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

With the undead dealt with, Ashlyn turns to consider the only other figure still standing within the room. Seeing the maddened look within his eyes she steps forward and speaks, "Those cursed with false life have been relieved of their burden. I suggest that you lay down that blade lest we be forced to lay it down for you".

As she speaks, Ashlyn stands ready to attack should the figure show any further sign's of violence and her new companion circles above ready to harry the figure should they need to resort to violence.

[5ft step to G4]
[Ashlyn - Ready to attack if the figure attacks (her or anyone else): attack +11, damage 1d10+3]
[Raven - Harry as Ashlyn attacks: Will vs DC15 or suffer -2AC]

Steward's Office Round 2 (Partial)

Khensu and Janis wait for the old man to make his move. [Delay] But his maniac yell and madness in his eye make it clear as he swings once again the the shifter. He sword slams once into the shifter, cutting a wide gash, but the now wary Khensu ducks the other blow. [Hit once for 23hp] The paladin retaliates with blows of his own with two quick chops that cause the main to wail. [Two hits for 23hp, lightly wounded] The blue-white bolt that follows soon after slams into the madman's back, sorching him significantly. [14hp, moderately wounded]

Too distracted to identify the bodies, Marot channels dark power and flame, hitting the steward on the shoulder. He feral looks gives momentarily away to pain! [22hp] While Ireena's next bolt continues to go wide, Korppi dives at the madman, who easily bats it away without distraction. [Wills save succeeds] Undeterred, Ashlyn steps around the desk, bring her sword to bear. The first blow glances off some papers, but the other manages to nick her foe. [One attack succeeds; 4hp]

Shaking his head at the foolishness of it all, the Stalker steps around to the steward's flank, and using his Flamic training, delivers two sharp strikes to vital areas. The steward gurgles blood, almost falling, but manages to keep his feet. [28pts including sneak attack; nearly dead]

[Tessa's up]

Steward's Office Round 2 (Partial)

Map Key: A: Ashlyn, b: The bear, D: Robed undead, I: Ireena, J: Jarrith, J: Janis, K: Khensu, L: Lief, M: Marot, T: Tessa.

Conditions: Cyan Border: Energy drain, Dark Red Border: Dying, White Border: Prone.

K: 19 [34/57hp]
J: 17 [38/38, drained 2 levels]
L: 15 [nearly dead]
M: 15
I: 14
A: 14
J: 13 [cat's grace 16 rounds, shield of faith 17 rounds]
b: 13
D: 9 [All destroyed]
T: 2

Tessa gave the man a wary glance- even surrounded by foes, he kept fighting without a pause. Had he been an ally, it would have been a sure sign of courage- as it was, it was simply madness. Even so, it seemed like a waste to expend a spell when the man could hardly survive long against her combined allies...

"Yield now, or you are finished!," she shouted- and in her heart, she even believed that the others would spare him if he yielded. He might be too far gone in his battle-madness to even hear her, but she had to try.

OOC: Just the soliloquy, and total defense, for Tessa. No sense wasting a spell, and he won't likely live long enough for her to actually draw a weapon.

"Listen to the priestess... yield, or die!" Khensu shouts at the old man... his huge blade in front of his, ready to come down across the man's chest if he does not. "What say you, man?!?"

(OOC: Khensu gives the man the briefest moment to say 'yield', but if he doesn't, Khensu will attack and finish off the job.)

Ashlyn has already said her piece, and whilst she says no more, she twists her blade slightly as she attacks, her blade flowing around towards the back of the madman's head, with the edge of the blade turned so that it will hit with the flat of the blade as she attempts to knock the madman unconcious.

[Attack +2(flanking)-4(subdual): +9/+4; damage: 1d10+3/1d10+3)]
[Raven - Harry as Ashlyn attacks: Will vs DC15 or suffer -2AC]

Marot the Deadly

Marot watches the odd bookkeeper's response to Khensu's challenge, his hand engulfed in eldritch energy.

"If he does so much as twitch the wrong way, his time on this plane is over." He thinks to himself.

OOC: Blast him if the bookkeeper doesn't surrender. +8 ranged touch 4d6+1.

Steward's Office Round 2 (Complete)

Tessa commands the man to step down, but it is clear that he refuses to hear.

Steward's Office Round 3

[Just a note: Both Khensu and Janis delayed last round to act after Lief (to see what he would do), so he acts first. I forgot to change this above)]

Seeming to shrug off some of his wounds, surrounded, and near death, the madman does something mad---screams at the top of his lungs "FOR THE MASTER!" and attack Khensu with unbridled fury. Perhaps it was the curse of the place, the luck of the damned, or some mad insight, but the crazed steward's blade quickly finds the gaps in the shifter's plate, first gashing as his neck, then chopping at the join at the torso. Khensu doubles over at the severe wounds! [Two crits! 32hp total; Khensu near dead]

Staggering back, his hand trying to hold back his life's blood, Khensu bellows in cold rage. Gripping his axe tight, the shifter bring down the blade with full force, and the two dull thumps that follow clearly indicate the final end of Lief Lipseige. [Power attack hits; 17hp; dead]

End Combat

Status
K: 19 [2/57hp]
J: 17 [38/38, drained 2 levels]
M: 15
I: 14
A: 14
J: 13 [cat's grace 16 rounds, shield of faith 17 rounds]
b: 13
T: 2

Tessa could not help but wince as the man was cut down- the foul aura of this place obviously lent madness and strife to all within, as some of her own compatriots had too recently shown. At his shout, she glanced cautiously towards the larger room's main doorway, but she did not hesitate for long. While she might be less able in combat than her friends, she had been gifted with powerful healing abilities- and it was obvious that Khensu needed help. Trying hard not to look down, she stepped forward past the wreckage of Lief's body and called upon the power of the Host.

OOC: Expending (level 3) Magic Circle against Evil for a Cure Serious Wounds on Khensu; 3d8+6 healing

Seeing his grievious wounds, Ashlyn steps forward and lays her hand on Khensu's shoulder and healing energies flow into her fellow paladin, closing the wounds and stopping the bleeding as the body's natural healing energies are supplemented but the positive force of the lady paladin's healing.

Seeing that Khensu's wounds still require attention, Ashlyn then makes use of her sacred healing and for a short while healing energies emanate from the lady knight, healing all those within the room, Khensu in particular.

[Use lay on hands on Khensu for 15 points]
[turn undead -> Sacred healing = 15 hp to all living within 60 ft over 5 rounds]

Tessa and Ashlyn's ministrations bring most of the vitality back to the shifter paladin. [52hp restored; 54/57hp]

A quick examination of the dead steward turns up an old, but well-made, chain shirt beneath his filthy clothes, magical to Marot's side. His old blade is also of magical make. A quick search by Jarrith on the table reveals old financial records of recent years, nothing older than 2 years ago on the desk. Somewhat unusual is a heavy scroll being used for a paperweight---Jarrith quickly identifies it as a scroll of divine magic of some age. Further study of the records will require more time, as the room is full of old volumes.

[A read magic will reveal the scroll contains three spells: restoration, break enchantment, and remove disease]

As Jarrith does his cursory examination, Marot finally identifies the destroyed undead: Deathlocks. Minor spirits of deceased spellcasters. Occasionally found in the Karrnathi army, and a few have been seen elsewhere in Barovia. But where are they coming from?

Ashlyn, when done with Khensu, checks the far door for sign of undead, but none is evident. Opening it reveals a spiderweb visited hall with a spiral stair twisting above and below.