The party woke from their uneasy rest, the tension from the previous day still lingering in the air. With their gear packed and resolve steeled, they began their journey toward the ominous town of Barovia. The road was quiet, save for the occasional howl of wolves in the distance. The air was damp, the mist clinging to their skin as they trudged forward. The eerie silence was broken when [[Ellette|Ellette]] spotted what looked like a child standing on a dilapidated bridge up ahead. “Wait, is that a kid?” she whispered, her heart racing. Without waiting for the others, she sprinted toward the figure. As she approached, the child vanished, leaving behind nothing but a dark pool of blood at the center of the bridge. [[Ellette|Ellette]] froze, staring at the crimson stain. The rest of the party caught up, their expressions grim. “It wasn’t real,” [[Qwimby|Qwimby]] said, placing a hand on her shoulder. [[Ellette|Ellette]] shook her head, her voice trembling. “It felt real.” “This place messes with your mind,” [[Zara Blackwood|Zara]] said softly, giving [[Ellette|Ellette]] a comforting pat. “We need to keep moving.” Soon, the party reached a fork in the road. To the right, the path twisted through dense, foreboding trees that seemed to sway with unseen movement. To the left, the trail opened into a gentler clearing, its soft glow appearing less threatening. “Left looks safer,” [[Karrut Styk|Karrut]] said, gesturing to the clearing. The party agreed and veered left, arriving at a small campsite near the edge of a serene lake. Several colorful Vistani caravans were parked in a semi-circle around a long-dead campfire. The party spread out, searching for any signs of life. Despite their thorough search, the camp appeared abandoned. The air was thick with an unsettling stillness, as if time had stopped here. [[Qwimby|Qwimby]]’s sharp eyes caught the glint of something inside one of the caravans. He slipped inside and returned with his pockets jingling with stolen gems. “Really?” [[Ellette|Ellette]] asked, raising an eyebrow. “Finders keepers,” [[Qwimby|Qwimby]] replied nonchalantly, giving a sly grin. [[Morgar Goldgard|Morgar]] stood with his arms crossed, looking bored. “This is a waste of time.” [[Karrut Styk|Karrut]], standing near the campfire, struck a match. The flame caught the dry wood and quickly spread to the surrounding caravans. “What are you doing?” [[Zara Blackwood|Zara]] exclaimed, rushing forward. [[Karrut Styk|Karrut]] shrugged. “No one’s here. Why not?” [[Ellette|Ellette]] and [[Zara Blackwood|Zara]] exchanged disapproving looks, shaking their heads. The party turned their attention to the lake. Its surface was unnaturally still, reflecting a pale, ghostly moon. [[Ellette|Ellette]] frowned, glancing upward to find the sky completely shrouded in clouds. “The moon’s reflection is there,” she said, pointing to the water. “But the moon itself isn’t in the sky.” She picked up a small rock and threw it into the lake. The stone sank silently, leaving ripples that quickly vanished. [[Karrut Styk|Karrut]] squinted at the water and noticed movement beneath the surface. “There’s something down there,” he muttered, kneeling at the water’s edge. He reached in and retrieved a glass bottle, a note visible inside. Breaking the seal, he carefully pulled out the parchment. “It’s a map,” [[Karrut Styk|Karrut]] said, studying the crude markings. [[Qwimby|Qwimby]] peered over his shoulder. “Looks more like a child’s drawing,” he said, smirking. “But it might lead to something.” After some deliberation, the party decided to leave the lake and return to the fork in the road. Taking the right path, the party pushed onward through the dense forest. The trail was darker and narrower, the trees closing in on them like silent watchers. The air grew colder as they approached the outskirts of the town of Barovia. The sight before them was bleak. The buildings were crumbling, their wooden frames sagging under the weight of years of decay. A few flickering lanterns provided scant light, casting eerie shadows across the cobblestone streets. The air was heavy with the scent of mildew and rot. “So this is Barovia,” [[Ellette|Ellette]] said, her voice low. “Charming,” [[Qwimby|Qwimby]] muttered, his hand resting on the hilt of his revolver. “Let’s keep our guard up,” [[Zara Blackwood|Zara]] advised, strumming a soft, calming tune on her lute as they entered the desolate town. [[Chapter 70. First Encounter]]