Nocturne

Arvien and Seglun ran to the ship, asking for a ride off of the island.  Captain Timothy tied up the Virago and leaped onto the land eyeing up this strange collection of adventurers(?).    "I'm headed for Karina, I can offer you a ride there, providing you don't mind sleeping on the deck of ashore at nights.  The hold is full."  Immediately Arvien agreed to his offer.

Spying the Vistana and his wagon Captain Timothy grumbled "You are all welcome on the Virago, but not that damned gypsy!  Gypsys are extremely bad luck for ships." 
"But what about the baby," Arvien pleaded.  "No damn gypsy babes either, who knows what evil machinations that little brat could do!"  The heroes insisted that Raul and Nikko be allowed to come with them and Captain Timothy finally allowed that they could ride in the rowboat, being towed behind the Virago.  Grunyar joined Raul and Nikko in the rowboat after Raul gathered up his tools and as many samples of his wares that would fit in the boat.  The Virago is a 50' single-masted river schooner with a lower shallow hold.  Captain Timothy seemed very proficient in sailing the vessel from the tiller.  Raul played his violin as the group heads downriver.
As the bleak waters swirl along the ship, Captain Timothy starts chatting about the Musarde, the river they are on, the towns along its run, Curriculo, Beltis, Valetta, and Tancos all small burgs that he stops and trades at.  Karina, the largest city, is a wild, lively town, especially around Festival season.  "I'll give you a tour of the highlights when we arrive tomorrow."   In between describing Invidia, the name of this land, he inquires about the adventurers, where are they from, what sights have they seen, where did you find that damnable gypsy.  The party's homeland had no meaning to the Captain, but he had heard of the island of Markovia and Mordent.  In fact he trades with merchants in Mordentshire. 
Early in the afternoon, Captain Timothy asks Baru to steer the ship while he goes below to prepare a small snack.   He unlocks the hatch to his cabin and goes below.  The group can hear him bumping around the cabin and the hold as well.  Varrid is suspicious of his motive but has no way to spy on him presently.  Soon the Captain returned to the decks with coffee, bread, and cheese, his breath stinking of drink.  Ralom engaged the Captain, Nathan if you please, in conversation about the trade goods, brandy from Tuefeldorf, and the layout of the land.  Invidia seems to be surrounded by Barovia, Verbrek and Sithicus.  Ralom noticed that every so often Nathan made hand gestures behind his back, aimed at the rowboat.  "What are you signalling?" asked Ralom.  Nathan indicated that the hand gestures ward off the evil eye.  "The gypsy can trap your soul using that evil eye, you must take care."  Ralom asked to be taught some of the gestures and Nathan agreed.  Soon afterward the group saw a hunting party, black horse with rider and dogs on the far shore heading south.  Captain Timothy scarcely gave the hunters a second glance.  Arvien asked about the group, explaining that they had been hailed by the rider when they were on the island, but that he offered no help.  "That is Matton Blanchard, a foppish dandy and a real snob.  I'm not surprised that he didn't offer to help.  I'd steer clear of himn, if I were you." 
Captain Timothy related The Tale of the Captain and the Vistana while whiling away the rest of the afternoon.  As the shadows stared to lengthen, Captain Timothy pulled the Virago close to the shore at a wide bowl shaped spot, stating that it was bad luck to sail on the Musarde after nightfall, when the river trolls and other deep dwellers go hunting.  Queried about the river trolls he indicated that they only attacked creatures on ships.  Nathan dismantled the tiller, stored it in the cabin and pulled out some supplies from the pantry.  Captain Timothy started a campfire, asked Drovic to cut some bread and cheese, while he cooked some spicy sausages from Zeidenburg.  Timothy pulled out a cask of brandy, really just so-so, for all to drink.  Raul, obviously glad to be out of the rowboat, did little but drink, with his weapons and violin by his side.  He refused to play the violin after sunset.  Nikko looks worse at sunset and Ralom applied some healing measures which improved his lot. 
The sun set and the majestic beauty of the chromatic forest seemed more sinister after darkness fell.  The group heard the rustle of branches overhead, screeches of night owls and other nocturnal predators.  The air was redolent with the pungent aroma of fallen leaves and rotting vegetation.
Once he has cleaned up dinner, Nathan gathered his bedroll and left the party to sleep on his own, "I snore terribly." he offered.  Soon the party heard distant snorts and snores.  Varrid, feeling more suspicious, crept off to spy on the good Captain.  She found him in a little grove, snorting away.  The rest of the group set up watches and fell in for the night.  In the dead of the night a chorus of howls shattered the silence.  Grunyar awakened the party at the sound of the howling, Varrid spied upon the Captain but he appeared unaffected.  Out of the shadows a group of wolves charged into the camp with a piercing howl.  A battle was engaged as everyone encountered a wolf or more,  Arvien used Summergale to once again enlarge Baru, Grunyar fired arrows and Varrid headed back to the group from her hiding place.  Ralom blessed the crew just as a larger wolf and a large size wolf on two legs entered the fray.  All fought valiantly, Raul killing off wolf after wolf, magic missiles flew, color spray filled the air, as the battle raged.  Baru felt the bite of the large wolf  but fought back with valor.  The smaller wolves all looked diseased and Arvien worried about lycanthropy.  Magic did seem to damage the large wolf and soon the party had killed off several of the smaller wolves.  Seglun battled the larger scarred wolf and several others,  Drovic was tripped and fell after one attack.  Then all the wolves started to retreat, they fled into the wood, licking their wounds as the party kept an eye peeled for a side attack or at least the Captain joining them.   Ralom started calling on his divine force but the healing seemed limited.  Baru laid hands upon himself to better effect. After the healing was done Varrid crept back to see where the Captain was.  The bedroll was empty and she waited for some time before gathering back with the rest of the crew. 
As the sun rose and Grunyar was trying to determine how to restore the tiller, the group heard a call from the tree tops,  "Thanks for saving me, I apologize for putting you in danger, I've never been attacked by a pack of wolves before.  Of course this is the first time I've traveled with a Vistani," says the Captain.  He looked slightly damaged from bite wounds, and the whole party was unbelieving of his "story" but everyone packed on the Virago for sailing, with Grunyar, Raul and Nikko again in the rowboat. 
As the morning progressed large manor houses started to appear on the bluffs along the Musarde, then extensive vineyards lined the steep slopes of the river,  The neat rows of vines, stripped of their grapes, had been decorated with paper lanterns.  Captain Timothy steered the Virago up the Noisette river to Karina, which as embraced with a 15 foot curtain wall of gray limstone.  Karina was set in a small bowl shaped valley south of a thick, lush forest.  Clouds of wood smoke obscured the sky, casting the city in a gray dusky haze.
Captain Timothy pulled the Virago up to a berth in the expansive dockyards, which were crammed with small passenger boats and river craft, unloading visitors and cargo.  The street was a confusion of uncertain travelers and heavily laden ports, doubled over beneath luggage.  The street was lined with boarding houses, noisy taverns and supply shops.   The harbor master approached Captain Timothy and called out in recognition, that will be 50 sp a day.  Nathan readily paid the fee and asked for porters to unload his brandy. 
As the group was discussing where to find a gypsy camp, Captain Timothy drew them a rough map of Karina, and recommended that they join him at the Dog Fights in the Falkovnain Quarter, the high point of the Festival.  "I will be at the Black Swan, a pub on the corner of East Front and Tower street at midnight, then we can to to the Fights."
AS the party started moving toward Front Street, the harbormaster said, "I'd stay away from West Karina if I were you, especially after dark when the Slasher prowls the neighborhoods.  East Karina, the Commons and the Garden District are the main attractions of the Carnival.
"LOOK OUT!!" a man shouted above the frenzied whinnying of panicked horses.  An ale cart, laden with heavy wooden casks, teetered precariously as the bay draft horses reared back, ears folded in terror.  As the driver worked furiously to control the two horses, one of the casks rolled off the back of the cart onto a pair of children playing by the street.  With a scream one boy disappeared beneath the cask with a sickening crunch, while his playmate stared at the cart, paralyzed with terror.
Seglun raced to the horses, talking to them trying to calm their fears.  Ralom and Baru flew to the children just as the rope broke holding the casks.  A dozen casks rolled off the cart onto the street inflicting minimal damage to Baru and Ralom as they shielded the children.  The horses, with a lighter cart, suddenly bolted down the street, knocking the driver off his seat into the back of the cart.
Parents emerged from the crowd, scooped up their children with a hostile glare and a spanking.  The one child appeared to have a broken leg.  The shattered casks spilled wine all over the street as the group peered around.  Ralom noticed townsfolk making strange signs with their left hands, some of which he realized were meant to ward off the evil eye.
Then they noticed a boy in the crowd, nor more than 10 years old, dressed entirely in black velvet with a wide lace collar.  He wore dark leather gloves and pointed slippers.  The boy was simply standing there, regarding the group with a stern, mirthless gaze that stood out starkly against the backdrop of Carnival.  A group of revelers rushed past him, obscuring the boy in black for a second, and then he was gone.

DM's Notes:  The heroes earned 714XP for the night and now have 9214 XP requiring 4786 more to reach 4th level.