The Castle - Floor 4

Frac casts Detect Magic and looks around.

Clarence considers the "prophecies" of the visions in the prison. Frac, little buddy, anything here look like "where the stone itself beats with life" and which contains a sword? Matbe in the chest? Also, we are about as lofty as one can be in this accursed castle. Anything looking like " the Raven whose wingspan eclipses the moon"? It's clearly not the Priest since this is a woman. Perhaps this is mother? She looks young though.

Varos will head to the chest and check the locks.

Dudes, dudettes, and little green friends, we may have found the Raven! Clarence excitedly points out the bird nest. Anyone else have any gold besides this candelabra I picked up downstairs?

Clarence look around again. Shame to miss out on the sword if it’s here. What would be "stone beats with life"? In any event, if we cannot find anything else in this room, we should check out that birds nest.

But first, Clarence walks over to the sleeping/dead/comatose possible vampire in the coffin and looks for anything which would fit with the prison cell corpse augeries.

Gregory is already there when Clarence join him in inspecting the ivory woman laid to rest in the room!

He keeps his spell close at hand, so that he might hold the woman, should she suddenly spring to life!

"Who do you suppose this is? A previous victim, maybe?" he says, reaching a hand out to indicate the wounds around her neck!

"I'm all for raiding this place for shiny trinkets for the raven." He pauses to think for a moment and continues, "I am not sure what the riddle of the sword is. But perhaps another tower could still be a place of great heights and it is on the way to the bird nest anyway."

Tibor walks over to the coffin and looks more closely at the lady inside. "Perhaps she is what the fortune of the Ghost means by restoring lost love." He sees what she holds in her hands and wonders if he could really steal the rose if it was what was needed for the raven. He steps right next to the coffin. "Her neck certainly doesn't look like a vampire bite. It almost looks like she was strangled to death."

"A terribly angry act, yes!" Gregory confirms, feeling some pity for the woman. And yet, here she was in pride of place, so she could be no simple dungeon captive…

Coughing profusely, Anton is looking far less well than before the arcane transportation. He had been withholding the use of curative magic, but the time had come to supplicate Madeera for her blessing once again. Muttering the words of a well known psalm, the priest attempted to invoke the healing energies of his goddess.

With a smile of pure joy he feels the mystical energies embrace his person, and as he touches his wounded shoulder and his exhausted chest, he feels the workings of Madeera restore his vitality. After the use of the spell, the young man seems almost fully restored to health.

Relieved to have recovered his vitality, Anton now turned to examine the room about him. He was happy to see that the raven's nest had been found, though a path must yet be found to it. Regarding the sword of which there had been some rumour in the dungeons below, Anton wondered if they were at the right high place.

For one, it would not be unthinkable that the sword be outside of this very tower, used as a pinnacle for the orrfing for instance. He looked at the ceiling, wondering if there might be a passage to an attic, or if the rooftop could only be reached by breaking the glass window and attempting to climb up the wall.

Then he c onidered the glass coffin. His eyes could only leave the gold and ruby rose with some effort. "We might need that as an offering for the raven, if that is the path we use." He observed the coffin, trying to determine if it could be easily opened, and if so, how.

The iron chest he left alone. Three keys were needed, it seemed. There was little he could do to open that path.

Varos will attempt to pick the locks he figures they only he wouldn't be able was if the keys had to be turned at the same time.

Anton examines the glass coffin some more. Could a truly athletic fellow, say Clarence, be able to raise the entire glass cover off, without having to break the glass?

Do one of you men of magic know any kind of levitation spell? Or perhaps we could find some rope somewhere to help with the climbing.

The only magic I know is the magic of splendiferous musculature.

"Well I can't pick all three at the same time. Anton why don't you let Clarence borrow your bar so he can pop these locks."

"Here", Anton said proffering the crowbar to whomever might want it. "Could the chest be trapped? Do we need to get out of the room or something?"

Varos will check the chest for traps.

"That magic is beyond me!" Gregory says with some genuine sadness! He had never been able to master the spells surrounding flight and levitation. Those would require much further study!

The strongmen were sorely needed at both the glass casket and the locked boxes! Gregory waits a moment, feeling that the treasure boxes will be the less threatening of the two options!

"The chest is clear so we can break those locks off."

"Unfortunately, no."

Unable to help with the locks or the glass, Frac waits for the group. If nothing else works, they can take the stairs.

Clarence doesn’t want to do anything until his outstanding searches are resolved.

"Help me with this!" Gregory asks the room, as he places his fingers under the lip of the coffin and prepares to lift the top off!

"Its much too heavy for one!" he warns, and waits for a second to help him open the casket and have a closer look at the woman inside… and what she holds!

"If we want the flower, we'll have to break the glass," the priest stated in response to Gregory's efforts. Still holding out the crowbar in one hand, he awaited for Clarence or Tibor to take it and use it either for the chest's three locks, or to smash the glass coffin. Being an individual of most average strength and subpar hand-eye coordination, he had long ago learned not to swing large, hard objects around. Last time he had tried, he had been bitten by a bloated corpse for his efforts. "Will one of you gentlemen use this?" he asked, looking to Clarence and Tibor.

Clarence flexes his mighty biceps and says Sure. The "body" was made for feats of strength. After a few practice swings, Clarence winds up, but does not smash the glass with abandon—instead sharply rapping it on the corner at the apparent corpses left foot.

While Clarence is "opening" the glass coffin, Tibor uses the back of his hammer to try and pry the 3 locks off the chest.

So focused of the chest Varos hasn't even noticed what the others are doing"What do we have here?" Varos will reach in and lift the sword hilt out to show the others.

Gregory would just as happily pretend he didn’t hear the words escape from the woman in the case. Not least because she mentions him. Who he was, Gregory could surely guess…

Though perhaps they could barter her life… her unlife… in return for their escape from this place. A hostage trade, so to speak: the group here in exchange for her.

"Are you alright?" he says, tentatively reaching a hand out to shake the woman’s shoulder, as if pulling her from a long sleep.

Tibor is breathing hard and dark sweat stains have formed on the sides of his tunic as he breaks the final lock off. He doesnt hear the voice as his own blood thunders in his head. Is his pulse running slower than usual?

He takes a deep breath and then looks at the silver hilt. "Well thats part of a sword at least. And more silver if nothing else."

As Clarence grabs the golden rose, he hears the spectral voice Take me to him. To whom, my lady, Clarence whispers back, somewhat in shock. His mind racing through the remembered prophecies, Clarence cannot control a stream of questions. Are you the mother? Are you what the ghost has lost? Will taking you to the ghost free us? Who is the ghost? Where may he be found?

Taking a moment to breath, Clarence compliments Tibor. Tibor, well, done! Nice form, although flex your lower deltoids next time you exert like that. It adds both strength to the leverage and makes the ladies swoon if you're shirtless.

Finally seeing what Varos holds, Clarence exclaims Varos, my man, if that isn't the sword from the curse-breaking path, my name isn't Clarence "the body" Bodiuex!

Clarence eyes the sword hungrily. Clarence likes swords. Big swords. Big sharp shiny swords. Clarence moves forward to see if what Varos is holding is a bigger, sharper, shiner sword than the one he holds now, his eyes glazing over slightly. Clarence likes swords. Big swords. Big sharp shiny swords……

"Dead!" Gregory remarks with some astonishment, as he is sure he heard a voice. A trick meant to unnerve those who would pilfer the rose…

"Best we don’t burden ourselves with a dead body! We have little enough time as it is!

Are we ready to descend to the bird’s nest?" he asks the others as they marvel over the sword!

"Magnificent", the young priest stated as the two strong men smashed and crushed the many obstacles. He recovered the crowbar once Clarence had no further need of it, and had calmed down. "May I examine the rose?" the young priest enquired, looking at Clarence.

Anton considered the rose for a few moments, then handed it back to Clarence. He then turned to the woman's corpse, and tried to examine it for any further indications. Perhaps she was the ghost, and taking her to him might allow her to take revenge from beyond death.

Varos will also examine the sword hilt to see if there is an writing on it. 'I wonder if the blade is around the castle somewhere."

"I wonder if this woman is not the one who led to the Ghost's demise? Perhaps the ghost is the he, the corpse referred to..." Anton mused. They must keep moving. Finding the hilt dispelled the idea of climbing on the roof, so it seemed the only path available was the staircase leading down.

Looking at the hilt Varos tells the others "No blade would be able to attach to this. Maybe it is a type of key. We should keep our eyes open for a blade without a hilt protruding from something."

Shaken out of his reverie by the lack of a blade, Clarence asks Well, are we going downstairs or are we going to the nest?

"They are one and the same." Gregory supposes, unless the body-builder wanted to jump out the window and hope the nest was sufficiently cushioned to catch him.

"One thing at a time!" he warns, looking back at the woman’s body he had left in its place, just before he leaves the room!

Ahhh. I see, Gregory. But are we carrying the lady to the Ghost, wherever or whoever he may be? Are we taking the rose to the ghost as her keepsake? Or are we giving the rose and candelabra to the Raven? Maybe we should speak to the Raven first and see what it says.

Tibor will go down the stairs with everyone else.

"I still wonder about the other part of the that sword. Once we make it to the lower tower, we might have a view of the top of this tower. Perhaps the other part is the lightning rod... Bah! This Raven makes much more sense to me than some wild goose chase after riddles when our time is ticking away."

"Our priority should be ourselves." Gregory councils. They could indeed reunite lost lovers or whatever riddle the dead woman had hinted at. But time was against them, and they couldn’t afford to travel a path that ended up bearing no fruit.

"Let us bargain with the Raven at the bottom of this tower. If that’s fails; it may at least direct us to the door! Perhaps we could pay the price to leave…"

Well, it's good I have one and a half more candles and five more matches, said Clarence as he lights the second full taper. Bending down, he looks the cat right into its deep violet eyes. The noble cat is a mysterious and knowledgeable creature. All cats are part sphinx, just as all sphinxes are part cat. What is it you want from us, felicitous feline?

Before Clarence can light the next candle, Anton stays his hand. "Wait, it would be wise to keep those for a moment we have no other source of light." He then observed how the cat responded to Clarence's words.

"The cat has found the bird to be too big to hunt!" Gregory remarks, though he furrows his brow at Clarence’s theory.

"Are we really going to follow a cat? Maybe the cat is a diversion."

"No, let's enter the doorway."

Satisfied the cat had not turned into a further obstacle, Anton was eager to act on Frac's suggestion and explore the adjoining room.

Gregory wastes no time in trying to cross the space! He takes a precarious moment to look down at the nest, before continuing on to the door! As he goes, he beckons the others to follow!

Afraid he is going to fall, Frac follows.

Varos will cross over

With the raging storm, the others don’t even hear the scream that leaves Gregory as he falls off the walkway!

He lands with a terrible thud, but the roof is slick! The wizard has no time to pay close attention to the pain coursing through his very being!

He clambers up and grasps at the wet roof, trying to find purchase! The others are too far above to hear him, even if he were to plead for help!

Anton's eyes could not believe what they were seeing. His fellow follower of Madeera seemed to be taken by the winds and cast down with horrid might. "Gregory!", he gasped, in an action as futile as it was self-centred.

"Goodbye Gregory RIP." Looks to the others"Do you think he will comeback because of the curse."

Clarence shakes his head. "If only he had worked out and gained more muscle mass he wouldn't have been blown off so easily. No wind will take me out!" "The Body" flexes his heavily muscled physique before crossing the footbridge. Sadly while the wind didn't get Clarence, the slippery stone bridge did, and he slides over the edge. He crashes onto the raven's roof below. He is unresponsive, eyes closed, but luckily his large body gets wedged between roof and wall and stops his slide into the mists of oblivion below. The raven tilts its head, stretches it out of its nest, and plucks up Clarence's unconscious body and drags him into the nest.

[ +- ] Trackers

Stress Level: 15
Light Spell: expired

nezzeraj sent a note to nezzeraj

"I hope not. Let him rest in peace." - the Goblin turns around - "Can you heal me, Anton? Ever since we teleported, I am very tired and hurt. I was leaving that to deal with later, but Gregory's demise made me think more about the present. Carpe Diem."

Varos yells across "Try crawling you will be more stable!!"

Nervous because of the wind and rain, Tibor hesitates. He digs down deep to find the courage to try and cross the foot bridge, telling himself not to be a coward and ignore the disappearance of several companions. His body resists in terror as he looks at Anton with wild eyes. But at Varos' words, something finally gives and he gets down on all fours and begins slowly crawling across.

"Well this was very unfortunate. At least we might be able to reach Clarence and help him."

"I'm not coming across!" the young priest screamed from within the tower. The disappearance of two companions in such a short time had paralyzed the young man. He was now persuaded that a breeze from hell had just taken Gregory and Tibor. He was convinced the same fate awaited him if he attempted the crossing.

Frac gives the hook and rope to Varos.

"I am not strong or agile enough to throw it."

"If you send the hook over, I might attempt the crossing. Though I think I ought to tend to Clarence's wounds first!" he exclaimed, still terrified at the prospect of going across.

Varos will tie the rope to the hook and toss it over to Anton. After Aton secures the hook Varos will secure the other end.

Heart thumping wildly after the perilous crossing and the demise of his two companions, Anton examined the place with wild eyes and bated breath.

Seeing the folded object getting wet, Anton reflexively moves to recover it.

Anton will pick up the folded sheet of paper and bring it carefully next to the lamp, before unfolding and studying it.

Frac investigates the room using detect magic.

Wide-eyed and with trembling hands, Anton sits next to the reading table.

"This cannot be…", he mumbled softly, as tears began to roll down his youthful face.

He needed only read the first couple of sentences to realize, without a shadow of a doubt, that this was the letter he had written to Lydia, the trapper’s daughter. Beautiful as a blooming spring flower, she had been a couple of years younger than Anton. Her father had been a good friend of his own; it went beyond good neighbourliness, though: like his parents, the trapper had been a member of their diabolical, doomsday cult.

The trapper had been central to the breaching of the Third Seal, Anton’s parents had told him. Used to skinning game to sell their fur, he had had an unsettling familiarity with killing. For the seal he had needed nobler game, however, and he had sacrificed his own wife, Lydia’s mother.

The girl had not been told. "To preserve her purity of heart", Anton’s mother had told him, with a sickening smile that made the boy wonder if Lydia too, was meant for later sacrifice.

Years later, when he had been given over to the Madeeran priests — yet another orphan of the Rackshalt uprising—, he thought often of the girl. Her father had escaped the fighting, he had been told.

Over multiple sleepless nights, he had written this very same letter, full of passion and guilt, full of longing and dread. He struggled with his inner demons, wondering whether he sought to rekindle his connection with Lydia out of the desire to find her and ask her to share his life or if, in the end, he sought her purity of heart to sacrifice over an altar to the Dark Thing, in one of the many episodes where he spoke in different tongues and sought strange objects in cemeteries, while covered in blood he did not recall drawing.

He had torn the letter and burned it, lest the dark temptation that rotted his heart may be given leave to wreak more misery in the world. He had burned it, hadn’t he? And yet the words were there, in front of him, in his own hand-writing.

"What is the quickest way to get to Clarence? He is in desperate need of healing." Varos will look out the window to see if he can see Clarence,

Can Frac touch the painting? He tells the group that it ripples with supernatural powers.

Roll

Anton tried to compose himself swiftly, though he failed at it. He stood up, folded the letter and slid it into his robes. Despite the shock of his experience, he felt invigorated by the rediscovery of this link to the past in this darkest of places. He observed his remaining companions, all active in different manners and obviously unaffected. They had had the courtesy of allowing to wallow for a few moments in this odd mix of loss and bliss. He noticed the goblin wizard touching the præternaturally vivid portrait of the Count, while Varos — always the pragmatist — thought of their fallen companion below, and the urgent need to heal him.

"I don't know how to get there, but I agree we must go soon. There is the matter of the blade... it rested, what was it?" he scowled as he tried to recall the apparition's words "Yes, a place of great heights, where the stone itself beats with life. That would be up, and Clarence down."

Anton looked about for his comrades.

Varos will comeback from the window"What should we do about Clarence? He is still alive down there. We were heading to the Ravens nest anyway."

"The count's portrait tried to bite me! Let's leave this room. I agree with Varos, we should go downstairs and try to heal Clarence. "

Varos will set the hook and throw the rope out of the window. "Anton can you climb down and heal Clarence?"

At Varos’ suggestion, Anton was quick to respond.

"I would rather you lower me, with the rope tied around my waist, so if I lose my grip, or things run bad you can pull me up…"

Not a refusal then, but not blind acceptance either.

Varos will fashion and tie a seat harness for Anton then lower him down to Clarence.

Clarence leans over the nest and looks for the window the Raven mentioned. Seeing vague figures in the distance he yells out Is that you, little buddy? The Raven is graciously willing to help us leave the castle! All we need is a valuable shiny item per person as payment—but all of us or none of us. I think we have enough for half our group already. Have you found anything else?

"I'm coming down, Clarence!" the priest cried back, in a more modest volume, before starting his assisted descent.

Varos looks at the Anton "You can hear him? He is talking to you?"

"No need, brother Anton! That fall was no match for my physique!" There is a pause where you imagine Clarence is flexing his rippling muscles, now slightly bruised and scraped. Of course you can't actually see him through the rain and darkness but you get the feeling he hasn't considered, or doesn't care about, that small detail.

"If you have a rope I can climb up!"

Anton stares at Varos, uncomprehending.

"I can hear him, yes. Can't you? He says to send the rope to him, and he will climb up."

Anton steps out of the harness, and turning once more to speak down at his companion, he cries out "Tie yourself to the rope, we will help by pulling you up!"

Varos looks at Clarence"You seen to be in pretty good shape for a guy who just fell from the roof."

"So you talked to the raven? And we need three more precious things? Four, if we can’t find Gregory and Tibor?" the young priest asked as he too looked upon the mostly undamaged body of their body-building companion.

Clarence shrugs. "A couple of bruises and scrapes. You should see what I did to the roof! Yes I talked to the raven. It's quite respectful. It's willing to carry us out together if we each give him a treasure. What did you find here?"

His hand going involuntarily to the pocket where he had stored the folded letter, the young priest simply said "Nothing. The sword blade is upstairs, I believe."

"Shall we head toward the heartbeat?"

"I will follow you" - Frac says, with no particular preference for either way.

Heartbeat? What's that? I know my heart beats when I exercise vigorously, but what does that have to do with getting out of the castle? It's simple. Find shinies, pay bird, fly home!

Cocking his ear, Clarence listens intently. Sounds like someone doing squats up there, or maybe triceps extensions, Clarence says, unconsciously flexing is own triceps and quadriceps. Thinking over the apparition's auguries, he comments the only thing that makes sense is the priest. If his life is in jeopardy, his heart may be beating loudly. Unless it's the unholy master of the castle.

With his mind on the Raven's offer, Clarence peers around the room for objects which may be shiny, valuable, or both.

Varos looks at the others"So are we moving out or hanging out here while Clarence goes through his flexing routine? We have limited time here people."

Let's go

Edit: Hiding game-related text.

[private="matmaisan,nezzeraj,htech,Avraham"]Hanging on Varos continues cutting open [private]