Story Thread

[Jeff]

My senses are focused as we enter Castle Ravenloft once again. My focus is on finding any items that will aid us when we face Strahd. The Sun Sword has proved illusive, but I haven’t given up on regaining it. I’m hopeful there are more items in the castle that will help us.

We have a quiet moment of rest and my mind turns to all of the friends we’ve made on this journey; I hope the Martikovs are okay; they were so helpful to us on a number of occasions, and I wish we could’ve done more to help them. We’ve certainly tried but have come up short—if we can make it out of here I’d like to change that.

I think of Father Petrovich in Villaki and hope that he is well and the church is still a place of safety. I’m grateful that we were able to return the bones and help the people of Villaki.

I wonder about Ireena, Ismar and the children and wonder how they are faring.

I wish we could have been more successful in completing our quests for these people, but I’m far from giving up and hope we get the opportunity to keep our word.

I think about Ezmerelda and Van Richten and wonder what’s happened with them and why they haven’t been more helpful to us. It would be great if they actually showed up to assist us.

We have unfinished business with the evil Abbott and Izik Strasny and the rest of the thugs in Villaki. There’s also the hag and her moving hut in Beresz.

My hope is we can make short work in the castle and get back to these other quests, get organized and better prepared before our showdown with Strahd.

I’d love to keep our word to these friends and make a difference in their lives.

[Aileen]

I don't even get into the sarcophagus room before all the ghasts are dead. Creed did her sickening radiance thing again and warned us against entering. I'm a little pissed I didn't get to swing my axe, but at the same time at least I'm not getting my a** kicked. We go in and take a look around.

"Dare me to lick it?" I whisper to Cecil, nodding my head at the sarcophagus in front of me.

"That's an excellent idea for an experiment! Do it!"

The gnome likes the prospect, so I lean in towards the amber sarcophagus. Some dark energy is swirling inside, but not on the surface. I'm sure I'll be fine. I stick my tongue out, and lick the amber surface. Suddenly I'm transfixed, my tongue still on the sarcophagus, as a voice speaks in my head

'I offer you the gift of Zantras, the King Maker. Do you wish to have the power of great presence and force of personality?'

'I already have that. No, thank you!'

'The gift has been declined.'

I'm back to myself, feeling like I just escaped something bad. I pull away, shaking the weird feeling away.

"It tastes fine!" I announce, my voice shaking involuntarily.

"Are you all right?" Rideyr asks.

I am, I let them all know. Nothing bad happened, but I also said no to the gift. They scoff when I say I didn't take it because I already have a great, winning personality. Anyone that doesn't already love me simply has terrible taste.

"I suggest you don't touch the sarcophagi," I say. Then I catch Mike reaching out to one. "Or do, if you want, I can't decide for you."

Mike snaps back to reality a moment later, and she looks a little different. In the middle of her forehead is now a third eye, with a cataract. She was so gorgeous, and now... she doesn't seem to mind, as she can now cling to walls like a spider. Or more like the dead things that also had blind third eyes.

"Mike, I can do your makeup! A nice smokey eye might make that look a little more classy!"

And then Steinbjorn touches the third sarcophagus. When he pulls away, he leans his head forward as though he is going to vomit, and he starts spitting stuff into his hand. One tiny little thing falls to the floor, and upon closer inspection I see it's one of his teeth. He looks up, and speaks. I scream.

I feel my heart plummet to my stomach, disgust and fear overwhelming me. Steinbjorn now has no teeth. All of them are now held in his hands. He looks terrible, not the handsome blonde warrior I have come to admire. Any attraction to him I've had is gone. I am absolutely heartbroken. I don't even care what gift he took, nothing is worth this!

"Steinbjorn, you're ugly!" I snap at him. "Why would you do that?!"

"I'm not ugly." He says, spitting as he speaks.

"YOU HAVE NO TEETH! I'm over you!"

"Good, now maybe you'll leave me the hell alone!"

Cheeks and I walk back to the door as tears start pricking at my eyes. I'm done with this place and this group. I was just having fun when I licked the sarcophagus, and I denied the "gift" i was offered. These other greedy bastards accepted, and now they're paying the price!

Moving along, we go through a new door and find ourselves passing under the arm of the statue. Mike crawls along on the ceiling, it's quite disturbing and yet pretty cool. A bolt of lightning arches towards Mike, zapping her, before it hits Rideyr next. I look up to see the fox man appear sitting on the head of the statue just as the lighting comes towards me. It rips through me, the jolt setting all my nerves on fire for a second before it stops.

"We can run, or we can fight- up to you!" Stein shouts, glancing at me for a moment. Ultimately I will have to make the call. I don't like running, but as we have all learned in this place... sometimes it is the only thing you can do.

I try to fire bolt the fox guy after realizing running and jumping onto the statues head is a feat even I, a superior athlete, cannot succeed. Unfortunately, I miss, adding insult to injury. The fox laughs, and casts fireball. I wasn't ready, and I take it full force. I'm not even sure I have eyebrows at this point! Creed casts her sickening radiance spell, nearly trapping us all in the vapors, but I jump out of it just in time. Then the damn flame skulls arrive! They fly in and look at Mike and Steinbjorn, giving them both respectful nods.

"See! You are evil!" I snap at Stein.

"I'm not evil!!!"

"You look evil- you look like a Jacu-lantern!"

Mike busts out laughing.

"Zola, sweetie... not the right word. That's a whole other kind of mess."

"I HATE YOU ALL!" I shriek.

Even with all my nasty comments towards him, Stein heals me up. I guess he is still good despite making dark deals. We escape the flame skulls and the fox, going out to the corridor and shutting the doors.

"Let's leave... we can go back to that tower by the gate. I would rather face an entire army of revenants than this bulls***!" I say.

"Language!" Stein spits.

"STOP TALKING, TOOTHLESS!"

Creed takes a look through the walls of one room we have yet to check out, and reports seeing a skeleton in robes clutching a wand, wearing a cool nautical jaunty hat. Cecil and I get excited about the hat, while everyone else seems to focus on the wand.

"If we go in there, we're all going to be cool about the wand- right?" Cheeks asks.

Nobody says anything for a moment.

"I'm not letting anyone in until we all agree to be cool."

Reluctantly, we all agree. She mage hands the door open, and we enter. I check the little charcoal grill, but sadly the steak is overcooked and solid. No snacks for Z, very disappointing.

"Everybody out, I'm casting detect magic!" Stein orders.

"Say it, don't spray it, Steiny." I mumble.

"Any more sass and you're getting the manacles again, Zola."

We leave the room, and he does his ritual. Obviously the wand is magic, and he says it is specifically divination magic.

"Great, I want the hat!" I announce.

"Aw, I was going to put it on!" Cecil says.

"Oh! It's yours then, Cecil! You are bald, afterall!"

I then realize I've probably offended my gnome friend.

"Bald and incredibly handsome!" I say.

Cecil smiles as he puts on the hat. It is much too big for him and falls well past his eyes, but he quickly rights it and makes it work. We decide to rest in this room, and Stein offers up the wand for someone to identify.

"My aunts a divination wizard," I announce. "I've been studying it all my life!"

He let's me do the honors, and by the end of the rest I know that it is in fact a wand of secrets. I fill the group in that it can find secret doors, and present it to Cheeks who can get the most use out of it.

We make our way towards the room we first came in, ready to leave, and then Steinbjorn gets a brilliant idea. And by brilliant, I mean incredibly stupid. He wants to go in the flame skull hallway with Mike and see if they don't attack them again. For what purpose other than curiosity, they have no answer.

I start heading out the tunnel, and soon hear Cheeks announce the skulls are going to let us pass into the room. There is literally no good reason to go in there! fireballs blasting behind me and I hear the pained screams of party members. I keep going.

"I f***ing told you!" I shout, continuing out the tunnel.

I get outside, and I wait. Whoever exits clearly deserved to live. It's not my call who lives or dies, but I was not stupid. At this point I'm done getting hurt for people's egos and dumb ideas. The Dawn Breakers are finished. I know Rideyr was following me, but apparently he turned back. I wait another minute, and then I start walking.

I get pretty far away from the temple walls before I hear any sign of life. It's cold and blustery, and my tears start freezing on my cheeks. I can feel an icicle start to form in my left nostril.

"Zola!" Comes a voice behind me. Chad.

I refuse to turn around. I hear the snow start crunching faster, but I don't break my stride. Soon the other half-elf comes running up behind me, catching up.

"Zola, wait!"

"No! I'm leaving!"

"So are the rest of us, just slow down!"

I sigh, and turn to face him. I can see the others trudging along behind, some looking wounded. I feel a little bad for storming off, and want to talk to them even less. I turn back around and start walking, letting Chad tag along.

We get to the tower, and Stein asks for help gathering firewood. I reluctantly start chopping wood, considering I have the biggest axe. I can't bring myself to look at him or talk to him. He isn't Steinbjorn anymore. Not the cleric of goodness I once knew. I thought I loved him, but clearly that was a younger and more naïve Zola.

I cry myself to sleep, my bedroll pushed as far away from the others as possible while still being warm. I hate them, I hate all of them! They're all greedy bastards who only think of themselves! They don't want to free Prince Strahd, they want to murder him and take his power! I will not allow that to happen... I will ensure that he is freed, and maybe this place will be good again! I could help him, I know I can! Rideyr himself said I am pure of heart, maybe by showing love to Strahd it will make him good again?! I eventually drift off, the sound of strange tinkering coming from all sides of the room.

---

In the morning I awaken having had a strange dream. Madame Eva spoke to me, saying we must hasten to the castle and to stop avoiding what we have been avoiding all this time. Going after Strahd? I can only assume so. I look over to the rest of the group, and see Cecil sitting up, holding Poppov. I scream.

"HOW?! HOW DOES HE LIVE!" I clamber to my feet, rushing towards Cecil with my axe drawn. "HE'S COME TO KILL US!!!"

Cecil looks both happy and terrified at the same time, staring at Poppov in awe.

"Guys... I'm deaf!" He announces inside my head.

Well this is just great! Poppov the evil puppet has come back from the grave to kill Mike and I for slaying him, and now our gnome cannot hear!

After calming down and eating breakfast, we all start discussing our dreams. It turns out we all had the same one of Madame Eva! She said she would hold back the knights of Argynvost, and we have to believe it is true. We will set out for Castle Ravenloft immediately.

At the gate, Stein dispels magic, and we leave this forsaken mountain behind. Nothing stops us in our travels, and we hear a voice of protection mumble through the mountains like a breeze.

"Madame Eva, please get me my sword back!" I pray to the sky. It does not appear.

As we walk, I fall into step with Cecil. I look over at the puppet, my heart hammering in my chest.

"Poppov... I'm sorry I killed you! I didn't mean it!"

"I'm not sorry! I'll do it again!" Calls Mike from behind.

"Just... don't kill me, Poppov! I've changed! I'm a good person, now!"

Four hours of travel brings us to the road just outside the gates of Vallaki. As we approach, two swarms of ravens appear flying overhead, cawing up a storm.

"My friends!" I exclaim, waving. "I've missed you!"

They keep in pace with us as we walk, and soon we start seeing posters nailed into trees along the road. They're wanted posters, of us! I see a pretty good drawing of myself looking back at me, and for some reason I look like a vampire. Have my tusks really grown that much? I run my tongue along them, but they're still barely grown, hidden by my lip. I wonder if I were to be a vampire if they would turn into fangs? I read the writing under my picture.

FESTIVAL OF THE CONVICTS. GUESTS OF HONOR, INVITED TO ATTEND!

I roll up my poster/invite and store it in my bag as a souvenir. The ravens caw at us once more, and fly off towards the woods. We discuss what to do, and as much as I want to go to Vallaki and attend the festival of the convicts, I have to follow the ravens.

"I trust the ravens more than I trust any of you," I say. "No offense. But we must follow them!"

We follow the ravens into the woods, picking our way through the thick trees. It's dark and scary in the woods, but the sounds of the ravens gives me hope. They will not lead us astray! Up ahead we hear the sounds of a struggle, and soon we come upon a body. A dead hunter on its stomach, clutching a pile of wanted posters. Upon rolling it over we see it looks exactly like Checkasha, with her eyes pecked out.

"Its an illusion," she says. "Just like what happened with Mike's head and my body I saw at the gallows. Don't let it fool you."

She is a braver woman than I am to be able to look her own death in the face and not even bat an eye. The ravens bring us through the woods another hour, and get us back to the road. We have successfully completely bypassed Vallaki! I try to get the ravens to come speak to me, but they fly away.

"No! Come back!"

Rideyr puts a hand on my shoulder.

"They have other things to attend to," he says. "Do not take it personally. They still have your back."

I can only hope the Order of the Feather still knows I am their girl. I love the Martikovs, and I hate that I have failed them. They need to know that the seed was taken from me, but it will have to wait.

Strahd seems to have forgotten to send the carriage for us, so we have to walk the rest of the way to the castle. By the time we get to the drawbridge my feet are sore and blistered, and I don't want to walk anymore. We basically walked the entire length of Barovia! The drawbridge is down, it's getting dark, and a warm, inviting light spills from the front door out into the courtyard.

We cross the bridge, and I start heading toward the castle. Honey, I'm home! Cecil wants to call Strahd out to face us, and I really want to see him again and have another nice meal. It's been a while since I've seen that handsome, mysterious man, and I look forward to being back in his castle! With Steiny out of the running, the only suitable match for a noble highborn girl like me is Strahd Von Zarovich himself. Too bad our mission is to potentially kill him.

Creed insists that there is a door around the back through the garden, but I don't believe her. We decide to check it out anyway. I reluctantly leave the inviting warmth of the entrance, and we head around back.

"Backdoor of Ravenloft... that's what they used to call me."

"No, that never happened, Zola," Creed scolds. "You don't even know what that means!"

"She's been spending time with me. Of course she knows what it means!" Laughs Mike.

We get around back, enter the garden, and... there is a door! So Creed was right! Cheeks tries to get it open, but it won't open.

"I got it!" I announce, backing up a few paces, then running and jumping at the door. It bursts open, and I stumble into the dust filled room.

This room is very dusty, clearly unused for a long time. Two skeletons in chainmail, stairs going down into darkness, and a thick book on a desk are in here. I immediately make for the book, and flip it open. Most of the pages are filled with unintelligible names, and I find a blank space under the last visitor. Flipping to the front, a note reads:

Please register for your own convenience and that of your next of kin.

The ink bottle and quill next to it seem untouched, still liquidy, and I dip the pen in. I find the first blank spot, and start to write.

Zola von Zarovich

I dot the 'i' with a heart, and step away.

"Guys, you want to sign the guest book?!"

The others surprisingly do, and I get many glares as they see what I wrote. I can only smile.

Cheeks opens up a door, and we find some stairs going up. Following these, we come to a room with broken bed frames, two full length mirrors, and a tall coffin shaped wardrobe covered in dust. Steinbjorn opens it up, and a crack of thunder nearly makes me jump out of my boots. A plain white dress flies out of the wardrobe, and as the rain begins tapping a cadence on the windowpane and the winds pick up outside, it waltzes around and around to the sound of the storm.

"We found our dance instructor!" Mike cheers.


~ Z. v. Z.

[bxtreme]

Journal Entry 30

Temptation was all around us! Large amber sarcophagi holding a strange black whispy substance tempted us with "gifts". I'm glad to report the scientific method worked...or at least my method worked. I tried to appeal to Ryder's "Do Good" nature and advised against touched these strange relics, but I knew that would only entice the curious among us. I observed each of the three subjects as they touched (or in Zola's case licked) the amber structures. Zola turned down her gift offered by the whispy substance. However, Stein and Mike did not - brave souls. They both experienced very strange results. I've concluded that the risk was simply not worth the reward.

We later encountered the tricky fox...that damn fox. I have to hand it to him, he has quite the interesting bag of tricks. I thought if all of the Dawn Breakers could focus fire on this little guy, we could be victorious. With keen positioning and a barrage of arcane magic from Mr. Fox, we ended up running away. Off to the tower we started in this strange new place to take a rest.

Journal Entry 31
I woke up to a startling surprise - Poppov! But what is he dong here? How is this possible? Where has he been? So many, no, too many questions! I'll have to have a long discussion with him on our way to castle Ravenloft.

[Stephen]

My teeth are now embedded in my club. Forming a ring around the thickest part of it. I think that was the icing on the cake for freaking out most of the party. Or maybe it was almost getting them killed by flaming skulls.

After exploring the temple for most of the day, all we find is more flaming skulls that regenerate after an hour and a fox like magic wielding creature. Luckily Chee finds a secret door that leads down deeper into the temple.

We come to a room full of ghasts! We dispatch them easily enough. In the room we find three large blocks of amber. The blocks are roughly shaped like coffins. Wiggling inside the solid block of amber is black smoke? I stare at one of them intently.

Commotion behind me draws my attention. Zola licked one and denied some sort of....gift. Creed tried to scold Zola about it. Zola snapped back. The bickering is getting old. Dunno why Creed tries to be “motherly” to the high born Zola. Although Zola may be impulsive, she is more than capable of taking care of herself.

Mike touches one amber coffin and stands still for a moment. Suddenly a third eye appears on her forehead! But a milky cataract forms over it. Mike jumps for joy and starts climbing the walls and ceiling! Her gift is the ability to climb like a spider! A third eye is easy enough to hide with hair or a bandanna.

I take my glove off and before anyone can react I place my hand on the block of amber...

I find myself nowhere. In nothing. Everyone and everything is absent. No light, sound, heat, cold or sensation. Pure nothingness. I have never been at such peace.

A raspy voice fills my mind “How many lives have you lived? Oh, I see… I can feel your lifeline. It’s the only one, and there will be no more for you. Unless you accept this gift, that is. I can offer you a sample of immortality.”

Without hesitation I say out loud into the void, “I accept!”

The ability to become immortal and potentially keep my friends alive until they die of natural causes? Yes please!

Deep laughter fills my mind. Its’ darkness displaces the void I am floating in. I suddenly feel like the butt of a joke.

“When you die you will reincarnate!”

What wait?

I snap back to the temple and cough like Creed. My teeth fall out. All of them. I laugh. Uncontrollably. Hysterically. By the gods I think I am really starting to lose it.

Oh the powers of Barovia. Not enough souls for newborns. Revenant spirits claiming freshly dead bodies. Poison cookies. No more wine. Well good wine anyway. I am starting to think coming here is a bad idea.

The party is utterly disgusted by my appearance and inability to form words like I used to. Granted it is difficult. Cecil offers to build me fake teeth. I accept his offer. His is a creative little guy.

No one else touches the amber coffins. Oh well.

We leave the coffin room and make our way back. Leaving the temple is a blur. What does stand out are the flaming skulls that nod their heads to Mike and I as we ran by them. Interesting.....

Well that plan was horrible....who woulda thought that flaming skulls would lie? Then proceed to fireball us multiple times?

We leave the Amber Temple and make camp at the old guard tower. Waking up the next morning Cecil presents me my new false teeth, not exactly as he described them but they work and double as a child’s toy. I humbly accept them.

During breakfast we discover that we all had the same dream from Madam Eva. We make all haste to Castle Ravenloft.

Bypassing Vallaki (but taking Festival of the Convicts posters) we make it to the castle by nightfall.

Taking it by the rear, we enter slowly. The area has not been used in a while for a thick layer of dust covers everything. Two sets of gleaming chain mail hanging in propped up human skeletons catch my eye. Zola finds a large book where guests sign their lives away. We sign in and I change into one of the very nice and well cared for suits of chain mail. I place my old armor back on the skeleton.

We venture further into the castle. A thought comes to me....the sun sword is still here!

Coming to yet another room with broken furnishings a coffin shaped wardrobe stands silent against the wall. As Zola and I approach it the others ready themselves for combat. Grasping the the handle I flash Zola a toothless smile. She shudders, the door to the wardrobe opens, and out floats a dress without a body to occupy it.

[Chris]

Castle Ravenloft

Court of the Count
Servants' Upper Floor
Heart of Sorrow
The Heart
Animated Halberds
Vampire Spawn
retreat to the Servants' Upper Floor

Time at end of session: Day 18, 5:58:35pm, Year 735?

MVP Kyla Falcon as 
Chekasha "Cheeks" of the Abandoned Bog


our plays on RPG Geek rpggeek.com/plays/thing/192136?userid=1168080

retcon: spells that only affect creatures should NOT have been affecting the heart and will not affect it going forward (for example, eldritch blast)

[Aileen]

It was a rough day for me today. My true love Prince Strahd wasn't able to come swoop in and save me either, to add insult to injury.

The dancing dress wouldn't communicate with any of my crazy companions, so I grabbed it and it collapsed into a heap. Sadly, the dress was stained and just would not do for a lady of my station. Unfortunately my suitor will have to accept me as I am, dirty armour and all. I check my reflection in the full length mirror and fix my hair at least. I drew a picture for Strahd on the way here, which I stealthily left in the hallway, and I hope he gets my intent.

Creed finds a secret passage behind the mirror, and we decide to go in. We find ourselves in a big tower with a winding stair going up higher than even I can see into darkness, and another stair going down. Mike is eager to use her new climbing skills, so she goes up the wall while Cheeks takes the stairs. Cecil follows, so I go with my dearest gnome friend.

Suddenly the tower begins to shake, pitching violently sideways. I can't save myself as I'm thrown off the stairs to my certain death! And then... I'm floating! Cheeks saved my a** with featherfall! I softly land down below on a landing on the lower stairway.

"You alright, Zola?" Rideyr calls.

"Yeah, I'm good," I groan, looking at all the stairs I'm going to have to climb to get back up.

I can see up above that a crystal heart is glowing red and pulsating. This must be what this tower is protecting... honestly it looks like a big version of one of those salt lamps that people claim make you relax or something, but I'm not feeling very relaxed right now! Eighteen halberds fly down from the ceiling, and start attacking the party as we keep changing levels by falling or climbing.

Creed casts fly on me just as the halberds start flying past me, and I go into full Zola Attack Mode (ZAM, © Zarovich Inc.) I am a force to be reckoned with with an axe! I start destroying them left and right, but then they start going after Creed. One second I'm flying and everything is great, and then I'm plummeting! Creed falls past me as I slam into the landing again. Judging by the splat sound down below, Creed didn't land as well as I did. In other bad news, the shadow puppets summoned by Cecil got sucked into the heart, and now it is glowing more powerfully. I have no idea what it is, but it can't be good.

I run back up, joining Steiny on the landing, and start firing fire bolts at the halberds. That's when the vampire spawn roll out, crawling along the walls towards Mike. They swarm her, and she is restrained as all six of them starting clawing and biting at her. Fortunately she isn't bitten, and manages to break free when the tower shakes again. The vampires let her go, and she starts to fall but is saved by Cheeks's feather fall. I love that cat lady!

The spawn then move down to Cheeks. She is bitten and does not look good. Three of them break off and attack Cecil who is heading up the stairs behind Cheeks. Checkasha goes unconscious and plummets off the tower, landing below at ground zero. Cecil goes down next. I can't let Cecil die! He's the best boss I've ever had! Rideyr and Chad, now flying, go up towards Cecil. They're only going to get attacked if they get to him...
Without even really thinking about it, I dash up the stairs.

"I am the lady of this household, and I demand you release my gnome!"

The vampire spawn look up at me, mouths dripping with blood, and meet me in the middle. One grabs me, holding me to its chest as another claws. I hit it with my axe, but then I feel fangs sink into my neck, sucking my life force. I'm clawed and bit, helpless to fight back. I feel weaker and weaker, screaming as my own blood fills my throat, until everything ends.

---

Beautiful music fills my ears as I open my eyes. I'm in an elegantly decorated room, sitting at a vanity facing a reflection of myself. My hair is up, styled perfectly with several curly tendrils hanging down, and for once I have no dirt on my face.

"The Prince awaits you, my lady." Comes a voice at the door.

I turn and see a short man in a suit, with a duck foot shaped pin on his lapel. He smiles and bows as I stand up and walk towards him.

"You look lovely this evening, Lady Zola. The master will be pleased."

My gown is blood red, covered in gems, glittering in the candlelight as we move through the halls. The castle is warm and inviting, everything polished to a high sheen. Cyrus leads me down the grand staircase, and through the corridor to the Grand Hall. I can hear the sound of harps and other stringed instruments behind the closed doors. Cyrus knocks, and they open to reveal a brightly lit hall, tables set for a grand feast. Hundreds of guests mill about in gowns and formal wear, laughing and talking. And then I see him.

"Zola, my love!"

Strahd walks through the center of the room, guests parting the way for him as he comes toward me. I dip into a curtsey.

"Lord Strahd."

The music changes to a waltz, and partners begin to take to the floor. Barovian men and women, even some Vistani are here. It is the most lavish, beautiful gathering I have ever witnessed.

"May I have this dance?" He holds out his hand.

"Of course, my lord." I smile, taking his hand. It's surprisingly warm.

Strahd spins me around on the dance floor, timing everything perfectly to the music. My head is spinning with giddiness, and I can tell all eyes are on me. I catch Steinbjorn grinning toothlessly from the table, talking to Chad and Rideyr. Cecil has three ladies gazing at him as he speaks, standing on a chair in the corner. Checkasha and Mike are completely decked out, dripping in gems and laughing at some inside joke. Creed stands by the organ, just watching, glaring.

"They envy you, Zola. As they should. At dawn tomorrow, you shall be my queen."

He spins me again, lifting me and placing me gently back on my feet. I look over his shoulder, and Creed is closer. She is holding something in her hand, staring blankly ahead, but I lose sight of her again as the dance continues.

"I look forward to it, my lord."

Once more I'm facing Creed, and she is even closer. Now I can see she holds her pocket watch. The dial is spinning, spinning, with no indication of stopping. She looks right at me, and the bell tower chimes loudly in the distance.

"It is time." Creed says.

"Time for what?" I ask.

Strahd stops, pulling me in closer, looking into my eyes. His are beautiful dark blue, full of wisdom and power. He smiles, and goes in for a kiss. I kiss him back, smiling at my luck. How did I, Zola of Faerûn, get so lucky? I will soon be Queen of Barovia, ruling at the side of a powerful King.

"Your time is up." Creed hisses, dropping the pocket watch. It bursts into flames.

Strahd turns my head away from her, smiling. His teeth turn to fangs, and his eyes turn black. He holds me firmly at the waist, and lowers his face to my neck. As he sucks my blood I see the room set ablaze, everyone burning as the waltz goes on.

"He is the ancient... he is the land."

---

I wake up on the ground, feeling cold and week. My entire body hurts, stinging from bites and scratches. Steinbjorn pats my head as he walks by, and I look up to see the vampire spawn still fighting back. I muster my strength and go after them, axe swinging.

Soon only one remains, and I'm ready to hit it when the tower shakes again. I'm thrown off, and this time there is no feather fall to save me. I plummet 40 feet, landing face first on the mosaic tiled floor.

"Ughhh.. f***!"

The vampire spawn are finished off, and we bolt back through the secret door and back into the dress room. I collapse on the floor, feeling worse than I ever have in my life. I feel as though my life has been drained from me, which it was. Cheeks is much the same state as I am.

Steinbjorn comes over to me where I sit and starts examining me, and I fight the urge to vomit whenever he opens his mouth. The false teeth are not much better than the lack of teeth.

"You need to rest," Stein orders me. "We are holing up here until you two are back to normal."

"You will be waiting forever." I say with a smile.

Everyone starts discussing what to do. The heart is too difficult to damage, and we can clearly not handle vampire spawn. Cheeks and I are a mess, and can't take another fight anytime soon. Everyone is injured and defeated. And they all want to kill Strahd, that is clear.

"All I have to do is kiss him, and he will turn back into a prince!" I announce.

"Oh, is that all?" Rideyr rolls his eyes.

"Shut up and sleep, Zola von Zarovich." Says Stein.

I close my eyes, and try to get back to the happy dreams. One day this castle will be restored to its former glory. I will see it done.

~ ZVZ

[Jeff]

“Rideyr, look!” Chad yells as we both look up the tower to see vampire spawn clinging to the walls. “Our friends are up there; we have to help them.”

I start for the stairs but Chad stops me saying, “if we can get Creed to cast a spell on us we can fly up there.”

“Let’s do it!”

Chad runs to Creed and in no time we are in the air. My first time flying, it takes a few seconds to figure out the mechanics, but soon I’m heading up towards our friends. I wish I had time to enjoy this amazing experience, but there is work to do, and I see a group of vampire and head that way but they disperse before I can get there, obviously finding a target. After they move I can see a body lying inert on the stairway.

“Oh no, not Cecil” I say to myself as I fly over finding the gnome unconscious and seemingly near death. I call upon the Morninglord and put both hands aside his head. Nothing happens for a moment, and I fear I may be too late, but his right eye slowly opens and then his left and he focuses on me.

“Rideyr” he murmurs in a quiet, raspy voice.

“I’ve got you my friend,” as I pick him up and fly off the stairway to get him out of harm’s way.

We hover in the middle of the tower, and I can see Cecil starting to come around, “You again,” he says shaking his head.

“Ya this is starting to be a regular thing,” I reply with a smile.

“You can leave me next time.”

“What and make my life normal?”

He lets out a laugh as a smile crosses his face.

I look up and see the vampire spawn are attacking Zola. Knowing we have to help our friend, I ask Cecil if he’s well enough to do his mind attacks.

“Hell ya!” He yells regaining his strength, “point me in the right direction.”

I hold him as we continue to hover and he unleashes a mind attack which hits a vampire spawn.

“Are you okay if I put you down so I can get in there and help get those things off of Zola?”

“I’ll be fine,” he replies, “put me there,”

I place the gnome on the platform and head back into the fray, attacking the spawn and wishing I had the sun sword.

After a long, protracted battle the company defeats the creatures, but we need to get somewhere to tend to our wounds. We move out of the tower, and I go to check on Zola who has clearly been seriously injured.

“Are you all right?” I ask.

“I’ve been better,” she quips in pure Zola-style, and I know in my heart that her spirit is still there and she’ll be okay, even though much has been taken out of her during this battle. Cheekasa has also been seriously hurt, but it’s wonderful to see that she has been stabilized and will pull through.

I see Cecil sitting against the wall obviously in pain and walk over to sit next to him.

“If it isn’t front-line Cecil,” I say to him.

He lets out a laugh and grabs his side in pain saying, “don’t make me laugh...I am a tank though,”

“You sure are buddy, you sure are,” I reply with a laugh, but I have to admit that there was something special about having Cecil, Zola and I on the front line. They are two of the toughest fighters I’ve had the honor to go into battle with and I reflect for a moment on how nice it is to be close friends with others again, and am bolstered by the love I feel for these two, but also scared of losing them.

“We almost lost you there my friend.”

“Nah, I had them right where I wanted them; they were just about to fall into my trap when you came around and messed everything up,” he says with a smile.

“Well, I won’t make that mistake again,” I say with a smile.

The gnome punches me in the arm and says “ow!”

“You hit me and you say ow!?” I say laughing.

“Ya, well everything hurts,” he says through a smile as he takes a deep breath and rests his head against the wall closing his eyes.

“Rest up, you fool, we’re going to need those—“ my voice is cut short as I see the gnome looking like he’s sleeping, even though I know he doesn’t. I take a blanket out of my pack and wrap it around my unlikely friend and lean my own head against the wall and drift off to sleep.

[dragonforgotten]

We found this wizard apprentice further into the temple. His master was apparently blown to a crisp by flame skulls. I personally want to see them now despite the flames. I’ll proably change my mind really fast but they must be so beautiful and powerful if they live here.
Returning back to the hallway I say the toasted dead body. The plan was simple. Or I thought it was simple. It keeps changing on me and I’m not a fan of that. The plan was that Chee run in, grabs the book, runs out. Then more people get caught up in the mix. The door open but no one moves in. Umm, what’s going on? I then decide why not. I’ll try to get it. Everyone just seems to be staring at the skulls anyway, not moving. I ran in . Those skulls really are a sight to be hold but moving on. just as I reach the charred wizard, Chad mutters some arcane words. The robes suddenly open up and the book hovers out from the corpse book hostler. Ok....Well that’s taken care of. My eyes slide to the staff and I shrug. I’ll just grab this since I’m already here. I take the staff and in an instant I’m back with the group , staff in hand. Excellent!
Immediately fire explodes and singed at my skin! It feels like it never stops. That my skin is peeling off my flesh! Continuing to even burn and scorch me. When it finally stops I nearly collapse. Physically exhausted. Every cell in my body screams in pain. The door slams mercifully shut as we gasp and wheeze. Stein heals my burns as mike approaches with the book only for it to turn to dust in her hands!
“Noooo!!” The man loses it. He backs off into the crevice and throws a cone of cold at all of us! It burns in a new way. I nearly pass out but keep my feet as the party charges in. Rage! All I feel is rage! How dare he! Suddenly I see a small creature bitting at Cecil and I lose it.
“You!” I charge up my hands and the creature staggers back, wide eyed and terrified. Good!
I unleash the bolt and in a small flash only a scorch mark remains.
I stand there panting, trying to collect myself as the party kills the dirty traitor. No one said being good was easy. Suddenly I feel something worm it’s way into my mind. I look at the staff in my hands.
‘Ultimate power awaits you further ahead. We must travel deeper to the heart of the temple.’
Stein lays a hand on me.
“Ok creed. Hand over the staff.”
‘No! Do not let them touch me!”
“No! It’s mine!” I move past him.
“Let’s go further in. The secretes you’re greater power lies within.”
My head snaps back as I shake off a nausiating spell effect. I catch Stein finish off his last words of his spell.
“S***.”
“You f****ing dare toll me again! That does it!” I throw a blot of condense spiking energy. The foolish cleric staggers and growls.
“Both if you stop it!”
Then Chad casts a spell! Mother f***! I’m sick of hurting when I have to tip tow around everyone when it comes to my blasts! Belittling me! I don’t need them! I swing wide with a snarl, sparking, then suddenly the rage dies in my heart. Only apathy remains. I lower my arms and march further into the temple. Do what they want. I’m going deeper. Im enough to make it alone. It’s what I’ve done before.
I make it down the stares when stein tries to once again steal the staff right out of my hands. I pull it away from him with an annoyed scowl, just about to continue along when Zola charged in with her axe. Before I can even react the staff is broken clean in half! A shock runs up and down through me. A sickening feeling vibrates through my body as I realize. I wasn’t in control of my actions, was it!
I drop the broken staff turning to Stein.
“Stein.. I don’t know what happened but I’m s-“
“Inflict wou-!” I jump away as Zola punches him, stopping the spell. I retreat as far from the cleric as possible as the party knocks him out. What the hell got into him! I know I was an a*** but it wasn’t me!
Suddenly I’m grabbed by Chee and she’s glaring into my face.
“Are you going to stop now!?”
“What! I-“
“Are you going to stop now!!!”
“Yes yes! For f*** sake I barely even know what’s going on!” I push her off me, retreating to the corner of the room. I mean come on! Even I’m trying to figure out what just happened!
Eventually Stein calms down enough to not try to kill me. Zola walked back outside after this scuffle went up and after retrieving her we huddle back into the room. I’ve tried apologizing to Stein but he’s giving me the cold shoulder. Fine. Be that way.
Sitting against the wall I rest my head on my knee and close my eye.
——-

My eyes snap open to the familiar fields of dull purple and red wildflowers, cold moss covered grave stones jutting from the earth in different shapes and sizes. I stand up and I look behind to see the dark shadow of a cold mansion, a cobbled stone path leading up to it beyond the black iron gates. Whelp. It’s this bloody mansion again. I thought they tore you down after the massacre? Ah well.
I start walking glancing at the graves every now and then. It’s then I see a crooked graveyard angle statue, a shadow cling to its side.
“Ah, there you are.”
The shadow turns its head slowly and I’m staring into those beautiful emerald eyes and his beautiful skull profile. He watches me as I stand before him.
“Cloth dirty and torn, face a mess. You look haggard Child..”
I look at myself and my trench coat pepper with holes and large blood steins against the dark ashen color.
“Ya I could have been better. I’m not that bad though! I bathed like....” I stop talking thinking.
When did I take a bath?!
If a skull could scowl I defiantly felt it.
“Not your ungodly stench. I speak about your eyes. They are tired and weary.” He steps from then statue and extends a hand, all his skeletal digits in display with emerald green gems replacing his joints.
“Come, rest.” I look back to the gate.
“I’m kind of in the middle of something right now.” He shakes his head.
“That can wait. Rest.” I don’t fight him feeling tired. He isn’t wrong. The lose, the pain, the anger. It’s been eating at me. He always comes when he knows I need him. I take his hand as he lowers me to the flowers. He sits besides me among the blossoms.
I don’t sleep. Just watch the grey sky pass over head and the smell of grave flowers fill my senses. This is nice. He runs his hands through my hair, pulling out the knots. For once there’s no blood or violence. Just the howl of the wind through the trees and the creek of the metal gates, nothing else. Pure serenity. We don’t speak to each other. We honestly don’t need to. If there’s one thing we have in common is that we treasure the small moments of peace this world allows us. Sadly it’s a rare occurrence. Eventually I feel the pull to awake up from the dream and stand up.
“Leavening so soon?”
“Ya, they need me even if they won’t admit it. Also have a kid to babysit. The dawn breakers might have just let my body walk into so many walls at this point anyway.”
I stretch as the knotes loosen up. He stands up and give him a satisfied smile. The fog begins to roll in, greying out the area.
“See ya around grandpa.”
He nods his head as everything goes white.
———

The breath rushes back into my lungs, snapping back into reality. My eye instantly starts watering from long amount of time I spent unblinking. Alright, where the heck am I? The dawn breakers look tired and frustrated as they normally seem to be in this temple, oh and Zola’s staring into a room filled with ghoulish undead, each one with a blind third eye. Looks like I woke up just in time.
“Well. I can see our luck has improved! I have just the thing.” I cast sickening radiance as the undead start gasping and burning in the green haze. Freezing rain then begins to fill the room and they are all dead. We filter into the room to inspect the squirming shadows incased in amber coffins.
“This looks like bad mojo here. Better not touch the coffins-.” Too late. Zola has her tongue on one. I rest my face in my palm.
“Zola... honestly. You'r draining the life out of me and that’s saying something considering this is me.”
I don’t get a response. She’s got a far off look in her eyes till she finally snaps out of it.
“Guys! The spooky shadow stuff offered me a gift. I declined of course. Also the amber tasted like raspberry.” Stein and mike then each touch a coffin soon after. Sounds cool but I’m not into double dipping. You cant improve on perfection already after all. Suddenly a third pale eye opens in the middle of mikes head and all of Steins teeth fall out. Wow. When I made a deal I got to keep my good looks. I don’t know what the shadows are offering but I don’t want even more now.
Mike can now climb up walls. Zola’s livid with Stein as I morn the lose of his beautiful teeth. Getting a up close look at them now he must have lovey bones. He’s taken to sticking them into his club. Neat. I turn to mike on the ceiling. She looks like one of those ugly f***kers i crisped just now.. I wonder...
“Hey you! Try hitting me.” She looks at my confused, draws her sword and drops it at my feet.
“That was pathetic!” I throw it back to her.
“Try again! Hit me like you mean it!”
She then throws the spear right through my foot.
“Ah f***k! Guess you'r not undead.”
“I could have told you without egging mike on.” Said Chad.
I stand in silence, feeling silly.
“Oh, right. Ooops.”
We head back the way the party supposedly came from after Zola calms down. At least with the time I was day dreaming Stein doesn’t seem angry with me anymore. As some of the party makes it into a room three bolts of lightening surges through the front liners. It looked like it hurt bad. Their smoking.
“You again!” They shriek. Who the hell are they talking to? I move in and see him. A humanoid fox is snickering on top of a amber hackle statue. Oh let’s see who gets the last laugh. I consider dimension dooring right up there and kicking him off but there’s no saying if I’ll be able to push him. Time to relay on my go to spell.
“Oh hey there. We haven’t met yet but I got a suprise for you. Enjoy.” Sickening radiance strikes again and I step out of the room where he can’t hit me but then I’m filled with regret hard. I underestimated how large the area was. The entire party is in it including me. They all seem to shake it off but I feel it’s energy but deep into me as I march in. Fox looks like he got a good taste of it and he’s not happy. Good luck escaping from that. Suddenly flame skulls descend upon us. Oh double c***. You lot couldn’t waited five minutes couldn’t you!
From the pressure of the skulls and this foxy high level magic user were force to retreat, barely making it out alive. We take the long walk of shame back to the room when we past the door. My eye glows from under the patch as I can see beyond the doors.
“There’s a secret door and a body in there. He’s holding a wand and is sporting a cool hat.”
This catches everyone’s attention
The party begins to raid the room, taking the wand and hat. This seems to have perked everyone up alittle. Stein then turns to me.
“So creed what’s behind the eye patch? Is it missing or just all gross and decayed.”
I raise an eyebrow. This is a first. I thought he didnt care.
“Nope it’s not decayed. But, there’s something behind here instead of a dry socket.” I tease him tapping a claw against the patch as it give an auditable hard sound.
Just as we return back to our go to resting room Stein and Mike stops everyone.
“Wait. We want to test something. Those glam wing skulls bowed to us. Maybe we can get past them if everyone is with us.”
I give him the look.
“You know that’s not going to work right? Why the hell would they?”
“Because we accepted the temples-.”
I hold up a hand.
“That’s not how this s*** works. Just because you’ve been blessed or cursed by the temple doesn’t mean you have a pass to plunder it’s secretes without a fight.”
“But it could work-.”
“No. No it won’t. You’ll drag us all into a fight if you go off and antagonize the flame skulls.”
They don’t listen to me. I stand near the door sighing, exasperated. Why can’t they listen to me!?
Cecil and Chad stand by me, Chee with Mike as Zola stands in the far back with Ryder. Our brave Paladin. Just out of reach of his blessings. How bloody perfect.
The doors open once again and the two fools march into the hallway. I’m surprised to hear voices. They talk! Oh my god! I love them even more! Well I love them as much as I hate them.
I peek my head out to the doors just to get another barrage of fire as fireballs go off around us. It stinks just as bad but I think I’ve grown use to the sting at this point. Chad and Cecil fall and I lock eyes with Ryder.
“You get Chad, I got Cecil.”
I stabilize him and carry him under my arm pit looking straight into Chees eyes.
“Make sure that bloody door is shut.”
I rush out through the crack in the wall after Zola, Chad, And Ryder.
We make it back outside into the bitting cold and wait. The rest of the party has reunited with us and they all receive angry glares. It leaves a nasty taste in my mouth to leave the temple half completed just when I found a secrete passageway but the moral has hit a new low. I almost want to strangle Chee when I learn she did in fact not close the door! One job! I asked for one god damn thing! Now that area is compromised!
We make it back to the guard post sore and tired. Looks like we’ll face the revenants tomorrow. They don’t bother me. There more an annoyance and a scathing insult with one of them marching about with Elizas body. F***kers. I’ll make sure they never use him like that again. I huddle up in my bed roll and shut my eyes feeling discontent.
——

Back in the graves garden but with no grandpa. I’m twirling some lavender between my claws when a shadow stands over me. At first I thought it was grandpa but instead look who’s it is!
“Madam Ava! What are doing invading my dreams? Do all Elderly folks like to walk into peoples dreams?”
“You must hasten to the castle and stop avoiding what you have been avoiding all this time”
“Umm. Do you mean the revenants or strahds? I’m fine doing either.”
She simply turns her back to me and walks into the mists.
“Wait come back! Don’t do that whole mysterious thing! It’s bad enough with gramps! I’m also not that smart! Just tell me straight! Nooo!”
———

I wake up in the dead of night. Everyone else is still asleep. Well. Looks like we have a goal now. I check my watch and set it back an hour to the right time. Time to put a death ward on Cecil. He’s been getting f***kee up as of late. I approach the gnome and my eye widens.
“How?” I whisper shocked. There sitting on his lap is Popove. I’m dumbstruck. How!? Nope, I’m not asking questions this time. He looks up as I tap his head.
“Your deathwarded now. I’m just going to pretend Popove was always here now. Night.”
I go back to sleep for the remainder of the night. The gang is just as shocked to see the puppet has resurrected itself over night. Cecils also Deaf now for some reason. Zola’s horrified by the puppets return. We apparently all received the same dream so we take this to heart. We run! Run off this damn mountain and back into real Barovia! The revenants leave us untouched. I love you Madam Ava. Old people are great.
We run and continue running till we run into our raven buddies again and follow after them. They lead us past Valakis gates. They apparently have started a new festival and we are the main attraction. I immediately change my appearance to a dark haired human huntsman covered with scars seeing my standard disguise is now wanted. Half the party want to go into the bloody town but thankfully the ravens guide us away into the woods. Soon after stumble upon another of Barovia weird swamp gas effect where we found a dead chee dressed as a trapper with wanted posters. This freaks the cat out but I’ve seen too much of Barovias nonsense. We run and run till the ravens lead us to the lead to Strahds castle. They depart, making Zola sad as I look at the road ahead. Sadly no carriage.
It’s 5:40pm when we once again reach the castle and cross its thread holds into the keep. Ah, hello beautiful castle. We’re back again. I’m dead set in finding Arganvosts beautiful skull but sadly strahd has moved it. The front door is once again open and inviting.
“We should go in now.” I look at them.
“Yes. But there’s a back door. Let’s use the back door away from the stone wyrmlings.”
They finally relent and follow me along the back of the place and what do you know! Through the gardens is a back door! Wow!
Filtering in there’s a guest book and Stein finally finds a good replacement for his damaged armor. I think it makes him feel like himself again. He rudely didn’t thank the skeleton he took it from through so I carefully reassembled him back in order and apologized for Steins rudeness.
Zola has us sign in his guest book. Why not. He probably already knows we’re here. The group gets bored of this room and moves one. I badly wanted to go down into the basement but nope. But basements are cool.
Moving in we find a dust old room with a closet and a mirror. Zola steps into the room and the wardrobes doors swing open! A ghostly white dress flutters out and begins to dance to the sounds of the storm outside.

Creed

[Stephen]

The floating dress was interesting. Just like the floating handkerchief. There was a floating book as well. Floating. Yay. A secret door was found behind a large mirror in this bedroom. The secret door leads eventually to an open tower.

This tower is special. A small platform we currently stand on. Stairs spiral up and down the inside of this tower. In classic Castle Ravenloft fashion the stairs have no railing.

At the top of the tower is a large glass heart. Mike started climbing the wall of the tower. Chekasha, Cecil and Zola stepped on the stairs. After a few steps however the entire tower began to shake violently!

Zola fell and before she could yell for Strahd to come save her Chekasha casted feather fall and Zola gently floated to the bottom of the tower.

The glass heart begins pulsing with a deep red color. Cecil makes his shadows and they begin ascending toward the heart. Suddenly several gleaming glaives appear around the glass heart. They start to descend toward us.

Creed casts fly on her and Zola. And begin to rise. The glaives fly down and attack Creed. Slashing at her, Creed looses concentration and her and Zola plummet to the bottom of the tower.

I begin to loose track of things after my guiding bolt shatters a glaive. The tower shakes throwing people off their feet. Glaives fly around and attack. Cecil’s shadows get swallowed by the heart. But the worst part about this tower are the vampire spawn that nearly kill Chekasha.

The spawn swarm out of a small hole along the spiral stairs. They restrain Chekasha. It takes them only a moment or two before she grows slack. They leave her on the steps. The tower shakes again and she falls. Far. I cannot stop her fall but I can bring her back from deaths embrace. Peering over the edge of the landing Chekasha is laying on her back breathing. Strong girl.

The vampire spawn begin to swarm Cecil. Although he is hardy he too is restrained and bitten nearly to death.

Rideyr....has been standing around doing not much of anything, aside from falling down to the bottom of the tower, for nearly one minute and thirty seconds of this fight. I get that the paladin does not have a ranged weapon and is very conservative with his abilities but...a little participation would be nice. He hasn’t suffered a breakdown, questioned his faith and he still has all his teeth.

Zola, after falling again, charges up the stairs and draws the vampire spawn to her. Chad and Creed had been damaging glaives and the glass heart by using their eldritch blasts from the bottom of the tower. I follow Zola up the stairs.

The vampire spawn drop Zola, and Mike and I attack glaives and spawn. Suddenly Chad and Rideyr fly up from the bottom of the tower. Creed casted fly on them. Soon the vampire spawn are ash, the glaives dust and we heal the fallen. As we begin to limp our way back through the secret way we came, Creed dramatically points up to the heart while holding her ribs. I know that look. She wants healing and to keep attacking the heart.

“Have at it Warlock. I am leaving.” I grumble turning my back to her.

As I hear Cecil praising Rideyr, I shake my head. Even when he had the sun sword he didn’t use its full potential nor charge head first into combat. Zola does. Mike does. I do. Others have noticed his lack of commitment and I may have to pull Rideyr aside before the others do.

Making our way back to the room with the floating dress we barricade the door. I examine Zola. Her along with Chekasha and Cecil will need a decent nights rest to restore their vitality after being bitten by the vampire spawn.

[bxtreme]

Journal Entry 32

So we find ourselves back in Strahd's castle, the belly of the beast. We are in a room we hadn't been in during our previous stay at the castle. A wavy dress dances to the music of the thunder outside. I reach out to the group, "CAN ANYONE FIX MY HEARING....I'M DEAF". I'm well aware I should be more discrete in a place like this, but I thought this would be proper motivation for someone to treat my ailment promptly. Chad puts his hand on me and his divine power fixes my hearing almost effortlessly. He's a good guy, the sort you could trust around children too.


We find a secrete entrance that takes us to the inside of a very large, very tall tower. Floating high above us is a glass-like heart. We start to motion up the staircase towards it and all hell breaks loose! Between the tower shaking, flying Halberds and vampire spawn, we were met with very intense opposition. During this combat, I was bested by vampire spawn. I fall unconscious...here is what I remember...



I wake up in a dark room. It's dead silent and I can't find any doors or even walls for that matter. The only thing I can see is a chair about 60 feet away from me with something propped up on it. I walk up to the chair - it's Poppov.


Cecil: Poppov, what are you doing here? Hell, what am I doing here?


Poppov: <Silence>


Cecil: This isn't the time for your shenanigans, answer me!


Poppov: <Silence>


Cecil: Fine, I'll find my own way out.


I turn around and start walking away in the opposite direction. From behind me I hear the rustle of fabric. I turn around. Poppov's slumped forward on the chair, as if he lost his balance. I chuckle and attempt to provoke him.


Cecil: Maybe they were right, maybe you are just a damn puppet.


I turn around and suddenly I'm face to face at eye level with Poppov. Impossible! Poppov can't teleport, nor has he mastered levitation...how is he doing this?! I look down and see that he is somehow attached to my arm...how did he...


Poppov: If you stay here with me, I can offer you great power. I'd let your friends go for an apprentice such as yourself.


Cecil: Poppov what...wait, that's what the fox said.


Poppov: The fox?


Cecil: Ya Mr. Fox of the Amber temple.


My surroundings shift from pure darkness to something resembling one of the rooms of the Amber temple.


Cecil: Those aren't your words Poppov! You're trying to confuse me. You aren't the Arch-Cantaloupe...err Arcane Cantaloupe...uh...whatever the hell that thing was called!


Poppov: Oh Cecil, you still don't get it. *smirks* Of course I'm not the arcanaloth from the arcance temple. I'm not Strahd's sleeper agent. I'm not even Poppov the Blinskey puppet. I'm the manifestation of every opportunity you never took.


Cecil: I've made all of my decisions for a reason Poppov.


Poppov: Oh, I'm aware. I represent every choice that would have led you to great power! You need to stop following these fools you call friends. These imbeciles that cling to deities for power or dusty books for parlor tricks. You have the potential for greatness, because you rely on your inner strength for your power.


Cecil: There is great power in teamwork and friendship too, Poppov. No one person can take down Strahd.


Poppov: Of course could! The power of teamwork and friendship? What a joke - how about all of the times they nearly betrayed you? Take one shiny toy away like their precious sun sword and just about every member of your team was ready to stab you in the throat.


Cecil: Poppov, that's enough damnit.


Poppov: How about when Creed Science-Blocked you? You swallowed that poison gas and took the full extent of it's numbing power. And for what, to save Zola? How about Cecil? Why is everyone's health and well-being prioritized above your own? Do you want to travel with people that just want to stifle your ability to learn, your ability to grow stronger?


Cecil: I said that's enough, back down!


Poppov: Have you ever noticed the way they look at you? Like some sort of freak! When you tell them you are going to tinker with your inventions during the night, they think you're diddling yourself! They laugh at you!


Cecil: They know how important a gnome's work is at night! *Starts to tear up* You have no idea what you're saying!


Poppov: *Laughing* They think you're a joke! A verbal punching bag, a laughable curiosity! You'll never be respected as a part of the team. The Dawn Breakers? They just entertain that preposterous idea of yours to keep you quiet. The same way you would give a child a piece of candy to stop them from nagging you.


Cecil: I SAID THAT'S ENOUGH!


I throw Poppov to the ground and intensely focus on him. Psychic energy courses through my body.


Poppov: That's it, give into the anger! Focus the fiery rage in your heart!


I clench both fists and I can feel that vein in my forehead start to pulsate.


Poppov: Is that all you're going to do? Stare at me? I guess they're right, you are pathetic! Just a joke. A silly little gnome from Waterdeep who's had his mind pried one too many times!


Poppov starts laughing maniacally.


Cecil: BURN IN HELL POPPOOOOOV!


Poppov suddenly bursts into flames. The laughing continues a while longer. I pause to take in what has just happened. I set Poppov on fire with my mind? Before Poppov is reduced to a smoldering pile of ash, he says one last thing to me: "That's it. That's my boy."


That line resonates in my head as everything goes dark. I feel weightless. I keep hearing that line "That's it. That's my boy", but the words become softer and softer. Soon, it sounds like a woman is saying the words "That's my boy". I recognize this voice. It's my mother and she has me in her warm embrace. I start to open eyes.


Cecil: I didn't know you wore platemail, mom.


Cecil's Mother: I don't usually but your father gave it to me for my birthday.


Cecil: That story doesn't really add up, but that's fine. Everything feels so wonderful, I don't really want to question it.


Cecil's Mother: Oh, that's because I healed you with divine energy.


Cecil: *puts his hand on his mother's face and smiles* Thank you...Wait what was that part about divine energy?


Suddenly things become clear and I'm in Ryder's arms flying through the tower in Strahd's castle where I nearly died.


Ryder: I said I healed you with divine energy...Lay on Hands...remember? You shouldn't be so surprised, I've done this before.


Cecil: *Takes his hand off Ryder's face* Oh ya, right! Thanks again!


Ryder: Hey, I wouldn't leave you hangin' up there little buddy.


Ryder sets me down. After that vision I had, I feel like I learned something. That cathartic experience gave me access to a new way of using my powers. I believe I've acquired a new mental discipline - Mastery of Fire. I start to conjure up those feelings from my vision and I'm able to summon a fire elemental - representative of the fiery rage that fills my little gnome heart.


After our combat, I realize that using rage to fuel my powers is a useful tool. But I shouldn't let the others know, they would probably think I'm evil and Mike will probably want to stab me again. So I'll do the only reasonable thing in this situation and keep it all to myself. I'll just bury those feelings really deep and it'll all be fine.

[Aileen]

Dear Lord Strahd von Zarovich,

Hi, it's Zola. I'm not sure if you remember me, I was much younger when I last visited the castle like a few days ago. I was the cute dark haired girl with the wine, we chatted a little... I really think we had a connection. Anyway- I'm back in your house and of age again!

I got dragged out by my crew because I went crazy and was trying to come after you, which was ridiculous. We had a really bad time up in the mountains and at the Amber Temple. This a**hole revenant stole my sword. Anyway... we are here now and I'm really looking forward to another delicious meal. This time maybe don't disappear all dramatically? There is much to discuss.

By the way my parents totally have a dowry for me and they're really, really rich... so let's break your curse and get hitched? I'm of noble blood and have the pedigree to show it. Let's talk over wine. Or blood.

Love you,

Zola F. Stormwyk


Zola looks around as everyone rests, and quickly shoves the letter under the door.

[Chris]

Jan 19, 2020 20:45:46 GMT -5 Aileen said:

Zola looks around as everyone rests, and quickly shoves the letter under the door.

The letter stops at something solid, and is then pulled under the door from the far side.  A moment later a rose slides under the door towards Zola, flattened as if having been pressed between the pages of a heavy tome.

[Aileen]

The pressed rose slides under the door, and my heart flutters. Is this really happening? I take it, smiling. I don't know if he is on the other side of the door, and I can't check it considering the party is in here. Is he accepting my proposal? I might be engaged, to Strahd von Zarovich! I've never been happier!

We head downstairs after Creed confirms the room below is empty. I weave the rose into my hair with the raven feathers, and then get to work helping the others barricade the door. I don't even want to barricade it, it's just another thing keeping me from my love.

"We need to rest and get these two back to full health. We can't have a front line fighter and our sneaky one keeling over mid fight." Says Steinbjorn.

"Could I suck someone's blood to replenish mine?" I ask jokingly.

Wrong thing to say. Suddenly I'm surrounded by the party, brandishing weapons and dirty looks. Mike threatens to stab me.

"Zola, are you a vampire?" Cecil asks, standing on a broken chair to get a closer look at me. "You're looking pale... she's got fangs!"

I roll my eyes, pulling down my bottom lip to show the very tiny mark of my heritage.

"They're my teeth! My dad has tusks, so I got these weird things. I've had them all along!"

"Well excuse me, I don't exactly look a gift Zola in the mouth." Cecil says.

"I was kidding! I am just really low on blood and I don't know if we can get any rest. I don't want to die before my wedding."

"What?" Mike raises her eyebrow.

"Nothing!"

It is still nearly a whole day until any of us will be tired enough to sleep, but Cheeks and I need to recover and exploring the unknown is too dangerous with us so low on blood. Cheeks pulls out dice and I pull out my playing cards, and we have ourselves a good old fashioned sleepover.

As with most sleepovers, not much resting gets done. First Stein finds a creepy doll head, which he names Magda and stores in the pouch where he had his teeth. Cecil is clearly envious. Next interruption is some thunking noises against the door, and then a bit later something actually starts breaking it down. I groan with displeasure as I get to my feet, axe in hand, and wait for the onslaught.

"Zola, you're not front lining, you're still too ill."

"I'm not ill!"

Nevertheless, I am relocated to the back line to wait for anything that gets past the front. I do not like this position, not at all. As expected, there are wights on the other side of the door, pounding on it.

"How does this place never run out of wights?" I ask aloud. "Do wights breed?!"

"We'll think on that and get back to you, Zola." Stein replies from the front.

Eventually they burst the door down. Several flying swords zoom in and fly straight for Draelyn, who is running his mouth on the stairs. Cheeks shoots and destroys a sword flying through the air with one arrow. I think she wins Woman Crush Wednesday for the next year. We soon dispatch the swords and wights, and get back to napping and hanging out. And then the zombies come from upstairs. Luckily, they die easy.

At 3am, after more bats slamming themselves into the window due to a failure of echolocation, more swords slam into the outside of the door.

"Hey Cecil, did I ever tell you about my grandfather?"

"No, what about him?"

"He was a gnome artificer! Tinkerstone Malone. I never met him, sadly, but he was my dad's adoptive father."

"No way! I know of him, he is quite famous. I had no idea you had tinkering in your blood!"

"I'm not good with keeping things together, as you can see, but I do know a little about artificing. My dad is one of the best."

"Why didn't you tell me this?! We're practically related! I knew you were just a really big gnome!"

We hang out some more, and then the worst thing of all attacks. Several dark shadow figures slip in under the door, and start sucking the strength right out of us. I'm already in poor condition, and the second one touches me I feel much, much worse. Luckily we take them down without anyone getting seriously messed up. I've just about had enough of this. Where is my beloved? Why do these creatures act without his orders? I decide I need to ask him for help.

"Rideyr, can I borrow some light? I want to write in my journal." I lie, sweetly as possible and pulling out my writing materials.

"Sure thing, kiddo." He slips the shortsword out of its sheath, casting just enough light for me to see.

I quickly pen a note to my love, pretending to be writing one of my usual journal entries. I need to sleep and I don't know if Strahd realizes his housemates are attacking us.

Dearest Strahd,

I got your rose. I love it! I really, really need a nap. Please help!

❤ Zola


"Thanks, Rideyr."

"Anytime, Zo."

I get up, hiding the note in my sleeve, and creep upstairs. Cheeks is up there with Mike keeping watch, so I'm just going to have to be really sneaky. When I get to the top I realize I can't find the note... did I drop it? I turn around, looking on the stairs trying to find the slip of paper.

"Looking for something?"

I turn back to find Cheeks standing at the top of the stairs holding a flickering candle and my letter.

"How did you get that? It's private!"

"Love notes, Zola? This is not okay! Why are you asking Strahd for help?"

"It's not your business! He loves me!"

Soon I'm surrounded by the group, most of them glaring at me. Cecil is laughing.

"Strahd gave you that rose? Wow, what did you say to him?"

"I made... a proposal."

"A marriage proposal?" Creed sputters.

I shrug.

"You're all just jealous and misguided!" I snap. "He is good, and we are in love! Give me my letter and leave me alone!"

"I think you need a father figure." Creed says.

"I have one!"

"Where?"

"At home?! And I'm an adult, I don't need parental guidance. Go AWAY."

Everyone goes back to their bedrolls, except Mike and Cheeks. She hands me back the letter, somber faced.

"If this is what you want, then here. You're old enough to make your own mistakes. Just don't drag us down with you."

"I won't." I whisper.

Cheeks let's me pass, and I go to the same door as before. I shove the letter under the door and head back downstairs. Maybe we can rest?

Dawn breaks, the light streaming through the window. As much as it can in Barovia. I try to ignore Steiny speaking to his creepy doll head throughout the morning hours. Finally at 8am we are tired enough to sleep. Stein even makes us a feast consisting entirely of chicken nuggets and dipping sauces- my favorite food! He remembered!

I finally curl up in my bedroll, full and ready for a good morning's sleep. I'm dreaming about my impending nuptials when I'm rudely awakened by Cecil standing on my chest and breathing on me.

"Get up, new cousin- time to kill zombies!"

Rideyr is absolutely getting wrecked by a zombie torso, but we destroy them quickly. Chad fixed the door, and it's back to dreamland. When next I wake, I feel stronger and much better. We successfully spent the night in Ravenloft. The first of many for me.

We have a long discussion on what to do next. Some people want to leave, despite what Madame Eva told us. They're also still obsessing about the dragon skull, which even if we did get the revenants aren't going to let us bring it back.

"We need to face Strahd so Zola realizes she isn't in love with him. She's not even charmed!"

"Cecil, this is real love! I can change him! I mean he is perfect the way he is, despite being cursed to drink blood, but he is not evil!"

"He IS evil!" Cheeks snaps.

"No! You know who is evil? The townspeople who sold their children for drugs... That guy in Vallaki that murdered a tiger... the Revenants that are supposedly on our side and yet thwart our every move. Strahd is not evil!"

Rideyr puts his head in his hands, sighing, and walks away. Creed looks like her head is going to explode. They know I'm right and won't admit it.

"He threw me off his horse once I was of no use to him!" Cecil says.

"You fell off! It's not Strahd's fault you're a terrible equestrian. I can actually ride. And he likes me for me, not because he wants to use me."

"Fine, we will see what happens when we face him!" Cecil laughs.

"Why can't you just be happy for me?!" I whine, stomping my foot. They will see!

We decide to go outside and get some fresh air, and check on the dragon skull. The second we step out into the dimmed sunlight, I feel the rose crumble to pieces and fall out of my hair.

"No! My flower!"

"What time is it, Creed?" Stein asks.

"Four twenty!" She announces, checking her pocket watch.

"Zola, you still got that...?" Cecil asks.

I'm already on it. I pull the tiny stub of smoke grass that I have left out, and Cecil lights it. A few of us pass it around, and I feel a little more chill as we leave the garden, heading for the gatehouse. Looking out across the chasm, we can see the revenant army waiting. I lift my hand, extending my middle finger.

"Good afternoon, Vlad!" I whisper.

We check the gatehouse, but instead of a dragon skull there is a big human skull hanging from the mechanisms.

"Oh no... is that Pariwimple?!" Creed hisses.

We determine it probably is. So maybe Ireena is... hmmm.

Creed grabs the skull, and we head back inside. Heading down the stairs from the guest book room, we let Cheeks scout ahead. She is back a moment later.

"Cyrus is in there. It's the fog filled room."

Cecil and I volunteer to go distract the mongrel man so Cheeks can take the key off his neck that she saw. He also has some wooden pendant which might be important, too. I lift Cecil onto my shoulders, and after dissuading Chad from coming with us, I descend into Cyrus's chamber.

"Ah! You've come back!" Cyrus jumps, and giggles to himself. "Room one?!"

"Uh... we don't have a room, yet." Cecil says.

"Ah! Weren't there more of you?"

"Yes, but they're having um... bathroom issues."

"They're evacuating their bowels." Cecil says when Cyrus looks confused.

"Yeah, everyone got food poisoning but us two. One guy got so sick all his teeth fell out!"

"That is the best thing I've ever heard!" Giggles Cyrus, rubbing his hands together.

"Anyway... I'm starving! Do you have any snacks?"

"No, we don't do snacks here. You are the snacks. I mean-" he giggles again. "Dinner is being prepared. If you do not go to your room you will miss it!"

"No, we just slept." Cecil says. "Say, Cyrus, you look like you could use some ear scratches!"

Cecil reaches out, and the mongrel man recoils.

"I don't want that!"

"Really? I do- Cecil, scratch my ears!"

"On it, Zola!"

Cecil scratches behind my ear, and I admit it does feel pretty good. Cyrus is not acting the same as last time, maybe we pissed him off?

"Where is your master?" I ask. "I haven't seen him in a while."

"He is all around us!" Cyrus says.

"Yes, but why hasn't he shown himself?"

"If he hasn't shown himself, then he doesn't want you to see him."

"No! He gave me a rose!"

"A rose? Where is it, then?"

"It died. It fell apart when I went outside."

"Hmmph. Then maybe it was never real?"

I sigh, angrily. Strahd would not do that to me- we are in love!

"Zola, get him to turn away- Cheeks is coming in hot!" Cecil's voice says in my head.

"Ooh! Wine!" I gush. "Come on Cecil, let's get in the wine cellar!"

"Ah, yes- Zola is quite the alcoholic!" Cecil remarks.

As I start to move towards the wine cellar, Cyrus stops in his tracks, turning and sniffing. Checkasha! She has her hand at his neck, grabbing the key, but he catches her. Her eyes widen in surprise, and her other hand not held by Cyrus slams into his gut. Blood sprays out of him and splashes me as I scream.

"Oh... that's not good." Gasps Cyrus. "Stir... the soup!"

Cecil does something to him with his mind, and Cyrus falls to the floor, disappearing under the fog. I stand for a moment panicking, shocked at the murder that just happened before my eyes.

"No! He was nice!" I cry, falling to my knees beside him. There is no saving him. I grab the eyeball pendant, and start to remove it when his eyes flash open and he grabs my hand.

"Closer!" He gasps. I comply. "Remember... every step you take. Every move you make... I'll be watching you!"

With one last rattle and a stream of blood trickling from his mouth, Cyrus Belview dies. The others join us, and I get to my feet, staring at the pendant in shock.

"Cheeks... what did you do?!" Creed gasps.

"He caught me!" She growls, wiping her blade on Cyrus's clothes before standing back up.

Stein detects magic, and determines the eye pendant is divination magic. My aunt's symbol is an eye and she is a divinator, so it makes sense for me to wear this. To be safe, I flip it backward and slip it under my armor.

"Now it can't see anything worth looking at!" I announce.

"Sorry to hear that." Cecil says, eyeing my chest.

"They're actually not that small, Cecil, I'm just wearing armor!"

"Zola!" Creed warns.

We move on to the Bone Room, or the Bone Zone as we like to call it. In the place where we originally found Argynvost's skull there is now another head. It's Creed.

"Huh... I'm surprisingly okay with that." Says Stein.

~ ZVZ

[Aileen]

Here lies Cyrus Belview
We loved your weird duck feet.
Sorry we didn't go to our room.
May you rest in peace.

❤ ZvZ

[Jeff]

As we try to rest and take care of ourselves in this god-forsaken castle, my mind turns to what it used to feel like to have the sun on my face and enjoy both the sunrise and sunset. I miss that. This land is raw and the cold gets into your bones; I feel for the people who are trapped here, and even though we are in the same boat right now, I still hold out hope that we’ll be able to free the people of Barovia as well as ourselves.

I long to be out on the road and hope we can find our way out of the castle and make our way into the open, feel at least some sense of freedom and help our friends. I’m far from giving up, and I believe that we will prevail, but first we must leave this place, garner our strength and improve our morale.