Party 4

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It seems a little fishy to me. But I guess we should follow. We need all the allies we can get. Juniper's eyebrow scrunch for a second.
Wait! Maybe she this mother night like in the card reading. This could actually be great.
Juniper let's out a small chuckle as the chestnut brown furred wolf tumbles towards them. It's okay buddy we all have those days.

As Ezmereld speaks and as the party moves, Juniper's shoulders continues to be tense. Her eyes dart through the trees making sure there are no surprises.
 
"More allies will always be welcome, given our opposition. I can understand a pack of intelligent beings not liking the idea of being made to heel at the call of a sadistic monster. Their more normal cousins seem to be rather pleasant company, at least for the moment."

Dess smiles slightly at the tumbling wolf as she follows along with the others, checking in with Nadir from time to time as the owl glides back and forth over the woods behind them, checking for signs of followers.
 
With Nadir flying high above them, the owl could see areas of the forest near the group of travellers that seemed to have something moving through it. Whatever it was though seemed to stick to the denser parts of the foliage while keeping pace with the group. Amongst the group, Ismark stayed close to Ireena, remaining within five feet of her at all times. Arinthia stayed between five and ten feet from Ireena on the opposite side to Ismark.

After half an hour of travel, Greychin and the chestnut furred wolf led the party to a cave entrance. Something that stood out immediately to all of them was the fact that someone had hung small lanterns on wooden poles with tiny candles flickering away within to give some light to the cave itself. There was enough that that none of the group had to struggle to see in any way.

“Huh, that’s new.” muttered Ezmerelda under her breath.

Steady, slow footfalls echoed throughout the cave until at last a middle aged woman with her hair wrapped up in a cloth bandanna walked out, keeping her hands up in a deliberate show of not holding a weapon. Her clothes had many tears and it looked as if she’d been clawed by a fierce animal more than once if the scars that showed through the tears were any indication.

“You took a little longer than expected,” said the woman in a stern but not unfriendly voice. “You must be the latest to be causing the devil on the cliff to travel the roads instead of linger in his ancestral pile.” remarked the woman as she sat down, both Greychin and the chestnut coloured wolf running up to her. She scritched each of them under the chin, affection evident in the look she gave them. “Greychin, Caramel, where’s your sister Greypaw?” Behind the group came sudden quiet steps as a third wolf trotted around the group, seemingly uninterested in any of them beyond her pack mates.

“My name’s Zuleika, who are you?”
 
Her eyes glimmering behind her new mask to match the grin blooming across her face, Dess gives Zuleika an fancifully overdone bow, sweeping an imaginary hat from her head as she does so, sweeping it across the rest of the party.

"Thank you for allowing us an audience in this grand estate, Lady Zuleika, and our thanks to your companions for the most pleasant escort. I am but a humble apiarist, harlequin, and scholar, and these my busy bees, seeking a chance to sting a rather unpleasant acquaintance who has been doing his best to, if not kill us, torment us and others for his own amusement."

With a pleasant giggle, Dess straightens up, easing back on the foppery as her grin gets even broader as she looks over at Ezmerelda.

"I really do like this mask, Ezmerelda. It feels like it demands making a proper production of things."

She turns her attention back to Zuleika, obviously struggling to refrain from keeping her outlandish mannerism going.

"But yes, my lady, we're a group of outsiders who, if by 'latest' you mean there have been others before us, then yes, I suppose whatever powers that be handling this miserable pocket of suffering have decided we get to be the next test subjects of 'How long can you survive before the foul-tempered vampire gets bored of playing you and gets around to killing you?' Along with some friends we've made along the way who've agreed to lend us a hand with some things. My name is Dessirris Lyrianae, but please call me Dess. I'm not sure I can express how nice it feels to get a friendly greeting for once in this land."
 
Zuleika raised her eyebrows at Dess' performance but otherwise didn't seem to make any noticeable sign whether she approved or disapproved of Dess' performance. As Dess looked to Ezmerelda, a small smile appeared on the hunter's face, though she carefully folded her arms and glared at Zuleika. Though Zuleika smiled once Dess introduced herself. "It's a pleasure to meet you," said Zuleika, "And the Dark Lord Strahd is well known to my people.”

"Really?" huffed Ezmerelda, whose smile from Dess' foppishness had been replaced with a grimace.

"Um, I'm Arinthia and this is Ismark and Ireena," said Arinthia, trying to take some of the tension out of the room. Though it would've been clear enough to everyone besides Sir Gregory and Zuleika that Arinthia was still tense herself - her tail was wrapped tightly around her left leg with the end of the tail shoved down the back of her boot. Ireena stepped forward a little and looked to Zuleika.

"My name is Ireena Kolyana," said Ireena, "Strahd is following us and appears to have taken an interest in me specifically. He commanded my friends," Ireena gestured to Beldar, Dess, Juniper and Arinthia, "to escort me to Krezk, though that was what they were doing anyway."

Zuleika raised an eyebrow as she looked over Ireena’s half plate armor and the longsword in a sheath at her side. “That is peculiar,” murmured Zuleika, “It is fortunate you have come here though, we may be able to help each other out.”

From somewhere deeper in the cave, three humans came out, all of them dressed in rags but clutching worn crossbows, none of which were currently loaded or pointed at the party. Instead the crossbows were carried with their stocks pointing to the floor, though it was clear each of the humans had their own supply of bolts for the weapons hanging from their belts in pouches. “Zu, there appear to be five people approaching the cave from the East, they’re about three miles away coming through the forest. Three of them appear to be injured.”

“Thank you, Anton, return to your posts. Alert me when that group come within half a mile.” commanded Zuleika with an easy air of authority. As the three hurried back the way they came, Zuleika and Ezmerelda seemed to be engaged in a staring contest and it would be easily evident to everyone other than Ireena that Ezmerelda’s hand was very close to being on the pommel of her shortsword.

“You’re awfully cavalier about that,” remarked Ezmerelda.

Zuleika seemed a lot less tense than Ezmerelda, as if she were used to people seemingly going on the defensive around her. “It is what it is,” commented Zuleika, “Perhaps more of our people have gotten fed up of Kiril’s leadership of the den, perhaps they failed the Dark Lord Strahd and are seeking my protection. Or something else entirely. I am not a fortune teller, unlike you.” Zuleika glanced down then looked back to Ezmerelda with a toothy grin, “Maybe if you’d read your own fortune you wouldn’t be in two pieces.”

Ezmerelda gripped the pommel of her shortsword tightly but did not yet draw the weapon. Seeing things could descend into a fight, Ismark moved across and put a hand on Ezmerelda’s shoulder. “Don’t – too many people, whatever reason you have isn’t worth-”

“Save it,” growled Ezmerelda, glaring at Ismark out of the side of her eye, “After your little speech in Vallaki you don’t get to tell me to calm down. Get your hand off my shoulder.” Ismark removed his hand but stayed close by as Ezmerelda stared down Zuleika once more. “Give me one good reason for staying my sword, Zuleika. Make sure it’s a reason that rings true.”
 
Watching the display, Juniper cleared her throat and stepped forward. Hello, I am Juniper Redwood. It's a pleasure to meet you and I hope it stays that way. Juniper faces Ez and sighs. I get that there is this odd and unfamiliar tension but I need you to calm down. There is no sense in losing a possible ally so quickly.
Juniper gives a stern but not provoking look towards Zuleika.
You brought us here. So I think nows the time to tell us why. You say you can help us but this bickering back and forth is not cutting it. There is no time to lose. So, if you would be so kind to tell us how exactly can you help?
 
Ezmerelda stayed stock still for the most part, careful not to have her hand twitch for her sword but equally not relaxing just yet. Instead she looked to Juniper out of the side of her eye. Zuleika likewise looked to Juniper for a tense five minutes. Then slowly nodded.

"Your friend makes a good point," explained Zuleika, "The Devil is immortal, we're not. Bickering between yourselves is just aiding the Devil lord."

Ezmerelda slowly nodded, then took her hand away from her blade. "Agreed." said Ezmerelda simply. Turning to Juniper, Ezmerelda gave her a respectful nod.

Zuleika looked around at the group, "As you might have guessed, I did not invite you here to bicker at vampire huntresses." stated Zuleika, "Please, follow me," Zuleika led the way further into the caverns, into an area that looked to have been mined out recently. Passing by a number of roughly made wooden bunk beds and a small communal fire, Zuleika entered another room filled with wooden chairs bunched around a small wooden desk that was covered in parchments and pencils. "Please, sit wherever you like," invited Zuleika, dropping down onto the one sole chair behind the desk. "First, a little about us. We're individuals who are.... not entirely human any longer." began Zuleika, seeming to be picking and choosing her words carefully. Ismark glanced to Ireena beside him as Arinthia sat not on a chair but on the arm of Ireena's chair, her tail threading around the chair leg while the tiefling casually fidgeted with one of her lockpicks. "Don't get me misunderstood - we're still for the most part human. We're not part of the vampire problem that stems from the castle on the hill."

"What Zuleika is trying to say is that she's a werewolf." stated Ezmerelda, who'd chosen to sit beside Juniper.

Zuleika just smiled, "Da, as are all of the people in my - group." Zuleika leaned forward, "There are many werewolves in Barovia, a fact that is not appreciated by the good Doctor Van Richten nor his protege. Though for good reason - most werewolves in Barovia are loyal to a man named Kiril Stoyanovich. Who in turn, swears his loyalty to Count Strahd."

Zuleika let that fact hang in the air for a moment before she continued, "Kiril is someone who is happy to manipulate others for his own personal gain. Strahd likewise enjoys manipulating and torturing people. But, Strahd is no fool. That castle on the hill is a crumbling fortress. Inside, it is no doubt well fortified. But - there is only one way in and one way out of that castle. A land bridge that connects the outcrop that the castle was built upon to the rest of the hill and by extension Barovia. An army of one can always be contained. Isolated. Strahd - uses Kiril and those loyal to him as a sort of army. To keep the people of Barovia meek and down. Cattle for the vampire to feast upon."

Zuleika looked over the group again then nodded to herself, "I believe we can help each other." said Zuleika, "There is a temple within Kiril's den. An old temple to our goddess filled with treasure. Weapons, gold, offerings from generations of our people." Zuleika looked over the group, "Help me end Kiril's influence, I will guide you to the temple."
 
Juniper takes a seat in an empty chair. As she listens to Zuleika, her thoughts flash to the wagon attack. I wonder if that was Kiril's pack. Probably the same people that Zuleika's follower also saw.

Juniper retrieves Monte from her hood for comfort. Dealing with werewolves is no joke and Juniper starts to feel anxious. Monte always helps to push those feeling aside.
Kiril Stoyanovich, we may have ran into some of his followers on the way here. They attack our wagon but we managed to hold them off. I hope they were Kiril's followers and not your because if so, this will definitely get awkward. Juniper let's out a nervous chuckle and begin to pet Monte a little more eagerly.


Hearing the word goddess, Juniper's ears purk up. She looks between her friends with wide eyes. Would it happen to be the temple of Mother night?



Also what exactly would you do different then Kiril? We hardly know you. Yes, we both can help one another but helping Barovia rid these evil influences seems to be our purpose here. To help the people of Barovia. Juniper takes a long pause.
Will you continue to torment the people like Kiril?
Juniper straightens up a bit and stops petting Monte. She makes sure her weakness are clouded by her strong will for peace. Back home she was a protector and now here, in this broken place they all were. Juniper wasn't sure that trading a greater evil for a lesser one would suffice.
 
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The tension fades slowly from Dess's shoulders as the clash of personalities fades, and she drops her hand back to her side from where it was holding the cuff of one of the sets of manacles tied to the side of her pack. Shutting down a fight wouldn't have been fun, even if the idea of having to chain Ezmerelda and Zuleika up until they agreed to stop fighting was an amusing one. She listens quietly, then speaks up once Zuleika lays out her proposal.

"Who would the wolves answer to, if Kiril were just to die? Would they choose another leader among themselves who would answer to Strahd, or would you be able to assert control over them from the outside, without having to kill your way through them?"

She looks over at the group who'd been there when they examined the Burgomaster's manor.

"If we return to Vallaki, I could try to use the mirror again, and we could possibly save a lot of lives, or even if they were to keep fighting, at least seriously disrupt their organization."
 
The thought of working with a werewolf unsettled Beldar terribly, but he did his best to maintain his composure. As the group followed through the caverns, somehow the weight of nervous anticipation waned, as Beldar relaxed. In a foreign layer, with werewolves, and yet somehow I know that this may be one of the safer places in Barovia...my how this place has changed me, he thought as he nearly bumped into everyone as they entered the room full of chairs.

Settling himself in a chair, he spoke lowly to Sir Gregory, "Stand over here and relax," but as he finished he blushed slightly, wondering if the word relax actually meant anything to a construct.

Listening in on the conversations between his new host and companions, Beldar really didn't have much to add, but rather, he took out his notepad and jotted down any key points of the interaction between this motley crew. Nodding as he was writing, he was in total agreement that replacing one lord of wolves to terrorize this place with another was clearly not a good solution, but was perhaps this a case of taking care of the greater of two evils first, and figuring it out as they go?

"The mirror...," Beldar whispered as Dess finished her statement. "Perhaps its worth a shot, although no means a kind option" he added, not truly directed at anyone person, but more talking allowed.

Speaking with a bit more confidence, although by no means loud, "I am not one for violence under any normal situation, but it would seem that going after Kiril is the correct action at this time, but..." pausing for a few seconds, "If there are ever alternatives to direct confrontation, I would side that way until we ran out of options." But as he leaned back, he knew that they were running out of peaceful options in this land, and blood would most likely be spilled many times before they ever left this place.
 
Zuleika settled back in her chair as Juniper shared the news about the attack on the wagon, her expression becoming one of surprise as Juniper mentioned Mother Night.

"It would indeed," said Zuleika with a broad smile, "I'm surprised you know of her." Zuleika cupped her hands together and rested them on the desk's surface, seemingly unconcerned about the parchments scattered across it, "I know they are not my followers - all of my followers are in these caves or in the vicinity with strict instructions to scout and observe only. It was how we knew you were approaching - a scout spotted your wagon, reported to me." Zuleika gently pat Caramel's head. "If it were Kiril's followers and they are approaching, then things might get interesting anyway."

Zuleika gave Juniper a long, hard look as she mentioned tormenting people. "I do not torment people exactly like Kiril. Kiril is more than happy to use his connection to the Devil Strahd to hurt people. I know of a few other beings who also enjoy - or presume to enjoy - similar behaviour. The burgomaster of Valliki for instance, with his constant Smile Parades." Zuleika fidgeted with a pencil on the desk while she considered, "How about this, you agree to help our cause, we will agree there is to be no unauthorised feeding upon humanoids by lycantropes in Barovia, restricting our own movements to ensure this. Seem fair?"

Zuleika looked to Dess as she suggested the possibility of Kiril dying. "Hmm, it would depend how he died." explained Zuleika, "Just as Kiril is well known to me, I am well known to Kiril's followers. We'd had our differences in the past, but it was only six months ago that we were one pack. With some of us trying to nudge Kiril to be less - wanton with his violence." Zuleika glanced towards Ezmerelda, "At around the same time a certain Ms D'Avenir here decided to try and assassinate Kiril." Zuleika gave Ezmerelda a small smile, "You came pretty close too - until one of Kiril's followers tripped over and decided to take the opportunity to bite your leg."

Ezmerelda visibly tensed up at the fact that Zuleika was brazenly sharing that particular story. Zuleika just shrugged, "I had thought maybe there was the possibility of you joining our ranks - until your leg was recovered at the entrance to the den minus the rest of you." Turning back to Dess, Zuleika looked over her hands for a moment before looking to Dess, "It would need to be a death which could not be attributable to me. If Kiril's followers thought I had sent someone in as an assassin, they would take their revenge on the nearest town. That would be Krezk. If however it was done in a manner to suggest, dare I say, divine intervention-" Zuleika let the phrase hang in the air for a few moments, "then doubtless Kiril's pack would conclude that following the devil was not what Mother Night wished for them, in which case most of them being rational folk would come seeking me and my den."
 
With the group starting to formulate a plan amongst themselves, Ezmerelda sat up a little in her chair, outright pushing herself up on the arms to get a better view. It was easy enough for Dess and Juniper but almost trivial for Beldar to spot that on Zuleika's desk, partially buried under some scraps of parchment was a map of Barovia, with a few places marked in red ink. One of which seemed to be North East of them, with a large red cross on it. Almost as if she knew what Ezmerelda was doing, Zuleika started to move to try and cover the cross with some parchment.

"Don't you think it might help us to know where Kiril and his pack are?" asked Ezmerelda, giving Zuleika a scornful look.

Zuleika looked around the room, then focused entirely on Ezmerelda. "Do I have your word," began Zuleika, "that you in particular Ms D'Avenir are going to use any information on my desk for hunting Kiril only?" Ezmerelda looked about to cut in until Zuleika held up a hand to indicate she hadn't finished. "That you will not attack my allies, that you will not disseminate the information to enable others to attack my allies and that you will let us live in peace once this is over?"

Ezmerelda settled back into her chair, giving Zuleika a cold hard stare. "Sure. So long as I have your word," retorted the hunter, "that you and your allies will leave Barovia the moment we bring down Strahd. That you will not let your followers run riot through the towns and villages of Barovia and that the people in Barovia are not livestock for you to feed on."

For a moment, it appeared that the uneasy truce was going to break as both Ezmerelda and Zuleika stared each other down. Though eventually, Zuleika nodded. "Agreed." stated Zuleika simply, gathering together some scraps of parchment and dumping them in a drawer. The map itself was well detailed, one of the few things Zuleika had left on the desk was an enlarged map of the area immediately around Krezk, with small markings indicating the caves they were currently in and a large red cross with the words 'Den. Mother Night temple' written in a cramped cursive next to the marking. Between the two was two miles of open hills and fields enclosed on either side by dense forests.

As the group were able to examine the map a harsh banging sounded from the door. Zuleika walked over and outside was a man dressed in a ragged jacket and faded cloth trousers. "Zu, we've got some of Kiril's trying to defect. They said they were ordered to attack a group, gave chase to a wagon driven by a red devil. The wagon itself was armored and people were firing from it. One of them was-" The man cut off as Zuleika stepped slightly to the side to reveal Ezmerelda stood leaning over her desk. As she did so, she beckoned to Arinthia to approach.

"This young lady match the description given by the defectors as to their 'red devil'?" asked Zuleika. The man looked Arinthia over before nodding. "Keep them in the furthest cave. Give them food, water and tend to their injuries. But for the moment, they stay in the caves away from the rest of us until I decide otherwise." ordered Zuleika before closing the door to her office. "Sorry about that," said Zuleika returning to her desk as Arinthia sat back down next to Ismark and Ireena. "But at least it confirms my suspicions that Kiril is continuing to follow Strahd's orders. No doubt those that attacked you would've been slaughtered for returning to Kiril empty handed."
 
Listening to the news of the new arrivals, Dess raises an eyebrow with interest, then shrugs slightly.

"At least they had the sense to back off after the first death. I appreciate not being forced to try to kill more of them."

Dess leans over the map, studying it, and taps the point that seems to be an open hillside facing the den of Kiril's pack.

"Would it be possible for us to spend an hour or so here overnight, without being detected by his pack patrolling through? It would be time consuming, but I could provide you with a message inscribed on the earth large enough to be visible from the opposite hill condemning his betrayal of his people. Then see if the ghost can do the killing work, without the risk of getting caught sneaking in and having to kill our way back out."

A slight smile crosses her lips at the thought of the mirror, and the intricate magic binding the ghost to it.

"I'd enjoy another chance to examine the mirror as well. Fascinating enchantment woven into that thing."
 
Zuleika looked towards Dess as Dess passed comment on the new arrivals with a raised eyebrow.

"Unlike what the Devil and Kiril think, werewolves are still people underneath," retorted Zuleika, trying to find some parchment in one of her desk drawers, "they get just as - afraid of their own mortality as anyone else."

Zuleika glanced over the map as Dess indicated where she'd provide the message. "Hmm, you could try - Kiril tends to increase patrols at night. Though at a full moon, Kiril would have less people to spread around." Zuleika seemed to think of something, going quiet for a few minutes as she tapped a stubby pencil to her chin in thought. "Which just so happens to be tonight. So, you stand a better chance if you inscribe a message into the earth tonight - fewer of Kiril's pack patrolling as his main forces will be gathered in the temple worshipping." Glancing around and seeing the way everyone's eyes were on her, although Ezmerelda was still scowling having sat down with her left leg crossed over her right knee and her arms folded over her chest. "Don't be fooled - Kiril wouldn't be dumb enough not to take precautions. Traps, all the worshippers will be armed to the teeth and prepared to fight, if that scowl means Ms D'Avenir is even thinking of storming the temple."

"I wasn't," said Ezmerelda, though the scowl remained.
 
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