11. Beneath the Castle

[Zhym]

Date: Trieluna 13, 1222
Time: 10:42 PM
Weather: Fog
Location: Castle Ravenloft; Study
**************************************

Bragar, the sole functioning member of the party to have been here before, tells the others of a treasure room behind the fireplace. Gragog suggests going that way before Agax reminds him that their current objective is escape, not treasure.

Grog asks Bragar if the dwarf knows the way out from here.

----
Status: Gragog (F8): 57/60; Bragar: 42/42 (C7); Agax (MU7/C4): 45/45; Petyr (F3): 23/23; Bogdana (C3): 23/23; Honeynose: 24/24, Treescratcher: 29/29; Mindless: Castran: 23/23 (F5/I6); Shinyah (D7): 38/38
Effects: Phantom Armor (Castran): 6 pts; Invisibility (Castran)
Light sources: CL coin (60', held by Shinyah); CL gem (60' Agax's staff)

[Zhym]

Time passes.

Dice roll.

[Dram]

Bragar - Responds to Grog. Yes, We encountered a rust monster, and a one of Strahd's vampire brides that killed 3 of my friends. We must be very careful Her charms are powerful.


I do not remember the whole story. But i think most of it right.

[Inferno]

If there are windows in this library, Agax will peer out them. Otherwise he will quietly nod to the others and open the northern door a crack to peek in.

[GreyWolfVT]

Gragog doesn't do anything other than follow the expert that has been here before to the way he left.

[Zhym]

Date: Trieluna 13, 1222
Time: 10:50 PM
Weather: Fog
Location: Castle Ravenloft; Study
**************************************

Agax enters the study from his door in the north wall. Moving east just a few feet, he opens the other door in the north wall. He sees a hallway that extends 30', where it turns left. Across from the turn is an archway.

Study.png (27.68 KiB) Viewed 144 times

----
Status: Gragog (F8): 57/60; Bragar: 42/42 (C7); Agax (MU7/C4): 45/45; Petyr (F3): 23/23; Bogdana (C3): 23/23; Honeynose: 24/24, Treescratcher: 29/29; Mindless: Castran: 23/23 (F5/I6); Shinyah (D7): 38/38
Effects: Phantom Armor (Castran): 6 pts; Invisibility (Castran)
Light sources: CL coin (60', held by Shinyah); CL gem (60' Agax's staff)

[Inferno]

Agax Gryyg, game mage:

"Hm. I'd say those walls on the left evoke a turret. Wouldn't you say that? You might be right! Perhaps there are windows," Agax whispers over his shoulder.

Then, whist Bragar jogs his memory, the dreaming wizard hands over the ropes to Gragog and wordlessly creeps down the hall to breathlessly peer into the opening on the left, then the opening on the right.

[Dram]

Bragar will activate the secret door behind the fireplace. Maybe there will be some armor stashed within the room.

[GreyWolfVT]

Gragog looks on as Bragar activates the hidden stash door "But I thought we were in a hurry to go..."

[Zhym]

The fire is blazing. Does Bragar wish to enter the lit fireplace?

[Dram]

Bragar does not wish to enter the lit fireplace. If there is a pitcher of water he will toss into the fireplace.


I could not remember how the secret door opened.

[Zhym]

Date: Trieluna 13, 1222
Time: 10:55 PM
Weather: Stormy
Location: Castle Ravenloft; Study and Environs
**************************************

Sorry about the delay. Busy week.

Agax, pressing forward, creeps down the hall to look at both openings. To the left, long, low moans drift down from alcoves that line both walls of a long hall. The ceiling has fallen here, leaving rubble strewn across the floor. Overhead, the beams of Ravenloft's roof are exposed. Sporadic lightning from the clouds above flashes into the hall. A graven statue stands within each of the 10 alcoves. Shafts of light cross the statues' faces at obscure angles. A flash and crack of lightning reveals their faces formed in the shapes of terrified men and women. At the end of the hallway, 50' away, is a spiral stairway leading down.

To his right is an archway that opens into a huge tower. Stairs spiral up and down around the large open shaft.

Back in the study, Bragar looks for a way to douse the flames in the fireplace. He looks for a pitcher of water, but none is evident. Perhaps the residents of this place do not find their refreshment in water.

----
Status: Gragog (F8): 57/60; Bragar: 42/42 (C7); Agax (MU7/C4): 45/45; Petyr (F3): 23/23; Bogdana (C3): 23/23; Honeynose: 24/24, Treescratcher: 29/29; Mindless: Castran: 23/23 (F5/I6); Shinyah (D7): 38/38
Effects: Phantom Armor (Castran): 6 pts; Invisibility (Castran)
Light sources: CL coin (60', held by Shinyah); CL gem (60' Agax's staff)

[GreyWolfVT]

Gragog "For the love of pete..." undoes his pants and urinates on the fire "Overthinking is the greatest failure of all the mages and clerics of the land. Sometimes a simple solution lies before you."

[Zhym]

To give you an idea of the size of fire you're trying to put out, the fireplace looks something like this, except that Charles Foster Kane and his wife aren't there and the fire is bigger:

Fireplace.png (289.47 KiB) Viewed 105 times

[GreyWolfVT]

hey at least someone is trying.
Gragog "You know this fire wont put it's self out with just me trying."

[Inferno]

Agax Gryyg, game mage:

The dreaming wizard returns to his companions. "Ah! Call of nature, eh?
"Everyone, the way out is just ahead, but we have a choice:

"Castran, Shinyah and I had prepared spells to evacuate the party should the situation turn dire. I believe the loss of half our number qualifies. But now, with the minds of Castran and Shinyah deceased, I believe I may only be able to rescue the mentally sound. Sadly, the bodies of Castran and Shinyah, and the bears, may need to be abandoned."

He paused.

"Our other alternative is a stairway leading down. Perhaps to freedom, perhaps to certain death." He smiled conspiratorially, "I rather expect it will be the latter, don't you?. Let's flee while we can, to return stronger. What say you all, my friends?"

Zhym, what's the largest flying creature a polymorph self spell can manage? A dragon? Thanks.

[Dram]

Bragar- Addressing Agax. I do wish to flee this place. But I would like to look for armor. As I am no use in a battle.

[Inferno]

"Friend Bragar, don Shinyah's magical leather armour for now," Agax says as he hands Bragar the druid's magic shield, and Petyr his magic spear. The otherworldly gamesmith pockets two potions from the druid, and three more from Castran, taking the gnome's magic short sword as well.

"Free from this castle, perhaps Gragog will spend some of his gems on a new suit or armour for you? With his new gotten wealth, he should be able to afford even the gypsies' price."

[GreyWolfVT]

Gragog does up his pants looks for something to wipe his hands on settling on any of the furniture nearby "Sure gems though this armors done me well. Lets just get the hell outta here." slinging his spear over a shoulder "Lets go then shall we?"

[Zhym]

Bogdana reacts with horror as Agax begins stripping Castran and Shinyah of their valuables. Petyr steps back and holds his spear in both hands, pointing it alternately at the mage, Gragog, and Bragar.

"Surely you do not mean to leave them here?" asks the priestess accusingly. "Their minds may be gone, but we have seen what becomes of people in this evil place!"