Pizazz's Ravenloft and Beyond

"Aaargh!" Seeing one more of his ally fall to the vampire was too much for Lionel. Angel of vengeance took over his mind once again as paladin attacked his - oh, so personal now! - enemy, forgetting all about "we can not face him yet". Wings of light brought him to the Strahd as he raised his shining sword to attack.

meepo casts magic missile again at 2nd level.

Darts:

1... 2

2... 4

3... 2

4... 5

The spectral hand reaches for, grasping at Strahd, clinging to him. He seems unconcerned by it's touch. Magic darts whip past Lionel and Ismark and splash into Strahd. They seem to almost bounce off. Despite the chilling grasp of the hand that prevents him from healing, it's as if the damage from the magical blows just fade away.  

Lionel's eyes are replaced with glittering energy, spectral wings emerge from his back, and the avenging angel leaps through the air with a single bound. As he flies through the space, the handle is withdrawn. Lionel, within you, you feel pure wicked glee from the handle in your grasp as it realizes it's foe is here. A brilliant blade of light emerges from the thing, shining in the blowing wind and fog, it's yellowish luminance making the ice crystals in the air sparkle. 

For the first time, you see Strahd's all powerful, all knowing, fearless presence falter. He gasps as Lionel flies towards him.  Again, like reality is stuttering, he moves to one side, towards the wall of the mountain on the left side of the road, with Lionel, Ismark, and Olin now between him and the edge of the cliff.  The movement is in the blink of an eye, in short bursts that are so fast they almost feel like teleportation, were it not for the gravel and dust he kicks up as he moves. As Lionel lands next to Ismark with a thud, Strahd is now almost twenty feet away, within the dim sunlight being shed by your blade.  His face is a mixture of fear and rage. 

He holds out his hands as he screams, attempting to release a spell. 

Meepo, do you wish to attempt to counterspell it? 

Meepo will attempt to counterspell.

If needed: Arcana ... 18

The magic from his hands cause the air to swirl and gust momentarily, but before it can turn into a hurricane of wind and blow the warriors off the cliff, the spell sputters out and fails as Meepo counters the spell. 

His eyes dart to the diminutive dragon wizard and he hisses in fury. 

Ismark charges him, swinging his blade as he screams, "DIE DEVIL!!!" 

Attack: 12 Damage: 10.  Attack: 24 Damage: 11.

His first slash finds the devil, and the blade slices into his arm.  The devil grabs his arm, his blood spraying from it, and for the first time the wound doesn't instantly heal.  Hissing, he slashes back at Ismark in fury.  His skin is smoking as he shouts in pure animalistic rage at the entire group.  

Attack: 18 Damage: 9 + 15 dmg. 

Ismark stumbles back as the slash seem to burn his flesh at it slices into him. 

The two zombies continue to shuffle in his direction, but the battle seems to be moving too quickly for them at the moment. 

 Everyone's action.

Seeing his magic darts are not having any real affect, meepo changes to ray of frost

To hit: 7 / 21

Damage: 7 and his speed is reduced by 10 feet.

Lionel did not even noticed the danger - not that he cared anyway. The enemy cornered himself, that was all he saw and all he needed. Now it was his turn to attack, his wings brought him closer to his target and he raised his radiant sword sharing his joy:

Bonus action: Channel Divinity: Vow of Enmity (As a bonus action, you can use your Channel Divinity to choose a creature within 10 ft. and gain advantage on attack rolls against it for 1 minute or until it drops to 0 HP or falls unconscious)

Attack 1: Attack: 29 Damage: 13 +6 radiant (Radiant Soul) + 15 (Divine Smite)

Attack 2: Attack: 25 Damage: 10 +6 radiant (Radiant Soul) + 15 (Divine Smite)

(The first attack - natural 20! :) )

Seeing Lionel's wrath striking Strahd, Mordekai feels an unfamiliar measure of confidence that he's not top of Strahd's hit list.  Mordekai moves closer, to within 60ft, and unleashes two bolts of Eldritch Blast at Strahd.

Attack 1: 20 Damage: 6 plus 5 Hex (Necrotic) damage.

Attack 2: 11 Damage: 14 plus 3 Hex (Necrotic) damage.

Lionel unleashes fury, as the searingly bright blade slashes out leaving smoking and bloody gashing across Strahd.  He shrieks in pain and anger, and skuttles backwards somehow clambering up the cliff face in spider like fashion while still facing the group. The movement again occurs unnaturally in strange blurs.  Two blasts from Lionel lash out, one striking him, and an icy blast from Meepo just misses. Having clambered up the cliff face nearly 60 feet in the blink of an eye, he then shrieks, "YOUR SOULS WILL BE MINE!!!"  He transforms into a large bat, which flap madly up into the fog and wind. 

He's effectively 120 feet away from you now up in the sky.  The fog and blowing snow isn't so thick that you can't see the bat, but he's obscured for sure. 

Ismark yells in rage, throwing down his sword as he pulls off his bow and fires two arrows up into the windy sky. Attack: 13 Damage: 2 Attack: 19 Damage: 3

The first arrow is blown away by a gust of wind, fluttering through the sky.  The second seems to strike the bat but the arrow bounces off ineffective as the bat continues flapping away.

Your actions. 

Lionel echoed Ismark's cry, but he could not give up - not now!

"Meepo need better warriors."  Meepo says as he glances to the still-shuffling around zombies.  He shrugs and looks up at the bat.  It is far to far away for him to have any chance of hitting it, so he just readies an action to cast ray of frost again if the vampire comes into range again.

Lionel, flying on glittering angelic wings vanishes, appearing 30 feet closer in the sky as he swoops upwards in the blowing snow and fog to try and reach his foe, unleashing a a glittering aura that shines out, the bat wobbles in the glare of the glorious light.  

Wisdom saving throw DC 14 at disadvantage: 14

The bat flaps about, but still Strahd in his bat form manages to keep flapping away in the dark shrouded sky.   It zips and moves with sudden strange movement into the sky. 

Mordekai?  The bat has now managed to get 150 feet away from you. 

Seeing that Strahd is out of range of any of his spells, Mordekai resorts to goading, hoping to poke away at the ego that is Strahd. He casts Thaumaturgy to amplify his voice and bellows, "Strahd! Again you flee from us! You rule this land in cowardice. You think people fear you, but the truth is you are the one crippled by fear! Stand and fight, or you are not worthy of the title of Devil."

(OOC: Not sure you can do a "Goad" check! Can't imagine mine games really working on Strahd either, but we'll see. If appropriate, I feel like it's somewhere between deception, persuasion and Intimidation. Mordekai's bonus is the same for all three, so I'll make a check and you can take or leave it as appropriate: 26) 

(OOC: gave me some homework on Charisma checks. There is very little guidance on this in the rules!) 

The bat's head swings to face you, and you can almost imagine a scowl on his face, but he flies off regardless leaving you in the blowing snow and mist. 

Nearby Olin sits on his knees, bleeding from his neck as he looks around at you all in confusion, mumbling quietly, "You guys shouldn't be attacking him like that..." 

(Had to check this very thing in another game today, it looks like this is DC kind of things https://www.sageadvice.eu/2016/01/01/what-do-persuasion-and-intimidation-roll-against/ )

(OOC: You can all level up to level 7.) 

Kasimir walks towards the group, his sword still undrawn, his face sallow and full of fear. He keeps glancing towards Lionel. 

Ismark picks up his blade, "Bloody cowardice devil!"  Then he turns to face his friends, his sharp features grinning in the darkness, sheathing his sword with fervor. "Did you see him flee?  Did you see the fear in his face!? HAHA!!"  He grabs Lionel by the arms, "An angel to battle the devil!  He fled from you!!"  He slaps Mordekai on the shoulder, "Amazing! He can't stop us, let us reach this Amber temple and end this curse!" 

Olin stands up, blood trickling down his neck, his hand holding pressure on it.  "Um...I'm sorry friends...I am confused. I'm sorry about what happened...though...I'm not sure...where did Strahd go?" 

Kasimir watches this in stunned silence, fear echoing about his features.

"Kasimir, what troubles you?  I mean, aside from having just fought the devil himself.  Ismark here rejoices at having survived a battle with Strahd - not only survived, but forced him to flee in fear.  You do not share this emotion?"

"He run from the sword," sighed Lionel. The battle rage of vengeance passed but the disappointment of loosing enemy remained (or may be that was the feelings of the sword? Lionel could not tell anymore). "Though I too was glad to see fear in his eye."

He turned to Kasimir: "Looks like he is not completely invincible after all." "Do you know any place around for us to take some rest? Olin needs some help help."

Lionel touched Olins shoulder whispering a short prayer Protection from Evil and Good in hope it will counter whatever Strahd did to the cleric, and adding some healing (up to 30 points).

He nodded to Mordekai's words: "You do not have to be afraid anymore, Kasimir, he is truly gone. Not sure where, but I do not think he will return right away."

"Meepo glad all live."  Meepo says with a nod to the group.  "Meepo use body if die, but glad no die."

Kasimir shakes his head, "You do not understand the depths of Strahd's control over this land, nor the vengeance he will bring down upon you. Do you think others have not won temporary victories in the past?"  He shakes his head, "You are ignorant. Let us continue, perhaps we can make it to the Amber Temple and find a solution before he returns to avenge his pride."