"Madness and corruption...hmm. Where is that little bugger anyway? Keep an eye out for me would you?" With this request, his eyes glaze over slightly, as his mind slips away behind the veil of his familiar's eyes.

"Madness and corruption? Well, if it excites your little devil, then it can't possibly be good," Valanthe says with a chuckle. 

Then addressing Byllemura, "Yes, we should see about doing some reading tonight. I wouldn't mind speaking to that bard over there. His name is Rictavio, and despite being here three months, it looks obvious that he doesn't belong."

"Sure. Let's talk to this Rictavio." shrugs Byllemura. "He might have useful information, although bards are not known to be that reliable I believe."

Quote from jr_el_leon >>

"Are those your boys? They are adorable!"

As you approach Rictavio, he finishes telling a story to some men about a boy who turns into a rabbit under the full moon. Upon finishing, everyone laughs in a somewhat drained way, as if laughter was uncommon for them.

Rictavio then turns towards you. He has golden, though graying hair and a wrinkled, sharp-featured face with a long nose, upon which rests a set of thick spectacles. He wears a vibrant purple top hat and wears a dark-blue jacket obviously used for entertaining events. On his right hand, he wears a silver ring with an oddly patterned gem embedded in it. "Hello there!" he says semi-cheerfully. "What do need? You look like newcomers. My name is Rictavio!"

"Hello yourself, Rictavio!" Emre waves, mirroring Rictavio's semi-cheerful manner. Her companions might know her well enough now to know that she is being sardonic. "We are indeed new in town. Were you just telling a story about a wererabbi, perchance?" 

"Yes! I wrote the story myself, along with several other odd tales. As you may have been told, I am a ringmaster from a carnival of exotic pleasures in far away lands."

Quote from DungeonLord58 >>

"Yes! I wrote the story myself, along with several other odd tales. As you may have been told, I am a ringmaster from a carnival of exotic pleasures in far away lands."

Wide-eyed and smiling in an honest happiness, completely in contrast to Erme, and spooning her stew into her mouth, Valanthe perks up at the mention of carnivals and exotic animals, saying encouragingly, "Yes - do tell! Where are they now for these too are far off lands - are they here?? How did you and your carnival find your way to Vallaki??"

Byllemura, without saying a word, sits down close to Emre and listens carefully to what Rictavio is saying.

"Well," says Rictavio, "the rest of my carnival isn't exactly with me. I traveled to Barovia to visit my son's grave. He died here. But now I can't seem to leave!"

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that - I hope that you were able to find peace with him. And I'm sorry that you cannot return home, it seems to be the theme of this land."

"What brings you to Barovia? Do you have a history here?" He asks. 

Thpas follows out the door.

Quote from DungeonLord58 >>

"What brings you to Barovia? Do you have a history here?" He asks. 

"Hey - where did Thpas go?" 

//  If Valanthe noticed where he went, she'll tell her other two compatriots that she'll see what he went off to do, if not she'll just stay seated listening in on the conversation..... Perception 16    //

Thpas walks back into the Inn, completely soaked. He circles back around to his seat and asks for a drink. He wicks the water out of his ears, shakes his head, and chuckles softly to himself. 

"What was that about?" Emre asks, glancing sidelong at Thpas.

"Mysteries, ghosts, and judgement. Too much like home." A pensive, puzzled expression flashes across his face.

"A woman walked out that door, but she was gone by the time I set foot outside. I would have thought it was another one of Strahd's tricks, but the footprints remained. And if that wasn't enough, if I didn't know any better, I'd say the ravens were toying with me." He takes a spoon of stew.

Byllemura, puzzled, asks Thpas: "So you're saying there were footsteps and then no more? This woman simply vanished into thin air?" Thinking out loud: "Could be some kind of invisibility but there would be footsteps. Or... what of these ravens? Would she be able to turn into one of these creatures and fly away? Those glowing red eyes do look like a sort of unnatural taint..."

Turning to Rictavio: "Good sir, you have been in these lands much longer than us." Nodding in Emre's direction: "My friend and I are wondering whether you have noticed anything out of the ordinary, especially with these ravens."