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."

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?