Chapter 36: Bride of the Vampyre

[Inferno]

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







Deep within the misty wood, heinous fiends descend upon the doomed heroes as they search in vain for their lost friend, Ingrid Esthof!

At the corrupting touch of the damned, Faron, Mouser, N'Rogara, and Urdur feel their life essence drain away and they collapse to the ground in shuddering heaps!

The condemned souls continue their demented litany to the air around them:

"We have them, master! They are ours!"

"Fresh lives for the master! Tonight you will feast, my sovereign!"

"See how your most deserving slave honors you!"

"I serve you well, lord and do your every bidding!"

Jaelen and Telkis struggle on, against all hope!

Telkis manages to loose two arrows at one accursed horror (X3), impaling it in the eye and the throat!



It is dead before it hits the ground!

Jaelen calls upon Pholtus, desperately trying to drive off the wicked devils, but finds his god holds no sway here!


Actions, Jaelen and Telkis?!


Map:

One square = 5 feet

Behind the DM Screen:

This post covers the second half of one combat round.

Telkis targets X2 or X3?: [1d2+1]=2+1=3 X3. Telkis' natural 20 is a critical hit, causing double damage.

PC Status:

Faron, Human Thief 6: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 16/27, Paralyzed
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, Paralyzed
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, Paralyzed
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: 3/4 1st lvl, 1/2 2nd lvl, 1/1 3rd lvl, Paralyzed

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

"The gods have deserted us"" he cries as he sees his new friends paralysed in fear. Shaken by the ferocity of the attack and wondering what he has got himself into, he summons his wits enough to take action… "hold he beasts best you can my friend" he shouts to Telkis "I will see if I can free the others”

Beginning with N'Rogera Jaelen will cast cure light wounds. If there is time before he himself is attacked he will then free Grey Mouser. If not, he will ready the mace to defend/attack himself and free the rest of the party next action phase.

Cure light wounds x1

[ChubbyPixie]

"Not the worst situation we've been in!" shouts Telkis.

Dropping his bow and pulling forth Cranach, he swings wildly at whatever fiend is within reach:

Morningstar +2 (THAC0 17): To Hit:[1d20+2]=14+2=16, Damage: vs s/m [2d4+2]=5+2=7, vs L [1d6+3]=3+3=6

[jemmus]

Faron lies on the ground bleeding, unable to move even his eyelids. He helplessly watches the action of the wild combat. And silently agrees with Telkis-- it's not the worst situation they've been in. But it's one of them.

[Inferno]

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







The doomed heroes are besieged by unliving wretches, frantically currying favor with some unseen "master." Was this to be the fate of poor Ingrid'? Or the fate of all the doomed heroes?

"The more lives we give to the master, the more life we shall be given!"

"A priest, my lord! A delicious priest!"

"The master will come, and he has promised to make me immortal!"

Faron, Mouser, N'Rogara and Urdur can only watch, their faces frozen in a rictus of horror, as Jaelen and Telkis battle for their lives, and their eternal souls!

Mercifully, the fallen heroes are not eaten alive. The craven cannibal degenerates know these lives belong to "the master." Perhaps the heroes will soon wish they had died here and now.

One wicked malefactor (X2) cannot resist its fallen comrade (X3) and its heinous teeth burrow into cold, grey flesh in a gruesome banquet of blood and gore!



"The blood!" it squeals. "The blood is life!"

The rest of the creatures damned to hell descend upon the last men standing, clawing and biting with deranged fury! (Jaelen and Telkis are hit for 5hp and 8hp respectively!)

Their souls tremble and their hearts turn cold as the grave! (Jaelen and Telkis: please Save vs Paralysis to enact the actions you have already posted. Thanks!)


Map:

One square = 5 feet

Behind the DM Screen:

This post covers the first half of one combat round.

Initiative: Party: [1d6]=3, Monsters: [1d6]=5 Monsters win.

X1 attacks Telkis: [1d20]=14, [1d20]=8, [1d20]=19, Damage: [1d3]=2, [1d3]=3, [1d6]=5 One hit for 5hp damage.
X7 attacks Telkis: [1d20]=12, [1d20]=19, [1d20]=7, Damage: [1d3]=3, [1d3]=3, [1d6]=1 One hit for 3hp damage.

Jaelen rolled a critical fumble to Turn Undead. So three undead will attack him this round.
X4 attacks Jaelen: [1d20]=4, [1d20]=4, [1d20]=20, Damage: [1d3]=3, [1d3]=3, [1d6]=2 One critical hit for 4hp damage.
X5 attacks Jaelen: [1d20]=2, [1d20]=1, [1d20]=1, Damage: [1d3]=2, [1d3]=3, [1d6]=6 All miss. Two critical fumbles: no attacks for 2 rounds.
X6 attacks Jaelen: [1d20]=14, [1d20]=2, [1d20]=12, Damage: [1d3]=1, [1d3]=3, [1d6]=2 One hit for 1hp damage.

PC Status:

Faron, Human Thief 6: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 16/27, Paralyzed
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, Paralyzed
Jaelen Mwyr: Human Cleric 5: Move: 9", AC: 4(2), HP: 29/34, 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, Paralyzed
Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 5: Move: 9", AC: 0, HP: 22/37
Urdur Shimmerstone, Gnome Illusionist 5: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 12/15, Spells: 3/4 1st lvl, 1/2 2nd lvl, 1/1 3rd lvl, Paralyzed

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]

edit: found it

Saving Throw (9) [1d20]=13

[ChubbyPixie]

Telkis feels his muscles' unrelenting urge to stiffen and fights through it, channeling his fear into rage. He brings Cranach down disdainfully on the bridge of one of the gibbering brown-nosers noses...

"Fight, Jaelen, fight! We can do this!"

Narrator: "It was not at all clear that they could, in fact, do this."

[Inferno]

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







"Each life that I ingest gives back life to me!" cries a blood-smeared cannibal. (X2) Its breath is like a charnel house.

In this darkest of places, the gnome and the cleric refuse to succumb to the evil that grips their friends.

Against all hope, Telkis hammers a debased villain with his morningstar (X1), nearly killing it in one bone-crunching blow!

Jaelen cries out to his god once more and delivers blessings unto Mouser, whose wounds are miraculously healed (+8hp) and whose paralysis leaves him!

Wicked, leering devils loom over the little rogue.

"Master, see how these flies struggle in your web!"

"Good strong lives for the master!"


Actions, Jaelen, Mouser and Telkis?!


Map:

One square = 5 feet

Behind the DM Screen:

This post covers the second half of one combat round.

PC Status:

Faron, Human Thief 6: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 16/27, Paralyzed
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: 29/34, Spells: 4/5 1st lvl, 5/5 2nd lvl, 2/2 3rd lvl
N'Rogara: Human Ranger 5: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 49/53, Paralyzed
Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 5: Move: 9", AC: 0, HP: 22/37
Urdur Shimmerstone, Gnome Illusionist 5: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 12/15, Spells: 3/4 1st lvl, 1/2 2nd lvl, 1/1 3rd lvl, Paralyzed

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)

[ChubbyPixie]

“Die already! For real this time!” shouts Telkis as he attempts to finish off, or at least immobilize, X1 with a lateral strike to the pelvis.

Morningstar +2 (THAC0 17): To Hit:[1d20+2]=10+2=12, Damage: vs s/m [2d4+2]=5+2=7, vs L [1d6+3]=5+3=8

[ravenn4544]

Mouser awakens from his paralytic sleep and wonders if it would have been best to have stayed there!! He lashes out quickly with his sword to make his point!

Scalpel (THACO 19) To Hit [1d20]=17, S/M/L Dam. [1d8]=4

[corum]

Jaelen will attack whichever godless deadswine is closest...

eeeeuuuggghhh

[Inferno]

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







"We have them, Master!"

"See me, lord!"

"Your deserving slave serves you well!"

In the haunted woods that surround Castle Ravenloft, the nightmare will not relent.

Yet neither will the doomed heroes! Jaelen flails wildly, but Mouser stabs a looming fiend, drawing blood! (X6) And Telkis crushes the skull of a heinous devil with his morningstar, killing it in a spray of brain and bone! (X1)



Undeterred, the malevolent wretches wreak havoc across the mortal flesh of Jaelen and Mouser! (12hp and 9hp damage respectively)

Once more, the darkness of the grave threatens to take them! (Jaelen and Mouser: please Save vs Paralysis to act!)


Actions, Jaelen, Mouser and Telkis?!


Map:

One square = 5 feet

Behind the DM Screen:

This post covers a full round.
Initiative: Party: [1d6]=6, Monsters: [1d6]=3 Party wins!
X7 attacks Telkis? (1) or Jaelen? (2): [1d2]=2 Jaelen.
X2 attacks Telkis: [1d20]=10, [1d20]=9, [1d20]=4, Damage: [1d3]=2, [1d3]=1, [1d6]=4 All miss.
X4 attacks Jaelen: [1d20]=16, [1d20]=4, [1d20]=18, Damage: [1d3]=3, [1d3]=3, [1d6]=6 Two attacks hit for 9hp damage.
X5 fumbled last round and cannot attack this round.
X6 attacks Mouser: [1d20]=15, [1d20]=14, [1d20]=13, Damage: [1d3]=2, [1d3]=3, [1d6]=4 All attacks hit, for 9hp damage.
X7 attacks Jaelen: [1d20]=4, [1d20]=19, [1d20]=18, Damage: [1d3]=3, [1d3]=2, [1d6]=1 Two attacks hit for 3hp damage.

PC Status:

Faron, Human Thief 6: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 16/27, Paralyzed
Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 4/5: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 12/21, Spells: 3/3 1st lvl, 1/2 2nd lvl
Jaelen Mwyr: Human Cleric 5: Move: 9", AC: 4(2), HP: 17/34, Spells: 4/5 1st lvl, 5/5 2nd lvl, 2/2 3rd lvl
N'Rogara: Human Ranger 5: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 49/53, Paralyzed
Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 5: Move: 9", AC: 0, HP: 22/37
Urdur Shimmerstone, Gnome Illusionist 5: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 12/15, Spells: 3/4 1st lvl, 1/2 2nd lvl, 1/1 3rd lvl, Paralyzed

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 can only watch the bloody mayhem from the ground, his face and eyes immobile. He wonders if the fiends intend to kill them all, or take them to "Master" alive. From some of the obsequious utterances, he's beginning to suspect it's the latter.

[ravenn4544]

Mousers muscles twitch to the point they freeze and he becomes immobile. Again!

Save vs Paralysis (12) [1d20]=4

[corum]

The horror becomes too much for Jaelen

[ChubbyPixie]

"Fiddlesticks!" shouts Telkis, in his frustration uttering the foulest human curse word he knows. Seeing the others stiffen, he redoubles his efforts to put down as many of the simpering fiends as he is able before succumbing himself.

Morningstar +2 (THAC0 17): To Hit:[1d20+2]=13+2=15, Damage: vs s/m [2d4+2]=6+2=8, vs L [1d6+3]=3+3=6

"Garl, help us!" He looks for an opportunity to shift westward to lessen the number that can attack him at once.

[Inferno]

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







Deep in the haunted wood, Jaelen and Mouser fall trembling to the Old Road in the rigor mortis of a waking death! But Telkis will not yield. Alone, he fights on against the insurmountable odds.

Before the valiant gnome can edge westward, the hateful things surround him! Merciless claws and fangs lacerate and gouge from every side, nearly flaying Telkis alive! (17hp damage!)



"Master, see how your larder grows!"

"Soon you will feast!"

"Your favorite slave honors you, my lord!"

With what may be his dying breath, Telkis lashes out, defiant, bludgeoning one execrable fiend (X2) but not killing it, even as the creeping deadness threatens to consume him! (Telkis, please Save vs Paralysis to act!)


Actions, Telkis?!


Map:

One square = 5 feet

Behind the DM Screen:

This post covers a full round.
Initiative: Party: [1d6]=3, Monsters: [1d6]=4 Monsters win.
X2 attacks Telkis: [1d20]=6, [1d20]=2, [1d20]=16, Damage: [1d3]=3, [1d3]=3, [1d6]=6 Bite hits for 6hp damage.
X4 attacks Telkis: [1d20]=2, [1d20]=13, [1d20]=10, Damage: [1d3]=1, [1d3]=3, [1d6]=5 Two attacks hit from behind for 8hp damage.
X5 fumbled two rounds ago and still cannot attack yet.
X6 attacks Telkis: [1d20]=1, [1d20]=1, [1d20]=13, Damage: [1d3]=1, [1d3]=3, [1d6]=1 Bite hits for 1hp. Two fumbles, X6 may not attack for two rounds.
X7 attacks Telkis: [1d20]=20, [1d20]=3, [1d20]=4, Damage: [1d3]=1, [1d3]=1, [1d6]=1 One claw hits critically for double damage: 2hp.

PC Status:

Faron, Human Thief 6: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 16/27, Paralyzed
Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 4/5: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 12/21, Spells: 3/3 1st lvl, 1/2 2nd lvl, Paralyzed
Jaelen Mwyr: Human Cleric 5: Move: 9", AC: 4(2), HP: 17/34, Spells: 4/5 1st lvl, 5/5 2nd lvl, 2/2 3rd lvl, Paralyzed
N'Rogara: Human Ranger 5: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 49/53, Paralyzed
Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 5: Move: 9", AC: 0, HP: 5/37
Urdur Shimmerstone, Gnome Illusionist 5: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 12/15, Spells: 3/4 1st lvl, 1/2 2nd lvl, 1/1 3rd lvl, Paralyzed

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)

[ChubbyPixie]

Save vs. Paralysis (13): [1d20]=16

Telkis groans involuntarily through his metal grille under the rabid onslaught of infected claws. His body wants desperately to stop, but his will cannot allow it. He will die trying to save his friends. Of that he is sure.

“Cranach, you’ve never… well, you’ve rarely failed me. If they are to win, let us make them pay dearly,” he muttters. Then feints before delivering what will perhaps be his last, desperate blow with his beloved weapon.

Morningstar +2 (THAC0 17): To Hit:[1d20+2]=18+2=20, Damage: vs s/m [2d4+2]=7+2=9, vs L [1d6+3]=5+3=8