A Dark Figure - CoS

 

As we finished last weeks battles, we thought that we had vanquished our foe but alas, ‘twas not so.  But I am getting ahead of myself.  As we left the Shadows behind, we enter another section of the water-logged dungeons and find a cell room.  In the cells, we come across the bones of the wizard friend that had traveled with Dorol...did I say friend?  Boy did Eravan really misread that connection and all came to light when Dorol, upon seeing the corpse, runs it through with his sword (And I thought Paladins were benevolent).  We also come across a prisoner who begs us for help.  Dante breaks him free and he joins on...cause.  Well at least we thought he would join us but soon after we leave the cell room, he is no where to be found.  Sneaky little imp!

Before we continue too much farther, Castiel, thinking ahead, grants us all the ability to walk on water.  Grateful for that boon, we continue down the corridor in hopes of finding Ireena or an exit when we come to a large, flooded room.  Upon entering, we attacked by 5ish zombies that rise up from the depths of the water.   Our strength is becoming sapped, but we fight on bravely and destroy these foul undead.  As we search around, we realize that there is a platform that has a dais of colorful flame that clearly is magical.  Upon investigation, we notice that there are large colorful gems in different basins near one of the walls with names written on them.  Bedchamber, library, movie theatre...movie theatre?  Maybe a new style of entertainment?

 

We test it out and find out that if we place a gem in the flames, it changes color.  Dante decides to become "test subject #1" and jumps into the flames.  He disappears and the flames return to their normal color.  Hoping that he is fine and has just been teleported to another location, we throw in another gem of the same color and follow his example (hopefully we all don't die).  We end up in a room that has 2 sarcophagi and a bunch of lovely ladies...wait!  Something is off with their looks.  Oh yea, that is right!  They are vampiric spawn!  Why is everything in this place undead!?

 

These female cohorts of Strahd are vicious and tough!  It is not easy beating them, but we finally do and check the sarcophagi.  To our relief, we find Ireena!  She seems normal and okay, though a little dazed.  We try to leave but are blocked by the one who we have come seeking; Lord Strahd.

 

Realizing our power, he tries to reason and sway each of us to his side.  Not one of us is taking the bait and when he attempts to sway us, Eravan casts a spell that animates the 2 stone statues that were guarding the sarcophagi room and one of the sarcophagi.  Eravan is surprised by this new spell but giddy that he can animate them!  With that action, the battle commences!

 

The one thing we all thought we would do is surround Strahd and take him on all together, but we all did not take into account his ability to 'misty step' from one place to another so quickly and without warning.  It felt like a came of hide and seek but reversed.  As we all tried to reach him, he would go, Poof! and move to another spot.  We were lucky to get any close quarter combat at all.  We luckily wore him down though and with the power of the amulet and the sun sword, we finally vanquished our worst nightmare!

 

Or so we thought.  As he is falls beneath our final blows (actually, who did deliver the final blow?), a wisp of black smoke oozes from his body and floats away towards a small antechamber where a blackened sarcophagus rests.  As we follow it and enter this room, the wisp enters the death box and from it erupts a demon from the netherworld.  With this new shocking turn of events, our party must wait another week to find out what happens in FINAL chapter of their adventures.  Will they survive?  Will they succeed?  All will be revealed next Saturday!