8b. Stuck in Barovia with You

[Dram]

Bragar- Sorry Madam for my hidden friend. But it is very hard to tell who is friend or foe. We have lost close friends within this mist. Bragar will offer his hand to the madam in friendship.

[Zhym]

Madam Eva takes Bragar's proffered hand. "I am sorry about your friends," she says. "They seemed like good people. And that Agrippo! Quite the charmer."

"Old Madam Eva may have some more of that potion your friends bought. I believe the price was 400 gold per dose. Interested?"

-----
Status: Bragar: 37/42, Castran: 23/23
Effects: Invisibility (Castran)

[Storm11]

"Indeed we would Madame Eva. Perhaps four potions?" suggests the gnomes voice.

[Zhym]

"Four! Are you boys thinking of getting into some trouble?" she asks with a wink. "Let's see your coin, and Old Eva will see if she has four potions for you."

[Storm11]

Castran will pluck out the two amethysts and the star sapphire from his pouch and drop them upon the table so they become visible. He will hold his unseen hand over the gems until the potions are revealed.

[Zhym]

Madam Eva raises an eyebrow. "It's hasn't all been bad for you, has it? Those will do. Now let me just check—"

She opens a large, heavy-looking chest and rummages around in it. "Now where are those potions?" she asks herself. "That's not it, no...Aha!" She cackles with glee and putts four vials of cloudy dark liquid on the table.

-----
Status: Bragar: 37/42, Castran: 23/23
Effects: Invisibility (Castran)

[Dram]

Bragar- Thank You Madam. And yes Mam it has been bad. We lost many friends in the last week. We have seen rats eat one. Slime devour one. And 3 of them turned against the rest of us by a woman we were trying to help.

[Storm11]

"Foolishly!" the gnomes voice says with a shake of his invisible head. "No one ever listens to me though. Thank you Madame Eva, is there any advice you can give to us, about tackling the castle and its master? We lost a towns woman named Ireena apparently, do you know where about a she would be held? Or where to look for the vampyr himself within the great building? Any advice would be most welcome!" He lifts two of the potions and puts them in his belt pouch for safe keeping, suggesting Bragar does likewise.

[Dram]

Bragar puts the other 2 potions into his backpack. What we really need to do is get out of here and get help to destroy the evil within that castle.

[Zhym]

Madam Eva looks into her crystal ball. "Seek the symbol! It is a powerful force for good and protection from the forces of darkness. It lies with a prince of old. The brother of dark is light, and he rests in this place. The girl Ireena is shrouded in darkness, obscured to my vision by roots of stone and bone. The master can be found in a place of tranquility, a harbor for the mighty and powerful. It is a place of wisdom, warmth, and despair. Great secrets are there. A dark shadow of evil lies over the place. You fight under its influence there."

[Storm11]

"Thank you Madame Eva, your knowledge is most helpful. Will you get into trouble with the lord Strahd for assisting us?" the spellblade asks in concern.

[Zhym]

The old lady grins. "The dark master's attention is occupied with more pressing matters than the natterings of one little old lady." She winks conspiratorially at the invisible gnome.

[Storm11]

"Well I hope so. You have provided invaluable assistance Madame. I thank you. We should be going if we are to return to safety before the night falls."

Castran bows to the gypsy fortune teller and makes to leave.

[Dram]

Bragar- Yes, Thank You Madam for all your assistance. Yes we need to find a safe place to rest for the night.

[Zhym]

Date: Nouluna 7, 1221
Time: 12:00 PM
Weather: Overcast, cool
Moon: Waning gibbous
Location: Borovia, Blood on the Vine Tavern
**************************************

You bid the gypsy woman farewell and set out back toward town.

I assume there's nothing else you want to do before heading back?

-----
Status: Bragar: 37/42, Castran: 23/23
Effects: Invisibility (Castran)

[Storm11]

Castran offers to cloak Bragar in invisibility.

[Dram]

Bragar- Yes shroud me in your invisibility spell. We need to get back to the abandoned house we stayed at last time.

[Storm11]

The gnome concurs and grasps the dwarfs forearm and whispers the incantation."Yes, let us return to the abandoned house and perhaps place another ward upon it for the night. You have one memorised yes?"

[Zhym]

Date: Nouluna 7, 1221
Time: 12:01 PM
Weather: Overcast, cool
Moon: Waning gibbous
Location: Borovia, Blood on the Vine Tavern
**************************************

Castran puts a spell of invisibility over Bragar. The two of you make your way down the road back to Barovia. The road is coated with damp, rotting leaves that squish with your every step.

After an hour and a half, you reach the outskirts of the town without incident. The cobblestone street here is better paved than the road through the forest. As you start to enter the town itself, you spot half a dozen brightly-clad gypsy men coming toward you down the street ahead. None of them seem to have detected your presence.

-----
Status: Bragar: 37/42, Castran: 23/23
Effects: Invisibility (Castran), Castran: Invisibility (Bragar)

[Storm11]

"Let us move to the roads edge and watch what these gypsy's are about!" Castran whispers to Bragar.