Into the Mists-The Condemnation of Strahd

https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/1oyVziI7jzMrZ_diUxoCuta7yLBrmpgf9qfl7-Os7eb8/edit

With a quick twist of a hidden latch found along the wall, a secret door opens up to a large room. The smell of old water and damp earth clings to the air. 
As the party enters this room the chanting that was clearly coming from this room stops with no visible source. Peering through the darkness the party, by torchlight, can make out that they are standing in a 40 ft. square room. The smooth masonry of the walls of this room provides excellent acoustics as the party footfalls echo in the room around them. 
The party sees featureless stone pillars about every 10 ft. supporting the 16 ft. ceiling above. 
A stone pathway lines the walls of the room approximately 5 ft. wide and lines the entire room.
There are 2 breaches in the walls of the room, one on the east wall and one on the west wall.
The breach along the eastern wall, approximately 10 ft. from the northeast corner of the room, has a rusty iron portcullis standing over the breach. 
The breach along the west wall, approximately 13 ft. from the northwest corner of the room, appears to lead to a darkened cave that is heaped with refuse.
At the point of both breaches, there are a set of stairs that go down into and out of the other side of the water. 
At the edge of the walkway, covering most of the floor in this room is a stagnant murky pool of unknown depth.
Rising from the center of the pool of water is a 3 tiered dais. The dais rises from the water surface to the top standing approximately 5 ft above it. 
On top of the dais stands a stone altar. The altar is carved with hideous depictions of grasping ghouls and the top of it is covered in a dark black substance. The slight scent of dried blood lingers in the air.
Above the altar, hanging from the ceiling are several rusty chains and shackles. The chains extend from the ceiling to about 8 ft. down. 

Bob gulps. He had expected to see a room full of chanting cultists yet somehow the emptiness was even more disturbing. He looks at the altar, trying to dredge his memory for any kind of religious iconography he might recognize.

Religion: 7

Then he walks toward the water and starts prodding with his staff, testing the depth.

Quote from stronglyworded >>

Bob gulps. He had expected to see a room full of chanting cultists yet somehow the emptiness was even more disturbing. He looks at the altar, trying to dredge his memory for any kind of religious iconography he might recognize.

Religion: 7

Then he walks toward the water and starts prodding with his staff, testing the depth.

 As for Religion Bob, and most of the party for that matter, get the impression that this cult worshipped Strahd, whom Bob met what seems like months ago. The altar doesn't provide much else.
Bob sticks his staff into the water. The film atop the water parts and Bob's staff goes down about 2 ft.

Gimble:

"The altar on the island seems to be the central focus of this room, though that pile of refuse may hold some secrets as well.  I suggest we stay out of the water if we can--unless the chanting was from disembodied shadows again, if there is a physical threat in this room, it is likely lurking in the water," Gimble suggests, trying to recall if there was any furniture or boards they have seen in their explorations long enough to make a gang plank to the center "island".

Quote from Scott_R_Simmons >>

Gimble:

"The altar on the island seems to be the central focus of this room, though that pile of refuse may hold some secrets as well.  I suggest we stay out of the water if we can--unless the chanting was from disembodied shadows again, if there is a physical threat in this room, it is likely lurking in the water," Gimble suggests, trying to recall if there was any furniture or boards they have seen in their explorations long enough to make a gang plank to the center "island".

 Gimble thinks a moment. There was a big table in the "Dining Hall" where the party faced the Grick but there is no wood on this level to create a gang plank. 

Gimble:

"Once we are done with our initial survey of the room, let's bring down the big table in the dining room and use it to cross to the island without getting in the water.  If you like, I can move back out the secret door and start a Detect Magic ritual, so I will be able to scour the room for magical auras by the time you big strong types get the table in place, what do you say?" suggests the gnome.

Once everyone is in the new chamber, along the ledge at the north side of the room, discussing water, and bridges, and rituals, Gillain backs up through the secret door ten feet, then runs back into the new room and leaps over the water ((running jump of up to 16ft)) onto the platform in the middle of the room...

If nothing happens once she’s there, she turns slowly (with her shield and spear in hand) to get a look at the room from this vantage point, then moves to look closer at the table there.

Perception (if needed): 16 

Quote from Grwobert >>

Once everyone is in the new chamber, along the ledge at the north side of the room, discussing water, and bridges, and rituals, Gillain backs up through the secret door ten feet, then runs back into the new room and leaps over the water ((running jump of up to 16ft)) onto the platform in the middle of the room...

If nothing happens once she’s there, she turns slowly (with her shield and spear in hand) to get a look at the room from this vantage point, then moves to look closer at the table there.

Perception (if needed): 16 

 

 Athletics roll for the jump, please.

Gillain’s athletics check: 11 

With a display of her great strength and athletic ability, Gillain backs up then sprints from the cells, through the secret door, and launches herself into the air. She easily clears the water and lands on the top tier of the dais, near the altar.
As Gillain turns to survey the room something catches her eye at the secret door. Figures in dark robes, carrying torches of black flame walk through the secret door. 
Those on the ledge by the open secret door feel a cold chilled breeze from behind. Turning, the rest of the party sees the same vision Gillain does, figures in dark robes, carrying torches of black flame coming through the secret door. 
Torchlight washes over the figures as they enter the room and it looks like they are made of thin silk as the light passes through them, to the wall behind.
The figures pay no attention to the party near the secret door, passing through them as they file in. The party feels a slight chill as the figures pass through but suffer no ill effects. 
13 apparitions make up this procession, 4 human women and 9 human men. They file in and one breaks off from the group at a specific point along the wall walkway until the last comes to a spot in the southwest corner of the room and stops. 
They turn towards the dais in unison, the black flame dancing on their torches, and begin chanting:
"ONE MUST DIE. ONE MUST DIE. ONE MUST DIE." over and over again. 

Gillain looks on, as the robed figures file calmly into the room. As she watches them, her eyes get this kind-of-milky-film over them, as her senses stretch out further, to see both the holy and the fallen of this world ((6 seconds of divine sense: sensing celestials, fiends and undead; as well as consecrated and desecrated objects and places)).

As the figures begin chanting, Gillain answers their call, “I HAVE COME!!... I have seen the face of death, and I am ready for Him!...”. She clicks her heels together and touches her chest in a knights salute. As she touches her chainmail there (if she has time), she says a few quiet words to herself, in prayer, and attempts to cast protection from evil and good on herself (edit: or at least just wishes for some kind of divine protection!).

She continues, “I AM THE ONE!!... Come forward and come for me.... I welcome it gladly!!... (if you are worthy)...”. Her grip on her spear tightens, and her eyes flick from the robed figures to her party. She stands to attention, waiting, but is ready for anything...

Gimble:

Totally at a loss for what is going on, Gimble sits just outside the secret door in the prison cell and starts his Detect Magic ritual, hoping whatever plays out here can be dealt with while he is preparing, then he can do a proper investigation once his spell begins.

OOC:  Technically he could have kept up concentration on his Detect Magic from earlier, but I tend to not carry that from room to room unless I explicitly say he keeps concentrating...

OOC:[How long has it been since the fight with the shadows?]

Seeing Gillain jump on to the altar, and shout out a challenge a flash of old memories come to Tio. An image of her old friend and master stands next to Gillain. When Farris questions about join Tio speaks up with a bit of enthusiasm unlike her calm demeanor “Of course Mr.Farris!”

Tio will keep on the walk ways as she pulls out a dart.

For once Bob didn't find himself afraid of the apparitions. He shudders from the chill of the grave as the spirits walk through him but simply nods as they file into the room. "It's all starting t' make sense. Let Gillain do wot she must, but be prepared if we hafta defend her!" He grips his shillelagh in one hand and readies his free hand to call on nature's aid should he need to cast a spell.

Ban looks in awe at the jump Gillian makes and is excited until she feels the coldness. The eladrin shivers as the spectral figures raise the hairs on her neck, and she steps aside to let them pass. As they chant, she skulks to the nearest column and hides in the shadows. Flipping her hood up, Ban tucks her hair into place, and she watches the scene via the reflection of her mirror. 

[Ability] Stealth [/stealth]: 26

EDIT: lol... Stealth

Quote from Grwobert >>

Gillain looks on, as the robed figures file calmly into the room. As she watches them, her eyes get this kind-of-milky-film over them, as her senses stretch out further, to see both the holy and the fallen of this world ((6 seconds of divine sense: sensing celestials, fiends and undead; as well as consecrated and desecrated objects and places)).

As the figures begin chanting, Gillain answers their call, “I HAVE COME!!... I have seen the face of death, and I am ready for Him!...”. She clicks her heels together and touches her chest in a knights salute. As she touches her chainmail there (if she has time), she says a few quiet words to herself, in prayer, and attempts to cast protection from evil and good on herself (edit: or at least just wishes for some kind of divine protection!).

She continues, “I AM THE ONE!!... Come forward and come for me.... I welcome it gladly!!... (if you are worthy)...”. Her grip on her spear tightens, and her eyes flick from the robed figures to her party. She stands to attention, waiting, but is ready for anything...

 Outside of the things Gillain sensed before about this place, she senses nothing new.
Gillain pulls out a small vial of holy water and splashes it across her holy  symbol casting Protection from evil and good

As Gillain proclaims her intent to the apparitions and cast her spell she feels a rush of self-confidence and strength in her resolve.
However, the apparitions are unfazed by her actions or proclamation. They continue to chant 'ONE MUST DIE! ONE MUST DIE!" over and over. 

Tio: The fight with the shadow happened about 30 to 40 minutes prior to this event. I am basing this on the party finding their way to the lower level then spending time looking in the alcoves and cataloging what they have found. 
Gimble: Gimble spends 10 minutes to recast Detect Magic since he started to do this after Gillain jumped to the dais he will still be performing the ritual as the events are unfolding currently.
Farris: Tio answers your question but Farris is still a bit unsure about the whole situation. Please Roll a Religion Check DC 13.
Ban: Ban flips her hood up and slinks to a pillar, attempting to make herself less seen. Ban feels confident that she is successful but, the apparitions take no notice of her and continue their chant.
Bob: Bob readies himself for any event. Please roll a Perception check DC 13. And, if successful, roll a Nature Check DC 13.

Gimble:

Gimble will stop his ritual incomplete if combat breaks out, but otherwise will keep at it until it is done.