Prologue

"Suffer no false life." Ujjaya intones in response. He has been on a mission with Weiryn before, banishing ghosts from a village that had lost all its children to the plague. As well, Ujjaya nods to Darren. Ujjaya and the warpriest had been part of an expedition to a silver mine up north where human miners had disturbed an ancient crypt and woken its inhabitants.

Ujjaya looks curiously at the other travellers bound for Barovia, some wear the half-sun, half moon symbol but others do not. Of particular interest is a tengu trying his best to disguise his ancestry. Ujjaya knows something of how that feels. "Namaste." Ujjaya greets the stranger with a slight bow and folded hands held to his own chest - the traditional greeting of his monastic order. "I am Ujjaya. I noticed your bow - an exquisite weapon."

As people wearing an elven brooch with a sun assemble and greet each other, Kayleigh glances at the group, curious. She then spurs her horse to ride near a man in armor wielding a warhammer.

"Hey. I was wondering what's that symbol you're wearing, you and the others ?"

She nods toward a man in a cloak and the one bowing in a greeting, both of them wearing the same clasp. Though the symbol did ring a bell, she could not remember what exactly it was.

"Suffer no false life. It's good to see some of you again. Are we all here answering the call for barovia?"

Weiryn nods from beneath his cloak. Indeed. The zombie infestation is great there. I understand they have nearly overwhelmed the valley.

"Suffer no false life," he says with a nod to his peers.

Darren turns to look over the newcomer for a moment before answering, "This is the symbol of the Lightbringers, enemy to undead everywhere. My name is Darren Silversmith. And you are?"

"I received no dispatch from the guild. Ujjaya replies to Roland. I am headed for Barovia at the behest of a woman who begged my aid recovering her missing husband. It seems lycanthrope are involved. But now that our paths have crossed, surely our missions will show themselves to be intertwined." Ujjaya adds serenely as he continues to admire the cloaked tengu's bow, "What must be shall surely come to pass."

"I'm Kayleigh. Nice to meet you."

It is less nice, however, to receive a confirmation about the werewolves and the undead infestation. The blade to rent frowns. For sure, she has been warned beforehand, but still... "infestation" does not bode well. At least the mission is to be interesting.

"I knew about the smuggler infestation, but zombies overwhelming the valley might prove more problematic."

Annoyed more than preoccupied, she turns toward the merchant.

"Is Barovia so far from the inn ? I couldn't get any clear information on that when I asked..."

"Suffer no false life" answers the tengu. "My name is Kuroi Hane, pleased to meet you gentle Ujjaya, and pleased to meet all of you brothers. Looks we are all going to the same cursed place. Blessed be Pharasma, it's a fortunate event to find other brothers but in this number and all heading to Barovia, this is sure her doing, sending us to destroy those that pervert the sacred cycle of life and death."

Mists that make it difficult to concentrate...could prove to be an interesting fight, then.

Weiryn turns to look at Darren, before stating, "Brother Silversmith, it would seem that the mists, from everything I have heard, cloud the mind with illusions and distractions. Have you any enchantments that might be able to fortify us against such intrusions?"

He then turns to the Tengu...pleased to see another follower of the Lady of Graves.

"It is an honor and privilege to meet you, Kuroi. I look forward to cleansing these lands by your side, and ensuring these lost souls find their final rest and reward."

"We should perform some tests with this mist before we venture out into it to fight. Perhaps something as simple as a damp cloth over the mouth to filter it could fight its effects. Or some kind of magical enchantment may be necessary. Wondering out into it to die with out finding out first is not on my list of actions however. Might i suggest that we go to the inn and talk about this over dinner. My treat tonight"

Roland will begin to slowly drive his mule and cart towards the parking area of the inn. Tying the mule off the hitching post he walks around to the back of his cart. Unloading a strange looking hand cart, placing his back pack on it, and walking inside to purchase a room.

"I could offer a prayer that should fortify us against any ill effects, but I do not know how effective it will be. And I will need a night to pray for use of that spell," Darren says after a moment's thought.

"It'll be an honor to fight to restore the sacred cycle by your side, noble Weiryn"

"I'm not sure I'd be of any help against such a mist but I can prove usefull if we're to encounter more physical perils, since it sounds like we're all headed toward Barovia."

Once they arrive at the inn, Kayleigh ties her horse to a post or leave it to a stableman if there's one around. She then picks up her saddlebags and equipment to enter the inn.