Quoted By:
Dim, colored light filters through tall, broken, and boarded-up windows of stained glass, illuminating the ancient chapel of Ravenloft. A balcony runs the length of the west wall, fifty feet above the floor.
Benches coated with centuries of dust lie about the floor in jumbled disarray. Beyond this debris, lit by a piercing shaft of light, an altar stands upon a stone platform. The sides of the altar are carved with bas-reliefs of angelic figures entwined with grape vines. The light from above falls directly on a silver statuette. A cloaked figure is draped over the altar, and a black mace lies on the floor near its feet. Strahd looks over the figure with pity.
"Who is that?" you ask.
"Ah, some fool," he says, shaking his head sadly. "Ravenloft sees no shortage of thieves and vagabonds, despite how many of them are claimed by its dangers. It sometimes takes my servants a while to clean such things up. My apologies for the sight."
It seems that the body is of a priest or holy man, based on his garments. He is slumped over in such a way as though he died while touching the object on the pedestal: a shining twelve-inch statuette depicting a cleric kneeling in supplication.
"This chapel has seen better days," you say idly, as you inch closer to the altar, inspecting the surroundings as you do.
"Yes," he says, walking over broken glass unfazed. "It was once a place of worship. But this land, being an extension of me, is cursed. The gods my family used to worship can no longer see Barovia."
A land cut off from the heavens. Is that even possible?
"Where exactly is Barovia?" you ask. "I have been told by Vistani that the fog traps peoples souls. But my understanding of the material plane would make that impossible."
"This is something I have spent much time studying myself," he says. "Barovia is a prison - my prison. I am trapped, as are you."
"But where, geographically, are we? I was far north of-"
"No," he says. "We are not on the material plane. The concept of geographical location means nothing here. This is a demiplane that is about as far removed from the material world as the Feywild, closer to the Plane of Shadow than the to the Prime. That is why the gods no longer bless this church."
"But what about Kossuth?" you ask. "Why were you afraid of my holy amulet?"
"Because you are not from here," he replies. "You carry faith with you, and a fresh soul. I almost feel bad for you."
You shake your head. You <span class="mu-i">will</span> find a way out of Barovia - you have no delusion that you are trapped here, despite what anyone says.
>Ask Strahd a specific question. (specify)
>Perform an action in this location. (specify)
>Continue the tour.
