Soren's tapered ears perk up and his mouth flattens in a snarl at Giles' shout.  He glances at Ireena, Tourmaline and Victor as he begins to dash.

"The pack hunts and defends itself as one.  More undead abominations in the cub-den.  Time to run to our companions' aid."

While the others make a madcap dash up the stairs to the second floor...

Zefla's arrow lodges in one of Milivoj's eyes.  It was a brilliant shot and would have killed most living creatures.  The youth, however, was no longer a living creature.  It causes him pause, but just a pause, before he continues forward - right into Burr and the Bloodspear.

Lunging recklessly in the dark, Burr feels more than sees the spear connect... light shimmers as the tip of the spear burns into the vampire with Burr's zealous fury.

It staggers from the wound, but then presses on again.  "I don’t want to hurt you—" says the young man's voice, even as his body tenses up to strike "—but I have to!"  It lashes out with its claws, not to slash, but to grasp Burr.

• Claws (w/adv):  20   [Burr is grappled.  If he wishes to use an action he can attempt to break the grapple on his next turn with a DC 13 athletics or acrobatics check.]
• Bite (w/adv):  11

Despite the creature easily grasping hold of him, Burr is able to struggle in the dark and keep it from sinking its long canines into his neck.

Round Two:

1. Zefla
2. Burr
3. Milivoj

[If there is still combat after this round, the rest of the team will arrive and we can roll them in.]

Hearing Milivoj makes Zefla give pause and wonder if there is anything that can be done for him, or if he is cursed like this for good.  But when he grapples Burr, she decides that is something to consider after they take him down.

She draws another arrow and fires.

Attack: 24, Damage: 7 + 11 sneak attack

Burr flexes against the dead boy but sees no reason to extricate himself as he flips the Bloodspear and attempts to drive it into the boys chest, " Be at rest."

Reckless Attack ( Back to a straight roll)- : Attack: 14 Damage: 8 Magical Piercing

Spurred on by the faint sounds of battle on the upper floor of the orphanage, Soren dashes on, hoping Ireena, Tourmaline and Victor are following.

Giles continues to dash up the steps, his light leading the way in front of him, trying to reach Burr and Zefla.  “On our way up… coming….”

[Burr, reading Divine Fury it says (emphasis added by me)...  "While you’re raging, the first creature you hit on each of your turns with a weapon attack takes 1d6 + 1 radiant damage."  It looks like you should be able to add Radiant damage to that last hit.]

Zefla sinks another arrow into the undead teen, though once again it does less harm to him than Burr's spear, which is once again jabbed into his side.  The vampire is faltering, but it has strength yet to begin dragging Burr back toward the overturned bed.  It crouches there, Burr still in its grasp.

It growls at Burr... "I just let them take them... I didn't want to be a monster... but I am...".  

• Bite (w/Adv):  24  Piercing Damage:  5  Necrotic Damage:  9
• Claws (w/Adv):  13

It sinks its fangs into Burr's forearm, slurping out blood.  Some of its wounds, even those caused by Burr's spear, begin to heal even as Burr feels the chill touch of death seeping into his arm.

Initiatives:

• Giles:  18
• Soren:  16
• Others:  9

Soren, Giles, and the others pile up the stairs, light from Giles' dagger illuminating and casting shadows throughout the third floor space.  They see Burr grappled by a pale shape hiding behind an overturned bed.

[Milivoj has 3/4 cover from ranged attacks that don't have line of sight to him.]

Round 3

1. Giles
2. Soren
3. Zefla
4. Burr
5. Milivoj
6. Ireena, Tourmaline, Victor

+ 3 radiant.

Giles moves due south, a sudden intake of air as his dagger held aloft illuminates the creature.  He holds his dagger aloft and says a few words and a shaft of light streams down toward the creature holding Burr.  “Hold on Burr, help is here…”. 

Giles casts Sacred Flame on Milivoj, he needs to make a DC 15 Dex save or take 13 points of radiant damage.  

Soren's tapered half-elven ears seem to wilt like a discouraged canine as his darkvision takes in just who the enemy is.  Milivoj, the troubled, restless youth from Saint Andral's Cathedral.  The one Father Lucien had been concerned about.  The one that...

Oh no... oh, no no no... Milivoj... the holy protective relic of Saint Andral, the one that protected the church had been stolen just the night before the attack of the Vampire Spawn.  Almost as if whoever was directing the Vampire Spawn had someone within the Cathedral who knew where to look...

"Was it you, Milivoj?"  Soren's voice is clear, but soft and sad.  "Was it you who helped steal the Bones from the Cathedral?  Tell us please, if any part of you still remains that appreciates the good man Father Lucien was.  Who was behind the theft and desecration which left the Cathedral unprotected from the Vampire Spawn attack?  Who turned you into a blood drinker yourself?  And where are the Bones now?"

Soren moves as far west as he can within the darkened room that appears safe to his darkvision which makes the dim light from Giles' light source appear like bright light (no rotting floorboards or other Vampire Spawn hanging from the ceiling etc.), into the northwest corner.  He holds his action to whip thorny vines from his free hand, attacking only if and when Milivoj continues to take hostile action.  Hoping the undead youth responds to his questions first.

Movement:  25' west (if safe) to the northwest corner of the room.

Action:  Readied Thorn Whip (30' melee spell attack) on Milivoj, triggered by continued hostile action, hoping that Milivoj answers Soren's questions first.
Soren's Thorn Whip to hit:  27 (Natural 20)
Soren's Thorn Whip damage:  20 (magical piercing)
Forced Movement on hit:  Milivoj is dragged 10' north towards Soren (not sure if the grappled Burr comes with him (hoping to dislodge him).

DEX:  11

Giles' spell bathes the young vampire spawn in holy, burning light.  He continues to try to feed on Burr's warm blood.  Then Soren's vine grips him, yanking him up and over the ruin of the bed he had been hiding behind.  The thorn whip coils around him, its barbs sinking deep into his undead flesh.  He hisses in pain.  As Soren's words cut through the darkness, the young vampire's struggles slow.

His voice is raw, hoarse from the battle and the torment within him.  "I—I didn't know what they meant... the bones... I didn't think..."  His words falter, his body twitching as he fights against both the magic and the truth.  "She said—she said they were just old bones.  That they didn’t matter.  That no one would even notice."

A shudder runs through his gaunt frame.  He grits his teeth, but his voice breaks, bitter with self-loathing.  "Anastrasya... her name was Anastrasya."  His face twists in pain—not just from the wounds, but from the memory.  "She was beautiful.  She—she told me I could have everything.  That she saw something special in me... that I wasn’t meant to just rake leaves and beg for scraps..."  He coughs, blackened blood dripping from his lips.  "She kissed me.  Laughed with me. And when I brought her the bones—"  His red eyes dart to Soren, pleading, desperate.  "I didn’t know, I swear to the Morninglord, I didn’t know!"

His fingers claw at the floor, his body tensing as the thorn whip tightens around his chest.  His voice drops to a whisper, barely audible.  "Then she... she showed me what I really was.  Not special.  Not free.  Just a tool for her to use.  Another monster...".

The vines coil tighter, dragging him toward Soren, toward his reckoning.  Milivoj gasps sharply as the thorns bury deeper—one final pull and they rip through his chest, tearing free his shriveled, blackened heart.  His body stiffens in shock, his mouth falling open in a silent scream.  For a brief moment, his crimson eyes flicker with something almost human.  Relief? Regret?  Gratitude?

Then his body begins to crumble.  In the light of Giles' dagger, the party watches - Ireena in horror, Victor in fascination.  His skin dries, cracking like old parchment.  His fingers clutch feebly at his chest before breaking apart into dust.  His face, twisted with pain, collapses inward—his form disintegrates into a swirling heap of ash, scattering across the attic floor like dead leaves in the wind.

And the orphanage is silent again.

Burr holds is neck in annoyance and looks down at what remains of the boy, " Well.....we know how....and suspect why....."

" But how could a dead thing like he describes stay in contact with the bones long enough to transport them?  Did she use people? And if so..............BAH! It matters not. There is no one here, we have a windmill to burn."

Ireena looks at Burr.  "Then there is no one here?  You think..." she pauses, struggling with the words.  "... you think the old woman took Saskia?"

Quote from Damian_May >>

Burr holds is neck in annoyance and looks down at what remains of the boy, " Well.....we know how....and suspect why....."

" But how could a dead thing like he describes stay in contact with the bones long enough to transport them?  Did she use people? And if so..............BAH! It matters not. There is no one here, we have a windmill to burn."

Soren shakes his head sadly.  He thinks he understands what transpired now, at least in part.

"I believe the nearly-grown cub was not yet undead when he stole the holy relic Burr.  This Anastrasya used Milivoj when he still lived and breathed.  She must be a vampire too then, like Strahd.  Tempted the cub into betraying his old life.  Stealing the Bones of Saint Andral from the Cathedral for her so her Vampire Spawn could attack it.  She then turned Milivoj himself into another undead thrall.  All her Vampire Spawn sought 'Tatyana', their name for Ireena, so this Anastrasya too wants Ireena.  Perhaps because Strahd covets Ireena as a mate, and Anastrasya seeks a bargaining chip or hostage."

The druid sighs.  "So we have one more goal to add to our list after the children.  Find Anastrasya, bring her to justice, and recover the holy relic she stole, the Bones of Saint Andral, so we may use them to once again reconsecrate the cathedral as a sanctuary where evil cannot enter uninvited."

Quote from Bartjeebus >>

Ireena looks at Burr.  "Then there is no one here?  You think..." she pauses, struggling with the words.  "... you think the old woman took Saskia?"

Soren too looks at Burr and Zefla.  "Are you saying that before we joined the battle, Milivoj spoke to you of Morgantha and the witches of the windmill kidnapping the orphans?  If so, that would indeed confirm what we have dreaded and suspected since Ireena spoke of her dream last night."

The druid prays for Silvanus' Guidance and looks and listens, peeking at both floors of the orphanage for any remaining threats or movement.

Soren's Perception plus Guidance:  13 + 2 = 15

Giles walks forward with his dagger, lighting up the floor.  He watches as the ashes flutter away and dissolve.  He then turns and walks around the room, looking to all the corners to make sure with his light that they aren’t missing anyone or anything that could be hiding in the dark.  He listens carefully as well for any sounds of movement, anything else that feels not right.  After he’s looked to make sure, he comes back to the group in the middle of the room, saying “Well, not here.  Should we head to the windmill next?”  He looks down again, seeing the ashes continuing to scatter on the floor, “He looked relieved, at the last, to be let go of this horrible, undead life.  I suppose there is no going back, after you’ve been turned into one of … them… no hope.  Only the release of death.”  He looks up and checks the faces of everyone standing in the room, checking their resolve and readiness to go forward with their next steps.

The faint glow of Giles’ Light spell casts long, shifting shadows across the wreckage, flickering against the slanted walls and rafters.  Milivoj is gone.  What remains of him—only a crumbling pile of ash—lies caught in the grooves of the wooden floor.

Giles steps forward, his dagger still aglow.  He sweeps the room with his eyes, checking the corners for any lingering threats, but the place appears empty.  Soren, his druid senses more attuned to the whispers of the unseen, listens for any movement, any trace of a presence left behind.  He finds none.  They are alone.

Tourmaline answers Giles' words grimly, her voice like steel.  "Giles is right.  The process of vampirization first requires death.  The victim dies.  Then, what rises is undead.  There is no 'cure'... short of perhaps elder clerics and saints wielding the power of the gods."

Victor listens intently, fingers idly tracing the embroidered hems of his sleeves.  His expression is unreadable—thoughtful, detached, and yet… intrigued.  "Interesting," he murmurs.  Then, after a pause, he speaks again, clearer this time.  "So then... the soul departs first.  The body dies, and what returns is not truly the same person at all."  His eyes flicker to the ashes on the floor.  "The vampire wears their face, holds their memories, but whatever made them them is already lost."

His words hang in the air like a death knell.

Tourmaline rubs her jaw, where there is still a dark bruise, a reminder of her time with the Baron's guards.  "I'm not certain."  She sighs.  "Necromancy was merely a curiosity for me, not a path of serious study."  She continues, thinking.  "I don't think that is entirely correct.  About the soul, I mean.  The person... the victim... the one subjected to vampirism... as I understand it, they are still in there.  It isn't some foreign spirit occupying their body.  It is still them.  Just... undead."  She runs a hand through her hair, as she searches for an analogy.  "Polymorph," she says at last, speaking directly to Victor.  "You understand the effects of that spell?"

He nods, looking at her as an engaged pupil to a teacher.

"It changes the body and the mind.  If a person is polymorphed into a chicken, they look like a chicken; they think like a chicken; they behave like a chicken.  But their soul hasn't departed.  I think vampirism is much the same.  The person... the soul is still inside.  But it is a vampire now.  And it thinks, feels and behaves accordingly.  Does that make sense?" she asks, the question open as if she herself wonders.

Victor lingers a moment longer, staring at the ashes as if trying to work out some unspoken equation in his mind.  Then, with a final glance at the others, he nods.

" Children are dying while we tarry here....", Burr growled moving towards the door..

Soren listens with morbid fascination at the mages' talk of undead transformation, but then quickly moves to follow his friend.

"I agree, Burr.  There is nothing and no one left here.  Our pack must hunt the witches of the windmill who torment our dreams and steal little cubs."

He considers a moment and then (while walking) quietly asks the entire party, but Lady Bauer and Victor in particular:

"I remember when we first caught Morgantha on the road between the village of Barovia and Tser Pool Camp, abducting the cub Saskia in her cart, the witch moved to cast magic at us, first putting not-Father to sleep.  Then, the clouds gathered above, as if lightning would strike down at us.  All the while, she looked confident that we were no threat to her.  Then suddenly, she appeared worried and spoke defensively to someone who was not there, as if excusing her own actions.  Perhaps worried about interfering with the darklord's intended 'visitors,' who we seem to be."

"And then she... vanished.  No trace of her remained other than the cart and Saskia.  Not even further tracks appearing in the soil as one might expect if she had become invisible as I know some mages can.  Since then, she has somehow inflicted horrific, hellish dreams upon me, Burr and most recently Ireena.  Agonized dreams which rob our sleep of any rest.  Have either of you mages heard of witches such as this and how they may be defeated?"

Satisfied, yet saddened by the result of ridding Milivoj from their presence as well as his own, Zefla watches as Giles checks the rest of the attic.  She herself stays in one spot, realizing she hadn't moved at all since coming up here and finding the vampire.  She hopes he is the only one... but wonders if they will find more at the windmill, or just the witches?  Just.. she thinks and smiles... 

As the mages converse, she gets a bit impatient and is glad when Burr speaks what she is thinking and gladly leads the group down the stairs out of the orphanage.  Looking back towards Ireena and Viktor, "Do either of you know how to get to this windmill?  I don't want to leave those children in the hands of whatever the creatures are that inhabit that place any longer."

“Let’s move, to the windmill with all haste.  I don’t want to linger here anymore either.”  Giles takes his light tipped dagger and walks to the stairs, leading them out of this foul house and on their way.