We started with people finishing off their leveling up to 5th. Mostly picking new spells. It was pretty well agreed that we needed a short rest before we could venture out of the church but everyone had things they wanted to do first. Brian added some descriptions from the aftermath of last time including getting Dan caught back up with the rest of the group. Zolton wanted to do an Identify on Kharn’s sword that seemed to be vibrating in this church. The 'identify' revealed nothing beyond +1 sword. Ambrus could hear someone talking in his head, but only when outside of the church. Ezera realized the Ceremony spell he happened to have memorized would prevent someone from becoming a vampire for a week. But it would take an hour to cast. He started it. No one was sure how long it would take for the father to rise, if it was possible inside this holy church, but it was agreed that the characters would have no idea on such things. Part of the problem was that while some had their max hit points reduced from the drains, only Kharn was really down significant hit points. So only he would benefit from the short rest which meant everyone else was looking for something else they could do in that time. Eventually, the 15 minutes was spent. When Zolton started to cast another 10-minute 'Identify' ritual, Kharn and Loki revolted and declared their intent to go back into the city to rescue the NPC, put out the fire, and kill more spawn. All but Ezera agreed to go. That was the right decision for his character but would leave him out of any action.
So, we retraced our steps towards the fire. When we got to the town square, we found two vampire spawn feasting on the city folk in the stocks and cages. Initiative. Ezera was allowed to join us after a “feeling” was sent to him by the Morning Lord. Armed with the 5th level power increase, we thought we could take out 2 spawn. But then Zolton’s upcast Bless was Counterspelled by a vampire atop a statue that we hadn’t noticed. And she had a junior vampire with her. Fire was concentrated on one spawn and it was out soon enough. The Vampire cast Blindness which got Loki and Lord Q. The downed spawn rose a round later. The good news was that Brian realized we should have been getting a CON save against that level drain. But after a couple of rounds, the junior vampire was on the ropes so the vampire flew down, grabbed her hand, and teleported away. The last spawn was scared off by Zolton and with that head start, got away too. So, we only managed to kill one of them but did save some townsfolk at least.
At the coffin makers shop, we found the building a raging fire from the fire spells Zolton cast last time. It hadn’t spread to the nearby buildings yet. No sign of the NPC. That became another skill challenge. (Dan: Yay. I can't say I am a fan of these. Powers like flying over to rescue a child, using the ability to breathe underwater or swim as fast as you can fly, using draconic charisma to intimidate, or ice breath to subdue a flame aren't allowed because they aren't skills. It gets to feel pretty contrived.) Lord Q put on the guise of a city official and ordered the crowd to form a bucket brigade. Kharn saved a kid in the nearby building with an enraged Athletics check. Zolton missed an Animal Handling roll, tripped up by more chickens. Kharn was the only one with that skill but he had gone already. Ezera made another Athletics check, making sure the water kept coming. And finally, Loki missed a Survival check but that was 3 over 2 and the city was saved.
Around then, one of Lord Q’s minions returned, stating that the NPC had taken the coffin maker to the prison. We headed over to make sure she was okay. That turned into a big thing. Brian was playing up the totalitarian regime aspects and our talkers were asking what we thought were reasonable questions. (Dan: Lord Q may have been muted or he might have been first to be arrested) Somehow Zolton managed to piss off the guards, what was actually said will be debated through the ages, and arrested. (Dan: Zolton was very aggressive in wanting to talk to Ireena and although Zoltan doesn't remember doing it, most people remember him trying to walk in past the guards to ask her if she was okay. Zoltan only remembers looking in the window, seeing she was there, asking about her, and then being arrested. The conversation was a bit heated but the DM did give many clues that these guys didn't accept anyone talking back). Brian spent a bunch of time populating the arraignment center with guys to impress upon us that we wouldn’t be able to fight our way out of this. (Not that anyone was planning to.) (Dan: Originally it looked empty so it's a good thing he mentioned that or we may have tried something stupid) Eventually, initiative was rolled. Zolton managed to talk to the NPC and determine that she was okay. He then used a Misty Step to escape the building. (Dan: Zoltan massively misread the situation because as soon as he escaped he walked back to the front door with the guards as if nothing had happened. The guards recognized him immediately and called out that the escaped prisoner was here). With no one willing to start fighting, it turned into a chase scene for him. He managed to pull together just enough skills to getaway. (Dan: Zoltan was worried that he had no skills but handily beat the target skill rolls each time). He used his last Misty Step to get over the wall and ended up at the Vistania camp. Kharn also ended up there, wanting nothing to do with a city guard in a city that hated Vistania.
The rest went back to the church. Ezera finished his spell and I think we took a long rest. I assume the hit point maxs recovered? The NPC showed up eventually. She said that the accountant had shown up and helped her. He happened to have a Vampire Lore book that he lent her. One of the kids said the guards came by the Blue Water Inn, looking for Zolton. Now a wanted man. They also wanted Lord Q for impersonating a city official. That’s gratitude for you. And looking for the rest of us for questioning. But we knew we would run afoul of the government eventually. I just didn’t think it would happen after saving the city multiple times. It’s not like we’re going to be able to blend in so I think the plan was to get out of town and take the Father’s body to the head Abbey. Hopefully, if they can’t raise him, they can keep him from becoming a vampire. And then swing by the Wizard Winery. (Dan: I had the DM verify that the guards really do protect against vampire spawn. Apparently, they do. If they didn't protect the people I would be all for a guerrilla war to eliminate all the guards. Since they do help it would likely do more harm than good. However, we may have to eliminate pockets of guards if they keep hunting us. As player characters, it may be hard to resist doing more if they keep poking us and our pride/anger gets involved. Zoltan already wants to kill them all... and he's the cleric. Admittedly the cleric of some kind of mindflayer god but he _thinks_ he's good. The spirit of the murder hobo may be instilled upon us.)
