Madam Eva smiles at you. They ask me questions sometimes; I give them answers. I am not their leader, in the same way that you led armies of elves and dwarves into battle against orcs and goblins. I cannot tell you what to do. I only know that you have the tools to rid Barovia of its curse. You will be tested; you will grow in power. You may even try to leave the valley.
But I am not asking you to do anything. I am telling you what must be done. Not just for us, but for you, as well, to lift the curse.
You passed through the town of Barovia on your way here. It was dark; perhaps you did not notice. You might start looking there for these treasures. She eyes the Tax Collector. Visanti, most curious. But there are Visanti elsewhere in Barovia, and I know nothing of a missing child at this encampment.
Here is a link to your map so far. It tracks the road taken by Barnaby, Kif, and Puddin, on their way to the Visanti camp. You will not that it passed through Barovia. Let me know if the map format or design is a problem.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Perception: 14
Barnaby, overwhelmed by this woman’s ability to divine what takes place in far away locals , and even the future, decides at once that divination will be the centerpiece of his arcane studies.
He looks around to see what scrolls or books she may have to study from. “Yes, we will find the child and lift the curse. But, I am just a fledgling wizard and I know but a small handful of spells. Are there any that you could teach me, or perhaps you have scrolls from which I could teach myself?”
We are going to have 5 cards laid out, eventually. It will look like a tic tac toe board, with nothing in the corners. This is the 9:00 position, or the position on your left.
Her face draws back in disgust. Nine of Glyphs. The Traitor. The image on the card is a heavyset man looking sideways, with papers in his pocket. Look for a wealthy woman. A staunch ally of the devil, she keeps the treasure under lock and key, with the bones of an ancient enemy.
She pauses, shudders a bit, and draws a breath. She holds her hand over the deck again. This card tells of a powerful force for good and protection, a holy symbol of great hope.
She lays the card in the top position, or 12:00. What is it?
She places this card in the top position, and stifles a gasp. The Tax Collector! The image is a woman - all the cards appeal to be humans - studying a list, with a sack at her feet. The sack has splitting seams, and is spilling coins onto the road around her. The Visanti have what you seek. A missing child holds the key to the treasure's release.
The four of Glyphs, she says. The Shepherd. Another woman, this one standing on a hilltop. She has a staff, but curiously no animals around her. You've seen seer's decks before; they all seem to have these sort of wrinkles to them.
Find the mother - she who gave birth to evil.
These are the treasures that will help you defeat the devil.
She sets aside the Common Deck. Now, she explains, the High Deck. She prepares to draw the top card from the High Deck. This card sheds light on one who will help you greatly in the battle against darkness.
She lays a card in the 6:00 position, at the bottom. What is it?
The Executioner. A lean man stands on the gallows, looking up at the noose. Seek out the brother of the devil's bride. They call him "the lesser," but he has a powerful soul.
And now, she says, the final card. Your enemy is a creature of darkness, whose powers are beyond mortality. This card will lead you to him!
The Beast, she says, revealing the last card. Of course. The card depicts some sort of shadow monster, with clearly-defined eyes. The beast sits on his dark throne.
She looks up, slightly drained. She appears to be ready for questions.
I gathered up these posts explaining the cards into a single post, for future reference.
Barnaby, overwhelmed by this woman’s ability to divine what takes place in far away locals , and even the future, decides at once that divination will be the centerpiece of his arcane studies.
He looks around to see what scrolls or books she may have to study from. “Yes, we will find the child and lift the curse. But, I am just a fledgling wizard and I know but a small handful of spells. Are there any that you could teach me, or perhaps you have scrolls from which I could teach myself?”
First things first:
You know that Madam Eva surprised you with the line about your family, and she also appeared to be talking to Kif about some things from his past. Interesting. But when she said the name "Molly" aloud to Puddin, Puddin let out an audible gasp. She looked thunderstruck.
Barnaby, I am but an old seer, with occasional visions of the past, and occasional visions of possible futures. I am no wizard, with books and scrolls, like you.
Make an insight check. I can always roll these for you, if you're phone posting.
Puddin becomes angry and annoyed by this old woman. Enough of your parlor tricks, Madame. You may see glimpses of our past, but you have no idea how it's made us into who we've become today. I don't appreciate you divulging such personal info in front of others...Puddin, feels the emotions filling up inside her and in a rare moment, allows them to take over. And unlike my fellow enamored Gnome here, I will not follow the words of a seer that will have us traipsing throughout the valley looking for people that 'match up' to the clues on a bunch of worn cards. I follow only the path set before me by the Goddess Shar. I'm beginning to think the halfling was right -- we were totally duped into coming here. Usually, I'm the one doing the duping, so congratulations MADAME for beating me at my own game.
If you will excuse me, I must ask for Shar's mercy and ask her for her true guidance. Good day.
She storms out of the tent to the slumbering Fope. She stares at the trees for a few moments, to steel herself, and then sits down next to the halfling and begins to pray.
Madam Eva arches an eyebrow at Puddin's dramatic exit, but otherwise does not acknowledge it.
Remember, children, I did not "ask" you to do anything. I am giving you information about where things may be found, because I believe there will come a time when you will look for these things.
Barnaby, regardless of whether he leaves or not, does not see any of the books or scrolls he associates with spellcasting. Give me that insight check when you get a chance, though.
Stanimir asked you to come, and you came to this cursed valley. So be it. I have asked for nothing - nothing for myself, and nothing for the Visanti - and given you what it is in my power to give. I do believe you will come to seek these places I have described for you, and what they have to offer, but I do not seek to push you on your path. You will find your way.
Fope may stay here as our guest, while he recovers. When he is able, I will guide him to catch up to you, wherever you are.
She is not throwing Barnaby out, but she is also mindful that he might want to go after his friends.
Learning moment: how does a level 2 cleric check in with their God to see how they would like me to use the power they've bestowed upon me? Is that something I can actually do?
Haha, I would say that if Puddin is unable to receive a message from Shar --either a direct communication or a sign -- then it would be like her to use a dramatic exit to play off her emotions and to show that she has the upper hand in the situation.
You can *always* pray for guidance. I thought that was an excellent role play moment, and I thought your decision to pray for guidance was perfectly in character. You wouldn't ordinarily expect a direct response. But all of your spells and your cleric abilities derive from a connection between you and Shar, and this was an excellent moment to contemplate what she might wish from you.
Also, in these moments, you can always ask me if there's a response. Always ask! I'll try to give you a colorful answer, even if it's not as obvious as "gold arrows appear on the ground, directing your attention to the river."
Here is your answer in this case:
In your distress, you reach out to Shar for guidance. You kneel, meditating, and take some comfort feeling your connection with your goddess, though she does not give you any particular signs about what to do. It is like her hand is upon your shoulder as you kneel. You take comfort knowing that she is with you in spirit, in this strange and foreign place.
Puddin, in her silence, can indeed feel Shar's energy slowly ooze throughout her body; it feels like a slick sludge forcing its way through her muscles and veins rather than vibrating waves. The energy is heavy; it feels like many blankets being laid upon her.
Though comforted, she feels slightly invaded upon. Instead of washing away the sadness that Madame Eva's rehash of the past gave for her, her meditation expounds the sadness and turns it into power. Puddin, revels in the power.
She feels compelled to move on with this journey if only to use this new power.
You may find, Madam Eva continues to Barnaby, that the roads of Barovia are not safe. I encourage you to consider leaving your friend here, until he is well enough to travel. You do not appear equipped to carry such a burden from place to place.
I assure you, no harm will come to him. I have read your fortune; it would serve me, and us, no purpose to interfere with it by allowing harm to come to him.
I haven't done this in awhile, but I think it makes it possible for Kif & Puddin to make plans, while we wait for Barnaby.
Barnaby, if your insight check was a 15 or higher, look in here:
You think Madam Eva is probably telling the truth, when she represents that she doesn't have the books or scrolls that you associate with learning magic. But you think she may be engaging in some false modesty when she says that she is just an old lady with visions. You think she might have a lot more going on than that.
KIf is going over to where Fope is. He sees Puddin' is some sort of prayer posture, looking fairly upset. He moves away a bit to give her some privacy, moving to lean against a tree where he can see bot Madam Eve's tent, looking for Barnaby to exit, as well as keeping an eye on Puddin', Fope, and the rest of the camp the best he can. Looks like some folks are leaving and some of the crew they have been travelling with are setting up for a longer stay, correct. He uses this time buffing some rust off his axes. He is wondering what to do at this juncture.
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It's late, feel free to compose your answer at your own pace, I'm pretty much done
Roll a perception check.
Madam Eva smiles at you. They ask me questions sometimes; I give them answers. I am not their leader, in the same way that you led armies of elves and dwarves into battle against orcs and goblins. I cannot tell you what to do. I only know that you have the tools to rid Barovia of its curse. You will be tested; you will grow in power. You may even try to leave the valley.
But I am not asking you to do anything. I am telling you what must be done. Not just for us, but for you, as well, to lift the curse.
You passed through the town of Barovia on your way here. It was dark; perhaps you did not notice. You might start looking there for these treasures. She eyes the Tax Collector. Visanti, most curious. But there are Visanti elsewhere in Barovia, and I know nothing of a missing child at this encampment.
Here is a link to your map so far. It tracks the road taken by Barnaby, Kif, and Puddin, on their way to the Visanti camp. You will not that it passed through Barovia. Let me know if the map format or design is a problem.
5 perception
Thank you Madame
dammit
It wasn't a big deal. Don't worry about it. :)
Barnaby, give me a perception check, please.
Perception: 14
Barnaby, overwhelmed by this woman’s ability to divine what takes place in far away locals , and even the future, decides at once that divination will be the centerpiece of his arcane studies.
He looks around to see what scrolls or books she may have to study from. “Yes, we will find the child and lift the curse. But, I am just a fledgling wizard and I know but a small handful of spells. Are there any that you could teach me, or perhaps you have scrolls from which I could teach myself?”
I gathered up these posts explaining the cards into a single post, for future reference.
First things first:
You know that Madam Eva surprised you with the line about your family, and she also appeared to be talking to Kif about some things from his past. Interesting. But when she said the name "Molly" aloud to Puddin, Puddin let out an audible gasp. She looked thunderstruck.
Barnaby, I am but an old seer, with occasional visions of the past, and occasional visions of possible futures. I am no wizard, with books and scrolls, like you.
Make an insight check. I can always roll these for you, if you're phone posting.
Puddin becomes angry and annoyed by this old woman. Enough of your parlor tricks, Madame. You may see glimpses of our past, but you have no idea how it's made us into who we've become today. I don't appreciate you divulging such personal info in front of others...Puddin, feels the emotions filling up inside her and in a rare moment, allows them to take over. And unlike my fellow enamored Gnome here, I will not follow the words of a seer that will have us traipsing throughout the valley looking for people that 'match up' to the clues on a bunch of worn cards. I follow only the path set before me by the Goddess Shar. I'm beginning to think the halfling was right -- we were totally duped into coming here. Usually, I'm the one doing the duping, so congratulations MADAME for beating me at my own game.
If you will excuse me, I must ask for Shar's mercy and ask her for her true guidance. Good day.
She storms out of the tent to the slumbering Fope. She stares at the trees for a few moments, to steel herself, and then sits down next to the halfling and begins to pray.
Inspiration for Puddin!
Write it down somewhere. That means you have advantage on a roll, but you have to call it before you roll it!
Madam Eva arches an eyebrow at Puddin's dramatic exit, but otherwise does not acknowledge it.
Remember, children, I did not "ask" you to do anything. I am giving you information about where things may be found, because I believe there will come a time when you will look for these things.
Well, Madame, considering how much you people say you need our help you sure have an uncanny ability to push the right buttons to drive us off
Kif leaves the tent to check on Puddin' and Fope
Barnaby, regardless of whether he leaves or not, does not see any of the books or scrolls he associates with spellcasting. Give me that insight check when you get a chance, though.
Stanimir asked you to come, and you came to this cursed valley. So be it. I have asked for nothing - nothing for myself, and nothing for the Visanti - and given you what it is in my power to give. I do believe you will come to seek these places I have described for you, and what they have to offer, but I do not seek to push you on your path. You will find your way.
Fope may stay here as our guest, while he recovers. When he is able, I will guide him to catch up to you, wherever you are.
She is not throwing Barnaby out, but she is also mindful that he might want to go after his friends.
Learning moment: how does a level 2 cleric check in with their God to see how they would like me to use the power they've bestowed upon me? Is that something I can actually do?
Haha, I would say that if Puddin is unable to receive a message from Shar --either a direct communication or a sign -- then it would be like her to use a dramatic exit to play off her emotions and to show that she has the upper hand in the situation.
Excellent question!
You can *always* pray for guidance. I thought that was an excellent role play moment, and I thought your decision to pray for guidance was perfectly in character. You wouldn't ordinarily expect a direct response. But all of your spells and your cleric abilities derive from a connection between you and Shar, and this was an excellent moment to contemplate what she might wish from you.
Also, in these moments, you can always ask me if there's a response. Always ask! I'll try to give you a colorful answer, even if it's not as obvious as "gold arrows appear on the ground, directing your attention to the river."
Here is your answer in this case:
In your distress, you reach out to Shar for guidance. You kneel, meditating, and take some comfort feeling your connection with your goddess, though she does not give you any particular signs about what to do. It is like her hand is upon your shoulder as you kneel. You take comfort knowing that she is with you in spirit, in this strange and foreign place.
Ah, very helpful -- thank you!
Puddin, in her silence, can indeed feel Shar's energy slowly ooze throughout her body; it feels like a slick sludge forcing its way through her muscles and veins rather than vibrating waves. The energy is heavy; it feels like many blankets being laid upon her.
Though comforted, she feels slightly invaded upon. Instead of washing away the sadness that Madame Eva's rehash of the past gave for her, her meditation expounds the sadness and turns it into power. Puddin, revels in the power.
She feels compelled to move on with this journey if only to use this new power.
You may find, Madam Eva continues to Barnaby, that the roads of Barovia are not safe. I encourage you to consider leaving your friend here, until he is well enough to travel. You do not appear equipped to carry such a burden from place to place.
I assure you, no harm will come to him. I have read your fortune; it would serve me, and us, no purpose to interfere with it by allowing harm to come to him.
I haven't done this in awhile, but I think it makes it possible for Kif & Puddin to make plans, while we wait for Barnaby.
Barnaby, if your insight check was a 15 or higher, look in here:
You think Madam Eva is probably telling the truth, when she represents that she doesn't have the books or scrolls that you associate with learning magic. But you think she may be engaging in some false modesty when she says that she is just an old lady with visions. You think she might have a lot more going on than that.
Ok, carry on.
KIf is going over to where Fope is. He sees Puddin' is some sort of prayer posture, looking fairly upset. He moves away a bit to give her some privacy, moving to lean against a tree where he can see bot Madam Eve's tent, looking for Barnaby to exit, as well as keeping an eye on Puddin', Fope, and the rest of the camp the best he can. Looks like some folks are leaving and some of the crew they have been travelling with are setting up for a longer stay, correct. He uses this time buffing some rust off his axes. He is wondering what to do at this juncture.