Expedition to Castle Ravenloft IC 2

[Kish]

Barely able to see in front of themselves, the horses go a lot more slowly than previously, especially when you're crossing the mountain bridge. Gallard's sword occasionally flashes and then fades. But you reach the castle without being attacked, although not until midafternoon.

You stand once again, what feels like a hundred years later, in the room where you first saw the stone dragons.

Spoiler: map

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Key:
1: The entryway.
2: The room where you fought the gargoyles.
3: The chapel where you found the Icon of Ravenloft.
4: The north staircase, which leads up to the balcony overlooking the chapel.
5: The south staircase, which leads up to the tower where you saw the gem, and down to you know not what.
6: The staircase you took to the second floor.

Gallard's sword: Not glowing.

[neoseph7]

Ivyn Nadirna

We should grab the relic from the chapel, if it's still there. It could be useful. And then up these stairs towards wherever the garden might be hiding.

[stack]

"I have the icon of ravenloft, I've been using it to heal us each night. Now, we need to find this garden."

[Ionbound]

Elena nods and says, "Yeah. What tower did she say it was in? We should make a beeline for that."

[stack]

"Northeast side, she said, if I recall. Let us head upwards, then."

[Vetril]

Gallard doesn't seem intentioned to stop for more than the stricly necessary time needed to pick a direction. He listens to bihis companions, and then voices his opinion.

"I believe Brom's suggestion is indeed the most direct way. Maybe this time we won't have to face so many of the Count's creatures, but let's be cautious. Let me and Jonnel lead: we can take the brunt of most attacks and live to tell the tale."

Jonnel moves to Gallard's side. Now that the group is acting, the warrior is calm. It seems obvious that he is in his element.

"I'll guard your right side, my friend. They'll have to get through me to reach you."

[Kish]

You head up the stairs, pass the landing with the frescoes and alcoves with suits of armor, and arrive on the second floor.

Spoiler: map

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S: The stairs you just ascended.
7: The room you're in.
8: The room with the skeletons.
9: The staircase you took to go further up before.

In case the map makes it less than clear, there are unopened eastern doors in rooms 7 and 8. Of course, you don't know where, if anywhere, there are secret doors.

(Gallard's sword: Not glowing.)

[Ionbound]

Elena nods and says, "Onward and upwards, I suppose...I wonder if that spirit we met before is still around...And if she knows what happened to Ismark."

[stack]

"Getting this close, I think it is time to ward ourselves. We will need to venture into unexplored areas to find the garden, so perhaps that door to the East?"

Spoiler

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magic circle against evil on self for 80 minutes

suggesting the unopened door in 8, seems the right direction

[neoseph7]

Ivyn Nadirna

There's a door there? I must need new glasses. As long as it doesn't obviosly lead away from the tower top we're trying to get to.

[stack]

Brom opens the door.

(Accidentally posted in old thread, oops.)

[Kish]

Shadows seem to dance across the high, vaulted ceiling in this wide hall. A low moan rises and falls, intoning sadness and despair.

Spoiler: OOC

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Map. This is my solution to the "can't make out dotted lines" problem; it should work as long as you're all seeing the same thing. You just opened the door to Room 9; note that you do need to be using an artificial light source. If the link takes you to a floor that doesn't have a room 9, click the "Court of the Count" tab at the bottom of the spreadsheet.

(Gallard's sword: Not glowing.)

[stack]

Brom produces his everburning torch to light the way, allowing Gallard to lead.

[Ionbound]

Elena follows Gallard down the hall, morningstar drawn and ready for anything.

[Kish]

Despite the noise and the play of shadows, the hall appears to be empty. Nothing jumps out at you as you move into it.

(Gallard's sword: Not glowing.)

[stack]

Barring objections, Brom proceeds to the end of the hall to open the next door.

[Kish]

You find yourselves back on the balcony overlooking the chapel. Looking back at the door you just came through, you realize it only looks like a door on the other side; on this side it's a secret door.

"I wonder how many secret doors we're not seeing," Ireena comments. "The only stairway up from here that we've discovered yet was behind one."

(Gallard's sword: Not glowing.)

Spoiler: OOC

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Map is updated; you're in 10.

[Ionbound]

Elena nods and says, "Quite...Probably another example of Strahd's sick sense of humor. Still...I wonder if we should start checking the walls we come across. I'd hate to be surprised by something awful."

[Kish]

"It's a pity there's no one with us who's particularly good at finding secret doors. I can think of two options," Ireena says. "We can make a thorough search of all the walls we pass, which is likely to slow us down a lot. Or we can go places that have obvious doors, make a map, and, if we haven't found everything we need to find by then, search the walls where our map shows room for something to be."

[Vetril]

Gallard considers Ireena's suggestions, and then expresses his opinion.

"I don't think we have the time to search every inch of these hallways. The night would find us while we have not made enough progress to reach our goals."

Jonnel quickly adds:

"Drawing a map might be a good idea, though. And then we might start searching from the most obvious places. I doubt the Count has twisted the passages of his caste more than necessary, right?"

[neoseph7]

Ivyn Nadirna

Its probably how he himself moves through the castle. Probably tells one how convoluted his own head is. I agree with the quicker searching option. The more rapid our path to the garden, the sooner we save Ismark.

[stack]

"Agreed on the map. There was another door, back in the room we came up into, let us try that."

Spoiler

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south east door in room 7

[Kish]

As you head toward the door Brom suggests, Gallard's sword begins to glow.

[Ionbound]

On edge as she sees Gallard's sword begin to glow, Elena says, "So...What are the odds we're detecting the lord of the Castle or one of his servants, as opposed to something we can deal with."

[stack]

"Only one way to know, unless you've readied a divination?" Brom readies his armaments.

Spoiler

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Have someone else open the door (Jonnel of Gallard, ready to turn undead if attacked

[Vetril]

Gallard and Jonnel look at each other: "Your turn, I believe", says the warrior.

They approach the door. Jonnel prepares to push it open and get out of the way, while Gallard keeps his shield high to intercept any incoming attack.

Spoiler

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Gallard prepares with total defense. Jonnel opens the door and then steps to the side.

[Kish]

Dusty scrolls and tomes line the walls and lie scattered across the floor of this room. In the center of all this clutter stands a huge oak desk, its surface also littered with scrolls, tomes, and pieces of parchment. A figure crouches atop a tall stool beside the desk, scratching a quill across a long parchment. He wears a chain shirt but does not appear to be armed. Three gaunt figures stand impassively around the man at the desk, draped in embroidered cloaks. The man looks up absently as the door opens, and then starts in surprise as he sees you. He begins rummaging around on the desk in front of him. As he does, his tongue darts out of the corner of his mouth--long, maggot-white, and slightly forked.

After rummaging around on his desk briefly, he produces a greatsword, which he begins swinging in circles around his head. He's not attacking, at least not yet, though there's an obvious maniacal gleam in his eye.

Spoiler

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This room is 11.

(Gallard's sword: Glowing.)

[stack]

Brom pauses. "Hello. I don't suppose you would rather talk than fight us?"

Spoiler

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ready to use a greater turn undead

[Vetril]

Jonnel steps next to Gallard. They both brace their shields, watching the undead creatures with curiosity. Soon, the knight's friend starts talking.

"Oh, I don't like the way he looks at us."

"You don't like the way your wife looks at you, my friend."

"Well, that's entirely justified. We'll see how you do once you marry Lady Lasair. It will be funny, to see you -"

"Oh, shut up. Look, he's about to attack."

[Kish]

"Rather talk than fight," the man repeats rather blankly, then he grins widely and says, "Fighting leads to trophies." The cloaked figure to his right says, "Focus, idiot," in a voice like dead leaves rustling, its hood dropping to reveal a bare skull and glowing red eyes.