5. A Surprise Party?

[Computer +1]

Tumbler swipes at the banshee and is annoyed at the miss. Seeing the others attack and have just as poor results he drops his Dwarven door opener and pull out his special dagger. He spins around to have a go at the banshee when it starts its cry.

The awful shriek makes his face scrunch so Tumbler adds a yell of his own in response SHADDDUPPPPP YE BITCHHHHHHH! He crouches low and then attacks the banshee with a slice of his dagger.

[Stirling]

Agrippo notices the silent fall of his mate Vorkath, the sword seemingly falling in slow motion from his hand to land feather like on the floor. Agrippos' head is filled with the evil wicked face of a dozen mother-in-laws, the screams of spurned women, madam eva's cackling laugh, "it's judgement day" he hears above the piercing wail. Agrippo clutches his chest but feels only dust in hands...

Agrippo rolls a 3

[Stirling]

Screaming back against the mother of all nightmares, Agrippo launches his attacks, swing his sword wildly

1st attack: to hit 5, damage 5
2nd attack to hit 21, damage 6

[Zhym]

Date: Nouluna 5, 1221
Time: 5:02 AM - Combat Round 2
Weather: Rain
Moon: Full
Location: Castle Ravenloft, Study
**************************************

The banshee's cry is like a fist around your hearts and souls, but you fight against the pull to the grave. Iluq and Robert, each in his own way a man of faith, are completely unfazed. Fendt also resists the call of death. Tumbler's strong dwarven constitution saves him from succumbing to the banshee's call. Remarkably, the cowering Barnabus also survives.

Vorkath, the other man of faith, sees a bright light and hears his True God calling him. The light is warm and inviting. He drops his sword, smiles a beatific smile, takes half a step forward, and collapses dead on the floor.

Agrippo notices the silent fall of his mate Vorkath, the sword seemingly falling in slow motion from his hand to land feather like on the floor. Agrippos' head is filled with the evil wicked face of a dozen mother-in-laws, the screams of spurned women, and Madam Eva's cackling laugh. "It's judgement day!" he hears above the piercing wail. The scarab on Agrippo's chest glows with an intense yet dark, almost ultraviolet light, then crumbles. The warrior clutches his chest, but feels only dust in his hands: the remains of the scarab that just saved his life.

Tibbius covers his ears and avoids the worst of the banshee's cry. Suddenly, he doubles over in intense pain! He sees out of the corner of his eye the stiff and lifeless form of Randolph Cat—another victim of the banshee's wail.

There is no time to mourn the dead. Fendt, Robert, Tumbler, and Agrippo all try to strike at the banshee, but in their sorrow and rage they can barely see well enough to fight.

The banshee floats down toward Tibbius, who clearly is now the most vulnerable member of the party. She reaches out to him with a ghostly finger. The elf squirms away. The banshee's touch reaches only his shoulder instead of his heart. (Tibbius -1 HP.)

Agrippo regains his composure and hews at the banshee. The Sunsword leaves a dark scar through the the banshee's spectral form. The banshee shrieks in pain.

Actions!

Tibbius permanently loses 8 HP, and also loses the 4 HP bonus he got when his familiar was within 12". Tibbius's max HP is now 10!

Please see the dice roller for rolls.

Status: Agrippo: 33/52, Vorkath: DEAD, Tibbius: 1/10, Randolph: DEAD, Iluq: 13/34, Tumbler: 24/39, Robert: 16/27; Fendt: 15/15
Effects: Banshee fear: Iluq, Barnabus

[GreyWolfVT]

Fendt not knowing if this spell will effect the banshee or not tries to cast Shocking Grasp on the banshee.
unsure how this will work since i have to touch the banshee.
Shocking Grasp[1d8 +4] = 2+4 = 6

[Cwreando]

Robert does not have time to think about his fallen companions. He immediately tries to attack the spirit.

Output: Scimitar +1 to hit[1d20 +1] = 15+1 = 16 Damage[1d8+1] = 6+1 = 7

Robert says, "Circle the spirit so we can fight more effectively and clear of each other."

[Computer +1]

Tumbler curses and mutters untelligably, There are streaks of tears on his face as he sees the big stupid holy human on the ground.
He again tries to swipe at the banshee

[1d20+1] = 10+1 = 11

[MonkeyWrench]

Illuq, standing stock still as his body is locked up, can only look on helplessly as his friends fight and fall. Tears streaming down his face as he stares at the fallen form of Vorkath and Randolph. He is unable to cry out, only watch.

[Zhym]

Date: Nouluna 5, 1221
Time: 5:03 AM - Combat Round 3
Weather: Rain
Moon: Full
Location: Castle Ravenloft, Study
**************************************

The desperate battle against banshee rages on. You've lost a mighty ally in the paladin and Tibbius is at death's portal.

The banshee reaches out to Tibbius again. A touch to his head, and the elf collapses, unconscious. The spectral horror draws close. Its ghostly hand reaches into Tibbius's chest and grabs his heart. The elf's body spasms, and then lies still, dying. (Tibbius: -1, -4 HP)

Your attacks again fail to affect the banshee. Robert takes a mighty cut with his scimitar that would have disemboweled most foes but passes harmlessly through the banshee. Tumbler's attack is similarly ineffective. Even Agrippo, the mighty warrior, swings off the mark. In desperation, Fendt speaks the words of a spell and reaches out to touch the banshee. The touch has no effect—on him or the banshee. Iluq and Barnabus, stricken by fear, can only watch.

The door to Gertruda's room opens. Tom peeks out with a look of concern. Seeing the banshee, he gets a terrified look in his eyes and disappears behind the door again.

Things look dire for our heroes.

Actions!

Initiative: Party [1d6] = 2 Monsters [1d6] = 5
Agrippo (Sunsword): [1d20+3] = 5+3 = 8 [1d8+4] = 1+4 = 5
Banshee attack: [1d20] = 20 [1d8] = 1 Critical hit! Free second attack for the banshee:
Banshee free attack: [1d20] = 17 [1d8] = 4

Status: Agrippo: 33/52, Tibbius: -4/10, Iluq: 13/34, Tumbler: 24/39, Robert: 16/27; Fendt: 15/15
Effects: Banshee fear: Iluq, Barnabus, Tom

[GreyWolfVT]

Fendt unfortunately I don't see how we can harm this. attempts to flee from the castle. takes the time to switch weapons to his mace. Then will try and hit the banshee if able when able to after the weapon swap.
Footman's Mace[1d20+1] = 20+1 = 21 Dmg[1d6+2] = 1+2 = 3



Footman's Mace[1d20+1] = 16+1 = 17 Dmg[1d6+2] = 5+2 = 7

[Computer +1]

[1d20+1] = 2+1 = 3

Tumbler once again swipes at the banshee

[Cwreando]

Robert says, "Be gone Spirit as he takes another swing."


: Scimitar +1 to hit[1d20 +1] = 4+1 = 5 Damage[1d8+1] = 7+1 = 8

"This may be too much for us."

Robert contemplates saving anyone he can grab and go while he still can.

[Zhym]

Date: Nouluna 5, 1221
Time: 5:04 AM - Combat Round 4
Weather: Rain
Moon: Full
Location: Castle Ravenloft, Study
**************************************

Sorrow turns to rage as you fight for your lives against the banshee.

Fendt drops his stick and draws a magical mace. Even before the banshee has a chance to rise from the dying Tibbius, Fendt bashes the death spirit with a surprising but satisfying "thud." The banshee backs away into a waiting Agrippo, who thrusts the Sunsword into the middle of its shadowy form.

The banhsee, sensing the tide of battle turning, tries to flee by floating toward the fireplace. Agrippo gives chase, raises the Sunsword, and swings it in a great arc through the banshee's head. With a shriek of despair and defeat, the banshee fades into nothingness!

It would be a moment for celebration, if not for the dead forms of Vorkath and Randolph Cat and the still-bleeding Tibbius reminding you of the cost of this victory.

"Okay, you've convinced me," says Barnabus, recovered from his terror but still shaking. "As soon as the sun comes up, I'm out of here with the others. That thing warn't natural."

Initiative: Party [1d6] = 4 Monsters [1d6] = 2
Agrippo (Sunsword): [1d20+3] = 12+3 = 15 [1d8+4] = 1+4 = 5
Agrippo (Sunsword): [1d20+3] = 15+3 = 18 [1d8+4] = 8+4 = 12

Status: Agrippo: 33/52, Tibbius: -5/10, Iluq: 13/34, Tumbler: 24/39, Robert: 16/27; Fendt: 15/15
Effects: None

[Cwreando]

Robert quickly moves over to bandages Tibbius and says, "Hang in there. I need time to get some healing magic back but I don't think we'll do it in here. We lost a great hero this night. We must regroup back at the town. We have lost much to get this far. Should we continue we will not survive the fight with the vampire I am afraid. Agrippo you saved us this night my friend. Let us get back to town and see if we can find more help to fight this vampire."

Robert helps those that were afraid to settle down and regain their courage.

[Stirling]

Agrippo will pick up the lifeless body of his friend Vorkath and place him into Gertrudes bed.(ignoring any protestations from the lady) "Let this be his resting place until we defeat this Strahd, then we will bury him in a place fitting for heroes." He will hold Vorkaths sword, "can anyone use this, lets not leave it behind." Passing the sword along to someone, Agrippo will

"I doubt we can return to town until Strahd is defeated, so rest now and press on tomorrow. I'll keep first watch."

[GreyWolfVT]

Fendt sad over all of the losses here "While I might not be a friend to you all you have saved my life and I am deeply saddened to see Vorkath and Tib's cat dead. I don't think we should leave them here as I'd hate to see them turned into the undead and sent against us if we leave I will help in any way I can to make this not their resting place at all. The sword I have never used a bastard sword but I do know how to use a scimitar. If anything I can help to at least carry some of his things to a proper place of final resting."

[Cwreando]

"If we can get the party functional by the time I can update my spells it may be possible to continue on but I would still suggest returning to hire another adventurer and to get the others to safety. We barely survived that Banshee and we may fare worse against the vampire should we continue. It is a matter of prudence that fuels my desire to return to the village. We shall return but I feel the odds are not in our favor going forward", stipulates Robert.

[GreyWolfVT]

Fendt "I agree Robert. I think we need more than we have here. But I don't wish to leave our dead just laying here for Strahd to turn against us."

[Computer +1]

Tumbler has tears running down his cheeks and into his beard. With a choked voice he says, I figured the stupid lug would have outlasted us all with all of his faith. HE sniffles, I agree, we gotta burn em so that they can't be used against us

[GreyWolfVT]

Fendt "If we do that we can easily find something to carry the remains back to a better and proper burial place. Tumbler even in mourning you have a good idea friend." Fendt helps with whatever the rest of the party decides "I am still a new face to the group and I will not take anything from the body of Vorkath unless one of you wishes me to. I will however help in any way I can to see him and the cat out of this place."