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Re: A Pirate's (Un)Life for me! (Rovana)
Damia
Tser Pool Encampment
Tag: Rovana
"Aye. I want to sail with you. When you find your way out of here, take me with you!" Damia said, putting her hand on Rovana's knee.
"Even if we can't have the sort of fun we had that last time... I mean, I understand if I've fucked that up. Still. I don't want this life anymore. And when you do get a crew together, you'll want some gypsy magic! I'm no Madam Eva, but I've practiced a bit of the craft! And I can fight! And you could teach me all that sailor stuff... So. Don't forget about me, Captain."
Damia took the folded paper in hand and tucked it away among her clothes. She nodded at Rovana's words, hanging on them.
"We know all about curses, captain. I'll deliver your message as best I can, but there's no guarantee that Strahd will be the one to open this. And even still, I've NEVER seen anything scare him. But I'll do as you say nonetheless. You'll not be able to reach Mount Baratok until you get close to Vallaki anyway. It's just on the other side of the Lake Zarovich from the town. As for Mount Ghakis... I've never gone there. I've heard tell there's a pass through and up that mountain, but it begins far to the west, beyond Vallaki. The eastern face of it is through the wilderness, southwest of here. I... don't advise wandering far from the roads. Perhaps... I'll say that it's your intent to search Mount Baratok for a way out of this land, yes? Then maybe Strahd won't be watching the roads in the west too much."
Damia looked confused for a moment, as Rovana mentioned the line 'not in the nose or the eyes,' but eventually took her meaning as the pirate raised her voice loud enough that Stanimir and Ratka and several of the others who were eating at the center of camp could overhear her. The gypsy girl did a good job of looking hurt by her comments, maybe even a few of them hitting close to home when talking about not caring about her save being annoyed. Damia's eyes grew watery and she stood up and slapped Rovana across the cheek, before storming off to her own wagon, running a short way.
"Raaawrk, 99 problems but a bitch ain't one! Wee Woo!" Joe chirped after her, with his head then bobbing actively beside Rovana.
"Perhaps it's time for you to be seeing yourself out of our camp," Ratka said darkly, as he watched his hurt sister run from her.
With the eyes not leaving her, it quickly became apparent that there was no hope of her simply sneaking out of the camp, so she simply made her way back onto the road to the south. Jasmina did not accompany her, though she did offer some words before she left.
"I've gotten you to the seer. Now you have an idea of what your road is going to be like. Farewell for now, Captain Rovana. I will stay here for your companions, my Ismark, and his sister. We may meet again, if you manage to stay alive long enough. One last piece of advice: avoid the windmill."
With that said, Jasmina walked back into camp, and the stares of the Vistani, with their hands near to their crossbows, indicated that it was indeed time for the pirate to truly leave. Joe followed Rovana out of the camp, flying ahead for a bit before swooping back onto the pirate's shoulder, pecking at nothing in particular.
~~~
Rovana retraced about a mile back to the crossroads where she had seen a vision of herself hanging at the gallows. There were no gallows to be seen now, just a row of unmarked gravestones resting besides the road. The road to Vallaki continued steadily upwards on a long, winding path through the dark Svalich woods. The trees are so densely packed on either side, it's difficult to keep track of where she is or how far she has come, but it certainly must have been at least four or five miles up hill by the time her legs start to ache. A short rest, some greasy, cold venison that should probably be eaten sooner rather than later, considering it hasn't been made into jerky, and a swig of rum later, and the pirate is back on her feet. She at last emerges from the woods after another mile or so, and sees a long stone bridge that crosses over a chasm - a 1000 foot drop into the River Ivlis below. To the west, Rovana can make out the rush of falling water from Tser Falls, which feeds the River Ivlis. Tracing the river below, Rovana can make out the Tser Pool in the distance to the east. And ahead, she can see the rising spire of rock that is the pillar of Ravenloft. According to the map, the dread castle should be just on the other side of the rocks ahead, though still a few miles away. The outer gates of Barovia would not be far now. Perhaps another hour's march.
As she crossed the stone bridge, which was quite ancient, though sturdy, she had made it about halfway before a thunderclap rolled overhead and rain began to soak the countryside in a flash. Then as she was about three quarters of the way across the 100 foot bridge, lightning flashed and smote the dirt road at the far end of the bridge. The smell of ozone wafted through the air, and the dirt roiled in front of her. Something was moving out of the earth! A large form, with huge arms and a wide belly, with the foul smell of the grave, up rooted itself from the ground and lurched toward Rovana. Over its head it wore a maggot-eaten sack cloth. In one of it's hands was a crude iron club with jagged spikes set into it at odd angles. Joe began to squawk and flutter. The large figure was big enough to take up the width of the bridge as it slowly moved forward with a groan.
A glance behind her, at the far side of the bridge from where she just had come from showed three smaller figures standing, lurching oddly from side to side, and dragging themselves towards her. The thunderclouds had turned the countryside as dark as night. A feeling of dread was making the hairs on Rovana's neck stand up.
Damia
Tser Pool Encampment
Tag: Rovana
"Aye. I want to sail with you. When you find your way out of here, take me with you!" Damia said, putting her hand on Rovana's knee.
"Even if we can't have the sort of fun we had that last time... I mean, I understand if I've fucked that up. Still. I don't want this life anymore. And when you do get a crew together, you'll want some gypsy magic! I'm no Madam Eva, but I've practiced a bit of the craft! And I can fight! And you could teach me all that sailor stuff... So. Don't forget about me, Captain."
Damia took the folded paper in hand and tucked it away among her clothes. She nodded at Rovana's words, hanging on them.
"We know all about curses, captain. I'll deliver your message as best I can, but there's no guarantee that Strahd will be the one to open this. And even still, I've NEVER seen anything scare him. But I'll do as you say nonetheless. You'll not be able to reach Mount Baratok until you get close to Vallaki anyway. It's just on the other side of the Lake Zarovich from the town. As for Mount Ghakis... I've never gone there. I've heard tell there's a pass through and up that mountain, but it begins far to the west, beyond Vallaki. The eastern face of it is through the wilderness, southwest of here. I... don't advise wandering far from the roads. Perhaps... I'll say that it's your intent to search Mount Baratok for a way out of this land, yes? Then maybe Strahd won't be watching the roads in the west too much."
Damia looked confused for a moment, as Rovana mentioned the line 'not in the nose or the eyes,' but eventually took her meaning as the pirate raised her voice loud enough that Stanimir and Ratka and several of the others who were eating at the center of camp could overhear her. The gypsy girl did a good job of looking hurt by her comments, maybe even a few of them hitting close to home when talking about not caring about her save being annoyed. Damia's eyes grew watery and she stood up and slapped Rovana across the cheek, before storming off to her own wagon, running a short way.
"Raaawrk, 99 problems but a bitch ain't one! Wee Woo!" Joe chirped after her, with his head then bobbing actively beside Rovana.
"Perhaps it's time for you to be seeing yourself out of our camp," Ratka said darkly, as he watched his hurt sister run from her.
With the eyes not leaving her, it quickly became apparent that there was no hope of her simply sneaking out of the camp, so she simply made her way back onto the road to the south. Jasmina did not accompany her, though she did offer some words before she left.
"I've gotten you to the seer. Now you have an idea of what your road is going to be like. Farewell for now, Captain Rovana. I will stay here for your companions, my Ismark, and his sister. We may meet again, if you manage to stay alive long enough. One last piece of advice: avoid the windmill."
With that said, Jasmina walked back into camp, and the stares of the Vistani, with their hands near to their crossbows, indicated that it was indeed time for the pirate to truly leave. Joe followed Rovana out of the camp, flying ahead for a bit before swooping back onto the pirate's shoulder, pecking at nothing in particular.
~~~
Rovana retraced about a mile back to the crossroads where she had seen a vision of herself hanging at the gallows. There were no gallows to be seen now, just a row of unmarked gravestones resting besides the road. The road to Vallaki continued steadily upwards on a long, winding path through the dark Svalich woods. The trees are so densely packed on either side, it's difficult to keep track of where she is or how far she has come, but it certainly must have been at least four or five miles up hill by the time her legs start to ache. A short rest, some greasy, cold venison that should probably be eaten sooner rather than later, considering it hasn't been made into jerky, and a swig of rum later, and the pirate is back on her feet. She at last emerges from the woods after another mile or so, and sees a long stone bridge that crosses over a chasm - a 1000 foot drop into the River Ivlis below. To the west, Rovana can make out the rush of falling water from Tser Falls, which feeds the River Ivlis. Tracing the river below, Rovana can make out the Tser Pool in the distance to the east. And ahead, she can see the rising spire of rock that is the pillar of Ravenloft. According to the map, the dread castle should be just on the other side of the rocks ahead, though still a few miles away. The outer gates of Barovia would not be far now. Perhaps another hour's march.
As she crossed the stone bridge, which was quite ancient, though sturdy, she had made it about halfway before a thunderclap rolled overhead and rain began to soak the countryside in a flash. Then as she was about three quarters of the way across the 100 foot bridge, lightning flashed and smote the dirt road at the far end of the bridge. The smell of ozone wafted through the air, and the dirt roiled in front of her. Something was moving out of the earth! A large form, with huge arms and a wide belly, with the foul smell of the grave, up rooted itself from the ground and lurched toward Rovana. Over its head it wore a maggot-eaten sack cloth. In one of it's hands was a crude iron club with jagged spikes set into it at odd angles. Joe began to squawk and flutter. The large figure was big enough to take up the width of the bridge as it slowly moved forward with a groan.
A glance behind her, at the far side of the bridge from where she just had come from showed three smaller figures standing, lurching oddly from side to side, and dragging themselves towards her. The thunderclouds had turned the countryside as dark as night. A feeling of dread was making the hairs on Rovana's neck stand up.
Initiative Roll!
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