Curse of Strahdanya | Ep. 41 | Lament of the Damned: Part 2

You are back beneath a Blood Moon and listening to Cursus Tradania in Legends of Aventris podcast. Last time, the terrible final night of the Blood Moon began, and the Ezra expedition fought my four horsemen amidst the hundreds of corpses of slain wedding guests. The fight was brutal, but in the end they managed to free all four souls of the slain knights that had first slain me centuries ago. Following their redemption, they knighted our protagonists and sent them off in a pursuit through the castle led by the treacherous Esher. Now, they face the wrath of my brides atop a terrible artifact crafted by the wicked Baba Lysaga. Is this a battle they can overcome? This episode is brought to you by our generous supporters on Patreon. We now also have a merch store where you can browse more than 20 amazing Aventris themed designs. You can buy a shirt or become a patron yourself by following the link in the show notes. We are eternally grateful for your support. With that out of the way, let us proceed with the conclusion of Chapter 20, Lament of the Damned. And with Sergei and Esher in the lead, you sprint up the ladder toward the opening of the bride's private chamber. You hear bickering voices above and as you look up you see the room aglow with red light as bloody magic splashes down beside the steps and slowly coats the walls and begin to close over the entrance to the room. All seven of you practically crash into the plush and lavishly decorated pleasure chamber. Unable to get a full view of the room, your eyes are drawn immediately to the center. For you stands a massive gaudy palanquin adorned with skeletons and purple drapes. Embedded at the center of this ornate structure is a cauldron of blood that pops and boils. Spilling over as the blood coats and stains the floor before beginning to glow, transforming into the magical barriers that have entombed Ravenloft. Surrounding this bloody basin are Ludmilla, Valenta and Anastrasia, their bodies gyrating. As with hands aglow, with power they carve symbols into the air as if pulling the blood from the cauldron to fuel the magic. Teathers of energy seem to connect from their chests to three red crystals embedded at the base of the cauldron, binding their life force to the palanquin itself. As the brides perform the ritual to spread the blood magic, they bicker back and forth, criticizing each other's form and each of them proclaiming to be the best at operating the palanquin. They are so distracted that they don't even notice you enter. What Stradania does. Your attention drawn to a translucent column of energy descending into the cauldron, the source of the column is none other than the Countess herself as she stands on the landing of the double staircase above you. The same bloody power that swolled around her in the cathedral is now pumping and flowing from her outstretched arms as she channels it down into the palanquin. Gone is the black wedding gown, replaced by a tight red velvet dress and long leather boots, her dark steel longsword at her hip. So my horsemen could not even kill you? Your knights really were so useless, Serke. Stradania smirks, her confidence returned following her blistering rage in the cathedral. However, the cracks on her sanity are still apparent like the cracks on her physical form as the tendrils of eldritch power still continue to arc erratically and occasionally lash out far across the room. In a single swift motion, she brings both of her fists down hard onto the railing of the staircase, immediately creating a wall of bloody energy from floor to ceiling all along the staircase between you and her. Serke, however, does not hesitate. His radiant greatsword, now empowered by the spirits of his knights, slashes into the magical barrier creating a gap that lasts only a moment. With swiftness, Serke dashes through the break in the magic before the slice in the blood barrier swiftly closes. Just as the edges of the magic are about to reseal themselves, a small bat darts forward, wings flapping wildly as it narrowly slides between the gap. The bat flutters in midair for a second before twisting and growing. Escher now stands beside Serke as he draws his rapier. Stradania looks down from the balcony and disgusts at her brother and her former lover. Escher, at least your treachery isn't surprising. The only surprise is that you didn't stab me in the back sooner. You'll have to forgive me, Countess. The opportunity simply didn't present itself until now. And I am sure you think it poetic justice to get some kind of vengeance after the way I treated you? All the while manipulating these idiots to save your own skin. I'm afraid you aren't worth my time, traitors. I have far more pressing regal matters to take care of. She almost floats backwards as she begins to phase through the heavy wooden door behind Serke's voice booms out angrily. Coward, you stabbed me in the back those centuries ago. And now you run, you owe me a fight. You truly are the monster our mother feared you would become. She would be ashamed to look upon you now. Stradania immediately stops her body halfway through the door. She steps back out onto the landing and draws her blade, staring down at her brother furiously. If you want to die now instead of later, I suppose I can oblige. But Tu'anuan isn't very fair, is it? I'll have to go easy on you. Brides, kill our guests. Then keep to your duties. She lunges towards the two men she had once loved as they both run up the stairs toward her weapons drawn, determination on their faces. All three brides of Stradania turn their attention towards you and begin to laugh in unison as they raise their arms to the sky. Suddenly, the Palenquine begins to move and the cauldron bubbles violently. From the vile brew, bloody, skeletal spirits rise and swoop down to lift the structure into the air. As the Palenquine flies towards you, held aloft by the soles of the damned, a fourth voice joins the laughter of Ludmilla on Astratia and Valentin. You can hear the distinct, unforgettable cackle of Baba Lysaga. I need everyone to roll initiative. I fucking knew it! I fucking knew she was alive. Fuck! Our wish is really ever dead. And if you could please put this in the very center. Oh my god, Nikki. Oh my god. Okay, I'm gonna ask, because I can't be the only one wondering, what is this word you keep saying? Palenquine, it's like a, it's like a cherry, like a throne cherry. Okay. It's, it's like, if you've ever seen like, like a fat king sitting on a throne with guys carrying him. That's a problem. Or as, depending on where you're from, some people call it a palenquine. And so just to make sure you fully understand, as you came up out of the, out of the trap door, there is a spiral staircase that went up towards a balcony. Sirdani was on that balcony, channeling into the Palenquine. As you came in, she slammed down and sealed that area off to protect herself. So you couldn't follow. Sergei was able to slice through it. And Escher was able to get through. So they're on that side, battling Sirdania. And you are outside of that. Facing the Palenquine. Like, you know, like just in like straight, oh geez, not, you know. It is with that, the sound of rapier sunsword and, and blade that you hear Sirdania, Sergei and Escher all battling together on the stairs. Their, the noises that they're making, that all of them seem confident as they battle Sirdania, two versus one against her brother and her former lover. As the Palenquine turns towards you, risen into the air, it begins to shudder and, and almost like dock in air. Clayton. I want to look around. Are there just, is there like a bunch of shit all over the room? This looks like a beautifully elaborate sex and torture dungeon. And that's what you do. Before he goes, do you mind telling us like what are actual targets? Or like, what are we doing? Or do we not? Like, I mean, you can easily see that the three rides are riding atop the thing. And so those are your targets. Okay. I just didn't know if like the Lasaga, the Palenquine or yeah, there's no. You just heard a cackle. Just heard her. Okay. All right. Now there's no other figures. The Palenquine is the three brides with, with necklaces where they appear to be almost attached to this cauldron, these tendrils of red flowing between them and this cauldron of blood that's bubbling up. The blood itself is spilling down the sides of the Palenquine all over the floor, seeping in to the very wood and stone of Ravenloft itself as Clayton's turn. I'll look around and see that this is a sex and torture dungeon. And so I will say, Hanumatos and I will animate ten sex and torture implements. I hate you. I hate this spell. Oh dear. Oh, God. And I'm going around the room, just whatever, like anything that looks sharp or painful or whatever. I'm just going to animate them to the air and just shoot them all at the, the brides and whatever I can. Fine line. Choose your targets. I can't choose them for you. Oh, so it looks like they're multiple. I can target multiple things. There are three brides. All three of them are on it. All three of the brides are on the Palenquine. Okay. I will send, you know what? I'm going to send all three at Valenta. Valenta. Does it 15 hit? Uh, no. Okay. Does it 17 hit? Yes. It would be all for my shirt and dice. Okay. So that is, um, one, two, three, four, five hits, one of which is a natural 20. Uh, and then I will do, uh, find some key forwards as well. 39 damage to Valenta. Magical bludgeoning, I believe. You look around the room and you are able to grab whips and chains and, uh, pegs. As you animate them, you send them all flying directly towards Valenta. Some of them are unable to find purchase on her, but a few of them are able to make contact. They wail away at her. She throws her head back and moans in pleasure as she takes each of the hits. Mm-hmm. So, my eyes are going to narrow at Valenta and, uh, I'm going to cast Slayer's Prey, like a hawk looking at a vole. I'm going to, uh, shout at her. Valenta, you die today! And I'm going to take, uh, two attacks at her. Do it! Uh, a 18, sorry, 28 is the lowest to hit. Um, yeah, that hits. 27 points of damage for two attacks. I'm not gonna move too. That is. As each one of the blast hits, Valenta's smile gets wider as she feels the, um, as she feels the blast shoot into her body. She looks directly towards you and you see as her smile spreads even more as a thin line of blood pumps its way up out of the cauldron and into her, and she seems to heal a little. Interesting. Interesting. Uh, she is then going to, um, how close are you guys are with the 30 feet for sure? Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Great. Uh, who? Sorry, it's hard to see. Shea- Shea- Shea- Clayton! She is going to look forward at Clayton and she is going to... Are you missing HP? Oh, shit. I'm missing two HP. She is going to make a whip attack on you. No. That is going to hit. Oh, she'll. Okay, uh, no, it's still going to hit. Your AC would be... There it is. Okay, yeah, that was 20. Um, so she is going to make that whip attack on you doing... It's like now I got so used to being a horseman and I have to be these brine. Yeah. I'm doing nine points of slashing damage and ten necrotic damage. I need you to make a strength saving throw, please. That's a good strength, though. Yep. That goes against your disadvantage, Rich. Uh, well, we'll have 20 and you're right, they should have been some damage now. Um, 20, what, two? Put them in. You feel the whip grab onto you and it attempts to pull you forward, but it isn't able to fully grab you and move you closer towards the pollen cane. She looks down at you. You can see her red eyes glinting through the mask. I will play with you soon. Don't worry, you will be mine, Professor. We have a lot to learn together and she is going to then, um, she is going to move the pollen cane forward as she takes control of it. And she is going to move it directly towards you and she's going to make two blood claw attacks on you. So the first one is going to hit. Oh, um, and I... Oh, they're a disadvantage. It's a disadvantage, but you have, you know, how so they would have been at advantage, so it's even. So it's even. And you feel still going. So may see still 26. Okay. So the first one, I'm just going to reroll them because I don't know what they were. I know one of them was a 19, but I rolled them together. Um, so that one, that one hits. And a natural 20. I'd like to... Let me block, let me block. Go to block, let me block. Yikes. It's been fun, y'all. Be gone, creature of darkness. It still hits, so block yourself, but it's not a natural 20. Boom. The bonus is a pretty good. Okay, so... Carefully. Um, what is this? What is this? Um, actions. Uh, you're going to take 26 points of piercing damage. And then you're also going to take 11 points of necrotic damage. Actually, I have 11 points of necrotic damage. Um, and then another 6 points of necrotic damage. Sorry. These are like separate hits. That's two hits. Yeah, she has four attacks. Okay. So she's done three attacks on you so far. Um, and then for her last one, she is going to, um, who is all standing in front of the pollen king? Everyone. Everyone, we should only have everyone. Great. I need you all to make a dexterity saving throw, please. Deft, you said? Yes. Oh, I need my d20's back, please, sir. And my d4's. Unless you need it. Do you need to keep the d4's? Oh, yeah, I'll keep anything that you want. You can let me... Yeah, I don't need d4's. That's awesome. Me? Uh, just so. My d4's. Yes. Yes. Um, may I also trace? Yes. I got an eight. God, that's probably still not that fast. 15. No. 11. Okay. Still not the first. The DC is 18. Doop. Okay. Anyone who failed takes, uh, 33, uh, slashing damage as she whirlwinds of claws and she swipes at all of you, slicing into your flesh with her fingernails. Is it half? Uh, half if you fail. Wow. Or half on a success. Which is very 16. It's a true. On that is her turn. Star nice. Uh, I am going, uh, to, uh, look up and say, what is this vile magic? Creatures of darkness. I told you I would come back and you will burn in the light of dawn a massive beam of sunlight is going to, uh, drop down 30 feet, uh, diameter onto them. They all need to make a, uh, some kind of saving throw. Holy shit. Uh, buh-buh-buh. It is fifth, fifth, uh, saving throws, saving throws, saving throw, uh, I cast dawn and they all must make a constitution saving throw, uh, against a 19. Uh, Valenta fails on Astrosid passes and we have no passes. So they will take half of this, the one that fails and take full. This is all radiant damage. Okay. Um, oh. Is it? Yeah. Okay. Um, yes. So, uh, Valenta is going to use her reaction and, uh, cast, cast a mask of the eternal night. Um, and it is not our, no, no, it's like an ability that they can use. Um, she, you watch as she, as she takes the mask on her face and she moves her hand around it, it shimmers with a red magic as the, um, as the light from Sarnax's ability comes down around them and you expect it to singe all of them, but instead the masks absorbs it all. And tell me what, uh, temporary hit points they get. Uh, uh, so it depends on if, if they, so, uh, 10, 10 for each of it. 10, uh, plus 10 plus 20, that's 40, uh, 40. Uh, and, but it is daylight. It is daylight. So she used some ability where she absorbed all the radiant damage. Right. She used her mask. So she has an item. And so yes, the beam stays there, it persists. Oh, and then, uh, it is, it is daylight. And so, uh, whenever, so let me just do that. So if, if they're, if they are weak to sunlight, they will take the standard vampire damage. And on top of that, they will, hold on. Sorry. Wait, wait, when the cylinder appears, East creature, oh, it only does that kind of damage. Radiant. No, hold on. Oh, whenever it ends, it's turned in the cylinder. It also takes that to take the, it must make the same saving. Cool. So, uh, yes. All right. So then it's on Astrosia's turn. Yes. Yeah. Uh, on Astrosia looks out at all of you. I want to do this. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I want to put it out. And then they all need to make a DC, uh, just have them be right next to me. And then, uh, Dexterity saving. On Astrosia, Ludmilla fail. I don't know why I rolled twice, but it was passed. Um, and, uh, sorry. Astrosia and Bolin to fail Ludmilla pass. Fire damage, uh, that is, uh, 8 plus 18 points of fire damage if he fails. Thank you. Uh, and then half. And I guess it'll be a we. Cool. Okay. So two, so two of them take 16 and one of them takes, uh, 8. Yes. Yep. Yep. On Astrosia looks out as she attempts to vie for control of the pollen, pushing Volenta out of the way. Um, she begins to channel her magic around all of you as she, as she looks out and she lets out a whistle. Oh, and, uh, it is the start of her turn. You see as she begins to, um, to undulate as almost as if she's drinking in the blood of the Colgen and she seems to heal up a bit. So. Is it? No. It's a turn. This is a nightmare. Um, and then she is going to, she has, um, yeah, she is going to look out in a 20 foot radius sphere. She is going to call in a swarm of bats as she lets out the strange, uh, vocalization that sounds like echolocation. The entire area around where the pollen is, where the sunlight is, she calls in, uh, her swarm of bats. This is now a difficult terrain. I need you to make, um, anyone who's within this area, which looks like all of you or everyone except for shepherd, uh, needs to make a, uh, on saving throw. Oh hell yeah. Uh, 30. 19. 29. Did anyone get, um, these for the sake of this, the DCs are 18. So you can let me know if you have a better set of skills on me. Um, so if anybody fail, you will take 10. I thought we were done killing bats. The 10 of points of piercing damage as the bats, uh, as the bats come in and pierce into you, these are vampire bats. They sink their little teeth into you. Uh, so 10 of these succeeded? Yes. And then she is going to, no, none of you are, no, that's it. That's it for her turn. Uh, Conor. So the area is storming with bats is difficult to rain. Where I'm standing, can I start climbing up the Palenquine? Palenquine? Is it something that I can, I can climb or does not look like it would be climbable. You imagine that the swirling spectral like bloody go similar to what you were fighting against the horsemen are completely holding this aloft in the air that you could try, but you imagine you would sustain serious. You really see a meal of drops in bed negative 45. So I'm looking at this thing, having no understanding of ethereal and magical. And I feel like I shouldn't jump on the ship. I would say yeah. Okay. If the DM is telling me I shouldn't jump on the ship. What I would say is even though it's about 25 up, if you're within five feet of it, you can attack the brides. Oh, really? You know what I'm saying? So like you could use your weapon to attack like Ludmillo or Amistos. She's like this. I don't need all of those bitches. I don't have to take my bow out and shoot them. Oh, okay. So even though it's like 25 up for DM Fiat and the fact that this Palenquine is fucking badass, it is longer than five feet of the mini. Okay. Got it. Good to know. I'm going to swim. And they also work that way. So. Okay. I will move half my movement. So just three blocks this way so that I'm closer to Shefford, but on the other side of the ... is it Palenquine? Palenquine. Palenquine. Okay. And I will unleash four attacks on it. I am locking eyes with Anastrasia and under my breath I'm saying this is fucking queen. Oh, Conn saving throw it on Anastrasia. Sorry, this is gonna be ... Oh. Wait, for what? Ending her turn in the dawn. Oh, do I take the image from the dark? No, because I have spell shape now. She passes. Okay. So she's gonna take half of this and if she has some sensitivity, she will take whatever she does for that. Oh, not bad. 12, 19, 19 plus, 14, 24 points of damage from 12, 12 points of radiant damage to her at the end of her turn. She once again seems to be unfazed by the damage that you're doing. Conn. First three attacks, one's a dirty 20, one's a 27, one's a 16. There is Anastrasia, dirty 20. 27, 16. 16 misses. And that will miss as well, so I only have two. So that's gonna be 22 points of slash damage to Anastrasia. And for all intents and purposes of this positioning, I'm trying to be within five feet of calm. Okay. For like, page play or so. Okay. I got you. It is the lair action's turn. I'm gonna get a soul through sex toys here. Fuck yeah. You watch as they all raise their hands out towards the cauldron and they begin to chant as out of the cauldron rises, nine bloodied ghosts of Varovia. Oh no. I don't care. I don't care. Fantastic. Give those ghosts away. And they are going to act, so one of them is going to turn towards Sarnax. Is there anyone else around the one closest to you, Sarnax? Victoria, Clayton and me. Okay. It's going, each one of them is going to make an attack on each of you. And that is a 20 for Sarnax. I hate to do this to you, Nikki, but you did this on Garoo. The two in front all get vaporized and gone. Oh no. You did this on Garoo. Damn it. You're so right. I'm getting you back for this. I'm getting you back for Garoo. Everybody gets one. It's a 30 foot radius. I don't know if it would hit the other ghosts, but it was 30. It was a 30 foot radius column on top of the Cappal and Keen, like exactly. I don't think it would hit that ghost. 30 foot radius? Yes. That's 60 feet. That's like the whole thing. Okay. Yeah, I know. I mean, it would literally be like, you're just going to make him mad. What are you thinking? Okay. Well, okay. So that doesn't happen. All of it will move. Yeah. They appear and immediately are singed and destroyed by the sunlight. And that is now Ludmilla's turn. Ludmilla now tries attempts to take control of the pollen key. She is going to look around. She sees what you are doing. Sarnex. And she is going to... I don't care for it. I don't care for it. She's going to cast Dispel Magic at a sixth level. So she has to roll for it, right? What level is the effect? It's a fifth level. Okay. Like counterspell. You got to roll for it. Yeah, you got to roll for it. Unless you cast it at like a sixth level. Yeah, that's a wrap. You're dead. Then you get to roll for it. Natural 19 plus five. Oh, I'm pretty good. I mean, counterspell is to be rolled for it. You watch as she reaches out, she extends her hand. She begins to snuff out the sunlight. You watch as a darkness begins to creep over the light. As Clayton reaches out, snaps his hand and extinguishes her magic from her palm. She looks towards you. You know how I like to play games. I will end you, Clayton. I am far more powerful than you. And you will feel what I have in store for you this time. No more smoke and mirrors. No more tricks. The hands that fall will be yours. And this time it will be real. No. This time we win. Fate will win. Fate brought you here. Fate will see fit that you are destroyed. Toria. She is a saving throw. You are touching fate over here. Holy moly. It does pass. Half of it, half of it, have 20 points of radiant damage. And whatever, from sunlight, you know that. Where are the baths again? Around the palette. Oh, they're just flying around biting the shit out of us. Is there any like if I step in or out of? Difficult tricks. Difficult tricks. But not like if I end near the baths. We don't know. Yeah, we're not sure. Well, he ended his turn. Oh, yeah. Yes, no, you ended your turn there. So, thank you. I got to take damage. I need you to make another con saving. No, I haven't had a turn yet. I haven't gone. I only had one turn. I got to make a con save. Yeah, con save. Oh, that was just con. Per and you counter. It's so much going on. That passes. So you still take half. Okay. Okay, I am going to half of 14. Okay. What kind of damage is that? It is piercing. It was going to be very hot. Oh, no, I've been doing this before. Okay, I have the armor master. I'm going to reach into the folds of my wedding dress, which conveniently have pockets. Yes! Ravanovian, that's out. Ravanovian is very practical. Yes! And I'm going to pull out a spell scroll. And though I don't have the physical, I will dramatically also rip it in half. Sorry. And so my mouth will open down into a ghastly scream, but no sound will come out except for the three brides on Palamkin. I will cast psychic scream on them. Let's go. Okay. Let's go. I only have the power of my mind to blast the intellect of up to 10 creatures of my choice that I can see within range. You must make an intelligence saving throw. That's the worst. And I'm going to need a whole lot of d6s. You got it, girl. I got millions. Ludmilla passes. She's pretty. She's smart cookie. Yes. Volenta passes. We roll from. Onestrasia. Yes. And Onestrasia fails. Good. Okay. You got it? I got it. You know what? She's actually going to succeed. They're all going to succeed. Okay. So you will take half damage. Oh, what? Is that a light? Oh, that's fucking go. 47 psychic damage or if they all pass, they take half. So each one of them would take. 23. 23 times three. That's pretty fucking great. Even with password. And a legendary distance blunt. Mm-hmm. Good job. Thanks, middle school. They all, they all rise atop the pollen. Keen almost does in sexual ecstasy is they take the damage and enjoy the scream that erupts from, from your mouth. Onestrasia climbs over to the edge and looks down at you. You would have made a fantastic pet. Did I not despise you so much? Ugly foul, loathsome creature runs off the litter pathetic orphaned child. But you will taste delicious. You'll never know. And then with my bonus action, I will swirl into a shadowy magic form. And then I will cast Humble Form. Hell yeah. What is that? So I transform myself into a shadowy form. You mean you don't want to do... Um. Sorry. That's fine. It's fine. It's fine. It's fine. Um, yeah, so I have resistance to all damage except for force and radiant and I can move through other creatures. She's a literal shadow being. I'm a shadow being. Eighteen level shadows. Wait, do you want, do you want this? I'm going to put myself in this little bloop I think. I want to be that. I want to stand in this. Oh yeah, stand in bloops. You want to stand in bloops? Put me in a standing bloop. Oh, that's great. And then I want to just kind of wiggle around towards, yeah. Back here? Uh, I don't want to like, because I would take an opportunity to attack moving boy from them. You want to stand like right here? I want to be like right here. Sorry. And then put me in that little shadow bloop. I love the shadow bloop. It's a, it's a Ichor? It's a slimy, it's a black thing. It's a black thing. It's a pudding. All right, that's good. Is your spell concentration? Yes. Great. I'm going to put my spell on. I'm going to put my spell on. I'm going to put my spell on. I'm going to put my spell on. Is your spell concentration? Yes. Great. I thought you might. Is there anything? Oh, that's good. You watch as the pollen keen begins to shake as Anasthrasia turns from you, her rage and hatred of you, Victoria, fueling her as she takes full control of the pollen keen, she takes it and turns it and heads directly towards a runic symbol in one of the alcoves of the floor, directly behind Sheppard. The pollen keen makes its ghostly charge. Oh, this way. Does anyone within 20 feet wide line must make a deck saving throw? All right. I think Conn and Sheppard are just. Yeah. Oh yeah, Conn would be too. I got a 15. Fails. I got a 19. That passes. Is this, you will take half damage. You are not prone and take full damage. This is a, this is a rare action. And this is fly by this thing has fly by whatever. Oh yeah. Okay. I figured I know she's if you're going to like this just to sit in this corner. She's going to dock on top of the room. Yes. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. I'm sorry. Hold on a second. Right. I get to add a 1d6. Oh, yes. Oh, wait, actually. Hold on. Is it the Palakine? Like is it actually the Palakine and not like the. Yes. Palakine's turn is not one of the brides. Okay. They just one of them took control of it. So you will take 12 points of necrotic damage and are not prone on a fail. Yeah. And you take half on a save. Okay. Bye. You watch as Anastasia begins to the blood rising and bubbling as the Palakine is now docked on top of her room as she gets larger and glows stronger with a pulsing red energy. And that is. Just on a step. Just on a step. Just on a step. Anastasia. Anastasia. Do we get a sense that like this room is connected to her? Like specifically. I would say you got the sense that she forced they've been bickering and making the Palakine move a little bit. But this is the first time you've seen any of them take full control of the Palakine and she charged it directly towards that room. So I would say yes, it would be easy to imagine that that was her intention. Got it. No, I should explain actually as as it fully docks. You feel the symphony of the night as bats, wolves, rats, fire nocturnal beasts reach how chitter and otherwise create a cacophony that is distracting. All concentration saves are made at disadvantage. Oh boy. You were just going to earthquake me. Do I hear werewolves? Yes. She's just. She's just keeping an eye out for werewolves. Yes. You're right. I'm going to bonus action and send all of my animated whips and chains and hooks over to Valetta. How far can they go? 30 feet. So if they were all here. Careful that you do not break that pollen cane. I will end you. I will literally kill Clayton in this moment. So I'm just going to be almost at them, but they're going to be kind of floating around here, but they can't get all the way. And I will reach into my case and I will pull out another spell scroll. And I will say try this game and I'm going to rip a spell of confusion. So all three of them, the spell of salts and twist, which is mines, they need to make a wisdom saving throw. So the one Astrosia is going to use her reaction and she turns and looks towards you, her eyes vibrating with a light as you see her face can torque from hideous, evil vampire-ish into an innocent facade. I need you to make a wisdom saving throw please. Okay, so I'm a damage stone. Well I guess because I'm a force guy. Wisdom saving throw? 20, I think 30 maybe. Alright, continue. Okay, and so they need to make a, yeah they need to make a wisdom saving throw. All three of them? Yes. Two pass, all three of them passed. Okay, then I'm just going to back up a little bit. And am I turn? Shepherd. It just cost me half my movement to stand, correct? I don't lose my action or anything. I'm going to stand up, I'll add 10-15. These are the rest of my movement to back up a little bit. I will use a bonus action to cast Hunter's Mark on Volenta. And I will make two attacks against her. Oh yes, let's go. They're out of the dawn. Loist is a 22. Ludmilla is going to use her reaction and she is going to cast Shield on Volenta. Oh shoot. You watch as she adjusts the diadem top her head. The light shines towards Volenta and you see a magical shield appear around her. I'm going to use my capstone to add my wisdom modifier to it and add four. So it will be 26. It may still not be enough. That's enough. What do you do when you do that? Once per turn I can add my wisdom. Shepherd do. Oh, sorry, I thought you were asking what the actual capstone is. I'll explain that too. Once per turn I can add my wisdom modifier to my attack roll or to a damage roll. That's awesome. I added four. So what I do is I see as I'm winding up the first shot, I see the Volenta or I see the other wife bride cast a spell and I see it coming. And I'm able to adjust my shot and get the shot in before the shield goes off. Oh yeah. I'm not rolling hot on the damage. It's going to be seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen. Thirteen plus ten is twenty-three plus four is twenty-seven plus sixteen is forty-three. Forty-three points of damage. Seven of which is radiant. That's my turn. Not a lot, you know. Not a lot. That's great. Your lightning reflexes allow you to be able to get the shots in as the radiant barrier, as the magical barrier from the Diadem does surround Volenta but just a mere fraction of a second too slow. So that is Shepherd's turn. It is Volenta's turn. The pollen keen is going to move towards not being able to take full control of the pollen keen. Volenta is able to move it towards Shepherd and she is going to get right on the side of Shepherd. Like here? No, like right in front. Still because Anastasia is still in control. She still wants to stay near the back door. She's going to make all four attacks on you. Three of them. The first one is going to be her whip. Four ten points of slashing damage. Okay. And fourteen points of necrotic damage. Okay. She is going to forgo the damage on her blood claws as she grabs down into the clothing that you wear. She's going to pull you up and grapple you against the pollen keen. She is then going to tilt your neck to the side. Her fangs expose as she sinks her teeth into your neck. Shepherd, no! I object. A fourteen piercing? Yeah. No, there's no, that just happens. Ouch. Yep. No, she hit the things. Wow. There are their attacks. Oh, I see. It was a twenty three. She has to hit and then grapple. She has to hit and then grapple. Thirty and then once you grapple you can hit. Yeah, fourteen piercings. And then nine points of necrotic damage. And as she fights into you, you can feel her moaning against your neck as she sucks into her body. And she seems to heal a certain amount. That's a lot of damage. That's a lot of damage. That's a lot of damage. That is her turn. You are held against her. You will move along with the pollen keen. So just like suck it on the neck? Yeah. That is kinky. So next. I am going to how you're right there, shepherd. Yeah, I was going to do something cool, but now I need to save my boy shepherd. Do you? No, no, no, no, no, no. Someone reminded me and I will save it. I will shepherd. No, you unhand him right now. Flame Prince. And I will as a bonus action, I will send my boy red shepherd. Thirty feet should be just enough. Something John's and he is going to poof. And if you're willing, you will be teleported out of her grasp. How? I'm willing. Thirty feet back, thirty feet back towards towards me. Just back to where the thing was. Thirty feet away. Yeah, thirty feet away that way. Yep. And dammit. I'm going to however step thirty feet towards them as much as I can. If you wouldn't mind just getting me. Like there's probably there. And I am going to raise my lantern and say creatures of darkness, just like the horseman, you will be purged in sunlight and I'm going to cast my fucking shit again. Everyone needs to be a con saving throw and all three of them. Let's do it. No, no, no. Oh yeah, let's go. Let's do a secret. Secret. We're going to just do this really quick. What a twist. Radiance. In shot of like. They are going to take 20 plus. 33 points of a radiant damage if you failed and then half you succeeded. And the valent also needs to make a saving throw against the dawn. 27 if you 27 if they fail half if you if they succeed or just her just for not just her. Obviously. Okay, yeah, damage has been accounted for. It is on a thracious turn. She shutters violently with the power of the palanquin beneath her as she she is going to move the palanquin directly towards Sarna. I knew that was coming. I welcome myself to that. She is going to look out at you as she stands before you her her form larger than the other brides as she looks around at you. She begins to sparkle with with a sinister magic. She is so stunning painfully beautiful. It is hard to look away. I need you all to rule a wisdom saving throw for me. Oh, yeah. Beautiful. Unless I resist then you'll get begun. I think I'm going to fail this. Can I twist it? Yeah, I want you to twist it. Yes, twist. We have plenty of twists. We appreciate the twist. We'll probably blow a million on that. Natural fucking 20. Well done. Well done. If I if I'm twisting an advantage role do I only reroll one die? You only roll one die. She's at a die. All right. That's a little bit better. 18 is the DC. We know that 18 is the DC. 17. So I fail. Anybody else fail? Kana. You stare up at Amstrasia. Fuck. She's beautiful. The most beautiful thing you've ever seen. Oh no. You are stunned until the end of your next turn as her beauty is so radiant. You can do nothing but stare into those beautiful eyes. Empowered by the control of the Palenquine, she is going to take an additional action. As she then turns and looks towards you. Sarnax. Oh, I don't care for that. And she's going to cast or not cast. She's going to use charm. Oh shit. I need you to roll a whispers. Oh thank God it's whispers. Is he like a spell? No. It's one of her abilities. It's one of you. No, it's not charm person. Oh, right. That would be 28. I succeed. You do succeed. Thank you hurricane. You appreciate it. That is her turn and you watch as she appears to regain some health. And make it with some saving throw. Or is it calm? Yeah, she passes. I'll tell you what it is. It is 9 plus 9 is 18 and plus 3 is 22. She has 11 points of radiant damage. In the doll. In the doll. In the doll. In the doll. You are stunned so you do nothing. But as your turn ends, you feel the magic that had overcome you fade and you're able to shake it off. Not for too long. One of. How to snap out of the tree. The power of the flame. We want to use a whole charm action against Sylvie and it worked but she's immune to charm. So it's a fucking matter. That was so fun. Oh my big bone. The power of the flame begins to lurch this way and that as the cold run bubbles and boils. Every one of you needs to make a constitution saving throw. This has a higher DC than what you've been dealing with. So please let me know what you get. This affects my little janky boys, my shamblin boys. Everybody. Like my animated. And you're this. No, it's constitution not concentration. I'm going to use a twist. Please do that. Please. Oh fuck. Yeah, I need one too. Yeah, do it. 28. Thank you chat. God damn it. I rolled the same thing. Yeah. Sorry. Damn it. I'm upset. I rolled poorly. I rolled poorly. Let me tell you. Yeah, 30. I got a 31. 28. Fucking wizard. 11. 8. 3 of you are able to gain your composure. I'm going to roll a D4 for me please. If you get a repeat, one of you needs to re-roll. There you go. 2. 4. Shepherd. As the cauldron begins to boil and pop, you begin to feel your eyes burn and swell. Your eyes fill up with bloody tears. You're blinded for one minute. Victoria. You can do it. You can hear the rushing of the blood in your head pounding and pounding and drumming. It's as if your heart is pumping so quickly. It's about to explode. It's so distracting. You are deaf for one minute and you have disadvantage on saving throws. Oh boy. Oh god. If we look around, are we able to see Boba Lysaga anywhere? No. Okay. That's her turn. Oh no. That's the lair. That was the lair. So it's Ludmilla's turn. It's the correct and moondah. Ludmilla is going to move toward... No, Sarnax is in front. And she's had enough of you. So she is going to look down at you. And she is going to... At a 5th level cast flight. Oh, of course. 5th level, how does that work? Well... Hold on. Hold on. Hold on. If she has sunlight resistance in the tower. You need to make a constitution safer. Oh thank god. Thank god. I would like to use a twist. Thank you chat. That's worth it. Oh thank goodness gracious. That would be a 26. Okay, so you will take half the damage. Thank you for the twist, Chet. I'm so skilled. You are going to take half of 48 points of necrotic damage. I have a 48, 24. So I got to roll my con saving throw. Disadvantage. Disadvantage, but I'm advantage because the war caster is so straight. And then 24, what is it? What do I got to hit for that? I get a 20, I get a 23. So she needs to make a wisdom saving throw against the dawn. We're fighting the brides of Shadania right now. Enjoy. How is your strength? Okay, so I'll just tell you what she takes. 17, 21, 25. So she takes 12 points of necrotic damage. As I maintain the concentration. Fuck yeah. Victoria! Unless she can do any health. No, that is... Yes, she is going to look toward... She's going to look toward Volenta. Well, they're quite tricksy. I don't always do what I want, but here, I have a bit of help as she flashes her diadem toward Volenta. Victoria. Okay. At a much louder volume than I need to because I'm deafened and can't hear myself speak. Many have called me wicked, but I see you and know you to be true wickedness. I'm already a shadow, but you'll see seven shadows start to circle, like separate off of my form and circle around my head and I will cast Crown of Stars. And as a bonus action, I will send one flying at Volenta. 27 to hit. I'll hit the same juice. Or maybe you'll hit the other stars. Yeah, that's it. Oh my god, how much does it do? So 25 radiant damage. Ewww! That's cuckoo bananas! That is cuckoo banana-ish. Are you able to make the save against the blood thing at the end of your turn? Well, she just vanished on saving toes. Yeah. And I'm gonna back up all my fear. She's deafened. Is it a repeat saving throw? Yes, you can repeat the saving throw at the end of your turn. What was that, Con? 21. You feel the thrum of blood inside of your head subside as you're finally able to hear again. And you do not suffer the consequences. The consequences, yeah. The bloody consequences. The jasmine palanquin. And is now the palanquin's turn. The palanquin's turn. Lidmilla being tired of all of this, wrestles control away from Anasthrasia. As she charges the palanquin through all of you and directly onto the candle in front of Conna. The runic symbol in front of Conna. Well, what's even, was that a dex? Was that a dex, you say? And I need you to make a dexterity saving throw. Yeah, that's gonna be a fail for me. I don't think I, I don't, I've used a lot of twists. I've seen this advantage, bro, please. What are we rolling? I automatically fail. Dex saving. What? I can't see it. Blinded. If the check requires me to be able to see, I automatically fail. But you can also hear it. You can hear it. You can hear it. That's not what blinded says. Oh really? It says if you require, if a saving throw requires you, or a check requires you to be able to see, you automatically fail the check. But you might be able to hear it? That's up to me. No, I would say because they're floating now. Oh. No sense. So it's not like they're thundering hooves? 17. Just passed 18. I fail. Did anybody else fail besides separate? No, 70. You failed as well? Yep. All right, you will take, each one of you is going to take 12 necrotic damage and you are knocked prone. Oh, nice. Anyone else takes half and is knocked prone? Someone can drop me over. So six, and then I have that again for resistance rate. Yes. Yeah. thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé attempt to use an action. You must succeed on an inch saving throw or your action will fail. That's terrible. An action period. Yes. Clayton. Do I, so I see Shepherd blinded by bloody tears. Do I get the sense that it's a magical effect that I think I can dispel? Or is it like a, this is like a damn. Say you could try. Shepherd, you need your sight. I'll go into him and I'm going to cast Dispel Magic on the bloody tears shooting down his face. Okay. Well, far. Oh. This is an ability check, right? So I'd be a dammit. This is an ability check, yep. It's just a fake. You look towards Shepherd and you attempt to cast the spell. There is no spell. There is no magic that lingers here. This power is far more than that. As the bubble and as the cauldron begins to bubble and boil and for a second you feel like you see a shifting image within, but it fades just as quickly as it came as the sound of a hideous tackle radiates throughout this room. Then I will, I think they made this, holy shit. I moved them last, they just charged. Yeah, they just charged. A plonking. So our bonus action, I'm going to just have my guys move. I'm going to maybe keep them like here-ish. Yeah, sex dungeon mode, yep. And then I will move away a little bit. Shepherd. I'm going to attempt to stand up. All the while I'm yelling, Mass, you took my fucking ass! Oh my god. So I have to roll in to try to stand, right? I mean like, do you tap my movement? For an action? That's not an action. So I can just spend half my minute to stand up. So for me to have even attempted that, not that it cost me a spell slide or anything, but yeah, 20 something. And now I have to ask you to roll on something here, Ogracious DM. As long as I am conscious and can hear, when I attack a creature that I can't see, I don't have disadvantage on attack rolls against it. Because of my feral sense of- Absolutely! Fucking ass! I'm going to kill you, you bitch! And I'm going to make three attacks against Valenta. Okay, you don't need your eyes. I want people to go blind, dude. Natural fucking 20. Yes! And then one of them is a 20, the lowest one is a 20, and then the other one is a 25. So the lowest is a 20. You'll hear a voice, it's not in your head, because I'm standing next to him. But you do still need to roll to make sure you can do your actions, right? That is true. Yes. You can twist that shit. I will roll. You keep those. I will roll separately to see if I can even do them. And I have them in a war, so the second one was the crit if it hits, so the Slayer's Prey won't be a part of that. So what I'll do- Waste all those twists. I will roll the first one here, and I have to roll an in check. The problem is I only have plus one to end, I think. Well, we're going to twist it. 18 for the first attack. That succeeds. The DC is 18. No, no, no, no. An attack action. That's it. You're good. All right, so then the first one is going to be these dice. He's about to roll your card. Which is going to be 6, 12, 16, 18 plus 5 is 23. Plus 8 is 32. 31. Then the crit was four dice. So I'm going to take off the 31. So then just tell me the crit afterwards. The crit is going to be 6 times 4, which is 24 times 2 is 48. Plus 8 is 50 points of damage for the crit. 12 of that is radiant. And the last one will be- Those which is going to be 10, 18. So 31, 50, and 18. Shepherd, feel the dragon force. Feel the dragon force, Shepherd. Yeah, the last attack was 18. Sorry, I ignored it. I was thinking of my- No, it's okay. No worries. Just got another hundo. Oh, you have some regular fucking attacks. Okay. That is an amazing class feature. That is fucking outstanding. It's a huge, but when it comes in handy, it comes in handy. Valenta, though you can't see her face behind her mask. You can tell that there is anger here. There is frustration as she tries to wrench control of the pollen keen away from her sister. But it is a futile fight as Ludmilla has full control over the machine. But she does allow Valenta to move the, the gigantic form. And it is going to head straight towards you, Shepherd. Sure, I can't avoid it. I'm definitely blinded. She is going to, you watch as the blood pumps inside of the cauldron and zoops towards them as they heal. Look that we just used a soup. Yeah, I know. She is going to make all four for a taxi. Oh, they're advantageous. Oh my God. No. First one hits. Second one hits. Third one hits. Fourth one hits. No crits, though. The first one, she is going to make her whip attack on you. For 13 points of slather slashing damage. And then eight points of necrotic damage. That's just the first attack, right? Yeah, that's just the first attack. Oh boy. And I need you to make a strength saving throw. And this is Valenta who was doing this. Yes. Okay, so I do get an extra d6 because, does this require sight? No, no, you're just, you're fighting against the whip as she tries to pull you closer towards the pollen key. Huge 20. You are able to wiggle out of the crash of her, of her whip as she reaches down and she is going to make one claw attack. She roll all, she already hit all of them just to make sure. Yes, yes, yes. And that is going to be a 12 piercing. Yeah. And seven necrotic. She's going to forgo the damage on the second claw. She once again grabs you and pulls you towards the pollen key as she leans down for the bite, which is going to do. 12 piercing. And 15 necrotic damage. It also reduces, I forgot this last time, it reduces your maximum hit points by 15. So I'm minus 30 now for Max. Step twice to me. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, let me go. How are you looking? Not good. Like her name. So that was, I'm looking to beat the fuck up. So she is good and she's going to see about her terms and it does. Cool. She's making a wisdom saving throw. She passes. So she will take half of her 17 17 points as per rating damage. This podcast is brought to you by our patreon. Become a patron today at patreon.com slash legends of eventress and gain access to tons of exclusive perks, including a monthly movie night and a weekly patreon exclusive campaign set on the high seas shroud over salt marsh. You can also go to the crooked moon.com to pick up your own copy of our first published supplement, the crooked moon, a folk horror tome for Dungeons and Dragons fifth edition. And don't forget to snag all the extra goodies like dice, miniatures, plushies, a tarot deck and more. Thank you. Sorry. I am going to raise my lantern and look at the fire prince and say, go now heal my friends, keep us alive. And I am going, he is going to kind of a jump to attention and I'm going to roll and heal someone. Wait. And he's going to jump to a random party member. I'm using this feature that I haven't used yet and I've had it for a bit. Get it for all. You got to make sure you can do it right with the end saving throw. Oh, it's a bonus action. Oh, is it? Yes, it's a bonus action. Yes. So bonus action. Yes, it's fine. That's a good question because Nikki did say any action. Any action. Oh, any action. Do you need a bonus action? Yes, any action. Okay, so I've got it. And what is that? That is a 19. That came from the Palanquin. 19. Because I don't know all of those. Yes. 19. 19. 16. Okay, cool. So then the bonus action, he is going to leap to Clayton. As Clayton, you are going to enjoy 10 points of healing at the beginning of my turn. Thank you. I am going to then just simply look at you, Shepherd, and how far am I to you? You're very close. I need to stand up though. Can you stand up? Which you are here. And can I get to Shepherd? Yeah. Okay. So you're going to... So you're going to shoulder to shoulder in front of it. I'm going to reach down. I'm going to cast Cure Wounds on Shepherd. And that's my turn. And I'll roll that. Okay. Anastrasia looks over as Volenta holds Sarnax tenderly against the Palanquin as she feeds. She moves over towards them as she also is going to embrace you and begin to feed. And she hits. Me? No, Shepherd. Because he's restrained by Volenta, she's going to feed on him. Oh my God. So another minus 45. 13 points of piercing damage. 21 healing to you before that happens. Let me add the 21. Minus the 13. And then nine Necrotic Damage. Your max HP is also lowered by nine. Yeah. Oh, by nine? Yes. Okay. It's lowered by the amount of damage you take. Okay. So what I'm going to do is I'm going to leave it at minus 40 because I think that I might have taken more damage on the first one. I remember like took on the first one. So I'm just going to go minus 40 and now I know I'll make sure it's even for here. Okay. And that is one second. Oh, so I'm going to also roll my healing. I'm not done yet. It was at the end of my turn. I'm sorry. I just didn't roll it. Oh, it's also going to be another 15 points of healing to you, Shepherd, as my spirit bounces to you and then bounces you. 13 you said? Yep. Is that what I said? That is your turn. 15 points of healing as he jumps back at the end of my turn. I'm going to look up from the ground being thrown, getting a sense that the Palakine went over there, over there and inferring at some point that it's going to come over here. Can I deduce that they are healing from the cauldron? My understanding of magic and like what they're doing with this thing. Yeah, I would say it seems like they're getting some sort of healing. How is the cauldron being held aloft? It is embedded into the Palakine. It is a part of it. She also needs to make a wisdom of saving for, I'm sorry. I'm very sorry. I will find a way to destroy for that. If she succeeds, it's five points of healing. She failed. Oh, 10 points of healing. 10 points of healing. I'm going to get up and as I'm brushing myself off, I'm going to look at the Professor and I say, I don't know what's in that thing, but I need to get up there. Can you help me? I'm going to dash towards the Palakine and she has to know that. I should still have 15 feet. Yeah, so you can go here. Yeah. And then I'll give him a knowing look and see if I can get up there. I will make my four attacks on, does Valenta look worse for wear? She looks like she's been enjoying all of the attacks. I will keep hammering away on Astrosia. So first one is a 26. Oh, is this still a difficult terrain? No, it is not. 26, 27. Yeah, an insane two. 17. Are you rolling to make sure that you can take these actions? I am not. You need to roll once and succeed and then you're good. For int? It's int. 18. 19. Wow. And you can take these actions. 26, 27. The other one was 16. 16 hit. Are you out for their Astrosia? No, it doesn't. I think yes, you can. Okay, so third one. That'll miss. So two will hit. Actually, yeah, no, on Astrosia is going to turn and look towards you. She's going to see us or face contorts and changes from her vampiric visage into that of an innocent woman as she looks towards you and you need to make a wisdom saving throw for me, please. This is before I do the damage? Yep. So dirty 20. Okay, you are able to. Oh, you're able to. You're able to. Resist the thing? Yeah, resist the thing. 21 points of slashing damage to Anastrosia. That's my turn. Once again, the cauldron begins to spurt and bubble. I need you all to make a constitution saving throw DC 20. 20. Trust me. Hey, me too. Oh my God. I'm good, 22. 22 as well. Come on. Shit. I missed it by one. Can I? Yeah, take a twist. Thank you chat. Thank you chat. Okay. All right, you are all able to. Yeah, you're all able to withstand damage. You're all able to withstand the cauldron as the blood begins to boil, doing something similar to what it had done previously. Hey, um, Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Yes. What am I going to do? Oh, she has an extra action. She is going to turn and look toward. She's just so sick of. Who else but Sarnax? That's my one. She is going to, yeah, she is going to look toward you Sarnax. And she is going to cast, she's going to point at you and begin chanting and incantation. I'm going to make you roll a wisdom saving. Oh, thank God. I'm a Viking at those. That'll be a 20 wisdom you say? There's a 27. She is going to, she's going to hiss as she recoils and she's going to sink her things into shiver. Oh, and she is going to hit. Oh, you show me shit. And she bites into all three of the brides are feeding on you. You can hear, you can feel your heart pounding and throbbing getting weaker and weaker as they drain the blood from your body. Doing 14 points. No, sorry. Yeah. 14 points piercing damage. And 13 necrotic damage, which also lowers your HP. With saving throat and return. And that she's also going to turn toward an astrosia. And as she licks some of the blood off of her lips, she's going to whisper something in her ear that you cannot hear. It's her bone section. No light to me. No, no, no. I just don't like secrets. What is the saving throat? Sorry. Passes. 10 points. Okay. Victoria. Okay. And it is an int saving throat of 18. Does that raise to do the action? Yes. Yes. Perfect. Yeah. Yeah. 16. Oh yeah. I only have a plus from there. I made me useless here. I mean, it's a miracle that I passed it because I only have 17. That's closer, but still no. Should do one more. No, I don't like to be able to do that. So I can't do anything. You can move. So can I even take like a physical action or no? I was you can talk and you could move, but you can't bonus action, reaction, action, because you're like writing in pain. Yeah. It's like, oh, that's right. I wish we were. Oh, especially. Well, I guess I'll. Bride in pain and weekly try to grasp it shepherd to pull him down. But. Inefectively. Pauline Keen begins to shake as once again, one of the brides takes control of it. No shepherds on it. Valenta. Takes the reins of the pollen Keen damage as she turns it and heads it straight towards the skull. So I believe that it is anyone. One of the feet of it. Currently. At least it's not getting knocked down. Saving throw to anyone within 20 feet. So what is it? Does shepherd make it if he's attached to it? I'm going with. Oh yeah, he's going with it. He just doesn't even get to roll. Okay. So we have shepherd over here. So. 18. 16. 16. What is this? Dex. Yeah. Get it. With a natty. How are we looking on twists? 13 necrotic damage and not prone if you fail. You have a. And not prone if you succeed. I was all the way over here. Presumably. I want to have. But. As the pollen. As the pollen. Docks itself. In this quarter of the room. In eerie sense of calm over wells. Overwhelms the room as night begins to fall. A strange supernatural darkness begins to emanate. Over the entirety of the chamber. Everyone. Everyone. Everyone. Everyone. Everyone. Everyone. public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public do it before, Professor! Mo-fim! And you were going to see Shepherd explode into the form of a... You watch as Ludmilla reaches her handout and counterspells at a fifth level. No! I try to counter spell black. You... I roll for it. Oh my god. Take it good. Take it good. This is a gold one. We got a house. That moan gave me this one. I was at the little back. Got a tag on the floor. Got a tag on the floor. We got a tag on the floor. We got a tag on the floor. We got a tag on the floor. We got a tag on the floor. We got a tag on the floor. We got a tag on the floor. Twas fate. Well, let's see what happens. Twas fate could save this old Christy. Twas fate could save this old Christy. Let me stay in the room. Yeah, you're able to counterspell it. However, on Astrosia pulls her teeth from Shepherd as she looks up to you, she's going to use her reaction as her innocence stares towards you. I need you to make a... With some saving throw for me, please. Advantage, advantage, advantage. Twas fate? Yes. Twas fate could save this old Christy. Sorry, 25. You succeed. So, I cast Polymorph on Shepherd and he erupts into the form of a giant. Oh! Vandy Kong! Let's fucking go. I need the stat block. We haven't seen Vandy Kong in so long. Oh my God, it's been years! And that is your... that is, I guess, Ludmilla's turn. Victoria. Oh! Oh no, no, sorry. You're triple wrong! Oh, that was Clayton's turn. That was Clayton's turn. Shepherd is a giant right now. I need the stat block. I need the stat block. I got a hard skip kill. I can make two fist attacks. So, I am going to attempt to... Oh! I can make two fist attacks. I can make two fist attacks. I can make two fist attacks. I can make two fist attacks. I can make two fist attacks. I can make two fist attacks. So, I am going to attempt to use my giant eight hands to punch a Volenta twice with my giant eight fists. And it's just going to be a plus nine to hit. Reach is ten feet. That's kind of tight. It's bludgeoning damage. I got double twelves, which is going to be two twenty-ones to hit. Vandy. Yes! That swapped me out there. So, two attacks of 3d10 plus six bludgeoning damage on Volenta. That's going to be twenty-seven plus six is thirty-three. Sixteen twenty-twenty-two, which is going to be fifty-five points of bludgeoning damage over two attacks. Volenta is going two. Oh, yeah, it's her turn. She is going to... She's going to continue to hold her grapple on you. And she is going to make... No, she's not. She's going to let go. She's going to let go of you. And she is going to control the pollen keen as you fall from it and land on the ground next to it. The brides no longer feeding on you. She's going to charge directly towards Clayton for the pollen keen. There's some blight. Yeah, you're able to keep repeating it. So, I'll say at this point you're in a blighted car. Okay. You probably would have made your save by now. So, she's going to move towards you. She is going to make all four attacks on you, Clayton. All four of them hit. And she is going to... Oh, she's advantaged. I will roll them all individually then. Because I don't remember what they were. And so, she's at advantage. So, they're even. They would be strong. So, both of them hit. And both of them stay. She is going to whip you for 10 slashing. 12 necrotic. And I need you to make a strength saving throw. Or you're pulled 12 feet closer to pollen keen. Does the necrotic reduce my max HP or anything? I know. But you take double necrotic because of the like that. Exactly right. So, double that shit. Oh my god. Clayton's going from fold to... Can I twist that? Yes. I mean, she can hit you regardless, right? Oh, that's an 18. That's an 18. Yeah, so you are not pulled into the pollen keen. But she is going to rake you with her blood claws. Blood claws. For 12 points of piercing damage and... 12 points of necrotic damage. So, 24 points of necrotic damage. I'll use my reaction to jump to Clayton's side and take all that damage instead. So, you'll take 24 points of necrotic damage and... 24 and 36 total, right? And 36. Yes, so under 12. 12 minus 3 is 9. I'm here, Professor. By your side. She's going to forgrow a claw attack and restrain you or grapple you. And then she is going to bite you. Oh god. 12 piercing damage. 30 necrotic damage. And then, because she has an additional action... Oh, because she has additional action and she feels you go limp in her arms, she's going to rake her claws against you again. So, this will be at advantage because you are unconscious. Goodbye. And she will hit. Oh, did I hit her? And she slices into you, ripping at you two failed saves. You feel as she tears into you, your eyes roll back in your head. You go limp in her arms. Blood is spilling out around you. All of you look on as Clayton's blood is pouring from him. You can't tell what's Clayton's blood and what's the blood spilling out of the cauldron of the Palanquin. And just as soon as you feel all life begin to leave you, the flapping of wings. Good job. And you come to with one hit point in Valentus' arms. You can't tell if you at least have some fun. I'm just going to say stuff to you. Four triggers are even between these. This is true. Thank you. Breathe out. Oh, I miss you so much today. Oh, yeah, no, for sure. Definitely not. And all the dildos around the room just collapse to the floor. All right. No, I was using those. And Valentus turned, sarnax. Oh, holy shit. I would like to look around. How are our boys doing with Stradania? Can we see them? Like, what's happening? Oh, yeah, you can see them. They are, they're fighting away. They seem to be going toe to toe with Stradania currently. Wow. They seem to be holding their own. Good for them. Oh, wow. She also needs to make a wisdom save. She fails. Oh, she fails. She's going to, oh wow. I will pretty fucking well. 18, 28, 30, 32 points of rainy damage. Special price over. On her? You watch as the brides themselves are singed within your sunlight, unable to relinquish it as the noise behind you draws your attention. Up on the staircase, you hear the furious clashing of swords. And from the corner of your eyes, you see Stradania kick Sergei down several steps before gracefully spinning and landing a brutal slash along Escher, across Escher's torso. He lets out a pain groan, spits up a deluge of blood and tumbles down the opposite flight of stairs out of sight. The duel continues one on one, a sinister dance between siblings. Oh, my God. Escher is outside. I would say for all intents and purposes, it looks as if he has sustained a fatal one. No. Victoria, you get to heal for 16 points of healing. I have one fucking health! I don't make the rules. He's growing up. He's in his teenage years. And with that, where the fuck is Clayton? He's right there. How are we all looking? He's in violent deserts. I'm looking. I'm looking for him. I'm looking for him. I'm listening to you. My reaction to Cam is that. No, no, no. I'm doing it. The ache is there. I am going to look around the room and I'm going to use my bonus action to raise my lantern. I'm going to step far the fuck away from them towards this way. And I'm going to say, rise, rise, allies! And I'll cast Mass Healing Word. I think that's fine. I'll allow it. I'll step towards Shepherd. Whatever it is I do to get to the top. I think you're probably good at that 10, 20, 30, 40. That's why I'm confused. You just have to get like out of 10 feet. She doesn't have any ups. Yeah, that's fine. That's fine. I'm in. Okay, Mass Healing Word. And then that's going to be at a fourth level. And then I am going to once again raise my lantern, just stare at them and just say, be blinded by the lights. Be blinded by the lights. And I'm getting just like incredibly angry and they all need to make a constitution saving throw, I believe. I keep forgetting what the fuck this is. Two paths. Conceivix. Three and a half. Two detains. So they're going to take half of this. It's not going to be a whole lot probably. Oh no, it's not a whole lot at all. 25, so half of 25, which is 12 points of radiant damage, all of them. And then I'm going to roll healing and continue on with combat. Actually, yeah, no, Valenta is going to use her reaction. And you watch as she once again charges the mask, she soaks up all of the radiant damage and transforms it into a shield around them. I should have not forgotten that. I'm going to roll healing and I'm done. Do we still get the healing or does she absorb it? No, no, just the radiant damage. Yeah, just the radiant damage. So I'll be healing this. Oh, and then let me roll my GG first. Wow, that was terrible. Clayton is going to get an additional 10, 11, 11 points of healing. Hey, good buddy. And then I'm going to roll my healing. So you know me. That's important. Oh, oh shit. Okay. Oh God, now I'm nervous. I'm nervous. Healing word. Let me just look at my healing word. 2d4. 2d4. Wow, that is terrible. That is five plus five is 10. 13 points of healing to everyone. 13 points of healing. I guess he's not healthy at all. Held restrained in Valenta's arms, Anastasia descends on you, Clayton. As her fangs protrude, she is going to, she is going to bite into you. Oh God. She is going to hit. I don't have my reaction anymore. Oh, I thought, fuck, I thought you were out of that one. points of piercing damage. Oh no. 15 points of necrotic, but that makes it 30 because it is Volenta's control. Kana. Oh that's it, okay. She hasn't moved the ship yet, right? He's still in front of me. Yeah, no, it's still there. And she, and he's attached to Volenta. Yeah, so Volenta has grappled him and Anastasia was drinking from him. She drank the last of his life essence. Can I attempt to pull him out of both of their grasps or can I pull them only out of one of their grasps? You could use your full action to attempt to remove him from there. I will go! I will do that. I will go! I will hold strength saving, or strength contest. Okay, 22. Twist it. Twist it? Blow. I will twist it. I'm going to make you choose before I tell you what you got. So this, is this only me going at advantage? They're just rolling. Yeah, they just roll another dice here. Another die. Oh, they're both 17s. Yeah, 22. You attempt to wrench Clayton out of her grasp, but Volenta is holding on, empowered, emboldened by her control over the pollen king, and you are unable to free Clayton from her arms. I will action surge and try again. Anastasia has to make the save. She fails. Okay, she takes 12, 18, 20 points of the reading. That's worse. Yeah, I don't know. I will use my inspiration. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. You have two of them. I will use my other inspiration. Come on. Nope. What did you get? I got a 15. I would have been a dirty 20. I got a 12. Yeah, it's a contest. It's a contest. I had to roll against you. I got a 12. Oh, the second time. Yes. So I had a dirty 20. So I thought I was still on the first number where I was like, I had to beat 22. I'm sorry. No, so you are able to, you muster all of your strength as you wrench Clayton's limp, lifeless body away from these vampires. You pull him into your arms. His weight is heavy. His blood stains your attire. And that is your turn. It is the lair actions turn. Because you don't realize that you're in the way. Because you talk to others like, Oh, Clayton. A hideous cackle begins to emanate throughout the entirety of the room. I need every single one of you to make a wisdom saving throw. At advantage. Clayton, you auto fail because you're unconscious. And then I need you, anyone who fails, I need to roll a d4 please. This is also 20. 24 for me. For wisdom. 22. 21. 26. Two is high d4. Sorry. Open the clock. Okay. I need you to roll a d4. I need you to roll a d4. One, two, three and four. I need you to roll another one. Oh, me. Oh. Two. Slow. Connna, apropos because he's in your arms, you begin to shake violently in your unconsciousness. What is affecting him affects you too. As you fall unconscious, holding on to Clayton's lifeless body. Both of you begin to see the image. Darkness. Shadowy trees. The crunch of ground beneath feet is the form of Baba Laisaga rises. And taller and taller and taller. And for at least now you are afflicted by terrible nightmares of Baba Laisaga. The three of you still conscious. See the form of Baba Laisaga appear in the bubbling cauldron, not corporeal, not completely formed. Blood itself moving into her shape as her cackling echoes throughout the concubine's chamber. And that is the lair action. It is now Ludmilla's turn. Oh my God. This is good. This is some bubbling red stuff. I have a scary feeling as I tell me. Ludmilla. I don't care for it. Gobble it. Ludmilla is going to turn to you, Sarnak. Yeah, that sounds about right. Okay, let go of it like two times. You have a choice to make. Two of your friends lie at the feet of our ghastly pollen king. You can drop this hideous sunlight and I'll turn my eye to another. Should you choose to leave? I will end them here and now. Make your choice. I am not stupid. Ludmilla, I would hope our previous engagement would have earned respect. And then you would honor your word and I would trust you to keep it. According to the Lord, I will keep it. And I would trust you to keep it. According to the rules of combat, even with creatures of the night and lizards of the cloth, if I drop the sunlight, you swear and you will not, you swear you will not harm and kill my companions. Oh no. No, I'm not that I will not kill them. I will just not kill them both in this moment. Don't let up for even a second. Choices. I do not need the light of dawn for my God is of dragons fire. And with that, I am going to drop concentration on David. And then instead replace it with... You don't get an action. Oh, that's right. No, you just get to drop that concentration. I will drop the concentration. It's fun. Aren't you the Honorable One? I hope by what I said, I won't kill them now. I will turn my eye to Mineta as she turns and looks towards Victoria. She is going to point her finger at you. No. And at a fifth level, she's going to cast flight. She doesn't make a saving throw. I heard flight too. I was like, oh cool. And so I need you to make a constitution saving throw. I do not have to damage the buff. DC 18. Honestly, I will be the best person to target. 18 plus 9. So you will take half. Okay. Quarter. Maybe. What is the damage? Well, because it basically evens out now. Because you're resistant, but then you're also vulnerable. So now it's just straight. Oh, that's right. That's right. I didn't know what the damage was. The light is nasty. Ooh. Is it Necrotic? Yeah. What's the special? That's what I do with Alphons. There's a whole thing where everyone's vulnerable to Necrotic and then I just fucking blight. 35 points of Necrotic damage. Half if you saved. Yeah, that was for a turn. And was that she was one of the ones that drank from from Professor? Or was that? No, that was Amastrazia Pellenta. Okay, got it. I'll look out to them. They're the good man's blood, pernil in your stomachs. And I will drop my jaw again and psychic scream full effect on three of them. And I don't think four of the bubble is like a blood form counts as a thing. They all pass. So it is 52. 52 psychic damage, so they will take half of that. And then as a bonus action, one of the shadow emotes floating around my head will fly out towards Valenta. You say shadow emote? Yes, shadow emote. The shadow poo emoji above my head. It's a boo emote for Halloween. Yeah, it's good. That will be here. And 23 to hit. That hits. Oh, Jesus. Jesus is right. So that's 28 radiant damage. Jesus, this one goes up. And then I will, because it is now, it's still magical darkness. It is, it's not magical darkness. It's just a darkness that forces you to take additional on a product. Okay. Can that, will that allow me to shadow walk dark? Sure. Because it's darkness. I'll just zip towards the bed here. I need all of you to make a dexterity saving throat, please. As once again, the pollen keen begins to shake the brides, fighting again for control over this entity. Big money. Big money at the fast. 28. 24. You fail. I fail too. What was the... Oh yeah, you fail too. And you're right next to it. Yes. Oh, sorry. Yes. So you will automatically take damage, so that's two failed saves. If it's not a melee attack, it should just be one. I thought it was just, oh, just one. Just a melee attack, yeah. Did you have a roll? It's a coup de grace. It is still, it's still a mill until they change. So you will take 24 points of damage. 24. This is like... Taking damage, Kana, I would say this would awaken you. Okay. Taking damage awakes an unconscious person. So you find yourself, your eyes opening as you awaken on the ground. Clayton, however, you take one failed death save. Is this dechronic? It is. That's why I made it more. So even though I succeeded, I'm just, I'll just take the fall. You still take half. Well, you're not close enough to it. Oh, I'm not. Oh. No, you're not within 20 feet of it. Oh, I got it. Professor, Professor, wake up. Wake up, Professor. As you watch. As the pollen keen begins to shift and move, as Ludmilla looks around at all of you, I tell you I wasn't going to kill them immediately. Of course. She wrenches control from Valenta and slams the pollen keen directly, charges it into her runic symbol on the ground. I'm... Care about it. Illusory pain once again radiates out around all of you. We have to twist that. Anytime you attempt to use an action, you have to make an intelligence throw or you have to do a fail. Twist what? If we fail this, we have to just twist it. Okay. Clayton, does saving care for me, please? It's in, right? Yes, it's in. Which is just... Cuckoo bananas! My end is a fall. Is a death saving throw an ability check? No. Is it? Because I still have foresight. It's a saving throw. Death saving throw. Yes. Oh, yes, saving throw. So, how's the saving throw? How's the saving throw? So, I still have foresight. Would that count? What does foresight do? Well, if you're planning... How does foresight work? It goes away if you fall unconscious. It only goes away after the duration is done or if you cast it again. I'm going to say no. Which one? Because you're unconscious. I find it hard to believe that a spell would still be able to work for you. I agree. So, I'm saying no. It's worth asking, but I 100% agree. 13. Mark 1, 1 save. So, you've 1 save, 1 fail. Shepherd. Well, God, I'm going to have to do this. I'm going to have to do this. I'm going to have to do this. I'm going to have to do this. I'm going to have to do this. Well, God, I'm going to have to roll my int check because I want to take three attacks on Valenta. So, let me do that first. I'm scared. I'm just so fucking good on my in-zingles. That's going to be an 18. Are that hits? So, now I'll make three attacks. That passes the int. So, with redemption in the holster and my hand on my neck trying to staunch the bleeding and very raspy, I fire three times of judgment at Valenta. What do you do? Oh, boy. Oh, dear Jesus. I would like to use a couple of twisted fates on my attack rolls if I may. Is that okay? Yeah. Was it two? Yeah, two. Thank you, Jack. Thank you, Jack. You did the best. Because if I don't win these attacks, I'm just absolutely... You can't let the attack go. That's going to be a natural 20. Yes! Oh, my God, yes! And a natural one. So, the last one will definitely miss. Twist it, twist it, twist it, twist it. One more twist. No, I think that's fine. I just fucking scored big money here. So, the first one is going to be 68 damage for the first hit, 12 of which is radiant for the crit. And then the remainder is going to be... 9, 11, 12, 20. So, total of 88 points of damage over two hits for a total of 16 radiant damage. And that's my turn. I'll kind of move a little bit out of the way over here, but one, two, three, four, five. You let loose these bolts as they blast into Volenta. She lets out shrieks of... Or moans of pleasure as she takes all of the hits, the blood again, boiling around them. You watch as she regains a little bit of health. And she is going to wrestle control slightly away from Ludmilla, not able to take full control, but enough to drive the pollen keen. And she is going to move 60 feet towards Clayton. No. Okay, okay. There's nothing we can do here. Ludmilla is going to reach down. She's going to attempt to grabble you. And she'll miss. She is going to pass, and she is going to forgo the damage to grabble you. She is then going to bite into you. Would you consider this a kudugraha because I'm trying to do it very fun and thematically? Thank you. You're not even going to bother rolling the damage. As Volenta reaches down, you watch as she pulls Clayton's limp, lifeless body up off of the ground. She cradles it like a newborn babe in her arms as she laughs and strokes his face, feeling the warmth slowly begin to drain from him. She looks out at all of you. I told you that fate was on our side. You came here on your own position. We are only doing what we are meant to do. And all I am so very hungry as she lets loose her fangs and she sinks them deep into Clayton's neck. Kill him. That's a poops. Do I get the sense that he's dead? So that was a fangirling, cramping fight. She is then going to drop your body. She is then going to limp, lifeless on the ground as she turns towards Kana. She is going to make another attack at you. And she is, yeah, because she's, we've nailed the first one. Yeah, she's got one more. And she is going to, she is going to attempt to claw you. And she is going fast. She is going to make, she's going to do the damage. 11 points of piercing damage and regular necrotic because it's not her control. 11 points of necrotic damage. If she breaks at you. It's so nice. Um, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. I will look at, I'll see and I'll gasp and I will immediately just get filled with furious anger and I will step forward and I'll walk 30 feet as much as I can. Clegion as ran, you are not done in this burning crusade. Rise up. Fireprints to me and I'm going to call the fire prints over in the bonus action to teleport the rest of the way that I need to. Oh, you need to roll to see if you can do this thing. Inchex. Oh, so I will in check and fucking int. Inch. Ooh. Hold on. Inch saving throw. 17. That, that fails. Okay. I'm just going to twist. Okay. Let me do one more twist. Hmm. Do you have inspiration? I don't think I have it. Oh, I do have inspiration. I'm using my inspiration. 19. Yeah, that's that succeeds. Oh my God. You know what? I'm just going to do it. I'm going to poof next to Clayton because that's all I got. But then again, is it worthwhile because as soon as I get him up, he's going to die again. Because no one else can heal. So how are they looking? They look like they're enthralled. And so what I will say is it's very hard for you to tell what their actual health is at. It seems to be something in which the pollen keen is all part of this and they're reveling in it. They've taken a significant amount of damage, but there's in this case, there's really no way for you to tell what their health is at. What's up to you? Okay. What I'm going to do is I am going to look at the mill and I'm just going to stand next to Clayton. Con is awake. I'm just going to stand next to Clayton and poof him back. And I am going to look around and I will look at the mill and say, I do not need the dawn for I have the fire. And I am going to cast a beacon of hope. Actually, should I do that? I don't even, I just have no idea what to do here. I do beacon of hope. And I do that and then beacon of hope happens and that's my turn. Oh, actually, no, I can't do it. So I roll an actress so I can't do anything. So, I get my spells on. Let me roll four. I probably will succeed. Okay, cool. I'm done. This is looking grim. Honestrasia looks down around at all of you. Her eyes jumping from each of you. She is going to look to you, Shepherd. Need you to make a wisdom saving film. DC 18. I got 30. She looks towards you. She points your finger, her finger towards you. Come to me, little pup, and let me drink of your essence. And for a second, you feel overcome by her charm, but you're able to shrug it off as she calls you in motions towards you to come. No. I need to, I need to roll my healing. Sorry guys, I'll just do it. And yeah, that is her turn. Connor. I can't play her, actually. Victoria, you heal 20. Head points. Thank you. From where I'm standing, can I see, oh, actually, not Connor. Apologies. You hear a loud hiss from the staircase. Your attention is immediately drawn to the noise. You see the Sun Sword embedded in Shraddanya's side. It's radiant power, charring her undead flesh as Sergei leans in close to drive it deeper. But with an otherworldly speed, Shraddanya takes the opening. She moves so quickly that she is barely a blur as she drives her longsword directly into Sergei's abdomen. And then with a soft whimper of pure delight, she drives the blade in even deeper. With her free hand, which begins to glow as if with a putrid magic, she plunges it deep into his wound. Sergei lets out an agonizing welp of pain as he drops his blade, falling to his knees. Through a gap in his armor, you have a clear view of the wound, a dark, sickly infection. A putrid curse works its way through his body. Sergei sputters up a black icker and his eyes become vacant as he struggles to speak, turning his head to his sister. Shraddanya now towers over him with a satisfied smile, her blade covered in his blood. Sergei only sputters as he fails to speak, a macabre sense of deja vu overcoming his face as he looks up at his deathbringer yet again. Through trembling lips, Sergei finally finds his voice. His head turns to all of you. My friend, I have failed again. His tired eyes attempt to make contact with his sister's bloody gaze. Too weak to hold his head high any longer, it falls to his shoulders as he musters the last of his strength to speak again. Finish this, my sister. I am sorry I could not spare you from the maw of darkness that awaits you. Shraddanya furrows her brow as she raises her sword, preparing to deliver the final blow. But she hesitates. She stares down at the weakened and bested form of her brother. With pure disdain, bloody tears begin to stream down her face. After a moment, a look of twisted pleasure dances across her face as she sheaths her sword and leans down to him, tilting his face up to hers, a mere fraction apart. No, my brother. I appreciate your concern for my mortal soul, but I need no spare, and neither do you. Another long sleep is too good for you. You get to stay, linger, and watch. The countess reaches down and grabs a large handful of Sergei's hair with one hand. With the other, she picks up his extinguished sunsword and admires it as if a trophy. She turns her back to the room and kicks the door wide open. It splinters and flies from its hinges as Shraddanya drags her brother out of the chamber. Oh, Jesus. Damn. And you were doing... Oh, it leaves me to heal for ten endpoints. Hey, thanks for the time. It's good. Got any Goblinjumper cables, Akama? Goblinjumper. I wish. I would do something I can do for a dead, like, I have healing potions. That's about it. Mmm. That was so big for me, because I know you. I know you. It's a draenei. I have one Dr. T. Um... In an attempt to... I think the daughter gets so sad. In an attempt to get these women as far away from the professor, my eyes are darting around the room, looking at where they dock, and I'm walking on the steering mechanism that they're using. Is this something that looks like a wheel? It's powered by magic, so they have... There are gems on the cauldron and gems around their neck. Very similar to the ones for Donnywares, but not quite the same, and they seem to be linked and tied to that. And so when they gain control, it's more of a who has the most power in that moment, and they're controlling it with their minds. Okay. Um... Seeing that there's no potential way for me to override the ship, I'm going to nestle myself between the ship and the professor, protectively writhing in pain, my hands are shaking, I'm going to pull, I'm going to go into my pack, and I fail with this int, so should I twist it? I will... Yeah, let's do one twist. Let me use my inspiration, my last inspiration. Natural fucking 20! All right, let's go! There we go. All right. I'm going to... Taking a deep breath, steadying my hands, no longer shaking, I'm going to dig into my packs, and I'm going to pull out my pipes of haunting, and I'm going to hold them up to my mouth, tears streaming down my face as I'm positioning them in a way, kneeling next to the professor, and I'm going to try and play a tune to frighten them away from us. They have to make a DC-15 wisdom saving throw, or be frightened for a minute. Natural 20 on one, pass on the other, and a failure, but I will use a legendary resistance. That's great. Wow. Good try. That's too... That's good. And I will... Sorry, shaking! Yeah, I will just... Bonus action, second wind. Roll to see if you can bonus action. Oh, right, sorry. Yeah, wow. 20, 22. And I will bonus action, second wind to regain some hit points as I try to find my center and my calm into chaos. I'm here for 22 HP. That is my turn. Once again, the blood in the cauldron begins to whip and lash about. It's reverberating echo of the cackling of Baba-al-Isaga presents before you. The blood begins to rise and take her shape. I need all of you to roll wisdom saving throw. That's a big... DC 20. Natural fucking 20. I got a 25. You don't want to scream it? It's on cooldown and it's still, you know, doubting me. I got a million. I'm gonna twist. Yeah. You think we have... You're not even finding Stradania yet. I know, I don't think we're gonna get to. It's gonna be full. This is definitely it. 18? No. Yeah. Roll a D4 for me please. No shit. 4. 4. Death again. You begin to feel sick. As staring up at the pollen keen, the boiling blood, you begin to see the thick, viscousy, green, putrid vile brew that Baba-al-Isaga had created inside of her hut. And though you have not tasted it, you feel as though you have as your stomach turns, you feel on the edge of retching, you have disadvantage on attacks and saving throws for one minute. Oh my god. You are affected by putrid brew. Ludmilla. Ludmilla is going to look down at... Yeah, she's gonna look down at Kana. She is going to look down at you Kana. She is going to look at you and she is in control of this thing. So she is going to look at you and she is going to cast Blight at a fourth level. Who's she looking at? Kana. But we are not normal, right? No. No, see it's double-watch. That's the action thing. And so I need to make a pawn saving throw. You have advantage on saving throws against spells cast by creatures within five feet of you mage slayer. Oh nice. 20, dirty 20. Now that succeeds, so you only take half of the damage. 40 points of necrotic damage. So 20. You take 20 points of necrotic damage. Oh, because I said past. She is then going to... Because she is imbued, she's actually going to use another fourth level spell slot and she's going to do it again. This time at Shepherd. This is the spell? Yeah. I'd like to counter it. DC 18. I have to roll an AC and I have to roll a 10 hit? Because you're a mage slayer? No, no, no. It's my monster hunter thing. Magic user nemesis. When I see a creature casting a spell or teleporting them within 60 feet of you, I can use my reaction force, a wisdom saving throw, DC 18. The spell or teleport fails and is wasted. Once for short rest. 18. You got it. Oh, damn. So I need you to make a constitution saving throw DC 18. Two. Twist, twist, twist, twist. Which help you? Not much. Oh, fuck. Miss. I am blinded. We're blitting. 36 points of necrotic damage. And yeah, that is it. 36 points. It's not double, right? It's not double. We're good. Yeah, I'm good. Perfect. Thank you. I'm alive. And it is Victoria's turn. Okay, then we're still dealing in rolling. Correct. Until the end of the popcorn. I finally got one. Yes. I can take it. Oh, did you roll an 80 20? Yeah, I did. Yes. Very good. Okay. So I'm going to stretch my hand out towards Palantino. And the ground beneath it will start to rumble and churn and grave stones and skeletal hands will shoot up and mountains of earth will shoot up beneath it. So each creature would have to make a deck saving throw. Two, two past one fails. I'm going to use the last legendary resistance. Woo. Okay. That's it. You know they have nine. Oh, do they? Fuck. She's at last. I did say last. I should have played it in your deck. She said last. She said last. You gave it back. You gave it back. Last. So they would take 10 damage each. Or I'm sorry, it's 20 or 10 if they failed. Or they all passed. They all passed. Okay. So then 10, they each take 10 damage. And that is now rough to turn in. And then I'm going to roll to see if I can make a bonus. Oh, but they're flying over it. Oh, whatever. I'll give it. It's fine. I cannot. It's flowing now. It's like a new shit. The pollen keen shakes and lurches as it. As it. So as Valenta is going to once again take control. The pollen keen is going to charge towards the bat symbol on the floor. I need Kana. Actually everybody because it is going to run within 20 feet of shepherd. I think I need all of you to make a deck saving throw DC 18. It's not me. I'm far away. Another big money for you. I fail. I'm good. I fail. I roll high on all the ones that I have like the high save throw. I'm going to roll out 12 points of necrotic damage half. If you save prone if you fail. I'm prone. I'm prone. But no more. Where's all the fucking. No, but now from this point forward, you're vulnerable to necrotic damage. As once again, the darkness descends around all of you. And that one this was one of them. The last time. Does that that one was a consequence? It was going to Volenta. I said the bat. I probably did, but I meant the skull. It's still okay. So then I do need to. Okay. So we're all of us who does like everyone should everyone should deal with the policy and she's far away. Yeah. I passed. So the int check is no longer valid. No, but now you are vulnerable. And what was the passing? It's the Palenkin's charge as it rushes. I'm sorry. What was the damage for 12? So if you pass it is six because it's half. What can I do much necrotic? So you would take three. But then after this, after this, you take the normal amount and everyone else takes double. Clayton is dead. So I can deal. I'm going to still holding my neck and firing three shots at Volenta as I'm backing up 510 1520 2530. I'm I'm saying. Professor. I couldn't fucking save you. I'm coming and I'm taking three shots at Volenta. Oh, goodness gracious. That's a 22 20 and a 20. Seven. Do it. Yeah. Yeah. 1617 2028 1213 1422. 354567 1565 points of damage and 11 of it was ready. You let loose three blasts. You are incensed. You have seen so many fall before you today as you rush or as you turn towards the pollen keen and you sink your shots into Volenta. She for the first time begins to shrink away in pain. I need your old perception. A perception check for me. Oh, God. It's okay. 14. You stare at Volenta and your your eyes are drawn to the side of her. The bubbling, roiling cauldron is no longer bubbling or roiling the blood in it nearly depleted as it barely is able to splash up splash up over the sides. And it is the lentus turn. She is going to control the pollen keen and rush it towards Shepherd. And she is going to attempt to make all of her attacks against you, Shepherd. I got an actual one for one of them, but she does have five attacks. I made a four in this game. So they have 15 attacks across all three of them. Well, it depends. So she has four attacks normally. The other two only have one, but when they're the one in control of the pollen keen, they get an extra action. She gets an extra attack. So four of the five hit you. She is going to go in for claw or she's going to use the whip. 11 for the 11 slashing. 12 necrotic. So 24 necrotic damage. She is then seeing you go limp in her in her arms. Can I use my reaction here to jump to the start? Yeah, you can take that damage. So it's 24 necrotic and the 11 slashing. Is the 24 48? No, it's 24. I doubled it for you. And then it's 11, 24, 35. Shepherd get behind me. I will not allow this to happen again. Don't come. So with she is going to use her claw attack, however, to pull Sarnat or Shepherd up to her and grapple Shepherd. So you are now grapple. She is going to use her other claw attack to to claw at you. That's 123. I made a mistake. That's brown. I got a really seven piercing or seven piercing as she claws into you. And I mean, you're lucky up for this damage roll. Eight points of necrotic damage double for the blood clogged that that is doubled. I rolled a two and one and a one. Yeah. So you still got you. Okay, she is then going with her final attack. She's going to sink her teeth into you and begin to drain the blood from you. You'll take two failed death saves. All right. Please. That is Volenta. Did you put your evening cream? No. But yes, that is exactly how it works. Yes. Okay. So hold on. The only one I have left is Sarnat. Oh, no. It's over. I wanted to pop all of these before Shadania. You feel your heart begin to slow as she tenderly sucks the blood from your veins. Your heart begins to struggle against the onslaught of her feast as finally you feel death come to you. And just as quickly as the darkness comes swirling around you, the sound of raven feathers. You gasp for air and you feel yourself in her arms at one hit. Yeah. His lucky con I did that because if she hadn't, the Raven Queen would have triggered and she just attacked you again and you would have been. I'm waiting to see when people drop to dead before I do it. Clevagor. I'm trying. Sarnat. How do they look? Yeah, I described it. There's the blood is very low inside of the cauldron. That's what you see. That's what you can tell. I'm going to look down and I'll say, I'll be kind of pull myself up and I'll see Clayton dead. I'll see shepherd dying and I'll look around and I'll say, I am not strong enough to keep you all alive. There's only one way to end this now. I must hope I must pray. By fire be cursed. And with that, I will send a seventh level fireball to them on top of the on top of the pollen cane. And they need to make a dexterity saving throws. More legendary. Yeah. Valenta fails Ludmilla passes and I'm straws. 1828. Thank you. Firebrand. Let it ride, brother. That's a lot of dice. Okay. 410 1520 25 25 not great. 2530 3438 actually 4140 4749 points of fire damage to everyone that failed and then to everyone that succeeded. 41 and then if there was into fire, I ignore that because of how do you want to do this? No way. I would like to, I would hopefully like to get Ludmilla's gaze and as I yell by fire be purged, I will reach into my lantern and I'm not going to do my little finger point. I'm going to just pull and pull and pull as much flame as I possibly can. And I'm going to just look at Ludmilla and say, you do have honor for a creature of dark darkness, but you will all burn all the same. And I will just chuck it at them and just want to ignite the entire thing. My man. And just ends to start burning it. You watch as the pollen keen goes up in flames around you. Fucking done. After you finish delivering the devastating blow, there is an attempt to mend the wound, but the cauldron is finally empty. All at once, Ludmilla on Astrasian Volenta have a grim realization as to their fates, the gems that are tethered to their hearts glow violently. All three of the brides let out a horrific shriek as the dark magic that's found in their life force begins to tear them apart. Cracks begin to appear in their flesh as their veins burst open. A red undulating light throbbing beneath their skin as their flesh tears open at their veins, the gore and viscera explode out from their bodies and coat the walls, ceiling and floor. The force of their bodies imploding causes the pollen keen to fracture as it falls to pieces with a creaking groan. Wood, gold, bone and flesh rain down upon you as you attempt to shield yourself from the grotesque, bloody storm. The magical barriers shimmer and fade, having lost their source of power. The broken wreckage finally finishes its falling to the floor as the blood begins to shake. It begins to coagulate and rise, no longer covering the entirety of the room. The blood, the very life force of the brides is now suspended in midair as it fuses together and begins to take a shape. A pulsing, coagulating mass at first, but now it jolts into a humanoid form, a hunched and hideous figure, ancient and ugly. Slowly, it bubbles and boils as an unmistakable, bloody effigy of Baba Lysaga peers at you with sanguine eyes. The lips on this viscous specter peel back into a gnarled grin as her ethereal, ancient voice echoes around you with a cackle. Why do you struggle, children? Why do you rage against the night? Do you not hear the whispers? Do you not see the visions? You cannot stop what is to be made manifest. Rest, children, and welcome her embrace. You are all so tired. There is no need to fight her coming. She is here. She is with us. She is the grandest of plans for all of you. You have followed her guidance well. You have served as I have. My work is complete. With a final, hideous, burbling laugh, the effigy bursts into a bloody rain that stains the tattered carpets and furniture of the chamber. Quiet returns to the castle, at least for the moment. And you hear a groan from the staircase. It's Escher. He still lives. Escher. I immediately just kind of sigh and look over. I'm literally right next to Clayton. And I just, I say return, Clayton. Her work is complete, but yours is not. And I cast her 55. Clayton. It feels like moments and years, all at the same time, is darkness descends around you. You see a life that could have been, are about laughing on your knees. You read a story to her and Emmy. But that is not your fate. As you begin to hear the screams and echoes down a dark and lightless hall, souls everywhere, a vague, colorless version of Barovia spills out around you as your dreams, your hopes for the future all fade away and you find yourself trapped. You are nothing but a spectral entity trapped here for eternity. And it is in that moment, feels as if no time has passed. You see color, bright, white at first, to orange and reds and golds, flames around you, consuming you. And you feel pain. Your soul feels pain, the healing fire of Garex as your soul is wrenched back into your body. As you awake, your entire whole of your skin feels as if you were singed in a mighty inferno. You choke and sputter as ash and smoke billows forth from your mouth. The fires of Garex bringing you back to this life. My eyes are erupt open, still shimmering that arcane light. They're dead. We killed them. Sherdania dead too? Did you kill her too? Sherdania has grievously wounded Sergei, dragged him away. Esher seems to still be alive. Hooray. Shepard's unconscious, right? No, I got 1 HP. Oh, okay. Shepard. Shepard, wake up. Are you okay? Don't push me too far. I'm sorry. Is the professor all right? Yeah, I think he's up. Please. Yes. Are you all there? You have joined our ranks. Was I dead? Yes. You were just like myself and just like Victoria. You were dead. What was it like for you? I went to face my God in a realm of brilliant fire. What was it like for you? Colorless. Prison. Nothing else. Trapped in Barovia. Yes. Yes. When I die, I know that I will be welcomed in the warmth of Garrick the Firelord. It is not too late to welcome him into your heart, Clayton. If your souls trapped here the same, who's to say your turn to Garrick the Firelord? Because I am certain I have faith that my will will be done. My holy mission will be complete before I perish. And until I perish, none of you are allowed to die. You need to go. You need to leave. You need to leave. Start by helping me up. Absolutely. My legs are a little shaky. I will hoist an arm around you and lift you up with my shoulder. I do. I do. I do. I do. I'm going to... thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé thé of life, you could call it that. I thank you for helping us. And I will take the scroll and I will tear it and throw each into the lantern as I watch it burn. It bursts in holy radiance. Not quite of garage because it is from a scroll, but it blasts out fiery all the same. And we all fall. What? There are 700 hit points with which to do with and I don't think that there's any chance that we are going to hit. I will just use the leftover on Escher. There is 80 left over. 80 left over. I will just send the remaining leftovers to Escher as the fire burst out and it sends over everyone. It's a bit more of an arcane blast. You watch as Escher stumbles down the stairs and as he comes into view of you, you heal him a bit. He quickly moves around and leans up against the wall. Not even a scratch, honestly. Not a scratch at all. He's my favorite. Quite easy. Poor Sergei did not get out quite so well though. Where did she take him? My guess is through that door, if she goes a normal route, she's heading toward her throne room, the audience hall. There's no time to stop now. We got any chance to save Sergei. We got to go. There isn't, but it's not the time wounded, of course, or that are not fit for the job, but I was promised a castle and there are tons of people in Ravenloft that need to be freed, that need to find their escape and you promised me freedom. So I'm not asking, I'm going to do this. I will help the innocent escape because as Sarnak said some blah blah blah lizard voice, something about that means that I've done good things. So I'll try that for once. The first step on the path to redemption. Oh yes, blah blah blah blah blah. Oh, sorry, not weak. Blood caught in my throat from the polkeen. So I'm going to do that. I'm going to save them as it were. And there's a rad steed in the dungeon that I'm assuming is going to need a new master. So I'll just traipse down there, pick up a besephalus and should you survive, I will see you on the other side. Yeah? Cheers. Sound about good? Sound about right? And I think he'll need more of these and he rifles around in his pockets and he hands each one of you another potion. These are not superior, they're the ones, or supreme, they're the ones that are superior. As I take the potion, I'll grab, not sink my claws into him, but almost be there and pull him in a little bit. Ooh, Sarnak, do you want to play? Thank you. I'm fine with being the Appetizer before the main course. I do not know how to talk to you, Escher. Oh, that's fine, I enjoy it all the same. I fear that what the Countess is up to will not give you much time to evacuate the innocence. You must hurry. Oh, well, I was busy battling her while you were playing with Brides. Yes, and you fought well. Oh, I did. Early scratch. So you will be well equipped to evacuate the remaining innocence. Free the dungeons, free to help anyone who still lives in this castle. By the time we clash with Stradagna, they may not even have a chance. No, they will all know the name of their savior, Escher. Yes, no, I'll do it. He spins quickly around, directly behind you, Conor, and pulls gently your hair behind your shoulder. I hope you will not forget me, Conor Dog. I just turn around to face him. I don't trip him up and I just look up into his eyes and I say, Escher, quite frankly, you're the most unforgettable person I have in my life. Oh, I do quite like you when you're ready to stop being innocent. I'll let you know it. Find me. And with a quick shift, Shepard, you feel Escher behind you, his presence forcefully standing directly behind you as he breathes onto your neck. Hey, vote. A bit of blood on actually three points on your neck. You would feel as a ladies, but not a single bite for poor old Escher. I didn't exactly have say it. He looks at you and you see a little bit of wickedness flit across his face as he thinks I could change. No, no, good deeds, as Elizabeth has said. Well, he quickly spins you towards him, steps back and extends his hand. Take care, software. It was well met. And when you have time and you're not slaying monsters, visit me at my Clayton, my castle. Oh, death. Got your tongue. Well, it looks like you have a lot to deal with. Even before Shadonia. Oh, do tell her I say goodbye. And that I will love her always. And with that, Escher immediately turns into a small bat and begins to fly away. That. Yes, you've seemed to have misplaced your hats and I'll try to go down and pick it up for him. And I do. No. What was my hope? I'll like hold that and I'll like kind of hold it out in front of you. Thank you. Thank you. Garrick's. Has. Returned you, but I and restored your flesh. But I must ask you perhaps for the last time, Professor, are you well? Do you think Escher Escher, you still here? Your voice echoes off of the room, but no sound comes from Escher. He's gone, Professor. Do you think he knows a way out of here? I'm sure he knows many. In case we don't kill Trudalia. Don't speak that. Could he get could he get us out of here? We've come this far, Professor. We're going to kill her. You saw what they could do. The fact is a three three rides. Look, I don't want to upset you. But if we step foot in that throne room. And we don't kill her. We ain't leaving. Yes, we knew with this. Told us. You would not run if we failed. Would you click him? Is it is Lucas around? Why don't you call Lucas? He got a brush, call him or something, get you straightened up a little bit. I'm fine. I'm fine. Perhaps a cup of tea. You realize that we have precious minutes. Once you roll wisdom saving for me, please. Unless you lose the heroes because you were dead. No. OK. Twenty two. Fail. As you hear the sound above all else. Quiet first and then louder and louder and louder. You know, you said you were going to be my dad, right? I see all I know all I am of the Vistani line. I am madame Eva skin and Stradania skin. This was your fate. Don't let it make you weak for you have to raise me to be strong. Fight against the darkness of the other side. This is not how you fall. But this is the path that leads to it. Step lightly, Papa. I need you. Do I feel like I can respond to this message? Yeah, we don't hear that. No, no. Professor, you saw our talk. I see well. This is speaking to. You saw your grandmother ripped apart. Ripped apart. By horrific necromancy magic. You saw me. Trained. Dry. By horrific, horrific abominations should never have existed. You still say there's hope? I'm assuming you're willing now. Yes. It takes a moment, but you hear at the very back of your mind. I have the heart of an innocent child. And while my heart still beats, there will always be hope. All right. But my number one goal is making sure we get out of here. You understand? And to get me some more toughies. Now go. Sergi needs you. All of you. Is he okay? Can we save him? His fate is shrouded in darkness. Not even I can see the wound that pierced his side, cursed and pulsing. Save him. If it's not already too late. We need to go. Right now. All right. I'm sure you're all right. Yes, I'm fine. If we have a minute, I can attempt to calm our minds and senses. Try to send ourselves before we walk into Antostralania. But only if we have a minute. We have a minute. Any advantage we can get, I think we must do it. Okay. Remember me some fucking tea. Lucas? Well, as before, I will have them all gather around. I will find some of these couches that aren't completely splattered in the sand blood. It's pretty gross, but you can find a couple of spots. The least gross area that I can find. You sit down on a cushion that looks clean, but there was coagulated blood beneath. Like a whoopee cushion, a loud, flatulent echo reverberates throughout the room. Victoria giggles. I'm going to pull a couple of pots down in case. Sorry, that was for you, Kells. You fart jokes. Come with me. I'm going to ask you all to take a deep breath. Hold it. Exhale. One more time for the professor. Inhale. Hold it. And exhale. The VM's doing it too, because I need it. Into the nose, out through the mouth. Is that what they do? Into the nose. We're going to do one more. Okay, yeah. Hold it. I'm excited. No farting, let it out. And as I'm doing this, I've taken out my nagiata, and I've lightly tapped it on the ground, making this kind of reverberating ding. Dead chat's doing it too. Everyone, have a good time. I hope so. Welcome to Akana Studios. Please, I will see you at the cushions. She's going to take a lap around everyone, using her ring of peace. And your senses will be accosted to sort of disrupt all the bloodied mess that you are seeing and feeling and smelling around you. Instead, it will be replaced with a cool summer breeze, the sound of children laughing and running in the distance, the heat of a warm bowl of rice in your lap, with the heat of green tea to the right of it, as you can sort of imagine the sense of peace and tranquility in a moment of quiet for one minute, as I repeat, sort of quietly, but enough for you to hear. Garek's lights your path, burning hands, a warm embrace, our fates in your claws, and you all benefit from a short rest. That was beautiful. That was too awesome. Good job, good job. If you're giving out any more inspiration, that might be worth it, but no more inspiration. That was huge. That was huge. I don't think it worked. That was beautiful. I thank you for your respect, for myself and for the Fire Lord. Absolutely, I have respect for all religions, but I have a renewed appreciation for you, as a Garek's. Thank you for guiding us through this dark. And then I will stand up strong and tap my nagging out on the ground, and I say, well, we will not die here for each other, we will live here for each other, we will live on. Do you understand me? We will fight on, we will not give up, we will have our wits about us. Then maybe time to save Sergei. I think so. I'll re-build, saw something. We should go. Yes. Are we prepared for the horrors that are to come? Can we even begin to prepare ourselves? This is as good as it's gonna get. Well, Sergei is gone, Esher is gone. The doomed expedition, together once more, to the final battle. Shepard, as always, lead the way, and I will light your path. You got it. Tyon Holster, Judgement and Redemption. Let's clear off the table. Oh my god. And I proceed forward. I don't want to do it, I don't want to do it. I don't want to, I need to get the pen. I need to get the pen. I need to die the sword. I want the Morthafi please. You promised me the Morthafis. I don't want to. You begin to ascend the stairs, the stairs in which Esher and Sergei fought. Two to one against Stradagna, and both seemed to fail. While you struggled against her three brides, two of the strongest men you have known fell at her blade. And yet wounded, weak, emotionally exhausted. Hope, even if only slightly rekindled in you, as you make your way up the stairs and through the twisting corridors. And though the turns and pathways are long and wide, it seems to all go in one direction. You are easily, with Shepard's help and Sarnax's light, able to find your way to the throne room. The heavy doors to the audience hall swing open with a loud creak as you see the terrible grandeur of Stradagna's throne room. The pillars loom on either side of you and continue deep into the hall, supporting a 30 foot tall ceiling, from which hangs an enormous chandelier of gold, crystal and flame. The candles lit within flicker like the torches that line the walls, casting shadows dancing around the room and across huge tapestries bearing the sigil of the von Zarovich family. With the light from the flames pale in comparison to the eerie red moonlight that shines through massive stained glass windows, refracting it to unsettling shades of color on the smooth stone floor. As you enter, you feel a chill from the breeze that blows in from the cool Barovian night through the open doors that lead to the balcony. Upon which are flanked by two huge gargoyles that gaze eternally into the abyss below. Your footsteps echo through the hall as you pass a grand standing piano embedded into the wall, in the five of you face a throne of gold and red velvet. On the floor beside it kneels Sergei, grievously wounded with distant eyes full of pain. In sitting casually on the plush cushion of the highest seat of power in Barovia is Countess Stradagna von Zarovich. Her red eyes watching you like a predator observing its prey. In her left hand she holds a gilded crystal goblet filled to the brim with blood. She takes a long sip as her right hand strokes the black ring-ringlets of the hair of a child she's cradled in her lap. A little girl no older than five or six in a bright blue dress cannot see the child's face as it nestles into Stradagna's shoulder. But on the pale skin of her exposed neck you can plainly see two bright red bite marks. Since you're here, I presume I am now a widow. Such a shame. I had thought that by the end of the night I would have four wives and now I have none. Love is so cruel, is it not? I've been drowning my sorrow and drick and I would suggest you don't take any sudden actions against me or I will be overcome by grief and may drink myself to death. Or drink someone to death anyway. Stradagna takes another sip from her goblet as she tightens her grip on the tiny girl in her clutches. The corner of her lips turned upward and a playful smile but her eyes betraying deadly intent. The child squirms sleepily in the Countess's arms as she sits, drinks and stares at you. The pulsing energy from the cracked ruby in her choker seems to be less erratic. Small tendrils of crimson slowly slithering in and out by only mere inches. So, let's do what we highborn do best. Talk. Why are you even here? What is it that you want? I think you've quite overstayed your welcome. Couldn't you agree? Stradagna. Professor, death looks good on you. On hand, the girl now. Oh, I don't think I could do that. But... We might be able to make a deal. What kind of deal? The girl... In exchange for you leaving Barovia tonight. I cannot promise I will stop ruling how I see fit, because quite honestly it's not my choice. And quite frankly, it's none of your business. But I can promise you something better. Safe passage from Barovia. I can put you in touch with one of the few Vistani who still remain loyal to me. And have you in the wagon heading home this evening. All you have to show me is that you truly wanted. That you would do anything to be free. Prove to me that you're no better than the monster you so hate and stand before right now. You already have, really, so this should be easy for you. And this way, you still get to kill one vampire tonight. Stradagna's confident smirk turns into a vicious grin as she rouses the child in her lap. Wake up sleepyhead, you must be so hungry. Let mama take care of you. The child stirs and slowly lifts her head to nod towards Stradagna, groggily rubbing her face with a small hand. As she turns, you immediately recognize her. The little girl reaching for the goblet of blood is Myrtle, Tommy's little sister. The poor soul you rescued from the old bone grinder mill so many weeks ago. As she takes the cup, you notice that her green eyes are far more pale. Myrtle brings the goblet to her lips and as she opens her mouth to drink hungrily, you see two small fangs. Slow down, my sweet, to just taste and you don't want to ruin yourself. Stradagna pulls the child's way from Myrtle, pouts and wipes the smirk blood from her face with her forearm. But mama, when you suffer, right now, rather nobby, I see. With a gentle nudge, Stradagna turns the child to face the five of you and the little vampire girl hops off the Countess's lap. There's a moment of recognition in Myrtle's pale eyes and her innocent face twists in confusion. These are my friends, mama. They saved me and Tommy and Doreenna from the bed of little ladies. But they didn't give you any name like your brother, Didde. They still called you Myrtle and named your nest the old mother gave you, didn't they? They neglected you to spend time with the new girl, who knew magic, didn't they? Isn't that why you had to run away from the abbey? Allowing us to meet in the woods? As she says this, Stradagna speaks to the child, but her eyes are locked on all of you. Myrtle sighs and frown sadly, looking down at her feet with a silent nod. Don't be sad, my little dire wolf pup. You have mama now. Mama made sure that your old evil parents were safe. Mama's can't hurt you anymore. Mama gave you a beautiful name. Mama made you a princess with your own castle. And now mama is telling you that these people were not your real friends. They are your subordinates. It is time to eat, Ravanovia. You're right, mama. You are so smart and pretty and nice to me. You're the best mama ever. Myrtle were Ravanovia. Sighs as she turns to face you and peels back her lips to reveal her fangs. Sadness comes to her face, but is dwarfed by the look of starvation. I'm so sorry. Tommy will be really sad, but mama always knows best. You're my suffer tonight. The tiny vampire girl in the poofy blue dress and bouncing black ringlets take several steps forward with hunger in her eyes. She looks at all of you, her arms outstretched as she continues to walk, sniffing the air. You want us to kill this girl? Is that what you're telling me? Tommy, you fucking thinkabash. Stradonia's eyes meet yours and Myrtle, or Ravanovia, stands and stops looking sheepish. Hungry, scared, sad. All at the same time as she stares between all of you but still listening to her new mother. Stradonia rises just a little, but not enough to fully get off of her throne. Do you want to afraid them, Clayton? You can still kill a vampire tonight. How do I know you'll keep your word, Clayton? I can't test always, keeps her word. Show me that you do. I'm not afraid of you. I'm afraid of you. I'm afraid of you. Show me that you too are a monster, that you are just as bad as the ones you hunt. Prove it to me. And I will let you walk free. No fucking chance. I don't care if she fucking personally walks us out of this godforsaken land. She better fucking hope that there's nothing but abyss on the other fucking side. Because if I give her damnation, it's gonna be fucking eternal. Shepard. What about Dory? Don't be a careful, Shepard. I don't like that you're going to schedule a child. I ain't leaving. I ain't leaving until one of us is good and fucking dead. Shepard. That can be arranged. We've killed them high children before. Did you forget? He was a mindless creature. Gone mad with starvation. He was still a young man. This is a five-year-old girl, one whom we know. You feel a tug on your dress. You look down the cold hands of Myrtle. Now, Ravnovia. As she pulls at you. I'm really hungry though. So like me, but just a little. I'm really... I'm not so strong yet, so I won't flirt you, please. Professor. We can go home tonight. Yes. All it will take. Hmm. Yes. All it will take is one swift lotion. I know you can handle it. I'm telling you, no matter what you fucking decide, you fucking kill her, you leave this place, you leave me behind. I don't fucking care. At the end of the day, she's gonna fucking pay for her crimes. Yes, she is. And that's it. Shodania, if we kill this girl and you attempt to take the professor home, you have to deal with us. We will not leave, even if Clayton is considering it. It sounds like the party is fractured then. Professor, you need to get your employees under control. What kind of leader are you if you cannot get them to agree to one simple term? A life, a dead one. Four, five. All you have to do is leave Baropia and never think of it again. Never think of me again. It's her eyes dart to Victoria, as I will never think of you. What does that say again? Oh, my poor, my poor wounded brother. You see, we are kin, him and I. And he fell at my blade, but it was not my choice, you see. For he begged me to do it. You were there, you hurt it, and my blade, well, there is a kinship between us. He will not survive the wound. Well, not in the way you would think. Connected my life with his eternal agony. It's so boring, I'm sure you don't want to know more. Connected to your life force, meaning when you die, he will be freed. For he will die. Killing me will kill Sergei. A sacrifice. Either way, a life will be taken. Either way, whether he lives or dies, or be a sacrifice, I'm sure he'd be happy to take. It is hard to know, and she kicks his wounded body. He's not home to answer the question. Clayton, do not do anything without consulting your expedition. We've made it this far. You feel a tug on your jacket. Excuse me, sir. Are you talking to my mom about how to kill me? And you see as she turns her eyes full of sadness. Tears welling up in them as her bottom lip trembles. Mama, are you talking about making me go away? Forever? No, darling. I would never say something of the kind. This is not my choice, Ravanopia. This is the choice of the five of them, whatever choice they make. There is nothing I can do about it. You would never want anything to hurt your dear poor mama. No, I would never want something like that to happen. So, if you say that this is the way it has to be, then okay. And she looks up at you, her eyes welling up, her lip trembling. Are you going to do it? No, child. I'm going to lean down. No matter what anyone says, even if you are in your state, creature of darkness, you came from the light. And no matter what happens to you, you will be saved. You will be avenged, and no one will harm you. Ravanopia, darling, please come to mommy. I think we've had enough playtime. It doesn't look like they're going to bite. Like, I had hopes they would. Little girl. Ravanopia turns as if to leave, but she looks up at you for a second, her eyes wide. I could kill you. And it's what your mother desperately wants. I could. But I won't. Because that's what a monster would do. And whatever you are, whatever you're tracked by, whatever monstrous things you've done, we are not monsters. This ends now. As your voice booms, Ravanopia shrinks back a little from you as she quickly turns and runs towards Stradania. Stradania's arms open wide to embrace her. You really think you are better than me? You truly believe that you are above what I have done? Stradania holds the little girl as her redened eyes have nothing but contempt and hatred for all of you. She stands from her throne and takes several steps forward, the clack of her heavy leather boots echoing throughout the huge hall. She glares daggers past Murl's cradled head. If our roles were reversed and you were in this land as long as I have been, you would walk to my path step by step. This is an evil land that bears evil souls. Perhaps it's time we get a reminder that Ravia is a land of monsters. As she steps forward away from her throne, her sneer grows wider and wider. As she bears her long, raises sharp fangs and lowers her head, dangerously close to Murl's exposed neck. You are not heroes. You could not even save a little girl. You could not even... Stradania gasps as she realizes that while she's been walking away from her throne, the slithering tendrils of bloody energy have slowly and subtly been extending from her choker and wrapping themselves around Murl's small form. In one swift motion, Stradania draws her sword and slices through the crimson tentacles and throws the child down to the ground hard. A look of panicked anger washes over the Countess as she leaps back to her throne. As soon as she sits, the quickly reforming tendrils slink back to a slow and manageable wriggling mass. She lets her head back and shouts into the hall, You will not take her too. You did not whisper of her. She is not part of your plan. Her pained voice reverberates as it bounces off of the stone that surrounds you. Then she levels her eyes and her sword at the five of you. And you will not take her either. You speak of redemption, but there is none here tonight, not for me and not for you. Murl twinces in pain after letting out a small yelp as her tiny form hits the floor of the audience hall with a thud. She sniffles as tears well up in the corners of her eyes. Mama, why did you do that? Is it because I did not finish my supper? Shredania shifts her gaze to the child and for a fraction of a second, you see a genuine look of wounded pain come over her face. It is immediately replaced by snide venom. Yes, it is. You are a very bad girl who did not listen to your mama. Get out of my sight, child. Murl immediately stands, the tears now streaming down her face as her lower lip quivers beneath the soul, visible fang. But, but I don't want to leave you. I love you, mama. But I do not love you. You are not the princess and this is not your castle any longer. Leave now, Murl. Although Shredania's voice is absolutely dripping with contempt, in her wide, sunken eyes, you can see genuine sorrow after having raised her to scream at the child. The little girl gasps in genuine shock and betrayal as she attempts to blink away her tears. Her face scrunches into one of weeping before instantly transforming into a tiny little bat and flying out of the throne room through the open balcony door. You catch a last glimpse of her small wings as she flutters into the night to where you do not know. Shredania slumps down into her chair with a sigh of relief and covers her withered face with a gray hand. And then she starts to laugh. It starts low and then gets louder and more unbalanced with every passing second. She stares down at the floor of her throne room through her fingers, still marked with ghoulish serpentine veins of bright red. I had almost forgotten why I've returned to my throne and have been stalling this whole time. You see, it's Ravenloft, she was. It is her new seat of power. Her power flows through the stone like blood through a body. Poor little Ravenovia. This is not your castle, but it is not mine either. It is hers. Shredania suddenly moves her hand away from her face as her eyes focus and she turns her attention towards you. Slowly she stands and as she steps away from gold and velvet, you see the dark power that chokes her start to crackle and lash about violently. I had thought she was just a prisoner like I was, but now I know I was wrong. She was never truly caged and now she's free. Thanks to you. Now the throne behind me is no longer mine. Now all of Ravenloft is of her and she's you to thank for it. You have served her even better than I. With each step the Countess takes, the hatin venom on her face intensifies and you now realize a change to the hall that surrounds you. It's faint, but you see the glow of crimson energy running and splitting channels through the walls, the floor, the ceiling, like coursing rivers. The veins of Ravenloft pulse and grow brighter as its Countess faces you and raises her sword. But although the grand design of the blood queen has come to fruition, my war endures. I am Trudania of House Von Zorovitch, first born daughter of Berov Von Zorovitch, Countess of Berovia. I am a warlord. I have conquered this valley of death and have bent it to my will for centuries. I choose my side in the eternal battle between the darkness and the light and so have you. Our fates have led us here to this place on this night beneath a blood moon. The only way this ends is in blood, but end it finally will. I am damned, yes, but so are you. All who are damned must die, so let us all die together. Countess Trudania Von Zorovitch grips her blade tightly and she steals herself for the grim resolve of a lord of death. Her eyes fill with murderous intent. There will be blood. And that is where we were in the session. Oh my god. Fuck. We'll be blood. Thank you. Now it truly begins. The final battle has arrived at last. This can only end in blood. Whether it is mine or theirs remains to be seen, as our fates have not yet been forged. If it is truly my destiny to fall for the last time, I will take all of Berovia with me. Will there be anything left once I am through enacting my life's work? Find out in the final chapter of Curse of Trudania, Blood Moon. In the meantime, if you wish to watch Legends of Aventris tell similar stories of Dungeons and Dragons every week, you can follow us on Twitch. 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