2.1 Over the River and Through the Woods to Madam Eva's

[NJWilliam]

Iluq, dark elf cleric

Seeming to wake from a bit of a daydream after Madam Eva's reading, Iluq asks, "At what cost does the potion render protection, and what is needed to procure or create such a potion?"

[Zhym]

"We have a small quantity on hand," she says. "We would ordinarily require 3,000 gold per dose, but I see that you did not bring that much with you." She frowns and furrows her brow.

"Ah!" she cries. "I know! You may have the potion now for 900 gold if you will promise to do a small favor for us. The elixir requires a bit of vampire hair. If you return here with a lock of hair cut from a 'living' vampire, in addition to the discount we will pay you 1,500 gold. A nice little profit, wouldn't you say? But if you promise to do this and fail to carry it out...well, ask around what happens to people who cross Madam Eva!" She cackles gleefully.

[NJWilliam]

Iluq

Iluq glowers a bit at Madam Eva, "Your offer sounds like a good beginning. What would you say to three doses up front, and no payment necessarily when we return?"

To Agrippo he says, "Warrior, what are your thoughts on this barber business? Should we just pay the full price or see what The Tankard of the True God thinks first?"

[Zhym]

Madam Eva shakes her head. "Three doses! For 900?! Sorry, short, dark, and handsome. We don't have that much potion to spare—certainly not at the steep discount I'm offering. Why, 900 is practically charity!"

[Stirling]

Agrippo will smile at Madam Eva, interested in this potion she has to offer. 900 gp is far more then I carry, probably even more than the group totals so that is not posible just yet. However Madadm Eva may take some other token in exchange...

"I think that if we fail with the vamp hair then its' because the vamp did us first...", Agrippo will say. "These mystic clues you have given Madam Eva, what is in it for you? The gypsies can travel away from here, so why not flee as fighting this menace seems to be beyond you?"

[Zhym]

OOC: At some point a little while ago, I asked you each to consider yourselves to have 250 gp of traveling money. You can just afford her asking price. Funny, that...

Madam Eva's all-seeing eyes turn to regard the legionnaire. "What is in it for me?" she repeats in her sandpaper voice. "What is in the air for the birds? Or in the fish for water? Those who would go must stay; we who may go remain. Such is the way of the world."

[Bouv]

Robert, mostly mumbling to himself, "Hmm...with the money on hand...Gentlemen, we need to figure out if we want one of these potions. I would prefer to have any advantage over him that we can get personally."

[Grognardsw]

Failing to find much interest for the True God among the gypsies, Vorkath accepts a drink and is soon singing a gypsy song.

[Zhym]

"Sure!" says one of the gypsies. "All gods are welcome here! The One True too! What's he the god of? What does he offer us?"

Vorkath realizes he has his work cut out for him on the concepts of "One" and "True."

[Stirling]

Agrippo, one hand on his money belt, will decline Madam Eva's Special brew....thinking that is such a drink was that potent then the villagers may well have stumped up the cash and gone castle visiting by now...Agrippo will thank Madam Eva for the entertainment and take leave of the tent, joining Vorkath by the fire, handing out a few leaflets of his own...."I'm converting them to join the legion Vorkath, though I doubt these vagrants can read enough to scrawl their names on the enrollment forms...".

[Zhym]

"I guess you just lost the funds for the good stuff," shrugs Madam Eva. "But we do have one other elixir. It protects your life essence against the chilling touch of the undead for a short time. 400 gold per dose."

[Stirling]

Agrippa will cast Madam Eva a knowing look, "bah you gypsy vagrants drive a hard bargain, more than double the mark up for sure! There's 200 of the best golden coinage in this bag, more than enough for speculative potions and lotions! I take one potion of this sacred blessing and trust there'll be a dose enough for all the party in it. Perhaps the 'gods' will grant our aid to bring you your braided vampyre locks".

Agrippa will cast a small leather pouch into the bosom of Madam Eva, holding his hand out for something in return, then in a brazen moment full of courtly charm, hold his other hand out and request Madam Eva to "come dance around the campfire while the others make merry", hoping his charisma may win the party a bargain gift.

[NJWilliam]

Iluq, dark elf cleric

Iluq waits and watches to see how Agrippo's gambit pays off.

[Zhym]

Date: Nouluna 3, 1221
Time: 3:40 PM
Weather: Foggy, overcast
Moon: Waxing gibbous
Location: Madam Eva’s Tent
**************************************

Agrippo casts a small leather pouch filled with 200 gold to Madam Eva. "You want a lot for a little, do you not?" she tells him. Then, with an impish smile, "Bet that's not the first time you've been told that!"

"I shouldn't do this, but Madam Eva's an old softie at heart. I will give you one dose for that." She turns and opens a trunk behind her. She rummages around, muttering to herself a moment. "Aha! Here it is!" She turns around holding a vial of cloudy dark liquid. She gives it to Agrippo. "Drink all of this, and one of you will be protected from the life-stealing attacks of the undead for about an hour, give or take."

Agrippo holds out his other hand and, in a brazen moment full of courtly charm, asks Madam Eva to come dance around the campfire with him. "One moment, handsome. Granny needs to finish business first." She looks at Iluq. "Should you decide that such a potion will be of more worth to you in your quest than 200 of your shiny gold coins, you may have a potion at the same price. What do you say?"

[Bouv]

Robert will turn over his coins to help pay for the potions. "I don't mind donating some of my coins in an effort to help us drive the evil away from these lands and let nature return to the way it needs to be."

[NJWilliam]

Iluq, dark elf cleric

Iluq smiles at Madam Eva, nods, and passes 200 gold to her.

[Zhym]

Date: Nouluna 3, 1221
Time: 3:50 PM
Weather: Foggy, overcast
Moon: Waxing gibbous
Location: Madam Eva’s Tent
**************************************

Madam Eva digs around in her trunk again and retrieves two more dark cloudy potions, which she gives to Robert and Iluq in exchange for 200 gold pieces each.

Please mark off 200 gold and add "gypsy potion" to your character sheets.

"You say you like to dance, young man?" Madam Eva asks Agrippo. "Let's go. Maybe I can teach you a few steps!" She winks lasciviously at the legionnaire as she puts her leathery hand in his and leads you all out of the tent.

Status: Robert: 37/37, Iluq: 39/39, Vokath: 40/40, Tibbius: ??/22, Randolph: ?/4, Tumbler: ??/39, Agrippo: 52/52

[Zhym]

Date: Nouluna 3, 1221
Time: 3:30 PM
Weather: Foggy, overcast
Moon: Waxing gibbous
Location: Madam Eva’s Tent
**************************************

Madam Eva leads Agrippo by the hand through the mists back to the campfire. Robert and Iluq follow. You see Vorkath already at the fire, drinking and singing a gypsy song.

Around the campfire, guitars, flutes, and accordion mix at a brisk tempo. The music is spirited, but also a little melancholy. You welcome the fire's oasis of warmth amidst the cold winds.

Madam Eva's dancing style is...energetic. And a little bit bawdy. You had no idea a woman of her age could bend like that. Having seen it happen, you wonder how much you'd have to pay for a potion of forgetfulness.

Status: Robert: 37/37, Iluq: 39/39, Vokath: 40/40, Tibbius: ??/22, Randolph: ?/4, Tumbler: ??/39, Agrippo: 52/52

[Grognardsw]

Vorkath smiles at the sight of Agrippo and Madam Eva dancing, biting back a raucous comment that his old mentor Father Aseus would not approve of.

"What prophesies did the woman say, and how much coin did she relieve you of?" asks the paladin to Robert and Iluq.

[Stirling]

Whilst dancing around, the sly old Agrippa will be casting one eye around the camp for anything suspicious (suspicious in a gypsy camp, never!), odd characters, ghoulish fiends in league on the edge of the firelight, prisoners, wolves, etc. No eyecatching items or maidens alike and we feel nothing more can be gained Agrippa will retrieve his pony and suggest we head back to the others in town.