An emptiness. Impossibly cold. Eternally dark. On the very edge of the known cosmos, completely devoid of light - that is exactly where our journey begins.
Like an outsider looking in, we travel inward, forward, and can see and know the universe on its grandest scale, our mind unable to comprehend its size and greatness. Our time and place completely unknown, yet we feel we are being pulled - drawn - to a specific point through the grandest scale of all – eternity.
We travel faster and faster inward, passing the largest of galactic phenomenon, and hone in on some time and place much smaller - an impossibly large galactic cluster of a hundred galaxies in some unknown part of this universe. In one of these massive galaxies, along one of its beautiful spiral arms, is a star system of some unremarkable age and size, and faster than we can understand or comprehend, we see a planet slowly orbiting a pale yellow sun.
The name of this particular planet is unimportant, but the deadly tale we’re about to be a part of is, and more so are the souls that this story involves. Inspecting the planet closer is a continent swathed in darkness, so vast, like a festering wound on the world that never healed. Just like at the very edge of the cosmos where we began, we zoom in on the land and find that it’s horribly haunted, corrupted, poisoned, and closer still, we find an area called Barovia, and looming over it, an enormous castle.
This is where our short tale begins.
A HAUNTED HOUSE
Tall shapes loom out of the dense fog that surrounds everything. We have arrived in the Village of Barovia. Why? The reasons are you own. But, you find yourselves all together. The muddy ground underfoot gives way to slick, wet cobblestones. The tall shapes become recognizable as village dwellings. The windows of each house stare out from pools of blackness. No sound cuts the silence except for the sound of a child sobbing which echoes through the streets from a distance, coming from AREA E7.
We are drawn to this place. We are drawn towards the crying. We are drawn towards..the Death House.
AREA E7
The gravel road leads to a village, its tall houses dark as tombstones. Nestled among these solemn dwellings are a handful of closed-up shops. Even the tavern is shut tight. A soft whimpering draws your eye toward a pair of children standing in the middle of an otherwise lifeless street. After shushing the boy, the girl turns to you and says, “There’s a monster in our house!”She then points to a tall brick row house that has seen better days. Its windows are dark. It has a gated portico on the ground floor, and the rusty gate is slightly ajar. The houses on either side are abandoned, their windows and doors boarded up.
TASK:Go ahead an introduce your character. As you do so, consider a few things. You all can either know each other, or not. It's your choice. You can discuss that in Discord. You are, however, for the sake of this little adventure, drawn to the Death House and what's inside. You must explore it. You must conquer it. The reasons why are your own. You simply must survive through it - if you can. Nothing else matters to you. Everything else is up to you.
The tall, thin tiefling saunters behind the rest of the group, his head on a swivel while his gaze drank in every aspect of their surroundings. Dressed in simple dark leathers with a well-worn and slightly tattered cloak draped over his shoulders, the red-skinned traveler wears his long dark hair pulled into a pair of tightly braided tails, hanging down his back. Strapped across his back are a pair of matching scimitars while a pair of hand axes hang from his hips. He pauses at one shop, using his hand to sweep the dust from the sign and offering a quiet gasp.
"A bakery...hmmm...would that not be a welcome respite," Debauchery Dalliance mutters, kicking slightly at the boarded up door before turning to follow the others. After a few more minutes of quiet sauntering, he breaks the silence abruptly, announcing loudly, "When we're back, order a dozen apple cinnamon for me. I'd like them warm still, not stale." A pause. A few more steps, before announcing to none of the others in particular, "Are you writing that down?!"
Seeing a few turn to look at him, he offers a quick, lop-sided smile.
"Good help is so hard to find."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Corrin Kettlewhistle: Halfling Life Cleric (Curse of Strahd) Kip Dalton: Human Lore Bard (Waterdeep Dragon Heist) Debauchery Dalliance: Half-Drow Oath of Conquest Paladin (White Plume Mountain)
"Mmm, apple cinnamon, one of my favorites. I might have to nick one of those from you." The small, red haired halfing wiggles her fingers in front of her, looking back at the tiefling with a mischievous smile. Slink adjusts her bow to a more comfortable position and checks that her rapier and daggers are accessible. Her clothing is plain and has been patched in several places, her leather armor a bit rough around the edges.
"Damn, I forgot to fix that cut." She mumbles to herself as she hitches up her pack and the strap gets caught on the leather. "Could this place be any more creepy?" she asks, looking around the village.
"Ah fresh pastries would be absolutely lovely" you'll hear softly from the front of the group, followed by a gentle but tired smile. "Maybe they have a nice selection of pies as well." He'll turn to the halfling "Aye, this place feels...disturbed, perhaps we should get to the root of these issues."
Oricoril is his name...A pale and aging half elf with medium length platinum hair. He is standing at average height and build is fully armored in a modest chainmail that has seen better days, loosely wrapped over the armor are holy vestments, tucked in by a leather strapped belt in maroon and purple with a symbol of a staring eye embedded on an upright gauntlet printed in the middle. Some might recognize this as the symbol of Helm, the Watcher. A loose amulet hangs on around his neck with the same staring eye cast in silver. On his hip is his trusty war hammer nestled next to his horn and badge from a time long ago showing his ranking in a previous organization. On the back of his belt various religious items straddle his belt with a boomerang hanging from it's holster. His round shield if strapped on his back.
Leading the charge towards the house in question was a short, youthful and energetic dark-skinned woman with a rather voluminous amount of black hair bouncing joyously which each step. Dressed finely in a blue and gold ensemble embellished with flower motifs; both her dress and her red heeled boots - with matching embellishments - had seen better days. She carried little on her person beside two matching satchels crisscrossed across her front, one containing a loose set of items, the other, the mobile home of her small orange and white haired weasel Zoomi. Notably as well, she wears a surprisingly spotless pair of white gloves, a strange glyph or sigil embroidered in red on the back of each one seemed to shift and shimmer ever so slightly as she walked.
"Yes agreed! And a nice dessert wine to go along with it would be even better."Sofia replied energetically to the others in complete contrast to their gloomy surroundings.Though honestly, anything besides this food tack we've been eating for the last few days would be nice, she added mentally to her furry little familiar. Zoomi, still annoyed at Sofia for being dragged to this creepy locale, did not reply.
Felix steps carefully over the mud, avoiding anything that could get his clothes dirty. "Yes, some decent food would be lovely," he grumbles. Adjusting his clothes to look as good as he could after this long on the road, he glances towards the children. His typical annoyed expression softens for a moment. Pulling out his book and a strange quil in the shape of a tentacle, he begins to approach the building.
"Will you help us?" The girl pleads, “There’s a monster in our house!”She then points to a tall brick row house that has seen better days. Its windows are dark. It has a gated portico on the ground floor, and the rusty gate is slightly ajar. The houses on either side are abandoned, their windows and doors boarded up. "We cannot go back in unless we know the monster is gone! Please!"the girls says.
Oricoril will approach the children and kneel down before smiling and gesturing towards the house, "Hello young ones, you say there is a monster in there? Do not fear, we shall take care of this and restore your home to it's rightful state." He will nod at the group and rise slowly as he briefly inspects the house from the outside (more just looking it up and down rather than doing a close inspection.
"Children, do you know what the monster is or have any details that might bring us aid?"
"People still live here? Ok, just got creepier." Slink says as Oricoril talks to the children. She digs in her pack and pulls out a couple of rations and then watches the house for any signs of movement.
"We do not know what the monster looks like, we only hear it's terrible howls."Rose, the sister, says.
From the outside, the house has four stories (including the attic), with two balconies on the third floor—one facing the front of the house, the other facing the back. All the windows have hinges that allow them to swing outward.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
This is exciting isn't it Zoomi! Sofia tells her familiar before turning to the children and commenting in a friendly voice, "We will certainly take a look and do what we can!" before a large smile spreads across her face, hoping to put the children a bit at ease. "Do you have any idea where the sounds might be coming from?"
Once she's heard the children's' response, she'll approach the rusty front gate to do a closer inspection of the house. (Investigation: 15)
Debauchery pauses briefly, listening to the children before shrugging and offering the tots a quick wink and a smile. He approaches the gate, kicking it open and sauntering through if it does so. "Well, it is what we are here for, no?" he mutters to no one in particular. "Shall we show ourselves in?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Corrin Kettlewhistle: Halfling Life Cleric (Curse of Strahd) Kip Dalton: Human Lore Bard (Waterdeep Dragon Heist) Debauchery Dalliance: Half-Drow Oath of Conquest Paladin (White Plume Mountain)
Slink follows Debauchery but stops by the children. "Here"...she shoves the rations into their hands..."a little something to hold you over until you get back in."
She turns and addresses the house... "Alright monster, your squatting days are over, time to get the hell out"...and continues on.
"May the Vigilant One watch over you two. Stay safe until we return from the house and cleanse it of this creature." Oricoril takes his shield off of his back, securing it to his left arm. He closes his eyes and says a brief and silent prayer before nodding at Debauchery "Aye, let us tread cautiously as we enter this place."
Felix carefully pulls his gloves tighter on his hands before squatting down in front of the children, careful to not his coat dirty. "Is there anyone else inside? Your parents?" He then turns towards the rest of the party and cringes as Debauchery kicks the gate. "Well so much for suprise..." The air around Felix shimmers as he writes in his book (casting false life using my invocation, ill roll for hp when I get home).
"Our parents, yes. They keep the monster in the basement!"Thorn, the boy, whimpers. They take anything handed to them in a cautious, but grateful manner.
A wrought-iron gate with hinges on one side and a lock on the other fills the archway of a stone portico (area 1A). The gate is unlocked, and its rusty hinges shriek when the gate is opened. Oil lamps hang from the portico ceiling by chains, flanking a set of oaken doors that open into a grand foyer (area 1B).
Hanging on the south wall of the foyer is a shield emblazoned with a coat-of-arms (a stylized golden windmill on a red field), flanked by framed portraits of stony-faced aristocrats (long-dead members of the Durst family). Mahogany-framed double doors leading from the foyer to the main hall (area 2A) are set with panes of stained glass.
"Swanky," mutters Debauchery, drawing his twin blades in unison. "I'm guessing since a monster is rumored, we can do away with the manners." He moves to the stained glass doors, first peering through and then listening to hear any movement beyond. If nothing is heard or seen, he will quietly open them and enter.
Perception: 7
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Corrin Kettlewhistle: Halfling Life Cleric (Curse of Strahd) Kip Dalton: Human Lore Bard (Waterdeep Dragon Heist) Debauchery Dalliance: Half-Drow Oath of Conquest Paladin (White Plume Mountain)
Sofia actually jumped slightly in surprise as the tiefling kicked open the gate in front of her, complete unaware of her surroundings as she attempted to discern the what symbols where engraved in the brickwork of the house.
Well that was rather rude! Should I bite his leg to teach him a lesson? the familiar voice of Zoomi boomed in her head.
Well hello to you to Zoomi, she intoned to the familiar sarcastically. And no need for that, I'd rather not have to perform the ritual again so quickly after last time. she added as she remembered a part of their fateful trip out to these parts.
Following the man inside, she noted the family crest and took a few moments to see if she knew anything in particular about this family before turning to everyone, "I'm sorry everyone but I think I've forgotten all of you're names. I'm Sofia Sumire Sumner, here in Barovia on an anthropological study! And this little guy over her is Zoomi; It's a pleasure to meet you all!" Once again, her joyful and energetic tone is in sharp contrast to the spooky nature of the house and their gathering. It's as if the unsettling vibe does not even register with her.
History check: You've heard of this land before, but have no idea who the people are.
A wide hall (area 2A) runs the width of the house, with a black marble fireplace at one end and a sweeping, red marble staircase at the other. Mounted on the wall above the fireplace is a longsword with a windmill cameo worked into the hilt. The wood-paneled walls are ornately sculpted with images of vines, flowers, nymphs, and satyrs.
DC 12 Wisdom (Perception) check: ?!?!?! <---- Anyone can make this roll. Whoever passes, information will be revealed.
A cloakroom (area 2B) has several black cloaks hanging from hooks on the walls. A top hat sits on a high shelf.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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DEATH HOUSE
PROLOGUE
Our journey begins in complete darkness.
An emptiness. Impossibly cold. Eternally dark. On the very edge of the known cosmos, completely devoid of light - that is exactly where our journey begins.
Like an outsider looking in, we travel inward, forward, and can see and know the universe on its grandest scale, our mind unable to comprehend its size and greatness. Our time and place completely unknown, yet we feel we are being pulled - drawn - to a specific point through the grandest scale of all – eternity.
We travel faster and faster inward, passing the largest of galactic phenomenon, and hone in on some time and place much smaller - an impossibly large galactic cluster of a hundred galaxies in some unknown part of this universe. In one of these massive galaxies, along one of its beautiful spiral arms, is a star system of some unremarkable age and size, and faster than we can understand or comprehend, we see a planet slowly orbiting a pale yellow sun.
The name of this particular planet is unimportant, but the deadly tale we’re about to be a part of is, and more so are the souls that this story involves. Inspecting the planet closer is a continent swathed in darkness, so vast, like a festering wound on the world that never healed. Just like at the very edge of the cosmos where we began, we zoom in on the land and find that it’s horribly haunted, corrupted, poisoned, and closer still, we find an area called Barovia, and looming over it, an enormous castle.
This is where our short tale begins.
A HAUNTED HOUSE
Tall shapes loom out of the dense fog that surrounds everything. We have arrived in the Village of Barovia. Why? The reasons are you own. But, you find yourselves all together. The muddy ground underfoot gives way to slick, wet cobblestones. The tall shapes become recognizable as village dwellings. The windows of each house stare out from pools of blackness. No sound cuts the silence except for the sound of a child sobbing which echoes through the streets from a distance, coming from AREA E7.
We are drawn to this place. We are drawn towards the crying. We are drawn towards..the Death House.
AREA E7
The gravel road leads to a village, its tall houses dark as tombstones. Nestled among these solemn dwellings are a handful of closed-up shops. Even the tavern is shut tight. A soft whimpering draws your eye toward a pair of children standing in the middle of an otherwise lifeless street. After shushing the boy, the girl turns to you and says, “There’s a monster in our house!” She then points to a tall brick row house that has seen better days. Its windows are dark. It has a gated portico on the ground floor, and the rusty gate is slightly ajar. The houses on either side are abandoned, their windows and doors boarded up.
TASK: Go ahead an introduce your character. As you do so, consider a few things. You all can either know each other, or not. It's your choice. You can discuss that in Discord. You are, however, for the sake of this little adventure, drawn to the Death House and what's inside. You must explore it. You must conquer it. The reasons why are your own. You simply must survive through it - if you can. Nothing else matters to you. Everything else is up to you.
The tall, thin tiefling saunters behind the rest of the group, his head on a swivel while his gaze drank in every aspect of their surroundings. Dressed in simple dark leathers with a well-worn and slightly tattered cloak draped over his shoulders, the red-skinned traveler wears his long dark hair pulled into a pair of tightly braided tails, hanging down his back. Strapped across his back are a pair of matching scimitars while a pair of hand axes hang from his hips. He pauses at one shop, using his hand to sweep the dust from the sign and offering a quiet gasp.
"A bakery...hmmm...would that not be a welcome respite," Debauchery Dalliance mutters, kicking slightly at the boarded up door before turning to follow the others. After a few more minutes of quiet sauntering, he breaks the silence abruptly, announcing loudly, "When we're back, order a dozen apple cinnamon for me. I'd like them warm still, not stale." A pause. A few more steps, before announcing to none of the others in particular, "Are you writing that down?!"
Seeing a few turn to look at him, he offers a quick, lop-sided smile.
"Good help is so hard to find."
Corrin Kettlewhistle: Halfling Life Cleric (Curse of Strahd)
Kip Dalton: Human Lore Bard (Waterdeep Dragon Heist)
Debauchery Dalliance: Half-Drow Oath of Conquest Paladin (White Plume Mountain)
"Mmm, apple cinnamon, one of my favorites. I might have to nick one of those from you." The small, red haired halfing wiggles her fingers in front of her, looking back at the tiefling with a mischievous smile. Slink adjusts her bow to a more comfortable position and checks that her rapier and daggers are accessible. Her clothing is plain and has been patched in several places, her leather armor a bit rough around the edges.
"Damn, I forgot to fix that cut." She mumbles to herself as she hitches up her pack and the strap gets caught on the leather. "Could this place be any more creepy?" she asks, looking around the village.
"Ah fresh pastries would be absolutely lovely" you'll hear softly from the front of the group, followed by a gentle but tired smile. "Maybe they have a nice selection of pies as well." He'll turn to the halfling "Aye, this place feels...disturbed, perhaps we should get to the root of these issues."
Oricoril is his name...A pale and aging half elf with medium length platinum hair. He is standing at average height and build is fully armored in a modest chainmail that has seen better days, loosely wrapped over the armor are holy vestments, tucked in by a leather strapped belt in maroon and purple with a symbol of a staring eye embedded on an upright gauntlet printed in the middle. Some might recognize this as the symbol of Helm, the Watcher. A loose amulet hangs on around his neck with the same staring eye cast in silver. On his hip is his trusty war hammer nestled next to his horn and badge from a time long ago showing his ranking in a previous organization. On the back of his belt various religious items straddle his belt with a boomerang hanging from it's holster. His round shield if strapped on his back.
Leading the charge towards the house in question was a short, youthful and energetic dark-skinned woman with a rather voluminous amount of black hair bouncing joyously which each step. Dressed finely in a blue and gold ensemble embellished with flower motifs; both her dress and her red heeled boots - with matching embellishments - had seen better days. She carried little on her person beside two matching satchels crisscrossed across her front, one containing a loose set of items, the other, the mobile home of her small orange and white haired weasel Zoomi. Notably as well, she wears a surprisingly spotless pair of white gloves, a strange glyph or sigil embroidered in red on the back of each one seemed to shift and shimmer ever so slightly as she walked.
"Yes agreed! And a nice dessert wine to go along with it would be even better." Sofia replied energetically to the others in complete contrast to their gloomy surroundings. Though honestly, anything besides this food tack we've been eating for the last few days would be nice, she added mentally to her furry little familiar. Zoomi, still annoyed at Sofia for being dragged to this creepy locale, did not reply.
Lady Sofia:
Zoldier’s Curse of the Crimson Throne: DM/ Redii || Zoldier's Strange Aeon's: DM
Felix steps carefully over the mud, avoiding anything that could get his clothes dirty. "Yes, some decent food would be lovely," he grumbles. Adjusting his clothes to look as good as he could after this long on the road, he glances towards the children. His typical annoyed expression softens for a moment. Pulling out his book and a strange quil in the shape of a tentacle, he begins to approach the building.
"Will you help us?" The girl pleads, “There’s a monster in our house!” She then points to a tall brick row house that has seen better days. Its windows are dark. It has a gated portico on the ground floor, and the rusty gate is slightly ajar. The houses on either side are abandoned, their windows and doors boarded up. "We cannot go back in unless we know the monster is gone! Please!" the girls says.
Oricoril will approach the children and kneel down before smiling and gesturing towards the house, "Hello young ones, you say there is a monster in there? Do not fear, we shall take care of this and restore your home to it's rightful state." He will nod at the group and rise slowly as he briefly inspects the house from the outside (more just looking it up and down rather than doing a close inspection.
"Children, do you know what the monster is or have any details that might bring us aid?"
"People still live here? Ok, just got creepier." Slink says as Oricoril talks to the children. She digs in her pack and pulls out a couple of rations and then watches the house for any signs of movement.
"We do not know what the monster looks like, we only hear it's terrible howls." Rose, the sister, says.
From the outside, the house has four stories (including the attic), with two balconies on the third floor—one facing the front of the house, the other facing the back. All the windows have hinges that allow them to swing outward.
This is exciting isn't it Zoomi! Sofia tells her familiar before turning to the children and commenting in a friendly voice, "We will certainly take a look and do what we can!" before a large smile spreads across her face, hoping to put the children a bit at ease. "Do you have any idea where the sounds might be coming from?"
Once she's heard the children's' response, she'll approach the rusty front gate to do a closer inspection of the house. (Investigation: 15)
Zoldier’s Curse of the Crimson Throne: DM/ Redii || Zoldier's Strange Aeon's: DM
Debauchery pauses briefly, listening to the children before shrugging and offering the tots a quick wink and a smile. He approaches the gate, kicking it open and sauntering through if it does so. "Well, it is what we are here for, no?" he mutters to no one in particular. "Shall we show ourselves in?"
Corrin Kettlewhistle: Halfling Life Cleric (Curse of Strahd)
Kip Dalton: Human Lore Bard (Waterdeep Dragon Heist)
Debauchery Dalliance: Half-Drow Oath of Conquest Paladin (White Plume Mountain)
Slink follows Debauchery but stops by the children. "Here"...she shoves the rations into their hands..."a little something to hold you over until you get back in."
She turns and addresses the house... "Alright monster, your squatting days are over, time to get the hell out"...and continues on.
"May the Vigilant One watch over you two. Stay safe until we return from the house and cleanse it of this creature." Oricoril takes his shield off of his back, securing it to his left arm. He closes his eyes and says a brief and silent prayer before nodding at Debauchery "Aye, let us tread cautiously as we enter this place."
Felix carefully pulls his gloves tighter on his hands before squatting down in front of the children, careful to not his coat dirty. "Is there anyone else inside? Your parents?" He then turns towards the rest of the party and cringes as Debauchery kicks the gate. "Well so much for suprise..." The air around Felix shimmers as he writes in his book (casting false life using my invocation, ill roll for hp when I get home).
"Our parents, yes. They keep the monster in the basement!" Thorn, the boy, whimpers. They take anything handed to them in a cautious, but grateful manner.
A wrought-iron gate with hinges on one side and a lock on the other fills the archway of a stone portico (area 1A). The gate is unlocked, and its rusty hinges shriek when the gate is opened. Oil lamps hang from the portico ceiling by chains, flanking a set of oaken doors that open into a grand foyer (area 1B).
Hanging on the south wall of the foyer is a shield emblazoned with a coat-of-arms (a stylized golden windmill on a red field), flanked by framed portraits of stony-faced aristocrats (long-dead members of the Durst family). Mahogany-framed double doors leading from the foyer to the main hall (area 2A) are set with panes of stained glass.
"Swanky," mutters Debauchery, drawing his twin blades in unison. "I'm guessing since a monster is rumored, we can do away with the manners." He moves to the stained glass doors, first peering through and then listening to hear any movement beyond. If nothing is heard or seen, he will quietly open them and enter.
Perception: 7
Corrin Kettlewhistle: Halfling Life Cleric (Curse of Strahd)
Kip Dalton: Human Lore Bard (Waterdeep Dragon Heist)
Debauchery Dalliance: Half-Drow Oath of Conquest Paladin (White Plume Mountain)
Sofia actually jumped slightly in surprise as the tiefling kicked open the gate in front of her, complete unaware of her surroundings as she attempted to discern the what symbols where engraved in the brickwork of the house.
Well that was rather rude! Should I bite his leg to teach him a lesson? the familiar voice of Zoomi boomed in her head.
Well hello to you to Zoomi, she intoned to the familiar sarcastically. And no need for that, I'd rather not have to perform the ritual again so quickly after last time. she added as she remembered a part of their fateful trip out to these parts.
Following the man inside, she noted the family crest and took a few moments to see if she knew anything in particular about this family before turning to everyone, "I'm sorry everyone but I think I've forgotten all of you're names. I'm Sofia Sumire Sumner, here in Barovia on an anthropological study! And this little guy over her is Zoomi; It's a pleasure to meet you all!" Once again, her joyful and energetic tone is in sharp contrast to the spooky nature of the house and their gathering. It's as if the unsettling vibe does not even register with her.
History Check: 18
Zoldier’s Curse of the Crimson Throne: DM/ Redii || Zoldier's Strange Aeon's: DM
History check: You've heard of this land before, but have no idea who the people are.
A wide hall (area 2A) runs the width of the house, with a black marble fireplace at one end and a sweeping, red marble staircase at the other. Mounted on the wall above the fireplace is a longsword with a windmill cameo worked into the hilt. The wood-paneled walls are ornately sculpted with images of vines, flowers, nymphs, and satyrs.
DC 12 Wisdom (Perception) check: ?!?!?! <---- Anyone can make this roll. Whoever passes, information will be revealed.
A cloakroom (area 2B) has several black cloaks hanging from hooks on the walls. A top hat sits on a high shelf.