"People turning into Ravens? Ridiculous. Thpas said that the 'footprints remained' just that she disappeared. It's easier to believe that Thpas just lost track of her footsteps." Then with a chuckle, "People turning into ravens - next thing you'll tell me is that there's a giant creature living beneath the crust of the earth that's impervious to Magic ready to wreak havoc on all the lands - or - or that we're in some strange alternate plane of existence."
After a hearty laugh, Valanthe recomposes herself and to Rictavio says, "Pardon the interruption. Please, continue."
"Valanthe, I know what I saw. But since you mentioned it, Byllemura, I was harassed by a Raven almost as soon as I walked out the door. I do think the Ravens might be some sort of pets. They are well behaved, and seem a bit intelligent."
"I'm not doubting what you saw - just Byllemura's conclusions - I mean it's a bit of a stretch to go from barkeeper to raven." After a moment, Valanthe continues, "I wonder if that raven I was singing to that you all chased off is out there."
Valanthe subconsciously starts whistling the same tune she had with the raven the day before. She seems lost in 'thought.'
"Actually...I think you might be on to something, Val," says Emre, keeping her voice down. She moves to a space where just the party can hear her and asks them to follow. "I've heard tales of werewolves before, and how it was easy to tell a werewolf because of the way its eyes would glow red in certain light. What if the ravens we saw are like that...wereravens? I've never heard of such a thing, but Rictavio's earlier tale made me think of it."
"Byllemura, I think you may be onto something, truly. You may not know this, but I happen to know but Sylciss has the ability to shape change, into a raven no less. This place has a lot of evil majiks." He smiles. "Now, what's that I heard about a wererabbit?"
"What brings you to Barovia? Do you have a history here?" He asks.
Coming out of her reverie, Valanthe addresses Rictavio, "Sorry about that - No, we have no history here... yet. But I'm starting to think we were brought here to do a great many things. It seems that this...," then in a hushed whisper to Rictavio, "...devil Strahd..." and back in her normal voice, "... is quite the trouble maker. I have a feeling that our destinies are now entwined with him. At the very least, it seems that we see him everywhere now."
"Your son - how'd he come to be to this shadowy land? It seems an odd choice for the son of a colorful fellow such as yourself. My condolences, again."
"And if you could be so kind as to address the lovely Byllemura's question.... seems that lycanthorpy is the topic of the night. Although, really - I imagine it's all very imaginary like your wererabbit."
"What brings you to Barovia? Do you have a history here?" He asks.
"We're getting there," Emre says, grimacing. "Have you noticed all the ravens around? With glowing red eyes? We're not sure what to make of them."
"Ah yes! The ravens!" Rictavio chuckles, "They are quite peculiar creatures. I can't quite make them out! It seems they have their own little world."
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Devious serpent folk devoid of compassion, yuan-ti manipulate other creatures by arousing their doubts, evoking their fears, and elevating and crushing their hopes. From remote temples in jungles, swamps, and deserts, the yuan-ti plot to supplant and dominate all other races and to make themselves gods.
After a hearty laugh, Valanthe recomposes herself and to Rictavio says, "Pardon the interruption. Please, continue."
"Actually," says Rictavio, his voice suddenly becoming quieter and more serious, "We're all trapped in an alternate dimension. The valley of Barovia is its own world. A world where nightmares become reality. A world where even the dead aren't at rest and nothing is right. In Barovia, humanity struggles to survive. Those who do not succumb to the twisted magic of this world will eventually come to madness. Madness is changing this world. As well as its people. There are tales of men and women who can change their shape at will. The three communities of Barovia: the Barovia Village, Vallaki, and Krezk all are slowly being warped by Strahd. All are slowly losing hope. And when they do, there will be no chance of escaping Barovia. My son was captured by the Vistani and taken to Strahd. Strahd killed my son!!!" Rictavio stands up and storms up the stairs onto the second floor balcony, opens a door, slamming it behind him.
"May I help you?" says a man with a black beard (see the image on the previous page), coming to your table, "I'm the innkeeper. You look like newcomers. Are you staying here for the night?"
Note: The woman who "disappeared" was the same woman at the bar with the raven feathers in her hair (see the image on the previous page).
Devious serpent folk devoid of compassion, yuan-ti manipulate other creatures by arousing their doubts, evoking their fears, and elevating and crushing their hopes. From remote temples in jungles, swamps, and deserts, the yuan-ti plot to supplant and dominate all other races and to make themselves gods.
"Ah...yes, I suppose we will be staying for the night," says Emre, a bit bemused at what just occurred with Rictavio. "Cozy place you have here. Do you get many visitors from out of town?"
"No. None in fact. Except for that 'alf-elf Ractavio."
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Devious serpent folk devoid of compassion, yuan-ti manipulate other creatures by arousing their doubts, evoking their fears, and elevating and crushing their hopes. From remote temples in jungles, swamps, and deserts, the yuan-ti plot to supplant and dominate all other races and to make themselves gods.
"Ah...yes, I suppose we will be staying for the night," says Emre, a bit bemused at what just occurred with Rictavio. "Cozy place you have here. Do you get many visitors from out of town?"
// Do the two kids have black hair, too? //
Yes. I have a picture of the Innkeeper and his family on the previous page.
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Devious serpent folk devoid of compassion, yuan-ti manipulate other creatures by arousing their doubts, evoking their fears, and elevating and crushing their hopes. From remote temples in jungles, swamps, and deserts, the yuan-ti plot to supplant and dominate all other races and to make themselves gods.
Byllemura, dumbstruck for a moment, turns to the others and whispers "Rictavio's answer was... intense, to say the least. Well, to be fair he did lose his son but why come here? Does he realize the murderer is such a powerful being?"
Louder, she continues: "Emre is right. We need a room and a good night's rest. Too many things to process after a long day of travel."
"This card tells of a powerful force for good and protection, a holy symbol of great hope. I see a garden dusted with snow, watched over by a scarecrow with a sackcloth grin. Look not to the garden but to the guardian."
"This card is a card of power and strength. It tells of a weapon of vengeance. A sword of sunlight. The treasure lies in a dragon's house, in hands once clean and now corrupted."
"This card sheds light on the one who will help you greatly in the battle against darkness. Search for a troubled boy surrounded by wealth and madness. His home is his prison."
To the innkeeper, Valanthe asks, "Actually, seeing as you own this lovely place, I take it you are pretty familiar with the surrounding areas. Perhaps you could assist us with some local lore."
"I feel like ravens and scarecrows go hand in hand and with all the ravens about - have you any idea if any of the local gardens or farms still use scarecrows in their fields? I have a weird fascination with them."
"Was Barovia ever plagued by dragons? I heard stories that might be the case? Do you happen to know where they settled - where there were dragons there's usually magic and danger - both of which interest me."
"We might be in your lands for a while and don't want to step on the wrong toes. Do you know who the area's nobles and wealthy are? We wouldn't want to run a foul of them by mistake."
// We can break this out as a convo if you want DL - just figured I'd write the three questions I wanted to ask. //
The innkeeper looks bewildered at Valanthe's questions, "Scarecrows? I would avoid scarecrows if I were you. There is a witch who lives in the ruins of an old town a few miles south of here who performs odd enchantments on the scarecrows. No dragon has ever set foot (or claw, perhaps) in Barovia that I know of. But centuries ago, there were some knights who called themselves the Order of the Silver Dragon. There is an old ruined mansion that used to be the Order's headquarters. But its no more than an insecure mass of rubble."
Then, after hearing Valanthe's third question, the innkeeper whispers, "Now that question I can answer. There is the burgomaster, first of all, who lives with his wife, Lydia, and his son, Victor. The burgomaster is a madman and a tyrant. He believes that he can save Vallaki from Strahd by making everyone happy. He thus concludes that he must invent festivals and holidays every week. We just had the "Wolf's Head Jamboree", hence all the wolf heads around here. In three days, he's made up a holiday called the "Festival of the Blazing Sun". If anyone makes fun of his festivals or hurts his ego, he will accuse them of being servants of Strahd and punish them in humiliating ways. But the next most wealthy person in Vallaki is Lady Fiona Wachter. I'd stay away from her if I were her. She's one of the most influential and respected people in Vallaki. Even the burgomaster is afraid of her. She is famous for saying this sentence as I quote: "I'd rather serve the devil than a madman."
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Devious serpent folk devoid of compassion, yuan-ti manipulate other creatures by arousing their doubts, evoking their fears, and elevating and crushing their hopes. From remote temples in jungles, swamps, and deserts, the yuan-ti plot to supplant and dominate all other races and to make themselves gods.
"I am Urwin Martikov. My family owns Barovia's only winery." says the innkeeper.
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Devious serpent folk devoid of compassion, yuan-ti manipulate other creatures by arousing their doubts, evoking their fears, and elevating and crushing their hopes. From remote temples in jungles, swamps, and deserts, the yuan-ti plot to supplant and dominate all other races and to make themselves gods.
"People turning into Ravens? Ridiculous. Thpas said that the 'footprints remained' just that she disappeared. It's easier to believe that Thpas just lost track of her footsteps." Then with a chuckle, "People turning into ravens - next thing you'll tell me is that there's a giant creature living beneath the crust of the earth that's impervious to Magic ready to wreak havoc on all the lands - or - or that we're in some strange alternate plane of existence."
After a hearty laugh, Valanthe recomposes herself and to Rictavio says, "Pardon the interruption. Please, continue."
Storm King's Thunder - Ink, Elven Bladesinging Wizard
Core City: APbPA - Ormond, Human Twilight Cleric
The Inferno - BG:Dia - DM
They keep me rollin'
"Valanthe, I know what I saw. But since you mentioned it, Byllemura, I was harassed by a Raven almost as soon as I walked out the door. I do think the Ravens might be some sort of pets. They are well behaved, and seem a bit intelligent."
"I'm not doubting what you saw - just Byllemura's conclusions - I mean it's a bit of a stretch to go from barkeeper to raven." After a moment, Valanthe continues, "I wonder if that raven I was singing to that you all chased off is out there."
Valanthe subconsciously starts whistling the same tune she had with the raven the day before. She seems lost in 'thought.'
Storm King's Thunder - Ink, Elven Bladesinging Wizard
Core City: APbPA - Ormond, Human Twilight Cleric
The Inferno - BG:Dia - DM
They keep me rollin'
"Actually...I think you might be on to something, Val," says Emre, keeping her voice down. She moves to a space where just the party can hear her and asks them to follow. "I've heard tales of werewolves before, and how it was easy to tell a werewolf because of the way its eyes would glow red in certain light. What if the ravens we saw are like that...wereravens? I've never heard of such a thing, but Rictavio's earlier tale made me think of it."
DM - Storm King's Thunder PbP | Yet Another Storm King's Thunder PbP
Current: Eogard Duramastar, Human Twilight Cleric/Star Druid | Eiren Lathrana, Shadar-Kai Eldritch Knight/Bladesinger | Arugula, Rabbitfolk Armorer
Survivor: CrispyDM's Saltmarsh as Syltra | SarcasticFury's Strahd as Hadrian Frozenspark | Forge of Fury as The DM
"Byllemura, I think you may be onto something, truly. You may not know this, but I happen to know but Sylciss has the ability to shape change, into a raven no less. This place has a lot of evil majiks." He smiles. "Now, what's that I heard about a wererabbit?"
Storm King's Thunder - Ink, Elven Bladesinging Wizard
Core City: APbPA - Ormond, Human Twilight Cleric
The Inferno - BG:Dia - DM
They keep me rollin'
Devious serpent folk devoid of compassion, yuan-ti manipulate other creatures by arousing their doubts, evoking their fears, and elevating and crushing their hopes. From remote temples in jungles, swamps, and deserts, the yuan-ti plot to supplant and dominate all other races and to make themselves gods.
Devious serpent folk devoid of compassion, yuan-ti manipulate other creatures by arousing their doubts, evoking their fears, and elevating and crushing their hopes. From remote temples in jungles, swamps, and deserts, the yuan-ti plot to supplant and dominate all other races and to make themselves gods.
"Ah...yes, I suppose we will be staying for the night," says Emre, a bit bemused at what just occurred with Rictavio. "Cozy place you have here. Do you get many visitors from out of town?"
// Do the two kids have black hair, too? //
DM - Storm King's Thunder PbP | Yet Another Storm King's Thunder PbP
Current: Eogard Duramastar, Human Twilight Cleric/Star Druid | Eiren Lathrana, Shadar-Kai Eldritch Knight/Bladesinger | Arugula, Rabbitfolk Armorer
Survivor: CrispyDM's Saltmarsh as Syltra | SarcasticFury's Strahd as Hadrian Frozenspark | Forge of Fury as The DM
"No. None in fact. Except for that 'alf-elf Ractavio."
Devious serpent folk devoid of compassion, yuan-ti manipulate other creatures by arousing their doubts, evoking their fears, and elevating and crushing their hopes. From remote temples in jungles, swamps, and deserts, the yuan-ti plot to supplant and dominate all other races and to make themselves gods.
Devious serpent folk devoid of compassion, yuan-ti manipulate other creatures by arousing their doubts, evoking their fears, and elevating and crushing their hopes. From remote temples in jungles, swamps, and deserts, the yuan-ti plot to supplant and dominate all other races and to make themselves gods.
Byllemura, dumbstruck for a moment, turns to the others and whispers "Rictavio's answer was... intense, to say the least. Well, to be fair he did lose his son but why come here? Does he realize the murderer is such a powerful being?"
Louder, she continues: "Emre is right. We need a room and a good night's rest. Too many things to process after a long day of travel."
PbP: Curse of Strahd: In the Shadow of Ravenloft - Byllemura Ziasebek, Tiefling Sorceress (4)
Thpas follows Rictavio up the stairs.
Valanthe looks up saying, "He does that a lot doesn't he?"
Storm King's Thunder - Ink, Elven Bladesinging Wizard
Core City: APbPA - Ormond, Human Twilight Cleric
The Inferno - BG:Dia - DM
They keep me rollin'
Byllemura chuckles and tells Valanthe: "True. I like him. I wish I were more like that. I think too much."
PbP: Curse of Strahd: In the Shadow of Ravenloft - Byllemura Ziasebek, Tiefling Sorceress (4)
Storm King's Thunder - Ink, Elven Bladesinging Wizard
Core City: APbPA - Ormond, Human Twilight Cleric
The Inferno - BG:Dia - DM
They keep me rollin'
The innkeeper looks bewildered at Valanthe's questions, "Scarecrows? I would avoid scarecrows if I were you. There is a witch who lives in the ruins of an old town a few miles south of here who performs odd enchantments on the scarecrows. No dragon has ever set foot (or claw, perhaps) in Barovia that I know of. But centuries ago, there were some knights who called themselves the Order of the Silver Dragon. There is an old ruined mansion that used to be the Order's headquarters. But its no more than an insecure mass of rubble."
Then, after hearing Valanthe's third question, the innkeeper whispers, "Now that question I can answer. There is the burgomaster, first of all, who lives with his wife, Lydia, and his son, Victor. The burgomaster is a madman and a tyrant. He believes that he can save Vallaki from Strahd by making everyone happy. He thus concludes that he must invent festivals and holidays every week. We just had the "Wolf's Head Jamboree", hence all the wolf heads around here. In three days, he's made up a holiday called the "Festival of the Blazing Sun". If anyone makes fun of his festivals or hurts his ego, he will accuse them of being servants of Strahd and punish them in humiliating ways. But the next most wealthy person in Vallaki is Lady Fiona Wachter. I'd stay away from her if I were her. She's one of the most influential and respected people in Vallaki. Even the burgomaster is afraid of her. She is famous for saying this sentence as I quote: "I'd rather serve the devil than a madman."
Devious serpent folk devoid of compassion, yuan-ti manipulate other creatures by arousing their doubts, evoking their fears, and elevating and crushing their hopes. From remote temples in jungles, swamps, and deserts, the yuan-ti plot to supplant and dominate all other races and to make themselves gods.
"I'm sorry, good sir, I never got your name. I am Emre," says the cleric, putting her hand out in belated greeting.
DM - Storm King's Thunder PbP | Yet Another Storm King's Thunder PbP
Current: Eogard Duramastar, Human Twilight Cleric/Star Druid | Eiren Lathrana, Shadar-Kai Eldritch Knight/Bladesinger | Arugula, Rabbitfolk Armorer
Survivor: CrispyDM's Saltmarsh as Syltra | SarcasticFury's Strahd as Hadrian Frozenspark | Forge of Fury as The DM
"I am Urwin Martikov. My family owns Barovia's only winery." says the innkeeper.
Devious serpent folk devoid of compassion, yuan-ti manipulate other creatures by arousing their doubts, evoking their fears, and elevating and crushing their hopes. From remote temples in jungles, swamps, and deserts, the yuan-ti plot to supplant and dominate all other races and to make themselves gods.
"Nice to meet you, Urwin. I'd love to sample your wine before the evening is gone."
DM - Storm King's Thunder PbP | Yet Another Storm King's Thunder PbP
Current: Eogard Duramastar, Human Twilight Cleric/Star Druid | Eiren Lathrana, Shadar-Kai Eldritch Knight/Bladesinger | Arugula, Rabbitfolk Armorer
Survivor: CrispyDM's Saltmarsh as Syltra | SarcasticFury's Strahd as Hadrian Frozenspark | Forge of Fury as The DM