stonegod's Expedition to Castle Ravenloft: Ch. II [IC]

Janis dismounts her magebred donkey in silence.

"There is no warmth," the spellcaster agrees quietly.

The horses are left behind in the cold weather as the group enters the Castle. The small entry chamber is illuminated by flickers of fire in the mouths of two coiled stone dragons that form an archway at the room's far end. Their mouths direct the light towards the outside, cloaking the room beyond the archway in darkness.

The Bear needs coaxing to enter the chamber, its low, whine-like growl a clear sign of its unease. The reason is immediately clear---a wave of nausea strikes everyone, a bleak wave that scrabbles into the head. The wrongness of this place is palatable, almost a physical force. Whatever ill deeds tainted the place, the taint carries to this day.


[The way ahead is dark through the archway. I will like to know standard marching order and light sources]

"By the Flame!" Jarrith moans out, as his stomach twists up like a balloon. He shakes his head in an attempt to clear it, then goes down to one knee and tries to take a few shallow breaths. "Someone actually lives here? Ugh."

He slings off his pack and pulls out one of his sunrods, which he bangs on the ground to light it. He then straps it to his pack so it remains up and out, but without him needing to hold it. He then puts his pack back on.

"Ireena... you know our host... why don't you come up front and introduce us?"

*****

OOC: As far as order, I'll suggest Ireena and Jarrith up front, followed by Ashlyn, Marot, Janis & Bear, Tessa, and Khensu bringing up the rear. Any other recommendations?

As she steps through the doorway, Ashlyn slows momentarily as the wave of nausea and wrongness flows over her, and then she braces herself and with iron determination, she continues on, stepping into the room, the light from her torch illuminating the dark archway at the end of the room.

Ashlyn looks around the room, looking for a doorbell or something of the sort with which to announce their arrival. She then turns to Irena and asks, "Ireena, do you know your way around here at all?"

[Ashlyn is holding her everburning torch]

Janis silently takes up a position between Marot and Tessa.

Marot the Deadly

Quickly making the sign of the Silver Flame, as if in hopes that it may ward off the foul presence of this castle, Marot quickly scans the area, looking for anyone or anything that may be waiting in the darkness.

"By the Flame, this place sets the tone for the entire land -- no signs of life, but uncountable signs of death and forboding...."

"May the Flame keep us.....all."

The group takes out their lights and shine them into the next room, but are immediately met with difficulty. Darkness swallows every spark, seeming to making the shadows starker instead of lessening them.

[All light radii are halved for lit and shadowy regions]

Passing into the darkness beyond, the party enters a great hall. Cobwebs hang from dust covered columns. Stone gargoyles squat motionlessly on the edge of a balcony circling some 20 feet above the floor. Cracked and faded frescoes adorn the domed ceiling, nearly obliterated by centuries of decay. The ceiling is a great dome, curving up to the level of the balcony above, some 40 feet at the highest point.

Two great bronze doors stand closed opposite the arched entry. To the left of the entry, a wide staircase climbs into darkness. A wide hallway extends to the right. From the right hallway, a small shaft of light makes sets the hall into stark contrast. A pair of double doors are on the right, slightly ajar, from which the light is coming. Across from the double doors is a narrow passage way that leads to a spiral staircase. In an alcove is a suit of full plate of archaic design, posed with a similarly ancient halberd in one hand.


[The dark circle on the map is your location; shaded regions are in shdadow/out of sight. One square on the map is 10' square.]

Tessa took her place in the marching order quietly, holding her Everbright lantern high in one hand, while her other hand kept a close grip on her shield- if anything happened, she hoped the others could give her a moment to prepare her weapons. The wrongness of the place clawed at her body and her senses, and she kept having to pause, close her eyes, and focus her mind on the resolute calm of her faith. How could anyone dwell here, unless they had some terrible malady of spirit themselves?

Jarrith glances to the right and then cocks his head in that direction towards the open double doors. "Lights on in through there... we could check that out... unless we should just wait and call out for our host?" He looks at Ireena and raises his eyebrows. "You're the one who's dealt with Sergei in the past... should we wait here for him or just go traipsing through his home to look for him?"

Ireena keeps quiet, a look of unsease and fear barely concealed. It is soon clear that she has never been inside the cursed place. She follows Jarrith, tightly clutching the hilt of her father's sword.