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Post by donaldado on Feb 10, 2020 9:46:17 GMT -5
Post Script
Mike is the queen of the mean girls. She probably has got a tramp stamp that says jaded.
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Post by Aileen on Feb 10, 2020 10:04:04 GMT -5
Post Script Mike is the queen of the mean girls. She probably has got a tramp stamp that says jaded. Better than NOSNOR. |
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Post by jasonandsleep on Feb 10, 2020 13:46:16 GMT -5
It does say Jaded, but it's written in elven script so it looks classy.
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Post by Aileen on Feb 10, 2020 13:58:21 GMT -5
It does say Jaded, but it's written in elven script so it looks classy. If anyone in the Dawn Breakers says they don't have a tramp stamp they are lying. |
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Post by kylacreepslayer on Feb 10, 2020 14:05:35 GMT -5
It does say Jaded, but it's written in elven script so it looks classy. If anyone in the Dawn Breakers says they don't have a tramp stamp they are lying. Cheek’s looks like bad tribal at first. Then you realize it says “nine lives” both right side up and upside down. There’s a reason she doesn’t drink anymore. |
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Post by dragonforgotten on Feb 10, 2020 14:21:11 GMT -5
Green skull on creed lol
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Post by donaldado on Feb 10, 2020 15:15:37 GMT -5
jasonandmike- Oh I always took you for being a high class gal, that just confirms it
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Post by donaldado on Feb 10, 2020 15:17:00 GMT -5
Draelin's says stamp says "It's a Trap!!!"
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Post by Aileen on Feb 12, 2020 19:31:29 GMT -5
Blitzkrieg at the Abbey of St. Markovia
---
Everything gets loud and smokey as fireballs start going off. There's not much I can do, but I manage to take out one mongrelman with a fire bolt. Steiny makes a guardian in the gateway, and Creed fills the courtyard with sickening radiance. I have never seen so much death. At least they die quick.
My attention is grabbed by the Abbot flying out and hovering above the path down the cliff. I can't really help with the mongrelmen, but I can fight an angel. I run in, casting a series of magic missiles and fire bolts at him. He growls, diving in and swinging his mace hard. I manage to dodge one, and hit him with my axe. The next blow smashes into the side of my head, very nearly knocking me off course. I ignore the pain, and ready myself to keep fighting. He flies away like the coward he is.
"You're doing so well!" A voice whispers in my mind. "Lovely Zola... so powerful!"
I smile, feeling warm inside. I feel powerful, I feel good... and I'm going to kill an angel. The Abbot thinks he's slick, hiding up in the air.
"I can see you!" I laugh, and fire bolt him, over and over.
He goes for the others, attacking Cecil before flying off again. Poor Cecil is taken down by shadows and appears dead.
"By the power of this amulet- go f*** yourself!" Stein yells at the Abbot and the shadows, lighting up the Holy Symbol.
While everyone else is fighting the shadows, I keep at the Abbot. And then I see flames flickering in the sky. The flames get closer and I know exactly what it is even before the shape of the flying horse appears. My heart leaps with excitement- he's coming to help us! He really does love me!
"Abbot!"
"My lord?"
"The wedding is off. I've changed my mind. She can't dance and I don't want her."
Fire erupts around us as Strahd, who up until now I thought was my betrothed, casts fireball. I'm able to escape the worst of it, but the damage has been done. I feel the betrayal fueling my rage, and I channel it all into destroying the Abbot.
"You ruined everything!" The Abbot bellows as he flies at Creed.
Creed is taken down, but she just can't die and gets back up. The Abbot calls out to Strahd again.
"My lord- I will do anything! I'll give you back the dowry- rid me of these pests!"
With one last fire bolt, I take the Abbot down. I start walking towards the body, when the Nightmare rears up in the sky with a horrible shrieking neigh and then disappears. Suddenly Strahd appears in front of me, and reaches down to grab something off the Abbot's belt. The hilt of a sword glints in his hand, and then he is gone.
"You son of a b****." I whisper, in complete shock of what I just witnessed. "THE ABBOT HAD THE F***ING SUNSWORD!"
I don't know what comes over me, but I lunge toward the body of the angel and start tearing his wings off. Others join in as Creed begs us to stop. I make off with a handful of feathers, and then go see to Cecil.
Steinbjorn brings Cecil to consciousness, but he is so weakened, strength completely sapped, that he can do nothing more than lie there. I take him in my arms, cradling him like a child. He is no child though, he is the most powerful of all of us. And a true friend.
Stein heals all of us, and my headache lessens. That mace to the head was no joke.
"We need to find a safe place to rest." Says Stein.
"Well, we have a whole abbey." I say. "We could go to the place we slept last time. I wonder if Esmerelda is there?"
Stein drools at the mention of her name. Or maybe it's just his lack of teeth.
"Yes, Zola, that's a great idea. For once."
We head towards the Abbey, and I find myself where I never go in the back of the party, carrying Cecil. We get inside and are immediately confronted by what looks like a big flesh golem. Not thinking, I drop Cecil, and rush in. It immediately slam attacks me. I shake it off, riposting his next attack which missed me. Stein helps me with his holy fire, and Mike lights a bonfire under it. After a flurry of blows from me, it finally falls dead.
We hang out in the barracks room we stayed in last time, too wound up to sleep but all too hurt to move along.
"Zola!" Cecil's voice speaks in my head. "reach into my bag!"
"What am I looking for?" I ask, reaching in.
"There's a book! You may read it since I cannot!"
I pull out the book. THE book. The one that has caused so much more drama than even the actual Tome of Strahd. Mike gets pissed, but she doesn't attack me. So, I read it for a good seven hours, learning about calisthenics and eating vegetables, blah blah blah. I would rather eat chicken nuggets, but if I have to eat good to get swole then so be it! I grow tired, and fall asleep listening to Rideyr snore.
In the morning we go exploring in the Abbey. We find poor Vasilka, Strahd's other ex fiancee, brushing her hair without end. Most of it is gone, leaving just bloody flesh. Some of the party wants to put her out of her misery, but it is clear that she is not alive... she feels nothing, nor does she care.
At last, when all hope is lost, we find the wine cellar. I nearly s*** a brick- there is actual wine!!!! In both barrels and bottles. I'm in heaven, I could live here happily for at least two weeks! I even find a bottle of Champagne du le Stomp, the mythical champagne that I have yet to get my hands on. I go to drink it, realizing it is strangely light, and a scroll nearly chokes me to death! Stein takes it and it's a clerical thing... not champagne, I'm not interested!
I grab two bottles of Red Dragon Crush, stick them in my bag, and grab another bottle as an afterthought. I open that bad boy up and start drinking as we walk.
"Anyone want wine?" I ask, offering out the bottle. Creed drinks with me, and the others try it but they're too serious to loosen up and actually drink. More for Lady Z!
We come to a room with a black shroud covering a table. This reminds me of every single black shroud we have come across in this land.
"Hey, Creed- grab that shroud!"
She does! I was kidding, but hey, she likes that sort of thing. She whips it off, and it's a body made up of parts... of Creed!
"That's not what those look like!" She growls, covering it back up. She then tries to talk to it, but I'm laughing too hard to stay and listen.
In a room with a bloodstained table, Creed touches it and the room is filled with horrible screams. They fade into nothing.
"Oh, f***- there's a nun!" Cheeks shouts, nearly jumping across the room.
After not finding an actual nun and a series of nun puns, we leave. Last stop is the morgue. We walk in and there's a raven hanging out in the window. Creed approaches him and he flies away into the garden, landing on a scarecrow.
We head out to the garden, and I approach the raven while the others check out the scarecrow. It glares at me... and I mean completely mean mugging me! I hold out a chicken nugget and it pecks my hand!
"Raven friend! It is I, Zola! You know who I am... right?"
It claws and flies to the next scarecrow. I follow it, taking another swig of my wine, and try to reason with it.
"My friend- I'm sorry for whatever it is I have done to upset you! It was not my fault, I just am stuck with these-" I lower my voice, "lunatics! Please, talk to me!"
It s***s, claws again and then flies off.
"Well, I've just been pouring my heart out to an actual raven," I announce. "I feel stupid."
It veers off course, and flies into Mike's face, flapping frantically.
"Ah! F***ing bird!" She stabs it, and...
The raven explodes. I loose my mind, screaming and running at Mike. I slap her hard across the face, but she swats me away. Why couldn't she just do that to the raven?!
"YOU KILLED MY FRIEND! I'LL KILL YOU, MIKE!!!"
Rideyr pulls me off her, grabbing the bottle out of my hand as he does so.
"Zola, calm down... it's okay!"
"NO IT'S NOT!" I grab my bottle back, and storm off ahead of the pack.
Next stop is the graveyard. All the graves are pretty basic, but one stands out. It's covered in carved roses and has a sun shaped indentation in it. Stein tries putting the holy symbols in it but neither fit. I pour one out for Petrovna, and wish her well.
We have a discussion about our next course of action while standing around in the graveyard. Seems like everyone wants to go to Berez except Creed and I.
"What would you like to do, Zola?" Cheeks asks.
"I would like to kill Strahd!" I announce.
Cecil starts frisking me.
"Did you grab that sword again?"
"No. I have it." Rideyr says.
"Well you have certainly changed your tune, Zola." Says Cheeks. "What brought this on?"
"I would say the breakup." Mike mentions.
I glare at the elf and say no more. Berez wins in the end... we were humiliated by the old b**** in the skull boat thing, and we are going to make her pay. Not to mention get revenge for all those ravens' deaths.
It's getting dark, so we decide to head out on the morrow. We know we might run into our old friends the revenants, so the adults make a plan for that too. I wander off and search through the hundreds of mongrelmen bodies, shifting aside the really burnt ones, looking for one in particular. Creed joins in, and eventually we find Otto. The poor creature looks like he didn't suffer, he even has a smile on his donkey face.
Creed helps me bury him in the graveyard. I sit with the pile of dirt that serves as Otto's final resting place. My head is spinning, my body feeling heavy... I think I drank too much, but I keep drinking.
"He didn't deserve this. None of them did." I say, sloshing some wine on myself before Creed grabs the bottle from me.
"No, they didn't. We didn't know what they would do to us, though."
"Otto was good... better than any of us. We are the monsters."
Creed pats me on the shoulder, passing the bottle back. She seems dead sober, but I'm feeling sleepy. I drink some more, having a good cry, and soon the bottle is finished.
"I just want to go home," I sniff. "I should never have come here. I'm not made for this adventuring thing, and definitely not Barovia. I only went because Eliza..."
At the mention of his name, I feel the lump in my throat solidify, driving the tears into full force.
"It's not fair!" I sob. "He was too young! Why did it have to be him?!"
Creed pulls me in to her chest, and I almost feel like it's my mom holding me as I cry. She may be strange, but she is the closest tie to Eliza I have. My mom and Auntie hired her to track me down, she is the only other person here that knows my family. I need to get back to them... my beautiful mother, my amazing father, Auntie Omen and Uncle Red... they would all be so disappointed if they saw what has become of me. That I couldn't protect my little cousin, and I gave my heart to a vampire warlord who cares for nothing but himself.
Zola Farsight Stormwyk, who are you now? Not the girl that left home behind seeking adventure and heroism. We are not heroes. We leave destruction in our wake, taking lives without care. That's not what I wanted to be.
"I know. It's not fair at all. He shouldn't have been here. And neither should you."
"You knew him before, didn't you?"
"Yes," she says. "He worked with me. A mercenary group. We had to let him go when we found out he was only fifteen. Why did he leave home so young?"
"I don't know. He was troubled by visions and dreams... the day he left I got beat up by this boy, really bad. Eliza went ballistic on him, nearly killed him. By the time I woke the next morning he was already gone."
"I'm sorry you lost so much time with him. He was a really good kid."
I wipe the tears away, pulling away from Creed. I look up at the sky, not seeing any fire or dark shapes looming overhead.
"I am so stupid. Thinking I could change Strahd. He's nothing but a handsome face. I wanted so badly to earn his love, and all I've got from it is pain."
I twirl the white hairs around my finger, the curl bouncing back when I let go. It's a permanent reminder of the first time he hurt me. The second was the fireball. The last straw was taking the Sunsword off the Abbot's corpse. He did that just to rub it in our faces how much he has been playing us this whole time.
"I can't believe he didn't even look at me!" I growl. "All men are the same! They lead you on and then make you feel like you're the crazy one. He struck me with lightning AND fireballed us... it's over! I'm going to make him pay!"
"Men ain't s***." Creed says, putting an arm around my shoulders. "Come on, let's go inside."
"No! He needs to know what I'm going to do to him. I'm going to rip his bal-"
"Zola, Creed- Dinner!" Cecil calls.
"-and stuff them down his throat!"
I get up, swaying, and walk with Creed back to the abbey. I end up vomiting profusely into the bushes, and she has to drag me in.
"Murderer!" I snarl pointing at Mike. She briefly turns into two Mikes, shrugs, and continues to eat her chicken nuggets.
I walk over to Cecil and flop down next to him. He's reading the book that has caused so much drama in the party, mostly between Mike and I.
"Hey, Zoles."
"Hi."
"You okay?"
"Cecil... am I a bad person?!"
"No?" He shakes his head. "You're a drunk person, but not a bad person. Maybe you should go to sleep?"
"I'm not drunk, I'm heartbroken."
"Are they not the same?"
"Huh?" I stare at him wondering when he got so wise.
He waves a hand in front of my face, and he's talking to me but I can't focus.
"Zola? You there?"
"Hmm?"
"I thought as much. Goodnight, Zoles."
---
I wake up with a pounding headache and for one happy moment I think I'm back home in my own room. And then I open my eyes and see Mike gearing up for the day, and I remember I'm still in Barovia.
"Good morning, little Raven Queen. How's the hangover?" Mike asks far too loudly.
I groan, and get out of bed. The memories of yesterday are not quite hazy enough for me yet, and I wonder if I should have drank more. I put on my armour, wanting nothing more than to crawl back into bed and sleep until Barovia implodes on itself.
We eat brunch, and then head outside, ready to head to Berez. Dawn breaks over a quiet Barovia. We are coming for you, Baba Lysaga.
~ Zola
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Post by donaldado on Feb 13, 2020 17:33:27 GMT -5
"I'm alive?" Hmmmmm.... oh good everything is still attached. I thought pigeon man would be the end of me but thankfully my companions took care of him. Looks like chicken nuggets are back on the menu, muahahahahahaha! My personality is wasted on these pedestrians.
Oh what's this? Mike and Zola, are they...? Fighting?
I should probably stop them but ummm, let's see where this goes.
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Post by Aileen on Feb 14, 2020 15:09:36 GMT -5
'Lord Strahd von Zarovich,
What. The. F***.
I thought we were a thing? And you FIREBALL ME?!?! I guess we really do hurt the ones we love.
You can make it up to me with a new horse. I'll be... somewhere in Barovia? I mean, you won't let us leave so... your land is my land?
Seriously, though... FIREBALL?! Rude. Guess we are done. DONE! Go away and never talk to me again!
Begrudgingly yours,
Zola F. Stormwyk
P.S.: I also like booze. And dogs. And jewelery. And swords. '
I accidentally spill some wine on the envelope Strahd's letter came in as I shove my letter in. I'm too drunk to care. I toss it into the air, letting it catch the wind as it floats down to the city below. He probably won't find it. I flip the sky off for good measure, and head back inside.
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Post by Aileen on Feb 19, 2020 0:36:37 GMT -5
Before leaving Krezk, after a delicious breakfast courtesy of Steinbjorn, we discuss our next destination. Creed vehemently does not want to go to Berez, but pretty much everyone else wants to. We do owe the Martikovs... but survival is a concern. I am open to anything, really, but I would most like to go to Ravenloft and end the bastard that is making our lives so difficult. We decide to hit up Van Richten's tower, then Berez.
Steinbjorn removes Mike's curse, and I am livid. She murdered a beautiful, innocent raven- she should accept her punishment!
"Did you at least think about what you've done?" I snap at Mike.
"Yes, I did." She replies. She says something under her breath as I walk away, but I'm not starting any fights today.
Stein puts a hand on my shoulder.
"It sucks. I know. But we can't be down a fighter because she's cursed. I'm sorry about the raven."
I shrug, sighing. Another raven life taken too soon. At least we can make the lives of the living ones better if we take out the old swamp hag. We head out to Van Richten's tower.
It's abandoned, and nearly completely destroyed inside by fire. Cheeks scouts out the inside and finds a burnt up letter.
"Dear friends," she reads, scanning the page for legible writing. "Decided not to wait... Strahd must die... I'm heading to-"
"Heading where?!" Creed pushes her on.
"There's no more," says Cheeks.
"It's obviously the castle." I mumble.
We decide the castle can wait. We are committed to taking out this hag. After four or so hours of walking, we come to Berez, and make a plan.
Our plan is a solid one. Sneak up behind the hut, get inside, wreck the hag before she can get in her skull. We've got this!
Cheeks goes first, and we stay back a bit further so she can do her sneaky thing. Creed is going to cast fly on Stein and Chad, Cheeks and I are going to go in the hut, and the others will try to destroy or occupy the skull. Cecil really wants to ride in it.
Everything is great until the hut rises up and starts throwing rocks at Cheeks, 120ft back. One gets her pretty good, and then the whole plan goes to s***. Creed makes the wrong people fly, which is workable but still a bit chaotic, and Draelyn decides to blast the hut.
"What's the point in a plan if we're not going to follow it? Are we attacking the house now?!" Cheeks shouts.
"Nobody listens!" I shout back to her. "I'm still with you, keep going to the hut!"
I start moving closer to the hut as people start flying overhead. A sickly looking greenish yellow haze appears in front of the hut, some kind of obscuring poisonous cloud. I hope everyone is smart enough to avoid it.
"Zola, you're coming with me!" Creed announces, grabbing my arm. I know what this means!
I'm brought through the portal, and find myself standing on the porch of the hut, at the front door. Creed boots it open, and we look inside. No hag, but there is a crib with a baby in it. A baby?!
I follow Creed in, sweeping the room, and find no threats. Other than a creepy baby, but I'm sure the worst it can do is throw up on me. Then I realize it is staring at me, looking all angelic and innocent. It mouths some words... mother.
"I'm not your mother, kid," I tell it. "I'm only seventeen."
"Do you not want me to set the house on fire, Zoles?!" Cecil calls out from outside. I just barely hear him over the sound of the hut.
"I'm in here!" I shout. "Go ahead! There's a creepy baby that thinks I'm its mom!"
"You probably are, Zola! You and Strahd had a kid!"
"Ew, Cecil!" I shout. "I can't have a baby, I've never-"
Creed raises an eyebrow at me, and I roll my eyes, raising my axe. I start hacking at the floor, bits of wood coming out with each axe strike. Maybe I should be a lumberjack, this is fun!
Creed goes to pick up the baby, and her hands go through thin air as it disappears. Guess it was an illusion all along- thank goodness! I'm way too young to be responsible for a baby, I barely take care of myself!
"Find the seed, it has to be in here somewhere!" I call out to Creed.
"I've been looking, I don't see anything!"
Suddenly the hut shakes, and big roots slam into the walls, punching through the wood. I manage to hack at one, but then I'm struck twice. I feel a little crunchy inside.
"Ow! Motherfu- Creed, we need to kill this thing!"
She starts hacking at the walls while I keep up with the floor.
"Who is hurting my hut?!" I hear the old hag shriek.
I hear a spell being cast, and then I'm caught mid swing, overcome with the most horrible searing pain I've ever felt in my life. It's worse than getting struck by lightning, wracking my whole body. I pass out for a second, but I'm back in action. A bit worse for wear, but still kicking.
"I'm like you, Creed. I just can't die!"
She smiles, still disguised as a hag and making me feel really uncomfortable, and then turns her attention to the hag that just tried to kill me. She casts something at her, clearly pissing her off.
"You've made a mistake, dearie!" Says Baba Lasagna.
"What's that, dearie?" Creed responds in her best granny voice. "My ears are going, can't hear you very well!"
I laugh so hard my broken ribs grind together. Creed is too much. Then I get an idea- I'm gonna light this place on fire from the inside! I fire bolt a barrel, and it catches aflame. And then I realize it's a barrel of water. Well, that was a waste! Back to my axe I go. I keep at it while a battle of spells rages outside the door. Rideyr comes in, and immediately lays on hands on me. I feel a bit better, not quite 100%.
"Stay alive, kid- okay?"
"Trying, Rideyr!"
I hack at the floor again, and get slammed by more roots. I feel myself falling, and then nothing.
---
I'm standing in an endless field of mist. Ahead I can see light, and I start walking toward it. Is it home?! Finally, I can leave Barovia! Escape from this s***hole and go home to mom and dad and Auntie and...
"Zola! You can't go there!"
Eliza!
I turn around, feeling a hand at my back, and find my cousin. He smiles, tears in his eyes, and wraps me in a hug.
"I'm so happy to see you," he whispers, pulling away. "Despite the circumstances."
"Am I dead?"
"Somewhere in between," he says. "If you go to that light, you will be."
"So I can leave?"
He shakes his head.
"No. You will be stuck here just like me. Souls never rest in Barovia."
I can hear someone calling my name, but it sounds far away. The light grows dimmer, and I fear I will never make my escape if i don't catch it now. Eliza is wrong, that's home through the light!
"But that's the way out!"
"No! You can't go home until Strahd is defeated. Kill him. Save Barovia. Free me, Zola!"
---
I wake up to Rideyr praying over me, and groan.
"Thank... god." I gasp.
"Lathander." He says.
"Huh?"
"Thank Lathander."
"Oh. Thanks Lathander!"
He helps me up, laughing, and I stumble still woozy from getting the beating of a lifetime. I get my axe back in hand and start hacking the floor again. I feel like absolute s***, and I just want this damn hut to die.
Suddenly the whole hut collapses, a group of us still inside. I fall on my face, groaning. Flames flare up around us, consuming the walls. The hut is dead!
"Sorry, guys- you might want to get out!" Stein yells over the roar of the flames.
I look down, and see a green glow in the cracked floorboards. The seed! It's here! I reach down and grab it, then all but throw myself out the door and into the fresh air. I walk away, holding the seed to my chest as though it is the most precious object in the land. It may just be.
I sit down and rest while some of the others stay in the hut, grabbing treasure. There is a huge boom as the trapped chest goes off, and I hear Rideyr sigh loudly.
"Rideyr, where is Cecil?" I ask.
His face tells me everything I need to know before he speaks.
"Strahd took him." He says.
"What?! He was here? Why did he take him?"
"He's been using him all along. And now he is drawing us back to the castle."
I can't hold back the tears, and break down crying. My best friend Cecil is gone, probably dead, and the man I thought I was in love with is responsible. Man? No. Monster. Any semblance of humanity in Strahd von Zarovich is gone. He is the devil.
Draelyn crawls inside the skull, and wants to nap in it. The rest of us want to go to the abandoned village to rest, but we can't leave Draelyn by himself.
"I'll stay here." Mike says.
"Me too." I offer.
Mike gives me a look.
"Unless... you don't want me to?"
"No, it's fine..."
"Zola, you should come with us," says Cheeks in a whisper. "Hint hint."
I look between Draelyn and Mike, and put two and two together.
"Oh! Ok. Have fun, you two!"
We head to the village and hole up in an abandoned cottage. After resting for an hour we head out for Castle Ravenloft and saving Cecil. I request to stop in Vallaki to drop off the seed to much indignation, but I promise to be quick and they agree to stop by. The Martikovs deserve to have it back since I lost them the other one.
We walk along, all of us quiet and contemplative. Mostly it's just quiet because we have no Cecil. Oh, how I miss him already! I'm not sure how long we have been trudging along when a big, beautiful deer dashes out across the road in front of us.
"Want me to kill it?" Cheeks asks, nocking an arrow.
"No! It's pretty, let it live!" I beg.
"The people of Vallaki could really use its meat," Steinbjorn suggests. "There are no hunters there and there is only so much I can make."
Creed, not caring about the conversation apparently, blasts it. The poor deer collapses, and we converge on it. However, it is no longer a deer. In front of us, laying on the ground dying, is Cecil McBiggins. Naked. My mouth drops as I see... something... and I look away.
"Wow, I guess it's true what they say about gnomes!" Stein says. "I'll heal- or, not."
Creed grabs Cecil and tosses him over her shoulder before Steiny can heal him. The cleric shrugs, and we continue on. Why did Strahd let him go? It seems odd... but I'm glad to have him back!
We make it to Vallaki, getting through the gate without issue, and make for the Blue Water Inn. Stein takes Cecil from Creed and lays him on a couch to heal him, as I go to the bar and am immediately accosted by all the Martikov children.
"My beautiful Zola!" Davian calls, shuffling over and pulling me into a hug. "You look terrible!"
"I know. I got beaten up by a treehouse. I have something for all of you!"
I put my bag down on the bar top, and pull out the two bottles of wine.
"I know it's not much, but I've also got..." I pull out the seed, holding it up. "This!"
I hand it over to Urwin, his eyes widening, and he takes it. Danika bursts into tears and smothers me in hugs and kisses. Urwin hands the seed over to his father, and a smile comes over the old man's face.
"This is wonderful!" Davian Martikov exclaims. "With this we can finally make Champagne du la Stomp again!"
I'm all but jumping up and down, surrounded by the celebrating Martikovs. They immediately pour me some cognac, and we all do a toast to The Dawn Breakers and Wizard of Wines.
The group goes off to Blinsky's with Cecil wrapped up in a borrowed cloak to find him something to wear. I stay behind with the Martikovs, talking and drinking. After eating dinner with them, Danika and Stefania bring me upstairs where they have a bath drawn already. I take the hint, I know I'm gross. The closest thing to a bath I've had in days was falling into the fountain in Krezk. It takes a lot of scrubbing to get the blood and muck off my skin and out of my hair, but soon I feel refreshed and like a new Zola.
Stefania brushes my hair, gently getting through weeks worth of tangles and mats. She braids back the white part, mixing it in with the black and weaves new raven feathers into my hair, along with one large feather from the Abbot. I don't mention what it is from.
I get dressed in clean clothes, looking the best I have since leaving home, and join the Dawn Breakers downstairs. I nearly fall over laughing when I see Cecil. The only outfit they were able to find for him is a sailor outfit, and he looks absolutely adorable yet disturbing.
We drink and eat and tell stories until late, and eventually the party slowly heads to bed. I stay up with the Martikovs, having one more glass of Red Dragon Crush before bed. Tomorrow the Dawn Breakers will go to Castle Ravenloft, and hopefully finish what we started. But for tonight, I am just Zola, enjoying a drink and good company. There is hope for Barovia, and it is all right here under this very roof.
~ Zola
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Post by dragonforgotten on Feb 25, 2020 14:38:53 GMT -5
Creed 10 years old
I’m being held firmly by my mother my father giving me his stern eyes.
“Listen and listen well Carmen. Your going to be meeting a very important man today. What your about to do will help all your other brothers and sister in their care. You understand don’t you?”
It isn’t a question but more like father wants to know I’ll be a good little sacrifice and not fight back. Why would I. There isn’t anything for me besides this cursed body. I sigh.
“Yes papa, I’ll obey.” He smiles wide.
“Your such a good girl. Daddy loves you after all.”
“And mumies to.” Ugh. Their just happy that they don’t have to care for me anymore. More time to spend on my siblings. The real successors if their wealth and power. I never thought he would come. I’ve always been told he would come and chose one of us but i didn’t think it would be this soon. I’ve always been observant for a child. That’s would my tutors always told me.
It then we enter the main dance hall filled with relatives. Sitting in a massive throne sits a man with heavy grey black shawls adorning his back and a heavy hood over his head. I can barely make out any part of him. I can see my siblings in the crowd
“Now dear just as we practice.” Mother tells me with a snide smirk.
A firm hand grasps my shoulder and pushes me forward to the dark robbed figure.
I can only sigh. So this is how it ends. It was a pretty dull life to begin with. I’m not going to miss much anyway. I pick the hems of my black and red dress form the ground and courtesy.
“Good evening grandfather. I’ve come to fulfill the promise on the behalf of my family the Evergrace house.”
The creaking of old bone echo through the extravagant froya. He then stands and the entire rooms olds their breath. He approaches me and as everyone shrinks away I remain bowed. Sissys. I should honestly be afraid as well but I’m not. What the heck he’s going to do? Kill me? Ha, this body already proved it can’t live. Suck out my soul? Oblivion would be a blessing. No one would tell me what to do or when to do it anymore.
“Rise...” the voice rattles from the hood and as I do I look into his eyes. Well his eye. I can’t see the rest of his face well due to the light but I do see that one glowing green eye.
I stare at him unflinching and Unafraid. This causes the man to tilt his head with a rasping breath.
“You are not afraid.. why?” The voice echos softy yet defense the silence. That’s weird. I was taught what to do about this. Grandfather doesn’t normally talk to sacrifices.
“Should I? You are going to kill me right?”
“Ca-!” My mother tries to scold me but my father covers her gobs before she does something stupid. She was always a dim lady.
Grandfather sighs and the room begins to grow colder and darker.
“Tell me. Why do your eyes lack life?”
I shrug.
“I don’t know. Guess I’ve been dead already. Sorry to disappoint.”
There’s a pognute pause as everyone stands their waiting for him to speak once again. His hand is then released. A long skeletal hand emerges from his robes and placed on my head, feeling the grooves of my horns.
“Should a sparrow be kept in a gilded cage? Should a shepherd continue tending to his folk when the sheep have been replaced by rats? What is your answer?”
Everyone in the rooms look at me eyes wide in horror. I don’t know why they are so afraid of so I simply shrug uncaring. I look him in the eye and smirk.
“Then maybe you should cull the herd and start again.”
His eyes light up.
“Is that your answer?”
“Yes.”
“Very well.” He then turns his head up to the crowd.
“It is time. I grow weary and now I must collect.”
Everyone begins to panick they begin to rush towards the doors but they simply slam shut.
“What have you’ve done!?” Father screamed. Then suddenly everything is lost in a blinding light.
I wake up on the ground, surrounded by bodies. One dark figure standing before all of them as the room fills with darkness.
I stand slowly watching him. He turns to me, green eye smoking with wisps of energy.
“So you have awakened.”
I look about me, dispassionate
“Why did you spare me?”
The skeleton man humms in though.
“Don’t know. Guess I didn’t feel like it. You were gifted to me. I shall do with you are I please. Now come.”
I come to his side without fusss and without a single tear as we leave the remains of the manor behind.
“What’s your name?” I asks me.
“Alazarius Malidictus Evergrace.”
“Thats an annoyingly long name. Arnt you going to ask what mine is?”
“It does not matter. Obviously you wouldn’t answer to it unless I gave you one.”
“Are you going to give me one?”
“....maybe.”
————————
Present
I stand among the dead mongreul men beaten and bloody but still standing. What a waste this was. We were all simply puppets dancing to someone else enjoyment. Strahd pacifically. I felt ashamed of myself for a time. Ashamed that with one decision I had ruined not only Krezk but the Abby as well. Now all is quiet. I did want to save the abbot. I had a feeling he was working for our enemy but he seemed like his alligence could be shifted. He had helped us when we were cursed. Now we return to his home and slayed him. A change has gone through some of the dawn breakers. Zola seems for the better if caught up in the action but the way they tried to tear the abbots wings off is deeply unsettling. I heard that voice, I wonder if it has worked it’s way into their minds.
Zola joins my side as I stare at the thousands of bodies around me. We’re going to need more shovels. Maybe two or three.
“Creed. I want to bury Otto at least. Please help me find him.”
“Sure.” I reply despondent. We begin picking through the bodies. At least if I can put someone to rest it would be him. I find the bat woman among them and grab her along the way as Zola finds Otto. Zola certainly picked the right person for the job of digging graves. We walk into the grave yard and find a open spot for two. I raise a hand and the dirt moves and creates two deep holes for them within seconds. We rest them into the earth and as I move the ground over them Zola find large bits of stonery to use as markers. I use my magic to then crave their names into the rock. We sit in silence as Chad prays over them
“Creed? Do you think we’re bad people.” I look over to her.
“No, were just stupid. Some of us though. I question.”
We sit in silence again as I hear her sniffling. Ugh. I pull her against me with my arm till she’s crying into my coat.
“Do you think there ok.”
“No but they can’t get much worst then they were. There souls will probably just reincarnate till we do something about it.”
She falls silent
“Listen. Nothing else matters here. The dead can’t change what they are but the living can. As long as we breath we can free the dead trapped here. That is the only thing that matters.”
I take in a deep breath thinking.
“Kid, let me let you something. Despair is a millstone that hangs around your neck. It freezes you in place so you sink and drown in your own misery. It’s what happened to the abbot, it happened to the revenants and it will happen to us if we let it. Misery loves company after all.
“So what do you do? How do you withstand all this?”
I pause again.
“I simply fuel all my despair into rage. Rage is action and action will free us all.”
We fall silent again till she quips in again.
“Do you see him creed?” I don’t respond. The answer is yes, always but it’s not the time to be rubbing salt in wounds. She seems to be putting together what I think pretty quickly.
“Creed. I want to go home. With everyone.”
“You and me both kid.”
———
We explored the rest of the manor. Ran into a few more Golems as well. We find the abbots creation for Strahd still combing her hair. We leave her unsure if we should put her out of her misery or leave not to f*** anything else up. We chose the later. It seems I’ve become the new target for the lands party games. Found a creation on a table that looks like a strange patchwork of many of my disguises sewed together. I try to speak to it but it rudely stays dead on the table. Wondering the graveyard again I’m assaulted by a raven. I take it in stride but Mike doesn’t. She blows up the bird and becomes cursed. Then whines about why she was curse. I can only sigh in my fist.
We get some shut eye in the temple but I’m pissed to learn that the group want to fight that hag again instead of going to the castle. Why are we wasting time!? We are strong enough! Fate is pushing us to the castle! I want to take my rage out on Strahds pale a***!
But no. At least I’ve talked them into visiting Rudolph’s tower. It’s a complete mess when we arrive and we find a half burnt note saying he’s gone to face strahd.
I rage and tell them we need to go there now! We can’t abandon our allies! But no. The f***ing witch is more important. For a quick moment I’m am going to abandon this group of morons and fight strahd myself. I rather die on his sword fighting with our allies then to a random witches spell but it’s only Zola that’s prevents me from acting on this thought. I am done with games.
We make it to the swamp and the group rallies. There relying on me, Chad and Stein to use our magic to get them quickly to the house. So they want me to cast spells but won’t listen to me? I think to myself but I shove my salt away for later seasoning.
Before we depart I tell everyone to watch me as I turn into one of the hags we killed a long time ago. Then we depart into the swamps with a plan sort of in motion. Of course the house had other plans. It begins to come to life just as Chee creeps near to it and everyone falls out of formation. I have to change my plan now. I tap, Stein, Cecil and Dyrillan as they begin to fly. I move up to Zola and claps her shoulder with my granny hands and claws digging into her.
“Your coming with me.” In an instance we’re at the front door, the massive skull at our back. We need to get inside before she blasts us with spells. I open to find the place empty except an angelic baby sitting in the middle of the room in a crib. Zola begins sweating as the baby locks eyes with her.
“I’m not you mama kid!” She mutters unnerved as she takes out her axe. She begins violently hacking the floor to pieces as the house shutters like a living creature. I search every nook and cranny. Where’s the bloody seed!? If I can rip it out the house will stop. No luck. I’ve turned everything over besides the babes crib.
“Find it!?”
“No! I can’t find The bloody thing!” Suddenly we all stagger as the house rises into the air! Oh hell its begun. The house larched as I approach the crib. The babe locks it’s eyes on me as I reach for it. The hags probably stole this baby to eat. Maybe it’s powering the house? I don’t bloody know anymore what to do but I’m not letting a baby die on me. The moment I grab it the babe vanished in my hands. Or it could be another Barovian trick. Blood hell’s. Suddenly the house vines burst through the walls and strike at Zola as I duck! Holy s***! Enraged Zola tries to set the house on fire but only succeeds in setting a barrel on fire.
“Who’s attacking my house?!” A familiar wizen voice screeches and who else peers from the doorway in her floating skull in the witch.
Ummm. S***... what do I do? No way is she going to buy my bull in the middle of battle. Or maybe.
I hunch my back and adjust my glasses.
“Ah sister! Come for tea?” I say in a crackly old lady voice. The witch witch locks eyes with Zola who’s busy redecorating. She raises her finger and a familiar rush of green energy slams into her but she doesn’t fall. She remains standing wheezing.
“See...! I’m just like you.” I don’t acknowledge her, my cover is very clearly blown. I then viscously assault the hag with a Eldritch blast and she turns her enraged gaze onto me.
“Your making a mistake deary!”
“What’s that dear! Mi eyes are going along with my ears!” I blast again hitting home. Ryder manages to slide in to the house as the witch skull suddenly becomes a Dutch over. She turns into a swarm of flies, hovering above the skull and I unleash hell. I hit her one and then devastate her again as the flies stagger. In the next moment it’s consumed by fire in the sky and dies. Ding dong the witch is dead. Another witch is dead.
Zola gets smack by a tree and goes down but thankful Ryders right next to her and picks her up, only to be smacked again! S***! I rush to her said as Ryder heck’s at the floor.
“Your not going to die on me. I won’t allow it.” I use my necromantic magic to stop the bleeding but suddenly a vine bashed her again!
“Will you stop!” I yell at the house and reapply my stabilizing energy. She’s stabilize but the houses vines are still frantically failing about. I scoop Zola against my chest, using my body to prevent anymore blows to her. I clear my throat and pull in my granny accent.
“Oh housey, please stop attacking.” I wait but nothing seems to change. Worth a shot.
I’m glade they never came as Ryder hacks away. Suddenly the house larches again and it falls shaking is inside. Looks like it’s over. Ryder once again uses her healing hands as Zola’s eyes flutter.
“Creed? What happened?”
“You got the s*** kicked out of you is what happened. I’m glade your alive.”
She sits up slowly, tears in her eyes.
“Creed... I saw-.” She’s cut off as the crackling of fire echos through the room. That barrel she caught on fire.. well. It’s spread.
Suddenly the floor opens up and a glowing green stone appears. Our eyes widen. The seed! Zola snatches it up and dashes our from the burning building. I remain behind with Ryder. There has to be something else here. There’s a large chest in the corner of the room. Chi then rushes into the building, seeing the chest and begins to open it. Suddenly she pushes the damn thing to the floor as the scrolls inside it catch ablaze!
“What the f***! Why did you do that!? Are you daff!?” I don’t get a response. There’s not much time now thanks to her tipping the goods all over the damn floor with the fire. She snatches and I ten and bolts out of the building.
“Thanks a lot!” I scream after her over the crackling of flames. I go to the flames and begin trying to frantically grab things as Ryder leaves. It’s not to hot in here for me. I grab the pouch and reach for the stone! Ouch! That smarts! Chad then comes behind me coughing .
“Get the pipes!” I tell him as I grab the stone. He grabs the pipes and rushes out of the burning building. I search about the floor for anything else! So far that looks like that’s everything worth while! Time to go! Practically leap out of the door and straight into the mud, suffocating the flames on my back. Ahhhh. Nice. Zola stands over me and offers a hand. She pulls me back up as I try to wipe the mud off me. Chad suddenly rushes up to us panting and wheezing.
“Oh chad. Sorry about not flying you. What’s wrong?”
He then tells us and our eyes widen.
“What do you mean Strahd took Cecil, Again!”
———————
We march back from the swamp to Valaki, beat and tired. We won but it doesn’t feel like a win. This is frustrating. Teeth gritting frustrating. Suddenly a deer springs by us only to pause a good 50ft away to graze the grey grass. Deer? Everything’s dead though?
“Should we kill it?” Stein asks.
“Well Valaki might need more food.” Says Cheeks.
“No! It’s an innocent deer!”
I push past everyone and send a tiny finder gun blast on the deer. It drops after one hit and suddenly transforms into Cecil. We all stand their gobsmacked as I just groan in my hand.
“Bloody hells.” I simply walk up to him and stabilize him, then throw him over my shoulder not giving a single care about his nakedness or Steins huffing. We can fix the unconscious problem once we’re in town.
Creed
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Post by Aileen on Feb 26, 2020 17:56:38 GMT -5
Nearly every choice I have made in Barovia has been the wrong one, and I think my current one tops them all. I'm barely clinging to life, in the form of a raven, and being carried off by Strahd in bat form. As thousands of bats swarm around, screeching, I regret all of my life choices leading to this moment.
--- Earlier that morning ---
I'm not sure if I feel any different when I wake up. The small bite wound is already healing, and it doesn't hurt. I do feel... happier? This is what I wanted, and I finally have it. I'm sworn to secrecy, and although the Martikovs love me I do know they are people of their word. If I betray them, I pay with my life. I can't even tell my friends... but they will soon find out one way or another.
I sneak into the other room where Creed is sleeping, and try to wake her up. She doesn't stir. Sleeps like the dead just like I do!
"Creed-y Creed-y, wake up sleepy!!" I sing into her ear. She grunts. "Creed! I need you!"
I jump onto her bed, and she immediately shoves me off her. I just barely catch myself, and stand back up. She sits up, snarling, claws outstretched.
"What the hells, Zola?!"
"Good, you're awake!" I smile. "I need your help. It's very important."
I drag her down to the kitchen, glad to find it empty, and start pulling out ingredients.
"What are you doing?" She asks.
"Making Battle Waffles! Mom's secret recipe! Grab some plates, these come out quickly!"
I get to work preparing the batter as the iron heats up. Creed busies herself getting everything ready to plate up, and soon I'm cooking. It takes about an hour, but soon I hear voices out in the tavern and I'm all done. We take out trays with plates stacked with the beautiful waffles, and sides of butter and the Martikov's famous wine syrup.
"Good morning!" I call to the tavern full of Martikovs and sleepy Dawn Breakers. "I made waffles!"
Everyone digs in, and I soon realize that some of them might have gotten eggshells in them. I could have sworn I got all of them! Cheeks is the recipient of them, but she doesn't care.
"These are really good!" She says. "Thank you, Zola!"
"I just want to apologize to all of you for being a pain in the ass, and thank the Martikovs for being so good to us. I love you all!"
"Is she on drugs?" I hear Cecil whisper to Rideyr.
I finally sit down to eat and I admit that I am a damn good waffle chef. Maybe I can go in on a bed and breakfast with the Martikovs? I'm part of the family now, afterall! After eating the party uses the Martikovs to get some shopping done. We aren't exactly welcome in Vallaki. Some think we are worse than Strahd. Everytime my party gives them a request, the Martikovs go behind closed doors and from the sounds coming from it they're flying out in raven form. Part of me wants to join them, to try my new power... but it has to wait.
Once everyone is geared up, we ready to head to Ravenloft. This is going to be our final stand, and hopefully we are ready. I take time to say goodbye to the Martikovs before we go, with teary hugs and lots of well wishes. I need to make them proud, and I hope I can free Barovia for them.
We leave the Blue Water Inn, and start the walk towards the castle. Surprisingly, nothing bothers us the whole way there. Not even the revenants are at the bridge, and we make it across the chasm with ease.
We cross the courtyard, heading around back to the garden entrance. It is eerily quiet here, and we pass without issue. Going into the guestbook room, I take a quick peek at the book with the crew, just to see if maybe Van Richten or Esmerelda showed up. My name is still there, but is now crossed out.
"Hah! I'm banned from Ravenloft!" I laugh.
"He might have a restraining order on you, Zola!" Says Cecil.
We head down through Cyrus's hallway, and I feel a small pang of sadness for the loss of his life. We can't remember which way to go to get to the teleport room, and are going to head down the dungeon way when I remember-
"Rahadin's office!" I exclaim. "There was that secret door!"
We head to the office, and sure enough the secret door leads right down into the teleport room. We know which gem we have to cast into the flame- yellow for the master's tomb.
"Can I throw it in?!" Asks Cecil, very excitedly.
"Can you reach it?" Asks Steinbjorn.
Cecil throws it in, we all hold hands, and step into the flame. We emerge surrounding a polished wooden coffin, black and fancy. This has to be Strahd's coffin. It smells like fresh earth in here, too. We barely have a moment to get our bearings before three women step out from three alcoves on the far side of the coffin. They hiss as they come forward, and it is very clear these three dressed in fancy yet soiled gowns and extravagant jewels are in fact vampire spawn.
I jump up on the coffin just as Creed casts some spell that puts a wall of light up separating us from the three ladies. I can't see through it which is a bit aggravating, and I remember my mom telling me about the time she blasted my aunt for putting a wall of force around a dragon. I'm just as impatient as she is.
I wait, Draelyn joining me on the coffin, and soon the lady (if one could even call her that) I was aiming for steps out. I completely miss her with a fire bolt. They start scuttling on the walls, looking very awkward in their gowns. One goes for Mike, also spider crawling, and another heads toward Steinbjorn. I launch magic missiles at one, but she keeps moving until she is above Steiny.
"You know what would be really nice?" Says Steinbjorn, raising his holy symbol. "If you b****es would just stand there and hold!"
They both his, and one of them freezes, stunned on the wall. The other one runs down the wall and claws Stein, then grapples him. Creed's wall keeps sending energy beams out at the vampire spawns, and I'm quite impressed with it despite its temporary inconvenience.
"Fighters, a little assistance?!" Stein gasps, trying to get the vamp girl off of him.
"I'm right here, relax!" I snap, hopping down next to him.
I start raging, hitting the vamp four times while Stein hits her with his mace. I try to goad her into attacking me, but after a few hits from us after a boost from Cecil, and a strong blow from Rideyr she is killed. One down, two to go.
The one that was paralyzed releases, and still stays up 15ft glaring down at us. I walk up to stand below her.
"Come down, b****!" I goad her.
Cecil uses one of his mind powers to move her down, and she comes right into striking distance of my axe. I'm ready for her, and bury my axe right into her.
"Thanks, Ceece!"
"You're welcome, Zoles! Can I call you Zoles?"
"Of course!" I love when Cecil calls me that.
She comes down and rushes right past me, earning another axe strike, and then grabs Creed by the coffin. I follow her, and try goading her into attacking me again after a strong blow. She let's go of Creed, and turns to me. I dodge her claws, but she grabs me and holds me to her chest. Just as she goes to bite me, Creed finishes her off and I'm released.
With the three of them dead, we start searching. I'm dead set on seeing what is inside the coffin. It's either something cool, or it's Strahd. Mike checks it for traps as Cheeks raids the women's bodies.
"Stein, Draelyn- get off the coffin!" I demand, readying myself to open it.
They both hop down, and I open the lid. Strahd von Zarovich looks so peaceful at rest. And then he opens his eyes, sees me, and hisses in anger. I can't even jump away before his hand shoots out and grabs me by the throat. Steinbjorn jumps to my side, holy symbol raised.
"You can go ahead and let go of my friend!" Stein orders, and the holy symbol erupts in bright sunlight. He spits his false teeth into the coffin.
Strahd looks mildly inconvenienced, and then smiles as he sits up and brings his face to my neck. His fangs sink into my flesh, and I cannot scream. My vision begins to blur as my life blood is sucked from my veins. Rideyr comes in, sword blazing with holy fury, and he smites Strahd. Strahd says a spell, and disappears. I feel his lips at my ear as he pulls away.
"Third room on the left, top of the stairs." He whispers, and then I'm released.
"He's invisible!" Stein calls out.
I hear footsteps moving away, and wonder what that was about. Does he want to get me alone, or does he want us all to go? I'm not waiting around to find out. I deftly leap over the coffin, running for the black marble stairs and take them two at a time. I hear footsteps behind me now, and it occurs to me as I am already running through that this is the catacombs we were in before... bright light flashes around me, and I know exactly what I stumbled into.
The bastard tricked me! I really wanted to know what was in that room... instead I find myself in an enclosed space, and dust tickles my nose. I hold back my sneeze as I feel something move. A hand snakes around my throat, squeezing, and I feel body weight laying on top of me. Fangs sink into my neck, and it almost doesn't hurt... ugh! He is tricking me again!
I scramble away from Strahd, kicking open the coffin lid and jumping out. He doesn't let go, and I can't see him. Cheeks appears across the room.
"Oh, hey!" She calls. "You okay?"
I can only stare, bleeding profusely from my neck wounds.
"Yeah, no- Strahd is in here!"
"Oh," she fingers her bow. "Well this is fun. Bonding time?"
I laugh despite the circumstances, and break free from Strahd's grip, looking around for a door. There are just more coffins, and no way out except the shaft.
"Whatever you do, do don't open those coffins." Comes Strahd's voice.
"Funny." Cheeks snarls. She looks like she was about to check them out.
I make a run for the shaft, feeling claws at my back, and start climbing.
"Climb, Zola! Don't wait for me!" Cheeks shouts.
I turn for a moment, hesitating, but she waves me on. I get fifteen feet up the shaft before I feel movement beside me again. He just can't stay away, can he?
He grabs hold of me, sinking his fangs in once more. I have to admit the blood loss and being held is almost euphoric... snap out of it, Zola- you're dying!
"Normally I regain healing from this," He whispers. "I'm not even hurt."
I struggle, trying to break free, but he is too strong.
"I will make you mine. You asked enough. And then, we will have a cat!"
"She's not a pet." I hiss, dizzy and weak.
"No, I mean we will have a cat. We are going to eat her."
"Ohhh..."
Strahd definitely thinks I'm an idiot. Creed appears below, and Strahd mutters some words. A fireball erupts around Creed, and when the smoke clears she is still standing.
"Let her go! I'm not losing another ward!"
Strahd laughs.
"This one is mine!" He tells her.
I can't escape him. My life is fading, I can feel it. I don't know what to do... and then I do it. I immediately regret turning into my raven form when it doesn't even get me free of Strahd. Not only am I still trapped, I have also broken my word to the Martikovs. This is life or death, I wouldn't have done it if I had any other option. What's done is done.
Cheeks climbs past us, going to the opening where the slab of stone was back when Creed and Draelin were in here. She looks back, and I realize too late I should have told her to keep her mouth shut about what I was about to do. Hard to remember when you have an invisible vampire sucking your life out of your neck.
"Guys- Zola is a bird!"
I claw at my captor, trying to break free, but my little claws do barely any damage. He tucks me under his arm, carrying me further up the shaft. Mike appears below, throwing her spear, but then suddenly I'm being whisked away by a swarm of bats. The bats take me higher and higher, up through the hole in the wall and out into the catacombs. I can see my friends down below as I am carried up into the endless ceiling of swarming bats, shrieking and flapping all around me.
~ Z
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Post by Jeff on Mar 2, 2020 9:42:25 GMT -5
Rideyr takes a moment to gather himself after realizing that Zola is missing. Fighting back the tears that are building, he vows to find her and bring her home to see her parents—that’s become his mission now. This time in Barovia has been made up primarily of pain and suffering, but his friendship with Zola and Cecil has sustained him through this difficult endeavor. It’s time to end this, he thinks to himself...it’s time.
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