6/1/21 Session 18 - "An Accountant with a Dangerous Rope"

Anastrasya excuses herself from the room to get changed. While she is doing so the party returns to questioning Volenta for a short time. She informs the party that she keeps the ghosts "Well Fed" and entertained to keep them happy, they seem to be a constant source of information for her. As well, she reveals that she has spoken to the mother of Strahd von Zarovich. The party seems confused as she will not reveal whether she is deceased or not.
Anastrasya returns and the party turns their questions back to her. They find that she was previously a Noblewoman from Vallaki. She also reiterates that the castle is dangerous "Everywhere" depending on who you are. She indicates that "Cyrus" is a loyal servant of Strahd, but also lets slip that there was another visitor to Castle Ravenloft recently. She impishly implies that we should ask Volenta about that.
The party lets Anastrasya leave and returns to questioning Volenta yet again. This time Fredriech Carlston brings up that he has a spoon which seems to have originated from this room. Every other piece of silverware is monogramed with an "M" except for one Spoon. the party inquires with Volenta about this and she seems surprised and informs the party that Strahd von Zarovich will be happy that the item has been returned to him. Unsure now the party leaves the spoon with Volenta and takes the replica/imposter piece with them. After gaining a little good will they inquire about the "guest" issue Anastrasya mentioned. Volenta immediately clams up and looks uncomfortable, she tells the party that speaking about this is a sure way to upset Strahd von Zarovich. The party does no tant to push their luck and decides to leave the topic at that.
The party exist the room to the East through a door adorned with wolves and a king on a horse. They head downstairs, but before entering the next room Fredriech Carlston expresses his frustration about relinquishing his spoon to Volenta and seems upset. The party agrees to try to find out as much about the spoon as they can for Fredriech Carlston so his attachments aren't for naught. The party continues into the next room where they encounter a man pouring over blank accounting books. Leif Lipsieg is the accountant for the castle and is chained to his desk. He seems upset by the party asking petty questions about a single spoon and threatens to "Pull His Rope". He reveals that the silverware was most likely brought to the castle by the Vistani, but no one wants to ask more and find out what the rope does. The party leaves the infuriated accountant and heads back upstairs to a floor they missed on their way down.
After entering the hallway, Grinfiddeus Nobbles notices that the painting of Strahd von Zarovich appears to be "watching" them. Adrid absentmindedly taps on the portrait with his sword and all hell breaks loose. A majority of the party is charmed and Adrid is engulfed by a rug he is standing on. After much effort and many sword swings at Adrid, the portrait is destroyed and the rug dispatched only after the party encounters a man in the room nearby who urges them into the room to escape the objects. He calls out for the assistance of Strahd von Zarovich, the dread lord appears and seems furious with the party for damaging his belongings. Just as quickly as he appears he is gone again leaving the party with the man in the room. Escher is another one of the consorts residing in Castle Ravenloft, but seems to have lost favor recently. He tells the party there are a number of other consorts here and fears he is no longer of use to Strahd von Zarovich.
While the party questions Escher, Adrid and Grinfiddeus Nobbles investigate the attached room. Inside they find a bedroom and closet. Grinfiddeus Nobbles keen eyes spot a false floor in the closet and a lever disguised as a coat hook on the wall. After pulling the hook and the floor falling out, Grinfiddeus Nobbles is unable to see anything and attempts to pull the trap door back into place. Right before pulling it back he hears a surprised voice from below yell out and a frost bolt approach his position. He manages to close up the floor unharmed if not intrigued by who was down there.
The party leaves Escher and continues down the spiral staircase ending up at the main foyer of Castle Ravenloft. They continue down further and encounter a doorway down a hall with appears to have been booby trapped. After making the wiser decision not to jump over the trap and speak about Grinfiddeus Nobbles encounter in the closet. As they do, a man appears at the other end of the hall. A short man (4'9"), he is covered in lizard scales, has panther ears, a duck foot and is hunched over and looks to be carrying a pile of junk on his back. He reminds them of the residents of the Abbey in Kresk.