- A tiny devil? Oh, oh wow - he doesn't really know how to react, but looks around kind in case the creature appears out of the blue - He's bound to you, you say? That must be ... hard. And everyone can see him? - He scratches his head, thinking. The bard seems about to say something, but thinks again, and then he just adds - Well, thank's for the heads up. I'll try to not make a fool out me by jumping and screaming when it ... when he appears.
"Of course we all can see him. He is standing right next to your left shoulder... can't you see it?"says Lenn joking but trying to keep a straight face... and failing again. Lying, not even as a joke, is not his forte.
"Oh, he can become invisible," Eithne explains "but he likes more to be seen and heared - so you'll see and hear it in no time. Unable to cause serious harm, he likes to be at least mean and derisory to all. He is as usless as he is boring, that's why he's nicknamed Ichabore".
- Wait, what??? - Bran looks quickly to his left side and then he realizes Lenn is just pranking him - Holy shit, Lenn! You got me there - he says, openly laughing.
- Ichabore? Ha! You know? Insults can hurt physically, if you weave them with just a pinch of magic. Not that I'm a fan of hurting anybody, but...yeah, it's one of the spells you may see me doing if we get attacked.
"Really?" jokes Eithne, pretending excitement "If you teach Ichabore such a magic, then, he could become our ultimate weapon! Well, if we can convince him to insult the enemies instead of us that is".
"Oh well..." Eithne smiles at Lenn "we must not give up dreaming... Barovia becoming a better place... Ichabore being actually useful... The former maybe easier than the latter but, hey, shall we limit ourselves even in our dreams?"
A half-elf that Bran had not noticed previously approaches after everyone else has quieted down. He extends a hand to the newcomer. "Greetings, I'm Nikolai. Sorry for hanging back, but I'm not quite as verbose as some of my other companions. I prefer to merely observe, and then make perfectly-timed terse and witty comments." This last he says with a smile, clearly joking. "At any rate, I cannot imagine how horrible your recent situation must have been, I would have gone mad being trapped in that box. I'm glad we were able to help you."
The half-elf is dressed in bright colors, similar to other Vistani that Bran might have encountered before. He wears no armor to speak of.
- And who says I haven't? - Bran jokes while handshaking the half-elf, and contains a shiver when he remebers the fear and claustrophobia he experienced inside the coffin - Thank you, Nikolai.
The bard now notices Nikolai is dressed in a fashion similar to Vistani people and worries a little. One of the main reasons he has kept his music to his family and closest friends is because he's well aware that music and dance in Barovia belong to none other than the Vistani. He's never heard of a musician that was not one of them, except of course his late father ... and he also knew better than to make his skill public.
"Have I talked too soon about playing? But then again, nobody has said anything wrong about it ... Am I being paranoid?"
Eithne has put the package recovered from the tomb on the ground and shown everyone the contents... how much time ago? Moments? Minutes? It can't have been long, anyway... Yet, sometimes, in Barovia time seems to go by in slow motion... to the savage stranger it seems almost as if whole days had passed... if not a week! Plus she is not even sure to have realized what said content was! She takes a second look...
Chara joins Eithne by the strange package, somewhat nervously considering the last time she did some investigation Nikolai's doppleganger turned into a cloud of spores and nearly poisoned her. Even so, she can't help but feel a bit of excitement to see what she and her companions have worked so hard to retrieve.
After talking to Lenn, Bran has waited a little away while the rest takes a look at the parcel's content, not wanting to intervene in whatever it is they're up to until they trust him enough to share it. The bard rejoins them when they're finished and ready to hit the road.
Lucian peers over at the contents of the bundle as Eithne takes another look. He'd nearly forgotten about that after finding Bran buried in a coffin! So he hadn't even looked the first time Eithne showed them. "Is...that the...thing we came for?" It looked about the right size for a book...at least he thinks it does. He's seen some rather large books before...and some small ones too...but only through windows. He really hopes that its the right item. He want's to get out of here as soon as possible, finding the graveyard less and less inviting then it already was.
The package contains an old, dusty tome with a silver sigil of a wolf and eagle in combat on the front cover. There is a locking latch holding it shut.
It also contains 20 silvered bolts, two silvered daggers, and two clear bottles of what appears to be water.
All who rolled Investigation:
Searching the area, you don't find anything of note. However, as you move toward the gallows, the crow caws loudly and flies off. Glancing up at its flight, you see a body, suddenly hanging heavily from the gallows. It is your own. In a blink, it is gone again.
Chara:
You feel a presence alight on your shoulder and Ichabod's voice whispers in your ear. "I don't know what is going on. I found nothing to indicate that your new friend was brought here by normal means; no tracks at all. However, I did find this." You feel Ichabod press something fragile and a little greasy into your hand. "I'll see what I can learn of it and I'll return to tell you what I find. Be careful with the new one; there is a cloud surrounding him. Ill luck will follow." You feel Ichabod take flight again. Looking at your hand, you see what appears to be a bit of cooked pastry.
You gather your materials and the box for which you came and you begin the journey back to Vallaki. It, again, takes a couple of days but, strangely, after the eventful journey to the crossroads, nothing of particular note happens on your way back to the town. As you approach the city, you see signs indicating that the Burgermeister has declared another festival.
It is approaching dusk when you enter the town. You could return to your lodging for the night or you can go straight to Blinski's to share your success. What would you like to do?
(You are all now level 2. Also, feel free to roleplay the journey back; I just wanted to get you all to a leveling point and ready for the next mission).
"Thank you," Chara tells the imp before he flies off.
She shudders at the tiny devil's words... while the creature isn't exactly 'trustworthy,' she thinks he's being telling the truth at the moment. She regards the object that Ichabod gave her for a few moments, not quite sure what to make of it, not sure whether she should keep it to try to make sense of or simply discard the item in case there is some lingering darkness connected to it... it wouldn't make much sense for a pastry to be a harbinger of dark magic, but at this point she won't completely discard the possibility. She eventually wraps it in a cloth and puts the wrapped parcel in a bag that she makes sure to separate from the rest of her stuff.
She spends a lot of the trip back talking to Lucian. She doesn't really want to tell the others what she's found out from Ichabod right away...
Spoiler for Lucian (and the DM):
"Hey Lucian," Chara says nervously, pulling the elf aside and a bit away from the rest of the group. "When I sent Ichabod scouting around the graveyard... he found some things that have me worried. I don't really want to say anything to the others just yet because I'm not sure how they'll react... but I need to talk to someone. Ichabod told me that there were no footprints or any other signs of a physical disturbance near where we found Bran... as if something supernatural had just caused Bran to appear in the grave. But that's not all; he also said that there's a dark cloud of some kind around Bran. I'm not entirely sure what that means, and I know that fiends aren't the most trustworthy of sources... but I've never known Ichabod to outright lie to me."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
At the sight of the hanged trick again, Eithne rises an eyebrow: "So the crow was our pranking persecutor? That would expleain why I failed to notice it... Who would suspect a common bird? But still makes little sense to me; why then he pointed us out to the right tomb? Ah, maybe Blinsky or Van Ritchen will have some idea about all of this".
During the trip back the savage stranger, more confident and optimistic than she has ever been because of the first success in preparing the fall of the incredibly dangerous opponent, speaks with Bran, curious about what he effectively remembers of his life, trying with him (most likely without too much success) to make sense of what happened to him and to confort him.
Once back in Vallaki, the last of the dusk elf maidens is eager to report to Blinsky, so she goes immediately, with whoever is as eager as she is, inviting Bran with her so that Blinsky can recruit him also, as she advises to do. Anyway, she tells about the success, gives the book, but also tells in detail about the pranks, the pure idiot, the incognito doll-girl, the crow and, of course, how they found poor Bran.
- What the f....! - Bran jumps at the sight of his own hanged body, but then it dissapears in the blink of an eye. Is he imagining things? He looks at his new colleagues and they seem startled too, though not as much as himself. Eithe's reaction is even lighter, as she just tries to make sense of it like it's the most common sight ever. "These people must have seen a lot", he thinks, and this tought seems to encourage him a little, hoping that he can muster a part of the confidence and strength they seem to have as a team.
Before leaving, the bard takes one last look at the graveyard. Is he doing the right thing going to Vallaki with this group? He is, right? He'll achieve nothing by returning to Kreszk on his own and this group may present a chance for him to learn what has happened to his family. With a heavy sigh he turns back and starts walking with them towards Vallaki. Towards the unkown.
The time he spends talking to Eithne during the two-day trip helps Bran being more and more comfortable. Together, they even try to bring some light in what happened, but to no avail.
- I wish I could say something of use. But truly, nothing strange happened before ... well, waking up there - he stops and thinks for a while, before continuing - Elia did seem a little off lately, but nothing too weird. I guess she was just a little tired. Taking care of a small child tends to cause that. Kids have so much energy! - he shows a bright smile when he says that, but the smile quickly fades - Anyway, we've talked a lot about my family and I realize I haven't taken an interest in yours. My apologies. Where are you from, Eithne? Do you have a family waiting for you to return?
Later, when the group is resting around a small fire, the bard says rather shyly:
- I did promise Eithne some music. Would you guys like alittle song before resting? I apologize in advance, as I don't usually play for people outside my family, so I may get a little nervous ... but... let's see...
Bran takes his lute and, after playing some random chords to tune it, starts singing softly:
"I set my sail Fly, the wind it will take me Back to my home, sweet home Lie on my back Clouds are makin' way for me I'm comin' home, sweet home I see Your star You left it burnin' for me Mother, I'm here Eyes open wide Feel your heart and it's glowin' I'm welcome home, sweet home I take your hand Now you'll never be lonely Not when I'm home, sweet home I see Your star You left it burnin' for me Mother, I'm here"
This is what Bran sings:
"Mother, I'm here (Zulf's Theme)" by Darren Korb. From "Bastion"
... Anyway, we've talked a lot about my family and I realize I haven't taken an interest in yours. My apologies. Where are you from, Eithne? Do you have a family waiting for you to return?...
"Oh, my people dwelled near Vallaki, but sadly, no, can't return back to them... if someone still lives, that is. You know, the actual Barovia is full of sad or gruesome stories - and that of my people should range pretty high among them" Eithne tries to tell as much as she can... but, as much as she trusts Bran, she does not want to reveal her greatest secret already. "Anyway, it's kind of they are always with me..."
The voices in her head are pleased: 'Oh, Eithne, you appreciate us finally!'
'We will always be with you...'
'Oh, Eithne, dear...'
'I did not say I was appreciating!'the last of the dusk elf maidens points out, in her mind.
"Listen, Bran," she takes his hands in hers, looking at him with her azure eyes "I fear we both have experienced something unnatural and very evil. I also a have a hole in my memory. Even worse thsn you. The last thing I remember clearly, is opening my eyes in a field. There was nobody with me. No idea how I got here. I had pigeon shit on my head! And for sure I should remember if I ever allowed a pigeon (more likely many, truth to be told) to... to do that! I heared... heared the voices of my people. In my head. And, with time, I found out that a lot of time was passed, yesrs and years and years... Nothing was the same anymore. I... oh, Bran, I just hope for you is NOT the same!"
"Anyway," she sighs, resolute "this kind of thing will stop happening, sooner or later. You'll see. I'll have you to speak with those who sent us. Thinks can be better, in Barovia. And better they will be!"
- I'm ... gods... I'm sorry. You did mention earlier that you'd suffered some bad experiences, but I didn't begin to imagine the extent of it - he places a hand on her shoulder - It's impossible to overlook the similarities between us. And I wonder ... I wonder... what kind of evil must haunt anyone capable of doing such things. Gods, could our cases be related somehow? And what could have we possibly done to deserve such a punishment?
He shakes his head frustrated, knowing that none of them have answers for these questions.
- I at least woke up to find friendly faces and it pains me to think what you must have suffered being alone when it happened ... and that you woke hearing voices. I'm truly glad that at least you found these friends. Those voices, are they ... the reason you have trouble sleeping?
"So she has some kind of unwanted companions, too... could it be that Eithne and me are so similar?", he wonders, but tries to change this line of tought quickly, as he hasn't heard nor seen his own "companion" for a while now. And Bran very much prefers it that way.
He smiles when the savage woman shows her optimism once more.
- You really amaze me, Eithne. To think that you have turned all those events into a font of strenght and optimism... it's truly inspiring. A better Barovia, huh? I will try my best to contribute to that dream. So that things like these don't happen to anyone anymore.
He seems a little more optimistic on the outside, but on the inside, he is deeply troubled. "A lot of time was passed, years and years and years [...]Nothing was the same anymore...". These words resonated in his mind. For him, it had only been yesterday when he had last seen with his family. Could it have been otherwise? Would it be possible to return to the life he once knew?
DM, I'm guessing there no way Bran knows how much time has passed (a day? a week?), right?
- I at least woke up to find friendly faces and it pains me to think what you must have suffered being alone when it happened ... and that you woke hearing voices. I'm truly glad that at least you found these friends. Those voices, are they ... the reason you have trouble sleeping?
...
- You really amaze me, Eithne. To think that you have turned all those events into a font of strenght and optimism... it's truly inspiring. A better Barovia, huh? I will try my best to contribute to that dream. So that things like these don't happen to anyone anymore.
...
"Oh yes, it was actually hard at first. Realizing that I no longer had not only my loved ones... nor even the memory of all the happenings... and worse still that I was not even in my time anymore! It was as if I really everything was taken from me, as if I had been reduced to a wreck, to an abandoned refuse, spared not out of pity, but out of lack of importance" recalls Eithne. "The voices, though... Intrusive and annoying as they are..."
'Thanks Eithne!' comments one of the voices sourly, in the mind of the last of the dusk elf maidens 'Always grateful to us, right?' 'And we also insist on being with her...' 'You don't make us look good in front of the handsome young man! Without us, in the beginning, you…' '...Yes, damn it, yes!' admits the savage stranger 'I was getting there!'
After a moment's pause and a brief grimace, Eithne continues: "...Intrusive and annoying as they are, they are not the reason I get few sleep. This is not even a real problem; it is not that I don't get to sleep... I simply do not get sleepy anymore. I can keep watch all night and the next day I do not even feel tired. It must have something to do with what happened to me. The voices, on the other hand, I have to admit, they saved me. Through them, at least, I knew that what had happened was terrible, but real, not a nightmare... so I had to act accordingly, if I wanted to stay alive. Speaking of staying alive, sometimes their knowledge can come in handy, they can share glimpses of it with me".
'Thank you! Now we are talking!' 'Glimpses! Really! With everything we always teach you! It's you who only listen when you feel like it!' 'Come on, leave her alone, now that she's speaking well of us!'
"Also, as I've discovered in moments of extreme danger, if the voices all feel the same emotion together… that emotion becomes very powerful in me" explains the savage stranger. "You know, it's very important to them that I stay alive... They... they need me to do something for them. So, when I'm faced with some particularly dangerous threat, I feel their fury and rage building up in me... I feel it gives me strength... not only inner,also physical! there is probably also some external manifestation - when this happens to me, it almost seems to me that I become physically more imposing, that my clothes are suddenly tight on me! Thank goodness" the last of the dusk elf maidens finds the strength to joke "that at least they don't get ripped off! Can you imagine how embarrassing, else? This phenomenon has already helped me to survive the encounter with various wild animals, in the period when I was alone".
"So I managed to survive up to meeting these friends that now you know too..." Eithne smiles "Moreover now I also have Juhowly..." she caresses the wolf cub, who followed the conversation nibbling her boots for fun "...and you!" she concludes, widening her smile even more "It's because I know how lucky I was to manage to survive almost by myself..."
'Happy with the 'almost'?' thinks for a moment the savage stranger, ideally addressed to the voices. 'We didn't ask for anything!' 'We never want to be intrusive!' 'But thank you for recognizing our contribution, anyway!'
"...that I've been wanting so much for you to join us! Although I hope your case is less desperate than mine, you joining us should make everything... a little less complicated! Not to mention that..." concludes the last of the dusk elf maidens "already the dream of a better Barovia is not one that everyone is actually capable of dreaming. If, in addition to dreaming it, you will also show yourself willing to... act to contribute to realize it, then to have found you is truly a blessing!"
'Only for that, Eithne, is finding him a blessing?' one of the voices asks mischievously. 'What ideas are you getting?!' the savage stranger mentally retorts 'He's married! And with children to boot!' 'Eithne, you know very well that...' 'I don't 'know' a damn thing!' thinks the last of the dusk elf maidens, annoyed 'Bran is a very good person who already didn't deserve what happened to him! I'm the first to hope that in reality there are no more bad news for him, that his family is at his house waiting for him with open arms!' 'We are in your head, Eithne...' several of the voices sigh 'You think we don't know how much faith you really have in this hypothesis?'
- A tiny devil? Oh, oh wow - he doesn't really know how to react, but looks around kind in case the creature appears out of the blue - He's bound to you, you say? That must be ... hard. And everyone can see him? - He scratches his head, thinking. The bard seems about to say something, but thinks again, and then he just adds - Well, thank's for the heads up. I'll try to not make a fool out me by jumping and screaming when it ... when he appears.
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
"Of course we all can see him. He is standing right next to your left shoulder... can't you see it?" says Lenn joking but trying to keep a straight face... and failing again. Lying, not even as a joke, is not his forte.
PbP Character: A few ;)
"Oh, he can become invisible," Eithne explains "but he likes more to be seen and heared - so you'll see and hear it in no time. Unable to cause serious harm, he likes to be at least mean and derisory to all. He is as usless as he is boring, that's why he's nicknamed Ichabore".
- Wait, what??? - Bran looks quickly to his left side and then he realizes Lenn is just pranking him - Holy shit, Lenn! You got me there - he says, openly laughing.
- Ichabore? Ha! You know? Insults can hurt physically, if you weave them with just a pinch of magic. Not that I'm a fan of hurting anybody, but...yeah, it's one of the spells you may see me doing if we get attacked.
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
"Really?" jokes Eithne, pretending excitement "If you teach Ichabore such a magic, then, he could become our ultimate weapon! Well, if we can convince him to insult the enemies instead of us that is".
"Can you imagine? Ichabore being actually useful? Gods forbid! We wouldn't hear the end of it!"
PbP Character: A few ;)
"Oh well..." Eithne smiles at Lenn "we must not give up dreaming... Barovia becoming a better place... Ichabore being actually useful... The former maybe easier than the latter but, hey, shall we limit ourselves even in our dreams?"
A half-elf that Bran had not noticed previously approaches after everyone else has quieted down. He extends a hand to the newcomer. "Greetings, I'm Nikolai. Sorry for hanging back, but I'm not quite as verbose as some of my other companions. I prefer to merely observe, and then make perfectly-timed terse and witty comments." This last he says with a smile, clearly joking. "At any rate, I cannot imagine how horrible your recent situation must have been, I would have gone mad being trapped in that box. I'm glad we were able to help you."
The half-elf is dressed in bright colors, similar to other Vistani that Bran might have encountered before. He wears no armor to speak of.
- And who says I haven't? - Bran jokes while handshaking the half-elf, and contains a shiver when he remebers the fear and claustrophobia he experienced inside the coffin - Thank you, Nikolai.
The bard now notices Nikolai is dressed in a fashion similar to Vistani people and worries a little. One of the main reasons he has kept his music to his family and closest friends is because he's well aware that music and dance in Barovia belong to none other than the Vistani. He's never heard of a musician that was not one of them, except of course his late father ... and he also knew better than to make his skill public.
"Have I talked too soon about playing? But then again, nobody has said anything wrong about it ... Am I being paranoid?"
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
Eithne has put the package recovered from the tomb on the ground and shown everyone the contents... how much time ago? Moments? Minutes? It can't have been long, anyway... Yet, sometimes, in Barovia time seems to go by in slow motion... to the savage stranger it seems almost as if whole days had passed... if not a week! Plus she is not even sure to have realized what said content was! She takes a second look...
Chara joins Eithne by the strange package, somewhat nervously considering the last time she did some investigation Nikolai's doppleganger turned into a cloud of spores and nearly poisoned her. Even so, she can't help but feel a bit of excitement to see what she and her companions have worked so hard to retrieve.
Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
Provide feedback!
After talking to Lenn, Bran has waited a little away while the rest takes a look at the parcel's content, not wanting to intervene in whatever it is they're up to until they trust him enough to share it. The bard rejoins them when they're finished and ready to hit the road.
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
Lucian peers over at the contents of the bundle as Eithne takes another look. He'd nearly forgotten about that after finding Bran buried in a coffin! So he hadn't even looked the first time Eithne showed them. "Is...that the...thing we came for?" It looked about the right size for a book...at least he thinks it does. He's seen some rather large books before...and some small ones too...but only through windows. He really hopes that its the right item. He want's to get out of here as soon as possible, finding the graveyard less and less inviting then it already was.
For those who care to look:
The package contains an old, dusty tome with a silver sigil of a wolf and eagle in combat on the front cover. There is a locking latch holding it shut.
It also contains 20 silvered bolts, two silvered daggers, and two clear bottles of what appears to be water.
All who rolled Investigation:
Searching the area, you don't find anything of note. However, as you move toward the gallows, the crow caws loudly and flies off. Glancing up at its flight, you see a body, suddenly hanging heavily from the gallows. It is your own. In a blink, it is gone again.
Chara:
You feel a presence alight on your shoulder and Ichabod's voice whispers in your ear. "I don't know what is going on. I found nothing to indicate that your new friend was brought here by normal means; no tracks at all. However, I did find this." You feel Ichabod press something fragile and a little greasy into your hand. "I'll see what I can learn of it and I'll return to tell you what I find. Be careful with the new one; there is a cloud surrounding him. Ill luck will follow." You feel Ichabod take flight again. Looking at your hand, you see what appears to be a bit of cooked pastry.
You gather your materials and the box for which you came and you begin the journey back to Vallaki. It, again, takes a couple of days but, strangely, after the eventful journey to the crossroads, nothing of particular note happens on your way back to the town. As you approach the city, you see signs indicating that the Burgermeister has declared another festival.
It is approaching dusk when you enter the town. You could return to your lodging for the night or you can go straight to Blinski's to share your success. What would you like to do?
(You are all now level 2. Also, feel free to roleplay the journey back; I just wanted to get you all to a leveling point and ready for the next mission).
Tamryn - lvl 4 Wood Elf Rogue - Circle of Light Campaign || Drusilla - lvl 1 Half-Elf Ranger - Sleeping Gods || Grrzark - lvl 1 Goblin Barbarian - Danger at Darkshelf Quarry || DM - LTG - Curse of Strahd
"Thank you," Chara tells the imp before he flies off.
She shudders at the tiny devil's words... while the creature isn't exactly 'trustworthy,' she thinks he's being telling the truth at the moment. She regards the object that Ichabod gave her for a few moments, not quite sure what to make of it, not sure whether she should keep it to try to make sense of or simply discard the item in case there is some lingering darkness connected to it... it wouldn't make much sense for a pastry to be a harbinger of dark magic, but at this point she won't completely discard the possibility. She eventually wraps it in a cloth and puts the wrapped parcel in a bag that she makes sure to separate from the rest of her stuff.
She spends a lot of the trip back talking to Lucian. She doesn't really want to tell the others what she's found out from Ichabod right away...
Spoiler for Lucian (and the DM):
"Hey Lucian," Chara says nervously, pulling the elf aside and a bit away from the rest of the group. "When I sent Ichabod scouting around the graveyard... he found some things that have me worried. I don't really want to say anything to the others just yet because I'm not sure how they'll react... but I need to talk to someone. Ichabod told me that there were no footprints or any other signs of a physical disturbance near where we found Bran... as if something supernatural had just caused Bran to appear in the grave. But that's not all; he also said that there's a dark cloud of some kind around Bran. I'm not entirely sure what that means, and I know that fiends aren't the most trustworthy of sources... but I've never known Ichabod to outright lie to me."
Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
Provide feedback!
At the sight of the hanged trick again, Eithne rises an eyebrow: "So the crow was our pranking persecutor? That would expleain why I failed to notice it... Who would suspect a common bird? But still makes little sense to me; why then he pointed us out to the right tomb? Ah, maybe Blinsky or Van Ritchen will have some idea about all of this".
During the trip back the savage stranger, more confident and optimistic than she has ever been because of the first success in preparing the fall of the incredibly dangerous opponent, speaks with Bran, curious about what he effectively remembers of his life, trying with him (most likely without too much success) to make sense of what happened to him and to confort him.
Once back in Vallaki, the last of the dusk elf maidens is eager to report to Blinsky, so she goes immediately, with whoever is as eager as she is, inviting Bran with her so that Blinsky can recruit him also, as she advises to do. Anyway, she tells about the success, gives the book, but also tells in detail about the pranks, the pure idiot, the incognito doll-girl, the crow and, of course, how they found poor Bran.
- What the f....! - Bran jumps at the sight of his own hanged body, but then it dissapears in the blink of an eye. Is he imagining things? He looks at his new colleagues and they seem startled too, though not as much as himself. Eithe's reaction is even lighter, as she just tries to make sense of it like it's the most common sight ever. "These people must have seen a lot", he thinks, and this tought seems to encourage him a little, hoping that he can muster a part of the confidence and strength they seem to have as a team.
Before leaving, the bard takes one last look at the graveyard. Is he doing the right thing going to Vallaki with this group? He is, right? He'll achieve nothing by returning to Kreszk on his own and this group may present a chance for him to learn what has happened to his family. With a heavy sigh he turns back and starts walking with them towards Vallaki. Towards the unkown.
The time he spends talking to Eithne during the two-day trip helps Bran being more and more comfortable. Together, they even try to bring some light in what happened, but to no avail.
- I wish I could say something of use. But truly, nothing strange happened before ... well, waking up there - he stops and thinks for a while, before continuing - Elia did seem a little off lately, but nothing too weird. I guess she was just a little tired. Taking care of a small child tends to cause that. Kids have so much energy! - he shows a bright smile when he says that, but the smile quickly fades - Anyway, we've talked a lot about my family and I realize I haven't taken an interest in yours. My apologies. Where are you from, Eithne? Do you have a family waiting for you to return?
Later, when the group is resting around a small fire, the bard says rather shyly:
- I did promise Eithne some music. Would you guys like a little song before resting? I apologize in advance, as I don't usually play for people outside my family, so I may get a little nervous ... but... let's see...
Bran takes his lute and, after playing some random chords to tune it, starts singing softly:
"I set my sail
Fly, the wind it will take me
Back to my home, sweet home
Lie on my back
Clouds are makin' way for me
I'm comin' home, sweet home
I see
Your star
You left it burnin' for me
Mother, I'm here
Eyes open wide
Feel your heart and it's glowin'
I'm welcome home, sweet home
I take your hand
Now you'll never be lonely
Not when I'm home, sweet home
I see
Your star
You left it burnin' for me
Mother, I'm here"
This is what Bran sings:
"Mother, I'm here (Zulf's Theme)" by Darren Korb. From "Bastion"
https://store.steampowered.com/app/107100/Bastion/
https://www.supergiantgames.com/
It is a song that reminds him - and hopefully the rest of the group - of a home they can still return to. Someday.
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
"Oh, my people dwelled near Vallaki, but sadly, no, can't return back to them... if someone still lives, that is. You know, the actual Barovia is full of sad or gruesome stories - and that of my people should range pretty high among them" Eithne tries to tell as much as she can... but, as much as she trusts Bran, she does not want to reveal her greatest secret already. "Anyway, it's kind of they are always with me..."
The voices in her head are pleased: 'Oh, Eithne, you appreciate us finally!'
'We will always be with you...'
'Oh, Eithne, dear...'
'I did not say I was appreciating!' the last of the dusk elf maidens points out, in her mind.
"Listen, Bran," she takes his hands in hers, looking at him with her azure eyes "I fear we both have experienced something unnatural and very evil. I also a have a hole in my memory. Even worse thsn you. The last thing I remember clearly, is opening my eyes in a field. There was nobody with me. No idea how I got here. I had pigeon shit on my head! And for sure I should remember if I ever allowed a pigeon (more likely many, truth to be told) to... to do that! I heared... heared the voices of my people. In my head. And, with time, I found out that a lot of time was passed, yesrs and years and years... Nothing was the same anymore. I... oh, Bran, I just hope for you is NOT the same!"
"Anyway," she sighs, resolute "this kind of thing will stop happening, sooner or later. You'll see. I'll have you to speak with those who sent us. Thinks can be better, in Barovia. And better they will be!"
Bran looks shocked.
- I'm ... gods... I'm sorry. You did mention earlier that you'd suffered some bad experiences, but I didn't begin to imagine the extent of it - he places a hand on her shoulder - It's impossible to overlook the similarities between us. And I wonder ... I wonder... what kind of evil must haunt anyone capable of doing such things. Gods, could our cases be related somehow? And what could have we possibly done to deserve such a punishment?
He shakes his head frustrated, knowing that none of them have answers for these questions.
- I at least woke up to find friendly faces and it pains me to think what you must have suffered being alone when it happened ... and that you woke hearing voices. I'm truly glad that at least you found these friends. Those voices, are they ... the reason you have trouble sleeping?
"So she has some kind of unwanted companions, too... could it be that Eithne and me are so similar?", he wonders, but tries to change this line of tought quickly, as he hasn't heard nor seen his own "companion" for a while now. And Bran very much prefers it that way.
He smiles when the savage woman shows her optimism once more.
- You really amaze me, Eithne. To think that you have turned all those events into a font of strenght and optimism... it's truly inspiring. A better Barovia, huh? I will try my best to contribute to that dream. So that things like these don't happen to anyone anymore.
He seems a little more optimistic on the outside, but on the inside, he is deeply troubled. "A lot of time was passed, years and years and years [...] Nothing was the same anymore...". These words resonated in his mind. For him, it had only been yesterday when he had last seen with his family. Could it have been otherwise? Would it be possible to return to the life he once knew?
DM, I'm guessing there no way Bran knows how much time has passed (a day? a week?), right?
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
"Oh yes, it was actually hard at first. Realizing that I no longer had not only my loved ones... nor even the memory of all the happenings... and worse still that I was not even in my time anymore! It was as if I really everything was taken from me, as if I had been reduced to a wreck, to an abandoned refuse, spared not out of pity, but out of lack of importance" recalls Eithne. "The voices, though... Intrusive and annoying as they are..."
'Thanks Eithne!' comments one of the voices sourly, in the mind of the last of the dusk elf maidens 'Always grateful to us, right?'
'And we also insist on being with her...'
'You don't make us look good in front of the handsome young man! Without us, in the beginning, you…'
'...Yes, damn it, yes!' admits the savage stranger 'I was getting there!'
After a moment's pause and a brief grimace, Eithne continues: "...Intrusive and annoying as they are, they are not the reason I get few sleep. This is not even a real problem; it is not that I don't get to sleep... I simply do not get sleepy anymore. I can keep watch all night and the next day I do not even feel tired. It must have something to do with what happened to me. The voices, on the other hand, I have to admit, they saved me. Through them, at least, I knew that what had happened was terrible, but real, not a nightmare... so I had to act accordingly, if I wanted to stay alive. Speaking of staying alive, sometimes their knowledge can come in handy, they can share glimpses of it with me".
'Thank you! Now we are talking!'
'Glimpses! Really! With everything we always teach you! It's you who only listen when you feel like it!'
'Come on, leave her alone, now that she's speaking well of us!'
"Also, as I've discovered in moments of extreme danger, if the voices all feel the same emotion together… that emotion becomes very powerful in me" explains the savage stranger. "You know, it's very important to them that I stay alive... They... they need me to do something for them. So, when I'm faced with some particularly dangerous threat, I feel their fury and rage building up in me... I feel it gives me strength... not only inner,also physical! there is probably also some external manifestation - when this happens to me, it almost seems to me that I become physically more imposing, that my clothes are suddenly tight on me! Thank goodness" the last of the dusk elf maidens finds the strength to joke "that at least they don't get ripped off! Can you imagine how embarrassing, else? This phenomenon has already helped me to survive the encounter with various wild animals, in the period when I was alone".
"So I managed to survive up to meeting these friends that now you know too..." Eithne smiles "Moreover now I also have Juhowly..." she caresses the wolf cub, who followed the conversation nibbling her boots for fun "...and you!" she concludes, widening her smile even more "It's because I know how lucky I was to manage to survive almost by myself..."
'Happy with the 'almost'?' thinks for a moment the savage stranger, ideally addressed to the voices.
'We didn't ask for anything!'
'We never want to be intrusive!'
'But thank you for recognizing our contribution, anyway!'
"...that I've been wanting so much for you to join us! Although I hope your case is less desperate than mine, you joining us should make everything... a little less complicated! Not to mention that..." concludes the last of the dusk elf maidens "already the dream of a better Barovia is not one that everyone is actually capable of dreaming. If, in addition to dreaming it, you will also show yourself willing to... act to contribute to realize it, then to have found you is truly a blessing!"
'Only for that, Eithne, is finding him a blessing?' one of the voices asks mischievously.
'What ideas are you getting?!' the savage stranger mentally retorts 'He's married! And with children to boot!'
'Eithne, you know very well that...'
'I don't 'know' a damn thing!' thinks the last of the dusk elf maidens, annoyed 'Bran is a very good person who already didn't deserve what happened to him! I'm the first to hope that in reality there are no more bad news for him, that his family is at his house waiting for him with open arms!'
'We are in your head, Eithne...' several of the voices sigh 'You think we don't know how much faith you really have in this hypothesis?'