Jerôme Dubois

Stanimir - "Vorleser" in der dunklen Taverne

Volk: Vistani

Mächtiger Magie kam vor 1 Jahr in das Land. Er wollte das Volk gegen den Strahd aufwiegeln.

Es kam zu einer Schlacht zwischen dem Vampir und dem Magier. Strahd kam über ihn, und ließ ihn 300 Meter in den Fluss Ilvis fallen, wo er jedoch nicht aufgefunden wurde.

Madame Eva - Oberhaupt

Stanimir fills his mouth with wine, then spits into the fire. The flames turn from orange to green. As they dance and sway, a dark shape appears in the bonfire’s core.

“We come from an ancient land whose name is long forgotten—a land of kings. Our enemies forced us from our homes, and now we wander the lost roads.”

The dark shape in the fire takes the form of a man being knocked from his horse, a spear piercing his side.

Stanimir continues. “One night, a wounded soldier staggered into our camp and collapsed. We nursed his terrible injury and quenched his thirst with wine. He survived. When we asked him who he was, he wouldn’t say. All he wanted was to return home, but we were deep in the land of his enemies. We took him as one of our own and followed him back toward his homeland. His enemies hunted him. They said he was a prince, yet we didn’t give him up, even when their assassins fell upon us like wolves.”

Deep in the bonfire, you see the dark figure standing with sword drawn, fighting off a host of shadowy shapes. “This man of royal blood fought to protect us, as we protected him. We bore him safely to his home, and he thanked us. He said, ‘I owe you my life. Stay as long as you wish, leave when you choose, and know that you will always be safe here.’”

The figure in the dancing fire vanquishes its final foe, then disperses in a cloud of smoke and embers.

Stanimir’s face becomes a somber mask. “A curse has befallen our noble prince, turning him into a tyrant. We alone have the power to leave his domain. We’ve traveled far and wide to find heroes such as yourselves to end our dread lord’s curse and put his troubled soul to rest. Our leader, Madame Eva, knows all. Will you return to Barovia with us and speak with her?”

"A mighty wizard came to this land over a year ago. I remember him like it was yesterday. He stood exactly where you're standing. A very charismatic man, he was. He thought he could rally the people of Barovia against the devil Strahd. He stirred them with thoughts of revolt and bore them to the castle en masse.

"When the vampire appeared, the wizard's peasant army fled in terror. A few stood their ground and were never seen again.

"The wizard and the vampire cast spells at each other. Their battle flew from the courtyards of Ravenloft to a precipice overlooking the falls. I saw the battle with my own eyes. Thunder shook the mountainside, and great rocks tumbled down upon the wizard, yet by his magic he survived. Lightning from the heavens struck the wizard, and again he stood his ground. But when the devil Strahd fell upon him, the wizard's magic couldn't save him. I saw him thrown a thousand feet to his death. I climbed down to the river to search for the wizard's body, to see if, you know, he had anything of value, but the River Ivlis had already spirited him away."

1: Ich sehe einen gesichtslosen Gott. Er wartet auf euch am Ende einer langen Straße, die sich weit in den Berg windet.

2: Ich sehe eine kniende Frau - eine Rose von großer Schönheit, die weit vor ihrer Zeit gepflückt wurde. Der Herr der Marschen weiß, von wem ich spreche

3: Ich sehe eine einsame Mühle an einem Abgrund. Darin liegt der Schatz

4: Eine Vistana durchwandert dieses Land alleine auf der Suche nach ihrem Meister. Sie bleibt nie lange an einem Ort. Sucht sie bei der Abtei von Sankt Markovia.

5: Tief im Dunkeln lauert er, an jenem Ort, an den er zurückkehren muss.