Vallaki - Old Svalich Road - Crossroads

[Miuo]

A large and rather bountiful basket would be left near the front door of the orphanage. Seeming to almost over flow with fruits and vegetables, as well as even some milk and almond cookies.

[Juxtaposition]

A gruesome sight welcomes the morning air of the Barovian countryside; that of a man in travelling garb impaled on the roadside in a terribly disrespectful fashion, with a note hammered haphazardly into his forehead...

[Iridni Ren]

A hooded woman could be seen moving with inordinate speed at dusk along the Old Svalich Road, her strangely drawn face a mask of both anger and agony--perhaps even a deadly illness of some unknown and incurable nature.

She left the road to pass into the Sullen Woods, her rapid and methodical yet frequently changing movements indicative of someone desperately searching for something. Most remarkably, two wolves set upon her and she appeared to throttle one of them with her bare hands, the other howling and fleeing in retreat.

Unmindful of the dangers known to inhabit those woods, the woman passed into them and disappeared, although a mournful keening was heard piercing the darkness after nightfall.

[Iridni Ren]

During the night a pale, hooded woman arrived at the barred Vistani encampment near Raduta Keep and asked several times to be let in, but to no avail. Her pleading was angry and guttural and made snarling references about a baby.

In the morning, the gate looks as though enormous pressure has been applied in an attempt to quietly breach it.

Likewise, the locked door of the close-by Orphanage has been battered, its hinges evidencing strain, the wood both bludgeoned and clawed.

[Iridni Ren]

With the movement of the Vistani encampment at Raduta Farms, the hooded woman also seems to have gone missing from the Crossroads.

Rumor has it that she now wanders the shores of Lake Zarovich, peering into its murky deeps, her mien a mask of constant and unquenchable wrath.

[PlatointheCave]

In the dead of night a pair of short figures run at pace away from a mob of armed humans. One of the figures carries a severed head aloft as they run and the pair can be heard alternating between laughter and insults hurled over their shoulders.

They cross the Luna and disappear into the night, leaving the mob of humans far behind them.

[Freydaelyn]

In the evening across from the orphanage candle lights are set up. As a hooded figure begins to speak three others arrive before whatever was going to happen could get under way the hooded figure was driven off...

[Calad]

A gypsy looking woman, during the early hours of today, strolled to the hill on the opposite side of the Orphanage. She didn't climb it however, and instead leaned before it, taking out a bag and dumping all the gorey contents out on the floor.

Three baby spiders, bigger than a man's hand, dead, crushed and dissected. Colour red. And two more, with the eggs they were supposed to hatch from still surrounding them, mashed.

A parchment was left on the ground, as well.

A present for you, spider. Knew you'd want to see them again.

Spoiler: show

[Famous Seamus]

In the hours just before dawn, a quartet of individuals approach from the east and stop, facing a field of twisted mists on the western side of the river. They tentatively pick their way through the clouds, strike down a small abomination, and come upon a grisly sacrificial scene at the crossroads. As they discuss, one of the company sprinkles holy water around the site, kneels to pray in a foreign tongue, and finishes with a cascade of positive energy.

After a few more moments of discussion, the four turn eastward and cross the bridge, heading in the direction of the city.

[ardenchasemoradin]

At the crossing of the River Luna into the Wachter Province and at the boulder marking the beginning of the road leading to Zeidenberg a cordon sanitaire appears. The signs denote that the lands from the Luna to the boulder and north and west to the von Zeklos Outpost are leased to the Church of Ezra. The signs include a plea that war not be brought to these lands. Additionally, a palisade is seen to be erected at the pass to the Raduta farms in the crossroads a sign there denotes the passage into the Wachter Province and the farms held by the Church.

[Forte]

The signs placed upon the Wachter border, alongside its high walls of wood built upon the entrance to the border, are seemingly burnt to a crisp and left to be scorched upon the dirty earth- Whomever had seen the sight was less than pleased, and if the sign on Berez's side being destroyed meant anything, the symbol of annoyance was less than appreciated by another party.

[ardenchasemoradin]

The burned timber is pulled away and in short order the cordon sanitaire is in place again. The signs denote that the Church of Ezra wishes the lands it leases to be left intact and for war to not come to them. Additionally, those who pass in good faith are assured the protection of the Church.

[mooner]

In the dead of night, a few bloodied notices are posted around the signs accompanying the cordon sanitaire. It is quite clear that the penmanship of these notes differs greatly from the existing notices on the signs.

 A few severed heads of various were-creatures and the odd pile of bones are scattered among the road leading toward Raduta Keep.

[ardenchasemoradin]

The odd posts are removed, and a watch post is established at the crossroads with a small camp near the border.

[Malvado]

The following parchment is pinned at the crossroads

A board with historical and recent papers from the Trusty Ox Inn, in Berez.

THE TRUSTY OX INN

CELEBRATES


THE LIBERATION OF GUNDARAK
ALL FRIENDS OF GUNDARAK ARE INVITED

ALL MERCHANTS ARE INVITED TO PEDDLE THEIR WARES WITHIN BEREZ, SAFE HEAVEN WILL BE GUARANTEED - NO TAXES

DONATIONS FOR THE TAKE OF TEUFELDORF ARE WELCOME, PART OF THE INCOME WILL BE INVESTED IN THE COMMUNITY OF BEREZ

Come meet the heroes who squashed the Tyrants!

Saturday
Gundarak, Berez, Trusty Ox Inn

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[Bereus]

After emerging from Vallaki in the dead of night; Helmite warriors belonging to the Brotherhood of Elturel marched west before setting up camp at the hill overlooking the crossroads.

Spoiler: show

Spoiler: show

[Chadyo]

After emerging from Vallaki in the dead of night; Helmite warriors belonging to the Brotherhood of Elturel marched west before setting up camp at the hill overlooking the crossroads.

Spoiler: show

Spoiler: show

Anyone crossing the bridge, would see the group of Helmites starting to pack up their things. It seems that they will be leaving first thing tomorrow morning at the rate they are packing up.

[Famous Seamus]

In recent nights, a solitary figure has been seen standing at attention atop the hill across the bridge, gaze fixed on the roads and plain before him. A fire sometimes burns behind him, silhouetting him against the night as its smoke slithers upward into the darkened sky.

On occasion, a visitor breaks the solitude and ascends the hill to speak with him. However, each morning, as the light of dawn at last falls over the land, it would find the hill empty save for the scattered ash of the fire.

[Sir Dally]

*Following the events of an unfortunate night and the sounds of combat. The would be memorial to a fallen child covered in gore would be ceremoniously cleaned and blessed by a traveling follower of Ezra.*

[finchy267]

[In the middle of the night a scream rings out before quickly being snuffed out. All that is left is a ritual site and a body.]