3. Castle Ravenloft

[GreyWolfVT]

"Well shall we? Ladies first both of you." Again Robert speaks with a sly little smirk.

[Eulalios]

"Oh not to worry, there may be more of us showing up," not-Ireena says with a demure smile toward Ireena. "We'll just stay out of each others' way, I suppose."

[Zhym]

"I don't think you got the nose quite right," says Ireena. "But then, I'm used to looking at it in a mirror."

[Eulalios]

"I am sorry if anything seems off ... but yes, it may be just that you're not used to seeing your own face," not-Ireena chuckles.

Looking around, she adds: "At this moment I have no idea what we'll do next. But that's ... very comfortable for me. And how are you, Ser Vorkath?"

Randolph Cat flows down the carriage steps and stalks across the drawbridge, tail straight up, ears forward.

[GreyWolfVT]

"Well I guess we enter the castle after all we were expected." Robert says as he looks around and shrugs, then proceeds to head towards the castle slowly taking his time. Robert stops just near the main entrance looking all around and back at his companions.

[Stirling]

Agrippo will step from the carriage and looking at the surroundings grunt gruffly. "Once more into the breach they go, theirs' was not to reason why, theirs' was to Do or Die!"Agrippo will quote from the ancient texts of heroic (failures) sagas. Then shield held high he will walk towards the bridge and look down over its edge testing its strength and for any traps or hidden planklessness (new word!).

[GreyWolfVT]

"You know Agrippo you grumble like a dwarf." Robert say a little sarcastically.

[Grognardsw]

Vorkath / the den of evil

Vorkath Tsaridian, the Sword of the True God, surveys the scene before him. He concentrates, extending his sixth sense to detect evil.

"Let us all be on guard now," says the paladin, drawing forth Excommunicator. "The vile stench of iniquity and evil hangs heavy here. Keep your stakes at the ready. Ireenas, stay close to me."

Vorkath glares at Agrippo expecting a smirk; perhaps with two Ireenas, a ribald jest. "Spartan, let us fall into marching order that has served us well in past adventures and proceed. Direct approach, or explore for other entrances in to perhaps gain some surprise advantage?"

Have we established marching order? Vorkath feels obliged to be first, but Agrippo is welcome.

[GreyWolfVT]

Robert has since forgotten past marching order what with his personality change and all. "Excuse me Vorkath, I had forgotten that you go first." Robert says with a sincere bow and smile, then steps back allowing Vorkath to lead.

[Computer +1]

At the mention of grumbling like a dwarf Tumbler puffs up a bit and looks like he is going to begin a true grumble but instead remains quiet and alert.

[Zhym]

Date: Nouluna 4, 1221
Time: 4:30 PM
Weather: Heavy rain
Moon: Full
Location: Before the Gates to Castle Ravenloft
**************************************

Randolph Cat strides boldly across the bridge. Robert starts across but waits for Vorkath to lead the way. Vorkath does not cross; instead, he concentrates on detecting evil. He senses none in the 60’ before him. Considering that the drawbridge itself is 50’ long, all that tells the paladin is that the bridge itself is not powerfully evil.

Agrippo walks towards the bridge. He looks down over its edge. The chasm floor lies hidden beneath the fog somewhere a thousand feet below. He pokes the drawbridge with his spear. The drawbridge seems solid enough, but it is old. Who can say how strong each individual plank is?

Ireena—the real one—laughs. “My bold rescuers, held at bay by a bridge.” She crosses to the other side, where she and Randolph look back at you expectantly.

Status: Robert: 36/37, Iluq: 39/39, Vokath: 40/40, Repentance: 23/23, Tibbius: 22/22, Randolph: 4/4, Tumbler: 24/39, Agrippo: 46/52
Spells: Polymorph Self (Tibbius): 13 turns; Log of Everburning (Robert): 41 turns

[Computer +1]

Blasted girl's got more grit then alla' us combined. Tumbler crosses the bridge with as much bravado as he can muster.

[GreyWolfVT]

Robert crosses the bridge as well not at all afraid of it, smiles and nods in agreement with Tumbler's comments, but does not say anything sarcastic or at all. Robert follows who he suspects is the real Ireena and the cat companion of hers, turning only once to look back to see if the rest are going to follow and waves them forward.

[Eulalios]

Not-Ireena delicately and quietly crosses the bridge. Randolph Cat continues to accompany Ireena.

[Grognardsw]

Vorkath strides across the bridge. He looks for the drawbridge mechanism or chains to break.

"It would be good to prevent the drawbridge's closure, lest we be trapped in the castle by chasm," says the paladin.

After this..."I wouldn't want to get the Ireena's confused in some emergency. Tibrena, could you wear your hair different or mark your shirt with chalk?"

Vorkath then eyes the area for entrances to the castle.

[Eulalios]

"Of us all, I suspect she's the least ... prone ... to confusion, more's your pity ..." not-Ireena replies. "But fear not - Randolph will watch your interest." Indeed, Randolph preens his back against Ireena's calf just momentarily, before darting forward to the doorway of the castle.

[GreyWolfVT]

"Would it not just be easier to have Randolph simply stick with the true Ireena, so that you would know the right one simply by looking for the cat?" Robert asks with all sincerity.

[Stirling]

Agrippo will cross the bridge kicking some loose stone down over the chasm. "damn fogs everywhere" he'll mutter, then move on to the courtyard.

[Eulalios]

"Indeed, that's the intent," not-Ireena answers Robert. "Although that damn cat has his own ideas, he's always come through for me."

To Vorkath: "If you'll recall our escape from the Moated Dungeon of Dungrin, then you'll also recall the simplicity of knocking a drawbridge open."

[NJWilliam]

Iluq

Iluq heads across the bridge after Agrippo.