Twin guardhouses of turreted stone, broken from years of use and exposure, keep a silent watch over your approach.  Beyond these a wide chasm gapes between the Balinok cliffs and the walls of Ravenloft, disappearing into the fog-shrouded distance far below.

The lowered drawbridge of old wooden beams hangs precariously between you and the arched entrance to the castle courtyard.  The chains of the drawbridge creak in the wind, their rust-eaten iron straining with the weight.  From atop the high strong walls, stone gargoyles stare at you from hollow sockets, grinning hideously.

A rotting wooden portcullis, green with growth, hangs in the entry tunnel.  Beyond this the main doors of Castle Ravenloft stand open, a rich warm light spilling into the courtyard ...

Zertin advances cautiously towards the gatehouses and drawbridge, alert for any sign of guards or other dangers. When closer to the drawbridge he looks for any sign that the drawbridge and its chains really may not be able to support the party's weight.

Zertin rolled 9 using 1d20+4.  Spot check.
Zertin rolled 14 using 1d20+5.  Knowledge Architecture/Engineering.

Arriving at the high pass, Qvar is as fresh as if he'd just taken a stroll in a meadow of cornflowers.  He smiles at Caesius and asks "How badly do you miss Hammer now?"

At the drawbridge he steps up beside his brother and looks ahead to where light spills from the castle entrance.  "It looks like we're expected." he chuckles.  "I weigh less than most, and travel light.  Perhaps I should be first?  Does anyone have a rope?  And does anyone know how to tie a bowline?  I can never remember which hole the rabbit goes in!"
This message was last edited by the player at 10:57, Mon 12 Sept 2022.

The chains are indeed rusty but they look as if they might hold if you're cautious for the weight of a single person is surely as nothing compared to that of the old drawbridge itself ... though the planks, it must be said, are best described as rotten and would seem the greatest danger.

From this vantage the Wizard can discern no sign of life, or indeed unlife.

Zertin retrieves a coil of silk rope from his backpack and passes it to Qvar.

”Good idea Q. A strong breeze could blow you away!”

"I'd not trust the bridge to hold the weight of a horse." Caesius growls, though he spares a rueful smile for Qvar.  It seems that he does, indeed, miss his mount.

"I have more rope, should we need it.  I have no idea what this bow line might be though.  Mayhap I know it by a different name."

The paladin steps up to the end of the bridge, and peers across to the gateway of the castle itself.  "'tis long since anybody has seen to the upkeep of this place.  Evil rulers must take little pride in their homes."

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."