"You think?", snarls Galqarin in response.

Dadeveth's inspiration seems to infuse his limbs. His grip on the vampire spawn vice-like, he bodily drags her along with him towards the other undead. Without letting up, he uncoils his other arm in a blur, shoving the second spawn away from Dadeveth.

Shove (Athletics, using highest of 2 Bardic Inspiration rolls for an ability check): 12 + 5 = 17
Patient Defense: Spend 1 ki point to take the dodge action as a bonus action on your turn.

Siege of St. Andral's - Round #3 - Galqarin's Turn

Dragging the Vampiress Spawn as he goes, Galqarin makes his way towards Dadeveth.  Attempting to free his companion from the Vampire Gentleman's grasp, he summons all his might and shoves the Vampire Spawn.

Vampire Spawn (Gentleman), Opposed Strength Check: 7

Taken by surprise, the Gentleman Vampire meekly attempts to defend himself from the bugbears shove.  He is unsuccessful and is pushed back, relinquishing his grasp on Dadeveth.  "Blast and damnations," he curses.

Dadeveth - you are no longer grappled.

Spotting his companion free from the Vampire Spawn's claws, Galqarin assumes a defensive stance.

((I moved Galqarin to a position where he can hold the Vampiress Spawn without her being able to reach anyone (including Ferelyon), see Battlemap below))

Dormark - You are quite oblivious to the events as they occur outside the church.  Instead, you are more focused on the more pressing threat - Volenta.  She is currently standing toe-to-toe with you, enraged by your previous attack.  It looks like you might be able to strike before she does, it is your turn.

Battlemap:

As the vampire ineffectivly scratches at Dormark. The Warforge takes out his mace and says, “You are not welcome here vampire.” He swings the mace at her.

Attack 19 7

Siege of St. Andral's - Round #3 - Dormark's Turn

Dormarks mace comes crashing down upon Volenta.  She lets out a whelp of pain as it hits her.  Through gritted teeth she says, "I'm not welcome here!  This is Strahd's realm!  I go where I please!"

She looks behind Dormark to where the Father crouches behind Vasili.  "Relinquish the Father to me and I shall leave."

Valerie's Turn

"That's not going to happen, witch!"  Valerie says, gobbing up blood.  "You'll have to go through all of us to get Father Lucian.  Way I see it, we've already smashed up that precious amulet of yours and smashed your 'scary' mask to pieces.  You haven't got much left."

Saying a quick prayer, Valerie's sword crackles with energy.  Stashing her shield on her back she takes her longsword in both hands.  Raising it overhead she brings it slashing down on Volenta.

Attack: 9 Damage: 7 + 8

Unfortunately, Valerie's attack sails wide as Volenta sidesteps the sword.  The Vampiress cackles maniacally at her.

Dallid - Swarms of bats close in on you, the sound of their wings is almost deafening.  Galqarin has one vampire spawn firmly within his grasp and has just shoved the other off of Dadeveth.  The situation seems grim as you see a number of small bitemarks over Dadeveth's body.  Ferelyon stands some 15ft to your right, ready to strike at a moments notice.  It is your turn.

Ferelyon launches towards the bats near Dallid and tries to bite as many as it can 

Attack: 14 Damage: 12 

Attack: 11 Damage: 9 

Siege of St. Andral's - Round #3 - Dallid's Turn

Ferelyon, on Dallid's instruction, goes bounding into the nearest swarm of bats, his teeth gnashing at the little creatures.  It only takes a few seconds before one of the swarms and part of the next are torn to shreds, blood and broken bat wings litter the floor.

Baern's Turn

Standing behind Valerie, Baern reaches out and touches her shoulder.  "S'alright Missy, long as we stand together we'll overcome this Strahd and his minions," he says as he scowls at Volenta.

Casting Cure Wounds on Valerie: 6

Vasili's Turn

Vasili adopts a defensive stance in front of Father Lucian, placing himself between Volenta and the Priest at all times.

Vampire Spawn (Gentleman)'s Turn

Not best pleased at having been shoved back, the gentleman Vampire Spawn advances on Galqarin.  "I must say, that was rather unsporting," he declares before unleashing two claw attacks on the bugbear;

• Attack: 13 Damage: 9
• Attack: 23 Damage: 10

((Forgot disadvantage for dodge - 12))

Galqarin expertly dodges the first attack, sidestepping the swipe.  Unfortunately, the second attack finds its mark, dealing 11 slashing damage.

Volenta Popofsky's Turn

A number of the wounds along Volenta's face and chest begin to stitch back together; cuts seal to leave unblemished skin underneath.  With crazed eyes, she locks onto her target, Dormark, and makes four claw attacks in quick succession;

• Attack: 8 Damage: 8
• Attack: 9 Damage: 11
• Attack: 10 Damage: 9
• Attack: 10 Damage: 8

Three of Volenta's attacks fail to penetrate Dormark's thick frame.  However, one manages to bypass the warforged's defences and land, dealing 11 slashing damage.

Swarm of Bat's Turn

Though diminished in number by Ferelyon's ferocious attacks, the remaining swarming bats once more swoop in and attempt to attack Dallid and Dadeveth;

• Dadeveth;
  • Attack: 23 Damage: 2
  • Attack: 13 Damage: 5
• Dallid;
  • Attack: 20 Damage: 3
  • Attack: 8 Damage: 4 ((Half its original size))

The bats' attacks ineffectually fail to pierce Dadeveth's thick hide.  However, one of the swarms manages to overwhelm Dallid's defences, dealing 7 piercing damage.

Ireena & Father Lucian's Turns

Father Lucian cowers against the side of the church behind Vasili.  Ireena, following Vasili's lead, puts herself between the elderly Priest and Volenta.

DM Rolls:

Siege of St. Andral's - Round #4 - Initiative

A voice echoes throughout the church; you do not know where it comes from or to whom it belongs.  It booms out, "SLEEP!".

Cerio & Sandu - You watch in shock as Ireena and Vasili eyes begin to close and they collapse to the floor unconscious.  Father Lucian also seems to be fast asleep on the floor behind them.  Dormark's eyes begin to flicker before going dark.  "What in the hells was that?!"  Valerie yells.  Volenta seems to be equally perplexed.

Dormark - You are currently under the effects of the sleep spell.  You fall unconscious until the spell ends, you take damage, or someone uses an action to shake or slap you awake.

Cerio - From your vantage point it would appear that some foul magic is at work.  Dormark seems to have briefly shut down and Ireena, Vasili, and the Father appear to be fast asleep.  It does not look like they have sustained any harm from the spell.  However, they seem to have been temporarily neutralised.  Furthermore, it does not seem Volenta was responsible for the spell.  Could there be other forces at work?  It is your turn.

Battlemap:

Initiative:

• Cerio - 24 - Light Blue Dagger
• Sandu - 22 - Purple Wizard's Hat
• Vampire Spawn (Right; Woman) - 21 - Light Orange Bat
• Dadeveth - 20 - Light Green Horse
• Galqarin - 19 - Dark Blue 'Raven'
• Dormark - 19 - Dark Grey 'Robot'
• Valerie - 19 - Pink Holy Shield
• Dallid - 18 - Dark Green Bow & Ferelyon - Small Dark Green Shield
• Baern - 13 - Light Blue Wand
• Vasili - 12 - Brown Sword
• Vampire Spawn (Left; Gentleman) - 12 - Light Orange Bat
• Volenta Popofsky - 9 - Orange Bat
• Swarm of Bats (3.5 remaining) - 9 - Black Bat
• Father Lucian - 6 - Blue Holy Shield
• Ireena - 5 - Pink Heart Book

((Cerio uses a bonus action to use his Cunning Action class feature, using Disengage to avoid opportunity attacks for the rest of the turn. Cerio moves north and east around the altar using his full movement speed.  This should land me directly opposite Valerie, setting us up for flanking.  I'm assuming for this post that flanking rules apply, but even if they don't Cerio still gets his sneak attack because an ally, Valerie, is within 5 ft of the target. No opportunity attack from Volenta thanks to Cunning Action/Disengage.))

Skulking around the periphery of the melee, Cerio cowers when the spell is cast.   Seeing his allies pass out, he realizes things are not going as well as he'd hoped.  Searching the chamber with his eyes, he goes for the only visible target: Volenta.  There's still a chance he can end this.  He bolts around the altar, ducking low and moving quietly.  He tumbles from behind the altar, springing up and sweeping his khopesh upward at Volenta with a vicious uppercut.

Cerio Attack (flanking advantage): 24 Damage: 6 piercing plus 10 sneak attack damage.  If Volenta is below her hp max, she also takes an additional 6 necrotic damage.

Additional sneak attack damage: 8

Siege of St. Andral's - Round #4 - Cerio's Turn

Cerio sneaks around the altar, ending in a position behind Volenta.  Swinging up with his khopesh he lands a crunching attack on the Vampiress, hitting her in the small of her back.  She staggers a little before stabilising herself, clearly drained by Cerio's attack.

Volenta turns, making brief eye contact with Cerio before turning her gaze away from him and looking towards the sleeping Father Lucian.

Sandu - From your position, you just about make out Cerio sneaking behind Volenta and hitting her with a particularly vicious uppercut.  To your right it seems like Ireena, Vasili and Father Lucian have slumped to the floor in some form of magically induced slumber.  Outside you can hear the sound of fighting and the thumping of hundred of bat wings, yet you have yet to see what has become of Dadeveth, Dallid and Galqarin.  It is your turn to act. 

Battlemap:

Sandu paused when the unfamiliar voice boomed through the air. It had spoken a single command, causing Father Lucian, Ireena and Vasili to slump onto the ground into a deep slumber. Someone, an unknown third party, had intervened in the fight. But who was it? And why? He looked at Volenta: she looked equally perplexed and uncertain of what had just happened.

'Who was that?' Sandu yelled at the vampiress. 'Is this one of yours doing?'

Even Dormark looked for a moment like he was knocked unconscious but then his eyes flickered and he was active again. Almost like a candle being blown out but flickering back to full at the last second. With three people knocked out, Sandu doubled down on trying to finish the fight quickly and fired off another bolt of magical energy at Volenta.

Action: Eldritch Blast Attack: 20 Damage: 9

Siege of St. Andral's - Round #4 - Sandu's Turn

Volenta smiles at Sandu.  "Not my doing!  But my Masters!" she cackles.  Nonetheless, she looks around seemingly perplexed as to where the voice had come from.  "I knew my beloved would not leave me alone here!" she says with a pang of uncertainty.

The conversation is cut short as a beam of purple energy blasts forth from Sandu's outstretched hand and strikes Volenta in the chest.

DM Rolls:

Volenta flexes her hand open and closed after being struck by the Eldritch Blast.  "Nice trick," she mutters to herself.

Vampire Spawn (Right)'s Turn

Struggling desperately against Galqarin's grip, the Vampiress Spawn tries to pry open the bugbears hands.

• Opposed Grapple Roll (Strength): 11

Galqarin - Please make a strength check to maintain the grapple ((DC7!)).

(5)

His arm tiring, Galqarin’s grip weakens allowing the she-vampire to escape his grasp. “Slippery witch!” he exclaims. 

Vampire Spawn (Right)'s Turn, Continued...

Howling in triumph, the Vampire Spawn quickly runs alongside her companion.  She shoots a wicked glare at Galqarin.

Dadeveth - From where you stand you still make out dozens of tiny bats, their mouths having already drawn your blood.  To the south, Galqarin stands currently facing off against both Vampire Spawn.  You remain unaware of how the battle goes within St. Andral's, since your other companions entered the church.  It is your turn.

Battlemap:

Dadeveth prances back a couple steps if possible, though she does not wish to incur any attacks of opportunity, so won't go out of the reach of any enemy near her. She then casts her spell again... A thunderous clap of thunder echos around the two vampire spawns, as well as any bats close enough to get caught in the area.

shatter
DC 14 Con save, 11 damage.

Dadeveth would place the shatter where it could get the most enemey, but would not accept friendly fire in the area, so hopefully that is possible.

Dadeveth - ((You'll not be able to move backwards without occurring Opportunity Attacks.  Your shatter will either be able to target all 4 of the bat swarms or both of the Vampire Spawns, which would you rather?))

(The bat swarms I think.)

((Nice one, thanks.))

DM rolls:

Siege of St. Andral's - Round #4 - Dadeveth's Turn

As Dadeveth's spell goes off there is a cacophony of screeches coming from the bat swarms.  A number of the tiny creatures drop to the floor, dead.  One of the swarms is obliterated and the others are all roughly half their initial size.

Galqarin - It seems like Dadeveth has dealt a large blow to the bat swarms to the north.  Unfortunately, you have a more pressing issue, both Vampire Spawn are advancing on your position, the woman now free from your clutches.  It seems the battle is on a knife-edge, it is your turn to act.

Battlemap:

“The dance isn’t over yet, lady”, taunts Galqarin as he attempts to grapple her again (athletics 20). He’ll then lash out at the other spawn (attack 8 damage 7).