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• Taken a job, hired as guards on a caravan
• We've been grouped into a unit. We get first watch.
• Spent whole day traveling. Biiig caravan, lots of people.
• We get to chill at night and sleep.
• Sixth guard joining us! His name's Pete. Human, maybe in the military from his armour. Younger guy. Level 1 adventurer.
• We gather around a campfire and finally meet each other.
• Pete is amazed at how weird we look. Lilly and Belial get sarcastic.
• "Where are you from?" "Oh, you know. Haven't you heard of it?" "No."
• "Do you like being guards? Better than the army." "No." "You were in the army?" Pete's going to a capital for new work, taking this guard job on the way there.
• "I didn't think this was a guard job"(Belial) "WTF were you expecting, the ad literally said that"(Me) "I can't read"(Lilly)
• "So are you explorers? What have you explored?"(Pete) "Other men"(Seir) Belial nods quickly.
• Lilly, Arkan, and Belial know each other. Lilly is their dumbshit friend who they love.
• Arkan gave Lilly a bow. I misheard her say book, and then bone.
• "I'm river and I don't talk much"(River) "We noticed"(Belial) "It's okay we know this and we love you"(Lilly)
• "I've never seen a talking deer"(Pete) "He's not a talking deer, are you an idiot?" "Apparently"
• Holding spears and raining euphanisms. Pete is describing the seasons to us.
• Pete describes snow. Lilly, "Sounds fake, tell me more."
• Merchant yells at us to sleep. "He seems amicable"(Belial) "What does amicable mean?"(Lilly) "It means... to walk. Funny."(Belial)
• We go to bed. I pet Lilly's ears and she would die for me.
  • Arkan pets Belial's horns
  • Arkan: Are they like ears?
  • Lilly Vale: We will find out
  • Arkan: ... Lilly, that's terrifying.
  • Belial: Arkan you know they're not fucking ears
  • Arkan: I know they aren't. That's why I said like ears. Like.
• We all have weird dreams.
  • Belial's: Brightly painted wagon. Cheerful music, it's inviting. Drift toward it, don't remember shit else.
  • Arkan's: In regal and elaborate sleeping chamber. In an amazing castle. Night time, lit up, door opens to a balcony. Goes out to it, sees a woman out on the railing. She looks back for a profile shot, and then jumps off.
  • Lilly's: Cave entrance. It's really dark. Is scared, but going in anyway.
  • River's: Temple, unlike anything seen before, ancient and falling apart. Desecrated. Feel dread and a major evil.
• Before sleeping, caravan on main road. Stopped by the side. Noticed old village in the distance, looked like it was wrecked.
• After waking up, tons of fog and mist. Can only see about 10ft ahead. Fire is out. Wagon beside us.
• Fog is definitely not normal. Something odd. We're all really uneasy about its existence.
• Suddenly, pine forest.
• We can't see any of the other caravans. There's one that we were near, but it's empty of everything.
• "They took off without us!"Seir "Were we robbed?"Pete (We weren't)
• We don't see the road. Or anything. It's just grass.
• I supposed our food was drugged. Pete tried gagging it up and we all yelled at him.
• Pete ran off to try and find the wagon. Vanished very very quickly. We're all just kinda... well, rip Pete.
• We went east and somehow ended up in the same area. We went back a bit. Wagon was gone.
• We went 100ft, heard Pete screech in pain. We go in his direction. I use Dancing Lights for a rave party. We powerwalked his way. River lingered in the rear.
• Scratches on the ground. Looks like someone was dragged off here. Probably Pete. Dragged further northeast. No blood in the scratches, but Pete was wearing gloves, so.
• We walk for a few minutes and come to cobblestone! Definitely not the same direction as the road we were going.
• "Do you go left or right?" "Uh... Left." "No, let's go right!" "Okay."
• Mist keeps taking odd creepy shapes. Opens and closes behind us. More sight than before.
• After a few minutes, we see a couple buildings. Seir bolts to them. Looks like we're entering a town or village of some kind. They're all boarded up and dark. Tall, angular buildings. Looming over us.
• We come around path bend and come across a Very Interesting Sight(tm). Two kids standing in the road. Young girl and younger boy. Boy is whimpering.
• Lilly goes up to them, tries to calm them down and ask what's wrong. Girl says, "There's a monster in our house!"
• Belial, "What kind of monster?" Kids, "Big monster, very scary, parents have it in the basement." "Do you know what it looks like?" "No, we've never seen it, just heard it. It makes screaming noises, growling noises, all kinds of noises." "Would your parents mind if we entered?" "I don't know, our parents would rather have the monster but we're not going back inside until it's gone."
• Girl is named Rose, brother is Thorn.
• They have not seen Pete. Also they've only seen us and they need our help. Lilly's skeptical and thinks it's way too convenient.
• Seir Rasha muttering under breath "Seems both of you will be thorns in my side"
• Fog is closing back in. We can't see further down the street, nor behind us.
• It's very ominous. I rolled insight lmao. Lilly did on the house and it's definitely a house.
• Gate creaks open.
• I put my hand in the fog. It tried to tug on me and drag me into it. I back the FUCK away.
• Lilly sings an apology. The fog is indifferent.
• Seir made fun of Arkan for being grabbed by the fog. Arkan kinda bats his arm. Belial backhands Seir.
• Gate leads to entrance which goes to door. Some oil lamps hanging from chains
• I went through the door first. On the right, there's a shield with a coat of arms like a golden windmill on a red hill. Portraits of fancy stone faced people. Doors are mahogany with pane window of stain glass.
• Seir,"Dammit." Arkan,"You... probably shouldn't rob those kids."
• We can't see the kids. It's just fog.
• Beyond door, main hall. Fireplace to the left. No fire, but there's a lot of lanturns. Above fireplace is sword with a windmill into the hilt. Right side of room is red circle staircase.
• I opened a closet and went inside. There's black cloaks and one (1) top hat. I put it on Belial and he looked very dapper.
• Very very fancy and well-lived house.
• The sword is a longsword. Belial is fucking taking it. It's not magic or even an actual sword, it's just decorative.
• I put a cloak on Lilly. It was massive on her and she flapped her little cloak arms.
• Seir entered a dining room. Crystal chandelier, table has crystal silverware. On left, fireplace, and there's a painting above it. It's a valley with mountains and trees. Red silk drapes on back wall (probably windows). Tapestry on right with hunting dogs and mounted artisocrats chasing a wolf.
• Belial looked behind the tapestry. It was a wall.
• I examined the painting. It made me feel uneasy. Looking into trees, there's wolves in the woods. Ominous as fuck. There's too many. Trees look like they have faces carved in it.
• I opened a door and went to the toilet room kitchen, which has a stove. It's small and very neat. Two doors. One in back is pantry. One is very small and near front. I took a carrot from the pantry.
  • Arkan: Hey Lilly, do you think you could fit in this?
  • Arkan gestures to the tiny door.
  • Lilly Vale: Yes
• Put the carrot in the tiny door. It sent tiny things up and down. Sent it up and back down. It was still there. I gave the carrot to Seir. He rejected it. I put it in his hair and left.
• Back in main room, and down through the bottom door. Fun door went to a hunting den. Has a stag above the fireplace. Three stuffed wolves around. Two big padded chairs facing fireplace, have furs on them. Oak table between them. Cask of wine, wooden goblets, some other shit. Chandelier above cloth covered table in corner with four chairs. Cabinets along wall.
• I tried to shield Seir and failed. He already saw it. He is scarred.
  • River consoles Seir and asks how emotionally traumatized they are
  • Seir Rasha: Not really. Don't care; just a disgusting room.
• West cabinet is unlocked. Holds small box with playing cards. Also wine glasses. North one is locked and I'm a wimp who has no strength.
• Belial pours a glass of wine and takes a sip. It's gross though because it's been sitting there.
• Fun stairs time! Upstairs, is another fireplace. Above it is a painting. Two parents, two children that look like Rose and Thorn. Father holding a baby. Mother does Not Like the baby.
• Four suits of armour. Holding spears. Have a pointy helmet like Pete's. They're empty.
• Double doors on either side. Carved with dancing kids.
• Northeast door: Servant's quarters. It's pretty shitty looking. There's a closet with clothes.
• South doors: Carved with kids running from bats. There's a piano and a harp. Brass chandelier from ceiling. Stain glass wall hangings depict beautiful men and women singing and playing music. Mantlepiece of fireplace is alabaster and has carved people dancing. Lilly plays the harp and does kinda okay. Arkan and Belial try and suck major ass. The piano slams on Seir's hands and he fucking destroys it.
• Northwest door: Red velvet drapes. Mahogany desk. Fireplace, above is a windmill painting. Lots of fucking bookshelves. Lots of topics. I stare Belial dead in the eyes and knock a bunch of books off the shelves but encounter one that does not move at all. Red book with a blank spine. Belial yanks on it and there's a loud click noise to the right.
• Opens a door. There's more bookshelves, focused on occult and fiends and a priest of Osidnus (one of the greater demons of hell). All demon summoning stuff tldr. Belial notes the books are fucking posers and like Hot Topic quality, Arkan immediately stole one. Heavy wooden chest and there's a skeleton sticking out of it, it's head was crushed. Has three darts in its chest. Paper in hand.
  • My most pathetic servant,
    
    I am not a messiah sent to you by the Dark Powers of this land. I have not come to lead you on a path to immortality. However many souls you have bled on your hidden altar, however many visitors you have tortured in your dungeon, know that you are not the ones who brought me to this beautiful land. You are but worms writhing in my earth.
    
    You say that you are cursed, your fortunes spent. You abandoned love for madness, took solace in the bosom of another woman, and sired a stillborn son. Cursed by darkness? Of that I have no doubt. Save you from your wretchedness? I think not. I much prefer you as you are.
    
    Your dread lord and master,
    Strahd von Zarovich
• Chest has three blank black look. Three spell scrolls (Spiritual Weapon, Bless, Protection from Poison). Bundle of official paperwork (deeds to this house and windmill). Signed will (all stuff goes to Rose and Thorn).
  • Arkan: A skeleton, huh... Just how long ago did he die?
  • Person334 (Belial) : Well, long enough to rot away to... nothingness
  • Arkan: It just makes me wonder when this Strahd letter was sent.
• Third floor time! Suit of armor, a lot of dust, some doors. This floor is dirty as fuck. Lilly passed near the armor and it attacked.
  • I started with Shocking Grasp and moved the fuck away. Belial speared it and moved the fuck away behind me. Lilly failed to stab it and moved away. River screamed really loud used Word of Radiance. Seir Booming Blade'd it, and the dumbass moved, and also whacked Seir twice and knocked him down.
  • I used Fire Bolt and got a crit... but got a nat1 on both damage rolls. Belial uses some psychic bullshit and attacks. Lilly attempts to crossbow and fails. Lilly heals Seir. River heals Seir to fucking overkill. Seir attempts to hit and misses. Armour attacks Seir and fails to hit River.
  • I do another fucking 1 damage of Fire Bolt, but it doesn't matter because I missed. Belial attempts to stab and fails. Lilly uses Vicious Mockery and says it'll never be shit. River screeches radiance again and it doesn't care because it's some fucking armour. Seir slams it hardcore with his sword and it falls into shambles.
• Belial opens the southwest door. It opens to a closet. Shelves with blankets and shit. And a lot of brooms. I set the room on fire. Not fucking today, Satan.
• South door. Bedroom. Mirror, empty wardrobe, fireplace, bed. We all do finger guns at ourself and I notice eyes in the frame. Lilly sat on the bed and got covered in dust. Seir opened a side door and a spectre appeared, screaming. Humanoid. Female.
  • Lilly starts with Vicious Mockery and says the screech was off-tune. The spectre attempted to claw Belial and fucking failed. Seir attempted to swing at it, but it's a ghost, so he missed. River manages to javelin it somehow, though. I tried to Chill Touch, but it did not care about my hand at all. Belial psychic attack'd it.
  • Lilly gives a pity Vicious Mockery, and it mocks back. It sucked health out of River. Seir stabbed it with an electric rapier. River screeched radiance again, which murderised it. It spewed ectoplasm on Seir and Belial and exploded.
• Seir wipes himself clean on Belial, who wipes himself clean on Lilly's cloak. Lilly wipes the cloak on him back. Seir, angry, goes to the door that caused all this. There's a cradle inside. Belial opens it and sees a baby-sized bundle. He backs away. Arkan calls him a coward, opens it, and there's no baby. Just blankets. He looks back and says "Wrow"
• Went to the other door. It's a balcony with a lot of fog otherwise. They go back inside. Lilly Gently Caressed the fog and seduces it. We leave the bedroom. I check on the broom closet and there's a lot of smoke but the brooms aren't all dead. I push in fresh fire.
• Opened a new hallway door. There's a bathroom. Seir washes the ectoplasm off him in the bathroom. Belial goes to wash himself, but the water runs out. Arkan takes pity and manages to snag a towel for him. He washes himself off. Lilly starts breakdancing on the floor and does a perfect headspin.
• Arkan grabs another towel, this time for River. He fails to grab one the first time. Next time, he gets a face of smoke, but gets the towel. It's on fire. River beats it out and wipes himself off. Belial wipes the soot off Arkan's face.
• New door. Big bedroom. Tiger pelt, empty wardrobes, padded chair, a table with two chairs and a tea set, a wooden table and a wooden chair, and a fireplace with a portrait of the parents over the mantle. I go into a closet with a broom that's clinging to... something. Arkan fails to pull it out. Belial is certain it's magical. I try to set it on fire and crit fail. Lilly, meanwhile, gets dust everywhere.
• Arkan shoved Belial into the closet and closed the door on him. Belial attempts to open the door and Arkan keeps it closed. Seir shoved him out of the way and opened the closet. Belial stumbles out and asks why. Arkan, "How were your seven minutes in heaven?" Belial, "It'd be better if someone else was in there with me." Calls the broom a dead fish. Offends River. Belial walks away and Arkan gives a cheeky grin. Belial points this out and Arkan stops smiling, embarrassed.
• River gives the broom a go while Lilly flirts with the fog. River fails to do anything. Lilly tries and fails horribly. Arkan goes into the closet and Belial closes the door on it. Arkan gets comfy with the broom. It's definitely magical. He tries to set it on fire and his magic fizzles. Belial comes in, notices a button on the broom, and presses it. The broom is now pick-up-able. Seir locks the two inside. They make out. Lilly intimidates Seir with dust. Seir runs, and Belial and Arkan leaves. River steals some jewelry.
• We leave and notice a hidden door. We open it and go up some secret stairs and also notice the mirror is one-way. We go up the stairs. There's a landing with several doors. One has a padlock.
• I go through the southern door and find a creepy doll. No key. I try to throw it out the window and it bounces back in from the fog.
• Lilly opens a door on the far left, southern one. A lot of dusty sheets covering things. Lilly immediately takes a sheet and gets dusty. Arkan sits on a stool and Belial sits in his lap. Next to them is a chest, inside is a body wrapped in a sheet. It was stabbed multiple times. I tried to set it on fire and failed.
• Room above was a bedroom. Nothing remarkable.
• I attempt to kick the padlocked door. Nothing happens. Seir brushes Arkan aside and rips open this door. There's two bricked-up windows, two beds, and two skeletons. To the bottom left corner is a doll house, replica of house. To the bottom right is a wooden chest. I opened it up. Two kids appeared and yelled at me.
• They got locked in their room a lot. One day, their parents didn't let them out. They starved to death.
• Lilly asked wtf they're doin' and angry at us, since they asked us to help. They say it wasn't them. The house lures people in there. Asks what we're doing, we say we were gonna kill the monster. Though there's no where else to go, so we think we'll leave. Rose asks where we're going. We say that there's probably no where else to go, so we're gonna leave.
• We ask where the basement is. Rose gestures to the doll house, says there's a secret passage in the attic. Lilly and Belial leave. Rose and Thorn say we can't leave them. Rose jumps into Seir, making him more bossy (aka nothing changed). Thorn jumps into Arkan, and he feels scared. He clings to Belial. They still seem to have autonomy, but are heavily influenced by the presense of the ghosts.
• We head off to go to the basement.