Col nods at Dormark, "Thank ye friend. I'll try an' keep me 'opes up. But, I fear we'll be sufferin' under tha Devil's curse fer eternity."
"Not sure 'ow much sense yer likely ta talk inta Rog. Seemed ta me like he were pretty set on goin' to tha Castle." Col shakes his head in disbelief,"All on 'is own an' all."
"Madam Eva? Fink I 'eard talk of a 'madam Eva'. A' tha Vistani camp a' Tser Falls. Just got ta follow this road to tha West and take tha road North when he forks - 'bout a mile till tha fork. Best ya be mighty careful around Vistani though."Col lowers his voice, "Been 'earing they be in league wit' tha Devil 'imself!" He looks over his shoulder nervously as though being stalked by one of Strahd's spectres. "Best ya all take care."
Ioben speaks up from the back, "Thank you for the warning. We are not exactly here of our own free choice, and I fear Strahd is the cause of that. I think our causes have been dealt from the same deck. We will see what we can do to help as we travel along the way."
"Thank you Cole, may we meet again under better circumstances, does anyone have any more questions before we travel down the road," asks Dormark bowing his head before the man.
After the party bids farewell to Col they continue down the Old Svalich Road. Heavy fog covers the woods either side of the road, though the path itself appears clearer. Other than a couple of false alarms the party's journey goes without issue for the next 30 minutes. That is until they see a crossroads emerging out of the mists - the 'fork' Col had mentioned.
Furtively the group approaches the crossroads and more details start coming into view. An old wooden gallows creaks in a chill wind that blows down from the high ground to the west. Dangling from the gallows is a large, hulking corpse. The well-worn road splits here; the northwest fork slants down and disappears into the trees, while the southwest fork clings to an upward slope. Across from the gallows, a low wall, crumbling in places, partially encloses a small plot of graves shrouded in fog.
A signpost opposite the gallows points off in three directions: Barovia Village (where the party came from, to the east), Tser Pool (where the Vallaki camp is believed to be) to the northwest, and Ravenloft/Vallaki to the southwest.
((Old Svalich Road Crossroads (though not depicted a large, hulking corpse hangs from the gallows to the left)))
As the party draws closer to the crossroads, the gallows holding the corpse the rope begins to fray, its fibres pang, until with a thunderous CRASH it breaks. The sound echoes down the road causing a number of ravens to take flight in response. The large corpse lies still next to the now broken structure.
Though the corpse may not appear to be moving to the untrained eye. You notice from it's sedentary position on the ground it is beginning to stir, it's eyes opening...
Opening first one eye, then the other, the creature appears to survey the blurred forms before it with an unblinking stare. One of its long, hairy arms twitches, seemingly of its own accord. A low moan issues forth, accompanied by what might or might not be a curse in the goblin tongue.
Determinedly, it pushes itself first onto all fours, before standing upright. It looks to be a good seven feet tall, although it is difficult to ascertain due to the world around it swaying unsteadily. Its yellow, bestial eyes roll upwards and it topples slowly over into a crumpled, hairy heap.
Sandu felt cold. Though it was the third day he was in this strange land of Barovia, he had yet to see the light or feel the warmth of the sun. He never would have guessed he would miss it so dearly. It was ss if the dreariness of Barovia's people was made manifest in the environment. Or was it the other way around? Sandu did not know and he much preferred not to think about it.
He made his way along with the others down the old Svalich road. Sticking to the road gave Sandu a false sense of security but it was better than nothing. But that feeling was obliterated at the sight of the gallows. It was strange though: Sandu knew he should be more fearful of the wooden scaffold but some part of him almost expected it: gallows with the corpse still softly swaying in the wind, like a cliche out of a horror story he had read.
That still did not prepare him for the loud crash the corpse made as it fell to the ground. Nor what happened afterwards.
'Did... Did anyone else see that corpse move?'Sandu asked, his voice clearly trembling. 'I'm not just seeing things, right?'
Upon closer inspection the 'corpse' on the ground appears to be significantly less 'dead' then you may first have believed; not only that but you are pretty certain there is no rotting flesh, no festering wounds, no flesh sloughing off bones, or any other such marker that would suggest undeath. As far as you can tell this is a creature, from the goblinoid family, most likely a bugbear.
You are unable to discern how long the creature must have been hanging there, but the gallows (or rather what is left of them) look ancient.
Ioben jumps at the sound of the crash and the rising unkindness of raven's. His bow springs up in his hands and he turns to scan the surrounding trees.
'Did... Did anyone else see that corpse move?' Sandu asked, his voice clearly trembling. 'I'm not just seeing things, right?'
"You should go check," Ioben mutters without much thought as he is distracted by the surroundings. Then the comment registers and he turns back to the gallows."Moved? Did you say that thing moved?"
“Well whatever it is awake, whether it is alive and friendly that is a different point altogether,” Dormark says pulling his mace from its holder he approaches the down humanoid. In common he says, “Are you alive and willing to corporate or is there a reason your body was hanging from the gallows and should we return you to the earth?”
The creature would see something that resembled a suit of armor, but would notice in the eye sockets that a red glow filled them, the “helmet” was filled with no flesh and was moving, and any exposed joints were filled with either polished wood or metal. The mace he holds though plain looks to be kept in good condition, and looks strong enough that it crack a few bones if need be.
The creature, currently face down in the dirt and thus unable to take in the sight of the armoured monstrosity that now confronts it, makes a noise that sounds rather like "Mmmmph" in common.
You cannot quite see what all the fuss is about. The hairy-looking human corpse seems to be relatively still. Clearly the others in the party are seeing something you are not.
You cannot quite see what all the fuss is about. Whatever it is looks dead enough. You're not sure what afflicted the corpse but it has to be the hairiest looking Elvish woman you have ever seen!
The corpse - be it a bugbear, or an exceptionally hairy elven woman - is large and gangly. There are no visible signs of injury, beyond the wicked welts upon its thick neck. Indeed, the solidity of this feature may be the sole reason why this particular corpse is uncommonly mobile, as corpses go. It is dressed in common clothes.
It opens its yellow eyes once more, struggling to focus upon the suit of armour looming over it. "Gods, not again", it utters chokingly in common.
"Valerie," Ioben points toward the trees, "I think Sandu meant the upset guy who went running that way. Rog was it?"
Col nods at Dormark, "Thank ye friend. I'll try an' keep me 'opes up. But, I fear we'll be sufferin' under tha Devil's curse fer eternity."
"Not sure 'ow much sense yer likely ta talk inta Rog. Seemed ta me like he were pretty set on goin' to tha Castle." Col shakes his head in disbelief, "All on 'is own an' all."
"Madam Eva? Fink I 'eard talk of a 'madam Eva'. A' tha Vistani camp a' Tser Falls. Just got ta follow this road to tha West and take tha road North when he forks - 'bout a mile till tha fork. Best ya be mighty careful around Vistani though." Col lowers his voice, "Been 'earing they be in league wit' tha Devil 'imself!" He looks over his shoulder nervously as though being stalked by one of Strahd's spectres. "Best ya all take care."
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Valerie looks at the man near the tree and back to Ioben. "Oh! My apologies. I was... err... distracted."
She is a bit surprised by what Col has said. "They work for Strahd?"
Ioben speaks up from the back, "Thank you for the warning. We are not exactly here of our own free choice, and I fear Strahd is the cause of that. I think our causes have been dealt from the same deck. We will see what we can do to help as we travel along the way."
"Thank you Cole, may we meet again under better circumstances, does anyone have any more questions before we travel down the road," asks Dormark bowing his head before the man.
Dormark Calling of Strahd (warforged cleric) 4
Col looks over his shoulder suspiciously as Valerie asks the question, "S'what I 'eard. Be careful around 'em, s'all I'm sayin'."
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Afternoon - Day 3 - The Journey Continues
After the party bids farewell to Col they continue down the Old Svalich Road. Heavy fog covers the woods either side of the road, though the path itself appears clearer. Other than a couple of false alarms the party's journey goes without issue for the next 30 minutes. That is until they see a crossroads emerging out of the mists - the 'fork' Col had mentioned.
Furtively the group approaches the crossroads and more details start coming into view. An old wooden gallows creaks in a chill wind that blows down from the high ground to the west. Dangling from the gallows is a large, hulking corpse. The well-worn road splits here; the northwest fork slants down and disappears into the trees, while the southwest fork clings to an upward slope. Across from the gallows, a low wall, crumbling in places, partially encloses a small plot of graves shrouded in fog.
A signpost opposite the gallows points off in three directions: Barovia Village (where the party came from, to the east), Tser Pool (where the Vallaki camp is believed to be) to the northwest, and Ravenloft/Vallaki to the southwest.
As the party draws closer to the crossroads, the gallows holding the corpse the rope begins to fray, its fibres pang, until with a thunderous CRASH it breaks. The sound echoes down the road causing a number of ravens to take flight in response. The large corpse lies still next to the now broken structure.
Dormark and Sandu's Passive Perception:
Though the corpse may not appear to be moving to the untrained eye. You notice from it's sedentary position on the ground it is beginning to stir, it's eyes opening...
ALL - Perception checks please.
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Baern perception: 17
Baern's Perception check:
As you move closer to the corpse on the floor you are struck by a couple of things:
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Opening first one eye, then the other, the creature appears to survey the blurred forms before it with an unblinking stare. One of its long, hairy arms twitches, seemingly of its own accord. A low moan issues forth, accompanied by what might or might not be a curse in the goblin tongue.
Determinedly, it pushes itself first onto all fours, before standing upright. It looks to be a good seven feet tall, although it is difficult to ascertain due to the world around it swaying unsteadily. Its yellow, bestial eyes roll upwards and it topples slowly over into a crumpled, hairy heap.
Sandu felt cold. Though it was the third day he was in this strange land of Barovia, he had yet to see the light or feel the warmth of the sun. He never would have guessed he would miss it so dearly. It was ss if the dreariness of Barovia's people was made manifest in the environment. Or was it the other way around? Sandu did not know and he much preferred not to think about it.
He made his way along with the others down the old Svalich road. Sticking to the road gave Sandu a false sense of security but it was better than nothing. But that feeling was obliterated at the sight of the gallows. It was strange though: Sandu knew he should be more fearful of the wooden scaffold but some part of him almost expected it: gallows with the corpse still softly swaying in the wind, like a cliche out of a horror story he had read.
That still did not prepare him for the loud crash the corpse made as it fell to the ground. Nor what happened afterwards.
'Did... Did anyone else see that corpse move?' Sandu asked, his voice clearly trembling. 'I'm not just seeing things, right?'
OOC: Perception 24
William Brackwater: Human Fighter - The Windward Isles
Tyrgram, the Butterfly Knight: Dwarf Warlock - Secret of Greenwold
Iòlinder Corrach: Half Elf War Cleric - Allansia Adventure
Valerius Sergius Publius: Dhampir Paladin - Vae Victus
Sandu's Perception check:
Upon closer inspection the 'corpse' on the ground appears to be significantly less 'dead' then you may first have believed; not only that but you are pretty certain there is no rotting flesh, no festering wounds, no flesh sloughing off bones, or any other such marker that would suggest undeath. As far as you can tell this is a creature, from the goblinoid family, most likely a bugbear.
You are unable to discern how long the creature must have been hanging there, but the gallows (or rather what is left of them) look ancient.
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Ioben jumps at the sound of the crash and the rising unkindness of raven's. His bow springs up in his hands and he turns to scan the surrounding trees.
"You should go check," Ioben mutters without much thought as he is distracted by the surroundings. Then the comment registers and he turns back to the gallows. "Moved? Did you say that thing moved?"
Perception: 8
Perception 13
“Well whatever it is awake, whether it is alive and friendly that is a different point altogether,” Dormark says pulling his mace from its holder he approaches the down humanoid. In common he says, “Are you alive and willing to corporate or is there a reason your body was hanging from the gallows and should we return you to the earth?”
The creature would see something that resembled a suit of armor, but would notice in the eye sockets that a red glow filled them, the “helmet” was filled with no flesh and was moving, and any exposed joints were filled with either polished wood or metal. The mace he holds though plain looks to be kept in good condition, and looks strong enough that it crack a few bones if need be.
Dormark Calling of Strahd (warforged cleric) 4
The creature, currently face down in the dirt and thus unable to take in the sight of the armoured monstrosity that now confronts it, makes a noise that sounds rather like "Mmmmph" in common.
Ioben's Perception check:
You cannot quite see what all the fuss is about. The hairy-looking human corpse seems to be relatively still. Clearly the others in the party are seeing something you are not.
Valerie's Perception check:
You cannot quite see what all the fuss is about. Whatever it is looks dead enough. You're not sure what afflicted the corpse but it has to be the hairiest looking Elvish woman you have ever seen!
((Congratulations on the nat-1!))
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
With a sigh Dormark grabs the thing’s shoulder with his shield arm and flips it unto its back taking a look at what it is and its condition.
Dormark Calling of Strahd (warforged cleric) 4
The corpse - be it a bugbear, or an exceptionally hairy elven woman - is large and gangly. There are no visible signs of injury, beyond the wicked welts upon its thick neck. Indeed, the solidity of this feature may be the sole reason why this particular corpse is uncommonly mobile, as corpses go. It is dressed in common clothes.
It opens its yellow eyes once more, struggling to focus upon the suit of armour looming over it. "Gods, not again", it utters chokingly in common.
'AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!' Sandu's finger pointed at the apparently not-so-dead hairy corpse.
'AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!' Sandu's legs carried him down the road.
'AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaahhh!!!' Sandu's voice trailed off in the distance.
William Brackwater: Human Fighter - The Windward Isles
Tyrgram, the Butterfly Knight: Dwarf Warlock - Secret of Greenwold
Iòlinder Corrach: Half Elf War Cleric - Allansia Adventure
Valerius Sergius Publius: Dhampir Paladin - Vae Victus