Madam Eva fixes Miri with a not too pleased look.
“You ask me questions I cannot answer, the deck will know. Should I ask it to pierce the veil for you a second time? I must war you, the spirits do not always look kindly on those who demand more of them. You had your one question, a second, third and fourth may come with a price,” gold fillings are flashed in a nasty smile.
“Now, I can answer some of your questions. There is no place of commerce in all of Barovia, save for the village and this camp, but there is another place for the dead, in the catacombs, where the nobles and their pets are buried. Don't worry pet, you won't be buried there,” another smile, this one nicer.
“As for Strahd's servants, I know the castle once had several families working within its walls, and I understand some mortals still serve him, though I shudder to think what the walls of that cursed place have done to the families over the course of three generations. Strahd has his lovers over the years, and he is attracted to those who have their skills, by blade, word or magic, but never enough to threaten him. Perhaps some serve him still. I have know of a knight within those walls, as a king will have, only this one is winged, and glowed with a holy light. One would imagine such a figure would object to such a creature, but it seems they chose to kneel instead,”
The bright embers are dulling, but they have already filled the tent with their heat. Dressed in her armour, Ashlyn sweats, but maintains her stiff composure.
“Now of the fanes, I can tell you more,” Madam Eva continues,
“They are circles of power, ancient magic, unused for centuries, until Strahd realized their worth. He is knowledgeable in the arcane arts, and bound himself to each, siphoning power from this land as his own. He tasks three hags to protect them, myself and two sisters. The forest is mine, it is near here. In truth guarding them has not been hard, no one dares disturb them. I have charged its protection with three giants. If you approach it, tell them Madam Eva sent you. Why am I telling you this, if I agreed to guard the fane for Strahd? Well, one does not say no to Strahd lightly, and even so, this was many years ago. Since then, I have learned more about the lord of the castle. The fane in the hills is guarded by Baba Zelenna. She uses it for rituals of her own, though I cannot say they are that effective, else Strahd would surely object. Be careful with her, she is more selective with the company she keeps,” Madam Eva's eyes flicker between Miri and Ela,
“The swamp fane is guarded by a hag of the ripples. She has taken the fouling of the land particularly hard. I doubt there is much left of her former mind inside that rotten skull,”
With that final revelation, the seeress falls silent, raising a hand to shoo the group out of the tent. The Vistani make final attempt to hawk their wares and services to the group,
“This dagger is edge with world steel. It never needs sharpening, and will cut anything!”, “
This fine ring, pure gold, set with pearls and jasper, fit for a princess bride!”,
“Night eye! Dark and rich, you'll never taste wine so smooth elsewhere!” Miri and Ireena distract the Vistani, whilst the other four make their escape of the camp.
Fairy Maidens – Early Afternoon
They are delighted to see two customers at least are staying staying, and quickly adjust their pitch when they realize Ireena wants more mundane supplies. Knowing they don't have a smith, Ireena bargains for several tools and other pieces of worked iron, along with some medicine, blankets, pots and mugs, and alcohol, to keep spirits up in the dark months to come. She conducts business well enough, though is a little outmatched in the haggling. Still, she secures what the village will need with some trade goods left over. Whilst Ireena sees to these details, Miri looks for the sunsword. An old man shows her a shortsword he has, the hilt of beaten copper, flaring at the pommel to form the image of a sun. He claims it is the sunsword, but if so it hasn't been kept well, the metal is tarnished, and there are several nicks along the blade. As she considers this an older woman beckons her inside her tent,
“Come, I think I have something for your troubles. Not the sword mind you, but something else,” she smiles, beckoning Miri with a finger.
Handsome Knights - Mid-afternoon
Following the river back to the path, and further along to the where it flows out into the land to become the Ivlus marsh, Ashlyn and Andur pass the time with stories of their adventures.
“That necromancer we forgave? Oh don't worry, we ensured he would never again raise undead, He was a book mage, without his tongue, he couldn't work his magic, but the knowledge remained. Not the best fate, but it was preferable to execution for him, and us, his knowledge did help us against other undead,” Ashlyn declares solemnly.
“I will write a letter to the Lighthunters, they will be loathed to send a second team, but they may send a priest or alchemist to help, especially if I can say I have found the Sunsword. I could also right to my estate, but I do not think the arms that it could muster would serve us well here. What about you? Do you have anything under your charge who can fight powerful undead?” Ashlyn asks, as she offers her hand to Andur, helping him up a rise. An unnecessary gesture, but one she makes with a warm smile all the same.
From the rise top the marsh becomes visible. Patches of grey-dead reeds and moss covered trunks bristle between pools a fetid water. A quarter miles into the rotten landscape broken stone walls are visible, grey like the castle, but too damaged for the buildings shape or scale to be guessed. The pair set off into the marsh, sloshing through water sometimes ankle deep, sometimes above the knees, other times they squelch through mud and decaying plant-life. The going is never quick, but Andur is mostly able to pick an easy path, by the marsh's standard at least. Still, not long into the trek, a half submerged log suddenly springs to life, rising out of the murky water along with stalks and vines and muck, assuming the vague form of a four legged beast, a mouth opens, moving in a silent roar to complete the image. Caught off guard, Andur and Ashlyn are saved by its slow speed, as it practically flows across the sodden land towards them, giving them just enough time to act before the dripping arm of writhing marsh reeds touches them.
Quiet Fucks – Mid-afternoon
The Vistani leads Ela back down the path, initially following step with Andur, but soon breaking off to cross the bridge, where Lumi can choose to collect her shovel, or leave it for Miri and Ireena when they return. Hugging the vine yards, catching the scent of the pungent grapes from the vines that no one had time to pick, the pair approach the forest. Despite living her most of her life, Lumi has avoided this side of the forest and knows her way only as far as the treeline, it offered little to the Vistani, and the realm was not one that encouraged idle exploring. Initially they must carefully pick their through the densely packed trees, and each feels a branch snag at their clothing or skin more than once. After ten minute however the forest opens slightly, with streaks of dim grey light spilling through the canopy. A wide swath of clearer ground forms something like a path or trail, though there are no clear marks of anything passing along it.
“Ho there,” the gruff elven voice calls out in his kin's tongue.
“What evil do you bring to these woods?” Neither Ela or Lumi had seen him, off to the side of the path, and now he steps out into the open, though several tree trunks partially obscure the view between him and the two woman. He wears poorly cured leather armour, and a tattered green cape with a hood, walking barefoot. His exposed arms are tattooed with elven runes of family and martial prowess, and he holds a longbow in his hand, unnotched for now.
“Wiat evil do you brin'to these wods?” he repeated his question in heavily accepted Common, cocking his head to the side, then switches back to Elven.
“Hail sister. Why do you bring a human to our land?”
