4. The Spires of Ravenloft

[Zhym]

Date: Nouluna 4, 1221
Time: 9:35 PM
Weather: Thunderstorm
Moon: Full
Location: Castle Ravenloft, North Tower Room
**************************************

While Vorkath tries to retrieve the pulsing gem at the top of the tower, the rest of you try to assess whether the figure in the bed is one of Strahd's tricks.

Iluq carefully approaches the bed. The figure is slight, as if his blood is part elf. Or perhaps he is just malnourished.

"Who are you?" asks Iluq.

Agrippo takes a more aggressive tack. "Last man chained got kinda crispy," he says, "so talk now or scream later."

The figure sits up. "My names is Fendt," he answers. "Who are you all? Has Strahd finally decided what to do with me? Have you come to feed me? Please—anything but more rats."

---

Vorkath flies out of the room and back into the tower shaft, heading for the pulsing heart. The gem (or is it glass?) heart is quite large—perhaps 5' in diameter. It is affixed to the ceiling of the tower by several tubes.

Heart2.png (37.75 KiB) Viewed 466 times

As Vorkath nears the heart, the pulsing light quickens and the halberds fly from the walls to attack!

Status: Agrippo: 38/52, Vokath: 22/36, Tibbius: 14/22, Randolph: 4/4, Iluq: 21/34, Tumbler: 24/39, Robert: 16/27
Effects: Log of Everburning (Robert): 11.5 turns; Flight (Vorkath): 0.5+1d4 turns; Levitation (Robert): 1+1d4 turns

[GreyWolfVT]

Robert "Strahd has been feeding you rats? or are you one of his pet vampires that feeds on the blood of rats?" Robert holds his sword point towards the Fendt person on the bed "I don't know yet if I trust you."

[Grognardsw]

Vorkath hacks at the tubes supporting heart.

[MonkeyWrench]

Illuq steps away while Robert questions the man. He stays in a ready stance to dodge or block the flying halberds

[Zhym]

To clarify: everyone but Vorkath is in the room on top of the tower. Vorkath is in the tower shaft below the room. The cross-section from the side looks something like this:

North Tower Side View.png (45.55 KiB) Viewed 457 times

[MonkeyWrench]

Ah, let me change my action then. Thank you for the clarification.

Illuq stands by, letting Robert do the talking since Illuq is not one for interrogation. He watches the door and windows for any signs of an enemy, keeping himself limber but ready.

[GreyWolfVT]

Robert stops and looks back to everyone then notices Vorkath's absence "Where the devil is our paladin off too? Lets hope he is not on another arson rampage."

[Stirling]

Agrippo will question the man further, intimidatingly so: "why does this Strahd keep you alive? what do you offer him alive? what do you know that he wants? we are searching for a captive young maiden, where would Strahd keep her. Be quick now man, the knight of 'flaming death' will soon return and he will pluck your still beating heart out and roast it with rats flesh to feed you famished frame."

[Zhym]

Date: Nouluna 4, 1221
Time: 9:36 PM
Weather: Thunderstorm
Moon: Full
Location: Castle Ravenloft, North Tower Room
**************************************

The interrogation continues. Agrippo, taking a page from the paladin's book, stands intimidatingly over the chained Fendt and peppers him with questions. "Why does Strahd keep you alive? What do you offer him alive? What do you know that he wants? We are searching for a captive young maiden; where would Strahd keep her? Be quick now, man!"

Fendt gets a confused and scared look in his eyes. "I don't know," he says in a shaking voice. "Please, can you help me? Why won't you help me? If you won't release me, will you spare me a bite of food, or at least a sip of water?"

---

Vorkath tries to cut the heart from the top of the tower. But six flying halberds reach him before he can strike. They surround the flying paladin and hack at him. One cuts into his leg. Another halberd hits with a forceful blow to his side, the axe head breaking though his steel breastplate and burying itself in his ribs. (Vorkath: -13 HP!)

Vorkath strikes a solid blow to the veins that hold the heart to the roof of the tower. A thick liquid sprays from the shattered tubes. The heart remains tenuously connected to the tower with what must be an artery. The tower convulses violently and tries desperately to eliminate the hostile body that is trying to kill it.

Actions!

Initiative: Party [1d6] = 2 Monsters [1d6] = 3
Halberd attacks: [1d20] = 12 [1d20] = 10 [1d20] = 11
Halberd attacks: [1d20] = 16 [1d20] = 10 [1d20] = 18
Halberd damage: [1d10] = 4 [1d10] = 9
Vorkath attack: [1d20] = 11 [2d4+1] = 7+1 = 8 -1 to-hit from flying cancels +1 from magic sword

Grognardsw: Please make an attack roll (at -2 because of flying) for the next round (or I'll roll if you'd prefer).

Status: Agrippo: 38/52, Vorkath: 9/36, Tibbius: 14/22, Randolph: 4/4, Iluq: 21/34, Tumbler: 24/39, Robert: 16/27
Effects: Log of Everburning (Robert): 11.4 turns; Flight (Vorkath): 0.4+1d4 turns; Levitation (Robert): 0.9+1d4 turns

[MonkeyWrench]

Illuq, takes his water from his pack, "Perhaps the man will answer more questions when his throat is not dry and raw?" He holds the water skin out to Agrippo, almost pleading him to allow the man some water.

[GreyWolfVT]

Robert goes off to try and locate the missing Vorkath. Sword out and ready, also trying to think of any useful spell he might have to try and help if there is dire need.

[Computer +1]

Tumbler moves over to inspect the manacles chaining Fendt. For pity's sake lets free this poor soul!
He takes out his lockpicking tools and gets to work opening the manacles.

[OGRE MAGE]

Tibbius looks at Tumbler I would think you'd be more interested in that chest?
Ahhhh Guys! I can hear like.....fighting or something coming up from this tower. Anyone think Vorkath could use a hand?

[MonkeyWrench]

Illuq snaps up from his pleading towards Agrippo, "Vorkath needs our help? Lets find him!" Illuq runs out of the room and finds the stairs, trying to follow the sounds of metal clanging, helping his friends being his top priority.

[Grognardsw]

Vorkath, paladin

This would be a good death, destroying a literal pulsing heart of evil. The paladin knows the True God would would smile on the effort. Vorkath hacks and slashes at the heart, fending off some halberds. He knows the flying weapons will overcome him. Better to live and try again.

The Sword of the True God reluctantly flies back up the way he came, maintaining guard against halberds.

[Computer +1]

Tumbler stays with his task of opening the manacles. As he works he makes some small talk, So who are you? Howd you get imprisoned here?

[GreyWolfVT]

Robert having more friends run by him looking for Vorkath stops and goes back to this Fendt and Tumbler to ensure Tumbler's safety. if anything.

[Zhym]

Date: Nouluna 4, 1221
Time: 9:37 PM
Weather: Thunderstorm
Moon: Full
Location: Castle Ravenloft, North Tower
**************************************

Iluq offers his water skin to Agrippo, pleading for the warrior to give the chained Fendt some water. Agrippo takes it and gives Fendt a sip.

"For pity's sake let's free this poor soul!" says Tumbler. He takes out his tools and starts picking the lock on the manacles. As he works he makes small talk. "So, who are you?" he asks. "How'd you get imprisoned here?" The master locksmith makes quick work of the manacles. They open with a soft click.

Fendt stretches his arms and legs wide with the stiffness of one who has not been able to do so for months "Thank you," he says in voice that's stronger for the drink. "Like I said, my name is Fendt. I—"

"Guys!" Tibbius interjects. "I can hear like...fighting or something coming up from this tower." As if to punctuate his remarks, you feel the room atop the tower convulse even more strongly than before.

Robert and Iluq rush back down the stairs. They arrive just in time to see, but not to join, Vorkath's fight against the heart of the living tower...

---

Vorkath quickly considers his options. If he died destroying a literal pulsing heart of evil, it would be a good death. The paladin knows the True God would would smile on the effort. But he is outnumbered six to one by flying halberds and he knows he would soon be overcome. Deciding that the path of valor means living to fight again, the Sword of the True God reluctantly turns to fly back up the way he came, maintaining guard against halberds.

As he turns, the halberds swoop in for one more set of attacks. Vorkath's god is with him, however: all six halberds miss—one just barely, another so badly that it crashes into another halberd, creating an opening for Vorkath to take one more strike at the heart as he retreats. He swings true, shattering the heart!

The pulsing light where the heart used to be dims and winks out. The tower quells its shaking. Six halberds fall to the floor far below with a clatter that echoes through the now lifeless tower.

Initiative: Party [1d6] = 2 Monsters [1d6] = 5
Halberd attacks: [1d20] = 12 [1d20] = 1 [1d20] = 11
Halberd attacks: [1d20] = 15 [1d20] = 6 [1d20] = 13

The heart was the key to the tower. Kill it, and you kill the tower, but that was the only way to kill the tower. The bad news: it had deadly defenses. The good news: the heart only had 10 HP and an AC of 8.

Status: Agrippo: 38/52, Vorkath: 9/36, Tibbius: 14/22, Randolph: 4/4, Iluq: 21/34, Tumbler: 24/39, Robert: 16/27
Effects: Log of Everburning (Robert): 11.3 turns; Flight (Vorkath): 0.3+1d4 turns; Levitation (Robert): 0.8+1d4 turns

[MonkeyWrench]

Illuq rushes to Vorkaths aide, "Hold still my friend..."

Iluq, cure light wounds: [1d8] = 7

[GreyWolfVT]

Robert "So the tower is defeated but won't this thing come crashing down now?"