High Rollers DnD - High Rollers: Curse of Strahd #16 | Revenant Reveries

Episode Date: August 18, 2020

Climbing higher in the ruins of Argynvostholt the team attempt to reunite and gather information about the Sword of Sunlight! Support the High Rollers and get early access to podcast episodes (and more) on our Patreon: www.patreon.com/HighRollers Thanks to @jackgtmusic for the Aerois/Curse of Strahd mash-up intro! Music courtesy of Epidemic Sound Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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our heroes have come to Argen Vostholt in search of a weapon that can help them destroy Strahd von Zarovich, lord and master of the shadowed realm of Barovia. In a frantic battle within the ruined mansion, having only just lost one of their members recently to Strahd himself. Desperation looms as both Zeros, the Dragonborn and Dog's Body fall to a group of spectral warriors.

As many of the companions ignore Zeros' plight due to his actions against Irena, a woman they have sworn to protect, he dies. But something changes. And as the last few spectres threaten the party, Zeros arises once more.

His eyes have become red rubies, as the pact forged with Asmodeus seems to have been more complicated than it appeared. Our party took some moments, an hour, to take a short rest, separate as irena and ismark

contemplate their future with the party rose and jesper go off towards one of the towers leaving ziki and xeros in the other and poor dog's body stuck in the middle uh not sure uh which side to fall on it seems and that is where we begin today uh your short rest has completed um you have had some time to uh gain some energy back bandage wounds and and tend to any injuries um and yeah that's i hand it over to you i feel that this is uh another one more on you guys oh who's gonna start then yeah so i guess that's the first question is like who leaves their room first or does dog's body go looking for people i'm gonna yeah i'm gonna go knock on I'm gonna go to the dragon room please yeah you chose your favourite

you chose the right side I'm gonna go to the other room please sure you walk down one corridor turn around walk the other way no yeah you can go knock for the others and you guys just react to it as you would normally knock on the door i'll get up and let let let dog's body in hi hello are you okay yeah i've been sleeping in the corridor what's what's going on i'm i'm sensing a lot of tension in this year party

yeah yeah get to know you guys a bit better see if i can help you know because i don't want to die it would be nice to talk about it. It's complicated. There's been a lot. Why don't we start with you? You look like you've been through something. You know, I remember Dragonborn and I don't remember them looking as hasty, as we say.

Yeah. Yeah. As you. Yeah. Honest, I came here hoping to change. Obviously, I wanted to do something good. I wanted to change Brovia. I wanted to help. And I fell in combat. And I met the Wardens.

And the Wardens of Barovia, they reside within mists, I suppose. And they told me to protect, to do. I had to... I had to help. I had to save Zeros. I had to save everyone. So I accepted their offer. I get it. I get it.

Now I'm here. Maybe I would have done it once. But what does that mean if, you know, the big one, crikes it, you stuck here with me? I don't know. My deal was to get Strahd's soul. It's a pretty big ask, isn't it? Yeah.

I don't know if I can do it. I don't know if I can do it. I don't know if I can do it. Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey. None of that. None of that. And I'll put a big hand around her shoulder. Squeeze it. I know it's not right.

I know. It's not easy to say what's wrong and what's right here. It gets in your head, doesn's wrong and what's right here. It gets in your head, doesn't it? It makes it all funny. It makes you face your worst fears. But you did what you did in the moment. You did what you thought was best, right?

Brother and sister sticking up for each other. I can see that. That's fine. Just, I guess... I guess the other lot, I'm guessing they probably didn't get it, right? No. Especially Jesper. I mean, I won't lie. I kind of get that. You, and I just said to Zeros, you're a bit of a grumpy gut. You know, you probably could try a bit better in the old, you know, smiling department. I get that. It's intimidating, right?

But you've got to do what you've got to do. And who knows, maybe that's the thing that you need to do to take down the big S. Yeah. You've also got to fuel up. Look. you also gotta fuel up I don't know what's been going on with you and the other lot but you made your decision stick by it that was not subtle at all, Mark. It's just Strahd in the background having a drink, isn't it?

I literally waited until it went silent and just went... Don't worry about that, that's just the ghosts. That's just the ghosts. Big snake ghost in the background. Yes. Thank you, dog's body. I needed someone to talk to, I think, and it's been difficult trying to weigh it up

and understand what's happening. I don't really know. I don't really know what's going on. I'll be honest. Nah, nobody does. That's the point of this place. It just messes with you. And you've just got to roll with it. You've just got to take each day as it comes and keep walking forward,

yeah? And you, grumpy bollocks. Yeah. Tom's been trying so hard to keep the laugh in. He's been trying so hard. I don't. He's been trying so hard. I don't know why it got me so much. Holy shit. It was just the one quiet moment

in the entire conversation. What? So, sold yourself to the devil, have you? Mm-hmm. Well, I'm guessing it's probably worth it, right? I got what I wanted. You're not going to kill me, are you?

I'd quite like that in life. If I have to. Hmm, fair. Man of principles. Put that out there. Are I have to. Hmm. Fair. Man of principles. Put that out there. Are you going to stand in my way? Probably not. I quite like being alive.

Then you'll live. Look. Alright. I get it right. You did what you had to do to keep each other safe. And I guess the other two don't like that. But you're going to have to make some compromises, right?

Otherwise, you're all going to kill each other, and it's all going to be for vain. So just try, okay? I'm not saying, like, be their best friend and find out when their birthdays are and what their favorite food is i don't know what's going on with trot and tom like the moment's passed i don't even of it Tom's setting up Trot and Trot's setting up

Tom this is the classic the two of you need to just walk away for a second Rhiannon's about to go I'm trying so hard I'm trying if Rhiannon goes it's all over

I think Trot has genuinely walked away. I think he genuinely got up and walked away from the PC. He's got to go hug his dog. He's just hugging his dog. It's not funny. No, it's not. It's not. It's a stop-lifing.

I spat all over my notebook. That doesn't help. Sorry. Carry on, please. I'm going to mute meet myself it's fine Tom's also struggling well I mean it sounds like dog's body's pretty much conversation as she can with zero as he can with zero just try just try a little. Just, just, just, just, like, just try. All right? How about you?

No more marking anyone. No more marking anyone. That's not fun. How long have you been in Barovia for? I don't know. What year is it? I don't know. How long have we been in Barovia for?

I don't know. The days have we been in Barovia for? I don't know. The days just seem the same. Yeah. So, uh... At least I haven't been driven mad like some people around here. Clearly. I can hear him giggling all the way over here.

In the other tower. I don't know what those two are up to. Yeah. They're having a great time. It seemed fine. I don't understand how he can be completely fine and then it just bursts out of him. It's fucking Tom.

I can't look at him. I can't look at him. Katie's gone now as well. Katie's lost it. It was the noise that Trumpot made when he went. He was like, move! Oh god. Welcome. If you're just, if you're tuning

into High Rollers for the first time, this is actually kind of what it's like most weeks, I'll be honest with you. Like, it's kind of chaos and we're not very serious. We're not very... So, whilst Dog's Body is chatting away

in the other tower, why are Jesper and Rose like, you guys have had an hour to do nothing. Or rest and recuperate. But like, is there any conversation at all, or is it just like trying to focus

on other things? I'm interested. An hour of pure laughter. Just laughing. Yeah, definitely. I imagine it's a lot of awkward small talk. Like, there's nothing over here. Looking around the room. And then maybe some like under the breath.

They should have listened to me. Trying to get like my point across even more because I've still got like pent up emotion over that whole encounter so I'm just kind of eking it out like a tiny balloon yeah I think Rose is probably a little bit

still probably a little bit preoccupied by the fact that she's still not really come to terms with Shadow not being with them anymore and now there's someone else around but she is, there's a lot of rage there from

seeing Zeros, Mark Tatiana and just fury because I think to her it feels like she did say to Xeros what you need to tell us exactly what you've agreed and he never did and she kept pushing for it and he still never did Rose will bring that fact up that he's known that since way back, since the very first time Zeku got resurrected he's known that.

We've looked around here, there's nothing. The sword must be in the top of this tower somewhere. It's gotta be at the top of one of these towers. And we can't leave here without it. Shadow died trying to get this weapon. We need it. Look at the power that light had on him. Look at the spell that Shadow cast. It did so much damage to him that he killed her for it. If this sword

is a fraction as powerful as that we need it. And maybe if we get something like this we won't need Zeros. At the moment we we need his strength but I still don't I I don't trust him I never will Jesper. We need to get the weapon and one of us will keep it and we'll go from there. The problem is we don't just lose Zeros, we lose Ziki too. And we can't lose two.

Ziki has power too. They're tied together by destiny and the Taroka readings read all of us Shadow included I don't think Her damage That she dealt to Strahd was in vain I think it truly affected him And it gave us the motivation That we can do it So we need everyone there Really

Everyone there that was truly there before he changed. I really hope there's something left of his original persona. And not some puppet. I feel like we need to make peace with them. I don't... I feel like we need to make peace with them. I blame Xeros for taking that offer, but I see why he did it. I've been there, I've seen someone that I cared about die, and I know that Shadow helped me a lot. She believed that that's the way it's meant to be.

She asked me before Strad took her body not to bring her back. She wouldn't have wanted that. She doesn't believe in that. And so I see why he did it. But I've learned over time that it's something that we shouldn't control. And if I died, I would feel the same as Shadow. We're not supposed to come back.

Especially not in this land. And I worry that... Shadow did die. And what did you do? You did the noble thing. You fought on. There's nothing else to do. You didn't fall to your knees and pray to a higher being to do anything to bring Shadow back, did you?

As tired as you are. No, but I also... But I also understand the fact that I've... I've learned a lot since I met Shadow, and back before I met her, I may well have done the same thing that Xeros did. There was no consoling me at the time. If I'd had a chance to bring back my brother, I might have taken it. But, as I say, I've moved on from that.

I understand it, but in this land, things are too dangerous, and the deals that he made have put everyone in danger. I just want to understand what exactly his allegiance is to whoever he's serving now as Morius. I don't know too much about him, but we need to know fully what that involves. If it involves something else like marking another person then he can't be trusted. But I know that Ziki is a kind soul and I believe that Xeros has that

kindness still in him somewhere. We just need to make peace. If we continue to fight with them, it's going to lead to more of the same. You do hear some footsteps approaching down the corridor, and you

hear the soft voice of Tatiana. I will let you rest if you still need it but Ismark and I have talked things through and made our decision just wait please

she kind of speaks through the doors like we've decided to stay for now I think that it is too dangerous for us to be on our own but we would appreciate

your protection from both of you this Zeros what he's done I don't understand it. And I fear that there is more to it. Well, there is very much,

very clearly more to it than he has told us. I think that we won't find the answers to that if we leave now. He's the only one who has those answers we will try our best to protect you of course

I know you will you have done so much for us both already still I think that when we left the other room there are stairs that lead further up and I remember back in the chapel room there are stairs that lead further up and I remember back in the chapel there were some stairs that led up there as well

I think that whatever wherever this weapon is it must be above I don't think it's on these floors none of these rooms seem to can have anything really in them it's likely that it

it's sitting with the person that Shadow saw in the top of the tower possibly the human form of the dragon I think that it's probably most likely to be there it's a good place to start

for certain we'll wait for you there it's a good place to start for certain um we'll wait for you uh down in the main just outside the main chamber um give you some time to perhaps speak with

Zeros and the others she nods her head and turns away and her and Ismark Ismark just isn't really looking at anybody. He just is kind of kicking around. He's got his weapon in his hand and just doesn't seem to be engaging with anyone or anything. Dragonborn, Zeros, Ziki, and then Dog's Body

kind of outside Dragonborn's plus one. What are you guys doing? You hear Tatiana having a kind of whispered conversation, but you don't really make out the details of it. Zeros and Ziki, did you guys mark down those potions that you found last time as well? Oh, invulnerability. Oh, you've got all of them?

Yeah. Yeah. So you've got all four, Ziki, yeah? Okay. I do, yeah. In that case, yeah, what do you guys want to do? I mean, I guess we all knew it was like a short rest, right? I guess if Tatiana's talking, then I guess we can head over and see what's going on that side. Cross the boundary to the other side.

The three of you cross the boundary and you have this wonderfully awkward moment of Rose and Jesper in behind the door, the other side the three of you cross the boundary and you have this wonderfully awkward moment of uh uh rose and yesper in behind the door tatiana and his mark sort of in the middle of the corridor and then the other three on the other side uh sure uh yesper will walk up to xeros and just power out his chest, kind of like straighten up and just stare him into his deep ruby red eyes and say

You're a fool A reckless fool And what you have done has potentially jeopardized everything that Madam Ava sent me on a task to do, which is guide willing people

bound by fate to rid this land of evil. And your recklessness may have caused another evil but in your position I understand

okay I get it it is done now whatever it is and I hope what you're saying to all of us is the truth, and there are no more secrets. I am here to protect those I care about too. And there's a lot more people than just us here. There's a whole land of people

that have a cloud over them. I hope you have a wider perspective on that now. I'm glad we can come to an understanding, Jesper. I will use this strength to fight Strahd, to take him down, to save this place. But you will be the fool if you decide to stand against me.

Well, you've made the foolish decision. Why can't I? What's the plan? How are we getting this sword? We go up. Well, isn't this nice? We've all worked it out. We're all friends now. Friends. Yeah.

Friends. I'm going to go this way. Some stairs back here. Oh, let's go. Come on, ladies. Let's go. Let's leave the charge. Before we go, I've found these in our room, and I've got the potions of invulnerability.

I want you, Jesper, Rose, Irina, Ismark, please, Irina, Ismark, please, please take these. I'm sorry. This, accept it as an apology.

If nothing else, I'm sorry that this happened. I'm sorry that things are like this. I don't know what else to say. I was weak. You don't know what else to say. I was weak. You don't have to apologize. You don't have to apologize.

A lot has happened. But thank you. And this goes for both of you. A lot has happened. And we've i feel like we've only just had time to sort of come to terms with that xeros i understand why you did what you did i in what feels like a previous life at this point would have done the same thing but in Barovia things have different consequences dangerous consequences and I think we all know that now if we can work together then we can defeat a horrible evil here but we need to trust each

other we need to trust you so please if there is anything else you need to tell us tell us now and then we can go forward and be stronger just the other two parts of the deal find Strahd soul return it to him kill him return it to him kill him I think we're all in agreement Rose I'm sorry about Shadow thank you

I can you all do me a favor if we find her again if we come across her if she's been turned by strad which is likely please help me put her to rest she wouldn't want to be

in this place in any other form she wants to be laid to rest thank you Irina puts a hand on Rose's shoulder of course my dear and thank you Ziki and she takes the potion of invulnerability

that you've offered thank you I don't know what this does but I assume that it is useful and I appreciate the gesture she looks at Zeros

no I am the one to thank you especially you Ziki I know that much of this was not your choice decisions were made for you perhaps I know that much of this was not your choice. Decisions were made for you, perhaps. But you, Zeros, one day, very soon,

you and I are going to discuss what this mark means. And you will tell me so that we can defeat Strahd together, like you say. That's all I have to say. Ismark looks around. He looks at the potion in Ziki's hand. He looks up and his eyes kind of flick to Zeros, flick back to you. Keep the potion for yourself, Ziki.

I don't need it. He just turns and makes his way. Okay. So, Dog's Body, I think you were basically leading everybody off before we had that little moment. So where are you taking, folks? You can head down the corridor, and it does lead onto this um upper balcony looking down onto the main chamber the main uh entryway into the mansion uh there is a you did do you remember seeing a spiral staircase

that led up as well hey if you're all done being pals found some stairs they go up and down but right now actually these ones only go up actually the ones on this balcony only go up yeah but if we go up and then they go down absolutely such a dumb joke If you go up, then they go down. Absolutely. That's such a dumb joke. Okay. Well, Dogspotty, you've been here the longest.

So, happy to follow you. I've actually not been upstairs. I've stuck to the lower bits wine cellar it's a nice place to hang out then uh I'll let Zeros

lead the way we can't can't win without his strength can we fine sass I love it okay well you guys so can we? Fine. Sass. I love it.

Okay. Well, you guys, so are you going to just head to the closest staircase leading up then? The one at the end of the corridor? This one. This one over here?

Zeros, is that the plan? You tell me. Yeah. Whichever one Dog's body's at. And yeah, I'm going to go first anyway just without the sass.

Now kiss. It's going to be a hot-ass sex scene at the end of this. I'm telling you right now. Oh, God! Oh, no! I've always hated you. No! Come on, Roll20. You can do it.

I'm not going to dive into that RP drop for some reason. Oh, he's struggling. 24 hours later. 24 hours. One hour later. I need a long rest. Okay, alright. Enough of this. Enough of this. Okay, alright, enough of this. Enough of this.

Okay. No, that's not my trigger. This is not my trigger. Come on! Come on! No more laughing. This is a humorless stream. I'm good. Yeah, absolutely. No, I just, I managed to make it through

the can opening, but is the rule is the slash fan fiction slash fiction is appropriate okay cool roll 20 has completely crashed for me so here we go

it's just come back the first ones to kind of make their way up the stars the come back zero some dogs buddy the first ones to kind of make their way up the stars um the the top of the stairs is covered by a uh kind of thick black curtain that seems to conceal an archway actually no sorry you come up the stairs and there is a you can see that this is a stone door it's like the backside of a secret door that you can

open outwards from this staircase it's very tight it's only about 10 foot wide this whole thing so the three of you are all kind of curled around the stairs with Xeros dog's body and then Jesper behind him and then the rest all spiraled down below yeah the stone will need to

be opened it is not opened uh so you will need to press the large stone door open uh okay check oh yeah i mean if you're gonna do that sure so would you kind of rose squeezes up amongst everybody just last time we had to go through an area we kind of got trapped in there should we be a bit more careful in terms of a role it would be investigation check if you are looking for some sort of device or trap um i believe rose I believe Rose was the one making the check, so... I only got an 11. I mean, you glance around the backside of this secret door, and apart from seeing the mechanism that opens it, you don't see any tripwires,

you don't see anything like uneven floor plates or stones that look strange. No indication that there are traps or anything here. I've got... No, I don't. A proceed. All right. In that case, I'll push open the door. The door opens and it leads into a long corridor,

a stone corridor that leads further down back in towards the rest of the mansion. You can see that there is a closed, large, kind of reinforced wooden door on the left-hand side as you're moving down. But further down into the corridor, it looks like part of the roof has also collapsed, causing debris, rocks, wooden beams to kind of scatter around. And this chill breeze is blowing in from the night air uh and you can see that the the rubble strewn uh flooring is is kind of

spread everywhere there is a door to your uh left and then further on you can see it opens up into this uh where the ceiling is broken through several walls have collapsed um there might be uh what appears to be another couple of doors at the very far end of the corridor, another reinforced door to the west, to the left, sorry, a smaller one to the right, and then one at the very end of the corridor, opposite the way that you've just come in.

Okay, I mean, a reinforced door always sounds good. Got to be protecting something sure uh do you just open it you just move up and open it i'll have a little looky i'll have a peek okay uh so xeros moves up to this reinforced door that is just to your left and gives it a peak i believe is the term through the dust and cobwebs you can see faded war banners adorning the walls of a spacious chamber in the center of which stands a heavy wooden table an iron chandelier hangs above it which is surrounded by six high-backed chairs with wood-carved dragons perching atop them. Slumped in five of the chairs are skeletal humans in tattered chain mail.

Huh. I mean, that just screams at night, right? Well, the corpses, their necks begin to creak and you can see dust and bone fall away. They tilt their heads in your direction in a rasping voice. Why do you disturb the dead? Hmm. Hmm. Well.

Ah. Their eyes just empty desiccated sockets. We come in peace to find I am very funny, yes? There is no peace in Peru. Not while he remains.

It's funny you should say that. You are fools to come here. We're looking for a sword so we can fight him and bring peace. The only swords here are these and the skeleton pulls free a rusted blade that screeches and scrapes as he draws it free he slams it into the table

point first leave living you are not welcome here and it is best that Vladimir living. You are not welcome here. And it is best that Vladimir does not find you.

You don't have to tell me twice. Shut the door, dragon. Mm-hmm. Shut the door. And you shut the door let's keep going down let's pretend we never saw that okay well if you carry on moving down um you eventually

come to yeah this collapsed ceiling the roof over this part of the mansion has collapsed it's creating a 20 foot diameter gaping hole with broken rafters bisecting it dark storm clouds mixed with the night sky overhead and the floor is piled with rocks and broken tiles shattered beams and other debris beneath the rubble lie a sagging floor and puddles of rainwater as you guys begin to uh you feel the crunch of stones beneath you as the group all uh begin to make your way forward i guess um yeah well you can see here that the everything kind of opens up sorry

the name of the dragon man I don't know that's Argenvost that was the one in the mausoleum it had it was the mausoleum of Argenvost who was the ruler of the order and the

dragon that lived here you've never heard of Vladimir before it's a new name um the corridor you can see where the roof has collapsed it does head south there appears it also seems to lead into a partially empty room um the mansion continues south um continues further on as well. You do hear, as you begin scuffling over the debris, you do hear movement, like metal clanging, metal

scraping against stone coming from the southwest. Southwest? Okay. There's still two doors west southwest okay there's still two doors like right at the end of the corridor right there are yeah three in fact there's uh one another one to your left which is a little bit further down uh you can see on the map there this is for podcast listeners one directly in front of

you and then another one which is on the right hand side. You seem to be heading back towards the chapel that you originally kind of entered in. You're kind of heading back in that direction. Yeah, I'll kind of cycle around to the other side of like the broken wall and then start heading south to kind of see if I can get a peek at this metal creaking noise. Whatever it is. Sure. what does everyone else do? I'm watching contently and also thinking to myself that the undead referred to

Zeke and Zeros as living so that's pretty cool yeah they did they did refer to them as the living yeah okay well Zeros as the rest of the group are kind of falling behind you you step around the corner and yeah there is definitely you uh see perhaps uh a shape a figure moving towards you this grander hall, um, has crumbled away.

The wall itself has broken away, exposing what would have once been an audience hall, an audience chamber. Weapons and shields that were once hung from the walls have fallen to the floor and succumbed to rust. A large wooden throne carved to resemble a dragon with unfolding wings faces three tall windows to the west. You can see that a figure had been sat in the throne, a gaunt armored figure with one gauntlet wrapped around the hilt of a greatsword.

But you can see that the figure has twisted its body and is now peering around the side of the throne in the direction that you have entered from as your clawed feet have scraped across stone and debris from the broken ceiling this figure has heard you you see its grip tighten on the great sword if you have come to destroy me

know this. I perished defending this land from evil over four centuries ago. Because of my failure, I am doomed forever. If you destroy this body, my spirit will find a new corpse to inhabit, and I will hunt you down. You cannot free me, nor would I wish it. You have

come to free this land from the creature that feasts on blood and innocent lives. Know this. There is no monster I hate more than Strahd von Zarovich. He slew Argonvost, broke the life of the knight I loved, and destroyed the valiant order to which I devoted my life. did my life strata's died once

he can't be allowed to die again i want him to suffer sorry wrong number yeah he got all that just from looking at me damn um he just looks like it's almost like a rehearsed

speech i would say. You get the impression. Voicemail. What's his greatsword? Is it particularly like, you know, ooh, that's radiant. Unlike the rest of the weapons, it shows no sign of age. The hilt is carved like that of a dragon's wings folding out and a dragon's neck and head are kind of etched along the the uh core of the blade the pommel is like that of a dragon's

claw grasping an opal uh and he kind of pulls his body free dust and stone falling down from the withered, armoured form. And he kind of rises to his full height. He stands as tall as Zeros, probably would have once been a very, very powerful and intimidating figure in life. And he just looks towards you. We're not here to put you down, corpse. We're just here to find the sword. He looks down at his greatsword and just kind of tightens the grip.

You will have to pry it from my very old, very dead head. That sword could be used to kill Strahd. We will put it to better use. I told you. Strahd has died once. I will not see him freed of his torment. His agony here, his suffering, his torture.

It is what he deserves so if you wish it come and take it when I take back what I say I'll fight him then I'll kick his arse sure he makes no move to engage you I'll fight him then I'll kick his ass sure he makes no move to engage you

in that case I'll just do the same thing so everyone else here is Xeros doing this so what about everyone else I'm slowly drawing my swords because I feel like Xeros' diplomatic

skills are going very well i mean i mean yeah a fight has not kicked off yet but you can see this this this being is definitely willing to well it's willing to defend himself you know as soon as he said that he wants strad to stay like this and enjoys this suffering then I know it's kind of a futile speech to try and convince him otherwise sorry I'm just setting up the encounter because

sounds like there might be a fight involved so yeah I mean if he's drawing his sword and like getting into some sort of stance and looking at me then I'm basically just mirroring him at this point. I'm not stepping forward either. He just kind of lowers it into a very practiced military guard. He's kind of keeping the blade close to his body

but pointed directly towards you. Can I... What's the plan? Before it all kicks off, can I make a check? So Jesper has moved round into the same room as Zeros I believe. Yes. Yeah, yeah. Okay. Weapons drawn. Go on, dog's boy. Can I make a cheeky

intelligence ability check to recall information about undead? Is that something you can do? Sure. I have Hunter's Bane which means I can have advantage and wisdom survival checks to track them fey fiends and undead, as well as intelligence ability checks to

recall information about them. Sure. So, Dog's Body, you need to move into the room to see what's going on. So, we'll move you in because you've only really heard this conversation yet. You're not going to be able to know much without seeing the figure. Sure. I was following the bro's foot around anyway.

Yeah, make an intelligence check for me then intelligence okay i my roll 20 is broken so dice through it is yeah just just just rolled the physical dice uh that's a 14 14 i think that you would be able to identify this creature based on the things that Vladimir here has said is likely that they are a revenant which is a relentless spirit of vengeance that if it is destroyed will simply find a new body and it normally comes after the person that it is driven to

destroy. The fact that he seems to be so pent on his vengeance against Strahd probably means that this figure will never be at peace um until something else happens you know destroying him won't save you destroying strad won't probably help it either there needs to be something else that would probably um relay this creature's spirit to ease uh they are tend to be quite powerful they tend to be physically very, very strong, empowered by undeath and necromantic energy.

They retain all of their abilities and skills of life, even in different bodies and forms. They are quite competent foes, for sure. Okay. Okay. Be careful, fellas. It's the Revenant. I hope you know what you're doing.

This guy's a very powerful dude. What do we do? He's not backing down. Can I peek around the corner and use Hunter's Sense to try and get his damage, immunities, resistances, and vulnerabilities. Sure. Is there any, like, do you have to spend an action or a minute

or anything like that? Okay, yeah, sure. It's an action. And you get to learn all of that or just some of it? This isn't ability only very well. Choose one creature you can see. You immediately learn whether the creature has any damage, immunities, resistances or vulnerabilities

and what they are if the creature is not hidden from divination magic. Okay. No, it's not. So you know that this creature, like most undead, is immune to poison. It is resistant to necrotic and psychic damage. Okay. I will relay that to the team.

Who the team? This is... Just right in front of us. This is going to be a hard fight, everybody. Like, revenants, you don't fuck around with revenants. They're going to come back. They're worse than my dinner. They come back.

Listen to your filthy friend. What if we're trying to make Strat a mortal? What if we're trying to make him back into a mortal? There is no such power that can do this. Is Tatiana speaking lies they are yeah yeah but they're kind of keeping their distance um

is mark is basically sticking as close to tatiana as he can he's no longer kind of gung-ho i'm gonna fight by xeros's side and he's more like i am not leaving tatiana's side again. Okay. Can I stand next to Zeros? And can I say, um... Sure. Stand down. Stand down. There's seven of us and one of you. You might be strong,

but our combined strength is stronger than you. I sense no bonds of loyalty. Perhaps between some but not between all. I will take my chances with those odds. Um... This sword was given to me.

I will not relinquish it. I'm guessing your name's Vladimir, right? I am Vladimir Horngard, Knight of the Silver Dragon, and I swore vengeance. It will not be denied me. Okay. What if we use the sword to avenge your master? Okay. I wish to watch Strahd suffer for another thousand lifetimes. One death would not avenge all that he has done,

all that he has broken, all that he has taken. Do you not see that in your reckless vengeance what you're doing to your people? I do not care. I do not care. I do not care. I want him to suffer as I have suffered, as my knight suffered, as my master suffered. What do I care for the cowards of Barovia that did nothing to stand against him?

Those who flocked to his banner and joined his armies, who swore their souls to him in allegiance. What do I care for such pathetic creatures? Sounds like Zeros. He is not going to listen to reason. He is not going to listen to reason. But a thousand lifetimes of suffering in Barovia is not what he deserves. He could get infinite suffering in Avernus, something that Asmodeus will guarantee him. I do not know this Asmodeus

what are you speaking of strange creature a bond I have made a partner that will allow us to defeat Strahd appropriately no no no such power exists I do not trust your words. I'll set my sword alight. A pretty trick.

Nothing more. Some foul sorcery. When I was alive, I could conjure the flames of the Morning Lord just as easy. Enough now. Lord just as easy. Can you not summon this puppet master of yours? In his best interest, is it not, to claim this sword?

Show him it and reveal him I mean what you speak is true and you all need to bring me physical proof something that I can see and believe truly not some honeyed words or magic

trick what about the mark on her chest? Yeah. Point at Tatiana. Some scarring, what do I care for this? Look at his eyes. He has been marked by Smodius. Do you not see that? Your words.

These are all but petty tricks, my petty fool. I have seen Strahd turn his eyes to purest night. I have seen the greatest holy warriors inflame themselves with silver fire. Magic can do many things. Creature. magic can do many things creature but I will not believe that any greater punishment

awaits Strahd than his torment here than his prison he should or he will rot here there is no escape for him this game has been played too many times he will rot here forever.

And I am happy to see that as justice. Kind of puts his sword down, no longer pointing at you, but still saying keeping it in his grip. You are clearly frightened to find me. I will not relinquish this sword, and even if you destroy my body,

I will find another and come for it again and again and again until you are dead. Leave. If you are not from this world, then i tell you find a way to escape it leave barovia to its suffering i'm gonna walk away sorry not talk away yes can you describe the sword for me again mark yeah it's a great sword so long kind of edged blade it has

two wings of a dragon like dragon's wings for the hilt a neck with a dragon's head forming up the core of the blade and then the pommel is that of a silver claw holding an opal Tatyana do you know of this Vladimir yes I have

vague memories he is as he said he was once the champion of the silver dragon Argenvost he led the knights here. No doubt those that reside in the other rooms are what remain of his order. He was a brave and holy warrior once, of the Morning Lord. He fought against Strahd, resisted him, his conquering of Barovia.

his conquering of Barovia. But now I can see that like so many things, Barovia has turned him into a twisted creature of hate and darkness. There is nothing in him that you would help remind him of.

I am... I have no magic of that nature, I'm afraid. Yes, but I know to perform, to sing, to conjure a few spells of charm and things like that, but this is a dead heart. This is not a living creature anymore. This is but a husk, a dead husk of a man who was once great.

I think that perhaps you all have greater hope of that than I. I, uh... I think we should look around a bit more. Revenants, they're bad news. I don't know.

It looks like a dragon sword to me. He's part of the, what, Silver Dragon Order? You want the Sword of Sunlight, right? Are they not one and the same? I don't know. I would have just thought that would be the thing that Argonvost...

Doesn't look like it. I just think would be the thing that Argenvost... Doesn't look like it. I just think that's a sword that Argenvost, the master of this place, would have, right? If I was a master, you know, if I was a dragon... This sword was given to me by my master, Argenvost. He enchanted it with his magic. Is it a sword of sunlight? I do not know of what you speak his blade has no sunlight

to it it is magical can it do the radiant thing it has no radiance to it I was once able to conjure my own holy light through it but it has no magic of its own in that nature

its edge is sharp will cut through flesh and bone my own holy light through it. But it has no magic of its own in that nature. Its edge is sharp. It will cut through flesh and bone as easy through... hot wax. I don't want to get hit by that. What about when Strahd escapes the cycle and leaves Barovia there is no such power

he cannot the dark powers keep him trapped here he's found a way lies is not as knit as not possible you want to take that risk? There is no risk. The dark powers have kept Strahd here trapped for thousands, hundreds of years.

There is no such power. They are the only power here in Barovia, and they will not let him leave. Again, more lies, more trickery. Are you so desperate for this weapon? Come closer. See if I'm lying. I am no fool.

I know a tactical advantage when I have one. He just keeps himself guarded is there still another floor above this one yeah you haven't seen any stairs leading up yet

but from the outside there would have been there were towers there are like physical towers that rise up higher you're not sure if there's a whole floor there's probably a roof with towers to explore. Okay. I don't want to get

entangled with a revenant unless we have to. Another Vistani servant of Strahd. But a clever one. I don't serve him I find that hard to believe when so many of your people do many times they have come here to plunder treasures for the master

seeking his approval well they aren't me so it's been a pleasure seeking his approval. Well, they aren't me. So. It's been a pleasure, but we're going to ransack the rest of your place. Thank you. And I'm going to walk away. It is

nothing but a ruin now, anyway. He just turns and begins making his way back to his throne. Okay. I'm going to continue looking. Sure. Sure, sure. Let's have a look around before we fight the scary dude.

Okay. Sure. It's so awkward when you come back down the corridor. Nice sword, though. Sorry, yeah, we are coming, yeah. Yeah, I mean, maybe. This has got to happen, dude, sorry. Yeah, well, maybe.

Where do you want to go? We done goofed. I'll head south. Yeah, there's a corridor that leads south. There's one that leads back the way that you were originally going. Jesper, as you go south again, turns into a t junction um you see the same thing you see the black curtain over the staircase that you would have come up from if you'd gone from the southern side and then there is another door at the far end of the corridor that seems to lead into another

building there is also a lot of more broken buildings this is the side of the mansion that you'd already been collapsed you saw that the ballroom below had completely collapsed and the the ceiling had fallen in um you imagine that the rooms here will be the same where they've kind of collapsed and broken away well is anyone following yeah okay. Oh, okay. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I can't move my person, but I'm following you. All right. Sure.

Okay. Everyone's following. We go left from here, this way. Everything else is either the ruin or back on itself. Okay. So you begin heading right. Yeah, you can see another door at the end of the corridor go on rose from just generally trying to keep my bearings from where we went would i have

sort of a uh sense of where those towers would have been from viewing the building outside and from where we previously were in the building yeah so they would have been so the uh they'd be north of you now you've kind of actually come a bit south um so where you were before you entered the room with vladimir if you'd continued going along uh east and then gone through the doors to the north that would have been going in the direction of that tower. Is there another tower to the south? Or is it just that one tower? Nope. There's two, but they're both on the northern side. Okay.

There would have been a tower, that room where all of the knights turned around, the knights that were sat around the table. There was another tower attached to that room as well. You would have known. I will relay this information information I think we need to go back on ourselves if we're trying to get to a tower

we're going the wrong way to it and I know that one of those towers the one that was closer to the mausoleum was the one that Shadow saw a figure in. That could have been that dragon in human form. It looked like him in the portrait.

The curtain then. So it would have been basically... Sorry, I moved you there. So you would come back up through the way that you just came and then this corridor up here, you would continue going to the right, and then through that set of doors that you've not explored yet. Very well.

The way that you've gone. Okay. I glare at the corpse dude as we go past him, the revenant. He's not even looking in your direction anymore. He's sat in his throne looking out the windows, so he's not even looking in your direction anymore he's he's sat in his throne looking out the windows uh so he's kind of got his back to you but he can hear you every time you move through that corridor your feet are kind of scraping against the debris and the broken beams and the mud and puddles that have been created by this collapsed roof but you emerge out and

yeah there's another reinforced wooden door that seems to lead into a room cool i'll try it you think it's through here sure um yeah the door is not locked um it opens up uh it is a it is an iron door in fact it's been forced open as you approach it you can see that it's been bent and and twisted um it's closed time, but it isn't very hard to just sort of push the door open. It looks like it would have once been quite an impressive, reinforced, sturdy door. When it opens, you can see that this room is a haven for dust and cobwebs. Three narrow windows allow slivers of light to illuminate bare oak shelves along the walls,

and a torn padded chair lying on its side near a cavernous hearth. A picture above the mantle has been slashed, its lower half hanging down below the frame like a torn piece of flesh. An iron door set in the south corner of the west wall

opens on one hinge uh that's what you guys see in here okay um yeah you can see that there yeah apart from this overturned chair, these empty, empty bookshelves, it looks like, uh, there is also a door, uh, to the northeast, uh, that seems to lead into the area where that tower was or that, uh, shadow saw. this empty fireplace, there is the overturned chair, and then there's some sort of broken into chamber as well, with the door swinging ajar. Well... What does...

He wasn't lying. It's been plundered over the years. Let's hope this sword is not already in different hands. What does the portrait look like like if you I guess uh yeah so dog's body goes up and sort of like presses it flat to see what it was

um the picture shows Argenvostolt in better days under clear winter skies with snow capped mountains in the background, the top of the chapel tower glows like a silver beacon. It's very exquisite, beautifully painted.

The work of somebody who loved this place deeply. Top of the chapel tower glowing silver beacon interesting you can see that it's been slashed by a sword the painting has been cut purposely by a sword and then it's

dripped and drooped based on where we are right now, do we have any sense of where the top of the chapel is from our location? Yeah, it'd be to the south-west from where you guys currently are now. Right. So wait, this tower...

Let's see if we'll be looking at the painting. This tower isn't... The chapel is sort of in this direction i'll ping it on the map so southwest of where you currently are southeast sorry southeast right let me get my east and west mixed up yeah um you see uh there's probably the other thing of note is that there is a book. One book is left. The solitary remaining volume from the now empty bookshelves. It's on the floor behind the overturned chair that Ziki's nearby. That's the only thing that really seems to be left. There's a book down here. After the Tome of Strahd

I don't want to deal with any more books um just I'll let you know we'll take a look at it I feel a slight you reach over you pick it up Rose

and you can see that the book has been partially burnt and its cover's been slashed by a sword as well. But it was titled The Oath Celestial. If you begin flicking through the crumbling pages, it reveals it's a devotional text for knights from a place called the Holy Empire of Valencia. It seems to be kind of a a passage a book of passage rights to be inducted into a holy order of knights um as you begin flicking through it you hear the soft flapping of wings you can't quite determine where from and a single

piece of parchment blows off the top of the bookshelf it spins lazily in the air and it lands at Ziki's feet oh I'll pick it up I suppose it's interesting I love the look

yeah Ziki hesitantly like like it's a there you go so yeah you you begin reading it through what's everyone else doing while ziki's reading that watching intently sure yeah pretty much uh i think i'm also just trying to because i don't i'm just following like rose uh i'm just trying to figure out where the top of the chapel is from where we currently are if we have to go back again, backpacking some more or up the tower or whatever

Southeast basically, although you're not sure if you'll be able to access the chapel because you are now sort of two stories above the chapel level you're not sure if it goes up that high but there was two doors there were two doors leading southeast from before you entered this room yeah okay anything else anything from anyone else what's uh dog's body looking at

um probably ziki sure paper. Paper's good. Rhiannon's reading desperately the thing that I just had with her. You can just read it out loud if you want, Ziki. If you could just be like, I'm just going to read it out loud. Sure. Yeah, I'll read it out loud.

Okay. This is odd. It says, My knights have fallen and this land is lost. It says, My knights have fallen, and this land is lost. The armies of my enemy will not be stopped by sword or spell, claw or fang. Today I will die, not avenging those who have fallen, but defending that which I love, this valley, this home, and the ideals of the Order of the Silver Dragon.

The evil surround me. The time has come to throw off this guise and those who these heathens my true fearsome form. Let it spark terror in their hearts. Let them tell their stories of a dark triumph against the protector of the Balinok Mountains. Let Argonvost be remembered as a dragon

of honour and valour. My one regret is that my remains will not lie in their rightful place, in the hallowed mausoleum of Argonvostolt no doubt my bones will be scattered among my enemies like the coins of a plundered hoard trophies of a hard-won victory i do not fear death then my body will die my spirit will live on let it serve as a beacon of light against the darkness let it bring hope to a land wrought with despair now Now to battle. And as you speak the last words, Ziki, the painting, there's

like a gust of wind that rushes through the room. The painting flies up and kind of lays itself flat, almost looking formed again, but this jagged cut just means that it falls back down once the wind dies down. And you think that there's a brief

moment where once it was all full the painting almost seemed to shimmer with magic and then it faded once it was uh parted books books in this place i swear no what does it mean what does it mean? What does it mean? Spirit of Argonvostol. Might be the dragon-y size we've been hearing since I've been here. Or that could just be the voice inside my head. I don't know. I've got loads. I think we've all heard the dragon-type noises, so...

Oh, good. That's a relief. Not you. That's good to know. Good to know. Ch chalk that one up so it it perps it almost like looked like it purposely went towards the painting right the as soon as ziki spoke those words this wind rushed through the room from the open doorway that you guys opened and the painting like the loose flap of parchment was suddenly laid flat like it was whole again

and when it was laid flat like it was whole it seemed to shimmer briefly with magic and then as soon as the wind died down and it fell away that magic faded I'm going to mage hand that piece back into its place

again so as you kind of hold it up the mage hand is not enough to quite fully hold it in place but Tatiana Irina comes up behind you and she begins this very soft lament like singing this very gentle song and another hand joins yours and it holds the rest of the painting in place. And as she sings this very delicate, very soft whispered song, the beacon in the picture flashes with a brilliant silver light and the spectral form of a silver dragon fills the room from the fireplace in a kind of whooshing, rushing sound.

This silvery ghost becomes apparent. My skull lies in the fortress of my enemy. Displaced in a place of ill omen. Return my skull to its rightful crypt and my spirit will shine here forever, bringing hope to this dark land. And then the dragon seems to shrink down and it takes the form of a very delicate

but quite regal lookinglooking nobleman, big, tall, white hair kind of swooping back, matching the description of the man that Shadow saw in the tower. And he just looks really sadly, his eyes lingering for just a moment on Zeke's before the spirit fades away. Oh, look at the ghost. before the spirit fades away the name just echoes through the room his skull

that's not what the sword is. No, it's just another thing that we should... We should do before we leave Barovia. Return his skull to the mausoleum. Maybe it will aid us in our fight against Strahd. Another light in the darkness, like the spirit said. Yes. Who are the enemies?

Where is their fortress? I'm guessing given old Vladimir's hatred for Strahd, maybe that's what this castle fell to, was the forces of Strahd. Maybe that's what this castle fell to, was the forces of Strahd. He mentioned that he lost someone he loved. What was that?

If that was his master, maybe? Anything else from anyone? Anyone doing anything, Xeros? All this kind of unfolds. Are you interested in anything or focus more on the chapel? I think... I mean, I've got

no idea about Argenvost, his enemies, the mountains, like, I'm just like, we could get the skull, maybe. And if that's what gets us a sword, sure. I like skulls. Yeah.

Cool. I think we, I think the sword could still be here We should continue We should look in the turrets If it's not In here Then the skull is the next The next thing we need to look for

But it still could be here. The skull would put him to rest, which is another goal, but not necessarily the one we need right now. We keep searching here. Okay. Rose, do you have any way you want to search in particular? There's two doors that lead to the southeast. There's one that goes south and then one directly east from the corridor you're currently in.

I'm just going to move Jesper back in so you can see properly. So you have a door to the east and a door to the south. Which would you like to check out if you would like to keep moving? which would you like to check out if you would like to keep moving um the east i think because the turrets were in the north so going too far south this door yeah so when you open that one i'll sort out the map in a minute but it leads into a round topped round topped wooden door opens to reveal a spiral staircase that leads up um nice okay it does if you wish to continue going up this will be the way to do it but yeah this staircase if you begin all following it up uh leads up um to just try to scroll through now uh the doorway

opens uh at the top of the stairs it doesn't lead any further up um we'll i'll put you guys in the actual uh turret itself uh momentarily but it does lead you to the doorway that leads out. You see it opens onto the roof of the mansion itself. There is a large hole in the very middle of it. That is the hole that was above where you met Vladimir. But you can see that the tower has tall battlements all surrounding it. There are even few, there's a couple of working ballistae to the north that you can see,

but the thing that would probably draw your attention is to the east of you, there is a small sort of bridge over the chapel roof that leads into another tower that leads up, and you can see that there is an old

watch beacon, a big brazier A big metal brazier housed inside an open-air turret at the very top of this beacon as you stare out onto it. I'm just going to leave Jesper out.

That's pretty much the place, right? Yeah. Yes. I'm assuming everyone else kind of still inside the big dragon the last battle came out of this hole in a very epic I mean it certainly looks like something well I think that this is caved in so I think it looks like something fell in here. Slammed through. Maybe. Right. Interesting. Over here.

The peak over there. Over the chapel. Yeah. You can see that there is a doorway that leads into a turret that leads up. A big, thick, heavy, sturdy wooden door set into the eastern tower. This has to be a trick. Okay. As you all start rushing your way across,

I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask everybody to roll initiative. Oh, my. We're fighting a roof. Yeah, we're fighting the roof. It's our biggest enemy. Biggest enemy. Corridors and roofs.

Roofers everywhere. I might just theater of the mind this one because the Roll20 is really struggling. Zeke, initiative, please. Two. Two. Jesper. Eighteen., please. Two. Two. Jasper. Eighteen.

Eighteen. Rose. Nineteen. Nineteen. Zeros. Six. Six. Dragon twins really reacting quick.

Arena, I have to roll four. Arena is going at 14 and dog's body 10 10 and i forgot to add his mark so i will add him in a minute um okay rose as the group of you begin rushing your way towards this turret leading up um it you become very acutely aware of two spectral figures flanking this main tower leading up to this uh turret beacon there are two smaller towers attached to it and from thin arrow slits uh windows you see two ghostly warriors like the ones that you fought before but these two have bows and they are firing down uh towards this little narrow bridge that you're about to cross to reach the doorway um tom you know that bit in dark souls where those knights hit you while you're trying to run up the thing yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah

yeah sounds annoying uh and yeah they're just aiming down and these you don't see like the two turrets that are attached. There's no way to get to them from where you are without jumping across about 20 foot. And then you'd be on flat turrets. You'd have to climb up flat stone to reach these turrets as they're looking at you. But it is Rose, you are the first to act.

I would say that if everybody's around the door you've got about 5 10 15 20 25 30 feet to the wooden door of the turret that leads up can i run to the turret yeah yeah so rose you just make a run for it across before the archers manage to let loose a volley uh You get to the door and it is jammed or barred or secured in some way. It's going to need to be probably broken down. Okay.

Can I as my action maybe make some kind of a check to barge to try and put as much strength behind it as I can. Yeah, the athletics check. Athletics check if you want to try and break it down in one

go. The other one is you could just try destroying the door. You could literally be like hacking the door apart to get through it. If you want to try and just shoulder barge it. I rolled a 15 plus 4, so 19. 19? Even with a 19, you feel like

you slam into this thing, but this thick reinforced wooden door just kind of bounces you back. You hear wood snap and crack. You've probably done some damage to it, but not enough to fully break through it, unfortunately, as you're going to smash into it.

But any bonus actions? I could really do with your help here. Well, Jesper, you are the next one to go. They're 30 feet from us. The door is 30 feet from you. They are about...

Sorry, I'm just looking because I'm trying to look at the map as well where they are. The turret is about 80 feet above ground level. So you guys... So they're about 20 feet up from you guys. But then they're about 5, 10, 15, 20 feet away from the ledge of the roof as well. Are they within 30 feet? They are within 30 feet, yeah.

As long as it's a ranged attack, you obviously won't be able to move up to them. I'm going to try and cast Tasha's Hideous Laughter on one of them. Okay. Is that a charmed effect? It is a... I don't know. Read the spell out for us.

It's a wisdom saving throw or fall prone. A creature of your choice that you can see within range perceives everything as hilariously funny and falls into a fit of laughter if this spell affects it. The target must succeed on a wisdom saving throw or fall prone, becoming incapacitated

and unable to stand up for the duration. A creature with an intelligence score of 4 or less isn't affected. So that's the only stipulation. Huh. That's interesting. Um, it even says a charmed effect. How hilarious. Um. Ho ho ho.

Yeah. I mean it's an enchantment spell, but that doesn't mean it's a charm effect. So yeah, they have to make a saving throw okay 13 to beat 13 to beat is irrelevant as I roll a 17 I'm afraid so this ghostly apparition just the

the humor of whatever hilarious joke you're about to tell just does not seem to reach it in its undead state I will run towards this door actually i'm going to stand to the side because i'm noticing rose uh trying to slamming into it clearing a path so to speak but trying to duck behind one of the um the uh the wall the fucking yeah the unfortunately because they are

20 feet above, these walls don't offer you much protection, but yeah, you kind of duck down next to one. I'll duck down. Try and stay small. Irina will move into the doorway, kind of not wanting to put herself in danger. She will move herself into the doorway of the turret that you just came from and try and get

herself covered. She's also gesturing like, Ziki, get out of range! herself cover she's also gesturing like ziki get out of range come on um and is gesturing to kind of step inside um and she will probably she can't really do that much she will instead uh kind of begin singing this almost like a war song like this there's this primal sort of um uh choral music that she begins kind of like singing and it's this rising adrenaline filling war song and she's bardic inspiration for xeros um oh forgiveness can you imagine so you have a d6 forgiveness can you imagine it's quiet upstairs uh as the two archers uh sensing uh rose and jasper are going to attempt to break down the door uh in fact actually no i'd say rose is too hard of an angle for them to hit

um so one will fire at jasper and the other one will fire at oh let me roll a d6 uh dog's body or ziki one three ziki four or six dog's body four six dog's body so dog's body and jesper uh they take uh is it two shots each um oh i don't know actually they're slightly different oh yes two shots each um that is a 19 to hit you jesper with the first one yeah and a seven to hit you, Jesper, with the first one. Yeah. And a 7 to hit you on the second one. No. Okay, you take 4 points of force damage as one of these spectral arrows kind of slams into your shoulder.

Dog's body, 6 to hit you. No. 20 to hit you. No. Yes. No. Yes. No. Three points of force damage as a spectral arrow kind of slams, passing

almost phasing through your body, but sapping some of your strength as it does so. Dog's body. No. Can I run up and slam the door, please? So you just want to try and break it down with pure strength

rather than attacking it? Yeah, why not? I have advantage on athletics. Is that all the time? No, I don't think so. I don't think it's all the time. I think you do get it but not right now yeah uh okay i'm gonna bail that is a 17 same with the rose like you kind of slam into it you

feel it buckle uh cracking a few of the boards but still holding firm you slam your body against it. Because I get extra attack, can I body slam it again? You wouldn't have the momentum to body slam it again, but I'd let you make an attack with your axe if you want to try and chop parts of it down. Okay, I'm going to smash... So that is a 17 plus 6.

And that will hit the door. I hit the door and then that is a 5, 6, 7 8, 9 points of great axe the axe comes swinging down and like the shining parts of the door

begin splintering away as the axe breaks through you've done some significant damage but the door is still standing firm you've you've made like a good chunk out of it but still locked in anything else on your turn uh bonus action no that's fine you and rose are currently right in front of the door nobody else can get to the door now. Enjoy that, Zeros. Zeros. Well, I mean, I was

scraping my foot across the floor but now I can't get to it. Well, you could. Also, you just have to push Rose or Dog's body off the roof. Or through the door. I could use them as a battering ram. Yeah.

Sure. I will instead use... What range do I have? I forgot I have this. I've got Scorching Ray, so I want to use that. You've got it back. You only get it back after a long rest, but you have had a long rest since you used it.

Yeah. Yeah, I just didn't refresh it um so yeah i will use this three attacks on i guess i'll direct them to all three on one person but if one of them dies i'll guess i'll redirect it onto the other one as a note because i want you to waste it they are firing from these really thin arrow slits so any attacks coming in, it has significant cover against. Ah. Ah, ah, ah. That does change things. They're in a prime position to shoot down on people on the roof.

I can't get to the door, so I may as well try. Okay, sure. So you kind of leverage He Who Grins up, and in the gap between the two blades, this thin beam of fire begins to emerge and project outwards. Like a mag cannon or something like that.

First one is just a 15 to hit. 15 to hit. These guys have three quarters cover, which gives them a plus five to their AC. That is not enough it scorches the outside stone of the turret dang it

let's try again oh my god isn't that 20 that will still hit uh yep sure uh which is uh so 2d6 max and then another 2d6 so 12 plus 2d6 maxed and then another 2d6

so 12 plus 2d6 another 6 so 18 on one of these boys 18 points of damage so you see the flames kind of like burn through this

tiny arrow slit and you can see the creature kind of as parts of it are being burnt away this ectoplasmic mist being scorched and singed

and then the final one? Third one. Nine. This one again, the aim, just trying to get it through this tiny window is proving extremely difficult as you do that. Anything else, Zeros, on your turn?

That's me. I mean, am I behind cover on this pillar? I am, aren't I? If you move up to there, you will have cover from at least one of them, yes. Okay. Instead, I will go in front. The turret where Irina is currently hiding.

Okay. So you move in front of Zeke. Zeke, your turn. Yeah. I'm going to... I'm going to move just, like, here. So I'm, like,'m gonna move just like here? So I'm like right underneath the turret. Yeah, next to Irena is Mark.

Yeah. Can I cast Infestation on the one that Xeros injured? Oh sure, yeah. Give us a readout, I don't know how it works. Sounds gross. So it's a con-13 save throw. i don't know how it works sounds gross so uh con 13 safe throw um on a succeed the time it takes 2d6 poison damage and moves five feet in a random direction determined by a d4 okay i can tell you now this creature is undead so the poison does not affect it

um so even the you can see all these bugs trying to crawl through its body but there's nothing there so the swarms of flies and gnats just kind of pass through it without any effect. This particular creature is immune to poison, and it is undead. Okie dokie. I'm afraid to say, Ziki, I'm sorry.

You can continue movement, bonus actions. Um, let's see what bonus actions. I'm good for bonus, I haven't got any things left. Yeah i'm good so you and irena are kind of hugging one of these turrets giving you cover from one of these archers and the other one can still draw a good line of fire to you um is mark basically moves up to the two of you and puts himself in front and he doesn't have a shield but he's kind of using his weapons and trying to block you as best as he can.

But yeah, that's Ismark's turn. Rose, you are at the door. You can see that Dog's body has already taken weapons to it. What would you like to do? I don't know if my... I've got a short sword. Will that do much in comparison to an axe? It won't be as effective as a slashing weapon.

So bludgeoning and slashing weapons would be better at breaking down a door. A piercing weapon would not be as good, but you could try. I will try and barge the door again. So you could effectively get Jesper to move out the way back up and then charge at it again 19 20 unnatural 20 is the number you needed so with one like you kind of with the

damage done by yourself and dog's body previously you kind of like push yes out the way take another running start and as you slam into it this time whatever um bar had been set to brace the door the damage that dog's body's axe has broken it you splinter it and the door slams open can you make a deck saving throw rose um as your momentum carries you through the door you see that there is a railing because the the turret just drops down into the chapel below right make a deck save for me make a deck save for me 17 I rolled a 10 I have a plus 7 to deck saves so dog's body as you're like

you begin reaching out for Rose she catches herself on this railing and you kind of stop yourself from tumbling straight off and falling down into the church below inside you can see that there is a stone staircase that leads up. There is no windows or doors into the two side turrets.

But you can see that this spiral staircase leads up. Thank you, Chris Trott, for showing the inside of that. Okay, I will... Well, I'm in there so I'll start making my way in. You can start making your way up there for sure.

Cool. Jesper, following? I'll duck inside and follow. Maybe even... Yeah, I'll just catch up, I think. Make space for everyone else to follow on behind.

So with enough movement, you can get to Rose. You could dash up to the top if you so chose to. Yeah, sure. Whee! All the way. You are over here, Jesper, in a separate little tower. You can see that here, Jesper, as you go further up,

there are two doors that seem to lead into the side turrets and head down to where those spectral archers were um as you emerge uh at the top of the stairs uh that's pretty much going to be the end of your movement in that spot jasper um okay right irena seeing the door is open will basically take a moment and then she will dash through just kind of running past everybody calling for Zeki and his mark to follow. The spectral warriors however they disappear from the

turrets as they pass through the walls and emerge Rose inside the tower where you guys are as they just phase through the walls drawing spectral blades. Oh, it's that floor.

Not where I am. Yeah, they've not appeared. No, no, they've appeared below you. Looks like the doors that you're by trot would be in the upper level of the towers they were in. So it looks like you could use them to go down. But and they will make an

attack, one against Rose and one against irena two attacks each sorry so rose 16 to hit you ah just just that's eight points of force damage the next attack is only an eight a seven to hit you so you kind of manage to leap out of the way of that one uh the ones against irena that one is a hit that's like 22 the next one is a miss irena takes uh nine points of damage herself as well and she's struck by one of these force blades dog's body um yeah i'll shout come on dragons uh and then turn into the tower. And I guess I'll probably... I'm right next to the ghosties.

You're next to Irena and the one fighting Irena, basically. Okay. Can I bonus action and activate... Technically, you're next to the one fighting Rose as well. My crimson right to make my blade magical. I know it's probably immune or whatever to cold, but I want my blade to be magical. That's probably very wise.

Yeah, so I will slice myself with my axe, turning it all icy. Love my dramatic descriptions. And then I will start hacking at the one in front of irena so that's a 17 plus 6 17 18 9 20 21 22 23 yeah that definitely hits this is the one that um you can see part of it has been burnt away by uh by xeros's scorching ray uh i rolled a two, but with Great Weapon Master, I can roll that again on a one and a two, I think. Okay. I rolled a four plus four.

Four plus four is eight. I'm guessing no cold damage. No cold damage, but the strike does hit true and it cleaves through parts of its body, sending mists dissipating. Just like the spectral warriors you fought before when you were caught in the trap. These are basically the same creatures.

Is that it? Just one attack? No, I'm going to attack again. I rolled a 14 plus 6 is a 20, unnatural 20. That will hit. Yep. Oh, I rolled a 10 plus 4, 14. This one nearly cleaves the spirit in twain,

but just enough of it is left to present this kind of like floating thin husk of a creature still capable of striking, but heavily, heavily wounded from how wounded a spectral warrior can be. But yeah, anything else? No, that's all I got. Okay, Xeros, your turn. Irena and Dog's Body are sadly sort of still in the way as they block the entrance into the turret, but you

can move through their space. Yeah, can I move into a space where I can, like, still hit the ghostie? You could, but you'd be basically in between both of them right by the landing. So you'd kind of, like, charge through Dog's Body, kind of maybe shoving him a little out the way, and then you're right in between the both of them right by the uh landing so you'd kind of like charge through dog's body

kind of maybe shoving him a little out the way and then you're right in between the two of them uh with one on either side i thought one of them died no one of them is just barely alive yeah very very close ah well in that case i want to attack the one that's very alive and use a sweeping attack to hit the one that's barely alive. Okay. Sure. Also, bonus action sword up. You know, fiery sword up. I'm just going to move you over, Trots.

You can see what's going on. Okay. Okay, so, He Who Grins. One, two, three, four, boom. Unnatural 20. That's a hit. 17 slashing and five

fire demar. Yes, so this strike for the one fighting Rose, as it turns to try and strike Rose, you plunge He Who Grins into its back, spin it out, and then the sweeping attack hits the creature beside it. Sweeping attack does do i

re-roll this too because i got i've got great great weapon fighting as well no because it's not you're not it's not the damage of the weapon it's a different type of damage i believe i'm gonna rule it that way somebody will correct me i'm sure but right now in this instance i'm gonna say no it is a different type of damage roll it does say damage dice with melee weapons wielded by with two hands so i mean right but this isn't this isn't the damage die of the weapon this is a ability you have that's dealing a damage okay um yeah so i do two to this dude then that that's how i'm ruling it on this i'm probably wrong and somebody if somebody can point me where it says like nope great weapon master does apply to things like battle master techniques i'm happy

to be corrected but my interpretation is it is the great weapon master applies to the damage roll of the weapon not anything like you wouldn't get to re-roll the flame damage if it was a one or a two this kind of works in the same function oh okay so i. So I did it okay. Yeah, you did it fine, Kim. Yeah, you did it correct. Anyway, two to that guy, so... Just two. The weaker guy. Second attack.

That's me. Nope, don't have multi-attack anymore. Oh, that's true. You don't have multi-attack anymore, do you? No. I don't know. Curious. I'm going to run in. 5, 10, but then 20.

Oh, it's busy in here. It's very busy. Sorry, I'm just going to move you. Yeah, go for it. So you kind of have to squeeze past Irina to kind of get in the corner of this little turret room. But you can see one heavily injured Spectre on one side of your brother brother and then on the other side is this, you know,

still damaged. You can see part of its form has been dissipated, but it's still fighting strong. Can I cast Sacred Flame on the one near Rose? Is evil clear? You can. You are now next to a hostile creature, which means you have disadvantage.

Or is it a saving throw for Sacred Flame? It uh saving uh it's a deck save throw in that case i have to make it and i fail that's a three nice so that is a 2d8 radiant damage six six points of radiant damage um as you call out lira's spirit guides your hand and this golden light kind of escapes and burns part of the one fighting Rose away. Anything else? No, that is me good. Thank you. Okay, well, as it is... I mean, what do you guys think?

Do you want to just do quickly one more round of combat? Because I think you'll probably win. Or because it is ten. Should we just do one more? Yeah, I mean, we can finish it up. Yeah? Should we just finish it up? Because I think one more round will finish this off for you guys. Rose. Maybe.

Hello. Hello. Can... Is the one next to you the one that's been badly damaged, or is it the one that's been... It's the other one. It's still been damaged. It's still been injured. The Ziki's radiant energy

definitely has caused damage to it. I will bonus action Slayer's Prey and I will stab it with my sword. Yeah, it is too close for bow, but sword. That's a natural 20! Nice! Nice! So that is... What damage is it normally?

D6? D6 plus 4, so... So 6 plus 4, 10, plus another D6. 10 plus another D6, which is a 3, so 13. Then Slayer's Prey. On that that which technically would also be critted your slayers prey would max and roll again as well well i just rolled a six on my slayers prey so another 12 8 plus 6 so another 12 so what was it 14 plus 12 13 plus 12 13 plus 12 so 25 half because it is all non-magical half of 25 is 12 so 12 in dnd terms because you round down so even though your weapon barely can the weapon

doesn't seem to affect this creature as much but knowing that you purposely kind of swipe at it in certain locations to do as much damage as you possibly can with this non-magical weapon and its form is nearly obliterated as you do like you're pulling strands of mist and ectoplasm away leaving this thin shred of a skeletal figure left And my second attack. Ooh, 16 plus 7. That is a hit. Hit. Easy. So, 4, 5, 6, 7 damage.

But half, so not nearly as good. Three points of damage. Yeah, again, having unleashed this flurry of strikes, the second one just doesn't have quite enough power to finish this creature off as you do so. Anything else, Rose or Jesper? No, I'm done. I'm going to move back.

So you can hear the sounds of fighting from downstairs, Jesper, but you can also see that the the turret continues up as well I'm gonna go back down and just lunge for the closest thing I'll be the one next to Rose right I'm gonna go and swang in

so my rapier is going to do a 16 to hit 16 to hit. 16 will hit. I hit six piercing damage, half to three. That is enough. As you strike forward with the rapier,

whatever form that was still remaining is dissipated and disrupted, and it vanishes before your eyes. Nice. Nice. This way. Z Zeros dispatch him and that is enough of a moral boost from a bard to be a bardic

inspiration that's two he's now got two of those now I'm so inspired that's all you give compliment wise and uh bard wise to joss at this current state sure so i'm gonna run and then you and then you head start heading back upstairs cool well we'll get to i think we'll just do that yeah yeah. Irina, on her turn, will, with Zeke and everyone else there, she will...

She can't Thunderclap it. She will just strike at it with her own rapier. Sadly, missing. The tight quarters, she's not quite as adept at fighting in such cramped conditions, and her strike goes wide, leaving this creature to attack once more,

and it will turn its attention to Zeke and strike twice. That is a 22 to hit Zeke. Yeah. For eight force damage, and then it will strike at Zeros with its second attack. For a 21. Oh, yeah, that'll do it. For 10 force damage.

And its death throws. It strikes at the two of you trying to finish you off. Dog's body. Yeah, I'm going to keep whacking. One left. Sure. Yeah, so that is a 7 plus a 6

is 13 to hit. Not enough. It brings its spectral shield up and your axe crashes against it just to check in you took your um crimson right damage as well yeah yeah i took three points on that three points um 18 plus six eighteen nineteen twenty nine twenty four and you don't need to roll damage it had three so with one big final swoop the first blow hits its shield you bring the axe up

again and with a more powerful thing it breaks the shield passing through the specter as you watch as the mist just begins to evaporate and the specter is defeated and now you are left in

this tower. A rickety wooden landing and staircase clings to the walls of the tower. It leads up to another landing about 20 feet above. You can see the floor of the chapel about 60 feet below. That is where we will end today, friends, with the winds of Barovia howling as this tower, perhaps your last place to look for the Sword of Sunlight,

rests above you. And that's where we're going to end today's episode. What a good'un. That was a good'un. That was a good'un. That was a lot of good'un. A lot happened. That was a lot happened.

There was a lot of cool RP and exploring Argenvost and... Giggles. And then a little cheeky combat Argenvost. A lot of giggles. And then a little cheeky combat. Lots of giggles. A lot of giggles. No, that was a really good one. It was really nice to have the RP with the group at the start,

but then having that interaction with Vladimir as well was really nice, like seeing everyone's approach. Almost got all of us killed, I think, if we did get into a fight with the Revenant. Also, I didn't have a look into it, by the way. I couldn't possibly say. Well, let's be honest. Great weapon fight, by the way, just as a heads up.

Yes. I don't know anything. It is attack dice that are associated with the weapon. So it is literally just my 2d6 and the 2d6 fire. Nothing else. So not things like Divine Smite. I don't know why i would be looking that up take care look after yourselves we love you wear your damn masks uh and we'll

take care of everybody bye Thank you.