Galqarin - The man stares at you gormlessly, clearly not comprehending the joke/comment. "Y'what?" he asks confused. After Sandu snickers, he glances between the two of you and nods. "Ahh I see, y'takin' th' piss?" A couple of people assembled behind him let out audible laughs. "Yea', yea' - laugh i' up."
Sandu - The man nods and turns to the rest of the mob for confirmation. To a person, they either shrug, nod, or give other indications of affirmation. "Yeah, I mean, 'course they is," he says, matter-of-factly. "Take i' y'ain't 'ad one?" he asks, searchingly.
Dormark - You notice that the spell does have a noticeable effect. Several of the members of the mob seem to shake their heads, clearing their thoughts. "Per'aps, y'know,"the angry woman starts, now a little calmer, "per'aps, they're right."
"True,"intones a voice from behind her."Big true!" yells another. "True and real," says a third.
The leader looks around at the others, confused. "Looks like.. ahh... looks like our hankerin' f' th' pastries 'as... errr... gone down,"he stutters. "Wai', y' cast a-spell, y'did!" he says accusingly at you. There are a couple of angry shouts from behind him; "'e ain't got no business, castin' spells","don't anger 'im, I don't wanna be turned inta no frog!","per'aps he can take th' place o' the pastries!".
At the last comment, the leader's eyes narrow. "Y' mean... yes, yes, tha' makes sense. If th' met'l man can brin' us as much joy as th' pastries... per'aps we should take th' met'l man!" he triumphantly declares.
"Bu' he's big!" yells a more discerning voice from behind,"an' metal!"
Looking thoroughly stumped, the leader looks at the party. Approaching you, he lowers his voice. "Wha' d'ya suggest?"he asks.
Dallid jumps in finally. "I'd suggest you avoid pastries. Clearly, they were enchanted and used as a means to control you. Unless you think you normally go around accosting strangers for money to buy pastries."
Dallid - The now-significantly-less-angry woman momentarily scowls at you. "I'll 'ave you know tha' this is our firs' accos'in,"she says, a tone of arrogance creeping into her voice, "an' we're no' normally like... well... this." A couple of the others hang their heads in shame. "It's jus' tha', well, they were darn'd nice... those pastries."
"Yeaaah," a fellow behind her dreamily agrees, his head still a little foggy. "Th' way they crumbled in yer mouth. Y'ain't got any does y'?"
"Nige',"the woman says, her hands on her hips, "ain't y'been a-listenin' to a word what was said?! We ain't gonna go 'round a-cossin' people f'r pastries no more! Ne'er know, per'aps one o'these fine folk is -- or knows -- a chef willin' to offer a suitable alt'er'ative for Morgantha's pastries." She looks at you hopefully, "f'r a reasonable price, though. Morgantha's prices seemed ta go up each time we brough' fr'm 'er."
"Y'know Sha'," Nigel says, looking contemplative. "Naw we are no longer... y'know... gonna suppor' Morgantha in 'er business en'er-prise. Makes me feel awful sad -- y'know tha' we may-a done th' wrong thing -- wot wit' tradin' our Jess fer pastries. Seems a-bit-o-a waste naw, don't th' think?"
The no-longer-angry-more-disturbed woman, Sharon, looks for a moment at Nigel. "Gods, Nige. Jess an' t'others want'd t'go with dear ol' Morgantha, t'were for th' bes'. 'sides, those were migh'y fine pastries... a-fair trade. Min' y', it does make y' wonder wot was in 'em."
"Who Jess?", queries Galqarin, for some reason he cannot put a finger on thinking back to the orphanage and the children that had disappeared under strange circumstances.
Galqarin - "Eh, wha?" Nige says, as though he had not seen you there.
"Jess, dear,"Sharon prompts.
"Oh... Jess is -- or per'aps was -- m' daugh'er. She wen' off t' live with Morgantha. Jus' all this stuff 'bout magic an' th' wot-not. Well, makes y'ask -- di' I do th' righ' thing... y'know. One 'and, I gets a couple-a nice pastries, other 'and, no Jess." The man seems genuinely perplexed by his decision, confused as to whether or not he made a sound decision.
Galqarin - You seem to vaguely remember stories of children occasionally going missing from the orphanage when you were younger; in fact, it was not uncommon/out of place for children to leave/run away from the place (especially given Izek's tyranny). Please make a history check to find out the extent of what you remember.
Cerio gulps, digestingthe implications of the conversations and considering Dallid's suggestion.
He pulls out his pants pocket, revealing that its empty. "Well, we got no pastries, 'n we got no gold to buy 'em. But we ain't interested in them pastries, anyways, which means they's more fer ya'll, am I right? I did hear there's some pastries for sale in Vallaki. Maybe ya'll should head that way instead?" Cerio hates the idea that this pack of lunatics would be stalking the woods during their visit to the winery. They might get accosted again as they left. It would ruin a good buzz, that would.
""n this hunk 'o metal--" Cerio thumbs toward the animated armor. "--takes a mess 'o food to keep it runnin. Why, it'd eat every pastry ya laid yer hands on 'afore ya had a chance to taste it yerself. That's one reason I ain't never had one. Metal head here eats everythin' it sees."
Cerio gulps, digestingthe implications of the conversations and considering Dallid's suggestion.
He pulls out his pants pocket, revealing that its empty. "Well, we got no pastries, 'n we got no gold to buy 'em. But we ain't interested in them pastries, anyways, which means they's more fer ya'll, am I right? I did hear there's some pastries for sale in Vallaki. Maybe ya'll should head that way instead?" Cerio hates the idea that this pack of lunatics would be stalking the woods during their visit to the winery. They might get accosted again as they left. It would ruin a good buzz, that would.
""n this hunk 'o metal--" Cerio thumbs toward the animated armor. "--takes a mess 'o food to keep it runnin. Why, it'd eat every pastry ya laid yer hands on 'afore ya had a chance to taste it yerself. That's one reason I ain't never had one. Metal head here eats everythin' it sees."
Deception: 16
Sandu picked up what Cerio was trying to sell.
'Oh right, that reminds me: I got to feed it.'
He reached for the animated armor's metal visor. With a quick flourish of his hand accompanied with a casting of Prestidigitation, Sandu mimicked pulling half a loaf of bread out of his sleeve. The bread was just an illusion but he figured the mob, confused as they were, would not be able to distinguish false from real. He opened the armor's visor, "dropped" the bread into it and shut it with a clang.
'That ought to keep it going for another two hours or so.'Sandu shook off any "crumbs" by rubbing his hands. 'I just hope I don't run out of bread anytime soon though.'
Cerio - The leader of the mob nods along eagerly. "Vallaki, eh?"he says, a note of excitement in his voice, "thanks fer th' a'vice frien'."
When you mention the animated armour he stares at it wide-eyed. "Though' i' were a-person in there. I be' i' can ea' for days! Bes' yer keep 'im away."
The leader turns to the rest of the mob. "Oh, uh, well. Bes' we leave dese folk in peace." He then turns to you. "A-word-a warnin', road t' th' south were crawlin' wit' all sortsa terrors. Migh' be worth 'voidin' th' area. Or a'leas' no' attrac'in' so much 'tention," he says, his demeanour grim.
Galqarin - No particular stories from your childhood come to mind.
Sandu - "Th' 'ells,"the leader curses, "e's gorra appetite on 'im, ain't 'e! Bes' yer keep 'im well fed, frien'." The mob moves to pass by the party, heading northwards and undoubtedly Vallaki-bound.
The party continues southwards towards the vineyard. After a half mile, the cobbled road gives way to a muddy trail that meanders through the woods, descending gradually until the trees part, revealing a mist-shrouded meadow. Clumped up on the side of the trail is an odd-looking mass of odds and ends. On closer inspection, it appears to be a discarded, life-size doll made of sackcloth and patchwork rags, a smile painted on its burlap face and its single button eye stares vacantly.
Ahead, the trail splits; one branch heads west into the valley, and the other leads south into dark woods. A wooden signpost at the intersection points west and reads, “Vineyard".
Sandu - "Th' 'ells,"the leader curses, "e's gorra appetite on 'im, ain't 'e! Bes' yer keep 'im well fed, frien'." The mob moves to pass by the party, heading northwards and undoubtedly Vallaki-bound.
'Will do.' Sandu replied in a mock chipper tone as the mob moved past him. He turned to Cerio. 'You think it was a good idea to turn them towards Vallaki?'
Dadeveth watches the mob move onward, then looks to her companions. "On to the Winery then?" She asks as her tail swishes a bit nervously.
Sandu gave her a nod. 'Yes, let's.'
Coming up on the split in the road, Sandu gave the raggedy doll a wide berth. By now he knew better than to mess around with something the likes of that in Barovia. He took a gander at the signpost. 'Westwards it is.'He mumbled, more to reaffirm to himself that they were going the right way than anything else. Avoiding the dark woods was a bonus.
You are certain that, as you pass, the raggy, life-sized, doll's head moves, following your steps. This is further confirmed when, as you take the trail westwards, toward the vineyard, it slowly gets to its feet and skulks after you.
Intermittently, you check to see whether the doll is following. Surely enough it seems to be hot on your heels, slinking into the shadows to avoid detection.
A light drizzle begins to fall. Unpainted fences blindly follow the trail, which skirts north of a sprawling vineyard before bending south toward a stately building. The fog takes on ghostly forms as it swirls between the neatly tended rows of grapevines. Here and there, you see rope-handled half-barrels used for hauling grapes. Overhead a raven lets out a shrill alarming call before flying northwards towards the treeline.
Your eyes follow the flight of the raven. It is then that you see an elderly man wearing a dark green cloak and cowl standing at the edge of the trees, beckoning you; his arms waving quickly, implying that you should meet with him urgently.
Over hearing Dallid says, "Hmm maybe this would help."
Dormark attempts to cast Dispel Magic on the lead man.
Dormark Calling of Strahd (warforged cleric) 4
Galqarin - The man stares at you gormlessly, clearly not comprehending the joke/comment. "Y'what?" he asks confused. After Sandu snickers, he glances between the two of you and nods. "Ahh I see, y'takin' th' piss?" A couple of people assembled behind him let out audible laughs. "Yea', yea' - laugh i' up."
Sandu - The man nods and turns to the rest of the mob for confirmation. To a person, they either shrug, nod, or give other indications of affirmation. "Yeah, I mean, 'course they is," he says, matter-of-factly. "Take i' y'ain't 'ad one?" he asks, searchingly.
Dormark - You notice that the spell does have a noticeable effect. Several of the members of the mob seem to shake their heads, clearing their thoughts. "Per'aps, y'know," the angry woman starts, now a little calmer, "per'aps, they're right."
"True," intones a voice from behind her. "Big true!" yells another. "True and real," says a third.
The leader looks around at the others, confused. "Looks like.. ahh... looks like our hankerin' f' th' pastries 'as... errr... gone down," he stutters. "Wai', y' cast a-spell, y'did!" he says accusingly at you. There are a couple of angry shouts from behind him; "'e ain't got no business, castin' spells", "don't anger 'im, I don't wanna be turned inta no frog!", "per'aps he can take th' place o' the pastries!".
At the last comment, the leader's eyes narrow. "Y' mean... yes, yes, tha' makes sense. If th' met'l man can brin' us as much joy as th' pastries... per'aps we should take th' met'l man!" he triumphantly declares.
"Bu' he's big!" yells a more discerning voice from behind, "an' metal!"
Looking thoroughly stumped, the leader looks at the party. Approaching you, he lowers his voice. "Wha' d'ya suggest?" he asks.
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Dallid jumps in finally. "I'd suggest you avoid pastries. Clearly, they were enchanted and used as a means to control you. Unless you think you normally go around accosting strangers for money to buy pastries."
Paladin - warforged - orange
Dallid - The now-significantly-less-angry woman momentarily scowls at you. "I'll 'ave you know tha' this is our firs' accos'in," she says, a tone of arrogance creeping into her voice, "an' we're no' normally like... well... this." A couple of the others hang their heads in shame. "It's jus' tha', well, they were darn'd nice... those pastries."
"Yeaaah," a fellow behind her dreamily agrees, his head still a little foggy. "Th' way they crumbled in yer mouth. Y'ain't got any does y'?"
"Nige'," the woman says, her hands on her hips, "ain't y'been a-listenin' to a word what was said?! We ain't gonna go 'round a-cossin' people f'r pastries no more! Ne'er know, per'aps one o'these fine folk is -- or knows -- a chef willin' to offer a suitable alt'er'ative for Morgantha's pastries." She looks at you hopefully, "f'r a reasonable price, though. Morgantha's prices seemed ta go up each time we brough' fr'm 'er."
"Y'know Sha'," Nigel says, looking contemplative. "Naw we are no longer... y'know... gonna suppor' Morgantha in 'er business en'er-prise. Makes me feel awful sad -- y'know tha' we may-a done th' wrong thing -- wot wit' tradin' our Jess fer pastries. Seems a-bit-o-a waste naw, don't th' think?"
The no-longer-angry-more-disturbed woman, Sharon, looks for a moment at Nigel. "Gods, Nige. Jess an' t'others want'd t'go with dear ol' Morgantha, t'were for th' bes'. 'sides, those were migh'y fine pastries... a-fair trade. Min' y', it does make y' wonder wot was in 'em."
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
"Who Jess?", queries Galqarin, for some reason he cannot put a finger on thinking back to the orphanage and the children that had disappeared under strange circumstances.
Galqarin - "Eh, wha?" Nige says, as though he had not seen you there.
"Jess, dear," Sharon prompts.
"Oh... Jess is -- or per'aps was -- m' daugh'er. She wen' off t' live with Morgantha. Jus' all this stuff 'bout magic an' th' wot-not. Well, makes y'ask -- di' I do th' righ' thing... y'know. One 'and, I gets a couple-a nice pastries, other 'and, no Jess." The man seems genuinely perplexed by his decision, confused as to whether or not he made a sound decision.
Galqarin - You seem to vaguely remember stories of children occasionally going missing from the orphanage when you were younger; in fact, it was not uncommon/out of place for children to leave/run away from the place (especially given Izek's tyranny). Please make a history check to find out the extent of what you remember.
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Cerio gulps, digesting the implications of the conversations and considering Dallid's suggestion.
He pulls out his pants pocket, revealing that its empty. "Well, we got no pastries, 'n we got no gold to buy 'em. But we ain't interested in them pastries, anyways, which means they's more fer ya'll, am I right? I did hear there's some pastries for sale in Vallaki. Maybe ya'll should head that way instead?" Cerio hates the idea that this pack of lunatics would be stalking the woods during their visit to the winery. They might get accosted again as they left. It would ruin a good buzz, that would.
""n this hunk 'o metal--" Cerio thumbs toward the animated armor. "--takes a mess 'o food to keep it runnin. Why, it'd eat every pastry ya laid yer hands on 'afore ya had a chance to taste it yerself. That's one reason I ain't never had one. Metal head here eats everythin' it sees."
Deception: 16
(Galqarin's history check: 3)
Sandu picked up what Cerio was trying to sell.
'Oh right, that reminds me: I got to feed it.'
He reached for the animated armor's metal visor. With a quick flourish of his hand accompanied with a casting of Prestidigitation, Sandu mimicked pulling half a loaf of bread out of his sleeve. The bread was just an illusion but he figured the mob, confused as they were, would not be able to distinguish false from real. He opened the armor's visor, "dropped" the bread into it and shut it with a clang.
'That ought to keep it going for another two hours or so.' Sandu shook off any "crumbs" by rubbing his hands. 'I just hope I don't run out of bread anytime soon though.'
William Brackwater: Human Fighter - The Windward Isles
Tyrgram, the Butterfly Knight: Dwarf Warlock - Secret of Greenwold
Iòlinder Corrach: Half Elf War Cleric - Allansia Adventure
Valerius Sergius Publius: Dhampir Paladin - Vae Victus
Cerio - The leader of the mob nods along eagerly. "Vallaki, eh?" he says, a note of excitement in his voice, "thanks fer th' a'vice frien'."
When you mention the animated armour he stares at it wide-eyed. "Though' i' were a-person in there. I be' i' can ea' for days! Bes' yer keep 'im away."
The leader turns to the rest of the mob. "Oh, uh, well. Bes' we leave dese folk in peace." He then turns to you. "A-word-a warnin', road t' th' south were crawlin' wit' all sortsa terrors. Migh' be worth 'voidin' th' area. Or a'leas' no' attrac'in' so much 'tention," he says, his demeanour grim.
Galqarin - No particular stories from your childhood come to mind.
Sandu - "Th' 'ells," the leader curses, "e's gorra appetite on 'im, ain't 'e! Bes' yer keep 'im well fed, frien'." The mob moves to pass by the party, heading northwards and undoubtedly Vallaki-bound.
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Dadeveth watches the mob move onward, then looks to her companions. "On to the Winery then?" She asks as her tail swishes a bit nervously.
Morning - Day 8 - Off Road
The party continues southwards towards the vineyard. After a half mile, the cobbled road gives way to a muddy trail that meanders through the woods, descending gradually until the trees part, revealing a mist-shrouded meadow. Clumped up on the side of the trail is an odd-looking mass of odds and ends. On closer inspection, it appears to be a discarded, life-size doll made of sackcloth and patchwork rags, a smile painted on its burlap face and its single button eye stares vacantly.
Ahead, the trail splits; one branch heads west into the valley, and the other leads south into dark woods. A wooden signpost at the intersection points west and reads, “Vineyard".
ALL - Please make Perception checks.
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
(Galqarin's perception: 21)
Cerio perception: 4
'Will do.' Sandu replied in a mock chipper tone as the mob moved past him. He turned to Cerio. 'You think it was a good idea to turn them towards Vallaki?'
Sandu gave her a nod. 'Yes, let's.'
Coming up on the split in the road, Sandu gave the raggedy doll a wide berth. By now he knew better than to mess around with something the likes of that in Barovia. He took a gander at the signpost. 'Westwards it is.' He mumbled, more to reaffirm to himself that they were going the right way than anything else. Avoiding the dark woods was a bonus.
Perception: 21
William Brackwater: Human Fighter - The Windward Isles
Tyrgram, the Butterfly Knight: Dwarf Warlock - Secret of Greenwold
Iòlinder Corrach: Half Elf War Cleric - Allansia Adventure
Valerius Sergius Publius: Dhampir Paladin - Vae Victus
26
Dormark Calling of Strahd (warforged cleric) 4
Dadeveth perception is a 23
Galqarin, Sandu, Dormark & Dadeveth's Perception:
You are certain that, as you pass, the raggy, life-sized, doll's head moves, following your steps. This is further confirmed when, as you take the trail westwards, toward the vineyard, it slowly gets to its feet and skulks after you.
Intermittently, you check to see whether the doll is following. Surely enough it seems to be hot on your heels, slinking into the shadows to avoid detection.
Cerio's Perception:
You sense nothing unusual with the raggy, life-sized, doll lying next to the trail. Surely this has just been dumped here and left to rot.
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
(sorry, crazy day)
Dallid perception 7
Ferelyon perception 17
Paladin - warforged - orange
Morning - Day 8 - Vineyard
A light drizzle begins to fall. Unpainted fences blindly follow the trail, which skirts north of a sprawling vineyard before bending south toward a stately building. The fog takes on ghostly forms as it swirls between the neatly tended rows of grapevines. Here and there, you see rope-handled half-barrels used for hauling grapes. Overhead a raven lets out a shrill alarming call before flying northwards towards the treeline.
Your eyes follow the flight of the raven. It is then that you see an elderly man wearing a dark green cloak and cowl standing at the edge of the trees, beckoning you; his arms waving quickly, implying that you should meet with him urgently.
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)