With a half-starved vampire spawn in tow, it was decided that while discretion was the better part of valor, getting the hell out of town fast was probably the wiser thing to do. Ireena, Ragnar, and Roderick rode in the wagon while Doru and I led the horse down the winding dirt path. We made surprisingly good time for being so late in the day. It probably helped that Roderick's horse was familiar with the journey across the Ivlis River and through the Svalich Woods to the Tser Pool.

Along the way, surprisingly, nothing came from the forest to attack us. Perhaps the presence of one of the undead among our number kept the lesser horrors of the woods in their place? We did find a suspicious bundle of clothes tucked in the bushes off the path. There was a large, black feather in them, which Ragnar inspected and believed to belong to a wereraven. I must admit, this is new to me. I'm familiar with the concept of "werewolves", having heard tale of these in the past, although I have never come across one myself. When we get to the Vistani camp, perhaps one of the elders will be able to share stories of these creatures with us?

The only other thing of interest that we came upon in our travels was a jar, apparently fallen from a cart of some passerby, filled with pickled ghoul tongues. Mire thought that perhaps it could be used as a spell ingredient, and witches are known to be somewhat prevalent in Barovia. We've tucked the wayward tongues in our things and will give them to the Vistani. Perhaps they can trade them to someone in the future for something.

As we left Barovia behind us, a sense of excitement seemed to come over Doru, and I'm very happy for him. The man hasn't seen the sky or felt a breeze on his face in nearly a year. If he were to remain traveling with us rather than heading immediately to Castle Ravenloft, I believe he might enjoying the opportunity to learn more about his new abilities, none of which he has ever had the opportunity to explore before. For example, from my albeit limited studies of the undead, I know that he could, if he wished, transform himself into a creature of the night. He might enjoy scouting the roads ahead as a wolf with Finrar, nose to the ground or wind searching for scents undetectable to a human nose.

The sun was setting as we arrived at the Vistani camp. Ragnar made an immediate beeline for the camp's horses along the riverbank along with Finrar to hold a Druish conversation while the rest of us went to the campfire to greet the members of Roderick's tasque. After swapping a few stories, we asked the Vistani about Doru's situation, considering the odd situation with his transformation. This was met with whispers and snickers, but no real explanation. We were directed instead into Madam Eva's tent.

Leaving Finrar with the horses, Ragnar joined us within the tent, and Madam Eva beckoned us over to join her at a small table within her tent. She greeted us, saying she had been waiting for us; her gift of Sight spoke to her of things to come.

To me, she said that she saw my change of purpose since arriving in Barovia being a beneficial one.

To Ragnar, she advised maintaining his current path without backsliding into his old ways.

To Mire, she said that her Sight showed many exciting new discoveries ahead as Mire had only begun to discover her true potential.

To Ireena, she remarked that it was wise to travel with company, as she would not have made it through the wilderness unscathed if she had been alone.

To Doru, she told him that he had made a mistake and not to go to the castle, at least for now.

That said, Madam Eva took out a deck of cards, beautifully gilded with swirling silver, which she laid out on the table in front of her in a simple spread. As she laid out the cards, she informed us that her reading would help guide us in our travels through Barovia. She began by holding her hands over the cards a moment, her eyes closed in concentration, then said that there were several objects that would help us to achieve our goals, and possibly even people who might be able to aid us along the way.

Turning over the first card, she said this was the Conjurer. This card speaks of an ancient treasure in a dead village drowned by a river, but warns that there is a great evil there as well.

The second card was turned, which she considered a moment before stating simply that "The Innocent: the devil's bride is the one you seek." She could not elaborate more.

The third card revealed the Avenger. Madam Eva stated that there was an object that could help us in the house of a dragon "in hands once clean, now corrupted."

The Traitor was the fourth card she turned over in the spread before her. She said that a wealthy woman keeps a treasure under lock and key, along with the bones of an ancient enemy.

The final card was the Mists. Madam Eva said that this meant there was somewhere important that we were supposed to go in our journey, but the location was obscured. She could not see where that place was, but she did say that we could return to her after allowing her to rest, and she would try to focus her Sight again for more information.