11. Beneath the Castle

[Inferno]

"Let us try to bring them," says Agax.

"There may be resistance to our sudden departure. This gear will be put to better use in our hands than theirs, don't you think?"

[GreyWolfVT]

Gragog "If we can get them out of this place we should. It's the right thing to do."

[Dram]

Bragar- Puts on Shinyahs magical leather armor. He takes the shield. Thank you Agax. I will be of much more use if there is a fight.

[Zhym]

The human's armor is too large for the dwarf.

[Zhym]

Date: Trieluna 13, 1222
Time: 11:00 PM
Weather: Stormy
Location: Castle Ravenloft; Study and Environs
**************************************

Bragar and Gragog relieve themselves into the massive fireplace. Although they feel a little better, their action has little effect on the roaring fire.

You discuss ways to escape this castle and return to town. Thoughts of leaving Shinyah and Castran behind are raised, challenged, and quickly abandoned.

Somewhere in the distance, a bell tolls eleven o'clock.

The DM rolls dice.

----
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 calculates all the permutations of this pleasantly confounding puzzle. Then he says, "We can bring Castran and Shinyah. We can all leave now, except the bears, I'm afraid." He looks to everyone, including the henchmen. "Are we willing to sacrifice them that the remaining half of our party may escape with their lives?"

[GreyWolfVT]

Gragog looks at the bears for a moment wishing he could keep them as his pets "A shame to leave them here....but I guess with no druid to make argument otherwise..." the half-orc looks sad thinking of leaving the bears behind. "We should at least get the bears outside of the castle they have a better chance for survival out there than in this place. Plus it aint natural for them in here."

[Dram]

Bragar- Yes lets at least lead to outside. They would have a better chance of survival. And if our wishes have not been granted they may fall under Strahds control.

[Inferno]

"Very well," replies Agax. "The downward stairs it is. Would you be so kind as to lead the way?"

[Zhym]

There are two paths down: the stairs at the end of the hallway with the statues and the spiraling staircase that goes both up and down around the interior wall of the tower. Which will you take?

[Inferno]

"This way," says Agax, indicating the spiral staircase that avoids the hall of statues.

[GreyWolfVT]

Gragog "Very well Agax." the half-orc warrior replies as he follows the mage.

[Zhym]

Date: Trieluna 13, 1222
Time: 11:10 PM
Weather: Stormy
Location: Castle Ravenloft; Study and Environs
**************************************

After some deliberation, you decide to avoid the hall of statues and descend the stairway ringing the large tower to the north. As you pass into the tower, you notice a damp chill from your left. Rain blows in through an open archway about 20' away that leads out of this tower onto a parapet-lined walkway outside.

Do you continue down the stairs?

----
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]

"Hm? What's this?" Intrigued, if the dreaming wizard can access the archway to the parapets without passing the statues, he will.

The allure of immediate escape grows.

[Zhym]

Date: Trieluna 13, 1222
Time: 11:11 PM
Weather: Stormy
Location: Castle Ravenloft; Study and Environs
**************************************

The archway is 20' away along the a flat expanse of the stairway that rings the interior of this tower. Agax leads the way.

Wind buffets you and cold rains stings your eyes and soaks your clothes as you walk out of the tower. You find yourselves on a wide walkway that leads east and north from your position. To the east, the walkway follows along the wall of the keep. Flashes of lightning reveal that this walkway enters a short corner turret some distance beyond the reach of Agax's magical illumination. To the north of where you stand, the walkway runs along the top of a wall towards the outer walls of the castle.

Far below the parapets are the shining wet cobblestones of the courtyard.

----
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 follows Agax's lead.

[Inferno]

"Well. This looks almost promising. Don't you agree, this looks promising?" Agax whispers as he follows the northern path, toward the outer walls of the castle.

He adjusts his tiny lantern box and lowers his staff below the height of the parapets, trying to light their feet and little else.

[GreyWolfVT]

Gragog reply to Agax "Bout as promising as I'd expect for an inhospitable host."

[Zhym]

Date: Trieluna 13, 1222
Time: 11:13 PM
Weather: Stormy
Location: Castle Ravenloft; Study and Environs
**************************************

After about 80', you reach the outer wall. It leads left and right for as far as you can see in the dark and rain. On one side of the outer wall, the stones of the courtyard lie a hundred feet below you. On the other side is a dizzying fall, the depths of which are shrouded in mist.

----
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]

"Hmm. It seems that promise was a lie," murmurs the dreaming gamesmith. He peers in all directions for a landmark, starting with the keep. Agax is trying, perhaps in vain, to locate the front gate.