Pizazz's Ravenloft and Beyond

"If I did not know better, I would suspect you to be Strahd in disguise," said Lionel to the back of the leaving half-elf: "same level of dramatic exaggeration, black-and-white vision and love for a good old murder. With similar reasoning too, judging by his journal."

He turned to others: "So, back to the witch problem?"

Rictavio gets to the door and looks back, his face looking almost kindly, "I do hope you succeed. Very much."  With a sad face he opens the door and walks out. 

Meepo looks to Lionel, "Witch." 

Mordekai observes the conversation between Lionel and Rictavio, as it builds almost from conversation to confrontation. He says nothing until Rictavio leaves. 

"Do you really think he was an agent of Strahd's? If so and he witnessed this sword, we can't just let him walk off. If you're letting him walk away, perhaps you believe his intentions but dislike his methods? In which case I might suggest that after we deal with the witch, it might be worth at least looking into this Vistani group. I agree that genocide is not the solution, though."

Mordekai turns to Meepo, "A holy symbol, of protection. The cards said to find the mother of evil." 

Sad face of an adult man would sway Lionel's decision no more than puppy eyes look on a demon. "Not only methods, reasoning too," explained paladin. "Other than "oooh, I feel they are evil" he did not mention anything as a reason to exterminate living beings, that even by his words did not do anything but the same things others do around. I need a bit more to act on a word of a stranger, who points at the happy family and tells you - go kill them all! I am sure they are bad!"

"But even if he is a spy - I do not feel it, but he did try to corrupt us - I do not see any reason to kill him either. That sword is not something you can hide, and it was seen by several people, some of which also left the inn. Rumours will spread, no matter what. Strahd knows about our existence, and can guess that we read his journal. I am sure he can put two and two together." Lionel look at everyone at the table. "This is probably the best time to disappear for a while. And witch hunt sounds as a perfect way to do so."

Meepo busies himself looking for anythign that might be lost in the room.

Sleight of hand: 23

"The first card is the tome of Strahd. This card tells of history. Knowledge of the ancient will help you better understand your enemy."  She turns over the first card.  A man with a wooden staff, his face shrouded in the darkness of his hood stands next to a dead tree.  "The 5 of glyphs. The Druid. An evil tree grows atop a hill of graves where the ancient dead sleep. The ravens can help you find it. Look for the treasure there."   -- FOUND

"The next card, Holy Symbol of Ravenkind, tells of a powerful force for good and protection, a holy symbol of great hope."  She turns the card over. A man stands on a hill, sheep behind him being ravaged by wolves, their dead bodies screw about the grass. "The 4 of glyphs. The Shepherd. Find the mother--she who gave birth to evil."   --> NOT YET

"The next card is the Sunsword, a card of power and strength. It tells of a weapon of vengeance: a sword of sunlight."  She turns the card. It shows a thief clutching a bag of coins in his hands.  "The Master of coins, the Rogue. I see a nest of ravens. There you will find the prize."    --> FOUND

"The fourth card I pull is that of Strahd's enemy. This card sheds light on the one who will help you greatly in your battle against darkness."  She flips a card. It shows a hooded executioner standing, blood dripping from his axe, a basket full of heads behind him.  "Executioner. Seek out the brother of the devil's bride. They call him 'the lesser', but he has a powerful soul."  (You believe this is Ismark, Irena's brother, and known as Ismark the Lesser by the town folk.)   --> FOUND

She has laid the four cards out leaving a space in the middle.  "The final card is Strahd. Your enemy is a creature of darkness, whose powers are beyond mortality. He often chooses his time and place of the meetings. This will let you find him at the right time." She flips the card. A dark man stands, a silhouette in the darkness, his eyes red.  "The darklord. He lurks in the depths of darkness, in the one place to which he must return." 

Meepo finds a small backing for a broach, made of gold plated steel, a fork, six toothpicks, a fragment of torn shoe lace, a nail, a broken quill tip, and half a broken mug.  He places them all away for safe keeping. 

Ismark steps forward, "Well, it seems we've agreed to leave the town and go investigate this witch yes?" 

Time wise, you left the winery at 9am this morning. It took you 3 hours to get to Vallaki.  You've been here for 1.5 hours.  So, it's now 1:30pm in the afternoon.  The witch they called Baba, is apparently holed up at Berez.  You've passed the intersection just over the river from Vallaki twice now, so you know the sign there points south to Berez.   You inquire quietly with Urwin about how long the walk to Berez is.  "Hmmm, at a normal pace it's 2 hours from here..."

Seemingly with enough time to spare before the coming of dark, the group packs up their goods, enjoying the last few bites of a warm lunch from Urwin, and some wine, pulling their now dry cloaks away from the fireside, and head back out into the drizzle.  The town continues to be subdued by the weather, though it's clear that preparations for the party in 2 days is still very active.  The celebration of the sun.  A bleak look into the sky makes you wonder if they'll see it for their party. 

The group departs Vallaki once again, the guards watching impassively as you pass through the gates and out down the muddy winding road through the forest.  A mile on you cross the river, and a quarter mile after that you approach the cross roads.  The drizzle comes down.  You see the sign pointing south east towards Berez.  The road appears grown over with grass and not travelled in some time.  You turn that way.....but from out of the woods on each side come furry forms of wolves...their matted fur wet, paws muddy, teeth barred and growling.   These ones have not grouped up so nicely for Meepo's magic, and are spread evenly around the group.  You have time to count a dozen, before jaws snapping, they leap in towards you. 

(As usual, if I've fast forwarded past anything you were hoping to do in town, let me know.  We can revisit after the battle.) 

Wolves init: 21

Roll init, if you beat the wolves, let me know what you do. 

Meepo initiative: 4

Lionel initiative: 5

Initiative, 8

(Did the stop in the Inn count as a short rest? And has it also been less than 8 hours since the previous wolf fight? 3hrs from the winery to Vallaki; 1.5hrs in the Inn; 2hrs to Berez which we've not yet reached means under 6.5hrs since the first fight? Just trying to work out if my Hex is still active.)

Mordekai Initiative: 4 

Hex is still active.

Ismark: 21

Ismark responds with lithe quickness, his sword leaping from it's sheath as he swings towards the nearest wolf. Attack: 18 Damage: 5.   Attack: 24 Damage: 11.  

He hacks once, leaving a wolf wounded, but then the second swipe cuts the creature down with a loud yipe.

The rest of them lunge in at their enemies.

Three lunge in towards Ismark.  Attack: 8 Damage: 6 .  Attack: 17 Damage: 8. Attack: 13 Damage: 4

Two lunge towards Meepo growling and yapping.  Attack: 20 Damage: 7 .  Attack: 9 Damage: 9. 

Two charge Lionel, biting at his legs.  Attack: 12 Damage: 10 .  Attack: 22 Damage: 6. 

Two attack Olin, Attack: 14 Damage: 7 .  Attack: 21 Damage: 6. 

Two charge Mordekai.  Attack: 22 Damage: 8 .  Attack: 18 Damage: 8. 

Anyone struck, make DC 11 Strength checks for each bite or you're taken down (prone). 

Then everyone's actions!

Meepo casts shield Blocking the attacks of the two wolves.

He then casts misty step appearing in a tree nearby that he can stand on a limb of.

He then shoots one of the ones fighting Mordekai...

To hit: 20

Damage: 5

STR save: 6 and 20

(What/who is within 10ft of Mordekai? Just the two wolves? Or are there other wolves/allies within 10ft?)

Lionel, Str check: 19

Young paladin shook off the biting dog and tied to pin the best to the ground with the help of his new sword (assuming he befriended the weapon): Attack: 18 Damage: 9

with the second swing he hoped to get another beasty: Attack: 24 Damage: 8

While activating Divine Shield.

You did get a short rest at the Inn.  Lionel spent the time with the blade hilt, closely examining it.  Complex emotions seem to come from the thing, but it's clear it's happy to have found it's way into Lionel's hands.  (OOC: though you haven't identified it, treat it as a Sun Blade, though it is intelligent.  So, +2 to hit and damage, deals radiant damage instead of slashing damage.) 

The axe weighs half as much as a normal battle axe. (2 lbs).  It has carvings of leaves and vines down its handle.  You haven't identified it yet. 

Meepo, it's been drizzling and the bark of the tree branch is quite slippery.  Roll Dex DC 10 to maintain your footing as you attempt to pull out your crossbow. 

Mordekai is pulled off balance by a wolf and falls prone.

Lionel pulls out the hilt and wills the bright blade of pure light to emerge from the blade.  The blade sparks up and the wolves shy away as the blade slashes down on it.  He yelps in pain. The second slash is required to down the wolf. 

Mordekai's turn still, and Olin. 

Assuming each square is 5ft, I make out that Olin, Ismark, and the three wolves around Ismark plus the 4 fighting Mordekai and Olin are within 10ft? But I'll leave that to your judgement.

Mordekai will stand up and cast Thunder Step which is unfortunately going to catch Ismark, but he'll take Olin with him so Olin isn't caught in the blast. Teleporting to just within 30ft of the wolves, on the west side, so that Olin can get back into melee with any surviving wolves. Any wolves within 10ft, and unfortunately Ismark, must make a DC16 CON save or take 24 damage, half on a successful save.

Then as a bonus action he'll transfer Hex to any wolf that's looking unhurt. 

Meepo dex save: 11

Str save: 6

Olin blocks one of the wolves' attacks with his shield, then gets savaged by another, stumbling to the ground. Just then Mordekai teleports him to safety. "Thanks, friend. I'd hate to be on the ground in the middle of that pack." Olin pushes himself to his feet and casts shillelagh on his spear. Using the last of his movement Olin runs half way to the wolf pack, positioning himself so that any trying to get to Mordekai would have to get past him first. As he runs into position Olin casts bless on himself, Ismark, and Lionel. "Keep your feet, everyone!"

(Bless gives +1d4 to attack rolls and saving throws, like the ones you make to not fall over when a wolf bites you.)

On his turn Lionel will try to finish both wolfs attacking him with yet another 2 radiant slashes:

Attack: 17 Damage: 9

Attack: 24 Damage: 11