[IC] Curse of Strahd [5E]

[Asura]

Vadania Siannodel

The elf couldn't help but roll her eyes at the state of her human companions. How it was somebody from an ascetic background became inebriated to the point of slurring was beyond her, but she had a foreboding feeling that it would not aid them very much in finding a peaceful solution. Repulsive as he was, the other human in their party proved to, if nothing else, present himself as an asset in his declaration of a plan. His asking for supplies also played into Vadania's interests, the thing which swung her opinion most heavily.

"On the subject of supplies, I wouldn't mind a few more bundles of arrows for my troubles this evening. Call me a cynic, but I don't have confidence this will be resolved without violence, and if I need to plant a shaft in somebody tonight, I'd like to ensure I don't run dry."

[Lauder]

Mirrors of Bright Water

“Do not worry so much, elf. You must have some hope for a peaceful resolve, lest you be damned to a life of violence,” the Tabaxi said, perhaps in too cheerful of a tone before her eyes looked at the drunk monk. While she too wanted to get the matter done in as quick a fashion as the rest of them, they could not just run in there nearly blind. Yet, she doubted that the Chamberlain would have much more information on these people, especially since he has barely left the confines of these walls.

“I believe a solution can be found, so long as we do not behave rashly or...,” her eyes rolled in response to Tae’s drunk nature, “so long as we control ourselves.” Mirror them smiled at the Chamberlain, “Don’t worry, this issue will be solved quickly and deliberately.” Her eyes went to Jameson before judging him gently as if to get him to hurry up with what he wanted to do so that the group may continue on their merry way. Besides, Mirror wanted more booze since she did not nearly drink as much as she wanted to, otherwise known as the “Tae Amount”.

[Mae]

Granlow nodded. "Certainly," he replied to Jameson and Vadania, rising to his feet."I will send a runner at once to ask Marlow to open up shop for us. I do believe he's seen a dip in buisness recently, so he will no doubt be happy for the oppurtunity." He gestured open-palmed to the door after everyone had satisfied themselves with dinner.

The air had a bitter bite to it as you approached the General Store, the bulky form of Marlow and a couple of his sons standing in the doorway. They shoo you into the warm and Marlow gladly dithers on as you inspect his wares and make your various purchases. With the final gold exchanged and sales struck, you head towards the northwest gate, the main exit from the town. The lanterns cast sharp shadows as you make your way through, the guards wearing stony expressions as you pass them, their faces obscured by their helmets.

The wall of wind hits you as you exit and find yourself on the winding path down the steep hill. From Fort Rock you can see the surrounding area clearly, and sure enough, stretching out on the plains below you, you can see the stranger's lights and outlines of caravans in the full moonlight. The sound of their laughter and merryment carries clearly up to the wall. No doubt the guards above you on the ramparts are jealous of their revelry.

The message Granlow has given you to relay is a straightforward but harsh one: If they don't leave before Dawn, their wagons will be burnt to the ground." the words echo in your ears as you down the hill and approach the camp.

The chamberlain's information had been accurate. Around a dozen and more men and women are gathered around a crackling bonfire, some dancing around the light while others sing otherworldly lilting music. Some instead prefer to content themselves with their flasks and wineskins. Four barrel-topped wagons are parked at odd angles around the centre bonfire, the shadows of the dancers growing long against the brightly coloured ornamentation of their vehicles. A whinny rises from a nearby tree, and you look over to see a collection of draft horses grazing among it's gnarled roots, the bangles and tassels of their vivid coats catching the firelight.

A thickly accented male voice calls to you, nonchalant. "Ho there, friends! A nice little camp of mine, isn't it? I would be Stanimir, and I speak for us here. To what do I owe the pleasure of such a thoughtful visit under the full moon?" His intelligent eyes twinkle with mirth as he greets you from the fireside, and you look over to see an old man wrapped in a heavy cloak. To his right sits a woman with a striking face and silky raven hair, and to his left a strong-jawed muscled man who lazes beside the log the other two are perched on. Mirror and Vadania note the trio all bear the same bright blue eyes.

[Lauder]

Mirrors of Bright Water

To be truly honest, Mirror had been dreading having to go to this caravan due to the fact that they were essentially forcing people to leave and she did not know what they had been through or if they were escaping some kind of persecution. However, they were causing trouble and it would be best if the group did their assignment in as easy of a manner as possible, mostly to avoid violence and their own potential deaths as a mob of peasants, even a smaller one, could easily over take them if they said the wrong thing at the wrong time. The tabaxi awaited the rest of her party outside the general store, thinking of how best to go about the situation, formulating a strategy as it was never fun to go into these kinds of thing without any plan in mind. With a sigh, she continued her walk as the group finished up with their purchases and the likes, wanting nothing more than to get this dreaded task over with. Her mind raced with worry as she though of many different possibilities that may occur, especially the more violent ones that she rather would avoid.

Mirror looked up as they approached the caravan, the sound of the music easily soothing her nerves, to find not a bunch of people escaping poverty or tyranny, but instead a group of merry. For a moment, she gave a look of utter disappointment. Though her disappointment was overshadowed by the curiosity of the eyes of the trio, all of them the same, though it would be sensible to assume that they were a family unit. The tabaxi then began looking around the camp for weapons, scanning over everything that was in front of them, making sure to take incredible care to not any nearby weapons that the trio could pull at a moment's notice. Luckily, she could see through the shadows of darkness that some of her other companions could not, just some of the benefits of being Tabaxi. It took her a moment before she took a step forward to rest her gaze upon the accented male in front of her.

"Greetings," she began, "I am Mirrors of Bright Water. I'm sorry to inform you that the Chamberlain has asked that you move your camp, there has been trouble with guards earlier today and so he asks that you leave tonight." Her tone was soft, keeping her wits about her to make sure that no one started acting aggressive, as peace may be their best option if this group truly can curse people with magic.

Rolls

Perception - 11

[ERode]

Tae would have liked to buy something extra if she hadn’t been flat-out broke the entire time. Instead, the monk girl had waited for the others outside the General Store, recovering some of her sobriety in the cold night air. She still wasn’t wholly certain what the big deal was, but it would be nice as always if everything could be resolved cleanly without any camp-burning. Mirror looked to be lost in her own thoughts as well, and as the two of them shivered outside the store in wait for their own companions, Tae didn’t exchange a single word with the Tabaxi. She hummed a soft little tune instead, and soon enough, Jameson and Vadania were back.

The cold wind that swept over Fort Rock’s surroundings did well to wake the inebriated monk up further as she slipped casually beside the stout Jameson, using the fighter as solace against the worst of the weather. But there was a warm light in the distance, and though their numbers gave Tae pause, the revelry and relaxed nature of these gypsies pulled her in regardless of those concerns. Mirror served as the immediate spokesperson, and Tae stepped up as well, her smile apologetic, her cheeks flushed with the cold and the wine.

“Well, she says ‘asks’ but it’s more like ‘orders’. Heard the guards were attacked ‘n all, so now they’re feeling prettttty mad about it.”

It wasn’t all that subtle, but it wasn’t all that direct either, as she partially interposed herself between the Tabaxi and the partying vagrants, her somewhat glassy eyes fixed on Stanimir.

Rolls

Tae attempts to glean Insight onto Stanimir's character to see if his jovial nature is merely a front to mask something more malicious.
8 + 3 = 11