10. Return to Castle Ravenloft

[Zhym]

Date: Trieluna 13, 1222
Time: 7:30 PM
Weather: Fog
Location: Castle Ravenloft, Butler's Quarters
**************************************

As some of our heroes continue to argue among themselves over Cyrus's fate, others explore.

Scarlett, Bragar, and Agax, intent on binding and gagging Strahd's screaming manservant, find their way blocked by the paladin Lar. "It is unjust for us to bind and gag Cyrus when he has done nothing wrong that we know of," he says. "Show me proof of his wrong doings and you can proceed. If not I will simply cut your ropes or gags you place on him. I will remain with him until your spell wears off so he will not be defenseless in this vile mansion. Bogdana, come assist me with Cyrus."

The priestess looks conflicted for a moment, then steps to Lar's side in front of Cyrus. "I believe Lar speaks the will of Ohama," she says. "This man has done nothing to us."

"Must you force us to kill him?" asks Agax, leading Cyrus to scream even louder in panic.

Bragar, too, is unmoved by the paladin's words. "You stay here, Lar, and meet your fate with this minion of Strahd's. A minion slaughtered my friends. I shall not leave Strahd's minions free at my back." He tries to get at Cyrus to tie and gag him, but Lar and Bogdana stand in his way.

While this standoff is going on, Castran, Gragog, and Shinyah decide to investigate the sole remaining unexplored door in the hallway. Castran opens the door and finds himself staring at several hunched, reeking things dressed in dark rags. The things fill a hallway as far back as you can see.

undead.jpg (33.95 KiB) Viewed 364 times

They appear to have been just about to enter the hallway you are in. Cyrus's screams, it seems, did not go unheard.

Actions?

Rough map:

Screen Shot 2016-01-02 at 8.51.45 PM.png (35.46 KiB) Viewed 364 times

There may be more monsters to the south of those shown. What's on the map is as far as Lar's lantern reaches.

Gragog, Castran, Shinyah, and Petyr act against the monsters right away. Agax, Bragar, Lar, Scarlett, and Bogdana will act with a +2 penalty to initiative because their attention was on the argument over Cyrus when Castran opened the door.

----
Status: Gragog (F7): 40/49; Lar (P6): 27/40; Bragar: 33/42 (C7); Castran: 23/23 (F5/I6); Scarlett (C7/T5): 34/34; Agax (MU7/C4): 45/45; Petyr (F4): 29/30; Bogdana (C3): 23/23; Shinyah (D7): 37/38, Honeynose: 26/28, Treescratcher: 29/29, Hihu: 4/4
Effects: Phantom Armor (Castran): 6 pts; Invisibility (Castran); Hold Person (Scarlett, on Cyrus): 12 rounds
Light sources: Lantern (30', Lar): 15.9 turns

[GreyWolfVT]

Gragog - Half-Orc Fioghter prepares to strike from the second line at the first creature in line on the other side of the door. Provided Castran doesn't slam the door shut. Target is W2

Spear +1 Thac0(14) [1d20+2] = 20+2 = 22 To Hit [1d6+3] = 3+3 = 6 S/M Dmg [1d8+3] = 2+3 = 5 L Dmg

[Dram]

Bragar- Turns to see the new threat. He loos to Lar. See what your new friend has brought upon us. Maybe we should look behind the other doors. He moves to aid Castran. Castran let them come in on at time, be easier to kill them.


OCC- If the door opens towards the group. He try block the door with his feet so that one at a time may only enter.

[Cwreando]

Lar swaps his morning star for his blade and moves closer by switching places with Bogdana, "Switch places with me and watch over Cyrus. Gag him if he won't shut up though. They are right he is drawing attention to us."

Lar tries to get close enough to let Ohama's gifts be shared with Castran or those in the front.

[Storm11]

The invisible gnome will let the others take over as the jostle to hold the door. If it opens into the hallway he will leave it half open as Bragar suggested, leaning his strength against it. If it opens inwards towards the undead he will slam it shut and suggest the smaller warrior members step up and the taller attack over their heads. The smell from the creatures may aid in identifying them.

[Inferno]

Agax Gryyg, game mage:

"Aye. Bar the door," the dreaming wizard says as he gags Cyrus. Then he binds him with rope.

[Scott308]

Shinyah, Druid

The druid takes the opportunity to cast Barkskin upon himself.

[Stirling]

Scarlett

Scarlett is very annoyed with Lars choosing a defense of Cyrus over the party's endeavour, seeing no reason to justify her action in tieing and gagging him to his bed in the storeroom. Compared to others who debated, 'putting him.out of his misery', a few hours tied up while we explore seemed reasonable enough. The fact both of them also use this 'Ohama told me so' to validate their actions confuses her. Surely 'Ohama would not have them sidecwith servants of the undead?

Thinking Lars is obviously being seduced by Cyrus and Lady Bogdana seduced by Lars, this just makes Scarlett more angry ( no no not jealous, no never),

Scarlett, sees these new undead lurch at the door and vents her frustration on them.

@7th level see Turns Undead 'wights' = Auto T.....for anything else....her faith weakens...d20 turn roll = 2

[Zhym]

Date: Trieluna 13, 1222
Time: 7:30 PM - Combat Round 1
Weather: Fog
Location: Castle Ravenloft, Butler's Quarters & Hallway
**************************************

Castran tries to close the door (which opens away from him), but the undead things, whatever they are, are too fast. The diminutive gnome is unable to stop them from rushing into the hallway. And although he is invisible and small, a couple of the monsters (w7, w8) bump into him, notice the hole in the mists, and attack. He easily avoids their grasps.

Three of them attack Petyr and one manages to scratch his arm. Despite the lightness of the wound (-1 HP), the fighter screams in pain. "Cold!" he cries. "So cold!" He seems visibly weakened. His counterattack misses badly.

One attacks Shinyah; another goes after Gragog. The heroes avoid their cold grasps. Gragog responds by piercing his attacker (w5) deep in the throat. The last creature to enter the room attacks Honeynose, swiping a thin claw against the big bear's shoulder (-2 HP). The bear howls and attempts to bite and claw the foul thing, which evades the attacks.

Castran tries to move back, leaving room for others to take the fore. Bragar tries to step to his aid, but he is too far back—Gragog and Shinyah are in the way.

Shinyah casts a spell to harden his skin until it is like bark.

Lar and Bogdana trade places. "Watch over Cyrus," he says. "Gag him if he won't shut up." Agax steps forward and takes care of that duty, muffling the old man's screams somewhat.

Bogdana, for her part, raises the symbol of Ohama. "Lar!" she cries. "For Ohama's sake, try to turn these things!" She commands the attackers to begone—but her exhortation has no effect.

Scarlett, however, is invested with more power by her god. With a display of her holy symbol and a firm command, she sends half a dozen of the undead fleeing. Two of them (w1, w2) turn to leave through the door to the guards' hall; four others (w3-w6) begin pushing their way back into the hallway from which they came. But another half dozen wait in the hall to replace them.

Actions?

Monsters win initiative 5-1. That prevents any attempt to close the door on them.

I guess it's obvious what type of undead you're dealing with now.

Screen Shot 2016-01-05 at 4.30.56 PM.png (33.4 KiB) Viewed 328 times

----
Status: Gragog (F7): 40/49; Lar (P6): 27/40; Bragar: 33/42 (C7); Castran: 23/23 (F5/I6); Scarlett (C7/T5): 34/34; Agax (MU7/C4): 45/45; Petyr (F3): 23/23; Bogdana (C3): 23/23; Shinyah (D7): 37/38, Honeynose: 24/24, Treescratcher: 29/29, Hihu: 4/4
Effects: Phantom Armor (Castran): 6 pts; Invisibility (Castran); Hold Person (Scarlett, on Cyrus): 11 rounds; Barkskin (Shinyah, AC 3): 11 rounds
Light sources: Lantern (30', Lar): 15.8 turns

[Dram]

Bragar- Will attack W5.


+3 Mace tohit[1d20+4] = 9+4 = 13, todam[1d6+4] = 4+4 = 8

[Inferno]

Agax Gryyg, game mage:

With Cyrus silenced at last, the priest of possibility steps forward next to Scarlett. "Well done," he murmurs as he wields his wheel-shaped holy symbol and polyhedron talisman, and joins the gypsy in driving back the undead horrors! "Your chance is over! All possibility is denied you, now! Return to your accursed master! Your fate is sealed!"

Turn undead: [1d20] = 17

[GreyWolfVT]

Gragog steps aside to better get in the way of the undead thing w5 stepping over towards Petyr and attacks the creature with his spear hoping to also provide an opening for Castran to retreat to.

Spear +1 Thac0(14) [1d20+2] = 7+2 = 9 To Hit [1d6+3] = 3+3 = 6 S/M Dmg [1d8+3] = 3+3 = 6 L Dmg

[Stirling]

Scarlett

Taking advantage of the brief respite as the turned ones block the entrance from the other wraiths, Scarlett will cast a Protection from Evil spell.

"Rally around me, Samar's blessed assurance will keep them at bay for a few moments."she calls. "When the other wretches breakthrough we need to act as one. Prepare area arcane magics, if we get too close they will suck the spirit out of you. Melee is a last resort. "

[Cwreando]

After changing places with Bogdana, Lar strikes at W4 or the next undead available to him saying, "Back to the depths of the underworld with you foul monsters. Allow Ohama's light to show you the way."

To Hit AC0 (15) Bastard Sword +1, [1d20+1] = 16+1 = 17, Dmg vs sm [2d4+1] = 8+1 = 9 Dmg vs L [2d8+1] = 15+1 = 16

[Storm11]

"Those with the greater armour surround the doorway and stop more of these creatures from entering," suggests the unseen gnome moving back to give the Warriors room. The gnome will watch the turned to make sure the party are not surprised if and when it wears off.

[Cwreando]

Lar steps forward if w4 falls and defends the doorway.

[Scott308]

Shinyah, Druid

Shinyah will attack the nearest undead (W4) with his spear.

Spear +1: Attack (15): [1d20] = 13; Dam (S/M): [1d6+1] = 6+1 = 7; Dam (L): [1d8+1] = 6+1 = 7

Meanwhile, Honeynose roars in pain and anger, attacking the undead that had hurt him (I'm assuming that is W6, correct?).

Honeynose Attack (13) Paw: [1d20] = 16; Dam: [1d6] = 3; Paw: [1d20] = 12; Dam: [1d6] = 2
Honeynose Attack (13): Bite: [1d20] = 5; Dam: [1d8] = 6

[Zhym]

Date: Trieluna 13, 1222
Time: 7:31 PM - Combat Round 2
Weather: Fog
Location: Castle Ravenloft, Hallway
**************************************

Several of the undead, turned away by the power of Scarlett's god, flee before you have a chance to attack them. Two flee to the west. The other four run south, where others of their vulgar kind take turns stepping aside for them to pass and rushing into the hall to take their place.

Three manage to gain entrance to the room. Two go after Petyr; the other attacks Shinyah's bear. All miss; one of the two on Petyr falls almost comically to the ground (critical miss). Two others claw at Castran from near the doorway as he tries to withdraw from combat. Despite his attackers being able to see the hole he makes in the mists, his invisibility and Lar's aura protect him.

While this is going on, you hear a voice to the east. It chants words you do not understand. The voice seems familiar to Castran, but he can't quite place it. Bragar, however, recognizes the voice as that of his old friend Melampus!

Gragog (having swapped places with Castran), Bragar, and Petyr gang up on the prone monster that had been attacking Petyr (w8). It stands no chance against their combined might—slashed, smashed, and stabbed, it goes limp, its unlife taken from it. Lar, Shinyah, and his bear likewise destroy the sickening creature attacking Honeynose (w9).

Agax holds his wheel-shaped holy symbol forth and commands the undead to begone. Four of them (w7, w10, w11, w12) turn away. Only two remain.

Melampus's chanting stops. The lights go out. Even those with some form of darkvision see nothing but blackness.

Actions?

The monsters won initiative. I assume no one wanted to chase down the turned undead, only attack if they were still in melee.

No map because it is very dark. You are likely to be eaten by a grue.

Also, please remember to keep an eye on the OOC thread and your private threads. I try to keep OOC discussion there. That includes discussions of important game mechanics.

----
Status: Gragog (F7): 40/49; Lar (P6): 27/40; Bragar: 33/42 (C7); Castran: 23/23 (F5/I6); Scarlett (C7/T5): 34/34; Agax (MU7/C4): 45/45; Petyr (F3): 23/23; Bogdana (C3): 23/23; Shinyah (D7): 37/38, Honeynose: 24/24, Treescratcher: 29/29, Hihu: 4/4
Effects: Phantom Armor (Castran): 6 pts; Invisibility (Castran); Hold Person (Scarlett, on Cyrus): 10 rounds; Barkskin (Shinyah, AC 3): 10 rounds; Protection from Evil (Scarlett, on herself): 21 rounds
Light sources: Lantern (30', Lar): 15.7 turns - ??

[Storm11]

Castran will withdraw one of his continual light coins and throw it to the ground in the area of darkness around him.

[Dram]

Bragar- knowing the magic darkness is of his friend Melampus. He steps 4 steps to the south and begins to cast Dispel Magic.


Dispel magic(85%) Die check[1d100] = 17