Page 103 - Curse of Strahd_Neat

Martikov boys opening and closing the secret door clos­ The door to this room can be locked from the inside,
est to his room (area N2n). and each guest receives a key. Urwin and Danika carry
At each end of this area is a secret door, each of which spare keys. The footlockers are empty and are for the
is easy to spot from inside the hallway (no ability check use of guests.
required). The northern secret door, at the bottom of
the staircase, can be pulled open to reveal the kitchen N2N. PRIVATE GUEST ROOM
(area N2e) beyond. The eastern secret door can be Rictavio has a key to this room, which is locked at all
pulled open to reveal a balcony (area N2j) that overlooks times. Urwin and Danika carry spare keys. The door's
the taproom. Jock can be picked, but discretion is called for because
the door is in plain view of the taproom below.
N2J. GREAT BALCONY

This small guest room contains a bed heaped with wolf
A wooden balcony stretches the full length of the tap­ furs, a footlocker, a tall wardrobe, and a writing desk with
room, enclosed by a wooden railing carved with raven matching chair. An oil lamp rests atop the desk near a
motifs. The taproom's many lanterns illuminate the raf­ journal bound in a red leather jacket.
ters and cast ominous shadows on the peaked ceiling.
Rictavio sleeps here between midnight and dawn. At
The balcony floor is 15 feet above the taproom floor. dawn, he leaves to check on his horse (area N2f) and his
A secret door at the south end of the western wall can wagon (area NS), returning to the inn around noon. Be­
be pushed open to reveal a wood-paneled hallway (area tween noon and dusk, there's a 40 percent chance he is
N2i) beyond. here; otherwise, he's in the taproom (area N2c). At dusk,
he leaves the inn to tend to his horse and his wagon
N2K. GUEST BALCONY again, then returns to his room to retire for the night.
Rictavio is too clever to leave anything valuable or
incriminating in his room. The footlocker and the
This twenty-foot-long balcony provides a clear view of the wardrobe contain nothing but common clothes and
bar and has a wooden railing carved with raven motifs. travel wear.
The taproom's many lanterns illuminate the rafters and Rictavio'sjournal. The journal on the desk is a bit of
cast ominous shadows on the peaked ceiling. artifice that Rictavio created to perpetuate the illusion
that he is an entertainer in search of new acts for his
traveling carnival. His writing makes frequent mention
The balcony floor is 15 feet above the taproom floor. of conversations with Drusilla (which the journal fails
to mention is the name of Rictavio's horse) and recounts
N2L. GUEST ROOMS many long and tedious journeys by wagon. Rictavio has
These two rooms have identical furnishings.
also written about various "oddities" he has seen in his
travels, including the following:
Two cozy beds with matching footlockers rest in the far , A "werehare" child (a boy who transforms into a rabbit
corners of this fifteen-foot-square room. Wolf furs are on nights of the full moon)
heaped atop each bed. Between the beds, a lamp sits on , A half-ore woman named Gorabacha who could chew
a table under a shuttered window. Two tall black ward­ through iron chains
robes stand against the wall by the door. , A giant, man-eating plant that had the most remark­
able singing voice
, A pair of conjoined goblins
The door to this room can be locked from the inside, , A small man with no legs named Filmore Stunk, who
and each guest gets a key. Urwin and Danika carry could drink whole casks of wine without getting drunk·
spare keys. The footlockers and wardrobes are empty
and are for the use of guests . N2o. Boys' BEDROOM
.
N2M. GUEST ROOM A large, painted toy box rests between two small, cozy
·� .. �-
beds. Murals of ravens in flight are painted on the walls
Four plain beds with straw mattresses line the north wall above the wood paneling.
of this well-lit room. Each bed comes with a matching
-
-·
,.
footlocker to store clothing and other belongings. A Brom and Bray Martikova don't spend much time in
'
table and four chairs occupy the corner across from the this room. The toy box c6ntains:a pil!! of neglected toys,
door. An oil lamp resting on the table casts a bright yel­ many of them etched with the slogan· "Is No Fun, Is No
low flame. Blin$ky!" The t<;>ys include the following:
, A miniature puppet theater with appropriately sized
m�rionetfe� o,f a king, a queen, a prince, a princess, an
_

CHAPTER 5 I THE TOWN OF VALLAKI
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