Strahd Chapter 2: The Monster below

 

Chapter 2: The Monster Below

Introductions

  • Inarra, Human Wizard with no scruples out to make a quick profit
  • Malrosh, Tiefling sorcerer
  • Desunt Clariatis, Human Wild sorcerer
  • Redvus Dundonald, Gnome Cleric seeking enlightenment
  • Aslok, Dwarven Paladin who hates necromancers

Having searched the living quarters of the basement complex we continued on into the labyrinth of rooms ahead of us.  Courtney stayed behind to guard the stairs in case anything else came down from the house.

After following a few twists and turns we entered a large room is festooned with mouldy skeletons hanging from rusty shackles.  A wide alcove in the south wall contains a painted statue carved in the likeness of a gaunt, pale-faced man his left hand resting on the head of a wolf that stands next to him. In his right hand, he holds a smoky-grey crystal orb.  Desunt walked forward to examine the orb at which point the smoky poured out and turned into shadowy figures who attacked the party.

Cornered by two of them Desunt ran across the room hurting eldritch blasts of force at them.  His wild magic powers summoned a bank of fog giving him cover from their attacks.  Asklok hacked at the apparitions with his axe while Redvus and the remaining two mages focused fire with holy moonlight and physic mind bolts to obliterate the unholy creatures.

They were not quite quick enough to deal with all of them.  Malrosh fell to a chilling touch that drained his life force; he only survived thanks to Redvus calling on a prayer from the moon goddess.  Inarra finished off the last one when it emerged from the fog chasing Desunt.  We had barley explored any of the labyrinth and we were forced to retreat and rest to recover from the deadly encounter.

Returning in the afternoon Aslok lead us through the maze opening doors until one of the doors tried to bite him!  We had found a hungry mimic.  Malrosh splattered it with a catapulted rock while Redvus used his telekinesis to free Aslok.  Together we whittled the monster down and were able to proceed into the bedchamber beyond the real door upon which the mimic had been nesting.

Redvus cast detect magic as we searched the bedchamber.  He found an enchanted cloak which he donned as well as four healing potions, which got distributed to the other party members.  The room also contained a spell book which Inarra added to her pack and a flask of alchemical fire which Malrosh took.

Descending down more stairs we came to a large chamber that appeared to be part of the sewer system.  The echoing chant grew louder as we entered a large chamber where murky water covers most of the floor.  In the middle of the room stairs rise above the water to form an octagonal dais on which stands an altar. On the far side of the room is a dark cave heaped with refuse. This altar is .

Descunt and Aslok ascended to examine the altar and found it was carved with hideous depictions of grasping ghouls and is stained with dry blood from sacrifices.  As they did so the chanting changed to be "One must die!".  Having none of that they tried attacking the altar and managed to break bits of it off but this had no effect on the strange ritual that was happening.  Shouting out we would not join them Redvus went to leave the chamber.  At which point the chanting changed to "Lorghoth the Decayer, we awaken thee!" and the pile of refuse at the far end of the room shambled forward!

Redvus blessed the party.  Aslok engaged the rotting mound in melee combat while the rest of the party peppered it with bolts of fire and energy.  Malrosh and Aslok consumed their healing potions to make sure they stayed in the fight.  Eventually Inarra realised her firebolts were not being very effective instead she summoned magic missiles that obliterated the last of the cursed vegetation.  At last the ritual ended and the dark power that was gripping the place was driven back.

Everyone returned to the house to rest up and in the morning felt refreshed their powers expanded (level up time)

Image Credits: art from shinyshinypants on deviantart

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