#have i gotten across that this is ismark yet

[tofu-bento-box]

i’m sorry

[dndeviants]

As above, not so below

No! Linda tried to grab the stake from Donavich’s hand, stepping forward, but she felt herself drop with a crunch.

What the-? She felt her heart race as she realized that her foot had fallen through the floorboard. 

Donavich was faster than she anticipated, and he was aided by the poor circumstances of her situation. She whirled around as far as she could with her stuck foot and took aim at the priest.

Ismark struggled to loose his rapier from his belt, and swung at the priest, trying to get him to stay away from his sister, but Donavich knocked the young man over a fallen pew.

He was right upon Ireena. In one swift motion, with all his might and righteous fury, he brought his stake high in the air.

Ireena fell backward and screamed in terror, raising her arms up to block the attack, and tensed herself, squishing her eyes shut... waiting for the pain of the stake piercing her.

But it never came.

She opened her eyes. Vasili had somehow gotten in front of her, and had the mad priest’s wrist locked in place. Vasili was furiously silent, and the priest had a look of shock on his face, which quickly contorted into pain when Vasili crushed the wrist in his hand, forcing Donavich to drop the stake, and kicked the priest backwards.

“Hey!“ Linda shouted, and fired. 

Donavich cried out as a bullet pierced his shoulder, blood pouring down his back, ruining his once holy vestments. He bellowed in anger, “Light of Lathander, blast you fiends!”

Light began to swirl around his hands and illuminated the room. The light coalesced into a sphere. The priest raised his hand and hurled it forward.

Ismark, Ireena, and Vasili dived out of the path of the light, but it was no use. The sphere of light burst into flame and the heat scorched the skin of them all. Ismark and Ireena took the worst of it. 

Ismark clenched his teeth and held on to his rapier, forcing himself to stay on guard despite his pain. 

Vasili ducked behind a pew, granting Ireena and himself cover for at least the moment.  He touched her arm and looked into her eyes, “Stay here,” he commanded in a soft voice. 

Ireena looked into the man’s eyes and felt her willpower to fight slip away. She nodded in affirmation and made herself smaller behind the pew, hoping the priest wouldn’t see her.

Vasili murmured something in a strange language while he touched her, and a spark of magic zipped over Ireena, turning her invisible. 

Vasili felt Ruki enter the room. Good, he would need her assistance. He stood from behind the pew, and approached Donavich. Donavich threw a punch at the tall, black-cloaked man, but Vasili caught the punch with ease, and hissed, "Stop this at once! You can't help anyone by killing them!"

I could easily kill him, thought Strahd to himself, as he had the priest in his control, But now is not the time to make a mess of things. Not in front of Tatayana... not in front of the guests.

Ruki made a quick assessment, and rushed up to Donavich, raising her staff. She struck him across the face. A look of hurt and surprise was all he could manage before he fell limp to the ground, unconscious.

Vasili gestured to the rope along the back wall of the chapel that was meant to replace the rope that rung the chapel bell, “Ruki, get that rope. Help me tie him up before he wakes..”

Ruki nodded and retrieved the rope. It was unusual that Strahd would show such mercy, especially to a priest, and especially to a priest that had just threatened his precious Tatayana. Perhaps he was serious about making a good impression on his guests.

“Thank you,“ Vasili mumbled, helping Ruki to tie up the Father, before rising and surveying the rest of the church. He looked down and saw the stake at his feet. Vasili kicked the stake away from himself in disgust.

Ruki could tell that he was fuming internally. Certainly enough, his voice seethed with rage in her head. 

Self-righteous priests! Had he harmed her further, I’d have ripped him limb from limb! His venom was beginning to show on Vasili’s face. If he showed too much, his diguise might be compromised.

Calm, my lord. Ruki touched Vasili’s arm, He is subdued.

Strahd struggled to calm himself, but eventually relaxed into his usual detachment. “Vasili” was safe, for now.

Ismark approached the two of them, looking at the priest he had known for all his life. He stared at the unconscious Father, then backed away, suddenly hit by a wave of horror,  "Gods above... he tried to kill us!"

Ireena shifted from behind her hiding place, still invisible by Vasili’s magic. She ran up to Linda, "Are you okay, Linda?"

Linda nods, “Just a little stu-” she turned to the source of Ireena’s voice and found nothing. She blinked, “Where are you?”

Ireena’s voice responded, “I’m right by you... here, let me take your hand and help you out...”

Ruki nudged Vasili out of his distracted thoughts. Vasili turned to see Linda being pulled by an invisible force. “Oh, apologies...” he waved his hand and let the invisibility spell fall.

Ireena appeared again just as she helped Linda out of the hole. Linda sat down and rubbed her leg, pausing when she heard the sound of crying coming from the hole...

Ireena whispered, “You hear that?”

Linda nodded, “What is that?” she looked down the hole, seeing only blackness, “It’s down there...” she looked to Ismark, “How do we get downstairs?”

Ismark snapped to attention and stammered, “It-it would have to be through one of those rooms up front!”

Linda shakily stood up and walked with purpose to the front of the church. She checked doors and opened them. All of the rooms she checked were barren, no sign of any activity or any passageway. She grumbled and checked the last room.

“It’s locked,“ she turned to Ismark.

Ismark closed the door he checked in disappointment, “Nothing...” he looked over to Linda, “That one is locked?”

Linda jerked her head over to the chapel where Father Donavich lay, “Search him for a key!”

Vasili looked over to Ruki, “Do you care to search him?” He adjusted his gloves with a slight look of discomfort on his face.

The spell must be wearing off... Ruki hurriedly searched the priest’s belt and found his coinpurse and his keys. She took the keys and stood up, taking Vasili with her as she delivered them to Linda.

Linda flipped through the key ring and matched one to the door. She opened the room, and saw that it was in shambles. Furniture had been moved and tipped over, the walls were scratched and barren, and there was grime and dust coating almost every surface... among the wreckage, she spotted a trap door...

The wailing seemed to be crystal clear now, and she could make out the words:

“Help me... please... Father!“

Linda sprang to action, pulling up the trap door and heading down into the basement. She was followed closely by Ruki and Ireena, Vasili and Ismark lingered behind cautiously, but entered into the darkness nonetheless.

The cool damp air was still and deathly. It was dark, but lamplight had brightened the room just enough for them to see four pillars with chains fastened to them. They each held a limb of an emaciated young man with long, curly brown hair. His skin was pale from lack of sun, and his limbs were thin and bony from what appeared to be long-term starvation. He was surrounded by skeletons of tiny creatures.

Linda and Ruki approached cautiously.

Ireena cried out in shock at the sight, “Who-?”

The young man stirred and looked up at them with a gaunt face, his blue eyes glassy bloodshot from crying.

“Gods!“ Ismark exclaimed, “It’s Doru!“

“Doru?!“ Ireena could scarcely believe it.

Ismark ignored all caution and ran to the young man and tried to pull loose his chains, but it was of no use.

Ruki slunk back into the shadows with Vasili. The two of them withdrawing for the moment from the boy who dared to rebel against the vampire. Ruki extended her senses...

He... is still human... she was surprised at this. He was most certainly bitten, the purple wounds branded Doru’s pale neck, but it appeared that they had arrived in time to save him from the curse of undeath...

But only if he had immediate help and proper care.

My lord, she projected, he has not yet become a spawn.

Ruki heard Strahd’s voice once more.  I see... That is why I could not sense him... I always wondered what happened to the one I bit in the rebellion and then let go... it seems that he would have been better off in my larders after all. But I pity the boy. Betrayed by his own father...

Doru gazed up at them with his glassy blue eyes, helplessness on his face, but hope in his heart, “Help me... please...” he moaned, “...water...”

Linda pulled her canteen out, and kneeled by him, gently pouring water into his mouth. She grimaced as she saw the tell tale bites of a vampire... and not just any vampire... they were too similar to Ireena’s bites to be coincidental. It seemed Strahd had made this young man a victim too.

She sighed and also pulled out rations. She broke up her crackers into small pieces so he could eat.

Doru coughed and sputtered, but a new sense of urgency filled him, "T-thank you... please. You have to let me out of here!"

Linda stood and examined the locks on the chains. She started testing the keys on the ring to different locks.

Ireena covered her mouth, her eyes were teary with pity for Doru, but also anger at the injustice of his imprisonment,  "Why are you in here?” she asked, “Why did he do this to you?"

Doru shivered and gulped, "When I went to help the doctor with everyone else... I was the only one to get bitten... but we all ran. We ran as fast as we could to get away, and I got lost... and then I found my way back. I tried to get Father to help me lift the curse, remove the bite... but he was convinced I was already impure and damned! He drugged me and locked me in here..."

Linda successfully unlocked Doru’s bindings, letting the chains fall to the ground. Doru tried to stand, but fell into the dirt, his hand brushed against one of the tiny skeletons. He whimpered, "I've been living off of rats and rain that falls through for gods know how long."

Linda put her arm under Doru and helped him stand, “You can come with us then,” she looked at Ireena, “More curses to be lifted.”

Ireena nodded.

Doru sniffled, "Anywhere is better than here...” he struggled to move forward, panic fueling him, “We need to go before Father finds out!"

"You don't have to worry about the old priest...” Vasili’s voice startled everyone at its suddenness. “However, I do have a question for Master Kolyanovich..." he turned to Ismark, fixing the burgomaster’s son with a hungry glare, "The priest has locked up his son unlawfully, and has made an attack against you and your sister... children of the Burgomaster, no less...” he paused, “What will your justice be?"

Vasili leaned up against a pillar and folded his arms, waiting for Ismark’s answer.

Linda huffed and held onto Doru, "Lock him away? Take his son from him? The man is already crazy and not fit to be a priest."

Ismark nodded his agreement, "He's a danger to the public in this state. It is best to imprison him for the time being... however, Lord Holtz..." Ismark held up a finger in warning, "We are not obligated to turn over our prisoners to you until our own council has tried him. Those are the laws your lord gave to us."

 "Take him to the village prison? You have one right?" She looked to Ismark.

Ismark tilts his head and frowns, "Well... it is more of an indoor stockade. We don't have a prison proper."

Linda sighed, aiding Doru forward, “It works.”

They left the Church of Barovia, returning to Kolyan and explaining the circumstances of the attack. Kolyan was furious and ordered the town guard to make an immediate arrest and to call forth a council for judgement. Doru was taken to a village nurse to be taken care of. Ireena and Ismark decided that it would be best to go to Vallaki and excused themselves to pack.

Vasili, Ruki, and Linda stood outside of the Burgomaster’s mansion, stonily waiting for the burgomaster’s children to be ready. 

Vasili looked over to Linda. Her face was grim and in deep thought. She fumed silently over the priest’s zealotry, and the injustice to Doru, but also over the confusing situation involving Strahd. 

Vasili spoke in a quiet voice to her, interrupting her line of thought, "I know that you are eager to help these people lift their curses,” he used an understanding tone, “but we may have to leave the boy behind. He isn't fit for travel at this moment, and despite superstitions... a bite from a vampire isn't immediately condemning."

"I know.” Linda was curt with him, “He needs to get healthy again before he can do any traveling."

Vasili simply nodded and folded his arms. He turned to Ruki, "Ruki... do you think we could summon the carriage here? I feel it would be a more leisurely way to travel, especially for the Burgomaster's children. We've all been through hell already today."

Yeah, thought Linda, hell for sure. She snorted a small laugh, but it was humorless.

Ruki nodded and reached out her senses to summon the Black Carriage.

Vasili leaned against the mansion, folding his arms over his chest. He turned to Linda, speaking in a dry voice, "Welcome to Barovia, home to undead, fanatics, and even undead fanatics at times... I'm sure this isn't what you are used to in your home."

She rolled her head over to look at Vasili, and blinked slowly while raising her brows, "Not to this extent."

Vasili nodded and folded his hands, "Can you tell me anything about this apprentice of yours? What does he look like? Name? Just so I know what to look and listen for."

Linda nodded, refreshed that this man was actually taking initiative to help her. “His name is Timothy Greene,” she began, “He is seventeen years old. Has green eyes. Mid-brown hair. Not quite as tall as I am. Strong jaw, youthful face, thin brows...”

Vasili took out a notebook and wrote the details down dutifully and earnestly. Linda watched him write and looked over the notes. No error in the description. She only corrected him on the spelling of his name... not that it fully mattered. The description would be good enough, she hoped. She was surprised that he was taking this as seriously as he was, given that he had other pressing duties to his lord. 

Whatever Strahd may be, Linda thought, Vasili seems to be a good man.

Vasili reviewed his notes, "I will be sure to see what I can find on this... Timothy...” he reviewed the spelling of the name and smirked at Linda, “Now for your part of our bargain... Is there anyone you have met so far that you think may be a suitable replacement for the Lord Strahd?"

Linda could tell that he was jesting. She looked Vasili in the eyes, and fixed him with a deadpan, "No."

He laughed. The low and quiet laughter he made seemed to bring Linda’s heart up to her throat. She felt her face go red when he gave her a tight-lipped, crooked smile.

"At least you are refreshingly honest..." he purred.

Linda put her hands on her hips, "Of course. There is no need to sugar-coat things. I haven't met too many people..." she averted her gaze from him.

"I suppose that is true,” he mused before growing serious again, “Well, there is an entire country for you to explore... and the closer we get to Krezk, the more likely we will hear something about those werewolves, and possibly your Timothy. "

Linda sighed, "I hope so. He was going to take over my shop. Almost done with his apprenticeship..."

She thought about the simple times she had with him, about how his parents would be worried sick. She had a duty to return him-

Her thoughts were once more interrupted by Vasili’s curiosity, "You run a shop?” he looked to her with interest, “What kind of wares do you specialize in?"

Linda nodded, "I'm a tinker. I make toys, clocks and firearms plus ammunition."

"Fire-arms?” Vasili spoke the strange word and made a guess, “I suppose those are weapons? Ranged weapons perhaps? I don't know of any other weapon that uses ammunition..."

Linda nodded, impressed by Vasili’s reasoning. She took her revolver out of her holster and held it up for him to see, pointing up and away from any other thing, "This is what I fired at the Father. It's like I took a cannon, and made it small enough to fit in my hand and gave it multiple chambers.""

He thought for a moment, and inspected the weapon without touching it, "I was wondering what kind of enchanted object you had. It sounded like you had a thundering enchantment, but could sense no magic. I thought that perhaps my senses might have been failing me. The situation was a little overwhelming."

She shook her head, "No magic here. Just black powder."

He raised a gloved hand to his chin in thought and purred in amusement, "Now that is interesting..."

She re-holstered her gun, "Took a while to figure out how to get the extra barrels to work."

Vasili blinked in surprise, "So am I correct to assume that you made the weapon you carry, the accessories, ammunition, and this 'black powder' that fuels it?"

She smiled in satisfaction, "I did."

"Impressive,” he breathed, “Innovations like that always fascinate me."

Linda was excited to have someone to finally share her interests, “Me too!” she exclaimed, before making her voice more calm and level, "They fascinated me as a young child. I learned to tinker about the same time that I earned to play the piano. Both are skills that take years to hone."

Vasili mused, "You play the piano, too?"

She nodded, "Music is an outlet,” she could play music and listen to music to feel better about any situation, “I play pretty frequently."

Vasili seemed to share her enthusiasm, "I was a virtuoso myself at one point, but...” his fingers twitched, as if agonizing to play at a keyboard of some kind, “it's been so long since I've played..."

"It's like riding a horse. You never really forget," Linda put her hands in her pockets in order to disguise her own ache to play.

"Well perhaps I shall have to test that theory..." he thought to himself for a moment.

Ruki rose from her trance and nodded over to the mansion door opening. Ismark and Ireena exited their house, carrying a simple case of luggage between the two of them. 

Vasili looked them over, and gave them a brief, curt nod, before returning to his usual serious manner, "I suppose it is time to go to Vallaki. Let's find the carriage. Perhaps we will be able to pick up Lord Aric and Jeeves along the way..."