stonegod's Expedition to Castle Ravenloft: Ch. III [IC] (Completed)

[sblock=stonegod]Jarrith stops short as the three Flamists come upon the main chamber and spot the figure of Lord Sergei. As the current resident of the keep addresses them and Emil, the blood within the Stalker runs cold. His eyes narrow, and the impulses that have carried him through his life within the Order of Illumination are brought back to the forefront. He steps forward a pace, knowing Khensu and Marot are right behind him.

"My apologies, my Lord... we fools dilly-dally about this castle because we do so admire its architecture... but yet we keep finding poor souls that have been imprisoned within! First the young girl tied to the bed upstairs, and now this poor man locked within the cells below! Goodness knows what they both were doing here... but I guess it's just of those things which, as you say, we just couldn't possibly understand." He says this last phrase dripping with as much sarcastic poison as he can muster.

Jarrith throws a smirk back to Marot and Khensu, and gives a slight chuckle to himself. "I wonder who's the more foolish? Us wandering around Barovia doing the Flame's work... or our Host believing that he is so much more high-minded than everyone that his little time-wasters are somehow incomprehensible to the rest of us?" He snorts in derision, then addresses Sergei one last time. "We invade your home, because we have reason to believe crimes against your populace are being committed. And before you give me the same tired song and dance where you tell us that as the Lord of this land that your word is Law... I'll remind you that we serve the Flame. And thus... this means that if you want to stop us... then you'll have to... STOP... US."[/sblock]

[sblock=Flamists]The lord does something uncharacteristic—he smiles. A small thing, and not warm. A cold smile of the superior, or so he thinks. In the shimmering mist, it looks almost sinister.

I say you do not understand because that is the truth. Gretchen? She was no more my prisoner than Emil was. It is she who sought the bosom of my protection, to escape the prison of her former life. And she was well warded in that place, wards that you and yours destroyed in your stumbling about.

And Emil? One of my servants. The man, as Sergei speaks, stands straighter, and begins to move to the lord's side unless stopped. A hunter who apparently failed in his task. The witch woman still lives then? The question is sharp, and Emil is stung by it. As I thought. Sergei stares sharply at Jarrith, Khensu, and Marot in turn. Likely, she awaits your companions even now.

It is then that Jarrith, Khensu, and Marot realize something is wrong. The feeling of dread ever present in the Castle has gotten stronger, as if playing tricks on their minds; the fog seems to intensify it. Its strongest when Sergei glares at them. To Khensu, it almost feels like the confusion that overcame him in the battle that Sergei shared in. Jarrith and and Khensu fight it, but Marot seems a little dazed by it, his mind wandering. He clutches his head and whispers, The mist... a fog of the mind. Weakens will.

Something weird is going on; with an AP from Jarrith and Khensu, it is resisted by them. Marot's concentration is off (he failed). Marot correctly identified the mind fog effect.[/sblock]Downstairs, the water is brakish, and all are cold.

Actions? Or just waiting?

Avron slushes through the water in front of the others, in the direction where the disturbance was localized. The scholar lets divine energy arc through him and out into the water. "Oh I bet it's one of those waterlogged zombie abominations!. MARCO!"

[sblock=ooc]Storm bolt in a 20' line of water in the area where Ashlyn indicates.[/sblock]

OOC: The disturbance is on the other side of the western door. You'd have to open it.

Ashlyn looks at Avron a moment before speaking, "It was behind that door which I heard a disturbance in the water, but I think we should check behind this door first to be sure that we leave no undead behind us."

Ashlyn indicates the north door as the one that she thinks we should check while we wait.

[sblock=stonegod]Jarrith steels himself as he feels the fog wash across and then past him, and sets his jaw when Marot mentions that he is unable to resist it. He turns to Khensu and says simply "It's time to shed some light, Brother."

And with that, Jarrith pulls both of his rapiers free and attacks Emil. Khensu pulls out his greatsword and goes after Emil as well, trying to flank the former prisoner on the far side of Jarrith.[/sblock]

Upstairs

Jarrith and Khensu, finally fed up with the obfuscation and evil, lash out at the "helpless" prisoner. But as the first blow is struck, Emil growls deeper and deeper, growing in a towering abomination of fur and fang. At the same time, the stone statues ringing the entryway come to life!

As he fades on the wide of a spell, Sergei's last words are, So be it. You shall be protected no more.

Downstairs

As Ashlyn prepares to see to the north door, there loud creaking noise from above as if something was settling... or moving. Suddenly, Ravika, Tessa, and Ladreth vanish from sight with an explosion of water! Their screams can be heard from the other side of the western door!

Update with inits/maps/etc tonight.

Upstairs


Hovering overhead, the stone statues come to life with malign intent, the dragon statues with the flaming mouths soon following. The now fanged Emil makes clear his ill intent.

Downstairs


Ladreth, Tessa, and Ravika suddenly find themselves in deep brakish water surrounded by vile undead and hideous ape-like creatures with wicked cleavers. A hooded figure, whom Tessa recognizes as the foul Ebon Claw necromancy that attacked the caravan, looks dispassionately down. Kill them she says, the ghostly image of a woman whose face is nothing but gore following.

The instant the three appear in the room, the depravity of them assaults them. Tessa recognizes a spell of evil warding and fights off its immediate effects, but knows the undead will be strengthened here. Ladreth, however, does not fight it off, and suddenly all around him is silent at the undead assault them!

Round 1

Upstairs

Jarrith knows he must spring into action...

Downstairs

The necromancy ducks behind the curtain, disappearing from sight. Beside here, the ghastly apparition floats down beside the stunned Ravika. The shifter can only scream silently as the undead reaches inside and tears something vital. [Incorporeal touch attack hits; 7hp and 2 levels drained]

The zombies grown as they spring out of the water and thrash at those nearby. Armor spares the three from the brunt of the attack. All miss

The fire boiling inside while all is silent, Tessa knows she must act now...

Round 1[sblock=Maps]Put these here to stop stretching the display.

Map Notes: Water is difficult terrain (3 squares, not 2, of movement). The is a ledge (dotted portion) upstairs 20' that the Gs and SDs can land on. Grey circle around Ladreth is a silence effect.[/sblock]
Upstairs
M: 22
J: 15
E: 12
G: 8
K: 4
SD: 4

Downstairs
S: 22
Z: 20
T: 17
RR: 12
A: 12
L: 6 [silence] effect]
R: 4 [32/39, 2/7 levels drained]
A: 2

OOC: Is Tessa affected by the Silence? Can she use Turn Undead if she is Silenced?

pathfinderq1 said:

OOC: Is Tessa affected by the Silence? Can she use Turn Undead if she is Silenced?

Click to expand...

OOC: She is in the silenced area (the grey circle around Ladreth). Turning, your aberrant mark, and all its abilities are not affected by silence; only spells w/ verbal components.