Urgog looks at Baelar then at the rest of the group before looking at the priest. "It is your choice to continue to torture one of the damned or not. You will ultimately have to answer to your God for it in the end."

Quote from Ryno628 >>

---

Meanwhile, Ireena raises an eyebrow as Winter casts Mage Armor on her. "What are you doing?" she asks in a confused tone.

"Just a little extra protection, should you need it."

Quote from Ryno628 >>

Donavich shakes his head. "No. Absolutely not. Out of the question. I'll deal with Doru when the Morninglord graces me with his wisdom. Until then, you should leave." Donavich suggests wistfully, his voice getting raspy as he transitions into an emotional state.

"Yes, we should leave.  We've accomplished what we came here to do.  Let us go."

Donavich waits for Nixus to step away from the trapdoor. Ismark talks calmly to Donavich. "You know, they do have a point." he says, while making eye contact with Ireena. Ireena then adds on by saying "It's been over a year and there's been nothing to prove that Doru can be saved. The devil Strahd put him here to torment you. It's time to stop letting that monster haunt you, and put Doru out of his misery." Ireena speaks empathically. Ismark follows up. "All you're doing here is starving the creature. He's just a husk of Doru that's being manipulated by Strahd. Let these adventurers put an end to his agony." Ismark and Ireena glance at each other one more time before checking to see Donavich's reaction. "You'll finally have closure and be able to move on with your life. Maybe your pupils will return to worship the Morninglord again rather than watch you lose your sanity. It's for the best."

Ireena and Ismark's Persuasion Check: 19

Donavich comes to tears as he begins to think about all the time he's spent into researching ways to save Doru. He's lost hope but couldn't muster slaying his own son. He nods his head in agreement. Ireena and Ismark release him from their grasp. "Make it quick." Donavich says, as a tear runs down his cheek. He shuffles out of the room, and heads into the chapel room to begin praying to the Morninglord.

Ireena looks to the group. "Now, how do we get this open?" she asks curiously as she ganders upon the chain and padlock enclosing the wooden trapdoor.

"Whoa, I'm not killing anyone's son.  Keep searching donavich.  There's bound to be something that will help."

"Ireena,  let's go."

Winter nods to the rest of his newfound group and motions towards the door.

Urgog grunts and reaches for the lock. He slowly pulls on it, slowly exerting his strength to pull the lock free.

Athletics: 8

"If I have to, I will lay to rest the poor tortured soul. If there is no hope of him being cured then by Kord I will lay him to rest."

"He wants to live, he isn't harming anyone, let him live, no?"

Urgog grasps the chain firmly and yanks with all his might. Unfortunately, he was unable to muster the sufficient amount of force needed to break the chain.

Ireena looks to Winter as he suggests the two exit. "I'm sorry, did you have something better to do?" she asks condescendingly.

Ismark sees that the padlock and chain is unrelenting. "Thademar, perhaps you can try smashing it with your hammer?" he suggests since Thademar is the only one with a blunt weapon.

Quote from Ryno628 >>

Ireena looks to Winter as he suggests the two exit. "I'm sorry, did you have something better to do?" she asks condescendingly.

"YES, actually.  The **** away from here.  What are we doing? We''ve buried your father, leave this man and his poor son."

Ireena sighs. "Can't you see what's going on here? Donavich is borderline insane because of Strahd's sinister schemes. He doesn't have what it takes to do what's necessary because he's a priest. We have the opportunity to provide him closure so that he can move on, restore the church and possibly shine a glimmer of hope onto the rest of the village. The villagers can use the embrace of the Morninglord right now... Donavich can't be their beacon if he's despondent." Ireena proclaims, looking among the others to see if they have anything to add.

"That's ridiculous!  Killing his son isn't going to make Donavich a better priest. Donavich, am I right?"

Winter shouts out:

"How about you Doru? Are you ready to die?"

Donavich had already left the room, and Doru cannot be addressed since he's in the basement and the trapdoor has yet to be opened.

[OOC]if we can hear him shouting he can hear us shouting.

Urgog grunts at the chain and looks at the orc. "Want to try?" He moves away from the door and pulls his weapons in preparation for a fight.

"Here, let me try and take it off." Thademar draws his  hammer and makes an attempt to break the lock off. 

Attack: 17

Damage: 2

Thademar keeps attacking the lock until it falls off. This time two-handing the hammer.

Attack: 23 Damage: 13

 He makes a third attack. 

Attack: 17 Damage: 9

 And then a fourth just for good measure, he shouts "In the name of KRAAAAAAAAAIIIDDD!!!!"

Attack: 12 Damage: 3

After four thunderous blows with his warhammer, Thademar smashes the chain and padlock into copious pieces as the metal shards splatter like shrapnel. The wooden trapdoor is now accessible.

"Well done." Ismark exclaims, mildly impressed by Thademar's might. "Who's going first?"

Urgog steps forward, his Scimitar in one hand and his short sword in the other. He moves down the steps like a shadow.

Stealth: 12

Thademar walks in without trying to stealth stoically. He is prepared to deal with the monster. He has equipped his shield and war hammer again. And as he enters he readies for a fight.

Ismark watches as Urgog and Thademar move into the undercroft of the church. Ismark sees that Ireena is willing to go, but he holds his hand out to block her path. "You don't need to put yourself in harms way. Let them deal with this." he says in a protective tone, while looking over at Winter. "Watch out for her, will you?" he says, since he sees that Winter has taken Ireena's well-being into consideration.

"Ugh... Fine." Ireena says in an iritated voice. She glances at Winter and she shuffles out of the room to join Donavich in the church. Upon that, Ismark follows after Thademar and Urgog into the undercroft. Nixus contemplated staying atop the staircase to keep guard. He eventually decides to follow after Ismark.

Church:
D: Donavich
W: Winter
I2: Ireena

Undercroft:
D: Doru
T: Thademar
U: Urgog
I1: Ismark
N: Nixus

The church’s undercroft has rough-hewn walls and a floor made of damp clay and earth. Rotting wooden pillars strain under the weight of the wooden ceiling. Candlelight from the chapel above slips though the cracks, allowing you to glimpse a gaunt shape in the far corner.

"I can smell your blood!" Doru calls out irratically. He can be seen in the far corner chained to one of the columns supporting the upper level of the church. He is restrained by the bondage. Upon closer inspection, they can see Doru clearly as the lights shine through the floor.

What does the party do from here?

Baelar nods. 

"This is what is right. This thing is no longer his son. Hes a monster. If he gets loose he could kill the entire village. We have to do this." 

He watches thaedmar smashes the floor to pieces and follows the two downwards after it is open.