Janek seems to note Celeste's look and stays silent, letting her deal with the child. He sits back down, picking up the oars again. He slowly nudges the boat over towards the other.
"I was kinda figurin maybe that sack would be big enough for the cuss. He looks one good stiff breeze would be enough to do him in." Gust to try and push the man, 5' in an attempt to make him fall in the water STR ST DC13.
You push the boat with a gust, and it begins to rock considerably, but the man manages to hold onto the sides and stays in the boat. He looks puzzled as to why you would have done this, shrugs, and goes back to staring at the fishing line
Surprised the cuss didn't topple into the water, Thulewyn grimace. He tries another Gust.
He starts reaching for an arrow. " Well you lot are as close to authority figures as I have seen since arriving. What say you for the man for trying to drown the kid?" Directing his comments to Ismark and Ireena
Ismark: "He's certainly not normal. Looks a bit out of it to me. Maybe he's mad. I mean, not exactly unlikely. Barovia probably has the same number of mad people as anywhere else. Not that we can go anywhere else, but I expect people are the same everywhere. My father used to say that if you checked even just a few houses, you're bound to find a person in one who's at least a little mad. Which I guess is the same as wherever you're from?
Although I remember my grandfather telling me he thought it was getting worse each generation. But then most old people complain that things used to be better; so who knows."
Surprised the cuss didn't topple into the water, Thulewyn grimace. He tries another Gust.
He starts reaching for an arrow. " Well you lot are as close to authority figures as I have seen since arriving. What say you for the man for trying to drown the kid?" Directing his comments to Ismark and Ireena
You eventually manage to rock the boat enough to make it capsize and to topple him out. He falls in the water together with his fishing rod, lures, and various empty bottles of what you guess must have been liquor. He can clearly swim but tires and is unable to get his boat uprighted without help.
"Whadda do that for?!" He shouts at you, while trying to right his boat without much success
As the other rowboat capsizes, the blonde elven maiden shakes her head. While she is still furious over the strange fisherma's total lack of empathy and moral she could not just watch the man drown. "He did that because you just nearly killed an innocent girl." She responds as Janek rows the boat closer to him. "You will face justice for the attempted murder of this girl if you cooperate and come in with us, or you can drown like the coward of a fisherman you are." She adds, glaring at the man, but hoping he would get to his senses and save his own life by coming in freely.
Intimidation: 16 Another roll if advantage for some reason: 9
"For trying to kill the girl," Janek says simply in a quiet voice."Question now is whether we just let you sink to the bottom to improve fishing or not."
Realizing he's just saying the same thing as the Elf, he shuts up.
(OOC - Changed this a bit due to Celeste posting at same time.)
As the other rowboat capsizes, the blonde elven maiden shakes her head. While she is still furious over the strange fisherma's total lack of empathy and moral she could not just watch the man drown. "He did that because you just nearly killed an innocent girl." She responds as Janek rows the boat closer to him. "You will face justice for the attempted murder of this girl if you cooperate and come in with us, or you can drown like the coward of a fisherman you are." She adds, glaring at the man, but hoping he would get to his senses and save his own life by coming in freely.
Intimidation: 16 Another roll if advantage for some reason: 9
The man seems to not be particularly concerned by your threat of consequences, but also puts up no resistance at all. "Alright. Help me out of the water then.", he says; and then swims across to try to climb into your boat.
The girl says: "We should take him to my people. I'm a Vistani, and we've made our camp just outside Vallaki. They will know what to do with him and how to punish this drunken soulless stupid %@$ of a *%&@!$"
Ireena: "Seems fair to me. I'd certainly want to punish anyone who tried to drown me in a lake!"
Ismark: "I can understand your anger, but should we not take this person to the Burgomaster of Vallaki? They no doubt know how to deal with such miscreants here, as everywhere."
Once back on the shore and united with the whole group, the girl says: "Thanks again. I really owe you. That was pretty close. I don't think I would have made it if you hadn't arrived and rowed out to save me. I really owe you one.
Tell you what: I can introduce you to our community as friends. I'm sure they'll be nice and even not scam you. Like that old 'magic potion to pass the fog' rip-off - you haven't fallen for that one already have you? You wouldn't believe how many people fall for it and profitable it is to sell herbal tea to adventures as 'magic potion'!"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Celeste would let Janek help the madman out of the water while she takes care of the child.
Back on the shore together with the others, the blonde elven maiden laughs softly as the vistani girl mentions the magic potion. "Thank you, we haven't gotten around to buying those quite yet, I think some of us..."She biriefly glances over at Janek. "...would appreciate if your people could let them travel with them back home." She says with a warm smile to Arabelle before turning more serious. "I understand you would want to take that man to your people, I really do, but the punishment your people will give him might be seen as revenge rather than true justice and when the people of Vallaki finds out your people have punished him they might seek their own revenge agains your people. I wish for you to allow us to take this man to Valliki for justice and I give you my word he will face trial where I will testify to what happened here." She says with a warm and sincere tone, hoping to have the vistani child's blessing. "But we will of course gladly visit your people as we return you to to your parents."
Persuasion: 23 + Guidance: 3 Another roll if advantage: 22
Celeste would let Janek help the madman out of the water while she takes care of the child.
Back on the shore together with the others, the blonde elven maiden laughs softly as the vistani girl mentions the magic potion. "Thank you, we haven't gotten around to buying those quite yet, I think some of us..."She biriefly glances over at Janek. "...would appreciate if your people could let them travel with them back home." She says with a warm smile to Arabelle before turning more serious.
The girl seems reluctant to answer. Slowly, she says.
"Yeeees. About that. So look, it's a secret. And we don't tell outsiders. But you saved my life; so I owe you and I'll be honest with you: it doesn't work that way.
We Vistani can come and go, and we can even bring strangers with us to into this place. But the only way to leave ... is with Strahd willingly letting you go.
Yes, I know what you're thinking: how do the Vistani get Strahd's consent to come and go? I'm only a child, so they don't tell me everything, but as far as I remember the stories, it's like this: back when he was mortal warlord, he was once grievously wounded. He was alone and would have died, but some travelling Vistani found him and tended him, and nursed him back to life. He was so grateful, that he promised that for all eternity the Vistani could travel freely within his realms and across its borders. Now, he may be an undead bloodsucking vampire, but he's nothing if not a man of his word. So we can come and go as we please - but don't believe in any potion or talisman that they'll sell you. Unless you discover your parents are both Vistani, you're stuck here. Well, unless you want to ask him I guess."
"I understand you would want to take that man to your people, I really do, but the punishment your people will give him might be seen as revenge rather than true justice and when the people of Vallaki finds out your people have punished him they might seek their own revenge agains your people. I wish for you to allow us to take this man to Valliki for justice and I give you my word he will face trial where I will testify to what happened here." She says with a warm and sincere tone, hoping to have the vistani child's blessing. "But we will of course gladly visit your people as we return you to to your parents."
Persuasion: 17 + Guidance: 1 Another roll if advantage: 17
Grumbling, and after a few more choice swearwords directed at the man, she says: "Alright. But he better be punished in Vallaki. And better not show his face around any Vistani camp again. I'll make sure to tell everyone all about what he did."
(no idea why the above is background-coloured with red. It doesn't mean anything; just a formatting issue)
Rodan puts up a hand. "Hold on, now,"he says, addressing Celeste. "You're bleedin' worried 'bout unfair treatment this bloke might get among the Vistani? Well, what if he's the great-nephew of some bigwig landowner in Vallaki, eh? Maybe he gets off with a stern warning and a slapped wrist? No. This ain't some squabble fore' we need to pass it off to some magistrate."
He turns then, looking at Thuelwyn, Janek, and the others. He levels an especially long look at Ismark. "Y'all saw it, same as me. This bloke's fair trial ended when he chucked a young girl into the drink to die, without so much as a care, and in plain sight o' us, no less. I reckon we give this bloke all th' fairness he's owed, with a fair ol' length of rope and a fair sturdy tree. No need to leave it to the vengeance o' the girls' kin or the dodgy dealings of the local bureaucracy. We've seen all we need to see. What say ya'?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM -(Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown *Red Dead Annihilation: ToA *Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
"No, that was not what I said..." Celeste responds to Rodan. "...but any Vistani justice for this man might be seen as vengeance by the people of Vallaki and this will not improve relations between them. The man shall clearly face true justice though." Explains the elven courtier.
As Rodan suggests the companions should take matters into their own hands the blonde elven maiden pales and gives the others a pleading look. "This would not be right, we would all be seen as murderers in the eyes of the law..." She says with a hint of desperation in her voice, looking at the others. "...wouldn't we? Or is this a land without law?" She adds, looking to Ireena and ismark.
Janek gives Celeste a long look as she 'lets' him rescue the man from the water. He is quite slow about it, but lifts him into the boat, nearly throwing him at the Elf. "I'll row you back to shore now," he says tersely, taking the oars and rowing the boat back with some speed.
Janek sighs as Rodan looks to him for comment. "I was already pressed into service to keep the man alive for pretty facades of justice. The Vallaki might be upset at Visitani justice. The Visitani may be upset at Vallaki justice. But clearly the goddess of this 'humble' Elf knows best." He clearly does not sound like he agrees with this last assessment.
The cheeks of the blonde elven maiden reddens with both anger and embarassment over Janek's words. He was right that she had pressed him into service of course but she thought it would be natural for him to help. "No, I don't claim my lord Milil knows best, but he has always been a shining beacon in my life. We are in this together now and I will submit to the will of the majority. I aplogize for assuming too much, it was wrong of me. but now you know what I think about justice." She says in a sincere and polite tone, then looking away out to the lake while the others decide the deranged man's fate.
Bow still drawn, "I'm not one to play judge and jury, but I think we could justify the action in this case. We could turn him into the Vallaki, see how they treat the guy. That would tell ya the type of town it is, how just or not. Could take him to Visitani, be in even better standing with them. Or we tie his hands, give him a knife, stuff him in the same sack and throw it in the river and let's the gods decide. Either way let's be done with it."
"You've made the choice Celeste," Janek says. "To Vallaki. We'll defer to you this time."
He glances at the girl. "Do you wish to see what fate he receives? Or should we just get you back to your people?"
The girl explains the layout of the town, and that her own camp is just on the other side. So it seems to make sense to go to Vallaki first, and then she can continue on (alone or with your group) to her camp just on the other side. She would like to see him being punished if he is hung on the spot, but if he is locked up would rather head back to her family who must no doubt worry about her in her absence.
(The Vistani camp near the town is indicated with the red symbol on the map)
You head away from the lakeshore with the boats, and further along the road. The Old Svalich Road meanders into a valley watched over by dark, brooding mountains to the north and south. The woods recede, revealing a sullen mountain burg surrounded by a wooden palisade. Thick fog presses up against this wall, as though looking for a way inside, hoping to catch the town aslumber.
The dirt road ends at a set of sturdy iron gates with a pair of shadowy figures standing behind them. Planted in the ground and flanking the road outside the gates are a half-dozen pikes with wolves' heads impaled on them.
The gates are closed, with two guards standing outside, looking thoroughly bored and leaning against the walls and on their spears. As they see you approach they stand up a bit straighter and neaten up their uniforms. They give you the universal look of guards across the multiverse, trying to say with their eyes: 'Don't you try anything in my town!' while clearly thinking 'but when you do, just make sure it's not during my shift!'
Janek seems to note Celeste's look and stays silent, letting her deal with the child. He sits back down, picking up the oars again. He slowly nudges the boat over towards the other.
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
13
You push the boat with a gust, and it begins to rock considerably, but the man manages to hold onto the sides and stays in the boat. He looks puzzled as to why you would have done this, shrugs, and goes back to staring at the fishing line
Surprised the cuss didn't topple into the water, Thulewyn grimace. He tries another Gust.
He starts reaching for an arrow. " Well you lot are as close to authority figures as I have seen since arriving. What say you for the man for trying to drown the kid?" Directing his comments to Ismark and Ireena
Ismark: "He's certainly not normal. Looks a bit out of it to me. Maybe he's mad. I mean, not exactly unlikely. Barovia probably has the same number of mad people as anywhere else. Not that we can go anywhere else, but I expect people are the same everywhere. My father used to say that if you checked even just a few houses, you're bound to find a person in one who's at least a little mad. Which I guess is the same as wherever you're from?
Although I remember my grandfather telling me he thought it was getting worse each generation. But then most old people complain that things used to be better; so who knows."
You eventually manage to rock the boat enough to make it capsize and to topple him out. He falls in the water together with his fishing rod, lures, and various empty bottles of what you guess must have been liquor. He can clearly swim but tires and is unable to get his boat uprighted without help.
"Whadda do that for?!" He shouts at you, while trying to right his boat without much success
As the other rowboat capsizes, the blonde elven maiden shakes her head. While she is still furious over the strange fisherma's total lack of empathy and moral she could not just watch the man drown. "He did that because you just nearly killed an innocent girl." She responds as Janek rows the boat closer to him. "You will face justice for the attempted murder of this girl if you cooperate and come in with us, or you can drown like the coward of a fisherman you are." She adds, glaring at the man, but hoping he would get to his senses and save his own life by coming in freely.
Intimidation: 16 Another roll if advantage for some reason: 9
"For trying to kill the girl," Janek says simply in a quiet voice.
"Question now is whether we just let you sink to the bottom to improve fishing or not."Realizing he's just saying the same thing as the Elf, he shuts up.
(OOC - Changed this a bit due to Celeste posting at same time.)
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
The man seems to not be particularly concerned by your threat of consequences, but also puts up no resistance at all. "Alright. Help me out of the water then.", he says; and then swims across to try to climb into your boat.
The girl says: "We should take him to my people. I'm a Vistani, and we've made our camp just outside Vallaki. They will know what to do with him and how to punish this drunken soulless stupid %@$ of a *%&@!$"
Ireena: "Seems fair to me. I'd certainly want to punish anyone who tried to drown me in a lake!"
Ismark: "I can understand your anger, but should we not take this person to the Burgomaster of Vallaki? They no doubt know how to deal with such miscreants here, as everywhere."
Once back on the shore and united with the whole group, the girl says: "Thanks again. I really owe you. That was pretty close. I don't think I would have made it if you hadn't arrived and rowed out to save me. I really owe you one.
Tell you what: I can introduce you to our community as friends. I'm sure they'll be nice and even not scam you. Like that old 'magic potion to pass the fog' rip-off - you haven't fallen for that one already have you? You wouldn't believe how many people fall for it and profitable it is to sell herbal tea to adventures as 'magic potion'!"
Celeste would let Janek help the madman out of the water while she takes care of the child.
Back on the shore together with the others, the blonde elven maiden laughs softly as the vistani girl mentions the magic potion. "Thank you, we haven't gotten around to buying those quite yet, I think some of us..." She biriefly glances over at Janek. "...would appreciate if your people could let them travel with them back home." She says with a warm smile to Arabelle before turning more serious. "I understand you would want to take that man to your people, I really do, but the punishment your people will give him might be seen as revenge rather than true justice and when the people of Vallaki finds out your people have punished him they might seek their own revenge agains your people. I wish for you to allow us to take this man to Valliki for justice and I give you my word he will face trial where I will testify to what happened here." She says with a warm and sincere tone, hoping to have the vistani child's blessing. "But we will of course gladly visit your people as we return you to to your parents."
Persuasion: 23 + Guidance: 3 Another roll if advantage: 22
The girl seems reluctant to answer. Slowly, she says.
"Yeeees. About that. So look, it's a secret. And we don't tell outsiders. But you saved my life; so I owe you and I'll be honest with you: it doesn't work that way.
We Vistani can come and go, and we can even bring strangers with us to into this place. But the only way to leave ... is with Strahd willingly letting you go.
Yes, I know what you're thinking: how do the Vistani get Strahd's consent to come and go? I'm only a child, so they don't tell me everything, but as far as I remember the stories, it's like this: back when he was mortal warlord, he was once grievously wounded. He was alone and would have died, but some travelling Vistani found him and tended him, and nursed him back to life. He was so grateful, that he promised that for all eternity the Vistani could travel freely within his realms and across its borders. Now, he may be an undead bloodsucking vampire, but he's nothing if not a man of his word. So we can come and go as we please - but don't believe in any potion or talisman that they'll sell you. Unless you discover your parents are both Vistani, you're stuck here. Well, unless you want to ask him I guess."
Grumbling, and after a few more choice swearwords directed at the man, she says: "Alright. But he better be punished in Vallaki. And better not show his face around any Vistani camp again. I'll make sure to tell everyone all about what he did."
(no idea why the above is background-coloured with red. It doesn't mean anything; just a formatting issue)
Rodan puts up a hand. "Hold on, now," he says, addressing Celeste. "You're bleedin' worried 'bout unfair treatment this bloke might get among the Vistani? Well, what if he's the great-nephew of some bigwig landowner in Vallaki, eh? Maybe he gets off with a stern warning and a slapped wrist? No. This ain't some squabble fore' we need to pass it off to some magistrate."
He turns then, looking at Thuelwyn, Janek, and the others. He levels an especially long look at Ismark. "Y'all saw it, same as me. This bloke's fair trial ended when he chucked a young girl into the drink to die, without so much as a care, and in plain sight o' us, no less. I reckon we give this bloke all th' fairness he's owed, with a fair ol' length of rope and a fair sturdy tree. No need to leave it to the vengeance o' the girls' kin or the dodgy dealings of the local bureaucracy. We've seen all we need to see. What say ya'?"
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM - (Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown * Red Dead Annihilation: ToA * Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
"No, that was not what I said..." Celeste responds to Rodan. "...but any Vistani justice for this man might be seen as vengeance by the people of Vallaki and this will not improve relations between them. The man shall clearly face true justice though." Explains the elven courtier.
As Rodan suggests the companions should take matters into their own hands the blonde elven maiden pales and gives the others a pleading look. "This would not be right, we would all be seen as murderers in the eyes of the law..." She says with a hint of desperation in her voice, looking at the others. "...wouldn't we? Or is this a land without law?" She adds, looking to Ireena and ismark.
Janek gives Celeste a long look as she 'lets' him rescue the man from the water. He is quite slow about it, but lifts him into the boat, nearly throwing him at the Elf. "I'll row you back to shore now," he says tersely, taking the oars and rowing the boat back with some speed.
Janek sighs as Rodan looks to him for comment. "I was already pressed into service to keep the man alive for pretty facades of justice. The Vallaki might be upset at Visitani justice. The Visitani may be upset at Vallaki justice. But clearly the goddess of this 'humble' Elf knows best." He clearly does not sound like he agrees with this last assessment.
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
The cheeks of the blonde elven maiden reddens with both anger and embarassment over Janek's words. He was right that she had pressed him into service of course but she thought it would be natural for him to help. "No, I don't claim my lord Milil knows best, but he has always been a shining beacon in my life. We are in this together now and I will submit to the will of the majority. I aplogize for assuming too much, it was wrong of me. but now you know what I think about justice." She says in a sincere and polite tone, then looking away out to the lake while the others decide the deranged man's fate.
Bow still drawn, "I'm not one to play judge and jury, but I think we could justify the action in this case. We could turn him into the Vallaki, see how they treat the guy. That would tell ya the type of town it is, how just or not. Could take him to Visitani, be in even better standing with them. Or we tie his hands, give him a knife, stuff him in the same sack and throw it in the river and let's the gods decide. Either way let's be done with it."
(So, what is the decision on his fate? I assume this means you're taking him to Vallaki to be brought before whatever authorities you find there?)
"You've made the choice Celeste," Janek says. "To Vallaki. We'll defer to you this time."
He glances at the girl. "Do you wish to see what fate he receives? Or should we just get you back to your people?"
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
The girl explains the layout of the town, and that her own camp is just on the other side. So it seems to make sense to go to Vallaki first, and then she can continue on (alone or with your group) to her camp just on the other side. She would like to see him being punished if he is hung on the spot, but if he is locked up would rather head back to her family who must no doubt worry about her in her absence.
(The Vistani camp near the town is indicated with the red symbol on the map)
You head away from the lakeshore with the boats, and further along the road. The Old Svalich Road meanders into a valley watched over by dark, brooding mountains to the north and south. The woods recede, revealing a sullen mountain burg surrounded by a wooden palisade. Thick fog presses up against this wall, as though looking for a way inside, hoping to catch the town aslumber.
The dirt road ends at a set of sturdy iron gates with a pair of shadowy figures standing behind them. Planted in the ground and flanking the road outside the gates are a half-dozen pikes with wolves' heads impaled on them.
The gates are closed, with two guards standing outside, looking thoroughly bored and leaning against the walls and on their spears. As they see you approach they stand up a bit straighter and neaten up their uniforms. They give you the universal look of guards across the multiverse, trying to say with their eyes: 'Don't you try anything in my town!' while clearly thinking 'but when you do, just make sure it's not during my shift!'