Yes. Like everyone who woke up near that house. We talked about it. We all dreamed of the same fortune teller. Her. But she predicted different things to everyone... Shandi looks a little suspiciously at Velspira, Sven and Blaze. Then she sighs. Okay. Everything is very strange in this place. Perhaps the fog has affected me. "Or you" is easy to read in her gaze, but she doesn't say it out loud.
Blaze stared at the card trick, an entranced half-smile on her face. She listened to the goat-girl and Shandi chat about dreams, and her smile flickered. Had she had a dream too? Already, the haunted house felt like a long time ago, like it was a dream itself.
Shaking her head, she sent her mane flying and her earrings jangling. The past was the past. Leave it there. For now, she was curious about what was happening in the here and now.
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Madame Eva pauses to center herself. She takes a deep breath, and finally utters the following: "The first card tells of history. Knowledge of the ancient will help you understand your enemy."
The card she lays down is the Three of Glyphs--The Healer. "Look to the west. Find a pool blessed by the light of the white sun."
Pulling a second card, Madame Eva says, "this card tells of a powerful force for good and protection, a holy symbol of great power."
It is the one of glyphs--The Monk. "The treasure you seek is hidden behind the sun, in the house of a saint."
The third card rises from the deck without Madame Eva even touching it. "This is a card of great power and strength. It tells of a weapon of vengeance: a sword of sunlight."
The card is the nine of swords--the Torturer. "There is a town where all is not well. There you will find a house of corruption, and within, a dark room full of still ghosts."
"This card sheds a light on one who will help you greatly in the battle against darkness."
The card named "Executioner" is pulled from the deck. "Seek out the brother of the devil's bride. They call him 'the lesser,' but he has a powerful soul." Madame Eva looks out the tent flap toward the fire.
"Your enemy is a creature of darkness, whose powers are beyond mortality. This final card will lead you to him."
With that, Madame Eva lays out a card called the "broken one." "He haunts the tomb of the man he envied above all."
With that, the dismal lighting and flickering candles within the tent go out, replaced by bright sunlight pouring in through any crack in the tent flap or other opening. Madame Eva speaks: "It seems the sun has shown itself. The rest of your afternoon should be good for travelling. I bid you safe travels on your journey."
Only the five cards remain on the table in front of Madame Eva.
Long after, Sven still scratches his chin. "All of this seems quite... puzzling. It seems we need to solve that." He turns to Darrien. "Any idea where some of these places might be? Though honestly, the 'town where all is not well', I'm willing to bet there's a whole bunch of these around here..."
Blaze applauded after the last card was laid, then awkwardly stopped when it seemed nobody else was going to. "I don't understand. Was that a story?"
Madame Eva smiles at Blaze in a most friendly manner as she applauds. "My dear, this IS a story. It's a story about YOU and your friends! Only you and your friends can determine if there is truth in this story."
Good point, Sven. Shandi looks at the cards thoughtfully. She looks at the images as if hypnotized. Then she looks around at the locals. What's west of here? What kind of pool is blessed by the power of white sun? What do you call the 'white sun' here by the way? It is clear that wizardess took the prophecy seriously.
Shruq watches Madame Eva's performance, eyes following each card as it flew through the air. A frisson of fear/excitement went through her as each card was revealed, her eyes going to Madame Eva's face as the woman revealed the card's significance.
Shurq's face changed each time, eye's widening in wonder and interest if it was a 'holy' or light related revelation, her brow furrowing with concern when it was less...desirable.
She leans back, nodding, "A story indeed...and each of these cards reveals the chapters of our story...each one an object or place we need to visit to rid this land of it's evil taint!"
"I am new to this land...the references mean nothing to me..." she says, hoping one of her new companions had more insight or knowledge of the land.
Blaze craned her head forward, staring at the cards. "So this is...like a quest? And these are our clues?" She scratched her head, trying to understand.
"Looks like lots of sunshine things. I guess it makes sense that we need the sun in such a misty place." That was about as far as her brain could take her. Good thing there were so many smart people with her!
Darrien listens intently, though stops to listen to their surroundings every so often. at one point, he mumbles to himself.
a sword of sunlight hmm...
At the end, he ponders silently for a time before saying.
If I had to guess. It would be Valliki. If not there, then... I don't know. I've heard strange tales. But... if there is even a glimmer of truth to this, or a glimmer of hope. I'll take the chance to be rid of him.
Velspira sighs, "I don't think I'm really liking this whole story all much and such, not like these folk are what I'd be sayin' is friends," she says, looking towards this strange and weird Madame Eva. It never felt like this land could just be normal for a while instead of being so odd in its nature. Why couldn't things be normal?
"Devil bride, we talkin' a sort of cake or something?"
As the discussion swirls , Shurq rises and takes Madam Eva's hands, "Thank you for your guidance, I'm sure it will all become clear to us in time. May the Morning Lord Bless you and yours."
After some farewells from the ever-so-slightly inebriated Vistana, you all don your packs and take to the road once again.
Madame Eva's prediction of a fine afternoon of travel proves to be on the mark. Soon the trail enters a forest. Up ahead you see the smoke of many dozens of chimneys.
Though the afternoon remained pleasant for your journey, the mists begin closing in for the evening as you approach the gates of the town.
Blaze enjoys the rest of the afternoon - it is a fine thing to be on the open road, the sun on her back, stout companions at her side. However, as the mists begin to close in again, she has to admit she is relieved to see the town of Vallaki ahead. What a place this is, to make a centaur prefer the gates of a town, rather than the open countryside.
The centaur shivers, her hide rippling from mane to tail, and stamps her hoof. "We made it!" Turning to Ireena, she says, "Do you think this is far enough away? Where will you be staying in town?"
Thinking back to the clues about their new quest, she asked, "What do you think we'll find in town? The pool? The saintly house? Or is this the town where all is not well? Though that could have been where we came from."
THE OLD SVALICH ROAD meanders into a valley watched over by dark, brooding mountains to the north and south. The woods recede, revealing a sullen mountain burg surrounded by a wooden pallisade. Thick fog presses up against this wall, as though looking for a way inside, hoping to catch the town aslumber.
The dirt road ends at a set of sturdy iron gates with a pair of shadowy figures standing behind them. Planted in the ground and flanking the road outside the gates are a half dozen pikes with wolves' heads impaled upon them.
Greetings to you. We are travelers and we want to go inside! Peace be upon your home. Shandi raises one hand in greeting.
"Indeed, our journey's been long. " Shurq adds, then lookin up at the wolf heads, "It would seem hunting has gone well..."
"Looks like a nice place, right," Velspira looks around, seeing the heads of wolves skewered on spikes. It unnerved her, not liking the look of such a place.
As the moment stretched out, Blaze grew impatient. "Well? Let us in, please! We have Lord Ismark and Lady Ireena from Barovia, and we've been travelling all day."
The guards eye you suspiciously, but settle on opening the gate and allowing you all to enter.
Ismark remarks that there is a good inn here. "If I recall, the inn here has good food and wine, and perhaps comfortable beds. The Blue Water Inn? That sounds familiar.
Darrien is likely familiar with this inn, and could confirm that hospitality is available there.
Blaze nods, and leads them into the town, allowing Darrien to point the way. She keeps an eye on the townsfolk, wondering if they're as suspicious and standoffish as they mostly were in Barovia.
Shurq inclines her head to the guard, then comments to Ismark, "Lead on then, a comfortable bed sounds heavenly! "
Ismark leads you through the gate, then past the town square. Numerous identical handbills have been posted at every corner in town informing anyone passing by of an upcoming festival.
The handbills note that the "Festival of the Blazing Sun" will take place in three days time. Each handbill proclaims that "all will be well."
A quite large wicker man is being built in the town square.
Finally, you approach the inn.
Gray smoke issues from the chimney of this large, two-story wooden building with a stone foundation and sagging tile roof, upon which several ravens have perched. A painted wooden sign hanging above the main entrance depicts a blue waterfall.
Shandi looks at the poster and wicker man for a while. There's something creepy about it. I have a bad feeling. Approaching the tavern, she suddenly hesitates. Friends, does anyone have money? I only have 1 silver with me... In general, it would be nice to take up some work, since we are still stuck here. We still need to eat, drink and pay for the night.
The tielfling would look up towards the large wickerman, unnerved by it more than some of the other oddities around the town, instantly feeling rather small in comparison to it. She'd go to somewhat put herself behind one of the larger members of the party, making it rather easy to avoid saying that she still had coin to spend unless someone asked. She wasn't going to sacrifice her much loved gains, ill-gotten or otherwise.
Blaze clapped in delight when she saw the large wicker person. "Wonderful! What a lot of work!" Her family back home were artisans, but she'd never seen, or even heard of something like this. "Will they decorate it for the festival?" She hoped they could stay long enough to participate. She loved parties.
In general, it would be nice to take up some work, since we are still stuck here. We still need to eat, drink and pay for the night.
Blaze was confused. "I thought we were working." Hadn't that been the deal? They would act as guards, and they would have their needs paid for?
Shurq smiles at the festival's motif, recognizing the imagery as similar to the Morninglord's worship in her homeland. However, as she reads down the flyer, she frowns a the words at the bottom..."The Baron".
Shaking her head, she mutters, "I hope the glory of the Sun hasn't been coopted by that awful Baron. These poor people..."
At Blaze's question, she opines, "I do believe they'll burn it...Festival of Light and all..."
She turns to Shandi, with a wry grin, "My purse is equally light, indeed we may need to work for our supper. What say you Ser Ismark, how will they receive vagrants such as us ?"
Sven smiles. "I still have some coins! I hope they're enough for some nourishment... He scratches his pocket and manages to put three golds on the table. "Let's see what we can get for this!"
Ismark seems to be quite willing to cover any costs for food and lodging, at least at this point. "At this time, you have all graciously agreed to work for me. It is my responsibility and my pleasure to provide for you at the Inn here in Vallaki."
Blaze grinned. "I thought so!" She pulled the door open and stood back, letting the others enter. It was always difficult for her indoors, and she wanted to get a look at the layout of the space before she committed to entering it.
Shandi nods and follows Blaze into the tavern, ready to explain who her companion is and why she won't go to the horse stall... And by the way, who is her companion in reality, what kind of creature is this? But what difference does it make if she is a brave warrior and apparently a reliable friend.
IN THE CENTRAL PART OF VALLAKI, you arrive at the Blue Water Inn.
Inside, you find that damp cloaks hang from pegs in the entrance portico. The tavern is packed with tables and chairs, with narrow paths meandering between them. A bar stretches along one wall, under a balcony that can be reached by a wooden staircase that hugs the north wall. Another balcony overhangs an entrance to the east. All the windows are fitted with thick shutters and crossbars. Lanterns hanging above the bar and resting on the tables bathe the room in dull orange light and cast shadows upon the walls, most of which are adorned with wolf heads mounted on wooden plaques.
Blaze takes in the room as the others enter in front of her. "I like the decorating," she said approvingly. Back at home, mounting the heads of your enemies would have been unheard of. But in this place, it seemed right, and just. This place was dangerous, and this was a warning, and a show of strength.
Once the others were in, Blaze eased herself through the door, and sat on her haunches beside Shandi at a table. It wasn't the most dignified of positions, but if she kept her tail under control, hopefully she wouldn't be too in the way.
"What now?" she asked. "We have seen you safely here. Do we begin to follow the clues that the cards gave us?"
I don't have any other ideas. I still dream of getting home from here. And for this you need to do at least something. The predictions of that old fortune teller may be a sign of where to move on... Shandi is clearly trying to relax, having already managed to get herself a glass of wine from a passing waiter. But it seems she is not very successful. She periodically looks anxiously at the wolves' heads as if they are unnerving her...
"A foul place to be a dog sure it is. Poor yows must've run afoul of the hunters here," she says twiddling her fingers with the rose that she had saved in her pack. In particular, playing with a thorn that had been cut by a delicate and tender hand. Someone must have been a bit of a horticulturist.
She'd step in with a smile, moving up to the front to enter in, stuffing the rose neatly back into her pack, "Now, believe you me, lets get a drink from a long days walkin' and such."[/b]
A tall, lanky man with a most interesting nose stands behind the bar. Ismark approaches him and asks him for hospitality. [b]"We have travelled from Barovia, and will require good wine, food, and rooms for the night. I will be paying."
The menu includes at least two kinds of wine: a pint of Purple Grapemash Number 3 for 3 cp, or a pint of the superior Red Dragon Crush for 1 SP.
Hot beet soup and bread is available at no charge. A cooked wolf steak is an additional 1 EP.
Of course Ismark will arrange for at least two rounds of wine. He'll also arrange for rooms.
Around the Inn, you see a few other people. The most interesting include who must be a pair of hunters sitting at a table near the bar. Also, at the bar sits a colorfully dressed half elf.
There are perhaps five others sitting at tables around the bar drinking their wine and enjoying the company.
Shandi goes to talk to the bright half-elf. Greetings. I am a traveler, for the first time in Borovia. Looking for new acquaintances. Perhaps you could help me navigate? My name is Shandie. And yours?
Blaze ordered a wolf steak - she'd never eaten wolf before, and was curious about it. Her people generally didn't eat carnivores.
She watched her companions move around the bar with relative ease. She watched a little enviously - her equine body wasn't meant for these types of spaces, and she was afraid that if she tried to go sit with somebody else that she'd knock a table over, or crush a server's foot with her hoof.
Shandi goes to talk to the bright half-elf. Greetings. I am a traveler, for the first time in Borovia. Looking for new acquaintances. Perhaps you could help me navigate? My name is Shandie. And yours?
The half-elf replies to Shandie. "Ahh! I , too, am a traveler from distant places. My name is Rictavio, and it is a pleasure to meet you. I am a carnival ringmaster, though it seems I have been separated from my carnival."
Blaze ordered a wolf steak - she'd never eaten wolf before, and was curious about it. Her people generally didn't eat carnivores.
She watched her companions move around the bar with relative ease. She watched a little enviously - her equine body wasn't meant for these types of spaces, and she was afraid that if she tried to go sit with somebody else that she'd knock a table over, or crush a server's foot with her hoof.
The wolf steak has a gamey smell to it, though the taste is masked by not a small amount of pepper and other spices.
Blaze enjoys the strange meal. It's much more heavily spiced than centaurs were used to cooking, but she'd discovered an appreciation for the spicier human palate.
When she was finished, she stood up and said to Sven, "Come on, let's talk to some locals." She carefully made her way over to the two hunters. "Hello! Do we have you to thank for the wolf steaks here tonight? Are any of these your trophies?" She gestured to the decor. "We had some trouble with wolves on the road this morning, but it didn't occur to me to bring the heads to use in home decoration."
Blaze enjoys the strange meal. It's much more heavily spiced than centaurs were used to cooking, but she'd discovered an appreciation for the spicier human palate.
When she was finished, she stood up and said to Sven, "Come on, let's talk to some locals." She carefully made her way over to the two hunters. "Hello! Do we have you to thank for the wolf steaks here tonight? Are any of these your trophies?" She gestured to the decor. "We had some trouble with wolves on the road this morning, but it didn't occur to me to bring the heads to use in home decoration."
These men appear grim and have haunted looks in their eyes.
The older, balding hunter replies. [b]The answer to both of your questions is yes. Yevgeni and I are responsible for the meat you eat, and the heads that are on the wall."
His tone is brusque.
The other hunter, perhaps younger, only nods as the bald one answers.
"Nice decorating," she says, giving them a smile that was one part nervous, the other part fake. This place was weird, weirder than weird. At least the other town didn't seem as dreary and gross... and that had real ghosts to contend with and the undead at that. At the least free soup and bread was nice if in a rustic fashion.
Rictavio, where did you come from? Could you tell us something about these lands?... Or about other lands, if you are not from here, like me and my friends?