4. The Spires of Ravenloft

[Zhym]

The tower is stable. Seems dead rocks hold each other up as well as living rocks.

[GreyWolfVT]

Well that is a load off my mind.

Robert "Hmm nope never mind the thought. Great job Vorkath. I'll go back up and check on Tumbler." and so he goes back to Tumbler and Fendt.

[Computer +1]

When the rumbling stops Tumbler looks around. He says to Fendt, I hope that is the end of all this jumping around. He looks the elf over, So you was sayin'?

[Grognardsw]

Vorkath, paladin

"Thank you Iluq," says Vorkath as the priest heals some of his wounds. "While not the weapon of light we hoped for, that evil heart had to be destroyed. Let us hope it will hurt Strahd and make our job easier."

The paladin thanks the True God for his victory. His calls upon his deity in a laying of hands upon himself (12 HP). Vorkath listens to Fendt.

[Zhym]

Date: Nouluna 4, 1221
Time: 9:40 PM
Weather: Thunderstorm
Moon: Full
Location: Castle Ravenloft, North Tower Room
**************************************

The tower defeated, you return to the room at its peak. Iluq and Vorkath heal most of the paladin's wounds.

"I hope that is the end of all this jumping around," Tumbler tells Fendt.

"Me too," Fendt replies. "I was getting seasick with the castle tower bouncing around like, well, like a bouncy castle!

"Anyway," he continues, "You want to know what I'm doing here. So do I. But I can at least tell you how I got here. A few months ago, I got a message that I had inherited a small keep not far from Barovia. I didn't know it was near Barovia at the time of course; I'd never heard of this place. I wish I still hadn't. Anyway, the message said I was supposed to go claim the keep or I'd forfeit it. So I set out with a group of my best men to act as my stewards and guards and such. Could I have another drink? I haven't said more than three words since Joluna."* Agrippo hands over the waterskin. Fendt gulps down more water.

"Thanks. Well, we were on the roads not far from here when a group of brigands surprised us. They killed everyone but me. Me, they bound and knocked out. Next thing I know, I'm in this room, chained to the bed where you found me.

"I've seen Strahd only a few times. He doesn't say much—mostly he just puts something in that chest over there and leaves without a word. Looking at this room, though, it's obvious whatever he has planned wouldn't end well for me.

"I really am starving," he says. "I don't suppose any of you would have a hunk of cheese or a crust of bread you could spare?"

*Joluna is the seventh month of the year.

Status: Agrippo: 38/52, Vorkath: 28/36, Tibbius: 14/22, Randolph: 4/4, Iluq: 21/34, Tumbler: 24/39, Robert: 16/27
Effects: Log of Everburning (Robert): 11 turns; Flight (Vorkath): 1d4 turns; Levitation (Robert): 0.5+1d4 turns

[GreyWolfVT]

Robert having heard the story hands Fendt some of his standard rations. as opposed to the better iron ones

[MonkeyWrench]

Illuq listens to the man, then looks over to the chest. He walks over to it and carefully checks to see if it is locked.

[Computer +1]

Tumbler runs over to intercept Illuq before he gets any closer to the chest. DON"T MOVE NEAR THAT CHEST! He slowly begins a very careful search of the area around the chest for traps. If he doesn't find anything he will begin a visual inspection of the chest for traps. If he doesn't find anything he will begin a inspection of the chests lock for traps.

At that point he will pause and address the group.

[OGRE MAGE]

Tibbius

Ohhhh! This is soooo exciting! Don't get me wrong, I'm still pretty scared but, at least it seems like we're getting somewhere now. he will examine the magic symbol on the floor to see if he can learn anything from it. Without touching it of course.

[Grognardsw]

Vorkath, paladin

"Careful of the pentagram," Vorkath warns Tibbius. "That radiates the most evil in this room."

"Why do you think Strahd desires your confinement? What would motivate him?" asks the paladin of Fendt.

Vorkath concentrates his Detect Evil sense, to see how the current vibe is compared to when the Heart was beating.

[Zhym]

Date: Nouluna 4, 1221
Time: 9:50 PM
Weather: Thunderstorm
Moon: Full
Location: Castle Ravenloft, North Tower Room
**************************************

When Fendt finishes his story, Robert hands him some of his rations—but not the good ones.

Iluq starts over to the chest, but Tumbler holds him back. The dwarf is well aware of the deadly traps that might be located on or around the chest. He slowly begins a very careful search of the area around the chest. Finding nothing, he looks at the chest itself. His trained eyes easily spot the hidden trigger in the latching mechanism, although he doesn't know what kind of trap the trigger would set off.

Actions?

Sorry about the delay. I was out of town at a conference.

Status: Agrippo: 38/52, Vorkath: 28/36, Tibbius: 14/22, Randolph: 4/4, Iluq: 21/34, Tumbler: 24/39, Robert: 16/27
Effects: Log of Everburning (Robert): 10 turns; Flight (Vorkath): 1d4-1 turns; Levitation (Robert): 1d4-0.5 turns

[GreyWolfVT]

Robert "We should get away from the chest so that Tumbler can work better."

[Grognardsw]

Vorkath, paladin

"Why do you think Strahd desires your confinement? What would motivate him?" asks the paladin of Fendt.

Vorkath concentrates his Detect Evil sense, to see how the current vibe is compared to when the Heart was beating.

[GreyWolfVT]

Fendt "How should I know what the devious bastard wants of me? AS to why he left me alive I have no idea. At this point I'd like to see the whatever he is dead."

[Computer +1]

Tumbler pauses and addresses the group over his shoulder.
Ok we got a trap here. No telling what kind of trap it is. You want me to try to disarm it? If so you guys better be ready to heal, cure and or save me.

[MonkeyWrench]

Illuq stands by Tumbler, "I am with you friend, if anything should harm you I will do my best to heal."

[GreyWolfVT]

Fendt "I'll not wish any harm to the one that actually released me if anything, Tumbler was it? I owe you my debt of gratitude. In that chest could very well be my belongings though why they would be kept so near to me I'd question that though it makes sense to trap it in case I got free and tried to gather my belongings."

[Grognardsw]

Vorkath looks through the door to see if anything is coming up the stairs. He concentrates his Detect Evil sense, to see how the current vibe is compared to when the Heart was beating.

The sense of evil Vorkath detected is not significantly reduced. It seems to be coming from the pentagram, but the pentagram itself doesn't register as evil. Like footprints, or feathers where a flock of geese used to be, what Vorkath senses is residue. Something very evil was there—so evil that the pentagram still stinks of it.

[Zhym]

Will Tumbler try to disarm the trap and open the chest?

[Stirling]

"Maybe what was on the pentagram is now chained to the bed! Speak up a bit more Mr Fendt, your tales are as dry as a camels arse, you are of no use to Strahd and none to us. There are more secrets in this room, tell us of the this devils' pentagram and traps."

Agrippo is not assured all is as should be and is not willing to unchain the man until we are more secure. The worst is that he remains in the tower and we can free him when Strahd is defeated.