A New Barovia: Chapter One

[VAN]

"It's an excellent idea Coin. Sometimes talking to someone with no uniform can be useful."

Turning to Dimitri asks:

"So, did they have anything in common? As any signs, time, place or whom found them?"

[steveflam]

"Besides being women? No. As to who found them, not of importance. Not the same person twice. The time, well it was all morning. If you all are ready, we can head there now."

[Ail]

"Yep, I'm ready. A little fresh air will do me good!"
says Robert.

[steveflam]

Khalfani's room, the night before


As Khalfani is about to settle in, he hears a scratching at his window. A voice enters his mind "The Mistress would have words with you, Master Gnome. Will you allow her to enter? It is me, Rizzin. Have you got any food?"

Khalfani is a little put off by the idea of someone speaking in his head. And a little suspicious of the request.

"I would be happy to speak with her... if she were to make her presence known in person." He begins concentrating on magical auras around him.

He casts detect magic.

The window opens and in comes Delsenora! "Well, earlier you said you wanted to speak with me so here I am. Please pardon Rizzin he means well but is actually my father's and not mine." Magic is detected on Delsenora as well as the pseudodragon which is in fact a magiacl creature.

Khalfani bows his head politely. "Please forgive the suspicion on my part, Delsenora. In Barovia, polite requests from unseen creatures do not often mean good things. I am very pleased to see you again. Please, make yourself comfortable in my humble quarters."


"Very well. Let me get comfortable, Khalfani." The conversation takes place in Gnomish. The pseudo dragon actually hovers above the gnome. The dark elf, Delsenora, keeps the window open and sits on the sill. "What can I help you with? Nothing to do with the odd goings on here in Krezk, but anything else I can try to appease your curiosity."


"Well, yes, my charming lady," says Khalfani courteously, "I would like to know... where do you hail from? I have never seen anyone as wondrous as you before. Odd tales of the 'dark elves' have reached my ears, but the details were few, and even those accounts often offered a less-than-flattering portrayal of your people. How is it that you are here? Clearly, you have earned the respect and affection of those around you.

"Forgive me if I overstep my bounds, but I am extremely curious... an inherent quality of my race, so I hear. I wish to know your story and to know you."


"Well, for the first question, where am I from? Not these lands, originally. I am from another land. I, lived many years in a city called Berdusk until I moved on to Waterdeep, the City of Splendors. Waterdeep is a port as well. In the winter months some one to three hundred thousand people live there. In the warmer months it is inhabited and traveled by more than five hundred thousand people. A very busy metropolis.

How I came to be here? A fog or as some scholars here call it, mist, brought me here to Darkon. Martira Bay to be precise. That was many years ago. I lived there for twenty some odd years before meeting Cornelius the dwarf. I love dwarves, you see. We are married now. He is off in Mordent, doing research. Our children live there with him. We have a boy and a girl. The boy is named Cornelius after his father. The daughter, however, is named after my deceased mother, Shinarra. I have two brothers. Johvad and Kyorlin. I had another but he perished the same day my mother did, his name was Rizzin. Hence my father naming the pseudo dragon after him. Johvahd is a ranger and Kyorlin a monk.

Tell me what you know of the drow. I will tell you what I know afterwards. Now, tell me a little bit about yourself. I don't freely give out information, dear Khalfani. And yes, I have earned the respect and affection of those around me by working hard and knowing how to treat people. Just look at Cornelius the bartender. He isn't the brightest tool in a thieves picks but he is honest and hard working. I like that. All of my employees are hired by me. I have a knack for seeing through peoples facades. I may seem flirtatious or even careless but I am very careful and nothing gets past my scrutiny in this Inn, Khalfani. I have Rizzin and Lupzig to thank for that. So it is your turn now."


Khalfani nods solemnly. "Yes, I had wondered whether the flippant, flirtatious attitude was intended to divert attention away from your insight. As distractions go, it's most effective." He allows himself to smile. "I am honored by your honesty now.

"So... what I know of dark elves... there are tales that they live under the mountains of Arak, or perhaps were allies or slaves of the Unseelie Court in what was the Shadow Rift. The stories that I have heard depict the dark elves as stealthy, deceptive betrayers." A pause. "However, as these stories are often told by less-than-respectable merchants who claim to be the victims of such betrayal, I do not give them much credence. You have welcomed me, placed your trust in me, and shown me kindness. I would spit upon the honor of the Fenimikk clan, my Akiri brethren, and myself if I did not reciprocate, Delsenora. My mind, insights, and talents are yours.

"As for me, I have been in Barovia these long years -- well, longer than intended, certainly -- because I felt..." Another pause. "Excuse me, I have not discussed this with anyone outside my immediate family... I have felt that I lived in Barovia once before. Many years ago... another life. Such things are mocked by many of the 'educated' scholars of the Core lands, but in Har'Akir, the souls of ancestors sometimes roam the land... whether as spirits or in, ah, more solid form, unfortunately. Dreams plagued me in Har'Akir, dreams that told me I had lived in Kresk decades earlier.

"What I have NOT told even my closest relatives is that ... well, in this previous life, I do not believe I was a gnome. So, that is why I am here. To see if sights, sounds, or official records trigger some past memory ... and to try to find out who, and what, I was in that past life, and why I exist now, as Khalfani, the gnome sorcerer of Har'Akir."


Delsenora listens intently to Khalfani, when he is done she stretches a little, cracking her knuckles. "Well what I know of the drow is more from my lands. They worship an evil spider deity called Llolth. Cities are ruled by houses and there is a butt load of intrigue and politics. Yes they are definitely evil. Many will kill their own family members if only to advance in society. Drow society is Matriarchal so women rule. Men are considered the weaker sex.

Fortunately for me I was born on the surface away from Menzoberranzan. That's the underground city Jacob's parents were from. I am not at liberty to talk about his past. As for your past I am not the person who can help you. I think that is something you'll have to do for yourself, Khalfani. And what we speak of stays here in this room. I seem to have forgotten to clean my ears this morning and in fact I know I wan't here in this very room this evening." She winks and sits back down on the sill. The pseudodragon lands comfortably on Khalfani's shoulder. "Have you got any food, Master Khalfani?," it asks the gnome.


"I have some dried figs - they're quite delicious," says Khalfani, opening a small bag near his table. "Please be my guest.

"Good night, Delsenora." He bows politely.


"Good night to you as well, Khalfani," she says. The pseudodragon graciously accepts and moves over to the bag in question. Once it is done, it offers a "Thank you" to Khalfani before flying out he window. Where Delsenora was but a moment before, is now empty.

[steveflam]

Once everyone has eaten then Dmitri heads out with you to the poor part of Krezk and the crime scene. It is an alley and a guard is at each end of the alley, preventing citizens from entering. Dmitri turns to you all. "Deiner body is under a sheet und we haff not yet had a look at the scene if only to assess ze murder. Vassili had tolt me dot dere would be people investigatink de murders now. Please, let you see what has happent."

He turns to the guard there. "Fritz, dese are de new investigators. Dey vill be investigatink now. I go now, but co-operate fully vist dem. Schnell!" He nods to you all and leaves you with Fritz.

The man leads you inside the alley to the sheet and says nothing, returning to his post at the end of the alley.

[VAN]

"Thank you Sergeant"
Says Adam to Dimitri and goes closer to the body but doesn't raise the sheet yet. He gets a good look around first searching clues. Turning to Fritz asks:

"Who found the body? And when?"

[steveflam]

Fritz turns to Adam "I found the body this morning. I was instructed to place a sheet over the deceased and prevent people from entering the alley to disrupt the scene, ma'am."

[VAN]

"Yes you have done very well."

Looking around Adam spots paw prints in blood in the alley. Pointing them he says:

"Check here, after we check the body we need to follow them."

Getting above the body Adam says a small prayer for the woman, gets a deep breath and raises the sheet.

[Ail]

Robert is intrigued by Adam's discoveries.


"Paw? As in, made by an animal, you mean?"


He looks at the paws and tries to understand what kind of creature could have made them. Also, are they very soaked in blood? Do they come from very near the body?

[BigBadQDaddy]

Thomas immediately falls into his role as an investigator, taking his journal and a pen from his bag, and begins scribbling down notes about the crime scene. He carefully makes his way around the scene.

[VAN]

"Yes, paw like from animal."

[Ail]

Robert tries to understand the kind of animal.
Search check: 1d20+2: 21
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3060961/

[steveflam]

The body under the sheet is that of a woman. Well most of it at any rate. The right arm and the head have been torn off. Blood is all around the body. The paw prints are in the blood, but no other prints are visible after that. The appear to be some type of razor sharp teeth marks where the arm was. Where the head was, it looks like claws might have done the dirty deed.

[VAN]

"May you rest in peace."

Says Adam making the sign of the cross over the dead woman's body. Then studies her clothes, if has any trade marks, necklace, rings or anything else that will help him understand her class in society, where she comes from and her age.

[kintire]

Marilee at last awakens and descends the stairs, looking unwell and angry. She sits down at atable and begins breakfast, paying little attention to the activity around her.