Session #6: Just lemme sleep, creep!

[istainion]

09 November, 2020  [7:00 PM - 11:00 PM+ (GMT+1)]

When Shevat in his beautiful, black horse form approached Ireena, she carried a puzzled expression on her face. He slowly lowered himself to his four legs and had hoped for her to understand the message. The first thing she did, is to wonder where the horse came from. It was so funny! She didn't get the chance to look at his transformation due to her terrible state but this moment was solid gold! If I could capture this visually, I would! I would need to order a painter to paint it for me and I doubt that there is anyone near ready for hire.

So When Ireena was properly informed about Shevat by Naedithas and took a seat on his back, his gaze wandered to Tibirin. He, too, was in a terrible condition, much like Ireena. They both went out at least once and, damn, they look terrible. As we learned of Tibirin's nature the past days of traveling, none of us was surprised to see him refuse the offer. I assume it's a thing of pride and I wouldn't be surprised if he carried plenty of that. It was again a funny interaction. With just Ireena on the horse, I joked that Naedithas should join them as well but he simply refused. What did I expect him to do? Get a joke? Yeah, no, he's just Naedithas. The one who doesn't address his problems. And he clearly has plenty of those!

With the damage our team took, we have decided to make it back to Barovia as fast as we can to ensure Ireena's safety. During our walk back, the sky gradually became darker and darker. It appears that soon, nightfall will come and it's evening now. It's incredibly difficult to spot that from the same dim light that makes it past those massive clouds for days straight. It's strange to imagine that the sun never passed those clouds ever before, but the longer I am here, the more I am starting to see that it is nothing but the truth.

Our walk went pretty well until a fog rose from the ground and slowly rose to our knees. I felt the chilly atmosphere, I felt, for a change, watched. It was such a pleasure confirmation that even Naedithas confirmed that during his announcement and why he was confirmed that much, enough to announce it, was yet to be revealed. It's sad that the man doesn't speak. So while I grew tense from the start, I began to reach out for my bow again as my only defense and looked around. My eyes rested on a dark figure in the distance to our left, where I stood eye in eye with a pair of red, shining lights. I seriously wanted to yell, which I sorta did by telling them the origin of those eyes but when I looked back in the same direction, I saw the creature faded. I couldn't quite tell what it was, it could as well be one of those large wolves! It's even larger than Tibirin! Can you imagine?! Well, not that there is a lot of height difference going on with the others ... The damned giants.

We tried to do our best to keep up the pace but even while I was freaking out, it was not like I could do anything about our pace! We needed to keep Ireena safe and the same for the other, wounded guys. I was so damned tense! It was such a relief to see the lights of the place, Barovia in the distance. Before we managed to get there, Shevat needed to transform back to his regular form and finally Ireena saw the truth. It truly was a human, not an animal who carried her. Again, it felt like a tiny comic relief for my sanity. Also to see how well she has managed to rest on his back. She is such a brave woman ...

Once we got back, we immediately headed to Ismark who awaited our arrival in their mansion. It was so nice to enter the warm environment and to proceed further in and smell the great food he has prepared for us. I never once truly realized how nice life like this must be like. To be so free to travel outside and to return to a warm environment with a warm meal. I hope that one day I can live this kind of life and prepare a meal for whoever returns back home to give them that same comfort he gives us. I should probably let the others know, that I am able to cook as well for when our resources run out ... We'll have to gather ingredients though ... Can we even work with these? I should have stocked back at Leilon.

Shevat approached me and said that we were truly lucky to have made it back. I recall agreeing to him, we were really lucky. That large silhouette could have attacked us but why did it not? What kept it at bay? Was it just trying to intimidate us? Well! It worked! Really well! ...

During dinner, we discussed our plans while Ireena left off to her room to freshen up, she said. During her absence, we continued to discuss our plans and what has previously happened. Of course, Ismark was upset about seeing his older sister getting beat up. It was the first thing he has scolded her for as well, which I can relate to. She's a brave woman but did she really have to put herself in danger? Why didn't she pull back when the time was right? Who knows what it'll do to her curse, you know?! What if it will break out because her resistance is that low! Doru was inside the undercroft, she is out in the open and we cannot just lock her up like the Father did back at the Church.

When Ireena returned, she appears to have covered herself up from the wounds which she previously suffered from and played it calm, as if she wasn't knocked out twice in battle. I hope she is doing alright after tonight's rest. I feel that we will not make it far if this will keep happening. We cannot just return to Ismark every time she gets hurt, and that will show when we are actually on our way. To think that we will need to take the same path as the one we previously came from ... Hopefully, that thing isn't there ...

We discussed a plan to leave the house with Ireena in a disguise and having Shevat transform into a small animal to fool the ever watching eyes of the count but Ireena insisted that it will not be necessary. Why exactly, she wouldn't respond to, we should let ourselves be surprised by tomorrow. Sure, I guess we will have to see what she will do. The conversation went on and Ismark has provided us a lot more information about our environment. I guess I will save this sort of info on another sheet for later reference ...

He referred to the two types of people in the land of Barovia, named the Mist touched and Sun touched. Well, with the mist going on, I can tell which ones aren't to be trusted but I forgot to ask him more about it. I should have ... He also said that not all of the Vistani clan are of evil origin but ... Wasn't it you who said that? He told us about what happened to a village named Berez when the count set his eyes on a girl he wants. Yeah, so, if people don't give him his girl to add to his harem, then he will get upset and hypnotize people to hand them over and when they do and the girl refuses and takes her life before getting in his arms, he destroys the environment like an frustrated child. I hope that the same won't happen to Ireena ... Please be safe, girl ... I really like her, it'd be such a shame to see her end with the same fate.

We learned that the Vistani people who own the tavern are considered outcasts to the clan, they appear to live inside the camps near Tser Pool, a place we may end up taking. It's also where Radu referred to Madam Eva, one of the best fortune tellers. But don't you think it's a little odd that this woman is rumored to be over 200 years old? I mean, immortality? Vampire spawn? You know? Totally safe and all. So many reasons for me to wonder what's truly safe here. Yeah, it's just a rumor. Sure, I'm willing to believe that damned rumor? At the camp a man who was once a friend of their father who could help us further. Stanlan Garbori is his name and he should be an easy to spot drunkard with a loud voice. Much like many other Vistani, he has thick, black hair and as an old man, he has a big beard. Well, it sounds like an average drunkard. It shouldn't be too hard to spot him. Just follow the noise and smell of liquor~

Though, I do wonder what makes those sisters and bartender outcasts to them? What have they done apart from simply being rude or not being very talkative? I guess I should have tried to speak to them but Shevat seemed convinced that it wouldn't work well and didn't suggest that we should try either. Oh well, I guess I won't cause any more trouble for the team by simply addressing them the stuff I usually would. I guess I'm too straightforward? Ah, who knows what they have ...

We received a map of Barovia to help us through the place and not get lost. I do have they all have some experience reading a map because, hell, I have never traveled this long. Even reaching Leilon was probably the most inefficient road I could possibly take but I did at least arrive! On the map, he showed us a path we could take. It became clear that the camp of the Vistani would allow us a shortcut, but I wonder, would they just let us barge into their camps? Oh, I don't know what to expect. I didn't exactly voice my concerns, I feel that it wouldn't be appreciated anyway. I guess I'll have to work with an eyemask around these guys, they are so tense when I address stuff. We called it a night and would continue our discussion at breakfast and so, we moved back to the rooms with which we grew familiar. Of course, the lovebirds in their private room and the rest with me to the other.

Again, the ceiling had spiders creeping around! And not one this time but five! And they weren't as large but ... I don't trust the size of spiders any longer! Before I will know it, it's the size of my hand and sleeping next to me! All five! No thank you! Tibirin was so kind, again, to help them outside and I could finally ease up in bed again. Yeah, there was nothing underneath the blanket or bed either, I checked. When I was finally feeling like I was resting, I had this weird dream. While I do not recall every single thing, I do remember being in a dark space. There was a large table with a silhouette that laughed at me for trying to get closer. I recall that I couldn't move from the spot until their signal. I took a seat and I was given some odd questions. It's even strange that I remember it so well. It's not often that a dream was this clear to me.

It asked me what I am doing in Barovia. How does a creep in my DREAM know that I am here and is asking me about it? I'm just here to play hero and get away with the glory while failing horribly at social interaction. Well, that's all. They told me to visit Madam Eva, like Radu and they told me to follow the ravens if I need allies. Yeah, I'll totally follow your advice if I actually was stupid. Thank you. Well, that's it, I remember being pushed away on a chair for some reason but that's all. It became a little vague there ... When I left the room and witnessed Naedithas slamming his door shut when we needed to wake them up, which was a funny sight to be honest, we headed downstairs and learned that ... Everyone had this odd dream!

All of their dreams told them to go to Madam Eva and Yshvara and Shevat are so determined to actually follow the advice of this unknown thing that infiltrated our dreams. Are you guys insane?! Why not walk straight into the trap of the enemy? Seems safe? For heaven's sake ... I guess the dream caused more of a headache to them than it did to me. Damn, it stings ... So neither Naedithas wanted to show up as well as Ireena when we enjoyed breakfast.

Why Ireena took longer became clear when she showed up with a brand new look! And not for the better ... She looked different. Her clothing cheap and so different from before. I could barely recognize her ... She's good at this! Her hair is dyed with charcoal and ... What else did she use? Will it even last the rain outside? I should have given her some advice there ... Maybe I can find something, when we are outside again, with enough pigments to dig deep into her hair's roots ...

Finally, Naedithas came outside the room to catch up with us. Of course, his lips are tightly sealed as usual, but he appeared so much more ... Anxious? Than he did in that haunted house ... Odd ... Well, he better be ready to cooperate again when the time comes ... Weird guy.

With the team and Ireena, we left the mansion and went straight to Bildrath to hand over his precious, probably stolen belongs. At first he said that it was to exchange information, but now he turned it around that we would only get a little bit of discount on his loot. I can't really call them wares, the more I speak to him. This man is suspicious ... I felt too exhausted to even comment him on his nonsense ... Naedithas ran out of the store after he put down his stuff for some reason. It must be that bad. I swear, he and Shevat didn't have a good night. Hahaha! Maybe their argued, who knows. Even if that's difficult to imagine with Shevat's calm nature. I do recall how upset he felt with Ireena though, I must mark that day. I also, still recall Naedithas smile back at the Carnival! Such rare moments ... We did some shopping, obtained ourselves a special bag with an interesting spell on it, got myself some arrows, jar of poison thanks to Ireena and ... I am running low on money ... Traveling sure is pricy ...