Dadeveth listens attentively as the lady speaks. She frowns a bit at the mention of dark powers, an echo of her own troubles it seems. "Well I know something about dark powers, and those who follow them." She offers with a sad smile. "If I can aid these against those powers, maybe it will be a balance to me leaving behind those I am running from."

Dark powers.  Cerio swallows thickly.  He’s not a stranger to darkness, but doesn’t mean he isn’t afraid of it.  Come to think of it, the more you know about it, the more reason you have to run from it. Clearly this Isolde is much more than she seems.  No mere carnival master has the means to control entire worlds.  Cerio’s suddenly afraid.  This Lady’s methods may be different than Mordlaine’s, more direct, but they’re no less poisonous.  He can already taste it on his tongue.   

“Ya mean to rule Barovia, just as ya rule the Carnival.”  Cerio sits, trying to appear relaxed, as if all of this makes perfect sense, while in fact that is anything but the case.  “So we, me, Dadeveth, and Dallid, we find this lord o’ Barovia.  Put a dagger in his neck.  And we get what, release?  Back int’ tha trouble we started with?  Seems t’ me that’s just a lot o’ work to land back in the fryin’ pan.  If’n I’m gonna do this, I need t’ know I’ll be safe afterward.  Not just money, but, but safety.  Need t’know I’ll have a place.  Once we kill Strahd, can I stay?”

"I know the task I ask of you is a perilous one," Isolde starts, "for that I am sorry.  But think about the good that may be achieved."  As the interaction between Dallid and the wolf plays out Isolde watches curiously.  "Interesting..." she mutters to herself.

"Where to start?"  Isolde parrots back at Dallid, "Ahh yes - my contact.  A rather extraordinary man came to us not more than a couple of months ago.  He had knowledge of Barovia and the curse that afflicted it.  Furthermore, he had a passion to see the curse lifted and Count Strahd Von Zarovich brought to justice.  I did not ask what his reasons were, or how he came to know of the land, but I could tell it was deeply personal to him."

Getting lost in her story she continues, a note of fondness and potentially something more creeps into her voice, "Did you know that he stayed with us for a while before continuing on.  He had a very charismatic character," she chuckles, "I even let him play at being Ringmaster a couple of times!  Oh, Rictavio."  She smiles.  "He is who you should seek, for he knows more about the current plight of Barovia and was going to research into how to remove Strahd from power."

"As you can imagine, I have not made contact with him since our last meeting.  I do not know how he fares."  Isolde shakes her head, dismissing any ill-thoughts, "If anyone could survive alone in Barovia, it'd be Rictavio.  But then he wasn't alone - he took two of our Carnival animals with him for company; the cheeky Piccolo, a monkey with very quick hands - if you get my meaning - and Snuffles, our sabre-toothed tiger.  He said he, 'had big plans' for them.  He was like that Rictavio, deeply mysterious to be sure."

((ALL - I think it's time for another Insight check - the results will largely depend on the totals.  Be warned, some information is likely to require additional or higher rolls.))

Cerio insight 18

((Apologies Ashen_Age, took a while to write my previous post and I think you may have posted in the meantime))

Isolde chuckles at Cerio's assertion, "Oh dear Cerio, not at all, not at all.  I want the current ruler gone, tis true, but I do not wish to rule... No, my interests go much deeper."  She bites her lip as she adds the last part, holding back from saying more.

She nods along merrily as you describe putting a 'dagger into the neck' of Strahd, then frowns.  "You had the right of it, to begin with, but then seemed to go off course a little.  You - Cerio, Dadeveth and Dallid - go to Barovia, put a dagger in Strahd's neck; a marvellous idea, but possibly a little easier than the task might be," she says sardonically.  "Then, once the land has been freed from the bargain, the curse, under which it currently resides the mists will dissipate and you shall have your freedom."  She sighs, "and the Barovians will be free, all of them."

"As for being sent back to the trouble you escaped from?  Not only is that non-sensical, but I am afraid quite, if not completely, impossible."  Once more you see her biting back the words, stopping short from relaying the whole story, "If you remove Strahd, you will be seen as heroes throughout the lands."  Briefly losing her composure, she snaps, "Heck, I'd even give you Castle Ravenloft if you wanted.  Can't get much safer than a castle!"

Cerio Insight:

"What can you tell us about Rictavio?" Dadeveth asks. "How do we find him, what is his favorite color, who was he going to work with in this land, did he have a place he was heading to when he left you, somewhere specific in this misty land?" She pauses as she considers. "Seems unlikely that we will be able to find this person with what little you have given us in regard to him... As far as the land itself, what can you tell us about this curse, about the dark powers in particular? Anything you can tell us now can only help us in our work once we arrive."

Insight: 23
Persuasion: 15

"No, ya can't," Cerio muses in response to Lady Isolde's comment about the castle.  And there's bound to be riches inside a castle, too.  Noble folk love to stuff their houses full of jewels and coin, don't they?  And a pocket-picking monkey?  Who wouldn't want one of those?  "Sounds like a fair deal t'me."

"But, she's right," Cerio says, thumbing up toward Dadeveth.  "I'm sure this castle ain't gon' be easy t'get into. This count's bound t'ave bodyguards, or guards or somethin'. So th' more we know th' better.  And if'n there's some dark magic protectin' 'im, it'd sure be helpful if we knew they's a way t'break it.  Maybe some spell or somethin'.  Otherwise we's like t'lose our own heads.  'N all just tryin' to serve you, m'lady.  Ain't there anything else ya can tell us?  Please?"  He says this in his most pitiful, backwater voice--the one he uses to convince noble ladies with soft hearts that he ain't nothing but a poor misfortunate.  He'd learned that from Edrick.  He'd be proud.

Persuasion: 16

Dallid insight 9 

“Lady Isolde, I wonder: who are these backers of Strahd? And what is this division among them you mentioned?” 

Dadeveth's Insight:

Dallid's Insight:

Dadeveth - Isolde shakes her head, despairingly, at you.  "I do not know what his favourite colour is, or a specific place he was heading to within..."  She pauses and thinks, "No, that's not right, he did mention something about a tower... to the west of the Town of Vallaki.  The way he spoke he had been there before - it seems familiar to him.  Otherwise, I am not sure where he would go.  Likely somewhere away from Castle Ravenloft.  I'd try the Village of Krezk."

Her face seems to darken when you mention the dark powers, but it could just be the candlelight playing tricks with your eyes, "Aye, the curse.  As I mentioned before, it is believed that Strahd made a pact with the Dark Powers, in the guise of a bargain.  I do not know the nature of the bargain, but I know that the mists, the curse, followed in its wake.  The only being truly able to control them is Strahd.  Do not underestimate his power, however borrowed or fractured it may be, he will prove a strong adversary."

Listening to your plea for more information carefully, Isolde adds, "There is something more.  I am not sure how much weight you should put in this, it is mostly based on rumour and unverified."  She closes her eyes, trying to remember the details, before speaking up, "There is a place of great evil in the wilderness.  I have heard tales of a temple in the land that is filled with shadowy creatures and horrors from beyond the grave.  It is rumoured that this is where the dark bargain was struck.  It is referred to as the Amber Temple.  Be wary though Dadeveth, such a place would be a bastion for darkness and best steered well clear from.  It could be nothing but rumours."

"Thank you." Dadeveth says, giving a bow with herh human torso. "That at least gives us some places to start our search for this person." She settles back at the mention of this amber temple and its dark power. A grave look comes into her eyes. "That sounds like a truely evil place. I think it is likely a place to be very careful of, and to make sure you are quite well prepared before entering." She says the last to the others around, those she will be traveling with. "From my experience with darker forces, it is not something to go into without care and planning."

“Then it sounds like we should rendezvous with this agent, locate resources and means to destroy or cut off the source of his powers, and then look into our final assault upon his person. Research it all and share it with all so that even if we fail, another might pick up our work and carry on.” Dallid begins drawing a picture of Lady Isolde. 

"Mm hmm, mm hmm," Cerio has his hand on his chin, nodding and making note of everything they're hearing.  "So we's dealin' with a mage o' some sort, with a pact with dark powers, 'n a big ole castle, and a bunch o' shadowy creatures, and maybe a mysterious temple full o' evil.  'N we might 'ave help from this Rictavio 'n his monkey 'n tiger."  Cerio sucks on his teeth for a moment, taking all of this in.  "Alright, sounds like a plan."  

Sounds like manure, he thinks to himself.

"'N one last question, m'lady.  Ya mentioned you got some equipment ya can lend us.  What's that 'bout?  Ya got, like a wizard's wand, or a magical turkey, or somethin'?"

Cerio - Whatever you said appears to have worked, Isolde's face softens at your words.  "I... I shall try to tell you what I can.  Understand that I do this to try and help you in achieving your task.  Though some of the topics are particularly painful to me."

Isolde pauses, this time wiping away tears from her eyes, "Barovia is my home.  It is where I was born and where I grew up.  The sole child of Vasili Geistlinger and Lisbeth..."  You notice her rub anxiously at her temple and averts her gaze, "and Lisbeth Von Zarovich."  She laughs sarcastically, "Years have I been in hiding...  Years have I tried to free my homeland.  Years have I tried to remove Strahd from his cursed throne."

"It was when I was at my most vulnerable that the Carnival found me, much as it did you.  Whisking me out of immediate harm's way, to this place... or should I say plane, for that is what I believe it to be.  It's own separate plane of existence."  Isolde looks around her wagon, "Time works differently here, of that I am sure.  Though it feels like an age since I arrived at the Carnival, I am informed the Barovian calendar has advanced but a couple of years."  She sighs deeply.

"You may recall I said that it was almost impossible for you to be sent back to the location you arrived from?  That is only half the battle.  Finding the exact year and time."  Isolde looks perplexed, "I wouldn't have a clue how that would be achieved.  The Carnival seems linked to Barovia in some way, I can send you there with the Skurra... they are my main link with my homeland."

Looking defeated, Isolde asks, "Is there any more you wished to know?"

Dallid - "The Dark Powers - no one knows exactly who or what they are.  There is a chance they will make themselves known to you at some time, though I cannot say what form that would take,"  Isolde says doubtfully.  "Strahd has powers that no man should have; he has lived countless years, has destroyed countless enemies, fallen in battle only to be seen alive and well some weeks later.  The power is not his own but granted.  Of this I am sure."

Isolde meets your gaze, her voice perks up a little, "Recent developments suggest that, as I previously mentioned, the power behind Strahd is not one singular entity.  Reports come from the Skurra which suggest Strahd's grip over Barovia is loosening.  Why just the other day..." you see her smile a little, "I heard that sunlight was spotted in Vallaki, piercing the mists."  She shakes her head in disbelief, "Can you believe such a thing?  Not only that.  But I heard tell of a being of darkness, a maurezhi, operating under Strahd's nose and he was none-the-wiser!  Such a thing would previously have been unheard of."

"If these Dark Powers abandon Strahd, what then?  He becomes vulnerable."  Isolde says, matter-of-factly.

((Looks like we've posted at the same time again - that'd be me retyping things half a dozen times!))

"I have all the information that I will ask of you." Dadeveth says, leaning forward to lay a soft hand on Isolde's forearm. "If I can do anything to release your homeland from this curse I will do so." She straightens back up as she glances to the others, then back to Isolde. "Is there anything, equipment-wise, that you believe we need for this work? Any supplies we can make use of, as I, for one, did not have time to return to my room and gather all of my things."

"Hold up.  So you's kin t' this Strahd feller?"

Isolde nods, comforted by Dadeveth's words.  "There are a few items I believe might well be of help.  Speak with Hermos outside, he will sort you all out."  She contemplates for a moment, "There is another thing that I think you should have.  I will entrust it to you, Dadeveth."

Walking over to the back of the wagon, Isolde searches until she finds the item she was looking for, a tiny, bejewelled lockbox.  The way she holds the item infers that it is of the utmost importance.  She sighs heavily before returning to where you all sit, "That is true, Cerio.  I am, albeit distantly, related to Strahd.  He would, I believe, be my great-great-grand uncle."

"My family's tale is one of tragedy."  Isolde says, through watery eyes, "I do not know why I tell you this, but it might be of some importance when understanding who you are going to be up against."

"There once lived three brothers; Strahd, Sturm, and Sergei.  They were the noble sons of Barov von Zarovich and Ravenia van Roeyen.  Strahd, the eldest, was a brilliant military mind and commander.  He won many campaigns, yet was seen as cold, violent, and ruthless.  Sturm - my great-great-grandfather - was the middle son.  Though his achievements never outshone his older brother, he was nonetheless a decorated general.  Finally, the youngest son, Sergei..."  Isolde takes a moment before continuing, "Though competent with the sword.  Sergei never sought violence, preferring mercy to malice."

"At his height, Strahd had it all.  He was the Count of Barovia, residing within Castle Ravenloft, he had wealth, power, position - a decorated war hero and protector.  But what Strahd never knew was love.  Sure, he had his suitors, but none would capture his heart.  That was until Tatyana."  Isolde smiles, "Tatyana was reportedly all that he had dreamed of; beauty, intelligence, kindness, compassion.  Unfortunately, at least for Strahd, Tatyana had eyes for another... Sergei."

"I can only assume that it was the character traits which Sergei had, the complete opposite to Strahd's, that drew Tatyana to him.  My guess would be that Strahd's pride was hurt as a result of her choosing the lesser, younger brother."  Isolde looks lost in her story as she continues, "It is at this point that things took a turn for the worst, I am afraid to say.  For Tatyana was to be wed to Sergei.  The marriage was something that Strahd could not abide."

"Whether out of jealousy, anger, or feeling slighted Strahd killed Sergei.  I do not know how, or where, the fratricide was committed, but I do know when - Tatyana and Sergei's wedding day."  Isolde says, wiping away tears, "It was to be the happiest day of their lives, Dadeveth!"  She grabs Dadeveth's hand, "But, the events of that day have echoed through generations.  Tatyana, it is rumoured, was so distraught at losing her husband-to-be, that she threw herself off of the top of Castle Ravenloft.  Denying Strahd that which he coveted."

Moments pass as Isolde takes the time to regain her composure.  "It is said that Strahd cut down many of his own men that day.  Those that were sworn to protect the Von Zarovich line, including Sergei.  Thankfully, for me, my ancestor, Sturm believed that foul-play was afoot.  Knowing Strahd better than any other, he did not attend the wedding.  Instead, he chose to go into hiding, knowing that Strahd would come for him."

"That is not where the story ends, however."  Isolde takes the small lockbox, unlocks it, and withdraws a couple of sheets of parchment.  "This found its way into my possession." she says, smiling, "courtesy of the Skurra."

She holds out a piece of the parchment and hands it to Dadeveth ((who, I shall assume, shows it to both Cerio and Dallid));

"I have confirmed that the note is written in Strahd's hand - I have an earlier note here confirming that fact.  He believes whoever this woman is to be the reincarnation of Tatyana.  Whoever she is, she is in great peril.  The note mentions that she has been recently bitten.  I believe that we can return you to Barovia before she is bitten again!"  Isolde hands you a second, smaller scrap of paper;

"That note has been passed down within my family," Isolde explains, "It was but one of the pieces of the puzzle, where Strahd mentions the 'Dark Powers' - I should have known then they were plural, rather than singular."  She shakes her head as though she had overlooked an important clue. "Note, even then his infatuation with Tatyana... and the belief she would somehow come back.  Also, how the curse over the land will not subside until the 'Dark Powers are appeased'," she says with a shudder.

"There is but one more thing that I have for you.  As mentioned, I give this to you for safekeeping, Dadeveth."  Isolde produces a small golden ring from the lockbox.  "I believe this to be the ring that was intended to be Tatyana's wedding ring.  If, as Strahd suspects, she has returned in a new guise, I would ask that you give this to her.  After all, it was to be hers, to begin with."  Isolde passes the lockbox with the ring inside to Dadeveth.  "This ring must not fall into the hands of Strahd.  If he should use it for nefarious ends..."  She shakes her head, "Please see it reaches her, Dadeveth."

"I will protect it with my life." Dadeveth says as she accepts the box and its precious cargo. She puts it safely into one of her saddlebags, making sure it is well padded and protected. "At least we have this likeness to go by." Dadeveth then says, holding up the piece of parchment with the sketch on it. "It is not much, but we should recognize her if we meet her." She passes the two bits of parchment around to the others.

Cerio blinks, trying to absorb the mountain of information, barely capable of comprehending the magnitude of what he's hearing. "Will there be a ways t'contact ya, m'lady, if'n we have questions?"

With that, Cerio stands, puts his blue beaded pillow back where he found it, and stretches his legs, twisting his torso this way and that to get the cracks out. "Welp, th'sooner we start th'sooner we get this over'th.  I'd say Lord Strahd's enjoyin' his last fancy cigar as we speak.  Or whatever noble folks get up to'n their castles.  Heh, maybe soon I'll figure that out fer m'self."

Still, something in Cerio's eyes whispers of an unspoken dread.