[Ravenloft] Grand Conjunction I: Night of the Walking Dead

Gorgamesh

Gorgamesh eyes the Vistani and Whisper to his companions before they approach
Be careful fellows, Arr.. This folk are mysterious, they can be nice and generous or on the other hand they can be cunning and fog your minds with spells ..Agh.
Gorgamesh walks beside Soulsong.
Hail, we seek the warm of your fire, we come with no violence.
And a big tooth less smile spreads on his face.
 

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"Greetings, friends, sit and be welcome," the old man says, gesturing towards the logs with a sweep of his arm. The children clap and laugh at Lamar's coin trick as the old man speaks to the companions.

"My name is Scarengi," the old man rasps. "This is my wife, Ryana, and these are our children, Carloni and Valana." The black-haired young woman -- Valana -- turns to look at you. "I have seen you before," she says. "In the stones. I have seen you and what follows you... The trouble began when I cast the runes for that quiet and lost young man," she explains sadly. "Perhaps it will end with another casting." She holds a flat pan in her lap and stone tiles in her hands. Then, after gazing once again into your eyes, she drops the tiles into the pan. "The lost one has called you!" Valana gasps. Each member of her family hastily makes a protective gesture. "The dead will walk with the coming storm, and you must find a way to put them to rest. If you cannot, the rain will turn to blood! It will drown you—you and all of Marais d'Tarascon."

Scarengi quickly ushers his daughter into the wagon. "No charge for your fortune," the old man adds hastily.
 

Gorgamesh

Gorgamesh face looks in horror after what he heard from Valana.
I told you, they are spooky he whispers to Lamar and Soulsong
Í'm not affraid from the dead he calls to Valana while raising his left fist to the air. the other hand (with the six fingers) rubbs his flail to obtain courge.
Ohhh.. is anybody eats that piece of turkey agh ? Gorgamesh reach his hand to the plate where the old man sat a moment ago and grabs the piece of turkey.
 

*The dark-haired young man that had called himself Darius stood silent until now, his large eyes taking in everything around him with a haunted expression. When the girl spoke their fortune, he gave a sigh, as if it were something he had half-expected.*

"The dead ones have marked us, and thus we must dance with death in order to give them the peace of the grave once more..." he says in dire tones, mentally marking the words for a furture dirge or lament. "Will the dead seek us out, or do we go to them as the rain begins to fall?"
 

Lamar just sighs. "This just keeps getting better. Swamps that get you turned about, homicidal crocodiles, and now undead trying to whack us, and we have to kill them before we drown in a rain of blood. Nice. Real nice. Did I mention I hate this place?"
 

I approach the Vistani camp only at their invitation, fully aware of their propensity for curses at some imaginary or slight offense. I nod respectfully to Scarengi, and to each member of his family as they are introduced. When I have a moment to speak, I introduce myself to them, leaving out that I am a priestess of the Morninglord; something they would either figure out on their own or not care about.

Tales of Vistani seers were not lost on me and as Valana turns and admits to having seen us before, I hope it may help explain why we were all gathered here and have so far been unable to reach a town that looks to be only three or four miles away from us across the span of two days. As soon as she mentions another casting, I rush to one of my note books and scrabble quickly for pen and ink. I begin making my own notations on this encounter and when she begins, I write everything down word for word.

My head snaps up and looks curiously at Scarengi as he ushers his Valana into the wagon and mentions no charge for the fortune. Good! I think to myself, since none of us here asked for a fortune telling to begin with and I look to the others gauging their reactions and wondering what they'd do if Scarengi had actually tried to get some kind of payment out of them--us.

I look at Gorgamesh as if seeing for the first time that the Caliban's problems with his body may also extend to his mind. Going from frightened to defiant to hungry in the matter of seconds does not bolster my confidence in his abilities and makes me wonder at the wisdom of whoever or whatever brought us all together here.

"No, Darius," I correct politely. "A 'Lost One' has 'called' us. We know not if this person is dead or otherwise." I consider the rest of his words carefully, finding this not a ideal time or setting for his dramatic tone. "She said the dead will walk with the coming storm. They may indeed come for us, but since they won't come until this 'storm' gets here, that gives us some time to figure this all out. As for the rain turning to blood, well, you all know what a metaphor is, right?" No way these guys can seriously think the rain will turn to blood! They're able to butcher a dangerous animal in the wild without shedding a tear and get angry when I point out their reckless behavior but get spooked when a girl no older than any of us says something they don't want to hear!

I go over to the wagon where Scarengi is at (since he didn't go inside), and ask, "We would do what we can to prevent this tragedy and lay any lost souls to rest that we are able. But we are ensorcelled. I don't know if that village nearby is Marais d'Tarascon or not, but for two days we have journeyed toward it and have found ourselves making no progress. It is as close, and as far, as it has been when we first sighted it. If we are to help the people there, perhaps you can assist us in getting there? Or at least point us to the path that will get us there."
 

I don't understand what you're all so upset about. I have traffic with the dead all of the time. The ancestors are usualy fairly nice. Soulsong says looking a bit confused.
 

I look at Soulsong stunned by his casual admission of speaking to the dead. Not knowing if he is actually serious or not, I warn him nonetheless. "You'd best not admit that to many more people than who you see before you now. You'll either scare people away from helping us or scare them into hunting us--or more specifically you. I've never heard of a villager or townsfolk that ever took a liking to any necromancers. So, at least try to use a little discretion.

"We've got a "Lost One", a storm of blood, and the walking dead to deal with. We don't need to add 'angry lynch mob' to that list."
I look to the others to see that they understand and hopefully will agree with me on this point. Gorgamesh should know that much as well and should support my statement if the others argue the point or dismiss my advice outright.

"Maybe I'm wrong," I allow for that possibility. "I haven't been here before, but I have learned about this country and I have been to several others while you are admittedly strangers to these lands. I offer my words as advice only based on my experience and knowledge with the lands that I am familiar with and the reputations of others that I have read or heard about."
 

"Indeed," says Scarengi, "that village is Marais d'Tarascon itself. The enchantment...it is gone. 'Tis a quality of this land at times. At times it is as if it does not want you to reach your destination, and may cause you to be lost, and then may change its mind abruptly. Now that your destination is known to you, the path may be open as well." Scarengi looks towards Soulsong and then towards the barbarian with the twisted features. "Wise words, my friend. The dead are to be respected, befriended, propititated. But... nor should you say you do not fear them. They are terrible when roused. Rest, though, you must rest, and go see the mortu with the dawn's light."
 

"We all could use some sleep" Lamar says."'s been a long day, and I'm still tired from that crazed croc attack" he adds with a grin."So, who'll be on first watch? Any volunteers? I don't mind when I'm on, it's the spellcasting types that need some undisturbed rest. You choose."
 

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