DM NomadSage's Curse of the Crimson Throne (Inactive)

Game Master nomadicc

Absinthe quietly pads through the workshop, checking the body and trapdoor.

Absinthe takes her rapier in her off-hand as she approaches the corpse, and nimbly claims the keys -- using her rapier to collect them, rather than touch the body. As soon as she has seen the coffins, she sheathes the rapier and creeps back to the others, the hair on the back of her neck rising.

"The body has many twin punctures about the neck and there are six coffins down there," she reports. "If there are vampires here, we have trouble; I saw no wooden stakes to be had on that workbench."

Stealth 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (16) + 13 = 29

"V..vampires? Surely not! Um... wooden stakes? Do those work? I thought you had to throw garlic at them."

Knowledge(religion) to recall any useful vampire lore: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

"For pity's sakes, please speak more softly," Absinthe says, eyes closing in a brief expression of distaste. "One is not an expert in the field, but the twin punctures and coffins are at the very least suggestive."

Good roll... Cherias can recall the abilities, powers and weaknesses for standard vampires.

"Have I mentioned how much I hate undead?" Seren shudders, "Let alone tyrannical oppressive leaders," he adds with a meaningful glance at Absinthe.

I don't mean to be tyrannical and oppressive. ^^; I thought they might wake up if we make too much noise. Am I crimping you guys' style...?

No worries, Seren just chafed under any sort of direction. Its part of being an anarchist

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Segang notes I have a silver short sword. Surely that will be proof against these creatures. Let us drag these coffin up into the sun an open them.

"Wait, wait I remember reading something about this," Cherias whispers in a more calm voice. "They hate holy symbols, sunlight, garlic, running water, and a stake through the heart incapacitates them but not kills them. If these are vampire coffins, we can drag them out into the street and open them."

It is daytime, right?

Yes, raining.

"I'm not sure sunlight filtered through the clouds will destroy them, but we can take advantage of catching them sleeping -- if they are indeed vampires. Break a bolt or an arrow in half and it becomes a wooden stake. But I don't think a silver weapon by itself will work, Segang, what I've read speaks of requiring the weapon to be magically enhanced as well."

Who's going in to grab the first coffin?

Seren pushes Segang forward.

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Thinking this through Segang will move away from the entrance for a moment and prepare stakes from his javelins. Better safe than sorry. If these are vampires down in this hole and we get the drop on them this might be our best bet. Also I am not so quite. I think it best that more than one of us go down.

How about 2 stakes per javelin? And Yikes! could there be 6 vampires down there.... ????

"This seems like a suicide mission," mutters Melianthe. "With our luck, they are both vampires and mad with plague."

2 stakes per javelins is fair. Also, though Absinthe didn't say, the crawlspace is literally that. The ceiling is 3 - 4 ft high, so cramped and crouching for all my friends.

No way to fight in there. Don't we have a Holy Hand Grenade around?

Is that difficult terrain, or would it also be squeezing?

... of Antioch?

I have the suckiest Will save of the party. I could squeeze in and try to coup de grace any vampires, since I have the best Stealth, but if even one of them wakes up and tries to put the whammy on me, that's all she wrote. I'll either be an hors d'oeuvre or be turned against you guys.

We could use a protection from evil or two ... You guys do not want to face a dominated Segang.

These things would take time to buy or prepare--shall we do more investigating? Chickenfinder!

Let's be sure there are vampires before we go purchase a bunch of stuff based on 2 puncture wounds and coffins... recommend a stealth move in with an automatic retreat to somewhere sunny ready.

Could be someone plying on local fears ....

"I can cast a spell that will protect against vampires, at least to some degree, if indeed it is vampires we face," Cherias says in a low voice.

Cherias will cast Protection from Evil on whoever goes into the crawlspace, which will make them immune to mind control.

Having prepared 8 stakes, he hands one to everyone, keeping the balance. Segang will accept the spell from Cherias and prepares to enter the crawl space. He takes one last look into the area for clues before quietly entering. Still need to know if I will be squeezing…

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

Stealth: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Melianthe covers her ears at the sound of Segang bumping around near/on the coffins.

Due to the confined space, we'll call it squeezing while you're in the crawlspace.

Will update tomorrow, workload pending.

That is not what I wanted to hear. Its going to be very hard to fight in there. Could be a death trap. Thoughts?

Do not engage, that's my thought.

Change of plans?

We need to press forward, but be prepared to withdraw per the original plan. Something is going on here.

We need a success.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Segang is in the hole and moving to the first casket already. I am hoping others are following.

If the others don't immediately follow, Seren will swallow nervously and push through after Segang

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Melianthe kindly waits for Absinthe, then heads into the crawlspace.

Cherias is right behind Seren, peering past them into the dark.

Is there a map?

Once Segang arrives at a coffin he will signal with a wave of his hand for others to choose one as well. If everyone can get into position, he will signal again for everyone to open their coffin, stake in hand…

Absinthe breathes a brief sigh, then moves in after Cherias, gesturing politely for Seren and Melianthe to wait until she is inside. The tiefling holds her scimitar at the ready in one hand, a stake in the other.

Stealth 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15

Sorry, there was no map for the crawlspace so I needed to build it... you should have it via e-mail. The trapdoor out is above Melianthe's space (C-7).

I also looked into the crouching penalties, as the ones for squeezing seemed a bit stiff. In this case, we'll use a -2 to hit, -2 to AC.

Following Segang's plan for a simultaneous open & strike?

I'd prefer chaining down each coffin and tackling them one at a time, but alas... no chains or holy items. ^^; Let's boogie.

Segangs plan has merit and is worth following. I concur

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Melianthe grips her wooden stake, wishing she had prepared True Strike today.

Cherias will cast protection from evil on Segang and Absinthe, judging that they are the most likely to be targeted by mind-controlling magic.

He will position himself next to Segang, getting ready to follow the plan of plunging a stake into the heart of a vampire if one should be revealed in the coffin when he opens it, and hoping his slender arms will have enough strength to achieve it.

These aren't locked, are they? Or will we not know until we try to open them?

When ready, Segang nods and you all throw open your chosen coffins. Inside, you find pale-skinned, emaciated humans in repose. Two are awake, Cherias's and Melianthe's, but the other three are asleep at the opening moment. Segang, Seren and Absinthe drive their stakes home -- they plunge deep, drawing no blood or reaction of any kind.

The two awake howl in rage, flashing pointed fangs as they spring up before Cherias or Melianthe can finish their coup de gras. Both lash out with clenched fists.

Green slam vs Cherias: 1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 7 - 2 = 8
Yellow slam vs Melianthe: 1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 7 - 2 = 21; Damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Initiative Order: Melainthe [20], Vampires [18], Cherias [16], Seren, Segang [13], Absinthe [7]

At Mel's action...

Melianthe casts Invisibility on herself.

Concentration: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

She attempts to crawl away 5', wooden stake still in hand.

Absinthe takes a gliding step forward and slashes the vampire across the face with her scimitar. "Segang, stakes!" she shouts. "Cherias, life!"

Absinthe moves to C8 and attacks with her scimitar (her stake being lodged in the dead vampire's ribcage). Attack roll 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24 for 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9 damage.

Did we spread the silver arrows out? I'm thinking no. Suck

Seren draws his rapier and depending on the vamps actions moves to flank with Absinthe stopping short if he will draw an AoO. He will harass the vamp assisiting Segangs action.

Aid Other to hhit: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

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If we have flanking action, then please add 2d6 ⇒ (5, 2) = 7 sneak attack damage if I managed to land a hit. ^^

Could someone with knowledge Undead please try to discern what these things are along with their strengths and weaknesses?

I'm waiting for my turn, althoughh the turn order seems kinda weird... it seems the monsters get to go again before any of the rest of us.

Knowledge(religion): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11