Session 4 : Madam Eva
Night 3. Five pies left. Right now, Destiny is sound asleep in the rather inappropriate location known as “on top of Hoskgak”, who is himself in an equally inappropriate location of “the muddy ground” in the middle of the Tser Pool encampment. Her arms wrapped tightly around one of Hoskgak’s leg which, in her slumber, must feel like a comfortable pillow. Her hands… let’s just say Destiny would probably rather her hands be anywhere than where they are now.
“Well, that’s serving with pride out of the window.” The Imp stares at his new master and considers the day’s event. Let’s see now…
He was summoned last night - check. Got given a stupid name - check. Listened to Destiny go on and on about her Angel, her tail and her blasted “destiny” - check. Then in the morning watched with pure envy she and Hoskgak eating those deeeelicioussss pies. How could they completely ignore poor hungry him? And damn that scruffy dog for getting to those crumbs on the floor before him - anyway check. Guarded the pretty lady called Ireena while the rest of the party went to bury an old man - check.
Even for a tiny fiend who by the law of magic is robbed of free will, this was an uninspiring start to his life as a summoned familiar.
Then finally something interesting! The party is to help pretty Ireena escape to a town 4 days away, called Vallaki. Apparently a 400 years old vampire who rules this land, known as Strahd, has taken a fancy to this girl and the church in Vallaki is the only safe refuge. Watch, yes that’s his name now, the imp recalls with a sigh, doubts a mere church can stop a powerful ancient vampire, but what can a summoned fiend such as himself do except to follow his master however naive she is?
If only he was summoned by the Vampire instead. He would probably have a more fitting name like “Zergut” or "Radomir" or anything but "Watch of the Night"! And he would surely be fed with food even more lovely than those pies!
Anyway, it’s clear that the party is playing with fire given this is the love letter Ireena got from Strahd before leaving:
Dearest Ireena,
It is with the deepest grief that I learn of the death of your kind and noble Father; and, especially, that it is affecting your young heart beyond all sensation. In this sad world of ours, sorrow eventually comes to all; and, to the young, it comes with the bitterest agony, because it so often takes them unaware. Your elders, no doubt, have learned to ever expect it.
I am anxious to afford some alleviation of your present distress. Perfect relief is not possible, except with time. You surely realize now that you will never smile again, is not this so? And yet it is a mistake. You are sure to be happy again. To know this, which is certainly true, will make you some less miserable now. I have had experience enough to know what I say; and you need only believe it to feel your heart warm once again. The memory of your dear Father, instead of an agony, will yet be a sad sweet feeling in your heart, of a purer and holier sort than you have ever known before.
Please present my kind regards to your afflicted brother.
Your lord, master, and love,
Strahd von Zarovich
Not surprisingly they got ambushed by wolves shortly after setting off. Well, technically speaking they ambushed the wolves, because Watch, flew ahead to scout the road. When he came across a pack of wolves led by a huge dire wolf attacking a helpless horse, he sent word back to Destiny, fully expecting the party to take a diversion or launch a surprise attack. Instead he heard, telepathically, Destiny debating rather loudly with Hoskgak and Serenity how to keep that stupid dog Lancelot safe while they fought the wolves. The options were to either tie it to a tree or to put it inside her back pack. Well, there goes the element of surprise. As if that wasn’t bad enough, seconds later a drunken Serenity charged all by herself towards the pack armed with nothing but a wooden pole, got royally mauled and then ran away just as quickly.
These people... completely mad. Serving with pride? Hah.
Yet by some miracle they bested the beasts, and so Watch's servitude sadly continued. How they succeeded was truly beyond him. Given the vicious attacks both Serenity and Hoskgak took, he was surprised either of them were still standing by the end. According to Destiny, the whole affair must have been a trap set by Strahd. This is because the helpless horse was in fact a bait that turned into another dire wolf as soon as they approached. Also: none of the wolves attacked Ireena, in fact, they seemed to have gone out of the way to not cause her any harm. It made sense that Strahd's minions would have strict instructions not to harm his "Dearest".
Despite being heavily wounded, the party decided to press on before the Vampire could send more minions.
It wasn’t long before they reached a cross road. There they saw a sign showing them that to the West was Vallaki, where they’re supposed to take Ireena. To the North was Tser Pool, where they were not supposed to take Ireena.
So which way did Destiny want to go? North of course! That’s the problem with a cat as your master, they just can’t focus on the goal at hand. Surprisingly, or perhaps by now Watch shouldn’t be surprised, the rest of the party agreed with Destiny.
And oh, another weird thing, the cross road had a gallows and on it hung a body with Hoskgak’s face. Hoskgak wasn’t fazed by this at all. “Not a good death, leave him there”, that was all he said. He’s a brave man... or half orc... what real heroes are supposed to be. Another fool wishing a hero's end. Well, his wish will be granted if he stays these cats long enough.
Soon they reached an encampment by the lake of Tser Pool. And that’s where they met this so called Madam Eva, an ancient Vistani who apparently has appeared in all their dreams to summon them here to… get this… do a tarot card reading. That’s right: the reason Destiny wanted to come to Tser Pool instead of accomplishing their original quest is just so that she could get her fortune told by an old lady!
Flying lazily above the camp and his sleeping master, Watch can almost hear his fellow Imps laughing at his misfortune - with all pun intended.
Of course Destiny lapped up the fortune telling like Lancelot did with those pie crumbs… oh the pies!
After the reading was done, Hoskgak said he felt exhausted and asked a Vistani sitting by the camp fire if there was a bed he could sleep on, but before the person managed a reply, Hoskgak yawned loudly and slumped face down onto the muddy ground. Seconds later Destiny followed suit and landed on top of Hoskgak.
Guess he better “watch” over his new master. Ha ha ha very funny… NOT.
Night 3. Five portions of pie left. Watch looks longingly at Destiny’s back pack and wonder how many more nights can this haphazard group survive... and will he get to taste some of that delicious pie before death inevitabily claims them all.
* * *
Destiny listened intently to Madam Eva’s reading. It seemed the real purpose of them being in Barovia was to destroy Count Strahd and free this land from the Demiplane of dread where it was trapped. Destiny was not sure what exactly a Demiplane was, but judging everything she'd seen here, "here" was definitely not a good place and wherever it was before had to be better than this. According to Madam Eva, many heroes tried and failed to destroy the Count. But the cards, she said, would reveal a path for them.
The Vistani Seer got them all to touch the cards, to help empower the reading, and then started turning them over in the shape of a cross on the table in front of them.
"This first card," pointing at the card forming the top of the cross, "will tell of history. Knowledge of the ancient will help you better understand your enemy. Let's see what it will be." Madam Eva said as she put down the first card.
"Ah, the Illusionist. A man is not what he seems... he comes here in a carnival wagon. Therein lies what you seek."
"The next card tells of a powerful force for good and protection, a holy symbol of great hope..."
"This is a card of power. It tells of a weapon of vengeance, a sword of sunlight..." She revealed the next card.
"I see a faceless god. He awaits you at the end of a long and winding road, deep in the mountains."
"This card sheds light on one who will help you greatly in the battle against darkness..."
With four of the five cards revealed, Madam Eva place her long finger on the final card at the centre of the cross.
"Your enemy is a creature of darkness, whose powers are beyond mortality. This card will lead you to him!"
"I see a secret place - a vault of temptation hidden behind a woman of great beauty. The evil awaits atop his tower of treasure."
Destiny stared at the five cards, captivated by Madam Eva's mysterious explanations, and committed each to her memory. With her fearless companions, her magical powers, and now a roadmap, she felt a tingle of certainty that she would succeed in defeating the Count.
This was her. Her destiny.
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