The Eye of Anubis: Book Two

[Rock of the Fraternity]

Lia briefly rubs her stinging hand, then rises. "Clearly," she mutters to Andre and Kuzan, "mister bard overstated the Barovian spirit of generosity, if he is anything to go by." Shrugging, she makes her way back to Elena.
"Lead on, please," she whispers to the girl. "I have no desire to remain in this place right now."

[yalenusveler]

Andre looked around after the pride of Barovia left, and muttered in High Mordentish. "Someone who can speak Balok and has a smooth tounge better go out there before those gents decide to gang up on Poor miss Allikhain" His voice dripping sarcasm "After all, a lynching so soon would put such a damper on things. We aren't even to Pharazia yet." He paused a moment, then spoke again "That is, IF anyone wants to help her.. I'm of half a mind to help them."

[Nathan of the FoS]

Seeing the dazed Stefan carried from the room, Charles is reminded of nothing so much as a marionette with its strings cut. Looking back at Dimitry as he gives his farewell, a sudden intense suspicion coalesces in his mind.

"It's not natural," he mutters. For a moment he considers confronting the bard, but the moment passes--and it is would be an extremely dangerous accusation to bring in front of a group which would, by nature, be inclined to take the part of a native son--and an extremely eloquent orator.

Turning to Carter and Maleagant, he gestures them over and says, "Gentlemen, I think we must expect further trouble. It seems very likely to me that my unfortunate would-be assailant was being influenced by the entertainer. I think we need to do whatever lies in our power to neutralize the bard's influence against us, and to find out what he has against us. It might be only that we're foreigners, but it might not."

[yalenusveler]

OOC:Post struck from the record due to informational confusion. Do disregard, there is no salad bar here, Fnord, and all that good stuff.

[Nathan of the FoS]

Andre looked around after the pride of Barovia left, and muttered in High Mordentish. "Someone who can speak Balok and has a smooth tounge better go out there before those gents decide to gang up on Poor miss Allikhain" His voice dripping sarcasm "After all, a lynching so soon would put such a damper on things. We aren't even to Pharazia yet." He paused a moment, then spoke again "That is, IF anyone wants to help her.. I'm of half a mind to help them."

Overhearing the end of this remark, Charles sighs. "Well, since she was trying to help me..." He finishes the thought with an eloquent shrug. "Your pardon, gentlemen. I will return directly."

So saying, he walks outside, to where the monk stands in the rain. "Your pardon, m'selle, for the harsh words," he says. "It was necessary that we put on a good show. Next time, perhaps, you can leave the diplomatic negotiations to me? I'll speak softly, you can carry the big stick; but wait for my signal before you strike!"

[DocBeard]

"....gosh."

Inwardly, Tomas is raging at the idea that he doesn't know the language. At least he could /help/, then. As it is, he's standing there, gap mouthed and quickly realizing that the room is less and less pleased to have them here.

"Random fluxuations in a mathematically unsound universe." Tomas mutters, the closest thing a Lamordian can get to blashpheming, rubbing his head and turning to look at Karl. "We didn't mean for any of this to happen." Tomas says sincerely, "We ran into some trouble early into the trip, Herr Karl, and I am afraid we have been, how you say, waiting for the other shoe to be dropping?" Eisenwald leans on the bar, meeting Karl's gaze with his own soleful, blue eyes, which almost seem to...spark, with some kind of repressed energy that fills the man's body with an almost palpable aura of kindness and decency. "But you can see, my friends would not dream of allowing perminant harm to the gentleman. I will go and talk with our overzealous guard, we will retire as quickly as we can manage, and be out of everyone's hair as soon as we can tomorrow."

"If there's anything else we can do to make up for the trouble we caused, Herr Karl, please let me know." Tomas gently grasps Karl's hands, his eyes shimmering with ernest remourse, "I know our ways are strange, but one thing I have always heard from my father, who used to travel here when he was younger, is that a Barovian appreciates an honest day's work. Well, sir, so does a Lamordian. If Mister Stefan wishes, I personally voulinteer to stay behind for a day or two to help him, or you, with the chores in order to make up for the harm that was almost done. I can catch up with the others easily enough after, Herr Karl, and none of us would feel right leaving a wrong unrighted."

(Diplomacy: 18 + 8 - 3 = 23. I dunno what his alignment is, but I get another +3 if he's good...and lose 3 if he's evil.)

[steveflam]

Overhearing the end of this remark, Charles sighs. "Well, since she was trying to help me..." He finishes the thought with an eloquent shrug and walks outside, to where the monk stands in the rain. "Your pardon, m'selle, for the harsh words," he says. "It was necessary that we put on a good show. Next time, perhaps, you can leave the diplomatic negotiations to me? I'll speak softly, you can carry the big stick; but wait for my signal before you strike!"

Allikhain actually smiles at Charles. "I understand. I'll be more prudent next time. Perhaps I'll only give the next one a bump, hmmm?" She smirks at that comment. "They do say the pen is mightier than the sword, I presume the same can be said for words as well. Just be warned. I take my work here very seriosuly. And I don't care what anyone says or thinks."

"I don't take lightly to prejudice or simple mindedness though we are foreigners. Where I'm from it is hardly a problem. The problem here is people in these lands are so set in their ways, so it becomes rather moot. I should come in later when everyone's spirits have died down. If it's locked, tell Ulsaon to leave the window open" she winks.

[NeoTiamat]

Karl's Folly
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"It is well young man." Karl sighs, looking at the setting sun outside. "Ayesh! Go and tell your friends to return!"

"It is dusk! The Folly of Karl is not so great as to remain open at night. To your homes, good friends!" Slowly, the crowd filtered to their homes. Some cast sorrowful looks on the Expedition, some understanding ones, but no one said a word.

"I shall send dinner to your rooms." No sign of the cheerful rowdiness the ursine Barovian had shown before. "Good evening."

And Karl headed to the kitchens to prepare the rest of the food.

[OOC: Alright, wrap up with the inn, I shall be advancing the scene when I wake up tomorrow morning.]

[Nathan of the FoS]

"I don't take lightly to prejudice or simple mindedness though we are foreigners. Where I'm from it is hardly a problem. The problem here is people in these lands are so set in their ways, so it becomes rather moot. I should come in later when everyone's spirits have died down. If it's locked, tell Ulsaon to leave the window open" she winks.

Charles is about to speak when the innkeeper's last call floats out on the evening air. "I think it will not be a difficulty," he says. "No-one will be staying the night but us, and the bard...I wonder who this bard is, anyway. We should find out. One can never be too careful, no?"

As the two make their way back toward the inn, Charles says, "And it is not well to come in at night and unannounced. The Barovians have a deathly fear of anything that walks the night, be it vampire, werewolf...or a foreign monk who takes her job seriously." His grin fades as he ooks up at the gray sky as they step inside, and he finishes, "If I lived here I might feel the same way."

[yalenusveler]

Andre retrieved his book from where he had been sitting, and began to prep to head up to where he would be spending the evening. He did however, speak before disappearing upstairs "Just so you're all aware, that sort of l behavior will get us all killed or worse in Phiraz. She should either get a STERN talking to, or removed from the expedition, for everyone involved's safety." The young scholar then headed up to his room to retire for the evening, muttering something about likley ending up with Devereux.

[steveflam]

Allikhain folllowed Charles in and returned to her same spaot as before, ignoring everyone.

[Kaitou Kage]

Kuzan snorted at both Lia and Andre, and wiped his hands off on a towel. He felt very much the same as Andre, more of a mind to help the Barovians deal with the imbecilic woman rather than give her any aid. With her jumping the gun every chance she got, they'd be lucky to reach their destination alive.

"I wonder if the bard is connected to the cult that attacked us in Dementlieu," he muttered to his nearby companions, "He came in and, unprovoked, tried to start a fuss. Seems like more than just Barovian isolation to me to pick a fight with such a large group."

He trailed off and sighed, turning to Dieter.

"Shall we?" he asked the young mercenary.

[DocBeard]

"Ganging up on her won't do anything." Tomas murmurs, "Let Charles try to make her see reason before anything else, ja? One person can often make social strides that many cannot."

Still, the innkeeper's subtle hint was taken. Tomas rubbed the bridge of his nose, mentally thankful that the poor man wasn't killed, and headed towards his room...

[lostboy]

khalil has watched the events unfold with a slight hint of suprise. I did not think even that one would be so bold, he muses watching Allikhain return to the inn.

She was quick and effective, I'll give her that, headstrong and foolish but still effective. However I wonder whether that will be a help or a hinderance on this journey, we travel more dangerous lands than these. Perhaps she needs to learn when violence is useful and when it should be held back... He thinks staring at her. Seeing her catch his eye he smiles lightly in her direction.

At the Innkeepers suggestion, Khalil turns back to Fassahd [Akiri] "Well shall we my friend? Considering the feelings of many towards those different from them, perhaps we should share a room together... for safety." he says with a grin.

Standing he looks around the group. "Goodnight gentleman and Ladies, may the winds bear propitious dreams to you all." With that he carefully collects his saddlebags and pack, and whistles a low tune. Karsh flys down from his perch on the rafter to the desert guides shoulder and then Khalil heads towards the rooms looking back at Fassahd before exiting the main hall.

[NeoTiamat]

Karl's Folly
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"What a day..." Samael rubbed his temples quietly as he ascended the stairway. "Anyone care to place wagers on what point we all die horrible, brutal deaths? I'm thinking by Sebua myself. Assuming we don't all get murdered in our beds..."

"And Miss Allikhain? If you get us all killed, it will reflect poorly on your duty as a guard." The Borcan smiled cheerlessly. "Consider that."

And with those words, the Expedition dispersed to their rooms.

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Karl's Folly
April 25th, 761
Ravnika, Barovia
Day 39 of the Menetnashte Expedition

Despite Samael's gloomy predictions, and the rain which fell all night, the morning seemed to come almost pleasantly. The rain had finally stopped, at least for a little bit, and though the grey sky was cheerless, at least it was no longer attempting to drown you.

Karl had returned, partially, to his prior rambunctious self, hollering good-naturedly at the Expedition and chiseling Samael for every last copper. Breakfast was particieni, which could be best described as grilled sausages, which Karl served with a slightly sour vegetable soup and the ubiquitous weak beer of Barovia. Benoit fed Loup a few of the grilled sausages, which the dog ate cheerfully, though the Alsatian still sneezed every so often, possibly down with a cold.

It was as you were finishing up breakfast that the Expedition first heard the sounds coming towards the inn. Distant shouts disturbed the morning calm.

"Those are not the sounds of happy people." Fassahd cocked his head to listen, his ears sharp. The rest of the Expedition listened carefully. More shouts, and many of them.

"Now what can the rabble be upset about at this early hour?" Prof. Sebastian Marchand-Renier put down his fork and knife and stood, wiping his mouth carefully with a napkin before going to a window. "I'm afraid curiosity is getting the better of me."

"Come here. Now!" Marchand-Renier's voice brooked no discussion of this peremptory order. Soon, the entire Menetnashte Expedition was gathered at the windows.

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What you saw chilled you to the bone. Half of Ravnika must have been coming down the main dirt street towards Karl's Folly. Men mostly, rough-hewn Barovians with sheepskin vests and leather coats, tramped toward the inn consumed with a burning rage. Some had nothing but their fists with them, while others brought weapons, farming implements like scythes or hand-axes, or even some few old swords. Others still, enterprisingly, brought lit torches.

"Show the foreign dogs!" One middle-aged farmer cried. A woman with a wild hair and a butcher's knife a foot long shrieked, "Kill them all!"

"Teach them a lesson!"
"Justice!"
"For Strahd!"
"For Stefan!"
"Justice!"

Before this raging sea of humanity strode Dimitry Koroviev, the Bard of Barovia, in vest and tartan sash, a general of righteousness and rage. He bore a naked blade in his hand, and held it well.

Dimitry's voice whispered through the crowd, inflaming it and leading it, a soft, quiet voice that somehow pierced its way through the crowd's yells and into the mob's soul.

"They have lied to us for too long... Vengeance they wish? Well vengeance they shall have!...For Stefan, Justice!... Justice, ye good sons and daughters of Barov, Justice!!..."

"Justice!" The mob roared.

And roaring, advanced on the inn.

[OOC: +4 Outcast Rating, for reasons you shall soon learn; Current Outcast Rating: 7]

[OOC: I would like a Listen check from everyone, with a -10 penalty. Also, anyone who was out and about at night (shouldn't be anyone, but if there was you better explain) should make a spot and listen check in addition to the above.]