Chapter 3

After making sure that doors and windows are locked and shut, Ciri in the end managed to breaths with relief, as she lean against wall. This card game give her more stress and adrenaline than fight with the bandits in previous night. In sword fighting Ciri’s has years of experience and training, so she knew what to do, even if situation was dire. But in playing hazard game, she was complete depending on her own luck and if cards was against her, she would be right now fully nude selling ware of these two dwarfs

“It was foolish from my side to agree for such bet.” She said to herself, putting face in hands trying not to thinking about such shame and humiliation.

“At least I managed to won, but I won’t try this again.” Ciri decided and then look at herself. She was dressed only in her small white bra and boots, rest of her things lie down on the floor. Ciri realized that most of the tavern seen her bare ass, as she run way. Witcheress bushes and put on her panties.

“Ah, not thinking about this anymore.” She get into bed, trying to get some rest, after such eventful morning and night.

Roll for time of day when Ciri wake up. 1D20 (1-5 noon. 6-10 afternoon, 11-15 evening, 16-20 night)

Ciri: 20

When Ciri wake up, she realized that she oversleep almost all day. As she stand up from the bed, witcheress take a look at her room, wondering if everything is in correct way.

Roll for perception hard 1d20: 20, critical success

As Ciri getting dressed, she noticed that her sword wasn’t in the same place where is left it before coming to bed. Also, there was strange wet spot on blanket, which she cover herself. On the corner, she found yellow straw, like from the stable or field. There is no mistake, someone been in her room while she was sleeping. Ciri quickly checked her possession if nothing is missing.

Roll for perception normal 1d20: 5, failure

Ciri can’t be sure, but it look like to her, that is none of her things is gone. But no mater if something is stolen or not, some stranger enter her room while she was sleeping, which anger Ciri.

“It must been innkeeper, of course he had spare keys to enter to my room. But this straw makes stable boy suspect as well.” Ciri said to herself as she tried to recognize smell from wet spot.

Roll for perception hard 1d20: 9, failure

No, she couldn’t put that smell in the right place, but it was familiar. Maybe she will recognize it later. But now she have to check suspected people for intrude in her private space.

“Let’s ask innkeeper first, even if he is not guilty, it is his job to make his guests safe in rented rooms.” Ciri attached sword to her back and head down stairs to the main hall. There was not track of dwarfs with whom Ciri played.

Inside there was crowded and noisy, farmers and merchants talks, laughing, drinking and playing board games. Ciri spotted innkeeper as he gives drinks to looking dangerous mercenaries. Ciri wait awhile as he finished and then headed to him.

“You have a lot of visitors today”. Ciri said to him as he fill up cups from the barrel.

“Do you want anything? If not, don’t interrupt me. I have a lot work to do”. Innkeeper said with no patience in voice, so Ciri decided to be direct.

“Someone been in my room as I was sleep. Do you know anything about it?”

Roll for persuasion normal 1d20: 12, pass.

“Do you think I had a time to peeks on you girl, when I have husband? Sorry, but I’m not interested in your body”. He said that with such confidence in voice and true full, that Ciri believed him.

“So if not you, than who? I found tracks of intruder in my room, that I’m sure.”

Innkeeper brings full plates of meal to visitors as Ciri followed him.

“Now when you mention that, there was few accidents similar to yours in last weeks in town. Few girls complain that someone spy on them in their rooms, but there was no evidence of burglary. You should ask priests in church if you want know more.” He said and leave Ciri. Now, she could go to local church and study this cause deeply. But then she saw stable boy, waving to her

“Hello, pretty girl? Do you want to join me on something to drink? I pay!”

Ciri decided to ignored petty proposal from stable boy, remembering his comments about her ass.

She leave tavern and get into no less crowded alleys of town. There were performers showing their acrobatic skills, some singers and musicians making small crowds around them and small shops with sweets, snacks, drinks and accessories. Ciri have to make her way through such mass of men.

Roll for perception normal 1d20: 18, pass.

As Ciri move between people, suddenly she feel like her pouch with coins moving away. Witcheress quickly turn around and seen halfling trying to pickpocket her money.

“You thief!” Ciri shout and try to grab short guy.

Roll for grabbing 1d20 normal +5 (Student of Kaer morhen): 16+5, pass. Halfling parry roll 1d20: 6, failure

Halfling was fast, but Ciri was faster and get better reflex than him, so she managed to catch little thief.

“Let me go you bitch”! He shout, trying to get free

Now people around put their attention to them as Ciri and halfling struggle.

“Ha, good job girl, bloody thieves!” Call someone from the crowd.

“Come one, let’s give this not human lesson about stealing from betters”. Someone else shout.

Ciri noticed that she could just give thief to the crowd and they made bloody mess of him. On other hand, by law she should bring him to local guards or militia, so he maybe survive.

Witcheress decided to bring thief to organs of law, to avoid unnecessary bloodshed.

“Where is your militia post?” She asked locals, who look disappointment that there won’t be a show.

“In the next alley, you will find it without problem.” He said, as Ciri put hand on her sword, which silent some angry voices.

As she drag halfling, he suddenly began to struggle against her grip.

Roll for holding normal 1d20: 10, pass

Ciri kick him in the balls, hard that halfling cry quiet and make no more resist as Ciri lead him to guard outpost. As she saw few men in uniform of Eternal Flame with clubs and spears, Ciri wasn’t sure if she found right one. They wasn’t Redania men.

“Ekhem, is that local militia post?” She asked to be sure.

One of the guard look at Ciri and at halfling and yawn.

“It is you again Tom? Last punishment teach you nothing? Well, it is your choice.” He said as two men tied up short guy.

“Third time in this month. I suspect, this time it won’t end for him in lashes on back.” He said and look at Ciri.

“So, he tried to steal from you? Well, thank you, girl for bringing him to us.” He said without any attention to Ciri, so she decided to leave it to him.

Now she can finaly headed to church.

When witcheress enter the church, she saw big hall, with painting of Eternal Fire on the walls and big altar with burning flame in iron bowl. Before altar was praying on his knees knight, with sword before him. As Ciri move closer to him, knight turn around and stand up.

“Eternal Flame bless you child. What brings you to temple of Order?” He asked, holding his sword down. Ciri noticed that knight wasn’t youngest.

“Well, I come here because of some peaking tom sneak inside my room and innkeeper told me, that something similar happens to many girls in this town.” As she speak, she realized how it stupid sounds and wondering if innkeeper didn’t make fun of her. But knight didn’t look annoyed.

“Hmm… As I can see by your amulet, you are witcheress. Rare opportunity… But welcome one”. He said in weird voice, making Ciri worried about his mental health. “You see, I hear about that too and I have reason to expect it isn’t only sinner who desire woman who isn’t his wife. No, I’m afraid it could be something more serious.” He said as he light off candles.

“As witcheress, you must know there as some kind of monsters which can hide among humans. Some of these girls has left strange marks on their bodies too, which make me belie that they been biten by vampire.”

Ciri realized it could be the cause, why she didn’t think about it sooner.

“And you said something similar happen to you. Forgive me for what I ask you, but please remove your clothes. We must make sure you are not bite too.”

Ciri shrug angry, for such suggestion.

“Are you out your mind? I won’t strip here before you”!

Knight nod his head.

“You are right, it would be profanation if you expose your body in the temple. Let’s go to sacristy”. He said and go to the small doors in the corner.

“That not what I mean… Dammit!” Ciri said angry, but followed him, as knight let her enter.

“I understand you fear child, but before I will let you take matter of this monster, I have to be sure, that you are not infected by vampire.”

“I can’t become vampire, they are different race so.” Ciri said angry but knight rise his hand.

“I know that witcheress, but you can be under vampire influence. If happen worst, I would have to make exorcism on you to remove such taint.” Ciri understand, that he had a point, but it still don’t pleased her.

“At least call for female priest or nun!” She said, but knight shake his head.

“I’m afraid it is impossible. Locals are good, but simple people, none of them study or rare is able to read, so they wouldn’t recognize mark, which is necessary to be sure if everything is in order.”

Ciri heavy breath and begin removing.

Roll for mark 1d2: 1, failure

As Ciri removes her armor, knight take a look at her forearms and belly, but found nothing.

“Continue.” He said with stoic voice.

Roll for mark 1d2: 2, pass

When Ciri removes her shirt, knight point at her torso, just near the neck. There was two little marks, like after bite.

“There it is our intruder.” He said as he bend the knee and begin praying.

“Powerful Eternal Fire, please grand me strength to cleaning this young innocent woman from the mark of the shadow.” He prays with voice of truly believer.

Roll for exorcism normal 1d20: 11, pass.

Ciri feels like something was burning inside her chest as knight praying, it become warmer and warmer. Suddenly, mark on her chest burn with white flame, but it didn’t give her pain. She jump away shocked, but fire as soon as started, as soon has ended. She look surprised at place where marks was gone.

“Now, you are cleaned of your burden. We can hunt together source of this evil”. Knight said.