Valerie - You ask around about Madam Eva the guards point you over to the larger tent near the Tser Pool.  As you continue around the camp one of the women dancing breaks off from the group and heads towards you.  “It was fated that you would visit our humble camp. Madam Eva foretold your coming. She awaits you.”  You can tell she is a little tipsy - she curtsies and waves her hand towards the tent in an over-exaggerated fashion, before bursting into fits of laughter.

Baern - Currently you see;

• Ioben speaking with an elderly couple.
• Valerie moving around the camp enquiring after Madam Eva.
• Dormark is leaning against a tree after having downed something - a camp guard has approached him.
• Sandu stormed off towards the large stretch of water and is currently standing near the largest of the tents.
• Galqarin walked off into the woods, you are unsure where he currently is.
• Ismark and Ireena are tentatively hanging back with you.

At your question Ismark furrows his brow, "Baern - if you need me to follow you, I shall follow.  But I do not trust these people... it's..."  he struggles to get the words out.  Ireena, seeing her brother struggling, says "I think what Ismark is trying to say is that it has always been hard to understand the Vistani.  We know many are in league with Strahd, others may not be.  Would you, knowing that, actively seek out the Vistani and seek to socialise with them?  The mistrust that exists between us might at times be misplaced, but it is not baseless."

"But to answer your question..." Ismark casts his eye over the Vistani present at the camp.

"Yes.. Now that you mention it.  Isn't that Radu?"  He points at a rough-looking man, with a thick black beard, he is drinking heavily with the other Vistani.  Ireena nods, "I've heard he occasionally visits this place.  He's a merchant.  Oftentimes he can be found in the Blood on the Vine tavern talking with Alenka, Mirabel, and Sorvia - the Vistani ladies you met there."

((Radu))

Valzes looks at the lady not sure what to make out of her. She waits outside Madame Eva tent for a moment to see if anyone want to join. While doing so, she glances around to see if she can find the raven that has been following them. 

Perception 20

Valerie's Perception check:

After taking a moment to calm down, Dormark thinks over what Sandu said and the reasonableness of his statements found though he hated to admit were logical. Dormark shakes his head and says, "If he is a fool your just as big of one." Hearing the approaching Gaurd and his statements Dormark looks around and notices he put himself far away from anybody that was with him. With feelings of guilt, nervousness, and fear boiling in him Dormark begins to say, "I'm.." 

A Weird noise emits from his torso. "I'm..." he begins again and this time the sound of the hiccup comes out again louder and more distinct, "I'MMMMA SORRRRWE," yells the drunk warforge. "I got mad at ma friend, thou it ain't hisss fault, but I wasss ssso angry I thrrew the bottle. He don't know I wasss scared toooo and donn't want anythinggg to hurttt him. Buttt he don'tt trussst me anddd it made me madddd... Alll we wantted was to fiiind EEEvaa. I'lll gooo piccck up the bottleee, jusssst don'tttt hit me. Ittt still hurrtss meee tooo.  Dormark gets off the tree and turns around. Walking back towards were he threw the bottle, smacking into a tree with his shoulder he rips off a chuck of bark.  Bending down he tries to pick up all the glass shards he can see. Sometimes having to reach down multiple times to actually pick up a real shard of glass.

(perception with disadvantage 8 )

Dormark - You attempt to find the shards of the fractured bottle.  Unfortunately most of the times your hands come up empty.  However you do manage to collect a couple of the larger shards.

The guard watches you with a sense of bewilderment writ on his face.  His demeanour has softened a little since your outburst, his voice is gruff but with a tinge of sympathy, "That's... uh... ok...  There-there big guy.  I'm sure you and your friend can patch things up."

After Dormark retrieves the pieces of the bottle, the guard continues, "That's... that's ok.  No need to fret about collecting it all.  If you were looking for Eva you have come to the right place.  I can take you to see her, if you'd like."  The guard shoos off some of the other Vistani starting to gather around the area, imploring then to "mind-yer-own business".  Dormark, if you follow him, he will take you to just outside of the largest tent in the camp, which sits next to the large stretch of water.

Dormark follows the guard stumbling a bit as he follows the man, calling him nice and sorry for causing trouble.

"I understand" replies Baern to Ismark and Ireena.  "But I have to meet Madam Eva.  I think our fate is tied to her, and I have to know..."  He trails off as he looks between the brother and sister and the vistani camp.  "Maybe you and Galqarin can be our backup, if they do try to harm us."

Baern heads off after Valerie, smiling and waiving at any Vistani that look his way, and inquires "what did they say about Madam Eva?"

After a time the music and festivities quieten down a little.  Instead many of the Vistani start sharing stories and tales, some fictional others not.  Each time the various story-tellers are animated, acting out the roles of the people they describe.

A young lady stands up and walks beside the campfire, in the centre of the group.

"A mighty wizard came to this land over a year ago. I remember him like it was yesterday. He stood exactly where you’re standing!"  Her finger points at Baern.  "A very charismatic man, he was. He thought he could rally the people of Barovia against the devil Strahd."  She effects a tutting sound, "He stirred them with thoughts of revolt and bore them to the castle en masse."  Her hands wave in the direction of Ravenloft.  “When the vampire appeared, the wizard’s peasant army fled in terror. A few stood their ground and were never seen again."  There are audible gasps from the other's listening.

“The wizard and the vampire cast spells at each other."  The lady mimics shooting spells with a prop twig.  "Their battle flew from the courtyards of Ravenloft to a precipice overlooking the falls. I saw the battle with my own eyes."  She stares around the group crouched and wide-eyed, "Thunder shook the mountainside, CRASSSH, BAAANG!  and great rocks tumbled down upon the wizard, AHHHH!  Yet by his magic he survived."  There are a couple of cheers from those listening.

"Lightning from the heavens struck the wizard, and again he stood his ground."  The lady stands tall, hands on her hips.  "But when the devil Strahd fell upon him, the wizard’s magic couldn’t save him.  Oh no!  I saw him thrown a thousand feet to his death.  Ahhhhhh!"  She mimics falling, throwing her hands above her head.  "So, I climbed down to the river to search for the wizard’s body, to see if, you know, he had anything of value, but the River Ivlis had already spirited him away.  Never to be seen again!”

She smirks at those of the party who are present, "Some say he was a famous vampire hunter, some say he was almost Strahd's equal.  Rumour has it that there was no body, because he ain't dead!  Right now he plots his revenge on the Devil himself!  HA!"

There is a round of applause as the young lady finishes her story, coupled with shouts of; "Yeah - I remember the bloke!", "He weren't no Wizard, he were an angel!",  "Nah - he had a bald shiny head and a funny moustache - that's not what angels look like!", "Great story Isla!".  Many of the Vistani congratulate the young lady, Isla, on her story telling.

((ALL - To any listening it is clear she is describing the scene from your dream. 

Galqarin - Though you did not experience the dream, you are aware of rumours surrounding the duel mentioned.))

Baern listens intently to the story and wonders how much of it could be true.  More importantly, if enough of it is indeed true, he wonders if this wizard is indeed still alive.  If the party's path leads to where Baern fears it might, they'll need as many allies as they can get, ideally armed with more than pitchforks and torches.

Curiousity get the better of his caution, and Galqarin creeps closer to hear the story.

Quote from IrRy0 >>

Sandu - As you make the commotion you notice a couple of the Vistani go to make a move towards your location.  As you stroll off in the direction of Tser Pool however, they stop and go back to the tents.  Your Detect Magic initially reveals nothing of interest.... that is until you walk to within 30ft of the larger tent.  Through the thin tent walls you get an OVERWHELMING sense of powerful magics at work.  Generally it is divination magic which you detect, but equally you get the sense that there is a powerful spellcaster located inside the tent.

Sandu was halfway the distance to the river when he noticed some of the people coming his way. He really was not in the mood to converse with anyone at the moment so as soon as they were close enough for him to see their faces, he glared at them with all the malice he could muster. They backed away when his eyes crossed with theirs but at the same time, a strange sensation overcame Sandu. He instinctively knew it was magic, for he had known the sensation before, but the forceful grandeur of it assaulted and overloaded his senses. He did not merely noticed the presence of magic but it was so strong, so overwhelming, that he could hear it leaking in the earth, feel it saturating the surroundings, smell it on the breeze and even taste it on his tongue. It smelled and tasted like all the meals he ever had and the ones he would. And when his eyes adjusted to the sensory input, he could see a large tent figuratively ablaze with magic. No, Sandu thought, it's not the tent. 

He squinted his eyes to shut out some of the brightness. In the middle of the tent he saw it, the source of the magic: it was a person. A person so powerful, so enveloped in magic, it defied reason. His curiosity got the better of him and before any conscious, rational thought could persuade him otherwise, Sandu had crossed the grounds towards the entrance of the large tent in an almost trance like state, pulled back whatever flap or curtain served as the threshold and walked in. He did not even greet Valerie or Baern who stood nearby, though it was hard to say whether he ignored them or merely did not notice them, so transfixed was he on the source of magic.

OOC: Sandu misses out on Vistani storytime.

Valerie nods to Baern as he comes. "Not much. They say she can see the future. She even told them we’re coming." She looks at the tent. "Shall we get in now? Or wait for the others?..."

She looks at Sandu, as he is beelining into the tent. "...Or maybe not." Then she slowly walks in.

Mid-Afternoon - Day 3 - Madam Eva's Tent

Magic flames cast a reddish glow over the interior of this tent, revealing a low table covered in a 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.

((Madam Eva))

"Sandu - I knew you would be the first to come to me."  she laughs.  "The apple never falls far from the tree now does it?  You appear to be one that has recently gone through many changes, have you not?"  She cackles once more, "Yes, yes.  Please come - take a seat!"

As Valerie enters the tent, Madam Eva's attention turns to her, "Welcome dear Valerie.  I wonder.... what does a Paladin of Tyr make of a place like Barovia?  Please come - join us!"  she beckons for Valerie to take a seat next to Sandu.

Madam Eva grins and picks up a worn deck of cards, "I am glad that you both have taken the time to come and pay me a visit."  Shuffling the cards, she continues, "Tell me, would your fortunes read?"  She laughs maniacally, "Or... maybe it is best to wait for the rest of your companions to join us first."

Baern - Isla makes her way towards you.  "Well?" she asks, "Just going to let your friends have all the fun?"  She grins jokingly at you, "Why don't you go and see Madam Eva.  I am sure there is much to discuss."  She moves to the side of Eva's tent, pushing open the flap invitingly.

Ioben - Out of the corner of your eye you notice Sandu and Valerie entering the large tent by the water.  Petyr and Shey shift a little nervously.  Petyr stops mid-sentence, pauses, then continues, "Ioben, as we've enjoyed yer company.  I think it may be time yer met Madam Eva."  He looks at Shey, "Tha's right deary.  It'll be alright, you'll see."  She stands and offers to lead you to the tent, "Jus' this way deary.  Best you be seein' her."

Dormark - The guard leads you all the way over to Madam Eva's tent.  "It's alright, everything'll be ok.  You'll see.  You go see Eva now.  She has been waiting for you all."

Galqarin - You notice the other Vistani in the camp leading your new-found companions to the tent at the far side, near the water.  None of the Vistani seem to have noticed you yet - unless you reveal yourself.

Galqarin will quietly move around to the back of the tent at the far side, staying out of the light of the campfire and not seeking to draw attention to himself.

Galqarin - You notice one of the camp guards cast their eye over to where you are sneaking.  "Halt!  Who goes there?!  Show yourself!" he yells in a gruff voice.

((Sorry - you did not beat their passive Perception))

Valerie is a bit surprised by the comments. She gets closer to the table but does not sit. "Thank you. But I’m more comfortable standing."

She looks straight at the lady’s eyes. "I haven’t make of much. And you must have already knew that it is the reason why I’m here."

(PS: my deities is Tyr. I changed it earlier. Sorry for confusion.)

Galqarin shuffles towards the guard, head bowed, trying to appear non-threatening, "Me come see Madam Eva."

Galqarin - The guard goes moves to shoo you away, but when you mention Eva’s name he stops himself.  “Madam Eva? You say... odd, the others she informed us of... but you?” The guard appears confused. “Come! I shall take you to Madam Eva.  Just stay in front of me at all times and... no ‘funny business’, got it?!”  He rests his hand on his scabbard, “Come on!”

((Thanks Kim, corrected the post))

Galqarin obediently follows the guard, intensely relieved that the sword stays in its scabbard. He wondered what he would have done otherwise; perhaps hurled himself into the river. With his strong arms and unencumbered by weapons, armour and equipment, that might be his safest escape route. He tucked that thought away for later.