Difference between revisions of "2017-11-26"

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(An Unkindness of Ravens)
 
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During the war between Strahd and his foes, the Order of the Silver Dragon drove away malefactors searching for the Amber Temple. It also sheltered Strahd’s enemies and proved more than a match for Strahd’s battle-weary soldiers. But the early victories of the order didn’t win the war. Even with Argynvost on their side, the knights were ultimately overwhelmed when Strahd’s reinforcements swept into the valley. Those forces slew the last of the knights and battled the dragon inside Argynvostholt. After the dragon was slain, Strahd had its corpse hacked to pieces, stripped to the bone, and transported to Castle Ravenloft as a trophy.
 
During the war between Strahd and his foes, the Order of the Silver Dragon drove away malefactors searching for the Amber Temple. It also sheltered Strahd’s enemies and proved more than a match for Strahd’s battle-weary soldiers. But the early victories of the order didn’t win the war. Even with Argynvost on their side, the knights were ultimately overwhelmed when Strahd’s reinforcements swept into the valley. Those forces slew the last of the knights and battled the dragon inside Argynvostholt. After the dragon was slain, Strahd had its corpse hacked to pieces, stripped to the bone, and transported to Castle Ravenloft as a trophy.
  
They do know that though the Commander Vladimir Horngaard is now a revenant there is hope that they could be reminded of their former purpose.
+
They do know that though the [[Commander, Vladimir Horngaard|Commander Vladimir Horngaard]] is now a revenant there is hope that they could be reminded of their former purpose.
  
 
===Sardalis On Revenants===
 
===Sardalis On Revenants===

Latest revision as of 09:03, 18 February 2018

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[edit] An Unkindness of Ravens

Pavel & Delg get the impression that the strange raven-folk have been expecting our arrival. Sardalis however thinks he has given the ravens a spook.

Pavel: ...new friends.

Delg: New feathery friends.

Pavel thinks it strange that ravens would be inside. Sardalis understands that these are were-raven. Very secretive and cautious lycanthropes very wary of outsiders. They blend in well and respect local laws, usualy striving to do good where they can. There is a relatively good chance of contracting lycanthropy if bitten, and they have human forms, raven forms or hybrid forms.

Danika Martikov appears to be one of their number based on their common clothing, different to what they've seen her in before. She addresses them telling them to come in and not to be alarmed.

When the door is locked Danika explain they don't want to risk their identities becoming known.

She explains that they think the timing rather poor, though they're confident that our protaganists are not aligned to Strahd. They wish to get rid of him also.

Pavel asks if Ismark and Isabella have come through. They are resting upstairs.

Danika advises that Isek was one of the only Lady Fiona Wachter from taking over the town. She explains that she is a well to do woman who lives over in Wachter House. She makes no secret of being a supporter of Strahd and that is what is worrying to us. At worst sees Strahd as a sort of bad landlord. She has several fanatics at her side and thinks she has hidden this by holding a local book club. There have been reports of chanting coming from her cellars.

The Wereravens will stay in town incognito, but do very much want to ensure Lady Wachter does not take over. Pavel asks what the process is and what can be done.

It's suggested they might track down Victor, the son of the late Baron. Also when Jim is mentioned the wereravens mention they saw him heading towards the lake to the north.

Danika suggests that it's a bit unorthodox but they could look in Argynvostholt. It is a great manor once home to Order of the Silver Dragon, Strahd's oldest and most hated enemies in Borovia. Once there was actually a Silver Dragon who called himself Argynvost who came to the land as Lord Argynvost years earlier. He knew of a place of great evil called the Ember Temple and decided to protect it from misuse by evil. They built a fortified mansion close by.

During the war between Strahd and his foes, the Order of the Silver Dragon drove away malefactors searching for the Amber Temple. It also sheltered Strahd’s enemies and proved more than a match for Strahd’s battle-weary soldiers. But the early victories of the order didn’t win the war. Even with Argynvost on their side, the knights were ultimately overwhelmed when Strahd’s reinforcements swept into the valley. Those forces slew the last of the knights and battled the dragon inside Argynvostholt. After the dragon was slain, Strahd had its corpse hacked to pieces, stripped to the bone, and transported to Castle Ravenloft as a trophy.

They do know that though the Commander Vladimir Horngaard is now a revenant there is hope that they could be reminded of their former purpose.

[edit] Sardalis On Revenants

A revenant forms from the soul of a mortal who met a cruel and undeserving fate. It claws its way back into the world to seek revenge against the one who wronged it. The revenant reclaims its mortal body and superficially resembles a zombie. However, instead of lifeless eyes, a revenant’s eyes burn with resolve and flare in the presence of its adversary. If the revenant’s original body was destroyed or is otherwise unavailable, the spirit of the revenant enters another humanoid corpse. Regardless of the body the revenant uses as a vessel, its adversary always recognizes the revenant for what it truly is.

[edit] Why us? Why now?

Sardalis asks "Why has nothing happened yet? Every town seems complacent". He is told that there have been several attempts to take down Strahd, and none have been successful. Many are now broken. Strahd values entertainment now above all else.

Sardalis asks when Argynvost was killed and is told last century. He asks what the arrangement is between the Vistani and Strahd and is told they appear to be continuing to cash in on the perceived debt Strahd owes them based on the actions of their ancestors.

They agree to take a short rest and look for Victor.

[edit] The Kolyanas

Ireena thanks them for their help, and tells them that Isek never said anything, just stared at her. Iskmark seems cold, but when Sardalis confronts him on this he crumbles, admitting he owes them everything.

Throughout their restorative time they can hear revelling in the streets outside, with some alarming sounding cries mixed in.

[edit] Sardalis Knows Things, Except About Pavel

Sardalis realizes he knows nothing about what the fuck is up with Pavel's magic. He quizzes him and they realize Pavel doesn't know much about what is actually going on. Delg threatens to take him down if he "goes all demony".

[edit] Victor

They head back towards the Baron's mansion, and the streets are looking to have deteriorated, some rioting has occurred with smashed windows but people seem to have quietened down. No sign of any guards.

On arriving there they see that the doors are still wide open, with a dead guardsman on the ground next to the house. There appears to have been some looting. The maid is milling around. Pavel tries to casually suggest that they go up to find the son as they should be the ones to inform him.

They find a trapdoor in the ceiling of the master bedroom with a ladder that drops down. Pavel calls out "Victor?" and gets no response, besides Sardalis' withering gaze. Delg finds a well preserved wedding dress in a change room.

Pavel suggests that they head up the ladder. Delg leads the way and they find their way in an empty room with just a lantern on a small table. Pavel calls out again and gets no response but they can hear someone reciting from a book.

Sardalis and Delg realize this person is likely reading a teleportation spell (badly mis-pronounced). Delg throws open the door and Sardalis tells Pavel there's probably a casting attempt occurring.

Large skull carved into door and wooden sign saying "All is not well" and Pavel notices a subtle rune carved into the Skull on the door. Sardalis immediately can tell that anyone touching the door besides the caster will suffer 5d8 lightning damage.

After a discussion in front of the door makes it clear that Victor isn't interested in talking to them. Pavel mentions that the Baron is dead and for a moment the chanting stops and some clapping is heard.

Sardalis shatters the door.

Someone has taken old, mismatched furniture and created a study is this dusty, lamplit chamber. Tables are strewn with pieces of parchment, on which strange diagrams are drawn, and a freestanding bookshelf holds a collection of bones. A dusty rug covers the floor in front of a pine box, on which lounges a skeletal cat. Several more skeletal cats skulk about. Most unnerving of all is the sight of three small children standing with their backs to you in the northeast corner of the room.

Pavel gives significant attitude to Victor. Victor tries to get them to pull on the rug. Pavel tells Delg that they're not here to move his furniture for him. Victor gives significant attitude back. He implies that he is definitely the superior magic user. Delg tries to peek at the rug and suddenly the skeletal cats begin swarming.

Delg and two cats are thrown into the air taking sufficient damage to pulp the cats to splinters of bone.

Spellbook contains all of the following spells: acid splash, animate dead, blight, cone of cold, counterspell, fly, fireball, cloudkill, darkvision, glyph of warding, ice storm, greater invisibility, levitate, mending, mystic step, remove curse, suggestion, and thunderwave.

Pavel questions Sardalis on how good a wizard he appears to have been. Sardalis tries to downplay it. Pavel asks whether they can afford to keep him alive, if he is likely to be a problem. Sardalis advises absentmindedly "He could be." as he searches the desk, and Pavel and Delg make eye contact then Pavel reluctantly administers a coup de grace.

Sardalis detects a magical aura on the mirror downstairs. What could it be? Tune in next time!

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