(There's been no time jump relative to Kal, it is getting very late. Roll for survival again, please.)
@Star(EMIW), @Vice(WhiteByakko), @Emma(FireCat5) and @Juniper(DandDSince1973)
Stanimir turns to Star, "Indeed, we have not met before. However, the Threads of Fate bind us all. Madam Eva will be able to explain more.
It would be an honour to have you join us on our return to Barovia."
Nicolai nods his head and mumbles a response, "Yes, he would mean you."
Stanimir frowns at Juniper's outburst, "If I have caused you offence, then I apologise. However, I only did as per Madam Eva's request. However, tell me, do you not feel the Threads of Fate tugging at you? Even as we speak, we are but mere puppets. Indeed some of the Vistani women are gifted with the ability of foresight, but none compare to Madame Eva. But if the Threads of Fate did not bind us so tightly, she would not be able to see what is coming. We only had the foreknowledge because of her.
Four people drawn this way on the very day of the festival of Daggerford. However, there is another—a fifth person who is at this very moment lost in the woods."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
“The secret we should never let the gamemasters know is that they don't need any rules.” ― Gary Gygax
"So we're supposed to go into a land from which none can return because some woman can see our fate?" Emma is not trying to be rude, but it was just hard to believe. It's not that Emma did not believe in fate, but rather that she did not believe these people know what her fate was. Moreover, her fate so far has been rather grim, so it was hard to believe her fate is going to some distant land and saving some corrupted prince or whatever. Please, she's just a cook. If it weren't for that dream, she wouldn't even consider it. "Can she not see how implausible that is?"
Emma shakes her head, her black hair swinging from side to side, momentarily covering part of her face, then back to the side of her face, where it always is. "But you know, even if your story is true, and even if I believed you, I am not who you were looking for. I am not a hero."
Stanimir’s unexpected reply is like a sudden October frost, chilling Juniper’s heart and cooling her temper, and for him to speak of destiny seems to read her soul, as he says this Madam Eva can do. Elves play the long game, and a single life may hold many destinies played out over the centuries. But something in the vistani’s words holds the slight-shouldered druid fast, and the sense of dread grows like a summer storm, the sense that this is indeed her future. Yet, denying her intuition, she nods at Emma’s words. “Nor am I!,” she adds. “A hero.”
Vice stiffens when the man starts to talk about fate. He despises the thought of someone controlling his life, and no matter what he does, he'll always end up in the same place. In the shadow, in the forever darkness, with no light and no sun... He shakes his head. No, I won't go there again.
He looks up, the man is clearly still waiting for his answer. He glances towards the others who have already refused, then shrugs, matter-of-factly. "I have to work tomorrow."
Star looks to the others, almost confused. "None of you will go? You are not curious? You are chosen to save a land, save a soul, but you will say 'no thank you'? I do not know what I can do, and I see that this is not my story, but to live the rest of my life remembering this night, and know that I did not find out what it might have led to, I am not that person. I do not know any of you, but we are all here, and I believe that means something."
The individual saying all this is a tall, lean figure, its head that of a wild cat. His fur is sleek and red-brown, and although it is not especially cold he wears a thick, blue, fur-lined coat. He carries a rapier on one hip, and a lute on his back attached to his pack.
Star’s words cool Juniper yet more. She hadn’t really thought of it that way before. Saving a soul. She takes a deep breath and looks around the circle of vistani, until her eyes find Damia’s baby. Fated at this moment, she thinks, to live life as an outcast, moving from place to place and never with a home to return to. If she had the power to change that outcome, and did not employ it, what sort of person would that make her. Even more, what if she had the power to change that outcome for the entire encampment?
But she pushes this thought away, and her gaze returns to Emma and to Vice, and her resolve is strengthened. “I’m sorry,” she says, and turns to Stanimir. “Thank you for your hospitality. I hope you find the heroes you’re looking for.” With one last look at Star, and a glance at Emma which says, ‘join me if you want,’ she leaves the fire and walks to the cream-colored pony dozing beside the last cart, a wooden shield and longbow fastened to its saddle.
Kal attempts to find a safe spot to spend the night. However, he fails to find anywhere that would provide him with cover. He does find a dry patch that will at least keep him dry.
@Emma(FireCat5), @Juniper(DandDSince1973), @Vice(WhiteByakko), and @Star(EMIW)
Stanimir shakes his head as he steps closer to Emma, "I am afraid I think you, most of all, are exactly who we are looking for."
He then turns away from Emma when Juniper speaks up.
"But what is a hero exactly? A hero is any person intent on making this a better place for all people. A hero does what must be done and needs no other reason. Heroes emerge from the most unlikely sources and get up even when they can't."
Stanimir then approaches Star, "I thank you, you are a good man. I would have you ride with me in my wagon if you accept my invitation, of course."
Stanimir sadly nods at Juniper's words, "I had hoped you would reconsider. I will not force you to come with us. However, I do not believe you will be able to escape the Threads of Fate."
He then turns his attention back to Star, "If you will still come with us, then we must part at once."
He turns to face Emma, "We're leaving now. You may tell Duchess Morwen that you managed to get rid of us and claim your reward."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
“The secret we should never let the gamemasters know is that they don't need any rules.” ― Gary Gygax
"I am a cook. I was an innkeeper. At most, I might save a hungry person after a hard day of work, or a weary traveller. Lands, souls, princes... who am I to save those?" Emma answers both Stanimir and the feline person. "I couldn't even save the one I love-" from myself. But the sentence comes to a strangulated end as Emma swallows those last two words. Her voice rose in pitch and volume, indicating that she was getting emotional. Emma was always an emotional girl, but this was not the time to let her feelings take control.
Emma takes a breath to calm down, then continues in a quieter voice, a despondent voice. "Don't ask me to save anyone. Even if I do want to make the people around me happier, I am not a hero. That would be unfair." If a murderer is considered a hero, the world is long past the point where heroes can save it. "If the person you need most of all is me, then we should all be afraid."
With that said, Emma turns away. She starts following Juniper, but she has a feeling they'll part ways soon. Emma was headed back to town, and Juniper... Emma couldn't tell, but she guessed one who sleeps on self-grown vines doesn't sleep in inns very often. After a few steps away, though, Emma turns again. This time, she speaks with just a bit of hope in her voice. Almost a wishful tone, even. "Maybe... if your Madam is right, and I am destined to be a hero, or even just someone that's truly needed... then I suppose we'll meet again, in your land governed by the corrupted prince." In truth, Emma wished for that to be true. Did she not run from Bowshot to start her life anew, to forget the horror within, or overcome it on the path to becoming a hero? But at the same time, she feels guilt for thinking such thoughts. She does not deserve to be praised, to be counted on. She does not deserve to lead a happy life after what she's done.
Kal settles down in the dry spot to wait out the night. With no idea where he is and no allies, he does his best to stay awake through the night, aware that there are, at the very least, wolves, or..."
At that thought he looks around at the fog hanging in the air. Or, perhaps...mist. "The Misty Forest," he thinks to himself. "Definitely more than just wolves..."
Vice kicks his long legs out, crosses them at the ankles while he listens to the cat man talk. The man is enthusiastic, and he finds some of things he speaks resonates with him. The firelight flickers across his face as Vice thinks back to when he was younger, before he joined the circus. He and his friends would leave town on a whim with not a dime in their pockets, they would hitch along the road, never worrying about where to sleep or what to eat tomorrow. Thinking about the old days brought a wistful smile on his lips. How long has he been at the circus now, a year, two? In the past he had never held onto a job for more than three months. He knows he wants to leave the circus behind eventually. Well, why not now? Not the fate thing, though. He's not going to deal with that right now.
Vice stands up and walks towards Star. He puts a hand on his shoulder. “You’re right. I can’t turn away without seeing how this turns out.” He reaches out a hand. “Vice.”
When Stanimir turns towards him, Vice simply shrugs, with a lopsided smile. “I didn’t say I liked my job.”
Juniper arrives to Foxglove’s side overcome by a sudden lethargy. She takes the pony’s head gently between her hands and presses her brow against it, then pulls back to look into its blue eyes. Tracing the lines of her feelings in the firelight reflections dancing behind its long lashes, the druid realizes that Stanimir was right. Toward the tyrant of whom the vistani spoke, she discerned, in her heart, the same sense of dread that had followed her almost throughout the night. But Emma, Star, even the other man speaking now with Stanimir. They pulled at her in a way she could not explain or ignore. Try as she might, she cannot leave.
“Maybe you’re right,” she tells Stanimir, after leading Foxglove with her to the fire a few minutes later. “My heart is undecided. But for now, I will accompany you to the border of your land. Then I’ll know for certain.” This she says, although, in her deepest heart, she knows a decision has already been made.
Kal settles down for the night to get some sleep. However, before fully resting, Kal is woken up by the sounds of twigs breaking nearby. Kal sees a figure walking alone with the stride and bearing of one who knows no fear. Clad in rusty armour, it clutches a gleaming longsword in its pale hand and looks ready for a fight.
@Emma(FireCat5), @Vice(WhiteByakko), @Juniper(DandDSince1973) and @Star(EMIW)
Stanimir nods in response to Emma's words, "I believe we will meet again."
Stanimir shakes Vice's hands, "Very well. I am glad that we managed to change at least one mind."
With Juniper also deciding to accompany them, Stanimirs turns to her, "Well, at least you are taking your time to attend us back to the border."
He then turns to Emma, "Are you still so certain you won't join us?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
“The secret we should never let the gamemasters know is that they don't need any rules.” ― Gary Gygax
Stanimir then approaches Star, "I thank you, you are a good man. I would have you ride with me in my wagon if you accept my invitation, of course."
****
He then turns his attention back to Star, "If you will still come with us, then we must part at once."
"A great honour," says Star softly. "I am ready to leave when you choose, along with these other souls." He calls out to Emma as she leaves, "Safe travels - perhaps we shall meet in another story."
Actually, Emma was not certain about anything. On one hand, she did want to go. To see whether the Madam was right. Whether there was more for her than a haunted widow. "No, I'm not certain about anything." On the other hand, it is for exactly that reason that Emma felt she couldn't go. Is it right for her to get a chance like this? Besides, the finality in going somewhere she could not return from scared her. She was, after all, merely a girl in her early twenties. Will she never see her family again? "But... I just don't know. Tagging along seems... irrecovable."
Emma usually didn't have much problem making choices, but for such a crucial decision to be made at such haste was impossible even for her. Or, rather, especially for her.
The figure draws closer to Kal. Then Kal sees that the figure is that of a man. He has pale, pallid skin and sunken eyes that burn with resolve and passion. His armour consists of rusty, tattered chain mail.
"Are you a friend of Strahd?" the man replies.
@Star(EMIW), @Emma(FireCat5), @Vice(WhiteByakko) and @Juniper(DandDSince 1973)
Stanimir nods, "Alright, you will ride with me. I am sure you will have many stories to tell me on the ride back to Barovia."
He then turns to Vice, "How about you ride with Nicolai and Apep? It seems that you three are getting along.
I'm sure you will not have any issue with keeping up with the wagons on the back of that beautiful creature." Stanimir says, turning to Juniper.
Then Stanimir approaches Emma, "I understand your hesitancy. You are probably feeling somewhat overwhelmed right now. Ending the curse on our noble prince will not be an easy task. However, I fully believe in the foreknowledge that our leader, Madame Eva, has. If the Threads of Fate are as tightly wounded around you as she says, there will be no escaping Barovia. At least, if you are travelling with us, you will have others by your side."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
“The secret we should never let the gamemasters know is that they don't need any rules.” ― Gary Gygax
Juniper acknowledges Stanimir’s compliment with a nod on behalf of Foxglove, but has been avoiding Emma’s gaze, so as not to influence her. Yet upon hearing the Vistani leader’s last words to the guilds woman, the elven druid can’t help herself. Concern for Emma, even though having only met her an hour or two ago, rises. Her eyes seek Emma’s, almost of their own accord, sensing somehow that her fate too rests upon Emma’s decision.
@Kal(VanderLeigon)
(There's been no time jump relative to Kal, it is getting very late. Roll for survival again, please.)
@Star(EMIW), @Vice(WhiteByakko), @Emma(FireCat5) and @Juniper(DandDSince1973)
Stanimir turns to Star, "Indeed, we have not met before. However, the Threads of Fate bind us all. Madam Eva will be able to explain more.
It would be an honour to have you join us on our return to Barovia."
Nicolai nods his head and mumbles a response, "Yes, he would mean you."
Stanimir frowns at Juniper's outburst, "If I have caused you offence, then I apologise. However, I only did as per Madam Eva's request. However, tell me, do you not feel the Threads of Fate tugging at you? Even as we speak, we are but mere puppets. Indeed some of the Vistani women are gifted with the ability of foresight, but none compare to Madame Eva. But if the Threads of Fate did not bind us so tightly, she would not be able to see what is coming. We only had the foreknowledge because of her.
Four people drawn this way on the very day of the festival of Daggerford. However, there is another—a fifth person who is at this very moment lost in the woods."
“The secret we should never let the gamemasters know is that they don't need any rules.” ― Gary Gygax
"So we're supposed to go into a land from which none can return because some woman can see our fate?" Emma is not trying to be rude, but it was just hard to believe. It's not that Emma did not believe in fate, but rather that she did not believe these people know what her fate was. Moreover, her fate so far has been rather grim, so it was hard to believe her fate is going to some distant land and saving some corrupted prince or whatever. Please, she's just a cook. If it weren't for that dream, she wouldn't even consider it. "Can she not see how implausible that is?"
Emma shakes her head, her black hair swinging from side to side, momentarily covering part of her face, then back to the side of her face, where it always is. "But you know, even if your story is true, and even if I believed you, I am not who you were looking for. I am not a hero."
Varielky
Stanimir’s unexpected reply is like a sudden October frost, chilling Juniper’s heart and cooling her temper, and for him to speak of destiny seems to read her soul, as he says this Madam Eva can do. Elves play the long game, and a single life may hold many destinies played out over the centuries. But something in the vistani’s words holds the slight-shouldered druid fast, and the sense of dread grows like a summer storm, the sense that this is indeed her future. Yet, denying her intuition, she nods at Emma’s words. “Nor am I!,” she adds. “A hero.”
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Survival for Kal: 13
Vice stiffens when the man starts to talk about fate. He despises the thought of someone controlling his life, and no matter what he does, he'll always end up in the same place. In the shadow, in the forever darkness, with no light and no sun... He shakes his head. No, I won't go there again.
He looks up, the man is clearly still waiting for his answer. He glances towards the others who have already refused, then shrugs, matter-of-factly. "I have to work tomorrow."
Star looks to the others, almost confused. "None of you will go? You are not curious? You are chosen to save a land, save a soul, but you will say 'no thank you'? I do not know what I can do, and I see that this is not my story, but to live the rest of my life remembering this night, and know that I did not find out what it might have led to, I am not that person. I do not know any of you, but we are all here, and I believe that means something."
The individual saying all this is a tall, lean figure, its head that of a wild cat. His fur is sleek and red-brown, and although it is not especially cold he wears a thick, blue, fur-lined coat. He carries a rapier on one hip, and a lute on his back attached to his pack.
DM - Storm King's Thunder
DM - Torosevia (WIP homebrew world)
Kelytha Meliamne - Matti Silverstorm - Silver - Star-Setting-In-The-East - Tor Baltos
Star’s words cool Juniper yet more. She hadn’t really thought of it that way before. Saving a soul. She takes a deep breath and looks around the circle of vistani, until her eyes find Damia’s baby. Fated at this moment, she thinks, to live life as an outcast, moving from place to place and never with a home to return to. If she had the power to change that outcome, and did not employ it, what sort of person would that make her. Even more, what if she had the power to change that outcome for the entire encampment?
But she pushes this thought away, and her gaze returns to Emma and to Vice, and her resolve is strengthened. “I’m sorry,” she says, and turns to Stanimir. “Thank you for your hospitality. I hope you find the heroes you’re looking for.” With one last look at Star, and a glance at Emma which says, ‘join me if you want,’ she leaves the fire and walks to the cream-colored pony dozing beside the last cart, a wooden shield and longbow fastened to its saddle.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
@Kal(VanderLegion)
Kal attempts to find a safe spot to spend the night. However, he fails to find anywhere that would provide him with cover. He does find a dry patch that will at least keep him dry.
@Emma(FireCat5), @Juniper(DandDSince1973), @Vice(WhiteByakko), and @Star(EMIW)
Stanimir shakes his head as he steps closer to Emma, "I am afraid I think you, most of all, are exactly who we are looking for."
He then turns away from Emma when Juniper speaks up.
"But what is a hero exactly? A hero is any person intent on making this a better place for all people. A hero does what must be done and needs no other reason. Heroes emerge from the most unlikely sources and get up even when they can't."
Stanimir then approaches Star, "I thank you, you are a good man. I would have you ride with me in my wagon if you accept my invitation, of course."
Stanimir sadly nods at Juniper's words, "I had hoped you would reconsider. I will not force you to come with us. However, I do not believe you will be able to escape the Threads of Fate."
He then turns his attention back to Star, "If you will still come with us, then we must part at once."
He turns to face Emma, "We're leaving now. You may tell Duchess Morwen that you managed to get rid of us and claim your reward."
“The secret we should never let the gamemasters know is that they don't need any rules.” ― Gary Gygax
"I am a cook. I was an innkeeper. At most, I might save a hungry person after a hard day of work, or a weary traveller. Lands, souls, princes... who am I to save those?" Emma answers both Stanimir and the feline person. "I couldn't even save the one I love-" from myself. But the sentence comes to a strangulated end as Emma swallows those last two words. Her voice rose in pitch and volume, indicating that she was getting emotional. Emma was always an emotional girl, but this was not the time to let her feelings take control.
Emma takes a breath to calm down, then continues in a quieter voice, a despondent voice. "Don't ask me to save anyone. Even if I do want to make the people around me happier, I am not a hero. That would be unfair." If a murderer is considered a hero, the world is long past the point where heroes can save it. "If the person you need most of all is me, then we should all be afraid."
With that said, Emma turns away. She starts following Juniper, but she has a feeling they'll part ways soon. Emma was headed back to town, and Juniper... Emma couldn't tell, but she guessed one who sleeps on self-grown vines doesn't sleep in inns very often. After a few steps away, though, Emma turns again. This time, she speaks with just a bit of hope in her voice. Almost a wishful tone, even. "Maybe... if your Madam is right, and I am destined to be a hero, or even just someone that's truly needed... then I suppose we'll meet again, in your land governed by the corrupted prince." In truth, Emma wished for that to be true. Did she not run from Bowshot to start her life anew, to forget the horror within, or overcome it on the path to becoming a hero? But at the same time, she feels guilt for thinking such thoughts. She does not deserve to be praised, to be counted on. She does not deserve to lead a happy life after what she's done.
Varielky
Kal settles down in the dry spot to wait out the night. With no idea where he is and no allies, he does his best to stay awake through the night, aware that there are, at the very least, wolves, or..."
At that thought he looks around at the fog hanging in the air. Or, perhaps...mist. "The Misty Forest," he thinks to himself. "Definitely more than just wolves..."
Vice kicks his long legs out, crosses them at the ankles while he listens to the cat man talk. The man is enthusiastic, and he finds some of things he speaks resonates with him. The firelight flickers across his face as Vice thinks back to when he was younger, before he joined the circus. He and his friends would leave town on a whim with not a dime in their pockets, they would hitch along the road, never worrying about where to sleep or what to eat tomorrow. Thinking about the old days brought a wistful smile on his lips. How long has he been at the circus now, a year, two? In the past he had never held onto a job for more than three months. He knows he wants to leave the circus behind eventually. Well, why not now? Not the fate thing, though. He's not going to deal with that right now.
Vice stands up and walks towards Star. He puts a hand on his shoulder. “You’re right. I can’t turn away without seeing how this turns out.” He reaches out a hand. “Vice.”
When Stanimir turns towards him, Vice simply shrugs, with a lopsided smile. “I didn’t say I liked my job.”
Juniper arrives to Foxglove’s side overcome by a sudden lethargy. She takes the pony’s head gently between her hands and presses her brow against it, then pulls back to look into its blue eyes. Tracing the lines of her feelings in the firelight reflections dancing behind its long lashes, the druid realizes that Stanimir was right. Toward the tyrant of whom the vistani spoke, she discerned, in her heart, the same sense of dread that had followed her almost throughout the night. But Emma, Star, even the other man speaking now with Stanimir. They pulled at her in a way she could not explain or ignore. Try as she might, she cannot leave.
“Maybe you’re right,” she tells Stanimir, after leading Foxglove with her to the fire a few minutes later. “My heart is undecided. But for now, I will accompany you to the border of your land. Then I’ll know for certain.” This she says, although, in her deepest heart, she knows a decision has already been made.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
@Kal(VanderLegion)
Kal settles down for the night to get some sleep. However, before fully resting, Kal is woken up by the sounds of twigs breaking nearby. Kal sees a figure walking alone with the stride and bearing of one who knows no fear. Clad in rusty armour, it clutches a gleaming longsword in its pale hand and looks ready for a fight.
@Emma(FireCat5), @Vice(WhiteByakko), @Juniper(DandDSince1973) and @Star(EMIW)
Stanimir nods in response to Emma's words, "I believe we will meet again."
Stanimir shakes Vice's hands, "Very well. I am glad that we managed to change at least one mind."
With Juniper also deciding to accompany them, Stanimirs turns to her, "Well, at least you are taking your time to attend us back to the border."
He then turns to Emma, "Are you still so certain you won't join us?"
“The secret we should never let the gamemasters know is that they don't need any rules.” ― Gary Gygax
(Does the figure appear to have noticed me?)
(It has noticed you)
“The secret we should never let the gamemasters know is that they don't need any rules.” ― Gary Gygax
Kal stands and backs away from the figure. "Who goes there?" he calls.
"A great honour," says Star softly. "I am ready to leave when you choose, along with these other souls." He calls out to Emma as she leaves, "Safe travels - perhaps we shall meet in another story."
DM - Storm King's Thunder
DM - Torosevia (WIP homebrew world)
Kelytha Meliamne - Matti Silverstorm - Silver - Star-Setting-In-The-East - Tor Baltos
Actually, Emma was not certain about anything. On one hand, she did want to go. To see whether the Madam was right. Whether there was more for her than a haunted widow. "No, I'm not certain about anything." On the other hand, it is for exactly that reason that Emma felt she couldn't go. Is it right for her to get a chance like this? Besides, the finality in going somewhere she could not return from scared her. She was, after all, merely a girl in her early twenties. Will she never see her family again? "But... I just don't know. Tagging along seems... irrecovable."
Emma usually didn't have much problem making choices, but for such a crucial decision to be made at such haste was impossible even for her. Or, rather, especially for her.
Varielky
@Kal(VanderLegion)
The figure draws closer to Kal. Then Kal sees that the figure is that of a man. He has pale, pallid skin and sunken eyes that burn with resolve and passion. His armour consists of rusty, tattered chain mail.
"Are you a friend of Strahd?" the man replies.
@Star(EMIW), @Emma(FireCat5), @Vice(WhiteByakko) and @Juniper(DandDSince 1973)
Stanimir nods, "Alright, you will ride with me. I am sure you will have many stories to tell me on the ride back to Barovia."
He then turns to Vice, "How about you ride with Nicolai and Apep? It seems that you three are getting along.
I'm sure you will not have any issue with keeping up with the wagons on the back of that beautiful creature." Stanimir says, turning to Juniper.
Then Stanimir approaches Emma, "I understand your hesitancy. You are probably feeling somewhat overwhelmed right now. Ending the curse on our noble prince will not be an easy task. However, I fully believe in the foreknowledge that our leader, Madame Eva, has. If the Threads of Fate are as tightly wounded around you as she says, there will be no escaping Barovia. At least, if you are travelling with us, you will have others by your side."
“The secret we should never let the gamemasters know is that they don't need any rules.” ― Gary Gygax
Juniper acknowledges Stanimir’s compliment with a nod on behalf of Foxglove, but has been avoiding Emma’s gaze, so as not to influence her. Yet upon hearing the Vistani leader’s last words to the guilds woman, the elven druid can’t help herself. Concern for Emma, even though having only met her an hour or two ago, rises. Her eyes seek Emma’s, almost of their own accord, sensing somehow that her fate too rests upon Emma’s decision.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer