Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.
Rocket your D&D 5E and Level Up: Advanced 5E games into space! Alpha Star Magazine Is Launching... Right Now!

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="stonegod" data-source="post: 3529430" data-attributes="member: 36973">TessaIt was a nightmare.Tessa did not sign up for this. When she had found the caravan hiring hands in Korth, she had no idea that she was signing up for this. She needed to keep on moving and to help others. To better understand herself and the dark things within her. She even eventually admitted there was a bit of a thrill of hiding herself amongst those that hated those marked like her the most---the true Dragonmarked.Things has went swimmingly for several weeks. She was officially attached to the House Jorasco healers, but when Mateush Ochem discovered her keen mind, she ended up spending more time with the archivist's and historians, trying to put together the puzzle that was their destination. This suited her fine, as it gave her surreptitious access to the best minds that knew about her mark. She had to be careful in her questions, but she did can some tidbits of knowledge that hinted at more.Other than her scholarly duties, Tessa kept to herself. She occasionally saw the six heroes that that caravan had hired as extra security, but never approached them. Bergeron, the over-talkative halfing she had gotten into some amusing debates with regarding the true nature of dragonmarks, said they had managed to save quite a few people at a lightning rail attack, but Tessa has not heard the story.When they had finally found the road to Barovia, Tessa's heart had quickened. She was eager to see this strange land of the "Zarovich's" she had read about with Mateush. The Six had gone ahead, supposedly answering the call of some missive. The caravan, however, had to fall in slowly behind.That was when things started to go wrong.That first night out, Tessa has been assisting Mateush and another scholar with some notes found at a previous expedition when the call of "FIRE!" when throughout the camp. There was a bit of chaos, and she was distracted.She didn't notice the skeletons before it was too late.Thadeus' neck was torn out by the first, and only the provenance of Olladra---or the dark hand of Khyber---kept the other one from doing the same to her. She did not have time to think, only to act, and thus quickly found herself with a flaming brand in her hand, striking at the sudden foes.The battle was pitched, and she was wounded, though not so much as Mateusz. As she heard footsteps coming her way, her sanity reasserted itself, and she hastily drew her weapon. But then some spell knocked her out.When she came too, she was being tended by some halflings, apparently an hour or so after the incident. Mateusz was there too, more seriously wounded. The talk of the camp was the fire at the sending stone wagon, but that was only a diversion. Many records from the Lakeside dig that held the reason for the expedition were stolen!Tessa was told to rest, and she would have, but a raspy Mateusz kept her awake. Alone, he smile a wicked smile and said, "It is not often one marked with an aberrant mark walks among the Twelve."Apparently, the archivist had seen something that tipped him off. Tessa's heart raced. It was not a capital offense in the Five Nations, but the Twelve would surely look down on her and seek some sort of repercussions. But the archivist just smiled his smile and said, "We will... work something out." It was going to be blackmail.Mateusz 'suggested' Tessa should pursue the Emerald Claw culprits, perhaps assisting the Six that were already in Barovia. She was to make every effort. Otherwise... the rest was left unsaid.Tessa's bedrest kept her from leaving with Bergeron and the two Deneith mercenaries that evening. She was better by dawn, and sullenly followed with the rest of the caravan into the mists.They reached an abandoned gate at the outskirts of Barovia when things got worse. The gates were closed, and even far away they could hear the sounds of wolves and horses fighting. Nothing could be seen, however, due to a thick fog. It was when they entered the fog that all chaos broke loose. Screams, wails, and all sorts of horrid sounds surrounded them, disorienting Tessa. In the fog, she saw horrors she had only seen in nightmares.  She managed to keep her calm, but not so much of the caravan. At the same time, the sounds of wolves became stronger, and she barely fought two of the off.A half an hour later, less than half of the caravan finally escaped to the other side of the caravan. Officially entered Barovia.It took time to take stock of the situation. Many had died. Included was the d'Sivis scion, and any hope of outside communication. Many of the carts were smashed, their supplies spilled---it would take several journeys to recoup what could be salvaged. But Mateusz pressed on, forcing the remnant to pack what they could. The Expedition would not fail!The worried survivors kept an eye out for the wolves they could still hear, but none emerged. At the town, they though they were safe---until they started seeing the corpses.This place was a nightmare.Finally, up ahead Tessa can hear the sounds of the living. She can see a barricade in the foggy-haze. Perhaps they will have answers.[Tessa has just come upon the barricade. The others (save Perriwimple) have already left.]</blockquote>

Verification