Castlevania: Moonlight Serenade IC

[Dramesh]

http://www.raymanexe.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/dgn_castlevania_logo.jpg
"Since ancient times, man have to fight the forces of darkness. One among them was Dracula, the vampire lord. It's been 300 years since the Belmont clan rise up to confront him. Now is another time where Belmont, Belnades and other vigilant heroes arise to come together and vanquish evil once more..."

It's been a week since the appearance of the castle of the Count Dracula. Hero who have lost they destiny and seek to atone for it, hero who has his destiny cursed from a previous encounter, hero who follow destiny and heroes with no clear intentions in mind.

After long travel, all heroes finally gather on the edge of the forest surrounding the castle and it's evil creatures.

The night just begun, the sun has finally disappear from the sky. The gloomy and rotten trees in front of heroes show them that even the flora had begin to converge in a twisted mirror of their old self. The only walk-able path is road, leading into the forest. About 20 feet, the shadow eat away the road leaving the sense that no light can pierce this cursed wood.

[Irish Musician]

Alice White (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=406983), Invoker of God's Wrath

Alice stood there, with the other Heroes who had come to slay the vile creature that was Dracula. She didn't talk much of herself or why she had decided to come, all the others knew was that she was angry. Alice, before, had been a vibrant and cheerful person, for the most part, especially after daughter had been born. But after her murder, Alice could think of nothing but revenge. Revenge on the murdering creature that took her precious Adeline. Shaking off the memories of the past, and thinking about her task at hand, Alice offered, "Well, shall we?"

[Surrealistik]

Artorias looked about the others that had gathered, the purpose burning within them as unmistakable as his own. Though they were all nearly complete strangers to the crusader, he nonetheless felt a strange, almost preternatural empathy between them, each unified by their common goal. To the woman's query he responds with an eager nod, argent moonlight glinting off the unnatural pallor of his skin as it shifts in acknowledgement.

"Of course. There shall be no respite until Dracula lies defeated. We've not much further to go before the castle gates; let us proceed."

His armour thunders forward, the shock of each footfall as a challenge against the night, resonating amongst the foliage.

[sournote103]

Ezra stood towards the edge of the group venturing into the vampire's castle. He felt somewhat awkward among the group, all clearly better trained in combat and practical matters than Ezra himself was. True, Ezra did possess some arcane knowledge and mastery, but much of his skillset was helpful for wilderness survival and dealing with other people.
Still, not many were able to see what laid inside the castle of a vampire, and it intrigued Ezra to see what lie within such an edifice.
At the very least, should Ezra himself not be able to alter the course of the battle, he had found how to magically ingratiate himself to varying forms of wildlife, and, failing that, how to communicate with them and use his natural skill in negotiation to seek their aid.

But still, one thing at a time. The group was not yet inside the malign structure, and he still did not know his companions well.
In response to the armored woman, he said simply, "Might as well," following after the heavily-armored man.
With a short whistle, he called to his pet hawk, which had been circling overhead, holding out his arm to act as a perch for the bird.

[Chambers]

Sonya Belnade

One week. It's only been here a week and look at the disease that's spreading. Shaking her head at the dark forest ahead she then nods to her companions. "Whatever lies within...know that it cannot force it's corruption on you. Unlike the wood ahead, we each have the freedom of choice. That is how the creature will make his attack, through lies and confusion, making it seem that his choice is your own."

Holding her great shield tighter, she takes the lead into the woods, the spiked head of her flail swinging slowly back and forth as she walks. "The darkness here is unnatural. Be on your guard."

[Infernally Clay]

"You shouldn't be so tense," Alfred said, with dry humour that touched on self-depreciation, "You have a Belmont with you, what is there to fear?"

Tapping the whip hanging from his waist, more to remind himself it was there than the others, he began moving forward. There was an awkward air to the way he walked, as if he was being pushed and pulled at the same time. Even though he had taken up his destiny, the mantle of the Belmont name, there was still a part of him that had dreaded this day.

How many of my family have stood here, as I do? How many have fought and defeated Dracula, as I will? Will this cycle ever be broken?

"I can guarantee our host will have quite the welcome for us, so we might as well not keep him waiting."

[Dramesh]

After their short reunion, the heroes advance into the forest. As they enter the woods, they begin to realized that among this dense forest, their vision was lowered. After following the trail for about 5 minutes, they exit into a clearing. After the last one exit the woods, they hear many hurls coming from the forest. Many sounds of steps can be heard until a bunch of wargs came out of the woods, baring the way to the adventurers.

OOC
Refer to the combat sheet for map and info.

ROUND 1 Start

[Irish Musician]

Alice White (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=406983), Invoker of God's Wrath

Alice walks with the others, alert but not paranoid, focused on her mission. She starts to hear some rustling in the woods and some small yips. Having lived on the outskirts of the wilderness all her life, Alice didn't know for sure, but could guess what was about to happen. Tighten her grip on her staff, she wasn't too surprised when the worgs came out. Thinking she should get one of the worgs pinned down for her allies, at least for a moment, that might help them fight the others off of them. Alice calls forth a spear of Radiant energies from heaven to keep the worg at bay.

Actions
Minor N/A
Move N/A
Standard - Spear of the Inquisitor VS Ref on W4, [roll0]
Damage - [roll1], radiant damage, and the target is immobilized until the end of your next turn.

[Chambers]

Sonya Belnade

"Minions of the dark lord...they serve his will unquestioning." Sonya says at the worgs come out of the treeline. Holding her shield up she bangs the hilt of her flail against it, trying to attract the beasts attention. "Yai! Come forward...you'll taste innocent blood no longer." Sonya lowers her flail and sets in moving in a slow circle, waiting for the beasts to come closer.

Minor Action - activate Defender Aura.
Minor Action - go into Defend the Line stance.
Standard Action - Ready Footwork Lure to attack the first worg that comes within her reach. On a hit it will knock the worg prone and slide it 1 square away.

Sonya Belnade
HP 61/61 Bloodied 30 Surges 12/12
AC 24 Fort 22 Ref 18 Will 20

Defender Aura.
Effect: You activate an aura 1 that lasts until you end it as a minor action or until you fall unconscious. While in the aura, any enemy takes a -2 penalty to attack rolls when it makes an attack that does not include among its targets either you or an ally of yours who has this aura active. Marked enemies are not subject to this aura.

Defend the Line.
Effect: You assume the defend the line stance. Until the stance ends, whenever you hit an enemy with a melee basic attack using a weapon, that enemy is slowed until the end of your next turn.

Battle Guardian. [Opportunity Action]
Trigger: An enemy subject to your defender aura either shifts or makes an attack that targets an ally of yours but not you or an ally who has an active defender aura.
Effect: You make a melee basic attack against the triggering enemy. If the attack misses, the enemy still takes damage equal to your Strength modifier.

[Surrealistik]

Artorias settles into a battle ready crouch, tower shield lowered, sword poised to strike at the first to come within its silvered reach. The vampire tenses, bracing himself for the pending onslaught as a silent rampart against his bestial foe.

Artorias delays until all Wargs have moved. Everyone who doesn't have a shield gains a +1 AC bonus due to Devout Protector Expertise.

[Dramesh]

Round 1: Warg 1
Combat Sheet (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AjKjYySklKeTdG42ODJEczdJRjFoY3JUWk00OHV1M VE#gid=6)

One of the Warg speed up and charge toward Sonya hurling and then trying to bite her legs.


OOC

Warg 1
Move: move to M8

Before these action, Sonya get her readied action THEN:

Minor: ENCOUNTER: Disorienting Hurl [roll0] vs will, HIT: target is slowed (save ends)
Standard:bite attack [roll1] vs AC, HIT: [roll2], and if target is slowed, knock it prone.

[Chambers]

Sonya Belnade

The worg's preternatural quickness saves it from Sonya's flail and the beasts howl unsettles her. "Brace yourselfs, they-" Her words are cut off as worg bites onto her leg and wrenches and she slams into the ground hard.

Her attack missed and both of its hit.

Sonya Belnade
HP 51/61 Bloodied 30 Surges 12/12
AC 24 Fort 22 Ref 18 Will 20

Current Status: Slowed (save ends), Prone.

Dramesh

I think you mean 'howl' instead of 'hurl'.

[Infernally Clay]

Seeing Sonya get knocked down by the Warg, Alfred quickly rushed to her side and uttered a few inspirational words to get her back into the action. He then turned his attention to the Warg that had attacked her, striking at it and goading it to strike back.

He thought to himself that this was ironic, in a manner. When he said that Dracula would have a welcome party waiting for them, he didn't think they'd be so impatient. Perhaps they had been waiting years for him? What did the forces of darkness do, anyway, when a Belmont wasn't around to kill them all?

Minor: Inspiring Word
Move: Move to N7
Standard: Activate Brash Assault at-will on Warg1, using Power Attack to amp the damage slightly.

Inspiring Word: Target Sonya at M8. She may make a save to end the Slow effect and use a healing surge.

Brash Assault: Target Warg1 at M7.
Attack Roll: [roll0] vs AC.
Damage Roll: [roll1]


The target can make a melee basic attack against
you as a free action and has combat advantage for the
attack. If the target makes this attack, an ally of your
choice within 5 squares of the target can make a basic
attack against the target as a free action and has combat
advantage for the attack.

Sonya is the chosen ally (the combat advantage will negate the -2 penalty for attacking from prone).

[Dramesh]

Round 1: Warg 4

The warg howl to the group in fury, has he cannot move.

OOCWarg 4
No action

*Sonya gets her attack on the Warg1

[sournote103]

Ezra sighed to himself, thinking, Of course the first they try is to kill the giant angry wolves. Because why not kill them? They totally provoked us. Oh wait. They didn't.
Nevertheless, conflict was inevitable at this point, so he took his Lute from his pack, and began weaving a spell to aid his allies.

Minor action - Draw my implement
Standard action - Vicious Mockery on W4

Attack roll - [roll0] vs will
Damage roll - [roll1] and the target gets -2 to hit until the end of my next turn.

[Chambers]

Sonya Belnade

Even from the ground Sonya didn't let her guard down. Planting her shield to steady herself, she lashed out with her flail at the offending worg. "Back! Stay down!"

Melee Basic (via Brash Assault)
Attack [roll0]
Damage [roll1] and the worg is slowed until the end of her next turn.

Melee Basic (via Battle Guardian)
Attack [roll2]
Damage [roll3] and the worg is slowed until the end of her next turn. If the first attack hit, the worg is also knocked prone and slid 1 square to L8.

Sonya Belnade
HP 61/61 Bloodied 30 Surges 11/12
AC 24 Fort 22 Ref 18 Will 20

Current Status: Slowed (save ends), Prone.

Saving throw vs Slowed [roll4]

[Surrealistik]

As the wargs press in, Artorias mumbles several latin oaths; condemnations wrought from scripture. When the last syllable falls to silence, a faint argent glow silhouettes the nearest of the beasts. No sooner does this light settle than shadows coalesce, drawn from the paladin and the windswept foliage about him, blotting and twisting together to create an exacting duplicate as his own form becomes faded and ethereal. The crusader's vigilance does not waver however, and his readiness for the wolves to come is evident in the ardour of his hunched stance.

Artorias stops delaying and takes his turn.

Minor Action: Artorias puts his Curse on the Worg.

Minor Action: Artorias uses Mirror Darkly, forming a copy of himself at K11. This provokes the Worg
Effect: You conjure a shade in an unoccupied square within range. The shade occupies its square and lasts until the end of your next turn. The shade can be attacked. It uses your defenses, and it is destroyed if it takes any damage. While the shade persists, you are insubstantial and you can use your space or the shade’s space as the origin of your attacks.
Aftereffect: You can teleport to a square formerly occupied by the shade.

Worg OA Attack (if it uses it): [roll0] vs 26 AC (-2 due to Defender's Aura, and another -2 due to prone I didn't factor in)

Ready Action: Valorous Smite
Trigger: The last warg finishes moving towards the party.

[Dramesh]

Round 1: Warg 3, Warg 5, Warg 2

Howling to the party all the other Warg charge on their nearest opponents.

OOC
Warg3 attack Artorias Copy and miss
Move: move to L10
Minor: ENCOUNTER: Disorienting Howl [roll0] vs will, HIT: target is slowed (save ends)
Standard: bite attack [roll1] vs AC, HIT: [roll2], and if target is slowed, knock it prone.


Warg5 attack Artorias and miss
Move: move to M10
Minor: ENCOUNTER: Disorienting Howl [roll3] vs will, HIT: target is slowed (save ends)
Standard: bite attack [roll4] vs AC, HIT: [roll5], and if target is slowed, knock it prone.

Warg2 attack Alfred and CRITICAL hit
Move: move to M6
Minor: ENCOUNTER: Disorienting Howl [roll6] vs will, HIT: target is slowed (save ends)
Standard: bite attack [roll7] vs AC, HIT: [roll8], and if target is slowed, knock it prone. Due to CRITICAL gain Ongoing 5 (save ends).

[Chambers]

Sonya

"Alfred!" Sonya shouts as the worgs rush in and attack. "Defend yourself!" Though her call seems obvious, the steel in her voice bolsters Alfred to stand against the beasts.

Immediate Reaction - Shield of Devotion
Trigger: An ally within 5 squares of you takes damage from an enemy attack.
Target: The triggering ally
Effect: The target regains hit points equal to your Wisdom modifier or Charisma modifier. Until the end of your next turn, you gain a +2 power bonus to your next attack roll against the enemy that damaged the target.

Alfred heals 2 HP and Sonya gains a +2 power bonus to her next attack roll versus Worg 2.

[Surrealistik]

When all but the paralyzed worg have bound adjacent to Artorias' companions, the vampire raises his sword, blade flaring with silvered light as it falls upon the bloodied wolf in a streak of argent fire. The sundering blow conjures a starburst of radiance that settles upon each of the nearby beasts, lingering with ominous menace.

Artorias uses his readied action to attack Worg 1 with Valorous Smite. He will use Inevitable Strike to make two attack rolls:

[roll0] (CA because the Worg is prone).
[roll1] (CA because the Worg is prone).

Inevitable Strike bonus damage: [roll2]
[roll3] radiant damage. (+1 damage from Shard of Radiance, +2 from Crimson Determination)
Hit Effect: Each enemy within 3 squares is subject to my Divine Sanction until the end of my next turn: it is marked, and if it makes an attack that doesn't include me as a target, takes 8 radiant damage before the attack resolves.

Initiative: Artorias reenters initiative just before Worg 2 due to readying.

[Irish Musician]

Alice White (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=406983), Invoker of God's Wrath

Seeing that the worg in front of Sonya wasn't doing so well, Alice decided to give him some more hurt, and send some radiant powers its way. She also knew that her power holding the worg she hit before was waning, so she thought to dispatch this one, before the other one charged in to them.

Actions
Move N/A
Minor N/A
Standard - Avenging Light on W1 VS Fort [roll0]
Damage - [roll1], radiant damage. If a bloodied ally is adjacent to the target, the attack deals extra radiant damage equal to your Constitution modifier(3).

[Chambers]

Sonya Belnade

With her shield firmly planted, Sonya picks herself back up and spares a brief glance at the worg next to her before rushing forward towards the worg that bit Alfred. Whipping her flail in a circle above her head, she sends it crashing down at the worg, trying to flatten it and knock it back. "Alfred, get behind me!"

Move Action - Stand up.
Standard Action - Footwork Lure vs Worg 2. Sonya shifts to M7 as part of the power, before the attack.
Minor Action - Swift Recovery.

Footwork Lure
Attack [roll0]
Hit [roll1] damage and the worg is knocked prone and slid to L6.
Also, if she hits she'll use Power Strike for an additional [roll2] damage. Not used on a miss.

Swift Recovery. Alfred may use his Second Wind without taking an action to do so.

Sonya Belnade
HP 61/61 Bloodied 30 Surges 11/12
AC 24 Fort 22 Ref 18 Will 20

[Dramesh]

Round 2 : Warg1
Combat Sheet (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AjKjYySklKeTdG42ODJEczdJRjFoY3JUWk00OHV1M VE#gid=6)

Being hit a couple of times by the humans, he close up on artorias and bite him, trying snap him with his maw.

Warg1 attack Artorias and hit.
Minor: move from prone
Move: shift to L9
Standard: Bite attack vs AC [roll0], hit [roll1]

[Dramesh]

Round 2: Alfred Belmont

combat sheet:https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AjKjYySklKeTdG42ODJEczdJRjFoY3JUWk00OHV1M VE#gid=21

Base attack agains Warg2: hit: [roll0] vs AC, damage: [roll1]

[sournote103]

Ezra was beginning to become uncomfortable with how close the Wargs were getting to him, being that he was not particularly proficient. He suddenly recalled a spell that would do nicely to help him evade the nearest of the creatures.

Standard action - Dissonant Strain on W5

Attack - [roll0]
Damage - [roll1] and the target takes -2 to hit until the end of my next turn. Also, one ally within 5 squares of my could make a save, if they had an effect to save from.

[Dramesh]

Round 2: Warg3 and Warg5

Both of the Warg bite at the target nearest to them.

Warg3
bite attack vs AC on Artorias Clone [roll0] hit [roll1] damage

Warg5
bite attack vs AC on Artorias [roll2] hit [roll3] damage

[Dramesh]

Round 2 Warg4

The Warg hurl at the group and furiously charge at Sonya, putting all his rage into this attack

Charge Sonya from F9 to L7
bite attack: [roll0] damage: [roll1]

[Surrealistik]

The uneasy radiance upon the third warg suddenly bursts into scalding light as its teeth sink into Artorias' mimic, dissipating the copy's form. Snapping wildly, the maw of the fifth clanks uselessly against its quarry's shield as the vampire moves to meet its assault, fangs chipping in a thunderous clash of bone and steel.

With every foe before him, the paladin binds the wolves in challenge at the recitation of latin prayers, another crest of shimmering menace commanding their enmity. Then, invoking a second scornful oath, he retaliates with the lash of his blade, clean light slicing across the fifth wolf's face, its mind and body alike wracked by divine fire, driving the vicious animal away from Erza.

Warg 3 takes 8 radiant damage from Divine Sanction for making an attack that doesn't include Artorias as a target.

Minor: Call to Challenge. All wargs are subject to Artorias' Divine Sanction.

Move: Curse on Warg 5.

Standard: Eldritch Strike on Warg 5.
Attack: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1] radiant damage + Curse [roll2] psychic damage.
Hit Effect: Slide 1 square to L10.

[Dramesh]

Round 2 Warg2

Taking another hit angried the warg, he look at Sonia, stand up and bite at her, ignoring the sanction of Artorias.

Minor: stand up from prone
Standard: bite attack against Sonia vs AC [roll0] hit: [roll1]

[Irish Musician]

Alice White (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=406983), Invoker of God's Wrath

Seeing that the worgs were starting to close around them, Alice smiled, she had them right where she wanted them. Saying a short prayer to God, Alice clutches the symbol hanging from her neck and points her staff to two of the worgs, engulfing them in radiant energy, along with Artorias. Artorias, however, doesn't feel the burning sting of the light, but a peaceful radiance all around him, despite his....affliction.

Actions
Minor N/A
Move N/A
Standard - Shining Symbol, VS Will, against enemies only so Artorias is safe.
W1 -
W5 - [roll[1d20+10
Damage - [roll1] radiant damage, and the target takes a -2 penalty to attack rolls until the end of your next turn.

[Chambers]

Sonya

As the worgs grow frustrated and more desperate Sonya tightens her grip on her shield, using it to deflect their dangerous teeth. She shakes the flail, getting the kinks out and snaps it towards the worg next to Alfred, trying to wrap it around it's legs and drag it forward.

Standard - Footwork Lure vs Worg 2. If the attack hits Sonya will shift 1 to M8 and slide the worg to M7.

Attack. [roll0]
Hit. [roll1] and the wolf is slide to M7 as Sonya shifts to M8.

She'll also use Power Strike on a hit for an extra [roll2] damage.


Sonya Belnade
HP[ 61/61 Bloodied 30 Surges 11/12
AC 24 Fort 22 Ref 18 Will 20

[Chambers]

Double post to fix the post-not-showing-up error.

[Surrealistik]

Alfred distracts the prone warg with a lash of his whip, laying bear an opening for Sonya to attack the vulnerable beast.

"Strike now!"

Standard: Alfred uses Commander's Strike on Warg 2.

Sonya MBA: [roll0] vs AC (CA from prone)
[roll1] (+3 damage from Commander's Strike)

[Dramesh]

Round 2 Warg4

the warg, seeing as the group is more robust than usual, begin to hesitate before attacking.

Bite attack vs AC on Sonya [roll0] hit: [roll1]

[sournote103]

Seeing that Alfred was not in the best of shape, Ezra cast a spell that would help to close his ally's wounds. Then, he fired off another magical assault at the wargs.
Minor Action - Majestic word
Standard Action - Vicious Mockery on W4

Majestic Word - Alfred can spend a healing surge and regains an additional 7 HP.

Attack roll - [roll0] vs. Will
Damage roll - [roll1] psychic damage, and the target takes -2 to hit until the end of my next turn.