Listening to the different interpretations of the prophecy Ludolf finally shrugs. "So it may be us then, what of it? How will it help me to know if I'm the wizard or the evoker." He says a bit gruffly. He notices Triäsa's fingers moving but says nothing. Seeing the effect the wine has on Daventry Ludolf decides to stop his drinking early and retires soon afterwards, sleping in, or at least near the cart where Fistandia rests.

The night passes quickly. Luvash and Arrigal enjoy your stories and share a few of their own as you drink and eat by their fire.  One by one each of you retire for the evening curious what the day will bring and what you will find when you reach Candlekeep sometime in the morning. 

As the sunrises you awake to see Luvash and Arrigal passed out, back to back in the grass. A stiff breeze would like cause them both to topple over. Arabelle is awake and have a small fire going. She is boiling water and appears to be preparing a pleasant smelling tea. As you each awaken she pours you a bit. The drink is bitter and dark in color but oddly invigorating. Well most of you feel invigorated.... Daventry's head is pounding a wave of nausea seems to crash over you every few moments and it's quite possible you will be sick before long.

As you all pack and are about to head out Arabelle pulls Pardot to the side

"I hope you learned what you needed last night. Let the cards guide the way until your stars return." She then reaches into her pack and pulls the dark cherry box from her pack, "The cards called you a Divener, I drew that card once... and this box was my reward and so I shall pass it on to you." She smiles and hands you the box of cards. "It will take time to read the future but with patience, study and practice I believe you could be almost as skilled as the Vistani." Arabelle is not tall but she stands a good foot over you. She bends down, kisses you softly on the check, "May the mist guide you home Pardot Kynes."

Now aroused from his sleep Arrigal goes the cart and retrieves a bottle of wine, "Here. You seemed to enjoy this. We have alot of it back home. This is a bit more mild that what we drank last night." He hands you a bottle of wine, the label is simple and reads Red Dragon Crush, Wizards of Wine. "I am sure it is better than whatever it is the scholars at Candlekeep drink."

"This is too special for me to take." Pardot says, clearly in awe of the gift he is being presented. But seeing that Arabelle seems intent to give it to him, adds sheepishly, "I... have nothing to give in return. And no way to find you again once you go through your mists..."

"You are doing me a service by taking these. It is time I made my own deck and this provide an appropriate level of motivation. I just ask you use them wisely and be wary of the mists they are unpredictable especially if you are not in the grace of those who rule them."

Pardot nods in gratitude, and blushes as she kisses his cheek, saying humbly, "Then I, and my grandfather, thank you. We will study these with devotion. And someday we shall find you again to show you what we have learned of them." He is then silent as he packs his bag for the day's hike, deep in thought.

Triäsa is awake early, having also retired rather early.  She had eagerly accepted the tea but sat to herself just watching the campsite as everyone began to stir. Stepping back over to see if she can get her teacup filled, she casually chats with Arabelle. "Will your family be on their way back to Barovia then this day?  I would be interested to see these lands in the Mist someday if the opportunity allowed. Fair winds for your journey." 

With that, she goes back to sit and wait for the others to be ready to continue along the way to Candlekeep.  

Ludolf awakes too early, sweating from nightmares. He takes a brisk walk to calm himself and as he comes back he joins the others, accepting the tea offered by Arabelle and taking a seat by Triäsa. He eats his rationed breakfast with his tea in silence, glancing over att Triäsa, breaking a slight smile as he does. He simply turns down the offer for more wine, even though that may be seen as uncourteous to the Vistani. He is then ready to continue the journey to Candelkeep, sitting by Fistandia in the cart, continuing his studies of the Dark Hunger.

Luvash nods at Triäsa "We will be in Barovia this evening. If you ever make your way there please come see us. We have a community just outside of Vallaki. It is not hard to find."

You finish your morning routine and take back to the road. It is another hot summer day and just as the sun reaches it's pinnacle in the sky you arrive at Candlekeep. The grounds by the gate are very very crowded. At least twice as many travelers that you have ever seen before are at the gates seeking entrance. They look tired, dirty and very frustrated. Approaching the gate you see a rather strange looking Avowed, one you do not know standing watch. He has the typical garb of the order but over his head he has rolled two large blankets up and placed one over each ear. A rope then run around the top of his head down under his chin to secure the blankets to his head like very strange earmuffs. 

As you get to the gate the man screams in a voice entirely too loud for the situation, "NO ENTRANCE IS BEING GRANTED TO CANDLEKEEP WE ARE CLOSED FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. ONCE THE SITUATION IMPROVES THE GATES WILL OPEN WITH THE STANDARD TRIBUTE. PLEASE BE ON YOUR WAY! THIS IS FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY"

Ludolf exits the cart and makes his way toward the screaming man. Using his enlightened mind he enters the mind of the avowed, staring at him with his piercing gray eyes.
"We have returned from an important mission and we have critical information that must reach the first reader. You must let us pass immediately."
Persuasion: 24 Lucky reroll: 20

Daventry packs the wine into the Bag of Holding and thanks the Vistani for their hospitality, and tells Arrigal he's owed a shot of fine Dwarven whiskey, to be collected in either Candlekeep or the Gate at some future point.

While Ludolf approaches and stares awkwardly at the Avowed, Daventry goes up to him and shows off the symbol of the First Reader. "Right, we've heard of a curse, and have returned from abroad on dealings for Bookwyrm. What's up with the earmuffs?"

"You are here for the First Reader?! Does it have to do with the Curse? We could really use some help with that. The Inner Sanctum and all of the Avowed have been sealed off behind the Emerald Gate until the Curse is resolved. I have strict orders that no one goes in or out for fear of spreading the Curse." The man yells at Ludolf in response. 

To Daventry he yells, "Speak up! It's really hard to hear you. I can't take these off so I don't catch the Curse."

Now at Candlekeep, Triäsa watches the exchange between Ludolf, Daventry, and the strangely dressed Avowed.  Standing back a bit, she shakes her head. "The rhyme. It was in my head at the chateaux. But it was here before..."  

She looks to the Avowed to see if he confirms her thought. "I knew we had left things unresolved back there."

Triäsa make a concentration check. On a fail you are unable to stop yourself from singing the rhyme

(Assuming Concentration is Constitution like for a spell.... Triäsa CON Check: 10)

Triäsa starts to sing the rhyme from before, but as she finishes it, she just keeps singing it again and again.

'See a mother scything wheat
Forgotten husband sleeping near
With one swing she took his feet
With another took his ear

Does the shadow have a name?
SHEMSHIME
Causes grief, avoids the blame
SHEMSHIME'

(Yes I may be asking for concentration checks going forward. It is just like you would for a spell. Anytime you fail you are compelled to sing the song for the next minute or longer depending on the situation!)

The ear muffed man looks at Klin, "Purse?! What is a purse are ya daft? This is no time to be talking about accessories! We have crisis on our hands!" He seems like he is about to shoo you away from the gates as Triäsa starts speaking. He squints at her real hard like he is trying to read her lips when she breaks out into the rhyme. "NO!! Where did you hear that!" He waves his hands frantically and immediately casts Silence on all of you. He waits about a minute until Triäsa's voiceless singing stops before he continues.

"Well we can't have you all roaming free, come we have a bunch of cursed folks like you all quarantined in the Firefly Cellar... Let's go." He opens the gate and much to the shock of everyone else there lets you into Candlekeep.

At this point he notices the gnome.... "My god what happened to her... Is she cursed?" 

Pardot, taking his queue from the guard, sets down his pack and fishes for his old blanket, immediately tying it over his head leaving thick parts above his ears, hoping to block sounds. He then waves to get the mans attention and sends a silent message into his head, saying as they walk, "We have returned with Fistandia and must see the First Reader. Can you tell us anything of the curse that the Keep is experiencing?"

Ludolf shakes his head and turns away from the avowed, noticing Triäsa singing the creepy nursery rhyme. "Are you okay Triäsa?" He asks, clearly worried, as the hlaf-elven bard starts over for the third time.
Insight: 4