Galqarin - As soon as you enter the 'gallery', a blinding light engulfs you, rendering your vision into a field of white. Suddenly, a piercing metallic sound ruptures your eardrums. You get the sense that something is wrong, very wrong. Your skin feels itchy and irritable. You feel yourself losing control before your vision fades from white to black.
Dallid - You eagerly make your way back to the rest of the party and your attention is drawn to a sudden movement on your right. You catch a fleeting glimpse of the butler, but something seems different about him this time. His eyes meet yours, and for a split second, you are certain you see a pair of devilish horns protruding from his forehead and his skin turning a sinister shade of red. However, when you glance again, his face appears normal.
As you gaze at the paintings in the hall, a feeling of dread creeps over you. The colors and lines writhe and undulate, as if alive. The figures within them twist and contort, their forms grotesquely distorted. Their faces switch from expressions of unbridled joy to looks of sheer terror in an instant, as if they are in unimaginable pain. You notice that many of the models within the paintings have limbs that are twisted at impossible angles, with their bodies grotesquely mutilated and flayed. The longer you look, the more you realize that the paintings seem to be alive, a reflection of a world more horrific and twisted than you could ever imagine -- was this Vaquelin's nightmare?
You spot Sandu bounding rapidly up the stairs and into the hallway.
Sandu - Bounding up the steps two at a time, you burst into the dimly lit hallway. The flickering light from the sconces cast ominous shadows that seem to be alive, jumping and dancing in macabre delight. As you frantically scan the corridor for Alano, your eyes betray you, playing cruel tricks on your mind. You catch a glimpse of two young women in the periphery of your vision. Upon closer look, you see that their eyes have been replaced with dark, soulless black buttons, and their mouths have been crudely sewn shut. They open their mouths to scream but to no avail.
You do a quick double-take, looking away momentarily before returning to look at the women. Your eyes seemed to have been playing tricks on you for a moment, as their faces appear perfectly normal. They look at you with an air of caution, their eyes seeming to bore into your very soul. "Excuse us," the younger of the two says hesitantly, "but is there something troubling you?" Their voices are soft and musical, but there is an undercurrent of something eerie that sends a shiver down your spine.
With your heart racing, you quickly scour the corridor in search of Alano, but unfortunately, he seems to have vanished without a trace. Despite your best efforts, you are unable to find any clues or indications of his whereabouts. It's as if the very walls of the manor are playing tricks on your mind, deceiving your senses and causing you to see things that are not there.
You watch as Sandu quickly passes you and checks the corridor. Attempting to discern what he is searching for you note movement coming from the west of the property.
Ferelyon
Following a scent, Ferelyon rapidly advances to the west of the corridor, bypassing adjacent doors on his left and right. Upon reaching the end of the hallway, the wolf halts and sniffs intently, emitting a low growl directed at the wooden panelling to the north. It is evident that he has detected the presence of the individual Sandu and the others seek, as he vigorously scratches at the wall.
As you join Sandu and Dallid, your mechanical eyes scan the corridor, attempting to locate the whereabouts of Alano. Suddenly, you catch a fleeting glimpse of movement, a mere blur in the periphery of your vision. Your gaze fixes upon the northwest corner, where the wooden panelling seems to have shifted ever so slightly, as if by an unseen hand. You approach the area, your fingers probing the wood until you detect the presence of minute, barely perceptible cracks. Could this be the entrance to a hidden room or passage?
High-Roll Alert!
In addition, as you walk past the paintings, your eyes are drawn to a peculiar one that seems to shimmer in the dim light. Upon closer inspection, you notice the image in the painting has changed to show a figure you recognise. It's Galqarin, and he's locked in a small cell, unconscious. But that's not all - standing outside the cell is the woman he disappeared with, with an unmistakable look of triumph on her face. As you take a step back, you notice something strange about her - small horns on her head and large bat-like wings protruding from her back. The image is fleeting and quickly changes back to its original subject matter, leaving you with only questions.
Dormark charges towards the panel as he passes by a painting, he pauses than says to the others, "Galqarin is in danger! We must hurry, this man may know what happened!"
Dormark forces the panel open and charges after the man through the portal.
Sandu - Bounding up the steps two at a time, you burst into the dimly lit hallway. The flickering light from the sconces cast ominous shadows that seem to be alive, jumping and dancing in macabre delight. As you frantically scan the corridor for Alano, your eyes betray you, playing cruel tricks on your mind. You catch a glimpse of two young women in the periphery of your vision. Upon closer look, you see that their eyes have been replaced with dark, soulless black buttons, and their mouths have been crudely sewn shut. They open their mouths to scream but to no avail.
You do a quick double-take, looking away momentarily before returning to look at the women. Your eyes seemed to have been playing tricks on you for a moment, as their faces appear perfectly normal.
Sandu reached the top of the staircase. He had leaped up them two steps at a time but slightly misjudged how long the staircase was, resulting in him being a bit out of breath. He took some deep breaths to calm himself. He looked around. It was odd but there was something... off. He must have been more winded then he realised. Did he feel lightheaded? Or did he really see a vague glimpse of two women in the corner of his eye? Yes, he did. But... they were not human. Could not be human. A wire was crudely stitched where their mouths ought to be. And their eyes, they were gone: replaced by what looked like buttons. Two misshaped dolls given flesh by a cruel creator.
Sandu turned away. He dragged a hand over his eyes. That couldn't be real, right? He thought. He wanted to look again yet at the same time did not. The heavy footsteps of Dormark coming up resolved his internal conflict. Sandu looked. The women looked normal: no stitches, no buttons, just regular people.
They look at you with an air of caution, their eyes seeming to bore into your very soul. "Excuse us," the younger of the two says hesitantly, "but is there something troubling you?" Their voices are soft and musical, but there is an undercurrent of something eerie that sends a shiver down your spine.
Sandu gawked at them. Had they not heard? 'Murder.'He managed to reply in between breaths. 'Downstairs.'
He had not the chance to say more. Dormark by now had joined him in the hallway. The warforged must have spotted something Sandu had not for he went straight to a panel on the wall and pried it open.
'Pardon us, ladies.' Sandu smiled at the two women and went to help Dormark.
Helping Dormark with busting open the panel for advantage on his check.
Sandu - "Murder!"the women cry out in unison, their voices ringing through the dimly lit hallway. "Who could have met such a gruesome fate?" But you pay no heed, for your mind is set on catching the treacherous Alano, the butler turned killer. Following after Dormark and Ferelyon, you reach the end of the corridor just in time to witness Dormark's massive metal frame crashing against the wooden wall, splinters flying in every direction. The impact reveals a hidden door, shrouded in shadows and mystery. Unfortunately, it appears that the door is only slightly dislodged at the moment and is not fully open. You prepare yourself, ready to help your companion in his next attempt to break down the door.
Dormark - As mentioned above, the door has been partially dislodged, but it has not yet opened wide enough to allow you to pass through. Please make another strength check with advantage.
Dormark's second attempt is successful, battering down the hidden door, and revealing a small winding staircase. Moving through the tight space, you take the stairs down, back towards the lower level. As you step inside, the air is thick with the scent of old parchment and leather, a musty aroma that mingles with the faint smell of decay. You hear a slam of a door to the east.
The room is dimly lit by flickering candlelight, casting long shadows that dance across the walls and ceiling. Bookcases line the walls, their shelves crammed with dusty tomes and ancient scrolls, their spines bearing titles that seem to have been forgotten by time. Cobwebs hang like fine lace from the ceiling, and the floorboards creak beneath your feet as you make your way through the labyrinth of knowledge. Approaching the door to the east, it becomes clear that it has been forcefully opened. The extent of the damage suggests that immense strength beyond human capability was necessary to accomplish this feat.
Beyond the door lies a narrow corridor, and from the south, you hear the sound of lively chatter and excited voices. Lady Dubois commands the attention of the lively guests with her commanding voice, requesting silence, "Honoured guests, please! It is almost time for the unveiling!"Her speech carries a weight of excitement with every word, emphasizing the importance of the impending event. "Perhaps we may even open the exhibition sooner than expected."
You feel a chill run down your spine as the candles flicker and then go out, plunging you into a world of complete darkness. The silence is deafening, and you can't help but wonder what lurks in the shadows around you. You strain your eyes, but there is nothing to see, only the inky blackness that envelops you like a suffocating cloak. The oppressive darkness seems to weigh down on you, making it difficult to breathe as you stand there feeling vulnerable. Something feels off, as though the darkness itself is alive and watching you, waiting for the right moment to strike.
After a few moments of darkness, the candles flicker back to life as if lit by an unseen force, relieving you from the unsettling gloom. The sound of the guests' chatter from the south fills the air, bringing back a sense of comfort and ease.
"Oh, very well,"Maribelle concedes. "If you would like to follow me this way."
It took Sandu a moment for his eyes to adjust to the shift in lighting. On occasion he had cursed weakness of not being able to see in the dark like some other people could and this was one such occasion. He strained his eyes to force them to see with what little light the feeble candles cast.
'Secret room.'Sandu whispered, holding the middle between excitement and caution. He went inside along the others. The room was dusty and deserted yet it carried within the fragrance of knowledge, evident from the scrolls and books that lined the shelves. Sandu would have paused to peruse where it not that there were more pressing matters at hand. A door to the east was open. Forced open from the looks of it and by something that had more muscle than patience. A corridor extended beyond. Noises drifted in and out the darkness. Sandu focused: he could clearly make out Lady Dubois' voice announcing the near opening of the exhibition. Was he going to miss it? Sandu wondered.
Then the darkness fell. And with it came an oppression supernatural in scope. The silence was deafening, the blindness was frightening and Sandu could swear there was something in the darkness, just outside his senses but somehow he knew it was there, watching them, poised to strike should their guard falter. Sandu reached out with his left hand. His knuckles collided with something hard, something cold, and, from the sound of it, something made of metal. Dormark, he thought and eased up a little. It was then that the candles flickered back to life.
"Something is off... I don't understand... Sandu what should we do," Dormark says looking down at his human companion looking for guidance.
'We seek Galqarin.'Sandu said. He tried to speak with authority, to mask the tremble in his voice. He turned to Dormark and whispered. 'Be on your guard. This woman is more than she appears.'
He followed the woman with one hand in front of him to defend himself and the other clutching the silver icon underneath his shirt.
Night (11:58 pm) - Day 8 - The Dubois Residence
Galqarin - As soon as you enter the 'gallery', a blinding light engulfs you, rendering your vision into a field of white. Suddenly, a piercing metallic sound ruptures your eardrums. You get the sense that something is wrong, very wrong. Your skin feels itchy and irritable. You feel yourself losing control before your vision fades from white to black.
Dallid - You eagerly make your way back to the rest of the party and your attention is drawn to a sudden movement on your right. You catch a fleeting glimpse of the butler, but something seems different about him this time. His eyes meet yours, and for a split second, you are certain you see a pair of devilish horns protruding from his forehead and his skin turning a sinister shade of red. However, when you glance again, his face appears normal.
As you gaze at the paintings in the hall, a feeling of dread creeps over you. The colors and lines writhe and undulate, as if alive. The figures within them twist and contort, their forms grotesquely distorted. Their faces switch from expressions of unbridled joy to looks of sheer terror in an instant, as if they are in unimaginable pain. You notice that many of the models within the paintings have limbs that are twisted at impossible angles, with their bodies grotesquely mutilated and flayed. The longer you look, the more you realize that the paintings seem to be alive, a reflection of a world more horrific and twisted than you could ever imagine -- was this Vaquelin's nightmare?
You spot Sandu bounding rapidly up the stairs and into the hallway.
Sandu - Bounding up the steps two at a time, you burst into the dimly lit hallway. The flickering light from the sconces cast ominous shadows that seem to be alive, jumping and dancing in macabre delight. As you frantically scan the corridor for Alano, your eyes betray you, playing cruel tricks on your mind. You catch a glimpse of two young women in the periphery of your vision. Upon closer look, you see that their eyes have been replaced with dark, soulless black buttons, and their mouths have been crudely sewn shut. They open their mouths to scream but to no avail.
You do a quick double-take, looking away momentarily before returning to look at the women. Your eyes seemed to have been playing tricks on you for a moment, as their faces appear perfectly normal. They look at you with an air of caution, their eyes seeming to bore into your very soul. "Excuse us," the younger of the two says hesitantly, "but is there something troubling you?" Their voices are soft and musical, but there is an undercurrent of something eerie that sends a shiver down your spine.
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Dormark seeing that the man was dead begins charging after Sandu. Trying to catch up to his company who had a head start.
Dormark Calling of Strahd (warforged cleric) 4
Dallid is right behind Dormark chasing after Sandu.
Paladin - warforged - orange
Dallid, Dormark & Sandu - Perception checks, please.
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Perception check: 9 (campaign log)
Will post upon results
Also, is that a Coraline reference? Nice
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
24
Dormark Calling of Strahd (warforged cleric) 4
Dallid perception 20
Ferelyon perception? 7 adv for smell? 10
Paladin - warforged - orange
Perception Checks
Sandu's Perception check:
((It sure is!))
With your heart racing, you quickly scour the corridor in search of Alano, but unfortunately, he seems to have vanished without a trace. Despite your best efforts, you are unable to find any clues or indications of his whereabouts. It's as if the very walls of the manor are playing tricks on your mind, deceiving your senses and causing you to see things that are not there.
Dallid & Ferelyon's Perception checks:
Dallid
You watch as Sandu quickly passes you and checks the corridor. Attempting to discern what he is searching for you note movement coming from the west of the property.
Ferelyon
Following a scent, Ferelyon rapidly advances to the west of the corridor, bypassing adjacent doors on his left and right. Upon reaching the end of the hallway, the wolf halts and sniffs intently, emitting a low growl directed at the wooden panelling to the north. It is evident that he has detected the presence of the individual Sandu and the others seek, as he vigorously scratches at the wall.
Dormark's Perception check:
As you join Sandu and Dallid, your mechanical eyes scan the corridor, attempting to locate the whereabouts of Alano. Suddenly, you catch a fleeting glimpse of movement, a mere blur in the periphery of your vision. Your gaze fixes upon the northwest corner, where the wooden panelling seems to have shifted ever so slightly, as if by an unseen hand. You approach the area, your fingers probing the wood until you detect the presence of minute, barely perceptible cracks. Could this be the entrance to a hidden room or passage?
High-Roll Alert!
In addition, as you walk past the paintings, your eyes are drawn to a peculiar one that seems to shimmer in the dim light. Upon closer inspection, you notice the image in the painting has changed to show a figure you recognise. It's Galqarin, and he's locked in a small cell, unconscious. But that's not all - standing outside the cell is the woman he disappeared with, with an unmistakable look of triumph on her face. As you take a step back, you notice something strange about her - small horns on her head and large bat-like wings protruding from her back. The image is fleeting and quickly changes back to its original subject matter, leaving you with only questions.
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Dormark charges towards the panel as he passes by a painting, he pauses than says to the others, "Galqarin is in danger! We must hurry, this man may know what happened!"
Dormark forces the panel open and charges after the man through the portal.
Dormark Calling of Strahd (warforged cleric) 4
Dallid will try to keep up with Dormark and helps look for a way to open the panel Ferelyon is scratching at
Paladin - warforged - orange
Dormark - Please make a strength check to see how long it takes to break through the wall.
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Sandu reached the top of the staircase. He had leaped up them two steps at a time but slightly misjudged how long the staircase was, resulting in him being a bit out of breath. He took some deep breaths to calm himself. He looked around. It was odd but there was something... off. He must have been more winded then he realised. Did he feel lightheaded? Or did he really see a vague glimpse of two women in the corner of his eye? Yes, he did. But... they were not human. Could not be human. A wire was crudely stitched where their mouths ought to be. And their eyes, they were gone: replaced by what looked like buttons. Two misshaped dolls given flesh by a cruel creator.
Sandu turned away. He dragged a hand over his eyes. That couldn't be real, right? He thought. He wanted to look again yet at the same time did not. The heavy footsteps of Dormark coming up resolved his internal conflict. Sandu looked. The women looked normal: no stitches, no buttons, just regular people.
Sandu gawked at them. Had they not heard? 'Murder.' He managed to reply in between breaths. 'Downstairs.'
He had not the chance to say more. Dormark by now had joined him in the hallway. The warforged must have spotted something Sandu had not for he went straight to a panel on the wall and pried it open.
'Pardon us, ladies.' Sandu smiled at the two women and went to help Dormark.
Helping Dormark with busting open the panel for advantage on his check.
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
(How does a 14 do? Check campaign log.)
Dormark Calling of Strahd (warforged cleric) 4
Sandu - "Murder!" the women cry out in unison, their voices ringing through the dimly lit hallway. "Who could have met such a gruesome fate?" But you pay no heed, for your mind is set on catching the treacherous Alano, the butler turned killer. Following after Dormark and Ferelyon, you reach the end of the corridor just in time to witness Dormark's massive metal frame crashing against the wooden wall, splinters flying in every direction. The impact reveals a hidden door, shrouded in shadows and mystery. Unfortunately, it appears that the door is only slightly dislodged at the moment and is not fully open. You prepare yourself, ready to help your companion in his next attempt to break down the door.
Dormark - As mentioned above, the door has been partially dislodged, but it has not yet opened wide enough to allow you to pass through. Please make another strength check with advantage.
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
20
Dormark Calling of Strahd (warforged cleric) 4
Night (12:05 pm) - Day 8 - Forgotten Library
Dormark's second attempt is successful, battering down the hidden door, and revealing a small winding staircase. Moving through the tight space, you take the stairs down, back towards the lower level. As you step inside, the air is thick with the scent of old parchment and leather, a musty aroma that mingles with the faint smell of decay. You hear a slam of a door to the east.
The room is dimly lit by flickering candlelight, casting long shadows that dance across the walls and ceiling. Bookcases line the walls, their shelves crammed with dusty tomes and ancient scrolls, their spines bearing titles that seem to have been forgotten by time. Cobwebs hang like fine lace from the ceiling, and the floorboards creak beneath your feet as you make your way through the labyrinth of knowledge. Approaching the door to the east, it becomes clear that it has been forcefully opened. The extent of the damage suggests that immense strength beyond human capability was necessary to accomplish this feat.
Beyond the door lies a narrow corridor, and from the south, you hear the sound of lively chatter and excited voices. Lady Dubois commands the attention of the lively guests with her commanding voice, requesting silence, "Honoured guests, please! It is almost time for the unveiling!" Her speech carries a weight of excitement with every word, emphasizing the importance of the impending event. "Perhaps we may even open the exhibition sooner than expected."
You feel a chill run down your spine as the candles flicker and then go out, plunging you into a world of complete darkness. The silence is deafening, and you can't help but wonder what lurks in the shadows around you. You strain your eyes, but there is nothing to see, only the inky blackness that envelops you like a suffocating cloak. The oppressive darkness seems to weigh down on you, making it difficult to breathe as you stand there feeling vulnerable. Something feels off, as though the darkness itself is alive and watching you, waiting for the right moment to strike.
After a few moments of darkness, the candles flicker back to life as if lit by an unseen force, relieving you from the unsettling gloom. The sound of the guests' chatter from the south fills the air, bringing back a sense of comfort and ease.
"Oh, very well," Maribelle concedes. "If you would like to follow me this way."
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
"Something is off... I don't understand... Sandu what should we do," Dormark says looking down at his human companion looking for guidance.
Dormark Calling of Strahd (warforged cleric) 4
It took Sandu a moment for his eyes to adjust to the shift in lighting. On occasion he had cursed weakness of not being able to see in the dark like some other people could and this was one such occasion. He strained his eyes to force them to see with what little light the feeble candles cast.
'Secret room.' Sandu whispered, holding the middle between excitement and caution. He went inside along the others. The room was dusty and deserted yet it carried within the fragrance of knowledge, evident from the scrolls and books that lined the shelves. Sandu would have paused to peruse where it not that there were more pressing matters at hand. A door to the east was open. Forced open from the looks of it and by something that had more muscle than patience. A corridor extended beyond. Noises drifted in and out the darkness. Sandu focused: he could clearly make out Lady Dubois' voice announcing the near opening of the exhibition. Was he going to miss it? Sandu wondered.
Then the darkness fell. And with it came an oppression supernatural in scope. The silence was deafening, the blindness was frightening and Sandu could swear there was something in the darkness, just outside his senses but somehow he knew it was there, watching them, poised to strike should their guard falter. Sandu reached out with his left hand. His knuckles collided with something hard, something cold, and, from the sound of it, something made of metal. Dormark, he thought and eased up a little. It was then that the candles flickered back to life.
'We seek Galqarin.' Sandu said. He tried to speak with authority, to mask the tremble in his voice. He turned to Dormark and whispered. 'Be on your guard. This woman is more than she appears.'
He followed the woman with one hand in front of him to defend himself and the other clutching the silver icon underneath his shirt.
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
With a nod Dormark follows looking back he says, “This way Dallid.“ He keeps a close on his companions in case something happens.
Dormark Calling of Strahd (warforged cleric) 4
Dallid follows close, ill at ease
Paladin - warforged - orange