Chapter 2: Into the Mists

Anton's eyes widen. He scratches at his cheek nonchalantly to cover up his urge to yell "It is Castle Ravenloft, yes? You are all mad, no?"

Perhaps the idea of attacking spooky fortified castles is common among heroes. It scares the hell out of Anton, but he's trying to fit in with the cool kids.

"If we are sneaking, we must remember not to whistle, yes?" is his sage advice.

The fact that wine was so generously provided without much question is a significant signal to Knobbenkirk that things aren't so easily slipped past this woman. Perhaps there were beastly senses beneath that beastly skin? Knobby reassesses the situation and accepts the glass with a quenching swig.

"Oohh, that's nice," he comments. "Okay, well, you got a sharp nose there. The truth is, I was following you, because I wanted to see where all the goodies were. I figured if you were getting something to eat and drink, and you were getting it all by yourself, you probably got the inside scoop on the kitchen and larder; at least, moreso than those two fancy folk with the high noses and perfect faces.

"Anyway, so I was all set on checking things out, when you got way too efficient with the food-prep and next thing I know, you're heading back to the main area and asking where I was. I figured it wouldn't look good to suddenly pop out behind you, on account of how you had to hold all the munchies, so I stayed quiet and followed you again back into this place."

Knobby puts the bowl to his lips and swallows a helping of stew. "Where was I? Oh, right. Now, you might think that if I was so intent on checking out the kitchen, I could have just stayed in here while you were being a good servant. But I didn't, because that'd be rude!"

The gnome pauses, inwardly inspecting his bodily condition to see if he's been poisoned in any way, or at the very least if his stomach is halfway to contentment.

"So, yeah. That's pretty much why."

Valryia growls quietly. "I vill say again that this is wery unnatural pless. Souls should move on after deathing. They should not be trapped in pless lek this to be reusing. Perhaps ve should not be lookink for vay to defeat evil vun, but in freeink souls that are trapped here."

Lack of sunlight is part of why he is strong. But that he is also a powerful wizard vampire lord with a castle full of dark minions is another part too, no?

Anton's not being sarcastic, but he does think it's important that the heroes don't place too much faith in the power of vitamin D.

KITCHEN

---

"Huh," says Knobby with a telltale pause of consideration. "I think that's the first time anyone in this dark land has ever been so generous."

He conveniently omits his previous experiences with people who may have been equally generous, for sake of continuing this pleasant conversation and distracting from further questions about his skulkering about. Another gulp of stew, and Knobbenkirk points to the pot. "May I have more?"

I hole heartedly agree, fiar Ezmerelda. Does "In a graveyard or a crossroads of life and death" mean anything to you? Oberon also looks the the Abbot

Kitchen

---

Knobbenkirk gorges himself on the stew like it will be his last. "You know," he says, wiping his mouth with the back of his arm, "a lot of people say that, and I guess it's still not clear what that really means. I mean, there was a really big wall, and we did get sorta turned around in the fog, but you'd think that if we just head in one direction without turning we'd eventually get out, right?"

He pauses. "But, weirdly, even though I can think about it right now, I don't get that urge to actually do it. You know what I mean? Like, we've just been going this way and that, finding people and places and everybody's got their troubles just like us, but the thought of actually trying to leave kinda floats away without much conscious effort."

Main Hall

---

Then I suggest that our next goal is to go to Barovia village. Do you have a map by chance?

Anton drains his glass.

"Barovia village, yes? I know the way. It is a simple route, yes? Perhaps we should stop in at Vallaki and look into Ireena's suggestion about the wealthy woman too, no?"

Knobbenkirk ponders this news. "You're staying here?" he asks of Ireena.

"Is probably best. Ve cannot nanny her about vhile goink into dangerous plesses."

"She fought off attacks upon her home with her brother," says Knobbenkirk. "It's less about being her nanny and more about being her reinforcements."

"Oh right," says Knobby, looking at Oberon and remembering his declaration of battling the dark lord of this land. "Well, then it's probably a good call. You've got the wine and sanctity of this shrine, so maybe it's equal-enough protection."

He looks at the others. "I think we head back to Vallaki for starters, look for her brother, then see about where to go from there.

"So what did you all find out from the Vistana woman that the fortune-teller told us about?"

We got a strong lead on weapon the fortune-teller told us about. We also learned that we are few that have a real soul here, and that is why people don't stand up to him. They are soulless.

What did you learn Knobby?

Anton raises his eyebrows at that. It's generally considered rude to mention someone's disability. Sure, everyone in Barovia was trapped in a terrifying spiritual prison, but that's no excuse for being a dick.

"If we are killing vampires then we should get garlic and wooden stakes, yes?"

He looks to Esme for confirmation. You'd think a native of this demi-plane would know all about killing vampire lords - but the subject's never come up before, for the same reason that fireball-swallowing techniques are rarely discussed - the people who've tried it are history (and a little bit geography too).