Kora

After spotting the nearly full moon hanging just about to disappear of the mountainous horizon, Kora finds Ismark standing a little ways off from everyone else, hands on his hips and thoughtful expression on his lean face. He turns and smiles once he notices Kora approaching. His smile quickly fades as Kora asks her question. He turns his gaze back to the congenial Vistani for a long moment, a distant expression replacing his thoughtful one. Finally, he says quietly to Kora, not looking at her, "They are all of those things you said and more. The reason why there so happy and cheerful is because they serve the Devil." He turns towards Kora, and she sees odd expression in his dark eyes: envy. "Strahd doesn't bother them because they work for him. He doesn't send werewolves and vampires after them. He doesn't try to drag them down in the pits of despair because they owe their allegiance to him."

He turns back to look at the Vistani. "They represent the dilemma that all people face when they first step foot into Barovia: do you give allegiance to the Devil in exchange for safety and a chance for happiness, or do you stand for what is right and then be weathered away until you die or something worse happens?" He shakes his head sadly. "All Vistani are this friendly, but in the end, they'll betray you to Strahd if they have the chance. Might as well enjoy their hospitality while you can."

Everyone

At about this time, the woman who greeted you at the edge of the camp finally lifts the flap entrance of the large tent in the center of the camp. She steps out and makes her way over to where most of the group is gathered, the man from before also following her. She clears her throat and then announces, "Madame Eva is ready for you now." She gestures to the tent with one hand. 

The Vistani all hush at the announcement, all of them turning their gaze towards the party members.

Anthony didn't want to commit the others, but he was curious. More about this Madan Eva than the reading. He stood to follow.

"Thank you for speaking to her for us."

Akyan's nerves calm slightly when Kora finally comes to camp, though he agrees with his siblings. They were taking a rather long time in Madam Eva's tent. When the woman finally comes out, Akyan glances at his siblings. He's not sure about this whole reading of fortune thing, but he'd be lying if he said he wasn't curious. How can they know these fortune readings are real anyway?

Just as Anthony stands up, Akyan makes his way over to his friend. He's not about to let Anthony walk into this person's tent alone. While he hasn't really seen any reason to distrust the Vistani, there has to be a reason Ismark and other folk of this land seem to hate them.

He smiles at Akyan, who probably knows him well enough to see the anxiousness under the affable presentation. "I was told the truth might be uncomfortable to hear. But I guess anything worth knowing usually is."

Akyan shrugs. "That's true, but I'd also take whatever is said with a grain of salt. I've no reason to believe this woman can actually read fate." He responds in a low voice so only Anthony can hear.

Matching his brother's tone, "Sometimes it more about what you hear than what is said."

The drow nods in agreement 

Zathon gives a respectful nod to the woman, heading into the tent. He's seen a lot of things throughout his lives. Sometimes people like this are hacks, sometimes they're the real deal. They'll have to see for themselves.

Aoufie has run into his fair share soothsayers and self-professed psychics. So, he heads in to meet Madam Eva rather skeptical, but at the same time he hopes she can truly help them on their quest. "Let's go and see what she has to say." 

Kora listens to Ismark and understands what he is saying, she nods.  Then looking at him sincerely, “Are you happy with your choice?  I do not know this devil, Strahd you speak of, though I have heard his name.  Do animals such as wolves serve him as well?”

When she sees Anthony and Akyan start to follow a woman into the tent, she smiles at Ismark, “well, best get to hearing what this old lady has to say.  I doubt its worth anything, but curiosity and all that…” and she leaves him to go see Madame Eva.

Jared sits, watching his siblings gather to hear what the old woman has to say. He stays seated.
"No reason to talk to someone who tells the future, if the future is already set." he tells himself. 
He quietly keeps watch over his siblings. 

Anthony didn't mind going first. The question on his mind was whether Aoelwyn had come through here. Cards and fate were things that interested him less.

Kora

Ismark nods at Kora's questions, though he keeps silent at the anticipation of entering Madame Eva's tent. 

All

With the Vistani solemnly watching you, the group files one-by-one into the lone tent standing in the center. For most of you, it takes a few seconds for your eyes to adjust to the dimly lit interior of the tent, and once they do, you find yourself in some kind of entry or waiting room separated from the rest of the tent by a veil of gently clattering beads draped in a doorway. A fine carpet of swirling shades of gray and white covers the ground, and its pattern reminds you of wisps of smoke rising from a snuffed-out candle. In front of the veil of beads is a low, wooden table polished to almost a mirror-like reflectiveness. Several small cushions rest on the carpet in a half circle in front of the table, and you assume they are meant for you to sit upon. Flanking either side of the polished table are candle mounts, upon which burn sticks of heady incense. As Jared unceremoniously plops down onto one of the low cushions, a gnarled hand slowly parts the veil, beads clattering as they're pushed to the side. 

You see a wizened woman steeped with the weight of many years standing in the improvised doorway, her face shadowed beneath a crimson cowl. She watches you for a long moment, her hidden gaze seeming to rest upon each of you individually. As she does, you can't help but feel that this woman just pried the deepest secrets of your being from you with that fleeting look. After considering each of you, she takes a step forward, her aged frame moving with a matronly grace. You see she wears robes of crimson and violent, and a shawl of beads hangs from her shoulders. Silently, she takes a seat upon her cushion on the other side of the table facing you. She reaches up with wrinkled and liver-spotted hands and lifts back her cowl slightly, revealing her ancient face. You see her face is a slender one, her jaw and nose pointed in an almost elven cast.  Her eyes are of the palest green you have ever seen, almost white in color, and they bear an ancient wisdom, the wisdom of one who can see things beyond the restraint of time. She opens her mouth, and with a voice that sounds surprisingly young, she says softly says, "Please, take a seat." There was something about her soft, yet firm voice and commanding presence that filled the tent even though she was light of frame. This was a woman that demanded respect.

As you each take a seat on one of the cushions, she again looks at each of you with her penetrating eyes. Then, she slowly says, careful in her tone, "You must know by now that fate has directed you to me. You are all separate pieces in the game of destiny, yet you are united by the bond of family." A distant expression comes across her face, and her pale eyes seem to watch something off in the distance. "Yes," she says distantly, "a great evil is spreading its tendrils of corruption throughout the planes, gathering its forces of darkness under its banner. Yet, for all of its growing power, you six stand in its path, placed there by a woman cherished by many. Others stand with you, but I cannot see them at this time." 

She blinks, her eyes focusing back onto the group. Solemnly, she continues, "I know you all feel lost and without guidance." She bows her head slightly in deference. "We do not have much time to talk, but I will do my best to answer any questions you may have."

Anthony had seen communions of various kinds so, ironically, this woman having genuine insight into their situation was one of the least strange things they’d seen since all of this started. But, there was that word again. Fate. Nothing matters, so just accept what's happening to you. Anthony knew that kind of language. Every abuser, every manipulator, every thug used words like that to keep people under their control. Had she said something of the sort to Aoelwyn? 

Nothing this woman said was going to mean anything unless what she wanted aligned with what they wanted. But Aoelwyn had sent them here without any idea herself what she wanted them to do. A bunch of people jostling for positions on a game board and Anthony was willing to bet not a one of the know what the game actually was. 

A stream of curse went off in his mind, but he smiled. “Thank you for making time for us. Great so, sounds like our fate is to save the uh multiverse from evil.. tentacles? Did I get that right?” He looked around at the others and decided to go for it. “The woman you mentioned, she told us to look for Van Richten. Is Vallaki a good place to start or should we focus our efforts somewhere else?”

Kora takes her seat amongst the others and gazes upon the woman as she enters.  Kora wasn't one to have been to things such as this, so she kinda hangs back and lets the others speak first.  She wonders how she knows how they were all connected... they sure didn't have a familiar look to them she bemuses.

 Madame Eva turns her heavy gaze upon Anthony, a knowing smile creeping onto her thin features. "So that's the name he's going by now days." She nods, "Yes, you can find him in Vallaki. He, your mother, and several others have been working together for quite some while now. Aoelwyn and I have met and collaborated on several projects over the years, and but she never got around to officially trying to recruit me." Again, that distant expression comes across her face as she looks past you. "Her death is what was needed to bring you all together, even though nobody was expecting it. She didn't have enough of time to prepare you all, but she had just enough time to point you in a direction."

Jared files in, staying to the back, and takes a seat. He says nothing, just listens.

"Which lead us here," he comments, sitting down across from Madam Eva. They finally have a real lead it seems. "Anything else you can tell us about what Aoelwyn may have been up to, or advice for the road of head would be appreciated."

Aoufie arches and eyebrow with how accurate Madem Eva seems. He patiently waits to see what else she knows. At least they have a lead on Van Richten. 

Anthony was caught off guard by Madam Eva’s disarming bluntness. No riddles or vague statements that meant nothing but could mean anything. Aoelwyn must not have fully trusted her, otherwise they would have been told to find her along with Van Richten..

He glanced at Akyan, wondering if he’d caught that too.

Several questions were answered, but what were those answers worth in the end?