I like you're thinking Del, let's check that armor and then move down to the first floor and check all the sides around the void area.
The Baron joins his friends in a desire to be rid of this fun house.
Searching the house Diaz finds a secret door in the library. The secret room contains many bookshelves full of tomes. A heavy wooden chest with clawed iron feet stands against the south wall, its lid half-closed. Sticking out of the chest is a skeleton in leather armor. Close inspection reveals that the skeleton belongs to a human who triggered a poisoned dart trap. Three darts are stuck in the dead adventurer’s armor and ribcage. Clutched in the skeleton’s left hand is a letter that has the seal of Strahd von Zarovich and reads.
I am not a messiah sent to you by the Dark Powers of this land. I have not come to lead you on a path to immortality. However many souls you have bled on your hidden altar, however many visitors you have tortured in your dungeon, know that you are not the ones who brought me to this beautiful land. You are but worms writhing in my earth.
You say that you are cursed, your fortunes spent. You abandoned love for madness, took solace in the bosom of another woman, and sired a stillborn son. Cursed by darkness? Of that I have no doubt. Save you from your wretchedness? I think not. I much prefer you as you are.
Your dread lord and master,
Strahd von Zarovich
After finding the letter a door appears on the attic level and reveals a spiral staircase going down to the basement.
Well done Diaz. Well what an interesting letter, I wonder what it all means it seems very foreboding. I guess this poor fool was a follower of Strahd, that seems a mistake for sure. The Baron observes.
Splitz gives the chest the once over. Before leading back up to the attic.
The thing is there was no click, the doorway just appears. Nothing else in the chest.
Baron leads them through the magical appearing door.
Del looks a little weary, Perhaps we should sit down and gives ourselves a quick breather before seeing what is through that door. The Baron suggests.
How did we miss that door? Did it just appear? What if it disappears when we go through it? Diaz asked sitting down and staring at the door
Afterward you head down, the wooden spiral staircase from the attic ends here. A narrow tunnel stretches southward before branching east and west. An eerie, incessant chants echoes throughout you are unsure where they are coming from but they are very off putting.
As usual when the party encounters anything new, Ash shoulders his way to the front and gives Del a look that clearly says Stay out of trouble! He pauses at the intersection to listen for the direction of changing and if he recognizes it (although much less capable than his brother in the learned areas).
I do not like the feel of this. An unholy house with an even more evil foundation. Eldath, show me my foes. As he whispers the last, he closes his physical eyes and allows Eldath's sight to pass through him.
Its impossible to gauge where that chanting is coming from and can't tell what's being said, its from everywhere and nowhere. Its extremely dark down here so someone will need to provide a light source. The walls are crudely carved and are a mix of earth, clay, and rock. Timber braces are set up at 5 foot intervals.
Ash doesn't sense any presence at the moment. How long does that for?
Here, this may give us more light. Diaz pulls a hooded lantern out of his pack. This way you can still use your shield.
Hearing Del and Diaz discuss the options, Ash grips his shield tighter and strides towards the hall to his left. We may as well get this finished...even if we die in the trying.
Onward to glory or certain death! The Baron tries to inspire but it comes out kinda weird.
A wooden table and four chairs stand at the east end of this room. To the west are four alcoves containing moldy straw pallets.
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Del will move into the room with his brother, shield up and mace at the ready.
Come now friends, don't let this gloomy place get the better of you. Keep your spirits up!
I look across from where I am to see if that is a hallway or door, or just a cubicle, and then if room seems normal I'll check out the alcoves with the straw pallets.
It appears to be a small hallway that turns left.
Diaz will check out the hallway opposite him.
You still hear the eerie incessant chants but nothing more. This room seems to be as described with no enemies.
Diaz you see two crypts both of which are empty and both have stone slabs meant to seal the crypts leaning against a nearby wall. One of the slabs has no writing and the other has the name Walter Durst on it.
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Del moves back to the intersection of the two hallways and pulls his crossbow, drawing and placing a bolt. Diaz, grab my brother and the Baron and explore the crypt you found while I watch the hall. Then we can decide to go west from here or north above the straw pallet and table room. We've not seen anything of interest so far and I fear we need to move quickly.