Act III: the Face of Evil

[Marius Ionescu]

Marius took his potion, "my thanks," he smiled.  "I think the wand would be better suited to Lorelei." Marius turned to Lorelei, "unless you have any objections my lady?"

"I have to agree with Adam.  From what we have seen and heard, many attempt to enter that castle, few leave.  If we are retreating it would be wise to be able to move without being assaulted.  As usual we should approach this with caution," Marius spoke.  He remained in toward the back as always, being careful not to separate from the group as they rode.

[Ikoma]

Sir Ulrik can tell you the following about the witches.  There is a burnt out tower on Lysaga Hill.  You can see it easily as you begin to ascend the hill.  There are the stark remnants of stone walls on the bare rocky top.  In the sky, another storm, this one looking more violent than any of you have experienced so far in this land, is gathering.  Perhaps Strahd is unhappy about something?

Lysaga Hill has been known as a holy site on before Strahd arrived in this land.  After Strahd, a woman named Saint Ecaterina tried to sanctify the spot and build a monastery on the land.  Within a year, it had burned to the ground, leaving the Saint Ecaterina dead and the burnt out remains behind.  Sir Ulrik has been on the hill before.  While he will tell you that it gave him a serious sense of the creeps up their, he never saw anyone.  All the villagers talk of gatherings of witches on night's of power timed to equinox and other seasonal events.  And while Sir Ulrik has no doubt many an arcane ritual could be performed on the site and he can not imagine they would be anything he might call good, he has seen no signs that people live there.

And with that, lightning splits the sky and rain begins to pour forth in sheets.

[allornothing]

Lorelei slows her horse to ride along side Hassid, a gentle smile being offered to the man as they rode in silence. "I've no problem carrying the wand.." She nodded and held out her hand to recieve the item. This all, thankfully, happening before the rain began to pour down on them. "Will the tower's husk provide us with any cover?" She found herself nearly shouting to be heard over the rain while she quickly lifted her cloak's hood in a vain attempt to stay dry. Lore canted her head, one hand moving to her forehead ..shielding her eyes in order to peer through the rain and get a glimpse of the moon. Her body was highly in tune to the phases -- hopefully this was not one of those nights. Nor one of 'power' for the witches.

[Ikoma]

Sir Ulrik shrugs.  "Not much.  Their is no ceiling or roof.  Just stone walls."

[Marius Ionescu]

Marius slowed and then looked around the group.  Hmmm he thought to himself.  Marius rode up to Yemam, "My friend.  Think you would be able to carry a dozen or so arrows for me?  This quiver is full.  I'm going to replace some of them with the silver tipped ones when I get a moment, the rest will need a safe place to rest.  I like being mobile." Marius smiled.  "Think your backpack has some room?"

[unkabear]

Hassid appreciated Lores riding next to him.  It was a small gesture, but one that was not lost on the warrior.

"Some shelter is better than none.  We may be able to use a winter blanket or sacrifice a bed roll and make a lean to.  Some protection from this rain will be better than none."  Chances are he would spend most of his night with the horses trying to keep them calm during the storm.


The thought of having to polish away the rust from his chain shirt later pained Hassid a little, but that was just part of being a warrior.

[Adam Godson]

Adam felt the rain rivulets of rain running down the neck hole of his armor and soaking the interior garments.  It could be a long, uncomfortable night.  Like many he'd spent before.  Peering in the darkness up toward the broken buildins Adam starts to speak. 

"From a strictly military viewpoint I believe we need to scout those structures and validate that it is safe.  We can't leave our back uncovered and the retreat route threatened.  I say we ride to the ruins, investigate and if everything is alright we spend the night there.  At least one solid wall will stop some of this rain." 

[Yemam Silverman]

Looking at Marius.  "No problem friend.  My backpack can easily hold your arrows.  Just let me know when you need more."

Looking forward that the structure that the group is considering sleeping in, "I have to agree with Adam.  We should investigate and make sure we are safe.  I'd hate to start a fight with this weather."

[Marius Ionescu]

Having spend so many nights in the wild Marius didn't even notice that it was raining till Adam mentioned it.  Marius smiled at Yemam, "thank you, it is much appreciated it."  Marius took a moment to organize the arrows, then handed the rest to Yemem, "keep these.  If you need any feel free.  Just keep me informed, I always like to keep a running tally in my head just in case."  Marius smiled with bravado.

[Ioan Nicolae Costache]

OOC:
Before departing:
Ioan hunches his shoulders against the rain. It's not an effective tactic in full plate. The cloak draped over him is soaked before very long at all.

"You folks scout the area. I'll have a fire blazing by the time you get back. Bring wood. Wet, green, rotten... whatever. It will not be a problem."

And so Ioan starts a fire. There's nothing magical about it, even though it seems nigh impossible to have gotten it going in this weather. It is one of the few Vistani gifts present in his half-Vistani blood.

[Yemam Silverman]

Yemam looks to the group and nods as to say 'watch my back'.  The scout proceeds to move ahead of the group, sticking to the shadows and the wilderness for cover.  Yemam attempts to get a good look around the ruins before motioning for the group to continue if no danger presented itself.

[Ikoma]

It is easy to find the blasted tower.  It sits in plane view above the tree line on top of the nearby hill.  From this vantage point, you are almost as high as Castle Ravenloft, though you look upon the castle's western stone wall and can see nothing of interest from this viewpoint.

The burnt out tower is a husk of a building, with only three portions of its tall outer wall still reaching some 20' off the ground.  Within their bounds, shorter stone walls, approximately 10' high, delinieate the chambers of the ancient site, while piles of rubble choke much of the open space.  As you draw near, a hideous mass of glowing spirits, like a roiling cloud of pale mist bearing dozens of silently screaming faces, rises from the ground.  The tortured expressions of the faces in the mists speak of undying torment and mind-numbing terror!

The animals you ride refuse to approach and the mist hangs over the ruined tower - not approaching you nor is it moving away.

[If you choose to attack this thing, please include an Init roll.]

[Marius Ionescu]

Marius draws his bow keeping it low and ready.  He looks to Adam and Ioan for an answer of the groups next action

[Adam Godson]

Adam dismounts from his skiddish horse and examines from a distance the strange and horrifying mist.  He attempts to recall from distant memory or reading if he has ever heard of something like this.  In his gut he couldn't let this abomination live if it was within his power.  But before engaging he had to know what this thing was. 

He called out to his friends to examine it and see if they knew what it was.  He warned them not to act in any aggressive manner or provoke the mist.  In addition, he calls for Gabriel.  Perhaps the wise Unicorn would know something of this thing. 


 

[Marius Ionescu]

Marius dismounted and whispered to his horse, "easy my friend."  He looked upon the thing seeing if his mind could give an answer.