"Not where I'm concerned" answers Garyl, followed up by a meaty thwak as the soldier brandishes his heavy machinegun like a club, hitting the vampire across the head and sending him tumbling back down into the courtyard. Misty vapor forms around the crumpled heap as it begins its escape from the battle.

As the vampire targets begin to drop one by one, Beloc looks for the last target. Being so far off on the west side of the courtyard, he sticks to the stone railings and closes as much ground as possible. Moving as fast as possible, he makes it to the north-west corner and heads sound in a collision course with the last standing enemy.

Vampire 5 slows his pace looking back at Oro and Garyl, then back again at Sypher and Shiaran, and finally at the oncoming elven wrecking ball. He steps over to the edge of the west wall above the drop off, and then hold his arms out wide.. only to make rude gestures with either hand and lean backwards. As he falls he morphs into a bat form to flee.


This concludes the battle

Oro nods to Garyl and hands him something before walking over to Sypher and Shiaran. "Those were not the only creatures of the night on duty in these early hours. Gazra and I killed three more on our way here. Elm seems to have surrounded himself with his own creations for his night time dealings. Kallium is off as we speak trying to discern the location of-". Oro stops mid sentence as Kallium materializes behind him. "Nevermind.. He can tell you himself".

Kallium wears a concerned look. "The Count and the royal family are both holed up in north tower. A large force of a dozen or so guards is en route from the south due to the gunfire - none of them looked human. Elm doesn't keep much in the way of his kin within the north tower..and I have confirmed Elm is indeed here". He pauses for a moment. "Irja is also here. She's.. She's not herself anymore. Elm has made her one of his own. She currently acts as the jailer to King Ghendrake and the Queen. I could not locate the princess, no matter how many doors I poked my head through. There was a strange presence within the walls, as if I wasn't alone in my silent and unseen skulking. Like things were there, but they weren't all at the same time. Several of them in fact".

R.E.B.O.R.T. retracts his weapons and walks up to the rest of the group. "What you describe sounds very much like an ethereal presence. Definitive identification will require closer proximity. Historically speaking, similar signatures could match up with the entity in the pumpkin patch and the Black Fangs."

At the news of Irja, Shiaran looks at Sypher who looks over at Sigurd.  Sypher nods grimly at Kallium.  "We need to move before reinforcements arrive.  Our primary target is Elm.  Kill him.  The others can flee if they take that chance.  My understanding is that vamps that get reduced to mist take a bit to regenerate.  I plan to be finished before then.  Irja should be subdued if at all possible, but our secondary goal is the royal family."

Sypher hates that he is taking so much time to say what the others likely already know, but they cannot afford mistakes.  "I have no doubt in my mind that Elm will try to kill the royals and lay the blame on us.  We get one shot at this.  If we fail and the royals die, we will be hunted by all of Fildegarne.  Any thing else?"

He pauses for a moment in case anyone has anything of importance to add, but his bearing is toward the north tower.  If no one speaks, he'll head toward the door.

Beloc sheaths his weapon and rejoins the group as well. "I think that about sums it up, however, I don't completely agree with you on priority. I know your heart is in the right place Sypher, but I believe securing the royal family's safety is paramount here. I want to see Elm vanquished as much as anyone here, but what good will that do if there is no one to take up leadership afterward? This whole region will be plunged into chaos as the next in lines vie for the throne."

The elf places a reassuring hand on Sypher's shoulder. "I agree with you, Elm will likely use the royal family as a shield, but sacrificing their safety to kill Elm is not an option for me."

Sypher actually looks relieved at Beloc's words.  He looks over at Shiaran who nods in agreement with the elf.  Seeing general assent for the most part among those gathered, Sypher actually smiles - a slight smile, but such is a lot coming from the stoic holy warrior.  "Let's go save the royal family, then!"

Sypher leads the way to the north tower and has Shiaran check the door before entering.

[Shiaran:
Perception --> 10 + 12 = 22
Open Lock --> 10 + 10 = 20

If needed.]

The tumblers in the lock click and fall into place as the thick wooden door glides open silently on well oiled hinges. Ahead is long, white marble hallway with an intersection. Up and to then left is a closed door, with another further down. Sconces on the walls and light fixtures overhead are either extremely dim or out all together. The halls are deathly quiet.

Shiaran enters behind her brother, who walks slowly as he concentrates on the evil within.  For her part, Shiaran focuses on the physical aspects of their environment.  Pressure plates, hidden strings, slits in the walls and other telltales of traps.  Neither of the Whiteravens is intent on moving silently, exactly, but such is their natural state when entering such a clime.  The enemy is already aware of their presence, so the silence is a byproduct of their caution rather than an objective.

[Sypher Detect Evil - seeking number and general direction.
Shiaran - Perception = 22 (searching for traps).]

R.E.B.O.R.T. follows in behind the Whiteravens and comes to a halt rather quickly. He looks over to Sypher to see if he senses the same thing he does. The warforged holds up two digits, then points to the room to the right and then motions again further down the hall.

"The one down the hall appears much, much stronger." He says in a low voice.

Shiaran searches along, finding no traps. The air remains completely still as you all creep forward.

DM Note: Gonna need things a little more specific on where you're moving to from here out

Shiaran gives a quick shake of her head to Sypher who nods in understanding.  He holds up two fingers, then one finger and points to a room nearby, then further down the hall where Rebort indicated and makes a fist and shakes it, then holds up one finger again.  Afterward, he motions the group toward the stronger one, but points to Oro and then the smaller menace detected nearby.

Following his own directive, he continues forward.

[Sypher moves cautiously to F8.  He is less concerned with silence and more concerned with lurking dangers, particularly traps.
What is the approximate location on the grid for the two detected evils?]

As Sypher reaches the four-way junction in the hall, his keen senses draw his attention to the left (approximately C-10). The air remains still and cool, though there is a slight tingle to it.

As Sypher presses on, R.E.B.O.R.T. follows behind fairly close. Once the fearless paladin reaches the 4-way hallway, R.E.B.O.R.T. raises a steely fist.

"Something is happening," he states as he looks all around.

"The floors, the walls. All are beginning to radiate magic. Conjuration."

Shiaran hears Rebort's report and feels the room begin to change.  She starts to chant:

"Diachorismós ólon ton mageía mésa stin...periochí!"  Her words are slow, methodical, and enunciated meticulously so that her spell discharges the moment the other finishes coalescing.

[Shiaran begins casting Dispel Magic, ready to target whatever shows up from this new spell.
21:58, Today: Shiaran Whiteraven rolled 19 using 1d20+8.  Dispel Check - please don't suck.]

Shiaran's spell for just a brief moment seems to take hold of the immediate area, before the conjuration magics flood back into the space as if nothing happened. And for the time being, nothing does happen relating to the ambient sorcery.

A disembodied voice begins to laugh.

"Futile. Uninspiring. And typical. Join me in the next room. We have business to attend".

"He's giving us an opportunity to gain intel.  Typical bad guy.  Probably wants to monologue or something.  Let him ramble on.  The more he talks, the more info we gain.  Then we nuke the ... idiot."  The last word is a change from her original choice of word after a quick glance from Sypher.

"Agreed.  We go face Elm together.  If he tells us where the royals and Irja are, then Oro and Gazra can make haste to their position.  The rest of us will make a strategic retreat and follow.  They are of highest priority.  If he doesn't tell us or they are too far to get to practically now, we put everything we have into taking him down, mist him, then finish it off with our little present.  Remember, he is a liar.  Even if what he tells us is true, it is being told to gain advantage over us.  Do not let that happen."

Sypher turns to Sigurd.  "Irja is lost to us for now.  Are you in command of yourself enough to see this through despite the cost?"

Beloc steps up from the back. "Kallium. If the locations of the royals isn't immediately obvious, he might be able to run some recon while we buy some time as well. Given his state, he seems the most likely to navigate this place less detected than just about anyone else."

He looks over at Sypher. "No doubt he'll try to get into our heads. Is there anything that might grant protection over that sort of influence?"

As Sigurd nods to Beloc, the voice continues. It sighs heavily. "Still watching you. I can literally hear everything you're saying.. Come to me... now. Or I kill the king in front of his queen and spare you the trouble of exerting all that heroic energy before you die".
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 06:23, Sat 02 Mar 2019.

With an eye out for traps, Shiaran leads the group into the room where Elm is waiting.  She glances briefly at the vampire and gives him her most charming smile.  All the sarcasm she can muster is in her eyes alone.  Then she begins to case the room for all the details she can manage while the rest of the team enters.

Sypher moves into the room behind Shiaran, his eyes glued to the vampire the entire time.  He keeps himself close enough to Shiaran to assist in battle when it comes to that, making it look as if he is just moving out of the way for the others to enter.  His sword is out and lit, held in a single hand in front of him across his body.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:09, Mon 04 Mar 2019.

For being made almost completely of metal, R.E.B.O.R.T. enters the room behind Sypher surprisingly quiet. His weapons concealed and does not make any aggressive movements toward Elm. His eyes are primarily focused on Sypher.