Bergovista, Nova Vaasa 5 a.m : Outside of the Inn at Bergovista
Like when you departed Kantora, Tarlyn has made sure you all wake before dawn. Some of you grumble, while others accept stoically. The mission is of utmost urgency after all. The coach is waiting in front as you exit. You enter and sit, bleary eyed from the hour. The coach begins to move and soon, you are traveling at a good pace. By Tarlyn’s calculations you should be at the border of Nova Vaasa and Barovia near the hour of the evening meal. If luck is with the party, the Village of Barovia near sunset.
The first leg of the journey goes well. You stop for your noon repast and converse amongst yourselves. Tarlyn is not with you as you eat, preferring to stay alert out in the open. Nothing occurs as you eat. The coach leaves and Tarlyn resumes his position ahead of the coach, ever alert. He has not said much since you departed Darkon. He has addressed mostly the hostile innkeepers or made small talk. He keeps mostly to himself and in the evenings you were in Bergovista and Kantora he was not to be found, even after he came back from the gambling house in Kantora.
The afternoon passes without incident and you arrive at the border of Nova Vaasa and Barovia. As Tarlyn predicted, it is the hour of the evening meal. What he may have omitted to mention was the immense wall of fog that separates Nova Vaasa from Barovia. Never have any of you seen anything like it. It goes on for miles and miles in both directions. After observing it for a while, your hunger gets the better of you and Tarlyn removes from his pouch enough deer meat for everyone. Of course he leaves it up to you to cook it. His work of providing the food is terminated this day. Whilst you eat, he observes the fog. He passes his hand in it, his foot and finally his head. He removes himself from the fog frowning. Removing a coin from a pouch he concentrates. It is enveloped in a faerie fire as he moves into the fog. A few minutes later he comes back with the normal coin.
He walks back to you and speaks a few words, his voice sounding almost as if it were inhuman. “I deem it safe to pass, so pass we shall once your meal is done.” He wanders over to his horse and rubs it affectionately. He mounts and waits for you to finish.
Kartakass: The Barovia Chapter
Inside the Barovian border: July 1st 760
The empty, black carriage sped along the road through the night. It reached out to the south………. He raised his eyes from the book and frowned. Who enters my home without my permission? We shall see about that. He rose from his armchair and placing the book down onto the table, left the library. The door closed behind him because he wished it so. Muttering a few arcane phrases he felt the spell course through his body. Reaching the top of the castle and opening a window, he flew out into the night. His mind reached out into the forests, Come to me my children, I have need of you this evening. Speeding through the night, he pondered who had dared enter his home. Was that Lich sending someone again to spy on me? Doesn’t he know I’ll deal with whatever he sends this way? No, it must be something else.[/I] His arrival at the carriage brought him out of his reverie. Two score worgs came out of the forest and gathered near him, awaiting patiently for his command. Find the intruder and bring him to me, my children. He walked up to the carriage and entered it, waiting patiently.
Percival hurried along the road. He knew it was dangerous to travel at night, but Mother would be furious if he tarried. The silence around him was beginning to get under his skin. Wolves howled nearby and he knew that was not a good sign. HE urged his horse faster. It was already frightened so it was going as fast as it could. Up ahead shapes emerged from the forest. He sighed inwardly. The horse lifted it’s front legs and tried to toss him off and bolt. He jumped off and let it run, knowing it would feed some creature before the sun rose. Some two dozen worgs were before him, but were not growling. One of the pack, slightly larger than the others approached him, sniffing his hand, then gently taking his hand in his mouth, turned and began walking towards the forest.
Percival’s body shook in fear. Why was this pack sent here after me and not attacking me? Their master must wish to see me? I am not in Kartakass so it cannot be that fool Lucas. Probably some local werewolf. I’ll follow for now but the first chance I get they are all my evening snack, he thought wryly.
He followed the worgs for nearly an hour until he came upon a riderless carriage. The door opened of it’s own will and out emerged a man. A light appeared inside, illuminating the small clearing and the road. As he approached Percival, he appeared to be looking at him, as if seeing through him. Percival began to tremble. Never have I felt such fear before!
“Who are you?” the man demanded
“Percival. P-Perc-cival L-L-a-ayhden, sir.”
“What are you doing here in my land, Mr. Layhden?”
“Your land? I mean…. I am…… here traveling home to Harmonia…”
The man appeared to mull that over a moment and approached so he was standing in front of Percival. Now Percival saw him for what he really was as the smell of non humanity coupled with the man’s red eyes began to make sense to him. A Vampire! But even as the thought registered, it was too late. The man uttered a few words and Percival suddenly could not move. He could hear and see, but neither speak nor move.
“My friend here,” he motions to the larger worg, “Tells me you smell of the wolf. You are headed to Kartakass and thus I presume you are a lycanthrope of some sort if you have the smell of the wolf on you, Percival.” A few more words and a dagger appears in his hand. He grins evilly at Percival as he plays with it in front of his eyes. He laughs as he pierces Percival’s skin and moves it up and down his arm.
Percival cannot scream but the pain is excrucitating! Oh the pain! It must be gold!
The man grins evilly as he licks Percivals blood off the blade and showed him his fangs. “Now you will come with me as we have much to discuss. Lukas really should chose better allies.” Placing his hand on Percival and uttering a foreign word, Percival felt himself go numb then in a flash he was somewhere else. Looking around it seemed he was in a room. As he got a better look at the room’s contents, he began to understand. He struggled against the Vampire’s spell but to no avail. The man moved back and saying a few choice words, Percival was lifted off his feet and moved back to the wall, a foot off the floor. The man approached him and shackled his hands and feet to the wall, smiling pure evil at him. He walks over to what looks like a remise and removes a few vials, unstoppering them all. He picks one up and approaches Percival.
“A pity about your clothing, friend Percival.” With that, he pours the vials contents down Percival’s front. At first the liquid seems to be useless, but after a minute it becomes readily apparent what the liquid is. Acid! It wasn’t so bad until the cloth disappeared and the acid burned into his skin! He could only yell in his head! The man poured each and every vial onto his clothed body until there was no more clothing but burnt off skin on parts of his body. Percival could take no more and fainted.
He woke to searing pain, and yelled out! He could speak! Slowly opening his eyes he looked around. He was still chained up but the Vampire was gone. He struggles against the shackles but in vain as they hold him in place. He is clearly in some laboratory or perhaps a torture room? The door opening made him look. To put it succinctly, it was a Zombie in a butler’s uniform? This Vampire has a very odd sense of humor. The Zombie approached Percival, and the smell was almost unbearable. It unstoppered a vial and grinned a toothless grin at him. Percival tried to move but the shackles prevented him from moving at all. It poured the liquid down his throat, and Percival felt his wounds heal. Why is this thing healing me? I won’t look a gift horse in the mouth, though I suspect the Vampire has something to do with the “gift”. He felt drowsy and fell asleep once more. He woke again and found that he could move and speak but was still shackled to the wall. Now his neck was as well. “Welcome back to the land of the living, friend Percival. I trust you slept well? Good. Now we will play a game. I ask you questions and you answer me. Simple as that. If I like your answer you remain unharmed. If I do not, more of my lovely acid for you. Now first question, why are you here in Barovia?”
Percival doubted he could lie to the bastard but he could withhold information.
“I am heading back home to Harmonia.”
“Tsk tsk, Percival. I know that and that answer is not acceptable. Gordo, do the honors.”
The same Zombie from earlier pours acid on Percival’s arm. He screams out in pain, struggling against the shackles but as before it is a waste of time. His wrists and ankles now bleed from his struggling. “Now now, Percival. I am a man of my word. Tell me what I want to hear and all will be well for you. Now we try again. Why are you here?”
Percival whispers “Because Mother Fury sent us to Nova Vaasa.”
“Well that wasn’t so hard now was it? Good, do go on with your fascinating tale.”
“Five of us were sent to Nova Vaasa to kill a party that was sent from Darkon to retrieve three items in Kartakass.”
“I still think you know more my friend. Gordo?”
The Zombie of course didn’t speak but was very good with the vial. Percival’s arm seared with immense pain. He yelled out and struggled further only to hurt both his ankles and wrists. He whimpered and sobbed.
“Now, Percival. I am sure you have more to tell me. It will end well for you if I am satisfied with your answer. If not, well. I have an eternity to question and torture you. And believe me when I tell you, I can keep you alive and have fun with you for a long time. So do go on.”
Percival proceeded to tell the Vampire about Mother Fury, the three items in question, the party the four Garous ran afoul of in Nova Vaasa. He didn’t stop talking until he had told the Vampire what he knew.
“Good man Percival. This ordeal has ended for you now.” The Vampire leans forward and reaching out with both his hands, breaks Percival’s neck. He leaves the room and heads back up to the library and ponders the rumors he has heard recently about a young woman in Immol. Is it truly her? I must know! This party from Darkon could serve me well to find out if it is indeed her. The painting I have of her will serve as her picture for these fortunate young men who will serve me.
He sat in the library until the sun rose and retired until the evening…………………………………………………..
The empty, black carriage sped along the road through the night. It reached out to the south………. He raised his eyes from the book and frowned. Who enters my home without my permission? We shall see about that. He rose from his armchair and placing the book down onto the table, left the library. The door closed behind him because he wished it so. Muttering a few arcane phrases he felt the spell course through his body. Reaching the top of the castle and opening a window, he flew out into the night. His mind reached out into the forests, Come to me my children, I have need of you this evening. Speeding through the night, he pondered who had dared enter his home. Was that Lich sending someone again to spy on me? Doesn’t he know I’ll deal with whatever he sends this way? No, it must be something else.[/I] His arrival at the carriage brought him out of his reverie. Two score worgs came out of the forest and gathered near him, awaiting patiently for his command. Find the intruder and bring him to me, my children. He walked up to the carriage and entered it, waiting patiently.
Percival hurried along the road. He knew it was dangerous to travel at night, but Mother would be furious if he tarried. The silence around him was beginning to get under his skin. Wolves howled nearby and he knew that was not a good sign. HE urged his horse faster. It was already frightened so it was going as fast as it could. Up ahead shapes emerged from the forest. He sighed inwardly. The horse lifted it’s front legs and tried to toss him off and bolt. He jumped off and let it run, knowing it would feed some creature before the sun rose. Some two dozen worgs were before him, but were not growling. One of the pack, slightly larger than the others approached him, sniffing his hand, then gently taking his hand in his mouth, turned and began walking towards the forest.
Percival’s body shook in fear. Why was this pack sent here after me and not attacking me? Their master must wish to see me? I am not in Kartakass so it cannot be that fool Lucas. Probably some local werewolf. I’ll follow for now but the first chance I get they are all my evening snack, he thought wryly.
He followed the worgs for nearly an hour until he came upon a riderless carriage. The door opened of it’s own will and out emerged a man. A light appeared inside, illuminating the small clearing and the road. As he approached Percival, he appeared to be looking at him, as if seeing through him. Percival began to tremble. Never have I felt such fear before!
“Who are you?” the man demanded
“Percival. P-Perc-cival L-L-a-ayhden, sir.”
“What are you doing here in my land, Mr. Layhden?”
“Your land? I mean…. I am…… here traveling home to Harmonia…”
The man appeared to mull that over a moment and approached so he was standing in front of Percival. Now Percival saw him for what he really was as the smell of non humanity coupled with the man’s red eyes began to make sense to him. A Vampire! But even as the thought registered, it was too late. The man uttered a few words and Percival suddenly could not move. He could hear and see, but neither speak nor move.
“My friend here,” he motions to the larger worg, “Tells me you smell of the wolf. You are headed to Kartakass and thus I presume you are a lycanthrope of some sort if you have the smell of the wolf on you, Percival.” A few more words and a dagger appears in his hand. He grins evilly at Percival as he plays with it in front of his eyes. He laughs as he pierces Percival’s skin and moves it up and down his arm.
Percival cannot scream but the pain is excrucitating! Oh the pain! It must be gold!
The man grins evilly as he licks Percivals blood off the blade and showed him his fangs. “Now you will come with me as we have much to discuss. Lukas really should chose better allies.” Placing his hand on Percival and uttering a foreign word, Percival felt himself go numb then in a flash he was somewhere else. Looking around it seemed he was in a room. As he got a better look at the room’s contents, he began to understand. He struggled against the Vampire’s spell but to no avail. The man moved back and saying a few choice words, Percival was lifted off his feet and moved back to the wall, a foot off the floor. The man approached him and shackled his hands and feet to the wall, smiling pure evil at him. He walks over to what looks like a remise and removes a few vials, unstoppering them all. He picks one up and approaches Percival.
“A pity about your clothing, friend Percival.” With that, he pours the vials contents down Percival’s front. At first the liquid seems to be useless, but after a minute it becomes readily apparent what the liquid is. Acid! It wasn’t so bad until the cloth disappeared and the acid burned into his skin! He could only yell in his head! The man poured each and every vial onto his clothed body until there was no more clothing but burnt off skin on parts of his body. Percival could take no more and fainted.
He woke to searing pain, and yelled out! He could speak! Slowly opening his eyes he looked around. He was still chained up but the Vampire was gone. He struggles against the shackles but in vain as they hold him in place. He is clearly in some laboratory or perhaps a torture room? The door opening made him look. To put it succinctly, it was a Zombie in a butler’s uniform? This Vampire has a very odd sense of humor. The Zombie approached Percival, and the smell was almost unbearable. It unstoppered a vial and grinned a toothless grin at him. Percival tried to move but the shackles prevented him from moving at all. It poured the liquid down his throat, and Percival felt his wounds heal. Why is this thing healing me? I won’t look a gift horse in the mouth, though I suspect the Vampire has something to do with the “gift”. He felt drowsy and fell asleep once more. He woke again and found that he could move and speak but was still shackled to the wall. Now his neck was as well. “Welcome back to the land of the living, friend Percival. I trust you slept well? Good. Now we will play a game. I ask you questions and you answer me. Simple as that. If I like your answer you remain unharmed. If I do not, more of my lovely acid for you. Now first question, why are you here in Barovia?”
Percival doubted he could lie to the bastard but he could withhold information.
“I am heading back home to Harmonia.”
“Tsk tsk, Percival. I know that and that answer is not acceptable. Gordo, do the honors.”
The same Zombie from earlier pours acid on Percival’s arm. He screams out in pain, struggling against the shackles but as before it is a waste of time. His wrists and ankles now bleed from his struggling. “Now now, Percival. I am a man of my word. Tell me what I want to hear and all will be well for you. Now we try again. Why are you here?”
Percival whispers “Because Mother Fury sent us to Nova Vaasa.”
“Well that wasn’t so hard now was it? Good, do go on with your fascinating tale.”
“Five of us were sent to Nova Vaasa to kill a party that was sent from Darkon to retrieve three items in Kartakass.”
“I still think you know more my friend. Gordo?”
The Zombie of course didn’t speak but was very good with the vial. Percival’s arm seared with immense pain. He yelled out and struggled further only to hurt both his ankles and wrists. He whimpered and sobbed.
“Now, Percival. I am sure you have more to tell me. It will end well for you if I am satisfied with your answer. If not, well. I have an eternity to question and torture you. And believe me when I tell you, I can keep you alive and have fun with you for a long time. So do go on.”
Percival proceeded to tell the Vampire about Mother Fury, the three items in question, the party the four Garous ran afoul of in Nova Vaasa. He didn’t stop talking until he had told the Vampire what he knew.
“Good man Percival. This ordeal has ended for you now.” The Vampire leans forward and reaching out with both his hands, breaks Percival’s neck. He leaves the room and heads back up to the library and ponders the rumors he has heard recently about a young woman in Immol. Is it truly her? I must know! This party from Darkon could serve me well to find out if it is indeed her. The painting I have of her will serve as her picture for these fortunate young men who will serve me.
He sat in the library until the sun rose and retired until the evening…………………………………………………..
The border of Barovia and Nova Vaasa
You begin to traverse the huge wall of fog. It is so thick you can’t even see your hand in front of your face. You seem to traverse for what seems forever. After what seems like a week, you emerge. Josephine’s eyes go wide. “I don’t think we are alone, people. There are a lot of Zombies out there, and I mean a lot.”
Tarlyn opens the door and beckons you out without saying a word. He looked agitated, even for Tarlyn. Before the coach is a sea of zombies like you have never seen. At least six score Zombies are standing there, watching you. And amongst them are worgs like you’ve never seen. As many if not more than the zombies. A voice seems to boom out from nowhere and speaks to you all in a language you understand. “Welcome to Barovia, people of Darkon and beyond. You are cordially invited to my home atop the village of Barovia. Follow the Zombies and my children of the night. All will go well. Enjoy your voyage and we shall meet soon.” The voice ceases. The Zombies turn and head in a Southern direction. The worgs move forward and growl at you urging you along. Tarlyn’s horse lay dead to the side of the road. “I don’t know about you” he says “But I think we are supposed to follow these things or die. I wasn’t planning to die for another 500 years so I think I’ll follow. We all should.”
He waits for everyone to gather their bags and belongings then you head south. Nearly 20 hours later you arrive at the village of Barovia. Looking past the village you do see an old castle atop a cliff. It is the early hours of the morning luckily for the population. You pass through the village and head up the road to gates. They swing open by themselves as if allowing you to pass. You pass and continue walking, fatigued by your trek. Finally when you thought you could go on no more, you arrive in front of an old castle. You pass through gates that open of their own accord again. Looking at the castle and observing it you notice a figure on a balcony peering out into the night. He turns to you……………..
You begin to traverse the huge wall of fog. It is so thick you can’t even see your hand in front of your face. You seem to traverse for what seems forever. After what seems like a week, you emerge. Josephine’s eyes go wide. “I don’t think we are alone, people. There are a lot of Zombies out there, and I mean a lot.”
Tarlyn opens the door and beckons you out without saying a word. He looked agitated, even for Tarlyn. Before the coach is a sea of zombies like you have never seen. At least six score Zombies are standing there, watching you. And amongst them are worgs like you’ve never seen. As many if not more than the zombies. A voice seems to boom out from nowhere and speaks to you all in a language you understand. “Welcome to Barovia, people of Darkon and beyond. You are cordially invited to my home atop the village of Barovia. Follow the Zombies and my children of the night. All will go well. Enjoy your voyage and we shall meet soon.” The voice ceases. The Zombies turn and head in a Southern direction. The worgs move forward and growl at you urging you along. Tarlyn’s horse lay dead to the side of the road. “I don’t know about you” he says “But I think we are supposed to follow these things or die. I wasn’t planning to die for another 500 years so I think I’ll follow. We all should.”
He waits for everyone to gather their bags and belongings then you head south. Nearly 20 hours later you arrive at the village of Barovia. Looking past the village you do see an old castle atop a cliff. It is the early hours of the morning luckily for the population. You pass through the village and head up the road to gates. They swing open by themselves as if allowing you to pass. You pass and continue walking, fatigued by your trek. Finally when you thought you could go on no more, you arrive in front of an old castle. You pass through gates that open of their own accord again. Looking at the castle and observing it you notice a figure on a balcony peering out into the night. He turns to you……………..
Van very tired by the fatigued trek gasps as he sees the gothic castle and the figure at the window. He has figured out that the one who has invited them for dinner should be someone really important and rather powerful but he didn't expect this. The old castle is the most oppressive he has ever seen and the man at the window seems to follow every single move they do. The evoker's first thought was to cast a spell to protect himself, but he decides against it. If the man wanted them dead he wouldn't bother invite them to his castle. Besides if he dares to cast a spell the zombies might attack them. So Van just looks around very concerned about this meeting.
"Ace, don't leave my shoulder for any reason friend, I don't want to happen anything to you." Says the wizard telepathically to the hawk.
Then giving another look to the figure at the window he tells to the others:
"This dinner will be everything but not friendly. Pay attention my friends."
"Ace, don't leave my shoulder for any reason friend, I don't want to happen anything to you." Says the wizard telepathically to the hawk.
Then giving another look to the figure at the window he tells to the others:
"This dinner will be everything but not friendly. Pay attention my friends."
- The first 2 Feats a wizard should take are "point blank shot" and "Precise shot"!
- W H A T ! ? !
- Or they should NEVER memorize rays!
- W H A T ! ? !
- Or they should NEVER memorize rays!
Draven nods silently at Vans advice, his hand fingering the sword at his belt. The appearance of the castle and its ominous occupant have done nothing to quiet the mounting dread inside him since entering this godforsaken land.
This place feels evil, let us hope we survive dinner, he thinks, feeling a sense of dread prickling all across his skin...
This place feels evil, let us hope we survive dinner, he thinks, feeling a sense of dread prickling all across his skin...
"I had a dream, which was not all a dream.
The bright sun was extinguish'd, and the stars
Did wander darkling in the eternal space..."
The bright sun was extinguish'd, and the stars
Did wander darkling in the eternal space..."
-
NeoTiamat
- Evil Genius
- Posts: 4119
- Joined: Tue Sep 12, 2006 5:00 pm
- Gender: Male
- Location: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
The Warden was strangely quiet. He had his armor slung over one shoulder, and had the symbol of Ezra held in one hand. He had his head down, only occasionally looking at their nightmarish-escorts. He was muttering, more or less constantly. As a few of the others passed by they could hear snatches of it.
"...Though I walk through the Mists of Death, I fear no evil, for Our Lady is with us... Give us strength, O Ezra, let us stand against the Legions of the Night... May you smite the sinners and dark ones...Ezra hear my prayers..."
Valerian looks up as they enter the castle, gazing out at the lord of the castle.
"We are in the hands of evil my friends."
==============================================
Josephine, for her part, looked ready to bolt. The smell of the zombies was making her nauseous, and other things at the edges of her senses were causing the young woman to whip her head around constantly. Her entire body was like a coiled spring, ready to launch at something, and in general, she was not a very happy werewolf.
"...Though I walk through the Mists of Death, I fear no evil, for Our Lady is with us... Give us strength, O Ezra, let us stand against the Legions of the Night... May you smite the sinners and dark ones...Ezra hear my prayers..."
Valerian looks up as they enter the castle, gazing out at the lord of the castle.
"We are in the hands of evil my friends."
==============================================
Josephine, for her part, looked ready to bolt. The smell of the zombies was making her nauseous, and other things at the edges of her senses were causing the young woman to whip her head around constantly. Her entire body was like a coiled spring, ready to launch at something, and in general, she was not a very happy werewolf.
Ravenloft GM: Eye of Anubis, Shattered City, and Prof. Lupescu's Traveling Ghost Show
Lead Writer & Editor: VRS Files: Doppelgangers; Contributor: QtR #20, #21, #22, #23, #24
Freelance Writer for Paizo Publishing
Lead Writer & Editor: VRS Files: Doppelgangers; Contributor: QtR #20, #21, #22, #23, #24
Freelance Writer for Paizo Publishing
As they journeyed through Barovia towards the glooming castle overlooking the village of Barovia, Lucius considered what he saw. He couldn't help being afraid, he had heard many stories of Barovia, and even had sometimes mused to travel there. This was a land that interested him deeply.
But now that he was there, he felt fear rising with every mile they travelled. And at the same time, some kind of fascination. He battled furiously against it, muttering prayer after prayer to Ezra to keep him in the righteous path, but he felt that the Zombies that escorted them could only lead to deeper secret of Undeath... and those had never failed to stir his hunger of knowledge. Who would be the master beyond these zombies? How much could he learn from him? But... would it be worth the price?
Again, Ezra came to his lips, and he broke into feverish convulsions of doubt, indecision and a cold numbness of spirit.
As they arrived to the casle, he sunk in
his seat, as at the same time he opened his eyes even wider. What terrors would be waiting for them inside?
But now that he was there, he felt fear rising with every mile they travelled. And at the same time, some kind of fascination. He battled furiously against it, muttering prayer after prayer to Ezra to keep him in the righteous path, but he felt that the Zombies that escorted them could only lead to deeper secret of Undeath... and those had never failed to stir his hunger of knowledge. Who would be the master beyond these zombies? How much could he learn from him? But... would it be worth the price?
Again, Ezra came to his lips, and he broke into feverish convulsions of doubt, indecision and a cold numbness of spirit.
As they arrived to the casle, he sunk in
his seat, as at the same time he opened his eyes even wider. What terrors would be waiting for them inside?
Zumba d'Oxossi (A Stitch in Souragne)
Brother Eustace (The Devil's Dreams)
Robert de Moureaux (A New Barovia)
Brother Eustace (The Devil's Dreams)
Robert de Moureaux (A New Barovia)
The man upon the balcony peers down at the party. It is almost as if with his gaze he can read your every thought. Your breath comes faster, heart beating quicker. He motions to you as he speaks, "Welcome to my humble abode. I thank you for the haste of which you arrived here. Please do enter by the front door. I will meet you inside at the bottom of the stairs." It is a request you can't refuse.
The castle before you stands at nearly twenty stories. It's stones the color of bright bone and covered with a thick shroud of ivy. You mount the stairs and approach massive double doors, which open as you near, as if you were expected. Once passed through, they close behind you with a loud slam. You walk into an immense circular entrance. Massive stairwells descend each wall with elaborate rails. Looking up you observe three massive chandeliers. The place is very dusty as if not that many visitors have been granted the privilege of a visit to the castle.
Peering down at you from the landing above is the same man. He nods once and descends the stairwell and approaches, stopping ten feet from you.
The castle before you stands at nearly twenty stories. It's stones the color of bright bone and covered with a thick shroud of ivy. You mount the stairs and approach massive double doors, which open as you near, as if you were expected. Once passed through, they close behind you with a loud slam. You walk into an immense circular entrance. Massive stairwells descend each wall with elaborate rails. Looking up you observe three massive chandeliers. The place is very dusty as if not that many visitors have been granted the privilege of a visit to the castle.
Peering down at you from the landing above is the same man. He nods once and descends the stairwell and approaches, stopping ten feet from you.
Last edited by steveflam on Wed Oct 31, 2007 7:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.
-
NeoTiamat
- Evil Genius
- Posts: 4119
- Joined: Tue Sep 12, 2006 5:00 pm
- Gender: Male
- Location: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Valerian paused at the entrance to the castle, giving the air beside Marentuo a curt nod. He seemed to be steeling himself. Sefi however, was still nervously whipping her head about, hair standing on the back of her neck as she stared deeply into the dark corners they passed, her nose twitching rapidly. Then they came to the Lord of the castle.
Sefi stared at him for a few moments then, in a strangled voice, she asked, "What are you?
Sefi stared at him for a few moments then, in a strangled voice, she asked, "What are you?
Ravenloft GM: Eye of Anubis, Shattered City, and Prof. Lupescu's Traveling Ghost Show
Lead Writer & Editor: VRS Files: Doppelgangers; Contributor: QtR #20, #21, #22, #23, #24
Freelance Writer for Paizo Publishing
Lead Writer & Editor: VRS Files: Doppelgangers; Contributor: QtR #20, #21, #22, #23, #24
Freelance Writer for Paizo Publishing
Draven stumbles up that stairs of the castle behind the others, almost in a daze. The welcome doing nothing to forestall the rising sense of foreboding. As he crosses the threshold itself he feels something.
Something is badly wrong, it feels as though the oppression of the building is focussing on him. The dread sensation that began across his skin outside spreads and intensifies, it is almost as if all his nerves are on fire, his hair standing on end with the sense of dread rising like a black tide before him.
"I n...need some air" he croaks through numb lips, his heart racing, unable to catch his breath, he falls to his knees gasping, his features becoming a pallid mask. "Tarlyn help m...." he begs grasping at the hem of the elfs cloak. Before his body goes shock still, and he collpases facedown on the cold floor.
Time seems to stand still for many moments, before he slowly lifts himself from the floor, his hair falling low over his eyes, his face in his hands. You find yourselves watching in fascination as Draven slowly stands upright. The movement of his body seems different, slower and less sure of himself.
"hehehehe" an insane chuckle filters from his lips, gradually building in intensity to become a deep throbbing laugh not remotely human in its aspect. It reverberates around the empty chamber, echoing flatly on the old stones. The just as it rises the sound slows and trails away into nothing.
Draven slowly lowers his hands from his face revealing eyes burning darkly in a dead white face, a tangible shadow shrouding his features. His thin bloodless lips curled in a sardonic grin. There is still a part of Draven in those dark eyes but there is more, much more.
He opens his mouth and the voice though not loud easily fills the vast entryhall "The chains are broken once more." The voice is not Dravens own, but seems to be deeper, rougher and pounds inside your heads as you listen in rapture to the horror before you. " The chains forged by the sickening covenant of the accursed black mother are broken, no longer am I a wretched inmate of this foul prison. Too long has it been since I last was free.""
Draven opens his mouth and breathes out in a long exhale, the black pits of his eyes rise and stare at each of you, there is a deep malevolance there almost reaching out to you.
"Meat" he breathes, "sustenance for the darkness, the accursed mother cannot bind me for all time, and now i shall take my fill." You watch in horror as he advances towards you with a shuffling gait, his eyes boring into your minds, leaving you helpless.
Almost as he reaches you a shadow blacker than night breaks over Dravens body, it entwines him, slithering its tendrils around his limbs and covering his face. "NO" he screams in voice earthshattering in its intensity "you will not take me so easily this time Black One." It is as if a struggle is being played out before you, but Draven is losing! The blackness encompasses his screaming form, the sounds dying away as he sinks once more to the ground.
The shadow retreats back to wherever it came from leaving Draven lying on the floor still as if dead. His body contorted and his eyes closed.
Something is badly wrong, it feels as though the oppression of the building is focussing on him. The dread sensation that began across his skin outside spreads and intensifies, it is almost as if all his nerves are on fire, his hair standing on end with the sense of dread rising like a black tide before him.
"I n...need some air" he croaks through numb lips, his heart racing, unable to catch his breath, he falls to his knees gasping, his features becoming a pallid mask. "Tarlyn help m...." he begs grasping at the hem of the elfs cloak. Before his body goes shock still, and he collpases facedown on the cold floor.
Time seems to stand still for many moments, before he slowly lifts himself from the floor, his hair falling low over his eyes, his face in his hands. You find yourselves watching in fascination as Draven slowly stands upright. The movement of his body seems different, slower and less sure of himself.
"hehehehe" an insane chuckle filters from his lips, gradually building in intensity to become a deep throbbing laugh not remotely human in its aspect. It reverberates around the empty chamber, echoing flatly on the old stones. The just as it rises the sound slows and trails away into nothing.
Draven slowly lowers his hands from his face revealing eyes burning darkly in a dead white face, a tangible shadow shrouding his features. His thin bloodless lips curled in a sardonic grin. There is still a part of Draven in those dark eyes but there is more, much more.
He opens his mouth and the voice though not loud easily fills the vast entryhall "The chains are broken once more." The voice is not Dravens own, but seems to be deeper, rougher and pounds inside your heads as you listen in rapture to the horror before you. " The chains forged by the sickening covenant of the accursed black mother are broken, no longer am I a wretched inmate of this foul prison. Too long has it been since I last was free.""
Draven opens his mouth and breathes out in a long exhale, the black pits of his eyes rise and stare at each of you, there is a deep malevolance there almost reaching out to you.
"Meat" he breathes, "sustenance for the darkness, the accursed mother cannot bind me for all time, and now i shall take my fill." You watch in horror as he advances towards you with a shuffling gait, his eyes boring into your minds, leaving you helpless.
Almost as he reaches you a shadow blacker than night breaks over Dravens body, it entwines him, slithering its tendrils around his limbs and covering his face. "NO" he screams in voice earthshattering in its intensity "you will not take me so easily this time Black One." It is as if a struggle is being played out before you, but Draven is losing! The blackness encompasses his screaming form, the sounds dying away as he sinks once more to the ground.
The shadow retreats back to wherever it came from leaving Draven lying on the floor still as if dead. His body contorted and his eyes closed.
"I had a dream, which was not all a dream.
The bright sun was extinguish'd, and the stars
Did wander darkling in the eternal space..."
The bright sun was extinguish'd, and the stars
Did wander darkling in the eternal space..."
Josephine's question is forgotten by Strahd. Alexander's outburst, to put it mildy has taken all of his attention. "Get the humans and the elf out of here now!." he says to noone in particular. Shuffling can be heard from a corridor to your left and apporaching you is a butler. As he nears you, it becomes readily apparent that this is another Zombie. The Zombie ushers you back the same way he came.
Strahd bends down and picks up Alexander in his arms. He carries him up the stairs. Behind Josephine a minute circle begins to expand until it has reached the dimension of 6 feet. The circle vibrates and emerging from it is
It reaches with it's hand and scratches Josephine's back.........
Strahd bends down and picks up Alexander in his arms. He carries him up the stairs. Behind Josephine a minute circle begins to expand until it has reached the dimension of 6 feet. The circle vibrates and emerging from it is
It reaches with it's hand and scratches Josephine's back.........
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NeoTiamat
- Evil Genius
- Posts: 4119
- Joined: Tue Sep 12, 2006 5:00 pm
- Gender: Male
- Location: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Sefi watched Alex with wide eyes. He hadn't been kidding when he mentioned hidden demons. She felt sorry for the poor man. The young woman shuddered. This place gave her the chills. So dead. If there was a single living thing here, she hadn't met it.
Suddenly, there was an odd, rotten smell, not the sickly-sweet scent of decay, but a rank, rancid smell. Sefi's senses came on alert, and she started to turn as claws tore across her back, scratching long, bloody furloughs along her back, but not penetrating deeply.
Josephine was already transforming. She was growing, gaining inches as she turned. Her shoulders bulked and stretched, ripping her blouse apart along the seams as thick black fur sprouted first in lines, then spread. Her bones seemed to twist and churn, the muscles shifting like some mad soup beneath her skin. They formed rope-like masses along her arms, as the rest of her clothing split under the stresses of the massive form.
Her face morphed the most, her mouth extending forward and ears upward, her long, luscious brown hair melding with the short fur along her back. Sefi's short, workman-like nails grew and thickened, turning into claws like daggers, sharp and curved and cruel.
She stood before the foreign creature, overtopping it by at least a foot and snarling, the torch-light reflecting on ivory teeth and blue-violet eyes, the sole daubs of color on her midnight black form.
[OOC: Four damage from the 'creature'.
Human Heart save: 1+7=8 vs DC 20: Fail]
Suddenly, there was an odd, rotten smell, not the sickly-sweet scent of decay, but a rank, rancid smell. Sefi's senses came on alert, and she started to turn as claws tore across her back, scratching long, bloody furloughs along her back, but not penetrating deeply.
Josephine was already transforming. She was growing, gaining inches as she turned. Her shoulders bulked and stretched, ripping her blouse apart along the seams as thick black fur sprouted first in lines, then spread. Her bones seemed to twist and churn, the muscles shifting like some mad soup beneath her skin. They formed rope-like masses along her arms, as the rest of her clothing split under the stresses of the massive form.
Her face morphed the most, her mouth extending forward and ears upward, her long, luscious brown hair melding with the short fur along her back. Sefi's short, workman-like nails grew and thickened, turning into claws like daggers, sharp and curved and cruel.
She stood before the foreign creature, overtopping it by at least a foot and snarling, the torch-light reflecting on ivory teeth and blue-violet eyes, the sole daubs of color on her midnight black form.
[OOC: Four damage from the 'creature'.
Human Heart save: 1+7=8 vs DC 20: Fail]
Last edited by NeoTiamat on Thu Nov 01, 2007 11:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Ravenloft GM: Eye of Anubis, Shattered City, and Prof. Lupescu's Traveling Ghost Show
Lead Writer & Editor: VRS Files: Doppelgangers; Contributor: QtR #20, #21, #22, #23, #24
Freelance Writer for Paizo Publishing
Lead Writer & Editor: VRS Files: Doppelgangers; Contributor: QtR #20, #21, #22, #23, #24
Freelance Writer for Paizo Publishing
-
ewancummins
- Evil Genius
- Posts: 28523
- Joined: Tue Oct 25, 2005 1:35 pm
Cornelius is still standing in the room , as he was not among those dismissed.
[
He hasn't spoken a word since the party entered Barovia, seeming to retreat within himself. Now, seeing Alexander being carried away, he breaks his silence:
''Your Illustrious Highness, I beg your pardon, but is it possible I may be of some assistance regarding my friend? ''
[
]"Get the humans and the elf out of here now!."
He hasn't spoken a word since the party entered Barovia, seeming to retreat within himself. Now, seeing Alexander being carried away, he breaks his silence:
''Your Illustrious Highness, I beg your pardon, but is it possible I may be of some assistance regarding my friend? ''
Delight is to him- a far, far upward, and inward delight- who against the proud gods and commodores of this earth, ever stands forth his own inexorable self.
-from Moby Dick (Hermann Melville)
-from Moby Dick (Hermann Melville)
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Le Noir Faineant
- Rafe, Agent of the Fraternity
- Posts: 4522
- Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2005 12:25 pm
- Location: The Wind Isles
-
Le Noir Faineant
- Rafe, Agent of the Fraternity
- Posts: 4522
- Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2005 12:25 pm
- Location: The Wind Isles
The door of the hall is slammed open, and eight pale, dead-eyed creatures burst into the room...
As if they had waited there for their prey...
Their lips seem to form words, a gospel they endlessly repeat as the plunge on you, their ice-cold hand carrying rusty blades or mud-encrusted stones.
Upstairs, Strahd stops, Alexander's body resting in his arms,
and with a strangely dull voice, turns his head to the fighting scene.
Fools. It is useless to struggle.
Noone could ever defeat me. Remember? - I AM the land.
And the mute undead seem to consent, their rotten faces derranged into beastish grins...