Ravenloft game thread

Mardak cannot see them without darkvision, but their dull shapes betray very little, other than that this party is here to fight the evil that very obviously pervades this place. You detect that there are several other people approaching up some creaky stairs from the same direction.

As Grizel charges at the chair, the air grows colder, and a voice emerges.

"You have come to slay us as you destroyed that woman as she begged for mercy?"

Round 1
Lighting: Darkness

"Now how will I respond when you beg for mercy? GHEHRHEHEHE!"

Victor (18)
Mardak (16: cast darkvision)
Grizel (13: attacking)
Zinnarath (12: shooting)
Faelor (12: Mage Armour)
Ireena (10)
Undead (8)
Balder (4: light and bardic inspiration)

(Response to Beorn with some extra useful info:

Mardak can see that the room beyond the balcony has a huge, decorative dome-shaped ceiling. This room looks well-decorated but you can't see colour with darkvision. Mardak can't see any undead yet, he only knows that Grizel has announced that there are two on the chairs. They are obviously sentient and have not expressed any solid hostility yet.

Holy water isn't the 'Attack action', it's a separate action so 'extra attack'/dual weapon fighting can't apply to it. Also, holy water counts as an 'improvised weapon' which means that you don't add your proficiency bonus to the attack roll. Be careful not to waste that stuff. It could be gold dust in this place!

Also be aware that these huge chairs provide cover: total cover from behind, 3/4 at the back from an angle, 1/2 from the side, which means the AC to hit these things could be quite high if you don't go around the front of the chairs.)

Grizel throws herself at the enemy in complete darkness, guided only by her supernatural senses. The blade flashes with light as she brings it down upon the ghostly figure sat in the chair. Both strikes hit despite the circumstances, guided by the holy magic on her weapon.

"EAAAAGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!"

The creature is so shocked by the sheer force of the attack that it cannot take a reaction this turn.

Zinnarath's crossbow bolts shoots right through the chest of the creature as it shakes violently, to no effect. She whips her rapier out, stepping in front of the chair, and swings it at the enemy. It passes right through her incorporeal body with no effect, but the sight of the evil creature looks horrifying in her low-light vision.

Ireena steps out and sees the ghostly body, and some new warriors stood by the open door. She runs past the melee combat zone and approaches Mardak. "We should leave this wretched place! Do not anger these spirits!"

She spins around to see a terrifying sight, as the ghosts rise up from the chairs. "I serve not Strahd, I am older than Strahd!" One lunges for Grizel's neck, and the other faces the party with a neutral stare, boiling with anger!

Grizel avoids the grasp, her senses bright and clear despite the lack of light. The creature in the adjacent chair continues rising, until it releases a head-crushing scream, it's face contorting along with the darkness around it. (Grizel cannot see it and is immune to the effects! Nor can Victor, who paused in the corridor)

Zin, Balder and Faelor are subject to the Frightened condition for 1 minute:
• A frightened creature has disadvantage on ability checks and attack rolls while the source of its fear is within line of sight.
• The creature can’t willingly move closer to the source of its fear.

Balder's shield now lights the area.

Round 2
Lighting: bright (20ft from balder. Dim 20ft outside of that)

Victor (18): Temporary DMPC: firebolt
Mardak (16): battle bardic inspiration 1d6, perception check
Grizel (13): Intimidation check, vow of emnity
Zinnarath (12): Frightened, "Moved into stair well, scared"!
Faelor (12): Frightened, fleeing
Ireena (10): running
Undead (8) (a, chair near the stairs): injured, no reaction. (b): uninjured and very frightening
Balder (4): Frightened, retreating

Terrified, Balder retreats towards Mardak.