As Jared's rock strikes the corpses, they both puff away and fade into a dark mist. Ismark shivers, and Ireena makes a warding gesture towards the gallows. Putting the odd experience behind you, you step off the well-worn road to Vallaki and onto the rugged path towards Tser Pool.
Calling your new path a 'road' was a bit of a stretch. It was more like a game trail beaten through brush and undergrowth barely wide enough to fit a wagon. The trail quickly begins to wander between twisted and mossy trees, and even though you are in a forest, there are no signs of animal life. The only things you can hear is the sound of your companions' feet tromping through the undergrowth that sprawled across the trail.
After about an hour or so, the trees ahead begin to thin, and you find yourself at the edge of small lake set within the forest. Its still surface is occasionally broken by the tips of cattails and other aquatic plants, signifying that it is not a very shallow lake. Surprisingly, you notice some signs of life here: croaking frogs, a few dragonflies flitting across the lake, and even a few muskrats trudging along the muddy shore of the lake.
You also see several colorful tents and wagons atop a small rise near the lake a couple hundred feet away. The garish colors of the structures clash violently with each other, but they work together to create certain feel about the Vistani camp. You see several people milling about, and you even see children frolicking amongst a stand of tall grass.
Ismark scowls as he spots the tents and wagons. "Those are definitely Vistani," he says. "They do love their colors."
Jealous much? Anthony kept the thought to himself as he attempted to hail someone who seemed to be on watch. He kept his weapons and shield stowed and both hands clearly visible, stopping before entering the camp proper. "Hey. We're hoping this might be a refuge for travelers. We were recommended to pay our respects to Madam Eva."
Kora hangs back a bit, letting the others chat about Madam Eva and whatever else the Vistani might have to say, she hopes Ismark and Ireena don't make things difficult. She looks around as she does, seeing if anything catches her eye.
Anthony's approach is noticed by several Vistani, and a group of four of them, three male and one female, cautiously approach the group. As you get nearer to the encampment, you see that many of the adults are lounging about, chattering amiably amongst themselves as they watch their children frolic amongst the tall grass. The sounds of hearty laughter, cheery conversations, and even music fill the otherwise still air. These people seemed remarkably relaxed and even cheerful, a splash of joy upon the drab wasteland that was Barovia.
The welcoming party of Vistani intersect your path about twenty feet outside the encampment. You see that all of them wear a colorful assortment of clothing, and they are a bedecked with a multitude of woven bead necklaces, and bracelets. Two of the men are hulking brutes with dark hair and beards braided and tied off with beaded cords. They look to be twins. the other man is a slender fellow with a clean-shaven face and gray eyes, his dark hair short. The woman in the group seems to be in charge. She wears a colorful shawl made of painted beads sewn into vibrantly dyed fabrics. Her bright blue eyes are set into an angular face, giving her a shrewd look. Speaking in her heavy Vistani-accented voice, she says, "Madame Eva is indeed with us, but she is busy at the moment. Is there some kind of message we can deliver to her for you?" While these Vistani don't seem overly aggressive, they do seem a bit cautious and wary of you.
Looking around, Kora is quite pleased to see life in abundance here around this sheltered lake. The only thing she spots of note is a lone wolf standing amongst the line of trees across the lake. When you spot the wolf, you can't help but feel it is staring right back at you, watching the group intently.
Anthony flashes the dopey, I'm-just-a goofy-goober smile that helps him avoid trouble, "Only that we've heard it would be disrespectful to pass through the area and not present ourselves to a seer of her renown. We were traveling toward Wallaki where we hoped to meet with someone" He scrubs his hair a little sheepishly, "Sorry to be so circumspect. We've been warned to be careful about who we trust. But," Glancing around at the open and friendly seeming people, "It's hard not to think some of those warnings a little misplaced. We were told we should ask for a reading from Madam Eva. We can wait until she's less busy if it's not too much trouble. Maybe in exchange for some fresh gossip and a song or two."
Shamelessly offering Aoufie's barding skills, though the big man wasn't above awkwardly belting out a tune if it kept people talking and smiling. He glanced to the others to see if they were comfortable offering up more information. He was not.
Seeing the life that emerges in this area puts Kora a bit at peace. She hadn't realized how bad it felt with the absence of creatures around until they returned. Being able to breathe a little easier, she gazes at the wolf in the distance. Finally she makes up her mind. Leaning towards Jared, she softly says, "I'm going to be a minute, hopefully I'll be back before we are welcomed by Madam Eva." She checks herself, "That is if we are..." she smiles and starts heading towards the treeline, grabbing a few cattails that she can reach as she does.
Once she gets about halfway there, she finds a dry spot to sit and starts pulling up weeds and leaves, making a pile in front of her with the cattails on the bottom as a base. Searching, she finds a few critters and places them on top of her pile, letting the small critters crawl in and out of the tunnels made by the plantlife. Kora then spreads her hands over them, mumbling a few incantations to herself. She then pulls a gray and brown speckled feather from her hair and breathes in the scent before making some designs in the air with it. Returning it to her hair when she is done, she then sinks her fingers into the earth, breathing deep with her eyes closed.
After about 10 minutes, she finishes the ritual and can now speak with animals. She scatters the pile in front of her before rising to her feet and starts heading towards the wolf. When she gets within 20' of it, she raises her palms up in an open gesture and attempts to talk to it. "Greetings my friend, I noticed you gazing upon me and my pack. Are you far from yours?"
Aoufie is still a bit shaken but feels better as the sounds and sight of what he considers normal comes into view. He takes out his cittern and play a joyful relaxing tune to match the atmosphere within the Vistani camp. "Indeed, I can lend my music to make this day a little brighter as we wait. The Vistani is truly a vibrant people. Would you be open to trading my song for some rations?"
Persuasion Check
14 rolled in game log.
Performance Check
24
If the Vistani is unwilling Aoufie immediately continues to play for 1 minute using the glamour bard's Enthralling Performance. Aoufie can target 3 people and they must roll WIs Save DC 13
If you perform for at least 1 minute, you can attempt to inspire wonder in your audience by singing, reciting a poem, or dancing. At the end of the performance, choose a number of humanoids within 60 feet of you who watched and listened to all of it, up to a number equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum of one). Each target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw against your spell save DC or be charmed by you. While charmed in this way, the target idolizes you, it speaks glowingly of you to anyone who talks to it, and it hinders anyone who opposes you, although it avoids violence unless it was already inclined to fight on your behalf. This effect ends on a target after 1 hour, if it takes any damage, if you attack it, or if it witnesses you attacking or damaging any of its allies.
If a target succeeds on its saving throw, the target has no hint that you tried to charm it.
Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest.
Akyan follows Anthony when the older man greats the vistani. As they converse, he remains silent, Anthony's a lot better with words than he is anyways. As this continues, he eyes Mina as she performs her ritual. He doesn't like her habit of running off alone every time she sees an interesting creature. At least she let Jared know where she was going.
The woman in charge narrows her eyes as she looks over the party, her lips pursed into a thin line. After a moment of thinking, she finally says, "Fine, you may enter our camp." Then with a slight smile, she continues, "While I converse with Madam Eva, feel free to take a load off and rest your feet. Jihav and Milov will see to your needs." She nods her head towards the two mountainous men, and they both grin in a friendly manner. With that, the woman and the thinner man turn and begin walking towards a large tent set atop the small hill in the center of the camp.
Jihav (or was it Milov?) gestures towards Aoufie's masterwork instrument. "Since you offered, would you mind treating us with some of your songs from distant lands?" he rumbles in his thickly accented voice, grin still plastered on his face.
The other twin nods enthusiastically. "We'd love to learn more about your stories as well. We'll share a meal, sing songs, and dance our worries away!" he says enthusiastically. "Come, let me introduce you to everyone!" He energetically gestures you to follow him as he begins making his way towards the rest of the Vistani with an eager bounce in his step. These Vistani certainly seemed a bit more lively and open than the dour Barovians you've met so far.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the glistening lake, Kora approaches the lone wolf she spotted. She had lost sight of the grayish wolf as she made her way around the edge of the lake, but she manages to find him again as she nears where she last saw him. Between two tall oaks about fifty feet ahead, she sees the wolf laying on the ground, its majestic head rested between its outstretched legs as it continues to watch your siblings with a bored expression. At the sound of Kora's voice, the wolf leaps to its feet with a yelp of surprise. It whips its head over towards Kora and lets out a ferocious growl from curled lips with yellowed fangs bared, hackles raised, and an aggressive gleam to its eyes.
Anthony give Aoufie a smile of gratitude for the well time save. "I was going to beg for help getting a fresh shave, but it seems like beards are in fashion here so maybe I'll let it grow." Smiling at the man who offered to show them around, and scratching the ever thickening, sandy colored beard. He doesn't fully trust the cheer, but it's better to lean into it in his mind that behave too suspicious. "Well met. I'm Anthony by the way." Anthony has continued to wear his holy symbol in the open, but the charm from Aoelwyn is tucked away, not trusting who might be looking for something she'd implied was a key of sorts.
"Are you traders?" Generally making small talk with anyone who shows interest in chatting with him.
The growl surprises her. But then she doesn't know why it should, she starts looking around a bit and realizes how far she is from her siblings and wonders why she allowed herself to get drawn in by this strange wolf. What if he had his pack beyond the ridge? What if this was to draw her in...
Fear enters her mind a bit, the fangs and eyes letting it happen. Continuing to attempt to speak to it, "I see I have interrupted your nap. I meant no harm, I just wanted to chat." she starts backing away slowly. If the wolf follows or continues to show aggression, she will leave one palm up in surrender and reach in her pack with the other for a ration and toss it in front of the wolf to hopefully placate it.
Still growling with hackles flared, the wolf takes a menacing step towards Kora, a thick strand of saliva dropping from its bared fangs to the pine needle-covered forest floor. Quickly, Kora tosses out a ration of dried jerky towards the beast, and it flinches back instinctively. Ears lying flat against its head, the wolf growls once more before hesitantly taking a steps towards the dried meat. It takes a few tentative sniffs at the jerky, and then in devours the meat in a couple eager bites. After the last remnant of jerky has vanished down its ravenous gullet, it looks back up at Kora, its hackles flattening. It looks curiously at her, but it remains in its cautious stance. After a moment, it growls out, "You speak. You one of the manwolves?"
Though slightly hesitant at first, the Vistani quickly welcome the group with open arms. They really were quite gregarious. Soon, a lunch meal comprised of steaming soup, a salad made of forest herbs, and even fresh bread is shared with all of you. The Vistani chat amicably with all of you, and several even offer you gifts of beaded necklaces and bracelets. The Vistani children are a bit shy, but soon they are just as friendly as the adults. They prance around the group, playing with toys or chasing each other. You even receive a few giggling invitations to join them in their games. Several of the children take a fascination to Aoufie and Akyan, sometimes sneaking up and poking their strangely colored skin with a child's innocent curiosity. All the while, several Vistani keep cajoling Aoufie to play a song on his instrument.
Anthony quickly finds a chatting partner: an older man with an olive complexion, his dark hair beginning to become thin and white. His voice sounds wheezy, but he still seems fairly hale for a man his age. "No," he replies in an accented voice. "We are travelers through and through. Staying tied to one place is no way to live life, so we travel to see all that the multiverse has to offer." He turns his wizened gaze upon Anthony, "How about you and your companions? What brought you to Barovia?"
While the two talked, Anthony, purely out of habit and without any purpose, found a woman about his age to lock eyes with and flash a smile at. "Forgive my ignorance, but muli-whatsit?" Anthony didn't have to play dumb in this case. He had no idea what the man was getting at.
"Would you be surprised to hear we don't know what brought us here? We were meant to attend a funeral for our foster mother and locate one of her friends in the city to tend to some protective wards on her property. But the mists rose up and swallowed us. It's a pretty crazy mess."
Aoufie devours the offered food with gusto as in the future he senses it will mostly be hard rations. He would give words of thanks for the necklace and bracelet. Aoufie takes a seat on the ground and plays his songs while sharing stories of the bustling cities of Sword Coast. As a Harengon he is used to people's curiosity, so he allows to the kids to touch him though he would redirect some of them if some get a tad feisty.
Akyan gratefully accepts the food, but declines the offers of beaded jewelry as politely as he knows how. He's not to keen on dancing and music, so he tries to find a secluded spot to eat his meal...which is unsuccessful. The drow nearly jumps in surprise when the first child pokes him. Children finding him fascinating rather than frightening is completely new territory. He tries to ignore them at first, but as it continues he starts to get a bit annoyed. However, he doesn't want to be rude so once he finishes his food, he stands up and starts walking around. At this point he realizes that he's lost track of Kora, hopefully Jared is still near her. He notes Anthony speaking with an older man, and also notes that Aoufie is also dealing with curious children, and having to redirect a few of them. Then another child pokes him. He sighs, "Please. Don't do that." He attempts to keep his voice civil as friendly doesn't come naturally to him. Then he has an idea. Turning to face the children, he raises a hand and four pale green lights materialize between himself and the children. Children like shiny things right? Maybe this will entertain them.
Kora lets out the breath she had apparently been holding as the jerky appeared to have kept the wolf at bay, for now. Taking a few more steps back to keep her distance from it, she responds, "No, I am not a manwolf. I am merely human with a bit of magic that helps me speak to you for a few minutes. I am sorry if I disturbed you."
She stops moving backwards when she feels she has a safe enough distance to transform if need be and hightail it out of there if the wolf decides the jerky isn't enough and to finish off with her as dessert. "Are there a lot of manwolves around?"
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As Jared's rock strikes the corpses, they both puff away and fade into a dark mist. Ismark shivers, and Ireena makes a warding gesture towards the gallows. Putting the odd experience behind you, you step off the well-worn road to Vallaki and onto the rugged path towards Tser Pool.
Calling your new path a 'road' was a bit of a stretch. It was more like a game trail beaten through brush and undergrowth barely wide enough to fit a wagon. The trail quickly begins to wander between twisted and mossy trees, and even though you are in a forest, there are no signs of animal life. The only things you can hear is the sound of your companions' feet tromping through the undergrowth that sprawled across the trail.
After about an hour or so, the trees ahead begin to thin, and you find yourself at the edge of small lake set within the forest. Its still surface is occasionally broken by the tips of cattails and other aquatic plants, signifying that it is not a very shallow lake. Surprisingly, you notice some signs of life here: croaking frogs, a few dragonflies flitting across the lake, and even a few muskrats trudging along the muddy shore of the lake.
You also see several colorful tents and wagons atop a small rise near the lake a couple hundred feet away. The garish colors of the structures clash violently with each other, but they work together to create certain feel about the Vistani camp. You see several people milling about, and you even see children frolicking amongst a stand of tall grass.
Ismark scowls as he spots the tents and wagons. "Those are definitely Vistani," he says. "They do love their colors."
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
Jealous much? Anthony kept the thought to himself as he attempted to hail someone who seemed to be on watch. He kept his weapons and shield stowed and both hands clearly visible, stopping before entering the camp proper. "Hey. We're hoping this might be a refuge for travelers. We were recommended to pay our respects to Madam Eva."
Kora hangs back a bit, letting the others chat about Madam Eva and whatever else the Vistani might have to say, she hopes Ismark and Ireena don't make things difficult. She looks around as she does, seeing if anything catches her eye.
Perception: 26
Jared will hang at the back of the party, suspicious the camp and their occupants.
Anthony's approach is noticed by several Vistani, and a group of four of them, three male and one female, cautiously approach the group. As you get nearer to the encampment, you see that many of the adults are lounging about, chattering amiably amongst themselves as they watch their children frolic amongst the tall grass. The sounds of hearty laughter, cheery conversations, and even music fill the otherwise still air. These people seemed remarkably relaxed and even cheerful, a splash of joy upon the drab wasteland that was Barovia.
The welcoming party of Vistani intersect your path about twenty feet outside the encampment. You see that all of them wear a colorful assortment of clothing, and they are a bedecked with a multitude of woven bead necklaces, and bracelets. Two of the men are hulking brutes with dark hair and beards braided and tied off with beaded cords. They look to be twins. the other man is a slender fellow with a clean-shaven face and gray eyes, his dark hair short. The woman in the group seems to be in charge. She wears a colorful shawl made of painted beads sewn into vibrantly dyed fabrics. Her bright blue eyes are set into an angular face, giving her a shrewd look. Speaking in her heavy Vistani-accented voice, she says, "Madame Eva is indeed with us, but she is busy at the moment. Is there some kind of message we can deliver to her for you?" While these Vistani don't seem overly aggressive, they do seem a bit cautious and wary of you.
Looking around, Kora is quite pleased to see life in abundance here around this sheltered lake. The only thing she spots of note is a lone wolf standing amongst the line of trees across the lake. When you spot the wolf, you can't help but feel it is staring right back at you, watching the group intently.
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
Anthony flashes the dopey, I'm-just-a goofy-goober smile that helps him avoid trouble, "Only that we've heard it would be disrespectful to pass through the area and not present ourselves to a seer of her renown. We were traveling toward Wallaki where we hoped to meet with someone" He scrubs his hair a little sheepishly, "Sorry to be so circumspect. We've been warned to be careful about who we trust. But," Glancing around at the open and friendly seeming people, "It's hard not to think some of those warnings a little misplaced. We were told we should ask for a reading from Madam Eva. We can wait until she's less busy if it's not too much trouble. Maybe in exchange for some fresh gossip and a song or two."
Shamelessly offering Aoufie's barding skills, though the big man wasn't above awkwardly belting out a tune if it kept people talking and smiling. He glanced to the others to see if they were comfortable offering up more information. He was not.
Seeing the life that emerges in this area puts Kora a bit at peace. She hadn't realized how bad it felt with the absence of creatures around until they returned. Being able to breathe a little easier, she gazes at the wolf in the distance. Finally she makes up her mind. Leaning towards Jared, she softly says, "I'm going to be a minute, hopefully I'll be back before we are welcomed by Madam Eva." She checks herself, "That is if we are..." she smiles and starts heading towards the treeline, grabbing a few cattails that she can reach as she does.
Once she gets about halfway there, she finds a dry spot to sit and starts pulling up weeds and leaves, making a pile in front of her with the cattails on the bottom as a base. Searching, she finds a few critters and places them on top of her pile, letting the small critters crawl in and out of the tunnels made by the plantlife. Kora then spreads her hands over them, mumbling a few incantations to herself. She then pulls a gray and brown speckled feather from her hair and breathes in the scent before making some designs in the air with it. Returning it to her hair when she is done, she then sinks her fingers into the earth, breathing deep with her eyes closed.
After about 10 minutes, she finishes the ritual and can now speak with animals. She scatters the pile in front of her before rising to her feet and starts heading towards the wolf. When she gets within 20' of it, she raises her palms up in an open gesture and attempts to talk to it. "Greetings my friend, I noticed you gazing upon me and my pack. Are you far from yours?"
((Persuasion 7 guidance 4))
Aoufie is still a bit shaken but feels better as the sounds and sight of what he considers normal comes into view. He takes out his cittern and play a joyful relaxing tune to match the atmosphere within the Vistani camp. "Indeed, I can lend my music to make this day a little brighter as we wait. The Vistani is truly a vibrant people. Would you be open to trading my song for some rations?"
Persuasion Check
14 rolled in game log.
Performance Check
24
If the Vistani is unwilling Aoufie immediately continues to play for 1 minute using the glamour bard's Enthralling Performance. Aoufie can target 3 people and they must roll WIs Save DC 13
If you perform for at least 1 minute, you can attempt to inspire wonder in your audience by singing, reciting a poem, or dancing. At the end of the performance, choose a number of humanoids within 60 feet of you who watched and listened to all of it, up to a number equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum of one). Each target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw against your spell save DC or be charmed by you. While charmed in this way, the target idolizes you, it speaks glowingly of you to anyone who talks to it, and it hinders anyone who opposes you, although it avoids violence unless it was already inclined to fight on your behalf. This effect ends on a target after 1 hour, if it takes any damage, if you attack it, or if it witnesses you attacking or damaging any of its allies.
If a target succeeds on its saving throw, the target has no hint that you tried to charm it.
Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest.
Akyan follows Anthony when the older man greats the vistani. As they converse, he remains silent, Anthony's a lot better with words than he is anyways. As this continues, he eyes Mina as she performs her ritual. He doesn't like her habit of running off alone every time she sees an interesting creature. At least she let Jared know where she was going.
Jared nods as Kora speaks to him, his eyes still trained on these Vistani.
Zathon remains stationed next to Ireena, surveying the area and making sure nothing comes up behind them.
The woman in charge narrows her eyes as she looks over the party, her lips pursed into a thin line. After a moment of thinking, she finally says, "Fine, you may enter our camp." Then with a slight smile, she continues, "While I converse with Madam Eva, feel free to take a load off and rest your feet. Jihav and Milov will see to your needs." She nods her head towards the two mountainous men, and they both grin in a friendly manner. With that, the woman and the thinner man turn and begin walking towards a large tent set atop the small hill in the center of the camp.
Jihav (or was it Milov?) gestures towards Aoufie's masterwork instrument. "Since you offered, would you mind treating us with some of your songs from distant lands?" he rumbles in his thickly accented voice, grin still plastered on his face.
The other twin nods enthusiastically. "We'd love to learn more about your stories as well. We'll share a meal, sing songs, and dance our worries away!" he says enthusiastically. "Come, let me introduce you to everyone!" He energetically gestures you to follow him as he begins making his way towards the rest of the Vistani with an eager bounce in his step. These Vistani certainly seemed a bit more lively and open than the dour Barovians you've met so far.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the glistening lake, Kora approaches the lone wolf she spotted. She had lost sight of the grayish wolf as she made her way around the edge of the lake, but she manages to find him again as she nears where she last saw him. Between two tall oaks about fifty feet ahead, she sees the wolf laying on the ground, its majestic head rested between its outstretched legs as it continues to watch your siblings with a bored expression. At the sound of Kora's voice, the wolf leaps to its feet with a yelp of surprise. It whips its head over towards Kora and lets out a ferocious growl from curled lips with yellowed fangs bared, hackles raised, and an aggressive gleam to its eyes.
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
Anthony give Aoufie a smile of gratitude for the well time save. "I was going to beg for help getting a fresh shave, but it seems like beards are in fashion here so maybe I'll let it grow." Smiling at the man who offered to show them around, and scratching the ever thickening, sandy colored beard. He doesn't fully trust the cheer, but it's better to lean into it in his mind that behave too suspicious. "Well met. I'm Anthony by the way." Anthony has continued to wear his holy symbol in the open, but the charm from Aoelwyn is tucked away, not trusting who might be looking for something she'd implied was a key of sorts.
"Are you traders?" Generally making small talk with anyone who shows interest in chatting with him.
The growl surprises her. But then she doesn't know why it should, she starts looking around a bit and realizes how far she is from her siblings and wonders why she allowed herself to get drawn in by this strange wolf. What if he had his pack beyond the ridge? What if this was to draw her in...
Fear enters her mind a bit, the fangs and eyes letting it happen. Continuing to attempt to speak to it, "I see I have interrupted your nap. I meant no harm, I just wanted to chat." she starts backing away slowly. If the wolf follows or continues to show aggression, she will leave one palm up in surrender and reach in her pack with the other for a ration and toss it in front of the wolf to hopefully placate it.
Still growling with hackles flared, the wolf takes a menacing step towards Kora, a thick strand of saliva dropping from its bared fangs to the pine needle-covered forest floor. Quickly, Kora tosses out a ration of dried jerky towards the beast, and it flinches back instinctively. Ears lying flat against its head, the wolf growls once more before hesitantly taking a steps towards the dried meat. It takes a few tentative sniffs at the jerky, and then in devours the meat in a couple eager bites. After the last remnant of jerky has vanished down its ravenous gullet, it looks back up at Kora, its hackles flattening. It looks curiously at her, but it remains in its cautious stance. After a moment, it growls out, "You speak. You one of the manwolves?"
Though slightly hesitant at first, the Vistani quickly welcome the group with open arms. They really were quite gregarious. Soon, a lunch meal comprised of steaming soup, a salad made of forest herbs, and even fresh bread is shared with all of you. The Vistani chat amicably with all of you, and several even offer you gifts of beaded necklaces and bracelets. The Vistani children are a bit shy, but soon they are just as friendly as the adults. They prance around the group, playing with toys or chasing each other. You even receive a few giggling invitations to join them in their games. Several of the children take a fascination to Aoufie and Akyan, sometimes sneaking up and poking their strangely colored skin with a child's innocent curiosity. All the while, several Vistani keep cajoling Aoufie to play a song on his instrument.
Anthony quickly finds a chatting partner: an older man with an olive complexion, his dark hair beginning to become thin and white. His voice sounds wheezy, but he still seems fairly hale for a man his age. "No," he replies in an accented voice. "We are travelers through and through. Staying tied to one place is no way to live life, so we travel to see all that the multiverse has to offer." He turns his wizened gaze upon Anthony, "How about you and your companions? What brought you to Barovia?"
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
While the two talked, Anthony, purely out of habit and without any purpose, found a woman about his age to lock eyes with and flash a smile at. "Forgive my ignorance, but muli-whatsit?" Anthony didn't have to play dumb in this case. He had no idea what the man was getting at.
"Would you be surprised to hear we don't know what brought us here? We were meant to attend a funeral for our foster mother and locate one of her friends in the city to tend to some protective wards on her property. But the mists rose up and swallowed us. It's a pretty crazy mess."
Aoufie devours the offered food with gusto as in the future he senses it will mostly be hard rations. He would give words of thanks for the necklace and bracelet. Aoufie takes a seat on the ground and plays his songs while sharing stories of the bustling cities of Sword Coast. As a Harengon he is used to people's curiosity, so he allows to the kids to touch him though he would redirect some of them if some get a tad feisty.
Akyan gratefully accepts the food, but declines the offers of beaded jewelry as politely as he knows how. He's not to keen on dancing and music, so he tries to find a secluded spot to eat his meal...which is unsuccessful. The drow nearly jumps in surprise when the first child pokes him. Children finding him fascinating rather than frightening is completely new territory. He tries to ignore them at first, but as it continues he starts to get a bit annoyed. However, he doesn't want to be rude so once he finishes his food, he stands up and starts walking around. At this point he realizes that he's lost track of Kora, hopefully Jared is still near her. He notes Anthony speaking with an older man, and also notes that Aoufie is also dealing with curious children, and having to redirect a few of them. Then another child pokes him. He sighs, "Please. Don't do that." He attempts to keep his voice civil as friendly doesn't come naturally to him. Then he has an idea. Turning to face the children, he raises a hand and four pale green lights materialize between himself and the children. Children like shiny things right? Maybe this will entertain them.
Kora lets out the breath she had apparently been holding as the jerky appeared to have kept the wolf at bay, for now. Taking a few more steps back to keep her distance from it, she responds, "No, I am not a manwolf. I am merely human with a bit of magic that helps me speak to you for a few minutes. I am sorry if I disturbed you."
She stops moving backwards when she feels she has a safe enough distance to transform if need be and hightail it out of there if the wolf decides the jerky isn't enough and to finish off with her as dessert. "Are there a lot of manwolves around?"