Svetlana's History to remember any details or facts about the relative house (not her strong point, but why not to try?): 12
OK, given the unspectacular roll, Svetlana probably won't remember anything in particular about this family. Regardless of this, however, the door we see seems to be the only way forward, so she will cautiously open it, at least to see what lies beyond...
“Inside of the house is better than inside the Mists and ending this monster will make the shelter that much safer. In other words, you said nothing any of us would disagree with.”Besides he did want to help the children, thought he didn’t feel exactly comfortable in admitting as much. “The plural is not a problem in this case, though a discussion before using it would’ve been appreciated. The fact that you made a promise to two individuals whose nature we don’t quite understand may be.” He said with the usual monotone, examining the room. There was no growling or screaming and the floor carried no mark, be it of claws or cage. “I look like a do…” Like a corpse. “… because my ancestors followed a goddess of death to her very domain. A goddess that some say handle pacts to warlocks.” An entity that made pacts. “Not because of anything I did. Because of what I can only imagine was the fulfilling of an oath thousands of years before my parents were born.” None of that bothered Lorin. Most of his cadaveric appearance came from how skinny he was, and the divine influence bought him abilities that normal elves didn’t have. “Certain creatures don’t need more than words to affect blood and soul. If those kids are beings with such ability and this monster is not something that can be destroyed then you just damned yourself, maybe all of us together, to an unending battle.” Or unending torture in the jaws of the monster. “If you’re going to make promises to strangers make sure to say that you will try helping to the best of your abilities instead of compromising to doing something.”
The idea made him think of the insects and the box. Maybe that was their box. One of Strahd’s making, but one they entered of their own free will. No time to think about this, he decided putting the right hand over the tiller of his crossbow.
“Anyone could find any trace of a monster here?”The question carried the admission that the rogue didn’t. “I would like to try finding anything about this monster before we fight it.” Mostly its weakness. “I’m thinking the creature was brought through a backdoor.”
The moment he saw Svetlana heading to the doors Lorin moved to the side of it. There was no sound, he knew, but maybe their enemy was simply laying in ambush. His hopes that if there was anyone – or anything – the other side they wouldn’t be able to see him but if a fight broke he could simply dive into action, fire a bolt then get back under cover.
Svetlana is able to recognize the portraits as belonging to the Durst family, but she doesn't recall much about them.
The door opens easily and reveals a long hall, which seems to run the width of the house. All is dark (dim light), but there are sconces with candles on the walls. There is a black marble fireplace at one end of the hall and a sweeping, red marble staircase at the other. Mounted on the wall above the fireplace is a sword. The wood-paneled walls are ornately sculpted with images of vines, flowers, nymphs, and satyrs. Everything looks quite normal and undisturbed. You don't hear any sounds coming from the house.
There are five doors in various places around the hall. All of them are closed.
I am trying the new D&D Beyond Maps for the first time. Here is a link to it. Please let me know if you have issues. You should be able to move your tokens I think.
[[ OOC: @DM: Link not working as expected for me... I land on a page with the error message "Your DM is not currently hosting a game session." ]]
"Oh, I understand, Lorin..." the last of the Dusk Elf maidens opens her azure eyes, amazed by implications she hasn't thought of and clearly sorry "I hope it's not as you say... For me, it's unthinkable that people can be bound by the word of another person, without explicitly giving their consent... I therefore really hope that I have not bound anyone".
Svetlana seems to listen to Voices that only she can hear and responds to them out loud: "Good point! Thank you!" she then turns back to the elf from the death domain "Someone just tol... err... no, I meant... It occurs to me that I have spoken of 'my friends and I' while giving my word to the children - and we only known each other for a very short time - it would be entirely questionable to define you all as my 'friends' - so you shouldn't have any obligations whatsoever. But rest assured that I'll take your comments into account for the future, Lorin".
The savage wanderer then focuses on identifying the family and comments: "Durst! This family was named Durst! Since their name came to mind, it must have been a known family for some reason... but I just can't. to remember anything else useful. Maybe I'll think of something later, as we continue our exploration".
“And of course, you're right Lorin” the last of the Dusk Elf maidens concedes. "Having information on the enemy is important. The backdoor hypothesis is possible, but it is not the only one. There are monsters that can be dangerous, but small in size. Or that can move with magic. Or that are immaterial. Or perhaps capable to adapt their shape. On the other hand, there should be a reason if the monster chose this house. A reason that binds the monster (or its nature) to this house or this family... This is also why I was trying to remember something about the family... But since I only have very vague memories, we might find clues in the house" and as she says this, she takes out a Tinderbox and starts lighting the candles in the sconces. She, with her Darkvision, wouldn't need it... but since she's pretending to be human and some of the other party members might instead need light to see better, she proceeds.
Uncia gave let out a resigned sigh at Svetlana's words. All she really wanted right now was to get out of this clearly cursed land as quickly as possible and reach safer ground. But upon the revelation of the two children's probable nature - which she hadn't noticed, not having interacted directly with them - she reluctantly gave into Svetlana's and Hazel's plan of action. She might be someone who would prefer to avoid possible danger in favor of staying alive, but she wasn't someone who was so heartless as to condemn a pair of innocent children to a future of being eternally bound to a place like this. "All right, I'll help," she agreed reluctantly, following Svetlana, Hazel, and Lorin into the house. "And I'm called a tabaxi, by the way." Before, she had thought Svetlana had been purposely refusing to use the correct term for her race; now, with the situation explained to her, she realized that the native to Barovia might really not know what one was.
Despite having followed the group into the house, Uncia wasn't really that eager to explore it. She stood in the hall with the rest of the party as Svetlana lit the candles on the walls, something she didn't need to see, but that did illuminate the Insignia of Claws she wore to tie her cloak with, that she'd been lucky enough to find a while before all this started.
OOC: I am getting the same message as Painted_Beyond.
In the dim light of the candle-lit hall, Hazel stood silently, absorbing the tensions and theories shared by her companions. Her presence, always somewhat ethereal, seemed especially so in the shadowed recesses of the Durst family home. The house, with its ornately sculpted wood and mysterious quiet, felt like a frozen tableau awaiting the touch of life—or perhaps the revelation of death—to animate its story once more.
Hazel listened carefully to each of her companions, her pale eyes reflecting the flicker of candlelight as Svetlana and Lorin debated the nature of the promises made and the risks involved. The possibility that Rose and Thorn were not merely children, but perhaps spectral remnants tied to a deeper malevolence within the house, resonated with Hazel's understanding of her own liminal existence.
"We walk a delicate line here,"Hazel spoke up, her voice a soft echo in the expansive hall. "Between the tangible and the ethereal, between action and restraint. Lorin's caution reminds us that not all bindings are physical, and not all promises carry the weight of freedom."
Turning her attention to the portraits and the family name 'Durst,' Hazel felt a shiver of connection, as if the name itself held a whisper of something important, something forgotten. "This family, the Dursts, they anchor this place, bind it to whatever fate has befallen it. Understanding their story may be key to unraveling the nature of what haunts these walls."
She moved closer to the staircase, her gaze drifting upward as if she could see through the ceiling to the secrets held above. "If we are to confront what lies beneath, we must also be mindful of what dwells above. Every corner of this house may hold a piece of the puzzle."
Hazel's approach was methodical, her steps measured as she joined Svetlana in lighting the remaining candles. The light, though weak, seemed to push back against the pressing darkness, lending a semblance of safety, a ward against the encroaching gloom.
"To Uncia and Svetlana's point, engaging with this monster—whether it be a creature of flesh or a specter of the past—offers us a chance not only to aid Rose and Thorn but to challenge the very mists that seek to confine us. By facing what frightens these children, we may also loosen the grip of the mists on this place."
Her eyes met those of her companions, seeking to imbue them with a portion of her resolve. "We are together in this, not by obligation but by choice. Let our actions reflect our collective will to seek the light, even in the deepest darkness."
As the group prepared to explore further, Hazel remained alert, her senses attuned to any shift in the air, any creak of the wood that might speak of secrets long held silent. The Durst home was more than a structure; it was a keeper of stories, and Hazel was prepared to listen.
"A Tabaxi" the last of the Dusk Elf maidens repeats, as if to fix it better in mind. "Well, Uncia, I'm glad to have a Tabaxi like you with us".
While Hazel helps her light the candles, Svetlana listens carefully to her words: "Challenge the very mists that seek to border us... I hadn't thought of it, but you might be right. I hope so, dear!"
"And what you say about the puzzle pieces also makes sense..." the savage wanderer admits "So, if the monster lies beneath, should we start the exploration from above - and go down from there? This way, before facing the monster, we should be able to check the whole house".
"How about?" the last of the Dusk Elf maidens searches with her azure eyes for those of her adventure companions, one by one "Shall we do this? Let's go up the stairs and start exploring top to down?" her eyes also fall on the sword mounted on the wall above the fireplace - for her, it has little interest, given that she prefers lighter weapons, with which to put her agility to good use, but who knows if it might be useful to someone else... "Someone wishes to keep the sword?" she points to it "I think I'm better off with the weapons I already have, but if anyone thinks they can use it... I doubt the Durst will still need it".
“It may be questionable for us or anyone reasonable, but I wouldn’t count on pact-dealing creatures to be that. I’m living proof that you don’t need to have anything do with as much as following one of them to be reached by their influence.” He wouldn’t count on most people to do that, but that was something he knew better than to say aloud. “Also, don’t forget to worry about yourself. As Hazel said, we are on this together and by choice. You won’t be of help to anyone if you’re not well.”
Lorin had seen his fair share of good people put others before themselves. Most of them were parents trying to feed their children as they could. Most died miserable deaths. It was not something he wanted to see again.
“Apparently my kind of elf is called Shadar-Kai.” He answered to Uncia while entering the second room. It was empty, silent, almost appearing safe. “If the thing is immaterial, can change its shape or moves by magic wouldn’t that mean that whatever the parents used to trap it is also magic?” At the very least he couldn’t imagine normal chains stopping that kind of creature. “Maybe mom and dad are spellcasters and have stored a couple of trinkets useful for monster hunting.” He then started examining the doors. “Agree with the search and, well, a woodcaver has to know something about locks. One needs to put space for them in doors. As it happens, I was a woodcarver, before becoming completely lost in the Mists.”The rogue said pulling the tools of the trade and a couple of lockpicks from his bag. “Let me know if anything is locked and I may be able to open it.”
Dubois put the woodcarver kit back with his other belongings, hoping it was enough to justify what most people would label the skills of a thief. Last thing he needed was to garner the aversion of that group just before a battle against… Something bad. Let them think of it as just a crooked touch.
OOC: I'm getting the same message that PB and Avifilopluma. Yes, I shamelessly used Astarion's line (well, it's where the "sweet Hells" came from too). Also, are any of the doors locked?
"There aren't many people left that I have to take care of" a smile halfway between sad and flattered is drawn on the chiseled features of the last of the Dusk Elf maidens. "But yes, of course I will try to preserve myself too, Lorin, thank you, your concern honors me. And a Shadar-Kai woodcarver will certainly be very useful, in an old house where so many doors can be stuck or locked".
'Truth be told, you have us to take care of!' the Voices in her head meanwhile point out. 'Do not forget us!' 'The Shadar-Kai is right! You have to take care of yourself too... If you were to come to a bad end, what would happen to us?' 'Yes...' Svetlana admits 'To you... and to me. Fine, I'll be more cautious'. 'Yeah, sure, but why are you still leading the way, in the front row then?' 'This too is a form of caution!' Svetlana tries to justify herself 'This way, no one will be able to attack me from behind!'
The savage wanderer nods to the ladder and awaits the response from Mittens, who up to now has not expressed himself: "Shall we start from the top, then?"
No one seems to oppose the proposed course of action, so the last of the Dusk Elf maidens leads the way upstairs. She holds her shield in her left hand... while with her right hand she takes her broom, then she sits astride it.
'Come on, my people ...' Svetlana thinks, for once speaking on her own initiative to the Voices in her head 'You know what to do'. 'Of course, Svetlana!' the Voices respond - for once all in agreement. 'We are with you, Svetlana'. 'We will help you, Svetlana'.
And the agreement, evidently, makes the difference. Just as a large number of drops of water, if they unite in waves and move in a coherent manner, can release incredible power, so the Voices, the rare times they focus in a coherent manner, are able to partially alter the very fabric of reality... The will of the multitude of slaughtered Dusk Elf maidens, focused on the broom, causes it, like Hazel's before, to defy gravity and actually begin to fly!
"Let's go upstairs, then!" the savage wanderer announces. She begins to go upstairs (following the same route she would by walking - only she flies, instead, just above the steps). She looks around, alert to anything that seems suspicious or threatening, ready to make good use of her mobility.
OOC: Darn, I was afraid of that. Don't worry. I'll take clips of the map and post it in the thread instead.
The sword is a longsword. It looks like a fairly heirloom. It has a windmill cameo worked into the hilt. None of the doors on the ground level are locked if you try to open them.
Once he was inside the house that most certainly wasn't a trap of any sort, Mittens folds his looks over the somber interior and decorations of the room with a critical eye. If there really was a monster in here, there should be some clues as to what it was, right. When Hazel begins her poetic rambling, Mittens tunes her out and begins investigating the room, Pooky trailing behind him. If he couldn't find any clues about the monster, maybe he could tease some info out of the house about its previous owners. Knowing his luck, the Dursts were probably demon-worshippers or something. Of course they would get stuck in a demon cult's headquarters.
Once he gives the room a thorough onceover, he cracks open the doors across the room and takes a peak into the rooms beyond. Squinting in the darkness, he responds distractedly to Svetlana, "Sounds good to me, but we don't know for sure that the monster's downstairs. If we go to the top, let's at least take a quick peak in all the rooms; I'd rather not trap ourselves upstairs because there was a monster in one of rooms below us. "
Investigation Check to look for clues (with advantage due to Pooky helping): 26
Perception Check if that's more applicable (also with advantage because of Pooky): 18
As the group convened to discuss their next steps, Hazel Harkness listened intently, her eyes drifting occasionally to the dimly lit corners of the grand hall, where shadows seemed to gather like silent observers. The myriad plans and concerns voiced by her companions painted a complex tapestry of caution and curiosity, each thread pulling towards a slightly different direction, yet all bound by the same need to unravel the mystery of the Durst family home.
"Indeed, ascending the stairs could yield insight, not only into the architecture of this place but into its secrets,"Hazel suggested her voice a soft echo against the ornate walls. "However, Mittens makes a prudent point. While the upper floors beckon with the promise of answers, we must ensure that no threat lurks beneath our very feet. A thorough search of each room here on the ground level might spare us unwelcome surprises later."
Turning her attention to the longsword with the windmill cameo, Hazel's curiosity piqued. "The weapon,"she mused aloud, " that bears the mark of the family's legacy... could be a key to understanding the Dursts' story. Perhaps it was used in defense against the very threats that now seem to permeate these walls."
She approached the sword, her fingers hovering just inches from the hilt, respecting but not touching. "If we are to face what lies beneath, or indeed within any part of this house, understanding the symbols and tools at our disposal will be crucial. This sword, the portraits, the very structure of the house—each element may be a piece of the puzzle."
Hazel's gaze then swept across her companions, a silent acknowledgment of their shared peril and purpose. "Let us proceed with both caution and thoroughness. The ground floor first, to ensure no shadow moves behind us as we ascend. And let us keep communication open, sharing insights and suspicions alike. Whatever resides here, be it a creature of flesh or a specter of the past, it has woven a complex web. We would do well to unravel it strand by strand."
As the group prepared to explore the ground floor, Hazel readied herself, her senses heightened and her mind attuned to the nuances of their surroundings. The candlelight flickered, casting a dance of light and shadow that seemed almost alive as if the house itself responded to their intentions. Hazel moved with deliberate steps, ready to face whatever secrets the Durst home held, her resolve as steadfast as the flickering flames that pushed back against the encroaching dark.
OOC: Hazel Perception Check Rolled '1'+1 for a '2' from Character Sheet to Game Log...
@DM: Mittens already declared that 'he cracks open the doors across the room and takes a peak into the rooms beyond'. If order matters, I'd say we start with this one.
Uncia shrugged when Svetlana suggested one of them taking the sword hanging on the mantelpiece. "I can't use it," she told the native woman, "maybe Lorin wants it instead?" Of all of them, the shadar-kai elf was the only other one of them who looked capable of wielding a blade. She largely ignored the chatter of Svetlana and Hazel as they climbed the staircase to the upper hallway of the house. Solving the mystery of what had befallen the house's residents was not on her list of priorities right now.
As Mittens, who was standing right next to her, pushed open the set of double doors in front of them, Uncia gripped her quarterstaff more tightly and swung the door directly in front of her slightly wider so that she could get a better look as well. She didn't want to just go charging in, as she would be left largely defenseless if this monster the children mentioned had somehow gotten loose and was in there.
While studying the walls, Mittens notices that interwoven among the satyrs and nymps of the wallpaper are skulls and serpents. They are easy to miss at first glance. The flickering of the shadow light is enough to disguise the intertwined patterns so that Hazel misses it at first.
As Mittens throws open the double doors to the right of the spiral staircase, Uncia doesn't notice anything out of the ordinary. A darkened room lies beyond, which appears to be a hunting den of some sort.
Mounted above the fireplace is a stag’s head, and positioned around the outskirts of the room are three stuffed wolves.
Two padded chairs draped in animal furs face the darkened hearth, with an oak table between them supporting a cask of wine, two carved wooden goblets, a pipe rack, and a candelabrum. An unlit chandelier hangs above a cloth-covered table surrounded by four chairs.
Two cabinets stand against the walls. The cabinets are locked but someone may attempt to open them with a Sleight of Hand check.
Svetlana's History to remember any details or facts about the relative house (not her strong point, but why not to try?): 3
OK, given the unspectacular roll, Svetlana probably won't remember anything in particular about this family. Regardless of this, however, the door we see seems to be the only way forward, so she will cautiously open it, at least to see what lies beyond...
“Inside of the house is better than inside the Mists and ending this monster will make the shelter that much safer. In other words, you said nothing any of us would disagree with.” Besides he did want to help the children, thought he didn’t feel exactly comfortable in admitting as much. “The plural is not a problem in this case, though a discussion before using it would’ve been appreciated. The fact that you made a promise to two individuals whose nature we don’t quite understand may be.” He said with the usual monotone, examining the room. There was no growling or screaming and the floor carried no mark, be it of claws or cage. “I look like a do…” Like a corpse. “… because my ancestors followed a goddess of death to her very domain. A goddess that some say handle pacts to warlocks.” An entity that made pacts. “Not because of anything I did. Because of what I can only imagine was the fulfilling of an oath thousands of years before my parents were born.” None of that bothered Lorin. Most of his cadaveric appearance came from how skinny he was, and the divine influence bought him abilities that normal elves didn’t have. “Certain creatures don’t need more than words to affect blood and soul. If those kids are beings with such ability and this monster is not something that can be destroyed then you just damned yourself, maybe all of us together, to an unending battle.” Or unending torture in the jaws of the monster. “If you’re going to make promises to strangers make sure to say that you will try helping to the best of your abilities instead of compromising to doing something.”
The idea made him think of the insects and the box. Maybe that was their box. One of Strahd’s making, but one they entered of their own free will. No time to think about this, he decided putting the right hand over the tiller of his crossbow.
“Anyone could find any trace of a monster here?” The question carried the admission that the rogue didn’t. “I would like to try finding anything about this monster before we fight it.” Mostly its weakness. “I’m thinking the creature was brought through a backdoor.”
The moment he saw Svetlana heading to the doors Lorin moved to the side of it. There was no sound, he knew, but maybe their enemy was simply laying in ambush. His hopes that if there was anyone – or anything – the other side they wouldn’t be able to see him but if a fight broke he could simply dive into action, fire a bolt then get back under cover.
Svetlana is able to recognize the portraits as belonging to the Durst family, but she doesn't recall much about them.
The door opens easily and reveals a long hall, which seems to run the width of the house. All is dark (dim light), but there are sconces with candles on the walls. There is a black marble fireplace at one end of the hall and a sweeping, red marble staircase at the other. Mounted on the wall above the fireplace is a sword. The wood-paneled walls are ornately sculpted with images of vines, flowers, nymphs, and satyrs. Everything looks quite normal and undisturbed. You don't hear any sounds coming from the house.
There are five doors in various places around the hall. All of them are closed.
Extended Signature
Characters: Bryony Alderleaf (Phandelver and Below) ♦ Vesta Trevelyan (Vecna: Eve of Ruin) ♦ Ada Kendrick (Curse of Strahd) ♦ Gareth Blackwood (Dragon of Icespire Peak) ♦ Karys Velthune (Out of the Abyss) ♦ Surina Xarith (Simple, Heroic Adventure)
DM: Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus
I am trying the new D&D Beyond Maps for the first time. Here is a link to it. Please let me know if you have issues. You should be able to move your tokens I think.
https://www.dndbeyond.com/games/5413279
Extended Signature
Characters: Bryony Alderleaf (Phandelver and Below) ♦ Vesta Trevelyan (Vecna: Eve of Ruin) ♦ Ada Kendrick (Curse of Strahd) ♦ Gareth Blackwood (Dragon of Icespire Peak) ♦ Karys Velthune (Out of the Abyss) ♦ Surina Xarith (Simple, Heroic Adventure)
DM: Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus
[[ OOC: @DM: Link not working as expected for me... I land on a page with the error message "Your DM is not currently hosting a game session." ]]
"Oh, I understand, Lorin..." the last of the Dusk Elf maidens opens her azure eyes, amazed by implications she hasn't thought of and clearly sorry "I hope it's not as you say... For me, it's unthinkable that people can be bound by the word of another person, without explicitly giving their consent... I therefore really hope that I have not bound anyone".
Svetlana seems to listen to Voices that only she can hear and responds to them out loud: "Good point! Thank you!" she then turns back to the elf from the death domain "Someone just tol... err... no, I meant... It occurs to me that I have spoken of 'my friends and I' while giving my word to the children - and we only known each other for a very short time - it would be entirely questionable to define you all as my 'friends' - so you shouldn't have any obligations whatsoever. But rest assured that I'll take your comments into account for the future, Lorin".
The savage wanderer then focuses on identifying the family and comments: "Durst! This family was named Durst! Since their name came to mind, it must have been a known family for some reason... but I just can't. to remember anything else useful. Maybe I'll think of something later, as we continue our exploration".
“And of course, you're right Lorin” the last of the Dusk Elf maidens concedes. "Having information on the enemy is important. The backdoor hypothesis is possible, but it is not the only one. There are monsters that can be dangerous, but small in size. Or that can move with magic. Or that are immaterial. Or perhaps capable to adapt their shape. On the other hand, there should be a reason if the monster chose this house. A reason that binds the monster (or its nature) to this house or this family... This is also why I was trying to remember something about the family... But since I only have very vague memories, we might find clues in the house" and as she says this, she takes out a Tinderbox and starts lighting the candles in the sconces. She, with her Darkvision, wouldn't need it... but since she's pretending to be human and some of the other party members might instead need light to see better, she proceeds.
Uncia gave let out a resigned sigh at Svetlana's words. All she really wanted right now was to get out of this clearly cursed land as quickly as possible and reach safer ground. But upon the revelation of the two children's probable nature - which she hadn't noticed, not having interacted directly with them - she reluctantly gave into Svetlana's and Hazel's plan of action. She might be someone who would prefer to avoid possible danger in favor of staying alive, but she wasn't someone who was so heartless as to condemn a pair of innocent children to a future of being eternally bound to a place like this. "All right, I'll help," she agreed reluctantly, following Svetlana, Hazel, and Lorin into the house. "And I'm called a tabaxi, by the way." Before, she had thought Svetlana had been purposely refusing to use the correct term for her race; now, with the situation explained to her, she realized that the native to Barovia might really not know what one was.
Despite having followed the group into the house, Uncia wasn't really that eager to explore it. She stood in the hall with the rest of the party as Svetlana lit the candles on the walls, something she didn't need to see, but that did illuminate the Insignia of Claws she wore to tie her cloak with, that she'd been lucky enough to find a while before all this started.
OOC: I am getting the same message as Painted_Beyond.
In the dim light of the candle-lit hall, Hazel stood silently, absorbing the tensions and theories shared by her companions. Her presence, always somewhat ethereal, seemed especially so in the shadowed recesses of the Durst family home. The house, with its ornately sculpted wood and mysterious quiet, felt like a frozen tableau awaiting the touch of life—or perhaps the revelation of death—to animate its story once more.
Hazel listened carefully to each of her companions, her pale eyes reflecting the flicker of candlelight as Svetlana and Lorin debated the nature of the promises made and the risks involved. The possibility that Rose and Thorn were not merely children, but perhaps spectral remnants tied to a deeper malevolence within the house, resonated with Hazel's understanding of her own liminal existence.
"We walk a delicate line here," Hazel spoke up, her voice a soft echo in the expansive hall. "Between the tangible and the ethereal, between action and restraint. Lorin's caution reminds us that not all bindings are physical, and not all promises carry the weight of freedom."
Turning her attention to the portraits and the family name 'Durst,' Hazel felt a shiver of connection, as if the name itself held a whisper of something important, something forgotten. "This family, the Dursts, they anchor this place, bind it to whatever fate has befallen it. Understanding their story may be key to unraveling the nature of what haunts these walls."
She moved closer to the staircase, her gaze drifting upward as if she could see through the ceiling to the secrets held above. "If we are to confront what lies beneath, we must also be mindful of what dwells above. Every corner of this house may hold a piece of the puzzle."
Hazel's approach was methodical, her steps measured as she joined Svetlana in lighting the remaining candles. The light, though weak, seemed to push back against the pressing darkness, lending a semblance of safety, a ward against the encroaching gloom.
"To Uncia and Svetlana's point, engaging with this monster—whether it be a creature of flesh or a specter of the past—offers us a chance not only to aid Rose and Thorn but to challenge the very mists that seek to confine us. By facing what frightens these children, we may also loosen the grip of the mists on this place."
Her eyes met those of her companions, seeking to imbue them with a portion of her resolve. "We are together in this, not by obligation but by choice. Let our actions reflect our collective will to seek the light, even in the deepest darkness."
As the group prepared to explore further, Hazel remained alert, her senses attuned to any shift in the air, any creak of the wood that might speak of secrets long held silent. The Durst home was more than a structure; it was a keeper of stories, and Hazel was prepared to listen.
"A Tabaxi" the last of the Dusk Elf maidens repeats, as if to fix it better in mind. "Well, Uncia, I'm glad to have a Tabaxi like you with us".
While Hazel helps her light the candles, Svetlana listens carefully to her words: "Challenge the very mists that seek to border us... I hadn't thought of it, but you might be right. I hope so, dear!"
"And what you say about the puzzle pieces also makes sense..." the savage wanderer admits "So, if the monster lies beneath, should we start the exploration from above - and go down from there? This way, before facing the monster, we should be able to check the whole house".
"How about?" the last of the Dusk Elf maidens searches with her azure eyes for those of her adventure companions, one by one "Shall we do this? Let's go up the stairs and start exploring top to down?" her eyes also fall on the sword mounted on the wall above the fireplace - for her, it has little interest, given that she prefers lighter weapons, with which to put her agility to good use, but who knows if it might be useful to someone else... "Someone wishes to keep the sword?" she points to it "I think I'm better off with the weapons I already have, but if anyone thinks they can use it... I doubt the Durst will still need it".
OOC: Any particular type of sword on the mantel?
“It may be questionable for us or anyone reasonable, but I wouldn’t count on pact-dealing creatures to be that. I’m living proof that you don’t need to have anything do with as much as following one of them to be reached by their influence.” He wouldn’t count on most people to do that, but that was something he knew better than to say aloud. “Also, don’t forget to worry about yourself. As Hazel said, we are on this together and by choice. You won’t be of help to anyone if you’re not well.”
Lorin had seen his fair share of good people put others before themselves. Most of them were parents trying to feed their children as they could. Most died miserable deaths. It was not something he wanted to see again.
“Apparently my kind of elf is called Shadar-Kai.” He answered to Uncia while entering the second room. It was empty, silent, almost appearing safe. “If the thing is immaterial, can change its shape or moves by magic wouldn’t that mean that whatever the parents used to trap it is also magic?” At the very least he couldn’t imagine normal chains stopping that kind of creature. “Maybe mom and dad are spellcasters and have stored a couple of trinkets useful for monster hunting.” He then started examining the doors. “Agree with the search and, well, a woodcaver has to know something about locks. One needs to put space for them in doors. As it happens, I was a woodcarver, before becoming completely lost in the Mists.” The rogue said pulling the tools of the trade and a couple of lockpicks from his bag. “Let me know if anything is locked and I may be able to open it.”
Dubois put the woodcarver kit back with his other belongings, hoping it was enough to justify what most people would label the skills of a thief. Last thing he needed was to garner the aversion of that group just before a battle against… Something bad. Let them think of it as just a crooked touch.
OOC: I'm getting the same message that PB and Avifilopluma. Yes, I shamelessly used Astarion's line (well, it's where the "sweet Hells" came from too). Also, are any of the doors locked?
"There aren't many people left that I have to take care of" a smile halfway between sad and flattered is drawn on the chiseled features of the last of the Dusk Elf maidens. "But yes, of course I will try to preserve myself too, Lorin, thank you, your concern honors me. And a Shadar-Kai woodcarver will certainly be very useful, in an old house where so many doors can be stuck or locked".
'Truth be told, you have us to take care of!' the Voices in her head meanwhile point out.
'Do not forget us!'
'The Shadar-Kai is right! You have to take care of yourself too... If you were to come to a bad end, what would happen to us?'
'Yes...' Svetlana admits 'To you... and to me. Fine, I'll be more cautious'.
'Yeah, sure, but why are you still leading the way, in the front row then?'
'This too is a form of caution!' Svetlana tries to justify herself 'This way, no one will be able to attack me from behind!'
The savage wanderer nods to the ladder and awaits the response from Mittens, who up to now has not expressed himself: "Shall we start from the top, then?"
No one seems to oppose the proposed course of action, so the last of the Dusk Elf maidens leads the way upstairs. She holds her shield in her left hand... while with her right hand she takes her broom, then she sits astride it.
'Come on, my people ...' Svetlana thinks, for once speaking on her own initiative to the Voices in her head 'You know what to do'.
'Of course, Svetlana!' the Voices respond - for once all in agreement.
'We are with you, Svetlana'.
'We will help you, Svetlana'.
And the agreement, evidently, makes the difference. Just as a large number of drops of water, if they unite in waves and move in a coherent manner, can release incredible power, so the Voices, the rare times they focus in a coherent manner, are able to partially alter the very fabric of reality... The will of the multitude of slaughtered Dusk Elf maidens, focused on the broom, causes it, like Hazel's before, to defy gravity and actually begin to fly!
"Let's go upstairs, then!" the savage wanderer announces. She begins to go upstairs (following the same route she would by walking - only she flies, instead, just above the steps). She looks around, alert to anything that seems suspicious or threatening, ready to make good use of her mobility.
OOC: Darn, I was afraid of that. Don't worry. I'll take clips of the map and post it in the thread instead.
The sword is a longsword. It looks like a fairly heirloom. It has a windmill cameo worked into the hilt. None of the doors on the ground level are locked if you try to open them.
@Oddlot, roll a Perception check.
Extended Signature
Characters: Bryony Alderleaf (Phandelver and Below) ♦ Vesta Trevelyan (Vecna: Eve of Ruin) ♦ Ada Kendrick (Curse of Strahd) ♦ Gareth Blackwood (Dragon of Icespire Peak) ♦ Karys Velthune (Out of the Abyss) ♦ Surina Xarith (Simple, Heroic Adventure)
DM: Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus
Once he was inside the house that most certainly wasn't a trap of any sort, Mittens folds his looks over the somber interior and decorations of the room with a critical eye. If there really was a monster in here, there should be some clues as to what it was, right. When Hazel begins her poetic rambling, Mittens tunes her out and begins investigating the room, Pooky trailing behind him. If he couldn't find any clues about the monster, maybe he could tease some info out of the house about its previous owners. Knowing his luck, the Dursts were probably demon-worshippers or something. Of course they would get stuck in a demon cult's headquarters.
Once he gives the room a thorough onceover, he cracks open the doors across the room and takes a peak into the rooms beyond. Squinting in the darkness, he responds distractedly to Svetlana, "Sounds good to me, but we don't know for sure that the monster's downstairs. If we go to the top, let's at least take a quick peak in all the rooms; I'd rather not trap ourselves upstairs because there was a monster in one of rooms below us. "
Investigation Check to look for clues (with advantage due to Pooky helping): 26
Perception Check if that's more applicable (also with advantage because of Pooky): 18
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
Since the party leans towards checking out the ground floor rooms first, Svetlana temporarily puts away her broom and keeps her weapons ready instead.
As the group convened to discuss their next steps, Hazel Harkness listened intently, her eyes drifting occasionally to the dimly lit corners of the grand hall, where shadows seemed to gather like silent observers. The myriad plans and concerns voiced by her companions painted a complex tapestry of caution and curiosity, each thread pulling towards a slightly different direction, yet all bound by the same need to unravel the mystery of the Durst family home.
"Indeed, ascending the stairs could yield insight, not only into the architecture of this place but into its secrets," Hazel suggested her voice a soft echo against the ornate walls. "However, Mittens makes a prudent point. While the upper floors beckon with the promise of answers, we must ensure that no threat lurks beneath our very feet. A thorough search of each room here on the ground level might spare us unwelcome surprises later."
Turning her attention to the longsword with the windmill cameo, Hazel's curiosity piqued. "The weapon," she mused aloud, " that bears the mark of the family's legacy... could be a key to understanding the Dursts' story. Perhaps it was used in defense against the very threats that now seem to permeate these walls."
She approached the sword, her fingers hovering just inches from the hilt, respecting but not touching. "If we are to face what lies beneath, or indeed within any part of this house, understanding the symbols and tools at our disposal will be crucial. This sword, the portraits, the very structure of the house—each element may be a piece of the puzzle."
Hazel's gaze then swept across her companions, a silent acknowledgment of their shared peril and purpose. "Let us proceed with both caution and thoroughness. The ground floor first, to ensure no shadow moves behind us as we ascend. And let us keep communication open, sharing insights and suspicions alike. Whatever resides here, be it a creature of flesh or a specter of the past, it has woven a complex web. We would do well to unravel it strand by strand."
As the group prepared to explore the ground floor, Hazel readied herself, her senses heightened and her mind attuned to the nuances of their surroundings. The candlelight flickered, casting a dance of light and shadow that seemed almost alive as if the house itself responded to their intentions. Hazel moved with deliberate steps, ready to face whatever secrets the Durst home held, her resolve as steadfast as the flickering flames that pushed back against the encroaching dark.
OOC: Hazel Perception Check Rolled '1' +1 for a '2' from Character Sheet to Game Log...
@DM: Mittens already declared that 'he cracks open the doors across the room and takes a peak into the rooms beyond'. If order matters, I'd say we start with this one.
Uncia shrugged when Svetlana suggested one of them taking the sword hanging on the mantelpiece. "I can't use it," she told the native woman, "maybe Lorin wants it instead?" Of all of them, the shadar-kai elf was the only other one of them who looked capable of wielding a blade. She largely ignored the chatter of Svetlana and Hazel as they climbed the staircase to the upper hallway of the house. Solving the mystery of what had befallen the house's residents was not on her list of priorities right now.
As Mittens, who was standing right next to her, pushed open the set of double doors in front of them, Uncia gripped her quarterstaff more tightly and swung the door directly in front of her slightly wider so that she could get a better look as well. She didn't want to just go charging in, as she would be left largely defenseless if this monster the children mentioned had somehow gotten loose and was in there.
Roll for Perception:14
Investigation if that's more applicable: 8
While studying the walls, Mittens notices that interwoven among the satyrs and nymps of the wallpaper are skulls and serpents. They are easy to miss at first glance. The flickering of the shadow light is enough to disguise the intertwined patterns so that Hazel misses it at first.
As Mittens throws open the double doors to the right of the spiral staircase, Uncia doesn't notice anything out of the ordinary. A darkened room lies beyond, which appears to be a hunting den of some sort.
Mounted above the fireplace is a stag’s head, and positioned around the outskirts of the room are three stuffed wolves.
Two padded chairs draped in animal furs face the darkened hearth, with an oak table between them supporting a cask of wine, two carved wooden goblets, a pipe rack, and a candelabrum. An unlit chandelier hangs above a cloth-covered table surrounded by four chairs.
Two cabinets stand against the walls. The cabinets are locked but someone may attempt to open them with a Sleight of Hand check.
Extended Signature
Characters: Bryony Alderleaf (Phandelver and Below) ♦ Vesta Trevelyan (Vecna: Eve of Ruin) ♦ Ada Kendrick (Curse of Strahd) ♦ Gareth Blackwood (Dragon of Icespire Peak) ♦ Karys Velthune (Out of the Abyss) ♦ Surina Xarith (Simple, Heroic Adventure)
DM: Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus