Welcome to Gaia! ::

Varnis flips through the book, but can make no sense of it. Much of the book looks like some of the runes carved in the walls of the room. As you continue to flip through them though, you see the pages begin to warp and the text begins to translate itself into the trade tongue that most (including you) are familiar with. Each of the pages look like a giant recipe of some kind, but include strange gestures and handsigns along with them. Signed in the front cover, now in the common trade tongue and not the strange symbols you orginally saw them in, is the name Corollan Lothorian...As the name registers, you turn to see the body again: the rustic features, the beard, everything matches the ranger from outside the forest, the same man that hired you; except of course the clothing...

((My obelisk!))

Shaking her head 'no' Coralie turned to grab the strange obelisk, handing back the note handed to her after glancing it over. Absentminded Coralie didn't put any connections together, other then possessively possessing the obelisk in her clutchy grasp. (("Preciousssss!"))

[[ Oh dear lord, I need to beg you guys for forgiveness. Sorry for the disappearing and negligence! Ple-eeeaaase! After two weeks of exams, I spent the last week partying it up really hard. So much so that now I'm thinking I might of over done it. xD ]]

Kary trotted over to Varnis after hearing him call for her, giving the dead body a funny look. She blinked several times and cocked her head to the side in a surprised manor. Her face had a "What. The. Hey!?" expression on it. The look remained on her face as she peered at the pages of the book.

"This place is really messed up... Do you think he lied to us when we were outside the forest? I wonder how long ago this place was defiled into some sacrificial playground for the morbidly curious" the bard thought aloud," It probably doesn't matter... Sure let's go to the graveyard soon."

You all check the remainder of the tower, but find nothing of any use. You continue on, the disturbing stillness of the town sends chills down your spine as you pass by the deserted houses and half-dead corpses. It only gets worse as you approach the graveyard...The gates are slightly rusted, and covered completely in ivy and thick grass. Luckily, the gates seem to have been cracked open enough for you all to comfortably pass through without having to disturb anything. The inside is just as unkempt as the gate, with most of the mausoleums and gravestones encompassed with wildlife. A faint wind blows through this place in an even tempo...lending the feeling that the whole place is alive and breathing.

As you all wander through the deserted graveyard, the feeling of being watched grows ever more distinct. Throughout the graveyard you find three, promising markers...much to your dismay though, it seems each of them lead to an underground mausoleum. The three names you find are Lord Strahd Von Varovich, Sir Yohanus Straus, and lastly Earl Nikolas Strahn. From the outside, none of the three seem to be any bigger than another, making the choice all the more troublesome. The only noticeable difference between the three inscriptions printed above their entryways. They go as follows:

Lord Varovich-In Death Lies Another Beginning
Sir Straus-In Death Lies Peace
Earl Strahn-Nobody could love a greedy man like him. Thanks for the inheritance though, Uncle. It bought such a lovely mausoleum and I'll still not have to work a day in my life.

--- Coralie, still clutching the obelisk, looked at each marker in turn, lost in thought. After a time, Coralie deadpanned, "Open all three mausoleums. The one an abomination pops out of should be our choice. Unless all three present an abomination."
--- Other than speaking occasionally, Coralie would have been a great fixture in the graveyard. As a wonderfully comatose statue.
---

The door opens surprisingly easy despite its age and level of overgrowth. Beyond the door lies a long staircase that dips down into an expanse of darkness that your eyes cannot pierce. Along the walls are carved impressive reliefs of long dead men and their exploits. Seems that most of Lord Varovich's family, along with him, were accomplished adventurers themselves. Many seem to have been mages of no small renown, with a few fighters and what looks like at least one assassin, the picture of which indicates he'd assassinated a king or some other royalty. As you walk further into the darkness of the tomb, the lantern in Varnis' hand seems to literally melt the darkness away from you, pushing it back to whatever its source may be. You reach the bottom of the stairs, and before you lies a great door, nearly eight feet tall and made of polished whitewood with a picture of some great lord sitting on his throne embossed into it. Above the doorway the words "Death Is Another Beginning" are proudly displayed in great, flowing characters. Despite the rather creepy motto of the Varovich family, you press on, moving toward the doorway when suddenly the wooden portrait of the man on the throne moves and faces you directly. "You are not a Varovich!" He shouts in a booming voice, "What business do you have in this place? Your answer had better be good..."

(( Go for it...

*Tosses the lantern at it.* ;>.> ))

Jumping back startled by the sudden voice coming from the darkness. "Hu-! Wha-!?!" He looked about and the lantern shifted from side to side as he looked around the room. For a moment, there was nothing that Varnis was able to say. He tired to speak, but nothing came out for the next few seconds as he gathered his thoughts. "Uh..." He stepped back some, never being that great with diplomatic situations, he was more of the guy that had some one point at something, and he'd go and kill it (or get killed by it.). "I am Varnis and..." Raising the lantern, he tried to get a better look at 'who' was talking to him. "we where asked to come here about... 'odd' things that was happening here." Varnis looked back to the two with a 'You can join in at any time.' look on his face.