COS 048 - The Legendary Dine And Dash

Crossing back to the drum tower, Tobias deliberately placed odorous noisemakers to throw off their pursuers as they escaped. Intending to investigate the crypts, the party descended hundreds of feet down a spiral staircase, ignoring other floors until they reached a familiar hallway hiding an elevator trap. They crossed into the larders one-by-one, stealthing past Cyrus' kitchen and into the hall of bones. Rooms beyond contained the torn bodies of centuries-old guards, and behind a hidden alcove, Ghalwin found a bag of electrum coins bearing Strahd's visage. One, however, profiled the paladin's own face, with the cheerful expression of a young man who had not yet encountered Barovia's horrors. 

Tobias silently opened the the next door, but their activities had been overheard by the chamberlain Rahadin. He was not happy to find his master's guests entering his office, and the gnome did not have a good excuse for his prying. He slashed Tobias with impossible grace as a hidden demon harried Ghalwin from the paladin's own shadow. Rahadin quickly learned that his masterful swordplay and screaming psychic choir was no match for the five guests. Ez leapt over him and hemmed him into his own quarters as a dread-cloaked Ajuni blasted him with magical fear. Tobias heated the elf's scimitar, causing him to drop his weapon, and Mormeros used his new abilities to absolutely coat the shadow demon in necrotic spray. 

Ghalwin ignored the demon's claws and invoked Kasimir's name, using his shield to bash Rahadin to the ground. In fright, the chamberlain was forced to retreat, teleporting beyond his office, but didn't get far as Tobias picked open the concealed door he had slipped behind. Ajuni dashed past her brother into the hidden hallway, and as Ghalwin followed her, the shadow demon turned on Mormeros. The new-look warlock had incredibly potent spellwork, however, and he easily blasted the fiend before Ezmerelda fnished it off. Before following his friends, Momo investigated the desk, and stole ledgers and receipts intended for the castle's accountant, Lief Lipsiege. 

Separating Rahadin and Ajuni, Count Strahd von Zarovich suddenly appeared in a cloud of poisonous gas between, and threatened that the guests had worn out their welcome. The sorceress heard an audible click in her pursuit, however, and decided to make a leap of faith, teleporting beyond the vampire to pursue his chamberlain. Strahd did not turn, and Ghalwin stabbed into him, revealing that he was merely an illusion. Ajuni found the brazier room at the stairs' landing, and saw Rahadin throw a red stone into the bowl before disappearing. A poem indicated that seven coloured stones represented seven locations across Barovia. Not knowing when Rahadin could send reinforcements, the party quickly devised a plan and split up. 

The boys headed back to the hall of bones, where Tobias magically reduced Argynovst's skull for Ghalwin to carry. Momo noticed movement behind a bone-pile and surrounded it with darkness, but found that their eavesdropper was merely one of Anastrasya's black cats. Meanwhile, Ajuni used a dimension door to safely deliver Ezmerelda to her wagon. Amidst the mists of Ravenloft's courtyard, she had a final embrace and goodbye with her new friend. Accompanied by Verity and Geronimo, the Vistana embarked on a week-long journey back to the mansion as the half-elf rejoined the party in the brazier room.

Delban and Ten-Zras requested that their warlocks use the orange stone to join them at the Amber Temple, but the heroes ignored their patron's pleas. Instead, they cast the blue stone into the fire, and the party jumped through, but Mormeros lingered. His desires had changed since altering his contract, and a feeling of defiance halted him, but he eventually followed his friends into the blue fire. They were no longer protected by Strahd's invitation, and the dragon skull had grown back to its original size, but they mercifully arrived a short hike away from the mansion.

During a quick rest in the woods, Mormeros stayed away from the group to negotiate with Ten-Zras, learning that he could hand himself over fully in exchange for a gift of immortal power. As he consulted, the rest rested atop Argynovst's skull, when a ghost of the past happened upon the group. Sir Godfrey Gwilym still had enough memory to recognize Tobias, and the revenant thanked the party with soft solace. After an impactful conversation, the gnome realized he wished to swear himself to the tenets that the knight had lived by. Already embodying a paladin's vow, Ghalwin joined him, and the two swore the Order's Oath; Godfrey knighted them, and the banner of the Silver Dragon was once again lifted in Barovia. Bearing the weight of Argynvost's head, they carried him to his mausoleum, where the cursed knights bowed in deference.

The ancient dragon's skull reattached to its body in a shower of cold embers, and suddenly, the mansion's tower became a beacon of silvery light, banishing the mists around it. The defenders of Argynvostholt faded as the party said goodbyes to a teary Godfrey, then closed the tomb and headed to the audience hall. Captain Horngaard was on his throne, waiting to pass on; he apologized and thanked the party, bestowing the Order's last two knights with his Greater Enhanced greatsword, and the Holy Symbol of Ravenkind. Joined by Godfrey, Vladimir's spirit twisted around the beacon and into the sky. As the last of the revenants finally rested, the heroes remained, bathed in the silver light of victory. 

This event would come to be known as the Lighting Of The Silver Beacon.