"They are beautifully made." Pardot says, as he pulls out his homemade leather star map in a 'show me yours I'll show you mine' fashion, and lays it out on the ground almost as a mat for her cards. "My grandfather's grandfather started it, passed it on to my grandfather to work on, who then passed it on to me. Seems to skip a generation eh?" he adds with a smile as Arabelle had mentioned her grandmother. He then reaches out to her hand holding the cards as a strange distant warmth of the now missing stars connects to two of them for a moment. "What I'd like to know is where the stars went." he chuckles, adding, "Though I know it does not work that way. I find that often the answers come before the questions. Let us see what your cards can tell us of my group's connection to each other. Though we have only been together a few weeks, there seem to be some threads that connect us much more strongly than such a short time would account for."

Ludolf stays silent by the fire, taking a sip of his wine, perking up conisderably as Triäsa sits down next to him, glancing over at her, not saying anything at the moment, just watching her as she claps along with the music. She seems happy, and he is content with just watching her, not paying too much attention to the Vistani at the moment. As Arabelle breaks out her deck of cards he gets a bit curious though.

Knowledge to know stuff about Barovia: 18 or tarot cards: 22
(Didn't we read about the Vistani being from Barovia which would be a demiplane and the reason for them to have a connection to planar travel?)

@Ludolf -- You learned a good bit about the Vistani in the book of the Raven. Indeed you know they are planar travelers though the method they do so is unclear. You know the Vistani are fortune tellers and do so in many ways. It can be through stars, bones or a deck cards called a Tarokka Deck. The deck is a well guarded secret of the Vistani people and handed down thruogh generations. When a talented seer is identified in the family they often part with the family's deck and begin creation of their own.  Along with the information in the Book of Raven Ludolf's study of the Far Realm would have taught him a bit about Shadowfell. He knows some of these "outer realms" are thought to be ruled by rather mysterious dark powers. Some consider the Far Realm to be a part of Shadowfell while others see it as distinct plane. Barovia is rumored to be one of the many realms of Shadowfell and the Domains of Dread.  Little more is known of Barovia as few have ever claimed to have been there.

@Klin -- I don't think you would know much based on your backstory. Maybe some general legends and folklore that tell of Barovia being a place bad children are taken and turned into pie.

Pardot -- Much longer post incoming when I have time to type :)

Daventry takes a good long drunken look at Arrival, judging the man's character.

Insight: 13

"Amazing, so close to the road yet I've not heard of it. I'd certainly love to go... Could be a good detour! But... There's problems with my own home, so you'll just have to regale me with tales of yours for tonight!"

Daventry listens intently and joins in with her own stories around the fire. Some of her sailing days, others of more recent adventures. 

Arabelle smiles at Pardot, "So you vish to know more about your compatriots. Your purpose? Let uz see vhat the cards know then!" She places the deck on your map. She closes her eyes and the starless night goes completely still. No birds, no crickets. Even Arrigal and Luvash aburptly stop their stories and boasting. They look carefully at their sister and share a glance before motioning everyone to be silent. 

The girl opens her eyes but all you see is white, no pupils and no iris. Just a blank white ball staring through you. She lifts her hand over the deck and speaks in a soft voice that is both familiar and completely foreign. "Five travelers, five different points of a star. All equal and vital to the whole." She places her hand over the deck and five cards fly out of the deck from different places and land on the mat face down. Each card takes the point of a star as she speaks a one of the cards flips over as she describes it. 

The card at the top is first to flip. "The Shepard! A protector of others but one who bears a terrible and dangerous burden." The next is the upper right card "The Myrmidon, A great hero but often overlooked. An underdog scared to come out of the shadows." The upper left card turns over and land softly on the table, "The Wizard! One of mystery and riddle who craves knowledge but for what end." The bottom left is next  "The Evoker, one of strange, supernatural power. An uncontrollable power." And finally the bottom right. "The Diver. A seer. Truthful, honest and wise they bear the weight of the future."

"Five cards for five companions. All common cards brought to bear" Her hand glows a pale orange and she continues with her prophecy. "But what binds them? What brings them together?" Five more cards fly from the deck. One lands in the center of the deck and four to each of the corners of the mat. Again they flip in turn Starting in the top left and moving clockwise. "The Marionette. A spy or minion of another. Of one of much greater power" The next prophecy in the top right, "The Illusionist. Lies and deceit. A saboteur." The bottom right. "The Innocent is a being of great importance. Their life in danger." The last peripheral card is the bottom left, "The Raven, A hidden source of information and possible force of good." There is a palpable vibration in the air as the last card, the one the center of the star struggles to lift from the table as if an invisible hand keeps pulling it down. A bead of sweat falls from Arabelle's nose and the card flips. It lands heavily on the mat. Arabelle gasps just slightly, "The Darklord. A single, powerful entity. One of great evil with far reaching and devastating goals."

Her eyes close and in a moment life seems to return to the campsite when her eyes open her eyes return to normal. A weak smile crosses her face as she looks at the cards, "Interesting." She snaps her fingers the cards fly through the air back into the deck. Carefully she wraps in silk and secures the tie. She stands and places the cards in a dark cherry wood box. "I hope you found your answer. I am very tired. I think it is time I retire." Not waiting for a response she heads to her wagon for the evening. 

@Daventry -- Through your wine goggles Arrigal seems like a pretty swell guy. Very friendly, great hair.

Speaking to Arrigal before Arabelle begins with the cards, Triäsa says, "I seem to recall something about Vistani being interplanar travelers.  Does that mean Barovia is not part of Toril?"  Before he can answer though the hush falls over everything and there is no immediate answer. 

She can't help but watch the woman as she speaks of the cards while clearly some magic is at work.  She listens to what she says and then is a little surprised that suddenly it is all over.  She's doubly surprised when Arabelle simply heads off to her wagon.  She looks to Pardot, hoping that maybe he can offer some insight.  Though she's reluctant to ask.  

As Pardot rolls us his star map after the reading he notices it's still warm where the cards had landed. Like everyone else, he is silent for a moment as Arabelle walks to her cart to rest. Then looking to the others he says, "It's rare to experience such a prophecy." And to Arrigal he adds, "Your family has a special talent."

"It seems the stars really do bring all things together." He then says to the group. "Including us. Our entrance to Candlekeep was no accident it seems. And our poor friend in our cart must receive healing. She is important, as are those ravens we met before. We may encounter them again sometime. Though who the marionette and illusionist are..." He then reaches over for his glass, finds it empty, and walks over to the keg to pour himself another drink before sitting down to think.

"Barovia is rumored to be one of the many realms of Shadowfell and the Domains of Dread." Ludolf says to Triäsa beside him in a lowered voice as Arabelle finishes with her Tarokka deck and leaves. Ludolf is even more brooding than before after listening to Arabelle. "The man in black is certainly represented by one of these cards. I do not question the truth in what we have heard, merely the usefulness of such vague information." He says a bit gruffly before going silent and brooding again.

"What I find interesting are the cards we CAN'T place." Daventry says, hopefully pushing past some of the initial hit of wine. (Con! 11)

"The five of us, well, outside of some relevations Arabelle couldn't tell from a glance..." she eyes Triasa, "those cards are easy to place."

"The darklord? A bit on the nose. Just needs a funny hat."

"It's the corner cards... and that those could be just about anyone. They speak of deception, of control. A puppeteer and a liar."

Triasa shakes her head. "I'm not sure I can even place the five cards that are meant to be us.  I mean, the Diver is Pardot.  And...  Klin is the Myrmidon?  The Wizard represents... Ludolf? And maybe Evoker is Daventry."  She then pauses, "No, she's the Shepherd, protector of others."  She then shakes her head. "I don't know. I can't even figure out our group and then there are these others."  

After hearing Klin's comment she nods. "I agree the Innocent must be Fistandia. And the Raven... must be the woman we met by the chateaux?  Does it suggest there are others like her that might help us?"  She looks perhaps a bit encouraged by that thought.  "The other two simply suggest a spy and saboteur.  Not a surprise there will be people working against us."  

After expressing her thoughts, Triasa has to agree with Ludolf. "There is a lot of vague information here.  I do not see that any of this helps, unless someone that has a gift can actually provide insight."  She glances first to Pardot, but then to the wagon where Arabelle retreated.  "A fine trick making random cards appear on a table with no explanation," she adds, a bit derisively.  

"You are not convinced Triäsa?" Ludolf says with a slight smirk. "If so I wouldn't blame you." He continues in a serious tone. "This information is unreliable at best. But nonetheless we should be wary of spies and saboteurs. We already have the attention of the man in black." Ludolf continues. "And I do believe you to be the wizard Triäsa, making me the evoker." He finishes, looking troubled again.

As Arabelle retires with no more than a heavy sigh Luvash and Arrigal share a glance before answering your questions. Luvash speaks first, "Arabelle is still young. Unlike her Grandmother Eva her prophecies are vague but they should not be dismissed. What you heard is true, or vill be true before your time together is over. It is up to you to find meaning in the cards. A true Vistani prophecy is a rare gift do not dismiss it."

Arrigal then smiles as he seems a bit eager to change the subject, "It seems you know a bit of our home. Barovia is indeed beyond the mist. Though you speak of planar travel a concept I know nothing of. We simply navigate the mist with the permission of those who rule it." He then drinks of deeply of his wine. "But Domains of Dread... The weather in Barovia leaves much to be desired but I would not describe it so bleakly. In fact, Vallaki our capital has a grand festival's every week! It is quite a happy place just ask those who live there!" He fills his glass for at least the third time this hour, "But come let us continue to tales and drink! The sun will be here soon and then we leave for Barovia should decide to join us."

They would speak with you as long as you wish so just let me know when you decide to call it a night and we will move to the next morning. 

@Daventry -- While you are still very drunk from the first glass at least the second does not seem to push you over the edge and cause you to pass out. 

Triasa considers Ludolf's comment for a moment. "I do not think 'mystery and riddle' fits for me."  She looks over at Daventry for confirmation. "What do you think?" She looks last to the halfling. "Pardot? You always have good insight."

She listens to Luvash's comment, turning to him, her fingers move, almost as though starting to cast a spell.  But she stops, just remaining silent.  

"The stars... when they were overhead," Pardot begins with a sigh, "could often divine things as well. Though they too can be vague. Nonetheless, we should not dismiss her reading. There is clearly divine influence here." He then looks back to Arrigal going for a third glass of wine ((maybe 3 glasses is enough for me to do a con save just for fun. 6)) says, "I'm sure your home is wonderful. And, I at least, would love to see it some time. But," gesturing towards their comatose charge, adds, "we must first return to Candlekeep. Though I'm happy to share your stories this evening." If the discussion dies down, Pardot will stay up a bit to share stories and songs from his hometown. Though his tribe of halflings are more secretive, they still know how to tell a good story.

Daventry laughs a bit, and says, "Le gliocas an mhisg." <Dwarven: the wisdom of drunkenness>. She looks to Triasa, "You'd be the evoker for sure. Evoker of emotions, and evoker of strange, hair-changing powers. Ludolf broods well enough for the Wizard, and his delving for knowledge is obvious... and Pardot is spot on the Diviner. Shepard, well, we know what burden it is I carry. That leaves the Myrmidon for Klin, which fits."