12. Back in Barovia

[Inferno]

Agax Gryyg, game mage:

"That depends on the question, dearie. What would you ask?"

"Where is Strahd?" Agax repeats.
"What is the source of the fog barrier?"

[Zhym]

The cards granted you some shiny pretties, the old lady says to Gragog. is the knowledge you seek worth one of them? Show granny the jewelry box, sonny.

[GreyWolfVT]

Sadly what ever you are seeking I apparently never added to my sheet so not sure what Madam Eva wants to see. I also checked the XP/Treasure nothing there still has our original team listed.

[Zhym]

Gragog got a small chest full of jewelry from his draw of the deck. It's how he bumped a level. I didn't list the contents ondividually, but they range on estimated vale from about 4,000 to 10,000 gp each.

[GreyWolfVT]

Gragog takes out the small chest filled with jewelry and opens it "You mean this sorry I forgot I had this thing still."

[Dram]

Bragar waits for a response to his questions. Not happy with riddles for a answer from Madam Eva.

[Zhym]

Madam Eva ignores the petulant wizard and laughs at the half-orc. "That's quite a lot of shiny to forget!" she cackles. Pawing through the contents of the chest, she pulls out a pair of spectacular ruby earrings set in gold. She tries them on and uses her crystal ball as a mirror. "Perfect! Just my color! These will buy a look at Lord Strahd's fate."

[GreyWolfVT]

Gragog "So be it Madam Eva if you will what is Strahds fate?"

[Zhym]

The old lady adjusts her new earrings. "Come," she says, beckoning you forward. "Look into the crystal ball, and see!"

Leaning forward, you peer into the solid crystal orb. It appears to be filled with shifting grey mists. Madam Eva passes a bony hand over the sphere and the mists part, revealing a familiar scene:

Your party stands in the bowels of Ravenloft, crowded into a corridor. The scene is dominated by a large blue figure who has to crouch to fit into the hall. The figure is looking at Shinyah expectantly. Scarlett is still with the group.

"Gene, I wish Strahd, and only Strahd, would be sent to the surface of the sun," says the druid.

The djinn grins. "GRANTED."

The hallway scene fades to grey. In its place is a room you've never seen before. Great stained windows dominate one wall. No light shines through them. A sarcophagus made of intricately carved alabaster stands on each side of the room. The floor between them is inlaid with a tile mosaic in the form of a sun: the holy symbol of Ohama.

In the middle of the sun stands Scarlett. She looks momentarily bewildered, then amused. Her form shifts into Strahd's as he jumps off of the holy symbol laid into the floor. " 'Surface of the sun,' " he laughs. "Always trust a djinn to do as little work as possible."

Strahd's confusion returns as this scene, too, is suddenly replaced. The new setting is more familiar to you: it is the east gate of Borovia, barely visible in the darkness of night. A small crowd of figures stands with Strahd just outside the gate, looking at each other questioningly. Tibbius and Melampus are there, and Bragar recognizes Helga, Strahd's vampire maid. A pale raven-haired young beauty is also with them—you recognize her as the woman in the picture above the fireplace in Strahd's study.

You remember Shinyah's words: "I wish there were no more vampires in Barovia."

"Cute," says Strahd. "Stupid, but cute. Let us return to the castle."

"Feel free to grab a snack on the way," he adds.

The scene fades to black. Wails of terror and despair announce the next scene: Barovia, under attack. The doors are barred, the windows boarded, but the assault of wolves, bats, and creatures from beyond the grave is unrelenting. Doors are bashed down, windows broken into. Villagers hide in corners, trying to avoid the vampiric gaze that compels them to give themselves over, to invite the monsters in, to submit. The orb focuses on a large black bat with bloody teeth as it flies from the village back to the castle.

And then, at last, quiet. Agax sees only blackness in the crystal ball, but the dwarf and half-orc can just make out the last scene: a bare wooden coffin, its lid closed, dirt spilling from its sides, in a dark stone crypt.

Madam Eva waves her hand over the crystal ball again, filling it once more with shifting mists.

[GreyWolfVT]

Gragog "Well go figure never trust a genie." the starting to consider retirement warrior half-orc states. "Well madam Eva thank you for showing that though it does not ease my mind one bit. However choosing a new path in life I am considering sorely at this stage. How are the gypsies in way of guards? I might just be available if you need another one."

[Inferno]

Agax Gryyg, dreaming wizard:

"Gene did not play by the rules. He cheated," Agax said, the harshest condemnation a game mage could utter.

He regarded Gragog and Bragar. Both seemed ready to throw in the towel.

"Poor Scarlett," he said.

[Zhym]

Madam Eva shrugs. "Now, now. You of all people should know the danger of an 'I win' wish," she tells the gaming mage. "Anyhoo, that's between you and the djinn. You got a beef, take it up with them. Good luck reaching their complaints department!"

"Sorry, strong stuff, but my boys are all the guards I need," she tells Gragog. "Family's the only ones you can trust."

"Is there anything else you're dying to know? While you've got shinies, Madam Eva's got answers."

[GreyWolfVT]

Gragog "Do you have any means for us to leave Barovia? I wish to leave and not bother with Strahd where a small army of others have failed I wish end my attempt the vampire's been here far too long and I wish not to battle him."

[Inferno]

Agax Gryyg, game mage:

Agax lowers his head at Gragog's words. After a pause, he looks up again. "We are all weary, my friend. If we can leave Barovia, we can regain our strength, find reinforcements... and return."

[Zhym]

"Do you have any means for us to leave Barovia? asks Gragog.

Madam Eva shakes her head. "Only the Lord of Ravenloft may grant leave to pass outside the mists," she says.

[GreyWolfVT]

Gragog "So is that how the gypsies are able to leave and enter Barovia?"

[Zhym]

"Ancient Vistani secret!" chrips Madam Eva.

Seeing no one is amused, he smile fades and she shrugs. "Strahd grants us passage when it suits him."

[Inferno]

Agax Gryyg, dreaming wizard:

"Hmmm," the mercurial mage pondered. Then: "Madame, how often do you leave this realm?
"Perhaps we can pay you to smuggle us out?"

[Zhym]

"Not for ten times all the shinies in strong orc's chest," she says sadly. "I seen what happens when people cross Lord Strahd. Sorry, lad."

[GreyWolfVT]

Gragog "Well then I guess I have no real options other than rot here or kill myself or face Strahd and die with all the others, I wish I was in Zakhara about now."