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--- Gale at Raven Roost ---
Gale fashions his orb into a chain with some bling and amends his outfit with his disguise kit, making it look a little more regal. Goes to Valleki. There are no guards at any of the gates. Danika at the inn tells him that we headed to Krezk and mentions "the upcoming changes in town." Goes to the church and asks about the children. Priest says they're doing well even though the younger is somewhat afraid of some of the people in town and still doesn't talk. Lucy asks Gale to get rid of the mean lady that everyone yells about. The younger girl nods. Gale makes a promise to protect them. There are about 10 kids at the church now.

--- Party at Krezk ---
Humble wooden cottages along dirt roads. Filled with trees. The guards direct us to the Burgomaster's house, the first along the wall. Baron Krezkov is slightly short, white beard, bald head, nice robes, slightly common outfit underneath. Slightly darker skin and slightly chubbier than other Barovians. He is very short with us. Percy offers him wine but he's a dick and doesn't take it. He calls Percy "boy" and offends him. He talks to Ireena, she tells him news of Valleki. He seems distraught. Percy offers him 4 bottles of wine again "in these trying times for your family." His face falls and he says we may stay for two days.

Percy finds a villager and asks them about the Abbey. The bell rings at odd hours, and the person that lives there has lived for centuries. It fell to Strahd and they all became cannibals or died. No one has gone up in this lifetime.

Dren decides to go recruiting for the Order. Percy reminds him to be secretive about it. Magda calls him Private Percy and Percy flashes his weird void eyes at her and tells her to remember his name.

Percy, Magda, and Ireena head to the Shrine of the White Sun. The pool of water shimmers and sparkles even under the grey sky. A statue of a mournful, barechested man with outstretched arms inside a gazebo. Ireena hears something. An image appears in the water. A handsome youth of kind and noble visage. It's Sergei. Percy sees nothing special with Truesight or Detect Magic. They talk. A watery hand reaches up to grasp hers. Percy and Magda pull her back from going in the water and the hand disappears. Ireena screams and the skies darken and a voice sounds from the mountain: "She is mine!" Thunder peals and lightning strikes the pool. The gazebo is destroyed. Ireena says she remembers. Percy asks Magda what she knows. She tells him that she can remember things. Percy presses her and Magda says it's not time, so Percy gets angry and casts Suggestion to force her to answer. Ireena is upset that we kept her from being with Sergei so Percy says she's free to jump in the lake anytime.

Morning Lord and Night mother watch over us. No native barovians, they all come from the outside when Strahd took over. Most barovians have no souls - "as dead as the dead". Magda is #13.

Road to abbey -- lose gravel, somewhat treacherous.

--- Gale on the road to Krezk ---
Meets a lone figure, just standing and seemingly waiting. Suddenly he's in front of Gale. It's Strahd. Says it's great the Gale has abandoned his friends. Gale says they've served their purpose but he has new plans now. Tells Strahd he wants to return the valley to how it was before him. Strahd laughs and asks if he wants help. Gale asks in Infernal "What are you proposing?" Strahd replies in Infernal that Gale's trick is neat but temporary; Strahd offers more permanent solutions. Offers to make Gale a vampire, let him join him as his "right hand man" and "immortal partner" in exchange for Ireena. Gale asks: "Did you curse this land?" "It is a mortal's word to call it cursed. I would call it a playground. ... Sometimes it can get boring with the same souls over and over. That's why I've brought you and your friends here. You could be in charge of finding new things to bring us pleasure." Gale says he'll do what he can. Strahd asks how he will take care of his friends; Gale says he knows how to handle it. Strahd says Gale's way to Krezk will be clear and he expects a full report when he sees Gale again. Gale replies in Infernal that he expects the same. Gale's walk to Krezk is the most peaceful he's ever felt in Barovia.

--- Party at Krezk ---
Two small stone outbuildings. Iron gates attached. Unlocked. Two wings of abbey joined by wall. Belfry on north wing, chimney with smoke. We enter the gate. A creature looking like a beardless dwarf with patches of donkey flesh. Legs and feet are leonin, donkey tail, one wolf ear, human top. Other - left side covered with lizard scale, right side tufts of wolf hair. Hands look like cat hands. Donkeyman says, "why here? why here?" Magda says "wtf are you??" and Percy uses Message to tell her to shut up. The other says, "no good outsiders always judge." Percy steps in and offers the last bottle of wine as a gift. The donkey takes it. Magda: "You have friends here?" Zygfrek (lizard cat): "The abbot." Says he is their friend. P: "How long have you been here?" Z: "I don't know time." P: Does the abbott welcome visitors? Z:"Otto and I can go get him" P: "What is the abbot like?" O: "Kind. And. Fancy." Percy asks if they can rest and they agree. Percy suggests they try the wine and they do. Each outbuilding has a shovel with furs on the ground and nets woven from twigs and pine needles hanging up. P asks while resting: "Other people other than abbot?" They say yes, many. Inside. The abbot will show us.

--- Gale in Krezk ---
Leaves the hellhounds outside. Guards ask business; Gale says he's looking for us. Guards make him talk to the Burgomaster. He gives Gale the same two days. Told Gale there was a loud noise up north earlier. He makes his way to the abbey and meets up with us.