“See Ismark the Lesser! You will always be in your fathers shadow!” One of the woman calls out and begins to laugh, the others join in as well.

“Mind your own business, Vistani.” Ismark shoots a glare at the three Vistani women. Returning his attention to Otis. “I am the burgomasters son, Ismark Koylanovich. I noticed you were reading off a letter, may I see it?”

     Otis takes another sip of the earthy wine. "Hmm... Pardon my saying so, but if you're not knowing what your father's business is, I don't think it would really be right of me to share? I'd suggest maybe you talk to him first if you want to know what's going on."

Shariel slowly gains a bit more confidence in the town and an absence of danger, "Better yet, why not just point us in the direction of him or his home? We'll pay for drinks and food for the road so as not to trouble you without compensation."

Marius wanders over to the Vistani women while the others chat with Ismark. "Greetings, lovelies. Why does he speak to you in this way? What was it he called you - Vistani? He did not sound terribly complimentary..."

Zeuves have been cautiously polite to the man who had joined them and later introduced himself as the burgomeister's son. He had watched his body language, the outburst of anger towards a woman's tease, and the language did not sit well with him. He was used to authority living up to their standard of position. This man has been soiling it with his rural spite. "If you say you must see it, then you should. But when we come to meet your father, and maybe your advice would be valuable on the matter. That is if you would be kind enough to take us there." He was not the first to suggest it, but he tried his best to be least provocative about it. Again, his eyes were searching for a clue to better understand the local dynamics. 

Ismarks eyes grow distant as he finishes his glass of wine and fills up the cup again. In a hushed tone, Ismark says, “My father died 3 days ago and mentioned nothing to my sister and I about a letter. Unfortunately, his heart gave out during an attack on our mansion. Or maybe he is the fortunate one, gaining freedom from Strahd and this cursed land. We shouldn’t talk about it here, however, it is always hard to tell if Strahd is listening.” 

The three women look at Marius with strange curiosity, “Well hello, stranger. It seems you are new to these lands.” Making remarks at Marius’s accent. “Though Ismark may have been a bit rude before. Vistani are who we are, it is our culture, our people. We are nomads, and travel the world and Barovia as we please. My name is Vadoma, these are my sisters. We own this… once fine establishment.” She flourishes her hand about to add a bit of grace to her words.

Shariel resigns herself to a seat at an empty table in a sudden huff, "Great! Just great...we get a letter from someone already dead, to come somewhere with who-knows-what wrong with it aside from people just being attacked and killed everywhere. If it weren't for the cheery welcome in the woods, I'd say pack up and leave. But since we have our benefactor's son here, enlighten us: How would you suspect your father intended to use us?"

"The only thing I could imagine he would seek help for would be Ireena, my sister. We have been trying to get her to leave, and take her to Vallaki, a town in the heart of the valley," Ismark leans in and says in a hushed tone, much lower than before. "Again, it is something I would rather discuss in private." Finishing his glass of wine, he stands up, pears out the window,  the sky still gray with clouds, darker than before when you arrived. "Nightfall is coming, you are welcome to stay at the mansion with us, but I would hurry. One does not want to be found out at night in Barovia. Arik, put whatever they drink tonight on my tab, I will pay it all in the morning. It is the mansion at the end of the road. I hope to see you soon." With that, Ismark exits the inn and begins his walk to the Burgomaster's Manner.

      "Well, it seemed to me like he was telling the truth," Otis says as the man departs. "So, I guess he's the new Burgermiester around here since his pappy died...?" He downs the rest of his wine and begins to gather all his belongings. "Don't know about you all but a mansion sounds a bit better than an inn."

Quote from Agonzo516 >>

The three women look at Marius with strange curiosity, “Well hello, stranger. It seems you are new to these lands.” Making remarks at Marius’s accent. “Though Ismark may have been a bit rude before. Vistani are who we are, it is our culture, our people. We are nomads, and travel the world and Barovia as we please. My name is Vadoma, these are my sisters. We own this… once fine establishment.” She flourishes her hand about to add a bit of grace to her words.

Marius nods in agreement. "Yes, we are certainly new to these lands, good lady Vadoma and sisters. I am Marius Levant of Mt. Argent, and I appreciate your hospitality. Your establishment is quite lovely, but the sounds from down the way are not. Do you know what might be going on out there?"

"So... free bed sounds good to me " says Kraerd finishing his beer and standing up. "What is this Barovia you keep talking abuot? And I hope in your home there would be a decent cooker... " 

The three sisters look at each other. A different sister answers "Unfortunately, we do not know, nor care much for what goes on in this town. We spend much of our time either here or at our camp at the Tser Pool," she reaches out to caress Marius' arm, "you should come and join us tonight! There will be music and magic and drinks and dancing." 

"Ahh what a bright idea, Violca! You all should come tonight! We can take you there." Vedona exclaims, excited at the prspect of new guests.

Nothing seems right here. Maybe she was just being paranoid again, but those little stabs at the back of her mind were rarely wrong. Shariel gives a little whistle for attention, "If you'll excuse us, we really do appreciate everything thus far, but we came as company and should act as such. If you'll excuse us for just a few minutes to convene..." She gives a stern nod to her companions toward the door. For those a little too distracted, the nod comes with a feeling of pulling.

Marius feels the tug of Shariel's influence and waves to the sisters. "I will extend your invitation to my friends! Please forgive my rudeness, but I must leave you for the moment." 

He bows to the sisters, then hurries towards the elf.

The goliath empites his drink and follows Shariel. Kraed crouches a little bit to avoid hitting his head with the upper frame of the door. 

"Alright," Shariel begins once everyone is assembled, "We've got no contractor anymore except his kids, and some weird gypsies. Thoughts on where to go from here? Honestly nothing here feels right with me."

"The sisters said there would be... how did they put it... music and magic and drinks and dancing... at their camp? That sounds better than camping in that nasty fog we were in."

"Can't say I trust an invitation to a camp outside town with a bunch of people we don't know offering drinks and company, but then again I don't much trust anything here anymore. Did anyone else hear all the commotion before we went in? I thought I saw the light of a pyre coming from the same direction."

" A fire? in the middle of this lowland fog? A dinner and wine and possibly good music? It's the better plan I've herad in days! " says the goliath. " I would like to taste the delicacies of this land and see if I can learn how to cook them." 

Rav had been unusually quiet during their time in the tavern, watching and listening to everything. "Honestly, folks like that tend to take advantage of newcomers that don't know the territories. I have seen it many times. So too do the rich and powerful. I would prefer to stay here where it is less likely to be stabbed in the middle or the night or be watched through a hidden porthole in a wall. Whatever you all decide, I will follow as usual."