Ravenloft – Part III

Delvaryn’s corpse is tucked into a spectre infested alcove as DonBrapp discusses dismemberment and carpet larceny.  Dagnar and Tomas are dispatched back upstairs to recover the rugs and store them with the fallen Paladin.
“Dwarf!  All rugs yours if Strahd is defeated.  A new dawn breaks in Barovia!”  Pyotr replies, negating the need to send the hirelings back upstairs.

Kailute fills a vial with a minimal amount of Delvaryn’s genetic material as the dwarf continues to strategize proper vivisection of the holy warrior.

“Sounds good to me.”  Kailute remarks.  Quilro proposes turning the paladin into an improvised holy explosive device.  Tomas is taken aback and disturbed.

“It’s about conserving resources.”  DonBrapp states as the hour strikes 10pm 6 Nightal.

Quilro cautiously descends to the next landing, arriving at the space opposite the first-floor dining hall.  The stairs continue down.  Quilro inspects the door to the dining hall where the party was received and notes the phylactery was recovered.

The group moves north back through the hallway foyer surrounded by perched gargoyles before continuing east.  This grand hall is choked with dust and stretches into darkness ahead. Webs hang from the arched ceiling like drapes, and life-sized statues of knights line the hallway on both sides, their eyes seeming to watch you.  The hall has evidence of humanoid traffic recently, but no magic or trickery with the statues.

The door at the far eastern end is inscribed with various outdoor scenes and symbols of Lathander.  As Quilro opens the door dim colored light filters through tall, broken, and boarded-up windows of stained glass, illuminating the ancient chapel of Ravenloft. A few bats flutter about near the top of the ninety-foot-high domed ceiling. A balcony runs the length of the west wall, fifty feet above the floor.

Benches coated with centuries of dust lie about the floor in jumbled disarray. Beyond this debris, lit by a piercing shaft of light, an altar stands upon a stone platform. The sides of the altar are carved with bas-reliefs of angelic figures entwined with grape vines. The light from above falls directly on a silver statuette of a raven. A cloaked figure is draped over the altar, and a black mace lies on the floor near its feet.

The group gently approaches and circles the altar, inspecting the desiccated human corpse in banded mail.  Kailute detects magical divine strength emanating from both the mace and raven statue.  The corpse appears to have been lying there for at least 60 years.

The large chapel ceiling rises in a dome 90’ feet above, as does a balcony to the west with two slumped over shapes looking down upon the chapel floor.  Two alcoves appear to open to staircases north and south.
Kailute skirts up the stairs to investigate as DonBrapp examines the 6” icon of polished silver in the form of a raven.  The item radiates a warmth aligned with the positive material space, and Pyotr recognizes the icon as a symbol to the early years of Barovia and their veneration of ravens.  Tomas identifies the powers of healing and turning undead the icon possesses.

The dwarf outlines the raised dais while chanting and invoking the power of Vergadain for defense and protection.  Quilro scouts the perimeter with the gem to ensure there are no further traps.  Indications of infrequent traffic from an uneven gait are present.

Quilro scouts the balcony.  A sculpted stone railing encloses this long balcony, which overlooks Ravenloft’s chapel. Two ornate thrones stand side by side in the center of the balcony, covered with dust and strung with cobwebs. The thrones face away from the double doors that give access to the balcony.  Two slumped humanoids appear to be sitting in the thrones, and Quilro signals for one of the holy hand grenades.
DonBrapp shakes his head in disdain.

Quilro lofts the missile toward the thrones and the bottle explodes engulfing one of the thrones and the undead within.  The two unearthly creatures stir to attack the party.  The explosion appeared to backlight a humanoid form clinging to the domed ceiling of the chapel.  DonBrapp hoists the raven icon and his symbol toward the two undead who are blasted backward by the power of the positive material plane.

“Search the thrones!” the dwarf yells as Quilro transforms into his trusted harpy form.  Pyotr advances against the undead in the balcony with Dagnar by his side. The near throne continues to burn, lighting the space and filling it with shadows.  Pyotr misjudges a thrust causing serious harm to himself.

Peering above, Quilro sees the piercing red eyes of Strahd clinging to the roof in shadows.  He reaches for his wand and releases a bolt of green disintegrating energy and level it toward the vampire.  Missing the undead lord it pierces a hole in the domed roof while Strahd unleashes a volley of magical missiles.

Kailute fells one of the zombies while the other is cut down by Dagnar.

DonBrapp turns toward the melee taking place in the space above.  Extending Buzzkiller in his arm he releases a lightning bolt toward the roof and the vampire pulses with impact of magical energy.  The Baron invokes an enormous burst of fireballs that erupt upon the balcony, scorching the party and immolating what little furniture and decorations remain. Quilro slumps to the ground, returning to the scorched form of an elf.  All take damage from the heat and flames except the half-orc.

“Get this to Quilro!” The dwarf shouts, flinging Kailute a potion.  “PARLAY, SIR!” he shouts toward the shadow on the ceiling, which dissipates with a rasping laugh.

Kailute leaps over the railing, and rolls into a crouch to bring the healing potion to Quilro.  DonBrapp and Tomas administer the rest of the party back to a modicum of health, including the use of the icon of Ravenloft.

Once healed Quilro begins to remove boarding from the stained-glass windows to allow daylight through the windows.  Kailute examines the remains of the thrones and the upper balcony area.  The group discusses locations to hole up and rest and study spells.

Deciding to continue exploring the group descends the southern circular stairwell, with Quilro leading.  The large flagstones of this spiraling staircase lead up and down around a twenty-foot-wide stone core. Cobwebs fill the staircase, making it difficult to see even the ceiling. Heavy beams sag overhead from centuries of supporting weight.  A recently constructed masonry wall blocks the staircase 10 feet below the landing appearing to be of recent construction.

The party spends about a thirty-minute demo session of breaking down the hall and descend a further 40’.  Buried deep beneath the keep of Ravenloft lie ancient catacombs, with arched ceilings supported by wide, hollow columns that double as crypts. Cobwebs hang limp in the musty air. A thick fog clings to the floor, which is covered in putrid waste.

The group steps from the staircase and begins exploring the crypts inspecting each inscribed door.  The first door they happen upon is inscribed with the name “Ireena Kolyana,” and is empty save for a clean marble plinth.  Pyotr is horrified.

The next crypt reveals the resting place of a vampire maiden who screeches to attack driving Quilro away in fear.  The rest of the party steps into the breach to attack within the confines of the crypt.
“Bride of Strahd!  Let us put you to rest peaceably!”  The half-orc shouts, reinforcing the intent of peace with two axe swings.

“The power of Brapp compels you!” The cleric shouts hoisting his symbols into the darkness of the crypt, repelling the vampire but not destroying her.  Kailute hacks a limb off the undead queen, nearly fumbling his backswing.
DonBrapp invokes an envelope of silence upon his holy symbol disarming the banshee’s wail.  At another swing of Kailute’s blade the vampire becomes incorporeal and the crypt is empty save a skeletal form on a dais and thousands of coins arrayed around the small room.

DonBrapp locates an ancient spell tome full of arcane elven magic from the high era of Myth Drannor.

The group moves in a clockwise pattern to find Tatyana’s resting place.  Pyotr reads each for an attempt at context but many of the names are beyond his knowledge.

The group discovers a portcullis protecting descending stairs into a lower crypt to the north.  Quilro locates a trap to the northeast and disarms the pressure plate that would have activated some sort of missile in the northern wall.

In St. Markov’s tomb the group unearths a relic of an elder Lathanderite sect and recover Markov’s thigh bone.  Tomas identifies this as a powerful weapon against undead.

The group locates another large sunken crypt to the east, and the half-orc comes across a magical inscription that appears to bear his own name.

After locating some more minor plunder in other crypts the group returns to the stairwell to ponder their next moves.  It is 2am on the morning of 7 Nightal.

Upon opening another crypt the party finds a warren of giant spiders.  Quilro angles a lightning bolt into the constricted space and exterminates the multi-legged bulbous critters.  The group takes some minor weapons from the crypt including a magic dagger.
As they move along the southern edge of the crypt Kailute steps into a space where he is overwhelmed by a strange sensation, transported to a different location in the castle.  His new environ is a ten-foot cell, up to his waste in water.

The rest of the party hears a discharge of magical energy and now a human sized zombie appears to be shuffling toward them, wearing Kailute’s admantine armor.

Kailute shivers in his underclothes, still armed.  The sound of dripping water is the only noise in the dungeons aside from a humanoid breathing to the south.

“Hey!  Who is that?  I can hear you!” A voice in Barovian calls out, decrying his imprisonment by Strahd.  The voice begs for his deliverance as Kailute pulls his bars apart after several attempts.

The transported skeleton advances toward the party to attack.   After a series of misfires DonBrapp obliterates the skeleton with a thump of the magic thighbone.  Tomas scampers up to collect the undead slimed armor.

Kailute makes small talk with the voice in the darkness observing several similar barred cells.  He notes what appears to be a dead wizard in one of the cells.

As the rest of the group finds the approach to another sunken crypt to the south surrounded by three magical traps.  Finding a piece of rubble, DonBrapp throws it into the trap and it is transported in a flash of magical energy…

…that Kailute hears sploosh into the water near him.  He inspects the emaciated dark skinned Barovia, Emil.  For a human there are oversized canine teeth.  After a series of traded insults Kailute continues to explore to the north.
A zombie appears where the brick was disappeared, and shuffles toward the party.  DonBrapp dispatches the undead being with another critical strike to the zombie.

The group stands at the entrance to the southernmost crypt, noting it is surrounded by teleport traps.  DonBrapp withdraws to recover a spell and dispels the trap upon his return.  Quilro finds another crypt full of ghouls in a spiked trap.

Finding himself at an intersection, Kailute heads east finding a stone spiral staircase rising from the muck.  At the next landing he recognizes the opposite side of the elevator/trap Cyrus operated.  He backtracks his way back up and around to the chapel and down the stairs to the crypts.

Peering into the southernmost sunken crypt, lack marble steps descend to a dark tomb that has a vaulted ceiling thirty feet overhead. The essence of evil permeates the very air. The smell of freshly turned earth is here. Quilro negates a magical portcullis with a spell.  Settled into the dirt on the floor is a shining black coffin of finely waxed wood. The coffin’s fittings are of brilliant brass, and the lid is closed. South of the coffin are three gloomy alcoves.

Dwarf and elf advance cautiously, signaling for Dagnar and Pyotr to follow closely.

Kailute rejoins the group from his backtrack, navigating from the noise of their endless bickering.
Within the alcove three stunningly beautiful women in resplendent but aged wedding clothes form an arc in front of the coffin in the center of the crypt.

DonBrapp casts a spell of undead invisibility.  Then he rues casting that spell because it kind of sucks.
Kailute rapidly puts his adamantine armor back on.

Quilro releases a series of sticky strands webbing the vampire maidens on the flanks against the dais.  The middle vampire moves forward with ethereal speed.

Dagnar lobs a bottle of holy water into the center of the web and the entire crypt erupts in flame.  The vampires are shrieking with piercing screams.

DonBrapp invokes a column of flame from the roof and immolates two of the undead females.  The underground space is filling with smoke.

Dagnar appears to fall under the sway of one of the remaining maidens, and he turns his blade on his comrades.
“The Power of Brap Compels you!” the dwarf intones…  to no effect.  Kailute cleaves an arm from one of the maidens causing grievous damage.  One of the vampires claws the dwarf who can feel the soul sucking energy of the negative material plane but avoids the damage.  DonBrapp swoons from the pain.

Quilro draws the one engaged with Brapp away with an attack.  Kailute destroys yet another one of the vampire maidens with an axe blow.

DonBrapp heals himself and finishes off the final vampire maiden.    The group surveys the four coffins in the crypt.  One of the coffins in the southern alcoves retains the remains of the prior female vampire antagonists.  Having recovered from his charmed reverie Dagnar tosses a holy hand grenade into the coffin.

Fyrnlocke checks the main coffin for traps coming up empty.  Opening the coffin is an immaculate red satin coffin with an onyx scepter near the bottom end.  Tomas identifies the ceremonial stave as the office token of the Baron of Barovia.

As it is now early morning of 7 Nightal all party members begin to feel the effects of exhaustion.
Dagnar and Pyotr dump two vials of McJurgin’s Explosive Solution into the coffin and light it aflame.
The group backtracks up to the chapel.  A dim light is showing through some of the stained glass as the group sets up watch and begins to rest.


Kailute, Dagnar and Fyrnlocke assume the first shifts.  In the late morning a commotion of voices is heard outside the stained-glass windows to the rear of the castle.  Kailute overhears a small mob of villagers outside.  He pulls off a board and shoos the villagers back to Barovia.  Pyotr promises three bottles of wine and directs them back to the winery.

Dim light pokes through the hole in the chapel ceiling where Quilro disintegrated it.  There are around four hours of daylight left.

DonBrapp gives the ioun stone to Fyrnlocke for the time being.

After recouping the party delves once again down the circular staircase to the crypts below.

The party doubles back through to review the crypts they did not inspect prior, starting with the large sunken crypt to the north.  It emanates a sense of good divine energy.  The name of the base reads “Sergei von Zarovich.”  Pyotr relates the story of Strahd’s younger brother who was betrothed to a beautiful woman that struck the Baron straight to his heart.  Dagnar relates the tale of a petty king cursed for eternal heartbreak due to the treachery of his brother’s wife.  The region and story relate well to the area the party now finds themselves in.

Among the other crypts the group finds a unique wooden and metal scepter as well as a tinkered set of mechanical dragon wings.

During the inspection of crypts Strahd appears to the north.  “Enjoying yourselves to the resting places of my ancestors?” he asks archly, releasing a lightning bolt down the hallway toward the party.
The lightning bolt bounces off the far wall and explodes one of the vials on Pyotr’s belt felling him in a cloud of fire.

Nearly instantaneously Kailute closes with a swing of his axe landing a blow on the vampire lord.
“I will have Cyrus decorate the throne room with your skull, greenskin.” Strahd hisses.
DonBrapp presents the thighbone and the icon to call forth as much positive energy as he can muster…  which does not turn out to be much.

The vampire laughs while casually raking Kailute’s chest.

Tomas releases a small volley of magic missiles into the vampire.

Strahd moves his hands in a hypnotizing fashion and unleashes a dark bolt of negative energy that catches Tomas, doubling him over in pain and shocking him with a blow of negative energy.

Quilro casts a series of missiles into the vampire who grimaces in pain as they connect.  The group appears to be accruing damage against the Baron.

DonBrapp ducks around a corner and calls forth the power of an earth elemental.

“You’ve desecrated the pillarstone of Ravenloft!” Strahd cries as Fyrnlocke lands a powerful blow upon the vampire.  A hulking, badger-like form created of solid earth and stone slinks up along the cleric.

Strahd invokes a black dimension door into the crypt wall and with a hissing laugh over his should steps inside and is gone.

Quilro stabilizes Pyotr with a healing potion.  The party agrees to have Tomas and Pyotr hole up in Sergei’s northern crypt.  The hour of midnight approaches and the group consolidates healing.  The energy within Sergei’s crypt appears to enhance the power of the healing tonics.

The group moves forward into a long passageway, recently cut and heading east.  The gem of true seeing reveals a trap approximately 70’ to the west.  DonBrapp unleashes the earth elemental to disrupt the trap which would have triggered a slide 40’ to the south.  Quilro explores the space using the rope of climbing.  A slick slide leads into watery darkness directly to the south, appearing to end in dungeon cells Kailute had previously been teleported into previously.

The group continues west until the hall ends in a staircase to the south.  Quilro levels his ring around the corner and opens the metal door magically with knock.

his room is thirty feet square, rising to a twenty-foot-tall flat ceiling. A stone brazier burns fiercely in the center of the room, but its tall white flame produces no heat. The rim of the brazier is carved with seven cup-shaped indentations spaced evenly around the circumference. Within each indentation is a spherical stone, twice the diameter of a human eyeball and made of a colored crystal. No two stones are the same color.

Overhead, a wood-framed hourglass as tall and wide as a dwarf hangs ten feet above the brazier, suspended from the ceiling by thick iron chains. All the sand is stuck in the upper portion of the hourglass, seemingly unable to run down into the bottom. Written in glowing script on the base of the hourglass is a verse in Common.
Cast a stone into the fire:

Violet leads to the mountain spire
Orange to the castle’s peak
Red if lore is what you seek
Green to where the coffins hide
Indigo to the master’s bride
Blue to ancient magic’s womb
Yellow to the master’s tomb

As the group files in the door closes in with a heavy thud.  Three doors line the north wall, and a single door to the south.  A large chest is at the foot of the brazier.  Two 15’ skeletal statues, covered in bronze with four arms sit in opposite alcoves at the east and western wall.  Two arms hold enormous swords, and two arms extend palm out as if expecting an offering.

Inspecting the chest with the gem of true seeing reveals a magical gas trap.
Placing the gems in the off colors to their relating palms of the statues, the party begins to unlock which doors open.  The northwestern door opens, and the party gathers in the stairs to the north as Fyrnlocke prepares to open the chest.

As soon as the thief opens the chest the doors slam shut magically and the sound of the enormous golems coming to life can be heard and felt in the stairwell.  DonBrapp just snaps back before the door closes on his fingers.
The sounds of the elemental locked in thrashing combat emerges as DonBrapp opens the door.
“Get in there!” The dwarf shouts.

Quilro levels his wand of disintegration at one of the golems, and an enormous fissure of magical energy is ripped in the room.  An incredible sense of exultation is released from a second attack with his moonblade, disintegrating the second golem and immediately opening the doors.

Kailute explores the room to the south, locating a viewing gallery for a torture chamber submerged in water and full of zombie victims.

DonBrapp loots the chest for a series of scrolls and some healing potions.

Deciding to head back up the group takes the western stairway up.  The stairway advances far more steeply than the others and the scent indicates fresh air.

Quilro locates a magical glyph of warding that DonBrapp sends the earth elemental to trigger the trap.  An illusion of Strahd animates to taunt the passers by.  As the stairs rise they turn 90 degrees to the east and continue until they terminate at a barely noticeable door within the rock face.

The sound of a chair scraping the floor is heard from the opposite side of the door.

Quilro opens the door quietly but firmly.  This shadowy room is in perfect order. A great table stands here with its chair, inkwell, and quill set carefully in place. Lances, swords, and shields that bear the Barovian crest are hung neatly on the dark, oak-paneled walls.

“Well now… how is it you emerge from below into my office?” Rahadin asks, his hand moving to his scimitar on his hip.

“You must be SHOCKED to see us.”  Kailute states as he steps up to attack but misses.  With supernatural quickness Rahadin flips his blade out of the scabbard and against Kailute.

Quilro steps aside into a shadow; literally into a shadow which envelops and slashes at the elf with negative energy.

DonBrapp releases a lightning bolt that passes through Kailute, bounces off the wall and comes back through the dwarf and Dagnar.  Yet another one of his McJurgin’s explosion potions blows up on his hip.

Kailute slashes again, evoking a respectful smile from the undead elf.

Quilro connects with the shade for a glancing blow.

The smiling elf vampire frowns as Kailute continues to land wounding blows, and DonBrapp smashes a blow into the undead.

Fyrnlocke steps around the flaming bard and joins the fight.

Rahadin attempts to flee but Kailute intercepts to slice and then dispel the withdrawing vampire.

8 Nightal 0200
The party has defeated Rahadin in his office and discovered a trove of information about the goings on in Barovia.

Mirtul 1375
Greetings Lord Strahd,
The favor of Heliogabalus shines on thee.
Baron Tranth of the Valley Bloodstone reports unearthly stirrings in his barony and has requested support from the Crown.
As your house forces are closer and accustomed to mountain terrain, you could dispatch two companies to assist Tranth in whatever ‘unearthly’ menace beckons.
I will deduct any expenses from this year’s tax levy, and pay double for twelve barrels Gureyororvich Red.
Light of Lathander upon thee.
Virdin III, King of Damara

Strahd,
The fools meander and worry about the hordes to the west, oblivious.  Your agent A has done marvelous work.  I salute you, and await further dispatch.  In the interim, we shall make the demi-humans pay.
William VIII Baron and Protector of Arcata

Zarovich,
I sense your forces enjoy powers the others in this valley of weakness do not.  Stand astride, and perhaps we can find objectives of mutual benefit.
What better to assist a fledgling usurper than the danger of a chaotic horde?
Keep your ambition and your undead east of the Galenas and we shall brook no conflict.
Cross me and behold true power.
                                                                            Zhengyi King Witch

Sire,
Lief and I have reviewed the summary literature from the past decade.  The bloodstone mines average 1-3 million gold pieces in export, currently mostly exported east and south. Impiltur and the Free Cities reap the benefits of Damaran labor while Barovia remains a dark backwater.
A route through Barovia to the Moonsea could yield at a minimum 1.5 million to nearly two million additional gold in annual traffic if pursued.
We should proceed with our plans to reorganize and diversify the kingdom.
Your loyal servant, eternally
Rahadin

There is a discussion of near and long term goals, but Quilro focuses on the task on hand while Kailute refreshes his pockets of garlic.  DonBrapp gathers an onyx octagon with a command word DELVAXUS etched into the bottom in infernal script.

The shelves are lined with books concerning Barovian military matters and the care of conjured undead.  It is clear that Barovia augments its levies with undead, and that recent cadre have been struck from the rolls.
Quilro gathers up Rahadin’s scimitar as Dagnar offers a summary history of the items on the office wall.
The party moves south out of the office into another barracks like room inhabited by a midnight black cat.  The group offers some meat to the kitty, who purrs loudly and moves languidly toward the food.  It’s red eyes gleam with intensity as it observes the companions with detached disdain.

“That’s Strahd’s cat.”  Quilro observes.  “We’re coming for you.”  He says looking into the creature’s eyes before patting it away.

While the heroes of Waymeet will brutally slaughter any local magistrate, they are unable to bring themselves to harm Strahd’s cat.

Dagnar unearths a hiding hole with a pouch of vintage electrum pieces.
The group steps into a large landing and the ceiling rises beyond vision.  Quilro is nearly overcome with feelings of dread, and Fyrnlocke steps forward.

A embedded stairwell ascends the wall from a landing decorated with inset stones.  There is no railing along the stairs which jut out from the wall.  A mosaic floor adds a touch of color to the otherwise dark, cold, empty tower that rises above you. A spiral staircase rises slowly into darkness, hugging the outer wall. In the center of the room, another set of stairs leads down to where the party has already explored.

Quilro begins to become extremely agitated and is approaching unhinged.

DonBrapp examines the floor looking for a place to inset the onyx octagon.

As they step onto the spiral staircase, a reddish light flares high overhead, then settles into a dull, pulsing red glow. The full immensity of this tower is revealed. The spiral staircase circles up the tower’s full height. The tower, sixty feet wide at its base, becomes narrower as it climbs. At the pinnacle of the hollow tower, a large crystal heart approximately the size of a human pulsates with red light. Above the heart, the stairs continue upward.

The pulsing of the crystal heart above fills the ears and bodies of all, and DonBrapp invokes a protection spell.  Quilro presses his shoulder into the wall and moves as quickly as he can up the stairs.

The entire shower gives a shudder, almost as if wave.  The overwhelming dread continues to weigh upon everyone in the group.  DonBrapp buckles and loses his footing falling from the stairs.

Shaking off the fall the dwarf recovers the rope of climbing and attaches it to all the party members.
“I said stick to the wall, Dwarf!”  Quilro shouts, his agitation growing yet again.

The cleric casts forth the blessing of Vergadain as Dagnar begins to cower.

“YOU’RE ALREADY DEAD!” Quilro snaps, slapping the bard across the face.

Floating from the wall an arcane halberd, held by nothing but magical energy moves toward Quilro, who presses himself against DonBrapp in fear before attacking with a magic missile.

The animated weapon recoils with damage and is destroyed with a blow from Kailute.

Continuing to ascend the Quilro detects a secret door leading to a shaft with a ladder within.

The tower continues to shake and shimmy, almost as if it is attempting to shudder the companions from the stairs.
Animated ancient weapons continue to try and thwart the groups advance, but they are parried and defeated.
DonBrapp is gripped with fear, beginning to sway toward the edge but he steadies himself before falling over the edge.

The disorienting flurry of a swarm of bats that fly down from above obscure the attack of three additional halberds protecting the crystal suspended heart.

Quilro looks into the heart with his gem and is blown back by the revelation of a gateway to the negative material plane.

“Grab the icon!” Kailute yells, and DonBrapp lifts the raven statuette toward the monstrous organ.  A bright light flashes, appearing to wound the item.  The divine powers of Lathander and Vergadain surround DonBrapp and his holy symbols, wounding the heart.

Quilro is shocked by his impact to the wall.  Kailute destroys another one of the halberds.

A mysterious and magical hand appears out of nowhere to launch another black energy bolt that wracks DonBrapp with painful damage and the unnatural scorch of negative energy drain.

The halberds land a series of glancing blows as DonBrapp continues to wield forth his symbols.  Kailute obliterates two more halberds with a wide swing of his axe.

The power of DonBrapp’s final thrust pushes him over the edge, necessitating Kailute turning to grab him.  He watches in horror as Dagnar tumbles off the steps falling below to his likely death, but the holy powers of the good deities nearly buckles the tower as positive energy scorches the crystal heart.

DonBrapp hangs precariously from the outstretched half-orc’s hand collared around his ruff.

“Who shall tell our story.” DonBrapp wonders aloud as he ponders Dagnar’s end.

As Kailute slowly lifts the dwarf back over the lip of the stairs DonBrapp focuses all of his energy on channeling the forces of light over darkness.
Steeling himself against the fear, Quilro takes a running leap off the stairs and thrusts his inverted moonblade into the crystal heart.  The entire tower heaves with a blast of magical energy.  The crystal heart turns and ashen gray.

“To the parapet!”  Quilro shouts as the tower begins to buckle and implode.  Everyone is blown from their feet by an enormous concussive wave of energy.

Grasping their last bit of luck the group scrambles across a narrow bridge and retreats across the open passageway to watch the tower crumble into the structure below just as the horizon begins to give way to the first purple lights of the coming dawn.

The cleric administers immediate healing as the companions take stock and regroup.

“You think Strahd noticed that?” Kailute wonders aloud, as all acknowledge a lightening of dread with the coming of morning.

Orienting themselves the group recognizes they are near the rooms Cyrus originally offered to them on their first evening.  The center of evil’s gravity appears to be below them.

The group agrees to descend once again back to the crypt using the stone elevator where Sergei is entombed and Pyotr and Tomas are recuperating.

Moving down the party encounters Cyrus again, who asks if they made it to the chapel.  Quilro asks for some wine and the manservant leads the party to the wine cellar to the east.  The elf taps a cask as Cyrus asks if anyone heard the explosions.

Quilro enfeebles Cyrus magically, with no apparent change in his intellect.

The group doubles back through the room filled with undead, and back through the dining hall and chapel back down through to the crypt.

8 Nightal

The group consolidates their healing in the crypt.

“Some henchmen get healed;  some get statues.”  Quilro mutters.  Watches are set and the group burrows into a protective huddle.  Shifting noises are heard to the west of the crypt, punctuated by the loud snoring of the exhausted dwarf.

After several uneventful hours the group stands to while the spellcasters recover their magic.
Pyotr feebly argues he should accompany the group back through the castle but DonBrapp firmly negates that suggestion.

Tomas identifies the onyx octagon as a control vessel for certain associated undead.   Quilro eyes the dwarf with concern as DonBrapp’s face breaks into an uncontrollable smile.

Quilro huddles the group beyond Fyrnlocke’s hearing and suggests abandoning Barovia.

“We’re not leaving this castle without every stitch of rug and every pressed electrum coin if we have to sift through the rubble of Dagnar’s powdered bones.” DonBrapp retorts.

Refreshed and prepared the party steps back into the main crypt where the same black cat lurks watching.
Kailute scoops the feline up and secures it in a sack, tossing it back into Serge’s crypt.  The creature makes pitiful and unbearable wails until Tomas takes the sack and places it upon the stairs, removing it from the sanctified area.

Observing two groups of zombies to the west DonBrapp attempts to control them with the onyx octagon, but it appears to have no impact on them.

The group explores the easternmost lowered crypt, finding a subterranean window opening to the cliff face below the Ravenloft pinnacle.

Two more coffins reveal the first monarchs of Barovia, which the dwarf promptly loots assisted by Fyrnlocke.
The group exits the crypts to the west moving through the assembled zombies unmolested.  The group heads up to the chapel, back through the main hallway and up to the throne room.  Massive stairs rise to a landing twenty feet wide by forty feet long. Stone arches support a ceiling covered with frescoes twenty feet overhead. The frescoes depict armored knights on horseback, their finer features faded beyond recognition.

Dust floats in the air here. At each end of the south wall, a staircase rises into darkness. Between the staircases are twin alcoves, each one containing a standing suit of armor covered with dark stains. Each suit of armor clutches a mace, the “business end” of which is shaped like a dragon’s head.  Quilro detects the pressure traps in front of the suits of armor, setting off the mechanical scare.

Dim light from the courtyard falls into this great hall through the broken glass and iron latticework of a large window in the west wall. This immense room is a place of chilly, brooding darkness. Empty iron sconces dot the walls. Hundreds of dust-laden cobwebs drape the hall, hiding the ceiling from view. Directly across from the window stand a set of double doors in the east wall. Farther south, a single door also leads from the east wall. Staircases at both ends of the north wall lead down.

At the far southern end of the hall, a large wooden throne stands atop a marble dais. The high-backed throne faces south, away from most of the room.
The party moves to inspect the throne, discovering the compartment beneath the overstuffed chair.  Once opened, Kailute pulls forth an arcane magical blade with a polished magical blade of gold wrapped in black velvet.
A secret door in the southern wall affords views to the exterior through arrow slits.  After exploring the eastern staircase to the top, the group doubles back to the throne room and the door to the east.
Dusty scrolls and tomes line the walls of this room. More scrolls and books lie scattered on the floor, around four heavy wooden chests fitted with study iron locks. The only unobstructed floor space is directly in front of the doors on the east and west walls.

In the center of this clutter stands a great black desk. A figure crouches atop a tall stool, scratching on a seemingly endless scroll of paper with a dry quill pen. Nearby a tasseled rope hangs from a hole in the ceiling.
“Who are ye?  Guests of the lord?  Strange tidings.”  The chief accountant of Barovia introduces himself as Lief Liepsiege.  Repulsed by the half-orc, Lief disparages the Guryerovichs, but expresses interest in any contracts the dwarf has the authority to offer.  It is clear Lief is diligent and committed to the accounting of coin.  He confirms the guest tower is the tallest tower in the castle, home as well as other unsavory types.
Departing the accountant the group retraces its steps through the throne room, to the double doors to the east and locate a secret door to the north.  The destruction of the large tower is evident to the east.  Servants quarters are along the west, where Helga begs to be allowed to join them.

The companions state they will return and follow a set of rising stairs around to the west that rise to a hallway full of statues in alcoves.  A secret door to the south leads into a lavish bedroom.  Sweet smells waft from this delicately lit room. A great arched window along the west wall is covered by heavy red draperies, their golden tassels glinting in the light of three candelabras sitting atop small tables about the room. Tall white candles burn with bright, steady light.

A large bed, canopied by silk curtains, sits with its headboard against the north wall. Carved into the headboard with great skill is a large “Z.” Lying amid the velvet and satin sheets and bedclothes is a young woman in a nightgown. One of her dainty slippers has fallen to the floor at the bed’s foot.

Quilro covers the young lady’s mouth with his hand and whispers “Shh.  It’s going to be okay.”  Squirming awake, the young lady identifies her self as the missing Gertruda from Barovia.  She does not have any marks on her neck.

Gertruda identifies the Baron’s library, and as the group enters the library to the east Strahd is sitting calmly on a couch.  A blazing hearth fire fills this room with rolling waves of red and amber light. The walls are lined with ancient books and tomes, their leather covers well oiled and preserved through careful use. All is in order here.

 The stone floor is concealed beneath a thick, luxurious rug. In the center of the room is a large, low table, waxed and polished to a mirrored finish. Even the poker in its stand next to the blazing fireplace is polished. Large, overstuffed divans and couches are arranged about the room. Two chairs of burgundy-colored wood with padded leather seats and back cushions face the hearth. A huge painting hangs over the mantelpiece in a heavy, gilded frame. The rolling firelight illuminates the carefully rendered portrait. It is an exact likeness of Ireena Kolyana.

“Have you all very much enjoyed destroying my home?” Strahd asks, perturbed.  Kailute antagonizes the vampire back with accusations of fratricide and coveting of brotherly wives.  Strahd’s initial volley of magic missiles are absorbed by the half-orc’s ioun stone.

Strahd immediately attacks the dwarf with a grip of iron as Quilro quaffs a potion of undead protection.
“Retreat now before we chase you all over these mountains!”  Kailute shouts heaving into the baron with his axe.
“Helped yourself to the spoils of my ancestors!” Strahd cackles, eyeing the thigh bone mace and loosing several missiles of magical energy into the dwarf.

Quilro returns the favor, and Strahd begins to consider the strength of the group he’s encountered.
DonBrapp attempts a feeble magical attack as Kailute misses two attacks.  Suffering a blow from Fyrnlocke, Strahd leaps behind the couch.

“Cretins.  Perhaps we can find a mutually beneficial outcome and see elements we both despise purged from the abyss.”  While awaiting a response he unleashes an ice storm over the elf and half-orc.

“What good can come of negotiating with a man who licks the ass of a lich?” Kailute asks, closing again with his horrible axe.

As he does, he feels the strange attempt of Quilro to connect him with some sort of arcane magic as Fyrnlocke loses control of the sunblade.

DonBrapp calls forth an enormous gout of flame in the corner scorching all manner of furniture and burning the vampire horribly.

“This is not the last you’ve seen of Strahd Von Zarovich!”  He shouts and steps into a dimension door.
“Below!” The dwarf yells, and the group moves back through the bedroom ignoring the growing fire in the library.  Quilro remains behind to dampen the flames and recover the golden sword.

As the group returns to the large foyer eight gargoyles await in ambush.  As the party enters the statue like monsters swoop from their perches to attack.  The three companions hold off the gargoyles and soon Quilro joins from the level above to join the fray.

An enormous cloud of bats fly through the foyer toward the exit of the castle.

The group eventually slaughters the statue guardians.  Standing in the foyer, the party ponders its next move.

Reckoning with Strahd

9pm 8 Nightal

Having defeated the gargoyles, the party pauses in the octagonal foyer of Castle Ravenloft.

DonBrapp continues to sense the darkest evil above the party and hones in on its location.  Before returning to the depths of castle the dwarf distributes healing to all.

“Heave an axe, greenskin!  I plan on calling forth the flame of Vergadain as soon as we see this bloodsucker!”  Brapp states.

Navigating back through to the crypts the heroes encounter another clutch of undead who register no control to the undead control onyx.

DonBrapp finally unleashes a powerful invocation of divine power enveloping all seven zombies in explosive white light that shatters them.

“I guess Brapp wills it, eh?”  Fyrnlocke says.

Another small group of seven zombies waylays the group as they navigate back to the northern tunnel.  At this encounter DonBrapp’s clerical magic only serves to infuriate the undead.

Quilro bounces a lightning bolt off the wall destroying several as Kailute mocks the magical energy beneath the circling of his ioun stone.

Kailute increases the fury of his axe blows noting these zombies appear much more powerful than other zombies he has encountered before.

DonBrapp fells several immediately swinging the holy artifact of Saint Markovia’s Thighbone Mace.
Defeating the zombies the group pokes into the crypt for an interim healing session where Strahd’s cat continues to hiss from within its bag.

The group heads west along the northern tunnel returning to the destroyed brazier room.  Ascending easternmost staircase the group the group begins to smell burning wood.

The stairwell ceases where it used to frame a door but now rises into the study on the upper level of castle buildings.

Quilro detects a hidden entrance behind the fireplace and the group explores the space beyond.  Resting on the floor of this smoke-filled room is a closed chest surrounded by piles of gold, silver, and copper coins. The fittings and clawed feet on the chest are evidence of great workmanship.

Attached to the east wall are two torch sconces. The southernmost one holds a torch with an intricate metal base. The other is empty. A skeleton in broken plate armor lies against the wall. The skeleton’s right hand is on its throat, and its left hand holds the matching torch from the empty sconce.

The gem reveals this is a decoy treasury and unlock the further secret door by activating the sconce.  The ancient hall beyond is choked with spider webs broken by a single clear path down its center.  Two bronze doors are at the end.  You can hear the rain and thunder outside, and the air here is cold and damp. Veils and curtains of webbing fill the room, making it hard to gauge its width and depth. A single, narrow path leads to the dark center of the room, where a rope dangles from high above.

To the north the party discovers the actual treasury.

Returning to the belfry Kailute pulls the rope arousing the attention of four giant spiders.  DonBrapp slams the doors shut and the group retires back to the study and head south.

Dust assaults your lungs. A sweet yet pungent smell of decay fills this room, in the center of which stands a long oak table. A blanket of dust covers the tabletop and its fine china and silverware. In the center of the table, a large, tiered cake leans heavily to one side. The once white frosting has turned green with age. Cobwebs hang like dusty lace down every side of the cake. A single doll figure of a well-dressed woman adorns the crest of the cake. Suspended above is a web-shrouded chandelier of forged iron.

The group heads back west toward Strahd’s own chambers.  An upturned claw footed tub that was filled with blood is in the center of the room and the floor shows evidence of something having been recently drug into the dining room.
The group heads up the far stairwell back to the room they were originally billeted in by Cyrus.  Ascending to the landing, Strahd awaits flanked by four enormous dire wolves.  A large traveling coffin is propped against a railing and it is clear the vampire lord is preparing to make his escape.

Strahd looks at the party with intense anger and hatred.  “DEFILERS!  You have pushed me from the edge of my family holdings, and now you could bring Damara to ruin!”

“Only lies and your ability to destroy keep me from the one thing I desire!  NOW YOU PAY FOR YOUR INSOLENCE!”
Invoking arcane magic the undead wizard calls forth an ice storm upon all.

Quilro drops to one knee leveling his wand and unleashes a blast of green magical energy that Strahd deftly avoids.
Kailute somersaults into the air and drops his axe with spinning momentum upon the vampires shoulder.  Strahd reciprocates with a steely grip that crushes bone and sinew upon the half-orc.

DonBrapp levels a bolt of lightning as the wolves leap to attack the group.

Strahd unleashes another spell that fails inert on the half-orc.

Once again Quilro unleashes a beam of energy that utterly disintegrates the vampire.

Kailute moves to subdue one of the wolves and Fyrnlocke leaps forward against a wolf.

DonBrapp turns to the elf stating “That’s still only one!” and electrocutes another one of the wolves.  The remaining wolves become passive and subdued.

Quilro extends his arm and drops the wand in finality.

Heat lightning reverberates from the clouds above, and the air seems to release its dark heaviness replaced by a less oppressive feeling.

Kailute ensures the wolves have provisions and holds his hand out to the subdued wolf who licks his hand.  He leads the four of them to the guest room, and hears a cacophony of wailing from a group of female hags below.
DonBrapp inspects what remains in the second coffin, mostly turned earth and assorted coin, as well as a Barovian scepter of rulership.

The dwarf enacts a series of consecrating rituals and agrees with Quilro that the coffin will make an excellent conversation starter at Barla’s rug emporium.

Below the group encounters a trio of witches in an alchemy lab.  They quickly dispatch the hags and investigate the lab.

Fyrnlocke is dispatched back to the village to summon Rosvetta and Sieben.  The group retires back to the crypt to link up with Tomas and Pyotr and rest.

Pyotr asserts his nominal interim regency of Barovia and establishes a headquarters back at the winery.  While not as strong as he was prior to the entry to the castle he immediately takes a deliberate but low-key charge of administrative affairs.

Reports indicated approaching forces from the northeast.

DonBrapp realizes the onyx controls a company of undead warriors raised by Strahd and Rahadin.

Kailute frees Emile from the dungeon and is very thankful for their favor, save the half-orc who left him in the cells.