Striker moves to Ismirk’s side

Both cultists fall one after another. 

As the dust clears, slow clapping draws your attention to Strahd and his smirk standing just outside the church. Despite all his soldiers being dead, he seems almost.... happy. 

"Congratulations. You've nearly exhausted my infantry. Well, my living infantry, that is."

Kessintra takes the moment of calm to pick up her blades, not allowing herself to get too caught up in relief or satisfaction from their 'victory'. No losses, but it had been far too close.

"You enjoyed yourself, I take it. So, the church stays?"

His smirk widens. "I did enjoy myself, but that doesn't mean I will spare the church. It is keeping my Tatyana from me, after all. It will take a bit more.... convincing to save the church."

“How about a bit more entertainment… so that we can focus our weapons on the target most deserving. But we all know how that ends, so why don’t you just leave so the entertainment can continue another time.”

Kessintra mentally groans, feeling frankly exhausted from all the 'entertaining' they've already done. She can't resist a chuckle at Garrick's blunt response. "See? Garrick is a lot of fun in my opinion," she remarks before her expression grows more serious, "What kind of 'convincing' are you getting at, then?"

Strahd's smile fades into an irritated frown. "This stopped being entertainment when you went back on your word, backstabber. I'd tread carefully if I were you."

He takes a moment to get his smirk to return. "As for you, Kessintra, I am talking about deals. You give me a little something, and I'll stop attacking the church."

"The vampire who has everything wants something from me?" Kess raises an eyebrow, setting her pack down on a pew and beginning to rifle through it awkwardly. What Strahd wants...it must be something she doesn't want him to have, of course. As the thought occurs to her, her hand brushes over the lyre. It's usual comforting warmth is practically burning; it is...afraid? But without it, the spirits would be overwhelming...the dark...

"That's..." She starts to shake to head, but forces herself to stop, grasping the lyre though the sensation is searing. She hurries towards the door and tosses it out to the vampire before she has a chance to change her mind.

As the lyre leaves your hand, you feel empty, even hollow. The spirits are quieter.

Stand instinctively catches it, then stares at it in disbelief. "I... I was thinking of the Sunsword when you got it, but this works too."

If no one stops him, he casts mage hand and uses it to drag Ludmilla's corpse out of the church. He then has a vampire carry her. Strahd and the rest of the crowd begin to walk away.

“That was a huge sacrifice Kess, maybe I’ll go back to the castle and steal that harp for you.”

((Isn't mage hand only supposed to be able to move 10lbs?))

You're right, he'll have Rahadin run in and get her.

Kess chuckles, giving Garrick a tired but grateful smile. "There's no rush. We'll have to go back to the castle to finish this at some point anyway. T-that old thing...It's much less useful than a 'sun sword' in a land of vampires." She finally gives a shaky sigh of relief. "And we all survived."

Razz flits a few feet off the ground, eyes narrowing as he spots Rahadin making his way toward Ludmilla’s body.

"Oh no you don't."

With a flick of his fingers and a whispered word to his patron, the flaming sphere glides with eerie grace, rolling straight into the open doorway—right between Rahadin and the corpse.

"You could walk through it, sure. But just know—the smell of scorched elf might wake the whole neighborhood."

He turns midair and cups his hands around his mouth, calling toward the tiger with gleeful urgency.

"Viktor! Look! Walking barbecue heading straight for your leftovers!"

Razz drops behind one of the pews again with a satisfied grin, wings flicking behind him as he settles in.

"Just a little fire between friends."

From behind the pews, Razz rises slowly, wings lower than usual, his playful edge gone. He calls out, voice steady and sharp, meant for Strahd and no one else.

"Strahd! I’ll fix the broken promise. Even if we both know it wasn’t meant to last."

He floats a few feet higher now, eyes narrowing.

"Garrick may have loosed the bolt, but you were already setting the stage. Sooner or later, she would’ve broken it—because you would’ve asked her to."

He exhales, quiet but firm.

"I know what that means. And I still going to fix it."

Strahd stares at Razz before speaking in the most chilling voice you've heard. "You underestimate me, mosquito. I'm not weak enough to need betrayal, unlike you lot. Mark my words, the more and more you disregard your promises, the more and more I'll pummel you into the ground."

He turns to Rahadin. "Get her."

Rahadin runs through the flaming sphere.

Save: 24, success for 5 damage 

He picks up Ludmilla's corpse and teleports away.

(OOC - am I able to attempt to stop him? The teleport is only 30ft. Thinking of Striker doing a grapple.)

You'd need to grapple him outside the church because everything happens in one turn, and he can still move afterward. That also means that the grappler would be open to any and all attacks from the vampires outside.

"'Don't need betrayal.' That's...respectable," Kess murmurs thoughtfully, the more conniving part of herself instantly seeing it as something to be exploited. The vampire seems to place a lot of weight on keeping one's word; they'll have to keep that in mind for the future.

Striker has 40ft movement, which I think should be enough to catch up and grapple.

Only an 11 str grapple 😑