Cursed To Be Vistani

Who's the Vampire Lord

She had beautiful raven features, though most of it was hidden by the black soot covering her from the fire. Dark raven black hair that almost shimmered with the light, and pointed elvish ears, although they were smaller than most. She was slight and shorter than him, but strong looking. Almost unmoving, and she had an aura of authority, almost demanding obedience. Her clothes were kind of in between the two extremes of this village. Not plain but not very bright. Dark tight pants and a dark maroon shirt underneath an animal fur drape. She had a sword on her hip and a bow and arrow's on her back. As well as a few dagger hidden in her clothing. She nodded toward Steffon "you mean protecting the people from a single man who just lost his lively hood?" She sounded unconvinced

"... " the guard turned and told the ppl in the crowd to move along and not clog up the road. Choosing to ignore her

Steffon sighed

Elvira seemed a little annoyed but chose to leave it alone and turned to Steffon "do you know if everyone got out?"

"Yes they did, I counted." He looked at her and gave her a small nod of thanks. He turned and walked back toward his smoldering tavern and sat down by his friend with the bucket and watched it waiting for it to be cool enough to search through to find anything to scavenge.

Elvira frowned and massaged her jaw. This didn't seem good. She wandered slowly back to the boy.

The vistana boy calmed down seeing no fights broke out and it was resolved peacefully. "Were u going to stay at that tavern tonight? " he wondered if she had a place to rest tonight. He seemed to trust her a bit more. Although his often thoughtless actions could be mistaken for trust.

She nodded "Yeah."

"If u can't find somewhere else to sleep I'll offer u space in my home." He was greaful she'd stepped in and was trying to repay her.

She smiled. "Thanks. I'm Elvira." she held out a hand to shake his

"Leran Kovachi" he shook her hand

(Art is mine here)

"Nice to meet you." She let go of his hand and glanced around. "What's with everyone here?"

How long have u been in this village? " he started walking aimlessly with her

"Just a couple hours. I arrived this morning." She answered

Do u know much about Barvoia? " Leran asked

She shook her head. "Only the usual mystery behind it."

He tapped his chin thoughtfully "and what do outsiders think the usual mystery is? " He seemed amused.

"Weird magic, strange people. Some theories about the people actual being ghosts of the dead that have been around since when the barriers first came up." She rolled her eyes, showing how ridiculous she thought that was.

He laughed. "Um, well some barvoians don't have souls. But they're not ghosts. " he shook his head. "There was a Great prince who came here centries ago and named this land Barvoia after his father who'd died. So that's how out village got it's name. And that prince brought artists and wizards to the land and had them create a beautiful castle. He name it Ravenloft after his mother Raveina... Or something." He couldn't really remember her name. "And he became the Lord of the kingdom. His name was Strahd. Strahd died centries ago yet endured as an undead. Until adventures came recently.. A few years back and vanquished him. "

She nodded "and he was the one who trapped this kingdom right?"

"Um, no I don't think so. I'm pretty sure he was cursed and the land was cursed along with him. The barvoians refer to him as 'Devil Strahd' but that's way out of line "

"How was he cursed?"

Um, i dont know. I wasn't alive. That all happened a really long time ago."

She sighed, clearly dissapointed. "There are no legends about it?"

Hey can you read? " He asked randomly

"Um yes. Why?"

Well, the castle is in ruins now, but there's a huge library but I can't read. I've always wondered what the books are about"

Elvira's expression brightened somewhat. "How far is the castle?"

Well, we're sorta walking there rn" they'd been so engaged in conversation they'd left the market and we're down a worn trail up a hill. The grass was dark green growing wildly all around and there were large grey bolders randomly scattered around the landscape they were traveling on

Elvira looked around. "Oh."

I love going to the castle. It's not the same... Since Lord Strahd is gone. It used to be much prettier and majestic. Now it's sorta... Hallow and sad, but still it's quite impressive! The castle, Ravenloft "

Elvira smiled at his enthusiasm.

It was strange the barvoians refered to Strahd as a devil but Leron didn't share that opinion of him at all.

Elvira studied him. "So what else do you know about Strahd?"

Um, well the Vistani served Strahd. And I don't really understand all this talk of a barrier. We could leave at any time. My clan and I used to always travel through the fog. "

"The fog?" She asked

"Barvoians make such a big fuss about it... Oh u called it the barrier. It was a fog. But it's gone now. It's also much more sunny since the adventures came. Um but u asked about Strahd. Well I know he took many lovers or um consorts. But he's only ever had one true love. A Barvoian peaseant girl named Tatyana. "

"What happened?"

She... " he frownes trying hard to remember "she dies... I think she's killed. And Strahd seems vulnerable after witnessing her death. His own guards turn on him, this is when he's freashly conqured Barvoia"

"Is that how he dies and became an undead?"

"because he's a powerful wizard he'd done something so he wouldn't totally die. Yeah" he nodded his head to her. Least that's what Leron thought "but something happened and he gots cursed at that point and it cursed the land too... I think"

"Wait but your saying there was never a barrier, but thats what EVERYONE says. That no one could go in or out. It was separate to the rest of the world."

"Well no, there was fog. And the barvoians refused to go through it but us Vistani went through all the time and sometimes we'd bring travelers into Barvoia. If they interested Strahd then they'd have dinner with him. You couldn't enter the castle unless invited. I forget why but Strahd has favored the Vistani ppl. You could ask one of the elders if u choose to sleep at my home tonight.

"Elders?" She asked

Yeah in my clan." Leron said

She nodded. "Ok.'

They know much more than I do" They arrived at the ruins of the castle Ravenloft. They were impressive. Although old and overgrown with moss the castle still stood. Could probably do for a good dusting... If these were the ruins of the castle one could only imagine what it looked like back in it's hey day. The dark stone still held it together and old withered and worn banners showing a raven mascot hung. Gently swaying in the wind.