Into the Mists-The Condemnation of Strahd

Gimble:

Casting a sidelong look at Bob the dwarf trying to restrain his avarice, Gimble tries to get started on the right foot with this group by not hoarding the treasure.  Instead, he hands it over to Gillian, who seems the honorable warrior type.

Hearing nothing definitive, Gimble responds, "I can't tell where the noise is coming from.  Can you sense any nearby magic, Mister Beezly?"

OOC [Tio will carry the loot this time as Ermren has the other gold, she will take it from him after they leave the house.]

Tio will collect the treasure from the lockers Tio will look down where the well is. Lighting a torch she will drop it down the well to see how far it drops.

Toi collects the treasure found and places it in her pack. 

The party stands at the T section of this passage. Which way do you proceed?

“Hmmm... it’s hard to know what to do”, says Gillian. “Straight on, or right? My gut feeling is straight on”. She wanders 5 or 10 feet further than the second set of stairs, to see what’s there...

Bob briefly feels his old self returned, staring uncertainly from passage to passage until Gillain picks one. He puffs up his chest and stomps ahead of her, forgoing his usual flame to concentrate on keeping Detect Magic active.

Tio dropping the torch sees nothing of interest in the well. She walks up to Gillain “It seems you’re feeling a bit better. If your gut is telling you straight then let’s go that way.”

Quote from BeastyC >>

OOC [Tio will carry the loot this time as Ermren has the other gold, she will take it from him after they leave the house.]

Tio will collect the treasure from the lockers Tio will look down where the well is. Lighting a torch she will drop it down the well to see how far it drops.

 The torch only goes a couple of feet before hitting stagnant water. The well seemed to have been filled by an underground stream but, the water doesn't appear to be flowing currently leaving a dark film on the surface. 

Gillain looks towards Tio, “I think I do feel a bit better... I’ve been overcome with feelings of panic, like I’m scared...”. She looks confused and then looks back up at Tio. “But during that fight... I was still scared, but it spurred me onward instead of back....”.

”When I saw that thing attacking my..... attacking Bob... I was scared I’d lose her... him... it... the wolf... him. I was scared I’d lose.. him. ... ..Huh?.. ... No. Yes. That’s right, but...”.

”I’m being torn in half... I’m scared, but I’m brave.... I’m focused but I’m panicking!... ... ..But for a second there it all came together. I had to protect her!”. She glances at her feet and around the room, confused, but looking a little better than recently...

And then Gillan finally says (mostly to herself, but loud enough for anyone to hear), “Maybe these are my trials??!.... Maybe this is it?!... But I’m not ready!....”.

”..Its not fair!... This will break me!!.”....

https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/17LoOllupqXry_ES1l724dIAAzO5vZNVw9rbxCkrpqDI/edit

The party follows the stairs up. The stairs lead to a small passage that goes south 5 ft., then turns west for 5 ft.  only to end in an opening along the south wall of the passage. 

The party finds the opening leads to a 15 ft. by 20 ft. room. The smells of mold and rotted flesh assail the party. 

There are exits to this room. Exit 1 is along the east wall, approximately 10 ft. into the room, and Exit 2 along the west wall, at equal distance. 

Across the room is a small 5 ft. x 5 ft. alcove about 10 ft. down the south wall of the room. 

In the center of this room is a plain wooden table flanked by a wooden bench. Scattered in various spots on the floor are what the party can only surmise as humanoid bones. Upon closer inspection, the party finds that there are cut and gnawing marks on the bones. The realization hits each of you almost instantly. These cultists, whom every they were, were cannibals. 

Bob maintains his concentration but, sense no magic in this area. 

Tio will pat Gillan’s head “It will be fine. As long as you keep fighting that’s all that matters.” 

As the party reaches the room Tio will move to the east wall checking exit1.

Perception: 20

Gillain nods agreement to Tio, but then looks around the room revolted and disgusted. “Ugh!.. oh my!.... ... but we’re looping back around, on ourselves, aren’t we?”. She quickly looks over the remains, on and around the table, and then heads through the exit that seems to loop back the way they started.

Perception: 10 

Gimble:

"No, no, that's good," says Gimble to Gillain.  "If we clear this whole level, we can move back down the steps and move into new areas without worrying so much about attacks from behind.  That passage to the east would complete the circuit, yes?" he asks, moving to that direction and looking down that hallway as Gillain moves that way too.

Perception:  4

Gillain glances over to Gimble as he catches up, “Yes, of course. You’re right.... Let’s check this last bit is clear. Then we can head on down the route we didn’t take...”.

As they creep onward together she looks from her chain mail to his cloth garments, and asks the gnome, “You’re a wizard or mage right? A sorcerer of some kind?......... What does it feel like, your magic?....”.

”...Back when we were fighting our way through the house, one of my strikes suddenly erupted with some kind of energy... I’ve never done that before. I don’t know where it came from... ...”.

Gimble:

Somewhat reservedly, the gnome answers Gillain, saying, "I didn't grow up with books and magic, but instead on the streets.  When I had the opportunity to escape that life into the world of magic, I took to it quickly, but it still doesn't feet completely intuitive to me.  I picture the spells in my mind's eye, flaming arcane letters that I release to form the intended effect.  It takes much study and concentration to fuel these spells, and the flaming sigils fade to black once that power has been used.  Still, the more I use the spells, the more comfortable I become with them, and I can call on some minor magics as often as I like."

"The way you describe your magic sounds much more intuitive--perhaps a blessing from you deity.  Are you a holy warrior, blessed by celestial powers?" he asks, adding, "that could explain it."

“I’m just a lowly squire really”, says Gillain to Gimble. “My mentor, the late Lady ‘The Rose’, was blessed.... Yes, a holy knight you might say!”. She smiles at the memory.

”I’m not blessed, or chosen, or holy, I don’t think.... I have her shield is all”. She holds up her shield, gleaming but battered and bashed. The faint engraving of a rose still showing near the top edge.

”I’m yet to take the trials. I’ve sworn no Oath...”, she looks sad. “Maybe never will now...”, she says, “but maybe there’s something there...”.

She smiles at Gimble, happy to have reinforcements along.

Bob curses in Dwarvish before turning sheepishly to the rest of the group and apologizing in Common, bashful despite the fact they likely didn't understand a word he'd said in his native tongue. "Well, I don't much like the look of this. We're walking in circles and in a den of cannibals!"

Mustering up his courage again he heads to the south wall and peeks into the small five by five alcove.

Tio will comfort Bob “Well to be fair these cannibals are probably already dead and we will probably deal with undead if that helps.” 

Toi checks Exit #1. The doorway leads to a tunnel that travels east. From the Torchlight, Toi can see two doorways approximately 6 ft down the hall, one on the north side and one on the south side.

As Gimble and Gillain talk Bob goes to check out the alcove. Once Bob gets within 5 ft. of it he jumps back, sensing the stone floor shake a bit. From a hole in the floor comes a Grick. A snake-like creature with 4 tentacles with a bone barb at the end of each one, surrounding its beak-like jaw reach for Bob, as the beak snaps in anticipation of a meal. 

Initiative:

Glick: 22

Gillain spins round to see Bob jump back from a monstrous snake-like beast! Once again, from somewhere deep within, there wells up a need to protect him, as if he were one of her own family. She must help Bob... and so, despite her current state of fear and panic, she galvanises herself into action...

Initiative: 8