Session 53 - The Adventures of Baromar and Grimdur in the shaft.

The party head up the staircase to see what the next level of the castle holds in store, they enter a small hallway about 10ft wide and 30 ft long, with a wooden door at the end. Baromar and Grimdur lead the charge down the hall and as they enter the middle 10 feet they spring a trap. 

Portcullis slam down in front and behind them, and they immediately start to be propelled in a steel box upwards. They have very little time to act as sleeping gas starts to fill the chamber. 

Grimdur whips out the sun saber and starts to cut away at the ceiling, he hits a set of hinges for a concealed trapdoor which drops down, he tries to  climb through and fails, Baromar sees whats happening and jumps up, quickly and manages to help Grimdur through. 

They look up the shaft and see a very quickly approaching roof. They see an opening to the side of the shaft, and jump at the last second, Baromar makes the jump but Grimdur doesn't quite make it in time and is slammed into the roof. 

They look around the room and see mechanisms and a lever to lower the trap room back down, on closer inspection they see a door hidden carefully in the wall which they open to see a ladder leading up yet another smaller (but equally as effective) shaft to a heavy wooden trapdoor. 

Meanwhile down below Gnarvick tries to find a way to get the others back down the shaft, to no avail, there is a massive stone counterweight that has fallen into place besides where the trap room shot up. He turns his attention to the door at the end, listening intently he hears.....absolute silence. 

Meanwhile Grimdur and Baromar hear the trapdoor open, then blackness takes them. 

Gnarvick opens the door, and sees a room with 3 ft of mist on the floor, Denzel heads in and sees a shadowy figure heading down the hall, he asks the party why they are not in the guest room. They ask why they would be there, and he says all of the masters guests are supposed to be in their rooms, then laughs like someone told him a joke, and says he was about to prepare his dinner but he could take them to the room. They ask whats for Dinner and Cyrus tells them of the three rats he caught earlier and how they are what he will eat later once they are in their room. 

He leads them up the stairs through the castle to the guest room in the tower, they enter a lounge and are greeted by a fine looking young man, who is sitting alone. He introduces himself as Escher one of Strahds consorts, and voices his concern for falling out of favor with the great lord. Worried he would end up locked in a crypt like so many of Strahds other discarded play things. 

They ask what he does here, and he tells them he is to deal with those caught in the elevator trap, and take them to the master when they awaken. The party ask about Baromar and Grimdur and he tells them they are in the next room, they open the door and see a peacefully sleeping Baromar and Grimdur in a double bed. Baromar has one arm draped over Grimdur. The party awaken their friends, and go back to Escher who is staring longingly out the window.  The party ask Escher where Strahd is, and he replies that the master is in the dining room, as if you listen carefully you can hear the organ music.

Escher offers to take them to Strahd, as this is his role, and the party accept, along the way Ismark heals Grimdur somewhat, and they enter the Dining room.

Oh so you are still here? laughs Strahd, as he turns to face them. 

"I have bought many play things to Barovia, as you may have guessed by now their fate does not usually take this long to resolve. I am sure you saw some of the others such as the vampires in the Amber Temple, but now I have my Tatyana back, I grow weary of your persistence to continue to exist, and as such the time draws near to end this tale"

Ismark asks where Ireena is, and Strahd explains that the body that contains his beloved Tatyana has been stripped of the remains of Ireena's persona but the body is alive and well. Ismark demands to see his sister, and Strahd agrees, sending Escher off to find Rahadin, and collect Ireena from the catacombs. 

Shortly after Rahadin, Escher and a pale but alive Ireena arrive in the dining room. Ireena takes her place by Strahds side. 

Ismark asks if she is ok, and Ireena turns to Strahd and asks "Master who are these people?" instantly breaking Ismarks heart and confirming all that Strahd has said. 

"You will die for that Strahd" Ismark spits at him in anger, 

To which Strahd replies

"Or you will die trying"