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The New Adventures of Thundina Seong! Completed May 4
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<blockquote data-quote="Ealli" data-source="post: 3498276" data-attributes="member: 804"><p><strong>Chapter 15: Lord of Ravenloft</strong></p><p></p><p>Later that afternoon, the party set out for the Ivlis Marsh. The fog of the previous day had coalesced into darker clouds. A light, cold drizzle obscured vision and made for a somewhat miserable trek through the swamp. Talor confidently ran through the marsh looks for signs of the Swamp Fane while the rest of the party trudged behind. The drizzle increased slowly into a steady rain.</p><p></p><p>Several hours later as the light was beginning to fade, a stretch of dry land jutted out ahead of the party. A pair of willow trees and a pair of fallen stone columns formed a natural gateway to the land. A hag of awesome fetid ugliness, crazy and foaming at the mouth stood in the gateway and screeched, “No! No agent of Strahd may set foot on my land.”</p><p></p><p>The mere sight of the creature so disturbed Talor and Cyron that they were barely able to hold themselves up right. Romann sloshed his way through the remaining marshy area to close in on the hag. It gave him an <em>Evil Eye</em> and he felt his heart flutter before he resorted to a dazed babbling. Thundina charged in, nimbly holding her footing even through the slippery muck, and brought her guisarme down across the hag. Talor labored to draw his bow and let fly an arrow. The arrow struck the hag who then collapsed.</p><p></p><p>Cyron pulled himself to the land and asked, “Talor, what do you know about this hag?”</p><p>Talor wheezed as his wolf pulled him up out of the marsh, “Uh, it’s a hag.”</p><p></p><p>Cyron took another close look at the still dazed Romann and ultimately decided that Break Enchantment would be the best method to end the effect on Romann. Romann came to and gave Cyron a hearty smack on the back as thanks for the assistance.</p><p></p><p>Talor spoke up again, “It’s getting pretty close to night fall. We should set up some fires.”</p><p>Thundina replied, “We’re in the middle of a marsh in the middle of a rainstorm. Where do you expect to find fuel for the fire?”</p><p>“I know a thing or two about surviving outdoors. We can look around, although I’m going to need assistance in carrying it back.”</p><p></p><p>Thundina and Talor began exploring the swamp nearby. Talor led the way, leaning heavily on his wolf companion and panting as heavily as the wolf. He would point out trees which looked alive but would burn as well as any dead wood. He would spot a moss-covered log in the muck that was not yet thoroughly soaked and Thundina would wrestle it free of the mud. In all they gathered enough wood for four fires to burn through the night.</p><p></p><p>Jessuf began the vigil at sunset, though none could observe the setting for the rain storm had intensified further into a torrential downpour. Thundina meanwhile kept near a fire to keep out the cold of the rain. She swept her gaze as best she could, but the sheets of rain prevented her from seeing out beyond the little patch of land which was the fane. She walked out to the edge to get a better view and to breathe in fresh air. The roaring fires were turning the rain into a sticky steam and while the wood burned well, it also gave off great black plumes of smoke which smelled of rotten eggs and burned the lungs.</p><p></p><p>Thundina reached the edge of the fane and splashed a foot into the water. The rain had raised the water-level and the outermost edges of the fane were now underwater. She paused to listen. The hissing of steam off the fires behind her contrasted to the great plopping of rain into the marsh in front of her. A crackle of lightning seemed to have an echoing cackle left behind. Thundina sensed they were not alone in the swamp any longer.</p><p></p><p>Thundina sloshed over to Cyron’s position, making a squelch as she approached. Cyron looked up, his long whiskers dripping with rain, and said, “Stepped in a puddle, did you?”</p><p>“Stepped off dry land. The marsh is flooding, we’re losing fane. Worse, I get the feeling that there’s something out there.”</p><p>“It’s Strahd. He’s been watching us since just after sundown.”</p><p>“Why doesn’t he attack? What is he waiting for?”</p><p>“It’s the flooding of the marsh that holds him back.”</p><p>“He means to let us drown in a flood? Seems an awfully risky plan, unless he knows more about this weather than we do.”</p><p>Cyron shrugged, “It’s not that he expects us to drown; it’s that the flooding has left us as an island in the middle of a river. The flood waters run all around us, and vampires cannot cross running water.”</p><p></p><p>Thundina laughed loudly, “Strahd, defeated by the weather, how special.”</p><p>Romann rushed over and roared, “Strahd? Where? Come out Strahd, face me like a man!”</p><p></p><p>Throughout the night the river flowing through the Ivlis Marsh continued to rise until the water was lapping at the edges of the fires. The rain stopped shortly before dawn, but the sky continued to roil with black clouds. As dawn came so did the sound of a trickle of water like a fresh flowing creek and Jessuf looked up. The party waded away from the Swamp Fane through water which was up to Thundina’s waist in some places.</p><p></p><p>With the three fanes under the party’s control, it was time for a renewed push into the castle. It was time to take the battle to Strahd instead of dodging him and defending against him.</p><p></p><p>At the castle, Thundina consulted the map she had been sketching as the party had explored Castle Ravenloft. She pointed out to her companions her best understanding of how the various rooms and towers connected together and where she thought they could still find more stairwells. </p><p></p><p>The first place she led her companions was to near Gertruda’s former quarters. Past those quarters they found a long hallway with six niches each with a suit of armor. The castle roof down that hallway was exposed and lightning flashed overhead. Long low moans emanated from down the hallway. On the second flash of lightning a ghostly figure emerged from the nearest statue. The ghost was a human woman in armor with a raven emblem. She waved one hand to the party and chanted, “Blessings to you. Why do you come to this castle?”</p><p></p><p>Thundina stepped forward to answer, “We are here to slay Strahd. I am Thundina Seong, may I ask who you are.”</p><p>The ghost answered, “I am Lady VayRalen, once an ancient protector of this castle.”</p><p>Sir Urik bowed to Lady VayRalen, “Lady, I do not know you, but I too am a Knight of the Raven.”</p><p></p><p>Lady VayRalen spoke again, “You keep good company, Thundina. Is there anything I can do to assist you?”</p><p>Thundina responded, “Can you tell us how to get to “Where hellish magic made” or to where “Dizzying heights all loathe to climb”?”</p><p>Lady VayRalen, “I am afraid I do not know much outside of this hallway.”</p><p>“Have you seen Ireena recently? She was recently kidnapped by Strahd.”</p><p>“I have not seen any other humans in the castle for many years.”</p><p>“Then, do you know where Strahd keeps any riches?”</p><p>“Being dead, my responses are limited, you must ask the right question.”</p><p>“What can you do for us then?”</p><p>“If you wish to become a Knight of the Raven, I can sponsor you and initiate you. One requires a Knight sponsor to become a Knight of the Raven.”</p><p>“I have known Sir Urik for several weeks now, and I’m afraid I have no interest in becoming a Knight of the Raven.”</p><p>“Then I can warn you that the other statues in this hallway may soon be animated by other spirits, less friendly than I.”</p><p>“I thank you for your warning Lady VayRalen,” Thundina concluded and led the party to another set of stairs to attempt to find their destinations.</p><p></p><p>The next room explored had a large oak desk buried under scrolls, tomes, and ledgers. A large blue carpet with edges of stone grey spread from the door to the desk. A pale man sat at the desk scratching at a ledger next to a name tag which read ‘Lief’. He glanced up startled as Thundina barged into the room. He rummaged around in the desk eventually drawing a greatsword from one of the wide drawers and began swinging the sword around while flicking a forged maggot-white tongue. Three gaunt skeletal deathlocks stood at attention by the desk. As battle began, each deathlock threw a pair of <em>Magic Missiles</em> at Thundina. Jessuf moved around the desk and engaged Lief. Thundina then slipped around behind Lief and whispered into his ear, “Nothing personal, but it’s been too long since I’ve encountered a soft and squishy foe.” Thundina’s blade lodged painfully next to Lief’s spine; he did not die a quick or clean death.</p><p></p><p>Once the deathlocks had been quickly crushed, Thundina inspected the desk. Lief had been running the castle’s accounts and had a small pile of money which Thundina scooped up. She yawned as she glanced through the piles of mostly worthless musty financial records stretching back hundreds of years. From the accountant’s office, Thundina found a hallway which moaned with sadness and despair linking the office to Strahd’s throne room.</p><p></p><p>The throne room had a door which led to a balcony with two smaller thrones over the chapel. A tight stairwell wound down into the chapel. Broken stained-glass windows littered the floor sending sparkles of color all around the chapel. A dead body lay next to the altar, reaching out towards a silver raven statuette on the altar. Thick dust covered the floor, altar, and even the corpse.</p><p></p><p>Sir Urik spoke with a fond remembrance, “Ah, the altar of Castle Ravenloft, where I took my oath as a Knight of the Raven. If you wish to become a Knight, you would need to hold a vigil here.”</p><p>Thundina rolled her eyes, “No, Urik. No, I don’t think I’ll be becoming a Knight of the Raven.” Thundina spotted a wide stairwell on the far side of the chapel, “Sir Urik, I thought you had said there wasn’t any exits to the chapel…”</p><p></p><p>Up, and up the staircase wound without break or landing. The tower climbed 300 feet, looming over any other tower in the castle. The top of the tower was a ruined mesh of girders and the landing at the very top had little in the way of walls to keep any occupants safe. A dark shaft pierced the middle of the room descending out of sight as cold air wafted back up. The party squeezed to near the wall to allow Cyron to pass to the front. When he reached the top he pulled out the Holy Symbol of Ravenkind and pronounced, “The Symbol pulses; this is where we needed to bring it.”</p><p></p><p>The next eight hours of perching on a narrow stair with wind gusting through the top of the tower and a draft whispering up from below frustrated Thundina. There was no place to sit other than the hard stone steps and no shelter from the wind. Eerie sounds drifted from deep below while the whistling of the wind through the tower set her teeth on edge. She was quite pleased when Cyron announced that he had bonded the Symbol and they could return down to the chapel.</p><p></p><p>Thundina took out her sketched map and pored over it again, “I just don’t understand. We seem to have exhausted basically all the places a stairwell up could hide and the prophecy on where to bring the Sunsword does seem to indicate near a tower top. I’m not sure where to go from here.”</p><p>Jessuf looked over the map and pointed to the section with the room where he had been held, “Wasn’t there another floor between here and the top?”</p><p>Thundina counted while thinking before answering, “I don’t recall. We can go check it out.”</p><p></p><p>Just below the devil’s garden the party found a level not listed on Thundina’s map. A dead redcap and several dead shocker lizards lay in the shadows near a door. In the room beyond that door a great black cauldron bubbled. Spacious tables covered in glass jars with strange bits of creatures suspended in colorful liquids lined the walls. A large book on a podium stood next to one of the tables. A man in a long flowing brown robe with a glowing green staff reached into a pouch and pulled out a fistful of gold coins. He tossed the coins into the air and all the light vanished except for the red glow in the warlock’s eyes.</p><p></p><p>Thundina whipped forward to pin him near the wall so he couldn’t retreat step by step around the room while slinging spells. A hidden door opened and a woman in a stiff white shirt and stiff white pants stepped forward to sling an <em>Eldritch Blast</em> at Thundina. Cyron called for <em>Daylight</em> to counteract the <em>Darkness</em> on the gold coins. Jessuf moved to engage the brown-robed warlock and was greeted by another secret door opening and a woman in a grey mask unleashed a fiery blast at Jessuf. The blast simply rolled over Jessuf harmlessly as the sound of a trickling brook could be faintly heard.</p><p></p><p>Thundina stepped behind the brown-robed warlock and tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around, running into Thundina’s blade in the gut, running up. Thundina smirked at the startled look on the warlock’s face, “They say the fastest way to a man’s heart is through his stomach – straight up and a little to the left.” As Thundina pulled her blade back the warlock collapsed. Thundina flicked her blade out to the right attempting to catch the warlock in the stiff white shirt, but she was still standing back from the secret door so the guisarme harmlessly bounced off the door frame.</p><p></p><p>Talor drilled the warlock in the white shirt with a volley of arrows dropping her and Jessuf, Urik, and Thundina forced the grey-masked warlock into her secret chamber, and overwhelmed the warlock. A search of the room turned up lots of alchemical items plus a dozen shocker lizard eggs, some still viable. Thundina and Romann each took a ring off fallen warlocks while Jessuf peeked into the boiling cauldron before exclaiming, “There’s a silver key at the bottom of here. Let me just get it.”</p><p></p><p>Jessuf reached into the cauldron for the key, but the bubbling gelatin material started crawling up his arm excreting acid all over the arm. The acid tickled Jessuf and the trickling brook sound became a continuous stream of sound. The gelatinous sphere was too small to consume someone immune to its light acid damage and the sphere was removed from Jessuf.</p><p></p><p>The Sunsword hummed in the room and Jessuf knelt with the sword to begin to pray. While Jessuf began the bonding process with the sword, Thundina examined the journal on the podium. The journal belonged to one Afeena Musesco who described her descent into becoming a warlock from contact with a devil and how that devil now ran a garden just above the room of hellish magic. Thundina laughed at how well useless such revelations were now that both the devil and Ms. Musesco were dead.</p><p></p><p>With every goal met save one, the party set looking for a path down into the catacombs. Once they had located the quickest path to Strahd’s coffin they could go searching for the vampire lord himself. The stairs from the chapel were promising at first, but they quickly encountered the other side of the wall with a small open chink. The thick wall obviously barred that stairwell while allowing Strahd to gas through if needed. The second try, near the dining room proved more promising.</p><p></p><p>In a room off that stairway, a cloaked lady hobbled out to stare accusingly at the descending party, “Are you a spy for Strahd? I’ve dealt with your kind before. Oh yes, I will be independent of the Lord Strahd. So, are you a spy?”</p><p></p><p>Thundina said slowly, “No. We’re hunting down Strahd to destroy him.”</p><p>“Oh, alright then. Maybe I can help you. I know of a ring which resists death effects and the relics hidden in the catacombs. However, you will need to do something for me first.”</p><p>“Sure, how can we help you?” Thundina responded. The idea of a ring to protect against Strahd’s energy draining attacks excited her.</p><p>“I need the tongue of a living person from the village. Not just a living person when the tongue is harvested, but a person still alive when you deliver the tongue to me.”</p><p></p><p>Thundina thought a moment. That ring would be the perfect defense needed for attacking Strahd, but the price was awfully high. Would anyone really miss some random villager if it meant the destruction of Strahd? Maybe Bildreth could give something back. No, ripping a tongue out of someone is just too vile to be seriously considered. Thundina just couldn’t bring herself to do something like that.</p><p></p><p>Sir Urik spoke up, “Well, since it’s for such an important mission, such a sacrifice may be…”</p><p>Romann’s eyes gleamed, “Excellent. Hold still a moment, this shouldn’t hurt much.”</p><p>Jessuf shouted, “No! We aren’t seriously considering this.”</p><p>Romann rebutted, “If’s he’s offering willingly, I don’t see a problem.”</p><p>“It’s wrong. It’s disgusting. We are not maiming Sir Urik.”</p><p>“It’s a sacrifice for greater good. I think we should take the offer.”</p><p>“Absolutely not. Thundina, you’ve been unusually quiet for an offer of treasure.”</p><p>“We can’t do this,” Thundina said. “It’s not just wrong, it passes into vile. I can handle just wrong, but not vile.”</p><p></p><p>The party passed the cloaked witch and descended into the catacombs. The iron gate barring the way to a crypt on a dirt pile no longer was guarded by the mists of transposition. The party walked up to the black iron gate and smashed it open. Strahd sat on his coffin, laughing maniacally, “You challenge a Lord of Ravenloft in his own domain? Do you have no idea the nature of Ravenloft? There is no hope for you anymore, there is only never-ending darkness. You haven’t met Lucien yet. Lucien was a celestial who thought he could cleanse the land. He is now a loyal servant. Just like you shall all be.”</p><p></p><p>Thundina snapped back, “Shut up Strahd. You’ve become delusional. Weeks ago, we might have come to some sort of agreement, but then you tried to cheat me. Now that I’ve bonded with the land, I understand what you’ve done and why you can no longer be the lord here, old one.”</p><p></p><p>By way of response Strahd summoned a cloud of green gas on top of the party. The gas weighed heavily on the chest and Talor coughed fitfully. The party scattered out of the cloud as it slowly rolled away from Strahd. The large statue of a man on a horse which had been standing behind Strahd began rumbling forward until it filled the entry and blocked passage with its mass. Jessuf stepped up to it to halt its advance while Thundina applied a silver sheen to her guisarme and Sir Urik gave her <em>Protection from Evil</em> and Cyron cast protective wards over Romann. Strahd and Lucien buffed themselves as well with Lucien applying <em>Protection from Good</em>.</p><p></p><p>As the <em>Cloudkill</em> passed, the party reformed in front of the statue and Cyron identified it as a cursed-scribe golem instead of a normal animated statue that had been encountered so far throughout the castle. The nature of the curse inscription became clear when after one of its hammering blows, Romann failed to counterattack. Each attack from the golem left welts which would surely leave deep purple bruises the next day. Romann’s and Thundina’s attacks on the golem failed to cut deeply into its magical stone body.</p><p></p><p>Lucien pushed past the golem to begin assaulting the party directly. He took a position on the edge of the battle, but Thundina quickly moved to a flanking position on Lucien and tripped him up. She followed up Lucien’s fall with a quick thrust slipping through a hole in his armor. He looked up at the party members looming over him and appeared indecisive as to whether or not risking standing in his current predicament. Thundina mocked him, “Come on Lucien, stand up for yourself.” He stood up, but that left him vulnerable to first Romann’s and then Thundina’s blades. Off balance from Romann’s cracking strike, Lucien stumbled towards Thundina. Her high sweeping blow took off his head and the decapitated corpse fell back to the ground.</p><p></p><p>Strahd harried the party from behind the golem throwing <em>Enervation</em> at Thundina after lining up the perfect shot via <em>True Strike</em> and then fell draining <em>Magic Missiles</em> spread among the party. The golem meanwhile swung at Romann, catching him on the temple, knocking him out cold. Cyron healed Romann as best he could, but Romann was still dangerously low on health.</p><p></p><p>Talor, after one shot bounced harmlessly off the golem, starting making the tough shot through the combat to hit Strahd with silver arrows. Jessuf joined in the ranged combat by throwing <em>Searing Light</em> at Strahd as well. The touch of the <em>Searing Light</em> overwhelmed Strahd and he returned to his coffin.</p><p></p><p>Thundina observed the course of the battle against the golem and decided that someone had to get behind the golem to provide flanking and allow Romann and Jessuf to better power attack the golem. The next time the golem attacked and slammed its fist down to the ground on the miss, Thundina dashed up the arm, and over the golem, dropping lightly behind it. The golem would bash Romann, hitting heavily, and Cyron would desperately heal Romann to keep him in the fight. Romann chipped away at the golem, crushing it slowly.</p><p></p><p>Thundina rolled her shoulders and exhaled as the adrenaline surge of battle faded. She took a step over and peeked into Strahd’s coffin. He was laying with his arms crossed on his chest, pale face a stark contrast to the dark coffin. He pleaded, “Please, spare my life. I’ll do anything. I’ll give you anything – I’ll give you the valley. I can tell you where I hid the rest of my treasure.”</p><p></p><p>Romann stepped up, “Why don’t you tell us where the treasure is first?”</p><p>Talor, just behind, “Maybe we can spare you. Maybe we can find an agreement, a ransom.”</p><p></p><p>Strahd panted, “Yes, yes. Do I have your word? Any agreement.”</p><p></p><p>“I want one simple thing from you,” Thundina said stonily. “I want you to die.” She looked behind her to see Cyron pulling out a stake and offering it to her. She accepted it and turned back around.</p><p></p><p>Romann again tried, “Treasure, Thundina, think, treasure. We can come up with something I’m sure.”</p><p></p><p>Strahd desperately cried, “I always keep my word. I will give you my treasure. We can negotiate still.”</p><p></p><p>Thundina stabbed the flarestake into Strahd and said, “Negotiations are over. We’ll hear no more from you.”</p><p></p><p>Strahd screamed as the flarestake burned. His screamed continued and continued. Thundina whispered to Cyron, “I thought stakes through the heart was supposed to be the end of vampire.”</p><p></p><p>Cyron whispered back, “It’s supposed to be. You did hit the heart, right? I know you don’t have quite the same accuracy and control against undead.”</p><p></p><p>“I’m certain I hit the heart.” Thundina responded before snapping her fingers, “Oh how dumb of me. The Tome of Strahd spells out that a stake won’t kill him, only sunlight can. I guess all we’re doing is torturing him like this.” She looked at Strahd and said firmly, “Not that you don’t deserve it.” Strahd could only manage a scream as the stake continued to burn in his shriveled heart. “Let’s take him outside and burn him in the sun,” Thundina said.</p><p></p><p>As they carried Strahd outside, Talor whispered to Strahd, “Actually, I guess I did have to kill you. That was my job.”</p><p></p><p>The party set the coffin down and glanced up at the sky overhead. The overcast sky showed no sign of breaking anytime soon. Thundina asked Cyron, “Can we speed this up any? I don’t want to sit hear listening to Strahd cry for a day or two or however long it takes us to get some direct sunlight here.”</p><p></p><p>Cyron shook his head, “A greater cleric than I could directly control the weather, or perhaps a druid of similar strength could control the winds to disperse the clouds for a time, but there is nothing I can do.”</p><p></p><p>Thundina sat to wait and began looking through all the little items she had acquired during the time. She had Orning’s identification papers which would need to be returned to his father. She found the little witty note Tourg had written her way back when they had first arrived in Barovia. There were the Lightbringers patches from Thendrick and Mathilda, and Tourg and BarBar as well. From Ashlyn, Thundina now wore Ashlyn’s holy symbol.</p><p></p><p>Thundina had just reached thinking of Ashlyn when there was a shout from the rest of the party. A single beam of sunlight was breaking through the clouds, illuminating Strahd. It only lasted a moment, but when Thundina looked into the coffin, Strahd was gone and a pile of black ash now filled the coffin. All that was left were the robes that Strahd had worn plus a bundle of papers. Thundina pulled out the papers and took a quick look, enough to see that these were the deed to Castle Ravenloft and the valley of Barovia.</p><p></p><p>“So, now what?” Romann asked.</p><p>“I don’t know,” Thundina said. “I guess we go down to the village and start the process of transition of power.”</p><p></p><p>As the party arrived in town they could see that almost all of the town was out and gathered in town square. The party walked down the street, approaching the gathered crowd, when Gertruda burst out of the crowd and rushed up to Romann and latched on to him, “Is it true? Did you kill Strahd? The town is abuzz that Strahd is dead!”</p><p></p><p>Romann gaped, “How did you hear? We only just watched him burn before we came here.”</p><p>Gertruda walked with Romann and the party, “A vestani was shouting that Strahd had been slain and a lot of people said they felt different. There’s something different about the valley, can’t you feel it? The land is adjusting to a new lord.”</p><p></p><p>Ismark pushed his way out of the crowd, “Hail heroes. Will you please come with me, there is much which needs to be discussed.” He led them through the crowd and back to his manor. The crowd gaped at the members of the party as they parted to allow the party to pass through.</p><p></p><p>Ismark took the party to his sitting room and offered seating. Once everyone had sat, he requested, “Please, tell me all that has occurred and led to the fall of Strahd.”</p><p></p><p>Thundina responded, “Well, there really isn’t all that much to tell. Over the past couple days we have held vigils at each of the fanes to strip Strahd of his protections, then we tracked him down by his coffin, forced him to revert and return to it, and then dragged him out into the sun where he burned.”</p><p></p><p>“And my sister, have you found her? Is she safe?”</p><p></p><p>Thundina was about to answer when they all heard a large commotion outside. When they looked outside, there was Ireena wandering dazedly back to the manor. Ismark ran to his sister and escorted her inside, asking her if she was okay.</p><p></p><p>Once settling that Ireena was safe, Ismark resumed the conversation with the party, “With Strahd dead, I presume that one of you will be taking over as the Lord of Ravenloft.”</p><p></p><p>Thundina said slowly, “Well, we do have the deed to the castle, but hadn’t given it much thought. I guess we did slay Strahd and do have the bonds to the land.”</p><p></p><p>“Of course,” Ismark bowed to the party. “You are welcome to stay here with me while you figure out what is happening. If you will excuse me, I feel I must tend to my sister.”</p><p></p><p>Jessuf spoke up once Ismark had departed, “I came here to work out a deal regarding lands, but I have realized that I really am meant to stay in one place and lead the people. I guess what I’m trying to say is that I’d like to be new lord of Barovia. Thundina, are you going to press a claim?”</p><p></p><p>Visions of ruling Barovia danced in her head. Her father had told stories of how he would have single-handedly conquered a country, he’d be so proud of her. She had dreamed of rescuing and marrying a prince and then living a plush life forever after, but this could do. She looked firmly at Jessuf, “Yes, and why not? I’ve been opposing Strahd the longest. I was the one who slew him. I deserve this.”</p><p></p><p>Jessuf sighed and turned to Cyron, “And what about you?”</p><p></p><p>Cyron shook his head, “No, I am not one to rule. I serve Romann, wherever he will lead.”</p><p>Romann chimed in, “I think I’m going to propose to her. I think we’re meant for each other.”</p><p></p><p>The rest of the party looked at Romann quizzically, his comment having come out of nowhere. He clarified, “Gertruda. She’s beautiful, kind, and gentle. I’m going to propose to her.”</p><p></p><p>After the meeting with Ismark, Romann went to Gertruda’s house, dropped to a knee, and proposed with the ring he had taken from the warlocks, and she accepted him. They set the wedding for the next week, once all the loose ends were tied up regarding the castle and valley.</p><p></p><p>Thundina walked the ways of the valley, thinking and reflecting on the past few weeks. She found her feet taking her once more up to the castle, like she had walked so many times before. In the castle, Thundina visited the ransacked treasury and picked up a silver coin which had escaped the previous sacking. She climbed to the devil’s garden and then to the Dayheart chamber. As darkness claimed the valley, Thundina found herself in the throne room. She decided to take a break and sit on the throne. It felt like a perfect fit; so comfortable and just the right size for her. Maybe she could rest a little longer.</p><p></p><p>Thundina awoke several hours later. She had dreamed, she had heard the land calling to her, but it was a dark call, and reminded her of Strahd. The dreams were of blood, of death. Her heart raced, her breathing came quick. Was this what she wanted? The power and strength, and the thrill of domination. The more she thought on it, and the more she considered the implications, the more she hated the idea. It was the death of dreams and the death of what made her her.</p><p></p><p>She got out of the throne and wandered into the accounting office next to the throne and rummaged for some paper and quills. She had some notes to write. The first note was to Romann.</p><p></p><p></p><p>The second note was for Jessuf. He had something she needed and she had something he’d need. He might not like the idea of a trade, but it needed to be done.</p><p></p><p></p><p>She took her two notes back down to the village and snuck back to her room and quietly packed up her share of the treasure. Since she had been tasked with hauling and cataloging most of it in the first place, she knew exactly where all the valuable unclaimed items were and added them to her haversack. She took the note for Romann over to his room and left it pinned to the door. Next was a visit to Jessuf’s room. He had locked the door, but that was no problem for Thundina. She snuck into the room and found the Sunsword prominently displayed on the dresser. Thundina took the sword and left the note for Jessuf as well as the deed to the Castle Ravenloft and the valley of Barovia. She then slipped back out, securing the Sunsword in her haversack. As she was about to leave the village, she heard a voice from behind her, “Leaving, Thundina?”</p><p></p><p>She found the source of the voice, Talor was leaning against a building. “Isn’t it awfully early to be up?”</p><p>“I wanted to call another bat to be my next animal companion. Besides, I’ve always been somewhat more nocturnal.”</p><p>“Fair enough. Yes, I am leaving. I need to get out of here, this is not where I belong.”</p><p>“Mind if I join you on the journey?”</p><p>“I thought you didn’t like me,” Thundina said wrinkling her nose.</p><p>“You seem to get what you want,” Talor shrugged. “I want great piles of stuff. If I work with you, maybe some of that good fortune of yours will rub off on me.”</p><p>“Alright then, let’s go.”</p><p></p><p>The set off along the road to the west, Thundina intending to try the northwestern gate. As the neared the crossroads, they could see a table had been set up with a woman sitting behind it. Thundina and Talor approached and Madam Eva hailed them, “Ah duckling, leaving Barovia I see.”</p><p></p><p>“Yes,” Thundina agreed. “Funny meeting you here.”</p><p>“I’m glad to hear that. It is a better fate for you this way. Do you know where your path leads?”</p><p>“To the northwest gate and then eventually back to Irontown and then on to Korth.”</p><p>“Ah duckling, what surprises you will find. Ravenloft is not like other places. It is a demiplane onto itself; a rogue plane that wanders through the other planes, and when Strahd died it departed Eberron. The mists will not take you home, they will take you to where you need to be. Sit, let me read your fortune one final time.”</p><p></p><p>Thundina sat in front of the table and Eva dealt out cards once more. “Child of Chaos, your path will change those all around you. You are difficult to read for all the chaos that comes with you. If you have the courage and strength, the queen holds a great treasure. Yes, go now Child of Chaos, and see what destinies lie before you.” Eva waved as she shooed Thundina and Talor back on to the road and towards the gate. Before they had left earshot, Eva added, “I hope you are not bothered by spiders.”</p><p></p><p>Thundina and Talor passed through the gate at the edge of Barovia and before long they had left the mists which shrouded the valley. They stopped and stared at what they saw, it was not the hills of Karrnath but a great, bustling city before them.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Ealli, post: 3498276, member: 804"] [b]Chapter 15: Lord of Ravenloft[/b] Later that afternoon, the party set out for the Ivlis Marsh. The fog of the previous day had coalesced into darker clouds. A light, cold drizzle obscured vision and made for a somewhat miserable trek through the swamp. Talor confidently ran through the marsh looks for signs of the Swamp Fane while the rest of the party trudged behind. The drizzle increased slowly into a steady rain. Several hours later as the light was beginning to fade, a stretch of dry land jutted out ahead of the party. A pair of willow trees and a pair of fallen stone columns formed a natural gateway to the land. A hag of awesome fetid ugliness, crazy and foaming at the mouth stood in the gateway and screeched, “No! No agent of Strahd may set foot on my land.” The mere sight of the creature so disturbed Talor and Cyron that they were barely able to hold themselves up right. Romann sloshed his way through the remaining marshy area to close in on the hag. It gave him an [i]Evil Eye[/i] and he felt his heart flutter before he resorted to a dazed babbling. Thundina charged in, nimbly holding her footing even through the slippery muck, and brought her guisarme down across the hag. Talor labored to draw his bow and let fly an arrow. The arrow struck the hag who then collapsed. Cyron pulled himself to the land and asked, “Talor, what do you know about this hag?” Talor wheezed as his wolf pulled him up out of the marsh, “Uh, it’s a hag.” Cyron took another close look at the still dazed Romann and ultimately decided that Break Enchantment would be the best method to end the effect on Romann. Romann came to and gave Cyron a hearty smack on the back as thanks for the assistance. Talor spoke up again, “It’s getting pretty close to night fall. We should set up some fires.” Thundina replied, “We’re in the middle of a marsh in the middle of a rainstorm. Where do you expect to find fuel for the fire?” “I know a thing or two about surviving outdoors. We can look around, although I’m going to need assistance in carrying it back.” Thundina and Talor began exploring the swamp nearby. Talor led the way, leaning heavily on his wolf companion and panting as heavily as the wolf. He would point out trees which looked alive but would burn as well as any dead wood. He would spot a moss-covered log in the muck that was not yet thoroughly soaked and Thundina would wrestle it free of the mud. In all they gathered enough wood for four fires to burn through the night. Jessuf began the vigil at sunset, though none could observe the setting for the rain storm had intensified further into a torrential downpour. Thundina meanwhile kept near a fire to keep out the cold of the rain. She swept her gaze as best she could, but the sheets of rain prevented her from seeing out beyond the little patch of land which was the fane. She walked out to the edge to get a better view and to breathe in fresh air. The roaring fires were turning the rain into a sticky steam and while the wood burned well, it also gave off great black plumes of smoke which smelled of rotten eggs and burned the lungs. Thundina reached the edge of the fane and splashed a foot into the water. The rain had raised the water-level and the outermost edges of the fane were now underwater. She paused to listen. The hissing of steam off the fires behind her contrasted to the great plopping of rain into the marsh in front of her. A crackle of lightning seemed to have an echoing cackle left behind. Thundina sensed they were not alone in the swamp any longer. Thundina sloshed over to Cyron’s position, making a squelch as she approached. Cyron looked up, his long whiskers dripping with rain, and said, “Stepped in a puddle, did you?” “Stepped off dry land. The marsh is flooding, we’re losing fane. Worse, I get the feeling that there’s something out there.” “It’s Strahd. He’s been watching us since just after sundown.” “Why doesn’t he attack? What is he waiting for?” “It’s the flooding of the marsh that holds him back.” “He means to let us drown in a flood? Seems an awfully risky plan, unless he knows more about this weather than we do.” Cyron shrugged, “It’s not that he expects us to drown; it’s that the flooding has left us as an island in the middle of a river. The flood waters run all around us, and vampires cannot cross running water.” Thundina laughed loudly, “Strahd, defeated by the weather, how special.” Romann rushed over and roared, “Strahd? Where? Come out Strahd, face me like a man!” Throughout the night the river flowing through the Ivlis Marsh continued to rise until the water was lapping at the edges of the fires. The rain stopped shortly before dawn, but the sky continued to roil with black clouds. As dawn came so did the sound of a trickle of water like a fresh flowing creek and Jessuf looked up. The party waded away from the Swamp Fane through water which was up to Thundina’s waist in some places. With the three fanes under the party’s control, it was time for a renewed push into the castle. It was time to take the battle to Strahd instead of dodging him and defending against him. At the castle, Thundina consulted the map she had been sketching as the party had explored Castle Ravenloft. She pointed out to her companions her best understanding of how the various rooms and towers connected together and where she thought they could still find more stairwells. The first place she led her companions was to near Gertruda’s former quarters. Past those quarters they found a long hallway with six niches each with a suit of armor. The castle roof down that hallway was exposed and lightning flashed overhead. Long low moans emanated from down the hallway. On the second flash of lightning a ghostly figure emerged from the nearest statue. The ghost was a human woman in armor with a raven emblem. She waved one hand to the party and chanted, “Blessings to you. Why do you come to this castle?” Thundina stepped forward to answer, “We are here to slay Strahd. I am Thundina Seong, may I ask who you are.” The ghost answered, “I am Lady VayRalen, once an ancient protector of this castle.” Sir Urik bowed to Lady VayRalen, “Lady, I do not know you, but I too am a Knight of the Raven.” Lady VayRalen spoke again, “You keep good company, Thundina. Is there anything I can do to assist you?” Thundina responded, “Can you tell us how to get to “Where hellish magic made” or to where “Dizzying heights all loathe to climb”?” Lady VayRalen, “I am afraid I do not know much outside of this hallway.” “Have you seen Ireena recently? She was recently kidnapped by Strahd.” “I have not seen any other humans in the castle for many years.” “Then, do you know where Strahd keeps any riches?” “Being dead, my responses are limited, you must ask the right question.” “What can you do for us then?” “If you wish to become a Knight of the Raven, I can sponsor you and initiate you. One requires a Knight sponsor to become a Knight of the Raven.” “I have known Sir Urik for several weeks now, and I’m afraid I have no interest in becoming a Knight of the Raven.” “Then I can warn you that the other statues in this hallway may soon be animated by other spirits, less friendly than I.” “I thank you for your warning Lady VayRalen,” Thundina concluded and led the party to another set of stairs to attempt to find their destinations. The next room explored had a large oak desk buried under scrolls, tomes, and ledgers. A large blue carpet with edges of stone grey spread from the door to the desk. A pale man sat at the desk scratching at a ledger next to a name tag which read ‘Lief’. He glanced up startled as Thundina barged into the room. He rummaged around in the desk eventually drawing a greatsword from one of the wide drawers and began swinging the sword around while flicking a forged maggot-white tongue. Three gaunt skeletal deathlocks stood at attention by the desk. As battle began, each deathlock threw a pair of [i]Magic Missiles[/i] at Thundina. Jessuf moved around the desk and engaged Lief. Thundina then slipped around behind Lief and whispered into his ear, “Nothing personal, but it’s been too long since I’ve encountered a soft and squishy foe.” Thundina’s blade lodged painfully next to Lief’s spine; he did not die a quick or clean death. Once the deathlocks had been quickly crushed, Thundina inspected the desk. Lief had been running the castle’s accounts and had a small pile of money which Thundina scooped up. She yawned as she glanced through the piles of mostly worthless musty financial records stretching back hundreds of years. From the accountant’s office, Thundina found a hallway which moaned with sadness and despair linking the office to Strahd’s throne room. The throne room had a door which led to a balcony with two smaller thrones over the chapel. A tight stairwell wound down into the chapel. Broken stained-glass windows littered the floor sending sparkles of color all around the chapel. A dead body lay next to the altar, reaching out towards a silver raven statuette on the altar. Thick dust covered the floor, altar, and even the corpse. Sir Urik spoke with a fond remembrance, “Ah, the altar of Castle Ravenloft, where I took my oath as a Knight of the Raven. If you wish to become a Knight, you would need to hold a vigil here.” Thundina rolled her eyes, “No, Urik. No, I don’t think I’ll be becoming a Knight of the Raven.” Thundina spotted a wide stairwell on the far side of the chapel, “Sir Urik, I thought you had said there wasn’t any exits to the chapel…” Up, and up the staircase wound without break or landing. The tower climbed 300 feet, looming over any other tower in the castle. The top of the tower was a ruined mesh of girders and the landing at the very top had little in the way of walls to keep any occupants safe. A dark shaft pierced the middle of the room descending out of sight as cold air wafted back up. The party squeezed to near the wall to allow Cyron to pass to the front. When he reached the top he pulled out the Holy Symbol of Ravenkind and pronounced, “The Symbol pulses; this is where we needed to bring it.” The next eight hours of perching on a narrow stair with wind gusting through the top of the tower and a draft whispering up from below frustrated Thundina. There was no place to sit other than the hard stone steps and no shelter from the wind. Eerie sounds drifted from deep below while the whistling of the wind through the tower set her teeth on edge. She was quite pleased when Cyron announced that he had bonded the Symbol and they could return down to the chapel. Thundina took out her sketched map and pored over it again, “I just don’t understand. We seem to have exhausted basically all the places a stairwell up could hide and the prophecy on where to bring the Sunsword does seem to indicate near a tower top. I’m not sure where to go from here.” Jessuf looked over the map and pointed to the section with the room where he had been held, “Wasn’t there another floor between here and the top?” Thundina counted while thinking before answering, “I don’t recall. We can go check it out.” Just below the devil’s garden the party found a level not listed on Thundina’s map. A dead redcap and several dead shocker lizards lay in the shadows near a door. In the room beyond that door a great black cauldron bubbled. Spacious tables covered in glass jars with strange bits of creatures suspended in colorful liquids lined the walls. A large book on a podium stood next to one of the tables. A man in a long flowing brown robe with a glowing green staff reached into a pouch and pulled out a fistful of gold coins. He tossed the coins into the air and all the light vanished except for the red glow in the warlock’s eyes. Thundina whipped forward to pin him near the wall so he couldn’t retreat step by step around the room while slinging spells. A hidden door opened and a woman in a stiff white shirt and stiff white pants stepped forward to sling an [i]Eldritch Blast[/i] at Thundina. Cyron called for [i]Daylight[/i] to counteract the [i]Darkness[/i] on the gold coins. Jessuf moved to engage the brown-robed warlock and was greeted by another secret door opening and a woman in a grey mask unleashed a fiery blast at Jessuf. The blast simply rolled over Jessuf harmlessly as the sound of a trickling brook could be faintly heard. Thundina stepped behind the brown-robed warlock and tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around, running into Thundina’s blade in the gut, running up. Thundina smirked at the startled look on the warlock’s face, “They say the fastest way to a man’s heart is through his stomach – straight up and a little to the left.” As Thundina pulled her blade back the warlock collapsed. Thundina flicked her blade out to the right attempting to catch the warlock in the stiff white shirt, but she was still standing back from the secret door so the guisarme harmlessly bounced off the door frame. Talor drilled the warlock in the white shirt with a volley of arrows dropping her and Jessuf, Urik, and Thundina forced the grey-masked warlock into her secret chamber, and overwhelmed the warlock. A search of the room turned up lots of alchemical items plus a dozen shocker lizard eggs, some still viable. Thundina and Romann each took a ring off fallen warlocks while Jessuf peeked into the boiling cauldron before exclaiming, “There’s a silver key at the bottom of here. Let me just get it.” Jessuf reached into the cauldron for the key, but the bubbling gelatin material started crawling up his arm excreting acid all over the arm. The acid tickled Jessuf and the trickling brook sound became a continuous stream of sound. The gelatinous sphere was too small to consume someone immune to its light acid damage and the sphere was removed from Jessuf. The Sunsword hummed in the room and Jessuf knelt with the sword to begin to pray. While Jessuf began the bonding process with the sword, Thundina examined the journal on the podium. The journal belonged to one Afeena Musesco who described her descent into becoming a warlock from contact with a devil and how that devil now ran a garden just above the room of hellish magic. Thundina laughed at how well useless such revelations were now that both the devil and Ms. Musesco were dead. With every goal met save one, the party set looking for a path down into the catacombs. Once they had located the quickest path to Strahd’s coffin they could go searching for the vampire lord himself. The stairs from the chapel were promising at first, but they quickly encountered the other side of the wall with a small open chink. The thick wall obviously barred that stairwell while allowing Strahd to gas through if needed. The second try, near the dining room proved more promising. In a room off that stairway, a cloaked lady hobbled out to stare accusingly at the descending party, “Are you a spy for Strahd? I’ve dealt with your kind before. Oh yes, I will be independent of the Lord Strahd. So, are you a spy?” Thundina said slowly, “No. We’re hunting down Strahd to destroy him.” “Oh, alright then. Maybe I can help you. I know of a ring which resists death effects and the relics hidden in the catacombs. However, you will need to do something for me first.” “Sure, how can we help you?” Thundina responded. The idea of a ring to protect against Strahd’s energy draining attacks excited her. “I need the tongue of a living person from the village. Not just a living person when the tongue is harvested, but a person still alive when you deliver the tongue to me.” Thundina thought a moment. That ring would be the perfect defense needed for attacking Strahd, but the price was awfully high. Would anyone really miss some random villager if it meant the destruction of Strahd? Maybe Bildreth could give something back. No, ripping a tongue out of someone is just too vile to be seriously considered. Thundina just couldn’t bring herself to do something like that. Sir Urik spoke up, “Well, since it’s for such an important mission, such a sacrifice may be…” Romann’s eyes gleamed, “Excellent. Hold still a moment, this shouldn’t hurt much.” Jessuf shouted, “No! We aren’t seriously considering this.” Romann rebutted, “If’s he’s offering willingly, I don’t see a problem.” “It’s wrong. It’s disgusting. We are not maiming Sir Urik.” “It’s a sacrifice for greater good. I think we should take the offer.” “Absolutely not. Thundina, you’ve been unusually quiet for an offer of treasure.” “We can’t do this,” Thundina said. “It’s not just wrong, it passes into vile. I can handle just wrong, but not vile.” The party passed the cloaked witch and descended into the catacombs. The iron gate barring the way to a crypt on a dirt pile no longer was guarded by the mists of transposition. The party walked up to the black iron gate and smashed it open. Strahd sat on his coffin, laughing maniacally, “You challenge a Lord of Ravenloft in his own domain? Do you have no idea the nature of Ravenloft? There is no hope for you anymore, there is only never-ending darkness. You haven’t met Lucien yet. Lucien was a celestial who thought he could cleanse the land. He is now a loyal servant. Just like you shall all be.” Thundina snapped back, “Shut up Strahd. You’ve become delusional. Weeks ago, we might have come to some sort of agreement, but then you tried to cheat me. Now that I’ve bonded with the land, I understand what you’ve done and why you can no longer be the lord here, old one.” By way of response Strahd summoned a cloud of green gas on top of the party. The gas weighed heavily on the chest and Talor coughed fitfully. The party scattered out of the cloud as it slowly rolled away from Strahd. The large statue of a man on a horse which had been standing behind Strahd began rumbling forward until it filled the entry and blocked passage with its mass. Jessuf stepped up to it to halt its advance while Thundina applied a silver sheen to her guisarme and Sir Urik gave her [i]Protection from Evil[/i] and Cyron cast protective wards over Romann. Strahd and Lucien buffed themselves as well with Lucien applying [i]Protection from Good[/i]. As the [i]Cloudkill[/i] passed, the party reformed in front of the statue and Cyron identified it as a cursed-scribe golem instead of a normal animated statue that had been encountered so far throughout the castle. The nature of the curse inscription became clear when after one of its hammering blows, Romann failed to counterattack. Each attack from the golem left welts which would surely leave deep purple bruises the next day. Romann’s and Thundina’s attacks on the golem failed to cut deeply into its magical stone body. Lucien pushed past the golem to begin assaulting the party directly. He took a position on the edge of the battle, but Thundina quickly moved to a flanking position on Lucien and tripped him up. She followed up Lucien’s fall with a quick thrust slipping through a hole in his armor. He looked up at the party members looming over him and appeared indecisive as to whether or not risking standing in his current predicament. Thundina mocked him, “Come on Lucien, stand up for yourself.” He stood up, but that left him vulnerable to first Romann’s and then Thundina’s blades. Off balance from Romann’s cracking strike, Lucien stumbled towards Thundina. Her high sweeping blow took off his head and the decapitated corpse fell back to the ground. Strahd harried the party from behind the golem throwing [i]Enervation[/i] at Thundina after lining up the perfect shot via [i]True Strike[/i] and then fell draining [i]Magic Missiles[/i] spread among the party. The golem meanwhile swung at Romann, catching him on the temple, knocking him out cold. Cyron healed Romann as best he could, but Romann was still dangerously low on health. Talor, after one shot bounced harmlessly off the golem, starting making the tough shot through the combat to hit Strahd with silver arrows. Jessuf joined in the ranged combat by throwing [i]Searing Light[/i] at Strahd as well. The touch of the [i]Searing Light[/i] overwhelmed Strahd and he returned to his coffin. Thundina observed the course of the battle against the golem and decided that someone had to get behind the golem to provide flanking and allow Romann and Jessuf to better power attack the golem. The next time the golem attacked and slammed its fist down to the ground on the miss, Thundina dashed up the arm, and over the golem, dropping lightly behind it. The golem would bash Romann, hitting heavily, and Cyron would desperately heal Romann to keep him in the fight. Romann chipped away at the golem, crushing it slowly. Thundina rolled her shoulders and exhaled as the adrenaline surge of battle faded. She took a step over and peeked into Strahd’s coffin. He was laying with his arms crossed on his chest, pale face a stark contrast to the dark coffin. He pleaded, “Please, spare my life. I’ll do anything. I’ll give you anything – I’ll give you the valley. I can tell you where I hid the rest of my treasure.” Romann stepped up, “Why don’t you tell us where the treasure is first?” Talor, just behind, “Maybe we can spare you. Maybe we can find an agreement, a ransom.” Strahd panted, “Yes, yes. Do I have your word? Any agreement.” “I want one simple thing from you,” Thundina said stonily. “I want you to die.” She looked behind her to see Cyron pulling out a stake and offering it to her. She accepted it and turned back around. Romann again tried, “Treasure, Thundina, think, treasure. We can come up with something I’m sure.” Strahd desperately cried, “I always keep my word. I will give you my treasure. We can negotiate still.” Thundina stabbed the flarestake into Strahd and said, “Negotiations are over. We’ll hear no more from you.” Strahd screamed as the flarestake burned. His screamed continued and continued. Thundina whispered to Cyron, “I thought stakes through the heart was supposed to be the end of vampire.” Cyron whispered back, “It’s supposed to be. You did hit the heart, right? I know you don’t have quite the same accuracy and control against undead.” “I’m certain I hit the heart.” Thundina responded before snapping her fingers, “Oh how dumb of me. The Tome of Strahd spells out that a stake won’t kill him, only sunlight can. I guess all we’re doing is torturing him like this.” She looked at Strahd and said firmly, “Not that you don’t deserve it.” Strahd could only manage a scream as the stake continued to burn in his shriveled heart. “Let’s take him outside and burn him in the sun,” Thundina said. As they carried Strahd outside, Talor whispered to Strahd, “Actually, I guess I did have to kill you. That was my job.” The party set the coffin down and glanced up at the sky overhead. The overcast sky showed no sign of breaking anytime soon. Thundina asked Cyron, “Can we speed this up any? I don’t want to sit hear listening to Strahd cry for a day or two or however long it takes us to get some direct sunlight here.” Cyron shook his head, “A greater cleric than I could directly control the weather, or perhaps a druid of similar strength could control the winds to disperse the clouds for a time, but there is nothing I can do.” Thundina sat to wait and began looking through all the little items she had acquired during the time. She had Orning’s identification papers which would need to be returned to his father. She found the little witty note Tourg had written her way back when they had first arrived in Barovia. There were the Lightbringers patches from Thendrick and Mathilda, and Tourg and BarBar as well. From Ashlyn, Thundina now wore Ashlyn’s holy symbol. Thundina had just reached thinking of Ashlyn when there was a shout from the rest of the party. A single beam of sunlight was breaking through the clouds, illuminating Strahd. It only lasted a moment, but when Thundina looked into the coffin, Strahd was gone and a pile of black ash now filled the coffin. All that was left were the robes that Strahd had worn plus a bundle of papers. Thundina pulled out the papers and took a quick look, enough to see that these were the deed to Castle Ravenloft and the valley of Barovia. “So, now what?” Romann asked. “I don’t know,” Thundina said. “I guess we go down to the village and start the process of transition of power.” As the party arrived in town they could see that almost all of the town was out and gathered in town square. The party walked down the street, approaching the gathered crowd, when Gertruda burst out of the crowd and rushed up to Romann and latched on to him, “Is it true? Did you kill Strahd? The town is abuzz that Strahd is dead!” Romann gaped, “How did you hear? We only just watched him burn before we came here.” Gertruda walked with Romann and the party, “A vestani was shouting that Strahd had been slain and a lot of people said they felt different. There’s something different about the valley, can’t you feel it? The land is adjusting to a new lord.” Ismark pushed his way out of the crowd, “Hail heroes. Will you please come with me, there is much which needs to be discussed.” He led them through the crowd and back to his manor. The crowd gaped at the members of the party as they parted to allow the party to pass through. Ismark took the party to his sitting room and offered seating. Once everyone had sat, he requested, “Please, tell me all that has occurred and led to the fall of Strahd.” Thundina responded, “Well, there really isn’t all that much to tell. Over the past couple days we have held vigils at each of the fanes to strip Strahd of his protections, then we tracked him down by his coffin, forced him to revert and return to it, and then dragged him out into the sun where he burned.” “And my sister, have you found her? Is she safe?” Thundina was about to answer when they all heard a large commotion outside. When they looked outside, there was Ireena wandering dazedly back to the manor. Ismark ran to his sister and escorted her inside, asking her if she was okay. Once settling that Ireena was safe, Ismark resumed the conversation with the party, “With Strahd dead, I presume that one of you will be taking over as the Lord of Ravenloft.” Thundina said slowly, “Well, we do have the deed to the castle, but hadn’t given it much thought. I guess we did slay Strahd and do have the bonds to the land.” “Of course,” Ismark bowed to the party. “You are welcome to stay here with me while you figure out what is happening. If you will excuse me, I feel I must tend to my sister.” Jessuf spoke up once Ismark had departed, “I came here to work out a deal regarding lands, but I have realized that I really am meant to stay in one place and lead the people. I guess what I’m trying to say is that I’d like to be new lord of Barovia. Thundina, are you going to press a claim?” Visions of ruling Barovia danced in her head. Her father had told stories of how he would have single-handedly conquered a country, he’d be so proud of her. She had dreamed of rescuing and marrying a prince and then living a plush life forever after, but this could do. She looked firmly at Jessuf, “Yes, and why not? I’ve been opposing Strahd the longest. I was the one who slew him. I deserve this.” Jessuf sighed and turned to Cyron, “And what about you?” Cyron shook his head, “No, I am not one to rule. I serve Romann, wherever he will lead.” Romann chimed in, “I think I’m going to propose to her. I think we’re meant for each other.” The rest of the party looked at Romann quizzically, his comment having come out of nowhere. He clarified, “Gertruda. She’s beautiful, kind, and gentle. I’m going to propose to her.” After the meeting with Ismark, Romann went to Gertruda’s house, dropped to a knee, and proposed with the ring he had taken from the warlocks, and she accepted him. They set the wedding for the next week, once all the loose ends were tied up regarding the castle and valley. Thundina walked the ways of the valley, thinking and reflecting on the past few weeks. She found her feet taking her once more up to the castle, like she had walked so many times before. In the castle, Thundina visited the ransacked treasury and picked up a silver coin which had escaped the previous sacking. She climbed to the devil’s garden and then to the Dayheart chamber. As darkness claimed the valley, Thundina found herself in the throne room. She decided to take a break and sit on the throne. It felt like a perfect fit; so comfortable and just the right size for her. Maybe she could rest a little longer. Thundina awoke several hours later. She had dreamed, she had heard the land calling to her, but it was a dark call, and reminded her of Strahd. The dreams were of blood, of death. Her heart raced, her breathing came quick. Was this what she wanted? The power and strength, and the thrill of domination. The more she thought on it, and the more she considered the implications, the more she hated the idea. It was the death of dreams and the death of what made her her. She got out of the throne and wandered into the accounting office next to the throne and rummaged for some paper and quills. She had some notes to write. The first note was to Romann. The second note was for Jessuf. He had something she needed and she had something he’d need. He might not like the idea of a trade, but it needed to be done. She took her two notes back down to the village and snuck back to her room and quietly packed up her share of the treasure. Since she had been tasked with hauling and cataloging most of it in the first place, she knew exactly where all the valuable unclaimed items were and added them to her haversack. She took the note for Romann over to his room and left it pinned to the door. Next was a visit to Jessuf’s room. He had locked the door, but that was no problem for Thundina. She snuck into the room and found the Sunsword prominently displayed on the dresser. Thundina took the sword and left the note for Jessuf as well as the deed to the Castle Ravenloft and the valley of Barovia. She then slipped back out, securing the Sunsword in her haversack. As she was about to leave the village, she heard a voice from behind her, “Leaving, Thundina?” She found the source of the voice, Talor was leaning against a building. “Isn’t it awfully early to be up?” “I wanted to call another bat to be my next animal companion. Besides, I’ve always been somewhat more nocturnal.” “Fair enough. Yes, I am leaving. I need to get out of here, this is not where I belong.” “Mind if I join you on the journey?” “I thought you didn’t like me,” Thundina said wrinkling her nose. “You seem to get what you want,” Talor shrugged. “I want great piles of stuff. If I work with you, maybe some of that good fortune of yours will rub off on me.” “Alright then, let’s go.” The set off along the road to the west, Thundina intending to try the northwestern gate. As the neared the crossroads, they could see a table had been set up with a woman sitting behind it. Thundina and Talor approached and Madam Eva hailed them, “Ah duckling, leaving Barovia I see.” “Yes,” Thundina agreed. “Funny meeting you here.” “I’m glad to hear that. It is a better fate for you this way. Do you know where your path leads?” “To the northwest gate and then eventually back to Irontown and then on to Korth.” “Ah duckling, what surprises you will find. Ravenloft is not like other places. It is a demiplane onto itself; a rogue plane that wanders through the other planes, and when Strahd died it departed Eberron. The mists will not take you home, they will take you to where you need to be. Sit, let me read your fortune one final time.” Thundina sat in front of the table and Eva dealt out cards once more. “Child of Chaos, your path will change those all around you. You are difficult to read for all the chaos that comes with you. If you have the courage and strength, the queen holds a great treasure. Yes, go now Child of Chaos, and see what destinies lie before you.” Eva waved as she shooed Thundina and Talor back on to the road and towards the gate. Before they had left earshot, Eva added, “I hope you are not bothered by spiders.” Thundina and Talor passed through the gate at the edge of Barovia and before long they had left the mists which shrouded the valley. They stopped and stared at what they saw, it was not the hills of Karrnath but a great, bustling city before them. [/QUOTE]
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The New Adventures of Thundina Seong! Completed May 4
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