Chapter 36: Bride of the Vampyre

[ravenn4544]

Mouser, taking a pause as the group considers their next move, uses the time to his advantage and casts strength on Telkis.

[SocraticLawyer]

Urdur nods at N'Rogara's suggestion. We ought to head for the castle with all deliberate speed. Our greatest asset is the daylight.

If the group elects to attempt to go around the graveyard, however, Urdur goes with the group.

[Inferno]

The Old Road to Castle Ravenloft, Greyhawk
Day Two. Morning. Sunday, January 15th, 577 CY







The Old Road and Ingrid's tracks lead into an ancient forlorn graveyard deep in the netherworld twilight of the eerie forest of the mountain.

There, Mouser devotes ten minutes to an incantation to imbue Telkis with unnatural strength! (+1 to strength) The reckless dabbler in sorcery wonders if he understood the spell correctly.

The extent of the desolate cemetery cannot be divined through the gloom and the mist.

The doomed heroes consume precious daylight circumnavigating the vast, silent necropolis. In time, they reunite with the Old Road on the far side of the burial ground where it continues onward toward its final destination, Castle Ravenloft.

But of Ingrid and the wolves, N'Rogara can now find no sign.


Actions?!


Behind the DM Screen:

Mouser's Strength spell: [1d8]=1

PC Status:

Faron, Human Thief 6: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 27/27, Glowing blade
Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 4/5: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 21/21, Spells: 3/3 1st lvl, 1/2 2nd lvl
Jaelen Mwyr: Human Cleric 5: Move: 9", AC: 4(2), HP: 34/34, Spells: 5/5 1st lvl, 5/5 2nd lvl, 2/2 3rd lvl
N'Rogara: Human Ranger 5: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 53/53
Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 5: Move: 9", AC: 0, HP: 37/37
Urdur Shimmerstone, Gnome Illusionist 5: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 15/15, Spells: 4/4 1st lvl, 1/2 2nd lvl, 1/1 3rd lvl, Torch

PC Magic:

Strength (Mouser): Target: Telkis. +1 to strength.

Player Resources:

Tale of Terror (the story so far)
A Dark and Terrible World (maps)
Desperate Struggles (clues and player notes)

[corum]

Jaelen

"We must go on to the castle... Your friend must be in there"

[SocraticLawyer]

Agreed, says Urdur. Let us make haste to the castle.

[rredmond]

N’Rogara redoubles his efforts to check for any sorts of tracks that may yield any further information as he growls assent with regards to heading to the castle.

[jemmus]

Faron
Yes, to the castle.

[Inferno]

On the Old Road to Castle Ravenloft, Greyhawk
Day Two. Late Morning? Sunday, January 15th, 577 CY







Having lost Ingrid's trail, and that of the wolves that swarm around her, the doomed heroes urgently continue their deadly quest to save her, leaving the vast graveyard and following the Old Road deeper and deeper into the dim, misty wood.

N'Rogara the ranger is certain their friend did not pass this way. Every step takes them further from her tracks.

Suddenly, from out of the corners of their eyes, lunging shapes burst forth from the shadow and the mist, and the adventurers are beset on all sides by creatures hideous and frightful!




Actions?!





PC Status:

Faron, Human Thief 6: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 27/27
Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 4/5: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 21/21, Spells: 3/3 1st lvl, 1/2 2nd lvl
Jaelen Mwyr: Human Cleric 5: Move: 9", AC: 4(2), HP: 34/34, Spells: 5/5 1st lvl, 5/5 2nd lvl, 2/2 3rd lvl
N'Rogara: Human Ranger 5: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 53/53
Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 5: Move: 9", AC: 0, HP: 37/37
Urdur Shimmerstone, Gnome Illusionist 5: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 15/15, Spells: 4/4 1st lvl, 1/2 2nd lvl, 1/1 3rd lvl

PC Magic:

Strength (Mouser): Target: Telkis. +1 to Strength.

Player Resources:

Tale of Terror (the story so far)
A Dark and Terrible World (maps)
Desperate Struggles (clues and player notes)

[jemmus]

Faron hopes that priest Jalen has some way to dispel or hold the unholy things, or Urdur has clever magic to thwart them. Because all he has is his slim glowing rapier and thin, slashed leather armor.

If needed. THAC0 19 +1 Longsword [1d20+1]=6+1=7 S/M [1d8+1]=4+1=5 L [1d12+1]=7+1=8

[ChubbyPixie]

In Telkis's experience, skulls for faces means they won't be talking their way out of this. It also sometimes means getting your life essence pulled right out of you – an experience he won't willingly repeat. He he draws his neglected short bow and fires two arrows at the most opportune target:

Short Bow (THAC0 14): To Hit: [1d20]=16, Damage s/m/L: [1d6]=5
Short Bow (THAC0 14): To Hit: [1d20]=20, Damage s/m/L: [1d6]=4

"I fear I may have led us astray, N'Rogara. With no sign of tracks, could they still be in the graveyard?" he shouts.

[ravenn4544]

Mouser slices out on instinct alone.

Scalpel (THACO 19) To Hit [1d20]=10, S/M/L Dam. [1d8]=2

[rredmond]

I prefer the head on assault, than one by surprise, Telkis Cranach-weilder, N'Rogara responds to the gnome, I have trust in morningstar and blade. If the priestess left the road, I'm not so sure it would have been smart to follow.

TH [1d20+2]=8+2=10 DAM [1d10+2]=9+2=11
Stupid trust!
My macros are jacked I'll have to figure that out.

[corum]

Jaelen

Regains his composure enough to grab his holy symbol and will attempt to turn...

"By the light of Pholtus..."

Jaelen's god hast deserted him!

[SocraticLawyer]

Urdur summons forth (the illusion of) a denizen of the Elemental Plane of Fire, to scare away any undead that are not turned by the holy Word of Pholtus.

Casts Dancing Lights.

[Inferno]

On the Old Road to Castle Ravenloft, Greyhawk
Day Two. Late Morning? Sunday, January 15th, 577 CY








Deep in the mountainous woods surrounding Castle Ravenloft, the doomed heroes are suddenly beset on all sides by creatures hideous and frightful!




Adorned in filthy rags, the vile, depraved fiends eagerly shriek in cracked, desperate voices as they lunge at the adventurers in a mad fervor!

"The master of all life is at hand!"

"Master, I am here! See me!"

"I am here to do your bidding, my sovereign! I have worshiped you! I am your slave!"

"You will reward me, my lord, for I am faithful!"

"Lives! Yes, lives! I need lives for the master!"

Amid the desperate orisons, filthy nails and sharp teeth rend and tear without mercy!



(N'Rogara, Telkis, Mouser, Faron, and Urdur are hit for 4hp, 7hp, 3hp, 11hp and 3hp respectively)

Jaelen might believe his god has abandoned him but he alone is spared from the frantic onslaught! At the touch of the pale wretches, all the doomed heroes save Jaelen feel their life essence wane and a terrible, final coldness threaten to overtake them!

(Everyone except Jaelen: please Save vs Paralysis to enact the actions you have already posted. Jaelen, please stand by. Thanks!)


Map:

One square = 5 feet

Behind the DM Screen:

This post covers half of one combat round.

Party surprised? (1,2): [1d6]=5 No.
Initiative: Party: [1d6]=2, Monsters: [1d6]=5 Monsters win.
There are seven monsters.
Which PC receives two attacks? (alphabetical): [1d6]=5 Telkis

X1 charges N'Rogara: [1d20+2]=12+2=14, [1d20+2]=4+2=6, [1d20+2]=10+2=12, Damage: [1d3]=2, [1d3]=3, [1d6]=2 One claw and bite hit for 4hp damage.
X2 charges Telkis: [1d20+2]=11+2=13, [1d20+2]=4+2=6, [1d20+2]=8+2=10, Damage: [1d3]=2, [1d3]=3, [1d6]=4 All attacks miss.
X3 charges Telkis: [1d20+2]=8+2=10, [1d20+2]=18+2=20, [1d20+2]=17+2=19, Damage: [1d3]=2, [1d3]=3, [1d6]=4 One claw and bite hit for 7hp damage.
X4 charges Jaelen: [1d20+2]=6+2=8, [1d20+2]=11+2=13, [1d20+2]=10+2=12, Damage: [1d3]=2, [1d3]=2, [1d6]=5 All attacks miss.
X5 charges Mouser: [1d20+2]=8+2=10, [1d20+2]=11+2=13, [1d20+2]=1+2=3, Damage: [1d3]=1, [1d3]=3, [1d6]=1 One claw hits for 3hp damage.
X6 charges Faron: [1d20+2]=18+2=20, [1d20+2]=15+2=17, [1d20+2]=14+2=16, Damage: [1d3]=3, [1d3]=3, [1d6]=5 Two claws and bite hit for 11hp damage.
X7 charges Urdur: [1d20+2]=4+2=6, [1d20+2]=19+2=21, [1d20+2]=7+2=9, Damage: [1d3]=2, [1d3]=3, [1d6]=6 One claw hits for 3hp damage.

PC Status:

Faron, Human Thief 6: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 16/27
Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 4/5: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 18/21, Spells: 3/3 1st lvl, 1/2 2nd lvl
Jaelen Mwyr: Human Cleric 5: Move: 9", AC: 4(2), HP: 34/34, Spells: 5/5 1st lvl, 5/5 2nd lvl, 2/2 3rd lvl
N'Rogara: Human Ranger 5: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 49/53
Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 5: Move: 9", AC: 0, HP: 30/37
Urdur Shimmerstone, Gnome Illusionist 5: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 12/15, Spells: 4/4 1st lvl, 1/2 2nd lvl, 1/1 3rd lvl

PC Magic:

Strength (Mouser): Target: Telkis. +1 to Strength.

Player Resources:

Tale of Terror (the story so far)
A Dark and Terrible World (maps)
Desperate Struggles (clues and player notes)

[rredmond]

Attempting to resist the paralytic effects, N'Rogara lets out a frustrated "ARGHH..." that gets cut off as his muscles stiffen.

[1d20]=8
Of course...

[SocraticLawyer]

Save vs Paralysis (14) [1d20+1]=3+1=4

Well, it was nice while it lasted.....

[ravenn4544]

Mouser moves to—

Save vs Paralysis (12) [1d20]=9

[jemmus]

Faron

Save paralysis 14 [1d20]=1

[ChubbyPixie]

Save vs. Paralysis (13): [1d20]=19

Determined not to succumb, Telkis fights through the tightening of his frame…