Vasilka's Lament
Chapter 1: A Dream is a Wish your Heart Makes
“Hail to thee of might and valor. Though it has been four years since the devil Strahd’s defeat, I am in need of your strength once more. My sister, Ireena Kolyana, has been afflicted by an unexplained malaise. She behaves strangely in these trying times, and I have a humble request for the people strong enough. I am holding a competition with two goals: find out what causes this malaise and end it. There are many riches I can offer. Best wishes, Burgomaster Ismark Kolyanovich.”
- Seen on a job board in the newly rebuilt town of Berez
Vanessa confusedly stared at the page. She had no idea why there would be such a fuss about her mental state. It was a little extreme to post a listing for a competition all over Barovia regarding the sister of a single township’s leader, even if she defeated Strahd.
Today was a bright, sunny morning. It had been bright and sunny for quite some time now, and Vanessa recalled seeing the light stream through windows in the amber temple. Time blended together back then, so she was unsure when the sun finally came out of hiding.
Berez was buzzing with life. Children ran about the streets so much so Vanessa had to slide out of the way as one came barreling toward her. She could hear the market tenders selling fresh produce from the fields outside that wafted the smell of some pleasant fragrance that Vanessa did not recognize. New construction was always coming in, bringing even more life to the once barren land.
Vanessa sighed, and then she pulled a pouch out of her pack. She walked toward the front gate, looking at the guard posted there. “Where is the nearest carriage driver?”
“Outside the outer wall past the farms, miss.”
Vanessa thanked the man and headed that way, pulling the hood of her cloak closer to her face. She dressed simply for travel, since she’d been on the run for the past few days trying to get as far from the amber temple as possible. However, despite this, she had a selection of nicer clothes she had been working on inside her pack, along with a sewing kit to keep mending and working on them. She’d also packed her journal, quills, ink, and, finally, however many coins she could swipe from the abbot.
“Where you headed?” the carriage driver asked, breaking her silent walk.
“As far from here as possible,” Vanessa replied with a blank face.
The driver leaned back in his chair a bit. “I see. Well, the furthest I can get you is Barovia township. I’m going there by tomorrow anyway, transporting contestants up to Ravenloft, so I’ll give you a discount.”
“Perfect. How much?”
“For that distance,” the driver smiled a toothy grin, “it’ll cost ya a gold.”
Vanessa knew she was being overcharged, but she still handed him the gold piece with a smile. “Thank you very much.”
“Pleasure doing business with ya. Now head on back. It’s a long road ahead of us.”
Vanessa complied, entering the carriage and sitting down on the surprisingly plush seats. Maybe it wasn’t such a rip off after all. Much to her surprise, there were a few other people in the carriage as well. They looked just as surprised to notice the other occupants. At least, one of them did. The other two were peculiar. The one on the left looked rather disinterested with her current state of affairs, and the one on the right looked like she didn’t even know what was going on. Neither seemed to notice Vanessa.
“Ah,” the person in the middle answered. She appeared to be a woman by Vanessa’s guess. Then again, Vanessa hasn’t been out much. She had dark hair and the palest skin Vanessa had ever seen, and she had pointed ears, which Vanessa didn’t quite understand. “Where are you headed?”
Vanessa didn’t bother answering the question. “You’re an elf?”
The woman quietly chuckled. “You could say that.”
“Interesting,” Vanessa stared at her in amazement.
“I’m surprised. You act like you’ve never seen an elf befo--”
Vanessa interrupted, “-I haven’t.”
“Oh,” the woman had a strange look on her face that Vanessa couldn’t quite pin down.
Vanessa didn’t speak much more after that, though, instead opting to stare out the window and take in the scenery. It wasn’t often that she saw the outside world. Like the man said, it was a long road.
When they finally made it to Barovia, Vanessa didn’t hesitate to leave the trio of people behind. However, much to her surprise, there were more people in the town. More than she had ever imagined. They lined the streets, shops, and inn and caused such a great cacophony that Vanessa almost wanted to hide. She tried to weave through the traffic, holding her cloak close to make sure none of them touched her skin.
She’d finally made her way to the inn, relieved that she made it in one piece. There was a fireplace at the far wall to her right, and some nice seats that were already filled with some adventuring types. Tables littered the area, though none of them were available.
Behind the bar was an overworked, lithe man who all Vanessa could hear say was “Hello, welcome in” over and over and over again as he rushed about delivering meals and drink. He had light blond hair and wore exquisite garments that made it obvious he knew his way around fabric. He wore a little silver band about his middle finger with a strange black stone Vanessa didn’t recognize.
As Vanessa approached the bar, she heard the “Hello, welcome in” that he gave everyone.
“Hi, um... can I purchase a room for a night?”, She spoke above the din,
Suddenly the man swiveled in her direction.
“Certainly! Ismark, darling, can you get these out while I help this young lady get a room?”
Another man in Vanessa’s periphery came into view, taking a plate of something or another and kissing the bartender’s forehead. “Of course.” he smiled, whirling away.
“Now then,” the bartender went back to a cabinet, opening it up and displaying a sparse variety of keys. “I am afraid most of our rooms are taken, so it’s going to be a little bit difficult to find you one of the nicer ones, but--”
“No need.” Vanessa smiled, interrupting. “I’ll take whatever you have.”
“Right then- Let’s see,” He waved a finger across the keys, one by one. “currently we have these rooms open. Check the logbook, and... -Yes! So there’s one room available for tonight, our cheapest room, and- Fair warning, you get what you pay for.”
“That’s fine.” Vanessa set the pouch of her coins on the bar. “That should be enough, and if it’s too much, keep the rest.”
The man handed her a key, a cheery smile lightening his face. “Thank you. Business has been lovely these past couple days, with the contest and all.”
Vanessa nodded, “The one with Ireena, right?”
“Yes,” he replied, “Ismark said the queen has been rather out of sorts lately.”
“Queen?”
“Oh. You must be one of the new adventurers coming by. Yes, Ireena is our queen, after she defeated the devil.” He closed the cabinet.
“So that’s why there’s a competition going on?” Vanessa took the key and put it in her pocket. “It would be important if there’s something going on with her in that regard.”
“She won’t admit there’s anything wrong, but he insists that something is off,” he let his smile drop for just a second, getting quiet and leaning over toward Vanessa. “I think she’s just nervous about the wedding with Sergei. That boy is rather odd.”
“I see,” Vanessa stared blankly, sidling away.
His voice went back to normal, “With that settled- I have to go help my husband. Enjoy your stay!”
True to his word, the man dashed off to the next customer.
Vanessa looked at her key, staring at the tag with the room number. She made it to her room: It was rather simple, one modest bed and a small window; but, it was space- and it was hers. She sighed, letting her cloak hood down and sitting on the bed. She set down her pack next to her and embraced the blessed silence. Finally, no more roar of the crowd, vicious barbs from the Abbot, loud voices egging her on- She sat there for hours, staring at the wall and allowing herself to calm down after the long journey. It wasn’t until there was a knock on the door that she broke from her mental cleansing state.
“Miss?” The bartender’s muffled voice came through the door. “I don’t mean to bother you, but it’s died down finally and it is dinner time, if you’re interested.”
Vanessa pondered. She wasn’t hungry; she had never felt that way, nor had she eaten before. How could she get out of it now? “Thank you, I’ll be right down,” She instinctively replied.
The guests slowly crept from their rooms, some walking, others staggering down the stairs into the main hall. As the bartender said, business had finally died down. Despite the previous chaos, the place was in immaculate condition. Vanessa sat at a table as far from the fireplace as possible.
Without a crowd covering every surface of the tavern portion of the inn, she could finally see that there were three people working: The bartender, the ‘husband’ who was presumably Ismark, and, a dark haired boy that Vanessa hadn’t really taken much note of.
The bartender handed her some food, which she stared at, suddenly reminded of her earlier mistake in not thinking before speaking. She smiled awkwardly, “It looks delightful, thank you.”
His acknowledging head bob was brief, moving on to another patron.
Vanessa set aside the food, rummaging through her pack. She pulled out a recent project she’d been working on: A deep sapphire dress with a long, flowy skirt. The stitching had been taking forever. Though, once Vanessa had left the Amber Temple, all she had were projects and time, so back to stitching she went. It took a moment to start her rhythm back up, but soon enough she was making progress on one of the skirt panels.
Another 30 minutes passed peacefully before her focus was yet again broken. This time by a patron blithely asking, “Are you going to eat that?”
Vanessa glanced up, replying to the stranger, “No, I’m not hungry. You can have it.”
After which he took the plate eagerly, striding back to his table.
The bartender watched the exchange concernedly, before his eyes landed on Vanessa’s project. He smiled as he crossed the room and pulled up a chair next to hers. “What are you working on?”
Vanessa smiled back, holding up her handiwork. “A dress. It’s a long one, but I’m managing.”
“I see,” he replied, “Do you usually work with such exquisite fabrics?”
“You wouldn’t believe the things I had to do to get a hold of this.” She chuckled ruefully.
He laughed with her. “I imagine- must have cost you an arm for that much!”
She sighed, but the words stung in her mind. “You’d be surprised.”
“You know,” he continued, “I’ve been looking for someone with those kinds of skills. Are you familiar with doing hair or cosmetics?”
She stopped stitching. “I think so. I haven’t been able to practice much on others, but-”
“Perfectly fine. I think you’ll do.”
“Do what?” She asked, setting the work down.
“I’m getting ahead of myself. My name’s Escher. I run the inn here in town, and I happen to be the current royal wedding planner. I’ve been looking for aide such as yourself to help me work on it.”
“Are you sure?” Vanessa stared in disbelief.
“I won’t force you to work for the royal family, but if you’d like--”
“I’ll do it,” her voice came out a little more desperate than she’d have liked. Admittedly, she’d used up the last of her coin to avoid sleeping on the street.
“Perfect!” he beamed, “Find me your best work and we’ll see if it fits the queen’s standards.”
Chapter 2: A Whole New World
Vanessa stared at Escher. “What kind of work are you looking for?”
He beamed, “I just need some of your best work in sewing, and ideally a test on your work with cosmetics and hair.”
“How am I supposed to work on someone else’s hair or cosmetics without someone else?” Vanessa rummaged through her bag, finding her last finished project.
“That would be a bit of an issue, wouldn’t it?” Escher put a finger to his temple. He sat there for a bit while she dug through her bag. Suddenly, he stopped as his grin widened. “How about me?”
“You?” Vanessa stopped to look up at him, pulling out her latest work. It wasn’t the fanciest dress, but it had some of her best stitching.
“Why not? You simply do my hair and cosmetics, and if I deem you fit, I’ll give a good word to the queen along with your work and we’ll move from there!” He stood from the chair.
Vanessa offered her work, and Escher took it. “That works for me.”
He mulled over the dress, examining the seams. “This should do nicely. I’ll have you work on my hair and cosmetics in the morning. I have some in my room that I’ll bring. What is your name?”
“Vanessa,” she answered.
“I’ll see you in the morning, Vanessa. Have a nice night!” He gingerly folded the dress and strode off toward the bar.
Vanessa stood from the table, grabbing her bag and rushing back to her room. Once there, she grabbed a hairbrush and practiced hair styling.
The morning came, shining and bright. Vanessa was cleaning up and doing her hair for the morning.
Soon after she finished tying a ribbon in her hair, a knock rapped on the door. “Are you ready, Miss Vanessa?” Escher asked.
“I’ll be right there!” Vanessa replied.
She walked out to see Escher holding an armful of bottles and tins. “Good morning. We’ll be preparing in the library,” he said.
She closed the door behind her and walked down the hall with him. “How would you like your cosmetics and hair done today?”
“For your purposes, I need something rather simple and stately. I don’t want to look too… extravagant.” He sat down at a nice armchair, setting the products on the end table.
Vanessa pulled up a chair across from him, looking through her options. He brought different shades of rouge, creams, cakes, and powders for her to use, which was odd, considering that he didn’t need all the shades. There were towels, brushes, hand mirrors, and a bowl of water.
She pulled a cold cream off the end table. She opened it, putting some on his face. “Go ahead and massage that in while I get everything ready.”
After he obliged, she went and grabbed a towel and hair brush, moving behind him and brushing his hair. His blond hair hung down to his shoulders, and he had freshly cleaned and dried it. Despite that, it was covered in tangles and snags. Vanessa tried to work as gently as possible.
When Escher winced, she stopped. Trying to keep her voice calm, she asked, “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine,” he answered, “now what?”
“I’ll be done with your hair in just a moment.” When she finished brushing, she moved back to face him and took the bowl of water. She dipped the towel into it, and wiped his face clean. Once she was done, she cleared his face with a clean towel. Then she went back to styling his hair.
It was a slight challenge to style hair that was shorter than the average woman’s, but she made do with a small hair rat and a few pins. Once finished, she went back to his face. She dabbed a little subtle rouge onto his cheeks and powdered his face, and gave him a light pink cream rouge to put on his lips. Finally, she finished her handiwork by giving him a hand mirror to check. “I hope this suits to your liking,” she said.
For the first time since she met him, Escher had a blank face, almost quizzically looking through his features as he stared at his reflection. “I think you did quite well.”
Vanessa released her fists that she was hiding. “I appreciate it.”
“You should come to Ravenloft with the other contestants. I’ll put a good word in for you and see what the queen thinks. For your services and the dress you handed me last night, I will make sure you are compensated.”
She tidied the workspace, closing bottles and tins. “I appreciate it,” she replied.
Once they were complete, Escher gave her a small pouch. “I wish you luck,” he said.
Vanessa took the pouch. “Thank you. You too.”
Just like that, they were on their way. Vanessa walked out into the town square. Ismark was addressing a group of prospective adventurers on the competition; Vanessa didn’t really bother to listen. She moved to the store labeled “Alexei’s Mercantile.” In the window there were a few pieces of gear for the aforementioned adventurers and what appeared to be a large box set of an odd series of books.
Going in, she looked at the wide variety of things on display there: Books, gear, rope, cosmetics, weapons- it was everything Vanessa could have theoretically needed in Barovia and more. At the desk there was a busy young lady stocking some of the potions on a display. She had bags under her eyes, and her body slouched as she was moving potions to shelf. Once Vanessa had closed the door, the woman’s head whipped toward her. The woman let out a groan, pulling a mug behind the counter, staring at it and immediately draining the contents inside. With a loud sigh, she smiled, but Vanessa could still see the distress in her eyes. “Good morning, welcome to Alexei’s mercantile.”
Vanessa moved to the counter, softly asking, “Are you okay?”
The woman laughed, “Oh, me? I’m fine! I’m fine.” It almost sounded like she was not telling Vanessa that but instead telling herself. “What can I help you with?”
“I am looking for some fabric,” Vanessa clarified. She dug through her bags, searching for her journal. “There’s a project I’ve been hoping to start, and I just got a little money.”
“Right. We just got a shipment in from Alasain, so you’re in luck. The contestants were not very interested in that, lucky for you.” The woman gestured to the shelf of textiles to Vanessa’s left, near the back. “Don’t know much about what you should look for, but I think there should be something that will suit your needs in there.”
“Thank you.” Vanessa walked over to the shelf, examining the fabrics. There were a high number of shiny and soft silk textiles among the items, each one of impeccable quality. Vanessa was hoping to find something suitable for Ireena’s tastes, but the issue was that Vanessa didn’t know what the queen looked like, much less what would suit her. The gold Escher had given her was hefty for what Vanessa did, so she grabbed a couple bolts. She looked at the price tags, pondering how fancy she should go for the fabric. In the end, she decided to go for a variety, taking ones that suited her tastes in case the queen didn’t like any in particular. Vanessa knew it would cost her exorbitantly for this amount of silk, but it was worth it.
Laying the bolts on the counter, she pulled out her new pouch of coin. “I’ll take these, please.”
“Alright then,” the lady behind the counter took the bolts, calculating the prices on a piece of paper, “Would you like a bag?”
“Yes please,” Vanessa replied. She handed the woman a few gold sitting in her pouch.
Once the woman had put the bolts in a bag, Vanessa took them eagerly and moved to the town square once more, heading for the carriages leading to Ravenloft. There were plenty, and even more people using them. She waited in line, hoping for the best.
Then a small green child- at least, that’s what Vanessa thought it was- was rifling through her pack. He giggled, pulling out one of her last remaining valuables.
“Hey!” She screeched, swiveling to grab him.
However, he was fast, and she was not, so off he went with the item. She knew there was no catching up to him, though, and the line was closing in, so she decided to ignore the strange boy for now.
The ride to Ravenloft was rather short, considering the travels she had not long ago. It was a nice day for traveling, too, which helped. The sun was shining, birds were chirping, and nothing bad was happening. Vanessa leaned back in her seat on the carriage, taking it all in. Assuming all went well with Escher and Ireena, she had something to keep her going while she figured out a plan for her life.
Soon, the castle loomed from horizon to foreground, and Vanessa climbed out to see it a lot brighter than the stories. Admittedly, the architecture was far darker and more Gothic than the recent construction around Barovia, but it was still a much happier place than the stories she’d heard had led her to believe.
The courtyard was vast, buzzing with life. In the middle was a violet tent with an old woman sitting outside. When she and Vanessa made eye contact, the woman smiled and beckoned her closer.
Vanessa moved to the old woman, smiling back at her as best she could. Closer up, she could see the tent was covered in strange, arcane symbols. They hummed and glowed in the sunlight, almost feeding off it.
“I have been expecting you,” the old woman said.
“You have?” Vanessa tried to pin her face, but nothing came.
“Yes. You have a very important job to fulfill.”
“I’m sorry?”
The woman took her hand, and she did not have time to slide away. “Perhaps we should speak inside, hmm?”
“Okay,” she relented, entering the tent behind the old woman.
The tent was ornately decorated with arcane iconography, from the strange symbols on the walls to the little table they sat at. On the table was a cloth and a deck of cards. “I am Madam Eva.” The old woman took the cards. “I was hoping I could do your reading.”
Now Vanessa was even more confused. “Reading?”
“Glean some meaning into this mess that we call time. I can read some of your future, answer some of your questions. I’m sure you have many. I know a lot.”
She was wondering a lot of things about her situation. Perhaps Madam Eva could. The worst case is that nothing comes from this. “Sure,” Vanessa replied.
Madam Eva nodded. “Let’s see what lies in store for you. What would you like answered?”
Vanessa didn’t know what to ask, especially on such short notice. “I guess I was wondering what I’m going to do now. What lies in store for me in the future?”
“A general reading, then. What does your future look like?” Eva pulled a card, laying it facing Vanessa. The card was upside down, but it had an arch with two people underneath it, adorned with four staves. “I see, the four of wands.” She smiled eagerly. “That’s rather interesting.”
“What do you mean?” Vanessa stared at the card, trying to understand what it meant.
“That, dear girl, is what I like to call the ‘ceremony’ card. It’s often used to represent such things as festivals, celebrations, or even weddings. And it’s reversed.” Madam Eva cackled. “Which means the opposite of the card’s initial meaning.”
Vanessa didn’t like the sound of that. “The opposite of celebration?”
“You could say that,” Madam Eva admitted, “Then again, who knows? Fate is a fickle thing, and you are the one to figure it out.”
“I think I should go,” Vanessa backed away toward the door of the tent.
All she heard before leaving was Madam Eva’s soft voice, “It’s all up to you, dear.”
When Vanessa looked outside again, she saw Escher rushing out the gates of the castle towards her. “There you are!”
When she looked back toward the tent, it was gone. Not just like it was moved, but it was as if the tent was never there to begin with. She stumbled, “You’re back so soon?”
“I’ve spoken to the queen,” Escher said, “She wants to see you personally."
Chapter 3: Once Upon a Dream
Vanessa stared at Escher. At first she didn't believe it. How could she believe the queen of Barovia wanted to speak with her? Either way, Vanessa could not refuse it.
"That's great!" Vanessa replied.
"If you'll follow me, I can lead you to her study where she will interview you," Escher continued.
"Her personal study? Isn't that a little—"
Escher interrupted, "It's okay, I should be there with you. You won't be alone with the queen."
Vanessa felt the slightest amount of relief. "Thank you."
They entered the castle, and the minute she stepped inside, Vanessa couldn't help but stop in awe at its magesty. In the couple of years or so that Ireena had been in charge of Ravenloft, they did many renovations to make it more habitable to those who actually breathed and lived. Dusty marble was cleaned, windows were magically altered, and the castle's once majesty was restored to its former glory.
Escher guided her to a strange door with a tassle. "What is this?" she asked.
"We have been calling it an elevator," he replied, pulling the tassle, "We use magic and manual power to move people up and down floors much faster than the stairs here."
The door finally opened as a small halfling woman stood behind. "Which floor?"
"Third, please," Escher politely escorted Vanessa into the cramped box.
The ride was surprisingly fast—and surprising—to Vanessa's perception. She barely kept her balance the whole way up and nearly touched one of the people inside, much to her chagrin.
The elevator opened up to a small entryway with a large set of doors and a couple of dwarven guards. Seeing Vanessa step out of the elevator, they grimaced. "State your business," one of them said.
"It's alright," Escher said, walking out of the elevator after her, "The queen has requested her presence."
The guard grunted and motioned for both of them to step aside.
Escher opened the door into a large study. Every wall was filled with books, and there was another door on the other end, just as grand. In the middle of the room sat a few comfortable chairs and a desk, and one of the chairs sat the queen herself.
The queen was everything that the mythos of Barovia said about her. Tall, regal, and very beautiful. She had long auburn hair, a unique signifier of who she was. She wore the armor like the statues of her, all glittering and radiant in the sunlight through what few windows existed in this part of the castle. At her hip sat a sword, and Vanessa figured it was something unattainably fancy. She had these soft mahogany eyes that Vanessa would love to get lost in.
Despite all that, Vanessa had to remain composed. She wanted this job, and that was more important than basking in the beauty of the queen.
It wasn't until the queen said in the most unladylike fashion, "What are you staring at?" that Vanessa even noticed she was catatonic.
Vanessa cleared her throat and walked over to the other chair. "Hello, my lady," she said, bowing slightly
"Lay off with the formalities," Ireena replied, "I don't like all that anyway."
"What?" Vanessa couldn't help asking. The thought and the word came out of Vanessa at the same time before she could even hesitate.
"Look, Miss, I've heard a lot about you, and—excuse me, Escher!" She called his name with such brutality that it made Vanessa jump. "Leave us alone for a moment, if you would please!"
"Lady Ireena, if I may—" Escher tried to speak.
"You may not! I wish to speak to this woman alone!"
Vanessa went catatonic again, not even knowing what was going on to justify such brash behavior from a queen of all people.
"Alright than," Escher conceded, exiting the room and closing the door behind him.
Once the door slid shut, Ireena looked at Vanessa flatly. She spoke in almost a whisper. "Allow me to put this bluntly in a way I would rather the brides not hear," Ireena said, "I don't want a lady's maid. I never wanted a lady's maid. But that's not how the world works, so they're going to hound me until I get one."
Vanessa had to think about the mechanics of nodding to accomplish it.
"I heard many good things about you from Escher. I also hear that you're looking for a place to stay," Ireena continued.
"Yes. I've been struggling to find work; I am a little bit clumsy," Vanessa tried to explain the effects of her condition without admitting to Ireena she was a corpse.
"Clumsy is fine," Ireena said, "I heard from him that you have good hands with makeup and sewing. I don't care about those things, but the brides do. I think we can both benefit from the job."
"Benefit?" Vanessa paused.
"You need a place to stay. I need someone who can keep up appearances. If we simply work together, we can make the brides stop annoying me about all the things a queen 'should have,' and you'll have stable work, a home, food, and a little money to keep on the side. Deal?" Ireena held out her hand.
Vanessa was almost scared to take it. She had gloves on, but the intellectual thought of touching her was intimidating. Despite her fears, she took the hand. "Deal. When do I start?"
"Now." Ireena shook Vanessa's hand and stood. "I will get the head maid to clean up a uniform for you promptly. Unlike most maids, you will have private quarters on the third floor as to make being near me easier. Basically you just have to stand near me all day and perform some basic chores. The rest of the job I can do on my own."
Vanessa stood in turn, trying to take it all in. "Okay," she finally responded.
Ireena walked to the door, Vanessa catching up behind her. "Escher!" she called out while opening the door, "Have Lobedia clean a uniform! It should be about, um," she looked at Vanessa, stopping for a second. "You're about my size, aren't you?"
Vanessa paused. "I guess so."
"About my size! Mention it's not for me when you do, she may get a little confused!" Ireena turned back to Vanessa again. "Do you have any things you need to gather?"
"No," Vanessa replied, "It's all in my bag."
"Perfect. I'll show you to your room." Ireena walked back into the study and across the expanse.
"Shouldn't I—"
"Do not care!" Ireena called back.
Vanessa nodded and rushed to follow her.
The room that Ireena inevitably sent her to was rather nice for a servant's quarters. It had a nice bed, a window, and a chest to keep her things in. It was simple, but she appreciated it nonetheless.
Vanessa sat on the bed, taking her bag and sorting through it.
Ireena commented, "This is your room. You'll be expected to be up by sunrise. The other servants will help you with the details."
"Why are you telling me this?" Vanessa asked, looking up at Ireena.
"Because my rules are different than those that everyone else is going to tell you. They will say to expect to bring breakfast to my room in the mornings and to wake me up. I can do those things myself."
Vanessa nodded. "Understood."
"You should figure out the rest as it goes on. I have business to attend to, and you seem to need time to settle in. I won't expect you to be around until you get in uniform." Ireena exited the room.
Vanessa sighed, mostly a psychological gesture, but it did help a little. It was finally a bit peaceful for her to unpack her things.
As soon as she got comfortable, a knock rapped on her door.
"Enter," she said.
An older halfling woman entered with a stack of neatly pressed and cleaned clothes. "These are for you, miss. The queen should be in the dining hall, I expect you to be there promptly."
Vanessa took the clothes. "Of course, I'll be right there."
"Remember," the woman said, "You are expected to get her ready for bed after all this. And one of the queen's chemises was ripped. I expect it mended by tomorrow evening."
"I will make sure it is fixed," Vanessa replied.
"It will be left in the laundry for you to pick up once the lady is in bed." The woman turned toward the door. "I know you're the queen's fancy servant. Don't let it get to your head, or I'll have it."
Vanessa didn't quite understand what that meant, but she acknowledged it anyway.
She dressed in the maid's uniform and left the room. The halfling was gone by the time she finished dressing, and it occurred to her that she didn't know where the dining hall was in relative directions to where she was. She went to the elevator, pulled the tassle, and waited.
"Which floor?" the woman asked.
"I need to get to the dining hall," Vanessa replied, "Can you give me directions?"
"First floor, take a left, and you'll find it. Near the main hall where you should've entered the castle. Can't miss it." The halfling ushered her inside and she decended once again.
Vanessa made her way to the dining hall, entering through the main door. The room was large—almost too large—and there were only two people sitting in it. There was Ireena, as Vanessa expected, and there was an unknown man. The man was rather small and thin with dark hair and angular features. He wore a white robe and ate his meal with grace and elegance.
Ireena, on the other hand, was not eating with grace or elegance. She had a plate of meats, cheeses, and bread, and she devoured them like they were her first meal in ages. "Oh," Ireena said through a mouthful of food, "You're here."
"I am," Vanessa replied. She looked at the man sitting at the table with her. "Who is this?"
Ireena looked over at him, and then back at Vanessa. "That is my fiancee, Sergei."
Vanessa held back a wince at the words. She knew it was the case, but hearing Ireena say it out loud still hurt.
Sergei looked at Vanessa, smiled, and stood from his meal. "You must be the new maid everyone's talking about."
"Everyone?" Vanessa asked.
Her face must've made her look even more confused than she thought. "It was all very sudden. One day you appear at the castle and work for us. It's really impressive. May I ask your name?"
"Vanessa," she replied.
"You have a very nice name," he commented.
Vanessa curtsied. "Thank you."
After introductions were established, Sergei sat back down at the table and continued eating.
"My lady," Vanessa directed her attention to Ireena. "I have been given orders to see you to bed."
Ireena glared at her through the bone she was gnawing on. "I would like to stay awake for a little longer."
Vanessa bowed slightly. "Alright than. Just let me know when you're ready."
Ireena sighed, setting the bone down and standing from her seat. "I would like to go to my room."
"Of course," Vanessa replied, "I will escort you there."
Ireena turned to Sergei. "Goodnight, Sergei."
Sergei dipped his head.
Vanessa escorted Ireena back to her room. When the reached the study, Ireena closed the doors and turned to her. "I told you I don't want you to do anything but what is needed to keep up the appearances."
Vanessa sighed, "The servants wanted me to make sure you made it to bed."
"I'm not a child!" Ireena stormed over to Vanessa.
She didn't flinch. "I'm simply trying to help. There's no need to get hostile."
Ireena paused.
"Where is your room, by the way?" Vanessa asked, "I'm expected to do some of my work there."
Ireena sighed. "Just past those doors." She pointed.
"Do you need anything?" Vanessa headed for those doors.
"No," Ireena replied, "Just leave me while I sleep."
"Yes, my lady." Vanessa went to her room
Chapter 4: Reflection
The next few weeks went without a hitch. Vanessa woke up, brought Ireena breakfast, stayed by her side, and everything went fine. Vanessa knew everything was fine. It didn't matter that Ireena never slept in the same room as Sergei or that his smiles to her never reached his eyes. The wedding was still moving along, so everything was fine.
That morning started like any other. Vanessa exited her room before sunrise. She never actually needed to sleep, so she simply pretended to by staying in her room and sewing in the artificial free time. She took Ireena's breakfast to the door, knocked twice, and set down the tray on the table in the study. Ireena never let Vanessa into her bedroom. After a few moments, Ireena came out of the room in her armor. She sat on the armchair and ate her breakfast.
"Good morning," Vanessa said, smiling.
"It's morning," Ireena grumbled.
Vanessa looked out the window, staring at the sunrise beyond. Clouds were tinged pink and orange, and the sky was a soft gradient of blues. It was beautiful, unlike the cold sterility of the old places she once stayed.
"Today is the dress fitting." Ireena broke the silence, speaking with a despondent stare.
"Is that a bad thing?" Vanessa approached her.
"I guess not," Ireena responded, setting her tray aside. She always ate quickly.
Ireena was always difficult to understand, and this was no exception. Vanessa smiled and tried to put on a confident face. "I'm sure you'll be beautiful in whatever dress."
Ireena looked away.
Vanessa paused, suddenly reacting to her own words. "I am sorry, that was unprofessional." She bowed slightly.
Ireena raised a hand. "No, it's fine. You didn't mean harm."
"Yes," Vanessa continued, "but it was far too inappropriate for a maid to say such things—"
"What? You think that was inappropriate?"
"In context, it does sound rather strange."
Ireena grabbed at Vanessa's arm, pulling her closer.
Vanessa's thoughts raced. She had no heart to beat faster, but she wished she did. All she could think about was if Ireena was going to find out. When she was going to find out.
"Stop it. I accepted your apology. Don't fight it," Ireena stared at her with a certain intensity that made Vanessa almost pause.
"Okay," Vanessa resigned.
"Your hands are cold. You need warmer gloves." Ireena stared down at her hands.
Vanessa ripped her hands away as fast as she could. Even though it was nice to get the attention from someone, the risk was far too great. "I'm so—"
"Do not apologize."
Vanessa nodded, adjusting her sleeve to hide the slightly popped stitches she'd have to fix later.
Ireena finished her plate, setting it aside and getting up from the armchair. Vanessa moved back to make room for her. "Now," Ireena said, "let's get this over with."
Vanessa stared down at her hand, then followed Ireena back to the antechamber out of the royal quarters. Escher was waiting for them outside the castle gate, and he nodded at the two of them. "My lady." he nodded to Ireena. "Vanessa."
"Good morning, Escher." Vanessa replied.
"Good morning," Ireena suddenly acted much more jovial than she was in the study. Vanessa didn't know if that was actual joy or simply a rouse to make Escher happy.
"It is nice to see you. The commissioned dress is waiting in Barovia township. Sergei is waiting for us there." He gestured to an empty carriage. "Shall we?"
They entered the carriage, but Vanessa wasn't very present in that moment. All she could think about was Ireena touching her hand and the comment that followed. Vanessa was cold. Not only was she cold, she was cold as death. It didn't really become an issue often until someone pointed out a part of her inhumanity. It was a reminder of the cursed immortality, and reminders were not something Vanessa liked.
"Vanessa?" Escher's voice broke her train of thought. "Are you alright?"
No. She was never alright. At least, not in the way that any living being was alright. "I'm fine."
"It's just," Ireena commented, "You seem a little off."
"Off?" Vanessa asked.
"Yes," Ireena continued, "you've been acting strange since earlier. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable if I did."
"I'm fine," Vanessa clarified, "Just a little lost in thought." Ireena was acting very odd.
"Alright then," Ireena conceded.
The Blood of the Vine tavern in Barovia township waited for them, and Escher escorted them inside. They took a side door to one of the private rooms, and Sergei waited patiently in one of the chairs. He looked down, seeming to contemplate something. He looked up at the group. "Good morning."
"Hello again, Sergei. Ireena should be ready to get to the washing room to get in the dress, correct?" He looked at her.
"Right. The washing room is that way?"
Escher nodded.
Vanessa tried to follow Ireena, which landed her a stern look.
"No need," she said flatly. "I can dress myself."
Vanessa nodded and moved back to the waiting men.
Sergei smiled at Vanessa. "It's okay, you should know how she is by now."\
Vanessa smiled back at him. "I know," she replied, "She's really quite determined."
"Taking down the devil himself will do that to you," Escher commented.
Vanessa chuckled. "I haven't been around much. Sheltered for most of my early years, you know? Don't remember most of what's happened in Barovia before Ireena took power."
"Lucky you," Escher replied, "I bet you had a much nicer childhood than us."
"I guess." The wall seemed very interesting all of a sudden.
Sergei winced, and Escher went silent. Clearly the look on Vanessa's face betrayed her.
In some stroke of luck, good or bad for Vanessa, there was a crashing sound near the wash room that stopped the conversation. Muffled cursing came from the door.
"Is everything alright?" Vanessa called out to Ireena.
"It's fine!" Ireena screeched back before crashing into another unknown object in the washroom.
"It's definitely not fine," Sergei commented.
"Do you need some help?" Vanessa asked.
"No!" Ireena yelled.
Then there was another crash. Then a pause.
"Maybe," she relented.
Vanessa sighed, then moved towards the washroom. The door came open easily enough to the disaster behind it. She slipped through carefully and moved her way over to Ireena.
Ireena was in nothing but a chemise and a strange bundle of butter yellow fabric bunched around her shoulders. She was leaning against the wall, arms forcibly pulled upwards as if reaching for something. The fabric was covering her face.
Vanessa, assessing the situation, worked to get the strange butter yellow fabric off of Ireena, only to find that somehow Ireena got it on all wrong and bunched up completely around the neckline of what is now clearly the dress.
"Get that fucking dress off me!" Ireena yelled.
Vanessa gingerly lifted it off of Ireena's shoulders and inspected it. The dress was a turtle neck fishtail dress with a lace up back and a strange frill at the hemline. She couldn't imagine how all the pieces of the dress came together. Additionally, the dress was butter yellow, which would look absolutely horrendous on Ireena. Vanessa wondered if Ireena even grabbed the right dress, but there was no other dress in the room. "You forgot to unlace the back closure," Vanessa said.
"That thing is evil." Ireena seethed with anger.
Vanessa worked to gently take the lacing apart, allowing the dress to peel open and allow Ireena to step inside.
Ireena, however, crossed her arms indignantly. "No. I'm not going in there."
Vanessa stared at her. "They're waiting out there to see it."
"It's evil."
"It's certainly something," Vanessa said, "but they clearly want you in it, and you have no other choice in here. Just say that you don't like it, and we'll get you another dress."
Ireena glared at the dress, then sighed. "Fine. But I expect a different dress."
Vanessa nodded, aiding Ireena in entering the butter yellow dress. Lacing it up, she noted that this was the first time Vanessa had ever seen her out of her armor. It felt almost intimate in a way.
Not to Vanessa's surprise, the butter yellow washed Ireena's skin out, and the turtle neck seemed to almost choke her. Ireena looked miserable.
Vanessa opened the door, beckoning Ireena to leave.
Vanessa exited the wash room, and she was met with silence. Sergei was silent. Escher was silent. Even Vanessa was silent as she stared at the men looking at Ireena.
Sergei spoke first. "I rather like it."
"You did commission this," Escher replied, "What do you think, Ireena?"
"I hate it." Ireena blankly said.
Vanessa winced as Sergei stared at her blankly.
Escher stared at Sergei. "I thought you said she'd like it."
Sergei didn't respond, instead opting to stare in a random direction.
"I don't like how it's constricting. I don't like the color. Honestly, I don't like anything about this dress," Ireena continued callously.
Escher spoke before Ireena could continue, "You should get changed back. I'll make another dress."
"I don't want you to make another dress," Ireena snapped, "The new maid said she could sew, maybe she should make the dress!"
Vanessa stumbled. She knew Ireena was going to get another dress, but she didn't think she was going to be the one making it. "My lady, I don't think I am qualified to—"
"I've seen your work before, and I am confident you will make something at least decent."
Vanessa sighed, then nodded. "Very well." Then Vanessa caught Sergei with the smallest smile in the corner of her vision.
"I'll help you get back out of that dress," Vanessa said, "then we can go back to the castle and I'll start getting information about the new dress."
Ireena turned and moved back to the wash room, followed by Vanessa.
On the way back from Barovia township, the carriage was silent. Nobody bothered speaking after Ireena was back in her armor, and they weren't inclined to again. The carriage stopped in the middle of the road, which made everyone stop with it.
Vanessa looked out the window to find that they were not at their destination. Not only that, but there were a strange abundance of wolves at the carriage. "That's not good," she said.
"What?" asked Ireena.
"Wolves."
They all stared out the window as a wolf leapt for the door.
Ireena swung the door open, leaping out of the carriage and drawing a sword. Escher stayed inside as Vanessa moved past him to follow her.
"Wait, Vanessa, you're unarmed. Are you sure—"
Vanessa looked back at him. "I must not leave my lady's side. I will be fine."
Escher was not given enough time to respond before Vanessa leapt out of the carriage.
Ireena was already hacking away at a few of them when she finally saw how many of them were there. "What the hell are you doing? You should be in the carriage!"
"I can handle myself well enough," Vanessa said, "and I'm not to leave my lady in the face of danger. Certainly not alone."
Ireena stabbed into another wolf, killing it while looking at her. "What are you supposed to do? It's not like you're armed."
Vanessa looked at the wolves and started to move her hands, chanting under her breath. She looked at one in particular, focusing her energy on it. Then she pointed at it as a burst of bright golden light shot towards the wolf, hitting it cleanly on the head. Vanessa didn't like to show her magic to other people, but she was not going to let these wolves overrun the carriage.
Ireena stared at Vanessa, though Vanessa was too focused on keeping the wolves at bay to notice what face she was making.
Vanessa rushed back toward the carriage, aiming another bolt at a wolf. "What are you doing? Keep stabbing! I don't have very much of this!"
Ireena nodded, moving and slashing at the wolves as their numbers dwindled.
Chapter 5: Whistle While You Work
The wolves were just about the most eventful part of the trip back to Ravenloft. Once they were finally dealt with, Escher looked rather shocked to see Vanessa unscathed with Ireena. Ireena's blade was covered in blood, and Vanessa knew that something about her literally glowed. She didn't know what part of her glowed, but there was definitely something emanating.
Soon after arriving back at Ravenloft, Vanessa and Ireena went back to the study, not saying much of anything until the door was closed behind them. "My apologies, my lady, for-"
Ireena interrupted her, "You know better than to apologize."
"I probably shouldn't have used so much magic out there. You seemed to have that covered," Vanessa replied.
"Yet I still appreciated your help," Ireena continued, "It is fine."
"Yes, my lady."
Ireena stared at Vanessa blankly, moving to the center of the study and practically leaping into a chair. "You know I don't care if you call me by my name. It's not like there's anyone to harp on us about it."
Vanessa followed her, standing next to the chair. "I guess. I just don't want to be caught doing something inappropriate."
"Inappropriate?" Ireena's eyebrow raised.
Vanessa didn't quite know what Ireena was implying, or Vanessa didn't know what she was accidentally implying. "I simply don't want to get you in trouble."
Ireena did not seem convinced, but she let it go regardless.
"One moment," Vanessa said, "I think I should go get my journal."
"What for?"
"You want a new dress, right? I need a design." Vanessa rushed back to her room, grabbing a leather bound journal and writing utensils.
When she returned, Ireena was staring at the door. She straightened when Vanessa entered, and Vanessa sat down at an adjacent armchair. "What kind of dress are you actually interested in?"
"To be honest," Ireena leaned back. "I would rather just wear my armor to the wedding. None of this dress nonsense."
"We both know what will happen if you go to the royal wedding in your armor."
"I will be ready for anyone to come and attack us?" Ireena stared at the ceiling.
Vanessa stared at her. "You already have a problem with the brides not liking you. Do you really want to make that worse?"
Ireena shook her head. "No, I don't. Fine. But I don't want anything too stupid."
"Easy to get in and out of."
Ireena nodded.
"Right. Is there anything else you need to tell me before I design anything?"
"I'm not wearing white."
Vanessa paused. "Is that a problem with anyone? I don't see why you would need to specify that."
"Sergei seemed to have some idea that I need to wear white. He has a lot of ideas about this that I don't want to happen."
"Have you spoken with him about it?"
"No," she replied sheepishly.
Vanessa did not push the matter, instead continuing to mark down the different requirements of the dress. If she were honest, the fact Ireena was extremely specific on what she wanted made the job easier, since it gave Vanessa restrictions to gain inspiration from.
"I don't want anything too uncomfortable, either."
"It shouldn't be hard to make it comfortable, as long as the dress is made of a nicer fabric. Considering you're the queen, it shouldn't be an issue of sourcing," Vanessa commented.
Ireena looked down to meet Vanessa's eyes. "It will not. Just make sure it is good."
"Alright. Where will the fabric come from?" Vanessa closed the book.
"I don't know much about this sort of thing, but I do know someone who does," Ireena said.
The next morning was spent travelling to Krezk, thankfully aided by the queen's written word to get Vanessa there as fast as possible. She stood in front of a dark building that was definitely not there before the fall of Strahd, though it wouldn't have looked out of place if it was. The walls were a dark wood with even darker metal finishes, and, looking closer, Vanessa could see odd spider motifs across the design. She wondered if it was even viable that this place would have the information or materials she needed.
Vanessa opened the door, and she couldn't even comprehend what she saw inside. The shelves were lined with unknown cylindrical items and a strangely high quantity of leather and silk. She felt like the walls were watching as she stepped inside, looking for a counter over a shelf of whips. Vanessa had not the slightest clue what the whips were for, and she figured she didn't want to know.
A small bell rang through the building as she opened the door, high and strangely cheery despite the odd surroundings. A voice called out to her, "I'm coming! Just one moment."
Vanessa paused, looking around at what was most likely a shop. She looked to her left and found a wall full of candles. The candles were in every color imaginable, even ones she couldn't believe were possible to put in a candle. The sight of that many fire implements intimidated her, though, so she elected to stand as far from that wall as possible.
From the back of the store emerged a lithe drow man with dark hair and darker eyes. He wore an exquisite deep purple suit with the slight shine of silk. He looked at Vanessa, seeming to size her up. "How odd."
"What?" Vanessa asked.
He took a deep breath in from his nose. "There's an air about you."
"An air?"
"Yes," he continued, "magical concealment. Something hiding you behind a wall. Secrets."
Vanessa felt the fear bubble in her soul. "What do you mean?"
He stared at her, looking deep into her eyes with a glare. He held this look for what Vanessa thought was forever. Then, as if nothing were out of the ordinary, he jolted back upright. "I don't know. Probably nothing. Not uncommon for a customer."
The whiplash left Vanessa reeling.
"You are wearing one of the queen's servant uniforms. What's a maid like you doing in a shop like this?" He gave off a wolfish grin.
"I'm on business for the queen."
His grin widened. "Business, you say?"
"Yes. She needs some fabric for-"
He interrupted, "Ah! Perfect. Must be something nice if she needs some fabric from me. What occasion?"
Vanessa almost didn't want to tell the man, but this must've been the "Alasain" the queen mentioned. "The royal wedding."
Alasain stumbled. "She needs fabric for the royal wedding. And she sent a maid for the errand?"
"I'm actually her personal maid, sir." Vanessa curtsied slightly, "My name is Vanessa."
He nodded. "I see. Well, I've got a few pieces she might be interested in. Follow me." He rushed toward the back of the shop.
Vanessa hastily stumbled her way to follow him, moving through shelves and shelves of odd collections of implements. The more Vanessa saw, the less she believed Ireena ever went to this place.
Alasain escorted Vanessa to a small back room. Behind the door was line after line of garments that barely covered the displays they were on. Seeing all these garments almost made Vanessa envious of the people who could wear them. If she wore one, her stitches would be plain as day for her, even if it was invisible to other people.
Their final destination was a rack behind the displays holding rows upon rows of fabric bolts. "Take a look," Alasain said.
Vanessa leafed her way through bolt after bolt. Most of the fabric was expensive silk. There was just about every color she could need, and she looked through to find a color that would work well. She eventually found a bolt of almost black silk, shimmering just slightly in the candlelight a red hue. She wondered how that fabric was able to glimmer in such a way, but inevitably decided that would be the best fit for Ireena. "I think this would work."
Alasain inspected the bolt. "That's rather interesting for the royal wedding," he commented, "Wouldn't white stand out more?"
"My lady specifically said no white," Vanessa replied.
He nodded. "Is there anything else you need?"
"I think that's everything," Vanessa said, "At least for my lady."
"What about for something other than business? The queen pointed you here." Alasain took the bolt from the rack.
"I don't understand." Vanessa moved over to the displays, glancing over at a sheer, gossamer-like garment. "She simply said you would know where to source nice fabrics."
"That's true; I do keep a rather extensive stock of fabric for intimate and formal dress," he replied, "but I figured you'd be interested on matters of yourself."
Vanessa looked back at him. "I am fine. I don't need anything."
"Shame. Well, if that's all, I will bill the castle. How much do you need? Or should I bill for the whole bolt?"
"I will take the whole bolt," Vanessa replied, "I'd rather have extra, just in case."
"Are you making the garment in question?"
"I am," Vanessa said, "Why?"
"Nothing," he continued.
Vanessa took the bolt from Alasain. "I think I should head back now."
"I wish you the best of luck. I figure I should see you again sometime?"
"I don't know," Vanessa said, "I think I won't have much use for what you sell here."
Alasain chuckled. "One day you might. Let me know if there's something I can provide."
Vanessa had no idea what he meant by that, but something possessed her to ask, "What is all this for, anyway?"
"Pleasure, Vanessa."
"Pleasure?"
He tilted his head. "You come in here without knowing what any of this is for?"
"I am here simply because of a recommendation for fabric."
"How should I put this?" he stopped, pondering for a moment, "Many people need assistance with matters. Matters not necessarily about love, per say, though most seem to conflate it."
Vanessa regretted asking.
"You see, many people come to me with their issues. Their marriage is failing, or they want to avoid children, or even something as simple as being pent up. Do you understand now?"
Vanessa paused. "Matters of sex?" she asked.
"Yes," he sighed, "those matters."
Vanessa understood the idea of sex, despite most of her life being spent in hiding. That was mostly due to the unfortunate fact that she was originally created for Strahd's unsavory purposes. Even with that, however, she had no knowledge of the intricacies of sex, nor did she understand the purpose of any of the items for sale in this shop. Not only that, but she didn't have much interest in learning. She would never have that kind of proper relationship as she was, nor did she know if she could experience any of the pleasures that living people had. The thought made her soul sink, as it was yet another thing she lost to undeath.
"Are you alright?" Alasain asked.
Vanessa stopped. "Yes," she replied, "just lost in thought."
He nodded, and Vanessa hoped he didn't understand what she meant.
"I think it is time for me to go," Vanessa admitted, "the queen is probably waiting for me."
"Well, miss Vanessa, I wish you the best with the queen's dress."
Vanessa nodded back at him, turning to leave. She paused at the door, pondering. "Actually," she said, turning back toward Alasain "I have a question."
He had, at this point, gone back to the counter.
"I've never felt any of these pleasures. Is there anything for me to," she paused, picking her words carefully, "well, is there anything for me to try?"
Alasain smiled. "I know of a few things." He moved to the counter of strange cylindrical objects, each leeching the faintest hint of magic.
Vanessa imagined her cheeks would have flushed right now. "What are those for?"
"You'll find out, I'm sure." Alasain walked over to her with a small strangely shaped item. It was small, cylindrical and tapered. "Feel this in your hand."
Vanessa took the item. "What does it do?"
"Touch the rune at the base."
When Vanessa did, the little item started to buzz and vibrate. She almost dropped it when she touched the rune again and it got more intense.
"Just touch the rune for a few seconds to turn it off."
Turning it off, Vanessa asked, "I am still wondering how this works."
Alasain handed her a small booklet, "This should tell you what you need to know. It just talks about anatomy, and don't worry, it's very clear."
Vanessa took the booklet, putting it and the item in her pocket. "How much will this cost?"
"The enchantment on that bullet is rather easy to have made, and the booklet is free. I think I can part with it for 5 gold."
Vanessa paused. That would likely be her whole salary for the next few weeks. Then again, she didn't have to pay for lodging and food, so she handed the gold over anyway. She figured some experimentation would help her feel more human, and this was one of the few things she could do to find out.
After paying Alasain, Vanessa moved her way out the store and back to the carriage to Ravenloft, fabric in hand.