The currently red in Belzo's eyes appear to brighten seeing Volenta now in Fireball Crab Claw distance! Without hesitation or remorse, he snaps a claw around her and pull her away from the others.
Action: Belzo Uses Crab Claw - Attack: 25 Damage: 30 non-magical piercing to Volenta. If hit, target is considered grappled(DC 14 to escape).
Belzo, King of the Shadow Crabs!:
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
(question, has it been a minute since I activated the Radiant Soul? asking since we moved locations a bit XD)
Samael keeps his focus on Strahd, attempting to reach him if he can to strike out at the monster that his god had guided him here to defeat.
(if RS is still active, will attempt to fly over the girls heads to reach Strahd, if not he'll try to move around them. If he doesn't have enough movement, he'll attack the nearest target instead of Strahd.)
Attack: 13 Damage: 10 slashing + 7 (radiant) + 14 (smite, lvl.2) + 9 (radiant; only if RS is still active) Attack: 26 Damage: 9 slashing + 7 (radiant) + 18 (smite, lvl.2)
(I'll say that this is the last round of Radiant Soul, but it doesn't matter anyway)
Samael, your blade tears into the undead flesh of Strahd, it's brilliant light and the divine power of your god cutting through the dark power that keeps him tethered to this realm. Strahd can’t hide his surprise as death takes him into the black abyss. Surprise turns to rage, and the Pillarstone of Ravenloft trembles with fury, shaking dust from the ceiling of the vampire’s tomb. The shudders abate as Strahd’s burning hatred melts away, replaced at last with relief. The dark orbs of his eyes wither and sink into his skull as his corpse deteriorates before you. In a matter of moments, only bones, dust, and noble garb remain. Strahd von Zarovich, the dark lord of Barovia, is dead and gone. His three brides fight furiously to avenge their fallen lord, but you're able to cut them down with little issue.
Silence takes the tomb as you realize what you've all just done and after a few moments, you all feel drawn to head up to the overlook of the castle. You head up there to get a view of Barovia. Ireena is also there. "Sister! Why are you here?" Ismark calls out. "I do not know, brother. I feel as if there is something here for me."
Thick clouds fill the sky. Through the chilly morning mists, the land of Barovia is visible far below. There is peacefulness here. Rest has come to the valley for the first time anyone can remember.
A light flashes behind you. Wheeling around, you see a stately man—a being of flesh and blood—in shining armor and a flapping cape. His countenance shows great strength of will, yet the forcefulness of his presence is tempered by his calm, sad eyes. His features are those of Strahd, yet subtly different.His voice is calm and peaceful. “My name is Sergei von Zarovich.” He turns to Ireena. “Tatyana, the time is at hand to rest. Come, my love and wife.” He stretches forth his hand.
Ireena Kolyana’s questioning eyes suddenly open with recognition and knowledge. Forgotten memories rush back to her. “Sergei!” she cries, springing to him with the grace of a doe. They embrace. Ireena turns to you and says, “I am Ireena Kolyana, but in my past I was Sergei’s beloved Tatyana. Through these many centuries we have played out the tragedy of our lives. Now, with our deepest gratitude to you, that tragedy is over. It is time for joy to begin again.”
Shimmering light surrounds Ireena and Sergei. Hand in hand, they walk east toward the edge of the overlook. Their feet do not touch the ground as they tread a path beyond this mortal world. Their invisible road takes them beyond the eastern precipice, their glow illuminating and thinning the clouds above Barovia. The clouds suddenly break open, letting shafts of glorious sunlight flood through. In the valley below, the strange fog dissolves. Barovia is free once more.
Ismark's eyes are filled with tears as the woman he knew as his sister departs with her beloved. "I will miss her. Even if she was his ancient beloved and we shared no blood, we still grew up in the same home. But this is no time for mourning. Our land is free of the Devil and it is time for me to take my place as the Burgomaster of Barovia. Thank you, for all that you have done, for me, my sister, and for Barovia."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
Fae watches in mute awe as Barovia regains its former self. With a smile, she nods to Ismark. "Good luck," she says simply. "May the moon's crescent watch over you and help you heal this land." Without further ado, she slips away from the group, a gentle rocking in her bag drawing her attention.
Climbing even further up, Fae comes out onto the roof of the tower and quietly removes the red egg from her bag, setting it on the roof before her. As it continues to rock, it also begins to smoke, pale wisps of the stuff coming off it, slowly at first, then faster and faster. With a sudden crack and a small wave of flame that washed over Fae as well, concealing the roof from the view of any watching. When the smoke cleared, Fae was standing in front of a bird the size of her two fists, composed entirely of flames. It watched her quietly, and she met its eyes with a mix of respect and excitement. After a long, silent moment, the phoenix gave a cry of triumph and took to the sky, circling once, twice, and a third time over the castle and those standing on its overlook, before it lifted into the sky, the flames of its wings quickly vanishing into the sunrise. With a broad smile, Fae watches until it's gone, breathing, "See you soon, Inez." Turning, she climbs off the roof and rejoins the group, looking content and...almost at peace, far calmer and more centered than any of you have ever seen her.
Doremor looks on in surprise as Samael cuts down the vampire. As the last of the foes fall, he claps softly for the group, "Truly, we have achieved something great here, with the tools that we acquired. Now, I'm sure there's more than this in this castle, and seeing as the lord is dead we should have no trouble taking it. If anyone is willing to accompany me, I will give them an even cut of the loot."
Regardless of who goes with him, Doremor continues through Barovia, searching both the castle and the Amber Temple for more hidden secrets, and hunting for any new areas that the group may have not had time to see in their hurry to fight Strahd.
Samael gives a mental confirmation to the blade, that it has gotten it's vengeance and let's the blade extinguish, then clipping it's hilt to his waist. He then looks down where the lord of Ravenloft fell and recalls his face as he did so. Not feeling regret for the monster's death, he does feel pity for the man that it once was, he offers a prayer of peace to the soul of Strahd, that it may find some mole of happiness in his next life.
When Ireena/Tatyana left with Sergi to ascend to the next world, Samael watched with a smile. He was so used to sending people of with mercy, it was nice to see someone be freed and find happiness via other means. Once they're gone, Samael looks over the now sun filled lands (praise the sun!), knowing his task he wasn't fully complete, he took solace that the light of Helm and the Trinity could now touch these people. Looking at the party, he decided to make his intentions clear, "I plan to stay in Barovia for a time, if any of you would like to join me. Now that the people are free of the curse that held them here, they'll need help to take care of whatever dark creatures remained here. There'll also be the need to install a new lord for the region that can properly and justly ensure their return to the world." He glances at Ismark, "Ismark, while I do not know you as well as the others, you seem to be a man of goodness and the determination to fight against the forces of evil. Would you assist me in this task of further clearing you land?"
Belzo perhaps spends a moment too long as King Shadow Crabbius the first, reveling in the deaths of the brides. Until the man appears in a flash of light. Once he has resumed his original form however, whatever disturbed look at his hands goes interrupted upoin turning back towards the display of love and affection. He... looked away before long, visibly gritting his teeth, and muttering something in some foul language behind all others. Within the anger and envy, his eyes happen to fall upon cold staff still clutched tightly in hand, prompting a thought.
"Then you will have to do so without me." He looks to Samael and Doremore in particular. "I would apologize, but it would be a farce. And I do not broker in lies. In the short time that I have been here, it has taken a far greater toll than I can I truly bear. And it possesses temptations that... I may not be able to push back a second time. Even with such fine company at my back."Belzo tries to smile, but its clearly not something practiced or done often enough. "Just as I cannot ignore what drew me to research these lands in the first place. But I am not without a heart. Now that the way is hopefully clear, I will certain to use what contacts remain to me, and spread the word of Barovia's plight. Of that, you have my word." As he comes out of a formal bow, the sorcerer stands a bit more bent at the back; his age, or perhaps the weight of the land's atmosphere being allowed to at least show past the stalewart demeanor.
"I would caution all that remain to be be thorough in your hunts. A place once marked by such a great darkness needs little influences to rekindle it a place of horror and evil."On that note, he looks to Ismark. Once the man was ready to head back to town, one old scholar would follow, hoping beyond hope to acquire a horse if nothing else to ride far, far, FAR away from the lands of barovia. Never to return hopefully, but to keep his word. Of the staff, he tries to get it back to Candlekeep for further research. A faint glimmer of hope blooming at the thought of some lingering taint within it possibly opening the way to his beloved... friend.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Samael: "Thank you, my friend." Ismark says. "There is still work that needs to be done to heal this land and you will be a valuable ally."
Doremor: You make the long journey back to the Amber Temple, and with Strahd vanquished, the trip is more pleasant than it was last time, with the countryside being sunlit and free of any monsters that might seek to attack you. You enter into the temple and descend into the lower floor. You remember being warned that there was still evil in the Temple, so you make sure to be stealthy, which keeps you from being spotted by the remaining undead and any other creatures that remain to guard the temple. You find an amber sarcophagus, containing a wisp of darkness no more than a few inches long. As you touch it, a voice enters your mind. "I offer you the dark gift of the Vampyr. Do you accept?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
Doremor takes a moment to think, realizing the untapped resources of a land such as Barovia and the things that Strahd could have done if he hadn't spent all his time toying with adventurers, before a wicked grin spreads across his face, "I accept, of course."
Samael spends the week that Doremor spent travelling, working with Ismark to help clean up the lands surrounding castle Ravenloft of dark creatures, gaining whatever assistance of the Barrovian's that they could. With these efforts, Samael urged Ismark to make his claim as Burgomaster/Lord of Barovia soon, so that they could make large actions to assist the lands more effectively.
Fae bids the others farewell and also sets off into the sunlight, following her new flaming charge. Over the next week, the group might occasionally see a fiery shape in the sky, above a slim figure that would wave fiercely upon being spotted before dissolving into a puff of silver mist.
Fae knew she should get back to the Feywild with the phoenix chick. The now torso-sized phoenix was still a chick, and while growing fast, would do much better back in the land of fairies. Besides, she needed to track down her brother too...there was no reason to remain in Barovia. The teenaged elf was starting to feel the first effects of being a long-lived creature in the company of the comparatively mayfly lives of most humanoids. But she stayed, at least for a little. Below Sehanine's smile in Barovia, Fae wandered Barovia for a long while, not going near civilization for fear of the rapidly growing phoenix scaring them. Deprived of people to talk to, she turned inwards, finding some of the calm her mentor had always encouraged her to search for. But not too much...she still giggled a lot, and was exuberant when she met the occasional traveler. At the end of her first week of solitude, Fae felt a...shift in the land. Something had happened. Her face turning a little grim with worry, the young eladrin started towards the center of the...offness she felt, determined to investigate.
Lair(20), Hadrian(17),Volenta(16),Fae(15),Doremor(14),Belzo(14), Samael(13),Strahd(12)(100),Ismark(12),Anastrasya(7),Ludmilla(5),Gertrude(4)
Both of your mace attacks hit Volenta, but you miss Strahd. Doremor, Belzo, and Samael are up.
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
More
The currently red in Belzo's eyes appear to brighten seeing Volenta now in Fireball Crab Claw distance! Without hesitation or remorse, he snaps a claw around her and pull her away from the others.
Action: Belzo Uses Crab Claw - Attack: 25 Damage: 30 non-magical piercing to Volenta. If hit, target is considered grappled(DC 14 to escape).
Belzo, King of the Shadow Crabs!:
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Doremor steps out from behind Crabzo, hiding first to try and surprise the now grappled vampire spawn.
Stealth: 25
Magical Shortsword Attack: 17 Damage: 16
Advantage roll if I win the stealth check: 17
(question, has it been a minute since I activated the Radiant Soul? asking since we moved locations a bit XD)
Samael keeps his focus on Strahd, attempting to reach him if he can to strike out at the monster that his god had guided him here to defeat.
(if RS is still active, will attempt to fly over the girls heads to reach Strahd, if not he'll try to move around them. If he doesn't have enough movement, he'll attack the nearest target instead of Strahd.)
Attack: 13 Damage: 10 slashing + 7 (radiant) + 14 (smite, lvl.2) + 9 (radiant; only if RS is still active)
Attack: 26 Damage: 9 slashing + 7 (radiant) + 18 (smite, lvl.2)
(I'll say that this is the last round of Radiant Soul, but it doesn't matter anyway)
Samael, your blade tears into the undead flesh of Strahd, it's brilliant light and the divine power of your god cutting through the dark power that keeps him tethered to this realm. Strahd can’t hide his surprise as death takes him into the black abyss. Surprise turns to rage, and the Pillarstone of Ravenloft trembles with fury, shaking dust from the ceiling of the vampire’s tomb. The shudders abate as Strahd’s burning hatred melts away, replaced at last with relief. The dark orbs of his eyes wither and sink into his skull as his corpse deteriorates before you. In a matter of moments, only bones, dust, and noble garb remain. Strahd von Zarovich, the dark lord of Barovia, is dead and gone. His three brides fight furiously to avenge their fallen lord, but you're able to cut them down with little issue.
Silence takes the tomb as you realize what you've all just done and after a few moments, you all feel drawn to head up to the overlook of the castle. You head up there to get a view of Barovia. Ireena is also there. "Sister! Why are you here?" Ismark calls out. "I do not know, brother. I feel as if there is something here for me."
Thick clouds fill the sky. Through the chilly morning mists, the land of Barovia is visible far below. There is peacefulness here. Rest has come to the valley for the first time anyone can remember.
A light flashes behind you. Wheeling around, you see a stately man—a being of flesh and blood—in shining armor and a flapping cape. His countenance shows great strength of will, yet the forcefulness of his presence is tempered by his calm, sad eyes. His features are those of Strahd, yet subtly different.His voice is calm and peaceful. “My name is Sergei von Zarovich.” He turns to Ireena. “Tatyana, the time is at hand to rest. Come, my love and wife.” He stretches forth his hand.
Ireena Kolyana’s questioning eyes suddenly open with recognition and knowledge. Forgotten memories rush back to her. “Sergei!” she cries, springing to him with the grace of a doe. They embrace. Ireena turns to you and says, “I am Ireena Kolyana, but in my past I was Sergei’s beloved Tatyana. Through these many centuries we have played out the tragedy of our lives. Now, with our deepest gratitude to you, that tragedy is over. It is time for joy to begin again.”
Shimmering light surrounds Ireena and Sergei. Hand in hand, they walk east toward the edge of the overlook. Their feet do not touch the ground as they tread a path beyond this mortal world. Their invisible road takes them beyond the eastern precipice, their glow illuminating and thinning the clouds above Barovia. The clouds suddenly break open, letting shafts of glorious sunlight flood through. In the valley below, the strange fog dissolves. Barovia is free once more.
Ismark's eyes are filled with tears as the woman he knew as his sister departs with her beloved. "I will miss her. Even if she was his ancient beloved and we shared no blood, we still grew up in the same home. But this is no time for mourning. Our land is free of the Devil and it is time for me to take my place as the Burgomaster of Barovia. Thank you, for all that you have done, for me, my sister, and for Barovia."
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
More
Fae watches in mute awe as Barovia regains its former self. With a smile, she nods to Ismark. "Good luck," she says simply. "May the moon's crescent watch over you and help you heal this land." Without further ado, she slips away from the group, a gentle rocking in her bag drawing her attention.
Climbing even further up, Fae comes out onto the roof of the tower and quietly removes the red egg from her bag, setting it on the roof before her. As it continues to rock, it also begins to smoke, pale wisps of the stuff coming off it, slowly at first, then faster and faster. With a sudden crack and a small wave of flame that washed over Fae as well, concealing the roof from the view of any watching. When the smoke cleared, Fae was standing in front of a bird the size of her two fists, composed entirely of flames. It watched her quietly, and she met its eyes with a mix of respect and excitement. After a long, silent moment, the phoenix gave a cry of triumph and took to the sky, circling once, twice, and a third time over the castle and those standing on its overlook, before it lifted into the sky, the flames of its wings quickly vanishing into the sunrise. With a broad smile, Fae watches until it's gone, breathing, "See you soon, Inez." Turning, she climbs off the roof and rejoins the group, looking content and...almost at peace, far calmer and more centered than any of you have ever seen her.
Stella Diamant, Human Rogue 17 (Swashbuckler), The Exploits of Misfit Company
Kat, Medtech, Cyberpunk: Red
Shi, Changeling Bard 4 (College of Spirits), Tyrant's Grasp
Dani, Human Artificer 9 (Armorer), Skulls and Starships
DM, Project Point (Teams Scimitar and Longsword)
Everything Else!
Doremor looks on in surprise as Samael cuts down the vampire. As the last of the foes fall, he claps softly for the group, "Truly, we have achieved something great here, with the tools that we acquired. Now, I'm sure there's more than this in this castle, and seeing as the lord is dead we should have no trouble taking it. If anyone is willing to accompany me, I will give them an even cut of the loot."
Regardless of who goes with him, Doremor continues through Barovia, searching both the castle and the Amber Temple for more hidden secrets, and hunting for any new areas that the group may have not had time to see in their hurry to fight Strahd.
Samael gives a mental confirmation to the blade, that it has gotten it's vengeance and let's the blade extinguish, then clipping it's hilt to his waist. He then looks down where the lord of Ravenloft fell and recalls his face as he did so. Not feeling regret for the monster's death, he does feel pity for the man that it once was, he offers a prayer of peace to the soul of Strahd, that it may find some mole of happiness in his next life.
When Ireena/Tatyana left with Sergi to ascend to the next world, Samael watched with a smile. He was so used to sending people of with mercy, it was nice to see someone be freed and find happiness via other means. Once they're gone, Samael looks over the now sun filled lands (praise the sun!), knowing his task he wasn't fully complete, he took solace that the light of Helm and the Trinity could now touch these people. Looking at the party, he decided to make his intentions clear, "I plan to stay in Barovia for a time, if any of you would like to join me. Now that the people are free of the curse that held them here, they'll need help to take care of whatever dark creatures remained here. There'll also be the need to install a new lord for the region that can properly and justly ensure their return to the world." He glances at Ismark, "Ismark, while I do not know you as well as the others, you seem to be a man of goodness and the determination to fight against the forces of evil. Would you assist me in this task of further clearing you land?"
Belzo perhaps spends a moment too long as King Shadow Crabbius the first, reveling in the deaths of the brides. Until the man appears in a flash of light. Once he has resumed his original form however, whatever disturbed look at his hands goes interrupted upoin turning back towards the display of love and affection. He... looked away before long, visibly gritting his teeth, and muttering something in some foul language behind all others. Within the anger and envy, his eyes happen to fall upon cold staff still clutched tightly in hand, prompting a thought.
"Then you will have to do so without me." He looks to Samael and Doremore in particular. "I would apologize, but it would be a farce. And I do not broker in lies. In the short time that I have been here, it has taken a far greater toll than I can I truly bear. And it possesses temptations that... I may not be able to push back a second time. Even with such fine company at my back." Belzo tries to smile, but its clearly not something practiced or done often enough. "Just as I cannot ignore what drew me to research these lands in the first place. But I am not without a heart. Now that the way is hopefully clear, I will certain to use what contacts remain to me, and spread the word of Barovia's plight. Of that, you have my word." As he comes out of a formal bow, the sorcerer stands a bit more bent at the back; his age, or perhaps the weight of the land's atmosphere being allowed to at least show past the stalewart demeanor.
"I would caution all that remain to be be thorough in your hunts. A place once marked by such a great darkness needs little influences to rekindle it a place of horror and evil." On that note, he looks to Ismark. Once the man was ready to head back to town, one old scholar would follow, hoping beyond hope to acquire a horse if nothing else to ride far, far, FAR away from the lands of barovia. Never to return hopefully, but to keep his word. Of the staff, he tries to get it back to Candlekeep for further research. A faint glimmer of hope blooming at the thought of some lingering taint within it possibly opening the way to his beloved... friend.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Samael: "Thank you, my friend." Ismark says. "There is still work that needs to be done to heal this land and you will be a valuable ally."
Doremor: You make the long journey back to the Amber Temple, and with Strahd vanquished, the trip is more pleasant than it was last time, with the countryside being sunlit and free of any monsters that might seek to attack you. You enter into the temple and descend into the lower floor. You remember being warned that there was still evil in the Temple, so you make sure to be stealthy, which keeps you from being spotted by the remaining undead and any other creatures that remain to guard the temple. You find an amber sarcophagus, containing a wisp of darkness no more than a few inches long. As you touch it, a voice enters your mind. "I offer you the dark gift of the Vampyr. Do you accept?"
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
More
Doremor takes a moment to think, realizing the untapped resources of a land such as Barovia and the things that Strahd could have done if he hadn't spent all his time toying with adventurers, before a wicked grin spreads across his face, "I accept, of course."
Samael spends the week that Doremor spent travelling, working with Ismark to help clean up the lands surrounding castle Ravenloft of dark creatures, gaining whatever assistance of the Barrovian's that they could. With these efforts, Samael urged Ismark to make his claim as Burgomaster/Lord of Barovia soon, so that they could make large actions to assist the lands more effectively.
Fae bids the others farewell and also sets off into the sunlight, following her new flaming charge. Over the next week, the group might occasionally see a fiery shape in the sky, above a slim figure that would wave fiercely upon being spotted before dissolving into a puff of silver mist.
Fae knew she should get back to the Feywild with the phoenix chick. The now torso-sized phoenix was still a chick, and while growing fast, would do much better back in the land of fairies. Besides, she needed to track down her brother too...there was no reason to remain in Barovia. The teenaged elf was starting to feel the first effects of being a long-lived creature in the company of the comparatively mayfly lives of most humanoids. But she stayed, at least for a little. Below Sehanine's smile in Barovia, Fae wandered Barovia for a long while, not going near civilization for fear of the rapidly growing phoenix scaring them. Deprived of people to talk to, she turned inwards, finding some of the calm her mentor had always encouraged her to search for. But not too much...she still giggled a lot, and was exuberant when she met the occasional traveler. At the end of her first week of solitude, Fae felt a...shift in the land. Something had happened. Her face turning a little grim with worry, the young eladrin started towards the center of the...offness she felt, determined to investigate.
Stella Diamant, Human Rogue 17 (Swashbuckler), The Exploits of Misfit Company
Kat, Medtech, Cyberpunk: Red
Shi, Changeling Bard 4 (College of Spirits), Tyrant's Grasp
Dani, Human Artificer 9 (Armorer), Skulls and Starships
DM, Project Point (Teams Scimitar and Longsword)
Everything Else!