The party ascended the stone steps toward the imposing abbey. As they approached the top, a tall, serene figure clad in white robes emerged. His face was calm but carried an air of deep contemplation. Four hooded figures followed him silently. “Welcome,” he said in a deep, measured voice. “I am the Abbott.” [[Ellette|Ellette]] stepped forward. “We are Sordia Vignti. What do you know about us?” The Abbott inclined his head slightly. “I have been expecting you. Fate has a way of guiding its chosen champions. Your presence here was inevitable.” “We have questions,” [[Morgar Goldgard|Morgar]] interrupted, his voice sharp. “The fountain below—what happened to me?” The Abbott’s serene expression faltered for a moment. “The fountain holds immense power, a blessing or a curse depending on its use. If approached improperly, it can exact a heavy toll—as you have seen. Your soul has been displaced, but it is not beyond recovery.” The party exchanged uneasy glances. “Can you fix it?” [[Zara Blackwood|Zara]] asked, her voice tinged with hope. “Yes,” the Abbott replied. “But my aid is not free. There is a task you must complete for me.” “What task?” [[Karrut Styk|Karrut]] asked warily. “Two things,” the Abbott began. “First, I require a wedding dress. There is a tailor in the town of Barovia to the west who has exactly what I need. You must retrieve it. Second, bring Ireena Kolyana to me, unharmed. She is vital to my plans.” The mention of Ireena made [[Ellette|Ellette]] stiffen. “Why do you need her?” she asked, her tone sharp. “All will be revealed in time,” the Abbott said, his calm demeanour unwavering. “Know this: others seek the same dress, and time is against you. Make haste. As for your route, the swamp offers the quickest passage, though it is fraught with peril. Baba Lysaga, Strahd’s former wet nurse, haunts those lands. She wields a gem of great power, which she holds close. Be prepared.” Without waiting for a response, the Abbott turned and ascended the remaining steps, his hooded followers trailing behind him. As the party descended the stairs, they discussed their next move. “This feels wrong,” [[Ellette|Ellette]] said, her voice tense. “We don’t even know if we can trust him. What does he want with Ireena?” “If he can restore [[Morgar Goldgard|Morgar]]’s soul, we have to consider it,” [[Zara Blackwood|Zara]] countered. [[Morgar Goldgard|Morgar]], his voice colder than before, laughed bitterly. “Weakness. Always worrying about what’s right. If he can fix me, then we do the job. Simple.” “I’m not sure what’s more unsettling,” [[Qwimby|Qwimby]] muttered. “The Abbott or [[Morgar Goldgard|Morgar]].” The group continued their descent, the tension palpable as they headed back toward Esmerelda’s base. As they approached Krezk’s main gate, a heavy mist began to roll through the streets. One of the guards slumped over in his chair, barely conscious. The party rushed to his side. “He’s not dead,” [[Karrut Styk|Karrut]] said, checking the man’s pulse. “But he’s close.” “We need to get him to Esmerelda,” [[Ellette|Ellette]] said, her voice urgent. As they carried the guard toward Esmerelda’s base, a deep sense of dread settled over them. From the mist emerged Strahd, his presence as commanding as ever. He strode casually through the streets, his crimson cloak billowing in the haze. “Ah, my dear Sordia Vignti,” he said, his tone light. “And what a delightful transformation for you, [[Morgar Goldgard|Morgar]].” His gaze shifted to [[Karrut Styk|Karrut]]. “Two of you now competing for my favor? How amusing.” [[Qwimby|Qwimby]], unable to contain his anger, raised his revolver to shoot, but Strahd had already dissolved into a swarm of bats, disappearing into the mist. The party reached Esmerelda’s base, only to find the door locked. [[Qwimby|Qwimby]] knelt to pick the lock, but [[Morgar Goldgard|Morgar]] impatiently smashed a window with a rock. [[Karrut Styk|Karrut]] climbed through and unlocked the door from the inside. Inside, they found Esmerelda and Demetrius slumped over, unconscious. The party quickly realized that the mist was the cause. They grabbed Esmerelda, Demetrius, and the guard and carried them out of Krezk’s walls, where the mist did not reach. After some time, the three woke up. Esmerelda rubbed her temples, her expression confused. “We were making plans,” she said. “And then... everything went dark.” The party recounted their encounter with the Abbott. “A wedding dress?” Esmerelda asked, frowning. “That makes no sense. And Ireena? She’s in hiding in Barovia. If Strahd finds her first, it could spell disaster.” Demetrius, pale and shaken, added, “The dress... my wife is the tailor. She’s the only one in Barovia who can make something like that. And my son... he was born without a soul. The Abbott said he could help.” Esmerelda’s expression darkened. “There are rumors that the Abbott might be Strahd in disguise. We need to tread carefully.” [[Karrut Styk|Karrut]] gripped the spear tightly. “We need answers. And power. If the swamp has what we need, we’re going.” “Before that,” Esmerelda said, “find Dr. Victor Von Richton. He’s a famous hunter and an invaluable resource. We haven’t heard from him in some time.” The party rested near Krezk’s gate, their minds heavy with the weight of their next steps. The fog hung low in the distance, a constant reminder of the dangers they faced. [[Chapter 65. The Bag Man]]