Pizazz's Ravenloft and Beyond

(Lionel took the poison - if it is one - as means to remove the dangerous thing from those people. He personally would take no money from Strahd or those working for him (other than form their dead bodies and even in this case more for charity). But I guess Mordekai can claim the whole box now).

Mordekai picks up the Onyx box. It doesn't contain any of the Strahd minted money and it seems a shame to just leave it and the jewelry behind. With the deal done, he closes the wagon back up, locking it with the large heavy lock, slipping his key that's on his necklace back under his shirt.  He turns and walks back towards the tent passing Meepo on the way. Meepo looks a tad disappointed as he returns to the group.  The man shouts back, "You stay out of trouble you folks. Best you don't come back. I might forget that I forgot you!"  He wanders into the large tent leaving you standing next to a dusk elf who watches you placidly.

Mordekai begins to lead the way away out of earshot from any of the vistani or dusk elves, in the direction of the house of the dusk elf master.  As the group get out of earshot, Mordekai passes on the information about him (if any of the group didn't hear what the vistani leader said).

"I think he might be our best bet to find any information on the 'Mother of Evil', but we might have to be careful what we say.  These dusk elves work for these Vistani, who in turn work for Strahd, but apparently they've lived through Strahd's reign, so may be old enough to know about Strahd's mother.  Is it worth paying him a visit?"

"Mad mage be just mad."  Meepo says with a shrug.  "Maybe house better."

"Definitely worth a visit," agreed Lionel. "If I got his words right, only some of the elves work for Vistani, the rest would love to see Strahd gone." "Do you mean to go right now, before we found the mage? Makes sense, if we are already here."

"Well, his house is just there... It' might be worth a visit while we're here? The priest warned us against talking to the Vistani, but perhaps this dusk elf is different?  Or perhaps he may have information on the mad mage at least?  Maybe he was around when the mage fought Strahd?" Mordekai points in the direction to the house that the vistani leader indicated previously.

The group strolls down the grassy hill to one of the eight houses built partially into the hill itself.  Standing quietly in front of this house, bathed in the warm light of its lanterns, are three sullen, gray-cloaked figures, their angular features and black, flowing hair half-hidden under their cowls. One puts his hand forward, "Please state your business." 

 Mordekai raises his voice, "We'd like to speak to your leader." 

The elf regards the group with disinterest, then mutters "Kasimir".  He knocks on the door, "Kasimir, travelers here to see you."  From within is a faint, 'Enter."

This tiny wooden building is grim. It has dull curtains separating the front part of the room from the back. A fireplace with glowing embers crouches glaringly at the back. The dust is thick in here.  Wooden statuettes of elven deities stand in cubbyholes along one wall. A tapestry of a forest hangs on the opposite wall. A dusk elf, similar to the others sits at the back half of the building that contains a table and three chairs.  He motions for the group to sit.  

"My name is Kasimir. Leader of the dusk elves."  His eyes shaded with hopelessness scans each party member.  "Why have you come before me?" 

"The leader up there, Luvash?  Lavush? (DM typed it twice with both spellings once!)  He mentioned you'd seen a lot of things over a lot of years."

Mordekai pays close attention to how Kasimir reacts to hearing the name.  Kasimir's reaction - or at least, Mordekai's reading of it - will determine what Mordekai says next.

Roll insight.

Kasimir's face seems fairly impassive during the exchange, but Mordekai watches closely looking for a reaction. "I have lived in this land from before it was cursed and tied to Strahd's evil soul. It is true, I have seen many things. Little of it good. You are like a reflection of scores that have come before. Their souls now residing in the fogs for Strahd's evil to feed on."  

Mordekai Insight: 7

The most subtle of sneer's arrives on Kasimir's face and is gone in the blink of an eye. It's clear he has distaste for Luvash, and possibly the Vistani as a whole. However it's equally obvious that they are of little importance to the elf in general.

"We might be a reflection, but so far we prevailed and intend to keep it so," joined the conversation Lionel. "My name is Lionel," he politely bowed his head. "This here are Mordekai, Olin, Ismark and Meepo. We came to ask a man who was here at the dawn of this land how did it all start? How did Strahd came to be? Would you share that knowledge with us?"

Meepo nods at Lionel's question.  "And if vampire lord has mother."  He adds in.

Seeing that the dusk elf had no love for either Luvash or Strahd, Mordekai feels more comfortable sharing some of their motivations. "We'd also heard of a wizard who once fought Strahd and lost, but lived, and wondered if you knew anything of this wizard? Is he still around?" 

The elf looks amongst the group as they ask their questions. His eyes shroud his intentions well, but he is clearly calculating. Something you've said seems to have woken his attention from the disinterested fog he'd been in moments before. Something Lionel had said. 

Kasimir thumb moves a red tinged steel ring on his finger back and forth as he considers. He waves a hand, "I can tell you about each of these things. I will start with the least important, and end with the most."  He turns his shoulders so he's fully facing the group from his chair. He face is quite handsome, the dark skin and black hair shows only the slightest sign of aging, his eyes though feel ancient.  "The mother first, for our little dragon friend here."  He looks down at Meepo analyzing him. "I sense about you a tipping point. You are the weight that tips the balance, though when, where, and in what direction, I can not say.  Strahd's mother was named Queen Ravenovia. It is after her that he named Castle Ravenloft. He always sought his mothers love, the way she loved his brother, but she could sense the evil and dark destiny on him and feared her oldest son. When the castle was complete, he ordered that she should come stay there, against her wishes, but with her husband dead, she obediently came. However, just another tragic part of this land, she never made it. This symbol of love he'd made for his mother, and his demands that she come, turned against him, when she passed away on the journey to the castle. Strahd, in sorrow, sealed his mother in a crypt below Ravenloft." 

He sits back, the second question answered first. 

"The wizard is another matter, very recent as things go."  He glances at Mordekai, "Though you treat deception as a play thing, it may be that which is the key to victory. The wizard came to this land once the evil agreements that keep this land locked away had been set for centuries. Trapped, as any other might be. He was powerful though, the wizard came to this land about a year ago. A very charismatic human. He thought he could rally the people of Barovia against the devil Strahd. He stirred them with thoughts of revolt and bore them to the castle en masse. I stood witness, though remained afar and uninvolved, for I knew how it would end. When the vampire appeared, the wizard's peasant army fled in terror. A few stood their ground and were never seen again. The wizard and the vampire cast their magic at each other. Their battle flew from the courtyards of Ravenloft to a precipice overlooking Tser falls along the eastern ridges of Mount Ghakis. Thunder shook the mountainside, and rocks tumbled down onto the wizard, yet by his magic he survived. Lightning from the sky struck the wizard and again he survived. But when the devil Strahd fell upon him, the wizard's magic couldn't save him. I saw him thrown a thousand feet to his death. I have heard rumors of a mad wizard on the north shore of the lake, but I have learned nothing to think that these stories are true, or that this mad wizard may be the same who fought Strahd a year ago." 

He looks about, the third question answered second.

"Now, for the only important question you've asked me. How did this evil all start." He looks to Lionel, "He will be focused on testing you. You above all others. Remember your heart. The root of all of this evil lies down a road that winds its way through Tsolenka pass. There, deep in the mountain is the heart of all evil. This place is called the Amber Temple. The secret to breaking Strahd's pact and freeing Barovia may indeed be there, for it is the dark forces of evil that reside there that created this land and created the Devil that was once Strahd. It was to the dark creatures there that he went to convert himself in the vampire he now is. If you dare to go, I will attend you. But I will tell you now my priority will be finding a way to bring my sister back. Her soul is within Ravenloft and unable to rest. If I could bring her back, perhaps she could have peace. Ending Strahds evil is your task."

He sits back, as if the telling of such truths has tired him. Perhaps it has, for he breathes heavily, and seems almost exhausted.

Lionel stood silent for a while. Kasimir's words did not surprise him much - Lionel did declare himself a mortal enemy of Strahd, took the vow to destroy him, avenge lost comrades and free Barovia. Considering Strahd's nature, the vampire would never leave such ambitions unpunished, but first would toy with his future victim. 

Now, Amber Temple - that was something truly interesting and promising. The hope they all needed. "Would not the end of Strahd means freedom for your sister? We are going to end his reign - one way or another, of that you can be sure. With what you told us, you already helped beyond any expectations, this was the information we were helplessly looking for. I think I can speak for all of us, if I say, we will be happy to help you in return and try to free your sister first, though direct assault of the Ravenloft does look difficult. However, would not it be reasonable to go to the root of the problem and destroy Strahd, thus freeing everyone and everything he has a hold of?"

The elf nods carefully, "Perhaps you are right. Getting to Ravenloft will not help my sisters soul. But perhaps there is something in this evil place that can help free her. Ending the curse outright....who can say what happens to the souls tethered to this cursed place...destroyed, freed, lost forever...but perhaps there is something in the Amber Temple that can help me rescue her soul. And, as you say, it seems that would align with your priorities." 

Lionel even leaned forward looking into the eyes of the ancient elf: "Do you mean to come with us to the Amber Temple? Leaving your people?"

He shrugs, "Yes, though as long as we are all trapped here, there is no such thing as really leaving them.."

Meepo sits back, head swiveling back and forth as the old elf and Lionel trade words.