A new Sword to Slay him.

((The session ended with a bang and a wimper. Everybody has now leveled to 7, congratulations. Strahd says, you look delicious.))

Before turning in, Cecil will attempt to speak with the Martikov patriarch.  Nodding to greet him. "Thank you for taking us in once again. Im sorry things have been rough for you the last day and a half."  Moving on; "As I said, we intend to move to Krezk in the morning. I was wondering what information you all might have on the town. Specifically, I would like to know about the pools of the white sun." 

@cecil    Davian Martikov thinks for the moment, " Well..mind you we only deliver there monthly, and are among the few allowed passed its fortified walls. Our family has delivered wine there, probably since before its wall and Strahd.  On the North end of town is a spring fed pool, a neglected gazebo and a statue are there. Nothing special really, but it is called the Shrine of the White Sun. I was told it was blessed by some Saint at some point."

@ Davian Martikov  "Yes. We could certainly make the delivery for you... at least that way, we can guarantee passage. Anything you think we should know about Krezk, seeing as we are the newcomers here?"

@Cecil Unfortunately without our wagon, we cannot deliver any of the wine. I take it that it was left in Valaki or did it get damaged?  As far as Krezk, I can tell you that as far as I know the residents never leave the town, The Burgomaster's name is Krezkov, and it came to first as an Abbey, hospital and convent, and latter grew into a town.  Aside from that, I am not sure what you want to know.

@ Davian Martikov Cecil looks pleasantly surprised at the description of the town; "If no known dangers jump to your mind, what you have said is enough. Sadly we neglected the cart... we spent a good deal of time this morning searching for missing companions. One of my hunters vanished without a trace. And something may have happened to the elf girl. By the time we gave up on the search, we were already a good way here."  Following up; "We will be sure to collect and return that cart the next time we return to Vallaki. In the mean time, I think we can take a few barrels on our new cart."

@ Anak and /@ cart/chicken Lost does not feel quite as at ease here in the structure as the others do, that much is clear by the elf's watchful wide eyes and the way she starts at the family here and there. Though those she travels with assure sure they are allies, she has yet to come to that conclussion on her own, nor has she always trusted their judgements. As the others settle in, she will take the last bit of the pre-night light to lock up and further examine this wonderful cart they've acquired. She inspect it for sleeping arrangements, how well it could keep or provide them food service. She ponders at the ability to protect it like the church at some point, and thusly not having it protected yet and with their luck with Strahd lately, will bring the chicken inside with her when she finally does move away from it and into the winery. Once inside, she puts the bird somewhere safe, wherever they have been instructed to rest, and she will seek Anak out. The slight elven woman approaches as she usually does when she has a mission, suddenly, directly, and aggressively assured. She touches his arm and leans forward towards him. "Whatever outcome you take from today's deeds, whether it offers you faith or not, I needed to tell you that for me, it did. Seeing those creatures outside... You picked correctly today. Maybe you did it selfishly or for some reason I don't know, liking blades more or out of concern for what befell Edmund, but when you made that choice you willing stepped off a darkly covered path and into the light. I believe, seeing these things slayed in an instant as they attacked your allies gates, that you struck a fierce blow to the wickedness that has a deep route in this land, and I think that my god may have helped guide you, or rewarded you. You could have set it down, and walked away. You could have tossed it in a lake as I did, but you chose more. You wouldn't even bare it's presence any more, and that is exactly the kind of fight we need to have here to succeed. When I pray tonight, Anak, I will be thanking Pholtus for sharing a piece of His Light with you today. And I will be praying for your future decisions along your new path, with a blade that may give us an advantage versus the devil. Wield it well?"

The destruction of the assumed cursed black staff felt like a burden removed from the all too long list of concerns that was piled on the druid's mind. It was a wise decision on Anak's part, and it had inadvertently saved the Martikov family in the process, something that he felt likewise good about. There was little time to revel in the victories they had this day, Both Edmond and now Pea were confirmed missing, though he shielded his remaining companions as best he could against the construct, he can't shake the feeling that he is failing in his vows... And in the shadow of the winery there loomed another unresolved issue, Yester Hill. Gildas paced the entry hall of the winery restlessly, giving even Lostariel only a distracted and pensive nod as she passed through with her new charge. He had seen Cecil wander off to speak with the residents, and hoped silently that there would be enough light in the day to visit the graves, or that they would be willing to make the detour in the morning. The burning questions kept swirling around in his mind, why did that woman look like his mother? What happened to cause his kin to become so seemingly malevolent? Could they be saved, and if so, how? He suspected that though tired, rest would not come easy this night.

Anak stands in the front yard with his new weapon in hand. He twirls and spins the blade in his fingers, then takes a few broad swings followed by a deep lunge. This blade was balanced like nothing he'd ever held before, the blade felt weightless and cut through the air with no resistance. This would take a bit of getting used to when compared to heavier weapons of steel or iron. Just as he takes a stance to swing again, he feels a touch on his arm. Lost is a pleasant sight, as always, and he listens intently to what she has to say. When she finishes he leans forward as well, imitating her posture with a cocky grin. "...That staff... I'm no fool, I could see the way you an' yours looked at it. I knew it must've 'ad  some dark purpose... But I also knew that it was powerful, I thought that if I 'eld onto it, that it just might save my arse someday. Whatever cost I 'ad to pay didn't matter to me, as long as it could keep me alive..." He stands back upright, his expression shifting to something resembling pained embarrassment "... and then that explosion today... I blew us all up. I felt a piece of stone strike my temple, and when everything faded to black I thought that was it... I thought I'd killed us all..." He locks eyes with the huntress "But to my surprise, I came too again, to find you and Turi looking down on me with genuine concern. Truth be told I've never seen that look directed at me before, and I never want to see it again... but I'll never forget that moment" The bard takes a step back and clears his throat "So, long story short, when I needed saving the staff didn't do shit for me, YOU did. When we found this blade, I felt as though it was somehow meant for me, and that made my decision quite easy. Break the staff, keep the sword.... keep my friends." The barest hint of pink is evident on his cheeks as he turns away "Well, if I'm gonna use this thing, I'd better get the feel for it" He says as he goes back to his practicing.

@ Anak She takes little reaction in their conspiratorial posturing, knowing this was a private conversation. She is stunned however by his admission of knowing just how bad the staff potentially was, a look of troubled hesitancy on her face as she inwardly considers if there will ever be a power worth it to her to submit to darkness. It's a concept that is so alien, so repulsive, that she's left carefully examining the countenance of the blue haired man, eyes taking in what she sees there and filing it away mentally. Perhaps it makes his decision to turn away that much more profound. For some, seeking the light was as natural as the way a flower would gently bend throughout the day to turn it's face towards the sun. For others, it must be a day to day struggle to remain on the right path, and that's where people like she, Cecil, and even Edmund came in. Edmund... When he leans back to continue his revelations, again, it has the wood elf quietly in awe. Just like that, the other elf is at peace with his decision through this revelation. And accrediting some of it to the involvement of an act that was as natural as breathing to her. Of course he'd received care and aid when the structure had exploded, and the issue of fault in the matter was never even a consideration. Anak was, in this land of evil and treachery, an ally if any of them hoped to find their way out. A friend...? "Very well. Good luck in your practicing with it. May Pholtus guide your hands as he does mine so often." She turns to leave him to the act, glancing back once as she pauses by the stair to consider him again. Considering the way the rest of this place was out to get them, perhaps she could do with a friend.

The Dawn approaches, a new day starts at the Wizard's Winery.

The night had been somewhat restless. The priest did not seem like he was going to make an appearance before the light dimmed enough that he no longer felt it would have been safe to travel to the hill for his answers. What a dour thought, that the night in these lands was not the comforting, peaceful time he had grown up with. This land seeks to take everything from us that we hold dear... Our lives, our sanity, our very souls if we would let it. He saw Lostariel enter the main hall from outside, giving him a passing look that he knew he was reading far too much into. As she walked into the wing where the bedrooms were, he realized that he had stopped his pacing and his eyes lingered on her form as she slowly drifted away, disappearing into the adjoining hall. The momentary distraction seemed enough to break him from the cycle of thoughts there were going nowhere. Nothing was going to be done tonight, and he needed to be rested for the next day, which he was already preparing himself mentally to be as straining as today was going to be. He retired to his room, burning some of his incense to calm his body and mind enough to sleep. ~The Following morning: Pre Dawn~ Gildas arose from his slumber, a troubled set of often conflicting dreams had haunted him in the night, but his body was rested well enough and for that he was grateful. His first action was to conjure the berries for the day, then he picked up his ritual case and emerged from his room to seek out the Huntress. There were things to talk about, and he didn't want to miss his opportunity once again.

@ Gildas The golden wood elf was indeed awake by the time the heathen human was, on the floors below tending to their cart and reloading the chicken, Phol, onto the vehicle. Considering their limited options, Lost had expected them to use this cart to make the next leg of their journey and was trying to best equip it for the use as she greets the day with her morning prayer. Today she had much to pray about; Between the loss of their allies, and the gain of this enchanted carriage, her conversation with Pholtus is long and silent in the rising dawn.

@Lostariel The sight of the woman in the brightening sky was a wonder, and she would likely hold some sembelance of pride that she was seen as a ray of light in the darkness of these lands. He gave her a welcoming nod. He had opted for a shorter rite this morning, forgoing the drawing of the circle in favor of lifting his cup and drinking in the direction of the slumbering moon and again to the waking sun. Gildas painted his chest and face again before drinking one last time of the cup and inviting their strength, the might of Ursoc and the power of the other great beasts. Rising to his feet and packing away his tools, he aproached the Huntress and again offered her a berry and skin of water. "Lostariel, good morning." His confidence did not betray that was at a slight loss for words in her presence in that moment, at least in the sense of how to begin. He simply offered a warm smile, taking in a lungful of the crisp morning air and proceeded. "It has been a while since we have been outside a city in the morning, would you care to join me in a jog around the grounds? Perhaps afterwards we can discuss what our plan is for the day."

@ Guildas She takes the berry from him without a thought, grateful for it's un-oiled or cooked presence considering the resent encounters with these Vistani, enjoying it in the predawn glow. "It has been a while, and I enjoy this peace. No shop keepers creating noise, no morning rituals. I prefer mornings in the woods."

@Lostariel "You and I both." It's good to know that the church has not wrung out the joy of nature from you.  "What we are tasked with is of great importance, but we must likewise not forget to take what moments we can to enjoy the things we dedicate ourselves to protect. The simple joys in life. Speakin of... how about that run?"

@ Guildas "A run would suit me," She states absentmindedly, and then stops surprised with herself, straightening up and gazing at the heathen curiously and skeptically at his suggestion. The man had been asking her to join in him in prayers enough days that the request wasn't that strange, yet still, her nature had her watching the other with some trace of leeriness, as darkness was still creeping along the horizon. "Where shall we go?"