Session 46 - Van Helsing Down.

The portal opens and returns Gnarvick and Baromar. The Keeper enters the room and takes Denzel with him the party look on confuses except for Pallas who stands reading the books in the library. The party bring the returned members up to speed, and then continue to stand around looking bored and ready to kill something Snowball gives in to his curiosity and heads down the stair case...... moments later they hear screaming and see running up the stairs a terrified Snowball. Warning the others that they only have a moment to prep themselves before the seven vampire spawn heading up the stairs arrive. 

The two Berserkers that were in the room high tail it out of there.

They attack, spreading out around the room, meanwhile Mulberry starts by sending a tidal wave down the stairs, Pallas follows up with Fireballs, and they fight their way through regenerating Vampires and manage not to get bitten, or grappled by the foul beasts. 

The Sunsword slices through them like butter as Grimdur works to cut as many down as he can, Gnarvick makes use of Acid to great effect and as they fight the see some similarities to them selves, one of the Vampires appears to also have a chest eye for example. 

The battle continues as the party use all their tricks, Mulberry attempting thorn whip, Snowball using shatter, Baromar trying to kick them in the head, Gnarvick hurling acid like its the 60's, Pallas wielding fire like its his birthright and Grimdur whirling the sun sword to great effect. Finally the last Vampire is defeated, and the party decide to take a short rest here. 

During the short rest Pallas finds a book that will give them some insight into the Amber sarcophagi and the effects they will provide.  They require the party to be in the room with the sarcophagus to determine which one is which in the book, but as the party explore the downstairs room they discover three. These three according to the book are ones of great power, one granting the power of Lichdom, One the power to raise the ancient dead, and the final one contains the gift of the Vampyr. The book however indicates that there are additional tasks that must be done to complete the ritual of accepting these gifts and that there are conditions around them but they appear to be not written down. 

Exploring some more and discover a fissure that leads them to the Amber Vault. There is a ton of treasure in here but the party decide to take with them:

- An obsidian and gold Scepter

- 6600 Electrum Pieces

- A Bronze crown with small dragons and gems for eyes

- A bag of 30 gemstones

- A signed copy of Snow Dwarf and the Seven Wights

They find in amongst the other treasure a black child sized sarcophagus, Baromar opens this without hesitation and discovers A set of Adult bones arranged with great care, and a book titled the Tome of Strahd.

The Party decide to seek out some more sarcophagi and see what they do, as they re-enter the main hall they find Van Helsing on the ground in a pool of blood.