Finishing her prayers to the MorningLord, Tariel arrives downstairs in the tavern to find her companions no longer in the building.
Heading out into the street, she notices the group walking through the street toward the base of the mountain with the castle that overlooks the town of Barovia.
How come she didn't notice the castle when they arrived? Questions for later as she gives chase before turning back to the tavern to pick up her halberd THEN giving chase to the party!
As the rest of the party prepare to leave the Church of the MorningLord to retrieve Tariel, she arrives at the door to their surprise!
Father Donavich is excited to meet another worshipper and is too eager for Tariels aid, almost opening the door to the basement until Slate stops him so he can explain the situation to the Half-Elf.
Francesco casts Zone of Truth to make sure Donavich doesn't lie, but the Father notices the spell and doesn't seem to be affected by it. Tobin however has to drag Summer away from the zone as she starts talking about punching Doru.
As he recounts the events to the party, he brings up that Doru had said he escaped Strahds dungeon when he first arrived back home.
Hearing Donavich's plight, Tariel is willing to assist him on the condition that he knows that there is a chance they may end up killing his son if things get out of hand.
Tariel wants to see Doru first hand, Fracesco agreeing to cast a Sleep spell on Doru if he tries to do anything. Donavich opens the door a crack for Tariel to peer inside. seeing the boy hunched in the far corner of the room, Tariel uses her Detect Good and Evil ability to glean that Doru is indeed undead. Hearing Tariels voice, Doru stands up and scrambles for the door! Francesco casts his Sleep spell but it didn't work! Donavich and Slate slam the door shut before Doru could reach Tariel, leaving the boy to cry and wail in hunger behind it.
Tariel informs Donavich of the fate of Doru: his son is an undead being. As Donavich starts to come to terms with this news, Francesco notices the fathers wounds on his arms had opened again and uses his magic to heal them as best he can.
Donavich is surprised by this, claiming that Fran must be a cleric despite the Elven Bards denial. Donavich agrees to do the ceremony for the Burgomaster as long as the party agrees to try and help contain Doru while they're here. Agreeing to this, at the partys request, Donavich goes to take some rest.
After casting Sleep to help Donavich fall asleep, he begins using candle wax from one of the candelabras in the church to try to block the noise of Dorus screams for Donavich. Tariel has to remind him to put the candles out first... Torbin decides to stay behind and keep an eye on things while the party gathered the Burgomasters body and his children.
Arriving at the Burgomasters home, the party realized none of them remembered the knock... Summer just bangs on the door, the door swinging open for the Kobold to have an arrow pointed at her face by Ismark! Seeing the party had returned, he invites them inside. After Tariel introduces herself to the siblings, the party explain the situation and the plan to take their fathers body to the church straight away. As much as they don't like the idea, the siblings agree and get ready for the march across the town: Ireena dressing in armor for the precession as she wishes to take the lead.
Opening the door to the house with Slate, Francesco, Abe and Ismark carrying the coffin, Ireena declares to the empty streets that she won't fear what comes ahead before she starts leading the precession down into the streets with Summer shadowing the brave girl. Tariel follows at the back of the group as night falls quickly around them as the begin their path through the desolate city streets.
Arriving on the main street of Barovia, a figure stands alone in the street cloaked before them. Ismark comments in terror that the Devil himself stands before them as a wave a fear and terror washes over the party. Strahd declares that he is only here to pay respects to the deceased before looking to the bewildered Ireena and stating they will be together again then he vanishes into the night.
Feeling the aura of dread wash away from them, Ireena berates the party for not attempting to attack Strahd. After Summer points out that Ireena didn't do anything either, the precession continues through the streets. Ominous candlelights come to life as they walk down the streets, very few citizens exit their homes to bow in respect of the fallen man who once looked after their town.
Arriving at the Church of the MorningLord once more, the party enter and set the coffin down in front of the alter before barricading the building. Ireena and Ismark bring up that it's odd that no monsters had attacked the group on their way to the church but suspect because that is what Strahd wishes. For tonight at least...
Seeing as Donavich was still out like a light with Torbin locked in the room with him, the party dicuss what they should do with Doru. Francesco decides to fill a bowl with his own blood to try and negotiate with Doru into giving information. Fran accidentaly cuts into an artery in his arm, Tariel jumping in to quickly to heal the wound before Fran bleeds out too much.
With the scent of fresh blood in the air, Doru begins going berserk below! Tariel negotiates with Doru with the blood, offering half of the bowl for some information. Opening the door for a moment, Tariel lets Doru feed on the blood like a hungry animal.
With the door open, Fran casts his Zone of Truth on Doru. The undead boy is far too focused on the blood to notice the spell. Tariel pulls the bowl out of Dorus grasp and slams the door shut, leading immediately to Doru banging on the door again!
Tariel reminds him of the deal and begins asking the boy questions.
Doru tells the party about how he found his cell unlocked and he fled Castle Ravenloft. He regrets attacking his father when he arrived home, but he blames his hunger for blood and flesh.
He tries to tell the party something else, but some force stops him from speaking it... He begins talking to himself in a way that sounds like he was talking to a voice in his head. He begins yammering about how his only objective is to cause his father grief before falling into complete insanity behind the door.
Believing that there's nothing they can do to save Doru, the party agree that it was time to kill the boy before they have the ceremony.
Tariel coats her halberd in Frans blood before Summer opens the door to the basement. Doru, who had hidden above the door, falls down to try and attack Tariel, who had used some of Francescos blood as warpaint, but falls straight onto her Halberd as he misses his swipe at her face.
Seeing Doru is still stuck on the halberd, Slate and Abe strike with their weapons as well to try and down him! Doru pulls himself off the halberd, his wounds visibly trying to close themselves but the radiant energy from Summers attack seems to be making difficult!
He climbs along the walls and escapes into the main hall of the Church with the party giving chase, Abe and Slate striking as a pair on the fleeing boy!
As Ismark and Ireena turn to see Doru charging at them, the undead boy is brought to a sudden halt as Tariel drives her halberd brimming with divine smiting energy through the boys back!
Abe calls out that they need to decapitate the head to stop the undead from reviving, Ireena being far too eager to end one of Strahds minions accidently gets her sword stuck in Doros neck. Abe helps her remove her sword before hacking off the head like a real monster hunter would.
Wrapping up Dorus body, the party help lay it on the floor beside the Burgomasters coffin in preparation for a double funeral.
All that remains now is to wait for sunrise...
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