[IC] Expedition to Castle Ravenloft

[Dr.Samurai]

Asha Astral Elf Armorer Artificer 10 AC: 23 | HP: 103/103 | THP: 0/10 | Initiative: +2 Str: +1 | Dex: +2 | Con: +7 | Int: +9 | Wis: +2 | Cha: -1 PPer: 16 | PInv: 19 | PIns: 12 Spell Slots: 1st: 3/4 | 2nd: 0/3 | 3rd: 0/2 Flash of Genius: 3/5 Active Effects: Breathe any Environ, Adv vs Harmful Gases/Vapors Conditions: -- Concentrating: -- Starlight Step: 2/4 Repulsion Shield: 4/4 Spell-Refueling Ring: 0/1 Defensive Field: 0/4

Asha makes his way around Rue and posts himself at the door to block her from following. He engages with the spawn behind Herbert.

Spoiler: Turn 2

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Move - Move to doorway without provoking from Rue.
Action - Attack Frodo
Attack - (1d20+11)[26]
Damage - Thunder - (1d8+7)[10]
Attack - (1d20+11)[29]
Damage - Thunder - (1d8+7)[8]
Hit Effect - Frodo has Disadvantage to hit anyone other than Asha

[dangelo]

[SHUFFLE]

"Why, this wasn't quite the end of the tale." Madam Eva tried to remember. She was old as she was wise, and her mind sometimes played tricks on her. "The battle wasn't over just yet, no it wasn't. There was something else."

A circle had gathered around to hear the story: Five individuals dragged from their homelands and trapped in Barovia, and their only lead on how to escape was this old storyteller. The rogue raised his voice, impatient: "This woman has turned crone. Leave her be. Let us follow this..." He squinted to read a sign by the trees. "Svalich Road. There ought to be a village nearby."

The other adventurers paid him no mind. "What happened next, Madam Eva?" They asked. "Any information on the master of this Domain of Dread will be useful to us."

"Lord Strahd had had enough of these heroes." She resumed. "The Paladin had retrieved his brother's sword, a weapon he'd had destroyed by the most powerful magicians in his court. The Cleric had the Icon of Ravenloft, and they carried the Ruby of Ravenkind, a treasure that preceds even Strahd in these cursed lands. Four hundred years ago, the ravens rules the valley. The Vistani were here to see, believe my words."

"Please, Madam, proceed with the story." The knight in shiny armor insisted. But when Madam Eva looked at him, she was stricken with visions of his dark future.

"You! You were there! Sir Theodore is your name, is it not?"

The knight nodded. "How could I be in the story, my lady? I never even set foot in these lands."

Madam Eva shook her head. "Time flows strangely in Barovia. It is possible to hear stories about the future. Oh, poor knight, I pity you. March on, for the fate of your crusade has been written in stone."

"I don't believe your words." Sir Theodore gave her a smile, one that shone like the sun in the dark valley of Barovia. "There are others who wait for me, who need me, there on the other side of these Mists. I will return to them no matter what, and if slaying this vampire lord is the only way, so be it."

His courage rubbed off on his companions, but Madam Eva gave only a sad look. She reached for her tarokka deck, for her memory failed her on what happened next. "Where did they go afterwards?" She shuffled, shuffled, shuffled, and drew a card. "Ah. I remember now. See, the Rogue was a trickster of sorts, and carried with her special elemental stones. Her summoned minions had served as spies, and told her the exact location of Lord Strahd's coffin. A vampire's coffin is a place of power, see, and it must be located in the same ground that vampire once lived. If a vampire lord must travel, they must take some of the soil with them, and keep their coffin surrounded by it."

Sir Theodore and his party drank the words, assimilating any piece of information that might help them defeat Strahd. If Madam Eva was correct and they hadn't been the first batch of adventurers to assault Castle Ravenloft and die by the hands of the Devil, their expedition would be no easy task.

"What of the others? The Red Bride, the Dhampir?" Asked one of the adventurers. He had a quiver full of arrows slung across his shoulder.

Madam Eva squeezed the details out of her mind. "This was Lord Strahd's final movement. There was no time to protect his retainers." She explained. "See, the Mists are older than your gods, as old as the world itself. Their powers mean nothing here. But that night, somehow, the golden rays of Pelor sipped through the clouds and a beam of sunlight shone on Castle Ravenloft. Lord Strahd had retreated to his coffin, but his fate had been sealed by chains of pure light. Sun would shine through the Mists, and life would return to this Domain of Dread."

A smirk touched her face. "But then again, how would you be standing here if they had succeeded?"

* * *

This time it wasn't Strahd's laughter that died away, but a cry of pain. The Shadow Demon was destroyed by Asha, and the Red Bride turned to dust by Bori's sword. The Ranger, a long way from them, took a bolt from Yikkol's crossbow right between the eyes, and finally the last of Sir Theo's party was ashed.

The Hall of Bones fell silent. The entire castle fell silent. Immediately they resumed their march to the catacombs below.

[J-H]

Herbert

Herbert and Asha look at each other, then bend to grab the portcullis, lifting it upwards with a grunt on Herbert's part.

[TaiLiu]

As soon as the portcullis is lifted, Yikkol will scan the area for any traps or hidden dangers.

[The Commander]

Lord Zinro Varanash

Zinro was tired. This was the most energy he had expended on a task for decades, perhaps even in forever. His mood was sour and his outlook dark, but he wasn't about to just give up. As the others moved to raise the portcullis, Zinro readied a bolt of fire, as usual, to hurl at whatever dark forces assailed them.

[dangelo]

Pieces of the slate floor shattered as hands and arms and heads burst through, climbing their way out of the ground. A total of fifteen malformed zombies attacked, eyes gouged out, jaws missing, pieces of rotten flesh clinging to the bones

Herbert
Initiative: (1d20)[7]
Perception: (1d20+8)[20]

Yikkol
Initiative: (1d20+4)[22]
Perception: (1d20+10)[30]

Zinro
Initiative: (1d20+2)[4]
Perception: (1d20+5)[14]

Bori
Initiative: (1d20+5)[16] or (1d20+5)[15]
Perception: (1d20+5)[20] or (1d20+5)[25] (Sentinel Shield)

Asha
Initiative: (1d20+2)[9] or (1d20+2)[21]
Perception (1d20+6)[13]

[dangelo]

Strahd's laughter echoes from the other side of the porticullis. The fellowship is light on their feet, though, and manages to go first.

You won initative, but Herbert, Zinro and Asha are surprised and can't do anything. Yikkol and Bori go next.

The porticullis is still closed.

Spoiler: map

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[TaiLiu]

Yikkol throws her crossbow back over her back and scrambles up one of the columns. With her free hand, she pulls out her blowgun and fires a dart at the ghoul adjacent to Herbert.

• Disengage up onto the column, away from a ghoul’s possible opportunity attack.
• Attack: (1d20+9)[16].
• Damage: (5d6+1)[22] magical piercing.

“He’s trying to slow us down! We’ve got to smash his coffin before he overwhelms us.”

[Dr.Samurai]

Asha Astral Elf Armorer Artificer 10 AC: 23 | HP: 103/103 | THP: 0/10 | Initiative: +2 Str: +1 | Dex: +2 | Con: +7 | Int: +9 | Wis: +2 | Cha: -1 PPer: 16 | PInv: 19 | PIns: 12 Spell Slots: 1st: 2/4 | 2nd: 0/3 | 3rd: 0/2 Flash of Genius: 3/5 Active Effects: Breathe any Environ, Adv vs Harmful Gases/Vapors Conditions: -- Concentrating: -- Starlight Step: 2/4 Repulsion Shield: 4/4 Spell-Refueling Ring: 0/1 Defensive Field: 0/4

Asha reacts immediately as the undead burst through the floor to surround them. His hands come up, palms out, and a pulse of sonic energy blasts over the creatures, pushing them back. He then retreats back a step to protect Zinro from attack on his left flank.

Spoiler: Turn 1

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Action - Thunderwave vs 4 Wights in front of Asha
Con Save DC 17 or take Thunder - (2d8)[13] damage and be pushed back 10ft. Take half damage and no push on successful save.
Lower Right Wight - (1d20)[9] + con
Lower Left Wight - (1d20)[19] + con
Upper Left Wight - (1d20)[8] + con
Upper Right Wight - (1d20)[20] + con
Move - Move adjacent to Zinro

[Waistcoatwill]

Bori

More mabar spawn, by Dol Arrah I'll burn you all from this place!

Bori grabs a Ruby from his helm and the fury of the Sovereign of Sun and Sacrifice leaps up to burn the wights.

A 60ft long line of fire facing outwards leaps up around the group. Bori steps up to try and hem in thr larger group to the north from piling through the wall.

Spoiler: Rolls

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DC 17 for (5d8)[30] fire damage, half on a success.

4 in the middle of the northern group, clockwise from top left
(1d20)[1]
(1d20)[8]
(1d20)[16]
(1d20)[1]

3 from the group Asha scattered, going left to right
(1d20)[18]
(1d20)[17]
(1d20)[17]

Group mext to Herbert, going clockwisefrom top left
(1d20)[4]
(1d20)[4]
(1d20)[17]
(1d20)[8].

[dangelo]

The zombies hiss and snarl as the wall of flames lick their rotten flesh, and the smell of burning meat fills the room. It produces a thick smoke of pure evil. Strahd's voice echoes again, commanding his remaining servants: "Destroy the Priest! He bears the Bright Light!"

All wights on each side retreat from the wall of fire and draw their longbows. They have disadvantage due to the Icon of Ravenloft.

[Right group]

2 arrows on Herbert
(1d20+4)[7] or (1d20+4)[17] for (1d8+2)[4]
(1d20+4)[20] or (1d20+4)[7] for (1d8+2)[5]

2 arrows on Herbert
(1d20+4)[17] or (1d20+4)[13] for (1d8+2)[6]
(1d20+4)[13] or (1d20+4)[9] for (1d8+2)[7]

2 arrows on Herbert
(1d20+4)[13] or (1d20+4)[6] for (1d8+2)[5]
(1d20+4)[5] or (1d20+4)[21] for (1d8+2)[5]

2 arrows on Herbert
(1d20+4)[21] or (1d20+4)[14] for (1d8+2)[9]
(1d20+4)[18] or (1d20+4)[6] for (1d8+2)[4]

2 arrows on Herbert
(1d20+4)[17] or (1d20+4)[16] for (1d8+2)[9]
(1d20+4)[24] or (1d20+4)[14] for (1d8+2)[5]

[Left group]

2 arrows on Herbert
(1d20+4)[6] or (1d20+4)[16] for (1d8+2)[10]
(1d20+4)[9] or (1d20+4)[12] for (1d8+2)[3]

2 arrows on Herbert
(1d20+4)[15] or (1d20+4)[24] for (1d8+2)[6]
(1d20+4)[5] or (1d20+4)[13] for (1d8+2)[8]

2 arrows on Herbert
(1d20+4)[16] or (1d20+4)[21] for (1d8+2)[9]
(1d20+4)[21] or (1d20+4)[21] for (1d8+2)[7]

2 arrows on Herbert
(1d20+4)[7] or (1d20+4)[17] for (1d8+2)[3]
(1d20+4)[23] or (1d20+4)[11] for (1d8+2)[3]

2 arrows on Herbert
(1d20+4)[7] or (1d20+4)[24] for (1d8+2)[8]
(1d20+4)[23] or (1d20+4)[23] for (1d8+2)[4]

Two particularly brave wights leap through the wall of fire (they had already taken the damage so they don't take it again) and attack Zinro. They have disadvantage due to the Icon of Ravenloft -and- Sunlight Sensibility

Life Drain on Bori
(1d20+4)[8] or (1d20+4)[5] for (1d6+2)[7] (necrotic) (Con save DC 13 if it hits (1d20)[2])
Longsword on Zinro
(1d20+4)[10] or (1d20+4)[8] for (1d10+2)[4]

Life Drain on Zinro
(1d20+4)[21] or (1d20+4)[8] for (1d6+2)[6] (necrotic) (Con save DC 13 if it hits (1d20)[17])
Longsword on Zinro
(1d20+4)[16] or (1d20+4)[10] for (1d10+2)[6]

Two wights retreat from the wall of fire and Ready their actions.

-

At the same time, Strahd himself phases through the porticullis and rakes at Herbert with claws and teeth. He knew better than to show himself to the priest, as he had almost been trapped by his magic several times at this point, but the vampire lord trusted the surprise effect. At least for now.

He has advantage due to surprise attack, but disadvantage due to the Icon of Ravenloft

(1d20+9)[17] for (1d8+4)[5] slashing plus (4d6)[11] necrotic damage
(1d20+9)[27] for (1d8+4)[10] slashing plus (4d6)[12] necrotic damage
(1d20+9)[13] for (1d8+4)[8] slashing plus (4d6)[12] necrotic damage

After attacking, he phases into one of the crypts.

[J-H]

Herbert Raycraft Human Life Cleric AC: 20 HP: 49/73 PPer: 18 PInv: 10 PIst: 18 Conditions: -- Concentrating: -- Aura: 30' Prot from Evil (Fiends/undead): Such creatures have disadvantage on attack rolls against us, and we are immune to charm, fear, possession by them

Herbert takes minor wounds from two arrows, and a much harder blow from Strahd's claws that tears his flesh open...but he endures. As Strahd moves away, Herbert strikes with his mace, then follows the Count around the flames, preparing to brandish the Holy Symbol of Ravenkind.

Spoiler

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OA
Mace +1 (1d20+8)[16] for (1d6+4)[10] magic bludgeoning plus (1d8)[1] radiant from Blessed Strikes.

Moved 15' .

Readied action to use Hold Vampires.

[Dr.Samurai]

Asha Astral Elf Armorer Artificer 10 AC: 23 | HP: 103/103 | THP: 0/10 | Initiative: +2 Str: +1 | Dex: +2 | Con: +7 | Int: +9 | Wis: +2 | Cha: -1 PPer: 16 | PInv: 19 | PIns: 12 Spell Slots: 1st: 2/4 | 2nd: 0/3 | 3rd: 0/2 Flash of Genius: 3/5 Active Effects: Breathe any Environ, Adv vs Harmful Gases/Vapors Conditions: -- Concentrating: -- Starlight Step: 2/4 Repulsion Shield: 4/4 Spell-Refueling Ring: 0/1 Defensive Field: 0/4

Strahd is beside them in an instant to attack Herbert and retreat, but Asha is able to strike back.

Spoiler: Turn 1 Opportunity Attack

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Reaction - Opportunity Attack vs Strahd
Attack - (1d20+11)[23]
Thunder - (1d8+7)[14]