[IC] Expedition to Castle Ravenloft

[dangelo]

The severed head succumbed under Rue's hammer fists, reduced to a mass of black blood and rotten brains, and its body collapsed along with it.

Frightened and horrified, most of the Barovians kept running towards the staircase. The three who had kept themselves together were nervously clutching their weapons, their hands, shaking, eyes jumping from one side of the battle to the other, trying to figure out what to do.

Next: Yikkol

[TaiLiu]

Using the crypt's brickwork and the zombies' heads as leverage, Yikkol pulls herself up and away from the undead monstrosities clawing at her feet. Then—goat-like—she climbs around, leaps off, lands on her feet, and bolts towards the east tomb.

• Cunning Action to Disengage.
• Action to Dash.
• Move to move 60 ft towards the east tomb.

Wide steps descend to a landing flanked by two alcoves. Within each alcove, taking up the full thirty-foot height of the ceiling, is a bronze statue of a warrior holding a spear. A soft blue curtain of light flows between the two alcoves. Dimly visible on the other side of the curtain are more descending stairs.

"This way!" she says, partly to the Barovians and partly to her companions. "There are more stairs here. And this light..."

• Interact with an object to "sheathe" her whip.

[dangelo]

Responding to the chaos of battle and the cries of the zombies, the wavering ceiling shattered in a thousand bats, and the creatures descended in a storm of chirps and bites. However, they seemed to be organized or at least compelled into targeting one specific adventurer:

8 Bite attacks on Lord Zinro(1d20+4)[17] for (2d4)[3] damage
(1d20+4)[19] for (2d4)[5] damage
(1d20+4)[21] for (2d4)[3] damage
(1d20+4)[6] for (2d4)[5] damage
(1d20+4)[19] for (2d4)[2] damage
(1d20+4)[12] for (2d4)[2] damage
(1d20+4)[9] for (2d4)[6] damage
(1d20+4)[13] for (2d4)[4] damage

Zombie 2 and Zombie 13 lose interest in the fleeing Yikkol and instead attack Bori with all they have. A whirlwind of claws and teeth assaulted him with the stench of the grave.

Zombie 2 attacks Bori
Bite: (1d20+3)[10] for (1d4+1)[2] damage
Claws: (1d20+3)[23] for (1d6+1)[7] damage (Crit! +6 damage, total 13)
Claws: (1d20+3)[4] for (1d6+1)[3] damage

Zombie 13 attacks Bori
Bite: (1d20+3)[14] for (1d4+1)[4] damage
Claws: (1d20+3)[13] for (1d6+1)[7] damage
Claws: (1d20+3)[10] for (1d6+1)[5] damage

Farther ahead, a whole swarm of zombies was suddenly dumbfounded; They bumped their heads against one another trying to follow the blur that was Yikkol, wallrunning her way out of that tight spot and disappearing from the sight of the zombies by turning around a corner. With little else to do, they merged with their peers against the closest visible target.

Zombie 10 attacks Asha
Bite: (1d20+3)[21] for (1d4+1)[2] damage
Claws: (1d20+3)[21] for (1d6+1)[2] damage
Claws: (1d20+3)[8] for (1d6+1)[5] damage

Zombie 11 attacks Asha
Bite: (1d20+3)[12] for (1d4+1)[5] damage
Claws: (1d20+3)[15] for (1d6+1)[5] damage
Claws: (1d20+3)[11] for (1d6+1)[5] damage

Zombie 12 attacks Asha
Bite: (1d20+3)[14] for (1d4+1)[4] damage
Claws: (1d20+3)[4] for (1d6+1)[4] damage
Claws: (1d20+3)[4] for (1d6+1)[2] damage

Zombie 4 attacks Rue
Bite: (1d20+3)[22] for (1d4+1)[3] damage
Claws: (1d20+3)[6] for (1d6+1)[7] damage
Claws: (1d20+3)[8] for (1d6+1)[2] damage

Zombie 5 attacks Rue
Bite: (1d20+3)[8] for (1d4+1)[4] damage
Claws: (1d20+3)[19] for (1d6+1)[6] damage
Claws: (1d20+3)[16] for (1d6+1)[2] damage

Zombie 6 attacks Rue
Bite: (1d20+3)[10] for (1d4+1)[3] damage
Claws: (1d20+3)[9] for (1d6+1)[3] damage
Claws: (1d20+3)[14] for (1d6+1)[5] damage

Zombie 8 Dashes towards Herbert.

Spoiler: OOC

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On each of their turns, the swarms moved past Lord Zinro, attacked, and moved away from him. They all ended their movement up to 3 squares away from him.

[J-H]

Herbert Raycraft Human Life Cleric AC: 20 HP: 59/73 PPer: 18 PInv: 10 PIst: 18 Conditions: -- Concentrating: -- Aura: 30' Prot from Evil (Fiends/undead): Such creatures have disadvantage on attack rolls against us, and we are immune to charm, fear, possession by them

Herbert burns the nearby zombie with holy flame.

Spoiler

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Sacred Flame (3d8)[19] radiant, Dex DC 16 to negate
Zombie 8 Dex (1d20)[8] plus mods

[Dr.Samurai]

Asha Astral Elf Armorer Artificer AC: 23 HP: 101/103 THP: 10/10 PPer: 16 PInv: 19 PIns: 12 Conditions: Immune to Surprise, Adv on Init, Necklace of Adaptation Concentrating: -- With impressive speed and agility, Asha can see that Yikkol escapes the undead around her and makes it to the far side of the chamber. The zombies turn their attention to the others and press in. They rake and bite at Asha, but the bionoid armor can withstand far worse. Asha moves back to give himself space, then dials up the sonic disruptors on the palms of his gauntlets, and lets loose a blast of thunderous energy on the zombies crowding around him, pushing them back with tremendous force. Spoiler: Turn 3 Show Asha moves back 5ft. Opportunity Attacks from the zombies rolled in OOC. All miss. Action - Thunderwave, Con save DC 17, 11 Thunder damage (save for half), and pushed back 10ft Zombie saves rolled in OOC (not sure what their modifiers are) Zombie 3 (1d20)[7] Zombie 11 (1d20)[13] Zombie 7 (1d20)[13] Zombie 12 (1d20)[14] Zombie 10 (1d20)[5] Asha moves over 1 square to be in Bori's aura and Herbert's aura.

[Waistcoatwill]

Bori

Grunting as undead claws tear a jagged gash down his leg, Bori continues to channel the saurian spirits. Incorporated jaws and claws lash out around him once more.

At the same moment, Nethis's frustration gets the better of her and she lunges at the nearest zombie.

Spoiler: Actions

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DC 16 Con save for (1d10)[1] radiant damage. (10 radiant damage as per OOC thread).
Z1 (1d20)[5]
Z2 (1d20)[13]
Z13 (1d20)[20]
Bats (1d20)[3]
Bats (1d20)[16]

Nethis adjusts and assists Herbert in trying the break free.
(1d20+5)[24] For (1d8+3)[9] piercing damage.
Bonus action Dodge.

[The Commander]

Lord Zinro Varanash

Having been swarmed by bats, covered in bites, and losing his temper, Zinro growled and yelled out, in Elven: "ENOUGH!"

Waving his hands around him and tracing arcane patterns, Zinro pointed at the the corner of the nearby crypt and a small orange bead ejected from his finger. It impacted the corner crypt and a huge fireball erupted from the site of impact. The patterns that Zinro had traced allowed the fire to flow around himself, and around Bori and Rue; leaving them unharmed.

Spoiler

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Casting Fireball at 5th Level, Sculpt Spell to avoid all damage to myself, Bori, and Rue. Red Circle added to Owlbear Rodeo to show area of effect.

Dex Save DC 16 for Half Damage; please add appropriate modifiers

Bat Swarm 1: (1d20)[20]
Bat Swarm 2: (1d20)[19]
Bat Swarm 3: (1d20)[7]
Bat Swarm 4: (1d20)[19]
Bat Swarm 5: (1d20)[18]
Bat Swarm 7: (1d20)[9]
Bat Swarm 8: (1d20)[2]

Zombie 2: (1d20)[1]
Zombie 4: (1d20)[15]
Zombie 13: (1d20)[18]

Damage = (10D6+4)[39] Fire Damage, save for half

[truemane]

Rue Dhampir Barbarian 8/Fighter 2 AC: 17 HP: 128 PP:16 PIv: 11 PIs: 16 Rage: 4/4 (LongnRest) Empowering Bite: 4/4 (Long Rest) Second Wind: 1/1 (Short Rest) Action Surge: 1/1 (Short Rest)

The attacks from the undead creatures barely registered on Rue. Most of them, slid off her own semi-undead skin without inflicting any damage. The remaining few were little more than scratches to her.

She closed her eyes in terror as flames erupted all around her. In that moment of darkness, as the flames played out against her closed eyelids, she could smell the torches and hear the anger of dozens of mobs over the endless years, casting her out, driving her into the shadows beyond the light of life and safety and community.

But then the flames receded and she was herself again, shaken bur resolved.

She struck out at the nearest creatures, seeing if she could topple whichever seemed the nearest collapse.

Spoiler

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Attacking whatever zombies seem the most damaged:
Attack 1: attack 23 for 10 magical bludgeoning damage
Attack 2: attack 26 for 9 magical bludgeoning damage
Bonus/Off-Hand Attack: Attack 11 for 9 magical bludgeoning damage

[dangelo]

Finally, the chaotic mass of frightened Barovians reached the spiral staircase and vanished from the catacombs. Only three of them remained, too hesitant to join the battle but brave enough to stay were they were and avoid getting in the way of the combatants.

Half of the bats was incinerated, but the hundreds of creatures still swarmed around Lord Zinro. Down at ground level, the zombies collapsed under the magic that was cast at them by Bori and Herbert, and the relentless blows from Rue and Asha.

When Rue's fists hit the zombie like hammers, the monster raised its arm to defend itself. The fibers of its muscles were rotten and gave away easily, and each of the girl's punches sent one of its arms flying away.

[TaiLiu]

It's dark. Yikkol can hear the sounds of fighting coming from her upper right, but the columns and walls obscure her sight. She had to get them away from her companions and towards the wall of blue light.

In the distance, she sees Herbert's bright shield, the dinosaur, a couple of zombies... and are those bats attacking? She grabs her crossbow and fires at undead monstrosity #8 near Nethis.

• Attack: (1d20+10)[23].
• Damage: (1d10+5)[7] & (5d6)[25] is 32 damage.

"Hey!" she shouts at the zombies. "Hey! This way! I'm tasty and easy to catch and I hate Strahd, your master! Don't you wanna attack me?"

As they begin to approach, Yikkol disappears through the blue light and into the east tomb. She throws herself against a wall and reloads her crossbow.

• Move to move behind the wall.
• Cunning Action to hide: (1d20+12)[19].

[dangelo]

Taking cover against the staircase, Yikkol lifted her head just enough to aim at the zombie, crawling like a soldier in the trenches. She loosed a bolt and it flew straight through the zombie's skull, splattering rotten brains and gore all over the stone floor.

She turned to the royal crypt and launched herself through the curtain of light, and then... nothing.

You were judged... UNWORTHY.

The bronze statues that guarded the crypt gained life and stepped down from their pedestals. Standing over thirty feet tall, they raised their poleaxes in the air and hacked at Yikkol at the same time, forming a cross in the air and sending her head flying into the air.

Yikkol's head rolled on the floor and her body collapsed like a bag of potatoes. The statues went back to their places and the curtain of light was formed again. Once again, the royal crypt was kept safe from invaders as graverobbers.

Snap.

The illusion was gone. Yikkol found herself back at the top of the staircase that lead down into the royal crypt, next to the Barovians who remained in the catacombs. Her head was spinning, a slitting headache taking over her as her mind distinguished reality from illusion.

Yikkol: Constitution save DC 18 not to be stunned till the end of your next round

Next: Swarm of Bats

[TaiLiu]

Yikkol leans against the handrails and vomits onto a nearby Barovian. Her head! Fates, what was that?

• Constitution versus DC 18: (1d20+2)[22].

[dangelo]

Four Bloodied Swarm of Bats attack Lord Zinro
(1d20+4)[8] for (1d4)[3] damage
(1d20+4)[16] for (1d4)[3] damage
(1d20+4)[14] for (1d4)[2] damage
(1d20+4)[6] for (1d4)[3] damage

One Swarm of Bats attacks Lord Zinro
(1d20+4)[13] for (2d4)[6] damage

-----

Zombies 3, 7, 10, 11, 12 and 13 attack Asha.
Disadvantage from Icon of Ravenloft.

Zombie 3
Bite: (1d20+4)[24] or (1d20+4)[17] for (1d4+1)[2] damage
Claws: (1d20+4)[17] or (1d20+4)[20] for (1d6+1)[2] damage
Claws: (1d20+4)[8] or (1d20+4)[23] for (1d6+1)[5] damage

Zombie 7
Bite: (1d20+4)[17] or (1d20+4)[10] for (1d4+1)[3] damage
Claws: (1d20+4)[16] or (1d20+4)[19] for (1d6+1)[6] damage
Claws: (1d20+4)[20] or (1d20+4)[18] for (1d6+1)[5] damage

Zombie 10
Bite: (1d20+4)[12] or (1d20+4)[24] for (1d4+1)[4] damage
Claws: (1d20+4)[23] or (1d20+4)[15] for (1d6+1)[4] damage
Claws: (1d20+4)[13] or (1d20+4)[5] for (1d6+1)[4] damage

Zombie 11
Bite: (1d20+4)[23] or (1d20+4)[13] for (1d4+1)[3] damage
Claws: (1d20+4)[11] or (1d20+4)[13] for (1d6+1)[7] damage
Claws: (1d20+4)[16] or (1d20+4)[6] for (1d6+1)[6] damage

Zombie 12
Bite: (1d20+4)[16] or (1d20+4)[10] for (1d4+1)[4] damage
Claws: (1d20+4)[9] or (1d20+4)[22] for (1d6+1)[7] damage
Claws: (1d20+4)[15] or (1d20+4)[13] for (1d6+1)[5] damage

Zombie 13
Bite: (1d20+4)[11] or (1d20+4)[8] for (1d4+1)[3] damage
Claws: (1d20+4)[21] or (1d20+4)[16] for (1d6+1)[3] damage
Claws: (1d20+4)[15] or (1d20+4)[14] for (1d6+1)[6] damage

[dangelo]

Oops - Forgot about two zombies:

Zombies 5 and 6 attack Rue

Zombie 5
Bite: (1d20+3)[18] for (1d4+1)[5] damage
Claw: (1d20+3)[13] for (1d6+1)[4] damage
Claw: (1d20+3)[9] for (1d6+1)[5] damage

Zombie 6
Bite: (1d20+3)[22] for (1d4+1)[3] damage
Claw: (1d20+3)[20] for (1d6+1)[7] damage
Claw: (1d20+3)[19] for (1d6+1)[6] damage

[The Commander]

Lord Zinro Varanash

As the bats came swooping down at him again, Zinro reacted by muttering arcane words. In an instant, a translucent silver shield enveloped him and deflected the swarm's attacks.

Spoiler

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As a Reaction, cast Shield; blocking the attacks that hit

[J-H]

Herbert Raycraft Human Life Cleric AC: 20 HP: 59/73 PPer: 18 PInv: 10 PIst: 18 Conditions: -- Concentrating: -- Aura: 30' Prot from Evil (Fiends/undead): Such creatures have disadvantage on attack rolls against us, and we are immune to charm, fear, possession by them

Herbert advances into the room and holds the symbol of Pelor high. "I abjure you, foul creatures! Be at rest, as you should be!"

Spoiler

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Turn Undead
Each undead that can see or hear you within 30 feet of you must make a WIS saving throw (DC 16). If the creature fails its saving throw, it is turned for 1 minute or until it takes any damage. A turned creature must spend its turns trying to move as far away from you as it can, and it can’t willingly move to a space within 30 feet of you. It also can’t take reactions. For its action, it can use only the Dash action or try to escape from an effect that prevents it from moving. If there’s nowhere to move, the creature can use the Dodge action.
Undead CR 1 or lower are destroyed
All the zombies within 30' can see or hear him.
Zombie saves, plus any mods
3 (1d20)[6]
5 (1d20)[10]
6 (1d20)[17]
7 (1d20)[6]
10 (1d20)[5]
11 (1d20)[12]
12 (1d20)[7]
13 (1d20)[18]
arm left (1d20)[8]
arm right(1d20)[16]

[dangelo]

Cries of horror filled the catacombs. The zombies fled in terror, running away from the "Bright Light", the ancient divine magic that burnt their skins and boiled their blood. One by one, they were engulfed by the light and disintegrated by Herbert's words. Only two of them survived, heavily damaged, running away like terrified hyenas.

"Damned be us..." Said one of the three Barovians who had remained in the catacombs. The battlefield was quiet once again.

End of Combat!

[TaiLiu]

"Well done, your holiness!"

Then, in a quieter voice to the Barovian she vomited on: "Sorry about that. It's these statues..."

She turns around and examines both the statues and the curtain of blue light. As an experienced dungeon crawler, does she see any runes or places to disarm the trap? Could she squeeze past one of the statues or topple one over?

[Dr.Samurai]

Asha Astral Elf Armorer Artificer AC: 23 HP: 101/103 THP: 10/10 PPer: 16 PInv: 19 PIns: 12 Conditions: Immune to Surprise, Adv on Init, Necklace of Adaptation Concentrating: -- As Asha backs up toward Bori and Rue, the zombies rush forward still, pressing him against a sarcophagus. Their rotted teeth and nails scratch and pull at Asha's armor, but do not penetrate. Still, he has a hard time moving as the weight of all of them pin him to the stone. He looks around and then up, wondering if he should take flight again. But suddenly, he hears Herbert's voice ring out, and the chamber is lit by a bright light. All but two of the zombies are instantly destroyed by the light, and the remaining two flee in terror. Asha quickly checks on the others to make sure everyone is okay. The zombies, individually, were not powerful. But in enough numbers, any hostile can be life-threatening. He gives a curt nod to the cleric, then calls out to Yikkol, Yikkol, are you okay?

[TaiLiu]

He gives a curt nod to the cleric, then calls out to Yikkol, Yikkol, are you okay?

"I'm all right!" Yikkol shouts back. She has bruises and scratches all over, but they don't seem serious. She's examining the statues.

"Just trying to figure out out to get around this curtain. There's some stairs down. You know magic, right? Do you know what this is?"

[truemane]

Rue Dhampir Barbarian 8/Fighter 2 AC: 17 HP: 102/128 PP:16 PIv: 11 PIs: 16 Rage: 4/4 (LongnRest) Empowering Bite: 4/4 (Long Rest) Second Wind: 1/1 (Short Rest) Action Surge: 1/1 (Short Rest)

Rue stood up and stepped away from the broken corpses at her feet. Just before they had been driven off, she had endured several savage attacks from the creatures. Her chest and face were rent by several deep cuts and tears in her strange flesh.

But she did not bleed.

She snarled at the fleeing zombies, gave the Barovians a contemptuous look, and started walking the perimeter of the area, looking for anything concerning.

(knowing, as she did, that she would be of no assistance in figuring out traps or markings)

Spoiler

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Using my Second Wind:
(1d10+2)[11]
EDIT: HP total in statblock, above, accounts for this.

[J-H]

Herbert Raycraft Human Life Cleric AC: 20 HP: 59/73 PPer: 18 PInv: 10 PIst: 18 Conditions: -- Concentrating: -- Aura: 30' Prot from Evil (Fiends/undead): Such creatures have disadvantage on attack rolls against us, and we are immune to charm, fear, possession by them

Herbert looks around for a moment. "Thank Pelor. What set them off? I heard a lot of clattering right before all the yelling and fighting started."
He tries to figure out where the two remaining zombies ran off to. If they are cowering in the far corners of the room, or are visible without leaving the room, he will burn them to a crisp with Sacred Flame.

After that, he'll approach the remaining Barovians. "The Blessing of Pelor be upon you. This is a very dark place. How did you come to be here, and what were you after."

[Waistcoatwill]

Bori

Borders out a long whistle of appreciation at the blast of undead-destroying power. Nethis leaps past the others yo nuzzle him and Gissing over his wounds.

It's difficult not to get split up in these corridors! Younreally saved our tribex there!

He briefly looks the Barovians over and tries to start the parley he'd missed before.

Well it's lovely to see other living people down here! Can we help you at all? What brings you down here anyway?

Spoiler: Roll

Show

Persuasion to get them to talk
(1d20+8)[28] plus (1d4)[1]

[The Commander]

Lord Zinro Varanash

Zinro maintained a defensive stance for a few moments longer; in case there were anymore surprising immediately coming. When nothing seemed to jump out at him, he relaxed slightly and made his way over to the group.

The others can see Zinro's fine clothes and cloak covered in scratches and spots of blood, as also see that Zinro himself looks a little worse for wear.

Whilst the others were busy speaking with the Barovians, Zinro began to cast spells of mending and cleaning to fix his attire. (Mending + Prestidigitation to mend and clean my clothes)

"Might I suggest we take a breather? That last fight was quite intense and perhaps it'll give us time to get acquainted with these.... people." Zinro almost sounded disgusted when he said the final word.

[dangelo]

"Why, same thing as you." The bearded man nodded. "There's gold and silver in these crypts"

He realized that thirteen of the crypts now lay open, their treasures exposed. The three men exchanged a worried look. "Ye wanna split?" He asked in hesitation. After seeing the battle, he knew they had no chance to keep the gold if these adventurers decided to take it all.

Meanwhile, Yikkol inspected the bronze statues and concluded she could indeed topple them over by climbing the stone walls behind them and pushing them with both feet and her back against the wall.

Spoiler: If Yikkol does so

Show

A loud crash filled the catacombs, and giant pieces of bronze armor scattered around the stone floor. The blue curtain of light shimmered an disappeared. Underneath the statue, carved on its pedestal, were ancient arcane runes that could be studied to identify the properties of this barrier.

(Quote this post if you topple the statue!)

[TaiLiu]

Meanwhile, Yikkol inspected the bronze statues and concluded she could indeed topple them over by climbing the stone walls behind them and pushing them with both feet and her back against the wall.

If Yikkol does so: A loud crash filled the catacombs, and giant pieces of bronze armor scattered around the stone floor. The blue curtain of light shimmered an disappeared. Underneath the statue, carved on its pedestal, were ancient arcane runes that could be studied to identify the properties of this barrier.

Oh, Fates. Finally.

Yikkol dusts herself off and pours some clear viscous alchemical solution over the worst of her injuries. It moves like syrup but smells strongly of alcohol. She watches as her injuries scab and then fade.

• Healer's Kit: Yikkol recovers (1d6+14)[15] hit points.

To test if the blue curtain really was gone, Yikkol puts her hand through where the barrier used to be. Then she bends down and squints at the runes.

"Might I suggest we take a breather? That last fight was quite intense and perhaps it'll give us time to get acquainted with these.... people." Zinro almost sounded disgusted when he said the final word.

"Good call. Come over here and I'll patch you up."

Yikkol waves him over, directs him to prop himself against the wall, and pours some more of that syrup onto his bloodiest wounds.

• If Zinro agrees, she'll use her Healer's Kit on him. He recovers (1d6+14)[16] hit points.

"While you're here, could you look at these runes? They seem like magic. What do they do?"

[The Commander]

Lord Zinro Varanash

"Good call. Come over here and I'll patch you up."

Yikkol waves him over, directs him to prop himself against the wall, and pours some more of that syrup onto his bloodiest wounds.

• If Zinro agrees, she'll use her Healer's Kit on him. He recovers (1d6+1)[6] hit points.

"While you're here, could you look at these runes? They seem like magic. What do they do?"

Zinro looked initially sceptical, but relented and did as he was told. As the medicine ran over his wounds, most began to close up.

"My thanks." He managed at length. "Normally I stay far behind the frontline, but it seems like those bats had other ideas." He muttered some more arcane words as he cast a spell on himself. (Casting Mage Armour on myself)

Standing up straight again, he took a look at the runes Yikkol directed him. Whilst he studied them he said: "I hope you don't mind Dot being attached to you. If her presence bothers you I can take her back."

(Arcana check to identify runes (1d20+8)[9])

(Assuming we are short-resting, Zinro will spend 1 HD and take the D8 from Bori: (1d6+1)[6] + (1d8+1)[8]. He also will use Arcane Recovery to regain a 5th level spell slot, and use his Peal of Power to regain a 3rd level spell slot. Pearl cannot be used again until the next 'dawn'.)

Whilst resting, Zinro took out the brilliant pearl from before and muttered a word to it. The pearl glowed softly for a moment, the glow transferring to Zinro's hand, before returning to normal again.

[Waistcoatwill]

Bori

We don't mind sharing at all. We'd appreciate a little help though, any information you could give us about the rest of the castle would be really helpful.

[Dr.Samurai]

Asha Astral Elf Armorer Artificer AC: 23 HP: 101/103 THP: 10/10 PPer: 16 PInv: 19 PIns: 12 Conditions: Immune to Surprise, Adv on Init, Necklace of Adaptation Concentrating: -- "I'm all right!" Yikkol shouts back. She has bruises and scratches all over, but they don't seem serious. She's examining the statues. "Just trying to figure out out to get around this curtain. There's some stairs down. You know magic, right? Do you know what this is?" Interesting. One moment, Yikkol, I will be right there. Asha stays with Bori a moment longer to suss out what these Barovians are inclined to do. Well it's lovely to see other living people down here! Bori says, Can we help you at all? What brings you down here anyway? "Why, same thing as you." The bearded man nodds. "There's gold and silver in these crypts... want to split it?" Asha raises an eyebrow, though it can't be seen behind his bionoid helmet. We don't mind sharing at all. We'd appreciate a little help though, any information you could give us about the rest of the castle would be really helpful. Asha nods his head in agreement with Bori, Yes, information like how you got in and out, are you aware of other entrances and exits, did you expect to be confronted by any guardians and how you aimed to avoid them. We plan on going further, and any information will be helpful. Confident that Bori has a handle on the Barovians, Asha walks over to Yikkol. Lord Zinro is there, both are bruised and cut up. The wizard is attempting to make sense of the runes, but his focus is on healing. These are the runes here? Asha says, stopping over to inspect them, Let's see what we might have... Spoiler: Arcana check on Runes Show (1d20+9)[21]

[dangelo]

The runes didn't correspond to any incantations Lord Zinro was familiar with, but with Asha's help the elves were able to point out its properties. The spell belonged to the Abjuration school, but had runes of Illusion and Divination woven into it. Divination, to look into the souls of those who tried to trespass and judge them; Illusion, to assault their minds. The parameters to judge someone "worthy" were based on the morals and ethics of the Church of the Morninglord, allowing only what that church would consider a "Good" person to cross the curtain.

OOC: Only Lawful Good characters could cross the barrier. The barrier is out and the way is clear now.

Descending the stairs beyond the bronze guardians:

This tomb rests in hushed silence. Tall, stained glass windows dominate the eastern walls, allowing dim light to fall on two coffins resting atop white marble slabs. The one against the north wall is marked King Barov von Zarovich, and the one against the south wall is marked Queen Ravenovia van Roeyen. The vaulted ceiling thirty feet overhead is inlaid with a beautiful gold mosaic.