4. The Spires of Ravenloft

[MonkeyWrench]

Iluq looks around him, his face showing confusion, "What just happened? Where is Ireena?"

[GreyWolfVT]

Robert looks around miffed "Ee gads where is Ireena indeed! Some group of protectors we are."

[Grognardsw]

Vorkath, paladin

"Gods damn it, where is the woman!" curses Vorkath. He glares about as if he could see tracks. "Tibby did your cat see what happened to her? If we act quick with a locate object dweomer, she may still be in range!"

[Zhym]

Date: Nouluna 4, 1221
Time: 7:40 PM
Weather: Thunderstorm
Moon: Full
Location: Castle Ravenloft, Landing
**************************************

Released from the portrait’s hypnosis, you try to figure out what just happened.

“"Wha...what just happened?” asks Robert. “Tib what on earth are you doing up there?" asks Robert.

“When the portrait went all kaleidescopy, you all started just starting at it. I tried to destroy it, and the painting levitated me!” he replies. “So I cast a flying spell.”

Iluq looks around him, his face showing confusion. “Where is Ireena?"

“I don’t know,” answers Tibbius. “I was busy trying to destroy the thing. You’d think it would be easy to hit something that’s just hanging on a wall, but no.”

Vorkath curses and glares about as if he could see tracks. “Tibby did your cat see what happened to her? If we act quick with a locate object dweomer, she may still be in range!"

Randolph Cat looks up at the paladin for a moment, then sits down and starts grooming himself.

“Maybe,” Tibbius says. “But you all were staring at that thing for almost ten minutes. Unless she just wandered off on her own, she might be anywhere in this castle by now.”

Status: Agrippo: 46/52, Vokath: 32/36, Tibbius: 14/22, Randolph: 4/4, Iluq: 25/34, Tumbler: 24/39, Robert: 19/27
Spells: Log of Everburning (Robert): 23 turns; Fly (Tibbius): 3 rounds + 1d6 turns

[GreyWolfVT]

Robert "Well what now go back and search for Ireena? Keep forging on ahead? I'm torn what do we do?"

[MonkeyWrench]

"I won't leave her alone to defend herself, let's double back and see if we can find her!"

[Grognardsw]

Vorkath, paladin

"Cast the spell Tibbius," says Vorkath. "There is nothing to lose and she may be trapped or hurt nearby. I've seen you communicate with that cat in your way - what did she see?"

Vorkath concentrates with his detect evil sense, reaching out to see if there are evil presences within range that perhaps snatched Ireena.

[Stirling]

Enraged and a little confused, Agrippo will search further upwards.

[GreyWolfVT]

Robert will aid Agrippo in searching.

[Zhym]

Date: Nouluna 4, 1221
Time: 7:41 PM
Weather: Thunderstorm
Moon: Full
Location: Castle Ravenloft, Landing
**************************************

You focus on finding Ireena.

"Cast the spell Tibbius," says Vorkath.

“I cannot locate people with that spell,” says Tibbius, still hovering in mid-air. “But I think I remember her shirt well enough to try to locate that. If she’s still wearing it—steady, Agrippo—I should be able to locate her.” Tibbius pulls a small lodestone from his robes, says some words, and slowly spins around. He looks up, then down.

“I do not sense the shirt,” he finally declares.

Vorkath asks what Randolph Cat saw, but a look from the cat tells Tibbius that the calico totally meant to stare at the pretty swirling colors.

Agrippo and Robert start up the north staircase.

Status: Agrippo: 46/52, Vokath: 32/36, Tibbius: 14/22, Randolph: 4/4, Iluq: 25/34, Tumbler: 24/39, Robert: 19/27
Spells: Log of Everburning (Robert): 22.9 turns; Fly (Tibbius): 2 rounds + 1d6 turns

[GreyWolfVT]

Robert "If you can follow us Tib feel free to be an aerial lookout for us."

[Grognardsw]

Vorkath follows the others up the stairs in marching order.

[Zhym]

Date: Nouluna 4, 1221
Time: 7:50 PM
Weather: Thunderstorm
Moon: Full
Location: Castle Ravenloft, Landing
**************************************

Having failed to locate Ireena with Tibbius’s spell, you proceed up the spiral staircase. The steps lead up 40’ to another landing. In the west wall is a door. The stairway continues upwards.

Map 7.png (18.12 KiB) Viewed 583 times

Sorry about the delay. I was out of town on a mini-vacation.

Status: Agrippo: 46/52, Vokath: 32/36, Tibbius: 14/22, Randolph: 4/4, Iluq: 25/34, Tumbler: 24/39, Robert: 19/27
Spells: Log of Everburning (Robert): 22 turns; Fly (Tibbius): ???

[GreyWolfVT]

Robert "Up until the stairs end I presume?"

[Grognardsw]

Vorkath nods as the party continues to the top.

[Stirling]

Agrippo will halt by the door and instruct someone behind to listen and he will; as stealthy as a man in half plate can go..., continue to creep up the winding staircase to the tower top. He is expecting trouble, perhaps bats or more wraiths so will have spear and shield at the ready

[MonkeyWrench]

Iluq stands with the group, his body tense and ready for whatever may spring from the door.

[GreyWolfVT]

Robert stands there awaiting Tumbler to check if indeed he is going to do as Agrippo asks after all Tumbler has the best ears for the task. "I believe that is your cue Tumbler my friend." Robert smiles politely @ Tumbler.

[Zhym]

Date: Nouluna 4, 1221
Time: 8:00 PM
Weather: Thunderstorm
Moon: Full
Location: Castle Ravenloft, Tower
**************************************

You pause in your climb for Tumbler to listen at the door by the landing. He hears nothing, so you continue upward.

You emerge from the covered stairwell onto the top of the tower. A turmoil of black, boiling clouds rolls unceasingly over the dark towers of Ravenloft. Rain continues to fall, pelting you with cold droplets. Lightning continues to flash across the sky. Those of you in metal armor are suddenly very aware that you are much higher up than almost anything else around.

The 50-foot diameter tower roof is rimmed with broken parapets that drop into the swirling mists of fog below. A slender stone bridge, glistening wet from the storm, spans the gap between this tower and the tower to the north, some 20 feet away. To the east, the high tower of Ravenloft thrusts skyward with no apparent opening at this point.

As you take in your (wet) surroundings, a dark cloud approaches from the direction of the top of the high tower to the east. The cloud resolves itself as another swarm of bats, which flies about you, screeching and flapping in the storm.

Map 8S.png (42.18 KiB) Viewed 569 times

Dot: You are here.
Black circle: high tower.

Status: Agrippo: 46/52, Vokath: 32/36, Tibbius: 14/22, Randolph: 4/4, Iluq: 25/34, Tumbler: 24/39, Robert: 19/27
Spells: Log of Everburning (Robert): 21 turns; Fly (Tibbius): expired

[GreyWolfVT]

Robert "Well now what? I suppose we could search for secret doors."