"We cannot let this... creature live. I am truely sorry about your son Donavitch but he is long gone. What is left of him is an empty shell without a soul. What would happen if it managed to leave the undercroft?"

Speaking softly to Donavich, "Why don't you guide me through one of your prayers? I'll pray and chant with you - who do you follow? ... Together, we will all save your son and set him free from the torture set upon him by Strahd."

"Agreed. Whatever that thing is, it's hungry. We should end it's suffering."

Donavich sighs. "I would take you to the undercroft, but I had lost the key long ago."

"I'm sure one of us can pick the lock... If not, a couple of us could try breaking it down." 

Donavich says, "I will take you to the undercroft door. My son's name was Doru. He was my only son and my only relative since my wife died." and leads you back down the hallway to the door closest to the entrance on the right. He opens the door.

"Time and neglect have punched holes in the ceiling of this moldy room, which contains a few broken roof shingles amid puddles of water. In one corner, set into the floor, is a heavy wooden trapdoor held shut with a chain and a padlock. A young man's screams can be heard through the door."

Emre will ready a sacred flame spell for when she first sees the poor wretch.

Valanthe, sword fully drawn, knocks on the door with her shield, "Doru? It's okay, we're here to save you!"   Then turning to the others, "Can anyone pick this lock or are we breaking down the door?"

"Doru, we are here to make a bargain!" Thpas, standing behind Valanthe peers into the doorway

Perception 18 and immediately describes what he sees of the room.

//I don't think the door is open yet...is it?//

Quote from Kickinitlegit >>

"Dormu, we are here to make a bargain!" 

"Erme, don't be so pessimistic - I'm in no mood to meet your lord yet - or worse suffer undeath.  Maybe we should sing a song to Doru to calm him down - do you like music Doru?"

"My guess? He likes blood," mutters Emre. 

"Is that a band from your hometown, Erme? Hum a few bars and I'll follow along," Erme responds.

@jr_el_leon

(OOC: this might be why people are freaking out, LOL Thpas included)

// Got that, but "In one corner, set into the floor, is a heavy wooden trapdoor held shut with a chain and a padlock. A young man's screams can be heard through the door." I figured that was the key he lost. No worries - DungeonLord will clarify soon enough. //

Clarification: In the room is a trapdoor. Under the trapdoor is the undercroft. The key to the trapdoor to the undercroft is lost. Without the key to the trapdoor to the to the undercroft, there is no opening the trapdoor to the undercroft. Thus, you can enter the undercroft by breaking the door (Strength check). The lock to the trapdoor to the undercroft is too rusted to be picked.

"Donavich, that's the door to the undercroft is it?  That lock looks plenty rusted - anyone want to help me break the door down?  The rest should set a perimeter just behind - we don't want to get flanked."

// OOC - I just realized that we lost a few players somewhere along the path - a ranger, a fighter and I think a wizard - so I take it I'll be front lining mostly then?  Should be fun. //

"So looks like the lock can't be picked. I say we go in prepared—don't take any chances dealing with undead. It's probably dark in there, too."

Emre casts light on her shield.

Quote from Kickinitlegit >>

@jr_el_leon

 

Donavich says, "I will take you to the undercroft door. My son's name was Doru. He was my only son and my only relative since my wife died." and leads you back down the hallway to the door closest to the entrance on the right. ***He opens the door.***

"Time and neglect have punched holes in the ceiling of this moldy room, which contains a few broken roof shingles amid puddles of water. In one corner, set into the floor, is a heavy wooden trapdoor held shut with a chain and a padlock. A young man's screams can be heard through the door."

(OOC: this might be why people are freaking out, LOL Thpas included)