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The Dolindar Family Tomb's Portico, outside, night...
The Dolindar Family Tomb's Portico, outside, night...
This area of the graveyard seems darker, more foreboding, with mist rising to the knee and a strange pall cast by gathering clouds saps the world of its color.
The three heroes gaze at an expansive portico where the Dolindar mausoleum looms before them.
DIANA
DIANA
Ugh. Is it unendingly isolated here, or is it just me?
ERIC
(shrugs, resigned)
ERIC
(shrugs, resigned)
Sometimes you get used to overwhelming existential dread. Ironically, it's how you know you're still alive.
PRESTO
(circling the perimeter of the tomb entrance)
PRESTO
(circling the perimeter of the tomb entrance)
I dunno. Looks weirdly nice. I mean, look, the whole area is swept clean. No weeds or anything. I wonder if--
YIKES!
Presto instinctively jumps back as a hefty piece of statuary falls from the top of the tomb entrance, barely missing him. Everyone glances upward, where a VAMPIRE casually poses atop the tomb. Three other vamps, a Brawny one and two smaller ones, appear close behind.
BOSS VAMP
BOSS VAMP
Well, well, well, boys. Looky here. The tip-off was right. We got tresspassers!
SKINNY & SCRAWNY VAMPS
SKINNY & SCRAWNY VAMPS
Trespassers! Hee hee! Trespassers!
BOSS VAMP
BOSS VAMP
And ya know what happens to trespassers, don'cha?
ERIC
ERIC
You politely point out the proper directions and send them on their way?
BOSS VAMP
BOSS VAMP
No! We eat 'em! Come on, boys! It's dinner time!
GM says:
GM says:
But first, roll for Initiative.
ERIC
ERIC
⬙(10)
+ Initiative (8) = 18
PRESTO
PRESTO
⬙(12)
+ Initiative (8) = 20
DIANA
DIANA
⬙(5) (or 11)
+ Initiative (9) = 20
Round ONE
Round ONE
ESCALATION DIE = 0
The Brawny Vamp needs little prompting to pounce from above and swipe at Presto. Eric, instictively, jumps next to Presto, a bastion against against the swiping claws.
⬙(7) + Ungodly Claws (12) = 19
vs Presto's AC = 20
Miss Damage = 5 , Eric's BASTION interrupt = half each
PRESTO
PRESTO
Th-- thanks, Eric.
ERIC
ERIC
You're such a victim all the time.
With more grace than his Brawny cousin, the Boss Vamp floats gently to the floor, grabbing Eric and shoving him aside, looming confidently as he strikes the cavalier.
BOSS VAMP
BOSS VAMP
Oh, a tough guy, huh? Good. Makes your blood boil, and I like it warm.
⬙(12) + Ungodly Claws and Fangs (12) = 24
vs Eric's AC = 16
Miss Damage = 5
DIANA
DIANA
Alley-oop!
Before the scrawny vampires can react, Diana extends the Staff and vaults up onto the roof of the tomb portico.
GM says:
GM says:
Roll for DEXTERITY plus any backgrounds in gymnastics or athletics, normal check.
⬙ (12) + DEX (4) + Level (5) + Former gymnastics protégé (5) = 26
⬙ (12) + DEX (4) + Level (5) + Former gymnastics protégé (5) = 26
SKINNY & SCRAWNY VAMPS
SKINNY & SCRAWNY VAMPS
Hiss!
Diana separates the Staff, creating batons that she beats rhythmically for a few counts before sending them crashing against their skulls as she dances.
Dance of Thunder number of attacks ⬙1d4 (1) + 1 = 2
Dance of Thunder ⬙(11) + CHA (3) + Level (5) + Escalation die (0) = 19
vs Weaker Vamps' PD = 18
Damage 28 + CHAx2 = 32 damage each
PRESTO
PRESTO
Did they say "tip off?" Did Sangora sell us out?
Disengage check ⬙(2) = Fails
As if in a dance, Presto cannot sidestep away as the Brawny Vampire matches his step. Instead, Presto pulls out a handful of powder from his hat, blowing into the Vamp's face. It erupts into a burst of flame.
⬙(12) + CHA (4) + Level (5) + Escalation die (0) = 21
vs Bigger Vamps' PD = 20
Damage 13 + CHAx2 = 21 fire damage + 10 ongoing
BOSS VAMP
BOSS VAMP
You don't need to worry about that.
ERIC
ERIC
Yeah, worry about your FACE.
⬙(18) + Melee Attack (10) + Smite (4) Escalation (0) = 32
vs Bigger Vamp' AC = 20
Damage 1d6 (1) + 10 + Smite damage bonus (17) = 28
Eric's Shield clocks the Boss Vampire against his head, knocking him into a crouch. As the Boss quickly recovers, he is met by Eric's CURSED HAND. It grips his face and leeches energy, making the vamp's once-cold veins show deep red. The Vamp swipes Eric's hand away after a beat, but struggles to catch his breath.
Charm of the Eldritch Hand = 15 damage + Eric HP bonus 15
ERIC
ERIC
Right. Sucks to be sucked, don't it?
SKINNY & SCRAWNY VAMPS
SKINNY & SCRAWNY VAMPS
(after backing slightly under Diana's assault, they adjust their head and shoulders. Pops and cracks follow their skin and bruises heal themselves. At which point they tag team, swiping at Diana.)
⬙(20) + Ungodly Claws (10) = CRIT
vs Diana's AC = 20
Damage = 18
Diana shift, wriggles, and rolls, under what was clearly a deadly head shot.
⬙(4) + Ungodly Claws (10) + Shift Wriggle Roll (-3) = 11
vs Diana's AC = 20
Miss Damage = 3
Although it leaves an opening for the second one to swipe from the side.
⬙(12) + Ungodly Claws (10) = 22
vs Diana's AC = 20
Damage = 9
Round TWO
Round TWO
ESCALATION DIE = 1
BRAWNY VAMP
BRAWNY VAMP
Mrrawwr...
(with fire still licking at clothes and skin, it presses in on Presto, forcing him back)
⬙(19) + Ungodly Claws and Fangs (12) = 31
vs Presto's AC = 20
Damage = 15 + Bitten (Weakened)
Save vs. Ongoing ⬙ (5) = Still on fire
PRESTO
PRESTO
Omigod omigod! It bit me! I've been bit!
BOSS VAMP
BOSS VAMP
(continuing to stare down Eric)
Tasty, I hope.
⬙(20) + Ungodly Claws and Fangs (12) = CRIT
vs Eric's AC = 26
Damage = 30 + Bitten (Weakened)
ERIC
ERIC
Gaaaah!
DIANA
DIANA
Eric!
Oh, man...
Sustain Dance of Thunder ⬙ (7) = No. Final verse.
Dance of Thunder ⬙(17) + CHA (3) + Level (5) + Escalation die (1) = 26
vs Weaker Vamps' PD = 18
Damage 28 + CHAx2 = 32 damage
Watching the boys succumb to the vampire attacks throws off Diana's rythym slightly, but the Skinny Vamp looks like it's on its last legs.
DIANA
DIANA
Presto, move!
Disengage check ⬙(12) = Pops free
PRESTO
(slipping from under the Brawny Vampire, he scurries to the other side of Eric and the Boss, gathering power from his hat)
PRESTO
(slipping from under the Brawny Vampire, he scurries to the other side of Eric and the Boss, gathering power from his hat)
gotta move gotta move gotta move
(a Surge Shield begins to glow around him)
Save vs Bitten/Weakened ⬙(17) = Saved
ERIC
ERIC
Get offa me, Vamp!
Save vs Bitten/Weakened ⬙(9) + Undaunted (1) = No.
Shield of the Righteous ⬙(1) + STR (10) + Level (5) + Escalation (1) + Bitten (-4) = X
vs Boss Vamp's MD = 14
Damage = 0 + Diana's AC (+2)
Eric's Shield glows white, shuddering as it pulses outward. The Boss Vamp nimbly swats the energy aside, and it breaks apart. Some of the energy falls upon the rooftops, where it surrounds Diana like a Shield. Just in time, as the little Vamps attack her!
⬙(16) + Ungodly Claws (10) = 26
vs Diana's AC 20 + Shield (2) = 22
Damage = 9 + Bitten
⬙(3) + Ungodly Claws (10) = 26
vs Diana's AC 20 + Shield (2) + Bitten (-4) = 18
Miss Damage = 3
DIANA
(teasingly)
DIANA
(teasingly)
Oof! Look out for that first step!
The Scrawny Vampire, as it fumbles to strike Diana, is distracted by a flash from her Diadem of Unfortunate Dodging. The Vamp stumbles forward, then off the portico roof entirely, crashing to the floor, knocking it nearly senseless, staggered!
Diadem of Unfortunate Dodging = Damage Level (5) x2 = 10
PRESTO
PRESTO
I think they're too busy... looking at our NECKS!
continued in 3.8 Dolindar Tomb Portico, Part II . . .
GM FOOTNOTES:
The Song of Thunder is hard to make work. There's a bonus each time you sustain the song, but it's 16+ to sustain! And it's a per-arc spell? It's how many chapters, and I got to use the basic version of this thing like two times?
Building Battles:
The DnD adventure calls for four vampires. Can we make the same total appropriately within 13th Age?
BATTLE INTENSITY, Basic:
3 Champion PCs @ 4-Battles/Level Up = 3 Monster Equivalents of 6th Level (i.e. Party Level (5) + 1)
Therefore
if 1 Vampire of 6th Level = 1 Monster Equivalent
and 1 Vampire of 4th Level = 0.5 Monster Equivalent.
then 2 Total 6th-Vampires (1+1) + 2 total 4th-Vampires (0.5 + 0.5) = 3 Monster Equivalents
So...
a Boss Vamp, a Brawny Vamp, a Skinny Vamp, a Scrawny Vamp
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