A BARDS TALE: Session 16 & 17: "A good day for a white wedding........" or "Better see the undertaker first!"

31/10/13 & 07/11/23 

23rd Day of Rainmoot: 1492 

Mission:  Find the bones of St Agatha

Campaign:  Tales from the Bard

Location(s):  Barovia, Vallaki, Church, Undertakers

Present: Bernadette Greycastle, Dramos Ethrane, Niall Tharivol, Ragul-Nur, Roscoe Tosscoble, Moonwhisper, Bomber Longbeard. Ireena and Ismark. 

With no sign of Ragul nor Bomber the group decided to head to the church to find out what Father Lucian wanted to tell them.

Father Lucian was waiting on the steps.

Lucian: “What kept you, this is of the utmost importance. Never mind. I’ve found out that the gravedigger Milivoj coerced information from Yeska, the young alter boy, who I had unwittingly told about the secret hidden place of the bones of St Andral. I fear that Milivoj is the thief!”

Niall: “Where can we find this…Milivoj the Gravedigger?”

Lucian: “He has a small hut, nestled against the north town wall just to the left of the church.”

Following Father Lucians directions they approached the hut cautiously, Bernadette having to hide herself when the raggedy, dirty cloth curtain was suddenly pulled aside and she could see dirty fingers and even dirtier fingernails on the bottom sill of the window opening.

The others had crept closer and Niall readied himself to open the door. The door suddenly swung open, Milivoj taken aback reacted first ad seeing swords drawn swung his shovel, hitting Niall in the head and sending him crashing to the floor. Milivoj was quickly overpowered and made many excuses for his action. When questioned about the bones the threatening pose of Bernadette forced Milivoj to cower and inform the group that he was the thief but that he only did it on the orders of the Undertaker, Milivoj needed money to feed his family. He told them that Henrik, the Undertaker, had given him 50 pieces of gold for the bones.

Niall now stood back up made Milivoj promise not to do anything so evil again and look after his family otherwise they would be back. Milivoj thankfully agreed

Heading back towards the church the group informed Father Lucian of what had transpired and he gave them directions to the undertaker.

Moonwhisper: “And if two slightly worse for wear Dwarves should come asking where we are please tell them and to hurry up, we can’t wait all day, such as the day is, for them!”

10 minutes and the group entered the courtyard that the undertakers house was located and Arasek's stockyard, where Rictovio’s wagon was stored.

Another cautious approach and Niall found the stockyard double gates unlocked. He pushed the gate slightly open but could not hear anything.

The group approached the unimposing two story building. Above the door swung a sign with a coffin painted crudely on it. No explanations needed. All the windows had shutters and all the shutters were closed.

Roscoe: “Perhaps he’s a late riser?”

Dramos: “Shush, we don’t want to alert him!”

Bernadette tried the door.

Bernadette: “Locked and I suspect barred from the inside!”

Niall strode up to the door and with a swift kick the door all but flew of it’s hinges and crashed open.  A man stood in the centre of the room his mouth open staring aghast at the group as they entered.

Niall: ” Now, you are Henrik (the man nodded) we know you have the bones of St Andral and we want them otherwise you know what happens to you (Niall pointed to Bernadette, a frightening look was all it took)!”

Henrik: “Yes, yes, yes…..I have them. Please don’t hurt me. They are upstairs in my cupboard. Top of the stairs turn right, in the room you’ll see the cupboard. Please, please don’t hurt me!

Henrik pleaded for his life. Niall and Dramos and Roscoe watched Henrik whilst the others searched downstairs. Moonwhisper, Roscoe and Bernadette thundered up the stairs. 

Roscoe stood watch at the top of the stairs as Moonwhisper and Bernadette searched the first room then the second. 5 minutes later a shout came down stairs….

Bernadette: “We’ve got it!”

The door at the top of the stairs, opposite the one Bernadette and Moonwhisper had gone through burst open. Six creatures with grey/white skin and long taloned fingers burst out of the room. Roscoe retreated back downstairs.

 Two ran into the room where Bernadette and Moonwhisper was. A third, using the wall and ceiling for purchase scuttled into the room and dropped down to the side of Moonwhisper. The other three stormed down the stairs.

Henrik started a low, maniacal laughter which he kept up throughout. Niall, Roscoe and Dramos were fighting two of the vampire spawn. The fight was hard but gradually they gained the upper hand and the creatures, when they succumbed at last, fell to the floor as a pile of ash.

Upstairs Bernadette and Moonwhisper were fighting a gradually loosing battle against the three vampire spawn. Hit after hit they took but still they wouldn’t die.

Niall rushed the door to block the creatures from gaining access into the lower room. Niall slashed and stabbed at the creature. His attacks were getting through but he was taking damage too. Suddenly his 2^nd sword was knocked from his grasp. Dramos, who had been supporting Niall with magic fire bolts, jumped down from his vantage point and grabbed the sword. Twice he tried to thrust it into Niall's back stretched palm but he succeeded on the third attempt.

Bomber and Ragul had gone to the church and learned from father Lucian that the others were at the undertakers. They headed there and entered the square.

Niall was fighting a hard battle, his hunters mark was helping not it was not enough. Roscoe tried his best but could only offer bardic inspiration for he was sorely wounded and close to unconsciousness.

Upstairs Bernadette and Moonwhisper were fighting a gradually loosing battle against the three vampire spawn. Hit after hit they took but still they wouldn’t die.

Entering the undertakers rushed Bomber and Ragul. Just in time. Ragul cast a mass healing prayer and gave much needed healing aid to all. The fight carried on. Niall dropped back, allowing both Ragul and Bomber to aid in the attack on the 2 vampire spawn on the stairs.

Upstairs, Moonwhisper was succumbing to the blackness of unconsciousness when a wave of healing energy flowed through him. Similarly for Bernadette, both attacked with renewed vigour. The combing efforts of Ragul, Dramos, Bomber and Niall finished off the two vampire spwan downstairs, both of them again falling to the floor as ash. Niall bounded up the stairs to assist his two companions fighting for their lives. Bernadette had to reach for her last healing potions to stop her certain death and again Moonwhisper was near to succumbing to unconsciousness and certain death. Ragul, behind Niall, sent out another healing prayer aimed at Moonwhisper and he lifted his shield and sword to once more fight off the deadly vampire spawn.

Moonwhisper: “These evil spawn just will not die!”

Ragul uttered words that made the two vampire spawn scream in pain. One lept over Naill and disappeared into the room from whence they came the second retreated into another room away from Moonwhiper and Bernadette.

Bernadette: “Right, you bugger, I’m coming after you and this time I will get you.”

Moonwhisper, still sorely wounded, slumped against the walls in the corner.

Moonwhisper: "I'll watch both doors.....go get em Bernadette!"

Before Niall could shout a warning Bernadette had rushed after the vampire spawn. He followed and they cornered the spawn in a corner, it fought to the death.

Bomber and Ragul entered the room to the left at the top of the stairs. No vampire spawn to be seen.

Unseen the vampire spawn had scuttled along the rafters and dropped down behind Bomber.

Slashing him badly he turned to face just as he stared in surprise as a rapier blade thrust through the vampire spawns left eye socket, eye ball impaled on the tip.

Spawn: “Master, we have failed you”.

The vampire spawn cried out as it fell to the floor, another pile of ash.

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