“This wizard sounded powerful indeed, if Strahd defeated him then Strahd himself must be very powerful. Does the tale, or any others you may know tell of a weakness Vistana?”
(Sorry, Embir, there are many stories of wizards disappearing from Faerun for various reasons and, as she did not mention a name, it is impossible to narrow it down.)
Stanimir pipes back up, "Perhaps it is finally time to see Madam Eva. If you are finished?"
Embir nods, handing her bowl to one of the Vistani before standing. "Yes, thank you so much for your hospitality. I wish you all the best, please, never stop playing your beautiful music or telling your enchanting tales. I have no doubt you will inspire many in the future with your talents." She smiles warmly at them all and respectfully bows her head in thanks.
Stanimir laughs as he leads you to the largest tent, the one standing alone near the water. He holds the flap for you as you enter, but does not follow you inside.
Magic flames cast a reddish glow over the interior of this tent, revealing a low table covered in 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. "Yes, yes. Come, come. Embir, the one who is young. Yes, yes. Laeknishender, the one who returns. Yes, yes. Necros, the one who is angry. Yes, yes. Zander, the small one who stands. Yes, yes. Zennas, the small one who sneaks. Yes, yes. Come, come. Would you like me to read your fortunes?"
"You have told me nothing yet. I have not seen you before, yet I know you are now returned. I see two others, but they--fell away before you really got started, did they not?"
“By all means Zander, though remember she’s provably getting information from one of the Vistani who have been with us since before we even got here..”
She labors a bit to move the crystal ball off the table, returns to her stool and pulls out a deck of cards. She briefly shuffles then splits it. She deals out 3 cards in a partial diamond form (her left, top, and right), then draws to from the other deck, placing one at the bottom, finishing the diamond, then placing the 5th card in the middle.
"You have come to help us. The cards will aid in your quest." She points to the first card (on her left). "This card tells of history. Knowledge of the ancient will help you better understand your enemy." She flips it over. You see a number 4 on two of the corners with the picture of a young person with a wooden staff that has a crook at the end. "The 4 of glyphs--The Shepherd. Find the mother--she who gave birth to the evil."
She eases back for a moment, then points to the second card dealt (the top of the diamond, closest to you). "This card tells of a powerful force for good and protection, a holy symbol of great hope." She flips it over. You see stars in each of the four corners and the picture of a bearded old man wearing robes, and with a staff in hand. "The Master of Stars--The Wizard. Look for a wizard's tower on a lake. Let the wizard's servant guide you to that which you seek."
She points at the third card (her right). "This is a card of power and strength. It tells of a weapon of vengeance: a sword of sunlight." She flips this card over and you see the number 1 in two of the corner and the picture of a female holding a rapier somewhat pointed toward the front of the card, while her other gloved hand is pointed back and slightly up. "The 1 of Coins--The Swashbuckler. I see the skeleton of a deadly warrior, lying on a bed of stone flanked by gargoyles."
She points once more, though it is slightly obvious now which card will be next, this time pointing to the bottom card (nearest herself). "This card sheds light on one who will help you greatly in the battle against darkness." She flips the card. You see an iron gate with a misty graveyard behind it. "Interesting. The Mists. 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."
"And the final card. Your enemy is a creature of darkness, whose powers are beyond mortality. This card will lead you to him." With a bit of a flourish, she flips over the center card. You see a figure reaching for a jeweled cup, but you notice strings leading off the figure toward the top of the card. "The Marionette. Look to great heights. Find the beating heart of the castle. He waits nearby."
"Forgive me. I tire. I must rest. At my age, the gift, it takes its toll. Share our fires and rest, the begin as you see fit. One final warning before I sleep." She points directly at Lae, "Beware what you seek. She is not always as she appears."
She lies down in her bed and Stanimir holds the flap open for you to exit. The camp seems to be winding down as the other Vistani head towards their own sleeping arrangements.
“What the bloody?...” Laecursesas he exits the tent. “What a load of rubbish, none of it makes any sense... find the mother, look for a wizards tower, seek a random girl in some mist? Where isn’t there mist here! Bah, marionet strings and jeweled cups.. what trinkets does she speak of? I refuse to believe any of that was magic!”
Lae graps his torque and looks at Stanimir, “I’m a solider Stanimir and my instincts tell me there’s more to this than illusiory magic.. what are you lot playing at? And just how long before we came here have you been following us?”
Oh, alright lass, get your rest. Zander leaves with everyone. That was interesting. Lae, I agree that we don't know what any of that means, but we can't rule out divination magic. That is a real thing and for all we know she could be a powerful diviner. We'll have to wait and see if any of those riddles come true. So let's play along, she started by saying "find the mother." What could that mean?
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
-We are all just one failed saving throw away from someone else's fantasy...
Lae sighs, “Alright Zander, have it your way. I do not see what other choice we have at the moment anyway. But, this makes no sense.. Do you think a monster like Strahd can actually have a mother? If so, how could she even be alive for us to find?”
"Probably HIS mother. He was human once, or so the legends say. A prince actually. He is the son of King Barov, for whom the land is now named, and Queen Ravenovia, for whom he named his castle, but it is said they are buried in the catacombs deep below the castle itself."
(The Vistani call him devil for his evilness. Yes, Embir, roll History.)
History: 16
(Darn)
“This wizard sounded powerful indeed, if Strahd defeated him then Strahd himself must be very powerful. Does the tale, or any others you may know tell of a weakness Vistana?”
(Sorry, Embir, there are many stories of wizards disappearing from Faerun for various reasons and, as she did not mention a name, it is impossible to narrow it down.)
Stanimir pipes back up, "Perhaps it is finally time to see Madam Eva. If you are finished?"
“Aye, the sooner we get it over with the better” Lae glowers as he gets ready to move.
Embir nods, handing her bowl to one of the Vistani before standing. "Yes, thank you so much for your hospitality. I wish you all the best, please, never stop playing your beautiful music or telling your enchanting tales. I have no doubt you will inspire many in the future with your talents." She smiles warmly at them all and respectfully bows her head in thanks.
“Come on, come on” Lae says as he takes Embir by the shoulder to hurry her along.
Stanimir laughs as he leads you to the largest tent, the one standing alone near the water. He holds the flap for you as you enter, but does not follow you inside.
Magic flames cast a reddish glow over the interior of this tent, revealing a low table covered in 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. "Yes, yes. Come, come. Embir, the one who is young. Yes, yes. Laeknishender, the one who returns. Yes, yes. Necros, the one who is angry. Yes, yes. Zander, the small one who stands. Yes, yes. Zennas, the small one who sneaks. Yes, yes. Come, come. Would you like me to read your fortunes?"
“Your very observant Madam Eva.. the one who tells fortunes..” Lae snorts sarcastically.
"You have told me nothing yet. I have not seen you before, yet I know you are now returned. I see two others, but they--fell away before you really got started, did they not?"
She nailed that one, huh? Alright, I admit I've been curious this whole time. I'll go first if no one objects?
-We are all just one failed saving throw away from someone else's fantasy...
“By all means Zander, though remember she’s provably getting information from one of the Vistani who have been with us since before we even got here..”
I'm always skeptical until I see the magic first hand, so far I'm only intrigued, not yet convinced.
-We are all just one failed saving throw away from someone else's fantasy...
She labors a bit to move the crystal ball off the table, returns to her stool and pulls out a deck of cards. She briefly shuffles then splits it. She deals out 3 cards in a partial diamond form (her left, top, and right), then draws to from the other deck, placing one at the bottom, finishing the diamond, then placing the 5th card in the middle.
"You have come to help us. The cards will aid in your quest." She points to the first card (on her left). "This card tells of history. Knowledge of the ancient will help you better understand your enemy." She flips it over. You see a number 4 on two of the corners with the picture of a young person with a wooden staff that has a crook at the end. "The 4 of glyphs--The Shepherd. Find the mother--she who gave birth to the evil."
She eases back for a moment, then points to the second card dealt (the top of the diamond, closest to you). "This card tells of a powerful force for good and protection, a holy symbol of great hope." She flips it over. You see stars in each of the four corners and the picture of a bearded old man wearing robes, and with a staff in hand. "The Master of Stars--The Wizard. Look for a wizard's tower on a lake. Let the wizard's servant guide you to that which you seek."
She points at the third card (her right). "This is a card of power and strength. It tells of a weapon of vengeance: a sword of sunlight." She flips this card over and you see the number 1 in two of the corner and the picture of a female holding a rapier somewhat pointed toward the front of the card, while her other gloved hand is pointed back and slightly up. "The 1 of Coins--The Swashbuckler. I see the skeleton of a deadly warrior, lying on a bed of stone flanked by gargoyles."
She points once more, though it is slightly obvious now which card will be next, this time pointing to the bottom card (nearest herself). "This card sheds light on one who will help you greatly in the battle against darkness." She flips the card. You see an iron gate with a misty graveyard behind it. "Interesting. The Mists. 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."
"And the final card. Your enemy is a creature of darkness, whose powers are beyond mortality. This card will lead you to him." With a bit of a flourish, she flips over the center card. You see a figure reaching for a jeweled cup, but you notice strings leading off the figure toward the top of the card. "The Marionette. Look to great heights. Find the beating heart of the castle. He waits nearby."
"Forgive me. I tire. I must rest. At my age, the gift, it takes its toll. Share our fires and rest, the begin as you see fit. One final warning before I sleep." She points directly at Lae, "Beware what you seek. She is not always as she appears."
She lies down in her bed and Stanimir holds the flap open for you to exit. The camp seems to be winding down as the other Vistani head towards their own sleeping arrangements.
“What the bloody?...” Lae curses as he exits the tent. “What a load of rubbish, none of it makes any sense... find the mother, look for a wizards tower, seek a random girl in some mist? Where isn’t there mist here! Bah, marionet strings and jeweled cups.. what trinkets does she speak of? I refuse to believe any of that was magic!”
Lae graps his torque and looks at Stanimir, “I’m a solider Stanimir and my instincts tell me there’s more to this than illusiory magic.. what are you lot playing at? And just how long before we came here have you been following us?”
Oh, alright lass, get your rest. Zander leaves with everyone. That was interesting. Lae, I agree that we don't know what any of that means, but we can't rule out divination magic. That is a real thing and for all we know she could be a powerful diviner. We'll have to wait and see if any of those riddles come true. So let's play along, she started by saying "find the mother." What could that mean?
-We are all just one failed saving throw away from someone else's fantasy...
Lae sighs, “Alright Zander, have it your way. I do not see what other choice we have at the moment anyway. But, this makes no sense.. Do you think a monster like Strahd can actually have a mother? If so, how could she even be alive for us to find?”
Good point. Stanimir, You've lived here long enough, yes? Who could she be referring to when she said, The Mother?
-We are all just one failed saving throw away from someone else's fantasy...
"Probably HIS mother. He was human once, or so the legends say. A prince actually. He is the son of King Barov, for whom the land is now named, and Queen Ravenovia, for whom he named his castle, but it is said they are buried in the catacombs deep below the castle itself."
Embir nodded. "I believe it. No one is inherently evil from birth, but circumstances and nurturing can twist even the most innocent of intentions."