4. The Spires of Ravenloft

[GreyWolfVT]

Fendt helps search for secret or concealed doors. Search for Secret Doors[1d6] = 6

[OGRE MAGE]

Ogre Mage: What you describe for Tibbius would take a long time—at least an hour, maybe two, to check all the books, look under the furniture, lift the rug, etc. Does Tibbius want to take the time to do so? As for "anything else that might be able to be used to trigger a sliding panel or some such device," you'll have to be more specific. If there's anything to be triggered (and I'm not saying there is), you aren't going to trigger it by saying "I try everything that might be a trigger." You can, of course, search for secret doors as normal.

Ok sorry...

Tib will check the room for secret doors. [1d6] = 6

He then searches under the rug, around the fireplace, and under the furniture before retiring. How can we block these doors for the night or do you all think that locking them and keeping a watch is safe enough?

[Zhym]

Date: Nouluna 4, 1221
Time: 11:50 PM
Weather: Thunderstorm
Moon: Full
Location: Castle Ravenloft, Study
**************************************

As midnight approaches, you set about attempting to secure a room with four entrances (that you know about) to be a suitable place to spend the night in Strahd's castle.

Agrippo considers removing the painting of Ireena's centuries-old doppelganger from over the hearth. "So the old dog is in love with some long lost flame," he muses. "But this might help us locate the girl before he gets too familiar with her." The painting hangs out of his reach, over a mantel that must be at least 10' above the floor. The warrior turns his attention to securing the room. He pushes a couch against the door though which you entered.

You discuss the watch schedule for the night. Agrippo offers to take first watch, Iluq the second. Fendt offers to take the third watch, but Tibbius does not yet trust the newcomer to take a watch alone. Fendt suggests that if Tibbius does not trust him, they could take a shift together.

"I need to completely replace my prepared spells with others more useful in this place," says Robert, speaking up for the first time since the party encountered Fendt. "I will need six hours of rest and six hours of meditation. Perhaps I should either take the first watch or not take any watch?"

Tibbius and Fendt look about the room for secret doors. Tibbius then looks under the corners of the rug, around the fireplace, and under the furniture. They find no doors, secret safes, or anything else of interest—not even a dust bunny under the furniture! The room is impeccably clean.

The discussion returns to the question of how to secure the room. "How can we block these doors for the night?" asks Tibbius. "Or do you think that locking them and keeping a watch is safe enough?"

Vorkath drinks one of the medicinal potions. He feels good as new! The burns in his mouth heal. To his relief—and, perhaps, to the mild chagrin of his companions—the holy warrior is again able to speak. (Vorkath, +10 HP)

I make secret rolls for attempts to find secret doors. You can only get at the corners of the rug: the rest is covered by furniture. It would take a few turns to move things around enough to roll back the rug entirely.

I'll assign remaining shifts if I don't get a full list (i.e., who watches, for how long, etc.). Remember that Tibbius and Fendt will need six hours of uninterrupted rest before they can replace expended spells. Robert will need six hours, plus another 6:15 to replace his spells. Iluq has not cast any spells yet, but will need four or six hours of rest if he casts anything before turning in or wants to replace his current spell list with different spells.

Potion: [2d4+2] = 8+2 = 10

The fireplace looks something like this:

Fireplace.png (289.47 KiB) Viewed 1673 times

Charles Foster Kane and wife not included.[/ooc]

Status: Agrippo: 38/52, Vorkath: 36/36, Tibbius: 14/22, Randolph: 4/4, Iluq: 21/34, Tumbler: 24/39, Robert: 16/27; Fendt: 15/15
Effects: None

[OGRE MAGE]

Wow! That's a big ass fireplace!

[Grognardsw]

Vorkath the Verbal

"By the True God, that was unholy water!" exclaims Vorkath, in a better mood. "I have never tasted such atrocity. I will take a middle watch. Agrippo is still injured - do any of you have healing spells to expend before sleeping, for you will recover them on the morn."

"Do we feel confident these four doors make this room safe to sleep in? Fires don't usually maintain themselves - someone will come here to tend it or enjoy it. Perhaps we take a peek behind these doors before spiking them shut, if safety is deemed acceptable here."

The paladin tosses a few books into the fire to keep it strong. Plenty of kindling here. The firelight sparkles in his blue eyes and casts a shadow of his powerful frame against the wall. The righteous shadow of vengeance on Strahd.

[GreyWolfVT]

Fendt "Sure if you wish to look behind the doors I would oblige in the effort. Illuq I can take watch with you if Tibbius needs to study spells all night." with that Fendt walks over to the first unopened door and listens at the door ear pressed right up to the door.

[Zhym]

At which door will Fendt listen: the western door in the north wall, the set of double doors in the west wall, or the door in the south wall?

[GreyWolfVT]

Northwall first I'll work around to the other doors.

[Stirling]

"big ass fireplace, looks more like an open stable! could fit old Daffodil in there!"Agrippo is impressed with the fireplace and stokes an extra log in there, "another ward for wargs and wriaths!"

Agrippo will go through his nightly ablutions before completing his stern watch in the night, he will then pretend to snore his way until disturbed on a couch by the northern door we came through. His shield and spear under the couch and new sword cuddled under the pillow, every now and then he will open an eye to see if it glows a bit more should Strahd make an entrance.

[Computer +1]

Tumbler makes a face at the big paladin, Next time dont go drink strange liquids! Yer lucky it just burned ya a bit.

The thumbs through one of the art books and relaxes. Robert I'll take yer watch, better that you get yer spells sorted.
From his backpack he produces a tankard and his prized possession, his jug. He uses its magic to produce beer which he downs before passing the mug around.

[Zhym]

Date: Nouluna 5, 1221
Time: 12:00 AM
Weather: Thunderstorm
Moon: Full
Location: Castle Ravenloft, Study
**************************************

You continue preparing for, you hope, a night's rest.

Vorkath, now healed, explains that he'd tasted unholy water, not acid—although for the paladin, the effect was the same. He offers to take a middle watch and suggests that anyone with healing spells use them before sleeping. He then asks, while tossing a few books on the fire, whether a well-maintained room with four doors is a safe enough place to stay overnight.

Fendt offers to help look behind doors. Listening at each door, he hears nothing.

Agrippo and Iluq marvel at the size of the fireplace. Agrippo tosses another log on the fire and readies for his watch, during which he plans to pretend to sleep. After a long day, he might end up not pretending.

Tumbler offers to take Robert's watch and chides Vorkath for tasting strange potions.

Burning books? In this DM's eyes, that's a strong turn towards evil.

If Agrippo pretends to sleep, I'll roll to see if he actually does fall asleep.

It sounds like y'all are wrapping up toward a night in the study, so the next round of posts is your chance either to (1) cast any spells, (2) open some doors, or (3) decide to rest somewhere else before we switch to a new day (and thread).

Status: Agrippo: 38/52, Vorkath: 36/36, Tibbius: 14/22, Randolph: 4/4, Iluq: 21/34, Tumbler: 24/39, Robert: 16/27; Fendt: 15/15
Effects: None

[Grognardsw]

Vorkath, paladin

Having detected no evil in 60', and the others hear nothing, and Sunshine Swordblade happily dim, Vorkath says: "Okay men, and Tumbler, at the ready. Let's take a look then behind door number one." as he opens the north door.

"Anything in this abode of evil should be destroyed," thinks Vorkath in his handsome head. "My respect for objective knowledge is why I don't throw all these books in the fire."

[GreyWolfVT]

Ah but this fire is in the home of evil so is it not evil fire?

Fendt goes to open door number 2 Mace in hand.

[Zhym]

Date: Nouluna 5, 1221
Time: 12:02 AM
Weather: Thunderstorm
Moon: Full
Location: Castle Ravenloft, Study
**************************************

You check the doors to this room. Vorkath refrains from book burning out of respect for knowledge and opens the other door in the north wall. Behind it, another spiral staircase leads down.

Fendt opens the double doors in the west wall. Sweet smells waft from the delicately lit room beyond. Windows on the west wall are covered by heavy red draperies, hanging stiffly from the ceiling 20 feet overhead. Their tassels of golden fiber glint in the light of three candelabras sitting atop small tables about the room. Tall white candles burn with bright, steady light. A large bed, canopied by silken curtains, sits with its headboard against the north wall. Lying amid the velvet and satin sheets and bedclothes is a young woman in a night coat. One of her dainty slippers has fallen to the floor at the foot of the bed. Carved into the headboard with great skill and care is a large "Z."

The young woman stirs and looks at Fendt and the gathered party behind him. "Hi there," she says languidly. "Who are you? Are you friends of Strahd's?"

Map 5.png (175.51 KiB) Viewed 1621 times

Status: Agrippo: 38/52, Vorkath: 36/36, Tibbius: 14/22, Randolph: 4/4, Iluq: 21/34, Tumbler: 24/39, Robert: 16/27; Fendt: 15/15
Effects: None

[GreyWolfVT]

Fendt stands there unsure what to say.... "Us um uh we are well...." and he trails off there.

[MonkeyWrench]

Illuq subtly walks over to Vorkath, speaking to him in a hushed tone, "Detect evil on the maiden?"

[Grognardsw]

Am I right assuming the detect evil I did in the library would cover the woman given the 60' radius? And the Sunsword has not glowed brightly?

Vorkath, paladin

The handsome paladin steps forth, smiling and bowing though with one hand on the hilt of Excommunicator. "Good evening fair lady, we are sorry to disturb your rest. I am Vorkath Tsaridian, holy warrior, Sword of the True God, Guardian of the Truth, the Faith Hunter. Are you in need of aid?

"My men and I have business with Strahd. Do you know where he is? And have you seen a young woman who bears much resemblance to the picture above the fireplace?"

[OGRE MAGE]

Tib stays in the room with the fireplace and watches the other doors.

[Zhym]

Date: Nouluna 5, 1221
Time: 12:04 AM
Weather: Thunderstorm
Moon: Full
Location: Castle Ravenloft, Study
**************************************

Fendt can only stammer in response to the young woman's question. Vokath, ever confident and charismatic, steps up.

"Good evening fair lady, we are sorry to disturb your rest. I am Vorkath Tsaridian, holy warrior, Sword of the True God, Guardian of the Truth, the Faith Hunter. Are you in need of aid?"

"Hello Vorkath Tsaridian, holy warrior, Sword of the True God, uh...Guardian of the Faith? Hunter of Truth?" she replies. "That is a long name. Mine is Gertruda." She looks at her surroundings: a plush four-poster bed hung with fine silks, a thick, luxurious carpet on the floor, rich draperies, and delicate nightclothes. "No, I don't think need any aid, thank you for asking!"

"My men and I have business with Strahd," continues Vorkath. "Do you know where he is? And have you seen a young woman who bears much resemblance to the picture above the fireplace?"

"I haven't seen anyone who looks like that painting," she says. "She's pretty, but isn't she, like, ancient? Strahd hasn't visited since this morning. He's an awfully busy man, you know. It's not easy running a kingdom! He works so hard, the poor dear. Why, he seems to be up working every night!" She sighs heavily.

Vorkath was within 60' of the bed when he tried to detect evil a few moments ago. The Sunsword glows only dimly, indicating that no undead are within 30'.

Status: Agrippo: 38/52, Vorkath: 36/36, Tibbius: 14/22, Randolph: 4/4, Iluq: 21/34, Tumbler: 24/39, Robert: 16/27; Fendt: 15/15
Effects: None

[Computer +1]

Tumbler stays in the other room with Tib.