{"id":48423,"date":"2020-03-07T11:28:15","date_gmt":"2020-03-07T18:28:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/randomaverage.com\/?p=48423"},"modified":"2020-03-05T21:30:12","modified_gmt":"2020-03-06T04:30:12","slug":"ravenloft-ironsworn-part-13-dinner-with-the-baron","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/randomaverage.com\/index.php\/2020\/03\/ravenloft-ironsworn-part-13-dinner-with-the-baron\/","title":{"rendered":"Ravenloft Ironsworn, part 13, Dinner with the Baron"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dinner with the Baron<\/h3>\n

Okay, here we go with the next part of the Delve.<\/p>\n

In the Delve rules, I\u2019m categorizing Castle Ravenloft as an Ancient<\/em> (Theme) Stronghold<\/em> (Domain). Before I progress, I check the oracle for that theme and domain and see that I\u2019m progressing toward a \u201cLarge Hall.\u201d Cool, that tells me where to go, in general, based on what GM-me knows of the place.<\/p>\n

Brigitte looks around the chapel. Two of the smaller side archways seem to lead into alcoves that (she guesses) either dead end or lead into stairwells – probably up the dark balcony overlooking the chapel itself.<\/em><\/p>\n

The main double doors are what draw her attention.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThese should lead us back toward the central portion of the castle,\u201d she says.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYou say that like it\u2019s a good thing,\u201d Ismark says, though he helps her pull the doors open.<\/em>
\n\"|371x534\"\"|227x200\"<\/p>\n

Mark progress.<\/em><\/strong> Okay. Looking around at the other options non the table tells me that this is fairly middling result – nothing particularly good or bad. Fair enough. How do I see envision the next section?<\/p>\n

In my case, the Delve the Depths<\/strong> move tells me sort of where I should end up, and from there I\u2019m using some of the \u201cOracle\u201d of the Ravenloft module to get me there.<\/p>\n

The double doors open into a long hallway: dusty, long unused, and lined with statues whose eyes seem to follow us as we move past them.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"|431x118\"<\/p>\n

The doors at the western end of the hall are bound in heavy bronze, but aren\u2019t blocked or locked. We swing them open and move into the great entry hall of the castle.
\n\"|210x467\"<\/p>\n

\n Cobwebs hang from dust-covered columns that line this hall, illuminated by lit (?!?) torches fluttering in sconces. The dust and webs cast strange, moving shadows across the faces of stone gargoyles squatting atop the columns, all around the rim of the domed ceiling of the room. The cracked and faded ceiling frescoes are largely impossible to make out after what may be centuries of neglect. To the north, a broad staircase climbs into darkness.<\/p>\n

Sad and majestic organ tones float from a lit hallway to the south.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Okay. Lots to process here. Double doors to the west probably lead to the entryway of the castle. Fine. The stairs seem broad enough to be meant for \u201cpublic\u201d traffic, so that\u2019s probably going to take us to some kind of big receiving space or a grand hall or dining room or \u2026 something.<\/p>\n

South is tricky, because on the one hand, it\u2019s lit and more welcoming and generally seems \u2018interesting\u2019 because there\u2019s music coming from that direction, but on the other hand there\u2019s the thing where it seems like we were expected and that whole direction seems to scream \u201cCOME CHECK THIS OUT IT IS WHERE YOU ARE MEANT TO GO.\u201d<\/p>\n

By the same token, I do NOT want to hang around this room, because those gargoyles make me REALLY NERVOUS.<\/p>\n

So. Yeah, I\u2019m heading for the trap. Let\u2019s follow the music.
\n\"|234x174\"
\nI\u2019m not burning all my momentum just for a Weak hit, so I\u2019ll take the miss and Reveal a Danger.<\/p>\n

\"|230x64\"
\nI can work with that.
\n\"|149x157\"<\/p>\n

\n Torchlight flutters against the walls of this vaulted hall. To the east, a dark and forbidding hallway runs into darkness. Beside that opening, a suit of armor, oiled and glistening, stands on display in a shallow alcove – the first thing we’ve seen not covered in dust. To the west, large double doors hang slightly open, a steady bright light escaping through the opening. Swells of organ music come from behind the doors, spilling a melody of power and defeat into the hall.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I\u2019m definitely going to check out the slightly open doorway, and I want to be sneaky, which (like my last Delve the Depths) is based on Shadow, which so far as been a total disaster for me. But nevertheless\u2026
\n\"|229x174\"
\nOkay, I\u2019m taking this as a Weak hit, in which I am \u201cdelayed or lose advantage (-1 momentum).\u201d I think falling for this lure means I\u2019ve somewhat dropped into the channel Strahd has set for his visitors. Here\u2019s what we see through the crack in the door.<\/p>\n

\n This is a magnificent 40-foot-square room, brilliantly lit by three massive crystal chandeliers. Pillars of stone stand against dull white marble walls, supporting the ceiling. In the center of the room, a long, heavy table stands covered with a fine white satin cloth. The table is laden with delectable foods of every type: roasted beast basted in a savory sauce, roots and herbs of every taste, and sweet fruits and vegetables. Places are set for four (one at the head of the table) with fine delicate china and silver. At each place there is a crystal goblet filled with an amber liquid. At the center of the far west wall, between floor-to-ceiling length mirrors, stands a massive organ. Its pipes blare out a thunderous melody of greatness and despair. Seated before the keys, its back toward you, a caped figure pounds the keys in raptured ecstasy.<\/p>\n

Slowly, the music winds down and the caped figure turns on the stool before the organ to face the door, seeming to look directly at us. I hear Ireena suck in a sharp breath.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"|215x208\"<\/p>\n

\n

Now, I\u2019m a genre and rpg nerd, so there\u2019s a great big Vampire Lore clue in this scene, but when I ran it with my daughter, she totally missed it because she didn\u2019t KNOW it – so I\u2019m introducing it as one of those \u201cweird vampire things that may or may not be common knowledge,” and seeing if Brigitte catches it. I\u2019m doing this as a Gather Information<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"|367x323\"\"|220x128\"<\/p>\n

My kingdom for a Strong Hit.<\/p>\n

Okay, weak hit, the information complicates the quest or introduces a new danger. +1 momentum.<\/p>\n

The figure at the organ raises a graceful hand. \u201cPlease. Be welcome in my home. Come in. Dine.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Ireena trembles at my side, but I barely notice – what has my attention is the fact that Strahd can be seen in the mirrors on either side of the organ. Everything the farwardens have ever been told about these fell creatures of the night say that should not be the case.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s some kind of illusion,\u201d I whisper. \u201cA vampire casts no reflection.\u201d I indicate the mirrors, through the cracked doors.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cPlease,\u201d alleged \u2018Strahd\u2019 says, \u201ccome out of the shadows and into the light. Let me see you.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIllusion it may be,\u201d Ismark whispers back. \u201cBut it\u2019s no mindless thing – it knows we are not yet in the room\u2026 or whatever controls it does.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

It\u2019s not a comforting thought, but I feel Ireena calm herself somewhat, realizing she is not facing the monster of Barovia directly. I turn to her. \u201cIt is nothing, see? Only a trick. A puppet show.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

It is not Ireena who replies, but the figure of Strahd. \u201cA puppet show? Oh, delightful!\u201d And it laughs: long and loud and mocking, and then vanishes.<\/em><\/p>\n

The moment the figure disappears, a fierce, bone-chilling wind roars through the halls, blowing out all torches and candles. We hear the screech of ancient hinges and the solid thud of heavy doors slamming shut, one after another, off into the distance; a portcullis clangs down in the middle distance and, ponderously the tired groan of the aged drawbridge pulling up.<\/em><\/p>\n

Crystal sings in the darkness of the dining room as the great chandeliers rustle in the sudden wind. The fragrance of food wafts its way through the darkened hall.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI think we may have offended our host,\u201d Ismark mutters. \u201cWe should move.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cOne moment,\u201d I say, shoving doors open, much to my companion\u2019s surprise. Ismark manages one aggrieved \u201chssssst!\u201d as I stride into the now dark room, following my nose and unslinging my pack.<\/em><\/p>\n

We\u2019re being taunted by the smell of food and right now my Supply is at 3, so\u2026
\n\"|215x171\"<\/p>\n

Oh screw you, dice. What the hell, man.<\/p>\n

Fine. The game wants me to burn momentum so bad, I will. Strong hit on Resupply says \u201con a strong hit, you bolster your resources. Take +2 supply.<\/p>\n

Worth it.<\/p>\n

I scoop the fruit and some of the least messy foods, working mostly by smell and touch, wrap them up in cloth napkins probably worth more than all the clothes I\u2019m wearing, and jam them into my pack, then stride back to the door, where Ismark has got a torch going.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cNow, we can move on.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re crazy.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m angry,\u201d I say, though my face and voice are calm, my eyes scanning the area. \u201cThis Strahd is picking the wrong sort of fight.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

I\u2019m going to Delve the Depths again, and roll the Oracle to get an idea where I\u2019m headed: a 97 means \u201cSomething Unusual or Unexpected.\u201d Duly noted, Oracle. Thanks. Now then\u2026<\/p>\n

\"|371x534\"
\nI\u2019m Delving based on Observation and Intuition (what I can see, and what my gut tells me), so that means +wits – to heck with any more of this +Shadow nonsense.
\n\"|226x124\"<\/p>\n

That\u2019s fine. I roll and get a 43 on the results table, marking Progress on my way to \u201cSomething Unusual or Unexpected.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brigitte takes in her options. Heading back to the main hall with the gargoyles looming seems like a bad plan, the only other option then is the dark, narrow hallway just across from the dining room of Vampiric Fuckery.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n Theory: Vampires are melodramatic as a form of behavior-based informational security. While their ridiculous collection of odd mannerisms make it easy to tag them as vampires, it also makes it extremely difficult to tell which of those mannerisms stem from an esoteric weakness or limitation on their powers, and which are just them being fuckin extra. In this essay I will…\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"|104x106\"<\/p>\n

\n A chilly wind rushes down the circling stairway at the end of this short hall, seeming to kill the very heat of the torch Ismark carries. The stairs spiral both up into the castle and down into the depths.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I do NOT feel like going down into the depths right now, so it\u2019s up one floor and an unadorned wooden door\u2026<\/p>\n

\"|209x220\"<\/p>\n

\n Dusty scrolls and tomes line the walls of this room and are scattered across the floor. In the center of all this clutter stands a huge accountant’s desk. A old man slouches atop a tall stool, scratching a seemingly endless scroll of paper with a dry quill pen. A rope hangs next to the old man from a hole in the ceiling.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And\u2026 that\u2019s where I\u2019m stopping for now. Next time, we\u2019ll meet Lief Lipsiege, accountant. (Something unusual or unexpected.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dinner with the Baron Okay, here we go with the next part of the Delve. In the Delve rules, I\u2019m<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,128,6],"tags":[150,307,269,308],"class_list":["post-48423","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-actual-play","category-online-table-top","category-table-top","tag-actual-play","tag-ironsworn","tag-pbta","tag-ravenloft"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/randomaverage.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48423","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/randomaverage.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/randomaverage.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/randomaverage.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/randomaverage.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=48423"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/randomaverage.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48423\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":48424,"href":"https:\/\/randomaverage.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48423\/revisions\/48424"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/randomaverage.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=48423"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/randomaverage.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=48423"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/randomaverage.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=48423"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}