TOPIC: Meet at the Inn

"I thank you drabarni, for the gift of sight that you have shared with us. I know only a small portion of your language and customs."

I give a slight bow to the drabarni as I stand, "One thing that I have heard is that no card may be drawn without it being read. If that is indeed a custom I am sure that you will read them later. I ask only this, that you make known to us one of the portents of those last two cards at some time in the future. If you are able. I ask this because you expected us to arrive as if we had been drawn to this place. That alone might warrant a 4th card."

Flashing my best smile, "I also ask because I have heard that the Romani enjoy a hard bargain."

“You are a shrewd man Delmar, and more so one with the proper respect. I will give you your forth card and it shall be a good card for your cause, a card of power” she says tapping the next card with her skeletal finger 3 times before flipping it over. The old woman face turns dark as reveals the Ace of pentacles with a scowl.

“This card was meant to help you but instead it is an ill omen, a very bad sign indeed.” Madam Eva says grimly drumming pensively on the paper as she considers its meaning. “The card represents the very heart of darkness in these lands: his home, his source, the center of his domain and the one place to which he must return. It is a very dark place, still if you are there and your heart is true then the powers of light will not fail you even in that place of darkness.”

The old woman gives you a moment to consider what she has said and reads your reactions carefully before continuing.

“The final card I dare not show for it is the root card, the foundation, this card shows the monster plan and to know it is to bring his wrath upon myself and my people.”

"Baxt hai sastimos tiri patrag drabarni." (A wish for luck and good health).

"I wish to leave you a small token of my esteem for you drabarni." I place two frostberries on the table. "My friends may have other questions for you since several are smarter than I. For myself, you have given me much to think about and I thank you."

walking out of the tent "That was interesting" I say to Barkley and anyone else listening, "What do you make of all that?"

"Madame, another question, if you will. We've been made aware of a token that can be used against this evil in your land--a silver raven. We discovered this through portents... What can you share with us about this quest?"

SageSTL wrote: "Madame, another question, if you will. We've been made aware of a token that can be used against this evil in your land--a silver raven. We discovered this through portents... What can you share with us about this quest?"

"I know the icon of which you speak but I fear the cards have already told you more then I could as to its current location."

"Blazing lyre, or liar? Her accent fell strangely on my ear. And even so she spoke in riddles. My guess is that she told us much more than we understand.

"But what I heard was that the raven Pelor bids us seek is locked in a vault somewhere, and some holy man or library high upon a hill can give us clues as to Strahd's history, and perhaps weaknesses. The heavens know he showed us precious few of those last night."

"But clearly we cannot chase down every thread while the fiend has that unfortunate in his grasp. It may already be too late to save her, though I pray it is not so."

Barkley turns back into the tent and addresses the old gypsy. "Madame, your wisdom has been most enlightening, and we trust it will be most helpful. For that I thank you. But curiosity is strong in a seeker such as me. My questions are these: what will become of the three spies of Strahd we brought to you? And while I respect your reluctance to tell us his plan, can you tell us his timeline? We must know how much longer we have to prepare before our fateful confrontation."

(OOC I'm very perplexed as to how a woman with her talents would not know they are Strahd's spies, which of course makes me wonder about her. But... hey. Stuff happens.)

"She's right, Kryndal! Remember the first card? It represented 'an ancient icon of justice, a silver light that protects against the darkness.' I'm betting that this is the silver raven we seek. The cards also told us that it was lost but 'perhaps found hidden by the darkness in a place of great worldly wealth.' This could be the castle perhaps. I'm unsure of what the 'blazing lire protecting this place' could mean. A burning coin?"

"Is it possible," Breon mutters, "that the crone meant to say 'a blazing fire?'"

While the others talk to the gypsy's leader, Lexan draws four daggers, one wood, one copper, one silver, and one cold iron. He starts casually tossing them into the air and catching them, seeing what kind of a attention from the nomads.

I watch Lexan juggle his daggers for a moment and then ask, "What is your take on all this, Lexan? I am sure someone in your profession has some, shall we say, interesting insights?"

"I have little knowledge of the gypsy culture beyond rumor and unkind hearsay. However, from what I have seen, they do not seem like the evil minions of Strahd we were told about. But based on what everyone told me about the discussion I missed last evening, that they work for him is likely. Unless it is only these three. It is confusing."

"Tell me, what did their leader say?"

Brad Mortensen wrote: what will become of the three spies of Strahd we brought to you?

"That depends on transpires between you and the vampyr. If you fail to stop him he will not be easy on them or any that have offered you aid and comfort..."

Brad Mortensen wrote: And while I respect your reluctance to tell us his plan, can you tell us his timeline? We must know how much longer we have to prepare before our fateful confrontation.

"If you have not found him by night fall he will find you. The vampyr is not known for his patients and if you have already fought him and lived he will be enraged."