I suppose some people don't appreciate good music
"I will not listen to my father insulted any longer," Ismark says to Jake. "I do not wish to spill blood as I go to bury him, so I will let you leave. You are no longer welcome here. Find someplace else to speak ill of good men who have done you no harm, and know that if I should see you again, you will answer for your lies."
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"That's enough Ismark." Anhur says sternly, interrupting his prayer. "We are here to help you bury your father. There are vampires and zombies about. Do not be so foolish as to threaten blood over a simple dirge. It is harmless. Let it lie. Bring no more trouble to this troubled place."
"So the price of your aid is that we must let her sing that my father was good for nothing and is better off dead on the day we bury him?" Ismark says, incredulous. "Will you piss in his grave as well?"
I don't know if it is worth trying to explain to Ismark the meaning of the dirge, which is supposed to be a celebration, and a reminder that one should not think that a person's life was meaningless - it is a lament, meant to celebrate the life of the departed in a obviously sardonic way
Ismark, not being a mind reader, has no idea what Jake is thinking, and being a young man, grief-stricken and terrified, might not be as nuanced an audience as Jake demands.
"I appreciate music, but I don't appreciate insults," he says to her. "Will you leave?"
Jake will move to a comfortable distance away from the funeral party, still keeping her companions in sight, but out of Ismark's presence.
"I do not think that she meant any insult by her song. I do believe that it her culture it is considered a great honor, and she was attempting to honor your father's life by it."
"Anhur and I could easily finish the task of your father's burial. It was by his hand that we were hired and it will be in his name that we fulfill our duties. You don't have to like it but you can't do anything without us. Lashing out at Jake for trying to bring some light into this blighted town does nothing to honor your father's memory. It just reinforces the ruin all around us."
Wintermoon steps to the back of the coffin and by the grace of his gauntlets he lifts the rear of the casket off the ground.
Ismark glares but seems satisfied, and the coffin is raised again. The group proceeds to the cemetery behind the church. Ancient gravestones are nearly lost in the brambles that run wild, and elaborate statuary gives way to roughly chiseled slabs in more recent burials. The burgomaster's grave is in a family plot, a pile of earth beside it with a single shovel stuck in. The dates on the headstone that lies waiting in the grass show that he was not yet forty years old.
Father Donavich comes out to speak a brief blessing over the grave, and to help lower the coffin into the grave. When it is done, Ismark takes the shovel, and begins to fill the grave.
Ireena beckons you towards the church.
"Let us leave him to bury father," she says. "The work will help him to purge his anger."
Inside, she tells father Donavich of the previous night's events, and he frowns.
"Strahd has grown powerful," he says, as if speaking to himself. He stares at the altar for a time, and after long contemplation, he looks up at you. "Too powerful for my meager knowledge to assist you. But there is one whose guidance may help you. Madame Eva."
"The gypsies are his servants," Ireena objects. "They can't be trusted."
"They serve him," Donavich says. "But they are not his servants. They serve because he pays them, but they follow their own law."
"It is worth checking into, I suppose..."
Cerin sits silently otherwise, going over last night's struggle.
So that was Strahd...
"I doubt we can trust her, but that doesn't mean we can't learn anything from her. It's certainly a place to start." Anhur says, holding his holy symbol and staff and staring into the mist around them.
"What of the old man? Have you seen him?" Morgan will describe the man to the priest.
Ireena beckons to distant Jake, inviting her to come inside as her brother will be occupied with filling in the grave for quite some time.
The priest listens to Morgan's description of the old man and frowns.
"The man you describe is the devil himself, Strahd Von Zarovich," he says softly, looking suspiciously at the warlock. Then he shakes his head and turns to Ireena. "You know the way to the gypsy camp, don't you?"
"Yes, father," she says. "I will show them the way."
He nods, and speaks a blessing over you.
Anhur shakes his head at Morgan's delusions.
"A fallen man now knows his rest. Let us act under this good omen from the gods before the skies turn dark and our path become shadowed."
"But I don't understand. The old man is nothing like that monster. You must surely be mistaken."
"Perhaps I am mistaken," the priest says to Morgan. He looks at Anhur for a long moment, and then speaks to Morgan, but loudly enough for all to hear. "The vampire is a powerful foe, and legends tell of men who have fallen under his influence and allowed him to slaughter their family without lifting a finger to stop him. If one of your allies should fall under his power, you would be advised to have care. The vampire will utilize any advantage he can find."[/ooc]
[b]11am, seven hours until sunset.
Ireena looks into the churchyard and sees her brother hard at work, filling in the grave.
"I will keep him safe here," Father Donavich says. "The gypsies are camped a few miles outside of town, and you will not want the sun to go down while you are in the woods."
The young woman takes you to the road that leads out of town to the southwest. A quarter mile after you leave the last buildings behind, a bridge crosses a river that flows as clear as a blue winter sky through the valley. Another hour's walk brings you to a fork in the road.
"That way leads up into the mountains," Ireena says, pointing to the lefthand fork. "And to his castle."
She then leads you to the right. This is even less of a road than the one you came in, just a wagon track through the trees, following the banks of the river until you reach the gypsies' camp. The forest opens up to a clearing where dry, brittle grass rustles in the biting wind. On the far side of the clearing are several colorful wagons by the banks of a pool. The mournful strains of an accordion mix with the moaning of the wind. Several brightly clad figures surround a large, roaring fire, singing a mournful song.
The man who delivered the letter that brought you here is among them. He gives you a wry smile and a welcoming bow.
"It was fated that you would visit this camp," he says. "Madame Eva foretold your coming. Come, join your voices to ours."
"Thank you." Morgan pauses for a moment, then says "Please, lead on."
After a song, the man who delivered the letter leads you to Madame Eva's wagon. He holds the door open for you, and you are able to squeeze inside. Within, all is dimly illuminated in pools of red light. A small, low table stands across from the doorway, 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. She speaks. Her voice crackles like dry weeds. Her tone soars and falls like the wind outside. "At last you have arrived!" Her sudden cackling laughter bursts like mad lightning from her withered lips.
She shuffles a deck of cards and looks at you, one by one.
"Morgan who has looked beyond. Wintermoon, friend of the spirits. Jocelyn of the night and day. Anhur, seeker of the Sacred Flame. Cerin, a good son. I am Eva. Have you come to learn your fortune?"
Anhur remains silent, keeping an eye out for danger and leaving the social pleasantries to those more accustomed to strange peoples.
I got a bad feeling about this
Wintermoon is no stranger to mystic powers. He steps forward carefully observing the woman as she names them one by one.
"Tell me what you see," he says quite unsure of what to make of her legitimacy.
The woman shuffles her deck of cards and then sits at the table, pushing the crystal ball aside. She draws a card from the top of the deck and looks at it for a moment before laying down the three of swords.
"This card is a symbol of great power. It tells of a powerful force for good and protection against the forces of darkness," she says. "It is in a place of tranquility, a harbor for the mighty and powerful. It is in a place of wisdom, warmth, and despair. Great secrets are there. The sword sustains your strength here, but holds you from your victory, taking more time than it otherwise would."
She draws a second card and winces, laying the ace of wands net to the first card quickly, as though she wanted it out of her hands.
"This card tells of history. Knowledge of the ancient may help you understand a foe," she says, frowning. "This is a very bad sign. This is in the very heart of darkness: his home, his source. It is his center and his life. It is the one place to which he must return. The wand is a dark shadow of evil cast over that place. You fight under its influence here."
She seems almost hesitant to continue, but she draws a third card, closing her eyes to contemplate it, her lips moving as though she were tasting a fine wine. She lays the king of cups beside the first two cards.
"This is the object of your search! Ah! I see darkness and evil behind this card! It is a powerful man whose enemy is light and whose powers are beyond mortality!" she cackles again. "A king’s throne is the place to find him. There is a very good influence there. If you are there, the powers of the cup will aid you."
She draws again, crossing the last card with the seven of pentacles, and she smiles as she studies it.
"This card is good for you. It is a card of power and strength, the victor’s card. It tells of a weapon of light, a weapon with a vengeance." She grins, with a gleam in her eye. "You may find it amid the ruins of a place of supplication. The Pentacle blesses your skill there, but bodes poorly for your protection."
She holds her hand over the deck for several seconds before she draws the last card. She lays it face down between the two crosses.
"And here is the root card. Out of darkness and chaos, this card finds the reason and foundation for that darkness and chaos. This card shows the purpose of all things. It is the key to life and death and else beyond." She shakes her head, dismissing a troubling thought, and then turns the card over. The ace of swords. She nods as she looks at it, and her voice is soft and respectful as she speaks. "Here is a high and noble card. One of you carries a weapon that is stronger than any other against the evil in this land. Only one part is missing from this weapon. That part is found in the evil one's lair"
She cackles then, and sweeps up her cards into one hand as the other extends to you, palm up.
"Silver to keep your fortunes true, or suffer what end the fates decree."
"I have no silver on my, old one" states Morgan as he rummages through his pocket "But will a gold coin work?" Morgan finishes as he pulls out a single gold coin.
Cerin automatically drops several silver coins into the woman's upturned palm.
"My thanks for your wisdom and your insight, lady."
Anhur nods, attempting to discern if Morgan and Cerin's offerings are considered sufficient.
"Gold is good," the old woman grins. "May your future shine brightly."
The coins disappear into her pocket, and her hand extends to the rest of the group. Ireena drops a silver coin in her hand.
Anhur looks annoyed, but draws forth one of his few remaining silver and places it in the woman's hand. He then traces the outline of his holy symbol to ward against curses and bad luck.
"Madame Eva, you've been most helpful," Wintermoon says as he places five stacked silvers in her hand.
Morgan will add the gold piece in his hand to the stack as well.
12 noon: 6 hours until sunset
The woman pockets the silver and gold with a smile.
"I thank you all for your kindness," she says, with a wink for Jake. "Come again, if you wish."
After stepping outside Wintermoon ponders over the divination. If her words are to be believed there are clues that hold great value within them.
"Where to next? If we want to learn about Strahd we need to find where he sleeps. If we want to fight him with advantage we need to find the throne of a king. The weapon of light will be found in a place of supplication, possibly at the chapel. And the last clue is of one of our own possessions. Not quite complete until we venture into Strahd's lair itself.
He pauses contemplatively, "So, I think maybe we should try and find the weapon of light first."
"I see wisdom is seeking out this place of tranquility first. It may delay us, but if it helps keep us safe from Strahd, we may need it. I sense he could have killed us all last night, but for some reason he did not. The weapon of light is a good starting point, but perhaps starting from the place of tranquility would be best." Anhur advises after considering carefully.
"Daylight is fading... Do we return to town and seek supplies? Or are each of you prepared for where we must inevitably go?" Cerin's gaze tracks in the direction of the castle, perched high above.
I'm as ready now as I will ever be, besides I'm not in the mood to haggle with shopkeepers over the price of a healing elixir. I say we head straight for the dragon's lair and take the fight to the monster. But, at the same time, I think we need a plan, and by that I mean, we need to be sure we know what each of us is going to do, once we confront this monster, and his minions, where we are going to fight and where we are going to hole up when we can no longer fight. We can make plans on the way, but I say we set out now, scope out this castle, and see what we are dealing with.
Ireena listens to your planning, her hand absent-mindedly going to touch the mark on her neck.
"The castle is probably another three hour's walk from here," she says. She looks up at the castle perched on the high finger of rock, far above.
I have no gift for telling the passing of time. In fact, my parents used to say that I was late, even coming into the world.
Jake is creep-ed out by the old gypsy woman, in fact, she reminds Jake of too many of the carnival crowd that used to follow the circus her parents belonged to, but something, something isn't all it's meant to be, now isn't it...
Edit - <.<. .>.> !
"I do not have many possessions, and thus am always ready to confront evil where it lives."
Jake takes out a piece of parchment and a pencil, and furiously makes two lists. She examines the lists, and then says
Alright, the way I measure it, we don't gain any advantage by going back to the house and waiting, or even trying to wait through another night. I think we can all agree that Morgan may be already under the influence of this monster. He'll attack us again, I'll bet, and that puts those two at risk she points at the names written on her list, Ireena and Ismark each in turn. Let's just go now, I don't think we gain anything waiting another day. It might be that we enter the lair of the monster in the dark, but just looking around at this place sort of tells me, it's already as dark as it is going to be, and it isn't going to get light until Stradh is destroyed.
Jake checks her backpack straps, hoists her spear, wonders just what that old gypsy woman meant anyway, and starts marching toward the castle on the hill
"I think Jake has the worst idea I've heard in a very long time." Anhur states openly to the others. "I'm not certain I can follow." he wanders off to find a secluded place to cast his runic bones and seek guidance from The Flame.
Jake will continue on to the castle, alone if that's what it takes!
"I can not agree anything of the sort. Thoth protects my mind and soul from any magical outside influences." Morgan pauses, then adds "Furthermore, I think that we need as many weapons that are effective against such a monster as we can get. We should at least attempt to find the weapon that the revered mother alluded to."
Nope, not stopping, still marching for the castle
"That she said was located in the 'evil one's lair." He points at the castle again.
"Our salvation and deaths lie at the top of this mountain. Our path is clear."
The gypsies watch as the party discusses its options. They smirk as Jake walks off, alone, taking the path further into the mountains as she leaves the camp.
Anhur throws his bones and the Flame flickers this way and that, warning him that the action suggested will bring both weal and woe. The elf is out of sight by the time he has finished his augury, and the gypsies have started a new song. The language is strange, but there is a lighthearted beat.
"Very well Cerin, if you are set upon it and Jake is already about the task, I suppose we ought to catch up and hope she isn't yet dead. The Flame promises weal and woe, so this may not be the worst plan after all, though perhaps still not a good one." With that, Anhur picks up his pack and (after checking its contents to verify no theft) follows up the road at a hurried pace.
"Agreed. I'm not confident in our next step but not taking one will surely lead nowhere."
Wintermoon heads off after Jake.
Jake hums, softly for a while, then more loudly, then begins singing...
In a little while from now
If I'm not feeling any less sour
I promise myself to treat myself
And visit a nearby tower
And climbing to the top will throw myself off
In an effort to make it clear to who
Ever what it's like when you're shattered
Left standing in the lurch at a church
Where people are saying: "my god, that's tough
She's stood him up"
No point in us remaining
We may as well go home
As I did on my own
Alone again, naturally
Cerin turns and follows the sound of Jake's singing.
As they climb the road, he keeps his hand on his sword, eyes rarely leaving the castle as it grows ever closer. He rubs his neck with his free hand occasionally, and grimaces.
I am coming, Devil.
Drawing his blade, Morgan begins whispering a prayer to his god. As he does, it begins to glow with a wan off-yellow light. Content that he has made his ablutions to Thoth, Morgan will follow the others, sword and shield at the ready.