"Never seen us before?" Janek says, a bit confused. "You are saying the house itself can create illusions?" He takes a moment to take that in. "I guess we have no choice than to... take on whatever monster this house contains." He looks over at the dollhouse. "This hidden door to the cellars leads to the monster?"
"Never seen us before?" Janek says, a bit confused. "You are saying the house itself can create illusions?" He takes a moment to take that in. "I guess we have no choice than to... take on whatever monster this house contains." He looks over at the dollhouse. "This hidden door to the cellars leads to the monster?"
(Investigation: 16)
"Yes. The House seems to have a mind of its own somehow. You are not the first strangers who have turned up here."
It takes some more questioning, but you find out from the two ghosts that the House seems to have a mind and will of its own, and has many times drawn in strangers when they arrive in Barovia. You are not the first, and likely not the last. However, the children don't know why The House does this, or what happens to those who are drawn in. Many groups have arrived in the house, and they always head to the cellars - about which the children know nothing. They do not know what the monster is, their parents only told them that there was a monster and that this is why they had to be locked in their room. But they do know that when they were alive, often there would be terrible screams coming from the cellars. At least some of the groups who have come before appear to have got out, as the ghosts of the children have sometimes seen the same people who passed through the house again later through their window, in the street below
Upon closer examination, you find the secret door in the dollhouse, which should correspond to a real door. It also reveals the layout of the remaining parts of this floor. (Greyed out where you have not yet been. The "S" marks the secret door.
Janek shakes his head. "Very well then. I guess we'll check out the other rooms just to be sure before we head down." He'll start with the room to the south first, then the one in the northwest corner, then to the room to the west, which leads to the secret door. (Realizing we'll probably do one at a time.)
This dust-choked room contains a slender bed, a nightstand, a small iron stove, a writing desk with a stool, an empty wardrobe, and a rocking chair. A smiling doll in a lacy yellow dress sits in the northern window box, cobwebs draping it like a wedding veil. It appears to be an unused spare bedroom, but has remnants such as some clothing left in it, that suggests that the nursemaid which become the mistress mat have lived up here before moving downstairs and displacing the children.
South-east room:
Similarly to the other spare room, this web-filled room contains a slender bed, a nightstand, a rocking chair, an empty wardrobe, and a small iron stove.
West room:
This dusty chamber appears to be a storage room, and is packed with old furniture and chests, all draped in dusty white sheets. At the north end of the room, the wooden wall indeed is a hidden door, as the dollhouse suggested. Behind he door is a tight spiral staircase which seems to go deep down.
The night stands contain nothing of interest. Some items of clothing, brushes and combs, etc.
As the last item, you open the chest in the storage room, expecting similarly to just find old linens. As you open it, your heart skips a beat. Stuffed inside the chest, bent into unnatural angles, is a corpse that has rotted away almost to bone, still partially dressed in a long and revealing dress (female). Stuffed in the chest you also find a large kitchen knife with flecks of red still on it. It's quite clear from the hole in the skull and some slash marks on the bones that this person did not die of natural causes.
Remembering the spectre that attacked the earlier, Alcazar winces. "Not the children, I suspect."
He tries to recall the various rooms that they have visited, doing a mental tally in case in they missed something. Eventually he nods, "Down would seem to be the only option."
Before departing, however, he studies the dollshouse once more, tallying what he knows with what it shows. He then looks for any details of where the stairs might lead.
Judging by the dollhouse, the stairs go down and down and down, beyond the ground floor. But this is where the dolls house ends, so the only way to find out appears to be to follow it down.
Considering the corpse and its clothing, your best guess is that this is the women with which the master of the house was having his affair (an affair which, according to the letter, resulted in a stillborn baby). Perhaps the lady of the house or someone else was upset about the affair.
"Yes, not the children," Janek agrees. "And maybe it's better we don't know the full story. Let's move on." He starts to trod down the stairs, keeping an eye out for anything, especially whenever he makes it to the bottom. (Perception: 11)
You follow the spiral staircase. Down and down it winds, and with each step lower down it seems to get slightly colder. At the bottom of the stair, you emerge into what appears to be a set of tunnels. As soon as you step out of the narrow staircase, you hear a faint chanting echoing throughout the dungeon. The sound seems to come from everywhere at once, as if coming from the house and tunnels itself rather than from any particular place. It is faint and the echos make it impossible at this point to hear the words of the chant.
The tunnels are well-built, and the walls lined with smooth stonework. Looking around the corridor you find yourself in, you observe several doors in a design that would indicate that they are crypts. - so this part of the tunnels appears to house the family crypts, where deceased family members may rest in eternal peace. Most of these are sealed with big stone slabs.
Starting with the one at the top-right, and going clockwise:
The first crypt is open and empty. The stone slab is unlabeled.
The second crypt is open and empty, with the stone slab bearing the words "Walter Durst, son of Gustav, born of born of Margaret Antonova"
The third Crypt is closed, with the slab reading "Gustav Durst, son of Edwin and Mathilda Durst"
The fourth Crypt is closed, with the slab reading "Elisabeth Durst, wife of Gustav"
The firth Crypt is closed, with the slab reading "Rosavalda Durst, daughter of Gustav and Elisabeth"
The sixth Crypt is closed, with the slab reading "Thornbolt Durst, son of Gustav and Elisabeth"
Given that you discovered Rosavalda's and Thonbolt's skeletons upstairs in the attic, you doubt that these last two crypts actually contain their remains for a peaceful eternal rest.
Apart from the crypts, the tunnel carries on in both directions, one heading towards some stairs, the other direction going around some bends. From your current position you cannot tell where they lead of what you may find there. (You'll need to head one way or the other to the next areas if you want to get a closer look)
Janek looks at the crypts. "Hmm, interesting. Shall we check out the two marked for Rose and for Thorn." He will try opening up the crypt marked for Rosavalda first.
Janek looks at the crypts. "Hmm, interesting. Shall we check out the two marked for Rose and for Thorn." He will try opening up the crypt marked for Rosavalda first.
(Perception for once he opens it: 22)
The crypts are closed with stone slabs. Roll STR to try and open them. (You can get advantage if you work together or e.g. use a crowbar)
Feeling the weight of the stone slab, Janek goes through his pack to get a crowbar. He then uses it to try to move the slab out of the way.
(Strength: 17)
The chamber beyond is small, and contains only a stone bier (pedestal) upon which is a plain oak coffin. The coffin bears the inscription "Rosavalda Durst" but the lid is open, revealing its emptiness. Presumably it was a family tradition to have crypt made up and ready for each family member to rest here in eternal peace - but Rose appears to have been instead locked to to die in the attic where you met the ghosts of Rose and Thron (as well as their remains).
"I don't think we need to check every crypt. I'm ready to move on," Janek says. He stays to head in the direction that does sound some bends. (to the south I think)
(I forgot to say: having completed the initial house and found the dungeon, you advance to Level 2. Please update your character sheets when you get a chance)
You move into the next room. This appears to be a dining hall of sorts. There is a large table in the centre, with long benches on either side. In piles around the corners of the room, as well as in a few dishes on the table you see humanoid bones. Not entirely skeletons, but just bones. One serving tray seems to contain just leg bones, another just three skulls stacked neatly.
With a final glance at the crypts Alcazar wrinkles his nose and then moves after the warrior. "Seems likely that whatever is down here will be undead. Keep a wary eye for things that might be awakened by our presence."
"Let's keep heading south, the we can work our way over the other way." Janek continues to lead on, keeping a close eye out for any signs of danger. (Perception: 22)
"Let's keep heading south, the we can work our way over the other way." Janek continues to lead on, keeping a close eye out for any signs of danger. (Perception: 22)
(OOC - heading down on the map)
You head down the corridor.The ground is earthen, and as you progress the ground seems to be softer and almost looks recently dug up.
As you move along the corridor, you notice a scent of rot and decay, with earthy scent tones that remind you of a graveyard. At a junction, you stop and look around very carefully. Then you spot just a hint of movement ahead of you in the loose earth. Between the scent, earth, and movement, you realise what is happening and stop before moving ahead. 'Ghouls!' comes to your mind immediately. You have heard that Ghouls like to ambush their prey, and these have not yet jumped out of the earth, presumably thinking they are hidden well enough, and waiting for you to come closer still.
"Yes. The House seems to have a mind of its own somehow. You are not the first strangers who have turned up here."
It takes some more questioning, but you find out from the two ghosts that the House seems to have a mind and will of its own, and has many times drawn in strangers when they arrive in Barovia. You are not the first, and likely not the last. However, the children don't know why The House does this, or what happens to those who are drawn in. Many groups have arrived in the house, and they always head to the cellars - about which the children know nothing. They do not know what the monster is, their parents only told them that there was a monster and that this is why they had to be locked in their room. But they do know that when they were alive, often there would be terrible screams coming from the cellars. At least some of the groups who have come before appear to have got out, as the ghosts of the children have sometimes seen the same people who passed through the house again later through their window, in the street below
Upon closer examination, you find the secret door in the dollhouse, which should correspond to a real door. It also reveals the layout of the remaining parts of this floor. (Greyed out where you have not yet been. The "S" marks the secret door.
Janek shakes his head. "Very well then. I guess we'll check out the other rooms just to be sure before we head down." He'll start with the room to the south first, then the one in the northwest corner, then to the room to the west, which leads to the secret door. (Realizing we'll probably do one at a time.)
(Perception: 20)
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
The northern room:
This dust-choked room contains a slender bed, a nightstand, a small iron stove, a writing desk with a stool, an empty wardrobe, and a rocking chair. A smiling doll in a lacy yellow dress sits in the northern window box, cobwebs draping it like a wedding veil. It appears to be an unused spare bedroom, but has remnants such as some clothing left in it, that suggests that the nursemaid which become the mistress mat have lived up here before moving downstairs and displacing the children.
South-east room:
Similarly to the other spare room, this web-filled room contains a slender bed, a nightstand, a rocking chair, an empty wardrobe, and a small iron stove.
West room:
This dusty chamber appears to be a storage room, and is packed with old furniture and chests, all draped in dusty white sheets. At the north end of the room, the wooden wall indeed is a hidden door, as the dollhouse suggested. Behind he door is a tight spiral staircase which seems to go deep down.
(Again, not sure if I should go one-by-one or just make this brief. I'll go for the latter, but let me know if I should show this down.)
North: check nightstand and desk
Southeast: check nightstand
West: check chests
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
The night stands contain nothing of interest. Some items of clothing, brushes and combs, etc.
As the last item, you open the chest in the storage room, expecting similarly to just find old linens. As you open it, your heart skips a beat. Stuffed inside the chest, bent into unnatural angles, is a corpse that has rotted away almost to bone, still partially dressed in a long and revealing dress (female). Stuffed in the chest you also find a large kitchen knife with flecks of red still on it. It's quite clear from the hole in the skull and some slash marks on the bones that this person did not die of natural causes.
"Wonder which of our cast of charcters this might be?" Janek idly remarks. "If nobody has anything else to do first, I say we head down."
He will pause just a moment to see if anyone says anything, then starts down the hidden stair.
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
Remembering the spectre that attacked the earlier, Alcazar winces. "Not the children, I suspect."
He tries to recall the various rooms that they have visited, doing a mental tally in case in they missed something. Eventually he nods, "Down would seem to be the only option."
Before departing, however, he studies the dollshouse once more, tallying what he knows with what it shows. He then looks for any details of where the stairs might lead.
Judging by the dollhouse, the stairs go down and down and down, beyond the ground floor. But this is where the dolls house ends, so the only way to find out appears to be to follow it down.
Considering the corpse and its clothing, your best guess is that this is the women with which the master of the house was having his affair (an affair which, according to the letter, resulted in a stillborn baby). Perhaps the lady of the house or someone else was upset about the affair.
"Yes, not the children," Janek agrees. "And maybe it's better we don't know the full story. Let's move on." He starts to trod down the stairs, keeping an eye out for anything, especially whenever he makes it to the bottom. (Perception: 11)
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
You follow the spiral staircase. Down and down it winds, and with each step lower down it seems to get slightly colder. At the bottom of the stair, you emerge into what appears to be a set of tunnels. As soon as you step out of the narrow staircase, you hear a faint chanting echoing throughout the dungeon. The sound seems to come from everywhere at once, as if coming from the house and tunnels itself rather than from any particular place. It is faint and the echos make it impossible at this point to hear the words of the chant.
The tunnels are well-built, and the walls lined with smooth stonework. Looking around the corridor you find yourself in, you observe several doors in a design that would indicate that they are crypts. - so this part of the tunnels appears to house the family crypts, where deceased family members may rest in eternal peace. Most of these are sealed with big stone slabs.
Starting with the one at the top-right, and going clockwise:
Given that you discovered Rosavalda's and Thonbolt's skeletons upstairs in the attic, you doubt that these last two crypts actually contain their remains for a peaceful eternal rest.
Apart from the crypts, the tunnel carries on in both directions, one heading towards some stairs, the other direction going around some bends. From your current position you cannot tell where they lead of what you may find there. (You'll need to head one way or the other to the next areas if you want to get a closer look)
Janek looks at the crypts. "Hmm, interesting. Shall we check out the two marked for Rose and for Thorn." He will try opening up the crypt marked for Rosavalda first.
(Perception for once he opens it: 22)
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
The crypts are closed with stone slabs. Roll STR to try and open them. (You can get advantage if you work together or e.g. use a crowbar)
Feeling the weight of the stone slab, Janek goes through his pack to get a crowbar. He then uses it to try to move the slab out of the way.
(Strength: 17)
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
The chamber beyond is small, and contains only a stone bier (pedestal) upon which is a plain oak coffin. The coffin bears the inscription "Rosavalda Durst" but the lid is open, revealing its emptiness. Presumably it was a family tradition to have crypt made up and ready for each family member to rest here in eternal peace - but Rose appears to have been instead locked to to die in the attic where you met the ghosts of Rose and Thron (as well as their remains).
"I don't think we need to check every crypt. I'm ready to move on," Janek says. He stays to head in the direction that does sound some bends. (to the south I think)
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
(I forgot to say: having completed the initial house and found the dungeon, you advance to Level 2. Please update your character sheets when you get a chance)
You move into the next room. This appears to be a dining hall of sorts. There is a large table in the centre, with long benches on either side. In piles around the corners of the room, as well as in a few dishes on the table you see humanoid bones. Not entirely skeletons, but just bones. One serving tray seems to contain just leg bones, another just three skulls stacked neatly.
With a final glance at the crypts Alcazar wrinkles his nose and then moves after the warrior. "Seems likely that whatever is down here will be undead. Keep a wary eye for things that might be awakened by our presence."
You are now here:
From this room, you can go (looking at the map) left or down, or back where you came from to go the other way to those stairs.
"Let's keep heading south, the we can work our way over the other way." Janek continues to lead on, keeping a close eye out for any signs of danger. (Perception: 22)
(OOC - heading down on the map)
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
You head down the corridor.The ground is earthen, and as you progress the ground seems to be softer and almost looks recently dug up.
As you move along the corridor, you notice a scent of rot and decay, with earthy scent tones that remind you of a graveyard. At a junction, you stop and look around very carefully. Then you spot just a hint of movement ahead of you in the loose earth. Between the scent, earth, and movement, you realise what is happening and stop before moving ahead. 'Ghouls!' comes to your mind immediately. You have heard that Ghouls like to ambush their prey, and these have not yet jumped out of the earth, presumably thinking they are hidden well enough, and waiting for you to come closer still.
(If you want to attack, roll Initiative)