The following conversation occurred the first night in the House of Lament

As the fire came to life, Tobias paced forward and tossed a long black feather into the hearth. Almost instantaneously it was rendered to ash.

“What did you do that for?” Callus asked cautiously, “Omens such as these should not be taken lightly.”

“Well I had discarded it at the crossroads.” the paladin explained, “only to find it in my pack. I’m curious to see if it returns again.”

“Well I did look for the feather when you tossed it and noticed it had disappeared.” Sahani added. “Maybe check and see if it’s back again.”

“I will. Just not yet.” Tobias replied with a yawn. “We should probably set a watch and get some rest.”

“Agreed.” Callus nodded. “But perhaps… Seeing as we’re going to be spending time with one another… I think maybe it would be a good idea to have proper introductions.” 

A wry smile broke from beneath the shadow of his cloak as Xar’aven prompted, “Go on then.”

“So I am called Callus… well…  for as long as I can remember,” The aasimar was seated deep into his chair, swirling his finger in the air above him, “And as I said before, I am no stranger to these mists that have brought us all together, unlike the majority of you, or at least it seems, I have been waiting for this moment for quite… a while,” He took a long pull from his flask, his eyes narrowing at the thought. 

“So you’re no stranger to these lands.” The warlock commented. “Great. How does that help us?”

The aasimar smiled to himself, before continuing.  “I have guided many guests of the mists found lost in our woods, but never of the type, or,” he points around with the hand holding his flask to the group, “in the numbers you all have arrived together. This tells me only one thing.”

Tobias looked over, waiting for an answer from the apparent woodsman, who seemed distracted by the flames of the fire. “Praytell, what would this ‘thing’ be?”

“A reckoning…” Callus answered as he looked over to the paladin with a smirk. He pulled himself off the chair and grabbed his bow. “…a reckoning is at hand. And either we are the ones that shall deal with it or we are the ones that shall be dealt with.”

Callus adjusted his rapier and hand axes before patting Tobias on the shoulder as he headed to the door.

“Welcome to Barovia, I’ll take the first watch.”

Renvarin banged his head back against the cushion of the high back chair in frustration. “We’re not in Barovia!” He called after the ranger, watching as he stepped out onto the porch and into the inclement weather. “Twit.” He shook his head in annoyance.

“Not much of an introduction if you ask me. I mean other than a name…” The cloaked man shrugged. “I take it you’re from these parts as well?” The warlock asked, nodding toward the smartly dressed rogue.

“This place? No.” The elf shook his head. “But I can tell you for certain that this isn’t Barovia. The trees, the landscape… The feeling is just wrong. I hail from Kartakass, and no, we’re not there, either. In fact, I’m not certain where we are. The mists… sometimes they move folks around. I don’t know what he meant by reckoning, but I don’t think it’s an accident that we’ve ended up here together. The angel got one thing right, though; we all appear to be from vastly different places. You may call me Renvarin. What do they call you?”

“Raven.” The warlock’s eyes took on a lurid green glow casting a sickly shadow beneath his hood. I’ve never heard of Barovia or Kartakass. Grew up in Oessia, spent some time in the Ribcage… I’d say I’m about as foriegn as it gets… except for maybe that guy.” He gestured toward Reiner. “Don’t see many of his kind where I’m from, at least not with those golden bronze scales.”

“Not looking to pry but…” The elf tilted his head to the side. “Do you always hide beneath that cowl? Something wrong with your face?” 

Raven hesitated. “I’m told I have my father’s look about me. But personally, I think I favor my mother. Regardless, I’m seen as something of a curiosity. I don’t quite fit in with the aesthetics of the people of my homeland if you will. I guess I’m a bit reserved.”

“Nothing wrong with being shy. I’m just thinking it might be a good idea to know what you look like… in case you need rescuing, make sure we’re saving the right guy, you know?” He suggested with a smirk.

The comment drew an amused laugh from Xar’aven. “Where I come from there are many in need of saving…however you wouldn’t count me among them. Appreciate the sentiment though.” He drew back his hood revealing dusky skin and shoulder length, ink black hair with hints of eggplant purple in its highlights, similar to the color of a raven’s wing. His eyes were solid opaque with no sclera or pupils, just a noisome looking green color and despite his fair, almost pleasant appearance, Renvarin could sense something dark about the man, infernal even. 

“You’re a tiefling, then. I’ve read of your kind. But no horns?” He commented with mild interest. 

“Mom is a fiend who has a bit of celestial blood in her. Like I said, a curiosity.”

“Some around these lands would call you darkborn. And I wouldn’t expect them to be so welcoming.” He chuckled to himself. “They seem to hate gnomes here enough.” 

“Nothing I haven’t experienced before. I’ve been called demon spawn, devil child… and plenty of other not so flattering nomers. The cloak’s to avoid attention”

“So which one is it?” The elf pushed.

“Which one is what?”

“Demon or Devil.”

Xar’aven grinned, exposing a sharp canine. “I’m too pretty to be born from demons. How about you? Is there any more to Renvarin besides nice clothes and a sarcastic tongue?”

“Plenty,” he replied with a mock eyeroll. “But since you admitted to the heritage of your mother, I’ll admit mine; I’m shadar-kai. Mother was of a tribe dedicated to Artemis, deep in the Wolfwood of Kartakass,” he fingered the long, pointed earring in his left ear as he spoke, “but the blood of the whatever my father was runs deep.” Renvarin looked off into the fire for but a moment, considering something before turning a snide eye to Xar’aven. “Not such a bad thing, though. Blood steeped in history has its benefits.”

Xar’aven gave a cautious nod. “One could say that.”

Renvarin watched Xar’aven intently for a moment before continuing. “We’re not too different, you and I. Sure, you have some of the more… prominent attributes,” he drawled, waving his hand in a circle, “but you and I–all of us, I would imagine–we draw looks wherever we go.” He turned towards the dragonborn and Xar’aven followed his gaze. “Isn’t that right?” Renvarin appraised the one called Reiner. “How about you beastie? How’d you end up in this circus?”

Reiner had been listening, quite intently in fact, but looked up at the duo as if having been roused from a daydream. “I would tell you if I could remember,” he replied earnestly, trying hard to not let the elf’s insults get the best of him. “I woke to find myself in a strange land with no recollection of where I’m from. I feel fortunate I am able to remember my name.”

“Ah,” Renvarin nodded in resonant understanding. “So, you can’t hold your liquor. Damn shame, truly.” 

Reiner breathed aggravation through his nostrils and crossed his arms. “It’s amnesia not liquor. The one thing I recall vividly is Bahamut telling me that he would test my faith. Given my current company this will prove to be the test of tests.” he spat, locking eyes with the rogue.

“Oh, indeed. Artemis herself swept down from the heavens and declared me proctor. For just this occasion, I’m sure.” Renvarin moved to the edge of his seat, crossing one leg over the other. “‘One day,’ she said, ‘you will aid a golden lizard on his path to enlightenment, and in exchange, you will be granted leave with one of my own huntresses.’” He looked over at Xar’aven, head cocked to the side. “Gods are such generous entities.”

Reiner narrowed his eyes. “Generous enough to let one like you suck in another breath, after such vitriol. You should be careful, too many words and the wrong people are bound to hear just the right phrase.”

“Yes, yes,” Renvarin sighed, “I’m sure Artemis is listening with such disdain to our conversation at this very moment. Me, here, right now, in the middle of gods-knows-where.” A grin like a cruel scar crossed over his face. “Probably exactly why your Bahamut stuck you here–so that the planes could forget you ever even exist—”

With a speed fit to rouse even Tobias from his seat by the fire, Reiner shot up and forward, bringing the back of his scaled hand to bear across the elf’s none-too-smart face. A resounding crack silenced the room, save for the soft pops of the fire burning in the hearth. Renvarin was hit with such force he fell to his knees, one arm braced on the arm of his chair for support. The shock and pain was enough to leave him speechless, clutching the place where he’d been struck. Reiner bent over his form, then, and hissed “Never speak of my god again, elf, lest you desire to meet your huntress yourself.”

Tobias shot to his feet at the sudden movement with his hand on the hilt of his sword, then he relaxed as the exchange took place.

After a moment of stunned silence he spoke, “Don’t you guys think there’s enough happening in this damned house to keep us busy without fighting each other?” No one took much notice of the question as all eyes were locked on Reiner and Renvarin.

Sahani reacted to the commotion with a shake of her head. “I agree with the human. We have enough problems with creatures and cursed harps within this building.  Do we really need to fight each other? As for the gods, Mister Arrogance, I would have agreed with you until recent events altered my perspective. The creature I seek to destroy had all but taken my life were it not for the divine intervention of a god. I am proof such things occur. When have any of you known a creature such as me to stand for good and the light?  I was all but ready to end my own existence after narrowly escaping the clutches of a vampire. Just as I was about to do something foolish and throw away this rock, the very one that now hangs about my neck, he appeared before me. It was then I saw.”  Sahani’s eyes seem to shine brighter as she recalled the moment. “Lathander was magnificent, bright as the sun, yet I could look easily upon him. He grabbed my hands in his and offered me a better way. A chance to better our world and stand for the light. So yes elf, watch your words carefully when you speak of the greater powers. The reason the gods chose our group of misfits, myself included, to be drawn together has yet to reveal itself, but until then let’s at least treat each other with civility.

Sahani looked at Reiner and began speaking in a scolding draconic mom voice “ Nice hit Reiner, but do try to appear upset so dumbass doesn’t guess at my approval.” 

Reiner made no indication of having heard the gnome, and stalked across the room to the door Callus had exited from. He braced himself against the frame and looked out into the swirling mists. 

Renvarin stood, rubbing his jaw, and fell back into his seat without another word. 

“Let’s change the subject from this bullshit, shall we?” Tobias continued as he settled back into his chair again and stared into the fire. “I’m from the continent of Wildemount, in Exandria. Doesn’t seem like many of you know that place. I lived my first few years on a farm in Felderwin until I took up with Sir Arthur. With him I roamed the Wildemount countryside assisting in his noble pursuit to cleanse the world of injustice and evil. Then, one day, we were working to route a vampire clan from their cave when a mist arose from nowhere and brought me here.” Tobias paused in thought before continuing.

“I suspected that the head of the clan created the mist but now I’m starting to think that perhaps it was just bad luck. Either way I need to get back to Sir Arthur…” Tobias trailed off before saying half under his breath, “God’s, I hope he made it out of that cave.”

All was silent for a minute before Tobias realized that everyone had turned their attention to him. He straightened himself in the chair, eyes darting from person to person as he searched for a way to escape their attention.

“Morag… you said you were from my land, but you spent time on the sea. I’ve never been to the coast or seen the ocean. What’s it like?”

Ahh yes I’m originally from Port Damali on the Menagerie Coast but for some time I’ve sailed out of Darktow on the Turtle’s Hubris. As for who I am, my name is Morag Thraka but you may call me Skartissue. I was sent along with my crew to kill a Sea Hag much like the creature in the other room when these mysterious mists took me. I have been a slave, gladiator, cabin boy and finally a full member of the crew but now I find myself with no crew, no ship and no captain.

As for the ocean, the open waves mean freedom. Sailing from harbor to harbor with each bringing new food, new drink, new bars and new people. 

Xar’aven listened as the human and orc spoke but was clearly more interested in the diminutive female gnome. “A vampire you say little one? Was it the fel embrace of said creature that made you so? I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t curious to know more about you. You’ve expressed your opinions well enough but still haven’t really introduced yourself. Do you have a name or would you prefer to be called gnome or ankle biter?

Sahani had been staring deeply into the hearth after her exchange with Reiner and Renvarin. She lifted her head for a moment, making eye contact with the tiefling. “My name is Sahani Strongcraft and the angel said there shall be a reckoning indeed. I do not know why I am here but now that I am, I believe that the creature that came out of the mists, slaughtered my parents, and gave me these,” she pointed to her fangs, “must have originated from here. I shall personally destroy and send the foul thing back to the hell from where it came. Until then I will happily fight alongside anyone who would kill such creatures.”

“I can assure you little lady, your monster did not come from any hell I’ve seen. “ Xar’aven said with a smirk. “And I’ve been to several of the nine. Even that frozen foppish priss who proclaims himself Lord of the Fifth would not suffer such a creature. But if what you seek is retribution for the crimes committed against you and your family, I know the perfect prison for it.”

Sahani nodded toward Xar’aven before returning her gaze to the flames.

Uncle Dunkle looked toward Vimak who simply shrugged his shoulders and closed his eyes. With no one else apparently interested in talking about themselves the group set a watch and tried to regather their strength through the rest of a fitful sleep.