Violet stares up at the towers bracketing the bridge and portcullis.  She shivers, briefly, then sighs.  "I might...climb the chains into the towers," the young woman quietly offers.  "From there, I would have a better vantage into the interior.  See what there is to see, perhaps, and warn you if anything be amiss."

Her lips twist for an instant in a grimace.  "More than this, in any case."

"Otherwise I could take the rope across the bridge, and secure it at the other side.  Though I have no strong memory how to tie a bowline."

Qvar chuckles back at his brother. "You could fly me like a kite right over the gap."

At Violet's suggestion he glances up at the chains and the tower, then back at her with a smile. "I hadn't even thought of that.  I suspect you'll do far better at this than I."  He passes Zertin's silk rope to her.  "Tie this about yourself.  Failed bowlines are usually slipknots, secure if not comfortable."  He smiles reassuringly and passes the free end of the rope to someone more solid than himself... Ashlyn perhaps.

To Caesius he adds "Once Violet has crossed, maybe we can attach your rope for her to pull across to aid our crossing?"

You swiftly decide that Violet's suggestion is the better approach, though Caesius's inspection confirms that both his and Zertin's ropes will be needed to stretch the distance.

With the rope suitably secured about her, Violet clambers up the leftmost chain, easily at first, then with considerably more difficulty as the slope steepens, finally pulling herself up one great link at at time, to gain the tower.

Within the tower it is dark, with no windows to allow in even what little light there is, and the young woman can make out little more than a maze of machinery with narrow walkways and ladders placed for access.

It is clear to Violet that she will need either to untie the rope from about her waist if she wishes to enter the tower to explore further, else use the rope to lower herself to the solid ground below on this side of the drawbridge.

"She's very good."  Qvar says admiring Violet's nimble climb.  "Is she an acrobat, did she say?"

Quietly he says to Zertin he adds "I didn't want to mention it before Violet made her crossing, but I'm relieved those gargoyles have remained carved of stone."

As Violet clambers up the chain, Caesius unslings his crossbow, places a quarrel in the groove, then keeps a close watch on the opening that seems to be her destination.

It's dark, of course, and he can't see anything inside.

"If it came to it, mage, do you have some magic that'd set a light in yonder hole?  Or Qvar, what about you?"

Qvar shakes his head.  "I did not ask Pelor to aid me in that way today.  But not to worry, Violet seems a most resourceful young lady, I'm sure she'll figure something out."

”I do have a sunrod in my haversack but no way to get it to her from here. I have a Light cantrip prepared, which will make one object I touch glow like a torch for 70 minutes. I could cast that upon a sling bullet and try to sling it through that opening but I would not trust my skill with my sling to make that shot. I have a Dancing Lights cantrip prepared as well, which does have the range to reach that opening but I would not be able to direct it any further after that opening as I cannot see inside.

“Caesius, fetch out your other rope and I will cross the bridge myself with that safety line to haul me back up if I fall. I have Feather Fall prepared so I will be safe enough even if the drawbridge fails. Actually, I am fairly confident it will bear my weight, particularly if I walk along the line above the beams that form the frame to which the planks of the drawbridge are fastened. The planks may be weak but that frame must still be strong enough if the drawbridge still stands. If we cross one at a time it should be safe enough. V has bravely demonstrated that anyone crossing is not likely to be attacked.”

With a grimace, Violet leans back out the way she came and makes a motion of her hand.  Then she ducks back into the tower, and sets to lighting her hooded lantern.  It's the work of only a short time before it's lit, and she keeps it mostly shut, providing only just enough light to see.  Hopefully this will keep from announcing her location to all and sundry.

As if the undying have any requirement for light.

Once this is finished, she casts about to determine the next best course of action.

OOC - So what's the best choice, here?  Go down the wall and secure the rope below for the other to come across the dilapidated drawbridge? Or is there a better choice?

At Caesius's prompting, even as the Paladin stands guard, crossbow at the ready, Zertin ponders his options for the mystical kindling of illumination, while Violet chooses a more mundane method, igniting her oil lantern that she might better see what faces her within the Northern tower on whose threshold she perches ...

Within the one hundred foot high tower, revealed by the carefully hooded light, the young woman casts her eyes over the inner workings of the mechanisms that raise and lower both the drawbridge and a portcullis (or at least half of such machinery, for she deduces the Southern tower might contain much the same).

There are no windows or other openings in the tower, just a solid-looking wooden door at the base, tightly shut, which would allow access to the tower from the inner courtyard of the castle.

Sadly, Caesius has already given up his rope to join to that of Zertin to provide an anchor for Violet.

"Can you tie off the rope on your side, Violet?"  Qvar calls, just loud enough to carry to her.  He will volunteer to make the first crossing, passing Caesius's end of the rope through his rope girdle then giving the end back to Caesius.  If he falls he'll be held by his girdle, uncomfortable but alive.

When Qvar volunteers to walk the drawbridge first, Zertin unpins a winged brooch from his cloak and pins it on Qvar instead.

“Wear this, Q. It is a safewing emblem. It is just a loan, of course, as I don’t think you will really need it. But if you fall it will activate the Feather Fall spell within and we will be able to pull you back to safety. Walk on the line above the beams of the drawbridge. That will be the strongest part of the drawbridge.”

Qvar hugs his brother then holds him at arm's length and laughs.  "Thank you Zed, but you know I can't borrow anything from you - not even Nanna's knitted bathers if you've still got those in that magic bag of yours."  He unfastens the brooch and presses it back into Zertin's hand.  "I'll do as you said and walk on the beams ... and Pelor will be with me.  Should I fall, be sure to watch, it's sure to be spectacular."

If Violet is able to secure the rope then he will make the crossing as described earlier.

Looks like it's 'going to the ground'.  Leaning out the window again, Violet checks the distance to the ground.  100'; quite a drop.  She could climb down...and honestly, that seems to be the best possible choice, given the circumstances.  If she lowers herself, that's going to be problematic, because then the rope will be up THERE, and...how will people use it to work their way across the dangerous bridge?

Best to take the risk, herself.

At least there's nothing in the tower, living or Un-alive, to assault her as she gets her climbing gear out and strapped to her hands and feet.

OOC - Okay, as I understand it Violet is basically going to climb down the tower and then secure the rope so people can cross the dangerous drawbridge?  Did I miss something?  If not, that's what I'm doing.

Violet will take 10.  That'll give her a 21 climb, which should be sufficient to climb down "An uneven surface with some narrow handholds and footholds, such as a typical wall in a dungeon or ruins".  Better yet, it's a tower connected to a wall, so she should be able to get herself into a corner (hopefully) and use that to get another -5 on the difficulty.

Once she's down, there's plenty to attach the rope to, to allow the group to easily cross the damaged bridge.

OOC: perfect!  And thanks for taking on all the risk.  And should she fall, please make it spectacular :-)

Caesius relaxes, a little, when Violet reveals that she is able to provide light for herself.  Then a little more when he sees her preparing to descend the outside of the tower.

His gaze wanders, taking in the rest of the gatehouse, the bridge, and their surroundings.  Still, he keeps looking back at Violet, assuring himself that she is safe.  Relatively.

Since his vow forbids Qvar to even borrow his brother's token which might afford him safe passage, Violet abandons her investigation of the tower's innards to carefully and painstakingly climb down the weathered stone blocks of its wall, landing lithely on solid ground at the opening of the entry tunnel.

Without a spike or piton, there's precious little to secure the rope too on this side, but the skinny priest looks light enough that with her holding tight to one end, and with Ashlyn anchoring the other, they'll easily support his weight should the planks give way ...

... which they do not, as Pelor guides his servant safely over to join Violet upon the far side, Caesius keeping a watchful eye upon the pair while he stands guard.

The climb down is no treat, but she manages with only a few dicey areas.  The lamp goes brighter, at least in the direction of the group, and Violet secures the rope as best she can.  Then its Qvar's turn to come over.

Finally the priest arrives, and she heaves a sigh of relief.  "One down," the young woman mutters.  "Let's see about the rest."

OOC - I'll do my best next time to make any plummets amusing.  Is there anyway to secure it to the portcullis, or the chains, or something? 

Zertin grins and hands the winged brooch to Caesius instead. Then he simply walks across the drawbridge in Qvar's footsteps, holding onto the rope with both hands as he goes.

"You continue to astound us all, Violet."  Qvar beams back at the courageous young woman.  He adds his own slight strength to the rope as Zertin crosses.  Glancing through the gateway towards the lit doorway across the courtyard he murmurs a prayer.  "Not far to go now, Pelor light our way."

With a nod of thanks, Caesius fastens the brooch to his cloak, next to the sigil of Heironeous that sits there.  Then he waits for Zertin to clear the bridge, before assaying the crossing himself.

The ancient timbers creak beneath his booted feet with every step, but the paladin continues without hesitation, one hand resting lightly on the rope.  The other grasps the shaft of Nail, and he uses the butt of the spear to test the soundness of the wood before him.

"Pleasant day for a stroll, is it not?" he calls to his companipns, as he passes the half-way point.

Violet turns her gaze speculatively to the rotting wooden portcullis, green with growth, that hangs in the entry tunnel ten feet behind her ... but even were it to prove sturdy enough to bear the strain, its base is twenty feet or so above the ground below ... and her companions seem unwilling to wait.

With Qvar safely across and adding his thin frame to the cause of anchoring the far end of the rope, Zertin follows next, trusting to the rope for support, and makes the passage without incident.

Caesius is both heavier, in his armour, and, even with the brooch lent him by Zertin, less trusting, sparing only one hand for the rope while the other grasps his spear, testing each plank before setting his foot upon it ...

... proving the wisdom of his actions as one rotten piece gives way with a crack beneath his probing staff sending shards of wood falling into the deep chasm below !  Undaunted the Paladin nonchalently continues on in the same manner, eventually gaining the solid ground on the other side.

That scare past, the rest follow in turn, each copying Caesius's example, testing as they go.  Ashlyn brings up the rear, tying the rope about her waist before she too makes the crossing.

Ahead is the entry, about thirty feet high and twenty wide, the rotten portcullis raised to allow access, with a warm rich light from the main doors of Castle Ravenloft spilling into the courtyard beyond the tunnel.

"Good... " growls Caesius, with a grin.  "The beast seems to be at home."

Ducking her head against Qvar's compliment, Violet turns to regard Caesius with a raised eyebrow.

'A stroll?'  Is he whistling in the dark?

Somehow, Violet figures that would not be the case.  Instead, the man seems almost annealed against fear.  She wishes she might say the same for herself.

Then it's onward, toward the keep within the castle, and Violet purses her lips at the sight of the open doors.  Something awaits and, as Caesius states, it is most likely a beast.

One of the undying.

Arrow to bow, she keeps herself in the fore to ensure she might spot any issues before they become urgent.

Qvar smiles in relief as Caesius crosses safely and in good spirits, clearly eager to confront the beast.  And that is well, for clearly this is the purpose to which our God's have summoned us here.  He follows Violet at a distance, his own warm glow reaching in anticipation towards that in the far doorway.

While they are still in the entry tunnel Zertin decides it is finally time to dress to impress. With a flamboyant wave of his hand his dusty clothing is transformed into a noble's outfit suitable for an honoured guest of the local lord. He slips on a signet ring and a jewelled necklace to complete the picture. He still has his dagger on his belt as his only visible weapon, but he passes his backpack to Randal to carry for him ("Just while I am trying to look like a nobleman, if you don't mind?").