TOPIC: Meet at the Inn

As your group crosses the drawbridge and makes their way under the portcullis the storm begins to grow worse. Thick cold fog swirls around in this darkened courtyard. Sporadic flashes of lightning lance the angry clouds overhead and thunder pounds the sky. A light drizzle begins to fall.

Ahead, torch flames flutter in the wind on each side of the keep's open main doors. Warm light spills from those open doors into the courtyard. Doors in the gate towers on each side of the tunnel entrance are shut against the rain. A howling wind rushes rushes around you and bring your attention to the dark towers of the keep looming above. In on of the windows on the eastern side of the court yard it looks as though a lamp has been struck in one of the windows somewhere above the mists.

I hurry out of the carriage and catch up to the rest of the party. "We know that we are headed right where he wants us to go, but there must be more that we can do so as not to be caught completely off guard," I say quietly.

Meanwhile, I cast out with my arcane senses and try to determine if there is anyone watching us nearby.

"Our magics can help in that regard, Adeya," Breon says as he walks next to her. "I believe you know a spell that can help us get off the first attack, and I know of one that will remove Starhd from this plane for a brief moment, allowing us a chance to regroup. We must be ready."

My dancing sword floats in the air beside me. I draw the other sword at my side and afix a rune stone into a fitting on the hilt. It briefly flashes as the sun rune fits into place. I take three small vials of potion from hidden pockets inside my cloak and put them into a pouch on my belt along with another stone rune stone. I unsling my shield and fit my lute onto the backside of the shield into an ingenious attachment. The bridge of the instrument rests in my hand as I hold the shield.

Before I cross the bridge, I examine the chasm to see if there might be a way down, rather than going into the castle immediately.

"Even the weather seems to want us inside that castle. I would rather have some sun." Cram mutters as he pulls his cloak to protect himself from the elements.
"There is a light up there. Do you think that might be where our prey has his prize?"

"I'm sure he wants us to go there. Whether Ireena is there or he is there or his minions await, it will be a trap."

I pull my hood up and cloak around, Other then the dancing sword, my shield and other sword are inside.

"I'd rather find another way if we can."

[Did I see anything in the chasm that would look like a descending stair, or any other way. (wearing lenses of clear seeing).]

"If there is no other way, I'm for the open door, head on."

"We have been recommended to seek the raven icon in a vault, have we not?" Lexan answers Widseth's question with one of his own, "I prefer not to walk in to obvious traps, so perhaps we should have a look around, first..."

Adeya wrote: Meanwhile, I cast out with my arcane senses and try to determine if there is anyone watching us nearby.

While it seems the castle itself has eyes you can detect no one specifically watching your group.

Widseth wrote: Before I cross the bridge, I examine the chasm to see if there might be a way down, rather than going into the castle immediately.

The drawbridge extends over a deep cavern. The path down could be traversed with climbing gear but there is nothing that looks like another way into the castle at the bottom.

Xavon wrote: "We have been recommended to seek the raven icon in a vault, have we not?" Lexan answers Widseth's question with one of his own, "I prefer not to walk in to obvious traps, so perhaps we should have a look around, first..."

Taking the opportunity to search the court yard turns up very little. It seems like your only access to the castle will be through the way Strahd has opened for you.

Finding no other paths open to you your group ventures through the castles ornate outer doors. As your group steps inside fluttering torches cast dim yellow flickers of light from the court yard behind you. Overhead, in the entryway, four statues of dragons glare down, their eyes seeming to flicker with an unnatural life in the dancing torchlight.

Not twenty feet further into the castle, a second set of massive doors stand before you. The doors are scared and burned likely by the weapons and torches of various mobs over the years but they have held fast against the assault over the decades. As your group approaches though the ancient barrier creaks and gowns then suddenly swings open as the sounds of organ music flow out filling the hall.


Walking through the second set of doors to the castle proper the tenure of the place grows more sinister. Cobwebs hang from the dust-covered columns of this great hall, illuminated by torches fluttering in iron sconces. The dust and webs cast strange, moving shadows across the faces of stone gargoyles squatting motionlessly on the rim of the domed ceiling. Cracked and faded ceiling frescoes are covered by centuries of decay. Two doors of bronze stand closed to the east. To the north, a wide staircase climbs into darkness. All the while, sad and majestic organ tones float about you from a lit hallway to the south.

"I recommend we stay together. There is safety in numbers, or at least more safety in this forsaken place. Do Madame Eva's clues offer us any hints as to where we should go? If not, I recommend the stairs."

Breon mutters, "Lumen Lucidus," and the head of his staff glows with a cold, bright light.

*OOC - I love the organ music!*