Kessintra casts dancing lights to create dim torches that dance around the graves as they pass, hopefully bringing some levity to the dead. As much as anyone can get in this place, at least.

The road gradually disappears and is replaced by a twisted, muddy path through the trees. Deep ruts in the earth are evidence of the comings and goings of other wagons.

The canopy of mist and branches suddenly gives way to black clouds boiling far above. There is a clearing here, next to a river that widens to form a small lake several hundred feet across. Five colorful round tents, each ten feet in diameter, are pitched outside a ring of four barrel-topped wagons. A much larger tent stands near the shore of the lake, its sagging form lit from within. Near this tent, eight unbridled horses drink from the river.

The mournful strains of an accordion clash with the singing of several brightly clad figures around bonfire. A footpath continues beyond this encampment, meandering north between the river and the forest’s edge. The elder points to the large tent, saying, "That is where Madame Eva is. She is expecting you."

Kessintra takes in the scenery as she climbs from the wagon, studying the dark clouds above as the somber notes of the accordion ring in her ears.

"Looks like a hell of a storm. Is it always like that?" She asks the elder, noting the comparative natural peace of the horses by the lake.

The man takes up a somber tone, moving to sit by the bonfire. "Never changes. That part of this land is eternal. Our prince doesn't enjoy the sunlight."

Speaking to Kess, I suppose you two have that in common.

"Hm, I can't say I mind," Kessintra remarks, enjoying her sight being unhindered, "It must be hard on creatures who thrive in light though. I suppose the prince hasn't considered moving underground."

Amelia's brow furrows as she looks up at the stormy heavens.

“The light is life. How do the people here sustain themselves? Crops and plants wouldn’t thrive in this climate… animals would starve as well.”

With a heavy heart and a deepening sense of foreboding, she shakes her head, adding yet another question to her growing list for Madame Eva. Then, steeling herself, Amelia moves forward.

Magic flames cast a reddish glow over the interior of this tent, revealing a low table covered in a black velvet cloth. Glints of light seem to flash from a crystal ball on the table as a hunched figure peers into its depths. As the crone speaks, her voice crackles like dry weeds. “At last you have arrived!” Cackling laughter bursts like mad lightning from her withered lips.

Kessintra follows Amelia into the tent, content with letting the cleric handle this talk of her dream. She raises an eyebrow skeptically and casts a uncomfortable look at the others as the old woman, presumably this Madame Eva, bursts out laughing like a madwoman.

Zan climbs out of the wagon, stretching and having a look around. He'll follow the group into the tent.

Garrick also follows Amelia in, letting her take the lead in this discussion due to her dreams

Amelia sits across from the old fortune teller, her fierce emerald gaze fixed intently on the woman before her. After a brief silence, she speaks.

“We are here,”

she says quietly.

“Madame Eva. Perhaps you already know who I am, but I want to speak for myself.”

Amelia begins to recount her dreams, the haunting images of elven souls trapped in the mists, and her mission to free them.

“I came with a list of questions for you,”

she admits,

“But they all seem to boil down to one. What is this place? What is Barovia? Why is this land so dark, so gloomy… and so deadly? This realm defies everything my lord teaches. How can life sustain itself here, with so little sunlight?”

Chipper follows with the rest. As Amelia speaks his interest is piqued on the crystal ball. 

Madame Eva's old face grins, amused by your questions. "Ah, of course. You wonder how they survive without what you consider life's biggest need. The truth is that there aren't many that do survive. The ones that do have found crops that require the least sunlight, so they do what they can with those." Her grin grows. "Of course, there is a way to help them. If you want, I'll perform a card reading for you. It'll give you vital information for defeating the Lord of Barovia."

Card reading? Kessintra's curiosity piques at the idea, though she can't resist her natural skepticism. She will watch the process closely for any hint of trickery.

Perception 22

Garrick will watch Eva during the reading but he isn’t well trained in micro expressions. Insight 9

(Really long message alert. Sorry!)

Madame Eva holds her hands up, palms facing you. She claps, and from the collision a box with a deck of cards appears out of thin air. The box falls, and she quickly catches it. She takes out the cards and separates the deck into two. The smaller one has crowns on the back, the other does not. She lays out three of the cards from the larger deck and two from the smaller deck in the shape of a plus, with the middle card and the one closest to her having crowns. You can see no form of deception or trickery. She hovers her hand over the card to your right.

"This card tells of history. Knowledge of the ancient will help you better understand your enemy." She flips the card over. 

"Look for a wizard’s tower on a lake. Let the wizard’s name and servant guide you to that which you seek."

She hovers her hand over the front card. "This card tells of a powerful force for good and protection, a holy symbol of great hope." She flips the card.

 "Look for a den of wolves in the hills overlooking a mountain lake. The treasure belongs to Mother Night."

Her hand hovers over the left card. "This is a card of power and strength. It tells of a weapon of vengeance: a sword of sunlight."

"A wounded elf has what you seek. He will part with the treasure to see his dark dreams fulfilled."

Next is the back card. "This card sheds light on one who will help you greatly in the battle against darkness."

"A Vistana wanders this land alone, searching for her mentor. She does not stay in one place for long. Seek her out at Saint Markovia’s abbey, near the mists."

Finally, the center card. "Your enemy is a creature of darkness, whose powers are beyond mortality. This card will lead you to him!"

"The beast sits on his dark throne."

Madame Eva sits there, grinning. "Is there anything else you all need?"

Kessintra unconsciously moves closer as the reading goes on, leaning in to study the cards and take in all the information. It is no trick from what she can see, and at the very least it gives them some direction in this unfamiliar land. A wizard, den of wolves, wounded elf, and the beast on the throne...

"Who is this 'Mother Night' you mentioned? And do you have a map we can use as we search?" 

Madame Eva sits back for a moment, trying to remember. "Mother Night..... I believe she's a deity of some kind. As for a map, I have one here.

(I will be putting a condensed version of the reading and the map in the public campaign notes)

I have 2 questions: do you know the wizard and his servant’s names? And the wounded elf… is he mortally wounded where he could perish if we don’t find him soon?