"Well that was different. A ghost with useful information...if maddeningly incomplete."
Damion will take a look around...
(+2 for traps)
Countessa wants to examine the statues in the hall.
Noticing the others looking around, Theodora helps Countessa examine the statues in the hallway.
The statues are all of fine craftsmanship, and name former Barons of Barovia from about 1200 years ago to about 600 years ago.
After a few minutes of searching, Daimon, Theodora, and Countessa find that tapping on the wall behind one of the statues on the south wall makes a hollow sound. Countessa then spots a hidden mechanism for a secret door.
Theodora: From the outside, you saw two high towers, both of roughly the same height. The tower you came through is the wider of them.
"We might as well see what's on the other side of the secret door. Could you check it for traps Damion?" Theodora asks, as she readies herself to take the lead.
"Funny," Countessa remarks. "Everyone keeps referring to Strahd as a count, but Barovia isn't one of the counties of Ustalav. If anything, it's a barony."
"That or Strahd has simply appointed himself 'Count'... who would oppose him in such an act?"
Petracleus, rapier in hand, watches as Damion looks for traps...
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"That is likely the way of it. I once knew another who called himself Count. He was no more a Count than I'm a Duchess. True that be told he was no more than a thief with a few men in his employ."
Ireena says, "Huh. When we don't call him 'the devil,' we've always called him 'Count Strahd,' as far as I know. Of course, we're cut off from the rest of the world, so there's no way to appeal to the king."
Daimon: It looks like the statue might be rigged to fall onto the door when it's opened.
There's no king in Ustalav, but I guess that goes without saying.
Can it be disabled? Maybe just haul the statue out of the way?
Verran quirks an eyebrow as his companions express their confusion at the spirit's comment. At this point, he's come to expect things to be off in this place. This was just one more oddity that proved that Strahd needed to be dealt with.
Taking out his tools, Daimon finds the mechanism that would have toppled the statue onto the door. And after a moment, he discovers that there's a bypass switch hidden in the statue's boot, and he presses it. There's a faint but audible mechanical *CLICK* from under the statue as the mechanism is released. It also seems that the statue was only rigged to fall if opened from this side.
Opening the secret door reveals a short corridor leading south, ending at another door.
"We may as well check this one too."
Ireena looks at Celowyn quizzically. "We don't have a king? Well, news rarely comes into Barovia."
Daimon does not find any traps in the corridor or on the door.
Pressing his ear to the door, Daimon hears a sound he was completely not expecting: The voice of a young woman, speaking strange words...
"...A fost odată un țăran sărac care nu a avut nici un teren, ci doar o casă mică, și o fiică. Apoi, fiica a spus: 'Noi ar trebui să cerem domnul nostru rege pentru un pic de teren nou eliminate!' Când regele a auzit de sărăcia lor, el le-a prezentat cu o bucată de teren, care fata și tatăl ei săpat în sus, și destinate să semene cu un pic de porumb și boabe de acest tip. Când au săpat aproape întregul domeniu, au găsit îngropat în pământ un mortar făcut din aur pur..."
Damion says softly, "Someone is speaking on the other side of this door but I don't know the tongue. Someone else listen."
Countessa presses her ear to the door, listening for a few seocnds before shaking her head. "It's beyond me," she says.
Petracleus, watching the others, doesn't offer to listen at the door, "I'm afraid I was never really one for languages... Does it sound threatening? Or is it someone we can reason with?"
"I only know how to speak Common, so I won't be much help. Anyone else want to try to listen? Otherwise we should just head in there and deal with whoever it is." Theodora says as she readies her sword.
You open the door. The latch makes a loud *CLICK* and the door pulls back and slides slowly to the left, making a grating sound of metal-on-stone.
The voice stops at the sound of the click, then you hear a shriek and the sounds of a book falling onto the floor and footsteps scrambling away, followed by a door slam.
Sweet smells waft from this delicately-lit and lavishly-appointed room. Windows on the west walls are covered by heavy read draperies, hanging stiffly from the high ceiling 20 feet overhead. The tassels of golden fiber glint in the light of three candelabras sitting atop small tables throughout the room. Tall white candles burn with bright, steady light. A large bed, canopied by silken curtains, sits with its headboard against the north wall, right next to the door that you have just opened. Carved into the headboard of the bed with great skill is an ornate "Z." A slight depression in the velvet and satin bedcovers indicates that someone may have been there very recently. Lying on the floor next to the bed are a large leatherbound book and one dainty silk slipper. Ornately carved double-doors lead south and east. Looking at the open door, it appears to be a secret door disguised to blend in with the dark wall paneling.
"Okay... that's not the normal response we've been getting around here!!!", Petracleus affords himself a wry smile... certain that he will not be able to read the language within the book, he still walks across to it - and using the tip of his rapier to turn the pages - takes a look at the tome...
What have we here? ...and who were you that fled so readily?
"May I see it? I know a little something about written tongues." Countessa moves to where she can see the pages that Petracleus is turning.
Looking at the book, Countessa recognizes the written language as Varisian. She can't quite translate it, but based on the illustrations, it seems to be a book of Varisian folk tales. The book is gilded, with hand-colored illustrations, and is printed on fine paper. You're pretty sure that this book is quite valuable.
"We should hold on to this," Countessa says, picking up the book and carefully closing the cover.
Petracleus, watching as Countessa picks up the book, asks, "Why? I don't think it our place to take it? We know nothing of the person who just fled from here... and I would not be labelled thief... our hearts should remain pure lest we fall as Strahd must once have". The bard smiles at Countessa, "Leave it here... if we are to take anything from this dread place, it will be from Strahd or his minions".
"Regardless, we should search this room for anything else that might be able to use against the vampire fiend and his minions. We may need every advantage we can get." Theodora says to the others as she begins searching the room.
Countessa regretfully puts the book down but does join the search.
As you look around this incongruously comfortable-looking bedroom, Celowyn and Daimon notice that the doors to the south are slightly ajar and that someone is watching through the crack. As Daimon makes eye contact, you all hear a loud shriek of fear and the doors fling open. An attractive young woman of about 16 years of age kneels on the floor of a large closet, with an expression of terror on her face. Looking straight at Daimon, she cries out, "Please, Mr. Troll! Don't carry me off to Fairyland! I want to stay here!" Her voice has a very strong Varisian accent.
"Be at ease, girl," Countessa offers her a hand. "We are friends. And while Damion is not the most handsome of princes, I assure you that he will not spirit you away. I'm Countessa, what is your name, child?"
At Countessa's reassuring words, the girl's demeanor brightens quickly. She stands and curtsies awkwardly. "Your Grace!" She rises and says, "My name is Gertruda Ruzicka. It is my pleasure to meet your acquaintance." She says the words as if they are practiced.
At that, her attempt at formality dissolves, and she walks quickly toward the door you'd entered. "Wow! I didn't know that was a door! I thought that was just part of the wall." She turns to you with a broad smile. "Isn't this castle amazing? It even has real secret passages, just like in the stories!"
A quizzical look then crosses her face. "Are you friends of Count Strahd? He didn't tell me that we were expecting guests..." She then quickly brightens again. "He is such a perfect gentleman! I am so looking forward to living here in the castle!"
Gertruda then picks up the book from the table where Countessa had laid it. She opens it and flips through the pages, as if looking for something. She then looks at Daimon, then at the book, and then back at Daimon. "I'm sorry... You're not really a troll? You sure look like the ones in the pictures..." She then holds up the book and shows an illustration of a green-skinned humanoid monster with tusks and a severe underbite. (Honestly, the illustration doesn't resemble Daimon at all... or, for that matter, an actual troll...)
Damion considers the illustration gravely, "I don't see the resemblance myself. Handsome bloke, whoever he is."
Petracleus bows in response to Gertrude's curtsy, "An equal pleasure, if not more, to make your acquaintance. You are here by invitation of the lord of this castle? ...and you have been invited to live here?"
...what in the seven hells is happening here? Why would Strahd invite a young girl to reside here? Whatever it is that Gertrude believes is happening, I have little doubt Strahd means her nothing good.
Theodora watches the girl closely, as something seems off about the whole situation. While the others begin engaging Gertruda in conversation, the paladin concentrates on the young woman for a few moments to determine if the presence of evil hangs in her aura.
Countessa suppresses a laugh. "I'm not royalty. That's just my name. My mother had high expectations for me."
Recognizing the "paladin's stare" that Theodora is giving the girl, Countessa waits to see the result before taking further action.
In response to Petracleus' question, Gertruda gushes, "Yes! Isn't it exciting? And to think it happened on only the third or fourth time I left my mother's house! I was in the central square of the village just after dusk, when a beautiful black carriage rolled into town, and stopped near where I was standing. It was just like the carriage of a prince from the stories! The door opened, and a handsome gentleman stepped out: I could tell immediately that he was of noble character. He asked me my name, and after I responded, he said he was the Count! He said that he was looking for a new girl to come to live with him at the castle, and asked if I knew of any young women who would be interested. I nearly fainted and said that I didn't know any other girls in town, but I would be happy to come! I asked him when the next ball at the castle was going to be. He smiled and said that he had many beautiful ball gowns that would look 'radiant' on me. He actually said 'radiant!' He then said that he hadn't hosted a ball in a while, but, if I would like to have one, he could make the arrangements in as soon as three weeks. He then asked if I could come up to the castle that night, and I immediately said, 'Yes!' That was two weeks ago, and I've been living here in the castle ever since. He has been such a gentleman to me, and his servants have all be so polite as well. Will you all be attending the ball next week?"