Chapter Two - The Town of Vallaki

"Glad he has gone, that crazy old druid felt a lot more than he appeared." Rhe young Monk said as he watched the strange being swallowed by mist.

As you turn to leave, something creaks behind you. Where once was a frayed rope at the end of the gallows is now a complete noose, with a dark gray figure hanging on the end. The stench of a freshly-dead corpse hits you, as opposed to the ancient skeletons in the graves. The corpse swings around, and you see the figure's bloated face and lifeless eyes, almost staring a warning at you with its pleading look.
"Ah, that wasn't there before," Tyminski says, his voice sounding a little shaken. "Must have been a trick of the light. On we go." He starts leading his men to the southwest, on the path that says RAVENLOFT/VALLAKI. "Hold, please," Ireena says, and Tyminski stops. "We should visit Tser Pool. The Vistani will have wise counsel for us. I know they are a learned people, and they will entertain guests at their camps."

Tyminski looks wildly at Ireena, like she has just gone mad. "I refuse!" he balks. "I go nowhere near those filthy people!" He punctuates this by spitting in the grass.

"I don't care," Ireena grins. "We stick together, remember? And I am the sister of the Burgomaster of Barovia Village. You do want to keep trading furs at the market?"

Tyminski grumbles. "Why don't you talk to your friends? They'll convince you to see reason, girl." Ireena grumbles herself, finding her hand at her sword hilt, but falls back to your party to hear your opinion. "You foreigners won't know this, but the way I chose faster, anyway. It cuts through the woods, and I am sure that the Vistani will help us with our real mission."

With his only his eyes visible they seem even more intense as the red of his eyes flares, either of fear or anger is hard to say, as he pauses to look over the hanging figure. His finally draws away from the figure, "Who are the Vistani? And why do we need to visit them? Though I am not adverse to a shortened journey."

"Ahem, this is Ireena's journey so we go where she wants to go. Safety in numbers, right? And we will need to camp anyway so why not camp with friendly others?"

She turns to look back at the corpse that suddenly appeared.

"Hm, shouldn't we help bury this man too before we leave?"

Taniwha takes his spear and cuts the rope from which the corpse is hanging, stepping out of the way as it falls. He will then assist it the burial in anyway he can.

"I'll tell you why we shy away from those folk, Tyminski says to Martin. "Same reason a man shies away from a wolf. Those 'wise folk' are always the first to cut your purse or look your horse in the mouth. They are cheats, and any counsel they give us will undoubtedly be a trick. They are in league with the Nightmother and the Devil Strahd."

Ireena scoffs. "Surely you don't believe those old tales."

"Believe them? I've seen them! My friend knew a man who was cursed by a Vistana. Turned his head into a wolf's just for looking at her wrong!"

Ireena simply turns away from Tyminski and regards the party. "Don't believe what these cravens say. The Vistani are a noble people who help travelers through the Mist and away from evil. Tales like the ones Tyminski tells are fed to him by Strahd. The Vistani are his sworn enemies. Even if there is a turncoat in their midst, the honorable ones will protect us from him."

She says the rest loud enough for Tyminski to hear: "Splitting up would give us a chance to rest with the Vistani while our friends take the long road. I am open to it."

"I will not allow my caravan to be riven by such childish whims," Tyminski says finally. "We take the long way, or you can be on your own."

Taniwha knowing where his strengths and weaknesses lie, just stands behind Brother Martin in moral support.

Seeing Taniwha and Shaelyn are keeping an eye on the others, Amalthea makes sure to stand near Ireena in case things get any more heated.

Tyminski grunts and then says, "I suppose the if the girl like Ireena wanted something, she really would risk a good business venture to get it." Ireena scowls at that, but Tyminski continues. "We will accompany you through the Vistani camp, but not longer than we need to rest and resupply. Under no circumstances will my men speak to the Vistani; we don't want to risk their curses."

"Fine by me," Ireena taunts. "The less of you, the better."

Tyminski just laughs. He says to the party, "You have quite the taste in friends. Now, let us be onward before another less friendly druid finds us here." As the group files down the path, Tyminski shares a word with Martin: "Ah, priest, I intend to be buried a long time from now in a faraway land. One that's warmer."

---

As you march northwest through the mud and the trees, you come to a place where the forest canopy opens up to black storm clouds boiling high above. The River Ivlis spills reappears from the trees and spills into a small lake, about a hundred yards across. By the edge of the lake are five large, colorful tents of the most fiery reds and oranges. Among the tents are four barrel-topped wagons. For those of you who braved the Death House, these wagons look quite similar to the one that Drina and her brother rode in.

The muddy ground of the clearing is covered in prints from wagon-wheels, boots, and hooves. Indeed, there are a number of horses drinking from the lake, all standing near a large tent that is pitched away from the mirth and frenzy of the firelight. The mournful strains of an accordion clash with drunken, mirthful singing.

As promised, Tyminski and his crew wait on the edge of the clearing. "Find us when you conduct your business," Tyminski puts simply.