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As the chained spirit falls, the entire castle brightens almost instantly as the very shadows themselves flee into the daylight. Fondo and Dandilion catch a final glimpse of the Dread Wraith who had been following the party. He smiles lightly and launches himself into the air, fleeing the castle with the rest of the darkness.
Even a little off in the distance, light music wafts up from the south wing as the Danse Macabre dances one last time - then lays down to rest as those spirits too are freed into the afternoon sun. The party watches as all manner of undead stream from the building and into the surrounding countryside - fleeing their prison. Even undead fish swim from the waters surrounding the castle.
As you look outside through the doorways and arrow slits the very walls themselves seem to break free - no, a score or more of Gargoyles of the most impressive brutish variety, take wing and fly from the fortresses crenelations. After a few minutes or so silence again descends on the fortress as you can hear only a lone no-legged zombie slowly dragging his carcass across the bridge - struggling to freedom…
Briar turns and slumps against the wall as the chain beast fades, feeling the weight of Scarwall off his narrow elven shoulders.
He giggles to himself, looking over at Laori.
"What was all sorts of pain, was it not?" Briar asks, bleeding from his own wounds, but not yet moving to remedy. He sits for a minute, letting his life return and adrenaline drain away before standing and seeing how others fare.
Fondo descends to the ground, marveling in the buoyancy of Dandi's magics. "I thought perhaps its death would be the end of all these shades. Alas... But victory we've had, to make our loss redeemed."
He has a thought and takes out Zellara's cards. "Were you freed, dear steward of Korvosa's soul? Have you magic left to guide us to our final act?" Looking over to Barael, he continues. "We have need of you as Kako here revives your Harrow cast."
Laori squeezes the most egregious of Briar's wounds as she whispers, "Now if you'll only learn to ENJOY it.". She kisses him on the nose and goes back to watching the last of the residents leave the castle as she smiles.
The magics of the cards do indeed leap up to Fondo's fingertips, and he has every reason to think that Zellara is behind it - once again safely ensconced in the deck.
Beaming, Fondo crouches over the groaning Barael. "Brov, do you hear me? We're here waiting for you. Zellara too, in her way. We've a sword to find and castle to loot. On the morrow, Charlie'll have those Qadiran delights you like to much." He smiles encouragingly at Charlie. "Some diamond dust'll do him good, don't you think?"
Briar lolls longer, catching his breath and poking at his wounds.
Charlie looks around in disbelief. I never thought this moment would come. Oh shoot, Barael.
Charlie goes over to the gibbering mass and gets busy fixing.
He then dumps the rotgut out of his holy symbol and refills it with the good stuff. Today we party, tomorrow we go kill queen witch!
Dandi drops down next to Barael, holding him still so Charlie can work. "You're amazing, Kako. The way you keep us all going."
Brushing his hair back with her own, Dandi whispers to her unconscious companion. "Ssshhh, you'll be right as rain, soon. Charlie'll fix you right up, you'll see."
Nikolay hits twice and Dandilion's magics get through. Nikolay, I assume your weapon is ghost touch, right? You don't mention it, but I assumed it was ghost touched by the spirits in the Shoanti ritual.
Nikolay prepares to execute the spirit just as he had the last creature when Briar's arrow steals the show.
--Hrmph!
At least it's gone.
Feeling well thanks to the earlier healing, Nikolay finally lifts his eyes to take stock of the rest of the party and is happy to find them all standing.
"Good to see you with some mementos of our time here, Briar. Ready to turn in that bow and join us up front all the time? The ladies love it as long as it's not the face."
Nikolay reaches into his haversack and calls forth the best whiskey left. He raises the bottle, "To you my friends," and takes a long drink before offering it around.
"With all due respect to my sword, I must say that I look forward to fighting the living, or at least those with bodies, in the future."
Fondo winks at Nikolay and holds his hand out to borrow his flask. "If what you say about the ladies is true, you'll have plenty of flesh for your sword in no time." Turning to Charlie, he says, "Let's not celebrate too quickly, though. We've yet to find Serethiel. Mayhap in the chained one's former chambers." After a quick scan about the devils and the shades for magical loot, he makes ready to descend the stairs.
The sound of the chains grows louder, as Barael picks himself up, groaning at the crack in the rib. It no longer matters, as he sees Nora, running full tilt, the silver chain still in her hands, her eyes wide as saucers.
"Run, Barael!!"
Instinct kicks in, and the two of them bolt for the safety of the main road. Of well lit spaces, and of humanity.
When they hit the main thoroughfare, Barael spins on his heels, standing between Nora and the older boy thugs-in-training. He grins madly, as the older crowds surround him in thoughtless support. He reaches down and grabs his package, and shakes it mightily as he taunts the muggers into revealing themselves in the light. But shadows must remain in the dark corners, and Barael knows it.
Barael sees the look in their eyes as he takes his hand away to wave it at them. I'll pay for that later, but I don't care. She has her chain, and she is safe. My job for today is done.
...
As Charlie brings him back to consciousness, Barael springs to his feet, teeth gnashing at first, then settling down as he sees everyone standing around him. They're... brighter... He turns around, taking in the new conditions of the castle, and starts to nod slowly.
"You took it down. That is most excellent news, that is." Barael looks at each of the Harrowed. He sees Charlie and Dandilion, and smiles gratefully. "Thank you for looking over me. Glad to see you in good health as well." He hugs both, but snuffles only one.
Turning to Briar, he nods knowingly. "You, uh, took some licks of your own, huh?" He looks at Laori, then back to Briar. "I mean, from the chains, of course. Glad you were on my side of the hallways."
Back to Nik, and whiskey. "When we have time, you'll have to tell me about that evil-looking thing with the scythe for a hand. I'm with you. I'm done with the already dead. I think that Shadow's Death means more than mere shadows. A capital 'S' means the Shadow that lies over Korvosa, so your sword is destined for greater work yet."
Then to Fondo. "Lead the way, Brov. Once we have Serethiel in our possession, we can finally turn our backs on Scarwall, eh?"
The scythe the Devil wielded is a +1 unholy scythe, but it's only valuable to someone willing to cut off part of their arm and affix it. You can almost hear Saul say, "I can't find a buyer for this item, but I'll give you a few hundred gold to have it as a curiosity. It's the best I can do..."
She also had a +2 ring of protection. The other devils, spectres and the chained spirit had nothing of value.
The 'C' on the map in S03 is a clearly visible trap door in the ceiling along with a ladder to the same. Saving a little time, when the party is ready to continue exploring, they start here and find a beautiful cupola with wide views of the entire surrounding countryside - even all the way to the Flood Road - a major thoroughfare through Belkzen, orc country.
Truly from this castle, with seasoned troops, you could cut the orc nation in half, cutting off the heavily residential Blisterwell from the orc communities further north. It was well placed.
Barael hastens to the double doors, once wreathed in dark shadowy smoke. Without a care, he throws them open, hoping to see what they came for. He keeps his sword out, in case certain denizens still remain.
As time permits, Barael makes darn sure that he finds what they came for.
"Mayhap we ought this scythe destroy. Or offer unto the gods of good, that they may do the deed." He does not pick the scythe up, but makes his way down the stairs after a pause.
Briar smiles at Nikolay, his hand again going to his wounds.
"Yeah, pretty nice, huh? Now that was a fight," Briar exults, kicking one of the devils. "Give me that, Sward," Briar says, snatching a drink of whiskey.
Briar drinks poorly, his arm still trembling from the fight, but some liquid does get in his mouth. He passes the bottle on, a smile on his lips.
"Let us drag ourselves someplace less tainted with devil's blood..and my own. We should rest, ponder our options now. We still have a sword to find."
"What exactly happened here, do we know? There were things flying away in the sky, and even the undead drag themselves away. Was the chain spirit some kind of curse inspecterate? Are we likely to see it return, you know, like the Danse did?" Barael keeps looking around, hoping that the sword is mere steps away.
...
Should the sword not present itself in the light of the newly freed halls of Scarwall, Barael will mull over the only other place in the castle that hasn't been explored- the other tower.
"Brov, you couldn't find a way into that tower, right? If we're going to get in, I can try to pass through the walls now. I think I can do that, or Briar can create an opening with his magics, of course."
Woah, slow down Barael. You've got the party going in all kinds of directions. :)
Right now the party has, at best, investigated the cupola. I'm not moving the party to the chained spirit quarters downstairs quite yet - let alone a whole new unexplored tower. I'm not altogether certain the party is continuing to search today even (as per Briar's post).
To be helpful, the walkway upon which Nihil (the female demon) leads to a tower as well, which is unexplored. Then there are two towers (NW and central) unexplored. Then there are a few unexplored rooms on the second floor including the chained spirits room. Then there's still a tower in the inner keep/church which the party has yet to find a way into.
That's your list when the party is ready to move.
"Let us search its former chambers now, and then speak of rest, if rest it is you need."
"The Elf doesn't look too good. And that's saying something." Barael pads over to Briar. "Charlie'll do you wonders. 'Doctor, heal thyself', they always say." Barael jabs at Briar, careful to punch a non-lacerated part of his upper arm.
Barael looks to Fondo. "Well, now that I see the other castle toppers, should we clean them out first, then head to the chain spirit chamber?" Barael waits for Fondo to decide.
"Seems to be its chamber's most certain cleared. Yon towers, I cannot say."
Briar nods raggedly and begins to motivate himself into moving on.
He takes out his wand of curification and uses that to close some of his more pressing wounds.
Healing
Healing
Healing
Healing
Healing
Briar refills his quivers with a batch of fresh arrows and is ready to follow the lads up and explore more.
"Aye, let us merely prime our pumps and finish this thing, this place. Maybe we can come back and claim it as our own. For now, it needs a quick sweep with a little stuffing in the closet. Thank you Nik! This is all I will drink once I get my druthers."
Charlie takes an elder's size pull from the bottle and hands it along, ready to move.
"Yon tower, then? Let's clear it first, yeah?" Barael looks at Fondo expectantly. If Fondo gives the assent, Barael crosses the walkway to the tower nearby. If there is a door, he'll bring his gloves to bear.
Dandi moves to get in on the healing if there is enough left to go around.
She takes a deep breath, straightens her shoulders and is ready to move on when the others are ready to go.
The door, it is open...
The interior of this tall, hollow tower is silent and menacing - even now. Something in the air here just won't shake loose. High overhead, an opening at the tower’s peak lets in light, as do the arrow slits set into the walls, yet nothing seems capable of dispelling the gloom of ancient evil that looms here still.
A shallow pool of stagnant water from past rains has formed in the center of a floor that is largely empty of furnishings. Near the far wall slumps a wide bed, swathed in rotten and moldy bedclothes. The bed itself hangs a few feet off the floor, supported at its corners by chains hanging from a series of iron support beams above. The bedding is torn and worn with age, and you can clearly see that down was not used to stuff this mattress, but rather dust and dirt covered gold coins!
To the side a large gilt throne covered in tarnished gemstones stands upon a short dais before a series of manacles inset into the floor. A nearby fire grate, long cold, holds a collection of branding irons and other torturer’s tools.
A series of nearly one hundred alcoves climbs the walls of this tower in an ascending spiral. Within each stands a statuette, art object, or polished skull. Many of the items are ancient and brittle, and even brushing against one of the skulls causes it to crumble, but other things are still solid here - and magics abound. In fact, the skull that was bumped spoke as it crumbled, the magic mouth giving the victims name and a brief bio (they were a major orc warlord back in the day).
Fondo too attempts to have his way with a wand before ascending.
Fully healed and magically clean of blood thanks to his grandmother's magics, Fondo shrugs and follows Barael, helpless in the face of his incomprehension. Maybe if I learn to speak Rat. As he enters the tower, he begins scanning magic.
Briar happily offer the communal wand of CMW around.
* * *
Briar casts Detect Magic in the bedroom(?) with the talking heads, looking for magics of interest.
He will spend as much time as necessary to explore and explain the purposes of the magics therein.
Barael touches nothing.
His attention is held by the alcoves and their contents, but he keeps his distance after he bumps the first skull and it whispers. He cringes apologetically to the imminent staredown by the Elf.
"Alright, so we have a king's bedchambers. Long since occupied, and recently infested by the devil, huh? This gonna take time to purge the evil drippings, you think? Same quality of unwelcome the church showed us?"
The coinage peaks his interest, but the lack of a sword starts to dull its edge. He's content to wait, as he watches Briar study the chambers for worthwhile energies.
Charlie is not going to climb anything. He'll just stand ready and watch for incoming missiles.
Fondo takes advantage of the remaining minutes of flight to invite Dandi into an aerial dance in the heights of the tower. "Milady?"
Dandi carefully begins to look around the room. She stops at the pile of orc dust and says a prayer for his soul.
"A dance sounds lovely!" with a nod to the orc dust, Dandi spins off with Fondo.
hp 123
Fort +13, Ref +7, Will +9
--------------------
Magus (Bladebound) Spells Prepared (CL 12):
4 (4/day) [X]Stoneskin, []Invisibility, Greater, []Dimension Door, []Infernal Healing, Greater
3 (5/day) []Haste, [x]Vampiric Touch, []Vampiric Touch, []Fly, []Burst of Speed
2 (6/day) []Frigid Touch, []Effortless Armor, [x]Spider Climb, [x]Glitterdust (DC 16), []Mirror Image, []Invisibility
1 (6/day) []Shocking Grasp, []Vanish, []True Strike, []Shield, []Burning Hands (DC 15), []Chill Touch (DC 15)
0 (at will) Detect Magic, Light, Read Magic, Prestidigitation (DC 14), Disrupt Undead
--------------------
Arcane Pool (+3 per point spent, 10/day) 9/10 remaining
Empowered Magic (1/day) 0/1 remaining
Black blade's arcane pool 3/3 remaining
Wand of Magic missiles 1st level (23 charges remaining)
Pearl of Power (1st) - Not used today
Mithral Plate haste - 7/10 rounds left
Nikolay casts stoneskin befor they enter the castle again.
"But what we really need is a ghostskin spell. Briar, you should work on that."
--
Nikolay also casts detect magic and takes time to examine any of the more interesting ones. If any more magic mouths are activated he listens carefully to see if it reveals anything of the castle.
Fondo and Nikolay detect many magics, but they do NOT detect the background magics that were once laid upon the castle thick as a heavy wool blanket. All that remains is the vast and warm glow of the parties magics, and the nearly 100 alcoves, all glowing.
It will take some time to go through and catalogue every item and every magical glow. Most are skulls, but there is also a wide variety of other things scattered throughout. At least an hour, maybe two if the party is planning to pry the gems off the throne and gather the thousands of loose coins from the bedding. It'll be nearly lunch by the time the party is finished looting this chamber - if you chose to do so now.
Nikolay - the party has not yet left the fortress and rested. We're still just a few minutes after the last battle in the late morning sun streaming through the tower's heights and reflecting below.
Barael works his way over to the bed, assessing the volume of the mattress in relation to its contents. His peripheral vision is strong enough to catch the couple spinning higher into the air.
His expression tightens, as if vexed that he's not accounting for the rounded corners of the mattress compared to the frame of the support furniture itself. He hacks at the bedding, tentatively at first, but with more vigor as he goes.
There are things to do here, more work to be done.
His black eyes beadily flick upwards every once and awhile, the contents of the bedding not firmly holding his attentions.
Nikolay - the party has not yet left the fortress and rested. We're still just a few minutes after the last battle in the late morning sun streaming through the tower's heights and reflecting below.
Nikolay still casts the stoneskin.
Briar is content to spend as much time as necessary searching this trove (of both treasure and, more importantly, magic). He will identify the magics.
Spellcraft
Spellcraft
Spellcraft
Spellcraft
Spellcraft
On anything he fails at (as if!), he will call the Waif or Sward over for a second opinion.
"Say Rat, have you found any diamonds yet? We need lots of diamonds."
Fondo takes a moment to try identifying anything that looks like useful equipment (though not skulls). He quickly concludes, "No sword. Let us continue on, and consider looting when we've Serethiel in hand."
hehehe. OK then. I have two posts, one that says to stay and loot, the other that says move on (though even the move-on post has identifying magics so there's some interest in staying I think). Anyone care to break the tie?
Barael sifts through the coins, removing bits of cloth and dust often. He contents himself with notions of stuffing and filling of wistful dens of homey warmth.
"Say Rat, have you found any diamonds yet? We need lots of diamonds."
Barael tries to finish rustling out all the mattress contents, then launches into scouring the room for diamonds. "Majenko. I almost forg... how many diamonds do we need to find? There doesn't appear to be any in the bedding..." Barael keeps scouring.
The party spends some time searching through the assorted findings. The gemstones on the throne are worth 18kgp but there are, surprisingly, no diamonds of any kind. Barael, eventually, counts nearly 21,000gp in individual gold coins minted a thousand years ago. In his personal collection, Kazavon had a number of works of art, many tied to major events or specific skulls. None the less it’s combined worth is around 13,500gp.
Even the skulls have value to a collector - but you’ll need a mending spell on each one to move them safely. If you do so, there are 43 skulls worth 100gp each.
You also find three magic items, A Lantern of Revealing (creates an invisibility purge effect), a Rod of Splendor (hello charisma bump) and a Scarab of Protection (a little SR and protection against negative energy attacks and the like.
The party also finds a number of things that are no longer valuable or that crumble to dust on handling. The collection, in its day, must have been quite impressive.
It's now lunch.
Briar eats, his back against the wall in the bedroom, pondering.
"Wasn't Kazavon a dragon? A blue one? So...this might have been his bed. Upon piles of coins...even in human form, he slept as a dragon did," Briar muses while he finishes eating.
"We have found some nice magics...and now that I have eaten, I am ready to continue. Since the sword is not here, where shall we continue our search?"
Fondo takes the rod of splendor in hand and twirls it about extravagantly. Looking to Charlie, he raises a brow. Mayhap better for you?
Charlie eats his lunch, too. As he munches his sammich, he pockets the lantern. He tries to be be sly about it.
I'll be able to see the rat now.