TOPIC: Meet at the Inn

cdsmith wrote: I place a hand on Widseth's shoulder and give him a half smile and a shrug. I walk a short way into the chapel and look around trying to figure out to what god the chapel was dedicated.

...as does Barkley as best he can from his position.

Stepping into the chapel only starlight filters through broken and boarded up stain glass windows, illuminating the ancient chapel of Ravenloft.

Pews and benches lie about the floor in jumbled disarray,
coated with centuries of dust. Beyond this debris, lit by a single,
piercing shaft of light, a desecrated altar stands upon the platform. The faint light falls onto a figure hunched and kneeling before the altar.

Darkness itself seems to radiate from the figure as it whispers twisted prayers and curses. Impossible as it seems it appears you have taken Strahd by surprise. Once more the vampire seems to be wounded.

Breon prepares to cast a spell, waiting to see if Widseth can tell if it is an illusion with his lenses.

Strahd appears to be real

Cram readies his mithral sword and rushes the vampire (16 + 8 =24 to hit for 2 (roll) + 13 + 2 fire + 2 cold = 15 + elements)

Barkley readies his Greater Holy Symbol to turn Strahd after a few of the melee-types get their strikes in.

darkangel866 wrote: Cram readies his mithral sword and rushes the vampire (16 + 8 =24 to hit for 2 (roll) + 13 + 2 fire + 2 cold = 15 + elements)

Taking Strahd by surprise you strike true driving your sword through the vampire with enough force to nail him to his dark alter. Strahd screams with rage and slumps forward onto the alter. For a second you find yourself thinking it was it easy then as you begin to hope a low raspy laugh begins to fill the room.

"To eager barbarian," the voice of Strahd echoes in your mind as his corpse explodes into a wave of darkness, "and now you will see what it means to fight a true vampire"

Thousands of bats fill the room and pour form the chapel like a tide up the staircases centeral void towards the castles high tower. In the distance you hear a woman scream as thunder claps and rain begins to fall blotting out the starlight.

Does it sound like the scream came from up the staircase?

bpsymington wrote: Does it sound like the scream came from up the staircase?

Yes but how far above it is hard to say.

"Quickly, friends," Breon exclaims, "we must take this battle to the upper reaches of the tower." He moves towards the stairs, waiting to make sure the combat experts take the lead.

"Let's move people. When we see Strahd open up the group and let him see me holding the Sun Sword. I think the shock of seeing the sword in my hand will cause him great distress."

Cram hurries back to the stairwell, and moves in front of the group again. He turns toward Breon and Adeya
"Do you have magic that can stop that from happening again? I can kill that many bats, but we'd be here for days."