26/03/2024 & 09/04/2024
1st Day of Palesun1492 (Night of the full moon)
Mission: Kill Strahd von Zarovich. (After dinner of course, one must observe etiquette).
Campaign: Tales from the Bard
Location(s): Barovia, Castle Ravenloft.
Present: Bernadette Greycastle, Dramos Ethrane, Niall Tharivol, Ragul-Nur, Roscoe Tosscoble, Moonwhisper, Bomber Longbeard. Ezmerelda, Rictovio, Father Danovich (Dead) & Kasimir Velikov (Dead).
The group headed up the spiral staircase. Bomber leading the way with Bernadette and Moonwhisper close behind, the others followed, Niall bringing up the rear.
A door opened onto a small, short corridor and at the end another door. Bernadette listened but could hear nothing, the group opened the door.
On the far side a narrow corridor, leading to another door with an alcove left and right. In the alcoves stood two statues, in the gloom they looked like statues of knights. Suddenly the 'statues' collapsed into two separate writhing masses of rats. They swarmed over Bomber, Bernadette and Moonwhisper. The small creatures were ahrd to deal with but eventually they did. They opened the door and progressed into another room. The room was quite large with a window at the southern end, doors in the north and west walls but the room was dominated by a long dining table surrounded by chairs.....WHOOOMPF. Suddenly the room was engulfed by a fireball. Only Niall Tharivol escaped the balst but his eyebrows were slightly singed.
Moonwhisper ensured the sun sword was still activated and everyone closed in under its protection.
The group pushed on as they could not see from where the fireball had come from! Moonwhisper, Bernadette and Bomber entered the room through the north door. Rihadin, the chamberlain, lay dead on the floor in a pool of blood, whilst arms outstretched von Zarovich, arms outstretched moved towards them. As he advanced he voiced silent words.
The fight was one sided and Moonwhisper shouted out in victory as Strahd fell to the floor dead. Only it wasn't Strahd it was van Richten!
Ragul entered and took out his diamond powder, uttered the incantation to bring the dead back to life and van Richten opened his eyes. The group slowly entered the room and were just about to ask van Richten what was going on and why had he and Ezmerelda disappeared when...................
WOOOOMPF.......a second fireball erupted amongst the group.
But this time Niall, standing guard in the doorway had seen the streak of flame pass him from inside the other room! But there was no-one there!
(Poor Bomber he rolled a nat 1!)
All the doors re now closed and watched carefully. Ragul pointed out that the map from the accountant showed they had to move eastward! All that was in that direction was a fireplace. Bernadette started to inspect the fireplace.......I have it. She pulled the poker forward and a secret door at the back of the fire opened.
Bernadette and Roscoe climbed through the secret door and yelled back that there was a room, with a chest, and a skeleton lying on the floor. Hand pointing toward the chest. Bernadette warned Roscoe not to touch the chest. She thought it was booby trapped.
The others could hear a woman screaming, the screams came from behind the double doors to the west side of the room. They ignored the screams. Twice more the screams were heard then silence. Bernadette continued to search the room and identified a sconce for a torch was a mechanism that activated another secret door.
The double doors burst open and Strahd stood there. He glared at Moonwhisper then just as quickly, before anyone could react passed back through the double doors and a woman screamed again.
Roscoe handed over a torch from his backpack and Bernadette placed it in the sconce. Sure enough a second secret door opened onto a wide, long corridor. Cobwebs cluttered the ceiling but the floor was clear apart from dust.
The group pushed on through the secret doors as Bernadette checked the double doors at the end of the dusty, cobweb covered ceiling. Niall Tharivol kept a wary eye on the ceiling.
Niall & Bernadette pulled the doors open, revealing another chamber with a curved wall to the eastern side. The ceiling was some 50ft above and was quite dark. Some kind of markings could be made out near the curved wall.
Moving the dust on the floor aside it was obvious these were worn marks in the floor. They made a rough circle some 10ft in diameter. Roscoe could see the end of a rope, it hung some 7ft above the centre of this 'circle' and disappeared into the gloom above. He reached up with his spear and it snagged on the end of the rope. His constant pulling caused the rope to descend and rise. With each motion of the rope the deep booming ringing of a bell high above them could be heard.
Ragul and Bomber closed the secret doors. They stood guard. Bomber as he was closing the secret door nearest to them heard some scratching. Putting his ear near to the edge of the secret door he could hear a whisper:
Voice: "I'm coming to get you.......!"
Two sticky globules of web shot out of the gloom. Striking Roscoe and Dramos, who were now incapacitated trying to free themselves from the sticky web.
2 giant spiders descended and struck out at Bernadette and Moonwhisper.
Blows were struck by everyone but Roscoe and Dramos who in their attempts to free themselves only ended up entangling themselves more. The groups effort managed to dispatch one spider as a third descended to continue the attacks.
Suddenly the secret door opened, Ragul and Bomber could see the fireplace secret door was also open. A streaking blast of fire hurtled through the openings and sped up the corridor.
The fireball exploded in the enclosed space of the small room. The spiders, their webs were incinerated. The group, although taking damage, were relatively unscathed. Dramos and Roscoe were now free of the sticky web.
Ragul and Bomber slammed the secret door shut, again Bomber heard the voice, whisper:
Voice: "I'm still coming to get you.......!"
Bomber: "I think Strahd is on the other side of this door here!"
Moonwhisper: "No shit....you think so.......I was beginning to wonder if You'd thrown the fireball at us!"
As Moonwhisper and Niall were proceeding to assist Bernadette, who had taken out the rod of secret door detection, indicated she had found another secret door.
Opening the secret door Bernadette could see a very narrow corridor. The wall to the left of the corridor was some 30ft square. In the centre she could make out the outline of a door but it was smooth to touch, no gaps and no handles. Some 5ft above the door she could see a line of opening that resembled arrow slits.
Jamming the secret door with another arrow head provided by Ragul both Ragul and Bomber joined the group. Ragul tried hitting the door in the wall with his hammer using all his might, his strike didn't leave a mark.
Moonwhisper, Niall and Bernadette tried to find a way in.
It was Dramos who came up with the answer after careful thought.
Dramos: "I think this is Dearns' Instant Fortress. It exudes magic, it has an aura, definitely magic in origin."
Moonwhisper: "Then get us in, use your expertise".
Dramos: "Unfortunately the Fortress is sealed by it's owner and can only be entered using a secret word, or words, known only to the owner......in this case Strahd, I would say."
The group took it in turns to say words, names and lots of other things they thought could hold the way to open the door. None worked.
Bomber, who was watching the double doors was suddenly engulfed in darkness. He took out a torch from his backpack and using his tinderbox, and by feel alone tried to light it. He could feel the heat but he could see no flame!
Roscoe: "Oh, Oh. I think He's here!"
Bomber was struck from behind, taking two mighty blows from what felt like clawed talons. Propelled forward he managed to find his way out of the darkness. Moonwhispers sword was ineffective. Dramos cast counter spell and the darkness dissipated, revealing a hideous, giant bat like creature with talons and huge tusks! Could this be Strahd in giant bat form!
The creature was just outside the effect of the sword and struck Bomber again. Bomber ran to the bottom of the corridor.
The Strahd/Bat creature was able to move quickly away from Moonwhisper and the effect of the sword and again attacked Bomber.
Bomber fell to the floor but was still able to take a massive amount of healing. This saved his life as Moonwhisper and Niall Tharivol closed in and attacked the Strahd/Bat creature.
Moonwhisper put everything he had and prayed for divine assistance with his strikes. Both bit deeply, as did Niall's attacks. Combined with the effects of the sword Strahd was unable to take mist form and escape. The Strahd/Bat creature slowly changed to Strahd. Strahd was dead.
The group checked the castle on this level and found a suit of armour standing on the battlements, strange. They had a long look and ended back in the upstairs dining room. The conversation was directed about how to enter the smooth doors behind the secret door. The conversation went on for some time and then........
In the car there appeared a swirling mass of arcane energy. Sparks of mini lightning could be seen as it swirled. Then ..............
Standing where he swirl of arcane energy was moments before were 3 human sized figures. One had a wicker basket over its head and was playing a flute very quietly.
Central Figure: "We mean you no harm. You are the saviours of Barovia. Strahd von Zarovich is dead. However, We no have a problem. There must be a ruler in Barovia. We put it to you that if one of you volunteer to take over the mantle of ruler then the remainder will be sent back from whence you came. If no one volunteers then you will all be sent back have no fear."
The music from the flute calmed everyone but the following discourse was heated:
Ragul: "Surely Moonwhisper the Paladin is the most suited?"
Moonwhisper: "Not I, I still have a divine quest to complete, so someone else can step up."
Bernadette: "Not for me."
Bomber: "Hey I'll do it, why not, right up my street".
Roscoe: "Why not, Bomber the Intelligent, Bomber the Wise.......let him do it".
Dramos: "and this from the 'famous' or should I say, 'Infamous', bell ringer!"
Niall: "I'll do it. I have nothing tying me back home, Elves live long lives, surely I can do great good here. I volunteer".
No one said anything against Niall.
Central Figure: "I will ask only once then, who amongst you will take over the mantle of ruler of Barovia?"
Niall: "I will, willingly."
Central Figure: "Then to the others I say, what single thing do you desire most?"
Bernadette: "Ooh, a big bag of money!"
A large bag appeared in front of Bernadette, it chinked with the noise of coin as it landed on the table.
Bomber: "Although I would love to own magical hand axes......I wish for My Lady's Heart, so I can complete my promise to the old dwarf."
As if by magic Bomber opened his hand and there in his palm was a huge ruby in the shape of a heart.
(DM Note: I changed this bit from the 2 silver hand axes and fight bit - I can because I'm SUBAROTU)
Roscoe: "Ooh, me next, me next. I would like a theatre and lots of lovely dancing girls to fill it".
A bag similar to Bernadette's appeared in front of Roscoe. They both opened them at the same time. A rough count would reveal that each bag held 1,000gp.
Moonwhisper: "I wish for nothing, I am done with Barovia and I do not trust you".
Dramos: Never mind him, I seek a long lost tome, I would dearly love to have it".
Central Figure: "Search the library. I am sure you will find what you seek there."
Ragul: "Dearns Fortress, please".
In Ragul's hand there appeared a small cube of adamantine in the shape of Dearns Fortress.
Toby: "Hey Roscoe you forgot this, been keeping it for you...........why are you all looking surprised, it's only a dagger".
Roscoe: "How did you know we were here Toby, I know we are related but it's been awhile!"
Toby: "Awhile, why you only left the village an hour ago. I've been trying hard to catch you. |good job I still know some of the back trails. Hey, where's that Elf, Ranger fellow, he up ahead scouting?"
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