[IC] Expedition to Castle Ravenloft

[truemane]

Rue Dhampir Barbarian 8/Fighter 2 AC: 17 HP: 117/128 PP:16 PIv: 11 PIs: 16 Rage: 3/4

Rue swiped at the Druid Spawn as it passed, but (distracted as she was) she was unable to connect.

She laughed at Sir Theodore's pathetic attempts to harm her. And she laughed as its brethren's attempts as well, barely even feeling the arrow within her rage. Her eyes were alight with malicious glee.

Again she dug her long ragged claws into Sir Theodore's undead flesh. And then, still laughing, she opened her fanged maw wide and sank her horrid teeth into his neck and tore off a massive chunk of flesh,

If that assault killed the creature, she planned to leap onto the wall behind her and give chase to the Druid Spawn. Otherwise, she would continue holding on.

Spoiler

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Opportunity Attack: 12 (presumed miss)

4 damage to Sir Theodore at the start of my turn.
Claw 1: Attack 23, for 8 magical slashing damage
Claw 2: Attack 26, for 12 magical slashing damage
Bite: CRITICAL HIT! 13 magical piercing damage

In case I need it: Athletics Check 19, so I can leap 15ft toward the wall and 23 feet straight up (and then crawl the remaining5ft)

[dangelo]

Round four:

"Run, brothers! The priest wields the bright light!" Sir Theodore gasped. Black blood gushed from his mouth. His throat was ripped open by Rue's fangs, and his arms fell feebly beside his body. While a wooden stake heart would have been necessary to bring the vampire to its final death, there was only so much damage their bodies could withstand before collapsing, whether they were staked through the hearth or not. "Lord father... I failed you..."

The remaining Lesser Vampires resumed their attempt to escape. They were hungry, but a stronger emotion took over now: fear.

Spoiler: OOC

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Druid, Wizard and Archer all move straight up. Rue gets an attack of opportunity at the Druid.

[TaiLiu]

At the zenith of the jump, Bori reaches out to the stones the spawn is clinging to. Revolt at the stagnation of Strahd's reign pours back from the stone, attempting to hold the spawn in place.

As Bori’s power grabs hold of the wizard, Yikkol seizes the opportunity to draw her crossbow and fire a bolt at its head.

• Interact with an Object to draw her crossbow.
• Attack: (1d20+9)[26] or (1d20+9)[28]. No ADV. 26.
• Damage: (1d10+5)[15] and (5d6)[14] magical piercing damage. 29 total. No SA. 15.

Again she dug her long ragged claws into Sir Theodore's undead flesh. And then, still laughing, she opened her fanged maw wide and sank her horrid teeth into his neck and tore off a massive chunk of flesh.

As she turns back to the vampire next to her, Yikkol sees Rue ripping into Theo’s neck like a rabid hyena—or perhaps even a vampire. She quickly picks up her sword and scurries away into the pews, closer to Bori.

• Fast Hands to pick up the sword.
• Move 30 feet.

The remaining Lesser Vampires resumed their attempt to escape. They were hungry, but a stronger emotion took over now: fear.

Yikkol shouts to Herbert: “Your holiness, I think they’re trying to escape! What should we do?”

[J-H]

Herbert Raycraft Human Life Cleric AC: 20 HP: 59/73 PPer: 18 PInv: 10 PIst: 18 Conditions: Bless (Bori) Concentrating: Spirit Guardians

With the knight-like abomination dead, Herbert moves to make exiting the room more difficult. "Return them to the grave," he responds, firing a golden bolt of light at the undead wizard.

Spoiler

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Guiding Bolt (1d20+8)[22] plus (1d4)[4] from Bless.
If it hits, (4d6)[10] radiant damage, and the next attack against her has Advantage.
Moving 30' to block the north exit.
Map updated.
1st level slot expended.

BA: Move Spiritual Weapon 20' north. Can probably hit the wizard with it next round.

[Waistcoatwill]

A hiss of disgust rings out as the spawn escapes further up the wall. It isn't immediately clear whether if came from the halfling or the dinosaur. They pad closer to their allies, trying to catch as many in the aura of blue-green light as possible.

[truemane]

Rue Dhampir Barbarian 8/Fighter 2 AC: 17 HP: 121*/128 PP:16 PIv: 11 PIs: 16 Rage: 3/4 (LongnRest) Empowering Bite: 4/4 (Long Rest) Second Wind: 1/1 (Short Rest) Action Surge: 1/1 (Short Rest)

Rue reached the Druid Spawn just in time for it to scuttle away again. She swipes at it, but it escapes. Rue scampers after it and assaults it in a flurry of claws and then tries to grab hold of it before it gets a chance to move away again.

Spoiler

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Attack of Opportunity: Attack 11 for 8 magical slashing damage

Attack 1:
-Claw 1: Attack 19 for 8 magical slashing damage
-Claw 2: Attack 19 for 10 magical slashing damage

Attack 2 on Druid:
-Claw: Attack 18 for 10 magical slashing damage

Bonus Action
-Grapple DC 14

[Dr.Samurai]

Asha Astral Elf Armorer Artificer AC: 24 (Haste) HP: 103/103 THP: 10/10 PPer: 16 PInv: 19 PIns: 12 Conditions: Flight 60ft, Hasted, Immune to Surprise, Adv on Init, Necklace of Adaptation Concentrating: Fly As predicted, Sir Theo could not withstand the combined onslaught of the group, and Rue finishes the spawn off. She quickly leaps after the retreating druid. Confident the dhampir can handle the creature, Asha follows Herbert's lead and looks up to the retreating wizard spawn. The tinny voice can be heard again, almost like two voices speaking at the same time, Engage. Orbs push themselves through the strange, almost flesh like armor and glow, and Asha takes off in flight, cutting the spawn off from climbing any higher, and throwing a thunderous strike towards it. Spoiler: Turn 4 Show Action - Cast Fly (60ft Speed) Move - Fly up to wizard spawn, end in square directly above wizard spawn, against the wall. (Not sure how Fly interacts with Haste, if the speed is doubled. But I don't think I require it to move here, as the fly speed is 60ft.) Haste Action - Attack Wizard Spawn (Bless, Advantage [Guiding Bolt]) Attack - (1d20+11)[27], (1d20+11)[28] + (1d4)[2] Damage - (1d8+7)[10] Hit Effect - Thunder Gauntlets: Wizard Spawn has Disadvantage to attack anyone other than Asha until the start of Asha's next turn.

[Waistcoatwill]

Bori sees Asha interept the wizard and attem9t to add what little help he can. He drops hisnrapier and pulls out his bow, loosing two arrows at the spawn.

Spoiler: OOC

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(1d20+9)[23] for (1d8+5)[8]
(1d20+9)[20] for (1d8+5)[8]

[The Commander]

Lord Zinro Varanash

(Not sure how Fly interacts with Haste, if the speed is doubled.)

(Speed is indeed doubled, meaning you could technically fly 360ft a round - double action dash, plus haste dash, all doubled)

Seeing his foes escape, Zinro attempted to pierce the darkness of the chapel's ceiling, to see if there were any escape routes for the Spawn to take.

Spoiler

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Superior Darkvision Perception to see if there's anywhere the Spawn could escape in/around the ceiling: (1d20+5)[17]

It seemed like the battle had been won; although Zinro still winced from the pain in his shoulder. Despite the harsh light coming from the priest, Zinro moved to be closer to Herbert - perhaps the safest place to be right now. Seeing as the target had been switched to the Wizard, Zinro decided to support the party by launching a small bolt of fire at it from his outstretched palm.

Spoiler

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Move Action to be next to Herbert.
Main Action to cast the Firebolt cantrip at the Wizard Spawn. Ranged Spell Attack: (1d20+8)[15]. If it hits it deals (2d10+4)[14] Fire damage (the extra +4 is from the Empowered Evocation - my Evocation spells damage benefits from my Intelligence Modifier)

[dangelo]

Resolving Round Four:

Spoiler

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[Yikkol]

29 magical piercing damage on Wizard Spawn.

[Herbert]

10 radiant damage on Wizard Spawn.

[Rue]

8 magical slashing damage on Druid Spawn (Attack of Opportunity).
18 magical slashing damage on Druid Spawn.
Druid Spawn rolls 12 to resist Grapple and is Grappled.

[Asha]

10 thunder damage on Wizard Spawn.

[Bori]

8 magic piercing damage on the Wizard Spawn.

[Lord Zinro]

14 fire damage on Wizard Spawn.

Round Five

- Wizard Spawn takes the Dash action and moves 5 ft to the side and 55 up. (avoiding Asha, who gets an Attack of Opportunity)
- Druid Spawn tries to break free from Grapple: (1d20+3)[21] (if successful, will move 30 ft. up taking attacks of opportunity from Rue)
- Archer continues to move up.

The Archer and the Druid Spawns crawled to the vaulted ceiling of Chapel Ravenloft, disappearing into the shadows. Lord Zinro's sharp eyes, however, could see how the chapel had endured hundreds, if not thousands of years of damage, and witnessed uncountable battles between monsters and adventurers. Its ceiling now displayed a tapestry of cracks and crevices in the stone, some of them large enough for a child to crawl through. With uncanny fluidity, the their vampiric forms contorted and slipped through the gap, much like rats that squeezes themselves under a door, and disappeared into the depths of Castle Ravenloft. Only Bori would be able to crawl through that gap.

[dangelo]

It had taken Gustav over a decade of researching and hunting for the cleric to finally track down the Village of Barovia and Castle Ravenloft. After months without seeing any sunlight, buried deep in the secret library of Omabar, he found an old book on Vistani lineages, and there the hidden knowledge that they could walk through the Mist without getting lost. But how does one simply find the Vistani? No, the Vistani would find him, not the other way around. Still, his Order had given this mission and Gustav had no option: He took the road and just wandered around the world, looking for anything that could lead him to the Vistani. Once he found them, in a huge festival in the Kingdom's capital, he had to run errands and do favors for their elder before they shook hands and accepted to take Gustav to Barovia. For him, Madam Eva turned a single card: The Priest.

Gustav kicked the doors of Castle Ravenloft open and raised his mace in the air. "Baugrog!" He cried, and the mace cried with him, a song of terror that made Strahd's children run in fear. He ignored the music room to the right and the grand staircase to the left, and ran down the corridor of the statues without hesitating. When he burst into the chapel, Sir Theodore and his squad crawled deeper into rocks and hid in fear, their minds taken by the song of terror that Gustav's mace sang to the castle. "Finally... I have found it..."

The Icon of Ravenloft was a 12-inch-tall statuette made of the purest silver, weighing no more than 10 pounds, depicting a cleric kneeling in supplication. Once it had been the source of a powerful bless. With the fall of Count Strahd, it should now be a corrupt artifact, something that Gustav's orders was very much interested in. He walked up to the altar and wrapped his fingers around it - and that was the last thing he did in life. In the end, Gustav's assumption was wrong: the Icon of Ravenloft remained pure, so pure it couldn't stand the touch of a Cleric of the Corruption. His touch woke up the artifact, and it's aura was too powerful for Gustav to withstand. He died on the spot, and his body remained exactly in the same place, to be discovered by a different fellowship of adventurers in their own Expedition to Castle Ravenloft.

You all have this foggy-cloudy vision, as if whatever remained of Gustav's soul had manifested and resonated with yours, revealing his legacy to those who come after him. You realize the man in chainmail is the actual Gustav, and that he's clutching the very Icon of Ravenloft in his left hand while holding his Mace of Terror in the right.

Wizard and Archer run away. End of combat.

[The Commander]

Lord Zinro Varanash

Zinro remained alert for a few moments more; and then relaxed slightly.

"The wizard and the archer seem to be gone - there's cracks and holes all over the ceiling that they've slipped unnaturally through."

He remained close to Herbert, the primary source of the spawn's fear. "Well done, Priest, and well done to all of us; those foes were no push-overs! By the way, did anyone else have a strange vision overcome them? Of Gustav?" Zinro indicated the body of Gustav with a nod of his head. "If you'd like I can Identify the artifacts, but I'd need time to recite the proper incantations."

After a moment, his eyes flickered over to Rue. He tried to choose his words carefully: "It would seem that you favour a similar tactic to our adversaries. Should we be concerned?"

[J-H]

Herbert Raycraft Human Life Cleric AC: 20 HP: 59/73 PPer: 18 PInv: 10 PIst: 18 Conditions: Bless (Bori) Concentrating: Spirit Guardians

"Yes, well done everyone. It's unfortunately that two of them got away. They will be more wary of us next time. Does anyone need their injuries healed by the power of Pelor?"

After healing any who need it, Herbert approaches the altar. Based on the vision, the icon should be safe for him to handle... yet also potent enough to handle with care, plus there's always a chance that it has changed while sitting here in this place. He cautiously touches it, attempting to pry it out of Gustav's dead hand. Assuming it doesn't burn him, he will attempt to identify any markings on it or abilities it may have.

"Also, did anyone check the two bodies on the seats in the back?"

Spoiler

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Religion (1d20+4)[19]

[Dr.Samurai]

Asha Astral Elf Armorer Artificer AC: 24 (Haste) HP: 103/103 THP: 10/10 PPer: 16 PInv: 19 PIns: 12 Conditions: Flight 60ft, Hasted, Immune to Surprise, Adv on Init, Necklace of Adaptation Concentrating: Fly The wizard spawn crawls to the side of Asha and darts up the wall frantically. He hits it with another thunderous blow but Strahd's progeny are resilient. It keeps scrambling up. Asha gives chase, but is suddenly struck with a vision or distant memory. He sees the cleric Gustav, dying at the altar. When his senses return, he reflexively looks down at the corpse, now revealed to be the cleric he had seen in the vision. He snaps his gaze back to the ceiling, but the wizard is gone. Asha continues flying up, summoning a light on his shield to illuminate the vault. Cracks are evident everywhere, and none that he could give chase through. After inspecting for some time, he returns down to the others on the floor. Lord Zinro alerts the others, The wizard and the archer seem to be gone - there's cracks and holes all over the ceiling that they've slipped unnaturally through. Confirmed, Asha nods, None large enough for me to get through, or Rue. Asha remains in his armor, unsure if the spawn will ambush them again shortly. He moves over to the corpse of Gustav, I saw the vision as well, he says in response to Zinro, Strange that we should all share that vision.

[TaiLiu]

"Return them to the grave," he responds, firing a golden bolt of light at the undead wizard.

Wizard and Archer run away. End of combat.

Yikkol fires a couple more times but fails to find purchase. She watches as the vampires disappear into the darkness.

“Sorry, your holiness. They got away. What now?”

It had taken Gustav over a decade of researching and hunting for the cleric to finally track down the Village of Barovia and Castle Ravenloft. After months without seeing any sunlight, buried deep in the secret library of Omabar, he found an old book on Vistani lineages, and there the hidden knowledge that they could walk through the Mist without getting lost. But how does one simply find the Vistani? No, the Vistani would find him, not the other way around. Still, his Order had given this mission and Gustav had no option: He took the road and just wandered around the world, looking for anything that could lead him to the Vistani. Once he found them, in a huge festival in the Kingdom's capital, he had to run errands and do favors for their elder before they shook hands and accepted to take Gustav to Barovia. For him, Madam Eva turned a single card: The Priest.

Gustav kicked the doors of Castle Ravenloft open and raised his mace in the air. "Baugrog!" He cried, and the mace cried with him, a song of terror that made Strahd's children run in fear. He ignored the music room to the right and the grand staircase to the left, and ran down the corridor of the statues without hesitating. When he burst into the chapel, Sir Theodore and his squad crawled deeper into rocks and hid in fear, their minds taken by the song of terror that Gustav's mace sang to the castle. "Finally... I have found it..."

The Icon of Ravenloft was a 12-inch-tall statuette made of the purest silver, weighing no more than 10 pounds, depicting a cleric kneeling in supplication. Once it had been the source of a powerful bless. With the fall of Count Strahd, it should now be a corrupt artifact, something that Gustav's orders was very much interested in. He walked up to the altar and wrapped his fingers around it - and that was the last thing he did in life. In the end, Gustav's assumption was wrong: the Icon of Ravenloft remained pure, so pure it couldn't stand the touch of a Cleric of the Corruption. His touch woke up the artifact, and it's aura was too powerful for Gustav to withstand. He died on the spot, and his body remained exactly in the same place, to be discovered by a different fellowship of adventurers in their own Expedition to Castle Ravenloft.

You all have this foggy-cloudy vision, as if whatever remained of Gustav's soul had manifested and resonated with yours, revealing his legacy to those who come after him. You realize the man in chainmail is the actual Gustav, and that he's clutching the very Icon of Ravenloft in his left hand while holding his Mace of Terror in the right.

She shivers as the vision takes hold and clears. Was she going mad? But then she sees the others coming out of the vision, too… A magic effect, then.

“What should we do with these?”

[TaiLiu]

"Also, did anyone check the two bodies on the seats in the back?"

“Oh it, your holiness!” Yikkol runs and takes a look at the slumped over bodies on the pews.

If necessary, Perception: (1d20+10)[11].

[Waistcoatwill]

Bori was used to receiving guidance from the ancestors, but Gustav's influence was less than welcome. He was glad that his companions seemed so different from Gustav. It was a stark lesson in the consequences of isolation though

Well, at least we know that there are some things here that have resisted Strahd's corruption. That is cause for hope and gives me much more confidence in these relics we are meant to find.

There was one in the depths of the castle, yes? The opposite direction to those creatures seems like a sensible course.

He pulls out his remaining snacks. I have a couple more of these if anyone would like them?

[The Commander]

Lord Zinro Varanash

"There are stairs heading down, in one of the side passages from this chapel. We needed to head down as part of our quest."

Zinro approached the two magical objects. "I will start with the Mace, and then move onto the Icon. Please do not move the items. I require 10 minutes for each of them to be able to discern their magical properties." With that, Zinro began to trace his fingers in the air and around the Mace first, uttering arcane words as he did so. After a minute, he pulled a brilliantly sparkling pearl from his bag and held it in one hand as he continued to chant. The pearl began to glow softly.

Spoiler

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Ritual Cast Identify on the Mace. Using Pearl of Power as Material Component (which is not consumed). The process takes 11 minutes (1 minute spell + 10 minutes ritual)

(If the party is not interrupted, he would repeat the process on the Icon)

[TaiLiu]

He pulls out his remaining snacks. I have a couple more of these if anyone would like them?

On the way to investigate the bodies, Yikkol will grab a Korth clanger and stuff it into her mouth.

[dangelo]

The weapon slowly reacted to the arcane energy in the pearl and the magic commands uttered at it. Draconic inscriptions appeared all over the surface of the jewel, and under Lord Zinro's command, the inscriptions formed a series of holographic rings around the magician's hand. The truth of the power of that magic item was slowly revealed to him, first through the secret glyph that represented Necromancy, then with a vision of three stars shining bright, each representing one cell of magic within that mace, three in power reserves for the spells woven into the black steel of which the weapon was made.

Spoiler

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This magic weapon has 3 charges. While holding it, you can use an action and expend 1 charge to release a wave of terror. Each creature of your choice in a 30-foot radius extending from you must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened of you for 1 minute. While it is frightened in this way, a creature must spend its turns trying to move as far away from you as it can, and it can't willingly move to a space within 30 feet of you. It also can't take reactions. For its action it can use only the Dash action or try to escape from an effect that prevents it from moving. If it has nowhere it can move, the creature can use the Dodge action. At the end of each of its turns, a creature can repeat the saving throw, ending the effect on itself on a success.

The mace regains 1d3 expended charges daily at dawn.

The Icon reacted in a similar way, revealing the power of Evocation and Divination. It was imbued with a traditional, powerful blessing, one that Herbert would quickly recognize: it was similar to other blessings given by Archpriests of Pelor as gifts to generous and benevolent rulers. The Icon was supposed to stay in the chapel, but it had magic powers that could be wielded in case of emergency.

Spoiler

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While within 30 feet of the icon, a creature is under the effect of a Protection from Evil and Good spell against fiends and undead. Only a creature attuned to the icon can use its other properties.

Augury. You can use an action to cast an Augury spell from the icon, with no material components required. Once used, this property can't be used again until the next dawn.

Bane of the Undead. You can use the icon as a holy symbol while using the Turn Undead or Turn the Unholy feature. If you do so, increase the save DC by 2.

Cure Wounds. While holding the icon, you can take an action to heal one creature that you can see within 30 feet of you. The target regains 3d8 + 3 hit points, unless it is an undead, a construct, or a fiend. Once used, this property can't be used again until the next dawn.

[The Commander]

Lord Zinro Varanash

(Zinro truthfully relays all the magical properties discovered in the items)

"Perhaps Herbert could make use of both items? If he has no use for the Mace, then perhaps I could wield it. It would be useful to drive foes away from me, after all; I certainly won't be hitting people with it."

Zinro put the Pearl of Power back into his bag.

"I believe we should head down, if we are all agreed. Although we should, of course, be on our guard now: we have made enemies here that will seek revenge."

[J-H]

Herbert Raycraft Human Life Cleric AC: 20 HP: 59/73 PPer: 18 PInv: 10 PIst: 18 Conditions: Bless (Bori) Concentrating: Spirit Guardians

"The icon is indeed powerful, and will help protect all of us against attacks by undead and fiends, as long as we stay within 30' of it." Herbert picks it up, and takes the time to use some cord from his pack to fasten it securely to his belt.

[Waistcoatwill]

Bori looks slightly dubiously at the stone steps. He squeezed the fastieth's shoulder gently.

I hope these have held up better than thr roof of the chapel. Tread carefully, Nethis. We don't know how far down it goes or how far we'd rolll if we fell, possibly even to Khyber itself.

He nods at Zinro's plan.

Shall we have a marching order? Thats how people do it right? Im more.used to protecting folk than trailblazing these days. Yikkol in the lead, maybe? Herbert and me in the centre to provide support?

[truemane]

Rue Dhampir Barbarian 8/Fighter 2 AC: 17 HP: 121/128 PP:16 PIv: 11 PIs: 16 Rage: 3/4 (LongnRest) Empowering Bite: 4/4 (Long Rest) Second Wind: 1/1 (Short Rest) Action Surge: 1/1 (Short Rest)

After destroying the Druid spawn and watching its corpse fall heavily to the tiled floor below, Rue tried to sprint across the wall toward the others. Her rage clouded the fact that she could not catch them, but after a few seconds she realized it and let them go.

As her compatriots examined the room below, she climbed higher and higher on the wall, searching for any nooks, crannies, tunnels, escape routes, or anything else.

After she was done she dropped deftly to the ground and walked the perimeter of the room. Even though her rage has mostly dissipated, there was still very much something of a stalking beast in her gait and her manner.

She lifts her head at the description of the magical items before wrinkling her nose in a sour expression and shaking her head slightly and moving on. She was little used to putting her faith in any kind of possession.

She then climbed up to the balcony to poke around and investigate the bodies that were up there.

Spoiler

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Investigation: 17
Perception: 15

[TaiLiu]

Yikkol takes a look around the stairs.

Perception checks of 21 for both.

[dangelo]

The balcony:

A sculpted stone railing encloses this long balcony, which overlooks Ravenloft's chapel. Two ornate thrones stand side by side in the center of the balcony, covered with dust and strung with cobwebs. The thrones face away from the double doors that give access to the balcony; Sitting on them, two decomposing corpses wore the remains of silk and velvet dresses, once expensive pieces of garment befitting the nobles enjoyed a prestigious view of the chapel.

From the edge of the railing, Rue can see the double doors behind thrones and either side of the railing which might lead to different areas of the castle. It would require further inspection to be sure.

[dangelo]

While Lord Zinro and Herbert inspected the newfound artifacts and Rue scouted the balcony, Yikkol found a wooden staircase in the north chapel access, and a spiral staircase in the south. The staircase in the north access was made of old wood that creaked and groaned underfoot, yet it revealed itself safe to climb after a few tests. Walking back to the chapel and inspecting the structure of the balcony, Yikkol could notice how the wooden staircase should lead to the thrones above. The staircase in the south access was narrow, yet it spiraled in a wide arc, suggesting it belonged to a massive tower. From the outside view, Castle Ravenloft only had two towers that could be this large, connected by a bridge halfway to the top.

[TaiLiu]

Shall we have a marching order? Thats how people do it right? Im more.used to protecting folk than trailblazing these days. Yikkol in the lead, maybe? Herbert and me in the centre to provide support?

“Good idea,” Yikkol says, and gives Bori a warm smile. “But I think we’d only need to worry about a marching order in narrow spaces. This castle is big enough to us to move comfortably.”

[B][COLOR="#4B0082"]After a moment, his eyes flickered over to Rue. He tried to choose his words carefully: "It would seem that you favour a similar tactic to our adversaries. Should we be concerned?"

Yikkol watches Rue climb up and away from the question.

“Let’s ask her again,” she whispers to him, “when we take our break. I have my concerns as well.”

The staircase in the north access was made of old wood that creaked and groaned underfoot, yet it revealed itself safe to climb after a few tests. Walking back to the chapel and inspecting the structure of the balcony, Yikkol could notice how the wooden staircase should lead to the thrones above.

She then climbed up to the balcony to poke around and investigate the bodies that were up there.

Yikkol waves to Rue, points at the doors, and mimes an opening gesture.

“Rue, I think these wooden stairs down here lead directly to the balcony up there. Could you open the doors and check?”

"Perhaps Herbert could make use of both items? If he has no use for the Mace, then perhaps I could wield it. It would be useful to drive foes away from me, after all; I certainly won't be hitting people with it."

Yikkol gives a thumbs up.

The staircase in the south access was narrow, yet it spiraled in a wide arc, suggesting it belonged to a massive tower. From the outside view, Castle Ravenloft only had two towers that could be this large, connected by a bridge halfway to the top.

There was one in the depths of the castle, yes? The opposite direction to those creatures seems like a sensible course.

"There are stairs heading down, in one of the side passages from this chapel. We needed to head down as part of our quest."

"I believe we should head down, if we are all agreed. Although we should, of course, be on our guard now: we have made enemies here that will seek revenge."

Yikkol shakes her head.

“Don’t think that’s a good idea. Remember what Strahd said about the chapel? Turns out being cleansed of our sins meant we’d get eaten by his kids.

“I’m sure the talk about servants and baths is a euphemism, too. Let’s head up instead. This staircase will lead to the bridge connected to the highest tower. We know that’s where one of the treasures are.”

"The icon is indeed powerful, and will help protect all of us against attacks by undead and fiends, as long as we stay within 30' of it." Herbert picks it up, and takes the time to use some cord from his pack to fasten it securely to his belt.

“Brilliant, your holiness! With you, Strahd is as good as dead.”

[TaiLiu]

After some discussion, Yikkol is eventually persuaded to head downward.

“Fine—but stay alert. Who knows what Strahd’s servants have prepared for us?”

She leads the way down the spiral stairs, keeping an eye and a crossbow out for any signs for danger.

If needed, Perception: [/roll]1d20+10[/roll].

[TaiLiu]

Whoops. Messed up Perception. Here we go… (1d20+10)[30].