Lucian is the last one down, probably because he got a little to comfortable on that bed which allowed him to 'trance' a little better than he usually can. This leaves him wondering whether or not he actually managed to do what human's call 'sleeping', but that was a question for another time.
If he catches a glimpse of Ichabod, he lets stifles a laugh. Then, pointing at the imp-cherub, he looks to Chara and mouth's "Uh... what happened to him?"
He gives both wolf pups a pat on the head and a piece of food...it always felt good to be able to share even if someone else was providing the food, then he notices Lenn and Eithne talking. Lenn looked... troubled, so he hesitantly went over to join them. He trusts that Eithne will to a much better job improving whatever the situation is then he can, but he figures that he want's to extend his support as well. "Is... everything okay?"
When Bran comes down and speaks to her, Chara smiles.
"I slept very well, thank you for asking!" she says, then blushes when Eithne points out that the woman at the 'festival' called Chara an angel."Y-yes, I heard her... I'm not entirely sure how to feel about being called an angel... I didn't really get a chance to say anything to her before she ran off."
Chara notices Lucian stifling a laugh, and she glances down to see that Ichabod has returned to his perch on her shoulder.
"Well... my Master came to me in a dream last night... and... he wasn't especially happy about Ichabod... so he did... um... something..."
Chara puts a hand over her mouth to stifle a chuckle at the imp's expense. She's really, really doing her best not to engage in any bullying, even of an imp, but she can't deny that what happened is hilarious.
- Well, white is just not for everyone, you know? I think it suits him pretty nice - Bran chuckles - I am definitely a black clothing man myself, white would look awful on me!
He gets prepared quite quickly after this, grabbing the incomplete songs he scribbled last night and putting them in his backpack, saying goodbye to the Martikovs afterwards. He gazes at Urwin wondering if he and Blinsky will be able to gather more info on the hags. Urwin did say he would have them watched. "And how is he going to do that, exactly...?", he wonders.
Exiting Vallaki, when Nikolai mentions being glad leaving that place, Bran says:
- It was my first night there and I think I've seen enough for a lifetime.
During the journey, he will just be in the middle talking to whoever wants to chat, or just thinking of his music, while trying not to think to much of Krezk coming nearer and nearer...
When Eithne sees how the imp has been transformed, she is seized with mixed feelings. On the one hand she wants to laugh…but on the other, she can't – and not just because she promised Chara that she wouldn't 'torture' him. She doesn't feel like laughing, because now Ichabod seems to her in a tragically similar situation to that of her mistress... even if reversed: she, an angel soul in a demonic-looking body; he, a devil's soul in a body that mocks that of an angel.
The savage stranger takes a moment to approach the imp and murmurs, "You probably don't care, Ichabod," (she pronounces his name correctly this time) "but I want you to know I'm sorry about that what happened to you. Now you, like us, know what it feels like to feel out of place. To feel different. To feel that you have lost something - perhaps forever. I have no illusions that this will help you develop a conscience. I think you will remain an evil little creature, ready to hurt or betray us at the first opportunity. And if you do, I will gladly kill you. But that you have been violated in your body... transformed in a way you don't appreciate, against your will... I suppose there was a reason, but please know that I guess you are not at all happy about it - and that I am sorry. Sadly, I'm afraid there is no way around it and that you, like us, will have to come to terms with what was done to you. If it's any consolation, the only thing I can remind you, it is that it is useless for us to be ashamed of things for which we are not to blame. And that no matter how we look, we are who we decide to be. If you're going to keep acting like a devil, you'll be a devil - no matter how you look. So... it will not be easy, but just try not to think too much about... well, this".
Finished speaking, the savage stranger leaves - she certainly doesn't expect a thank or a sign of gratitude from the infernal little creature...
'If you think so, why did you want to talk to him?' the voices in her head are curious. 'Yes, Eithne, what was the point? I would have laughed in his face!' (and indeed, many of the voices in her head are generating giggles). 'Or if you really didn't want to make fun of him, you could have just ignored him…'
'Don't you understand that he is now a victim too?' the last of the dusk elf maidens mentally retorts 'Certainly not innocent – what happened to him he brought on his own, by tricking Chara into make him her familiar to try to damn her. But I don't like it anyway. Something has been taken away from him, as has happened to us – a part of his appearance, of his identity. Violence was done to him, as if nothing can ever happen here in Barovia that is not tragic. I don't... I don't like it. And I had to tell him… no, not because I think he cares. I had to tell him because I care'.
Chara is, to be frank, shocked at Eithne's empathetic speech to Ichabod. It is probably the first time that savage woman has shown the imp anything but utter contempt. And... Chara suddenly feels ashamed of herself for finding her familiar's fate amusing, even if she tried not to show it.
"Thank you, Eithne," Chara says as the warrior woman. "I doubt he'll say it... but he probably needed to hear that. And... I think the rest of us did as well."
Chara will stay near the middle of the party when we return to the road, probably walking next to Lucian. She's still feeling a little bit guilty about laughing at Ichabod, even if it was for only a few moments before Eithne reminded her of exactly what had really happened to the imp. And... she has some other things on her mind as well. Though her patron had told her not to worry about it, the she-devil can't help but think about Onika... and of the dark implications in her patron's words on the subject of the young woman's disappearance.
Chara is, to be frank, shocked at Eithne's empathetic speech to Ichabod. It is probably the first time that savage woman has shown the imp anything but utter contempt. And... Chara suddenly feels ashamed of herself for finding her familiar's fate amusing, even if she tried not to show it.
"Thank you, Eithne," Chara says as the warrior woman. "I doubt he'll say it... but he probably needed to hear that. And... I think the rest of us did as well."
Chara will stay near the middle of the party when we return to the road, probably walking next to Lucian. She's still feeling a little bit guilty about laughing at Ichabod, even if it was for only a few moments before Eithne reminded her of exactly what had really happened to the imp. And... she has some other things on her mind as well. Though her patron had told her not to worry about it, the she-devil can't help but think about Onika... and of the dark implications in her patron's words on the subject of the young woman's disappearance.
"No, in fact, I don't think he will either, but you're welcome, Chara" replies Eithne. "I felt I owed him at least that. If we're really going to bring some light back to Barovia…we have to start trying to shine ourselves, right? Plus, who knows… I'm still inclined to think of Ichabod as hopelessly evil. But your patron is a thousand times wiser and more knowledgeable than me. And instead of killing him... he did this. He certainly didn't do it out of malice. If he did it, he is evidently convinced that something good could come of it. Perhaps, this that he gave him, and which at first sight may seem like a humiliation, is actually a possibility... Maybe he gave him the chance to experience first-hand what it feels like to be a victim. Maybe it gave him the chance to start thinking and, someday, to change. I've heard stories of fallen angels... and mind you, I don't know if they're true... But if they are, if even an angel can fall... maybe then even a devil can repent and redeem himself? I don't know... but if your patron felt right to give Ichabod a chance, it would be presumptuous of me, who barely know who (or what) I am, not to do the same".
Nikolai allows himself a smile. "You all are much more forgiving than I. I think the little chump got off lucky, he certainly deserved a harsher fate than that. But I won't pretend to be sorry about his humiliation. I know he wouldn't be so kind if the situation was reversed. Nevertheless, we have a mission. Let's press on."
Ichabod, standing on Chara'sshoulder, acknowledges Eithne's sentiment. "Milady Death, I know how hard those words must have been for you and I appreciate them. Emotion, like truth, is a kind of currency that we invest in others in the hopes of return. I cannot be other than I am and do not pretend to ought else, but this kindness places me in debt to you. It will not be forgotten, even when you return to your usual disdain. This I promise."
Turning to Nikolai, he says, "As for you, I await your comeuppance so as to test your theory."
You make your way along the road. You have the same wagon that you used for your trip to the graveyard, although Urwinsaw fit to give you a donkey to pull it. For Barovia, it is a relatively sunny day. The light filtering through the tree cover dapples the road and the surrounding woods. After travelling for about an hour you come to an arching stone bridge that crosses the Luna river according to your map. In another quarter mile, the road comes to an X intersection, with branches to the northwest, northeast (the way you came), southwest, and southeast. The lower half of a snapped wooden signpost thrusts upward at an angle near the eastern elbow of the intersection. The top half of the sign, featuring arms pointing in four directions, lies in the weeds nearby.
As you approach the crossroads, I need the first two people in marching order to make a Survival check.
...Ichabod, standing on Chara'sshoulder, acknowledges Eithne's sentiment. "Milady Death, I know how hard those words must have been for you and I appreciate them. Emotion, like truth, is a kind of currency that we invest in others in the hopes of return. I cannot be other than I am and do not pretend to ought else, but this kindness places me in debt to you. It will not be forgotten, even when you return to your usual disdain. This I promise."...
All Eithne would have expected, except for the imp to stoop to reply - least of all to reply politely and claiming to feel indebted…
Opening her azure eyes wide in amazement, before returning to focus on the path the savage stranger replies: "Who knows, Ichabod? The 'disdain' you speak of could also become 'unusual'. If you are able, contrary to what I would have expected, to feel gratitude... perhaps 'Milady Death'..." she thinks for a moment "Milady Death you say? It is not a bad nickname... Noble and impressive at the same time... But it could be shorter and more elegant - let's contract in Miladeath. Eithne Miladeath. Yes, sounds good... I was saying?" she tries to resume "Oh yes; perhaps Miladeath will have to admit she was too quick to judge you - and thus apologize first, then correct her attitude. Who knows, Ichabod? Maybe this is a new beginning after all".
"Oh," Lucian says when Lenn say's he's better now. "I'm glad!" He gives them both a smile.
Lucian, also preferring the middle of the party, finds himself walking with Chara and Ichabod. He's past the initial shock (and mirth) of seeing the imp's transformation. He can tell that Chara is feeling a little bad for the imp, but he doesn't really know what to say. Though, it seems that something else is bothering Chara as well, so he asks hesitantly, "Is...everything alright?" He looks away for a moment before adding, "You... seem like you've got something on your mind?" He glances at the imp, wherever he is, "Is...is it about him? I...uh... I'm sorry about my, initial reaction. I just wasn't expecting..."He shakes his head, "Or... is something else bothering you?" He isn't sure what else it could be, unless something happened at the jamboree when he was...well, dealing with his own problem. He really hopes that's not the case.
"I do feel kind of bad about what happened to Ichabod... and... well, I laughed a little bit too, which was probably wrong of me," she says. "I can't help but blame myself a little bit as well... I might have been able to talk my Master into being a bit less harsh if I had known what he was going to do when he said that he would 'help the imp to be a better guide,' or whatever it was he said. But... there was something else he said..."
Chara pauses, checking to see if anyone else is listening.
"I asked him if he knew what happened to Onika... and he said that he believes that she was 'corrupted beyond anyone's ability to save'... and that it was 'intended all along.' I'm not sure what he meant by that... but it almost sounded like he was saying she turned herself into some kind of evil monster. My Master is very wise, and I've never known him to say something untrue... but I can't help but hope he's wrong this time..."
Lucian gives her a shocked look, remembering the... strange mixture of smells he'd found while trying to search for Onika. The thought caused him to scrunch his nose, which he rubbed as if suppressing a sneeze. Once that passed he says, "I... well... I can't say I really knew Onika all that well. She didn't really talk much.... But, if she was planning on....uh... turning into something evil, then why would she have signed the contract? I don't know..." He trails off, once more thinking about those scents and...the blood. "I...kind of think that Nikolai was right when he said it might have been a vampire. I... well," he looks very uncomfortable for a moment before continuing, "Based on the scents, it did seem like she left of her own accord. B...but there was a lot of fear mixed into it all. I don't know how...charming someone works... but... if that's really something that vampires can do I think that's what happened. Only... it seemed... I don't know..." he lets out a long breath. "I guess it doesn't make a lot of sense if a vampire was there...why didn't it do anything to the rest of us... unless... well... if your uh...your Master said that it was meant to be, maybe she'd been marked or something?" He shivers, wondering if Onika was bearing some sort of curse as he remembers her dark eyes. Perhaps she was dealing with something similar to his lycanthrope and... Lenn's vampirism. He doesn't like that thought.
He shakes his head, then, trying to sound assuring adds, "I don't like thinking about it. And I don't like the idea of just forgetting about it and moving on. But, there isn't much we can do right now. Maybe... maybe if we really do manage to take down Strahd. If we manage to fix whatever is broken in this land--maybe, if she is still alive, we can save her by saving the rest of Borovia." Once the words leave his mouth, he feels a little foolish. Was it wrong to hope for things that likely won't happen? Worse, was it wrong to try and share that hope?
As Bran hears Chara say she's feeling bad for laughing a little at Ichabod, he says:
- I understand you, Chara, but at the same time, I can't help but feel that we Barovians need to hear laughter a little more often. Of course, I don't mean laughing at anyone in a bad way, and I don't really think you would ever do that!, but ... you know... I feel we don't have enough of those happier outbursts in our lives ...
(OOC: not listening to the Onika part, just this specific thing!)
As you approach the crossroads, Eithne and Cole, being in the lead, both simultaneously notice a hunting trap, ready to spring shut, in the path directly in front of them. Cole is already stepping toward it when Eithne's intake of breath alerts him to the trap's presence. Cole, please make a Dex save.
Chara considers the Bard's words... she's not completely convinced, but she does appreciate Bran's attempt to help her feel better.
"Thanks, Bran... I'll try to keep that in mind," Chara says with a little sigh.
Chara nods along with Lucian as he tries to make sense of Onika's disappearance with the new information.
"I hope so... but if she really became some kind of undead or a hag or something like that by her own choice..." the she-devil trails off as she is suddenly distracted by the snap of the hunting trap as Cole inadvertently activates it.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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Lucian is the last one down, probably because he got a little to comfortable on that bed which allowed him to 'trance' a little better than he usually can. This leaves him wondering whether or not he actually managed to do what human's call 'sleeping', but that was a question for another time.
If he catches a glimpse of Ichabod, he lets stifles a laugh. Then, pointing at the imp-cherub, he looks to Chara and mouth's "Uh... what happened to him?"
He gives both wolf pups a pat on the head and a piece of food...it always felt good to be able to share even if someone else was providing the food, then he notices Lenn and Eithne talking. Lenn looked... troubled, so he hesitantly went over to join them. He trusts that Eithne will to a much better job improving whatever the situation is then he can, but he figures that he want's to extend his support as well. "Is... everything okay?"
When Bran comes down and speaks to her, Chara smiles.
"I slept very well, thank you for asking!" she says, then blushes when Eithne points out that the woman at the 'festival' called Chara an angel. "Y-yes, I heard her... I'm not entirely sure how to feel about being called an angel... I didn't really get a chance to say anything to her before she ran off."
Chara notices Lucian stifling a laugh, and she glances down to see that Ichabod has returned to his perch on her shoulder.
"Well... my Master came to me in a dream last night... and... he wasn't especially happy about Ichabod... so he did... um... something..."
Chara puts a hand over her mouth to stifle a chuckle at the imp's expense. She's really, really doing her best not to engage in any bullying, even of an imp, but she can't deny that what happened is hilarious.
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- Well, white is just not for everyone, you know? I think it suits him pretty nice - Bran chuckles - I am definitely a black clothing man myself, white would look awful on me!
He gets prepared quite quickly after this, grabbing the incomplete songs he scribbled last night and putting them in his backpack, saying goodbye to the Martikovs afterwards. He gazes at Urwin wondering if he and Blinsky will be able to gather more info on the hags. Urwin did say he would have them watched. "And how is he going to do that, exactly...?", he wonders.
Exiting Vallaki, when Nikolai mentions being glad leaving that place, Bran says:
- It was my first night there and I think I've seen enough for a lifetime.
During the journey, he will just be in the middle talking to whoever wants to chat, or just thinking of his music, while trying not to think to much of Krezk coming nearer and nearer...
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
When Eithne sees how the imp has been transformed, she is seized with mixed feelings. On the one hand she wants to laugh…but on the other, she can't – and not just because she promised Chara that she wouldn't 'torture' him. She doesn't feel like laughing, because now Ichabod seems to her in a tragically similar situation to that of her mistress... even if reversed: she, an angel soul in a demonic-looking body; he, a devil's soul in a body that mocks that of an angel.
The savage stranger takes a moment to approach the imp and murmurs, "You probably don't care, Ichabod," (she pronounces his name correctly this time) "but I want you to know I'm sorry about that what happened to you. Now you, like us, know what it feels like to feel out of place. To feel different. To feel that you have lost something - perhaps forever. I have no illusions that this will help you develop a conscience. I think you will remain an evil little creature, ready to hurt or betray us at the first opportunity. And if you do, I will gladly kill you. But that you have been violated in your body... transformed in a way you don't appreciate, against your will... I suppose there was a reason, but please know that I guess you are not at all happy about it - and that I am sorry. Sadly, I'm afraid there is no way around it and that you, like us, will have to come to terms with what was done to you. If it's any consolation, the only thing I can remind you, it is that it is useless for us to be ashamed of things for which we are not to blame. And that no matter how we look, we are who we decide to be. If you're going to keep acting like a devil, you'll be a devil - no matter how you look. So... it will not be easy, but just try not to think too much about... well, this".
Finished speaking, the savage stranger leaves - she certainly doesn't expect a thank or a sign of gratitude from the infernal little creature...
'If you think so, why did you want to talk to him?' the voices in her head are curious.
'Yes, Eithne, what was the point? I would have laughed in his face!' (and indeed, many of the voices in her head are generating giggles).
'Or if you really didn't want to make fun of him, you could have just ignored him…'
'Don't you understand that he is now a victim too?' the last of the dusk elf maidens mentally retorts 'Certainly not innocent – what happened to him he brought on his own, by tricking Chara into make him her familiar to try to damn her. But I don't like it anyway. Something has been taken away from him, as has happened to us – a part of his appearance, of his identity. Violence was done to him, as if nothing can ever happen here in Barovia that is not tragic. I don't... I don't like it. And I had to tell him… no, not because I think he cares. I had to tell him because I care'.
Chara is, to be frank, shocked at Eithne's empathetic speech to Ichabod. It is probably the first time that savage woman has shown the imp anything but utter contempt. And... Chara suddenly feels ashamed of herself for finding her familiar's fate amusing, even if she tried not to show it.
"Thank you, Eithne," Chara says as the warrior woman. "I doubt he'll say it... but he probably needed to hear that. And... I think the rest of us did as well."
Chara will stay near the middle of the party when we return to the road, probably walking next to Lucian. She's still feeling a little bit guilty about laughing at Ichabod, even if it was for only a few moments before Eithne reminded her of exactly what had really happened to the imp. And... she has some other things on her mind as well. Though her patron had told her not to worry about it, the she-devil can't help but think about Onika... and of the dark implications in her patron's words on the subject of the young woman's disappearance.
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((Quick flashback to the inn))
Lenn nods to Eithne’s words and then Lucian sit with them asks if he is alright.
it felt… good to suddenly have that kind of support. He haven’t feel like that since his sister…
“It is better now” he replies tapping gently the other man’s forearm appreciating the concern. “Thank you both”
PbP Character: A few ;)
"No, in fact, I don't think he will either, but you're welcome, Chara" replies Eithne. "I felt I owed him at least that. If we're really going to bring some light back to Barovia…we have to start trying to shine ourselves, right? Plus, who knows… I'm still inclined to think of Ichabod as hopelessly evil. But your patron is a thousand times wiser and more knowledgeable than me. And instead of killing him... he did this. He certainly didn't do it out of malice. If he did it, he is evidently convinced that something good could come of it. Perhaps, this that he gave him, and which at first sight may seem like a humiliation, is actually a possibility... Maybe he gave him the chance to experience first-hand what it feels like to be a victim. Maybe it gave him the chance to start thinking and, someday, to change. I've heard stories of fallen angels... and mind you, I don't know if they're true... But if they are, if even an angel can fall... maybe then even a devil can repent and redeem himself? I don't know... but if your patron felt right to give Ichabod a chance, it would be presumptuous of me, who barely know who (or what) I am, not to do the same".
Nikolai allows himself a smile. "You all are much more forgiving than I. I think the little chump got off lucky, he certainly deserved a harsher fate than that. But I won't pretend to be sorry about his humiliation. I know he wouldn't be so kind if the situation was reversed. Nevertheless, we have a mission. Let's press on."
Ichabod, standing on Chara's shoulder, acknowledges Eithne's sentiment. "Milady Death, I know how hard those words must have been for you and I appreciate them. Emotion, like truth, is a kind of currency that we invest in others in the hopes of return. I cannot be other than I am and do not pretend to ought else, but this kindness places me in debt to you. It will not be forgotten, even when you return to your usual disdain. This I promise."
Turning to Nikolai, he says, "As for you, I await your comeuppance so as to test your theory."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You make your way along the road. You have the same wagon that you used for your trip to the graveyard, although Urwin saw fit to give you a donkey to pull it. For Barovia, it is a relatively sunny day. The light filtering through the tree cover dapples the road and the surrounding woods. After travelling for about an hour you come to an arching stone bridge that crosses the Luna river according to your map. In another quarter mile, the road comes to an X intersection, with branches to the northwest, northeast (the way you came), southwest, and southeast. The lower half of a snapped wooden signpost thrusts upward at an angle near the eastern elbow of the intersection. The top half of the sign, featuring arms pointing in four directions, lies in the weeds nearby.
As you approach the crossroads, I need the first two people in marching order to make a Survival check.
Tamryn - lvl 4 Wood Elf Rogue - Circle of Light Campaign || Drusilla - lvl 1 Half-Elf Ranger - Sleeping Gods || Grrzark - lvl 1 Goblin Barbarian - Danger at Darkshelf Quarry || DM - LTG - Curse of Strahd
Eithne's survival: 11
All Eithne would have expected, except for the imp to stoop to reply - least of all to reply politely and claiming to feel indebted…
Opening her azure eyes wide in amazement, before returning to focus on the path the savage stranger replies: "Who knows, Ichabod? The 'disdain' you speak of could also become 'unusual'. If you are able, contrary to what I would have expected, to feel gratitude... perhaps 'Milady Death'..." she thinks for a moment "Milady Death you say? It is not a bad nickname... Noble and impressive at the same time... But it could be shorter and more elegant - let's contract in Miladeath. Eithne Miladeath. Yes, sounds good... I was saying?" she tries to resume "Oh yes; perhaps Miladeath will have to admit she was too quick to judge you - and thus apologize first, then correct her attitude. Who knows, Ichabod? Maybe this is a new beginning after all".
"Oh," Lucian says when Lenn say's he's better now. "I'm glad!" He gives them both a smile.
Lucian, also preferring the middle of the party, finds himself walking with Chara and Ichabod. He's past the initial shock (and mirth) of seeing the imp's transformation. He can tell that Chara is feeling a little bad for the imp, but he doesn't really know what to say. Though, it seems that something else is bothering Chara as well, so he asks hesitantly, "Is...everything alright?" He looks away for a moment before adding, "You... seem like you've got something on your mind?" He glances at the imp, wherever he is, "Is...is it about him? I...uh... I'm sorry about my, initial reaction. I just wasn't expecting..." He shakes his head, "Or... is something else bothering you?" He isn't sure what else it could be, unless something happened at the jamboree when he was...well, dealing with his own problem. He really hopes that's not the case.
Chara sighs.
"I do feel kind of bad about what happened to Ichabod... and... well, I laughed a little bit too, which was probably wrong of me," she says. "I can't help but blame myself a little bit as well... I might have been able to talk my Master into being a bit less harsh if I had known what he was going to do when he said that he would 'help the imp to be a better guide,' or whatever it was he said. But... there was something else he said..."
Chara pauses, checking to see if anyone else is listening.
"I asked him if he knew what happened to Onika... and he said that he believes that she was 'corrupted beyond anyone's ability to save'... and that it was 'intended all along.' I'm not sure what he meant by that... but it almost sounded like he was saying she turned herself into some kind of evil monster. My Master is very wise, and I've never known him to say something untrue... but I can't help but hope he's wrong this time..."
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Survival check: 19
These words are smaller than the other ones.
Lucian gives her a shocked look, remembering the... strange mixture of smells he'd found while trying to search for Onika. The thought caused him to scrunch his nose, which he rubbed as if suppressing a sneeze. Once that passed he says, "I... well... I can't say I really knew Onika all that well. She didn't really talk much.... But, if she was planning on....uh... turning into something evil, then why would she have signed the contract? I don't know..." He trails off, once more thinking about those scents and...the blood. "I...kind of think that Nikolai was right when he said it might have been a vampire. I... well," he looks very uncomfortable for a moment before continuing, "Based on the scents, it did seem like she left of her own accord. B...but there was a lot of fear mixed into it all. I don't know how...charming someone works... but... if that's really something that vampires can do I think that's what happened. Only... it seemed... I don't know..." he lets out a long breath. "I guess it doesn't make a lot of sense if a vampire was there...why didn't it do anything to the rest of us... unless... well... if your uh...your Master said that it was meant to be, maybe she'd been marked or something?" He shivers, wondering if Onika was bearing some sort of curse as he remembers her dark eyes. Perhaps she was dealing with something similar to his lycanthrope and... Lenn's vampirism. He doesn't like that thought.
He shakes his head, then, trying to sound assuring adds, "I don't like thinking about it. And I don't like the idea of just forgetting about it and moving on. But, there isn't much we can do right now. Maybe... maybe if we really do manage to take down Strahd. If we manage to fix whatever is broken in this land--maybe, if she is still alive, we can save her by saving the rest of Borovia." Once the words leave his mouth, he feels a little foolish. Was it wrong to hope for things that likely won't happen? Worse, was it wrong to try and share that hope?
As Bran hears Chara say she's feeling bad for laughing a little at Ichabod, he says:
- I understand you, Chara, but at the same time, I can't help but feel that we Barovians need to hear laughter a little more often. Of course, I don't mean laughing at anyone in a bad way, and I don't really think you would ever do that!, but ... you know... I feel we don't have enough of those happier outbursts in our lives ...
(OOC: not listening to the Onika part, just this specific thing!)
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
As you approach the crossroads, Eithne and Cole, being in the lead, both simultaneously notice a hunting trap, ready to spring shut, in the path directly in front of them. Cole is already stepping toward it when Eithne's intake of breath alerts him to the trap's presence. Cole, please make a Dex save.
Tamryn - lvl 4 Wood Elf Rogue - Circle of Light Campaign || Drusilla - lvl 1 Half-Elf Ranger - Sleeping Gods || Grrzark - lvl 1 Goblin Barbarian - Danger at Darkshelf Quarry || DM - LTG - Curse of Strahd
Chara considers the Bard's words... she's not completely convinced, but she does appreciate Bran's attempt to help her feel better.
"Thanks, Bran... I'll try to keep that in mind," Chara says with a little sigh.
Chara nods along with Lucian as he tries to make sense of Onika's disappearance with the new information.
"I hope so... but if she really became some kind of undead or a hag or something like that by her own choice..." the she-devil trails off as she is suddenly distracted by the snap of the hunting trap as Cole inadvertently activates it.
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Dex save: 14
(original roll: 4 (nat1) forum acting up on my end
These words are smaller than the other ones.
Cole stops, looks down, gives his leg a few experimental tugs, then screams for a solid 30 seconds.
These words are smaller than the other ones.