At dawn, we were allowed back into the tavern.  We had breakfast and spent some brain cells trying to figure out the money system.  Eventually, Zolton just spent two gold for everyone’s meal although Lord Q insisted on paying for his own.  We consulted the Message of the Day and tried to figure out what to do next.  It was clear we wanted to go to the next town but the debate was whether to try to do some good here first.  Then the son of the local lord came in, to thanks us for destroying the monster the night before.  Eventually, we agreed to look into the disappearances, starting at the house of the last one.  Evidently, the people that have gone missing were the old or weak who lived alone.  No clues were found in the house other than no signs of forced entry followed by a struggle.  We then questioned some of the neighbors.  (Dan: It was like watching the 3 stooges interrogate a nun.  We were investigating the missing old man but the party started to question her about every crime in the city and even accused her of kidnapping the children.  Yes, the ones wh we already dealt with their kidnapper last game.  We ended up having the door slammed in our face after Zolton asked her how such an old lady could possibly have a newborn.  I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.)  At this point, we got tangled up in the various plot thread and the names of the participants in particular.  It was not smooth and I won’t try to summarize it two days later.  (Dan: People kept bringing up the missing children.  Brian and I kept reminding them that we had found and killed the creature taking the children last game.  It was weird.  There was only one thing left to do in the town, aside from figuring out why everyone is turning into zombie, but we spent a ridiculous amount of time arguing about what to do.  We have clue how to find out why the zombies are happening so so there was literally only one thing to do.  Usually, we mock Brian about leaving no clues on what to do next but this was all the player's fault.)  Ambrus had an underlying suspicion of the town priest and the church.  Any church in such disrepair and little use was suspect, in his mind.  When the dream pastry lady said she saw someone dragging a body-sized bag in the direction of the church the night of the last disappearance, we decided to go there and at least ask some questions.  By the way, evidently, these dream pastries have a “secret ingredient” that she makes outside of town at the mill.  Now no one is certain about anything we eat.  (Dan: Yeah, that was me.  I think it probably contains human remains ground up into the pasties.  Borovia is just like that.  Considering she lives in the Mill that is located three days away, yet commutes here every day?  Yeah, she's evil.  Good thing my character isn't human or I might feel bad.  Gulp, chew, chew, swallow!)

So Ambrus had gotten a blanket that belongs to the missing girl from her mother.  He was hoping that Lancelot could identify one of the recent graves behind the church as being hers.  Despite the fact that we’re pretty sure she ended up at Durst Manor where we picked up the dog.  So, he and Loki and Kaladin would go there.  Meanwhile, Zolton would distract the priest with questions about the book he had borrowed.  Kharn and Lord Q would go with him.  However, when they entered the church, they could hear moans from one of the rooms.  “Please father.  I’m so hungry.”  So, while Zolton talked, the other two started opening doors.  They did not do too well with the stealth rolls but Zolton managed to cover for them for a round or two.  They found a barred and locked trap door in one room and the moans were coming from there.  At this point, the priest noticed and became upset.  Kharn’s logical argument about hearing the moans and wanting to help worked pretty well.  Then Lord Q used his majordomo to announce his greatness which had the effect of a Friends cantrip.  He began to confide in Lord Q.  Evidently a wizard came to town and gathered up the revolutionary-minded for a meeting in the woods.  Only his son returned but he was “afflicted”.  His hunger could only be sated by the “living”.  Lord Q promised that we could help which the priest took to mean we’d feed one of our friends, preferable the big barbarian, to his son.  They headed into the basement.  Kharn would not go before the priest and the priest would not go before Lord Q so he led the way.  Zolton ran to the back door to alert the other 3 who had been forgotten at the airport.

Lord Q was attacked as he walked down the stairs.  The vampire got a free grab with his bite attack plus the not so insignificant damage.  Plus, a claw attack.  Lord Q was hurting pretty quick.  Kharn tried to get down to help but despite his rage strength, had trouble getting past the priest.  Lord Q tried to get away but he had a low STR and DEX so it was tough.  He did manage to roll well once but then the attack of opportunity hit and he was automatically grappled again.  The priest cast a couple of spells and Lord Q managed to stay alive long enough for Kharn and then Zolton to get down there.  After a few rounds, the other 3 were allowed a perception roll and moved down on their initiative.  As usual, Lord Q was in favor of fleeing.  This time, one could hardly blame him from the damage he had taken.  But when others attacked, he charged as well.  Only his magic warlock weapon (and not the silver weapons) was doing full damage.  The priest went out pretty quickly and then it was 6 against one.  The damage was spread amongst the heroes and only Kaladin was knocked out. (Dan:  Seems to be a monk thing.  For a melee class they sure go down a lot.) Ambrus made the killing blow with a sneak attack, removing its head.  (Dan:  The priest incidentally died.  I think I blinked because I had missed this since I was out watching the dog pee on graves during most of the fight.)

The head was burned in the furnace upstairs.  Bodies were found in the basement but no hard evidence to tie them with those missing.  Although we were new in town so that was a tough ask.  Nothing of value was found although Zolton took a couple more books.  The vampire and the priest were buried.  The latest body was exhumed and sort of sounded like the old man who had gone missing.  Lancelot identified no graves but peed on a few.  There was some debate as to what to do.  Just walk away or report to the guy that hired us.  Since that guys sounded “anti-vampire” we decided to report to him although there are some concerns that word would get back to Strahd.  At that point it was late so we decided to put off that conversation until next time.  As a cliff hanger, we knocked on the manor door, and the lady guard who answered looked very much like Kharn. (Dan:  Brian said that but none of us were buying it)  No treasure or wealth and still 3^rd for now.