The other two coffins are empty and don't look like they have been used in a long time.
Anna pays close attention to the notes they discover. "A.A. Yeah. That guy."
The blackmail notes and the list of elder vampires gives her a hungry look, but given the current division between herself and her companions she doesn't celebrate like she would be. "This is worth its weight in gold." She slips it into her handy haversack.
The other notes puzzle her. "Okay. We just saw how annoying fighting vampires is. How does anyone get vampire bodies? They turn to mist, or turn to dust, right?"
"You plant a stake in their heart. This would render them helpless but not destroy the bodies. As long you leave the stake in, the vampire will remain in a state of suspension indefinitely." Quinley answer Anna's question as he stares at the three corpse hanging in the room. All three have a wooden stake planted in their chest.
Anna's eyes are drawn to the stakes after Quinley answers her question.
Her mind mulls over their situation. "Okay. So. We can drag these corpses out into the sun and watch them burn. Or, since the Whispering Way had them, I suppose they're supposed to be our friends, right?" She gives them all a challenging look. It's obvious what she wants to do with them.
"Taking them outside would work, but might attract the attention of the people there, who then would call the guards. If you want to kill those, you need to cut their head off and pour holy water on it."
Should we check the bodies for clues to their identity? Andjela starts to walk over.
"Good thought, Andjela," Anna agrees. She pulls out the notes with the descriptions of the elder vampires and compares them to the bodies.
"You know I don't care about the guards at this point," she answers Quinley while she works. "Personally, I think it's a waste of good holy water. The sun is free."
As much as it is against my nature... perhaps not friends, but momentary allies.
What's worse, if it comes to light that we destroyed them... we also lose formidable allies against The Whispering Way.
This is not a time for emotion, it's a time for cunning.
Tolvan nods, agreeing with Andjela. We do not have to remove the stakes and free them unless we think we need to question them. But destroying them would have us fighting a war on two fronts. And involving the guard could mean we become wanted or even arrested and would at least make the town hostile. Thinking further he adds But leaving them here strikes me as wrong as well. The way seems to want vampire bodies and if we simply leave them then we are potentially supplying the Way with what they need. Hmm. For now let us complete exploring this basement. And might I also look over the journal before you put in away? he asks Anna.
"Good thought, Andjela," Anna agrees. She pulls out the notes with the descriptions of the elder vampires and compares them to the bodies.
"You know I don't care about the guards at this point," she answers Quinley while she works. "Personally, I think it's a waste of good holy water. The sun is free."
Danica responds, "Anna, yes the sun is free and blessed be the Bright Lady. There is plenty of water and you have 2 of your friends that can bless the water to make it holy."
"Sounds good, Danica. As for the rest of you, have you lost your memory of the last day? The vampires are NOT our allies! They're parasites, wanting us to do their jobs for them. These guys are dead. Unless you want to make a little coin ransoming them back to the elder vampires -- oh, wait! We can't trust them you say? Then why would we set them free? Kill 'em. Chop their heads off and douse 'em with holy water if you don't want to go upstairs."
Anna, you have no idea if these three vampires chose to be what they are. Nor do you know that any of them have ever taken another life. Did you choose to be a werewolf when you bit me? I maintain we do not know enough of these three to condemn them.
Let's finish looking around, they're... not going anywhere.
Anna, you have no idea if these three vampires chose to be what they are. Nor do you know that any of them have ever taken another life. Did you choose to be a werewolf when you bit me? I maintain we do not know enough of these three to condemn them.
Anna looks like Tolvan physically slapped her. "Fine."
She sullenly moves to the next door and checks it for traps.
Looking through the journal, Tolvan finds no clue as to who those three undead are.
Anna moves to the next door. She inspects it for traps but find no sign of any. The door doesn't seem to have any lock on it.
Anna makes sure her crossbow is loaded and then opens the door.
Danica casts Cure Moderate Wounds on herself prior to moving out.
Anna opens the door to reveal room filled with nine wooden coffins and a single stone one. Waiting for you in front to the door are two very white skinned human. They both have a vial in their hand with a what looks like the remains of a red viscous liquid in it. You can also notice traces of a red liquid on their lips. They smile as they see Anna and drop the vial that shatters on the floor, moving closer to you.
Quinley reacts first and moves in the room. He takes a stab at one of the enemy. His blade digs deep in one the foes chest and comes out the other side. No blood pours from the wound, exposing the undead nature of the target.
Anna brings her heavy crossbow to bear, firing at the vampire that Quinley just stabbed before it could act -- aiming for its heart if such a thing existed.
Tolvan nods in approval at Quinley's strike. Not as inept at combat as I feared. he thinks as he first considers the enemy and then releases lightning into the room. They have fortified themselves with some vile concoction! he warns.
Anna's bolt grazes the target's shoulder, ripping through cloth. Tolvan follow suit with a lightning spell. Both target manage to avoid most of the damage, leaving them singed but still standing.
Battle Map
Andjela moves into the room, wondering... Why does every fight in this damnable place has to be in close quarters?!
The Paladin tries to flank with Anna, trying to avoid getting clawed at...
Andjela gets in a flanking position and attack one of the foe. Her sword slashes the target in the back, leaving a bloodless wound. Your foes move with increadible speed and slashes at Quinley and Andjela with their clawed hand. Their hand leaves trace of blood as they pierce the defense of their target. They then move back together to prevent anymore flanking from the group.
Seeing the undead again Sonny raises his holy symbol and channels the power of his goddess making sure Andjela is protected.
Sonny floods the room with positive energy, burning one of the creature down. The burn undead then turn to cloud of gas that floats along the floor to a sarcophagus and enter it.
Quiley moves in on the remaining one and take a stab with his rapier. The blade slice along the side of the vampire and leave a deep dark cut.
Anna tumbles into the space vacated by the misty vampire while drawing her mithral dagger. She takes advantage of Quinley's flanking position and stabs the vampire where it hurts.
Tolvan goes goes to his tried and true missiles, striking the last undead.
It's obvious the wound took a lot out of Andjela, but she tries to shake it off... and help finish off the fiend.
When Andjela strikes the vampire, if it's still up and fighting, Anna takes advantage of the distraction and gets another stab in.
The group make short work of the second vampire, forcing him to turn into gas and making his way to another sarcophagus in the room. With both foes down, the group is able to relax a bit.
Lets heal up if needed and ready stakes. Tolvan recommends.
Anna checks out the sarcophagi, looking for a way to open them up, though she jabs each one with a crossbow bolt first to make sure it's not another mimic.
Anna stabs the coffin with a bolt, revealing it to be a real one and not a disguised creature. She then proceed to open it and the lid easily slid off to the side. Looking in, she finds one of the vampire from the dye room now asleep inside of it.
Danica whispers to the site of the sleeping vampire. "I suggest we dispatch this blood-sucker quickly." Danica slowly unsheathes her temple sword ready to execute.
Danica looks for any wood lying around. Anything will do. Legs from a wooden chair or table.
Sonny looks in his pack and digs for a little while. He then looks up sheepishly and says "I don't have any holy water and haven't prepared the spell to make it. It takes 25 gp of silver powder to make each vial of it and one casting of the spell."
"Then let's get them outside. So what if it draws some attention? If you'd like, I can go create a harmless distraction so no one's looking."
"Let's keep the party private for now. Stake to the heart is the best way to go. I have 1 vial of holy water but we may need it against a boss or something. So who is gonna take the plunge..... pun intended."
Anna pries the lid off a crate and smashes it to the floor. Selecting a few chunks of wood, she produces a dagger and starts whittling. Once she gets a good and wicked point on them, she goes to the vampires and drives them into their chests.
Tolvan stands ready to defend Anna as she goes about the grizzly task.