Flemming looks uncomfortable. It's true, they were attacked - viciously and without provocation, but it puts the count in an impossible position. Defend his brother - his own flesh and blood - and alienate us. Or cast his brother aside, to gain our support, however uncertain.
"Look, I guess what we're wanting to know is whether we can stop Sergei's attacks for now. It wouldn't do if he were aligned with the witches. Do you know if resolving the issues will calm Sergei down?"
Mimi studies the Count with her eyes, while she answers Tural. "We can do both. The Count made an honest inquiry of our evening, and my hackles raised. Our gracious host should know that our efforts to see the curse lifted may well be thwarted by Sergei. And we should know what will transpire should we slay his brother while defending our lives. There is too much we don't know."
”On the matter of the witches?…Were you going to ask the Count about his brother's ambush?…We were attacked when we left yesterday, and we believe is was Sergei…we should focus on breaking the curse first. Doing so may resolve the issue with Sergei.”
The Count waves his arms to settle the comments. ”Hold now, you must explain these items in detail. My brother has been confined for over a century, what is this about Sergei?"
"Look, I guess what we're wanting to know is whether we can stop Sergei's attacks for now. It wouldn't do if he were aligned with the witches. Do you know if resolving the issues will calm Sergei down?”
”How could it be him.” Strahd looks sad rather than defiant, ”This is a sad tale, but I myself put the stake through his heart and placed him in his tomb. I blame the witches for his corruption, but I don’t think their defeat will bring Sergei back.”
"We can do both. The Count made an honest inquiry of our evening, and my hackles raised. Our gracious host should know that our efforts to see the curse lifted may well be thwarted by Sergei. And we should know what will transpire should we slay his brother while defending our lives. There is too much we don't know.”
”If Sergei is free, then it would be a service to confine him again. I would offer to sooth your fears, but it would not be a genuine offer as its now my fear that need to be sated. Let us examine Sergei’s tomb and put this question to rest. If my brother is free from his coffin it would explain much, but also create new questions that may be more concerning. Let us go see his tomb for ourselves.”
Strahd gestures toward the door, apparently ready to lead you to Sergei’s tomb.
Borracho nods at the Count's idea.
"This is a grand idea, one that I, Borracho, was about to express myself. Lead on, Count, while we make ready," Borracho says agreeably.
He prepares to be the best Borracho he can be.
Conditions = Heroism (120m), Mage Armor (+4, 60m), Barkskin (+3, 60m)
Melee: Attack: BAB +6/1, Dex +5, Focus +1, PS -2 Damage: Dex +5, PS +4 DR: Magic, Silver Crit x2
Ranged: Attack: BAB +6/1, Dex +5 Damage: +0
Ki Powers (8/9) (extra attack, barkskin (60m, +3 nat armor), scorching ray (1 ray, 2ki))
Stunning Fist (6/6) (stun or fatigue, DC 16 Fort)
Reroll Charm or Compulsion (1/1)
Ki Ring (2/2, +2 CMD grapple, reposition, & trip, -1 ki for powers)
Ring of Seven Colors (7/7, 10m, Songbird)
Daredevil Boots (10/10r, free, +5 acrobatics (comp) to avoid AoO when moving, if through the target then +1 to attacks)
Wand Mage Armor (43, +4 armor, 1h)
Flemming is surprised by the Count's response. But he nods along. When Borracho blesses him with Heroism, he also passes his wand of mage armor over for an additional boost.
Following the Count, he'll also Barkskin (ki).
"We're behind you Count. Let's see what there is to see."
He keeps his eyes peeled for trouble.
Mimi nods to the Count, the head gesture as easily a sign of respect as it might be encouragement for the vampire lord to lead them to another vampire lord's resting chamber, where they might all be easy prey for locking up, and serving as blood bags...
”My normal route requires another form. We’ll have to take a path suitable for you.” Strahd leads out the door to the Hall of Heroes where the whisperings change to nagging the Count about the state of the castle. Strahd says nothing and continues through the rubble strewn hall to the stairs leading down. Passing through the abandoned throne room, you descend the main staircase to the great entry hall. ”It’s been many years since I visited the chapel. It is a sad reminder for me of the tragedy here.” Strahd leads through the massive doors that the troupe opened just yesterday and pauses in the chapel for a few moments. His reflection on the past is interrupted by the ghouls on the balcony. ”Another performance! You spoil us!” the gentleman calls. ”Spoil us, we’re already rotten”, the lady ghoul adds, ”Will the Count be joining you for this performance?” Strahd turns a confused look on the troupe. ”Your willingness to see past our condition and treat us with humanity is still surprising to me.” Impressed with the troupe, Strahd leads through the alcove south of the chapel doors to a landing on a large staircase.
The large gray flagstones of this spiraling staircase lead up and down around a 20 foot wide stone core. Cobwebs fill the staircase, making it difficult to see even the ceiling. Heavy beams sag overhead from centuries of weight.
You’ve gone 20 steps down the stairwell, when the cobwebs part to reveal a newly constructed wall blocking the stairs. Strahd is stunned by the discovery. ”What is this? Who has done this?” The stones of the wall are a different material than the stairwell and the mortar is new. As you examine the new wall, you find a gap has been left in one row of stones at the end, creating a space a few inches wide passing through. Borracho’s lanterns dance through the little space and peeking in the gap you can see the stairwell continues unobstructed pass the wall.
”Your willingness to see past our condition and treat us with humanity is still surprising to me.”
Borracho smiles graciously.
"Of course! Of course, I will treat all audience as good audience, for the magic of performing arts can change the world. The only audience that is excluded from that are those that wear red hats, for they couldn't tell the difference between high art and an orange baboon speaking from its ass."
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”Another performance! You spoil us!” the gentleman calls. ”Spoil us, we’re already rotten”, the lady ghoul adds, ”Will the Count be joining you for this performance?”
Borracho smiles and bows to StaleLeer and Ghouldorf.
"Another time, my friends. We are on business with the Count and cannot tarry. But will try to come serve again if our time allows," Borracho projects and orates up to the rafters.
”What is this? Who has done this?” The stones of the wall are a different material than the stairwell and the mortar is new. As you examine the new wall, you find a gap has been left in one row of stones at the end, creating a space a few inches wide passing through.
"Ah!" Borracho says, probably knowing the answer. "Is this where the casks of Amontillado are kept?"
Flemming smiles and waives at the ghouls. Who'd have thunk it? I'm glad to see ghouls...
When they reach the wall though, he frowns along with the Count.
"I suspect this is where your brother was interred? Certainly seems suspicious."
He tests the wall, how sturdy is it? What would it take to knock down/destroy?
"Is this where the casks of Amontillado are kept?”
”The wine cellar is in the larder, but I don’t recall us having any casks of that type.”
"I suspect this is where your brother was interred? Certainly seems suspicious."
”Yes, it is the only path to the catacombs without going through private stairways and a horrific dungeon. It is more than suspicious. Please, give me just a moment.” Strahd dissipates into a cloud of gas, the transformation directly in front of you is wondrous to behold. The gas cloud churns as it streams to the gap and flows through, a few moments later Strahd calls to you from the other side. ”This wall is weak, thin with no backing, we just need a battering ram.” The gas cloud streams back through the gap and Strahd reforms before you. ”I mean no disrespect, but we could use one of the church pews from the chapel”, Strahd offers helpfully.
Tural walks with the group quietly. Believing that Strahd's brother, another powerful vampire could be loose anywhere in the castle.... has him very concerned. The witches were probably going to be a hard task. Adding Sergei? But it was better knowing.
"Ah, your people love a good performance. And we are all performers to some extent."
Getting to the blocked stairs he watches as Strahd goes through in gaseous form. "I think somebody freed him and he blocked this here. He can get through the same way you did. He could be anywhere."
"But yes, let's get a church pew or something heavy to break it down."
Flemming nods with the suggestion. "Count, the pews aren't special. No disrespect to smash one in a good cause." He grins and heads off in the direction of the chapel, eager to pierce the wall.
Wasting no time, the troupe finds a mostly intact pew and carries it back to the amateur wall. In hindsight, you’ll likely wonder at the scene of working with a vampire using a church pew in breaking down a wall to a crypt that houses more undead, but in the moment it feels right. As a team, you swing the heavy wooden pew into the center of the wall, and the first smash cracks it. By the third smash, bricks have fallen from the center, and soon the wall crumbles around the middle. A few of the stones bounce down the steps of the tower and vanish into the darkness. With the way clear, Borracho’s dancing lanterns cast strange shadows through the thick cobwebs as you continue down the stairwell another 80 feet. At the base, the final steps vanish into a low clinging fog.
Buried deep beneath the keep of Ravenloft, this arched ceiling sags over squat crypts, forming these catacombs. A thick fog clings to the floor at knee height. Cobwebs hang limp in the musty air. Thick dust has settled over everything, filling the engravings on the crypts, making it difficult to read the names of those buried here. The black ceiling is moving.
The dancing lights move out into the large, open room, illuminating dozens of sarcophagus. The catacombs stretch 90 feet in front of you, with a massive stairway leading to a spectacular crypt with stained glass windows illuminating it from the outside. The crypt must be the windows set in the cliff face a hundred feet below the castle courtyard that you discussed earlier. To either side, the catacombs stretch a total of 180 feet, with crypts at either end. Strahd weaves through the sarcophagus to the northern crypt.
A thick iron grate secures the crypt of Sergei von Zarovich. The door set in the grate has a bright silver chain wrapped around the bars just above the lock.
In the center of the tomb, a white marble slab holds the coffin of Sergei von Zarovich just above the level of the fog. This quiet room is 50 feet long north to south and 30 feet across. To the north, behind the intricately inlaid coffin, there are three alcoves. Beautifully carved statues stand in each alcove, just as the day they were placed there.
On close inspection, you find the silver chain is intact and the lock is secure and appears to be untampered. Even Tural’s keen eyes find no flaw in the door or lock. But Mimi knows better. This isn’t a test of how well the eyes perceive, it’s meant to use the eyes against the observer, drawing their attention to the bright silver chain and complex lock. Her fingers seek the source of the real trick, located well away from the door, and her nails find the edge of the cut in the grate itself. She follows it to a line of expert cuts done with a master tool, perfectly at the joints with the crossbars to stay hidden, to create a door around the door. With a single hand, Mimi swings the middle of the grate open wide, complete with locked door in the center, clearing the path to the crypt.
"I think this confirms my fears." Strahd seems genuinely sad. "Let us check the coffin of my brother."
Weapon ready Tural advances into the room slowly, scanning the ceiling, corners, anywhere Sergei might be hiding. "Strahd. If he is hiding here and attacks you might want to leave the area. I can't exclude you when I channel the divine power as a weapon."
"And we are all performers to some extent."
"Ah yes, some say life's a stage, but there is a deeper truth:
Life's a show,And we all play our parts,
And when the music starts,
We open up our hearts," Borracho quotes from ye olde divine wisdom.
Borracho will then help remove the blockade, and follows the Count down. He will keep this lights dancing ahead as needed.
He will perceive with the eyes of a Borracho: Perception
Flemming nods to the Count, and agrees with Tural's warning. "Yeah, I think we can take this guy if it comes to it. Probably." he adds uneasily.
He smiles at Borracho's poetry. Then he'll descend to the coffin and prepare to open it when everyone is in position.
Mimi pats the grate respectfully, while observing the others gathering about the coffin. The fog is strangely pleasing to the Crow. It is a strange equity, denying all eyes present a good look at the floor.
The old woman considers magical preparations, now that she has them. She pictures a red-eyed horror emerging from the coffin, so enraged that its sanctuary has been desecrated by their infiltration. Then she pictures a red-lined interior of the coffin, satin sans vampire. So she waits.
The troupe arranges themselves around the coffin, and from the top of the steps Strahd nods to Flemming. The monk flings open the coffin lid, it swings easily and quietly of freshly oiled hinges, revealing the old plush padding of the empty interior. Sergei is not in his coffin.
”By the evil gods, he is free again. This explains much of what is plaguing these lands, but now we must wonder what set him free.” Strahd seems calm as he walks slowly down the steps into the crypt. ”For him to not be here in his coffin during the day, he knows that we are searching. I fear that he has other coffins hidden nearby.” Walking up to the coffin, anger starts pulling at the corners of his mouth. ”I must return to my chambers and see that Gertruda is safe. Will you return with me?” Strahd grabs the heavy coffin and lifts it from the pedestal with a supernatural strength. The calm demeanor is stripped away as a fury changes him. He turns and throws the coffin against the back wall of the crypt, shattering it. A feat of strength the troupe would have struggled to achieve as a team. Strahd toes through the splintered remains of the coffin, then lifts a large fragment shaped perfectly like a stake. ”I’ll skewer him with his own coffin if I get a chance.” With a flip of his cloak, the vampire turns and strides back out of the crypt, towards the stairwell twisting upward.
"Dear Count, we found another coffin within the church and we have destroyed it. Could there be others?" Borracho queries.
Borracho pauses at the broken coffin, then looks to Tural.
"Most holy Tural, holy much like Borracho, do you think this shattering of the coffin is enough? Should we crush it under the foot of a humble ant or bathe it in the river of Death to ensure that Sergei cannot use it again?" Borracho asks.
Flemming nods, ”Sure think Count. We’ll be right behind you.”
He looks to the others for confirmation, and shrugs at Borracho’s thoughts, ”I dunno. The Count seemed to think scattering them around was enough. Let’s hope so. I’ve never met a humble ant in my life. C’mon!”
Tural looks at the shattered coffin. "I think that one would no longer serve. But, knowing that it would mean the end of his existence, I'm sure he has created others. He won't be defeated by destroying coffins."
"Let's go." Tural follows Strahd, concerned with his anger.
"We found another coffin within the church and we have destroyed it. Could there be others?”
”Yes, it is likely, but they would be well hidden, like the coffin in the church. He would seek out properties that belonged to the Ravenloft family. I suspect the abandoned gatehouse in the high Balinoks will be another of his lairs.”
When Strahd sees the troupe is continuing back with him, he slows his pace and relaxes a little. “I should be glad to know the cause of the recent troubles, but it disturbs me greatly that Sergei has been freed. I wondered at the demon taking up residence in the larder, these things must be connected.” Strahd leads through the levels of the castle and soon the troupe is back in his chambers. Gertruda and Helga sit close together with frightened looks. When Strahd confirms that Sergei is free from his coffin, the expressions turn to terror.
”What path will you take now? I cannot offer advice, for I fear my emotions will alter my reasoning. Sergei will be on the hunt with the sunset, but it is not yet lunchtime, so daylight is on your side.”
"I think we must start with the witches." Flemming offers. "Then we head down to deal with Sergei. Or at least check out that location before dusk. That was not far from where he attacked the coach. He must have just awakened for the night when we went rumbling by."
"Count Strahd, you said you might have some advice for us on the witches? Is that still true?"
Tural nods agreement with Flemming. "We're here. Might as well brace the witches if that is an option. Any information you have on them could be crucial to that encounter."
"That is an excellent idea, strong friend Flem, one that I, Borracho, was about to suggest myself. Lesser men would avoid the greater danger, but brave men like us do not fear peril," Borracho agrees, fists on hips.
"What is the best way to get to the witches? And how might we vex them best?" he adds his own questions.