Pizazz's Ravenloft and Beyond

"A half-elf, colourful dresser?" We met him here, Urwin night know where he headed off to."

(First met in post #1453 on page #73 of the thread, when Lionel waved the Sunsword around the Inn, if anyone wants to re-read)

(Ah, that guy... And he had a tower too...)

"For all we know, he was heading out of this tavern. We did not see him in the Strahd's prison or graveyard, so he can be very much alive."

Meepo polishes off his food and then glances around. "We off to castle now, or do we go somewhere else?" He hasn't been paying too much attention to the Big's chatter, as it was clear he wasn't going to get the new Big's story.

     Ketch was following the conversation, but not able to fully follow it.  Seems they were talking of someone they met before the cleric joined the merry band of misfit warriors. 
     “Shhh, Meepo.  Don’t make me lose track of this conversation,” Ketch said in mock worry.  “That’s a lost thing that is hard to find again!”

(Great remembering Xarboth. Here, have an inspiration point!  (tosses an inspiration point at you.)) 

Ezz takes it all in, but Urwin shrugs, having no idea where "Rick" may have gone.  She shrugs to the group. "He's his own man, and....if I know him well, he's the sort to head for the castle eventually.  With luck we'll see him there. Let's go!"

The group pulls up hoods, makes sure backpacks are well shut, and that boots are tied tightly. You can already feel the cold rain seeping into your underclothes and the water squelching in your boots....but...there's nothing for it. If Strahd hopes a little rain will keep you away, he's mistaken. 

You all trudge out into the deluge. By the time you reach the eastern gates of the town you're already soaked on top. The guards slink out from their shelter to open the gate for you, giving you a nod.  About fifty feet outside the gate where the dirt road begins, the world turns into a grey muddy mess. You glance back at the gates of Vallaki, having troubles shaking the feeling that this may be the last time you see it. A sense of something impending and unavoidable begins to sink into your minds. 

Ulthan moves through the rain as if he were born to it, a large constant presence scouting ahead in the mist, with Ezz never too far behind him. The group winds around large puddles and tries to stay out of the trickling stream of water on inclines, but before too long your feet are soaked with cold water, as much as the rest of you.  

Ahead, the mountain range that is home to Ravenloft sits, it's cold white peaks glaring through the misty grey sky, solemnly watching your approach. 

Ulthan appears confused for a brief moment when it was mentioned "We met a man who warned us that a group of Vistani were servants of Strahd and needed to be dealt with." but since no one else pays it mind, neither does he for long, and instead stores that memory in the back of his head somewhere it will probably never be found again. Luckily he mostly looks confused so hard to notice.

That said while travelling, occasionally he moves around, and not just in front, checking the sides and also the rear of the group trying to see if anyone is shadowing or trailing us. While rain is a pain for tracking, mud makes it easier to easily observe both age footmarks and rough timing depending how much water is in it. He won't mention anything at this time, nor point it out to Ez.

Reminder re castle, from what we saw of its walls, was it solidly built, or did it look poorly maintained with large cracks here and there enough for something to get through without main gates.

Mention to group as we see it in the distance "hrmpfh climb wall sneak in hrmpfh". Assuming that's agreed, we'll move to a side wall or the like, one that has some minor cracks to aid with climbing, but not big enough to pass through and therefore potentially watched. Perception to look for good spot 9, climbing attempts 20. Using rope and grappling hook where possible and cracks in the wall. Try to time landing of grappling hook with thunder. The forgotten other climbing rolls as required ... 7, 15, 6, 9, 22. Another perception roll for looking around when I get to top 28. And a stealth roll 27 to hide from onlookers.

Granted far away, so we're probably going to have to find a shelter place, hopefully a cave somewhere within an hour or so from the castle.

Before they leave, does Mordekai still have a use of Scrying, or did the Remove Curse also remove the boon? He definitely hadn't used all 3 uses, so if he still has the boon, he'll scry on Rictavio to try and work out his location. 

If not, he'll just lead into his usual motivational speech. And despite resisting Zone if Truth, Mordekai's speech this time isn't the positive, uplifting rousing speech he usually gives, but a far more somber monologue about all the negative, morose, morbid reality of Barovia, which despite the deviation from his usual tone, still somehow inspires the others with grit and determination. 

Everyone, including Ezz, gets 13 temporary hp.

12

(You still have the scyring.) 

Mordekai attempts to reach out with his special power....letting his mind wander through the land seeking out the man known as Rictavio....but....comes up empty....unable to find him. 

He inspires the group as you head off into the rain. 

The group slowly makes their way up the inclines into the hills, and then into the mountain range proper. By late afternoon they're well into the mountains and the rain has become a mix of slush and rain, with the ground crusted with wet snow. You reach the crossroads that lead further east or north to castle Ravenloft. This time, no carriage waits for you.  You trudge through the snow rimmed sloppy mud road towards the castle.

After winding through the forest and craggy mountain peaks, the road takes a sudden turn to the east, and the startling, awesome presence of Castle Ravenloft towers before you. The castle sits on a pinnacle of rock, separated from the main mountain by a great crevice. Before you are two twin turrets of stone, broken from years of ex­posure. Beyond these guard towers is the precipice of the fifty-foot-wide, fog-filled chasm that disappears into unknown depths.

A lowered drawbridge of old, shored-up wooden beams stretches across the chasm, between you and the archway to the courtyard. The chains of the drawbridge creak in the wind, their rust-eaten iron straining under the weight. From atop the high walls, stone gargoyles stare at you out of their hollow eye sockets and grin hid­eously. A rotting wooden portcullis, green with growth, hangs above the entry tunnel. Beyond this location, the main doors of Ravenloft stand open. Torches flutter sadly in sconces on both sides of the open doors.

Above you, in the darkening shadows of day, you see a form standing upon highest tower, looking down from between large crenelations. The figures cloak snaps and tumbles in the wind. You can hear him laughing...a hollow laugh that seems to carry on the very wind itself.....a laughter deep with mirth at your insignificance....as he waits for you to come to him.  There is no pretence that he does not know you are coming. He is nearly three hundred feet distant from here.... over two hundred horizontally, and over a hundred vertically.  

(You are near J on the map below.  Strahd is at the top of the highest tower, looking down.)

Mordekai looks up, and says quietly, "It would be better to draw him out, I feel."

With that, he casts Disguise Self to make himself look like Strahd, cape billowing in a similar way. He then casts Thaumaturgy to make his voice boom as he echoes the arrogant laughter of the real Strahd. Finally he casts a series of Minor Illusions to cause the words "Fool", then "Traitor", then "Weak", then "COWARD" to appear on the ground, glowing in front of Mordekai. Fake Strahd spreads his arms wide as he does so, goading the Coward Strahd on his battlements. 

 Lionel raised a brow but to be fair as challenges go, Mordekai's was not that far off from usual, just utilized more magic. Personally paladin did not see much difference where to fight Strahd - even if he reset all the traps, they knew now where those traps were, though, outside the castle walls he could use his steed a small boon, but a boon nevertheless. He was quietly waiting for the vampire's response to the taunting.

Meepo has his skeletons spread out, not wishing a single spell to take them out, as he waits to see how Mordekai's attempt to provoke the vampire goes.

     "Anyone know how to build a catapult?" Ketch asks casually at the mention of drawing Strahd out.  "Or we could just start piling up timber around the place..."

     Ketch liked the idea of goading Strahd out of his little palace, he just didn't have much to add to the attempt...

The figure remains in place....but the lonely howl of a wolf issues from the forest behind you.....followed by another...then another, until a chorus of wolves are howling, as they quickly approach.  At the same time, a cloud of bats come racing up out of the chasm like a black flood. 

(Roll Initiative)

Bats: 6

Wolves :  13

Ezz :  18

Squares on the map are 10' squares.  

For Meepo : The group is about 50 feet from the gatehouse. The bridge is 50 feet of rickety bridge past that.  You're on a bit of a cliff face road, so their is steep incline to your left, and a big drop off to the right. There is a flat area to the left as well, a pack of wolves is about 70 feet away in that direction, coming through some trees.  About 40 feet behind you on the road another pack of wolves is approaching. The cliff face is 20 feet to your right, and ..oh rats.... there are 7 swarms of bats coming up from the chasm. Your skeletons are well spread out around the group. 

Ketch: 11

Mordekai smirks at the irony of Strahd's response to being called a coward- setting his expendable pets in the group rather than fight himself. 

Initiative: 7

Indoor or outdoor did not really matter with the slippery bastard - he sic his dogs and run. Oh, well... Lionel activated the sword and prepared to fight.

Initiative: 8

Rats or Bats coming up from the chasm?  Cause yo, rats didn’t even roll initiative!!  🤢

You obviously misread the post. *walks away whistling*

Ulthan yells "hrmpfh gatehouse hrmpfh" as he charges through trying to batter down the door of the tower to the left at 7. Strength check 17.

(Don't forget your 13 temp hp, by the way, everyone)