Unwelcome Revelations

"We will have to talk to Matton, that bastard," growled Varrid as the group approached Karina.  "Why not just talk to your contact, maybe Scar can give us the information he sold to Matton," added Arvien.  Baru added, "I'd rather deal with a demon than that Matton character."

So the party passed through the gates back into Karina.  Carnival was still in full display as revelers stumbled down the streets.  Immediately they headed to the Laughing Maiden, where they learned that Matton had set out early in the morning.  A quick check with the guards at the northern gate indicated he headed out on the northern road.  No other information was available.  Dispirited the group headed for Black Swan, hoping not to run into Captain Timothy, only one of Scar's men.
Varrid was on the lookout for her contact and with a little work she found him skulking outside Raven's Roost.  She asked if the party could again talk with Scar.  The young cutpurse said he would find if that was possible.  They agreed to meet at 2 bells outside the Black Swan.
"Maybe we should rent some horses," stated Arvien.  Seglun and Grunyar quickly agreed as the journey to wherever would be much easier on the back of a horse.  At 2 bells the young man reappeared and said Scar would meet them now.  So the party headed back to the Maze and the Pale Rose.
The Pale Rose seemed very familiar as it appeared the same "patrons" were present, Scar with his guards sitting at the rear table.  "You can't really want to return to the Dog Fights, can you?" he asked as Varrid sat across from him.  "You are way to recognizable now, and probably Frand won't allow you back in."  Varrid said that the party was merely looking for information, specifically the information that Scar gave to Matton.  "That will cost you 2000 GP!" Scar instantly retorted.  Varrid motioned the group to join her outside the bar, where she related the offer.  Varrid countered with 500 gp while Grunyar said "I won't pay the scoundrel a sou for any information."  Back and forth the group bantered about a reasonable counter offer finally agreeing on 1400 gp, which Grunyar immediately said he wouldn't contribute his 200.  So Arvien paid Grunyar's 200 plus her own and Varrid headed back with the 1400 gp.  She dropped the money bag on the table, "Here is 1400, that is all we can offer."  Scar thought a moment, grabbed the bag and said "Gabrielle is in the Cliff House about 10 miles east along the Curriculo Road.  It also is the old Haptmeyer estate.  Now be on your way before we decide to throw your lot to the dogs!"
The group left in a hurry while Grunyar exclaimed, "You didn't get the right information, we only know Gabrielle is there not the Boy in Black."  Baru maintained that the son of Gabrielle would be there with her since he was a mere 10 year old boy.  Although how was he 10 years old since the Vistani story indicated that he was born merely 3 years ago?  "Now we have to get some horses," said Arvien.
To the local stables they headed and rented 4 horses, broken down nags for the most part, for two days.  Out the northern gates to the Curriculo Road they headed.  Passing outlying farm houses and other estates the party heard children playing and babies crying but no ghostly apparition appeared.  Soon they came upon some overgrown vineyard stretching along the east side of the roadway.  The snarled vines looked like they had produced no grapes for years, mostly good for shelter of birds and small animals.  There were some outbuildings on the way to ruin situated among the vineyard area.  Soon several silver maples appeared along the road way and along an entryway to an estate.  The neon yellow and bright orange leaves were several black birds.  There appeared to be a stables and another outbuilding.  A two story mansion with a steeply peaked roof and large windows was situated at the end of the entryway.  The windows seemed to stare darkly from the facade.  Seeing several black birds circling above the party rode past the entry to a small copse of trees along the vineyards.  Hobbling their horses they decided to sneak forward under the snarled vines and trees.  Varrid and Seglun used branches to cover their movement as the headed for the stables and outbuilding.  Drovic was satisfied standing in the dark of the trees while Baru and Ralom moved under cover forward also.
No windows shown on the outbuilding near the stables as Varrid and Seglun crept toward it.  Around on the south side was a wide carriage door.  Varrid pushed it open so that she and Seglun could enter.  Inside was a new carriage and wagons.  The wagons had canvas covering in a pile atop their beds.  Seglun found nothing under the canvas.  Varrid looked at the carriage, a finely crafted, elegant piece of work.  It was devoid of dust seeming to have been brought here recently.  On their way out the pair could see some horses in the stables also.  Now Seglun moved up to the northern side of the house, where close to a steep cliff to the river, one hundred feet down, she peered through a window next to a chimney and door.  Inside appeared to be a food preparation area, knives, bowl, pots and other kitchen utensils lay strewn across the counters.
As Ralom moved closer among the vines, he stepped on a branch which broke with a loud snap.  The circling birds started cawing and two or three moved toward Ralom.  Varrid and Baru saw three large dire wolves? leave another outbuilding and they started baying as Grunyar fired arrows at the birds.  Arvien sent Summergale on the attack against the giant Ravens, hoping to sear them with burning gaze.  This failed and Summergale was soon under assault, Grunyar kept firing away as Summergale outsped the Ravens.  Suddenly a black velvet clad man of six foot height, appeared outside the front door to the mansion.  He wore a white lace collar, gloves and pointed slippers.  He just appeared to pop into view.  The whole party quit moving, firing or breathing for the most part.  He peered around the sky and the grounds with dark penetrating eyes, his dark black hair blowing in the breeze.  After what seemed an eternity he called out commandingly in an unknown language.  The wolves slunk back the their lair and the Ravens started circling again.  Then he was gone, just as he had appeared.
The party waited for 30 minutes before slinking back to their horses and heading for Karina.
"Dad is still around, I guess, and he can pop in and out at will.  I hope we don't have to run into him," mused Ralom as they rode back to town.  Baru suggested heading back to the Vistani, but Drovic reminded him that the Gypsys were creating the sphere and no non Vistani were allowed during that night.  So the party went back to Karina and the Raven's Roost for the night.
After the party settled in for the evening, Varrid falls into a slumber with the rest of the party against her instincts.
You and your companions stand in a charred field.  The day is blustery, and dusk is fast approaching.  For a moment only the party is there.  Then the wind begins to gain strength, and you and your friends move closer together.
That's when you see the first person.  It' a peasant in a gray cloak.  You don't see the slightest hint of color on this person.  You notice that more peasants have appeared, and you suddenly find yourselves surrounded by a dense crowd.  They seem to be pleading with you, but not one of them utters a sound.  They press closer, reaching for you, seeking your help.
You spot the knight next, rising like a flag of brightness in the sea of gray around you.  It's an ancient dwarf in battered plate mail, sitting atop an aging war pony in similar garb.  He holds out a hand, beseechingly ...
The sailor appears next, stepping forward from between two gray clad peasants.  Water drips from his drenched clothes and hair, and seaweed clings to his body.  When he tries to speak, to ask for help, a great wad of seaweed spill from his open mouth.
The woman catches your eye next.  She wears the same gray cloak as the rest of the peasants, the same gray hood pulled up to protect her from the cutting wind.  The hair that spills from that hood is rich and brown, however, and her hands, reaching toward you, are the color of life and virility.
Finally, you notice a wild eyed man carrying a length of barbed wire.  He, too, seems to want your help.  He holds his hands toward you, showing where the barbs have cut into his flesh.
You form a tighter circle as the crowd presses closer.  "Help us," their eyes seem to say.  "Help us," their outstretched arms implore you.  You awaken with this image in your mind.
As each hero opened their eyes , morning arrived, driving away the darkness for another day.  The group arose and reclaimed their rented horses to head to the Vulpwood again.  Arriving around noon at the Vistani camp they found Eva and Marcella fixing a noonday meal, Vincenzo, Raul and the other men were still sleeping, exhausted from the nights work.  When they arise a lavish meal is eaten. The party related their news, Gabrielle and the boy were at Cliff House, the old Haptmeyer Estate.  Eva sighed and related that the estate had been largely deserted for the past seven years, ever since the deaths of Lord and Lady Haptmeyer.  According to local tales, Lady Haptmeyer found her husband in the arms of a pretty house servant, and during the violent argument that ensued, the noble pair battled on a high balcony, plummeting over the edge to their watery deaths.
Marcella then provided the group with a fist sized iron ball, a sphere of binding, to use against the boy in black.  Ralom reveals that he believes the boys father is still around.  The suggestion of which the Vistani laugh.  Grunyar asks how to use the sphere of binding.  Marcella advises them to hurl the sphere at his feet.  She indicates that the Vistani believe the Dukkar probably was the man the party saw at the house, his unusual growth being part of his legacy.  Raul apologizes for not accompanying the party to the house but he was busy all night helping to forge the sphere, but he will join them in the adventure to Cliff House today.  As the party leaves with Raul, Marcella calls after them: "Return to our camp before midnight, tonight all curses shall be broken."
Off to the Cliff House the group hies, using the same tactics as before, hobbling the horses in the copse of trees, sneaking through the overgrown vineyard to approach the house.  Arvien turns Grunyar invisible so that he can throw the sphere at the Dukkar's feet without being seen?  Baru and Raul volunteer to cause a commotion at the front of the mansion, while Seglun trundles to the northwest corner.  As Baru and Raul expose themselves to the front entryway, crossbow bolts are unleashed from the house. The Ravens begin to squawk as Seglun heads for a side window, smashing it with her sword.

DM's Notes:  The party received 100XP for the night and now have 12500 XP with 1500 additional needed to reach 4th level.