Quote from Hanyouslayer >>

ooc: To confirm, Agnes is pure of heart?

 Yep, Agnes is good aligned, i'd say very pure. not a virgin because she's lesbian, but never been with a man

Allen studies the man, his mannerism and his speech to see if his intent is honest or is he lying.

Insight: 7

Agnes pricks her hand with a ceremonial dagger and presses her palm to the cold and clammy metal. In reaction, the gate's inlaid runes slowly crackle and imbue a deep crimson red for just a few moments. At first, it doesn't appear to have worked, as the script goes dark once again. Just as Vasili means to speak, the ancient doors shudder, creak, and open to full extension with a groan that shatters the silence. Ismark takes a few steps back and quickly climbs back into the carriage driver's bench, in reaction to the unfolding events.

Vasili looks extremely amused at the outcome, lighting up with a smile and applauding. "My, my. My apologies, dear miss. Surely, I meant no disrespect. A person so pure in these lands in hard to come by; congratulations. You and yours wouldn't perhaps be interested in a noble quest, would you?"

Allen, you look at the eccentric Vasili intently, and he appears to be very forthcoming and without malicious intent. If anything, it seems he has a healthy curiosity at the group that certainly isn't from Barovia.

"A noble quest? Perhaps, I like doing good. I am on my own noble quest. Should yours not interfere with mine... then I should think I would like to do that." Agnes holds her basket out, "bearclaw?"

Allen continues to concentrate on his spell. "We are helping some folks already..." gesturing to Ismark and Ireena "...Tell me, what is that you want?"

Vasili graciously accepts the pastry, "I thank you. 'Tis rude to deny an offer of food." He takes a decent sized bite and his face lights up. "This is quite the treat! Pure of heart and a lovely chef! If I weren't spoken for, I should say you would have quite the admirer." Vasili finishes the bear claw in enjoyment before continuing.

"What I seek is merely information. I'm in search for a sly fox of a man who has eluded authorities for quite some time. Rudolph van Richten is his real name, but he surely avoids the name like the plague. Be careful when dealing with him as he spins tales akin to the likes of the devil's tongue and revels in the paleblood moon. He specializes in monsters; he was once considered a hero, but now he stands in their shadows. All that I ask is to report back if you ever find any information leading to his whereabouts, and I will ensure you lot are rewarded greatly."

He then looks a bit crestfallen, "Please be careful, my dears. If something were to happen to you lovely ladies, it would haunt me to hear. Those near this man are fated to die at the hands at the beasts he swore to eradicate. Should you ever need me, come find me in Vallaki. I maintain a mansion there where you may seek safe haven, if need arises."

“Well, I’ll be sure to tell my wife you like her bakes. Now, I’m quite sure us ladies can take care of ourselves. Anyway, What other names does he go by?

Graeme leans back against the carriage and listens in on the conversation, amused that he, Allen, and Ismark seem to have become invisible.

He also takes a quick glance in the back of the carriage. Seeing it void of a particularly large cat, grins. “Nice one, fluffy!” Graeme says to himself.

Rumble's eyes- one amber and one blue are as round as saucers as he intently looks at the individual and the exchange. Seeing the older woman open the gates relaxes him a bit- she reminded him of that odd old woman pushing the cart, offering them pies earlier. How many of these old ladies offering pies are there in Barovia? Suspicious, maybe. But indeed interesting.

At the mention of a "mansion" and a "handsome reward", Rumble can't help but allow his tail to frizzle with excitement. It is cold and Damp outside of the wagon. All seems well here and it looks as though this interaction is coming to an end.

Rumble slinks back around the cart and hoping that his warm hiding spot hasn't been spoilt too much by the cold mists penetrating the small hollow he dug for himself.  After making himself known to Graeme he gives a silent  nod and climbs back in, trying to keep his purring to a low hum.

Vasili runs a hand through his hair and thinks for a moment, "I'm afraid he's rather hard to pin down. I've heard rumors he goes by Richard van Strauss, and a reliable source informs the latest of Rictavio. As for his appearance, don't be fooled. He's a human of older age with receding long silver hair, a wide face with mutton chops, and an athletic build."

Vasili looks to Ireena and inquires, "My dear, I would be adrift if I failed to learn your name. A gift, for you." He flourishes, muttering a few words, and a red geranium appears in his hand. A colour so intense it appears to be a deep crimson that's reminiscent of fresh blood. It's an exquisite specimen in perfect shape without flaw. "I grow these myself. Bit of a hobby really."

Ireena shyly pulls on Ismark's arm, and Ismark takes the flower in her stead, "I'm afraid she's a bit shy. She's been through a lot." With that, he starts the carriage through the gate; stopping just on the other side. Rumble hops in moments before movement, using the carriage noise to conceal his retreat back under the party's belongings. Those that see Vasili's face notice that his lively and cheerful nature falls at the refusal, but he quickly recovers, laughing it off awkwardly.

He addresses the group, "Unless there's anything else, I suppose I'll be on my way then. It was certainly a pleasure to meet you. I hope we get to know each other, at some time. You lot look rather interesting and surely have excellent tales to tell."

Graeme follows the wagon. As he hears Vasili’s words, Graeme lets out  very loud raspberry. “PPPPPBBBBBLLLLLLT!”

Performance: 8

Agnes adresses Ireena and Ismark once in the carriage, "I'm sorry you two, I haven't really gotten a chance to meet you both properly. Terribly rude of me. I'm Agnes...Stormbringer. I found myself here looking for family. I sure hope you know that for what I did today, I expect nothing in return and I'm sure much like these two I will protect you, you seem like you could need it." she says warmly. Instead of offering a pastry she hands them the woven basket, "Help yourselves, there are but only a few left... I wonder if there is some sort of mailing service to Sword Coast... I could ask Rosie to send more."

(OOC: What do Ireena and Ismark look like? No need for a deep description, just general gender, age)

"What a strange man, Ismark. Do you know of this Rictavio? From what that guy Vasili said he sounds like a monster hunter. Perhaps he could help us on our journey..."

Ismark, accompanied by Ireena, looks towards the older sorcerer. "My apologies; I'm Ismark, and this here is Ireena. My family has been the ruling power of Barovia, a small town, for many generations, and we adopted lovely Ireena when she was but a young lady. Unfortunately, Strahd has a strange obsession with her, and these nice folk here are escorting is to Vallaki. I will do whatever it in my power to reward you for your services."

Ismark is a tall, younger man with a long and stern face, shoulder length blonde hair, and fine traveling clothes of brown and red. When he speaks, the tones are strong and masculine. Ireena has raven colored hair that hangs just below her middle upper-middle back, a demure air about her, pouty lips, and overall a rather stunning beauty. Her voice matches her physical aspects, breathy, quiet and reserved. She is currently wearing a day cloak and similarly fine clothes to Ismark's. Ismark and Ireena

Ireena leans forward around Ismark and adds, "It's reportedly very safe there. Perhaps you can find your family there as well." She takes the basket and peers inside. "We simply couldn't take all of your wife's cooking! They look simply divine!" She picks one up and takes a big bite before kicking her legs on the driver's bench; her raven hair swishing back in forth in glee. Ireena hands back the basket after retrieving two additional pastries that she eyes over joyfully.

To Allen, Ismark states, "I'm afraid I haven't ever heard of him, Sir Allen. I'm not so sure I would like to meet him in a dark alley, however. From the description, he sounds like a rather volatile and dangerous fellow."

Agnes says with a shudder, “With the way he’s been acting and the trouble he’s into. I sure hope we don’t. Not if it’s as safe as you say... do you know much about lycans?”

Ireena abandons any ladylike qualities and scarfs down another pastry hastily. Ismark laughs, ruffles her hair, and replies, "I'm afraid I don't know much in the way of applied knowledge, but I have heard of them." Ireena munches slower as he continues, "However, I have read of them. It's an infliction that causes madness and an eventual complete metamorphosis into a full fledged beast. During the harvest moon, the cursed loses complete control of themselves and becomes a bloodthirsty animal. Legend has it that Lycanthropy was first encountered in these lands near the village of Krezk, but it's quite the distance West of here."

"Perhaps once Ireena is safe within Vallaki we. Could look for your nephew. I am Allen by the way, I have forgotten to tell you. The human is Graeme, and the monk feline is Rumble. This place has not been kind and my devil heritage has been quite active." Allen is a blueish tiefling and his horns are obsidian black.

“You’ll receive no hostility from me. I’ve seen a lot in my time and know well enough not to judge a book by its cover.”

Ooc: For reference, a summary of each player character description is as below. Please correct me, if I'm incorrect.

Allen
While Tieflings are commonly red, Allen's skin tone is a Dark Azure color with a set of soft, deep purple eyes. A fair glance his way leads towards concern for his health. He looks deathly pale, almost on the verge of passing out, and his form a sickly thinness. His hair a bluish grey, pierced by obsidian horns that stand defiantly skyward.

Rumble
The muscular tabaxi monk stands at fairly normal height with a fur coat of black and grey. Masked only by a hood, waist sash, and loose fitting faulds of red accented with orange, his physique is certainly apparent. His eyes are a striking heterochromia, one eye a blue and the other a contrasting amber. However, I believe he hasn't made himself known as of yet.

Graeme
Graeme's musculature is similar to Rumble's; a form built from dedication. His hair is shaved on the sides and has a crop of longer hair on the top, complete with a thick van dyke. Where Rumble has a very youthful appearance, the fighter appears to be around middle aged; with experience to match. His face is slightly longer, with the tell tale signs from years of fighting.

Of the three, he is the only one clad in armour. He wears an unpolished set of chain mail, dented and scratched with use. His lower half covered with a swath of cloth utilized as a sash coloured a forest green tartan and a kilt to match.

OOC: way to blow by cover Allen! Haha yeah Rumble is kind of a mix between a fluffy house cat and a panther humanoid. He'll introduce himself soon :p