romania ♔ in the end of the night i can feel you breathe

[pickyourbattles]

♬ Night - Zola Jesus

WHO || Willow, Paige, Nathan, Henry, Aurelius, Dovan [Closed]
WHAT || The Knights travel to Romania to investigate a mysterious, magical fog
WHERE || Romania
WHEN || April 11th [back dated]
HOW || Actionspam. Single thread, don't worry about maintaining tagging order.

February in Romania isn't very comfortable, so hopefully everyone bundled up for this little trip into the countryside.  The appearance of a mysterious bank of fog into which several locals have gone inexplicably missing upon entering, has caused Wynn to speculate that it might be connected to the mist that appears when the Veil brings people from other worlds.  Could this be the first instance of a door going the other way?  If so, here's hoping it's a round trip...

Comments

[wanttobeahero]

[ Henry moves to flank Willow and Paige, trying to keep their ranks tight. They're in this together and if they stay in a tight group, they'll at least maybe look somewhat imposing. ]

Don't touch them again.

[ He says, like he has much might to back that up. ]

[count_strahd_von_zarovich]

[In the end, it was hard to say whether it was Nathan & Henry's taunts, or the massive amounts of electrical damage from Willow, which killed Baba Zelenna. Either way, she collapsed to the earth. Her body rapidly decayed to bone, then ash as she fell - her centuries of unnatural long life snuffed snort in an instant.]

[The chaos rift wavers for a moment, then wrenches shut - and the aspect of Chernovog vanishes with a curse, and the remaining witches of the coven will flee into the night, unless you'd like to pursue them.]

[olreliable]

[Willow has no interest in chasing down anyone. She just pulls her hand back from the remains of the witch that she was just touching and tries to shake off that ash from her fingers.]

Where's a broom when you need it? [Because witches and also dust and-- look it's more of a Buffy thing to have the witty quips during combat. She's doing her best here.]

[somepagesturn]

[Paige sucks in a breath, still clutching her holy symbol. After a second to compose herself, she bows her head and whispers:] Thank you.

[That done, she looks around at the group.] Is everyone all right? [she doesn't wait for Aurelius to speak up, just casts cure serious wounds on him, restoring 21 hp]

[autorevive]

Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. Lousy gypsy witches.

[pickyourbattles]

[ that certainly freshens aurelius up, but he looks over to willow, with definite concern. ] I'll be alright. [ implication: ARE YOU ]

[olreliable]

I'm okay. [She says, giving him a gentle smile and a nod.]

Should we look for your sister?

[pickyourbattles]

Hopefully they'll be something. [ he turns back to start moving tentatively to explore the area (search... 9 lmao) ]

[olreliable]

[oh right. Also searching! 26 for that]

[autorevive]

[at aurelius, being helpful as ever:] I don't think she's going to be under that rock, mate.

[wanttobeahero]

[ Henry nods that he's all right, tucks his weapon back into his pack and just quietly joins in on the search. He smiles softly and he's just relieved everyone is still standing. And...commence with the searching - 12 for that. ]

[count_strahd_von_zarovich]

[Willow's keen eyes discover a partially hidden trap door. Inside, there's a ladder stretching down through a narrow shaft in the rocky earth. The shaft opens into a larger cavern, dimly lit by flickering purple flames in braziers. Herein they find the last remnants of an ancient altar, covered in blood and defiled. This is the "Mountain Fane" detailed in Strahd's manuscript, once holy to Saint Ecaterine it's power now serves the lord Strahd. A night spent here in solemn prayer, with the Icon of Ravenloft laid upon the altar, will re-consecrate these grounds and sever Strahd's connection to them, transferring the boon to the party - as was details in the Tome of Strahd.]

[somepagesturn]

[Paige follows the group into the cavern, clutching the Icon in her hands.] I... I need to stay here with this.

[pickyourbattles]

Well, if that's the case, we're all staying. We can... keep watch, in case they return.

[olreliable]

Of course we'll all stay. There's enough of us to take shifts if we need to.

[autorevive]

If those gypsy witches think about comin' back, I've got another grenade with their name on it!

[that's the spirit, nathan.]

[count_strahd_von_zarovich]

[Just moments into their vigil, the sudden jarring noise of applause cuts through the air, echoing around the dank cellar. Strahd slowly walks forward, having appeared in the basement as if from out of nowhere.]

I knew you could get the job done, with the right... motivation. [Strahd stops clapping, and folds his arms, and stares at the altar.] I trust you don't intend to try anything foolish, now. We were just beginning to get along... [A wicked fanged grin cuts across his face.]

[somepagesturn]

[Paige's eyes snap open as she realizes they're not alone. She stands slowly, shielding the altar with her tiny body.]

We didn't do it for you.

[olreliable]

[gdi strahd. They didn't even have time to rest and regain spells. You're the worst.]

We did what you asked. Now help us find our friend.

[That was why they were doing this right???]

[autorevive]

Yeah! Fair is fair! [right....???]

[pickyourbattles]

As they say. [ aurelius eyes him nervously, one hand going to the hilt of his sword b/c he doesn't trust this cocksucker lbr ]

[count_strahd_von_zarovich]

[Strahd paces ominously for a moment...]

Of course. It would be rather uncouth to not uphold my end of the bargain.

[Strahd concentrates for a moment, and opens up a portal. The familiar black iron gates that bar the passage into and from Barovia are visible through the magical vortex.]

If you'd be so kind as to follow me... [And he strides through, arms folded.]

[pickyourbattles]

[ aurelius looks at the others, uncertainly. ] I don't see what choice we have. [ with a shrug, he turns to follow him through. ]

[autorevive]

[nathan shrugs and follows with a] I can't say I haven't done more arsebackwards shit than this.

[somepagesturn]

[PAIGE LOOKS LIKE SHE'D RATHER DO... ANYTHING BUT THAT, and keeps holding onto the Icon and looking at the altar like but... but... Ritual??? Until it occurs to her that this wasn't really what they were here for, and Dovan could die before they actually save Barovia, so... Into the portal she goes.]