Barovia - Road to Zeidenburg - Berez

[Praying Mantis]

Within the tavern bar of the Trust Ox, a familiar elven storyteller weaves a tale not as full of optimism as his usual prose.  He talks of the corpses of the dead stalking in the night.  The story culminates with a shadow clad witch of darkness summoning the tools of war to act no longer inanimate, but with a dire will of their fiendish master.  As shadow and spirit skulk on the edge of the horizon, one of the villages own Black Army is struck down in one fell swipe.  Her body hauled into the darkness before help could arrive. 
The elf tale spinner shows sign of a nasty injury of his own perhaps from trying to intervene? One can't help but wonder if this was was non-fiction witnessed first hand, as the bard finishes his story and sulk in the corner, drinking one too many ales.

[PrimetheGrime]

The recent attacks on the town appear to die down as an increased watch is set upon all the entrances into Berez. Travellers report that patrols frequently walk through the town and back to their barracks. Whatever the reason for the sudden increase in supernatural occurances, it appears the Black Army is taking no chances with the security of the town..

[PrimetheGrime]

Tempers flare in the fortified town of Berez as the age old conflict between Gundarakites and Barovians rears it's ugly head once more. Soldiers of the Black Army rush towards the growing angry mobs from both nations, armed to the teeth with makeshift weapons and farming tools. As the acting commander moved in to calm the unruly mob, the first blow was struck. It is unclear which side swung first, but what had begun as angry protests soon turned bloody..


A deathly silence ensues the aftermath of the riot, with Barovian and Gundarakite laying dead at the foot of the Trusty Ox. The Soldiers of the Black Army move the dead to the graveyard, mixed emotions over their weary faces..

[Facilis]

Along the upper ridges of the Road to Zeidenburg - a strange symbol has been carved onto one of the stone pillars near a mud cave just south of it.  The symbol in question is a depiction of a bow with a needle replacing what should be an arrow ready to fire.  Perhaps it's a nod to something?  Or maybe just pointless art

[PrimetheGrime]

Come morning, the sleepy town of Berez shows no sign of the barricades and fortifications it once had outside it's gates. The plains outside of the town appear blackened and scorched, however. In place of the fortifications, there is a single, lone combat dummy clothed in red and black with a mop for hair. The dummy's face is painted in clown makeup, a sign hangs from the neck, the writing bold and black.

[Blackwell]

There is a savage display on the southern side of Berez, following the aftermath of the razing. Two bodies are mutilated, in garbs that one might be able to decipher as resembling the Black Army attire. Their blood is painted across the dirt and mud, pooled in the rainfall. There is a clear message smeared onto the wall, seemingly done with someone's palm:

STAY OUT

[mooner]

Vallaki Garda's Dog Company march through the small town of Berez, to the quiet cheer of the remaining Barovian locals. They continue through the southern gate and the distant sound of gunfire resonates faintly through the night air. The patrol returns a little more worse for wear, with at least two of the guards who departed yet to make a return. Seeking shelter for the night, the guardsmen file into the Trusty Ox Inn for a meal and some rest.

For the first time in a long while, a sense of normality returns to the town - despite sunken boats, burned homes and slaughtered livestock - as Vallaki's guards converse and share stories with the locals during the old night. A creeping wave of anxiety threatens the precarious order of the town, however, as preparations for the war are gradually set into place over the coming weeks.

[Drekavac]

Following the liberation of Berez following the entry of the Vallaki Garda into the village it is not long after that news returns of the rescue of the Burgomaster of Berez's family from Zeidenburg after they were supposedly taken with the retreating rebels as hostages. However, notably, the family remained in Vallaki's Citadel where they were delivered supposedly by uniformed members of the Red Vardo Traders of Vallaki. The Wachter Militia advance south to the Dreadpass and seem to have cleared the obstacles placed by the retreating Black Army of Gundarak. The Dreadpass rings with the occasional fire of musket fire and cannon...

[Dread]

[A somber mood falls over the village of Berez as a host of soldiers from Vallaki made their way to the freshly-liberated fishing village to carry out the Count's edict: Burgomaster Iancu Viteazul, for his incompetence and his failure to keep the rebels from occupying Berez, was sentenced to death. The fishermen who call Berez home carry out their daily labours listlessly, accompanied by the muted sounds of wailing and sobbing from Musatei Viteazul, his widow and now the new Burgomistress.]

[bloodless]

Local people going to tend to the graves discovered a strange arrangement inside the Berez cemetery. The likely suspect of this unexplained act is an outlander who'd been seen going in and out of the town several times recently, but as he didn't seem to bother anyone, no one bothered with him in turn beyond a passing glance. 



Another strange new addition was later spotted some distance away from the town's main gates. What the reason for such acts might be is anyone's guess.

[Last Exit to Barovia]

[Just outside of the town two armored figures, clad in dark silver and green, are seen searching through the wooded hills. They disappear into the mouthlet of a cave for a short time, emerging untarnished. After searching the ground in the surrounding area to no avail they return on the path they came, towards Vallaki.]

[Day Old Bread]

Late in the night, a courier arrived on horseback. She stabled her horse and spent the night, leaving at dawn. Before she left, a notice was posted by the gates of the small town of Berez.

[finchy267]

[A dark and worrisome mood falls over the village of Berez as day breaks, villagers come out of their homes to find a guard has gone missing in the night, all that is left by the gate are deep drag marks in the mud leading towards the South and a severed hand.]

[finchy267]

Several notices have been pinned to various trees in and around the area of Berez, the contents of these letters are mostly in Balok, but there is one sentence that has been written in Luktar.

The handwriting of this letter is neat and it appears great care has been taken. The first half is in Balok and states:

"To those of Barovian blood, know that your mistreatment of those different from you is known to me. The actions you and your ancestors have taken will have consequences.

If you continue to carry out the mistreatment of Gundarakites, know that I -will- come for you and your families so that you may even feel a slither of pain that has been inflicted on those you hate and fear. None will be safe from the wrath of my people. We will be free."

The second half of this letter is written in Luktar:

"If any of Gundarakite blood have been mistreated by The Devil's lapdogs or his people, leave letters for me with their names and misdeeds outside the place the Day of Silent Hope was held."

Spoiler: show

[DM Despot]

As one travels along the dirt road that winds through the dense forest towards Berez, a humble yet newly built shrine can be seen. Located at the edge of the road, overlooking the tranquil river flowing by, this shrine is devoted to the Morninglord. Despite its rustic construction, the shrine is adorned with boxes brimming with flowers in shades of gold and yellow. Two simple benches have been placed beside the shrine. The flickering candlelight and the soothing aroma of incense contribute to the serene ambiance that envelops the shrine.

[DM Despot]

It appears that a new addition has been added to the humble shrine. A woven basket brimming with an assortment of foods and drinks has been placed next to the altar. Despite the heavy rainfall, a small parchment has been carefully tucked away inside the basket, shielding its message from the elements. It reads the following in the common tongue;

Spoiler: show

[Silence is Violence]

[A small stock of pewter bottles are to be found within the woven donation basket; simple concoctions to prevent common fevers or ailments. The shrine is left as it was, the sylvan icon left both unsoiled and unpraised.]

[PlatointheCave]

In the dead of night something coalesces from the shadows, and leaves strange substances in the basket.

Spiral patterns are left painted on the side of the shrine, their meaning unclear.

[finchy267]

[In the middle of the night, it would appear the shrine has had another visitor, this time however, it was not one with good intentions. A grizzly scene is left as well as a new addition to the basket.]

[DM Despot]

As one travels the roads leading to or from Berez, they may come across an elven woman clad in the vibrant hues of the Morninglord, toiling tirelessly to restore order to the chaos that was wrought the night before. The desecrated altar has been moved, and the woman works diligently to cleanse the bloodstains from the grass, though faint splotches of dried blood still mar the verdant expanse. By the time the sun begins to set, a humble shrine to the Rosy Dawn God has been erected, its facade restored to its former state.

Worshipers are once again welcome to pay their respects, at least for now.

[DM Stygian Witch]

A foreign missionary engages the new burgomistress in diplomacy. Gifts have been presented and the conversation ends amicably.

[DM Brimstone]

A public spectacle creates a buzz around Berez and rumors of the altercation begin to suffuse through Barovia.  By all accounts, a maimed, retired Berez militiaman confronted another guardsman with raucous verbal beratement and inflammatory accusations.  Unable or unwilling to be silenced, the man who once held distinction with the local militia had to be restrained, shackled, and carted off into holding.  The following day, his unruly behavior was corrected via public flogging and he was last seen hobbling down the road away from the village, a previously proud head hung low in disgrace.

[DM Despot]

As morning breaks over Barovia, travelers and farmers stumble upon a gruesome sight along the road. The remnants of a victim, taken by something lurking in the depths of the night, are left for all to witness.

Spoiler: show

[SwordChucks]

As morning breaks over Barovia, travelers and farmers stumble upon a gruesome sight along the road. The remnants of a victim, taken by something lurking in the depths of the night, are left for all to witness.

Spoiler: show

Travelers would observe two grey clad nights bearing the symbol of Kelemvor, finding and carrying the bodies to Vallaki.

[Iconoclast]

With the always much anticipated arrival of spring, a familiar foreigner and missionary is seen returning to the small fishing village after having weathered the long winter back in his homeland of Hazlan. The tall, armored man with a tattoo of a manticore upon his shaved head is seen ruffling the hair of the 'werewolf' as the imaginative boy had come to view the somewhat exotic foreigner as a playmate prior to that winter, regularly stalking up upon the missionary as he posted watch alongside the Berez militia, after some form of agreement had formally been made between the Church of the Lawgiver and Burgomeistress Vitezual some months ago.

The missionary is seen paying respects to the matron of the Vandura family, Caltuna, before entering the Trusty Ox Inn. After checking back into his room, he is seen checking in on the well being of Musatel and her young child, before rejoining the militia posted at the eastern gate, providing another set of eyes and ears to the security of the small village with a troubled past.