There's nothing crazy about breaking under too much pressure. It's the folks that can la di da along as though they're not trapped in Barovia that are crazy.
The party makes its way to Burgomaster Vallakovich's mansion. It has walls of plastered stone that display many scars where the plaster has fallen away from age and neglect. Drapes cover every window, including a large, arched opening above the mansion's double entrance doors.
You lift a heavy brass door knocker, and you can hear the echo as it booms inside the large house. A maid opens the door and you enter the vestibule.
Framed portraits adorn the walls of this grand foyer, which features a wide staircase with a sculpted railing. A long, carpeted hall attached to the foyer stretches almost the length of the mansion and has several doors leading away from it, including one at the far end. Bundles of twigs are heaped against the walls.
You make an immediate left, without proceeding down the hallway, and you enter a parlor, roughly 15' by 20'. It contains a fine array of furnishings and draperies, with an overall feminine touch.
The maid urges you to wait in the parlor, and leaves you there.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
“Seems ... quiet,” Lucento utters in a hushed tone. He stands unsure and awkwardly in the parlor while taking an inventory of its contents for any pieces of significance, in the idle hope that the nature of the decor might give insight of that of the (feminine) decorator.
“Seems ... quiet,” Lucento utters in a hushed tone. He stands unsure and awkwardly in the parlor while taking an inventory of its contents for any pieces of significance, in the idle hope that the nature of the decor might give insight of that of the (feminine) decorator.
Perception: 8
Insight: 17
Insight checks are more for analyzing people then they are for drawing inferences from interior decorating choices. But if you are interested in knowing why there might be a feminine hand behind the decorating choices in this room, your answer soon presents itself.
A tall, very slender woman joins you. You would guess that this is the lady of the house, just from the way she is dressed. She looks like this:
Welcome, travelers. I am Lady Lydia Vallakovich. Welcome to our home. The Burgomaster will be with us shortly. I hope you are not weary from the road?
She sits in a cushioned chair, back perfectly straight, and stairs into the middle distance.
Barnaby takes a brief bow and smooths his beard as he stands back up. A pleasure to make your acquaintance madam. I am Barnaby and these are my companions Kif and Lucento. We traveled far to come to this town, having heard that it was a safe refuge in this land of danger. I wanted to thank you and your husband for providing sanctuary to those in need. What we were unprepared for, is how delightfully happy everyone in this town is. To what do you credit that sentiment?
Well, Burgomaster Vallakovich discovered that happiness is the best for everybody. People are healthier when they are happy, and behave better when they are happy, and the happiness - a shadow passes over her face, but she perks right up before she continues - keeps the darkness at bay! We have festivals, and everybody loves them! The whole town comes out, every time. Everybody!
She smiles, then looks uncomfortable for a moment, then goes back to staring into the middle distance, with a thin smile fixed in place.
Mmmm, the middle distance, my go-to work stare (is that Laura Dern? Interesting)
We are most grateful that you are receiving us with no warning. I feel it might have been a little rude on our part, but we really wanted to properly present ourselves to you, especially in light of some recent unpleasant events
Kif bows as deeply as a dwarf can
Happiness is a wonderful thing, certainly never truer than when darkness is creeping about the doorway
Darkness at the door? She repeats the phrase, as if unsure of how to respond. She titters nervously and smiles.
I'll treat that Perception roll (which would not really give you anything) as an Insight check. She is what she appears to be: Not really thinking about anything; just trying to give the answers she feels expected to give.
Lady Vallakovich keeps that slightly strained smile on her face for a full ten minutes, saying nothing.
Finally, the Burgomaster enters. He looks like this:
Following immediately behind him are two enormous black dogs. Imagine rottweilers, but a few inches taller.
He takes a seat and looks at each of you before he speaks. The dogs stand, drooling menacingly, next to him as he speaks. Welcome to Vallaki, travelers. Unfortunately, you find me quite busy this morning. But I have made some time for you.
Why thank you so kindly for allowing us some time on your calendar. My name is Kif, and this is Lucento and Barnaby. We wanted to introduce ourselves to you as seemed fit for new visitors in your city. It's a lovely city, and it seems like we are here in time for a festival
Why thank you so kindly for allowing us some time on your calendar. My name is Kif, and this is Lucento and Barnaby. We wanted to introduce ourselves to you as seemed fit for new visitors in your city. It's a lovely city, and it seems like we are here in time for a festival
The burgomaster eyes you superciliously, but pauses as you choose not to challenge him.
Yes, indeed, it is . . . fit. And you are here for a festival, and you will help us prepare! Everybody helps, in Vallaki. It is part of the the enjoyment. But what brings you to Vallaki, he asks, somewhat suspiciously.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Eh...we are most most sorry about that unfortunate event. We were traveling with a young man whom we thought we had come to know, but his actions took us completely by surprise. Of course we were appalled, and happy to see that your town guards were up to the task of dealing with the situation expeditiously.
Is there a particular task that you would like us to help with in preparation for the festival? I do so love a party.
And lastly, while I am overwhelmed by the beauty of your town and the happiness of its people, there will come I time when we wish to go home back to the sword coast. We have been lead to believe that there may be some force that is keeping us from leaving this land. Do you know anything of this supposed curse?
Regardless of his answer I would like to see how I feel about it. Insight: 19
Very well. It is as I suspected. Your friend will not bother us any longer.
He leans forward in his chair.
I, too, love a party. Please go back to the inn, and inform the barkeep that I would like a barrel of the Purple Grapemash. We will pay, tell him. But tell him that we can wait no longer. And six bottles of the Red Dragon Crush.
When you return, I will leave instructions for how you will help prepare for the festival.
You perceive that he knows that this task will present challenges that you could not yet anticipate. You do not think he seriously expects you to cross town, gather these things, and return promptly.
Overall, your impression of him is that he is very impressed with himself, and he probably thinks very little of those around him.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
Very well. Off to the Burgomaster.
I will be with you presently. :)
There's nothing crazy about breaking under too much pressure. It's the folks that can la di da along as though they're not trapped in Barovia that are crazy.
Well said. The voice from beyond gets inspiration!
The party makes its way to Burgomaster Vallakovich's mansion. It has walls of plastered stone that display many scars where the plaster has fallen away from age and neglect. Drapes cover every window, including a large, arched opening above the mansion's double entrance doors.
You lift a heavy brass door knocker, and you can hear the echo as it booms inside the large house. A maid opens the door and you enter the vestibule.
Framed portraits adorn the walls of this grand foyer, which features a wide staircase with a sculpted railing. A long, carpeted hall attached to the foyer stretches almost the length of the mansion and has several doors leading away from it, including one at the far end. Bundles of twigs are heaped against the walls.
You make an immediate left, without proceeding down the hallway, and you enter a parlor, roughly 15' by 20'. It contains a fine array of furnishings and draperies, with an overall feminine touch.
The maid urges you to wait in the parlor, and leaves you there.
“Seems ... quiet,” Lucento utters in a hushed tone. He stands unsure and awkwardly in the parlor while taking an inventory of its contents for any pieces of significance, in the idle hope that the nature of the decor might give insight of that of the (feminine) decorator.
Perception: 13
Insight: 13
"Beyond the grave!!" Oh no! I'll pass the inspiration onto my new character.
Insight checks are more for analyzing people then they are for drawing inferences from interior decorating choices. But if you are interested in knowing why there might be a feminine hand behind the decorating choices in this room, your answer soon presents itself.
A tall, very slender woman joins you. You would guess that this is the lady of the house, just from the way she is dressed. She looks like this:
She sits in a cushioned chair, back perfectly straight, and stairs into the middle distance.
Barnaby takes a brief bow and smooths his beard as he stands back up. A pleasure to make your acquaintance madam. I am Barnaby and these are my companions Kif and Lucento. We traveled far to come to this town, having heard that it was a safe refuge in this land of danger. I wanted to thank you and your husband for providing sanctuary to those in need. What we were unprepared for, is how delightfully happy everyone in this town is. To what do you credit that sentiment?
Well, Burgomaster Vallakovich discovered that happiness is the best for everybody. People are healthier when they are happy, and behave better when they are happy, and the happiness - a shadow passes over her face, but she perks right up before she continues - keeps the darkness at bay! We have festivals, and everybody loves them! The whole town comes out, every time. Everybody!
She smiles, then looks uncomfortable for a moment, then goes back to staring into the middle distance, with a thin smile fixed in place.
Mmmm, the middle distance, my go-to work stare (is that Laura Dern? Interesting)
We are most grateful that you are receiving us with no warning. I feel it might have been a little rude on our part, but we really wanted to properly present ourselves to you, especially in light of some recent unpleasant events
Kif bows as deeply as a dwarf can
Happiness is a wonderful thing, certainly never truer than when darkness is creeping about the doorway
Oh, I forgot Percepting 21
Darkness at the door? She repeats the phrase, as if unsure of how to respond. She titters nervously and smiles.
I'll treat that Perception roll (which would not really give you anything) as an Insight check. She is what she appears to be: Not really thinking about anything; just trying to give the answers she feels expected to give.
I can only assume you were not sufficiently attentive when you met Lydia Wachter.
Oh, I remember Lynda
Lady Vallakovich keeps that slightly strained smile on her face for a full ten minutes, saying nothing.
Finally, the Burgomaster enters. He looks like this:
Following immediately behind him are two enormous black dogs. Imagine rottweilers, but a few inches taller.
He takes a seat and looks at each of you before he speaks. The dogs stand, drooling menacingly, next to him as he speaks. Welcome to Vallaki, travelers. Unfortunately, you find me quite busy this morning. But I have made some time for you.
What brings you to my home?
Why thank you so kindly for allowing us some time on your calendar. My name is Kif, and this is Lucento and Barnaby. We wanted to introduce ourselves to you as seemed fit for new visitors in your city. It's a lovely city, and it seems like we are here in time for a festival
Josh is sunning himself in the Caribbean for a few days. I’ll keep things moving without expecting much from him. Lucento, you have anything here?
The burgomaster eyes you superciliously, but pauses as you choose not to challenge him.
Yes, indeed, it is . . . fit. And you are here for a festival, and you will help us prepare! Everybody helps, in Vallaki. It is part of the the enjoyment. But what brings you to Vallaki, he asks, somewhat suspiciously.
“Was it just to murder the town carpenter? Is that the only reason you have come?”
He looks quite pleased with himself for springing this question on you.
Eh...we are most most sorry about that unfortunate event. We were traveling with a young man whom we thought we had come to know, but his actions took us completely by surprise. Of course we were appalled, and happy to see that your town guards were up to the task of dealing with the situation expeditiously.
Is there a particular task that you would like us to help with in preparation for the festival? I do so love a party.
And lastly, while I am overwhelmed by the beauty of your town and the happiness of its people, there will come I time when we wish to go home back to the sword coast. We have been lead to believe that there may be some force that is keeping us from leaving this land. Do you know anything of this supposed curse?
Regardless of his answer I would like to see how I feel about it. Insight: 19
He grins broadly.
Very well. It is as I suspected. Your friend will not bother us any longer.
He leans forward in his chair.
I, too, love a party. Please go back to the inn, and inform the barkeep that I would like a barrel of the Purple Grapemash. We will pay, tell him. But tell him that we can wait no longer. And six bottles of the Red Dragon Crush.
When you return, I will leave instructions for how you will help prepare for the festival.
You perceive that he knows that this task will present challenges that you could not yet anticipate. You do not think he seriously expects you to cross town, gather these things, and return promptly.
Overall, your impression of him is that he is very impressed with himself, and he probably thinks very little of those around him.