Not wanting to touch the ringp himself, Bertolt sets his latern down and begins a few quick hand movements as he casts Mage Hand. He will move the spectral hand forward, scooping the ring up and pulling it back to himself. Being careful he will pick the lantern back up but continue to lead the hand forward without touching the ring.
Talion looks around the room for any rocks or other items that might be used to prop the portcullis open, then tries to recall what they have seen in the upper level that might be strong enough to survive the weight of the heavy metal bars.
@Talion When you look away from the room, the chanting and drumming begins anew, the vibrations are felt throughout the whole floor. When you look in, only the echo remains. No figures are visible in the room, nothing is visible in the water. The water hits gently against the ramp down to the portcullis, or perhaps on the raised dais - it's not a violent smashing of waves, rather an eerie lap against stones, the source of which you cannot understand - it should be still! It's possible something is on the other side of the dais that you can't see, or some rats or other little animals could be using that refuse pile at the back as a house - some sort of weird cave beaver, maybe? Thinking back to the places you've been in the house, nothing springs to mind that would survive the violent teeth and obviously heavy counterweights of a portcullis.
@Bertolt No problem. The mage hand grabs the ring and most of goopy Erland drops away. It's a well-crafted gold ring, perhaps worth around 20-30 gold pieces, you'd venture to guess.
Talion considers the huge portcullis, and looks for whatever chains or ropes that lift it, hoping that he might be able to place a piton in such a position as to prevent it being raised. I don't want to get surrounded again. He sizes up the door, then looks in the direction of the secret door that they have found, "Perhaps we should just open the other door. We'll likely hear anyone who tries to open this monstrosity."
Talion turns from the portcullis, his hopes dashed and his plans thwarted.
"Before we go to the other door, I would like my knife back from that alcove...", he points to the alcove in the north wall, glances at his companions, giving them time to stop him, then reclaims his knife using Mage Hand.
You take the knife with no issues. Sho, if he wants the cloak it's also there and nothing seems to happen when he takes that item either. The cloak is very clearly made of the stitched together skins of ghouls - whomever was able to filet the skin off was very talented.
Bertolt will open his bag and have the Mage Hand drop the ring inside before letting the cantrip fade away. As the other look over what else there is to take, the bard will step ahead to keep a light ahead of them.
Erven nods yes. “What do you think about holding onto these chains and manacles in case the water suctions us inward? One of us could open it, holding onto a rope, and the others could be right behind holding onto chains. What do you think?”
If no one else disagrees, Erven directs everyone to hold on, he gives a rope to Onyx to hold onto, he holds onto the other end of it, bends down and opens the secret door, unless someone stops him with a different plan.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
Sho takes a moment to appreciate the craftsmanship of the ghoul skin cloak he holds in his hands, his fingers caressing over the perfect stitched seams. He folds the cloak scrupulously, edge to edge and corner to corner, then puts it away.
(( There are chains next to the secret door? I might be confused... I don't remember seeing it. ))
Talion glances at the others, then watches as Erven opens the door. Sensing that the final confrontation may be at hand, he grips the meat cleaver tightly, drawing comfort from it weight and familiarity. Needs a scabbard, he reminds himself.
As you push the door and it swings inward, you contemplate the situation you find yourselves in and how this came to pass...
Each of you drawn to the adventuring life through different circumstances: some seeking the knowledge of the world and its many inhabitants and mysteries; others seeking to rid the world of evil-doers and undead, gaining a final revenge on a past wrong; others looking for redemption - for themselves and others - in an otherwise unforgiving world; others trying to make sense of their own view and how to reconcile this with their beliefs; and others escaping a meagre existence in favour of a more fruitful one, albeit one with strings attached and unseen... You all found the same opportunity to protect a caravan forging from Baldur's Gate through the Storm Lords to Sembia, stopping on its way through the land at several towns, villages, and cities to re-supply and purchase goods plentiful in the region to sell in areas with a lack. The ultimate goal being to set up a route from Baldur's Gate to Sembia to take advantage of the precious goods found in the latter city...
The dreams and flashes of horrible images had come unwanted and you found yourselves swept away into parts unknown, familiar weapons and belongings stolen or otherwise unavailable. Through the mists you ran, fending off rats, wolves, and the very mists themselves! When a structure presented itself as a safe haven of sorts, you ran to it, only to be greeted by ghostly apparitions. That should have tipped you off of course, but the impetus to find your things, to help others, made you enter the house through the front door.
The house itself exuded magical energies - faint, subtle, but very strong. This was no ordinary house. You came to find that the house belonged to a family, the Dursts, whose inclinations to live forever caused them to turn to dark rituals and fell practices. They began to look for ways to achieve their dark desire by worshipping a being called Strahd, apparently a male noble or some sort of deity - this you are not sure of. It sure seems like Strahd must be a god of some sort... You learned that something happened, something very bad, that caused the cultists to become murdered and trapped within the house, along with the spirits of the not-so-malevolent children and nanny. You also found a dog, presumably also a former inhabitant - although not a spirit, by all accounts. One of the sacrifices seems to have gone very wrong and caused great anger to someone or something. Regardless, you feel something is coming to a head - you pray to whatever gods you like that you're strong enough to pull through it...
You look at each of your companions, wondering if you'll ever know everything important about them: what motivates them, to whom do they offer their penances, if they will protect you, or betray you in the end......they are questions without end. You consider the suspicions, the infighting, the dread of each scenario but you all are united in your unwavering desire to not die in this place; to not be resurrected as a warning nor to serve as an undead sentry for some unknown, dark lord or power....
The door swoops inwards silently, just above the water. As you look inside, once more the chanting has stopped, with the last syllable still echoing around the room. The mist floats in the air, giving you all a feeling of dread in the pits of your stomachs. If you look northwards, towards the portcullis, you can see a spoked wheel sticking a bit out of the wall. You can assume this mechanism is attached to the portcullis and used to raise and lower it.
MAP - please tell me where you are, i,.e. starting position. Erven and Lucky Bear are at F3 and E3, respectively...
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Erven takes the rope back from Onyx, there was no suctioning into the room. He takes out a piton and wedges the secret door open, to where it will not move. Rapier and shield out, he peers into the room to look for any movement or inhabitants.
Perception : 18
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
(( And there is no sign of what was chanting, or what was causing the watery slushing sounds? ))
Not wanting to touch the ringp himself, Bertolt sets his latern down and begins a few quick hand movements as he casts Mage Hand. He will move the spectral hand forward, scooping the ring up and pulling it back to himself. Being careful he will pick the lantern back up but continue to lead the hand forward without touching the ring.
Talion wrinkles his nose, and steps back, suspicious of the black goo dripping from the ring. "Maybe wash it in the water by the portcullis."
Talion looks around the room for any rocks or other items that might be used to prop the portcullis open, then tries to recall what they have seen in the upper level that might be strong enough to survive the weight of the heavy metal bars.
@Talion
When you look away from the room, the chanting and drumming begins anew, the vibrations are felt throughout the whole floor. When you look in, only the echo remains. No figures are visible in the room, nothing is visible in the water. The water hits gently against the ramp down to the portcullis, or perhaps on the raised dais - it's not a violent smashing of waves, rather an eerie lap against stones, the source of which you cannot understand - it should be still! It's possible something is on the other side of the dais that you can't see, or some rats or other little animals could be using that refuse pile at the back as a house - some sort of weird cave beaver, maybe?
Thinking back to the places you've been in the house, nothing springs to mind that would survive the violent teeth and obviously heavy counterweights of a portcullis.
@Bertolt
No problem. The mage hand grabs the ring and most of goopy Erland drops away. It's a well-crafted gold ring, perhaps worth around 20-30 gold pieces, you'd venture to guess.
DM - And In The Darkness, Rot: The Sunless Citadel
DM - Our Little Lives Kept In Equipoise: Curse of Strahd
DM - Misprize Thou Not These Shadows That Belong: The Lost Mines of Phandelver
PC - Azzure - Tyranny of Dragons
Talion considers the huge portcullis, and looks for whatever chains or ropes that lift it, hoping that he might be able to place a piton in such a position as to prevent it being raised. I don't want to get surrounded again. He sizes up the door, then looks in the direction of the secret door that they have found, "Perhaps we should just open the other door. We'll likely hear anyone who tries to open this monstrosity."
Talion turns from the portcullis, his hopes dashed and his plans thwarted.
"Before we go to the other door, I would like my knife back from that alcove...", he points to the alcove in the north wall, glances at his companions, giving them time to stop him, then reclaims his knife using Mage Hand.
You take the knife with no issues. Sho, if he wants the cloak it's also there and nothing seems to happen when he takes that item either. The cloak is very clearly made of the stitched together skins of ghouls - whomever was able to filet the skin off was very talented.
DM - And In The Darkness, Rot: The Sunless Citadel
DM - Our Little Lives Kept In Equipoise: Curse of Strahd
DM - Misprize Thou Not These Shadows That Belong: The Lost Mines of Phandelver
PC - Azzure - Tyranny of Dragons
Bertolt will open his bag and have the Mage Hand drop the ring inside before letting the cantrip fade away. As the other look over what else there is to take, the bard will step ahead to keep a light ahead of them.
Talion breathes a sigh of relief, and quickly reviews the other items available, then shrugs and reaches (magically) for the rat-head dagger.
If nothing untoward eventuates, he turns back to his companions, "Shall we try the secret door?" he asks.
Erven nods yes. “What do you think about holding onto these chains and manacles in case the water suctions us inward? One of us could open it, holding onto a rope, and the others could be right behind holding onto chains. What do you think?”
He pauses and says, “I will open the door.”
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
If no one else disagrees, Erven directs everyone to hold on, he gives a rope to Onyx to hold onto, he holds onto the other end of it, bends down and opens the secret door, unless someone stops him with a different plan.
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
Sho takes a moment to appreciate the craftsmanship of the ghoul skin cloak he holds in his hands, his fingers caressing over the perfect stitched seams. He folds the cloak scrupulously, edge to edge and corner to corner, then puts it away.
(( There are chains next to the secret door? I might be confused... I don't remember seeing it. ))
Talion glances at the others, then watches as Erven opens the door. Sensing that the final confrontation may be at hand, he grips the meat cleaver tightly, drawing comfort from it weight and familiarity. Needs a scabbard, he reminds himself.
As you push the door and it swings inward, you contemplate the situation you find yourselves in and how this came to pass...
The dreams and flashes of horrible images had come unwanted and you found yourselves swept away into parts unknown, familiar weapons and belongings stolen or otherwise unavailable. Through the mists you ran, fending off rats, wolves, and the very mists themselves! When a structure presented itself as a safe haven of sorts, you ran to it, only to be greeted by ghostly apparitions. That should have tipped you off of course, but the impetus to find your things, to help others, made you enter the house through the front door.
The house itself exuded magical energies - faint, subtle, but very strong. This was no ordinary house. You came to find that the house belonged to a family, the Dursts, whose inclinations to live forever caused them to turn to dark rituals and fell practices. They began to look for ways to achieve their dark desire by worshipping a being called Strahd, apparently a male noble or some sort of deity - this you are not sure of. It sure seems like Strahd must be a god of some sort... You learned that something happened, something very bad, that caused the cultists to become murdered and trapped within the house, along with the spirits of the not-so-malevolent children and nanny. You also found a dog, presumably also a former inhabitant - although not a spirit, by all accounts. One of the sacrifices seems to have gone very wrong and caused great anger to someone or something. Regardless, you feel something is coming to a head - you pray to whatever gods you like that you're strong enough to pull through it...
You look at each of your companions, wondering if you'll ever know everything important about them: what motivates them, to whom do they offer their penances, if they will protect you, or betray you in the end......they are questions without end. You consider the suspicions, the infighting, the dread of each scenario but you all are united in your unwavering desire to not die in this place; to not be resurrected as a warning nor to serve as an undead sentry for some unknown, dark lord or power....
The door swoops inwards silently, just above the water. As you look inside, once more the chanting has stopped, with the last syllable still echoing around the room. The mist floats in the air, giving you all a feeling of dread in the pits of your stomachs. If you look northwards, towards the portcullis, you can see a spoked wheel sticking a bit out of the wall. You can assume this mechanism is attached to the portcullis and used to raise and lower it.
MAP - please tell me where you are, i,.e. starting position. Erven and Lucky Bear are at F3 and E3, respectively...
DM - And In The Darkness, Rot: The Sunless Citadel
DM - Our Little Lives Kept In Equipoise: Curse of Strahd
DM - Misprize Thou Not These Shadows That Belong: The Lost Mines of Phandelver
PC - Azzure - Tyranny of Dragons
(( Talion is likely at
E2F1, wary of attack from behind (edit: changed my mind, F1 -- he'd want to see into the room) ))As the door swings open, he speaks quietly, "Drawing whatever is in there to the stairs is still an option you know. Harder to surround us."
Noted. As you voice your concern, it echoes off the walls around you.... "harder to surround you....you know....surround...you....drawing whatever..."
DM - And In The Darkness, Rot: The Sunless Citadel
DM - Our Little Lives Kept In Equipoise: Curse of Strahd
DM - Misprize Thou Not These Shadows That Belong: The Lost Mines of Phandelver
PC - Azzure - Tyranny of Dragons
(( To quote a certain movie: "I've got a bad feeling about this..."; also, I edited JUST before you replied, he's actually at F1 ))
Erven takes the rope back from Onyx, there was no suctioning into the room. He takes out a piton and wedges the secret door open, to where it will not move. Rapier and shield out, he peers into the room to look for any movement or inhabitants.
Perception : 18
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
If space permits, Talion will move forward to hammer the piton deep into the doorframe (wall or floor), trying to ensure the door will remain open.