A Curse of Strahds [IC]

Lae hears Zander and rushes back to the portcullis. He quickly removes his shield from his back and shoves it under the gate.

“Maybe this will hold it... does someone small want to crawl through and see if there’s a lever on the other side?”

Good idea. Brother you're the sneaky one...

Zennas, if you are going through, you will have to swim under, as the portcullis is in 2' of murky water, but you should be able to naturally hold your breath that long (without a roll), I just don't know how you feel about water.

I quickly make my way to it and begin through with cautious haste so they don't have to hold it. 

You make it through no problem, the shield is still holding. Roll.stealth as you enter the next room, Zennas.

Stealth: 23

Once through I want to make a perception check for a lever and also what is around in general.

Perception: 13

The chanting continues as you sneak into the room unnoticed, though you do not see anyone in the room.

The room itself is 40' x 40' and is covered in the same 2' of water. Immediately to your right is a set of steps leading 5' up to a ledge that runs along the north wall, with another set of steps leading down on the far end of the room. 10' to your right is a similar set-up running along the south wall. There is an opening in the west wall, though it is difficult to tell what is beyond.

In the center of the room is a 5' high dais (sticking out of the water 3') with some kind of a stone altar on it. On the altar you see a glint, probably of some kind of metal, though you can't tell what it is.

Above the dais, you see chains hanging from the 16' ceiling. The chains hang 8' from the ceiling and, while some are empty, there is definitely a figure chained in one set. The figure appears humanoid and seems to be the source of the howling and wailing sound.

Also 5' to your left, beside the steps, you see a wooden wheel half-embedded into the wall.

I want to try and turn the wheel on the wall, in hopes it will hold the passageway open.

The wheel is a bit tough to get started as it appears it hasn't been used in quite some time, but you manage to turn it. You hear the rattling of chains and the portcullis opens fully and remains open.

Zander creeps in as quietly as he can...

18 Stealth

“He did it! Haha!” Lae exclaims as he grabs his shield and enters the room through the portcullis.

“Anything interesting in here Zennas? Umm who do you think that is?” He asks pointing up.

Zander facepalms. Shhhh!

As I cautiously make my way closer to the stone alter in the center of the room to examine the metal object more closely. 

"Apart from whatever in on this alter, and whoever that is (pointing out the hanging man) it looks like we can go up or west, unless whatever is chanting can do so under water." 

Lae whispers loudly.. “should I try to heal this guy?”

Zander whispers, I think maybe we should quietly get up those stairs. I think the people chanting are in here, we just can't see them yet, and luckily, they can't see us.

Zander, you are unnoticed at first, but as soon as the group of you have all entered the room, the chanting suddenly stops.

As you reach the top of the dais, you can tell the metal object is an old ritualistic dagger. Also when you reach the top, the chanting rises once more as thirteen dark apparitions appear on the ledges overlooking the room. Each one resembles a black-eyed figure holding a torch, but the torches fire is black and seems to draw light into it. Where you'd expect to see faces are voids.

"One must die!" they chant, over and over, "One must die! One must die!"

Necros, with your religion roll, you can tell that something must be sacrificed on this altar.

“Too late! It would seem we’ve been made!”  Lae says as he readies sacred flame.

Zander readies his shortbow. Nothing is going to die if I can help it.

As you look more closely at the figure above you, you see a rather tall human with white skin, black eyes and long grey hair with a long, grey, forked beard. He wears light blue robes and there is a matching pointed hat with gold crescent moons and stars on it that seems to have fallen off the man's head and onto the altar. His howls and wailing have now turned to actual shouts for "help".

In all the excitement, the dog comes bounding in the room and up the dais, looking excited and wagging its tail. It hops up on the altar and turns looking at you, still wagging it's tail. Nothing seems to happen, though the chanting continues.

“Quit your wailing already... are you injured, or just hanging about?” Lae calls up to the grisly looking human.