Dallid (+ Ferelyon) and Dormark: Frightening delusions begin to spawn around you. It is as though hell itself has now merged with Barovia, and your mind is ensnared in a maddening dance of imaginary demonic creatures pouring through ethereal portals. They wield unholy weapons forged in the pits of the abyss, brandishing them with malicious intent. Your senses are overwhelmed as reality blurs with hallucination, and you struggle to distinguish what is real and what is the product of your tortured imagination.
((I'm afraid that you are both now affected by confusion (details in spoiler):))
An affected target can't take reactions and must roll a d10 at the start of each of its turns to determine its behavior for that turn.
d10
Behavior
1
The creature uses all its movement to move in a random direction. To determine the direction, roll a d8 and assign a direction to each die face. The creature doesn't take an action this turn.
2-6
The creature doesn't move or take actions this turn.
7-8
The creature uses its action to make a melee attack against a randomly determined creature within its reach. If there is no creature within its reach, the creature does nothing this turn.
9-10
The creature can act and move normally.
Galqarin - Reality begins to bend, and a nightmarish parade of dark and evil creatures infiltrates the fray. Yet, your mind is no stranger to darkness, and you resist the allure of the hellish spectacle before you. Made of sterner stuff, you cling to your sanity with unwavering resolve, unyielding to the twisted tricks and dark magicks around you. Your focus remains fixed upon your foe, the deranged Vauquelin. The temptress Harribelle may have taken you in once, but you stand resolute, unyielding, and will not be swayed by this fool's malevolent charade.
The Duel of Blighted Canvas - Round #3 - Vauquelin's Turn Continued...
Vauquelin's Turn Continued...
Satisfied with the dark magicks' effects on the party, Vauquelin turns to confront Rahadin, consumed by uncontrolled rage and hatred, launching his attack.
Vauquelin embodies unbridled fury, unleashing a relentless onslaught of violent attacks upon Rahadin. Even those who despise the dusk elf would be shaken at the sheer brutality displayed. The demonic painter's claws tear into Rahadin's chest, leaving large, gaping wounds that ooze blood. Despite his usual stoic demeanour, Rahadin's face contorts with fear and pain, causing him to stagger to his knees. In a nightmarish twist, Vauquelin's once-human jaw elongates like that of a serpent, snapping shut on Rahadin's shoulder in a vicious bite. A cry for assistance escapes Rahadin's lips, his once unflappable demeanour utterly shattered.
"Do something! Quickly!" Rahadin's plea echoes through the chaos as he looks to Sandu and Ioben, desperate for aid to alleviate his suffering. The torment in his eyes is palpable, a glimpse of vulnerability from a figure usually cloaked in composure and strength. His hands trying to stifle the blood seeping from his wounds.
Dallid - Your mind is under assault, besieged by delusions of nightmarish creatures and fiendish apparitions. The hellish visions wrench at your thoughts, leaving you disoriented and struggling to distinguish reality from illusion. Desperately seeking aid, you turn to your companion, Ferelyon, only to find the wolf equally tormented, snapping and biting at the ethereal foes surrounding him. The cacophony of chaos swirls around you, leaving you paralyzed for a moment as you try to regain your bearings and find a way to break free from this bewildering nightmare. It is your turn ((please roll 1d10 and consult the confusion table!)).
The Duel of Blighted Canvas - Round #3 - Dallid's Turn
Dallid's Turn
Dallid stands amidst the nightmarish scene, his mind entangled in the unfolding horrors before him. Dark tendrils of doubt snake through his thoughts, suffocating hope and casting a pall of despair over his soul. In the face of Vauquelin's relentless mental onslaught, the day seems lost, and the shadows of doom loom large over Barovia. The weight of futility bears down on him, and a sense of helplessness grips his heart as if all efforts to resist the encroaching darkness are in vain. The once vibrant glimmer of hope now flickers in the face of overwhelming malevolence, and Dallid struggles to find a path forward amidst the suffocating darkness.
Dormark - Your mind whirls amidst the grotesque phantasms surrounding you, an unwitting puppet to the illusions that torment your senses. Unaware of their illusory nature, you confront multiple unholy demons, their malevolent forms dancing before your eyes like a maddening nightmare. Yet, buried deep within your soul, an inner strength and unwavering conviction persist, for you are Moradin's chosen, moulded to stand firm against such fiends. The darkness threatens to consume you, confusion clouding your thoughts as you grapple with the impossibility of so many evil entities manifesting within the confines of the exhibition room. It is your turn to act ((please roll 1d10 and consult the confusion table!)).
Dormark - In addition, can I get a further Perception check? If you roll well, further information may be provided.
The Duel of Blighted Canvas - Round #3 - Dormark's Turn
Dormark's Turn
Before Dormark's optical lenses, a swirling maelstrom of images unfurls as Vauquelin's sinister sorcery takes its toll. Twisted visions of Barovia's damnation materialize - a land ensnared in the clutches of malevolent darkness, where the very essence of its populace has been ravaged and contorted into grotesque husks akin to the living dead haunting the exhibition room. Utter hopelessness blankets the scene, the notion of resistance snuffed out before it can even flicker to life. A hellish inferno engulfs Vallaki, its core scorched by the flames of despair.
The warforged's cogitative processes twist and writhe, ensnared by the tendrils of these malefic visions. Among the haunting tableau, he glimpses the innocent orphaned children he had recently aided, their hopeful faces twisted into masks of torment, ensnared in the malevolence's cruel grip. Yet, within the tortured labyrinth of his thoughts, a man emerges, obscured by shadows - could it be the harbinger of Dormark's torment?
Amidst the ruins of Vallaki, he stands, a glint of moonlight reflecting off his metallic arm. The thief, the wretch who pilfered that which was sacred to you, to Moradin himself - the Breath of Moradin. The holy relic, now defiled in his grasp, twisted into an abomination meant to torment rather than bless. In the shadowed corners of your thoughts, a troubling realization dawns: a man of his ilk might thrive in the malevolent embrace of Jeze'baal's rule, a willing accomplice to the wickedness that permeates the land. A pang of guilt, heavy and remorseful, takes hold, for you were entrusted with guarding the artefact, and yet, it has come to this.
((I've been playing around a little with AI art!))
Sandu - In despair, you watch as Vauquelin's insidious tricks ensnare the minds of your companions. A glimmer of hope, however, emerges amidst the chaos – not only has the demon shifted his focus to Rahadin, but the wounds he bears are significant. Every fleeting moment is crucial as you seize this opening, sensing the urgency to strike. The threat he poses to Barovia must be extinguished, and it falls upon you to end it, it is your turn.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
(That's pretty cool AI art. Which program do you use? All my attempts look like crap ^^)
It was weird to see but it did happen. Sandu had to mentally double check his own sanity just to make sure he was not, again, seeing things. Out there, right in front of him, Dallid and Dormark both were just... standing there. They had this confused look on their faces, like they were only half aware of what was going on with the other half drunk or drugged or something. They had the opportunity to strike at the abomination in front of them yet they did not move.
'What in the Nine Hells are you doing?' Sandu yelled at the both of them. 'Don't just stand there: DO SOMETHING!'
Heeding his own advice Sandu once more brought up his hands to take another shot at Vauquelin. He spoke the incantation and desperately hoped that the spell would hit true.
((I use a website called mage.space, I've definitely learnt a lot over the past few weeks. It uses different AI 'models' which specialise in different types of art, so (similarly to selecting an artist/art style) you have to select the correct tool for the job. I've found that with AI prompts, less is more. If you can get a rough idea of the picture you want you can always perform iterative steps to change elements using the "image to image" tool ((see spoiler for example)).
Initial image:
AI Model: lyriel (Art/Photorealistic, great for people)
AI Prompt: Dystopian, (Ravenloft), ((Urban city street)). ((Dirty)). ((Dark Scene)), evening, moonlight, (cold tones). (((Executioner))), (((Metal left-arm))), (hooded), evil, dark, frightening, twisted. High definition, fantasy artwork painting. (((Ciruelo Cabral style)))
Second Image:
Masked the face.
Used a different AI model and asked that the face be in shadow (it went a little over-the-top but I kept it as is).
((Note the moon, as I specified 'moonlight' in the prompt. This often happens, when it will treat things literally. Also, note the power/telegraph cables (not really a Ravenloft feature). I removed these for the final image.))
Attempts at Vauquelin:
I wanted to have demonic-looking figures stepping from the paintings. Given enough time and enough edits, I could get things looking how I wanted them. It can just get really frustrating from time to time when things don't work. In mage.space you can select the level of "steps" and "guidance level": steps measure how many times the AI model will check the creation before returning the image it believes you want (more is nearly always better but takes longer); "guidance level" is how strictly it will follow the prompt you have written and how much "artistic licence" the AI has (stricter meaning less interpretation, having things really strict nearly always destroys the image - I used a prompt for 'vivid colours', you can imagine that if you ramped the strictness up it just becomes an absolute mess!).
The Duel of Blighted Canvas - Round #3 - Sandu's Turn
Sandu's Turn
Desperation fuels Sandu's resolve as he attempts to rally his companions into action. Seizing the initiative, he focuses his intent on the figure before him – a twisted mockery of all that once held goodness and righteousness. Vauquelin, now a wretched embodiment of corruption, stands as a chilling testament to the malevolent forces at work. The man he once was, with dreams and creative visions, has been consumed by darkness. His talents, once sources of beauty, have been twisted into instruments of malevolence; From Strahd's clutches to Jeze'baal's grasp, Vauquelin has become a pawn in their unholy games, a key to their ambitions in Barovia.
With a swift incantation, Sandu unleashes two eldritch blasts, their power crackling through the air. They strike true, searing into the demonic painter's form, eliciting anguished cries of pain and madness. The ferocity of the blasts is unexpected, threatening to lay Vauquelin low. Yet, even in the grip of torment, he clings tenaciously to life, his hold on his twisted existence teetering on the edge of oblivion.
((Without giving too much away, that was darn close to killing the demon!))
Rahadin's Turn
Bloodied and weak, Rahadin clings to his wounds, his pleas filled with desperation. "Do something, you fools!"he implores, his eyes darting between Dallid and Dormark who remain inactive. Finding no aid forthcoming, he lurches toward Vauquelin, his scimitar swinging in a last-ditch effort.
Scimitar #1: Attack: 11
Scimitar #2: Attack: 27, Damage: 16
His initial attack is reckless, missing its mark entirely. Desperation etches Rahadin's face as he launches another swing, this time finding purchase in Vauquelin's midriff. The malevolent scimitar he wields pulses with sinister energies as it tears through Vauquelin's form. Swiftly, it slices through the demon's core, rending him in two. Vauquelin's lifeless halves collapse to the floor.
As Vauquelin's demise unfolds, a tearing resonance reverberates throughout the room. The paintings, imbued with foul enchantments, surge and contort, wrenching free from their mounts. They soar and swoop through the air, driven by sinister magic. The depicted figures on the canvases grin malevolently, seemingly eager to avenge their creator's death. "For the gods' sake!"Rahadin's voice shatters in desperation, "Destroy the bloody paintings!"His words echo in a chaotic symphony, drowning the room in urgency and despair.
Dallid, Ferelyon & Dormark - As Vauquelin's life ebbs away, your mind momentarily clears. But triumph is short-lived, as your attention is drawn to several of the sinister paintings scattered around the exhibition hall. Suddenly, they burst to life, their depictions twisting into wicked mockery. They taunt and jeer at you with eerie voices, their animated forms flitting through the air, a haunting reminder of the malevolent power that lingers. ((You are no longer under the effects of confusion.))
Ioben's Turn
Suddenly, the painting positioned behind Ioben and Sandu stirs to life. The once-static depictions within morph into impish tricksters, unsettling and ominous. Shaken from his introspective state, Ioben summons a new ethereal blade, its shimmering form materializing in his hand. With urgency in his eyes, he hurls the blade towards the nearby painting.
Ioben's psychic blade cuts through the canvas of the painting, rending it into tattered fragments. In a burst of dark and malevolent energies, the destroyed painting releases its pent-up power, dissipating in a whirl of ominous force.
Without a word, Ioben conjures another ethereal blade in his free hand. With a swift motion, he hurls the blade towards the next nearest painting, determined to obliterate the malevolent creation.
The second blade slices through the painting, leaving a nasty-looking gash in its wake. Despite the strike, the painting remains partially intact, a testament to the dark enchantments that infuse it.
Galqarin - The result of Ioben's assault on one of the paintings is clearly visible, but now eight additional cursed creations hover menacingly in the room. Rahadin's urgent plea resonates through the pandemonium, imploring you to annihilate the remaining paintings and quell the malevolent threat. Unlike previous illusions, this menace feels real, no longer a product of your mind's machinations. It is your turn to act.
Battlemap:
((Removed Vauquelin (dead) and the Living Dead (turned/out of action) from the map))
The Duel of Blighted Canvas - Round #3 - Galqarin's Turn
Galqarin's Turn
Awakening from his trance, Galqarin charges southwards to confront the newfound threat. With a series of erratic attacks, he manages to strike the nearest painting twice, rending the canvas apart through a combination of staff blows and his bare hands. Similar to the previous painting, upon its destruction, an enigmatic psychic burst emanates. The connection between Jeze'baal's nightmarish inferno and Barovia weakens, offering a glimmer of triumph amidst the chaos.
The Duel of Blighted Canvas - Round #4 - Start of Round
Dallid - Desperation taints the air, a palpable aura that lingers even after Vauquelin's demise. His sinister paintings, remnants of his malevolence, still haunt the space. Urgency fills the scene as Rahadin, usually a bastion of composure, bellows for the paintings' destruction. Two of these nefarious works have already been obliterated, each demise chipping away at Jeze'baal's hold on Barovia. The weight of responsibility bears down on you; swift action is imperative to quell this threat. Ferelyon, poised and eager, awaits your command in the midst of this turmoil. It is your turn.
Battlemap:
Initiative:
Dallid - 23 -Dark Green Bow & Ferelyon - Small Dark Green Shield
The Duel of Blighted Canvas - Round #4 - Dallid's Turn
Dallid's Turn
With swift determination, Dallid propels himself toward the western part of the room, Ferelyon at his side. Closing the distance, he unleashes his magical whip, Bellringer, with precision. The enchanted lash slashes through the airborne painting, rending the canvas and splitting it in two. As the painting shatters, the room trembles, as if disturbed by an unseen force. Three out of the nine menacing paintings have now met their demise.
Following Dallid's lead, Ferelyon springs into action, his powerful frame lunging at the painting to the south of the destroyed one. Mighty jaws clamp around the canvas, tearing chunks away from the frame. Unfortunately, despite the damage inflicted, the remnants of the painting still retain a semblance of animation, refusing to succumb completely.
Dormark - As the lingering effects of Vauquelin's sinister sorcery fade, a renewed clarity of purpose takes hold within you. The urgency to obliterate the paintings intensifies, a necessary task to thwart any further malevolence seeping from Jeze'baal's realm. Though the visions of demon hordes may have been illusory, your thoughts briefly shift to the thief who absconded with the Breath of Moradin. Was that vision a deception, or a foreboding glimpse of the future? Could the thief be lurking in Vallaki, disguised by the chaos? These questions flicker through your mind like fleeting shadows, but your attention is yanked back to the present by the tremors unleashed by Dallid's strike. The pressing mission at hand commands your focus. It is your turn.
(Galqarin's Wisdom save: 22)
Dallid Wis save vs confusion 11
Ferelyon Wis save vs confusion 10
Paladin - warforged - orange
8
Dormark Calling of Strahd (warforged cleric) 4
Dallid (+ Ferelyon) and Dormark: Frightening delusions begin to spawn around you. It is as though hell itself has now merged with Barovia, and your mind is ensnared in a maddening dance of imaginary demonic creatures pouring through ethereal portals. They wield unholy weapons forged in the pits of the abyss, brandishing them with malicious intent. Your senses are overwhelmed as reality blurs with hallucination, and you struggle to distinguish what is real and what is the product of your tortured imagination.
((I'm afraid that you are both now affected by confusion (details in spoiler):))
An affected target can't take reactions and must roll a d10 at the start of each of its turns to determine its behavior for that turn.
Galqarin - Reality begins to bend, and a nightmarish parade of dark and evil creatures infiltrates the fray. Yet, your mind is no stranger to darkness, and you resist the allure of the hellish spectacle before you. Made of sterner stuff, you cling to your sanity with unwavering resolve, unyielding to the twisted tricks and dark magicks around you. Your focus remains fixed upon your foe, the deranged Vauquelin. The temptress Harribelle may have taken you in once, but you stand resolute, unyielding, and will not be swayed by this fool's malevolent charade.
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
The Duel of Blighted Canvas - Round #3 - Vauquelin's Turn Continued...
Vauquelin's Turn Continued...
Satisfied with the dark magicks' effects on the party, Vauquelin turns to confront Rahadin, consumed by uncontrolled rage and hatred, launching his attack.
Vauquelin embodies unbridled fury, unleashing a relentless onslaught of violent attacks upon Rahadin. Even those who despise the dusk elf would be shaken at the sheer brutality displayed. The demonic painter's claws tear into Rahadin's chest, leaving large, gaping wounds that ooze blood. Despite his usual stoic demeanour, Rahadin's face contorts with fear and pain, causing him to stagger to his knees. In a nightmarish twist, Vauquelin's once-human jaw elongates like that of a serpent, snapping shut on Rahadin's shoulder in a vicious bite. A cry for assistance escapes Rahadin's lips, his once unflappable demeanour utterly shattered.
"Do something! Quickly!" Rahadin's plea echoes through the chaos as he looks to Sandu and Ioben, desperate for aid to alleviate his suffering. The torment in his eyes is palpable, a glimpse of vulnerability from a figure usually cloaked in composure and strength. His hands trying to stifle the blood seeping from his wounds.
Dallid - Your mind is under assault, besieged by delusions of nightmarish creatures and fiendish apparitions. The hellish visions wrench at your thoughts, leaving you disoriented and struggling to distinguish reality from illusion. Desperately seeking aid, you turn to your companion, Ferelyon, only to find the wolf equally tormented, snapping and biting at the ethereal foes surrounding him. The cacophony of chaos swirls around you, leaving you paralyzed for a moment as you try to regain your bearings and find a way to break free from this bewildering nightmare. It is your turn ((please roll 1d10 and consult the confusion table!)).
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Dallid confusion 9
Paladin - warforged - orange
Dallid stands in awe and fear of the madness he perceives, unable to act for all his conflicting needs
Paladin - warforged - orange
The Duel of Blighted Canvas - Round #3 - Dallid's Turn
Dallid's Turn
Dallid stands amidst the nightmarish scene, his mind entangled in the unfolding horrors before him. Dark tendrils of doubt snake through his thoughts, suffocating hope and casting a pall of despair over his soul. In the face of Vauquelin's relentless mental onslaught, the day seems lost, and the shadows of doom loom large over Barovia. The weight of futility bears down on him, and a sense of helplessness grips his heart as if all efforts to resist the encroaching darkness are in vain. The once vibrant glimmer of hope now flickers in the face of overwhelming malevolence, and Dallid struggles to find a path forward amidst the suffocating darkness.
Dormark - Your mind whirls amidst the grotesque phantasms surrounding you, an unwitting puppet to the illusions that torment your senses. Unaware of their illusory nature, you confront multiple unholy demons, their malevolent forms dancing before your eyes like a maddening nightmare. Yet, buried deep within your soul, an inner strength and unwavering conviction persist, for you are Moradin's chosen, moulded to stand firm against such fiends. The darkness threatens to consume you, confusion clouding your thoughts as you grapple with the impossibility of so many evil entities manifesting within the confines of the exhibition room. It is your turn to act ((please roll 1d10 and consult the confusion table!)).
Dormark - In addition, can I get a further Perception check? If you roll well, further information may be provided.
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
3
Dormark Calling of Strahd (warforged cleric) 4
Perception7
Dormark Calling of Strahd (warforged cleric) 4
The Duel of Blighted Canvas - Round #3 - Dormark's Turn
Dormark's Turn
Before Dormark's optical lenses, a swirling maelstrom of images unfurls as Vauquelin's sinister sorcery takes its toll. Twisted visions of Barovia's damnation materialize - a land ensnared in the clutches of malevolent darkness, where the very essence of its populace has been ravaged and contorted into grotesque husks akin to the living dead haunting the exhibition room. Utter hopelessness blankets the scene, the notion of resistance snuffed out before it can even flicker to life. A hellish inferno engulfs Vallaki, its core scorched by the flames of despair.
The warforged's cogitative processes twist and writhe, ensnared by the tendrils of these malefic visions. Among the haunting tableau, he glimpses the innocent orphaned children he had recently aided, their hopeful faces twisted into masks of torment, ensnared in the malevolence's cruel grip. Yet, within the tortured labyrinth of his thoughts, a man emerges, obscured by shadows - could it be the harbinger of Dormark's torment?
Dormark's Perception check:
Amidst the ruins of Vallaki, he stands, a glint of moonlight reflecting off his metallic arm. The thief, the wretch who pilfered that which was sacred to you, to Moradin himself - the Breath of Moradin. The holy relic, now defiled in his grasp, twisted into an abomination meant to torment rather than bless. In the shadowed corners of your thoughts, a troubling realization dawns: a man of his ilk might thrive in the malevolent embrace of Jeze'baal's rule, a willing accomplice to the wickedness that permeates the land. A pang of guilt, heavy and remorseful, takes hold, for you were entrusted with guarding the artefact, and yet, it has come to this.
Sandu - In despair, you watch as Vauquelin's insidious tricks ensnare the minds of your companions. A glimmer of hope, however, emerges amidst the chaos – not only has the demon shifted his focus to Rahadin, but the wounds he bears are significant. Every fleeting moment is crucial as you seize this opening, sensing the urgency to strike. The threat he poses to Barovia must be extinguished, and it falls upon you to end it, it is your turn.
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
(That's pretty cool AI art. Which program do you use? All my attempts look like crap ^^)
It was weird to see but it did happen. Sandu had to mentally double check his own sanity just to make sure he was not, again, seeing things. Out there, right in front of him, Dallid and Dormark both were just... standing there. They had this confused look on their faces, like they were only half aware of what was going on with the other half drunk or drugged or something. They had the opportunity to strike at the abomination in front of them yet they did not move.
'What in the Nine Hells are you doing?' Sandu yelled at the both of them. 'Don't just stand there: DO SOMETHING!'
Heeding his own advice Sandu once more brought up his hands to take another shot at Vauquelin. He spoke the incantation and desperately hoped that the spell would hit true.
Eldritch Blast
1st beam Attack: 23 Damage: 11
2nd beam Attack: 18 Damage: 12
William Brackwater: Human Fighter - The Windward Isles
Tyrgram, the Butterfly Knight: Dwarf Warlock - Secret of Greenwold
Iòlinder Corrach: Half Elf War Cleric - Allansia Adventure
Valerius Sergius Publius: Dhampir Paladin - Vae Victus
On AI Art
((I use a website called mage.space, I've definitely learnt a lot over the past few weeks. It uses different AI 'models' which specialise in different types of art, so (similarly to selecting an artist/art style) you have to select the correct tool for the job. I've found that with AI prompts, less is more. If you can get a rough idea of the picture you want you can always perform iterative steps to change elements using the "image to image" tool ((see spoiler for example)).
Initial image:
Second Image:
Attempts at Vauquelin:
I wanted to have demonic-looking figures stepping from the paintings. Given enough time and enough edits, I could get things looking how I wanted them. It can just get really frustrating from time to time when things don't work. In mage.space you can select the level of "steps" and "guidance level": steps measure how many times the AI model will check the creation before returning the image it believes you want (more is nearly always better but takes longer); "guidance level" is how strictly it will follow the prompt you have written and how much "artistic licence" the AI has (stricter meaning less interpretation, having things really strict nearly always destroys the image - I used a prompt for 'vivid colours', you can imagine that if you ramped the strictness up it just becomes an absolute mess!).
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
The Duel of Blighted Canvas - Round #3 - Sandu's Turn
Sandu's Turn
Desperation fuels Sandu's resolve as he attempts to rally his companions into action. Seizing the initiative, he focuses his intent on the figure before him – a twisted mockery of all that once held goodness and righteousness. Vauquelin, now a wretched embodiment of corruption, stands as a chilling testament to the malevolent forces at work. The man he once was, with dreams and creative visions, has been consumed by darkness. His talents, once sources of beauty, have been twisted into instruments of malevolence; From Strahd's clutches to Jeze'baal's grasp, Vauquelin has become a pawn in their unholy games, a key to their ambitions in Barovia.
With a swift incantation, Sandu unleashes two eldritch blasts, their power crackling through the air. They strike true, searing into the demonic painter's form, eliciting anguished cries of pain and madness. The ferocity of the blasts is unexpected, threatening to lay Vauquelin low. Yet, even in the grip of torment, he clings tenaciously to life, his hold on his twisted existence teetering on the edge of oblivion.
((Without giving too much away, that was darn close to killing the demon!))
Rahadin's Turn
Bloodied and weak, Rahadin clings to his wounds, his pleas filled with desperation. "Do something, you fools!" he implores, his eyes darting between Dallid and Dormark who remain inactive. Finding no aid forthcoming, he lurches toward Vauquelin, his scimitar swinging in a last-ditch effort.
His initial attack is reckless, missing its mark entirely. Desperation etches Rahadin's face as he launches another swing, this time finding purchase in Vauquelin's midriff. The malevolent scimitar he wields pulses with sinister energies as it tears through Vauquelin's form. Swiftly, it slices through the demon's core, rending him in two. Vauquelin's lifeless halves collapse to the floor.
As Vauquelin's demise unfolds, a tearing resonance reverberates throughout the room. The paintings, imbued with foul enchantments, surge and contort, wrenching free from their mounts. They soar and swoop through the air, driven by sinister magic. The depicted figures on the canvases grin malevolently, seemingly eager to avenge their creator's death. "For the gods' sake!" Rahadin's voice shatters in desperation, "Destroy the bloody paintings!" His words echo in a chaotic symphony, drowning the room in urgency and despair.
Dallid, Ferelyon & Dormark - As Vauquelin's life ebbs away, your mind momentarily clears. But triumph is short-lived, as your attention is drawn to several of the sinister paintings scattered around the exhibition hall. Suddenly, they burst to life, their depictions twisting into wicked mockery. They taunt and jeer at you with eerie voices, their animated forms flitting through the air, a haunting reminder of the malevolent power that lingers. ((You are no longer under the effects of confusion.))
Ioben's Turn
Suddenly, the painting positioned behind Ioben and Sandu stirs to life. The once-static depictions within morph into impish tricksters, unsettling and ominous. Shaken from his introspective state, Ioben summons a new ethereal blade, its shimmering form materializing in his hand. With urgency in his eyes, he hurls the blade towards the nearby painting.
Ioben's psychic blade cuts through the canvas of the painting, rending it into tattered fragments. In a burst of dark and malevolent energies, the destroyed painting releases its pent-up power, dissipating in a whirl of ominous force.
Without a word, Ioben conjures another ethereal blade in his free hand. With a swift motion, he hurls the blade towards the next nearest painting, determined to obliterate the malevolent creation.
The second blade slices through the painting, leaving a nasty-looking gash in its wake. Despite the strike, the painting remains partially intact, a testament to the dark enchantments that infuse it.
Galqarin - The result of Ioben's assault on one of the paintings is clearly visible, but now eight additional cursed creations hover menacingly in the room. Rahadin's urgent plea resonates through the pandemonium, imploring you to annihilate the remaining paintings and quell the malevolent threat. Unlike previous illusions, this menace feels real, no longer a product of your mind's machinations. It is your turn to act.
Battlemap:
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
"Is there no end to this nightmare?", wails Galqarin, running to the collection of artistic animations to the South.
Staff: Atk 9 damage 12
Staff: Atk 23 damage 8
Unarmed: Atk 9 damage 6
Flurry: Atk 14 damage 5 [1 ki point]
The Duel of Blighted Canvas - Round #3 - Galqarin's Turn
Galqarin's Turn
Awakening from his trance, Galqarin charges southwards to confront the newfound threat. With a series of erratic attacks, he manages to strike the nearest painting twice, rending the canvas apart through a combination of staff blows and his bare hands. Similar to the previous painting, upon its destruction, an enigmatic psychic burst emanates. The connection between Jeze'baal's nightmarish inferno and Barovia weakens, offering a glimmer of triumph amidst the chaos.
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
The Duel of Blighted Canvas - Round #4 - Start of Round
Dallid - Desperation taints the air, a palpable aura that lingers even after Vauquelin's demise. His sinister paintings, remnants of his malevolence, still haunt the space. Urgency fills the scene as Rahadin, usually a bastion of composure, bellows for the paintings' destruction. Two of these nefarious works have already been obliterated, each demise chipping away at Jeze'baal's hold on Barovia. The weight of responsibility bears down on you; swift action is imperative to quell this threat. Ferelyon, poised and eager, awaits your command in the midst of this turmoil. It is your turn.
Battlemap:
Initiative:
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Dallid runs west, sending Ferelyon as well, striking with his whip at one picture and Ferelyon's teeth on the other (if we can reach?)
Dallid Attack: 27 Damage: 11
Ferelyon Attack: 26 Damage: 8
Paladin - warforged - orange
The Duel of Blighted Canvas - Round #4 - Dallid's Turn
Dallid's Turn
With swift determination, Dallid propels himself toward the western part of the room, Ferelyon at his side. Closing the distance, he unleashes his magical whip, Bellringer, with precision. The enchanted lash slashes through the airborne painting, rending the canvas and splitting it in two. As the painting shatters, the room trembles, as if disturbed by an unseen force. Three out of the nine menacing paintings have now met their demise.
Following Dallid's lead, Ferelyon springs into action, his powerful frame lunging at the painting to the south of the destroyed one. Mighty jaws clamp around the canvas, tearing chunks away from the frame. Unfortunately, despite the damage inflicted, the remnants of the painting still retain a semblance of animation, refusing to succumb completely.
Dormark - As the lingering effects of Vauquelin's sinister sorcery fade, a renewed clarity of purpose takes hold within you. The urgency to obliterate the paintings intensifies, a necessary task to thwart any further malevolence seeping from Jeze'baal's realm. Though the visions of demon hordes may have been illusory, your thoughts briefly shift to the thief who absconded with the Breath of Moradin. Was that vision a deception, or a foreboding glimpse of the future? Could the thief be lurking in Vallaki, disguised by the chaos? These questions flicker through your mind like fleeting shadows, but your attention is yanked back to the present by the tremors unleashed by Dallid's strike. The pressing mission at hand commands your focus. It is your turn.
Battlemap:
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Dormark runs forward towards the painting that Ferelyon bite, taking a swing at it with his mace.
(Don't know if they are fiends but will see if bonus damage counts.)
Attack: 18 Damage: 6
Bonus radiant if undead or fiend 3
Dormark Calling of Strahd (warforged cleric) 4