10. Return to Castle Ravenloft

[Storm11]

The gnomes disembodied voice whispers from the entrance to the stairwell. "we didn't come across many mundane ones, a few, but magical traps abound in this place. Shaking stairwells that try and throw you to your doom for example. Be wary!"

[Dram]

Bragar- Explains to group when nearing the stable house. That a female Vampire named Helga( I think that was the name) led 3 of the party members into the stables where they were attacked by rats and devoured. I do not know if they killed her before dying. We did not see her again. He also lets them know that there was a rust monster in the room atop the stairwell. We must be ready to fight or cast your spells at all times it was a battle after battle while inside.

[Cwreando]

Lar says, "Ok then, stay sharp and let's get going. Down the stairs? Have you been this way before? IF not let's check it out and see if it goes towards the catacombs."

[Storm11]

The gnome shakes his invisible head. He realises only Agax can see him and says No!

[GreyWolfVT]

Gragog starts towards the stairs until the gnome says "No!" "Oh what is it now little one?"

[Storm11]

Gragog starts towards the stairs until the gnome says "No!" "Oh what is it now little one?"

"As in no we haven't explored this way before. Trap Detection might be wise, but I defer to you sturdy warrior," the invisible gnome explains

[Inferno]

Agax Gryyg, game mage:

"I must have slain them where they stood!" Agax said of the skeletons in mock earnestness. Then he winked as he returned his holy symbol and talisman to the pockets and pouches beneath his long, prematurely white beard.

Glancing down at the ledger, he tutted at the entries. "Tsk, tsk. Penmanship. A lost art, really," he lamented.
Then he set fire to the book. "Such arrogance and overconfidence!" he said of its owner. "A flaw we might all do well to exploit."

Then, from the top of the stair, he scoured their path with his mystic vision.

[Stirling]

Scarlett will look to see if she can lock the servants courtyard door using her collection of lockpicks and skeleton keys. Then she will ask one of the guys to help move a guard statue into the north doorframe, "maybe his menacing silhouette will trick any spies to think we are encamped here, at least when he falls we will hear and be forewarned. If I had time I could set more of a trap but this should just be enough."

[Zhym]

What will you be using for light sources?

[Cwreando]

Lar says, "It looks dark so let me get my lantern ready." He puts his shield on his back and pulls out his lantern from his Bag along with his flint and steel and lights the lantern then returns his Flint and steel to his bag. "Scarlett stay within my protection while search ahead."He helps her move the skeleton over by the door and will help secure it the that they can. Prop a chair against it or wedge something under the door whatever they can find, if any to complete the task. If nothing is available then he just helps bring the skeleton over before heading down in formation.

[GreyWolfVT]

Gragog "Just as well for I'll need both hands to use my spear, can't go carrying a torch and use my spear should we find a fight ahead."

[Storm11]

Castran will draw out a continual light coin and pass it to someone who wishes to use it!

[Inferno]

Agax Gryyg, game mage:

The dreaming wizard won't light the small lantern that sometimes dangles from his staff.

Agax1.jpg (235.34 KiB) Viewed 558 times

He doesn't want illumination to thwart the camouflaging powers of his cloak.

[Zhym]

Date: Trieluna 13, 1222
Time: 6:20 PM
Weather: Fog
Location: Castle Ravenloft, Servants' Entrance
**************************************

You decline to sign into the guest register. Instead, Agax removes flint and tinder from his pack and works on setting the book alight. "Such arrogance and overconfidence!" he says of its owner. "A flaw we might all do well to exploit."

Meanwhile, Scarlett sets to work on the outer door, attempting the reverse of a thief's usual trick by trying to lock the door instead of unlock it. It's a different set of skills than a thief usually employs, and after three tries at the lock she is forced to concede defeat.

Next, she tries to move one of the skeletons near the north door frame. The skeletons are on a hook, however, and without some form of support they would just lie as a heap of bones on the floor. Lar has the idea to move a chair under the north door, but it opens out of the room and (as previously mentioned) is broken anyway.

You ready yourselves to delve into whatever lies below. Lar puts his shield on his back and lights his lantern (deduct one oil please). Castran pulls out a coin with a continual light spell cast on it. Because both the gnome and his possessions are invisible, the only person who can see it offered is Agax, who prefers the concealment of his cloak to the bright light of Castran's coin.

With Lar's lantern lighting the way, you proceed down the stairs for 40' until you reach the bottom. Here, a 70' long and 20' wide hall stands in deadly silence. The low ceiling sags from heavy beams. A fog clings to the floor in thick patches, obscuring everything within three feet of the floor. Castran's head is just barely above the fog. Three doors stand in the north wall of the hall. The west end of the hall ends at double doors made of heavy planks banded with steel, while a single door stands in the south wall. The east end of the hallway is blocked by a rusty but solid-looking portcullis.

A giant shadow is cast across the ceiling as a dark figure shuffles purposefully down the corridor toward you.

Actions!

Map 11 Larders of Ill Omen.png (38.28 KiB) Viewed 553 times

I'll say that trying to lock a door without the key is a little harder than trying to pick the lock, so it's at a 5% penalty:

Scarlett: Lock lock? (1-42=yes): [1d100+5] = 46+5 = 51
Scarlett: Lock lock? (1-42=yes): [1d100+5] = 47+5 = 52
Scarlett: Lock lock? (1-42=yes): [1d100+5] = 41+5 = 46

-----
Status: Gragog (F7): 49/49; Lar (P6): 37/40; Bragar: 41/42 (C7); Castran: 23/23 (F5/I6); Scarlett (C7/T5): 34/34; Agax (MU7): 45/45; Petyr (F4): 30/30; Bogdana (C3): 23/23; Shinyah (D7): 37/38, Honeynose: 26/28, Treescratcher: 29/29, Hihu: 4/4
Effects: Phantom Armor (Castran): 6 pts left; Invisibility (Castran); Detect Invisibility (Agax): 0.5 turns

[Inferno]

Agax Gryyg, game mage:

"Let it come to us," Agax whispered. "There's no telling what traps and hazards lay beneath that fog."

Unless Agax's present ability* to see objects that are hidden can tell?
Also, can it tell what this dark figure is that approaches? Thanks.

*

"When the magic-user casts a Detect Invisibility spell, he or she is able to clearly see any objects which are... hidden"

I'm assuming if this spell can pierce the astral plane, and allow the caster to see the ethereal and the invisible, it can pierce garden variety shadows and fog to reveal what they hide.

[Stirling]

Scarlett is probably huddled in the middle of the group on the stairs, struggling even on tip toe to see over heads of those in the front ranks. Disappointed her rogue skills have gone a little rusty she will to prepare to cast a defensive spell should the need arise.

"Guys, what is it, what do you see?" she will whisper, nudging the others a step further forward.

[Storm11]

Castran will drop his light coin into the middle of the room and move to the side by the wall, ducking down into the fog for ultimate concealment.

[GreyWolfVT]

Gragog readies his spear not sure of what this figure is or of it's intent. "Do we attack it or what? Orders holy warrior?"

[Dram]

Bragar - Moves along side wall and readies his axe for a fight. Then he remembers that undead can go through walls and positions himself just out of the light in the middle of the hallway.

[Zhym]

Date: Trieluna 13, 1222
Time: 6:21 PM
Weather: Fog
Location: Castle Ravenloft, Servants' Entrance
**************************************

You prepare yourselves as the figure shuffles towards you. Castran tosses his light coin to the middle of the hall and drops low to the floor, covering a Castran-shaped space in this mists. The coin casts a shimmering, diffuse light through the thick fog on the floor. Bragar tries to position himself just out of the light in the middle of the hallway. Scarlett tries to get a good view. The rest of you wait, holding on to weapons against whatever is coming.

Castran's light illuminates a short, hunchbacked man in a dark cloak. One bug-like eye stares directly at you; the other rapidly rolls about, as if checking the the ceiling, walls, and floors for scurrying vermin.

Cyrus.png (97.51 KiB) Viewed 519 times

"Guests!" he exclaims in a high-pitched voice as he dances a little jig (poorly). "We have guests guests guests! Dinner, guests, hmmm? The master is having you for dinner, isn't he? Hee hee hee!" The man giggles maniacally as if sharing the world's most hilarious private joke with himself. He reaches out a hand towards Lar, then jerks it back as if afraid to touch him. "Ohh, but the servants' level is no place for fine folk such as yourselves! No no no! No place at all! You should return to your rooms in the tower, good sirs and ladies—and bears! A lofty place for lofty people, hmmm?" He giggles to himself again.

-----
Status: Gragog (F7): 49/49; Lar (P6): 37/40; Bragar: 41/42 (C7); Castran: 23/23 (F5/I6); Scarlett (C7/T5): 34/34; Agax (MU7): 45/45; Petyr (F4): 30/30; Bogdana (C3): 23/23; Shinyah (D7): 37/38, Honeynose: 26/28, Treescratcher: 29/29, Hihu: 4/4
Effects: Phantom Armor (Castran): 6 pts left; Invisibility (Castran); Detect Invisibility (Agax): 0.4 turns