That's the thing about a fight - It's chaotic and crazy. You never know when the next blow is coming or when the next foe is stepping onto the field. Sam had hoped they would have an easy path back to Shenoh and, hopefully, Elthana... But truth is he hadn't really expected it. Things never go that smoothly. Not for him. Not for long.
Sam's first blows didn't have all that much oomph behind them. This crazy realm and it's crazy long days and everything. He needed a rest but when the vampire apocalypse breaks out there isn't much time for one. He supposed they perhaps should have taken one instead of doing the tour of the factory but there were people dying and all that... Not his people but even if he had suggested it he doubted Sol would have allowed it. Anyway, that is the past and these damn vampire are the here and now. Sam needed to focus.
Focusing was hard though when the thing you wanted to hit turned into a deadly mist of blood and lords only know what else... First it enveloped Ömertyr and seemed to take a toll there. Sam tries to swing at the cloud but his maul passed right through the center of it harmlessly. I guess that is what you get for attacking a cloud. The sanguine spray moved over him next, the sick red wetness enveloping him like a drug induced fog. Though it was no existential trip but a deadly peril...
Con Save: 12
And it hurt... It hurt as if his very own blood was being forced from his body in a million tiny hot explosions all at once. It was agony... It was more than devastating... Sam almost dropped to a knee but he'd be damned if he would be put down by a cloud!
Still, the cloud moved past him, and Sam was thankful indeed, and took material form once more. Sam struck as best he could...
Maul Attack vs Vampire: 16to hit for 16magical bludgeoning damage... Maul Attack vs Vampire: 15 to hit for 13magical bludgeoning damage...
If either attacks hit, Sam will use Crusher feet to move the vampire 5' to... Well, someplace that would put it between two others so they could flank it? Or if that's not possible, then further away from Ömertyr...
(Hey, getting my internet package on this cruise sorted has been a mess. I can’t get onto discord, and only have occasional internet when in port if I don’t have kids to look after. Yorke, feel free to bot my character for this fight so I don’t hold things up! So sorry)
Sam's maul swings both miss as his head still spins and swims from the lack of blood, though he does position himself for Ömertyt or the mist hulk to be able to flank easily.
Muir's flame singes the side of the Vampire's head and the wound persists, black ichor begins oozing from the wounds and forming at the corners of the vampire's mouth.
Gewyn dashes east as far as he can preparing to attack the vampire there. Sol remembering a less powerful light spell than the one he used in the factory, calls over to Francis who comes dashing over and then sol calls out casting in Celestial, suddenly a bright light illuminates the battlefield emanating from francis who under Sol's instruction flies up over the entrance and bathes every vampire in Daylight, but it does them no active damage, "NOW!" Sol yells out.
Ömertyr grunts something in giant to the mist hulk next to him and the mist hulk in response dashes east toward the vampire north east engaging the griffon riders, this frees Omertyr up to move into flanking with sam and smash down upon the wounded vampire with his counjured morningstar, (21 to hit, 20 piercing) the vampire's resistances do nothing to avoid the inevitable as it succumbs to its wounds and begins to melt into blackened ichor in the daylight instead of vanishing.
To the north east and south east, the hulk patrols and griffon riders seem to be gaining the upper hand over the vampires, though no more vampires are felled this round. The mist hulk to the west, now on its own after the southwest vampire was defeated, doesnt seem to move, instead its eyes locked on something approaching from the west.
"Nice, Sol!", Vin calls out as the sunlight appears after all. But the vampire by the griffon riders was close to the edge of it, and it would be easy for it to escape. Acting quickly and he hopes decisively, he carries on the barrage of force bolts.
"Incoming from the West. Three more of them imminent", he then calls out as he spots what the Mist Hulk is looking at. With that he moves closer to the entrance, between Sol and Muir but still aloft.
Neferox doesn't break her flaming stride, barreling forward to crush the vampire between herself and the lightning hulk and tearing at it with her vice like jaws.
Vin
Action: Eldritch Blast the vampire Blast 1 - To Hit: 4+9=13, Damage 6+5=11 [force] Blast 2 - To Hit: 13+9=22, Damage 5+5=10 [force] Movement: Over to between Sol and Muir, but remains at a range of 90ft aloft
Neferox
Movement: Up to 40ft to the vampire to the south east, in a flanking position with the Lightning Hulk Action: Multiattack against vampire (advantage for flanking) Bite 1 - To Hit: (9, 6)+7=16, Damage: 6+6+6=18 [magical piercing] - if hits target has to succeed on a DC 17 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone. Bite 2 -To Hit: (2, 1)+7=9
Sam silently chastises himself as his swings miss wildly... But he doesn't have long to do so as he quickly needs to take a couple steps back - The others quickly reduce the vampire to a goo goo muck and Sam certainly doesn't want any of that on his shoes!
Taking a quick look around the battle field to find his next target, Sam doesn't find anyone who desperately seems in need of his help. There are just two vampires left, out of 18,000 or so. They've really done a bang up job here... Or maybe he's not that good at the maths and the countings. Still and all, the battles left he can see close by are clearly going for the good guys. Then Sam hears Vin call out about more coming in from the west and turns to look that way.
In the distance he can surely see a trio of humanoidish figures headed this way and making good time of it. They have mist hulks trailing them, he is assuming they are chasing them, but they're not catching up. Sam briefly considers helping quickly vanquishing one of the two vampires left but quickly reconsiders and figures it is best these new guests be with a proper welcoming party. So with that, maul in hand, Sam double-times it west in order to greet the new arrivals personally.
((Sam - movement and action heading west 60' to intercept!))
Vin's second blast connects with the Vampire north east and it seems to not be doing too well.
As Neferox approaches the south eastern vampire she makes use of the mistlike nature of the mist hulk's body and moves directly through it as she approaches to attack, though that vampire seems quicker, dodging each bite by a hair as she clamps down on air.
As muir investigates the opening he searches the edges for something, some recess, or activation somewhere, at one point he steps into the opening but instead of falling in and passing ito the darkness beyond the threshold, he stands suspended in it, as if floating on the very air itself his feet shrouded in the dark of the opening whilst he not acknowledging it, keeps searching.
Gewyn makes a move toward the south eastern vampire not as fast as Neferox but following, he stops just behind the mist hulk for some cover and with a strum of his cittern melodiously punctuating his remarks as he notes, "do you feel it? the light beating down on a pale leech like you." as the vibrations of the words echo through the vampires mind it succumbs to the hex spell, dulling its movement (and giving it disadvantage on dexterity saves)
Sol, seeing muir step into the darkness tests the entrance and immediately knows whats up, he runs along the surface of the darkness and gets within 60 ft of the vampire north east, muttering a holy word under his breath and casting divine energy at the vamp, (15) missing his target Sol mutters something else which by the intonation seems like an expletive in whatever language he chose.
The mist hulk in the north east corner makes an attack sending cold over the vampire, and the griffon riders in melee coordinate beautifully, though the vampires retaliation sees it disappear into mist and make it's way through its assailants, before using its reaction to disengage and move out of the light, One griffon and its rider succumb to the exsanguination and fall.
To the south east, the two lightning hulks both hit the vampire with their arcs and take the vampire's reaction, (31 lightning dam), the hulk makes a two slams succeeding in both, (23 cold damage) encrusting the vamp in frost. the vampire retaliates by slashing out twice at the lightning hulk to the north, it seems to be resistant to the slashing but not the necrotic damage which follows. using its bonus action the vampire attempts to beguile the mist hulk into attacking neferox. (15 on the wisdom save, failed) the mist hulk's eyes go milky and it turns to nef in a hesitant manner before slamming its body towards her. (20 to hit, 19 cold damage)
On the horizon, Vin and Sam see the figures closing in, three in total, they make out pale skin, and sunken eyes, gaunt expressions of feverish hunger, vampires. but something else is closing in fast, further back than the pursuing mist hulks and faster than the vampires, something on fire, streaking toward them like an asteroid. (the vampires are 80ft from the west edge of the map and will arrive at the end of next turn as well as something else.)
"We got more incoming!" Sam shouts to the others as loud as he can, giving a glance back to try to make sure his side is still winning but certainly not investigating anything...
Sam then runs 30 feet towards said incoming and then holds position and holds an attack, hoping to keep the battle away from the others until they are ready to join in. Can't allow the newcomers to swarm over distracted ted combatants...
Held Maul Attack vs whatever unfriendly comes within melee first: 24 to hit for 28 magical bludgeoning damage and he'll use the Crusher feat to shove them 5' back the way they came for good measure, if he hits...
Vin seems to sense the danger to Neferox, and uses their bond to help her absorb some of the incoming damage from the mist hulk as it is forced to attack her.
He then tries to take in everything that is happening at once. Sam charging West to meet the incoming vampires and whatever else was on its way head on. Muir and Sol walking on the supposedly empty space of the opening into the core. And the two vampires still left engaged in immediate battle.
Realising the opening is not what it seems, and likely a strategy of the defenders, he calls out to the griffon rider remaining close by. He only hopes they speak the trade language.
"You! Griffon rider! We need to get inside, open the entrance now! We have to report to Shenoh!", he calls out as authoritatively as he can as he drops towards the surface. Even as he says the words, he continues the barrage on the vampire to the north-east, despite it now being outside the daylight. Even if it would at some point return, they needed to cut down the numbers now. He hopes Sam hears and decides to retreat should the way in open up.
For her part, Neferox growls a warning to the Mist Hulk that attacked her, but is disciplined enough to continue focussing on the vampire, biting out again.
Vin
Reaction: Investment of the Chain Master to grant Neferox resistance to the damage she took Movement: Descends 50ft, so he is 40ft above the surface Action: Eldritch Blast the vampire to the north-east Blast 1 - To Hit: 19+9=28, Damage: 6+5=11 [force] Blast 2 - To Hit: 3+9=12
Neferox Action: Multiattack against vampire (advantage for flanking) Bite 1 - To Hit: (11, 7)+7=18, Damage: 2+1+6=9 [magical piercing] - if hits target has to succeed on a DC 17 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone. Bite 2 -To Hit: (9, 6)+7=16, Damage: 5+5+6=16 [magical piercing] - if hits target has to succeed on a DC 17 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.
Sam heads west to prepare for the incoming vampires and the odd asteroid looking mass of flame. Vin sends his bolts at the vampire north east killing it with his first bolt and as it dissolves into blackened ichor his second bolt ricochets off the surface and fires off into the vast. Neferox sucessfully takes the vampire down to the ground with her first bite, but misses with her second, luckily with the vampire now prone all the surrounding hulks get advantage on ther melee attacks and between the mist hulk's cold slams (25 & 27 to hit for 33 total cold dam) and both the lightning hulk's arc attacks (27 & 29 (CRIT) to hit totalling a whopping 59 lightning damage between them, the vampire is frozen solid and the electricuted until it explodes and the bits flying off become blackened ichor as they hit the ground and thaw.
All remaining lightning hulks make mad dashes, quick as a flash to back up Sam and the western mist hulk in their prepared attacks. The two easternly most mist hulks make their way to the entrance to the core.
With both remaining vampires now dead, Francis flies 30ft west to cover the incoming undead with light emenating from his body cast by Sol, Sol himself points in a general direction of the stone work (crystalwork?) surrounfing the entrance, in response to Muir's questions, befoe rushing off toward sam and attempting to heal the man. (3rd level healing word for 27 hp restoration)
The griffon rider looks over to Vin who is asking for the door to open, but just as the rider is about to respond, Miur who seems to have found what he was looking for, places a keystone into a slot and as the doors open under the illusion he stands upon, Muir falls into the core, not reacting quickly enough to invert his gravity. A thud and an "ouch!" can be heard inside as Muir comes to an abrupt landing 40 ft down and taking (14 bludgeoning) a little damage from the fall.
The griffon riders aswell as Griff himself and Gewyn all move toward the core entrance to guard it and await what is incoming.
The incoming vampires arrive, they seem healthier than the ones the party just fought, as they were mid fight when the party arrived, these vampires havent been fighting yet and look ready to go.
Sam takes his swing at the closest one striking it hard, and the lightning hulk with an action remaining, releases an arc at the central vampire hitting it with the lightning (21 to hit, 18 lightning) before the arc then jumps toward the vamp in melee with Sam but it is too fast and dodges out of the way of the incoming damage. The mist hulk over there too does its cold slams (28 (CRIT) & 19 to hit for a total 46 cold damage)
The vampires themselves do nothing having dashed to get this far, but before anyone else can act, the asteroid hits. Landing just behind the vampire in melee with Sam the flaming ball takes shape as the mountainous woman everyone would recognise as Shenoh, her face is stern and serious, as she observes the scene, taking in the blackened ichor spots on the battlefield and seeing her patrols and riders all accounted for, "Room for one or two more?" she asks seemingly in jest but apparently not telling that to her own face, her eyes quickly count the group and look saddened when she realises Muir is not with you, she assumes the worst and she bends down and releases a person from her flaming arms, Elthana, who looks ready and raring to fight.
Sam feels some returning health flow into him and is thankful of it. He had been feeling less and less sure of himself but pushing on nonetheless. He wasn't sure who had aided him, he didn't feel he had the time to look around, but he was appreciative in his own silent way.
"One of you are welcome," Sam snarls in reply to Shenoh even as his focus is on the vampire. "But it's you're mess. you should help clean it up I guess..."
Sam wants to spend a moment to smile at Elthana, at least, but there's not even time for that as he's already swinging his maul. Besides, soon enough he will know if it is truly her or some new trick... But for now he shifts to his left around the vampire to get into a flanking position with it between him and Elthana, and he attacks.
Maul vs Vampire: 2 or 3 for 13to hit and 15magical bludgeoning damage Maul vs Vampire: 3 or 10 for 20to hit and 16magical bludgeoning damage
Seeing Elthana's glorious return, Gewyn breathes easier. The rhythm of the battle changes inside him. Rather than bloodlust, he feels th urge to twist the battlefield. Moving forward 30 ft, he draws fae magics through the fabric of the realms, bleeding into Theair at the feet of the 2 southernmost Vampires. Flowers sprout from the floor beneath them, spraying stinging water into their eyes just before they clash with Gewyn's allies.
(Nathair's mischief, 20 ft cube, 16 Dex save or they are blinded)
Vin nods approvingly as the remaining vampires fall before the new ones arrive. And they weren't the only ones to fall, as Muir disappears.
He is about to check on the loxodon when the three vampires arrive, with the strange flaming sphere right behind them. Breathing a sigh of relief as the latter turns out to be Shenoh, along with Elthana, he sets about clearing the area once again.
He focusses his fire towards the vampire engaged with Elthana, knowing that she shouldn't really be put in danger after Mori basically confirmed her death is what Nivara is after.
He sends a brace of force bolts at it, but is a little too careful with his aim with it being surrounded by his friends.
"We were just on our way to find you", he calls out to Shenoh and Elthana. "Muir has fallen. Be right back!", he lets the others know, as he guides Bry'Ze down through the illusion into the entrance.
Neferox snorts and turns to look around for more foes, before dashing towards those she sees, flames emanating from her paws as she races 10ft above the ground.
Vin
Action: Eldritch Blast the vampire engaged with Sam and Elthana Blast 1 - To Hit: 3+9=12 Blast 2 - To Hit: 6+9=15 Movement: Descends 50ft to end 10ft into the entrance
Neferox Movement: 40 ft towards the newly arrived vampires Action: Dash 40 ft towards the newly arrived vampires, ending her turn next to Francis
Elthana was already amped up and ready to fight. The battle was big, she didn't know what to expect, but all the black ichor.. but she feels a flood of relief when she sees her friends. She starts to panic a bit when she doesn't see Muir, but Vin's words have her a bit confused. Fallen? But he doesn't sound upset about it, must mean something else and he is alright.. she hopes.
Can't think much about it as Sam moves over and she grins as they fall into a familiar dance as they surround their foe.
Sam's first swing misses even as the vampire is distracted by the new arrivals and is immediately flanked. The second swing strikes thrue though dashing through the Vamp's resistances with the magical effect of the maul crushing into the cloaked side of the undead.
As Gewyn moves within range to cast, his flowers grow instantly and douse the two southern most vampires with their liquid venom, only the central Vampire is quick enough to cover their eyes as the venom seeps in and reddens the eyes of the other one. (south vamp now blinded until the start of gewyn's next turn)
As Vin descends, he flings out his eldritch bolts, the vampire reflexively moves out of the way of both of them as, Vin's attention seems to be drawn elsewhere. Neferox makes a dash but doesn't quite reach her foes.
In her swirls of confusion and relief at being reconnected with the group, Elthana's blows connect with varying degrees of success, two of the three make a meaningful impact with her last punch connecting right into the vampires temple and successfully stunning him for the time being.
Griff and Ömertyr dash forward into the fray, Griff staying elevated and racking two arrows in preparation, Ömertyr re-summons his cloud morningstar.
sol takes a few steps forward and shouts over to Shenoh, "our mission was successful with the addition of mori's demise, we must report fully and debrief as soon as possible!" before muttering an incantation in celestial and hoping that his holy word will be on target this time as he sets his hardened eyes upon the blinded vampire. (19 to hit, 19 radiant), Francis in response moves a little further forward basking each Vampire fully in the light of day, not giving them chance to escape easily.
Shenoh, her face still stern, lets a grin touch the corners of her mouth as she hears the news of a successful mission. Flames lick around her as the intense glow of embers in her hair intensify, as she burns brighter she seems to separate into two beings and a large fire elemental sheds itself from her body, rushing forward to the southern two most vampires, it stops in the same place that the central vampire is occupying and then punches out at the blinded southern most one (24 & 22 to hit, total 19 fire damage). both the southern most vampires ignite and continue to burn, though it seems that whilst the fire elemental occupies the same space as the central one, conventional melee attacks might prove damaging to the attacker, as the elementals form fully encapsulates and burns the vampire within it. Shenoh isn't finished with a mee summoning of an elemental form and raises her hands, muttering a spell in giant she summons a pillar of flame 40 ft high that instantaneously swallows both the southern vampires and the elemental she just summoned, a flame strike that is tinged with more than just fire, but a brilliant radiance too. The central vampire even encased within the elementals form seems to be able to shirk the brunt of the damage, but the southern most one being blinded cannot and takes it all, (15 fire dam + 8 radiant) the vampire to the south begins coughing up blood and looking half way to the hell taht awaits its second afterlife.
The lightning hulk in the fray, arcs lightning at the central vamp successfully, (20 dam) and taking away any means of reaction it has, the arc coils between the central and northern Vamp in melee with sam and Elthana, but it successfully dodges the secondary effect. The mist hulk to the south engages with its vampire, moving to flank and slamming down with cold damage which unintentionally puts out the fire ignited on the undead but does dish out an amount of damage as way of compromise against the already bloodied vamp (9 cold)
Other hulks and the griffon riders keep guard, seeing that the vampires are being swarmed aand taken care of, they keep watchful guard for more incoming and make themselves available to meet such a threat.
Before the vampires can act, (not that the dazed one will be doing much of anything this turn) Muir appears out of the illusion of an open circular door, he walks out sideways as he has had to invert his gravity to one side to find purchase, but he has been evicted from the core regardless and as vin floats back up behind him the thud of the doors closing alert the group to the fact that they are once again shut out. Amongst the three vampires, blinded, dazed and encased in flame, none of them seem to realise or notice the sound, the illusion still occupying their minds as a way into the core to cause as much damage as possible. But their quarry is no longer inside, She is out here...
The dazed vampire is dazed and as such, does nothing but be dazed.
The central vampire lacking reactions and incased in flame, sees Shenoh on the battlefield and inverts his gravity to fall directly into her, (lightning hulk takes AoO (hit for 21 lightning) as well as Ömertyr (hit for 21 bludgeoning) as well as Elthana if wanted) when they land they are also bloodied but regardless slash out at Shenoh twice with claws, each rake of its claws digging into her molten skin and doing more damage than the last (19 & (CRIT) 30 to hit for a total, 26 slashing damage and 29 necrotic) but as Shenoh grins through the pain each attack is met with backlash as the Vampire, still on fire from its time in the flame elemental, takes even more fire damage from shenoh's blood (9 fire each attack)
The last vampire, blind, turns into mist and just heads in a straight line vaguely north east, it passes through Ömertyr and Francis, but as francis has no blood the exsanguinating mist has no effect, Ömertyr however takes a bit of damage, he's seen this before and tenses up shirking the brunt of the force but nonetheless takes damage, (35 halved to 17 due to save) at the end of its turn the vampire still bling reconstitutes into its vampire form, but is surrounded by no-one.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Muir emerges and shouts "No reinforcements are coming! We are...." Muir eyes focus on the battle scene ahead of him and sees Shenoh and Elthana. He smiles and moves ahead near the griffin rider, unleashing a guiding bolt at the vampire engaged with Elthana
Muir's Guiding bolt strikes, and does more damage than he would have imagined that it should, the vampire is now bloodied.
Lightning crackles and strikes at other points around the core, these fight with the vampires seem to be happening all over, every hulk patrol engaged and fighting to protect the core.
Sam and vin see that the mist hulks that were in pursuit of the three vampires when they were still approaching are nearly here as backup (next round)
"Oh, there you are, Muir. Best stick together, don't you think?", Vin says as Muir appears and they are locked out once more. He then turns his attention back to the field of battle as he ascends to get a better view.
Both he and Neferox watch as one of the vampires turns to mist and moves through the line of defenders, and they both react to it. Vin by moving north and sending two bolts of force at it which attempt to push it further back into the daylight and Neferox by charging directly at it, closing the distance and biting out twice.
Vin
Movement: Ascends again and moves north, so he is 40ft above the surface and 35ft north of where he is currently Action: Eldritch Blast the vampire closest to him, with advantage as it is blind Blast 1 - To Hit: (13, 10)+9=22, Damage: 6+5=11 [force] - trying for repelling blast to push it away 10ft Blast 2 - To Hit: (7, 1)+9=16, Damage: 3+5=8 [force] - trying for repelling blast to push it away 10ft
Neferox Movement: 40ft to the vampire north of her Action: Multiattack against vampire, with advantage as it is blind Bite 1 - To Hit: (8, 8)+7=15, Damage: 4+1+6=11 [magical piercing] - if hits target has to succeed on a DC 17 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone. Bite 2 -To Hit: (6, 15)+7=22, Damage: 4+2+6=12 [magical piercing] - if hits target has to succeed on a DC 17 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.
That's the thing about a fight - It's chaotic and crazy. You never know when the next blow is coming or when the next foe is stepping onto the field. Sam had hoped they would have an easy path back to Shenoh and, hopefully, Elthana... But truth is he hadn't really expected it. Things never go that smoothly. Not for him. Not for long.
Sam's first blows didn't have all that much oomph behind them. This crazy realm and it's crazy long days and everything. He needed a rest but when the vampire apocalypse breaks out there isn't much time for one. He supposed they perhaps should have taken one instead of doing the tour of the factory but there were people dying and all that... Not his people but even if he had suggested it he doubted Sol would have allowed it. Anyway, that is the past and these damn vampire are the here and now. Sam needed to focus.
Focusing was hard though when the thing you wanted to hit turned into a deadly mist of blood and lords only know what else... First it enveloped Ömertyr and seemed to take a toll there. Sam tries to swing at the cloud but his maul passed right through the center of it harmlessly. I guess that is what you get for attacking a cloud. The sanguine spray moved over him next, the sick red wetness enveloping him like a drug induced fog. Though it was no existential trip but a deadly peril...
Con Save: 12
And it hurt... It hurt as if his very own blood was being forced from his body in a million tiny hot explosions all at once. It was agony... It was more than devastating... Sam almost dropped to a knee but he'd be damned if he would be put down by a cloud!
Still, the cloud moved past him, and Sam was thankful indeed, and took material form once more. Sam struck as best he could...
Maul Attack vs Vampire: 16 to hit for 16 magical bludgeoning damage...
Maul Attack vs Vampire: 15 to hit for 13 magical bludgeoning damage...
If either attacks hit, Sam will use Crusher feet to move the vampire 5' to... Well, someplace that would put it between two others so they could flank it? Or if that's not possible, then further away from Ömertyr...
Muir turns back around from peering into the building and hurls another ball of fire at the vampire.
Attack: 29 Damage: 18
He will then push the door opened a bit for a better look inside hoping to let a little light into the room
(Hey, getting my internet package on this cruise sorted has been a mess. I can’t get onto discord, and only have occasional internet when in port if I don’t have kids to look after. Yorke, feel free to bot my character for this fight so I don’t hold things up! So sorry)
Sam's maul swings both miss as his head still spins and swims from the lack of blood, though he does position himself for Ömertyt or the mist hulk to be able to flank easily.
Muir's flame singes the side of the Vampire's head and the wound persists, black ichor begins oozing from the wounds and forming at the corners of the vampire's mouth.
Gewyn dashes east as far as he can preparing to attack the vampire there. Sol remembering a less powerful light spell than the one he used in the factory, calls over to Francis who comes dashing over and then sol calls out casting in Celestial, suddenly a bright light illuminates the battlefield emanating from francis who under Sol's instruction flies up over the entrance and bathes every vampire in Daylight, but it does them no active damage, "NOW!" Sol yells out.
Ömertyr grunts something in giant to the mist hulk next to him and the mist hulk in response dashes east toward the vampire north east engaging the griffon riders, this frees Omertyr up to move into flanking with sam and smash down upon the wounded vampire with his counjured morningstar, (21 to hit, 20 piercing) the vampire's resistances do nothing to avoid the inevitable as it succumbs to its wounds and begins to melt into blackened ichor in the daylight instead of vanishing.
To the north east and south east, the hulk patrols and griffon riders seem to be gaining the upper hand over the vampires, though no more vampires are felled this round. The mist hulk to the west, now on its own after the southwest vampire was defeated, doesnt seem to move, instead its eyes locked on something approaching from the west.
Everyone is up!
"Nice, Sol!", Vin calls out as the sunlight appears after all. But the vampire by the griffon riders was close to the edge of it, and it would be easy for it to escape. Acting quickly and he hopes decisively, he carries on the barrage of force bolts.
"Incoming from the West. Three more of them imminent", he then calls out as he spots what the Mist Hulk is looking at. With that he moves closer to the entrance, between Sol and Muir but still aloft.
Neferox doesn't break her flaming stride, barreling forward to crush the vampire between herself and the lightning hulk and tearing at it with her vice like jaws.
Vin
Action: Eldritch Blast the vampire
Blast 1 - To Hit: 4+9=13, Damage 6+5=11 [force]
Blast 2 - To Hit: 13+9=22, Damage 5+5=10 [force]
Movement: Over to between Sol and Muir, but remains at a range of 90ft aloft
Neferox
Movement: Up to 40ft to the vampire to the south east, in a flanking position with the Lightning Hulk
Action: Multiattack against vampire (advantage for flanking)
Bite 1 - To Hit: (9,
6)+7=16, Damage: 6+6+6=18 [magical piercing] - if hits target has to succeed on a DC 17 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.Bite 2 -To Hit: (2,
1)+7=9Sam silently chastises himself as his swings miss wildly... But he doesn't have long to do so as he quickly needs to take a couple steps back - The others quickly reduce the vampire to a goo goo muck and Sam certainly doesn't want any of that on his shoes!
Taking a quick look around the battle field to find his next target, Sam doesn't find anyone who desperately seems in need of his help. There are just two vampires left, out of 18,000 or so. They've really done a bang up job here... Or maybe he's not that good at the maths and the countings. Still and all, the battles left he can see close by are clearly going for the good guys. Then Sam hears Vin call out about more coming in from the west and turns to look that way.
In the distance he can surely see a trio of humanoidish figures headed this way and making good time of it. They have mist hulks trailing them, he is assuming they are chasing them, but they're not catching up. Sam briefly considers helping quickly vanquishing one of the two vampires left but quickly reconsiders and figures it is best these new guests be with a proper welcoming party. So with that, maul in hand, Sam double-times it west in order to greet the new arrivals personally.
((Sam - movement and action heading west 60' to intercept!))
Muir looks to where Sam is running off to and sees what Vin is yelling about. He turns his back to the group looking at the building but stays put.
Vin's second blast connects with the Vampire north east and it seems to not be doing too well.
As Neferox approaches the south eastern vampire she makes use of the mistlike nature of the mist hulk's body and moves directly through it as she approaches to attack, though that vampire seems quicker, dodging each bite by a hair as she clamps down on air.
As muir investigates the opening he searches the edges for something, some recess, or activation somewhere, at one point he steps into the opening but instead of falling in and passing ito the darkness beyond the threshold, he stands suspended in it, as if floating on the very air itself his feet shrouded in the dark of the opening whilst he not acknowledging it, keeps searching.
Gewyn makes a move toward the south eastern vampire not as fast as Neferox but following, he stops just behind the mist hulk for some cover and with a strum of his cittern melodiously punctuating his remarks as he notes, "do you feel it? the light beating down on a pale leech like you." as the vibrations of the words echo through the vampires mind it succumbs to the hex spell, dulling its movement (and giving it disadvantage on dexterity saves)
Sol, seeing muir step into the darkness tests the entrance and immediately knows whats up, he runs along the surface of the darkness and gets within 60 ft of the vampire north east, muttering a holy word under his breath and casting divine energy at the vamp, (15) missing his target Sol mutters something else which by the intonation seems like an expletive in whatever language he chose.
The mist hulk in the north east corner makes an attack sending cold over the vampire, and the griffon riders in melee coordinate beautifully, though the vampires retaliation sees it disappear into mist and make it's way through its assailants, before using its reaction to disengage and move out of the light, One griffon and its rider succumb to the exsanguination and fall.
To the south east, the two lightning hulks both hit the vampire with their arcs and take the vampire's reaction, (31 lightning dam), the hulk makes a two slams succeeding in both, (23 cold damage) encrusting the vamp in frost. the vampire retaliates by slashing out twice at the lightning hulk to the north, it seems to be resistant to the slashing but not the necrotic damage which follows. using its bonus action the vampire attempts to beguile the mist hulk into attacking neferox. (15 on the wisdom save, failed) the mist hulk's eyes go milky and it turns to nef in a hesitant manner before slamming its body towards her. (20 to hit, 19 cold damage)
On the horizon, Vin and Sam see the figures closing in, three in total, they make out pale skin, and sunken eyes, gaunt expressions of feverish hunger, vampires. but something else is closing in fast, further back than the pursuing mist hulks and faster than the vampires, something on fire, streaking toward them like an asteroid. (the vampires are 80ft from the west edge of the map and will arrive at the end of next turn as well as something else.)
"We got more incoming!" Sam shouts to the others as loud as he can, giving a glance back to try to make sure his side is still winning but certainly not investigating anything...
Sam then runs 30 feet towards said incoming and then holds position and holds an attack, hoping to keep the battle away from the others until they are ready to join in. Can't allow the newcomers to swarm over distracted ted combatants...
Held Maul Attack vs whatever unfriendly comes within melee first: 24 to hit for 28 magical bludgeoning damage and he'll use the Crusher feat to shove them 5' back the way they came for good measure, if he hits...
Vin seems to sense the danger to Neferox, and uses their bond to help her absorb some of the incoming damage from the mist hulk as it is forced to attack her.
He then tries to take in everything that is happening at once. Sam charging West to meet the incoming vampires and whatever else was on its way head on. Muir and Sol walking on the supposedly empty space of the opening into the core. And the two vampires still left engaged in immediate battle.
Realising the opening is not what it seems, and likely a strategy of the defenders, he calls out to the griffon rider remaining close by. He only hopes they speak the trade language.
"You! Griffon rider! We need to get inside, open the entrance now! We have to report to Shenoh!", he calls out as authoritatively as he can as he drops towards the surface. Even as he says the words, he continues the barrage on the vampire to the north-east, despite it now being outside the daylight. Even if it would at some point return, they needed to cut down the numbers now. He hopes Sam hears and decides to retreat should the way in open up.
For her part, Neferox growls a warning to the Mist Hulk that attacked her, but is disciplined enough to continue focussing on the vampire, biting out again.
Vin
Reaction: Investment of the Chain Master to grant Neferox resistance to the damage she took
Movement: Descends 50ft, so he is 40ft above the surface
Action: Eldritch Blast the vampire to the north-east
Blast 1 - To Hit: 19+9=28, Damage: 6+5=11 [force]
Blast 2 - To Hit: 3+9=12
Neferox
Action: Multiattack against vampire (advantage for flanking)
Bite 1 - To Hit: (11,
7)+7=18, Damage: 2+1+6=9 [magical piercing] - if hits target has to succeed on a DC 17 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.Bite 2 -To Hit: (9,
6)+7=16, Damage: 5+5+6=16 [magical piercing] - if hits target has to succeed on a DC 17 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.Muir speaks to Sol "I will try to get inside and help there. You help them all outside. I don't suppose you know where the handle is?"
Sam heads west to prepare for the incoming vampires and the odd asteroid looking mass of flame.
Vin sends his bolts at the vampire north east killing it with his first bolt and as it dissolves into blackened ichor his second bolt ricochets off the surface and fires off into the vast.
Neferox sucessfully takes the vampire down to the ground with her first bite, but misses with her second, luckily with the vampire now prone all the surrounding hulks get advantage on ther melee attacks and between the mist hulk's cold slams (25 & 27 to hit for 33 total cold dam) and both the lightning hulk's arc attacks (27 & 29 (CRIT) to hit totalling a whopping 59 lightning damage between them, the vampire is frozen solid and the electricuted until it explodes and the bits flying off become blackened ichor as they hit the ground and thaw.
All remaining lightning hulks make mad dashes, quick as a flash to back up Sam and the western mist hulk in their prepared attacks. The two easternly most mist hulks make their way to the entrance to the core.
With both remaining vampires now dead, Francis flies 30ft west to cover the incoming undead with light emenating from his body cast by Sol, Sol himself points in a general direction of the stone work (crystalwork?) surrounfing the entrance, in response to Muir's questions, befoe rushing off toward sam and attempting to heal the man. (3rd level healing word for 27 hp restoration)
The griffon rider looks over to Vin who is asking for the door to open, but just as the rider is about to respond, Miur who seems to have found what he was looking for, places a keystone into a slot and as the doors open under the illusion he stands upon, Muir falls into the core, not reacting quickly enough to invert his gravity. A thud and an "ouch!" can be heard inside as Muir comes to an abrupt landing 40 ft down and taking (14 bludgeoning) a little damage from the fall.
The griffon riders aswell as Griff himself and Gewyn all move toward the core entrance to guard it and await what is incoming.
The incoming vampires arrive, they seem healthier than the ones the party just fought, as they were mid fight when the party arrived, these vampires havent been fighting yet and look ready to go.
Sam takes his swing at the closest one striking it hard, and the lightning hulk with an action remaining, releases an arc at the central vampire hitting it with the lightning (21 to hit, 18 lightning) before the arc then jumps toward the vamp in melee with Sam but it is too fast and dodges out of the way of the incoming damage. The mist hulk over there too does its cold slams (28 (CRIT) & 19 to hit for a total 46 cold damage)
The vampires themselves do nothing having dashed to get this far, but before anyone else can act, the asteroid hits. Landing just behind the vampire in melee with Sam the flaming ball takes shape as the mountainous woman everyone would recognise as Shenoh, her face is stern and serious, as she observes the scene, taking in the blackened ichor spots on the battlefield and seeing her patrols and riders all accounted for, "Room for one or two more?" she asks seemingly in jest but apparently not telling that to her own face, her eyes quickly count the group and look saddened when she realises Muir is not with you, she assumes the worst and she bends down and releases a person from her flaming arms, Elthana, who looks ready and raring to fight.
Sam feels some returning health flow into him and is thankful of it. He had been feeling less and less sure of himself but pushing on nonetheless. He wasn't sure who had aided him, he didn't feel he had the time to look around, but he was appreciative in his own silent way.
"One of you are welcome," Sam snarls in reply to Shenoh even as his focus is on the vampire. "But it's you're mess. you should help clean it up I guess..."
Sam wants to spend a moment to smile at Elthana, at least, but there's not even time for that as he's already swinging his maul. Besides, soon enough he will know if it is truly her or some new trick... But for now he shifts to his left around the vampire to get into a flanking position with it between him and Elthana, and he attacks.
Maul vs Vampire:
2or 3 for 13 to hit and 15 magical bludgeoning damageMaul vs Vampire: 3 or 10 for 20 to hit and 16 magical bludgeoning damage
Seeing Elthana's glorious return, Gewyn breathes easier. The rhythm of the battle changes inside him. Rather than bloodlust, he feels th urge to twist the battlefield. Moving forward 30 ft, he draws fae magics through the fabric of the realms, bleeding into Theair at the feet of the 2 southernmost Vampires. Flowers sprout from the floor beneath them, spraying stinging water into their eyes just before they clash with Gewyn's allies.
(Nathair's mischief, 20 ft cube, 16 Dex save or they are blinded)
Vin nods approvingly as the remaining vampires fall before the new ones arrive. And they weren't the only ones to fall, as Muir disappears.
He is about to check on the loxodon when the three vampires arrive, with the strange flaming sphere right behind them. Breathing a sigh of relief as the latter turns out to be Shenoh, along with Elthana, he sets about clearing the area once again.
He focusses his fire towards the vampire engaged with Elthana, knowing that she shouldn't really be put in danger after Mori basically confirmed her death is what Nivara is after.
He sends a brace of force bolts at it, but is a little too careful with his aim with it being surrounded by his friends.
"We were just on our way to find you", he calls out to Shenoh and Elthana. "Muir has fallen. Be right back!", he lets the others know, as he guides Bry'Ze down through the illusion into the entrance.
Neferox snorts and turns to look around for more foes, before dashing towards those she sees, flames emanating from her paws as she races 10ft above the ground.
Vin
Action: Eldritch Blast the vampire engaged with Sam and Elthana
Blast 1 - To Hit: 3+9=12
Blast 2 - To Hit: 6+9=15
Movement: Descends 50ft to end 10ft into the entrance
Neferox
Movement: 40 ft towards the newly arrived vampires
Action: Dash 40 ft towards the newly arrived vampires, ending her turn next to Francis
Elthana was already amped up and ready to fight. The battle was big, she didn't know what to expect, but all the black ichor.. but she feels a flood of relief when she sees her friends. She starts to panic a bit when she doesn't see Muir, but Vin's words have her a bit confused. Fallen? But he doesn't sound upset about it, must mean something else and he is alright.. she hopes.
Can't think much about it as Sam moves over and she grins as they fall into a familiar dance as they surround their foe.
Attack: 24, Damage: 11
Attack: 16, Damage: 9
Attack: 29, Damage: 17
And she uses a ki point to try and stun it - DC 15 CON save
Sam's first swing misses even as the vampire is distracted by the new arrivals and is immediately flanked. The second swing strikes thrue though dashing through the Vamp's resistances with the magical effect of the maul crushing into the cloaked side of the undead.
As Gewyn moves within range to cast, his flowers grow instantly and douse the two southern most vampires with their liquid venom, only the central Vampire is quick enough to cover their eyes as the venom seeps in and reddens the eyes of the other one. (south vamp now blinded until the start of gewyn's next turn)
As Vin descends, he flings out his eldritch bolts, the vampire reflexively moves out of the way of both of them as, Vin's attention seems to be drawn elsewhere. Neferox makes a dash but doesn't quite reach her foes.
In her swirls of confusion and relief at being reconnected with the group, Elthana's blows connect with varying degrees of success, two of the three make a meaningful impact with her last punch connecting right into the vampires temple and successfully stunning him for the time being.
Griff and Ömertyr dash forward into the fray, Griff staying elevated and racking two arrows in preparation, Ömertyr re-summons his cloud morningstar.
sol takes a few steps forward and shouts over to Shenoh, "our mission was successful with the addition of mori's demise, we must report fully and debrief as soon as possible!" before muttering an incantation in celestial and hoping that his holy word will be on target this time as he sets his hardened eyes upon the blinded vampire. (19 to hit, 19 radiant), Francis in response moves a little further forward basking each Vampire fully in the light of day, not giving them chance to escape easily.
Shenoh, her face still stern, lets a grin touch the corners of her mouth as she hears the news of a successful mission. Flames lick around her as the intense glow of embers in her hair intensify, as she burns brighter she seems to separate into two beings and a large fire elemental sheds itself from her body, rushing forward to the southern two most vampires, it stops in the same place that the central vampire is occupying and then punches out at the blinded southern most one (24 & 22 to hit, total 19 fire damage). both the southern most vampires ignite and continue to burn, though it seems that whilst the fire elemental occupies the same space as the central one, conventional melee attacks might prove damaging to the attacker, as the elementals form fully encapsulates and burns the vampire within it.
Shenoh isn't finished with a mee summoning of an elemental form and raises her hands, muttering a spell in giant she summons a pillar of flame 40 ft high that instantaneously swallows both the southern vampires and the elemental she just summoned, a flame strike that is tinged with more than just fire, but a brilliant radiance too. The central vampire even encased within the elementals form seems to be able to shirk the brunt of the damage, but the southern most one being blinded cannot and takes it all, (15 fire dam + 8 radiant) the vampire to the south begins coughing up blood and looking half way to the hell taht awaits its second afterlife.
The lightning hulk in the fray, arcs lightning at the central vamp successfully, (20 dam) and taking away any means of reaction it has, the arc coils between the central and northern Vamp in melee with sam and Elthana, but it successfully dodges the secondary effect.
The mist hulk to the south engages with its vampire, moving to flank and slamming down with cold damage which unintentionally puts out the fire ignited on the undead but does dish out an amount of damage as way of compromise against the already bloodied vamp (9 cold)
Other hulks and the griffon riders keep guard, seeing that the vampires are being swarmed aand taken care of, they keep watchful guard for more incoming and make themselves available to meet such a threat.
Before the vampires can act, (not that the dazed one will be doing much of anything this turn) Muir appears out of the illusion of an open circular door, he walks out sideways as he has had to invert his gravity to one side to find purchase, but he has been evicted from the core regardless and as vin floats back up behind him the thud of the doors closing alert the group to the fact that they are once again shut out. Amongst the three vampires, blinded, dazed and encased in flame, none of them seem to realise or notice the sound, the illusion still occupying their minds as a way into the core to cause as much damage as possible. But their quarry is no longer inside, She is out here...
The dazed vampire is dazed and as such, does nothing but be dazed.
The central vampire lacking reactions and incased in flame, sees Shenoh on the battlefield and inverts his gravity to fall directly into her, (lightning hulk takes AoO (hit for 21 lightning) as well as Ömertyr (hit for 21 bludgeoning) as well as Elthana if wanted) when they land they are also bloodied but regardless slash out at Shenoh twice with claws, each rake of its claws digging into her molten skin and doing more damage than the last (19 & (CRIT) 30 to hit for a total, 26 slashing damage and 29 necrotic) but as Shenoh grins through the pain each attack is met with backlash as the Vampire, still on fire from its time in the flame elemental, takes even more fire damage from shenoh's blood (9 fire each attack)
The last vampire, blind, turns into mist and just heads in a straight line vaguely north east, it passes through Ömertyr and Francis, but as francis has no blood the exsanguinating mist has no effect, Ömertyr however takes a bit of damage, he's seen this before and tenses up shirking the brunt of the force but nonetheless takes damage, (35 halved to 17 due to save) at the end of its turn the vampire still bling reconstitutes into its vampire form, but is surrounded by no-one.
Everyone is up!
Muir emerges and shouts "No reinforcements are coming! We are...." Muir eyes focus on the battle scene ahead of him and sees Shenoh and Elthana. He smiles and moves ahead near the griffin rider, unleashing a guiding bolt at the vampire engaged with Elthana
Guiding Bolt Attack: 29 Damage: 21
Muir's Guiding bolt strikes, and does more damage than he would have imagined that it should, the vampire is now bloodied.
Lightning crackles and strikes at other points around the core, these fight with the vampires seem to be happening all over, every hulk patrol engaged and fighting to protect the core.
Sam and vin see that the mist hulks that were in pursuit of the three vampires when they were still approaching are nearly here as backup (next round)
"Oh, there you are, Muir. Best stick together, don't you think?", Vin says as Muir appears and they are locked out once more. He then turns his attention back to the field of battle as he ascends to get a better view.
Both he and Neferox watch as one of the vampires turns to mist and moves through the line of defenders, and they both react to it. Vin by moving north and sending two bolts of force at it which attempt to push it further back into the daylight and Neferox by charging directly at it, closing the distance and biting out twice.
Vin
Movement: Ascends again and moves north, so he is 40ft above the surface and 35ft north of where he is currently
Action: Eldritch Blast the vampire closest to him, with advantage as it is blind
Blast 1 - To Hit: (13,
10)+9=22, Damage: 6+5=11 [force] - trying for repelling blast to push it away 10ftBlast 2 - To Hit: (7,
1)+9=16, Damage: 3+5=8 [force] - trying for repelling blast to push it away 10ftNeferox
Movement: 40ft to the vampire north of her
Action: Multiattack against vampire, with advantage as it is blind
Bite 1 - To Hit: (8,
8)+7=15, Damage: 4+1+6=11 [magical piercing] - if hits target has to succeed on a DC 17 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.Bite 2 -To Hit: (
6, 15)+7=22, Damage: 4+2+6=12 [magical piercing] - if hits target has to succeed on a DC 17 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.