Page 136 - Curse of Strahd_Neat

Characters who can read the Draconic script can Q20. SOUTH ALCOVE
decipher the writing on the wall: l
Here lie the bones and treasures of
Argynvost, lord of Argynvostholt and A red velvet curtain hangs in front of an alcove in the l
founder of the Order of the Silver Dragon. southeast corner of this hall. It ripples ever so slightly.

DEVELOPMENT
If the skull of Argynvost is brought from Castle Raven­ One of the narrow windows in the back of the alcove
loft (see chapter 4, area K67) and sealed inside the mau­ has a broken glass pane through which a slight breeze
soleum, the dragon's spirit transforms into a brilliant passes, causing the curtain to move. When the charac­
ters look behind the curtain, read:
light at the top of the tower (see area Q53). l
Ql 7. WEST STAIRCASES A black cloth covers something atop a white marble
l l Beneath the black cloth is the severed head of a ran­ ]
pedestal.
Narrow windows illuminate this dusty, five-foot-wide
spiral staircase.
Strahd's consciousness. In actuality, it's an exquisite
These staircases connect the second-floor balconies domly determined character-an illusion created by
(area Q18) to areas Q30 and Q36 on the third floor. alabaster bust of a handsome, middle-aged human with
a neatly trimmed mustache and beard (Lord Argynvost).
18. BALCONIES The illusion is too strong to be disbelieved, but it can be
dispelled if the bust is broken or covered up again.

Two stone balconies flank the main foyer. Balusters Q21. NORTH ALCOVE
carved to resemble knights in shining armor support l
their elegantly carved stone railings. Weapons and A red velvet curtain hangs in front of an alcove in the l
shields festoon the walls along each of these walkways, northeast corner of this hall.
while alabaster busts of handsome men flank hallways
that lead north and south away from the foyer. At the
west end of each balcony is an archway that leads to a The alcove is empty except for the narrow windows in
the back walls. Whenever the characters part the cur­
spiral staircase going up. tain and leave, the curtain is closed when they return.
Only by removing the curtain from its rod can they pre­
The balcony is 20 feet above the floor of the foyer (area vent the curtain from closing on its own.
Q3). The weapons and shields hanging on the walls are
nonmagical. The busts, displayed atop wooden pedes­ Q22. BATHROOM
tals, depict various human guises of the dragon Argy­
nvost. Their eyes seem to watch the characters as they
walk by, but the effect is an optical illusion. The room contains an iron tub and has wood paneling
on the walls that rises to a height of three feet. Above the
Ql9 . RUINED BEDCHAMBERS paneling, the walls are painted with a continuous, faded
There are two of these rooms. mural of a mountainscape.

The south end of this room has collapsed, exposing the The mural accurately depicts the Balinok Mountains.
chamber to the elements. A few furnishings lie broken Q23. STORAGE ROOM
under fallen debris from the level above.

The wooden floor creaks underfoot. Although it is safe Rainwater seeps through cracks in the ceiling and flows
to walk on, doing so attracts the giant spiders from area into a pool on the sagging wooden floor. The pool fills
Q4. The spiders crawl up into the room and attack. The about half the room. Bare stone shelves line the walls.
floor here is 20 feet above the floor of the ballroom.

This room has been thoroughlylo·6ted .. The woode�
· . floor is Soft· and·.1?R_Ongy, and it C�n't support more than
'
-� 100 poupds· : �f'weig�t:if more.weight.is.applied,.the · ·
·
floor.collapses, and a:ny'.creattire in thd:oom falls· 20·
feet, faking daipage asnormal and:l�ijdinifin.area Q12.
- CHAPTER 7 I ARGYNVOSTHOLT t 135

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