Re: Through the Mists: In Character
DM
Village of Barovia
Tag: Tristam and Vita
The visitors to this strange land walked down the dirty, empty streets towards a town square, where upon they split up. Vita and Tristam were drawn to the sound of loud, haunting sobbing coming from a two story townhouse that stood a couple doors away from a building called Beldrith's Mercantile, by the painted sign that hung above it.
Following the moaning and sobbing, they entered into the townhouse, which looked as though it was in better shape on the inside than the outside would have suggested. The wracking cries came from just up the stairs, so the ranger and warlock moved up the creaking steps cautiously.
In the middle of a bedroom, a middle-aged woman sits, gently rocking back and forth, clutching a malformed doll to her bosom in a vise-like grip. She looks incredibly malnourished and fatigued, perhaps on the border of delirium. She hardly notices the two outsiders enter the room. She simply continues to rock back and forth, sobbing and clutching the doll.
"My... my poor girl... my poor Gertruda..." She chokes out the words, her body wracking with more painful sobs as she mentions the name.
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DM
Village of Barovia
Tag: Rovana and Joe
While her compatriots checked out the needs of the seemingly downtrodden, the dread pirate took the opportunity to find drink and maybe a place to put her boots up while finding some information. Instead of turning south with Tristam and Vita, she looked north at the main square, and saw the largest building with chimney smoke coming from its top, and decided to start there.
The sign above the establishment had originally read Blood of the Vine Tavern. However, someone had crossed out the 'f' and replaced it with an 'n.'
Entering through the heavy doors, she found this tavern to be disappointingly short on business. The roaring fire in the pit gave little heat on this chilly night, offering its pitiful warmth to only six people besides Rovana. At the bar, a large man with a thick, black mustache stood, wiping wine glasses with a cloth. He worked like an automaton, slowly and efficiently, with no emotion on his face. He did not react to Rovana's presence.
The other five did all look at the newcomer. Three women dressed in colorful clothes of the Vistani glanced at the pirate, their eyes narrowing, then turned back to whisper to one another, continuing with whatever quiet gossip they had already been discussing.
At a more central table sat a man and a woman. The man was a blonde human, with wavey hair and dressed in leather armor. He had a strong warrior's build and had a longsword by his side. He had a glass of wine in front of him, and sipped it as he eyed the visitor over the rim of the glass. If she returned his gaze for any length of time, he would offer a smile.
Beside him sat a dusky skinned elven woman with dark hair, and a similar warrior's outfit. She wore a corset that highlighted her figure, embedded in which was a green gem, possibly an emerald. The most striking thing about her appearance was her eyes. They were as green as the emerald, and glowed eerily. When she looked at Rovana, she smiled as well, though hers was less genuine and more... predatory than the man sitting next to her. She leaned over to him and whispered something.
After she had spoken to him, the blonde man stood up and walked towards Rovana. Up close, she noticed that he was wearing a thin leather collar with an iron ring in the front around his neck.
"Good afternoon," he says.
"It's not often that we see a new face in Barovia these days, and yours is most welcome. My name is Ismark Kolyanovich. The lady and I would be most pleased to have you join us. At the very least, we can buy you a drink."
"Rawwrk! Yo Ho! Yo Ho! Wee Woo!"
Ismark chuckles.
"A fascinating creature. I've never seen a bird like it. And it speaks!" He then waits for an answer, with his companion still seated calmly behind him, sipping her wine and looking Rovana up and down with those haunting eyes and crooked smile.