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#Post#: 2784--------------------------------------------------
Re: Into the Mists
By: Rognvaldr Date: May 25, 2017, 3:48 pm
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"You vill give us room and board and a vagon for travel, dah?"
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#Post#: 2785--------------------------------------------------
Re: Into the Mists
By: Rognvaldr Date: May 25, 2017, 3:54 pm
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Darien nods his head and moves to confront the loiterers. He
puts his armor on, and stands leaning on his longsword, "I am
Darien, slayer of demons, pillar of Tempus. You vvill move your
gypsy village, or I vvill."
Intimidated: 11(d20)+4(cha)+2(prof)= 17
Intimidated
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#Post#: 2786--------------------------------------------------
Re: Into the Mists
By: Duncan Seastove Date: May 25, 2017, 4:47 pm
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As you approach the camp of the wagon-folk (who, again, Lucien
would know as Vistani), you discern a little more detail about
the goings on there than your cursory inspection upon arrival at
the inn a few hours earlier. A dozen men and women are gathered
around a crackling bonfire that sends embers and smoke high into
the starry sky. The folk are in good spirits: a few of them sing
and dance around the fire to the wild tones of a solitary
fiddle, while others find happiness in their flasks and
wineskins. Three barrel-topped wagons are parked at odd angles,
with clothes, food, and revelers spilling out of their doors.
Tied to a nearby post, grazing on the odd weeds that burst from
the ground by the side of the road and near the side of the Inn,
are half a dozen draft horses wearing bright coats with bangles
and tassels.
The music quiets as Darien grasps his sword, and the Vistani
look to you with bright eyes full of uncertainty, but also of
excitement. They do not seem particularly frightened by your
threats, perhaps because they outnumber you, but they at least
are now giving you their full attention. Just then, and old man
with bushy brows, a gray, pointed beard, and a green robe with
red vest, stands up from his seat by the fire and comes towards
you, his arms wide and his palms up.
"Please, no need for violence!" The old man smiles as he speaks
in a low, raspy voice, tinged with an accent not at all
dissimilar from Darien's. "I am called Stanimir, and I lead this
group. The Innkeep sent you, I imagine. We do not wish to cause
the poor fellow any trouble. But we have a story to tell you,
noble adventurers. First you listen, then we go. You have my
word."
#Post#: 2787--------------------------------------------------
Re: Into the Mists
By: Rognvaldr Date: May 25, 2017, 5:07 pm
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"Dah, the innkeeper sees that you are loitering and hurting his
legitimate business. I don't care, vvhatever you need to do to
leave by tonight. If speaking a story vvill service your exit,
do so. "
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#Post#: 2788--------------------------------------------------
Re: Into the Mists
By: Duncan Seastove Date: May 25, 2017, 5:52 pm
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*I'm going to assume the rest of the group is here and agrees to
listen to the tale as well*
Stanimir smiles at Darien's accession, and invites him and the
rest of the party to gather around the fire. He takes a great
swig of wine from a wineskin on his belt, and the spews it into
the fire. The flames flicker and change from orange to green,
and as they flutter and curl around the logs, dark shapes begin
to appear in the fire's core.
"We come from an ancient land, whose name is long forgotten— a
land of kings. Our enemies forced us from our homes, and now we
wander the lost roads."
The dark shapes in the fire take the form of a man being knocked
from his horse, a spear piercing his side.
Stanimir continues. "One night, a wounded soldier staggered into
our camp and collapsed. We nursed his terrible injury and
quenched his thirst with wine. He survived. When we asked him
who he was, he wouldn't say. All he wanted was to return home,
but we were deep in the land of his enemies. We took him as one
of our own and followed him back toward his homeland. His
enemies hunted him. They said he was a prince, yet we didn't
give him up, even when their assassins fell upon us like
wolves."
Deep in the bonfire, you see the dark figure standing with sword
drawn, fighting off a host of shadowy shapes.
"This man of royal blood fought to protect us, as we protected
him. We bore him safely to his home, and he thanked us. He said,
"I owe you my life. Stay as long as you wish, leave when you
choose, and know that you will always be safe here."
The figure in the dancing fire vanquishes its final foe, then
disperses in a cloud of smoke and embers.
Stanimir's face becomes a somber mask, the lines across his brow
and hollows of his cheeks picked out by the shadows of the fire.
"A curse has befallen our noble prince, turning him into a
tyrant. We've traveled far and wide to find heroes such as
yourselves to end our dread lord's curse and put his troubled
soul to rest. Our leader, Madam Eva, knows all, and told us to
seek you out in this town, for she knows that the curse is now
felt even outside our land," He turns his eyes slowly to Lucien,
and then continues, "Will you return to Barovia with us and
speak with her?"
#Post#: 2789--------------------------------------------------
Re: Into the Mists
By: Discodontron Date: May 25, 2017, 6:40 pm
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Lucien does not join in with the unwashed masses, he stands up
and behind the group. Arms folded, expressionless he listens
and absorbs the story.
Lucien then telepathically links with Darien "Tell him we will
go and listen to what she has to say, but first we must rest
tonight. We will meet him at the edge of town at the first
light tomorrow." Lucien pauses and looks directly at Darien
"Don't forget to uphold our bargain with the innkeeper."
Lucien turns and reenters the Inn.
#Post#: 2790--------------------------------------------------
Re: Into the Mists
By: Okakouta Date: May 25, 2017, 6:56 pm
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While Stanimir tells his story, Arscene is busy studying the
movements of Stanimir's hands as he presumably manipulates his
Minor Illusion (?) spell. With quill in hand he hastily copies
some details into a wine-stained leather bound book. However
when Stanimir mentions a "curse" Arscene's eyebrow would have
been raised, if he had one. Once Stanimir finishes talking
Arscene walks up to him, slowly.
"My name is Arscene, Professor Enchanter, Member of the College
of St Catherine, Order of the Sparrow, seeker of the Lordvessel
and co-author of The Treatise on Defined Magical States, and I'm
pleased to make your acquaintance fellow seeker of magical
truths! We are most appreciative for you to expend one of your,
presumably limited magical resources, in order to give us a
visual aide. I always benefit from studying how other magus
perform their magics.
If you don't mind, I'd like to enquire about this long-lost
Kingdom of yours. As I understand it, a Kingdom only becomes
long-lost when illiteracy grips a population that then becomes
displaced." Arscene looks around, presumably finding very few
books. He would frown if he could. "But surely you as the
flaminis must have some geographical knowledge of your Kingdom?
We can quite possibly deduce the name of this Kingdom within a
mere few months... now if only I had the some books from the
Archive with me..." Arscene places his leather-gloved hand to
his chin.
"I also wished to inquire about this 'curse'. The best way to
combat curses, you see, is through eduction and preventative
magics."
#Post#: 2791--------------------------------------------------
Re: Into the Mists
By: Duncan Seastove Date: May 25, 2017, 7:20 pm
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Judging from his hand movements, and based on your own
substantial theoretical knowledge of magic, you would definitely
conclude that this is a minor illusion spell. What sticks out to
you, however, is how effortlessly and subtly he weaves these
movements into his natural body language, which suggests to you
a familiarity with casting only found in highly proficient magic
users.
Stanimir, who does have eyebrows, raises them as Arscene
expounds on his titles. When he finishes, Stanimir smiles and
says, "And may I say, I am most appreciative of being in the
presence of such a scholar as yourself, and for your desire to
return us to our home. Alas, as you say, we have no written
records of its location, our histories being passed through
tales and songs. But even if we did, we would have no desire to
return: as the butterfly, once acquainted with the freedom of
the sky, no longer returns to the ground where it once dwelt as
a caterpillar, so do we Vistani see no reason to settle in our
ancestral home, now that we know the freedom of the open road."
Stanimir sighs heavily as you mention the curse, his eyes
downcast, "I am afraid it is far too late for prevention. The
curse has gripped our noble lord in his entirety. Whence it
came, I do not know. Perhaps it was the loss of his family, and
his true love, which left his heart broken and vulnerable to the
ancient evil. But in my heart, I know that he can be saved. He
must be saved. I am sorry I cannot be of more help, but perhaps
Madame Eva can tell you more. She is much more knowledgable in
the ways of magic than even I."
#Post#: 2793--------------------------------------------------
Re: Into the Mists
By: Okakouta Date: May 26, 2017, 12:58 am
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"Fascinating." The gauntleted mage hand closes the book Arscene
is holding. "I look forward to meeting this font of knowledge
Madam Eva."
#Post#: 2794--------------------------------------------------
Re: Into the Mists
By: Pharaun Date: May 26, 2017, 3:57 pm
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From nowhere did you see him approach, unaware of his presence
until he steps forward into the firelight.
"The freedom you espouse mocks the memory of your revered
prince. His gift to your people was the safety of his land. Yet
here your people are causing trouble for the inn. Does it take a
village to seek out heroes? Why not just hire mercenaries. Why
don't you do what your folk do best and move along so we can get
some rest."
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