TOPIC: Meet at the Inn

I'm sure Delmar and I have enough heals to top everyone off. I think the gypsies are in the way to the castle, arent they?

"we still need information on the silver raven, and maybe the gypsies know something about that, or about why Strahd may have lured us here."

I'm curious what the prisoners think about us surviving our encounter with Strahs relatively unscathed.

"Knowledge is power. I agree that we should head for the gypsy camp. We can return the rats and mice to their care."

"Thank you for your healing magic, my friends. Adeya and I have rested and prepared our spells again. I hope we will be at full strength the next time we meet Strahd."

Barkley mumbles, "I pray rather that Strahd is not at his..."

Once your captives are secure and the horses prepared you ride out into the mists in the direction of the gypsy camp after a few hours you reach the edge the Svalich Woods and turn your mounts from the road. After pushing about a quarter mile into the forbidding woods the branches overhead suddenly give way opening to a clearing. Black clouds roil far above and strangely the mists seem absent from this place.

Dry, brittle grass rustles in the biting wind. On the far side of the clearing are several colorful wagons parked on the banks of a pool. The mournful strains of an accordion mix meekly with the moaning of the wind. Several brightly clad figures surround a large, roaring fire.

There are approximately 10 gypsies that you can see standing and sitting around the fire. As the gypsies notice your arrival and see you prisoners a large man stands and walks towards you.

"You are the ones who oppose Strahd, yes?” the large man asks without waiting for an answer. “You may leave your prisoners here if you wish, Madam Eva Awaits you in her tent” he continues pointing towards a once grand patch work structure at the edge of the camp.

(OOC yeah, we didn't talk this one through, but if our prisoners are gypsies then there wasn't much point in riding into the camp with them tied up... I've lost track i'm afraid. Are they gpsies? Or are they Strahd's dudes? Or both?)

(they are both gypsies and Strahds spies. as I understood it the plan was to bring them to use as bargaining chips.)

Breon dismounts. "One of us should stay with the horses, or at least keep an eye on them from the entrance of the tent."

He mutters quietly to those near him, "This will also keep an eye on Eva's followers if they try to surround or surprise."

Breon strides towards the tent.

bpsymington wrote: Breon dismounts. "One of us should stay with the horses, or at least keep an eye on them from the entrance of the tent."

He mutters quietly to those near him, "This will also keep an eye on Eva's followers if they try to surround or surprise."

Breon strides towards the tent.

Kryndal follows, warily eying the gypsies.

"I will remain with the horses and the prisoners," Lexan says, his hands drifting closer to his juggling blades.

The interior of the tent 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.

The hunched woman speaks each of your names the names in turn, and makes
a brief if cryptic reference your past deeds. When she has finished she lays an ancient looking deck of cards on the table and ask why you have come.

I take a seat at the table, glance at the cards and then at the Gypsy. "A reading perhaps honored drabarni?"

“You know out language,” the old woman laughs with surprise as she turns over the first card, “this is good. Alright I will show you what is to come and we will see if you can change your fate.”

The first card she reveals is marked with five inverted cups. “This card is a symbol of great power. It tells of an ancient icon of justice, a silver light that protects against the darkness. A light lost, perhaps found hidden by the darkness in a place of great worldly wealth. I see a blazing lire protecting this place.”

The second card is shows the image of a road worn scholar, his robe marked with 10 pentacles “This card speaks of history. Hidden knowledge to help understand a fearsome foe forgotten in a place of dizzying heights that he is now loathe to travel. But beware the path to knowledge winds ever upward and the littered with sharp stones.”

The third card shows a knight impaled on seven swords, “this card is a dark card, the object of your search! I see a great darkness behind this card. A wicked thing, once a servant of the light, a pact with darkness and power over death itself, given time he will find you again,” she says with surprise as she mutters the last word, “ he is always watching. Always searching, still with luck and perhaps fate on your side you could take him by surprise in a place of supplication.”


The old gypsy draws two more cards and leaves them face down “The reading is still incomplete but for now this is all I will say. Three cards, three glimpses past the veil seem a fair trade for your three prisoners wouldn’t you say?”