The Shield of the North [IC]

[Breitheamh]

Shad puts a finger to her lips to signal for quiet, and attempts to very gently open the door as noiselessly as possible.

[zylodrizzt]

Hasgraek takes up his 2 daggers and leans on the wall next to the door attempting to mask his presence. He nods ready to spring when signaled.

[NiKkatsu]

Lune Nyx AC: 15 | HP: 16/16 | HIT DICE: 2d8+4 Speed: 30ft | Initiative: +1 Passive Insight: 15 | Passive Investigation: 10 | Passive Perception: 13 Conditions: --- Lune remains behind her allies, ready to cast a blessing onto her allies if need be. She points her staff in the direction of the growl to help illuminate the insides of the house... She can feel her heart thumping loudly in her temples as she does so.

[TriciaOso]

As Shad leans into the building, in addition to the three kobolds on the ground (throats bitten, arms clawed, glassy-eyed and ashen), there is a fourth stooped over the stilling body of a horse, drinking blood from its neck. It also seems to have been scratched and claws and bitten in the throat, although those wounds are healing visibly as you watch; its eyes glow red. Hasgraek, you sense a visceral kinship to this creature, and a rumbling hunger for the blood spilling out of the emaciated-looking horse, but you restrain yourself.

You do not manage to be especially stealthy as you enter, but four of the room's occupants are dead and one is very, very distracted with his meal.

Spoiler: Summary

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ACTIONS

Wisdom save for Hasgraek against bloodthirst is a nat 20; you are not tempted by this horse any further. The Kobold Vampire uses his action to continue feeding on the dying horse.

INITIATIVE
20 - Kobold
18 - Aupti
16 - Shad
7 - Hasgraek
6 - Lune

[J-H]

Aupti Human Arctic Druid AC: 14 HP: 17/17 PPer: 15 PInv: 10 PIst: 13 Conditions: -- Concentrating: --

Aupti throws a chunk of flame at the vampire, stepping into the corner.

Spoiler

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Move to SW corner so the room is still lit.
Produce Flame (1d20+5)[18] for (1d8)[7] fire damage

[Breitheamh]

Shad Human Grappler Fighter AC: 16 HP: 22/22 PPer: 12 PInv: 9 PIst: 12 Conditions: -- Concentrating: --

Shad comes into the room after Aupti, maneuvering her halberd as best she can and trying to pin the apparently undead kobold against the wall with the spike at the end.

Spoiler: Mechanics

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Attack (1d20+5)[17]
Damage (1d10+3)[11]

Move to the spot directly 10 feet south of it for this attack.

[zylodrizzt]

Hasgraek AC:14 HP: 17/17 PPer:13 PInv:14 PIst:9 Conditions: -- Concentrating: --

Hasgraek moves before anyone gets the chance to react. He won't let this kobold get a chance to infect anyone else. More speed then stealth he moves from where he was at slipping past shad and tossing a dagger at the reptilian vampire before it could react then retreats back outside the shack in nearly an instant.

Careful everyone... that be a blood sucker

[NiKkatsu]

Lune Nyx AC: 15 | HP: 16/16 | HIT DICE: 2d8+4 Speed: 30ft | Initiative: +1 Passive Insight: 15 | Passive Investigation: 10 | Passive Perception: 13 Conditions: --- Lune steps inside, moving close to Aupti to put some distance between her and the beast: "A light in the dark to smite my foes," she chants in Celestial. The light at the tip of her staff coalesces into a radiant beem that zips towards the undead... But Lune's aim is completely off.

[TriciaOso]

Suddenly bombarded by attacks, the kobold vampire jerks its head up from its feed and lunges forward at Shad, but is easily fended off with the halberd. However, you see that it is already healing from the wounds you inflicted.

Then, suddenly, the apparently-dead kobolds lurch to their feet. They open their jaws to reveal vampiric fangs, but they look different from the one who has fed on the horse -- pale and wizened, their eyes black hole rather than red flames. They leap at everyone within the stable and sink their fangs into you. Although the damage they do is minor, it carries a sickening tingle of necrotic magic. Aupti is savaged the worst, the kobold sinking its fangs into his wrist and eagerly gulping down blood.

Spoiler: Summary

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ACTIONS
Kobold Vampire Spawn takes 28 damage. He heals 10 at the start of his turn. He attacks Shad, and fails with an 8.

The Blood-Starved Kobold Vampires rise and attack Shad (16), Aupti (26, critical hit), and Lune (21). All hit. Shad, and Lune each take 1 piercing damage and 1 necrotic damage. Aupti takes 2 piercing and 2 necrotic.

DAMAGE
Shad - 4 dmg
Lune - 2 dmg
Aupti - 2 dmg

Kobold Vampire Spawn - 18 dmg

INITIATIVE
20 - Kobold
18 - Aupti
16 - Shad
7 - Hasgraek
6 - Lune

[J-H]

Aupti Human Arctic Druid AC: 14 HP: 14/17 PPer: 15 PInv: 10 PIst: 13 Conditions: -- Concentrating: --

Aupti leaps back in surprise while uttering a curse. He sends out a whip of thorns to yank one of the kobolds into the corner. "Lune, don't get surrounded!"

Spoiler

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5' step north, not leaving threatened areas and provoking any OAs.
Thorn Whip (1d20+5)[21] melee spell attack against #3
If it hits, (1d6)[5] damage and pull 5' closer. Can I use that to move him one square west?

[zylodrizzt]

Hasgraek pricks his finger before moving. Get back lass! hasgraek says getting between 2 of the bloodsuckers. He pulls out his pickaxe jambing it into its shoulder pulling it close. He stabs aims for its chest with his dagger as it enters he wills the drop of blood to spike out digging itself into the bloodsucker making a weapon out of the vampires strength hoping it doesn't feed its hunger.

[Breitheamh]

Shad Human Grappler Fighter AC: 16 HP: 20/22 PPer: 12 PInv: 9 PIst: 12 Conditions: -- Concentrating: --

Seeing the kobold's wounds quickly knitting themselves back together, Shad grunts and tries another swing for its neck, calling out "How do we stop it healing itself??"

Spoiler: Mechanics

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Attack the same kobold as before
(1d20+5)[12]
Damage (1d10+3)[11]

[TriciaOso]

Hasgraek's attacks drop two of the blood-starved vampires immediately; they are too weak to take much damage at all. You suspect unless they are dealt with in a more final manner they will try to rise again, however.

The more well-fed vampire dodges out of the way of Shad's attack.

Spoiler: DC 12 Religion Check; Hasgraek has advantage

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You recall your rudimentary training in dealing with vampires and their spawn. Specifically, a vampire regains 10 hit points at the start of its turn if it has at least 1 hit point and isn’t in sunlight or running water. If the vampire takes radiant damage or damage from holy water, this trait doesn’t function at the start of its next turn. A vampire is only finally destroyed by certain means -- if a piercing weapon made of wood is driven into its heart, if its head is separated from its body, if its remains are consumed in fire or placed in daylight or running water.

[NiKkatsu]

Lune Nyx AC: 15 | HP: 15/16 | HIT DICE: 2d8+4 Speed: 30ft | Initiative: +1 Passive Insight: 15 | Passive Investigation: 10 | Passive Perception: 13 Conditions: --- This year, Lune decided she needed to be ready for the Wintertide. As such, on her way back to Coldwater, the young cleric had read as much as she could about the undead. While facing these bloodsucking creatures, she remembers a chapter about vampires from Libris Mortis, abridged. Without hesitating, she moves to the left corner, swirling her staff. The metal makes a low hissing sound, as though it was being heated by some invisibile flame: ''Counselor, lend me your flame to banish these creatures from our plane,'' she chants. A roiling sheet of flame erupts from her staff with a bang, spilling over all three unholy creatures. Lune is surprised by the power of her own spell and the superheated air from the explosion singes her hands. Shaken, she retreats back to her initial position, unsure if this was a good or a bad omen from her God... Spoiler: Actions Show Move two squares west, cast burning hand, then move back to my first position

[TriciaOso]

The jet of flame ignites the two fallen vampires; they screech and writhe, burning with improbable haste. Vampires are dry. Lune has to dodge out of the flames of the fallen kobold at her feet and takes a minor burn.

It rolls over the blood-starved vampire still on his feet, but he ducks low beneath it and despite a scorching is still up. He and the better-fed vampire unite to attack Shad. The vampire spawn is now completely healed, and gulps down Shad's blood eagerly. The starved vampire laps up scraps.

The flame burns the horse's tail as well, filling the stable with an unpleasant smell. Surprisingly, the horse screams and bucks, rolling to its feet, stung by the flame. It whinnies, revealing fangs, and lunges at Lune, biting her shoulder.

Spoiler: Summary

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ACTIONS
The two downed Blood-Starved Kobold Vampire Spawn are incapacitated and flames. They will be destroyed in one round. Passing through their squares requires a DEX save to avoid 1d8 damage. Lune fails and takes 2 damage. The remaining Blood-Starved Kobold Vampire Spawn saves against Burning Hands and does not take enough damage to drop.

The Kobold Vampire Spawn heals its remaining damage.

The Kobold Vampire Spawn and the remaining Blood-Starved Kobold Vampire Spawn attack Shad with pack tactics. Both hit, doing 7 piercing damage and 6 necrotic. Her hit point maximum is reduced by 6.

The Blood-Starved Horse Vampire Spawn saves against the Burning Hands and rises to attack Lune. It hits and does 2 piercing damage and 1 necrotic.

DAMAGE
Shad - 17 dmg (includes max HP reduced by 6)
Lune - 7 dmg
Aupti - 2 dmg

INITIATIVE
20 - Kobolds & Horse
18 - Aupti
16 - Shad
7 - Hasgraek
6 - Lune

[NiKkatsu]

Lune Nyx AC: 15 | HP: 7/16 | HIT DICE: 2d8+4 Speed: 30ft | Initiative: +1 Passive Insight: 15 | Passive Investigation: 10 | Passive Perception: 13 Conditions: --- Lune lets out a surprised gasp as the horse bites down on her shoulder, but she quickly composes herself. Circling around the horse-vampire, she steps through her flames, moving to an advantageous position. She utters a single word in Celestial, unleashing a burning radiance, hoping to hit all three of her foes. Spoiler: Action Show Lune casts word of radiance

[TriciaOso]

The blaze of celestial light vaporizes the final blood-starved kobold, and the other vampiric creatures rear back from the radiance; although they are not injured, it frightens and abjures them.

[J-H]

[img] https://www.dndbeyond.com/avatars/12746/320/637357518239240098.jpeg[/img]

Aupti Human Arctic Druid AC: 14 HP: 14/17 PPer: 15 PInv: 10 PIst: 13 Conditions: -- Concentrating: --

Aupti changes tactics, throwing some flames under the most powerful of the vampires. It'll have to move away from Shad or risk getting burned.

Spoiler

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Create Bonfire under the one that's fed, (1d8)[5] fire damage, Dex DC 13
Save (1d20)[5]

[Breitheamh]

Shad Human Grappler Fighter AC: 16 HP: 7/16 PPer: 12 PInv: 9 PIst: 12 Conditions: -- Concentrating: --

Shad grimaces as she feels her life force being pulled into the vampiric kobold in front of her, struggling to keep her panic down and her head in the fight. There will be time to worry about her health later, now there were undead to kill.

"Fire, huh?? That I can work with," she says as she sees Aupti set a fire underneath the vampire. She drops her halberd and goes to her bread and butter, crunching her gauntlets to flex her fingers as she scoops in low to the kobold and tries to pull it into a lock, then slam it down on the ground, directly into the fire Aupti had set.

Spoiler: Mechanics

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Drop halberd
Athletics check to Grapple the kobold vampire (1d20+7)[15]
Action surge and then Athletics check to Shove prone if grapple was successful, or grapple try again if it wasn't (1d20+7)[17]

[TriciaOso]

The kobold hisses and wriggles away, but is ultimately wrapped up by Shad and held in the fire, squealing and squawking.

Spoiler: OOC

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15 on the first Acrobatics check to resist, 15 on the second.

[zylodrizzt]

Hasgraek had been saving this stake for his wife if he found her again but it would prove just as useful now he thought. He dropped his knife and quickly drew the stake as he swung his pickaxe just up under the ribs so the horse couldn't buck him away. He out just a drop if his own blood on the tip for extra effect seeing how effective his blood had been before. He then rolls around the horse to avoid the fire joining in the melee just south of lune. You ok lassies?

[TriciaOso]

The fire withers the flesh of the vampire kobold with unnatural speed. It shrieks and fights against Shad, desperate to get out of the flames. With a mighty heave it tears itself free and scurries to the back corner of the stable, heedless of opportunity attacks.

Spoiler: Summary

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ACTIONS
Kobold Vampire Spawn takes double damage from the fire (10 dmg). It does not heal because of the Word of Radiance. It rolls a 17 on Acrobatics against a 14 Athletics from Shad and retreats, inviting opportunity attacks from Hasgraek, Lune and Shad.

DAMAGE
Shad - 17 dmg (includes max HP reduced by 6)
Lune - 9 dmg
Aupti - 2 dmg

Kobold Vampire Spawn - 10 dmg

INITIATIVE
20 - Kobold
18 - Aupti
16 - Shad
7 - Hasgraek
6 - Lune

[Breitheamh]

Shad Human Grappler Fighter AC: 16 HP: 7/16 PPer: 12 PInv: 9 PIst: 12 Conditions: -- Concentrating: --

Frustrated with the weakness she was already feeling from these injuries, Shad is unable to hold her grasp on the slippery little reptilian. She sneers as the creature wriggles away and aims a swift backhand as the kobold tries to escape her reach. "You little ****!" she calls out to it.

Then she picks up her halberd again and gets into position to swing from reach, avoiding the bonfire as she steps.

Spoiler: Mechanics

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Opportunity Attack Unarmed Strike (1d20+6)[15]
Damage (1d8+4)[7]

For my turn use free object interaction to pick up my halberd, then move into a position around the fire to strike at the kobold.
Attack (1d20+5)[7]
Damage (1d10+3)[11]

[NiKkatsu]

Lune Nyx AC: 15 | HP: 7/16 | HIT DICE: 2d8+4 Speed: 30ft | Initiative: +1 Passive Insight: 15 | Passive Investigation: 10 | Passive Perception: 13 Conditions: --- As the kobold scurries past her, Lune tries to whack it with her staff, but physical combat was never her forte and she fails miserably. The feeling of the cold metal against her burned hands makes her whince, but is also reassuring, in a sense, allowing her to feel closer to her God. With a twirl of her staff, she conjures another lance of searing light: ''A light in the dark to smite my foes,'' she recites once again in Celestial, this time with a little more assuredness. Her spell strikes true and the kobold suddenly sheds a soft golden halo of light. Spoiler: Actions Show Lune uses her reaction for an AoO which fails, then she casts lambent lance for three radiant damage and the kobold shed light to 10ft/dim light to another 10ft for a round

[J-H]

Aupti Human Arctic Druid AC: 14 HP: 14/17 PPer: 15 PInv: 10 PIst: 13 Conditions: -- Concentrating: Bonfire

Aupti sends out another thorny vine that wraps around the kobold vampire, seeking to yank it towards the flames of his bonfire.

Spoiler

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Attack (1d20+5)[23] for (1d6)[4] magic piercing and 10' pull
It may end up above Luna or to her right, preferably above. Not room for a 10' straight line pull, so maybe it only comes 5'.

[zylodrizzt]

Hasgraek trying to end this fight before anyone else got hurt quickly closed with the kobold piercing the kobolds thigh and stabbing hard for its heart. As before his blood entered into the vampires body and he willed it to coagulate inside attempting to stop the blood from fueling the kobolds body.

[TriciaOso]

The vampire is dragged out of the corner and back toward the fire; as Shad's halberd lashes out from beyond the flames, it dodges out of the way, but this distracts it enough for Hasgraek to slip behind it and skewer it twice. But it doesn't really begin to panic until Lune's lance of light stops it from healing once again. It drops to all fours and, scurrying between Hasgraek and Lune, scrambles out of the stables altogether.

Spoiler: Summary

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ACTIONS
The Kobold Vampire Spawn is near death. It uses its action to disengage and flees thirty feet.

DAMAGE
Shad - 17 dmg (includes max HP reduced by 6)
Lune - 9 dmg
Aupti - 2 dmg

Kobold Vampire Spawn - 32 dmg

INITIATIVE
20 - Kobold
18 - Aupti
16 - Shad
7 - Hasgraek
6 - Lune

[J-H]

Aupti Human Arctic Druid AC: 14 HP: 14/17 PPer: 15 PInv: 10 PIst: 13 Conditions: -- Concentrating: --

Aupti follows it outside and prepares another thorny vine.

Spoiler

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Move 10' west, doesn't provoke an OA from it.
Readied Thorn Whip (1d20+5)[22] for (1d6)[1] and 10' pull back whenever the kobold vampire gets more than 20' away from him.

[Breitheamh]

Shad Human Grappler Fighter AC: 16 HP: 7/16 PPer: 12 PInv: 9 PIst: 12 Conditions: -- Concentrating: --

Shad reaches out a hand to grab the kobold as it runs by, hoping to pull it back into the stable and hold its feet to the fire.

Spoiler: Mechanics

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Athletics check to grapple (1d20+7)[18]
If successful, use movement to pull kobold back in and hold it over the fire.

[zylodrizzt]

Knowing that if this thing lives and gets away there will be a much worse problem later hasgraek furiously stabs down on the kobold bellowing over and over again even after it stops moving. Slice thier heads off throw it outside! Burn them all and let the sun do it again! he yells as he begins to do so. There is no belly laugh. There is only fury on his face.

There's no way to know but this could have been his wife's doing.