[[OOC: Tyek is happy to have them scramble away over the pews or run behind the organ to hide, especially if they throw down their weapons before they flee. He was just trying to get them to give up the fight so that the party can try to rescue the dwarves and then find this Count Glauer fellow.]]
Three of the badly wounded Drukhari will try to flee away, One to the far left, one towards the upper right near the organ, and the third runs through the gap towards the entrance. The remaining two will go back-to-back in a defensive posture in the center of the room. That is their move, end of round two, top of Round 3/
Khessa leaves to the two space to flee: "What are you waiting for? Go!"
The blonde arcane warrior sporoaches the imposing musical inserimento thatcwas being used during the ritual and starts smashing it to pieces with her maul. At least, it will not be used again in such sinister circumstances...
The pipe organ is smashed to pieces, the bone work splintering. The remaining two Drukhari, look at one another and heeding your advice, sprint out of the room. You are now alone in the chamber.
Yoht looks the dwarves who were suspended on the poles, and he begins to swear in dwarven. "These are my scouts, that's why we never learned what was happening here. They were taken."
Yoht looks the dwarves who were suspended on the poles, and he begins to swear in dwarven. "These are my scouts, that's why we never learned what was happening here. They were taken."
[[OOC: You said that the dwarves were "tied to cross beams." I guess those are up close to the ceiling? How hiegh is that? In particular, can Tyekanik reach them to get them down? He's currently Large-sized with a 15' melee reach.]]
Yoht looks the dwarves who were suspended on the poles, and he begins to swear in dwarven. "These are my scouts, that's why we never learned what was happening here. They were taken."
[[OOC: You said that the dwarves were "tied to cross beams." I guess those are up close to the ceiling? How hiegh is that? In particular, can Tyekanik reach them to get them down? He's currently Large-sized with a 15' melee reach.]]
No, standing cross beams, about ten feet high. Enough to be tortured and bled out. He can easily take them down.
Yoht looks the dwarves who were suspended on the poles, and he begins to swear in dwarven. "These are my scouts, that's why we never learned what was happening here. They were taken."
[[OOC: You said that the dwarves were "tied to cross beams." I guess those are up close to the ceiling? How hiegh is that? In particular, can Tyekanik reach them to get them down? He's currently Large-sized with a 15' melee reach.]]
No, standing cross beams, about ten feet high. Enough to be tortured and bled out. He can easily take them down.
Seeing the last of the stupid Druhkari running away, Tyekanik steps up to the each crossbeam, one at a time. He cuts the dwarf's bonds, positioning his Immovable Rod first to ensure that they don't fall to the ground as soon as they're cut down. Then Tyek grabs the dwarf under the arms and gently lowers them to the ground outside the pentagram. He leaves them to Yoht, Clarac, and Vrox to evaluate and/or heal.
Vrox keeps his bow drawn, ready to fire at any of the Druhkari if they turn back or cause any trouble. Assuming that they all flee the chapel, he asks, "Brother Maynard! Could you watch those elves for us and make sure that they really leave the keep and continue to flee across the valley like kits running back to their mother the first time they hear a clap of thunder?" Vrox doesn't want to let the Druhkari flee just to have them set up an ambush for the party later.
Vrox will then move around the pews to the pentagram, where Tyek is lowering down the dwarves. If needed, he can help heal them a little (just to stabilize them if they're "dying"). Otherwise, he preserves his spell slots for what's to come or leaves it to Clarac. The dwarves have been through an ordeal, but he trusts that they'll be safe here for now while the party clears the other rooms of the keep.
If Vrox is not needed to heal the dwarves, he'll briefly briefly explore the room, especially the (now ruined?) organ. And after their experience in the entrance hall with the vampires in the ceiling, he looks up to ensure that nothing is lurking up above them. If the ceiling to this "spire" is high enough to be in darkness, he casts Light on his Unbreakable Arrow and fires it up at the ceiling just to get a better look (and avoid breaking an arrow on the ceiling). Investigation: 23, checking out the organ and looking for any valuable or magical items in the room or secret doors out of it.
Vrox asks Lord Akkron whether the wizard knows what ritual these creatures were performing. Or, if he doesn't know, perhaps the enemy told the dwarves what they were doing. Vrox hopes that killing the vampire and driving off the Druhkari was enough to spoil the ritual and that they didn't succeed in whatever they were doing.
[[OOC: @Aaggie - From the outside, we saw
snow falls like ash from pitch-black clouds, adorning a large three-spire keep
I assume that the 3 doors leading off of the initial room with the portrait lead to the 3 spires, bu it's not clear how large those spires are. Does it makes sense from what we saw before entering the keep that the current room is an entire one of those three spires? Or would this room be too small, and there should be a larger footprint to this spire?]]
Clarac did not want to let the torturers escape, but rescuing the prisoners takes first priority. She helps Tyekanik lower them to a more comfortable position on the ground and evaluates their injuries. If any still live, she lays her hands on them and tries to ease their suffering.
OOC:
Actions: Lay on Hands, giving 6 HP to each surviving prisoner, if any
Vrox keeps his bow drawn, ready to fire at any of the Druhkari if they turn back or cause any trouble. Assuming that they all flee the chapel, he asks, "Brother Maynard! Could you watch those elves for us and make sure that they really leave the keep and continue to flee across the valley like kits running back to their mother the first time they hear a clap of thunder?" Vrox doesn't want to let the Druhkari flee just to have them set up an ambush for the party later.
Vrox will then move around the pews to the pentagram, where Tyek is lowering down the dwarves. If needed, he can help heal them a little (just to stabilize them if they're "dying"). Otherwise, he preserves his spell slots for what's to come or leaves it to Clarac. The dwarves have been through an ordeal, but he trusts that they'll be safe here for now while the party clears the other rooms of the keep.
If Vrox is not needed to heal the dwarves, he'll briefly briefly explore the room, especially the (now ruined?) organ. And after their experience in the entrance hall with the vampires in the ceiling, he looks up to ensure that nothing is lurking up above them. If the ceiling to this "spire" is high enough to be in darkness, he casts Light on his Unbreakable Arrow and fires it up at the ceiling just to get a better look (and avoid breaking an arrow on the ceiling). Investigation: 23, checking out the organ and looking for any valuable or magical items in the room or secret doors out of it.
Vrox asks Lord Akkron whether the wizard knows what ritual these creatures were performing. Or, if he doesn't know, perhaps the enemy told the dwarves what they were doing. Vrox hopes that killing the vampire and driving off the Druhkari was enough to spoil the ritual and that they didn't succeed in whatever they were doing.
[[OOC: @Aaggie - From the outside, we saw
snow falls like ash from pitch-black clouds, adorning a large three-spire keep
I assume that the 3 doors leading off of the initial room with the portrait lead to the 3 spires, bu it's not clear how large those spires are. Does it makes sense from what we saw before entering the keep that the current room is an entire one of those three spires? Or would this room be too small, and there should be a larger footprint to this spire?]]
Yes, you are in one of the spires, the other two are on either side of this one. You see nothing lurking up in the ceiling. You do find a secret entrance near the center of the room.
Clarac did not want to let the torturers escape, but rescuing the prisoners takes first priority. She helps Tyekanik lower them to a more comfortable position on the ground and evaluates their injuries. If any still live, she lays her hands on them and tries to ease their suffering.
OOC:
Actions: Lay on Hands, giving 6 HP to each surviving prisoner, if any
They are far too long dead, their life essence already drained away.
If word of the secret entrance is given, Khessa suggests trying to open it and explore there... a secret path might lead to the 'host' more quickly than an obvious one.
If word of the secret entrance is given, Khessa suggests trying to open it and explore there... a secret path might lead to the 'host' more quickly than an obvious one.
Yes. Vrox is disappointed to learn that the dwarves are already dead, but as soon as he notices the secret door [[I guess it's in the floor?]], he points it out to everyone. He agrees with Khessa, but he warns that they should expect danger too: "Indeed! No one makes a secret way that simply leads to a broom closet! Not unless it's a very special broom! Ha ha! Perhaps it's a shortcut to the Count himself, as you said. Or it could lead to a secret chamber: the Count's greatest treasure? Or a secret room for the cultists? But then it's more likely to include some trap or guardian to ensure that it requires more than a good eye to unlock this puzzle."
Who will open the secret door? If it reveals another room or tunnel, who should go first?
The secret door opens to stairs leading down, old as the keep itself. The stairs are made of stone, there are no torches or sources of light down below.
The secret door opens to stairs leading down, old as the keep itself. The stairs are made of stone, there are no torches or sources of light down below.
The Shadowfell Brand Tattoo gives Vrox Darkvision (60 ft). Once his eyes adjust, can he see what's at the bottom of the stairs? Or do the stairs descend farther than that?
If the way looks clear as far as Vrox can see, he will switch back to his sword and shield. When he's out in front of the group, he likes to be ready to fight at close range. Vrox will scout ahead quietly in the dark so that he can hopefully find out what's ahead before the others follow with whatever light they need. He moves slowly, blending with the darkness, and keeps his eyes and ears alert for signs of danger or traps. Stealth32, advantage from Shadowfell Brand Tattoo Perception20, advantage from Sentinel Shield
You reach the bottom of the stone stairs, and you see via your darkvision, a corridor that goes on straight to the east for 45 feet. Then it turns due north. You hear nothing, but you sense an overbearing dread, and the stone is pulsating with an evil essence.
Vrox sends a Message back up to Clarac, saying, "Clarac, I may need your help: I can sense the Evil in this tunnelv even without magic. Let me go 45 ft to the first turning and then follow me."
Then Vrox sneaks forward to where the tunnel turns to the north and uses a mirror to peer around the corner. If the coast is clear, he moves past the corner so that he can see to the north, but he does not move north yet.
If Vrox cannot see any foes in the range of his Darkvision, he waits there until Clarac joins him. (The others may come too, but Vrox wants Clarac close in case there's a Fiend down here.)
[[OOC: Tyek is happy to have them scramble away over the pews or run behind the organ to hide, especially if they throw down their weapons before they flee. He was just trying to get them to give up the fight so that the party can try to rescue the dwarves and then find this Count Glauer fellow.]]
Three of the badly wounded Drukhari will try to flee away, One to the far left, one towards the upper right near the organ, and the third runs through the gap towards the entrance. The remaining two will go back-to-back in a defensive posture in the center of the room. That is their move, end of round two, top of Round 3/
Your move/attack
Khessa leaves to the two space to flee: "What are you waiting for? Go!"
The blonde arcane warrior sporoaches the imposing musical inserimento thatcwas being used during the ritual and starts smashing it to pieces with her maul. At least, it will not be used again in such sinister circumstances...
The pipe organ is smashed to pieces, the bone work splintering. The remaining two Drukhari, look at one another and heeding your advice, sprint out of the room. You are now alone in the chamber.
Yoht looks the dwarves who were suspended on the poles, and he begins to swear in dwarven. "These are my scouts, that's why we never learned what was happening here. They were taken."
(Any of the bad guys still alive? if they are, Lord Akkron just tosses a ray of frost at whichever one looks closest to death)
Ray of Frost:
Attack: 27 Damage: 14 cold
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[[OOC: You said that the dwarves were "tied to cross beams." I guess those are up close to the ceiling? How hiegh is that? In particular, can Tyekanik reach them to get them down? He's currently Large-sized with a 15' melee reach.]]
As Khessa has opened a way for them to run, they took it and fled.
No, standing cross beams, about ten feet high. Enough to be tortured and bled out. He can easily take them down.
Seeing the last of the stupid Druhkari running away, Tyekanik steps up to the each crossbeam, one at a time. He cuts the dwarf's bonds, positioning his Immovable Rod first to ensure that they don't fall to the ground as soon as they're cut down. Then Tyek grabs the dwarf under the arms and gently lowers them to the ground outside the pentagram. He leaves them to Yoht, Clarac, and Vrox to evaluate and/or heal.
Vrox keeps his bow drawn, ready to fire at any of the Druhkari if they turn back or cause any trouble. Assuming that they all flee the chapel, he asks, "Brother Maynard! Could you watch those elves for us and make sure that they really leave the keep and continue to flee across the valley like kits running back to their mother the first time they hear a clap of thunder?" Vrox doesn't want to let the Druhkari flee just to have them set up an ambush for the party later.
Vrox will then move around the pews to the pentagram, where Tyek is lowering down the dwarves. If needed, he can help heal them a little (just to stabilize them if they're "dying"). Otherwise, he preserves his spell slots for what's to come or leaves it to Clarac. The dwarves have been through an ordeal, but he trusts that they'll be safe here for now while the party clears the other rooms of the keep.
If Vrox is not needed to heal the dwarves, he'll briefly briefly explore the room, especially the (now ruined?) organ. And after their experience in the entrance hall with the vampires in the ceiling, he looks up to ensure that nothing is lurking up above them. If the ceiling to this "spire" is high enough to be in darkness, he casts Light on his Unbreakable Arrow and fires it up at the ceiling just to get a better look (and avoid breaking an arrow on the ceiling).
Investigation: 23, checking out the organ and looking for any valuable or magical items in the room or secret doors out of it.
Vrox asks Lord Akkron whether the wizard knows what ritual these creatures were performing. Or, if he doesn't know, perhaps the enemy told the dwarves what they were doing. Vrox hopes that killing the vampire and driving off the Druhkari was enough to spoil the ritual and that they didn't succeed in whatever they were doing.
[[OOC: @Aaggie - From the outside, we saw
I assume that the 3 doors leading off of the initial room with the portrait lead to the 3 spires, bu it's not clear how large those spires are. Does it makes sense from what we saw before entering the keep that the current room is an entire one of those three spires? Or would this room be too small, and there should be a larger footprint to this spire?]]
Clarac did not want to let the torturers escape, but rescuing the prisoners takes first priority. She helps Tyekanik lower them to a more comfortable position on the ground and evaluates their injuries. If any still live, she lays her hands on them and tries to ease their suffering.
OOC:
Actions: Lay on Hands, giving 6 HP to each surviving prisoner, if any
Yes, you are in one of the spires, the other two are on either side of this one. You see nothing lurking up in the ceiling. You do find a secret entrance near the center of the room.
They are far too long dead, their life essence already drained away.
If word of the secret entrance is given, Khessa suggests trying to open it and explore there... a secret path might lead to the 'host' more quickly than an obvious one.
Yes. Vrox is disappointed to learn that the dwarves are already dead, but as soon as he notices the secret door [[I guess it's in the floor?]], he points it out to everyone. He agrees with Khessa, but he warns that they should expect danger too: "Indeed! No one makes a secret way that simply leads to a broom closet! Not unless it's a very special broom! Ha ha! Perhaps it's a shortcut to the Count himself, as you said. Or it could lead to a secret chamber: the Count's greatest treasure? Or a secret room for the cultists? But then it's more likely to include some trap or guardian to ensure that it requires more than a good eye to unlock this puzzle."
Who will open the secret door? If it reveals another room or tunnel, who should go first?
Khessa opens the secret door and looks at the usual scouts of the group...
If they don't go and scout ahead, she sends Anator instead.
The secret door opens to stairs leading down, old as the keep itself. The stairs are made of stone, there are no torches or sources of light down below.
The Shadowfell Brand Tattoo gives Vrox Darkvision (60 ft). Once his eyes adjust, can he see what's at the bottom of the stairs? Or do the stairs descend farther than that?
If the way looks clear as far as Vrox can see, he will switch back to his sword and shield. When he's out in front of the group, he likes to be ready to fight at close range. Vrox will scout ahead quietly in the dark so that he can hopefully find out what's ahead before the others follow with whatever light they need. He moves slowly, blending with the darkness, and keeps his eyes and ears alert for signs of danger or traps.
Stealth 32, advantage from Shadowfell Brand Tattoo
Perception 20, advantage from Sentinel Shield
You reach the bottom of the stone stairs, and you see via your darkvision, a corridor that goes on straight to the east for 45 feet. Then it turns due north. You hear nothing, but you sense an overbearing dread, and the stone is pulsating with an evil essence.
Vrox sends a Message back up to Clarac, saying, "Clarac, I may need your help: I can sense the Evil in this tunnelv even without magic. Let me go 45 ft to the first turning and then follow me."
Then Vrox sneaks forward to where the tunnel turns to the north and uses a mirror to peer around the corner. If the coast is clear, he moves past the corner so that he can see to the north, but he does not move north yet.
If Vrox cannot see any foes in the range of his Darkvision, he waits there until Clarac joins him. (The others may come too, but Vrox wants Clarac close in case there's a Fiend down here.)
New skill checks if needed:
Stealth: 37, advantage from Shadowfell Brand Tattoo
Perception: 31, advantage from Sentinel Shield