It was a all one chaotic storm to Ismark.  His heart raced at a pace that had him believing that it could burst out of his chest as his short legs carried his portly body through the misty dark streets of Barovia.  South, it was an easy enough direction to find, he knew his way blindfolded through the handful of worn cobblestone roads that crisscrossed the town.  But he almost found himself running north for a moment as the decayed denizens that awaited them outside of the Vine swarmed in on them.  One glance at the dark and foreboding shape of the castle that hovered over the town to the north had him correcting his course in an instant.<br/><br/>Beads of alcohol infused sweat beaded across his brow.  He could feel the claws of night closing in for the kill.  But fate had granted him company on this reckless venture.  Company that was far better equipped and trained with the tools of war then he was.  Plus they were far more sober then he was, though the terror of it all seemed to send a surge of adrenalin through his veins that granted him a boost of clarity and coordination that was much needed.  His bloodshot eyes found that flicker of light at Esperanza's softly spoken mention of the glow from the interior of the guest house.  For a moment his heart skipped a beat.  No one, at least not any locals besides himself would ever consider setting foot in that place unless they had absolutely no other choice.<br/><br/>Ragged breaths that led to labored heavy words ushered from his panting lips as he barreled towards the front door.  "Your guess is as good as mine."  His words exploded into a grunt as the mans heavy shoulder bore into the stout front door and rattled it.  "Key, key, where's the fucking key!"  He exclaimed as he leaned his weary weight against the face of the wooden door while his fingers fumbled in his pockets.  "Got it!"  He shouted triumphantly as his fingers produced a single rounded key of brass from a pocket of his unbuttoned vest.  His fingers pushed the key into the lock, the sound of it unclasping the bolt helped to form a sigh of relief.  And then he turned the handle.<br/><br/>"Shit and bloody fucking shit!"  Ismark cursed to the dark clouds that blanketed the moonlit skies.  "It's fucking barred, it's never barred!"  The meat of his fist banged on the door.  "Open the damn door!"  Ismark bellowed out as the sound of their pursuers that had fallen behind began to draw closer and closer to catching up with their quarry.