Act II: Ill Fortunes (Part 2, the morning after)

So you leave for Ireena's mansion or do you go west of the crossroads?

You make your way to Ireena's home. It is very much as you left it the last time you visited, the twisted gate lays on a puddle in the ground. Obviously there was no time for repairs just yet.

As you enter, drenched from the rain, Ismark greets you.

"Ah, welcome, welcome. Please, come in before you catch a cold."

Ismark looks like a completely different man now that he has sobered up.

Veroth notices nothing out of the ordinary.

Ismark continues.

"I would ask you what brought you here on such a wonderful day, but I won't lie, the weather is absolutely dreadful... Ah, typical Barovia... Oh, I see you have a new companion... And she has the Holy Symbol of Ravenkind? Marvellous! You found it! Oh, this is great news! Great news indeed."

He then turns to greet Heather with a bow, not in the same gentlemanly fashion as Sir Urik had done earlier, however.

"I am Ismark Indirovich, humble burgomaster of this little town. Well, I sort of am even though the ceremony to officialize my position will be held later this week..."

"No, sadly. My father knew how to use it, but he never got around to tell me and my sister Ireena here how to do it before he died..."

Ireena interjects.

"You mean before he was murdered."

Ismark continues.

"Err... yes... My sister and I tried to use it, but to no avail. Then it got stolen. I guess the group went on to speak with Madam Eva and told you where to find it. If so, I'm sure she already gave you clues on how to use it as well... This woman is wise beyond her years."

Ismark is pensive for a moment.

"Old road... old road... Oh yes. Come to think of it, there is an old ruin somewhere west of the crossroads. According to the history books that my grandfather—gods rest his soul—used to have, this land is much older than even that devil Strahd. This ruin probably dates back to that time. It can't be much of anything anymore, but it could be the lair for some of the devil's creatures. My grandfather said that a powerful wizard lived there a long time ago, maybe even a thousand years, and she dealt with creatures from... elsewhere. Back then, there was another crossroads further west, near the Lysaga Hills which led to lands none of us have ever seen. That road is gone now, and I can't even tell you where it might have been, except that it must have been near the Lysaga Hills. But the ruin was along that road. We don't go out there ourselves because the woods have been too dangerous for common folks for years and years. And I hear wolfmen are in the woods too, living with the wolves we hear every night."

Ismark will chime in.

"If you want to know about lycanthropes, I suggest you find the local werewolf hunter, Janis Barahg. A rather dour fellow, but competent at what he does, or so I've heard... However, we haven,t seen him in town since the undead outbreak."

Sir Urik will then speak.

"Yes, I know the fellow. I had the occasion to work with him a few time when my struggle against the dark forces of this valley took me into the Svalich Woods. I do not entirely approve of his methods or of his desire for vengeance against the werefolk which borders an obsession, but he is indeed capable of holding his own in a fight."