stonegod's Expedition to Castle Ravenloft: Ch. II [IC]

Marot keeps his eyes closed as he continues on bended knee towards the altar.

"I cling not to stone, but to flame -- a cleansing and purifying flame.

Unlike you, I can admit my shortcomings and falterings to myself and ask the Flame, or others, for forgiveness and solace.

Your foolish courtship with the lycanthropy will only end in disaster if you think your will can outlast its evil taint upon your soul.

If you persist on this path, know that you will ultimately lose yourself.

Bear in mind that the Flame teaches all of its members how to deal with those afflicted by the lycanthropic curse. Only two options exist -- remove the taint, or kill the beast."

As Janis' struggle had become more obvious, Tessa had set down her book and tensed, ready to move if things got worse. Even as things calmed down, she sat warily, her eyes shifting from Janis to Marot and back as they "debated" the matter. For the moment she simply watched, afraid to even speak, lest that move the argument to another level- but she could feel the power of the Host ready within her, in case a prayer to remove the lycanthropic taint should be needed.

"Your Flame makes many excuses for violence when the bloodlust calls to it, doesn't it? I'm not your enemy, Marot. Be careful with your words, lest I forget," Janis says, her voice like an icy wind whipping through the chapel.

Despite her earlier worries, with a threat from even her closest companions it was clear that she had chosen the correct path.

The warlock shakes his head and opens his eyes, staring directly at Janis.

"What is it that you think you can achieve by this flirtation with this curse that everyone else would dread?"

"Are you secretly seeking to kill and maim others without a blot on your conscience?"

He shakes his head once more,"No, that hardly seems like you, so the only other thing I can think of is that you actually want to lose yourself forever to the beast within."

"Marot, what secrets I keep are kept for a reason and are no business of yours, Janis retorts flatly.

"Whatever fantastic imaginings you wish to cling to, I don't care. In fact, I don't care for you very much either at this moment. I'm not here to comfort you in the dark, and what troubles I keep I'll share when and if I choose to."

"Be silent your counsel. You've already threatened me tonight, I'll not allow you further to annoy me as well. Worry on your own soul, as I am tending to mine presently. Without further comment."

Janis shakes her head, obviously disgusted with Marot.

"By the Mourning! How you wet and weep like a little girl!" she says, rolling her eyes and throwing her hands up in the air, her accent thickly Cyran as she resists the urge to slap him. Unless pestered further, the stormy-tempered druid takes her things and moves far away from wherever Marot is keeping his, and makes for the night, obviously wanting nothing more to do with this particular conversation.

As the argument between Marot and Janis continues, Sir Khensu begins chanting his prayers just a little bit faster with a little more emotion behind it. At this moment, time has slowed down for him... and Janis' further descent into madness is of no concern. If he cannot reconnect with the Flame... he'll more assuredly join her.

Tense words hang in the air as the vigil continues into the night. Janis settles down to sleep away from the others, her bear around her. Tessa and Ireena eventually join her in their own parts of the room. The only sounds that linger are the continued prayers.

Chapel: Surprise Round

It is little less than an hour after Tessa settled down to sleep when a piercing shriek breaks the stillness. As the group turns or groggily come awake, they are startled to see a hideous thing with fleshy bat-like wings finishing a dive onto the prone druid. It perches over her, and with a sickening rend, tears a gash in her throat! [Partial charge; Bite hits for 6hp]

Wrenched from sleep, Janis feels her mind reel as a wrenching sensation rips through her. She feels greatly weakened, the grasp on her arts failing her! [Janis gains 2 negative levels, losing 10hp and now has a -2 penalty on skill/ability checks/saves/effective level, and both her 4th level spells. In addition, she gains 2 points of taint (depravity).]

Chapel: Round 1 (Partial)

Pulling free from the reeling druidess, the creature flutters back a few feet. As it lands, it bulges and twists in an all too familiar sight until a massive wolf stands before the closed bronze doors. But this abomination is near hairless, its mottled skin an affront to anything living.

[First round actions please]

Chapel: Round 1 (Partial)

Map Key: A: Ashlyn, b: The bear, I: Ireena, J: Jarrith, J: Janis, K: Khensu, M: Marot, S: Beast, T: Tessa, Z: Dead Karrnath Zombie.

Conditions: Cyan Border: Energy drain, Dark Red Border: Dying, Orange Border: Blind, White Border: Prone. Shadowy and dark regions marked (Ashlyn's everburning torch and Tessa's eternal lantern).

S: 28
T: 18 [prone]
J: 14
M: 7
J: 5 [32/38, drained 2 levels, prone]
K: 5
I: 3 [prone]
b: 3 [prone]
A: 2

[Knowledge checks]

Tessa, waking late, only sees the latter form the the beast. She knows it is not a natural wolf, but could be some other wolf-like abomination.

Marot's view was better, and saw the ghastly attack and the follow up. He is not familiar with many things that have such forms, but the same thing keeps coming up in this valley: The vampire. They are known to posses the shapes of the beasts and vermin of the land. If it is such a creature, one would have to be wary of their dreaded ability to drain the life by touch or by blood.

Ashlyn's back was to the attack, though the deadened flesh does suggest undead to her.

With the vigil interrupted, both Jarrith and Khensu leap up from their kneeling positions and spin around. As the giant bat lands and then transforms into the giant wolf form... the Stalker whistles low. He immediately pulls out his wand and casts Cat's Grace upon himself.

Sir Khensu's eyes focus on the beast, and for the first time since his problems in town he feels his sorrow give way to rage again. Another unnatural creature has come upon him, and is threatening those around him. This he cannot stand! With a growl his body begins to change itself, and he charges the beast while reaching for his sword! "You dare profane us?!? And this place?!? Die heretic! Die!" When he comes upon the creature he leaps high in the air and brings his weapon down across his body in a huge arc! (Use shift ability as Free action, then charge the creature while drawing his weapon and attack. BTW - did we ever decide whether we were going to give the +2 two hander back to Khensu now that the halfork is gone?)