Session - 7 September 2006 - The Princes Crypts

[david]

Upon opening the tomb, the party was greeted by 3 pairs of red glowing eyes staring out at them.

To be expected I guess. The desire to open every door, lift every coffin lid and poke every corpse was bordering on the obsessive. An unhealthy one at that. For those doing the grave-robbing anyway. Individuality is a wonderful gift and I am constantly astounded and inspired by the different people I meet. Unfortunately creation has laws which transcend individual values. Tito might regard corpses as meaningless dead flesh - a viewpoint I find intriguing despite the lack of contemplation behind it - and Drusilia might regard any item she can acquire as fair game, regardless of its providence... but if the universe and the greater powers which roam it disagree then claims of individuality mean little. How do you argue with gods? Drusilia is no doubt acutely aware of that every time she feels the urge to eat, although it remains to be seen whether she learns from it.

In any case the hellish dogs within this particular crypt posed only a temporary challenge. Their burning souls were quenched, though not before their fiery breath and searing bites took their tool. Tito was looking decidedly pale under the unusual bulges and creases which currently form his face. I am not one to judge people by appearances but others are not so open - I do wonder whether that visage will cause problems for him when (if?) we return to civilisation.

I also wonder what inner force made these beasts exhibit such a fiery nature? If one can come to master their own inner energies then could they too channel fire through their body? Can it be done without self harm? This I pondered carefully as Tito and Drusilia continued their mission to exhume all the bodies within this graveyard, fortunately without significant harm from the last few tombs.

Their task completed we were finally able to leave this sombre place, albeit only briefly, to find a more fitting place to sleep. Returning afresh we resolved to investigate more closely those few bodies which had not decayed. Vagnar carefully channelled Ezra's power to determine that the first of these, a woman, was indeed evil and undead. That in itself is not necessarily cause for concern - I do try to keep an open mind. However in this place we have seen the evil that vampires such as Straad can inflict upon others and I willingly acceded to the group's plan to destroy the creature.

It seemed a simple plan. Stake the vampire through the heart and be done with it. Regrettably the simplest plans can still have flaws. If indeed the monster had a heart then it was hidden more deeply than even Tito's great strength could find. The vampire sat up and in a foreboding manner (as you might expect from a creature which had just completely shrugged off a wooden stake being driven through its body) pronounced that we would regret our actions today. A fair call I thought!

Resolutely we stood our ground and after a difficult battle the vampire was finally defeated, its defiled flesh exploding at the moment of death. Another nearby tomb also had a body with the same appearance and exuding the same evil undead aura. We were more careful this time and destroyed this creature with a minimum of pain.

With Drusilia wary of searching any of the other coffins more thoroughly we finally abandoned our interminable search of the many tombs in the massive main chamber. Faced with two opposing ways from this chamber we chose to open the barred gate across the northern stairway and descend to the room visible beyond. A massive sarcophagus dominated the centre of the room while a stunning mural was painted on the left wall. The mural depicted a young man playing a lute on a grassy knoll with forest creatures, including unicorns and fairy folk, sitting at the base of the knoll apparently enraptured by the young man's playing. A quick search revealed no dangers - indeed I felt more at peace here than in the rest of this monument to evil.

Investigating further Tito was dismayed to find that even his prodigious strength could not budge the lid on the sarcophagus. Yet, Vagnar had to merely touch it and the lid slid away to reveal a male body within, in full battle dress. One hand held a rolled scroll. It was hard to be certain in the flickering light but it seemed almost as though the hand offered the scroll to Vagnar. Gingerly unrolling it Vagnar began to read the script within...

Download the Tome of Strahd

No sooner had Vagnar's voice trailed off than another voice rang out from all around us "It has been years since any have summoned me. Be warned! My brother's tomb is guarded with powerful magic." The voice continued, "I see that you bear my sword, Bright Blade. Wield it with strength and honor and it will serve you well."

Even Drusilia and Tito seemed disinclined to loot the body of Prince Sergei so we covered the sarcophagus again. With little of the normal banter we settled down to rest in this, the resting place of Princes. The pace was quickening and I think we could all sense the oncoming doom.

Refreshed, at least as much as we could while within this foreboding castle, we made our way to the southern stairway. We started downwards while discussing how we would prepare ourselves for the inevitable encounter with Straad. How we could be so foolish escapes me - maybe his presence was already muddling our senses? In any case we were completely *un*prepared when the attack came just after crossing the first landing in the stairway.

It started unexpectedly. Tito stopped in his tracks, dropping his axe beside him. This in itself should have indicated something terrible - few things short of death could pry that axe from Tito's fingers! Turning he pushed his way up the stairs to engulf Irena in what could politely be described as an inappropriate hug. I must confess my mental facilities failed me and I could only stand there befuddled as I watched - was Tito trying to kiss her? Another observer must have thought so for Straad chose that moment to appear on the landing behind us, full of anger and jealousy. Before him appeared a floating orb of... well, of nothingness. No light escaped the orb and even my meagre senses could feel the wrongness of it. The orb began to accelerate towards us.

Caught with our pants down (not literally - although if Tito had been given more time...) we scrambled to defend both Irena from Tito and ourselves from Straad. Vagnar unleashed Ezra's might upon Straad and was distressed to see the entire column of holy fire sucked sideways into the hovering orb. Hoping that more mundane magic would not be similarly affected Elric attempted to cast Grease on Tito and Irena. I imagine he hoped to help Irena escape, although I couldn't help think that the scene might have taken on some of the characteristics of the mud pit fights that seemed to attract so much attention back in Calforse. In any case this spell also failed, sucked away by the approaching orb.

Things were looking bad indeed until I noticed the orb halt and ever so slowly begin to inch away from us. Glancing around I could see the strain on Aelebera's face as she engaged in some titanic mental struggle against Straad for control of the orb. Impressed at her strength I tumbled forward, maintaining a healthy distance from the orb, and flipped behind Straad, landing a gauntleted punch as I passed. A blow which may as well have been landed by a gnat for all the effect it had.

Tito seized his opportunity and began to drag poor struggling Irena along the landing towards the stairs leading up from this place. Enraged Straad exerted his full power to seize control of the orb and heaved it towards Tito. Startled, Tito attempted to dodge aside from the approaching threat as Irena finally gained some purchase on the wall beside her and tried to twist from his grasp... into the path of the orb.

Sorrow is that moment. Silently and irredeemably Irena and the orb vanished, erased as though they had never existed.

In that instance I think Straad lost what little grip on sanity he had. The hate and despair of centuries of torment were unleashed as he gave new meaning to the term "flying into a violent rage". Having the misfortune to be standing beside him at the time I was immediately assaulted by his dark blade, slashing through my defences with ease, each deep cut draining my vitality. Sneering he followed up with a crushing fist that sent me staggering against the wall. Darkness edged my vision as I felt my life essence diminish. Although I know I fought on I struggle to recall the rest of the battle through the haze.

I remember Drusilia making good use of the Heartseeker crossbow, coming very close to finding Straad's dark heart. After scrambling down the stairs Tito returned with his flaming greataxe and laid into Straad with all his might. Vagnar wielded magic and his Sunsword valiantly against Straad despite struggling to land telling blows against the more skilled swordsman. Elric sang and cast magic to provide some of the empowering enchantments which we would have arranged in advance, if only we were wiser. Aelebera too cast her spells, although more offensively. I know she attempted to enfeeble Straad's mind. I do not know if she succeeded - at that moment Straad had more in keeping with a rabid dog than an intelligent being anyway.

Somehow, despite the odds and despite Straad's insane fury - or perhaps because of it? - we were victorious. Straad stumbled backwards, only to turn and half fall into a whirling portal which appeared behind him. It might have been my imagination but I thought I caught "follow me if you dare" before he disappeared.

In the silence which followed another figure materialised. The likeness of Prince Sergei, Straad's brother, stood before us. Congratulating us on our success he warned also that we were still caught within the web of Straad's mad design. To finally escape we would need to follow Straad to Mordantshire and defeat Straad one last time.

At that low point the task seemed so utterly beyond us that I felt despair overwhelm me. But then Sergei's invigorating magic touched upon us all, healing wounds and regenerating energies consumed by Straad's corrupting touch. Restored mind, body and soul we pledged to go forward and do what must be done to end this once and for all.

[Note: We all gained a level.]

[sarah]

From Sarah:

Firstly, I’d just like to say Fantastic write-up David! You’ve done a really great job on it.

I’ll go through the ‘gaps’ in order and fill in the details as best I can.

The Mural depicted a young man playing a lute on a grassy knoll with forest creatures, including unicorns and fairy folk, sitting at the base of the knoll apparently enraptured by the young man’s playing.

Small correction: Sergei’s coffin did not contain a sword.

I have a soft copy of the Tome of Strahd. Gary, I’ve already sent you a copy of this, so could you please upload it? I you’ve lost it let me know and I can send it to you again.

Small correction: You missed Sergei’s voice speaking to you in his tome. He said… “It has been years since any have summoned me. Be warned! My brother’s tomb is guarded with powerful magic.â€