for swift and decisive action. We don't know that this individual will even be able to leave before we return. I say we make our way back to the house and determine how dire the situation is. Please, let's talk on the way." The cleric walks in the direction of the house and then turns back toward the group impatiently raising his hands and letting them drop again before continuing on his way.

"If you know of a way for us to see down there, I'm all for immediate action," Moire says agreeably as they walk.

Ina hurries to catch up with Hircus, swinging the pack from her back and rifling through it. "If nothing else, Syvis and I can see and sort of, well, guide you I suppose. You know I once saw some goggles that helped you see in the dark. They'd be marvellous right now, b- Oh! Syvis, are these any use?"

Ina haphazardly pulls the moss, bag of powder and the dried root from the bag in turn, holding them so Syvis can either look or take them herself while they continue walking. "At least we didn't have to lead the way," she half-laughs in elvish to Syvis.

She then switches back to common, keeping her words low and fast. "Now I appreciate you trying to protect me, truly, but do you not think it would be better to tell me the name of this...adversary before we get there? At least if it causes some reaction it would be less dangerous to be done with it now, no?"

Following the group as they walked with purpose, Syvis added, "I have spare torches and tinder if needed, I can also cover the enemy in light potentially ..." At knowing they were heading towards a dangerous fight, she started to get antsy -- reminding herself of times the fighters of the pack would go out to remove a threat or intruder from their territory. Yet, from the sounds of it, no one in the group considered this their territory. She smiled at Ina's comment in Elvish before turning to study the items presented to her.

"Those berries are rotten ... best to toss them away. I can create similar should we need if we require food. The root looks similar to a poisonous type I've seen before ..." She continued looking, "The powder I'm unsure ... I'd have to look at it more later, but the moss could be used for aiding with wounds."

Once the group arrived the woodelf frowned at the unease that seemed to radiate from the building. Glancing up at the sky she muttered, "It will rain soon ... if the creature cannot handle the sun, we'll lose even more of what little we have already." She nodded towards Moire, "While not what it's intended for, my hunting trap could be set out as well, though I'm unsure what we'd attach it to."

The spirit of battle arcs through his muscles as Hircus walks up to the little house that contains Faria the vampire. "Torm's light will guide us, friends." Approaching the door Hircus mutters a familiar prayer while clutching his amulet. His eyes close and when they open his amulet glows like a lantern shedding light inside the single roomed building. Before entering the room, the cleric leans in to see if he can see the creature cowering in it's den.

While the group seemed to discuss amongst itself plans on how to deal with the situation, Syvis set Otrev's cage aside, unlocking the door but not opening it. She explained to the small bird, "This is in case I do not return -- if you need to flee the cage you can."

Returning to the small home she had her bow drawn but as conversation didn't appear to be going anywhere she stowed her bow and instead drew a dagger, peering into the hole quickly while digging in the dirt around it looking for native insects. Seeing a few she turned to the group, "I can scout the tunnel as a bug. It will help give us an idea of what if anything is down there. If I'm something native here, I should be able to move freely -- who cares for bugs? Only if you think it wise. I can only hold a form for about an hour so if I do not reappear in that time ... I likely won't." Syvis glanced back down at the pit, the bugs she'd woken attempting to return to the safety of the dirt. "I will if it will help the pack."

As the companions head back towards the small house, Moire glances over at Ina and nods once at the elf's wise words. "You make a good point, Ina. I'm reluctant to cause you distress but if it's going to be inevitable, better it happen in the daylight. Can you remember an elf with golden eyes? An elven woman named Faria?"

If Ina goes into a trance, Moire experiments with trying to lead her onto the house by simply hitching her arm around the other woman's and trying to guide her. Failing that, she might even go so far as to lift her in a fireman's carry and bring her along. Despite the half an hour of time that's passed, Moire's sense of urgency only grows.

Once arriving at the house, Moire shrugs at Syvis' suggestion and unslings the hunting trap. "Perhaps we can set it up in front of the hole and bait Faria out again? As for scouting ahead, that's brave of you and very much to your credit." The Paladin reaches out and clasps the elf's shoulder. "Should something happen to you, we'll do what we can to retrieve you, Syvis. We're only recently met yet you've shown a steadiness of mind and purpose and we'll have need of both in the days and nights to come here. Go and see what you can. Flee back this way if you need to. We'll be waiting, ready for her."

With a nod towards Moire, Syvis focused on the hole in the ground, then began to focus herself on the shape and form of one of the many ants crawling down in the dirt, grimacing for half a second in discomfort at the shifting of her form and not into her favored wolf. Shrinking smaller than she typically did, it took a few seconds for everything to settle, trying to follow the immense scale of what seconds ago was perhaps the size of a fingernail if that. Instincts of the form began to take over, a slight longing to act on the instructions and orders being given and shared, a desire to be one of the thousands, only for her to internally shake her head. No -- she was not one of thousands, she was one of a smaller pack and one that was relying on her.

Following the scent trails and other ants she worked her way, but the distance was hard to follow and time had no meaning at this size. Continuing ... how long had it been? Her thoughts were interrupted as the tunnel ended and instead she had to travel down a smaller route, a small part of her mind thinking it was a grate of some kind. Fellow ants passed by with food -- drawing her attention for a moment until she reminded herself no -- she had a different purpose here. Once that smell fades another one appears, the ant side of her unsure what to make of it, but Syvis herself understood it to be ... perfume? Or a spice? It draws her to investigate, leaving the colony of ants to their tasks, she finds herself stepping across what felt like tile and soon enough even in her tiny mind realized she had found something humanoid even if it was a mountain to her as she was now.

It seemed to move towards her, slow yet horrifyingly fast at the same time, her form started to move away -- partly in fear but partly to see if she would be allowed to escape. As she moved further away she began to turn towards the wall, climbing up and around eventually finding a route above the humanoid and looking below saw the form laid out, their mouth open with long fangs. Internally Syvis hoped her grip on the wooden surface wouldn't give out -- she did not intend to find out what might happen were she eaten like this ... Yet from what she could tell she had at least found a vampire, for better or worse.

"Golden eyes aren't exactly uncommon," Ina mumbles, in thought, her own golden eyes staring down as she tries to recall the name. She felt wronged somehow, or perhaps she had wronged this Faria. She mentally shrugs - wouldn't be the first person she had unremembered issues with. Probably the first vampire, though. Ina shivers, the cold tickle of dread creeping up her spine. When Syvis transforms into an ant - an ant, for gods' sake! Magic is...well, crazy - she can't help but smirk, impressed. And slightly envious: Ina had often dreamed of being able to listen in on conversations in a more...efficient way than clinging to dusty rafters, cobwebs sticking uncomfortably to her face. Oh, to be a bird! She had once thought - the freedom! Ina then glances at Otrev, stubbornly hiding away in his cage, and sighs.

"How long before we do something?" Ina mouths to Hircus and Moire, fidgeting in discomfort at the silence.

Hircus shrugs in response to Ina. His fidgety body language and pinched face convey that he thinks it is taking longer than he is willing to wait. The cleric tries to tamp down his eagerness for battle, but is having a hard time of it. His stomach continues to give him grief which is a poor accompaniment to the clenched anticipation of a fight. He grabs hold of his amulet for reassurance, but also to ready himself to grant a blessing for his friends if the need should arise.

Attempting to follow the smell was difficult -- her six legs worked hard to try and keep up, but the route was unkind to an ant while the humanoid could easily step and cover large distances. Eventually she felt an internal sense that if she did not turn back now, she would likely find herself trapped somewhere and separated. With a strange equivalent of a sigh for such a creature she worked her way back, following the fainting trails of the other ants.

Climbing out of the hole she moved to where she thought she'd have space, finally releasing her form, but laying on the ground, splayed somewhat like her legs had been as an ant, dagger still gripped in her hand. Keeping her eyes shut she attempted to remember how her senses worked as an elf before mumbling in elvish, "I'm sorry ... I'm sorry ..." a few times, eventually opening her amber eyes to peek at the group behind her hair. Switching to common she continued hesitantly, "I ... think I had found her ... the vampire. I do not think you could have reached her ... the paths I had to take, I don't understand how she could have either ..."

Syvis curled up on herself, "She went away faster than I could keep up ... I lost her ... in some structure, I couldn't tell -- if I hadn't turned back -- I would have been stuck, I tried -- I tried ..."

After the first fifteen minutes Hircus was anxious, so he began pacing. After 30 minutes he was getting worried about his new friend, but trusting that she was ok. At nearly an hour the cleric can hardly contain his eagerness to get on with the hunt, fight, chase, whatever was to happen he just needed it to happen now. Just as he is about to storm into the house and crawl in the monster's den he witnesses Syvis grow from ant size to her normal size and crawl from the hole. Hircus releases a coughing breath in surprise.

After nearly an hour it seems they are barely better off than they were when they arrived. "How close?" Hircus asks in a whisper, then realizing that she is not being quiet he asks more loudly, "How far did you travel? Is the creature awake or asleep? Did it sense you? Must we enter that damned pit to chase it?" At that last question Hircus slows and considers what it might take for him to crawl back into the hole. "Must... must we follow it down that hole?" The cleric of Torm reflexively clutches his amulet while taking a small step away from the house.

Syvis ducked her head down again while Hircus spoke, if any were familiar with dogs, a submissive gesture. "I was ... directly above her at one point ... if I had felt more confident I considered attempting to attack, or crawl inside her head ..." She shook her head, "I am ... too unfamiliar with the form, I lost track of distance ... but she was awake when I found her."

Still keeping her head bowed she listened to the rain for a moment, "I think ... she was waiting on the rain." Letting go of the dagger she placed both hands on her head, still prone on the ground, "I don't ... I don't think our forms could make it through the tunnels to where she was ... she went somewhere empty ... loud ... there were stairs and wooden beams ... I ... may have learned her scent at least. If I rest ... and the rain does not wash it away ... I can try again as something else?"

Syvis reappearing in the room makes Ina start in surprise, jerking her crossbow to aim at the other elf's head in the split second that it takes for Ina to recognise her. She lets out a held breath, lowering the crossbow when Syvis explains what she found. Bending down, she offers a hand to help Syvis to her feet. "You did much more than we could have, you needn't be so harsh on yourself." Ina then peers out of the window for anyone approaching.

"The rain..." murmurs Ina, "So now she can go outside?" Deep breaths. "What chance do we have if the village is allied with these creatures? Where was it you said Nina went? Perhaps we should demand answers."

Moire spends the near hour on her knees, head bowed, silently communing with Ilmater. This land (and this new life) had left her precious little time for prayer so far. Distant as her God might be, so far from Luskan, she feels the example He set for her in her heart. And prayer reminds her that this resurrection, however dubious, isn't her first second chance. Will I be worthy of it?

Standing at last upon Syvis' return, the Paladin listens to the elf's explanation and the debate of her companions before shaking her head slowly. "First of all, thank you Syvis. Clearly this mission was difficult for you and we owe you much for risking it. Risk remains, however. If the vampire's waiting for rain, we may already be too late...but if we're not, this is our last chance to catch her before she reaches her master. Perhaps the path is blocked, in which case this will be a short trip. And perhaps the way is open, for the vampire made her way through after all. I, for one, say we take the chance now. Catch this vampire now. End the threat, now, before we bring doom upon this village and upon ourselves. Will you come with me?"

Assuming she can get a majority, Moire is happy to be the first one in.

Moire's declaration gives Hircus reason to work up the courage to head for the hole to be the first one to pursue Faria. As he approaches the hole beneath the bed his knees go weak and he is forced to stop well before he gets to the opening. The cleric swallows hard, "My heart drives me to rid this land of it's evil infestation, but I fear my bones will not allow me to enter that dark pit." Hircus takes a knee to steady himself. This hole is mere feet deep, but my stomach tells me I am teetering on the edge of a cliff. How can I be so weak after so many years of preparation? I have lived my life for this exact purpose.

Hircus stands again on wobbly legs and retreats toward the door. "Torm give me the strength I need so I do not fail you." The words escape through gritted teeth.

Finally noticing the offered hand, Syvis took it, pulling herself to her feet. She kept her arms crossed, entire posture trying to make herself look smaller. "... I still let down the pack ..." she muttered to herself.

Hearing Moire intended to continue through the tunnel, the elf offered, "At least I can likely guide you along the route I took." Seeing Hircus appear to falter brought Syvis' gaze towards the small birdcage with Otrev and her eyes widened, "What should we do with Otrev?" Approaching the cage she added in Sylvan, "I wish you would brave the world ... I cannot take your cage with me into the tunnel nor do I wish to leave you here so carelessly when we might not return ..."

Gathering what little resolve he has left, Hircus stands and intends to move toward the hole. His feet will not move. The cleric's knees give a little then buckle and he has to reach for the door frame to steady himself. "What business do I have crawling in holes? Torm intends for me to fight this beast another day." Hircus paces around the yard behind the house. "This is not the day I will do his bidding. This is not the day." He doubles over in pain from the stomach issue he has been trying to ignore all day. "This can't be. I am being defeated by my own will. Torm, how can I redeem myself?" Hircus slowly lowers himself to his knees and looks up into the rain.

Moire looks from the elf distressed over leaving her bird, to the cleric obviously tormented by the prospect of going into the ground. Ina's been silent so far but then she hasn't seen the elf with the golden eyes yet either. Would she be similarly paralyzed? Certainly, Moire herself still felt shaky from the contact.

Ilmater would sacrifice himself for others, and certainly so would she, but what hope was there in chasing after a vampire with this group in this state?

Reluctantly, the Paladin puts a hand on Hircus' shoulder and pulls him back to his feet. "Enough, my friend. By all accounts, the next house over may provide us with a better entrance. Or, failing that, perhaps there's more to be gained in finding Nina and learning what she knows about this vampire, if she truly recognized her. There are many paths for us forward, all of you. But it's clear to me that this particular one," Moire gestures towards the hole beneath the bed, "isn't something we're ready for. Come then. Let's see what we can learn another way."

Again, assuming everyone is so inclined, Moire makes for the nearby large house the tunnel goes beneath and...what else does a Paladin do? She politely knocks.

The rain wets the cleric's face and he closes his eyes to stop the stinging. Torm, I have walked the path you have drawn for me, but I do not have the will to continue this way. I made an oath to my brothers and to you that I would seek out the undying and end their existence, but I fear that I do not have the strength to flow the way you need me to go. My father required me to walk a straight path in training, but my mother guided me like a river of wisdom. I see now that I must be like a seeping rock high in the mountains. I will be a trickle that will gather the rain and the melting snow. I will soon have the weight of a great river to help me def...

Moire breaks the silent prayer to Torm by guiding Hircus from his kneeling position to stand once more. He listens to Moire and nods along as she explains her plan to explore the house next door. "I trust your navigation, Moire. I will follow you in whatever direction you decide is best. Torm has clearly asked a favor of his ally Ilmater to place you here with me, with us all."

Moire walks to the house next door and Hircus follows.