4. The Spires of Ravenloft

[Zhym]

Date: Nouluna 4, 1221
Time: 8:12 PM
Weather: Thunderstorm
Moon: Full
Location: Castle Ravenloft, Tower
**************************************

Robert follows Tumbler across the slippery bridge. He is pelted with rain, buffeted by the winds of the storm, and pestered by bats, but he crosses safely.

At Vorkath’s urging, Robert and Tumbler start down the staircase in the northern tower. As they step onto the huge staircase, a reddish light flares overhead, settling into a dull, pulsing red glow. They can now see the full immensity of this tower. The spiral staircase circles down almost 200’ and climbs 50’ or so up from Robert and Tumbler’s position, ending at a door. At the domed pinnacle of the hollow tower, a pulsing glass heart beats with light.

The tower begins to pitch and shake like a beast trying to throw an unwanted rider. The nimble Tumbler easily keeps his footing. Robert tries to avoid falling to his death!

GreyWolfVT: please roll a d20 Dexterity check. If you roll Robert's dex or below, Robert manages to avoid being thrown from the stairs this round. If you roll above his dex, Robert plummets to the stone floor nearly 200 feet below!

I'm interpreted "go with Tumbler" as following him down the stairs. Each round, anyone on the stairs needs to roll a dexterity check or fall off the stairs. I got Computer +1's first roll in pm.

Robert, bridge: [1d20] = 12

Actions?

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): 19.8 turns

[Zhym]

Robert also easily avoids falling off the stairs.

Saving Throw/Ability Checks[1d20] = 1

Both Computer +1 and GreyWolfVT rolled 1s on their dexterity checks! Amazing! Killing your characters is going to be harder than I'd thought.

[GreyWolfVT]

Nah killing us is easy just get Vorkath the barbarian in a rage and Robert might try and put him down

[Grognardsw]

At the domed pinnacle of the hollow tower, a pulsing glass heart beats with light...The tower begins to pitch and shake like a beast trying to throw an unwanted rider.

"Hmmm, I suppose that bears investigation," murmurs Vorkath to Agrippo, nodding at the light atop the tower. "Though the tower doesn't seem cooperative."

To Iluq and Tibbius: "Do either of you have any magical means of flying us up to the top?"

[Zhym]

"I just used my flying spell to break free from that portrait," says Tibbius.

[Zhym]

BTW, everyone but Tumbler and Robert is still on the top of the south tower. You can see a pulsing red light from the entry into the north tower, but you can't see its source.

[GreyWolfVT]

Robert to Tumbler "Well this is quite the tricky tower stair isn't it now. The thing shakes as if it is a living creature."

[Computer +1]

Ughhhh another twist in this place. Do we press on or return to the others?

[GreyWolfVT]

"I'm not sure my friend. What does your gut say? My gut says if the others are not coming this way we should go back. Despite some of the differences I think we need to face danger when we have our muscle with us."

[MonkeyWrench]

Iluq watches the red pulsing light, straining his eyes for his comrades. "What is happening over there? Should we go to their defense?"

[GreyWolfVT]

Robert "At any rate Tumbler, we need to get off these stairs." How many more stairs are there? Is there a door or something at the end of the stairs?

[Zhym]

You can get back to the landing and out of the tower this round, if you choose. There is a door at the top of the stairs, 50' above the landing. The staircase curves around the wall, of course, adding length. As a rough estimate, the staircase is 2' long for each 1' climb, so it's about 100' from the landing to the door. You went down, not up, so you'd have to come back to the landing then start up. Let's say you're 10' away from the landing, which is 20' wide. That puts you 130' from the door. Your movement rates are both 90 ft/round. You wouldn't make it to the door in one round without having to make another dexterity check (and even if you did, you couldn't reach the door and open it in the same round in which you'd used your full movement).

[GreyWolfVT]

Robert keeps moving to the landing.

[Computer +1]

Robert wait, lets go back. Quick!

The floating halberds sealed the deal for Tumbler.

[GreyWolfVT]

"Alright seeing as you are in front of me I agree as I can only move backwards unless you move forward." Robert will change direction and head back to the others with Tumbler in tow.

[Zhym]

Please roll a d20 to see if you need to make a dex check crossing the bridge, and then roll the dex check if you roll a 1 or 2. Because the crossing is now not only slippery and windy and pestered by bats but a little shaky from the tower to the north, the chance of needing to make a dex check is higher than before.

You can safely stay on the outcropping between the tower staircase and the bridge, should you so choose.

Tumbler is still tied to the rope, by the way.

[Grognardsw]

"Rope yourself Robert!" Vorkath yells over, seeing their predicament.

[Stirling]

Agrippo probably doesn't see much of the action from his vantage point but is intrigued by the shaking tower."Don't think we should enter it from this point though, we should work our way upwards, towers, too mnay towers and where is Ireena?"

Agrippo will maintain a watch on this tower parapet, helping with the rope work if needed and watching the door behind.

[Zhym]

Date: Nouluna 4, 1221
Time: 8:13 PM
Weather: Thunderstorm
Moon: Full
Location: Castle Ravenloft, Tower
**************************************

Tumbler and Robert get the heck out of the bucking tower. They cross back over the bridge. Tumbler is as sure-footed as before. Robert slips on a wet stone, but easily recovers his footing and crosses safely.

The north tower settles down, but a red light continues to pulse from within it.

GreyWolfVT rolled two 1s for Robert! The first to slip, and the second to easily avoid falling. Wacky.

Tumbler slip & dex checks: Slip? (1-2=yes) [1d20] = 18 Fall? [1d20] = 6

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): 19.7 turns

[Grognardsw]

Vorkath, paladin

"That light must hold much import to be guarded such," says Vorkath to the reunited group. "It seems that door is the only way in. I wonder if we can get inside the tower from the castle and get to the top from there?"

The Faith Hunter feels the light is meaningful given the words of the gypsy woman.

Madam Eva... regards the Sun and the Ten of Cups. "This card is good for you. It is a card of power and strength. It tells of a weapon of light—a weapon with a vengeance. This is in a place of dizzying heights that all are loathe to travel. The road winds ever upwards and the rocks themselves live here! There is a very good influence there. If you are there, the powers of good will aid you."

Full Tarot reading: viewtopic.php?p=65279#p65279