From: mortimer@VivoBook.X512D   
      
   We return to the Death House this session with our heroes: Costin   
   "Păcălici" Vaduva (Swashbuckler), Gideon Driscoll "The Phantom Walker"   
   (Bard), Reduvia "Lady Mantis" (Monk), and Zoaphiel (Investigator).   
      
   Having just discovered the secret door leading to the passage back to the   
   Den of Wolves, the group makes careful note of it in case the need arises   
   for a quick exit out of the dungeon level of the house. They then carry on   
   their investigation of the first level of the dungeon before finally   
   descending to it's depths. However, the two cult leaders, now malevolent   
   ghasts, strike hard at the group, and three of them are at various points   
   in the fight knocked unconscious, with Gideon being the only one not   
   downed. However, due to some timely healing, the group manages to overcome   
   the undead and uncovers more valuable loot, including some powerful cloth   
   armor.   
      
   Following the sound of cultic chant, they at last descend into the depths   
   of evil and, after some minor detours in the nearby prison block, enter the   
   ritual chamber. Here they are incredibly cautious, yet, despite their   
   precautions, were unable to discern the nearby lurking shambler.   
   Eventually, Lady Mantis takes a leap onto the dias, which prompts the   
   restless phantoms of the cult to cry out that, "One must die!". Refusing   
   the demand, the group momentarily catches the attention of Strahd, whose   
   disembodied voice comments that theirs was an interesting choice, but that   
   he would now see if they could survive it.   
      
   After this brief commentary, the cult cries out to Lorghoth the Decayer to   
   fall upon the group for their infidelity and the shambler rises out of the   
   refuse and moves to attack. The group briefly attempts combat, but soon   
   realises they are outmatched by this foe and quickly begin to retreat   
   towards the first floor of the mansion. Tragically, not all of them were   
   as quick to react, with Costin pausing his retreat to try and aid Lady   
   Mantis in battling the beast. This delay proved costly, however, when he   
   was caught by Lorghoth and struck down by a single mighty blow from which   
   he could not recover, especially with the hope of aid vanishing with his   
   allies rapid retreat.   
      
   After some deft attempts at navigating the deadly blades that replaced the   
   doors after the rejected ritual, the group at last escaped the Death House   
   and were able to briefly mourn the loss of their compatriot. Time was   
   running out, however, as the sun began to set and the group needed to see   
   what could be discovered in the village. They quickly made their way to   
   the village square, where they found a sparsely populated tavern and   
   another clue, this time in the form of a person. It was none other than   
   the son of the Burgomaster, whose letter supposedly drew them into the   
   land of Barovia in the first place. Speaking quickly with them, Ismark   
   Kolyanovich discerned that despite the deception, these people could be   
   the ones he hoped for, people strong and brave enough to rescue his sister   
   from the clutches of the lord of the land, Count Strahd the vampire.   
      
   Here the session ends with the group resting at the manor of the   
   burgomaster. The group seems willing to take up the quest, but Ireena   
   Kolyana complicates it by insisting that her adoptive father, the   
   burgomaster, be given proper last rights, having recently passed away. Our   
   next session will also introduce a new hero, a native to the village of   
   Barovia and a stalwart friend of Ismark and Ireena.   
      
   --   
   There are the known knowns, things we know we know; and the known   
   unknowns, things we know we do not know; but there are also the   
   unknown unknowns, those things we don't know we don't know...but   
   what about the unknown knowns, things we do not know we know?   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)