7. There Has to Be a Morning After

[GreyWolfVT]

Fendt follows along magical mace in one hand and ready.

[Computer +1]

Tumbler takes one look at Castran and then one look at the Sunsword. I aint scouting ahead while that thing is glowing he mutters.

Sorry for the awkward delay about which door Tumbler was checking. This all worked out though.

[Dram]

Bragar will follow along with the rest of group. Maybe We can throw a cloak over it.

[Zhym]

Everybody following. Anyone leading? As far as I can tell, no one is going anywhere at the moment.

[Storm11]

The gnome will head to the door and listen

[Zhym]

Castran doesn't hear anything.

[Storm11]

He will try the door and see if it's locked.

[MonkeyWrench]

Iluq squints in the light, cursing his already cursed race. He has his two hammers at the ready, doing his best to stay in front of the many lights.

[Zhym]

Date: Nouluna 6, 1221
Time: 3:00 AM
Weather: Light rain
Moon: Waning gibbous
Location: Castle Ravenloft, Hallway
**************************************

Castran tries the door. It is unlocked.

The door opens into a 20x30 room. Stained, yellow lace hangs neatly from eight canopied beds. The single lithe figure of a woman moves about the room, dusting the furniture. She turns at the sound of the door opening.

"Oh!" exclaims the woman. "You startled me!" She waves a feather duster in front of her face like a fan. She seems to be in her early twenties, with straight blonde hair and fair features.

"Are you here to rescue me?" she asks.

Map 4.png (75.18 KiB) Viewed 314 times

Status: Agrippo: 32/52, Tibbius: 8/9, Iluq: 13/34, Tumbler: 24/39, Robert: 16/34; Fendt: 14/15; Castran: 13/23; Melampus: 16/21; Bragar: 31/42
Effects: Resist Fire (Iluq): 4.2 turns

[GreyWolfVT]

Fendt "Not to sound rude young lady but, who are you and where did you come from?"

[Zhym]

"My name is Helga, m'lord," she replies with a small curtsey. "I'm from the village. I guess most people here would be, wouldn't they? My mum lives there—or I hope she still does. You never know in Barovia, with, well, you know. He took me from the town. He makes me clean the castle!"

"Oh, please, won't you take me with you?" she pleads.

[GreyWolfVT]

Fendt "Have you seen Strahd or a woman named Ireena about as you have been cleaning the castle?" he pauses a moment then adds "We surely can get you out of here but i fear if you do come with us it will lead you into more danger as we seek to kill Strahd first."

[Zhym]

Helga does another little curtsey. "No, m'lord. The Lord of the castle does not like to have his servants underfoot. That's all the same by me, if you take my meaning, sir. But he spends a lot of time in the catacombs. That's where I'd look if I were you and I wanted to find him."

"But you look tired and hurt, if I may be so bold as to say so, m'lord. Please take me back to town. You could get some rest and I could see me dear mum!"

She looks at you with hopeful eyes.

[GreyWolfVT]

Fendt bows slightly "I'd love to escort you back home and out of this place. Might you know of a way that is safe to exit? You might have a harder time convincing my fellow men at arms of this."

[Zhym]

The hope in her eyes spreads into an expression of gratitude. She practically kneels on the floor in supplication. "Yes! Of course, m'lord! I know every nook and cranny of this castle! I have to clean it all! Follow me, and I will show you the safe way out of Ravenloft!"

[GreyWolfVT]

Fendt looks to the clerical folks in the party and whispers to Iluq, Bragar & Melampus "Any chance any of you can anything detect evil about her? I want to know if she is leading us into a trap or not." he then turns back to her. "Well now how long have you been kept here my dear?"

[Dram]

Bragar- Getting outta here may be the thing for us. We recoup our spells and restock our rations. Also strengthen our forces With some more blades. He has a concerned look on his face. He says in Dwarven Should we trust her? She could be like Strahd. Bragar casts detect Evil.

[Zhym]

Helga looks at Fendt quizzically while he whispers to the clerics. After he turns back to ask her ask her how long she has been here, she replies, "Oh, probably about eight months, m'lord. I do miss me mum so!"

Bragar starts to cast. Helga jumps up and pushes her way forward, grabbing his hands and interrupting his spell. "Hey now!" she says. "No disrespect, m'lord, but me mum raised me proper like! I'll be having no mojo on me, you hear? And I thought you were proper gentlemen!"

Casting know alignment or detect evil is obvious and very offensive to most people. A good-aligned cleric would think twice before using either spell on a seemingly friendly creature.

If Melampus or Bragar want to substitute other spells for those two in their memorized spell list, they may.

[GreyWolfVT]

Fendt smiles at Helga "Dear you see we are just trying to be careful in this place even a friendly face could be a spy from Strahd. Don't take offense we just can't be too careful with what we have dealt with in this place thus far."

[greyarea]

Melampus

Melampus nods at the woman's reaction and slips between her and the other cleric. Please don't be offended, but with the castle itself and our recent encounters, I'm afraid our friends are a bit jumpy. I'm sure he was just casting a spell of healing in case you have any unseen wounds. Mojo is not on his mind. We just need to get you back to your town healthy.

Can you also tell us where the master of the manor might be located? We're seeking ... an audience with him.

Interesting call, DM. I'm aboard: Detect Evil swapped for Sanctuary.