Not really aware of the glowing until Ludolf mentioned it, Triäsa glances over towards her shoulder.  "Yea, that is." She then pauses a moment, "I am not sure where that song came from either. But I feel like it's something my mother has given me."

Later with Daventry, she agrees. "I hope the changes are for the better.  My mother came to warn me. And I am sure it was to give me more strength to face whatever is happening.  Certainly it is the same with you."

She steps closer,  putting a hand on her friend's shoulder.  "I hope you are okay, Dav. You seem... down.  We really should have a proper chat, just the two of us. You kind of ditched me last night."  Triäsa grins.  "Not that I mind. But if something is bothering you I am here. Whenever the time is right." 

As they go to leave Thavol's shop, she adds, "Your words to Thavol's friend were well said. You are a pretty good writer Dav."  She gives her a bright smile as they go out.

Daventry nods. "Yeah. Guess I've been a bit off. Was a shock when Pardot said a star fell, after I dreamt the same, and I found I could do more. Was a real bloody surprise when the rest of the sky fell. Are there more like me? Like us?"

She smiles in appreciation, though. "And I'm only slightly sorry I ditched you. Was about to have quite the night myself! Stupid cryptic astral phenomenon, ruining a good time." She winks.

"If I were you, I would not be sorry at all about ditching me!"  Triäsa says with a grin. "But we will have to clear this all up so you can have your night sometime soon."

"Do you think there are more? Or is this on us for some reason to figure it all out?"

You settle you business in town, making your trades and leaving your notes. You get a number of sideways glances as you transport the gnome from the inn to your wagon. It's a somber mood among the villagers as you go about your tasks. You talk as you gather your things and prepare to head back home. The first day on the road is uneventful. You mules are well rested and traveling quickly. It is a brutally hot and humid day. You travel as fast and as far as you dare push the beasts.

The night comes but the stars do not. You rest and travel and rest. Talking as you go this routine is becoming rather familiar.

After a few days travel you are expecting to reach Candlekeep sometime tomorrow afternoon. The road has been eerily quiet, very few travelers in any direction but just ahead of you there is a small group setting up for the night. They have a wagon that is brightly covered with a soft, jubilant music playing. There are two young men drinking and laughing while they play cards. A younger women is skillfully playing the lute. From the wagon you see a faint flickering light and as you get closer there is a pleasant aroma of incense. The wagon and the people are about 100 yards away. 

Ludolf -- These people fit the description of the Vistani. 

"We may as well see if we can join their fire. Triasa can join in with their music perhaps. And it would be interesting to hear what news they may have from that direction." Pardot says, knowing that their caravan has likely been spotted already, and always happy to meet travelers.

"Pardot, I think that's a fine idea," Triäsa says.  Her time along the journey has been catching up a little bit on reading.  Having found the lyre and mandolin back at the chateau, she also spends some time just playing around with those as well. "Maybe I'll grab the lyre for something different."  She's ready to go and greet them. 

"These are Vistani." Ludolf says plainly, coming out of the cart, tucking away a tome in his shoulderbag. "We could certainly fraternize with them, but they might also be able to help us with our extra-planar mystery." He adds, following Triäsa to greet them, making an effort to be pleasant. "Good evening fellow travellers, may we join you and share your fire."
( Persuasion if needed: 15 + Guidance: 4 )

(Did Ludoilf learn anything more from keeping reading the Dark Hunger?)

Ludolf -- There is nothing new in terms of facts or details in the Dark hunger but as you close the book you see the strange geometric shape is very subtly embossed on the inside back cover 

As you approach the wagon the two men look up and smile at you rather warmly and look up from their card game. Their fire is just starting to heat up and as you get closer you can smell the faint. The men appear very similar, almost certainly brothers. The older is perhaps in his mid 30's has a haggard look. He has a dark black hair with just the slightest bit of grey streaks. His beard is poorly groomed. His presumed brother is slightly taller and a bit more slight. He has a similar jet black hair but sports a finely groomed goatee. He has a more welcoming smile. Both wear dark grey shirts of a fine lightweight material. The older man wears a brown leather vest while the other has a dark green overcoat. 

The girl is is younger. Maybe 18 or so. Her hair is a strawberry blonde she sways rhythmically as she plays her music, her eyes closed. She was an elaborate, brightly colored dress. She does not seem to notice your approach. 

The younger man greets you warmly as he notices your friendly and open approach, "Ah! Velcome, friends! Come and zit next to the fire ve have plenty of vood and zrink for all! It is rare in zese lands to meet a group of young adventurers who are zo friendly! I am Arrigal and zis is my brudder Luvash. Do not mind hiz zour mood, I just took zhe last of 'iz coin." The man stands and warmly clasps Ludolf on the back, "I like zhe look of you my friend, so finely dressed. A man of style and taste!"

As he speaks the older one, Luvash, gives a bit of a half smile he gets up goes to one of the barrels on the back of the wagon and pours you each a bit of wine. "Please have a drink and tell us a story of your travels. Nothing zoothes the woes of the road like a tale of adventure and fortune!" His voice is deeper and a bit more gruff. "My brother neglects our zizister, Arabelle. Zhe gets lost in her muzic." 

Arrigal flings the remains of an apple playfully at the young girl, striking her in the shoulder. "Arabelle ve have company! Perhaps we should brighten zhe the night with a more lively tune?"

The girl looks a bit started as she is hit by the debris, "Oh come Arrigal! No need to show off. Shall sing a song of one your many tales of glory? Perhaps the one involving the pig, Father Donovich and the Burgomaster's daughter?!" She smiles slyly. 

Pardot walks up, and being a generally trusting person, happily accepts the wine, raises his glass in a toast and takes a bit sip before saying, “You are much more well supplied than we are. Though I do have some nourishing berries I’ve come across if you’d like a few.” He then reaches into the pouch where he always keeps them and pulls out the handful offering as many as they’d like ((to a max of 10 of course)). He then continues, “You are very right of course! It is always a welcome sight to see such welcoming folk on the road. From where are you coming? And to where are you going?” Finally he gestures up towards the stars and then to their camp fire and says, “Your fire and light are also warming to the soul. The night seems to empty without the stars…”

"Well, thank you Arrigal, I can't recall being called a man of style and taste before." Ludolf says with a smirk, just a little bit wary of where this apparent flattery is going. He chuckles at Arabelle's joke and moves over to sit by the fire, leaving to others to entertain the Vistani with a recount of their adventures.

(OOC: Very nice picture. Not sure why they decided to park the wagon in the middle of the road though ;-)

Daventry takes the wine glass, and looking to her friends, is the first to take a drink. Figure if someone can weather it, it'd be me... (Con Save: 7)

And very quickly feels lightheaded. Perhaps it's dehydration, or potency, but the wine has an effect.

"Thanks for bein' so welcoming. Rare these days. Half the travelers you'll pass will rob you, given the chance. We've just came down from mountains that tried to kill us, filled with horror-beasts that tried to convert us, then saw every star in the sky drop down like it were nothing. And I couldn't even get a bit of fun between any of 'em. Been a rough set of days."

She sits herself down, and seems entranced by the colorful young woman. "A song'd be nice. Something easy, comparatively."

Triäsa takes the wine glass with a simple word of thanks.  She gets a grin when Arabelle suggests singing a song about Arrigal. "Now that sounds like a fun song. We'd love to hear that one!"  Once she sees Daventry has done so, she drinks her glass of wine as well.  She eventually moves over to the fire and takes a seat right next to Ludolf.  

Arrigal looks up at the sky in response to Pardot, "An ill omen if I ever zeen one... and I have zeen zome zhit in my time. Who are we to fight the stars or oppose fate though! We zhall drink, zing, dance and if the heavens erupt into fire tomorrow I zhall hope to be drunk enough not to notice." He smiles widely as chugs his deep red wine and fills it again. "As for our travels ve are returning home from Baulder's Gate. Trading our wares, gathering supplies and now we return home. Perhaps you would like to accompany us? The road can be dangerous and accomplished adventurers like you could would be a useful asset in our journey. We do not have much coin but we would happy part with a few gold to get us back to Barovia. It is not far."

Pardot being the insightful gnome that you are; you see Arabelle and Luvash shoot sideways, questioning glance at Arrigal before Luvash speaks up, "Come Arrigal! Zese bookish type have no desire to see the mists, best we leave them to their travels."

At that Arabelle starts playing a lively tune as she dances in the shadows of the flickering fire, her dress twirls and floats elegantly in the air as the music plays. The brothers take the meats off the fire. It is bold and flavorful, the best meal you have had since the seafood stew back in Candlekeep. 

Daventry's wine hits her like a ton of bricks. It's very good but much stronger than you expected. You are very concerned about how you will feel in the morning. As you eat and talk Arabelle sits down next to Pardot. "You are different than the others. You are more like me and Grandma. I can see it in you... you look to the future.... how do you see your omens?"

"Barovia? I've not heard of it. Tell me about it!" Daventry exclaims, perhaps a bit excitedly in her drunkenness. She contemplates something. "You say, it's full of mist?"

Triäsa looks curiously at Arrigal. "Barovia? Where is that? I certainly have not heard of that place." She makes it sound like she would certainly know of the place if it were not far.  She definitely enjoys the music Arabelle plays, not interrupting, but clapping in time to some of the livelier parts. 

Quote from Alsdad >>

 

Daventry's wine hits her like a ton of bricks. It's very good but much stronger than you expected. You are very concerned about how you will feel in the morning. As you eat and talk Arabelle sits down next to Pardot. "You are different than the others. You are more like me and Grandma. I can see it in you... you look to the future.... how do you see your omens?"

Pardot ((a halfling, not a gnome btw :P )) takes another sip of wine and sighs, saying, "The omens that I watched for..." as his eyes go towards the heavens, "have all fallen. The dark of the sky above has taken a toll on me these last nights. It is good to share your fire." He then looks up to her and asks, "Where did your grandmother teach you to find the signs?"

To Daventry and Triäsa, Arrigal smiles, "Barovia zis not far, into the woods here. Very hard to find 'less you know where to look. People tend not to leave Barovia often so I do not doubt you have not heard of it." The man moves a bit closer to the intoxicated Daventry, "but if you'd like I can show the way." 

Arabelle smiles softly, "It is a bit of a family tradition. Many of the Vistani dabble in fortunes and omens but only a handful can actually interpret the signs." She reaches into a bag sitting next to her and pulls an object that is 3x5 inches and wrapped in a purple silk cloth. The package is bound with delicate twine. She sets it in front of you on the top of a barrel and opens it to reveal a deck of cards. The back of the cards are an ornate and hand painted black with an intricate gold swirls and symbols. "These cards can do many things... with practice and time. While the cards are important it is the individual that truly matters. A connection to the natural world and an openness energy of the land. Would you like a demonstration? Tell me what would you like to know?"