What do you think is going to happen to S? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

What do you think is going to happen to S?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
ylem
Dec 22, 2003 22:28:41 Where do you think the plotline involving S, the "author" of the Gazetteers, is going? What would you like to see happen to S? According to the developers, the turnover among their writers has been so great that nobody knows what may eventually happen to S in the years to come. But there used to be some very interesting threads about S on the Kargatane board, so I'm interested to see what others think of these questions.
I think Gaz 4 raises 2 especially interesting questions about S. First, exactly how did S escape the werewolves, and end up 2 weeks later in Helbenik? Second, what's the significance of the Vistani S meets at the end of Gaz 4? I'll share a few ideas I've had about these.
One possibility that's occurred to me is that in the seconds before the werewolves could kill her, S may have turned into a werewolf, either because she had just been infected, or because the atttack triggered Azalin's bracer, which generated a form of Polymorph magic, or perhaps because of a combination of these 2 factors. Her sudden change might have caused the werewolves to pause. At the very least, it would have given her a better chance of fighting them off. If she'd been an infected werewolf for the last 2 weeks, it would explain S's lapse of memory. After spending 2 weeks in werewolf form, S would have gotten over the initial surge of bloodlust, and would have been thinking more clearly. I think she may have slipped over the border to Valachen in hybrid form, and then killed and eaten the owners of the home S woke up in. She was careful enough not to make a great mess, but she did leave one spot of blood on the rug which S later found. She may then have buried the remains of the bodies, which would explain the mud that S found on the house's door jam. S's clothing would have been ripped during the initial attack, so I think Werewolf S used a mending spell to repair them. This is why her clothing later seemed subtly different to S. Eating the house's occupants didn't entirely satisfy Werewolf S's appetite, so she fixed a hot meal for herself to eat after she had changed back to human form.
Of course, an alternate explaination is that Azalin's bracer somehow stopped the werewolves from killing S, perhaps by making them her friends. Instead, they healed her wounds, fixed her clothing, and carried her into Valachan. She spent the 2 weeks in which this happened unconscious and only woke up after the werewolves had left, which is why she remembers nothing. The WereWolves may have killed the home's occupants themselves, but I personaly don't find this as interesting an explaination as the transfomation idea. I think S may transform into other sorts of creatures as the Gazetteers continue. For instance, when she explores the Shadow Rift, she could become a Shadow Fay. When she gets to Bleutspur, she could become an illithid. Eventually, if this idea is used, I'd expect S to gain conscious control over her transformation ability.
Regarding the mysterious Vistani S meets at the end of Gaz 4, I think he may be a member of the Tribe of Hyskosa described in
Champions of Darkness. The ToH is a former Canjur tribe of the Manusa which Madame Eva expelled from the Vistani because they had tried to help the Dukkar Hyskosa's prophecy about the end of Ravenloft come true. They are all Darklings, except that the Tribe's women still have the ability to see the future. (This has driven the women mad.) The ToH hates Azalin, whom they blame for their expulsion from the Vistani. They do everything they can to hurt Azalin, so an agent of Azalin's like S would be their enemy. The hands of all members of the ToH have been scarred, which fits S's description of the gypsy she meets. Judging from Azalin's comment that the "hounds have found my fox" and that "Now it begins", Azalin was expecting something like this to happen to S eventually. Perhaps the reason why S will have to travel to the Islands of Terror is because the ToH will be in hot pursuit of her? S may also gain a curse from the gypsies, perhaps one that subtly helps her do the job Azalin wants done, in the same way Van Richten's curse tended to preserve his life, at the expense of those around him.
#2
zombiegleemax
Dec 23, 2003 2:22:22 Tough questions to answer. Here are my thoughts.

It doesn't seem impossible to me that the bracers involve some kind of transformative "curse" that could turn "S" into a mosterous entity capable of taking out a werewolf or three...however I think its very unlikely that she turned into a werebeast there due to infection. She does seems remarkably blase' about possible repercussions *AFTER* the attack, but after an additional 3 months on the trail I think she would have showed some sign if she did have "lunar problems". Especially after passing through Sithicus. Another possibility & my hypothesis is that there are some kind of "monsters" or guardians (or minders) that come out of the bracers when "S" is in trouble. If I was her patron I know I'd want a little extra guarantee of her continued productivity and loyalty - not necessarily in that order.

If "S" did transform I don't think a "out of her mind" monster would be carefull in dispossing of the poor souls who used to live in the house "S" woke up in. I think someone clever and very much in control tidied up. A less perceptive individual than "S" wouldn't have noticed the sign of violence. The only possibility I can see where "S" as a "monster" might work is with a dark twin sort of idea along the ideas of Tristen/Malken...but "S" is already fairly unsavory and I don't favor this idea.

I think its more likely she was unconcious due to either (1) her wounds and/or (2) outside agencies keeping her "out" so they would not be seen/understood by her. I also don't believe the clothes she wore were the result of a mend spell. Again if she's capable of casting spells then she ought to be enough in her mind to remember something - especially after her stay in Sithicus. I believe another party brought or provided nearly exact duplicates of what she was wearing. This of course implies intimate knowledge of her apparel (following my hypothesis of being "trapped" in the bracers they might be able to see out and be aware of her at all times) as well as the ability to get their hands on or direct the creation of duplicates within two weeks. In Valachon. In winter.

MMMmmmm makes me feel warm safe and fuzzy. =)

As for the gypsies...Its clear "S"'s patron has plans for Malocchio. The vistani are unlikely to want any plans involving the Dukkar to move forward. It may be as simple as that. But I doubt it. Poor "S", I almost feel sorry for her. The cold logical types are never as clever as they think they are. I have the feeling she's hip deep and sinking and doesn't even know where the real threats are coming from yet.

-Eric Gorman
#3
zombiegleemax
Dec 23, 2003 7:09:54 I must be very wrong, but I believe the vistani S found in the end of Gaz 4 are members of the Tribe of Hyskosa...
#4
zombiegleemax
Dec 23, 2003 13:14:32 Maybe Azalin is up to his old clone-games again and the bracer is some sort of phylacterythat returns to him in case of death. S said that there was something strange about her clothes which might be replicas. 2 weeks are probably enough time for Azalin to transport the clone into Valachan...
#5
ylem
Dec 23, 2003 13:25:25 Eric, if S had become an infected werewolf, her trigger might not have anything to do with the moon. Assuming there is anything to this idea, her trigger would have been some factor present in the few seconds before the werewolf pack finished the job of killing her. Perhaps the trigger might be intense pain, or being on the verge of death, or being in close physical proximity to the werewolves. S hasn't experienced any of these factors since she awoke in Valachan, so we can't entirely rule out the infected werewolf hypothesis. At any rate, I'm personally more attracted to the idea that the werewolf infection might have somehow interacted with a prexisting Polymorph magic in the bracer (singular). If I'm right about that, then the way the werewolf infection would have effected S would have been altered by the effects of the bracer's magic.
Your idea that some entity (possibly incorporeal) is associated with the bracer is certainly possible, but if such a being exists, I think it more probable that it used its own magic to repair S's clothing and gear, rather than going to the trouble of having nearly exact duplicates manufactured. It would certainly have been easier just to replace S's clothing with clothing available in Helbenik. It's not obvious to me why such an entity would want to replace S's clothing with such precise duplicates, unless you think it wants S to be located by someone (possibly the Vistani) who knew what sort of clothing S had been wearing.
What abilities does this hypothetical entity from the bracer need to have? It would need to have repelled the werewolves, and treated the wounds S had already suffered, so that she did not die from them and they healed in two weeks, leaving no scars. It would have to be able to move S's body across a Domain border. It would have to keep S unconscious for 2 weeks, and also keep S from starving to death while she was unconscious. It would have to repair or replace S's clothing. It possibly needed some way of getting rid of the people who lived in the house S woke up in. Does anyone have any suggesions as to what sort of entity (incorporeal or otherwise) might have these capabilities?
Midir, that's a really clever idea. Azalin doesn't have the Clone spell, but he could have duplicated it with a Wish. The Clone spell in 3.5 has been modified so that the clone now has the soul and the full memories of the original at death, but has lost 1 level. I think S would have noticed the loss of a level, but perhaps the magic contained in the bracer somehow prevented the loss?
#6
zombiegleemax
Dec 23, 2003 16:02:15 As I recall, the Vistana S described had an emaciated look and a scarred hand. Sounds like a Darkling to me.
#7
zombiegleemax
Dec 23, 2003 16:10:50
Originally posted by The Midir
Maybe Azalin is up to his old clone-games again and the bracer is some sort of phylacterythat returns to him in case of death. S said that there was something strange about her clothes which might be replicas. 2 weeks are probably enough time for Azalin to transport the clone into Valachan...

Mah favorite! I think this idea is more in tone with something Azalin would have done, and the sheer horror of this theory is five times as being a werewolf. Just imagine waking, and finding that it's not only your clothes that is wrong, it's your very being!

I'm not sure what exactly has happened, haven't got that far in the Gaz yet, just skimmed the parts with Azalins handwriting once I got it....
#8
zombiegleemax
Dec 23, 2003 19:29:30
Originally posted by Reginald de Curry
As I recall, the Vistana S described had an emaciated look and a scarred hand. Sounds like a Darkling to me.

The Tribe of Hyskosa hates Azalin, so they would love to destroy S.
#9
keg_of_ale
Dec 23, 2003 20:54:30 I think S died when werewolves cought her. Her current incarnation I believe is some sort of construct, maybe a clone. That doesn't explain the blood stain, though.
#10
zombiegleemax
Dec 24, 2003 0:34:40 I am certainly willing to consider the possibility that "S" is an infected lycanthrope and her trigger hasn't been "set" yet. I don't like the idea that she transforms due to some accidental combination of curse and magic. Azalin (and/or the other major players) make plans for these kinds of contingencies. I believe whatever happened was deliberate.

The clone ideas have some merit. What about a weirdly "vampiric" phylactery that re-imprints "S" onto anyone else who dons the bracers? That one drop of blood might be the only bit left from some person forced or tricked to don them. Assuming Azalins is monitoring "S" progress 2 weeks ought to be enough for his minions to get there and move the bracelets. People who are familiar with the "cruciforms" from Dan Simmon's Sci-Fi novel "Hyperion" might also suspect a double who swaps places with "S" at various times. Or the bracers could be a link with a "dimensional" being that can swap places with "S".

"S" clearly believes that someone had been in the cabin recently when she regained conciousness. I trust her powers of observations. I believe someone like Victor "the cleaner" came in and sanitzed the cabin after dealing with the inhabitants. I also think a mending spell would not have produced a differece in "S"'s dress. Someone/thing provided her with a duplicate. I don't think the idea is to make her recognizable...I think the idea is to "make her whole" and send her back on her way.

As to the gypsies: Well it could be a Darkling and it could be part of the Hykosa. But its too early to jump to those conclusions. The Manusa don't want anyone screwing around with Malocchio - reason for them to intervene in the plan with "S". The vistani as a whole tend to serve as Strahd's spies - reason to avoid them altogther right there. Again we need more data.

Regarless its a pleasant mystery to work on.

-Eric Gorman
#11
zombiegleemax
Dec 24, 2003 0:38:43
Originally posted by Keg of Ale
I think S died when werewolves cought her. Her current incarnation I believe is some sort of construct, maybe a clone. That doesn't explain the blood stain, though.

Possible but if "S" is still human she would simply need a warm place to recover. If a third party was involved I think its reasonable that they would have eliminated the cabin's occupants. In the process of removing evidence of their own involvement they cleaned everything up but missed one tiny bloodstain (or perhaps worse left one tiney bloodstain for "S" to notice).

-Eric
#12
ylem
Dec 24, 2003 3:10:03
Originally posted by HvF
The clone ideas have some merit. What about a weirdly "vampiric" phylactery that re-imprints "S" onto anyone else who dons the bracers? That one drop of blood might be the only bit left from some person forced or tricked to don them. Assuming Azalins is monitoring "S" progress 2 weeks ought to be enough for his minions to get there and move the bracelets.

I also think a mending spell would not have produced a differece in "S"'s dress. Someone/thing provided her with a duplicate. I don't think the idea is to make her recognizable...I think the idea is to "make her whole" and send her back on her way.

As to the gypsies: Well it could be a Darkling and it could be part of the Hykosa. But its too early to jump to those conclusions. The Manusa don't want anyone screwing around with Malocchio - reason for them to intervene in the plan with "S". The vistani as a whole tend to serve as Strahd's spies - reason to avoid them altogther right there. Again we need more data.

Regarless its a pleasant mystery to work on.

-Eric Gorman

Eric's vampiric bracer idea has some interesting possibilities. Azalin says that "the hounds" have found his "fox" and "Now it begins." Now what begins? What if he expects one of the Vistani women who have found S to kill S and put on her bracer? (By the way, S has only one bracer, not two....which makes me wonder where the other bracer is. Perhaps its being worn by the real S who is unconscious back in Darkon? ) What if, when S is 'imprinted" on a Vistani woman, the new S inherits some of the Vistani abilities of the Vistani
woman she's been imprinted upon?

Another clue to the function of the bracer may be its description. Its described as being made of black leather and set with smooth onyx stones. Does anyone know if onyx has any special magical properties in DnD magic?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 ylem Dec 22, 2003 22:28:41	Where do you think the plotline involving S, the "author" of the Gazetteers, is going? What would you like to see happen to S? According to the developers, the turnover among their writers has been so great that nobody knows what may eventually happen to S in the years to come. But there used to be some very interesting threads about S on the Kargatane board, so I'm interested to see what others think of these questions. I think Gaz 4 raises 2 especially interesting questions about S. First, exactly how did S escape the werewolves, and end up 2 weeks later in Helbenik? Second, what's the significance of the Vistani S meets at the end of Gaz 4? I'll share a few ideas I've had about these. One possibility that's occurred to me is that in the seconds before the werewolves could kill her, S may have turned into a werewolf, either because she had just been infected, or because the atttack triggered Azalin's bracer, which generated a form of Polymorph magic, or perhaps because of a combination of these 2 factors. Her sudden change might have caused the werewolves to pause. At the very least, it would have given her a better chance of fighting them off. If she'd been an infected werewolf for the last 2 weeks, it would explain S's lapse of memory. After spending 2 weeks in werewolf form, S would have gotten over the initial surge of bloodlust, and would have been thinking more clearly. I think she may have slipped over the border to Valachen in hybrid form, and then killed and eaten the owners of the home S woke up in. She was careful enough not to make a great mess, but she did leave one spot of blood on the rug which S later found. She may then have buried the remains of the bodies, which would explain the mud that S found on the house's door jam. S's clothing would have been ripped during the initial attack, so I think Werewolf S used a mending spell to repair them. This is why her clothing later seemed subtly different to S. Eating the house's occupants didn't entirely satisfy Werewolf S's appetite, so she fixed a hot meal for herself to eat after she had changed back to human form. Of course, an alternate explaination is that Azalin's bracer somehow stopped the werewolves from killing S, perhaps by making them her friends. Instead, they healed her wounds, fixed her clothing, and carried her into Valachan. She spent the 2 weeks in which this happened unconscious and only woke up after the werewolves had left, which is why she remembers nothing. The WereWolves may have killed the home's occupants themselves, but I personaly don't find this as interesting an explaination as the transfomation idea. I think S may transform into other sorts of creatures as the Gazetteers continue. For instance, when she explores the Shadow Rift, she could become a Shadow Fay. When she gets to Bleutspur, she could become an illithid. Eventually, if this idea is used, I'd expect S to gain conscious control over her transformation ability. Regarding the mysterious Vistani S meets at the end of Gaz 4, I think he may be a member of the Tribe of Hyskosa described in Champions of Darkness. The ToH is a former Canjur tribe of the Manusa which Madame Eva expelled from the Vistani because they had tried to help the Dukkar Hyskosa's prophecy about the end of Ravenloft come true. They are all Darklings, except that the Tribe's women still have the ability to see the future. (This has driven the women mad.) The ToH hates Azalin, whom they blame for their expulsion from the Vistani. They do everything they can to hurt Azalin, so an agent of Azalin's like S would be their enemy. The hands of all members of the ToH have been scarred, which fits S's description of the gypsy she meets. Judging from Azalin's comment that the "hounds have found my fox" and that "Now it begins", Azalin was expecting something like this to happen to S eventually. Perhaps the reason why S will have to travel to the Islands of Terror is because the ToH will be in hot pursuit of her? S may also gain a curse from the gypsies, perhaps one that subtly helps her do the job Azalin wants done, in the same way Van Richten's curse tended to preserve his life, at the expense of those around him.
#2 zombiegleemax Dec 23, 2003 2:22:22	Tough questions to answer. Here are my thoughts. It doesn't seem impossible to me that the bracers involve some kind of transformative "curse" that could turn "S" into a mosterous entity capable of taking out a werewolf or three...however I think its very unlikely that she turned into a werebeast there due to infection. She does seems remarkably blase' about possible repercussions AFTER the attack, but after an additional 3 months on the trail I think she would have showed some sign if she did have "lunar problems". Especially after passing through Sithicus. Another possibility & my hypothesis is that there are some kind of "monsters" or guardians (or minders) that come out of the bracers when "S" is in trouble. If I was her patron I know I'd want a little extra guarantee of her continued productivity and loyalty - not necessarily in that order. If "S" did transform I don't think a "out of her mind" monster would be carefull in dispossing of the poor souls who used to live in the house "S" woke up in. I think someone clever and very much in control tidied up. A less perceptive individual than "S" wouldn't have noticed the sign of violence. The only possibility I can see where "S" as a "monster" might work is with a dark twin sort of idea along the ideas of Tristen/Malken...but "S" is already fairly unsavory and I don't favor this idea. I think its more likely she was unconcious due to either (1) her wounds and/or (2) outside agencies keeping her "out" so they would not be seen/understood by her. I also don't believe the clothes she wore were the result of a mend spell. Again if she's capable of casting spells then she ought to be enough in her mind to remember something - especially after her stay in Sithicus. I believe another party brought or provided nearly exact duplicates of what she was wearing. This of course implies intimate knowledge of her apparel (following my hypothesis of being "trapped" in the bracers they might be able to see out and be aware of her at all times) as well as the ability to get their hands on or direct the creation of duplicates within two weeks. In Valachon. In winter. MMMmmmm makes me feel warm safe and fuzzy. =) As for the gypsies...Its clear "S"'s patron has plans for Malocchio. The vistani are unlikely to want any plans involving the Dukkar to move forward. It may be as simple as that. But I doubt it. Poor "S", I almost feel sorry for her. The cold logical types are never as clever as they think they are. I have the feeling she's hip deep and sinking and doesn't even know where the real threats are coming from yet. -Eric Gorman
#3 zombiegleemax Dec 23, 2003 7:09:54	I must be very wrong, but I believe the vistani S found in the end of Gaz 4 are members of the Tribe of Hyskosa...
#4 zombiegleemax Dec 23, 2003 13:14:32	Maybe Azalin is up to his old clone-games again and the bracer is some sort of phylacterythat returns to him in case of death. S said that there was something strange about her clothes which might be replicas. 2 weeks are probably enough time for Azalin to transport the clone into Valachan...
#5 ylem Dec 23, 2003 13:25:25	Eric, if S had become an infected werewolf, her trigger might not have anything to do with the moon. Assuming there is anything to this idea, her trigger would have been some factor present in the few seconds before the werewolf pack finished the job of killing her. Perhaps the trigger might be intense pain, or being on the verge of death, or being in close physical proximity to the werewolves. S hasn't experienced any of these factors since she awoke in Valachan, so we can't entirely rule out the infected werewolf hypothesis. At any rate, I'm personally more attracted to the idea that the werewolf infection might have somehow interacted with a prexisting Polymorph magic in the bracer (singular). If I'm right about that, then the way the werewolf infection would have effected S would have been altered by the effects of the bracer's magic. Your idea that some entity (possibly incorporeal) is associated with the bracer is certainly possible, but if such a being exists, I think it more probable that it used its own magic to repair S's clothing and gear, rather than going to the trouble of having nearly exact duplicates manufactured. It would certainly have been easier just to replace S's clothing with clothing available in Helbenik. It's not obvious to me why such an entity would want to replace S's clothing with such precise duplicates, unless you think it wants S to be located by someone (possibly the Vistani) who knew what sort of clothing S had been wearing. What abilities does this hypothetical entity from the bracer need to have? It would need to have repelled the werewolves, and treated the wounds S had already suffered, so that she did not die from them and they healed in two weeks, leaving no scars. It would have to be able to move S's body across a Domain border. It would have to keep S unconscious for 2 weeks, and also keep S from starving to death while she was unconscious. It would have to repair or replace S's clothing. It possibly needed some way of getting rid of the people who lived in the house S woke up in. Does anyone have any suggesions as to what sort of entity (incorporeal or otherwise) might have these capabilities? Midir, that's a really clever idea. Azalin doesn't have the Clone spell, but he could have duplicated it with a Wish. The Clone spell in 3.5 has been modified so that the clone now has the soul and the full memories of the original at death, but has lost 1 level. I think S would have noticed the loss of a level, but perhaps the magic contained in the bracer somehow prevented the loss?
#6 zombiegleemax Dec 23, 2003 16:02:15	As I recall, the Vistana S described had an emaciated look and a scarred hand. Sounds like a Darkling to me.
#7 zombiegleemax Dec 23, 2003 16:10:50	Originally posted by The Midir Maybe Azalin is up to his old clone-games again and the bracer is some sort of phylacterythat returns to him in case of death. S said that there was something strange about her clothes which might be replicas. 2 weeks are probably enough time for Azalin to transport the clone into Valachan... Mah favorite! I think this idea is more in tone with something Azalin would have done, and the sheer horror of this theory is five times as being a werewolf. Just imagine waking, and finding that it's not only your clothes that is wrong, it's your very being! I'm not sure what exactly has happened, haven't got that far in the Gaz yet, just skimmed the parts with Azalins handwriting once I got it....
#8 zombiegleemax Dec 23, 2003 19:29:30	Originally posted by Reginald de Curry As I recall, the Vistana S described had an emaciated look and a scarred hand. Sounds like a Darkling to me. The Tribe of Hyskosa hates Azalin, so they would love to destroy S.
#9 keg_of_ale Dec 23, 2003 20:54:30	I think S died when werewolves cought her. Her current incarnation I believe is some sort of construct, maybe a clone. That doesn't explain the blood stain, though.
#10 zombiegleemax Dec 24, 2003 0:34:40	I am certainly willing to consider the possibility that "S" is an infected lycanthrope and her trigger hasn't been "set" yet. I don't like the idea that she transforms due to some accidental combination of curse and magic. Azalin (and/or the other major players) make plans for these kinds of contingencies. I believe whatever happened was deliberate. The clone ideas have some merit. What about a weirdly "vampiric" phylactery that re-imprints "S" onto anyone else who dons the bracers? That one drop of blood might be the only bit left from some person forced or tricked to don them. Assuming Azalins is monitoring "S" progress 2 weeks ought to be enough for his minions to get there and move the bracelets. People who are familiar with the "cruciforms" from Dan Simmon's Sci-Fi novel "Hyperion" might also suspect a double who swaps places with "S" at various times. Or the bracers could be a link with a "dimensional" being that can swap places with "S". "S" clearly believes that someone had been in the cabin recently when she regained conciousness. I trust her powers of observations. I believe someone like Victor "the cleaner" came in and sanitzed the cabin after dealing with the inhabitants. I also think a mending spell would not have produced a differece in "S"'s dress. Someone/thing provided her with a duplicate. I don't think the idea is to make her recognizable...I think the idea is to "make her whole" and send her back on her way. As to the gypsies: Well it could be a Darkling and it could be part of the Hykosa. But its too early to jump to those conclusions. The Manusa don't want anyone screwing around with Malocchio - reason for them to intervene in the plan with "S". The vistani as a whole tend to serve as Strahd's spies - reason to avoid them altogther right there. Again we need more data. Regarless its a pleasant mystery to work on. -Eric Gorman
#11 zombiegleemax Dec 24, 2003 0:38:43	Originally posted by Keg of Ale I think S died when werewolves cought her. Her current incarnation I believe is some sort of construct, maybe a clone. That doesn't explain the blood stain, though. Possible but if "S" is still human she would simply need a warm place to recover. If a third party was involved I think its reasonable that they would have eliminated the cabin's occupants. In the process of removing evidence of their own involvement they cleaned everything up but missed one tiny bloodstain (or perhaps worse left one tiney bloodstain for "S" to notice). -Eric
#12 ylem Dec 24, 2003 3:10:03	Originally posted by HvF The clone ideas have some merit. What about a weirdly "vampiric" phylactery that re-imprints "S" onto anyone else who dons the bracers? That one drop of blood might be the only bit left from some person forced or tricked to don them. Assuming Azalins is monitoring "S" progress 2 weeks ought to be enough for his minions to get there and move the bracelets. I also think a mending spell would not have produced a differece in "S"'s dress. Someone/thing provided her with a duplicate. I don't think the idea is to make her recognizable...I think the idea is to "make her whole" and send her back on her way. As to the gypsies: Well it could be a Darkling and it could be part of the Hykosa. But its too early to jump to those conclusions. The Manusa don't want anyone screwing around with Malocchio - reason for them to intervene in the plan with "S". The vistani as a whole tend to serve as Strahd's spies - reason to avoid them altogther right there. Again we need more data. Regarless its a pleasant mystery to work on. -Eric Gorman Eric's vampiric bracer idea has some interesting possibilities. Azalin says that "the hounds" have found his "fox" and "Now it begins." Now what begins? What if he expects one of the Vistani women who have found S to kill S and put on her bracer? (By the way, S has only one bracer, not two....which makes me wonder where the other bracer is. Perhaps its being worn by the real S who is unconscious back in Darkon? ) What if, when S is 'imprinted" on a Vistani woman, the new S inherits some of the Vistani abilities of the Vistani woman she's been imprinted upon? Another clue to the function of the bracer may be its description. Its described as being made of black leather and set with smooth onyx stones. Does anyone know if onyx has any special magical properties in DnD magic?