Galadel sees a magical weave of energy draped over the polished black coffin within the vampire's inner sanctum. The coffin appears to be magically trapped with some form of glyph of warding.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:15, Tue 29 Dec 2015.

"I have only two spells level, both spiritual magic of the second and third order left.  The coffin is itself protected by a Glyph, we'd need to know its name or shape to by-pass triggering it.   I cannot tell what type it is, there are many, fire, lightning, cold, even negative energy can be used.  I can try to dispel the magic, though his skills are above my own, their is always a chance it can work, disrupting even a single strand of a spell can sometimes unravel it.   It can also set it off, so everyone else should be well clear, I can try this from this distance.  I can also create a force, invisible but of a solid nature like a war hammer and control it from a distance, I thought maybe I could use this to try and beat the lid open, this might also set off the glyph, hopefully with us far enough away to be safe. I agree with Saliq, my training as a cleric would indicate we forced the vampire out of its physical form and back into cloudform, where it returned to rest here.  Only after a full nights rest could it return to active physical form, if we can get to it, we can kill it forever, in....um, theory. "

Inas sighs.

"Wonderful," he mutters, thought what he finds wonderful is far from clear.

"Just curious, does anyone have any magic items or scrolls that would help in this situation?"


ooc: Per se, a holocaust cloak or the like?

Inas silently shakes his head.


OOC: Or a wheelbarrow? :)

"I could conjure a Shadow Monster," Saliq suggests slowly. "A quasi-real being of light and shadows. I did it earlier with a Manticore... perhaps if we retreat to a safe distance and I send in such a phantasm to deal with the glyph? How many uses would a glyph hold?"

"As far as I know, only once, but I'm just a novice still.  My ability to see the trap will last for quite some time yet, so if your shadow creature sets it off, I'll be able to tell if there are more, at least for some time yet...it sounds better than my plans."

"Okay, let us go back up the stairs and wait," Saliq suggested. The exiled prince's expression hinted at his fears as to whether they would be far enough away.

Once everyone was there he began chanting, as a shadowy, vaguely humanoid shape began to form... one rather familiar to the adventurers.

---

OOC: Saliq casts Shadow Monsters to create an illusionary Gargoyle. He'll then direct the phantasmal creature to head back into the crypt and to try and prise open the coffin lid.

As everyone begins to back up and move up the stairs, Galadel stares again at the coffin for a few moments, both with his real vision and that of the spell.  Then, he says a quiet prayer, "Ioun, we are close to destroying a creature of true darkness, we stand nearly spent, but willing still, if it be your will, help us end this creatures time of terror, release it and cleanse it with your light, and embrace us in your kind embrace if we are to journey to your kingdom this day"  After a few more moments study, he retreats up the stairs with the others.

Though invisible, Gal will stand in front of the two warriors, though they do not know it, they are so injured even he is a better shield this day.

Rath retreats with the others and gives what protection he can to Saliq as he summons his shadow-creature.

Ben follows the others, though his grand hope is to be able to back stab the vampire, no sense getting caught in the trap in the meantime.

The party backs away from the black coffin, at which time, Saliq orders the shadow gargoyle to approach the coffin and then pry the lid off, if it is able.

The shadow monster lopes up to the coffin and grabs either side of the coffin, resulting in a sudden, and terrific electrical display that sends bolts of electricity coursing through the summoned monster's semi-corporeal form.

BZZZZZttttt!

A fraction of a second later, all that remains of the creature is a rapidly dissipating, inky pool of darkness and the distinct smell of ozone.

Surely such a strike would have taken down any among the party who might have attempted to lift the lid without disabling the trap, but fortunately, Saliq had a useful trick up his sleeve.

The coffin lid is slightly smoking, but otherwise intact.

Galadel no longer detects any traps on the coffin lid...
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:35, Wed 30 Dec 2015.

Rath makes sure he still has his broken javelin to serve as a wooden stake and returns to the chamber. He beckons Inas to be at the ready, and looks to the others to see if they are in position.

Sweat and blood trickle down Rath's neck uncomfortably. His pulse pounds in his ears and fear clutches at his gut.

OOC: Let me know when you're all ready and I'll try to open this thing.

Saliq usually tan complexion had gone white as he looked down at the inky remains but he nodded, then held out his enchanted dagger hilt first, offering it to someone: "Ben, the creature might need more than mundane steel to finish off and you are better with weapons than I. Care to strike in my stead?"

Galadel pulls out the silver eye that is his holy symbol of Ioun and follows Rath, waiting to see what happens when the lid is removed.

Inas had been leaning on the Sword of Truth, gathering his strength and waiting.  He brought it to bear, regripped his shield, and advanced with Aldo.

Inas and Rath approach the coffin. The polished dark mahogany coffin is fitted with gold trimmings and is a work of exceptional craftsmanship. Burnished onto its lid, the Talas' family seal, a serpent coiled around a sword, leaves little doubt as to the allegiances of its occupant. Could Lord Myron, or Longshadows as he is known to some, be laying within?

The air of tension hangs palpably in the vampire's inner sanctum. The party has fought long and hard, through many adversaries and traps, just to get to this point.

"I have a magic blade already, but another couldn't hurt," Ben says, accepting the dagger.

Rath nods grimly and sets his strength to shoving aside the lid.

With his free hand, Rath grasps a corner of the coffin's lid and slides it roughly aside. There, laying within dark green velvet walls, is the seemingly sleeping form of none other than Lord Myron, now barely recognizable on account of the glistening, burnt and disfigured skin that forms a thread-bare patchwork of flesh over his semi-conscious form. A pained grimace reveals the hint of fangs at either side and the vampire's hands are folder over his chest, as the evil creature regains strength within the sanctum of his coffin.

The vampire is laying in a shallow bed of dark soil spread across the base of the coffin's interior, within which Rath sees a sizable polished wooden chest, of the same dark wood, set near the vampire's feet.

The defenseless creature lays there, apparently unaware of the danger lurking just a few feet distant.

"Pour oil on it," Ben whispers...

Rath hears Ben, but he already has the broken shaft of his javelin, which he had snapped while imbued with  temporary giant-strength. Rath lifts it high in both hands. He breathes deeply and banishes his fear, and with a fury brings down the stake to plunge it into the heart of Longshadows.

The wooden shaft I hope...

Gal stands very still, holding the holy symbol upon the creature, praying quietly.

With great force, Rath plunges the wooden shaft deep into the slumbering vampire's heart. Longshadow's eyes startle open, his dull white pupils rapidly eclipsed by dark red irises, and the creature cries out in alarm. The vampire's arms then jerk forward, clutching first at the stake and then toward Rath's neck. Rath can feel the air become chilly as the vampire's claws inch closer to his neck, but then, the arms collapse, draping lifelessly on either side of the coffin.

In one final breath, the vampire mouths something, could it be "vengeance"?

Longshadows, and Lord Myron with him, is dead!