Post/Author/DateTime	Post
windquake 07-26-05, 12:43 PM	This last weekend, I prepared a nasty encounter for my party. The party consists of: Flanna, a Tiefling Cleric (12th level) Arnesen, a Human Fighter/Cleric (12th level) Sticks, an Elven Sorcerer (12th level) Swareth, a Lycanthrope (were-cheetah) Cleric (12th level) Vallyn, a Drow Elf Blackguard/Rogue/Hexblade (12th level) The party was accompanied by 24 1st level Fighters They were travelling at sea and during the night they were attacked. Several of the 1st level fighters were killed by crossbow bolts and several of the characters were slightly injured. They were being attacked by 6 Locathah (one of which was higher level). To make them a challenge I added 7 Levels of Fighter to make 5 7th Level Fighter Locathah and one 10th level. To give them a little extra punch, I made them vampires, only that fact was obviously not visible to the party. Sticks and Flanna combined their spell abilites and removed 3 of the vamps while they were still in the water (Evard's, Flame Stikes, and Fireballs tend to do that). The 2 vamps, and the tougher leader made it onto the boat. At this point Swareth (with the Travel Domain) cast Fly so he could attack them in the water. The 2 lower vamps made it on the boat and boarded. Swareth flew down behind one of the vamps and attacked. The vamp countered by jumping onto him and grappling in the air. Again at this point the party still had no clue that they were Vamps. Just that they were "tough". The next round Swareth flew up and over the boat, intending on shaking free and dropping the Locathah onto the boat. The Locathah, then grappled, getting a pin and that is when I told Swareth that he saw "the creature open its mouth wide. You see it's eyes go blood red, as it sinks its fangs into your neck." The party about jumped out of their chairs as they realized that they had a party member 60' above the boat getting drained and had another on the boat. That same round the vamp bit Swareth, the second vamp clawed on Arnesen. The next round the Swareth biting vamp continued. Swareth knew he was in big trouble and flew down onto the deck of the ship. The other vamp nailed Vallyn. Arnesen and Vallyn smacked that vamp down while Sticks started magic missiling the one on Swareth. Flanna attempted to turn them a couple of times to no effect. The one on Swareth released it's grip and turned to attack Sticks, but was struck down the by Sticks before it could get to him. With them turned to gas, they party started to relax, and then the leader jumped up and smacked on the already weakened and wounded Swareth, but the combine power of the party dispatched him quickly. When it was all over 6 of the 1st level warriors were slain, Vallyn had 2 negative levels, Arnesen had 2 negative levels, and Swareth was down 5 Con, and 6 negative levels. The party dumped the dead fighter's overboard and Flanna began praying for the restorations needed to fix the party up. Try that next time you have a vamp. Do not reveal it to the party until it is "too late". It was a great encounter and the party was shocked and actually a little scared. The party is 5 12th level, so a bit stronger than a CR 12 creature (which the vamp leader was). By adding in the 5 CR 9s it really pushed the encounter up to a threat. I know the encounter itself was a bit more than a 12th level party could handle, but I figured the 1st level fighter guys would take some hits allowing the party to survive a bit longer. And I was kind of happy that Sticks Evard'sed the 3 in the water. -Windquake
Nezzadar Respawned 07-28-05, 03:24 PM	As a DM I am deeply outraged that the vampires were allowed to die on the boat. They did not die with honor. Next time, make the boat give them magical protection.
windquake 07-29-05, 12:21 AM	As a DM I am deeply outraged that the vampires were allowed to die on the boat. They did not die with honor. Next time, make the boat give them magical protection. Deeply outraged? Are you running for Congress or something? Did not die with honor? So, running for Klingon Congress I guess. It would have been amazing had the boat given the vamps protection, seeing that it what the CHARACTERS' boat, and not the vampires, as the vampires were LOCATHAH. If you are a DM, as you claim, you would know that vampires don't die when reduced to 0 HP, they assume gaseous form, which these did, and I pointed out. Please read the Monster Manual next time. Locathah are on page 169-170, and you may notice they are AQUATIC creatures. Vampires are on page 250-253. -Windquake
Shotgun_badger 07-29-05, 12:32 AM	Deeply outraged? Are you running for Congress or something? Did not die with honor? So, running for Klingon Congress I guess. -Windquake no could be Samurai congress too. On topic, this sounds like an awesome encounter to spring on unsispecting PCs :D
obrysii 07-29-05, 09:36 AM	It would have been amazing had the boat given the vamps protection, seeing that it what the CHARACTERS' boat, and not the vampires, as the vampires were LOCATHAH. According to Libris Mortis, Vampires that have a swim speed are immune to the "running water" weakness. They even go so far as to mention an aquatic vampire in an example.
windquake 07-30-05, 01:11 AM	According to Libris Mortis, Vampires that have a swim speed are immune to the "running water" weakness. They even go so far as to mention an aquatic vampire in an example. Actually Obrysii, it is in the Monster Manual as well. In the Vampire entry, look under the subheading "Creating A Vampire" (page 252), extra subheading "Speed". And I apologize to Nezzadar Respawned. Your reply was very confusing and I could not decipher what you meant. His initial message at no time, made any sense, and I believe we are all dumber for reading it. :) -Windquake