Tarri's 'mum' literally pulled a count Strahd von Zarovich on his birthday on the poor daughter bunn...What a nice gesture from 'mum'!!! XD
"Renika had apparently long known of our coming. This time, Barovia's ubiquitous wildflowers had been strung into garlands that ran from house to house all along their main street. More were strewn in our path, and a virtual rain of petals were dropped on us from the upper stories. Several musicians were thumping and puffing out something resembling a popular marching song, no doubt to honor my exploits as a soldier. Everyone had donned his or her best clothes; some of them even wore shoes.
A tiny girl, still a novice to walking, was urged in my direction, clutching her bouquet in one miniature fist. She tottered forward in her painfully clean smock, just managing not to fall over. I bent low, swept the flowers away from her, and held them high, nodding to the cheering crowd. There were actually enough people here to form a crowd. The revenue promised to be better than average.
The girl remained where she was, looking undecided, ultimately sticking a green-stained thumb into her mouth. Her mother darted up to grab her out of the way so I could dismount. In turn, one of the trumpeters relieved me of the flowers so I could face the burgomaster unencumbered. It's difficult to put on a properly stern face while so frivolously burdened. Alek was of the opinion that that was the purpose behind such presentations: to place the visiting dignitary at a disadvantage by the subtle diminishment of his dignity.
The burgomaster launched into the usual speech of greeting and wish for my continued good health and wise rule. These preambles always concluded with an invitation to some meal or other, which I never failed to politely refuse. Had I accepted all of them, I'd have had more stomach problems than Reinhold Dilisnya.
"And now, Lord Strahd, I humbly beg your permission to allow us to honor you by letting Renika be the first village to celebrate that blessed event that ultimately brought you to this, our beloved Barovia."
What? I thought. Dorian's depredations?
"Indeed, with your permission, I would like to be so bold as to propose that the great day be made into a national holiday to be marked by all from one end of the land to the other."
"What are you talking about, Burgomaster?"
"I beg leave to allow your grateful subjects the honor of celebrating your birthday, my lord." He finished with a flourish of his arms, which signaled to the crowd to start cheering again. When the noise finally subsided, the broadly smiling man gradually became aware that I was not at all amused.
"I find it interesting, Burgomaster, that you wish to celebrate a day that means I am yet another year closer to my death."
His face went blank with utter shock. "Oh, no, my lord! That is the last thing I - we wish to do!"
"Then we are in accord, as it is also the last thing I wish to do."
Nonplussed, he blinked his eyes rapidly as his mind attempted to adjust to this unexpected turn.
"The taxes, Burgomaster," I prompted, reminding him of the purpose of my visit."
~I, Strahd: The Memoirs of a Vampire
Tarri's 'mum' literally pulled a count *Strahd von Zarovich* on his birthday on the poor daughter bu
