The heart of the Burgomeister's son sank when Andrei somberly hinted towards Elrick's demise.  The old guard was one of the few people that Ismark could recount from his earliest memories.  But it wasn't the first time that someone he had grown dear of had been stolen away by the sharp claws of Barovia.  No doubt it would not be the last.<br/><br/>Despite the flurry of conversation and activity, Ismark turned his attentions upon his bottle while the loss of Elrick sank in.  Half heartedly he listened as he stared down the barrel of his bottle.  He heard everything, but in those initial moments it all blurred together like ambient background noise to him.  Until some fool mentioned making their way to the castle.  The very thought of it left half the bottle to disappear down his gullet.  Wincing back the booze it took him half a moment to match the voice to the face of Esperenza.<br/><br/>A sorrowful sort of understanding fell over Ismark.  How  many had he known over the years to have gone to that infamous castle, never to be seen again?  He honestly couldn't recall, selective memory was another one of those Barovian habits that people just learned over time.  Much to his surprise the very notion seemed to be gathering some support!  And did that gypsy woman, Teo just offer to act as a guide?  A most dumbfounded look was slapped across the rich drunkards face.  That was followed by an outburst which saw spittle fly from his lips.<br/><br/>"Listent to the bloody lot of ya!  Are ya mad!"  He staggered up from his chair, wobbling forward with freshly intoxicated balance that was swiftly brought on by far more potent liquor then what the Vine had to offer.  A chubby finger stabbed through the air and pointed at Ireena.  "Strahd takes what he wants!  So go and give yourself, it won't stop him from taking them one bit!"  He swerved, his shoulder landing with a thud on the wall as he took a turn at tearing into Teo.  "And you, of all people, you!?  Your gonna lead em right to the gates of hell?  Pffft!"  He rolled his head with a derisive look towards Katya.  "She doesn't even know how to use a blade, look at her!"<br/><br/>Ismark's legs gave out and he slumped down to the floor, the bottle slipping from his grasp to spill its amber fluid across the wood floor.  "Well foopty-doodle , I'm in."  He muttered with a sputtered laugh as he went to rescue his bottle.<br/><br/>Through the vantage of the window overhead Bucren was able to see the gathering by the door diminishing, until only a trio of zombies remained to scratch and claw upon the entry way below.  The rest of the undead flock shambled off in seemingly random directions, disappearing into the blanket of fog that rolled across the lands.  In time the three that remained would inevitably follow suit, vanishing lazily into the fog.<br/><br/>Beyond the fading groans, the distant howls of the wolves, and the occasional peeling crack of thunder there was no sign of Xavier, or the maidens of the night to be found.  But Bucren could see the stark silhouette of the castle high above the valley looming over the land.