As Graeme exclaims, the assembled burst out in laughter. Eliza, a middle-aged woman who carries a large magpie on her shoulder and bound by the waist by a bright red sash speaks up. "But of course! A man such as he is one of the few with the touch. Defeating enemies without strain, immortality, and prevalent influence, he's the most powerful anyone here has ever seen." In a lighter tone, she inquires, "You lot aren't from here, clearly. Where's and what is next for you?"
Inside the tent, the ancient woman smiles though the deep wrinkles; her face cracked as sun-dried leather. Motioning you to sit, she continues, "Yes, I know you. I also know your acquaintances as well: Allen, Graeme, and the lost ones."She puts a gnarled and old hand on the ominously lit crystal ball at the table's center. "Threads of Fate bind us all. What say ye of destiny?" With another cackle, the crystal ball swirls with smoke and iridescent light.
Replying to Eliza "There really isn't anyone besides us who are trying to oppose Strahd?" Allen shifts a little glancing at Ireena making sure she's within site.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Felix Windfall (Human-V Lv.7 Rogue) killed in ToA,Vallan Houndstrider (Halfling Ghostwise Lv.1 Fighter) in DiA
Concentrating, the ancient woman's brow furled, she looks deeply into the orb and mutters an incantation. The multicolored magical lights scattered about flare in volume and brightness. Her eyes roll back, and she goes silent with mouth agape.
Eliza laughs, her hair bouncing lightly. "Who possibly could? Plus, it's not so bad. Life is life, just in a different flavour. Being able to come and go as w-..." Pausing mid sentence. The gypsies gathered turn their head Westward in unison with glazed over eyes.
All as one, the troupe eerily speaks in a dark and perfect harmony, "She's been waiting. It's time. Shae summons you to her domain."Standing up as a unit, they all point to the large rectangle tent at the far side of the camp. Ireena stands behind Allen and Ismark, shrinking back at the scene unfolding. Ismark looks from them to Allen, confused but takes a long pull from the wineskin.
Squinting from the lights emitting from the crystal ball, Rumble strains his eyes to see what the woman was looking at. Alas, all he saw was a confusing smog of colour.
"Well, what is it?" Rumble asks with an underlying purr of excitement
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Shae's domain?" Allen thinks to himself as he follows behind Gareme with Ireena and Ismark behind him. He will think back on to his tome and try to recall any information.
Religion: 13
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Felix Windfall (Human-V Lv.7 Rogue) killed in ToA,Vallan Houndstrider (Halfling Ghostwise Lv.1 Fighter) in DiA
Allen, you can't quite put your finger on a religious term for 'Shae', but the way it was said, it is certainly a noun with respect. Lost in thought, you follow Graeme as the four of you are escorted. Just before the tent, the assembled cordons off the tent from Ismark and Ireena. As one, the gypsies all speak as one, "Only the lost ones may enter. No harm shall come to you nor them, but you two,"pointing a collective finger their way, "are not permitted inside."
Ismark is rather put off; be it from the collective synchrony or the non-admittamce, he steps back with a firm hand on Ireena. Looking her way, "Ireena, I think it's best we stay just outside then. I-it's clear we aren't allowed in."
Ireena looks from the unified expressions, to the two adventures, and to Ismark before stepping aside. Looking back as the two enter, "We'll be here when you get out. Promise." Her eyes glitter, and she turns away while running a hand through her long hair.
Rumble, despite your question, the decrepit seer remains motionless and unresponsive as stone. Her long, gray hair loose, her eyes blank, and mouth open to reveal only a few remaining teeth. From outside, the tent flap opens, letting in light and a group's shadow. Filing inside are your two compatriots, escorted by the gypsies from the campfire. The flap closes silently, and Graeme and Allen stand just inside.
Suddenly snapping back to action, the ancient woman smiles a warped and crooked line that deepens within the magical glow inside the tent and crystal ball. "Yes, yes. Good. Now that we're all here, how about you two take a seat here so we can get started."Underneath the table's black velvet cloth, the woman retrieves a stack of oversized cards.
Her exaggerated hunched form gives her a bit of inhuman feeling as she wrings her knobbled hands together before uttering an incantation. The assorted candles and magical lights littering the inside flicker and flare. The old woman's voice but a whisper like a stick on rock. A darkness, several shades deeper than night black, exudes from her hands as she crosses her hands over and around the card deck. In a fluid, quick, motion the seer's withered digits slide from the deck's top to middle.
Sliding out five cards in clockwise fashion, one slides to the left, the top, the right, the bottom, and the middle. Opening her eyes wide, she puts her hand over the left-most one without looking. "Ah, this card speaks of history. Knowledge of the ancient ones will help you better understand your enemy." Shaking slightly, she mutters something under her breath as the lights change from a red to dark blue. The card flips over end, as if commanded to do so to reveal an intricate design of a wizard stargazing atop a high tower. "This is the Master of the Stars. Look for a wizard's tower on a lake; let His name and His servant guide you to that which you seek."
She mutters again under her breath. The magical lights about as the second card, at the top, flips end over end. This on illustrates a blood red tower that stands ever tall enough to pierce the sky. Ominously, she states, "This card tells of a powerful force for good and protection, a holy symbol of great hope. For it, go to a place of dizzying heights where the stone itself is alive!"
Repeating in kind, more muttering with a change of lighting to light yellow. This card, however, flips upside down towards her. Depicted here is a rusty set of blood-stained shackles on a floor covered in excrement and waste. As a low whisper, "The right hand is of power and of righteous vengeance: a blade of light. In order to obtain, there is a town where all is not well. There you will find a house of corruption, and within, a dark room fill of still ghosts."
The decrepit hag coughs heavily, the illuminating light seemingly shadowing an even older face than before. Taking a moment before continuing, she waves her hand over the card closest to her and her cracked lips move silently. Flipping over horizontally, the ambiance switched to a silvery light as the bottom-most card is revealed. Standing proud and strong upon this card is a black night clinging to a crimson claymore. Darkly, she tells, "This here sheds light to an ally; one who will aid you greatly in a battle against darkness. A man of death named Arrigal will forsake his Lord to serve you and your cause, but beware, his heart is long rotten and wasted away!"
Hoarse and broken, her olden voice speaks again, "As with all things, there must be an end." One final touch into the weave, the lights once again turned into a saturated crimson and the card flips thrice before landing on edge. A moment passes, and it falls towards the group. Solemnly, she withholds a breath before continuing, "Your enemy is a crate of vile evil, whose powers are beyond mortality. This card will lead you to him! He haunts the tomb of the man he envied above all."This card has a set of twin hearts with one heavily cracked and the other bright and serene.
Seemingly with the ritual over, the greyed woman slouches back in her chair with her head down.
Graeme sits with a rather blank look on his face. His mouth slightly twisted as he silently mouths indistinguishable words, his eyes searching around as if looking for meaning.
Magical illumination pools out from the tent as the group makes a silent exit. Whereas it was evening, it oddly seems much later than is appropriate. The gypsies sit amongst each other at a large, bright fire beneath a break in the clogging mists. Moonlight stares morosely at the hopefully twinkling starlight. Just outside the large tent, a clearly nervous Ireena and Ismark await. Ismark hesitates for a moment, looks down, and asks, "Well, how'd it all go?"
The friendly strangers offer drink and fresh caught fish from the nearby river while they continue carousing until the early morning hours. They are all as jolly as they seemed before escorting the group to the tent, each their own and as normal as could be. Ismark and Ireena do not venture very far from the group and keep to themselves after the group escort and their denial.
"Well we learned a few things, one there's relics and and people who can help in the fight against Strahd. Do you know of "Arrigal" and where the lake is?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Felix Windfall (Human-V Lv.7 Rogue) killed in ToA,Vallan Houndstrider (Halfling Ghostwise Lv.1 Fighter) in DiA
Ismark looks around and then nods in the direction of the group's wagon. Seemingly regretfully, he slowly pulls out a long and weathered tube. He pops open the dark brown leather top and retrieves an old parchment. Creased and torn, he unfurls the document to reveal a map of Barovia. "It cost me most of my gold to obtain this from these...,"his eyes narrowing, "Vistani folk. Gouged me on pricing, that's for certain."Spreading it out so that the group could see, he and Ireena place a few rocks on the corner to keep it open.
Ismark brushes his hair and shrugs, "Now, I've never gone very far from town, so much of this is new to me. I was taught how to govern, not how to read a map. I've also never heard of this Arrigal person, sorry to say. Nor have I heard of anyone who outwardly stands against the Devil."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
( Got a hi res version DM?)
Rumble paws over the map, inspecting it carefully, trying to point out any areas which seem to be relevant or related to the old ladies stories. Survival: 7
Rumble, there's a lot to see on a map such as this. It's older, but well crafted, the colours fading with age. Looking around and thinking deep about what was said, there are three lakes on the map where the elder mentioned a high tower on a lake.
As Graeme exclaims, the assembled burst out in laughter. Eliza, a middle-aged woman who carries a large magpie on her shoulder and bound by the waist by a bright red sash speaks up. "But of course! A man such as he is one of the few with the touch. Defeating enemies without strain, immortality, and prevalent influence, he's the most powerful anyone here has ever seen." In a lighter tone, she inquires, "You lot aren't from here, clearly. Where's and what is next for you?"
Inside the tent, the ancient woman smiles though the deep wrinkles; her face cracked as sun-dried leather. Motioning you to sit, she continues, "Yes, I know you. I also know your acquaintances as well: Allen, Graeme, and the lost ones." She puts a gnarled and old hand on the ominously lit crystal ball at the table's center. "Threads of Fate bind us all. What say ye of destiny?" With another cackle, the crystal ball swirls with smoke and iridescent light.
Rumble sits, attempting to hide his excitement. His slitted pupils widen at the glowing orb.
"CoS" Rumble- Tabaxi Shadow Monk
Replying to Eliza "There really isn't anyone besides us who are trying to oppose Strahd?" Allen shifts a little glancing at Ireena making sure she's within site.
Felix Windfall(Human-V Lv.7 Rogue) killed in ToA, Vallan Houndstrider (Halfling Ghostwise Lv.1 Fighter) in DiAConcentrating, the ancient woman's brow furled, she looks deeply into the orb and mutters an incantation. The multicolored magical lights scattered about flare in volume and brightness. Her eyes roll back, and she goes silent with mouth agape.
Eliza laughs, her hair bouncing lightly. "Who possibly could? Plus, it's not so bad. Life is life, just in a different flavour. Being able to come and go as w-..." Pausing mid sentence. The gypsies gathered turn their head Westward in unison with glazed over eyes.
All as one, the troupe eerily speaks in a dark and perfect harmony, "She's been waiting. It's time. Shae summons you to her domain." Standing up as a unit, they all point to the large rectangle tent at the far side of the camp. Ireena stands behind Allen and Ismark, shrinking back at the scene unfolding. Ismark looks from them to Allen, confused but takes a long pull from the wineskin.
Graeme turns to Allen. “Looks like we’re being invited, lad.” And walks toward the rectangle tent.
Squinting from the lights emitting from the crystal ball, Rumble strains his eyes to see what the woman was looking at. Alas, all he saw was a confusing smog of colour.
"Well, what is it?" Rumble asks with an underlying purr of excitement
"CoS" Rumble- Tabaxi Shadow Monk
"Shae's domain?" Allen thinks to himself as he follows behind Gareme with Ireena and Ismark behind him. He will think back on to his tome and try to recall any information.
Religion: 13
Felix Windfall(Human-V Lv.7 Rogue) killed in ToA, Vallan Houndstrider (Halfling Ghostwise Lv.1 Fighter) in DiAAllen, you can't quite put your finger on a religious term for 'Shae', but the way it was said, it is certainly a noun with respect. Lost in thought, you follow Graeme as the four of you are escorted. Just before the tent, the assembled cordons off the tent from Ismark and Ireena. As one, the gypsies all speak as one, "Only the lost ones may enter. No harm shall come to you nor them, but you two," pointing a collective finger their way, "are not permitted inside."
Ismark is rather put off; be it from the collective synchrony or the non-admittamce, he steps back with a firm hand on Ireena. Looking her way, "Ireena, I think it's best we stay just outside then. I-it's clear we aren't allowed in."
Ireena looks from the unified expressions, to the two adventures, and to Ismark before stepping aside. Looking back as the two enter, "We'll be here when you get out. Promise." Her eyes glitter, and she turns away while running a hand through her long hair.
Rumble, despite your question, the decrepit seer remains motionless and unresponsive as stone. Her long, gray hair loose, her eyes blank, and mouth open to reveal only a few remaining teeth. From outside, the tent flap opens, letting in light and a group's shadow. Filing inside are your two compatriots, escorted by the gypsies from the campfire. The flap closes silently, and Graeme and Allen stand just inside.
Suddenly snapping back to action, the ancient woman smiles a warped and crooked line that deepens within the magical glow inside the tent and crystal ball. "Yes, yes. Good. Now that we're all here, how about you two take a seat here so we can get started." Underneath the table's black velvet cloth, the woman retrieves a stack of oversized cards.
Her exaggerated hunched form gives her a bit of inhuman feeling as she wrings her knobbled hands together before uttering an incantation. The assorted candles and magical lights littering the inside flicker and flare. The old woman's voice but a whisper like a stick on rock. A darkness, several shades deeper than night black, exudes from her hands as she crosses her hands over and around the card deck. In a fluid, quick, motion the seer's withered digits slide from the deck's top to middle.
Sliding out five cards in clockwise fashion, one slides to the left, the top, the right, the bottom, and the middle. Opening her eyes wide, she puts her hand over the left-most one without looking. "Ah, this card speaks of history. Knowledge of the ancient ones will help you better understand your enemy." Shaking slightly, she mutters something under her breath as the lights change from a red to dark blue. The card flips over end, as if commanded to do so to reveal an intricate design of a wizard stargazing atop a high tower. "This is the Master of the Stars. Look for a wizard's tower on a lake; let His name and His servant guide you to that which you seek."
She mutters again under her breath. The magical lights about as the second card, at the top, flips end over end. This on illustrates a blood red tower that stands ever tall enough to pierce the sky. Ominously, she states, "This card tells of a powerful force for good and protection, a holy symbol of great hope. For it, go to a place of dizzying heights where the stone itself is alive!"
Repeating in kind, more muttering with a change of lighting to light yellow. This card, however, flips upside down towards her. Depicted here is a rusty set of blood-stained shackles on a floor covered in excrement and waste. As a low whisper, "The right hand is of power and of righteous vengeance: a blade of light. In order to obtain, there is a town where all is not well. There you will find a house of corruption, and within, a dark room fill of still ghosts."
The decrepit hag coughs heavily, the illuminating light seemingly shadowing an even older face than before. Taking a moment before continuing, she waves her hand over the card closest to her and her cracked lips move silently. Flipping over horizontally, the ambiance switched to a silvery light as the bottom-most card is revealed. Standing proud and strong upon this card is a black night clinging to a crimson claymore. Darkly, she tells, "This here sheds light to an ally; one who will aid you greatly in a battle against darkness. A man of death named Arrigal will forsake his Lord to serve you and your cause, but beware, his heart is long rotten and wasted away!"
Hoarse and broken, her olden voice speaks again, "As with all things, there must be an end." One final touch into the weave, the lights once again turned into a saturated crimson and the card flips thrice before landing on edge. A moment passes, and it falls towards the group. Solemnly, she withholds a breath before continuing, "Your enemy is a crate of vile evil, whose powers are beyond mortality. This card will lead you to him! He haunts the tomb of the man he envied above all." This card has a set of twin hearts with one heavily cracked and the other bright and serene.
Seemingly with the ritual over, the greyed woman slouches back in her chair with her head down.
Graeme sits with a rather blank look on his face. His mouth slightly twisted as he silently mouths indistinguishable words, his eyes searching around as if looking for meaning.
”Di’ anyone else catch tha’?”
"Ancient ones
Wizards tower on a lake
Blood red tower
Blade of light in a corrupt town
A man named Arrigal
Strahd is in a tomb.
That's what I understood from this lady's cryptic message." Rumble repeats.
"CoS" Rumble- Tabaxi Shadow Monk
".........." Allen will write down her descriptions in his tome.
Felix Windfall(Human-V Lv.7 Rogue) killed in ToA, Vallan Houndstrider (Halfling Ghostwise Lv.1 Fighter) in DiA“Alright then!” Said Graeme. “Ehh, thanks fur tha’ luvly chat!”
Graeme stands.
”Well lads, guess the shows over!” He says with a smile and a shrug.
“Shall we head back to the fire ‘an ge’ some shut-eye?”
"Well do you have anymore advice before our most likely downfall?" Allen getting up but not closing his book and still has his pen ready.
Felix Windfall(Human-V Lv.7 Rogue) killed in ToA, Vallan Houndstrider (Halfling Ghostwise Lv.1 Fighter) in DiAMagical illumination pools out from the tent as the group makes a silent exit. Whereas it was evening, it oddly seems much later than is appropriate. The gypsies sit amongst each other at a large, bright fire beneath a break in the clogging mists. Moonlight stares morosely at the hopefully twinkling starlight. Just outside the large tent, a clearly nervous Ireena and Ismark await. Ismark hesitates for a moment, looks down, and asks, "Well, how'd it all go?"
The friendly strangers offer drink and fresh caught fish from the nearby river while they continue carousing until the early morning hours. They are all as jolly as they seemed before escorting the group to the tent, each their own and as normal as could be. Ismark and Ireena do not venture very far from the group and keep to themselves after the group escort and their denial.
"Well we learned a few things, one there's relics and and people who can help in the fight against Strahd. Do you know of "Arrigal" and where the lake is?"
Felix Windfall(Human-V Lv.7 Rogue) killed in ToA, Vallan Houndstrider (Halfling Ghostwise Lv.1 Fighter) in DiAIsmark looks around and then nods in the direction of the group's wagon. Seemingly regretfully, he slowly pulls out a long and weathered tube. He pops open the dark brown leather top and retrieves an old parchment. Creased and torn, he unfurls the document to reveal a map of Barovia. "It cost me most of my gold to obtain this from these...," his eyes narrowing, "Vistani folk. Gouged me on pricing, that's for certain." Spreading it out so that the group could see, he and Ireena place a few rocks on the corner to keep it open.
Displayed before you:
Map2
Best Map
Ismark brushes his hair and shrugs, "Now, I've never gone very far from town, so much of this is new to me. I was taught how to govern, not how to read a map. I've also never heard of this Arrigal person, sorry to say. Nor have I heard of anyone who outwardly stands against the Devil."
Ooc: Try map 2 for a bigger resolution image.
( Got a hi res version DM?)
Rumble paws over the map, inspecting it carefully, trying to point out any areas which seem to be relevant or related to the old ladies stories. Survival: 7
"CoS" Rumble- Tabaxi Shadow Monk
Rumble, there's a lot to see on a map such as this. It's older, but well crafted, the colours fading with age. Looking around and thinking deep about what was said, there are three lakes on the map where the elder mentioned a high tower on a lake.
(AmI right in thinking we're on the shores of lake Zaravich? Perhaps we should head to the nearest lake if we wanna start there. Lake Baratok?)
"CoS" Rumble- Tabaxi Shadow Monk
Graeme also looks over the map...
”I wonder if this Lake Baratok with the castle lookin’ thing here is the Wizards tower?”
(OOC: Sorry, I cant quite make out the text)
Survival: 10