Pizazz's Ravenloft and Beyond

Meepo second athletics check then: 16 (If appropriate add the +3 from Lionel to this...)

Ulthan starts looking around for tracks (pls see previous survival roll) and other signs of life. Look for ways to sneak to the area rather than walk down the center path. Entry point would be a window or crack in the wall if found.

There are no recent tracks in the area...and Ulthan figures that the area, though protected from the worst of it, is still subject to harsh winds and mountain weather. It's also very rocky. That said, he finds no signs of any recent tracks. As for entry points, the entire second floor, all that remains of the higher floors of what must have once been a huge tall structure, is almost half-open to the world. If you can climb 30 feet up, which looks very simple against the ruin, you can easily enter through a broken wall or broken open window onto the 2nd floor.  The first floor though seems structurally sound and there are no windows or other openings of note. In fact, some of the walls look like they should have holes, but instead newer solid rock has filled the gaps. Someone has repaired it...likely with magic.

Mordekai opens himself up, letting his Fey presence spread through the world around him. He immediately feels the prickling sensation of the Fey wild swirling around him.  No one else sees anything, but to Mordekai, he sees a spiralling vortex of purple cloud that coalesces with a 'pop' into a small fey spirit hovering before him. It appears to be a small spirit, in the shape of a tiny man wearing a robe, with a head that is formed of some strange pattern rather than an actual head. It bobs and wavers in the air before him, before falling suddenly to the ground like a blob. It slowly seems to slime across the ground towards his feet.  (The others watch on as Mordekai seems to watch some invisible interaction and is now staring at the ground near his feet.) 

Ketch begins casting detect magic as a ritual.  As he continues his spell casting, a dull roaring is getting louder and louder. The sky darkens as the sun drops away, but further still as dark clouds move over the sky above them.  By the time he is done his spell, the wind is blowing steadily east to west in a roar. This pocket seems somewhat protected, on the lee side of the crevice, and you figure, even outside here, you may well be protected from the coming storm. 

The thing at Mordekai's feet shivers and he hears it say, "Lies...." 

Mordekai sits down cross-legged in front of the creature, and chuckles.  "Everything is lies, my friend.  But what is it specifically that you're speaking of?"

     "I think inside may be wise..." Ketch says, looking for both the quickest way and any signs of magic in the area.  Lionel has expressed concern the wizard's tower was hidden with illusion magics - If the wizard could do that he could perhaps summon the storms as well.  Best to see what is going on... And to get to safety while doing so.

Lionel looked around, listened to the wind and nodded to Ketch: "Seems safe enough, but if this is that promised highstorm is coming with its magic, we might better get inside still". He stepped inside the ruins.

Ulthan heads towards the second floor and will climb it quietly to get a look from there. While odds are it has blocked off ceiling as it did with windows, It may prove a shelter of sorts while some of the group rests which apparently they require.

The strange creature with a head that looks like a drawing of some sort of strange symbol slithers over to Mordekai's feet and slurps up onto the side of his shoe. "Everything? Lies." 

As Lionel approaches the ruins and the 'front door', Ulthan clambers up the side of the ruin until he's a good 30 feet up in the blasting wind. His hair all about as he crawls over the lip and onto the 2nd floor.  Ulthan notes a crumbling stairway, giant sized, that leads down to the first floor, and a door to a room that seems somewhat intact. He feels a shiver looking towards the door. Glancing down behind him, he sees a large open section looking down into the 1st floor below, including the inside of the door.  Below him, he sees the crackling red energy of two large, semi-transparent spirits. They appears to be giant sized, though are shot through with red lightning as they zip in spastic spurts about the floor below. They don't seem to have noticed Ulthan. 

Lionel walks up to the front doors, and with all his might, pushes forward, the front door creaking open.  Within, he sees the same view as Ulthan, except from the from the lower floor. The large red lightning spirits move about the room, seemingly ignorant of Lionel.  Beneath the broken ceiling, Lionel can see more of the room. The floor here is made of frost-covered white and green tile. A worn carpet leads from the entrance to staircases going up and down. Two doors on the left wall appear closed. Three giant-sized display cases along the right wall hold faded documents.

As Ketch moves forward, he notes that magical glimmers seem to be appearing in the air around them, but otherwise, he doesn't sense any particular magic aside the formidable magical aura's coming from the groups magical items.

Ulthan watches from above, his bow and arrows at the ready since they've already opened the doors.

Can Mordekai tell if this creature is for or against him? Is it calling Mordekai "lies" or warning Mordekai of the "lies" ahead? Insight: 10

"Does the wizard still reside here?"

(I should've been rolling with disadvantage, I realise, due to 2 levels of exhaustion. So, not that I imagine it matters in this instance, but second roll for disadvantage: 12)

     Still holding the concentration on the Detect Magic, Ketch gears himself up and hurries to catch up with Lionel.

Mordekai can't tell. It may be the exhaustion speaking, but his mind is still swirling a bit from the climb and the thin air up here, and he struggles to focus particularly well on anything. 

He watches Ulthan standing within the ruins ahead, staring down at the floor beneath him with bow and arrow ready. Lionel has managed to press open one of the giant doors and stands looking in, with Ketch approaching behind. Meepo crouches nearby Mordekai within the rocks. His phantom steed stands nearby. 

Above them, the air seems to glitter with the magical little spirits, though these ones are dark instead of light, and zip ahead, as if heralding the storm that is nearly upon the group.  The sky is black and the wind howls over the natural crevice in the mountain. 

     “Perhaps we explore after the storm has passed?” Ketch shouts out to all.  “Set up the dome and wait it out?”

"Agreed. Not the best time to explore. I would say, let's make the dome inside that room, but do not really like the look of these... spirits? Not sure what is this even. Still, if dome can be created inside without running into those shiny things ..." He left the phrase hanging and looked at Meepo.

"hrmpfh globe outside horse in globe we in ruins near globe hrmpfh"

Meepo looks to Mordekai. "Who Mordekai talking to?" Meepo asks his friend, a bit confused. he looks up in concern at the storm coming in hard upon them. "Maybe Meepo and Mordekai get inside now? Meepo no have time summon Tiny Hut now..." He moves to his phantom steed and would try to get Mordekai to either climb on behind him, or to start moving to the fortress himself. Meepo would not leave Mordekai alone out there though.

"The motes. But yes, let's get inside." Mordekai  starts to follow Meepo, but beckons to the small mote-creature to join them inside. He offers down a hand to the creature and says, "Join us? We'd love your help. And perhaps there's something we can do for you in return?"

The weird pattern thing sorta slides up Mordekai's leg and just hangs there on him. It doesn't feel like anything, but seems firmly stuck. Shrugging Mordekai follows Meepo's summons and the two of them move forward to Lionel. Ulthan watches as the group moves inside the building. 

The two giant sized, roughly human shaped spirits of red lightning move about in the room casually...as if the group were not there. They find themselves within, all except Ulthan who is staring down from the floor above. The building above him is missing its roof and open to the storm.  Which hits just then.

A wall of black mist rips past the building and the howling wind increases to a fevered pitch. Being on the lee side of the gorge means the air isn't pitch black, but everything becomes dim in the frenzied rush of black fog that swirls around weekly, seeping into the building. Ketch sees streaks of magic rippling through the darkness as he watches, every school of magic twisting and renting.  The thing stuck to Mordekai starts vibrating and falls off of his leg to land on the ground.  Suddenly everyone can see this small thing appear, the body of a man, made of mist, ending with two misty feet, but its head is a weird scribble of pattern.  It begins speaking in strange words as it stumbles about in confusion. 

The other two lightning spirits in the room though stop....their red lightning forms begin to pulse and the suddenly seem to become aware of the group. 

Roll initiative. 

Red lightning spirits: 16.  13. 

Please note, these are 10' squares.  The stairs count as "difficult terrain".  The entire upstairs is heavily obscured, and the downstairs is lightly obscured due to the black fog.  

Meepo : Basic room, 80 x 100 feet. Two doors in the left wall. Stairs going up and down against the back wall 100 feet away. Ceiling on bottom half of room is open to the floor above, which is 30 feet up. One spirit is 40 feet away, the other is 70 feet away.

3 - Ketch Initiative

...

 Is initiative an ability check?  Ok 6 for disadvantage due to exhaustion

Mordekai initiative: 20

(And if disadvantage due to exhaustion: 19)