“We’ve found him! We’ve found Strahd!” reported the weary militia man. There was no telling how many of our small army had fallen prey to the mighty castle, and it had been hours since we first set foot inside it. There were many false alarms raised by men of weak stock every time so much as a rat scuttled by them, so we treated this event much like the others: we made him lead us to where he had seen the dreaded vampire.
“What’s your name soldier?” I asked only half caring.
“Korin Starocski, Sir” he managed to keep a calm composure in this wretched castle that he must have known would eventually become his tomb. I was impressed.
“Korin, what happened to the rest of your squadron?”
“They died sir, Strahd killed them himself.”
“And yet, he let you live.” I paused for effect, “I’d wager he tires of toying with you lot and is ready for the main course.”
“That would make the most sense sir.”
We traveled the rest of the way in relative silence, stepping over corpses of both man and beast alike. The carnage we had brought to Strahd’s doorstep put a smile on my face. We soon entered a large chamber. Korin’s squadron lay, drained of blood, on the cold marble floor.
We were unfazed when Korin’s body fell to his comrades. We had not seen the origin of the strange magic that struck him down, but were not completely surprised. The magic lingered and hung tangibly in the air.
“I ire your spirit” came a low cold voice from the darkness, “you’ve mustered up quite a sizable force, but look what it has done to you.”
Rosewood chittered to himself, his madness was complete. Helwa’s eyes were blank and unthinking, Uncle Buck’s pride was swollen and unshakable and, though I did not see it then, my anger had twisted my mind.
“It matters not” continued the voice, “for I will end your suffering.”
At that moment a bolt of force slammed into my diaphragm knocking all wind from my lungs. As I crumpled to my knees Mongo maneuvered in front me intent on blocking any further blows. Rosewood’s elven eyes spotted our adversary first and chucked his spear towards Strahd but clicked to himself with disappointment as it sailed past his target. Buck cast Faerie Fire and ordered Helwa and Bord to charge as the vampire’s location became known. Even still, Strahd deftly dodged the heavy blows and, with unnatural grace, sank his teeth into Helwa’s throat. Mongo then moved to grapple the preoccupied Strahd and caught him with its massive arms. I then stood from my crumpled position.
“You’ll die for that!” I spat finally catching my breath. Raising my wand, I summoned a bolt of lightning to strike the vampire dead. Helwa burned to a crisp while Mongo was able to shrug off the damage dealt to him. As the dust cleared a cloud of blood could be seen just above Mongo’s head. It laughed a bone chilling cackle and disappeared into a corridor behind an archway. Determined to kill Strahd myself I ran to the archway, but was met with a wall of force. Buck too could not through. Rosewood, after being barred entry as well, began stabbing at the air with his cursed weapon. Then, Bord approached the archway. And as he did so the bolt of the Sunblade at his hip flared to life.
“Only the pure of heart may enter and face me” rang Strahd’s voice from within the dark of corridor, “I yearn to slaughter a true champion of light.”
This wasn’t right. I was to be the one who slayed the vampire not Bord, not Buck, not Rosewood, me! ME! I screamed as I sent a second lightning bolt toward the corridor but the barrier dissipated my attack instantly. I fell to my knees. Defeated. I looked to my brother who was preparing to enter through the archway, and for a short time I saw who I used to be. I saw that I had no right vanquish our foe; for how could evil cast itself out? I rose from my defeat and cast Protection from Evil on my more worthy twin.
“Go Brother” I said, “show him the might of the Dundragons.”
With a nod he entered.
The fight lasted no more than a minute, and when all was said and done Castle Ravenloft shuddered as it mourned it’s master’s death.
We all narrowly escaped as the very walls of the castle began to crash down around us. All, that is, save for Rosewood who elected to leap from a window and land safely on the other side of the ravine. As we ed through the portcullis we appeared back on the sunlit trail we were sidetracked from. All, except the elf, were ed for.
That concludes the campaign. To those who read all the way through I applaud and thank you, and thanks anyway to everyone else! I hope you all enjoyed this story as I hope to write more in the future.
Comments (1)
Great