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The New Adventures of Thundina Seong! Completed May 4
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<blockquote data-quote="Ealli" data-source="post: 3358775" data-attributes="member: 804"><p><strong>Chapter 6: Confusion, Castles, and Commands</strong></p><p></p><p>“Now what?” Romann asked.</p><p>“First thing we need to deal with,” Cyron said, “Krel, I need you to come here. Everyone, please, gather close.”</p><p></p><p>Everyone approached Cyron with Cyron gesturing them closer until everyone was within ten feet of him. “Now that we’re within my <em>Magic Circle against Evil</em>, we can discuss important topics without Strahd being able to overhear. Krel has been dominated by the vampire.”</p><p>“No way!” Krel protested.</p><p>“I saw the vampire break your will.” Cyron insisted.</p><p>Krel remained incredulous.</p><p>Cyron sighed, and then sighed again. Finally he muttered, “I don’t know how to deal with this.” He spoke up, “Something has happened to Krel. We need to be careful.”</p><p></p><p>“Okay, so we watch Krel. Again, now what?” Romann started again.</p><p>“What does one do with dead witches?” Thundina need to know.</p><p>“Bury them, I guess.” Cyron said.</p><p>“Really? I know that you burn a witch when she’s alive. Seems odd that there’s not some ritual you need to do with dead witches.” Thundina said puzzledly.</p><p>“It depends on local customs.” Cyron confirmed.</p><p>“Then I say we should camp here until morning. Then we can go tell the town what happened here and ask for their help in dealing with the dead.” Thundina said.</p><p>“I don’t like this hill. I’d like to get off it.” Krel protested.</p><p>“At the risk of agreeing with Krel, I do not like this hill either.” Cyron added.</p><p>“Well, I don’t like the idea of leaving the corpses unguarded. I think that witch which got away might spirit them away. That’s no good. We need to stay the night.” Thundina insisted.</p><p>“Thundina’s got a point.” Romann said. “We set up camp on the hill for tonight.”</p><p></p><p>With Romann and Thundina in agreement, the issue was decided. The bodies of the witches were piled, Ireena was arranged honorably, and bed rolls were set out.</p><p></p><p>As Thundina was bringing the last of the witches to the pile, Cyron spoke up. “Thundina, there’s something about the way you move. Out, beyond the firelight, you still stride entirely confidently.”</p><p>“Yes? What’s your point?” Thundina replied.</p><p>“How can you see, out near the walls?”</p><p>“I just can. What?”</p><p>“Walk with me a little. Do you see that notch in the wall? Okay, how about that small pile of rubble? And that tree?”</p><p>With Thundina assuring Cyron that she could see each thing he was pointing out, Cyron came to the conclusion, “You’ve got darkvision, as good as a dwarf’s.”</p><p></p><p>Back near the fire, Orning had already curled up and gone to sleep. The others set to deciding the watch. Suddenly, Romann, Cyron, and Thundina cocked their heads for a moment.</p><p>“Did you hear that?” Romann asked.</p><p>“Yes.” Thundina nodded.</p><p>“My name, whispered on the wind…” Romann continued.</p><p>“No! It was my name!” Thundina insisted.</p><p>“Err, sir, and Thundina, I heard my name on the wind” Cyron added.</p><p>The three looked at each other momentarily before dropping the subject as entirely too weird. Assigning watches finished quickly and Thundina was able to begin her sleeping.</p><p></p><p>A couple hours into the night, Romann shook Thundina awake. “Your turn.”</p><p>Crawling out of her bed roll, Thundina strapped her breastplate on again and began pacing around the ruins of the monastery on Lysaga Hill. Each of her companions were sleeping soundly and nothing moved out in the night. Eventually, her watch ended and Thundina went over to Cyron and shook him awake. “Wakey, wakey time. Have fun staring into darkness for two hours; it’s back to bed for me.”</p><p></p><p>Later, Thundina awoke to the light of day; the fog had broken for the first time since Thundina had been to Barovia. Knowing that the fight with the witches had lasted until midnight, Thundina reckoned that she must be waking up a little early so she rolled over to get a bit more sleep. She could sleep with some light.</p><p>“Krel!” Cyron shouted. “What are you doing, asleep on your watch?”</p><p>Instantly alert, Thundina surged out of her bedroll. Glancing around, Thundina knew that Cyron was right; it was too light out. “Krel, this is not good. How could you sleep through your watch?”</p><p>Krel could only sheepishly say, “I must have nodded off. I don’t know what happened.”</p><p></p><p>Unable to mount any further righteous fury, Thundina set to putting the morning plans into action. Thundina drafted Orning to return to town with her, while Romann and Cyron would stay, watching Krel and the corpses. As Thundina and Orning were about to depart the hill, Cyron called out, “Thundina, wait a moment. While you’re in town, I need some diamond dust. I think I figured out how to help Romann on his blood loss.”</p><p></p><p>Thundina trudged back to the camp, “Okay, how much will you need? Oh, I’m going to have to deal with Bildreth again. Crud.” Thundina’s shoulder’s sagged.</p><p>“Yes, you’re going to need to deal with Bildreth.” Cyron said, and looked over Thundina. “You look a little out of it still. I think I better cast the <em>Restoration</em> on you as well. Let’s have a back up dose available as well, so get three grams; it would normally cost 300 gold, all told, but you know Bildreth.”</p><p>“Um, Krel, can I borrow a little money?” Thundina said sweetly.</p><p>“What? Why are you asking me?” Krel was a little shocked.</p><p>“The third dose of diamonds could be a group investment.” Cyron put forth.</p><p>“Orning, we need to see what funds you have, okay?” Thundina tried again.</p><p>Orning dutifully held out his purse, but a quick count showed that he had less than eighty gold. “Hmm, Cyron, I’m going to need to borrow some still.” Thundina smiled.</p><p>“Oh, Cyron. Just take it all from my stash.” Romann snapped.</p><p>Once Cyron had counted out 450 gold, Thundina and Orning were on their way once more. Walking down the road to town, they heard the howling of wolves off to the south. Picking up the pace, Thundina and Orning made it safely to town and began making their way to the Kolyanavich manor to inform Ismark of what had happened. Before they could make it that far, a gathering in the town square halted their progress.</p><p>“Hey, what’s happening here?” Thundina asked one of the peasants on the outer edges of the crowd.</p><p>“Ismark is giving his first speech as the burgomaster. We held elections last night.”</p><p>“Huh. I didn’t hear of any news about this.” Thundina weaved her way to the front of the crowd. Ismark went on and on about how honored he was to have been chosen to follow his father as the leader of the burough. Thundina added her polite applause where appropriate getting more annoyed by Ismark and his droning. Finally, he finished and began to step down. Thundina stepped to him and said, “Ismark, hello, friend, neighbor. If I said, ‘Witches of Lysaga Hill’, what you say?”</p><p>“The vitches are evil; a scourge on the town.” Ismark replied.</p><p>“Ah, good news then. Last night we encountered them and dispersed them.”</p><p>“Very good.”</p><p>“But,” Thundina began.</p><p>Ismark’s mood immediately changed. He could sense that the good news would be tempered by some terrible news. He had no idea how terrible.</p><p>“But,” Thundina tried again, “your sister Ireena fell in battle against the demon summoned by the witches. As it sounds like you are now the leader, we need you to organize the disposal of the witches’ remains. I really have no idea what to do with dead witches.”</p><p>“Whatever. Burn them or bury them or something.” Ismark replied, depressed.</p><p>Thundina turned to the dispersing crowd and called, “The witches of Lysaga Hill have been defeated. We are looking for some volunteers to help us with the disposal of their bodies.” The peasants let out a ragged cheer and several stepped forward to volunteer. Thundina asked them to meet her in the town square in ten minutes with a cart or two.</p><p></p><p>Thundina and Orning entered Bildreth’s shop. Bildreth smiled broadly; Thundina didn’t smile so much. Bildreth asked, “So what are you hear for today?”</p><p>“This noble Lightbringer paladin needs diamond dust, three grams.” Thundina said.</p><p>“That’ll be 450 gold.”</p><p>“Look at him! Would you cheat this paladin?”</p><p>“It’s not cheating. Supplies are hard to get out here.”</p><p>Thundina nudged Orning and whispered, “Do your charming thing.”</p><p>Orning declared, “Good wins!”</p><p>Thundina raised her eye brow at Bildreth. “See, it’s for a very noble cause.”</p><p>“450.”</p><p>Thundina managed to stifle a scream as she counted out the 450 gold for the three grams of diamond dust needed for the three doses of <em>Restoration</em>.</p><p></p><p>With the diamond dust tucked safely away, Thundina and Orning gathered the Barovian townsfolk and set out back to Lysaga Hill. The continued hollowing wolves did not cause any panic and the procession reached the hill without incident.</p><p></p><p>Reaching the top of the hill, Thundina was shocked to see Ireena up and walking around. Shocked, Thundina could only stammer, “I thought you were dead! I don’t understand.”</p><p>Cyron came over and said, “Krel had a scroll of <em>Raise Dead</em>. He asked me to read it and then use it after you left this morning.”</p><p>“Krel, why didn’t you mention this before?” Thundina stalked over to Krel.</p><p>“I don’t know. I just found it.” Krel said.</p><p>“Just found it? You’re not making any sense.”</p><p>“I just found it. I wish I could tell you more.”</p><p>“Ireena, you need to go see your brother,” Thundina turned to Ireena. “He believes the worst has befallen you.” </p><p></p><p>Ireena was still unsteady on her feat; her body still battered from the previous night’s fight. Cyron prayed with her a while and she began to look much better, even better then Thundina remembered Ireena appearing before. Seeing healing being distributed, Krel spoke up, “I’m still somewhat sore from last night, could I get a little help?”</p><p>Orning came over Krel, coughed, slapped Krel on the back, and walked away.</p><p>“Thank you, Orning.” Krel said.</p><p></p><p>The witches were piled like wood into the cart to be taken back to town. The next step needed to be determined. Thundina attempted to get the cart moving, “Ireena, could you take the villagers back to town? We’ll go collect the reward from Strahd.”</p><p>“Are you trying to get rid of me? I’m coming with you to deal with Strahd!” Ireena protested.</p><p>“You need to see your brother, and someone needs to protect the villagers.”</p><p>“I’ve got it! We can all return to the village and talk to Ismark. I’m sure he’ll want the full story from someone who was there.” Romann said.</p><p>“I already told him.” Thundina insisted.</p><p></p><p>Thundina lost that argument and soon found herself once more walking towards town. Fuming at the waste of time walking up and down the road, Thundina thought she was approaching the point where she could walk it blindfolded. Maybe she’d try that the next time, if only for her own amusement.</p><p></p><p>Reaching town, the witches were taken away and soon the black acrid smoke visible over the top of the cottages, it became obvious what was done with dead witches. Meanwhile the party approached the Kolyanavich manor once again. Romann knocked on the door and Ismark opened the door with his eyes downcast.</p><p>“Greetings noble Ismark.” Romann spoke for the party. “I hear you have become the burgomaster, congratulations!”</p><p>“Thank you.” Ismark then glanced up, “Ireena! I had heard you were dead!” Ismark embraced his sister but still sparing a glower for Thundina. Thundina tried to look away and avoid his gaze.</p><p>“Uh, she was dead.” Cyron came to Thundina’s rescue. “She was extremely heroic last night and we all mourned when the demon creature cleaved through her. We realized this morning that we had a scroll with which we could return her to life.”</p><p>“Happy family reunion.” Thundina piped up. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, we need to go see Strahd to collect our promised reward for dealing with the witches. Hint.”</p><p>“You are dealing with Strahd?” Ismark said with a shock. “He is evil, and you brought my sister to him!”</p><p>“He demanded we come to him, you don’t refuse such an invitation. And your sister is a grown woman, she came of her own free will.”</p><p>“What kind of deal were you making with Strahd?”</p><p>“He wanted us to drive the witches away. Everyone seemed in agreement that the witches needed to be defeated. I saw nothing wrong with such an agreement.”</p><p></p><p>Ismark pulled his sister aside and had an animated whispered conversation. If Ismark had been angry with Thundina, he was doubly so with Ireena. For a moment it looked like their argument would end in a stalemate, but then Ireena backed down from her older brother. Ismark returned to the party and said, “Ireena will be staying here at the manor. We thank you for saving the town from the witches, but please do not make any further deals with Strahd.”</p><p></p><p>Promptly putting Ismark’s plea out of her mind, Thundina led her friends up towards the castle. The bright sun on her face and the thought of soon receiving something of value, Thundina began to feel the best she had ever about the little town of Barovia. She even began to feel like maybe Strahd was the nicest person in the town; he was not a greedy bastard like Bildreth, a dour stick-in-the-mud like Ismark, or a hollow braggart like Halas.</p><p></p><p>Glancing up at the gatehouse where Romann had been slimed, Thundina still saw nothing, shrugged, and crossed the bridge. She needed to have been looking forward instead of up. Standing in the bright sun light at the doors to the castle was a figure in a billowing cloak. As the party approached, the figure pulled the hood back showing that it was Strahd. He yelled at the party as they approached, “Leave these grounds!”</p><p></p><p>Thundina was shocked. “You promised a reward from your treasury if we dealt with the witches. We dealt with the witches and we’ve come to collect.”</p><p>Strahd responded, “Your reward is your lives.”</p><p>“That’s not a reward from your treasury.”</p><p>“All of the valley is mine, so take the reward I have offered and go.”</p><p>“You lied! We want what is due to us!”</p><p>Strahd turned to more fully size up Thundina. His eye twitched ever so slightly. Thundina, thinking about what Cyron had said about Krel, realized something – Strahd was not going to keep his end of the bargain and give Thundina her reward, she’d have to take it herself. Biting back the rest of her outburst, Thundina assessed the rest of her party and saw no one else trying to stand up to Strahd. Since no one else was raising objections to his actions, Strahd reentered his castle and closed the door behind himself.</p><p></p><p>“Okay then, are we ready to go get what is ours?” Thundina took a step towards the castle.</p><p>Cyron grabbed Thundina and said, “Vampires shouldn’t be able to stand in the sun like that. There is something very wrong about this. I suggest we do as he says and we leave.”</p><p>“Nonsense. That castle is our fate. We need treasure. We deserve treasure. The castle is where we’re going to get treasure.”</p><p>“Remember Thundina, we still need the Symbol too. Let’s go dig more graves looking for it first.” Romann offered.</p><p>“Forget digging. Halas almost certainly has found it already and he’s almost certainly a prisoner in the castle.” Thundina pleaded.</p><p>“What else do we need still?” Cyron asked.</p><p>“We need the Tome from the castle and we need to take the Sunsword to the top of the castle. We need to enter the castle.” Thundina insisted.</p><p>“I still say we should dig more. Either dig more or visit Madam Eva and ask for her insight.” Romann said.</p><p></p><p>In the confusion of the argument, Orning stepped up to the castle door and opened it. Catching sight of this, Cyron scurried forward and quickly closed it again. “Here’s what I can’t figure out, why are we discussing whether or not to raid the castle right under Strahd’s nose?”</p><p>“Why not? Do you really think we could hide it from him wherever we do our planning?” Thundina countered.</p><p>“We’re talking about the most dangerous man in the valley,” Krel mentioned. “Perhaps the most dangerous man on the continent.”</p><p>“The King of Karnnath.” Cyron said.</p><p>“What?” Krel couldn’t follow.</p><p>“The King of Karnnath is the most dangerous man on the continent.” Cyron clarified.</p><p></p><p>Romann once again drew the conversation back to the local. “We should either visit Eva to learn where Halas has gone, or we should go to the church and resume digging.”</p><p>“Fine,” Thundina said exasperated. “We can go visit Madam Eva, then find Halas and the Symbol, and then return to the castle to find the Tome.”</p><p></p><p>Whether out of agreement or no further desire to argue the finer points further, the party returned down the trail once more, on their way to vestani encampment. Met by a rough vestani at the edge of the wagons, the party was challenged, “Why have you returned to our camp once again?”</p><p>Romann stepped forward, “We need to speak with Madam Eva.”</p><p>“Then go and see her.”</p><p></p><p>As the party entered Madam Eva’s tent, she regarded them somewhat scornfully, “You have not fulfilled all that I said you vould.”</p><p>“Well, that’s why we came to see you,” Romann began. “Do you know where Halas is?”</p><p>“I know all things.”</p><p>“Where is he?”</p><p>“I know all things.”</p><p>“Why won’t you tell us?”</p><p>“I cannot tell all I know.”</p><p>“We need to find Halas?”</p><p>“Why should I tell you where to find him?”</p><p>“Because we are attempting to overcome Strahd. That is what you wish as well.”</p><p>“Yes.” Madam Eva began. Suddenly she stopped and sniffed the air. Her finger jabbed out at Krel and Cyron, “You two, leave. Now.”</p><p>Krel backed out of the tent but Cyron stayed to argue, “Why? I know Krel was dominated by the vampire, is this something to do with that?”</p><p>“Leave!”</p><p>“I just want to know what’s the matter. Is it the vampire?”</p><p>Madam Eva raised her hands at Cyron who once again asked, “It’s Krel that is dominated, nothing to do with me.”</p><p>Madam Eva began paging through a book of mystical symbols in her lap. It was at this point that Cyron muttered, “Okay, okay, I’m going.”</p><p></p><p>When Cyron was gone, Madam Eva resumed, “I may have just compromised my life. Those two are under the sway of Strahd. He now knows I have opposed him. The Symbol is still in town, the Tome is still in the keep. Do not return until you have found them. In fact, best that you do not return; I sense the camp may be moving soon.”</p><p></p><p>Outside the tent, around the vestani’s dancing fire, Romann and Thundina confronted Cyron. Cyron, still in disbelief, “What did she have to say?”</p><p>Thundina answered him, “You are like him.” Thundina point at Krel.</p><p>“She said that?”</p><p>“You are like him,” Thundina repeated, again pointing at Krel. “That was a clever ruse, selling out your traitorous compatriot to further worm your way into our group. I just want you to remember one thing from here on out. Orning!”</p><p>Orning took his cue, “I’m always watching.”</p><p>Thundina then continued, “All of us, we always watching you now.”</p><p></p><p>Thundina pulled Romann aside to consult with him, trying to keep both Krel and Cyron out of the loop, although she wondered if Romann really would be any good at keeping secrets from Cyron. She didn’t really have any choice, it was either plan with Romann, or plan with Orning.</p><p>“Well Romann, you may have been right. The Symbol is still in town somewhere. What’s our plan?” Thundina asked.</p><p>Romann swelled with pride at hearing he had been right. “To the graveyard of course.”</p><p>Krel came up behind the pair to interrupt, “Excuse me.”</p><p>Both Romann and Thundina whipped around, Thundina glowering. “What?”</p><p>“I’m sorry,” Krel said. “Last night, I had a vision. It’s somewhat fuzzy, but I think it may be of importance. I dreamed of a chapel with markings of ravens.”</p><p>“Ravens, eh?” Romann said while scratching his chin. “Those mean something I’m sure.”</p><p>Thundina rolled her eyes a little. “Let’s start heading back to town. Romann and I will need to continue having a private conversation on the way though.”</p><p></p><p>Thundina and Romann walked a couple paces in front of the other three on the road back to town. “We’ve been investigating the church, but now Krel thinks there’s some importance to a chapel. It does mean something.”</p><p>Romann had an idea, “What about the ruins on Lysaga Hill. That could be a chapel, and there were dead witches there.”</p><p>“That was a monastery, not a chapel. And anyways, it wasn’t a place of the dead until we killed the witches; well after our prophecy.”</p><p>“Perhaps the Kolyanavich manor has a chapel?”</p><p>“Perhaps, but you’re going to be the one to talk to Ismark.”</p><p>“Why don’t you want to talk to him.”</p><p>“Ismark and I, we’re not close. Is Cyron still good at filling in holes?”</p><p>“That has been how I planned to use him this evening all along.”</p><p>“Then maybe I can take him and Krel to the church to do more digging while you talk with Ismark about what he knows.”</p><p></p><p>The debate on who should visit Ismark and who should proceed directly to the church continued until everyone reached town square. Romann made one final question, “We’re at town, what’s our final plans?”</p><p>Thundina responded, “You need to make this choice. Either we visit Ismark together or we split up to start digging. I can’t order Cyron around though, not easily at least.”</p><p>“Very well, we go to Ismark’s,” Romann declared.</p><p></p><p>Halfway down the street to the Kolyanavich manor, Thundina stopped dead in the streets, thinking she heard a woman sobbing in a nearby home. When others confirmed that it was not just her imagination, the party halted outside the house. While the party equivocated about investigating the crying versus ignoring the trouble and going directly to Ismark, Orning simply opened the door. Thundina then stepped through and followed the crying up the stairs and into a room.</p><p></p><p>The room was painted pink with a faerie castle surrounded by knights in shining armor and princesses in long fancy dresses. The ceiling was a bright blue with fluffy white clouds and a smiling sun. Toy dolls also representing princes and princesses littered the floor. A matron was seated in the middle of the floor clutching one of the princess dolls while sobbing hysterically. Thundina approached the woman, knelt down beside her, and put an arm around the sobbing woman’s shoulders.</p><p></p><p>“There, there. What’s the matter?” Thundina cooed.</p><p>“Gertruda…” The woman sobbed. “Gertruda’s gone!”</p><p>“When did Gertruda go?”</p><p>“She left. Ran away last night!”</p><p>“It’s going to be okay. We can find her. Can you describe Gertruda?”</p><p>“She was safe, and now she’s gone. She was fair-skinned, fair-haired.” The woman was wracked by sobbing. “I fear the master has taken her.”</p><p>“How old is your child?”</p><p>“She was 16. I fear the master has taken her.”</p><p>“We’ll search for her, I promise. If we can find her, we’ll bring her back home.” Thundina rocked the woman, holding her until she seemed to cry herself out. Thundina then rose, and shooed her companions out of the house, closing the door softly as she exited. Thundina had feared for a moment while comforting the woman that the missing person she would describe would be match to one of the witches encountered the previous night, but that fear passed because none of the witches had been particularly young.</p><p></p><p>When Romann knocked at the Kolyanavich manor, Ireena opened the door. “Have you come to rescue me from this prison? I’ll go get my gear together.”</p><p>“We have come to see your brother.” Romann said while following Ireena into the manor.</p><p>“Romann, what can I do for you?” Ismark greeted the party.</p><p>“Does your manor have a chapel in it?”</p><p>“No. The only chapel in the area is the church up the street. There may also be a chapel in the castle.”</p><p>“Is there another entrance to the castle, one not so well guarded?”</p><p>“There is a stained glass window which should give entrance to the catacombs under the castle. Of course, that window is 900 feet up the sheer cliff side of the castle.”</p><p>“Really, how do you know about that?”</p><p>Thundina coughed, “Have you looked up at the castle anytime? It’s kind of difficult to see at this distance, but you should be able to clearly see the windows.”</p><p></p><p>Stomachs growling, the party returned to the inn to discuss exact plans for the rest of the evening. While at the dinner table, the waitress Thundina had hired the day before came up to her to whisper a message, “I’ve been looking for you all day. You weren’t around the church or at the inn like you had said you would be.”</p><p>“Go on, have you seen Halas?” Thundina asked the lass.</p><p>“He’s taken up an abandoned house on the eastern edge of town.”</p><p>“Thank you. Here, like I promised.” Thundina passed a couple coins over to the girl. Then, turning to the rest of the party, “Finally, good news. Halas is in town. Let’s finish up and go pay him a visit.”</p><p></p><p>Near the outskirts of the village, only one house was lighted. The party approached and then realized they hadn’t decided on their plan of approach. Thundina and Romann looked at each other silently to figure out who was going to be talking to Halas. While they looked back and forth, Orning went to the door and opened it.</p><p></p><p>“Ah, Thundina, Romann, how good to see you again.” Halas called from a chair.</p><p>“We’ve been wondering what happened to you, Halas,” Thundina said as she came in. “We’ve been surprised not to see you bragging in the inn, or at least hanging around it.”</p><p>“I said I would return when I found both artifacts, but alas, I have only found one.”</p><p>“Okay, we’re sorry we ran you off. We’ll be setting off to recover the Tome soon. Please, come with us.”</p><p>“No, I’m just not seeing the profit in it. I’m bringing the artifact, and know how to bind it. I just don’t see what you’re bringing to the group anymore.”</p><p>Thundina drew up angrily, “We of course have the repaired Sunsword and we have also figured out how to activate the Symbol. You are not that special.”</p><p>“Plus I really don’t feel like going to the castle with you. I’ve already been all over the castle, from top to bottom, and the Tome simply isn’t there. You’ll just be slowing me down as I continue my search.”</p><p>Cyron spoke up, “Can we see the Symbol please.”</p><p>Halas pulled out a symbol of a raven of wrought iron with a small jewel set in the middle of it. Cyron shook his head, “That’s not the Symbol. The Holy Symbol of Ravenkind is made of gold.”</p><p>Halas replied, “Oh, I am quite certain this is it.”</p><p>Romann spoke up, “The easiest way to be certain is to take it to Ismark, he should have no difficulty positively identifying it.”</p><p>“An excellent plan, Romann,” Halas said slyly. “This is exactly why I left you in charge. Have you been leading the party well?”</p><p>Too tired from trekking up and down and all around the town all day long, Thundina just let it slide. She just wanted to get the business settled and get the Symbol.</p><p></p><p>Back once more to Ismark. Ismark was able to quickly identify that the item Halas carried was indeed the Holy Symbol of Ravenkind, even if it looked made of iron. Then, giving everyone a look for disturbing him that late in the evening, dismissed his guests and closed his door.</p><p></p><p>On the way to Halas’s abode, Cyron brought up the subject of activating the Symbol. “You know, Halas, you can’t activate the Symbol. It requires a person of pure heart who can <em>Turn Undead</em>.”</p><p>Halas replied, “What’s your point?”</p><p>“Let us borrow the Symbol. We’ll use it against Strahd, and when we’re done we’ll return it to you. You have nothing to lose on this.”</p><p>“No, no. If you bind it, it will hurt the resale value of the Symbol. Bildreth has already offered five thousand for it and I expect I can get considerably more from Ismark.”</p><p>Suddenly devious, Cyron asked Halas, “Can I see the Symbol one more time. I think a jewel may be missing.”</p><p>His face gave it all away and Halas said, “No, I think it’ll be staying safely in my bag.”</p><p>Cyron whispered to Romann, “Get ready to grab the bag.” Cyron drew himself up to as great of a height as he could manage, and gave a <em>Command</em> to Halas, “Drop your bag.”</p><p></p><p>Surprise registered on Halas’s face for a moment and then tension filled the air. Halas stepped away from Cyron, pulled a potion from his pack, and vanished. “Your little cleric friend tried to do something to my mind. Just so you know.”</p><p>Romann shouted at Cyron, “Cyron, you did what?”</p><p>Cyron calmly explained, “I tried to get him to drop the bag so we could get the Symbol. I didn’t want anything else.”</p><p>Invisible still, Halas continued the story, “He tried to get me to drop the bag by magic. I think I will try going to the authorities about this.”</p><p>Romann burst at Cyron again, “Cyron, we possibly could have reasoned with him. Magic was unnecessary.”</p><p>Cyron continued his rationale, “He seemed like he was going to sell the artifact and then we’d never see it again. We need the Tome, Strahd…”</p><p>Before Cyron could finish, Halas interrupted, “Well you’ll never be seeing it now.”</p><p>With the tension dissipating, Thundina had a line of questions for Cyron, “Were you trying to steal the Symbol for Strahd?”</p><p>“No! I was worried he was going to smuggle the artifact out to the King of Karnnath.” Cyron protested.</p><p>“You’re not going to be trusted with any of the artifacts after this.” Thundina said coldly.</p><p></p><p>With Halas disappeared, and the night far too dark to consider setting out to the castle through where the wolves had been howling, there was nothing to do but sleep on the frustrations of the day. Over breakfast the next morning, Ismark came to visit the inn. “Halas came to me last night with a very serious claim. He claimed you assaulted him last night. Please, assure me there is no truth to this.”</p><p></p><p>Krel immediately began pointing at Cyron and Cyron was forced again to explain his justifications for attempting to ensnare Halas. Ismark sighed, “You have been the heroes and saviors of the town. We can let this one slide, but our town has enough problems without outsiders starting fights. Please, do not let this happen again.”</p><p></p><p>“Before we leave, are there any preparations we should make?” Krel asked. “Are there any new items I should be crafting?”</p><p>“Not really Krel. We’re so desperately poor, we need to get our reward from Strahd’s treasure vault so you will have the resources to do your enchanting.” Thundina replied.</p><p>Approaching Strahd’s castle, Krel came up with another objection to barging in, “There are so many possible allies back in town: Ashlyn, Urik, Ireena. We should ask some of them to come with us.”</p><p>Thundina shook her head, “We’ll be fine. Urik is quite capable, and I respect Ashlyn a lot, but I strongly suspect neither wish to brave Castle Ravenloft. Ireena is grounded, remember. Let’s just do it.”</p><p></p><p>Finally at the doors to the castle, Krel made his final objection, “I’m not going in there. I want to come up with another plan.”</p><p>Romann was upset, “We’ve come all this way, and this is the first you’ve said anything like that. We’re here now, if you have another plan, we’ll listen.”</p><p>Krel stuttered, “Do you remember those gargoyles? We’ll never survive. Let’s find another way.”</p><p>Thundina said, “The other way is a 900 foot sheer cliff. I could maybe climb, but not dragging a 900 foot rope behind me. I’m afraid it’s this door or giving up. I intend to collect what Strahd owes me. Propose another plan if you have one.”</p><p>Krel turned and began walking back down the road, “I’m not going in, that’s it.”</p><p></p><p>Orning, not following all the conversations, simply walked up to the door while the debate raged, and opened the door. This time, he stepped inside before Cyron could close the door. Strahd’s voice boomed out as soon as Orning entered the castle, “I gave you your lives and you want more. Very well.” The two carved statues of dragons began to shake and rumble. Their hinged jaws dropped slightly and the pair emitted a short burst of flame to char Orning.</p><p></p><p>Thundina dashed in to begin lashing at the stone dragon. Before anyone else could act, the dragons let out a second burst of fire. Thundina nimbly evaded all the flame, but Orning became further singed. Romann charged in shortly after Thundina to begin chipping rocks away from the other dragon. Cyron chanted, “Balinor, God of the Hunt, who teaches us the wisdom of <em>Celerity</em>, please, grant us <em>Haste</em> to smite our enemies.”</p><p></p><p>Before Orning could give himself his healing touch, the four gargoyles from the next antechamber joined the fray. Some flying, some striding, but all felt the bite of Thundina’s guisarme as they attempted to reach Thundina’s friends. Sturdy creatures, the gargoyles shrugged off the first hits from Thundina. One barreled into Orning, knocking him down and out.</p><p></p><p>Cyron, ignoring the harm to his own person as he entered the room, pumped one of his most powerful <em>Cure</em> spells into Orning, bringing him back to consciousness. Thundina shorted the grip on her guisarme and slashed one of the gargoyles attempting to overrun the line of heroes. The stone dragons fell back a little and belched forth two cones of flame through the gargoyle line. Thundina once again nimbly dodged all the fire, but the flame again overwhelmed Orning who once again went unconscious.</p><p></p><p>Romann stepped forward and with a powerful blow shattered a gargoyles and proceeded to assault one of the stone dragons, only to realize that he really couldn’t see the dragon and was attempting to strike at mere shadows. He called out, “Cyron, light!” Cyron inched forward pulling out Romann’s ever burning torch and tossing it down near Romann’s feet before healing Orning again.</p><p></p><p>Slightly backing away from the light, a fourth double barreled blast of fire knocked Orning out again, singed Romann badly, but couldn’t touch Thundina. Fortunately, the remaining gargoyles, weakened by the previous blast of fire and Thundina’s attacks, the gargoyles succumbed to the fire. Thundina pressed the attack on against the stone dragons. Romann, dead on his feet and should have been retreating, instead leapt forward to assist Thundina. Cyron, looking from Orning, burnt and bleeding, to Romann, burnt and bleeding, but alert, Cyron decided he needed to help Romann first. Driven by Thundina and Romann and trying to escape the torchlight, the stone dragons had been forced far enough away from Orning that their flames could no longer touch him.</p><p></p><p>One stone dragon shattered under the attack and Thundina saw an opportunity to get behind the other while it was distracted by Romann, but Romann drove another powerful attack through it. Cyron was already shaking Orning awake with a healing spell. “Orning, you awake?” Orning replied weakly, “Bravo.”</p><p></p><p>Perhaps, a minute away from the castle, a thought suddenly struck Krel. He could brew potions of <em>Fly</em>. That’d allow access to the catacombs.</p><p></p><p>Standing around near the entrance to the castle, Thundina, Romann, Cyron, and Orning assessed their strength. They had taken a terrible battering in this first encounter and Krel had disappeared. How far he had wandered off it was impossible to tell in the chaos of the battle. Thundina wanted to press on while they still had some element of surprise, but she was meeting resistance. A complete review of strength and expectations would be needed before a decision could be made.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Ealli, post: 3358775, member: 804"] [b]Chapter 6: Confusion, Castles, and Commands[/b] “Now what?” Romann asked. “First thing we need to deal with,” Cyron said, “Krel, I need you to come here. Everyone, please, gather close.” Everyone approached Cyron with Cyron gesturing them closer until everyone was within ten feet of him. “Now that we’re within my [I]Magic Circle against Evil[/I], we can discuss important topics without Strahd being able to overhear. Krel has been dominated by the vampire.” “No way!” Krel protested. “I saw the vampire break your will.” Cyron insisted. Krel remained incredulous. Cyron sighed, and then sighed again. Finally he muttered, “I don’t know how to deal with this.” He spoke up, “Something has happened to Krel. We need to be careful.” “Okay, so we watch Krel. Again, now what?” Romann started again. “What does one do with dead witches?” Thundina need to know. “Bury them, I guess.” Cyron said. “Really? I know that you burn a witch when she’s alive. Seems odd that there’s not some ritual you need to do with dead witches.” Thundina said puzzledly. “It depends on local customs.” Cyron confirmed. “Then I say we should camp here until morning. Then we can go tell the town what happened here and ask for their help in dealing with the dead.” Thundina said. “I don’t like this hill. I’d like to get off it.” Krel protested. “At the risk of agreeing with Krel, I do not like this hill either.” Cyron added. “Well, I don’t like the idea of leaving the corpses unguarded. I think that witch which got away might spirit them away. That’s no good. We need to stay the night.” Thundina insisted. “Thundina’s got a point.” Romann said. “We set up camp on the hill for tonight.” With Romann and Thundina in agreement, the issue was decided. The bodies of the witches were piled, Ireena was arranged honorably, and bed rolls were set out. As Thundina was bringing the last of the witches to the pile, Cyron spoke up. “Thundina, there’s something about the way you move. Out, beyond the firelight, you still stride entirely confidently.” “Yes? What’s your point?” Thundina replied. “How can you see, out near the walls?” “I just can. What?” “Walk with me a little. Do you see that notch in the wall? Okay, how about that small pile of rubble? And that tree?” With Thundina assuring Cyron that she could see each thing he was pointing out, Cyron came to the conclusion, “You’ve got darkvision, as good as a dwarf’s.” Back near the fire, Orning had already curled up and gone to sleep. The others set to deciding the watch. Suddenly, Romann, Cyron, and Thundina cocked their heads for a moment. “Did you hear that?” Romann asked. “Yes.” Thundina nodded. “My name, whispered on the wind…” Romann continued. “No! It was my name!” Thundina insisted. “Err, sir, and Thundina, I heard my name on the wind” Cyron added. The three looked at each other momentarily before dropping the subject as entirely too weird. Assigning watches finished quickly and Thundina was able to begin her sleeping. A couple hours into the night, Romann shook Thundina awake. “Your turn.” Crawling out of her bed roll, Thundina strapped her breastplate on again and began pacing around the ruins of the monastery on Lysaga Hill. Each of her companions were sleeping soundly and nothing moved out in the night. Eventually, her watch ended and Thundina went over to Cyron and shook him awake. “Wakey, wakey time. Have fun staring into darkness for two hours; it’s back to bed for me.” Later, Thundina awoke to the light of day; the fog had broken for the first time since Thundina had been to Barovia. Knowing that the fight with the witches had lasted until midnight, Thundina reckoned that she must be waking up a little early so she rolled over to get a bit more sleep. She could sleep with some light. “Krel!” Cyron shouted. “What are you doing, asleep on your watch?” Instantly alert, Thundina surged out of her bedroll. Glancing around, Thundina knew that Cyron was right; it was too light out. “Krel, this is not good. How could you sleep through your watch?” Krel could only sheepishly say, “I must have nodded off. I don’t know what happened.” Unable to mount any further righteous fury, Thundina set to putting the morning plans into action. Thundina drafted Orning to return to town with her, while Romann and Cyron would stay, watching Krel and the corpses. As Thundina and Orning were about to depart the hill, Cyron called out, “Thundina, wait a moment. While you’re in town, I need some diamond dust. I think I figured out how to help Romann on his blood loss.” Thundina trudged back to the camp, “Okay, how much will you need? Oh, I’m going to have to deal with Bildreth again. Crud.” Thundina’s shoulder’s sagged. “Yes, you’re going to need to deal with Bildreth.” Cyron said, and looked over Thundina. “You look a little out of it still. I think I better cast the [I]Restoration[/I] on you as well. Let’s have a back up dose available as well, so get three grams; it would normally cost 300 gold, all told, but you know Bildreth.” “Um, Krel, can I borrow a little money?” Thundina said sweetly. “What? Why are you asking me?” Krel was a little shocked. “The third dose of diamonds could be a group investment.” Cyron put forth. “Orning, we need to see what funds you have, okay?” Thundina tried again. Orning dutifully held out his purse, but a quick count showed that he had less than eighty gold. “Hmm, Cyron, I’m going to need to borrow some still.” Thundina smiled. “Oh, Cyron. Just take it all from my stash.” Romann snapped. Once Cyron had counted out 450 gold, Thundina and Orning were on their way once more. Walking down the road to town, they heard the howling of wolves off to the south. Picking up the pace, Thundina and Orning made it safely to town and began making their way to the Kolyanavich manor to inform Ismark of what had happened. Before they could make it that far, a gathering in the town square halted their progress. “Hey, what’s happening here?” Thundina asked one of the peasants on the outer edges of the crowd. “Ismark is giving his first speech as the burgomaster. We held elections last night.” “Huh. I didn’t hear of any news about this.” Thundina weaved her way to the front of the crowd. Ismark went on and on about how honored he was to have been chosen to follow his father as the leader of the burough. Thundina added her polite applause where appropriate getting more annoyed by Ismark and his droning. Finally, he finished and began to step down. Thundina stepped to him and said, “Ismark, hello, friend, neighbor. If I said, ‘Witches of Lysaga Hill’, what you say?” “The vitches are evil; a scourge on the town.” Ismark replied. “Ah, good news then. Last night we encountered them and dispersed them.” “Very good.” “But,” Thundina began. Ismark’s mood immediately changed. He could sense that the good news would be tempered by some terrible news. He had no idea how terrible. “But,” Thundina tried again, “your sister Ireena fell in battle against the demon summoned by the witches. As it sounds like you are now the leader, we need you to organize the disposal of the witches’ remains. I really have no idea what to do with dead witches.” “Whatever. Burn them or bury them or something.” Ismark replied, depressed. Thundina turned to the dispersing crowd and called, “The witches of Lysaga Hill have been defeated. We are looking for some volunteers to help us with the disposal of their bodies.” The peasants let out a ragged cheer and several stepped forward to volunteer. Thundina asked them to meet her in the town square in ten minutes with a cart or two. Thundina and Orning entered Bildreth’s shop. Bildreth smiled broadly; Thundina didn’t smile so much. Bildreth asked, “So what are you hear for today?” “This noble Lightbringer paladin needs diamond dust, three grams.” Thundina said. “That’ll be 450 gold.” “Look at him! Would you cheat this paladin?” “It’s not cheating. Supplies are hard to get out here.” Thundina nudged Orning and whispered, “Do your charming thing.” Orning declared, “Good wins!” Thundina raised her eye brow at Bildreth. “See, it’s for a very noble cause.” “450.” Thundina managed to stifle a scream as she counted out the 450 gold for the three grams of diamond dust needed for the three doses of [I]Restoration[/I]. With the diamond dust tucked safely away, Thundina and Orning gathered the Barovian townsfolk and set out back to Lysaga Hill. The continued hollowing wolves did not cause any panic and the procession reached the hill without incident. Reaching the top of the hill, Thundina was shocked to see Ireena up and walking around. Shocked, Thundina could only stammer, “I thought you were dead! I don’t understand.” Cyron came over and said, “Krel had a scroll of [I]Raise Dead[/I]. He asked me to read it and then use it after you left this morning.” “Krel, why didn’t you mention this before?” Thundina stalked over to Krel. “I don’t know. I just found it.” Krel said. “Just found it? You’re not making any sense.” “I just found it. I wish I could tell you more.” “Ireena, you need to go see your brother,” Thundina turned to Ireena. “He believes the worst has befallen you.” Ireena was still unsteady on her feat; her body still battered from the previous night’s fight. Cyron prayed with her a while and she began to look much better, even better then Thundina remembered Ireena appearing before. Seeing healing being distributed, Krel spoke up, “I’m still somewhat sore from last night, could I get a little help?” Orning came over Krel, coughed, slapped Krel on the back, and walked away. “Thank you, Orning.” Krel said. The witches were piled like wood into the cart to be taken back to town. The next step needed to be determined. Thundina attempted to get the cart moving, “Ireena, could you take the villagers back to town? We’ll go collect the reward from Strahd.” “Are you trying to get rid of me? I’m coming with you to deal with Strahd!” Ireena protested. “You need to see your brother, and someone needs to protect the villagers.” “I’ve got it! We can all return to the village and talk to Ismark. I’m sure he’ll want the full story from someone who was there.” Romann said. “I already told him.” Thundina insisted. Thundina lost that argument and soon found herself once more walking towards town. Fuming at the waste of time walking up and down the road, Thundina thought she was approaching the point where she could walk it blindfolded. Maybe she’d try that the next time, if only for her own amusement. Reaching town, the witches were taken away and soon the black acrid smoke visible over the top of the cottages, it became obvious what was done with dead witches. Meanwhile the party approached the Kolyanavich manor once again. Romann knocked on the door and Ismark opened the door with his eyes downcast. “Greetings noble Ismark.” Romann spoke for the party. “I hear you have become the burgomaster, congratulations!” “Thank you.” Ismark then glanced up, “Ireena! I had heard you were dead!” Ismark embraced his sister but still sparing a glower for Thundina. Thundina tried to look away and avoid his gaze. “Uh, she was dead.” Cyron came to Thundina’s rescue. “She was extremely heroic last night and we all mourned when the demon creature cleaved through her. We realized this morning that we had a scroll with which we could return her to life.” “Happy family reunion.” Thundina piped up. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, we need to go see Strahd to collect our promised reward for dealing with the witches. Hint.” “You are dealing with Strahd?” Ismark said with a shock. “He is evil, and you brought my sister to him!” “He demanded we come to him, you don’t refuse such an invitation. And your sister is a grown woman, she came of her own free will.” “What kind of deal were you making with Strahd?” “He wanted us to drive the witches away. Everyone seemed in agreement that the witches needed to be defeated. I saw nothing wrong with such an agreement.” Ismark pulled his sister aside and had an animated whispered conversation. If Ismark had been angry with Thundina, he was doubly so with Ireena. For a moment it looked like their argument would end in a stalemate, but then Ireena backed down from her older brother. Ismark returned to the party and said, “Ireena will be staying here at the manor. We thank you for saving the town from the witches, but please do not make any further deals with Strahd.” Promptly putting Ismark’s plea out of her mind, Thundina led her friends up towards the castle. The bright sun on her face and the thought of soon receiving something of value, Thundina began to feel the best she had ever about the little town of Barovia. She even began to feel like maybe Strahd was the nicest person in the town; he was not a greedy bastard like Bildreth, a dour stick-in-the-mud like Ismark, or a hollow braggart like Halas. Glancing up at the gatehouse where Romann had been slimed, Thundina still saw nothing, shrugged, and crossed the bridge. She needed to have been looking forward instead of up. Standing in the bright sun light at the doors to the castle was a figure in a billowing cloak. As the party approached, the figure pulled the hood back showing that it was Strahd. He yelled at the party as they approached, “Leave these grounds!” Thundina was shocked. “You promised a reward from your treasury if we dealt with the witches. We dealt with the witches and we’ve come to collect.” Strahd responded, “Your reward is your lives.” “That’s not a reward from your treasury.” “All of the valley is mine, so take the reward I have offered and go.” “You lied! We want what is due to us!” Strahd turned to more fully size up Thundina. His eye twitched ever so slightly. Thundina, thinking about what Cyron had said about Krel, realized something – Strahd was not going to keep his end of the bargain and give Thundina her reward, she’d have to take it herself. Biting back the rest of her outburst, Thundina assessed the rest of her party and saw no one else trying to stand up to Strahd. Since no one else was raising objections to his actions, Strahd reentered his castle and closed the door behind himself. “Okay then, are we ready to go get what is ours?” Thundina took a step towards the castle. Cyron grabbed Thundina and said, “Vampires shouldn’t be able to stand in the sun like that. There is something very wrong about this. I suggest we do as he says and we leave.” “Nonsense. That castle is our fate. We need treasure. We deserve treasure. The castle is where we’re going to get treasure.” “Remember Thundina, we still need the Symbol too. Let’s go dig more graves looking for it first.” Romann offered. “Forget digging. Halas almost certainly has found it already and he’s almost certainly a prisoner in the castle.” Thundina pleaded. “What else do we need still?” Cyron asked. “We need the Tome from the castle and we need to take the Sunsword to the top of the castle. We need to enter the castle.” Thundina insisted. “I still say we should dig more. Either dig more or visit Madam Eva and ask for her insight.” Romann said. In the confusion of the argument, Orning stepped up to the castle door and opened it. Catching sight of this, Cyron scurried forward and quickly closed it again. “Here’s what I can’t figure out, why are we discussing whether or not to raid the castle right under Strahd’s nose?” “Why not? Do you really think we could hide it from him wherever we do our planning?” Thundina countered. “We’re talking about the most dangerous man in the valley,” Krel mentioned. “Perhaps the most dangerous man on the continent.” “The King of Karnnath.” Cyron said. “What?” Krel couldn’t follow. “The King of Karnnath is the most dangerous man on the continent.” Cyron clarified. Romann once again drew the conversation back to the local. “We should either visit Eva to learn where Halas has gone, or we should go to the church and resume digging.” “Fine,” Thundina said exasperated. “We can go visit Madam Eva, then find Halas and the Symbol, and then return to the castle to find the Tome.” Whether out of agreement or no further desire to argue the finer points further, the party returned down the trail once more, on their way to vestani encampment. Met by a rough vestani at the edge of the wagons, the party was challenged, “Why have you returned to our camp once again?” Romann stepped forward, “We need to speak with Madam Eva.” “Then go and see her.” As the party entered Madam Eva’s tent, she regarded them somewhat scornfully, “You have not fulfilled all that I said you vould.” “Well, that’s why we came to see you,” Romann began. “Do you know where Halas is?” “I know all things.” “Where is he?” “I know all things.” “Why won’t you tell us?” “I cannot tell all I know.” “We need to find Halas?” “Why should I tell you where to find him?” “Because we are attempting to overcome Strahd. That is what you wish as well.” “Yes.” Madam Eva began. Suddenly she stopped and sniffed the air. Her finger jabbed out at Krel and Cyron, “You two, leave. Now.” Krel backed out of the tent but Cyron stayed to argue, “Why? I know Krel was dominated by the vampire, is this something to do with that?” “Leave!” “I just want to know what’s the matter. Is it the vampire?” Madam Eva raised her hands at Cyron who once again asked, “It’s Krel that is dominated, nothing to do with me.” Madam Eva began paging through a book of mystical symbols in her lap. It was at this point that Cyron muttered, “Okay, okay, I’m going.” When Cyron was gone, Madam Eva resumed, “I may have just compromised my life. Those two are under the sway of Strahd. He now knows I have opposed him. The Symbol is still in town, the Tome is still in the keep. Do not return until you have found them. In fact, best that you do not return; I sense the camp may be moving soon.” Outside the tent, around the vestani’s dancing fire, Romann and Thundina confronted Cyron. Cyron, still in disbelief, “What did she have to say?” Thundina answered him, “You are like him.” Thundina point at Krel. “She said that?” “You are like him,” Thundina repeated, again pointing at Krel. “That was a clever ruse, selling out your traitorous compatriot to further worm your way into our group. I just want you to remember one thing from here on out. Orning!” Orning took his cue, “I’m always watching.” Thundina then continued, “All of us, we always watching you now.” Thundina pulled Romann aside to consult with him, trying to keep both Krel and Cyron out of the loop, although she wondered if Romann really would be any good at keeping secrets from Cyron. She didn’t really have any choice, it was either plan with Romann, or plan with Orning. “Well Romann, you may have been right. The Symbol is still in town somewhere. What’s our plan?” Thundina asked. Romann swelled with pride at hearing he had been right. “To the graveyard of course.” Krel came up behind the pair to interrupt, “Excuse me.” Both Romann and Thundina whipped around, Thundina glowering. “What?” “I’m sorry,” Krel said. “Last night, I had a vision. It’s somewhat fuzzy, but I think it may be of importance. I dreamed of a chapel with markings of ravens.” “Ravens, eh?” Romann said while scratching his chin. “Those mean something I’m sure.” Thundina rolled her eyes a little. “Let’s start heading back to town. Romann and I will need to continue having a private conversation on the way though.” Thundina and Romann walked a couple paces in front of the other three on the road back to town. “We’ve been investigating the church, but now Krel thinks there’s some importance to a chapel. It does mean something.” Romann had an idea, “What about the ruins on Lysaga Hill. That could be a chapel, and there were dead witches there.” “That was a monastery, not a chapel. And anyways, it wasn’t a place of the dead until we killed the witches; well after our prophecy.” “Perhaps the Kolyanavich manor has a chapel?” “Perhaps, but you’re going to be the one to talk to Ismark.” “Why don’t you want to talk to him.” “Ismark and I, we’re not close. Is Cyron still good at filling in holes?” “That has been how I planned to use him this evening all along.” “Then maybe I can take him and Krel to the church to do more digging while you talk with Ismark about what he knows.” The debate on who should visit Ismark and who should proceed directly to the church continued until everyone reached town square. Romann made one final question, “We’re at town, what’s our final plans?” Thundina responded, “You need to make this choice. Either we visit Ismark together or we split up to start digging. I can’t order Cyron around though, not easily at least.” “Very well, we go to Ismark’s,” Romann declared. Halfway down the street to the Kolyanavich manor, Thundina stopped dead in the streets, thinking she heard a woman sobbing in a nearby home. When others confirmed that it was not just her imagination, the party halted outside the house. While the party equivocated about investigating the crying versus ignoring the trouble and going directly to Ismark, Orning simply opened the door. Thundina then stepped through and followed the crying up the stairs and into a room. The room was painted pink with a faerie castle surrounded by knights in shining armor and princesses in long fancy dresses. The ceiling was a bright blue with fluffy white clouds and a smiling sun. Toy dolls also representing princes and princesses littered the floor. A matron was seated in the middle of the floor clutching one of the princess dolls while sobbing hysterically. Thundina approached the woman, knelt down beside her, and put an arm around the sobbing woman’s shoulders. “There, there. What’s the matter?” Thundina cooed. “Gertruda…” The woman sobbed. “Gertruda’s gone!” “When did Gertruda go?” “She left. Ran away last night!” “It’s going to be okay. We can find her. Can you describe Gertruda?” “She was safe, and now she’s gone. She was fair-skinned, fair-haired.” The woman was wracked by sobbing. “I fear the master has taken her.” “How old is your child?” “She was 16. I fear the master has taken her.” “We’ll search for her, I promise. If we can find her, we’ll bring her back home.” Thundina rocked the woman, holding her until she seemed to cry herself out. Thundina then rose, and shooed her companions out of the house, closing the door softly as she exited. Thundina had feared for a moment while comforting the woman that the missing person she would describe would be match to one of the witches encountered the previous night, but that fear passed because none of the witches had been particularly young. When Romann knocked at the Kolyanavich manor, Ireena opened the door. “Have you come to rescue me from this prison? I’ll go get my gear together.” “We have come to see your brother.” Romann said while following Ireena into the manor. “Romann, what can I do for you?” Ismark greeted the party. “Does your manor have a chapel in it?” “No. The only chapel in the area is the church up the street. There may also be a chapel in the castle.” “Is there another entrance to the castle, one not so well guarded?” “There is a stained glass window which should give entrance to the catacombs under the castle. Of course, that window is 900 feet up the sheer cliff side of the castle.” “Really, how do you know about that?” Thundina coughed, “Have you looked up at the castle anytime? It’s kind of difficult to see at this distance, but you should be able to clearly see the windows.” Stomachs growling, the party returned to the inn to discuss exact plans for the rest of the evening. While at the dinner table, the waitress Thundina had hired the day before came up to her to whisper a message, “I’ve been looking for you all day. You weren’t around the church or at the inn like you had said you would be.” “Go on, have you seen Halas?” Thundina asked the lass. “He’s taken up an abandoned house on the eastern edge of town.” “Thank you. Here, like I promised.” Thundina passed a couple coins over to the girl. Then, turning to the rest of the party, “Finally, good news. Halas is in town. Let’s finish up and go pay him a visit.” Near the outskirts of the village, only one house was lighted. The party approached and then realized they hadn’t decided on their plan of approach. Thundina and Romann looked at each other silently to figure out who was going to be talking to Halas. While they looked back and forth, Orning went to the door and opened it. “Ah, Thundina, Romann, how good to see you again.” Halas called from a chair. “We’ve been wondering what happened to you, Halas,” Thundina said as she came in. “We’ve been surprised not to see you bragging in the inn, or at least hanging around it.” “I said I would return when I found both artifacts, but alas, I have only found one.” “Okay, we’re sorry we ran you off. We’ll be setting off to recover the Tome soon. Please, come with us.” “No, I’m just not seeing the profit in it. I’m bringing the artifact, and know how to bind it. I just don’t see what you’re bringing to the group anymore.” Thundina drew up angrily, “We of course have the repaired Sunsword and we have also figured out how to activate the Symbol. You are not that special.” “Plus I really don’t feel like going to the castle with you. I’ve already been all over the castle, from top to bottom, and the Tome simply isn’t there. You’ll just be slowing me down as I continue my search.” Cyron spoke up, “Can we see the Symbol please.” Halas pulled out a symbol of a raven of wrought iron with a small jewel set in the middle of it. Cyron shook his head, “That’s not the Symbol. The Holy Symbol of Ravenkind is made of gold.” Halas replied, “Oh, I am quite certain this is it.” Romann spoke up, “The easiest way to be certain is to take it to Ismark, he should have no difficulty positively identifying it.” “An excellent plan, Romann,” Halas said slyly. “This is exactly why I left you in charge. Have you been leading the party well?” Too tired from trekking up and down and all around the town all day long, Thundina just let it slide. She just wanted to get the business settled and get the Symbol. Back once more to Ismark. Ismark was able to quickly identify that the item Halas carried was indeed the Holy Symbol of Ravenkind, even if it looked made of iron. Then, giving everyone a look for disturbing him that late in the evening, dismissed his guests and closed his door. On the way to Halas’s abode, Cyron brought up the subject of activating the Symbol. “You know, Halas, you can’t activate the Symbol. It requires a person of pure heart who can [I]Turn Undead[/I].” Halas replied, “What’s your point?” “Let us borrow the Symbol. We’ll use it against Strahd, and when we’re done we’ll return it to you. You have nothing to lose on this.” “No, no. If you bind it, it will hurt the resale value of the Symbol. Bildreth has already offered five thousand for it and I expect I can get considerably more from Ismark.” Suddenly devious, Cyron asked Halas, “Can I see the Symbol one more time. I think a jewel may be missing.” His face gave it all away and Halas said, “No, I think it’ll be staying safely in my bag.” Cyron whispered to Romann, “Get ready to grab the bag.” Cyron drew himself up to as great of a height as he could manage, and gave a [I]Command[/I] to Halas, “Drop your bag.” Surprise registered on Halas’s face for a moment and then tension filled the air. Halas stepped away from Cyron, pulled a potion from his pack, and vanished. “Your little cleric friend tried to do something to my mind. Just so you know.” Romann shouted at Cyron, “Cyron, you did what?” Cyron calmly explained, “I tried to get him to drop the bag so we could get the Symbol. I didn’t want anything else.” Invisible still, Halas continued the story, “He tried to get me to drop the bag by magic. I think I will try going to the authorities about this.” Romann burst at Cyron again, “Cyron, we possibly could have reasoned with him. Magic was unnecessary.” Cyron continued his rationale, “He seemed like he was going to sell the artifact and then we’d never see it again. We need the Tome, Strahd…” Before Cyron could finish, Halas interrupted, “Well you’ll never be seeing it now.” With the tension dissipating, Thundina had a line of questions for Cyron, “Were you trying to steal the Symbol for Strahd?” “No! I was worried he was going to smuggle the artifact out to the King of Karnnath.” Cyron protested. “You’re not going to be trusted with any of the artifacts after this.” Thundina said coldly. With Halas disappeared, and the night far too dark to consider setting out to the castle through where the wolves had been howling, there was nothing to do but sleep on the frustrations of the day. Over breakfast the next morning, Ismark came to visit the inn. “Halas came to me last night with a very serious claim. He claimed you assaulted him last night. Please, assure me there is no truth to this.” Krel immediately began pointing at Cyron and Cyron was forced again to explain his justifications for attempting to ensnare Halas. Ismark sighed, “You have been the heroes and saviors of the town. We can let this one slide, but our town has enough problems without outsiders starting fights. Please, do not let this happen again.” “Before we leave, are there any preparations we should make?” Krel asked. “Are there any new items I should be crafting?” “Not really Krel. We’re so desperately poor, we need to get our reward from Strahd’s treasure vault so you will have the resources to do your enchanting.” Thundina replied. Approaching Strahd’s castle, Krel came up with another objection to barging in, “There are so many possible allies back in town: Ashlyn, Urik, Ireena. We should ask some of them to come with us.” Thundina shook her head, “We’ll be fine. Urik is quite capable, and I respect Ashlyn a lot, but I strongly suspect neither wish to brave Castle Ravenloft. Ireena is grounded, remember. Let’s just do it.” Finally at the doors to the castle, Krel made his final objection, “I’m not going in there. I want to come up with another plan.” Romann was upset, “We’ve come all this way, and this is the first you’ve said anything like that. We’re here now, if you have another plan, we’ll listen.” Krel stuttered, “Do you remember those gargoyles? We’ll never survive. Let’s find another way.” Thundina said, “The other way is a 900 foot sheer cliff. I could maybe climb, but not dragging a 900 foot rope behind me. I’m afraid it’s this door or giving up. I intend to collect what Strahd owes me. Propose another plan if you have one.” Krel turned and began walking back down the road, “I’m not going in, that’s it.” Orning, not following all the conversations, simply walked up to the door while the debate raged, and opened the door. This time, he stepped inside before Cyron could close the door. Strahd’s voice boomed out as soon as Orning entered the castle, “I gave you your lives and you want more. Very well.” The two carved statues of dragons began to shake and rumble. Their hinged jaws dropped slightly and the pair emitted a short burst of flame to char Orning. Thundina dashed in to begin lashing at the stone dragon. Before anyone else could act, the dragons let out a second burst of fire. Thundina nimbly evaded all the flame, but Orning became further singed. Romann charged in shortly after Thundina to begin chipping rocks away from the other dragon. Cyron chanted, “Balinor, God of the Hunt, who teaches us the wisdom of [I]Celerity[/I], please, grant us [I]Haste[/I] to smite our enemies.” Before Orning could give himself his healing touch, the four gargoyles from the next antechamber joined the fray. Some flying, some striding, but all felt the bite of Thundina’s guisarme as they attempted to reach Thundina’s friends. Sturdy creatures, the gargoyles shrugged off the first hits from Thundina. One barreled into Orning, knocking him down and out. Cyron, ignoring the harm to his own person as he entered the room, pumped one of his most powerful [I]Cure[/I] spells into Orning, bringing him back to consciousness. Thundina shorted the grip on her guisarme and slashed one of the gargoyles attempting to overrun the line of heroes. The stone dragons fell back a little and belched forth two cones of flame through the gargoyle line. Thundina once again nimbly dodged all the fire, but the flame again overwhelmed Orning who once again went unconscious. Romann stepped forward and with a powerful blow shattered a gargoyles and proceeded to assault one of the stone dragons, only to realize that he really couldn’t see the dragon and was attempting to strike at mere shadows. He called out, “Cyron, light!” Cyron inched forward pulling out Romann’s ever burning torch and tossing it down near Romann’s feet before healing Orning again. Slightly backing away from the light, a fourth double barreled blast of fire knocked Orning out again, singed Romann badly, but couldn’t touch Thundina. Fortunately, the remaining gargoyles, weakened by the previous blast of fire and Thundina’s attacks, the gargoyles succumbed to the fire. Thundina pressed the attack on against the stone dragons. Romann, dead on his feet and should have been retreating, instead leapt forward to assist Thundina. Cyron, looking from Orning, burnt and bleeding, to Romann, burnt and bleeding, but alert, Cyron decided he needed to help Romann first. Driven by Thundina and Romann and trying to escape the torchlight, the stone dragons had been forced far enough away from Orning that their flames could no longer touch him. One stone dragon shattered under the attack and Thundina saw an opportunity to get behind the other while it was distracted by Romann, but Romann drove another powerful attack through it. Cyron was already shaking Orning awake with a healing spell. “Orning, you awake?” Orning replied weakly, “Bravo.” Perhaps, a minute away from the castle, a thought suddenly struck Krel. He could brew potions of [I]Fly[/I]. That’d allow access to the catacombs. Standing around near the entrance to the castle, Thundina, Romann, Cyron, and Orning assessed their strength. They had taken a terrible battering in this first encounter and Krel had disappeared. How far he had wandered off it was impossible to tell in the chaos of the battle. Thundina wanted to press on while they still had some element of surprise, but she was meeting resistance. A complete review of strength and expectations would be needed before a decision could be made. [/QUOTE]
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The New Adventures of Thundina Seong! Completed May 4
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