oh boy, here we go.

I have to sleep, so I will simply wish luck to the rest of you. May the dice be on our side, for once!

>>17194517
Shit shit shit shit! We forgot to determine how many of those KI's are Silencers!

Are they only regular KI, or is there a Silencer or two mixed in there?

And did we get all of the requested equipment:
3. Federation Medkits.
4. 3 satchels of X-COM Proximity Grenades, replicated Krak Grenades, and X-COM High Explosive charges. Each satchel to carry 30 of each.
5. An X-COM Motion Detector.
6. Federation Tricorder with datalink to the Indefatigable's computer with a science officer on standby to interpret the datafeed for us.
7. Map of Castlevania, both the regular and inverted versions.
8. Replicated Type 2 Hand Phasers for all spellcasters.
9. Climbing equipment.

>>17194559
Infiltration Team, be on the lookout for Werewolves, Werepanthers, Valkyrja, Final Guards, Axe Armors and perhaps Dopplegangers of the old Belmonts.

Also, are we using the Al'Kesh to get to that Balcony in the Castle? Or trying to infiltrate through the ground floor?

>>17194517
If I've got it right, the ground team was meeting the rest of the infiltration team (Lyla, Psion, Abjurer) and the supplies ( >>17191639 ) at the Al'kesh around the backside of Castlevania.

>>17194592
>>17194575
Oh yeah and one more KI to make it 6. Might as well make it a Silencer, then we've got two with the infiltration team.

>>17194585
I believe we decided to go with that, but we'll need to wait until Drac (and Strahd) is fully engaged with the distractions.
Then bring the Al'kesh up and hit 'em fast.

>>17194575
You can't make nearly that many explosives in the time you have, you get one satchel with ten of each. Nor can you get the tricorder.

Everything else should be OK.

Oh, fun times! Stay on the lookout for any Belmont, and maybe Alucard. Also, having Lord Soth in the area would complicate the matter even further.

>>17194624
Alright, less than I hoped but more than I expected.
We can work with that.

rolled 24 = 24

>>17194623
The Al'kesh swings around and your troops begin to board it as the two armies begin to clash in earnest. The holo-emitters goes off and adds a group of death knights to Strahd's forces, but a good deal of Dracula's monsters ignore the illusion, though it DOES manage to distract some of the weaker ones.

rolled 46 = 46

>>17194654
Despite the support of steath snipers, Dracula's troops begin laying into Strahd's with a vengeance, ripping apart the ranks of fodder with ease before crashing against the more elite undead.

The Al Kesh lifts off and begins to fly towards the castle...

Now, if our information is roughly the same, we should find spikes in the hallway connecting to our target room
If our information is spot on, we should find a silver ring in the room we enter.

>>17194654
Let's try illusions of Belmont family members sneaking in the trees nearby.

>>17194671
Bypassing the castle's aerial defenses and completely undetected in the chaos until it reaches its target, the Al'Kesh smashes into the windows of the overhanging balcony of the castle. Strong alien armor is more than a match for stained glass windows as the ship disgorges its cargo of troops before backing off and flying away, circling the castle until it was called for once more.

Darius reports in that they have made it to the upper floors successfully. The troops hustle through the long hall that connects the overhang with the rest of the castle, blowing away the occasional undead with ease before coming to the hollow interior of one of the castle's huge spires. Crumbling stairs wind upward and downwards, while broad wooden beams and supports criss-cross the structure. A passage on the other side of the tower seems to lead on, but so does one at the very bottom.

rolled 98 = 98

>>17194710
You stop and give the order to search for the ring...

rolled 40 = 40

>>17194749
And find not only the Silver Ring, but a small stash of gold and gems behind a hidden wall-safe.

>>17194758

AWESOMA POWAA.

If I recall, there's a detect trap and item finder skill among the FFT classes.

Let's train Elaine OR Lyla in it and then give them the crafter's ring too.

>>17194749
Awesome, that should mean we are working with relatively accurate data, let's make a bee line for the throne room. If Dracula isn't there, then we'll have to push on through to the inverted castle through the teleport nearby.

Okay, I haven't played SotN before, but I am reading a walkthru.
So we need the Silver Ring and the Gold Ring in order to access the Holy Glasses.
Are we going to have to go through the game in order to reach the Inverted Castle and fight Dracula?

>>17194758
OP, got a question.
If we're training Elaine and Lyla as Time Mages, does that mean that they already have the pre-requisite levels in Black Mage?
Or did they somehow skip Black Mage entirely?

BTW:
While this one has the better maps:
http://www.fantasyanime.com/valhalla/castlevaniasotn/castlevsotn_maps.htm

This one has the better info on the stuff we find inside:
http://shrines.rpgclassics.com/psx/castlevsn/accessories.shtml

MS Paint Go!

rolled 73 = 73

>>17194840
>>17194817
If you used the upgrade in Azalin's lab, then yes.

>>17194914
The HP and Strength potions are definitely of interest, and Lyla or Elaine might be able to use the Holy Book.

Are there any other items we should get on the way? We're trying for a fast and hard infiltration, right?

rolled 23 = 23

>>17194975
Despite some close calls navigating the treacherous stairs with your rather heavy power armored troops, you manage to cross the belltowers without incident.

rolled 42 = 42

>>17194993
>>17194976
I'll stop for fifteen minutes to let you decide what stops to make on the way and then I'll resolve it all at once.

>>17194993
Groovy.
Did we spot any of the other items along the way?
Not going to force an more searches though, we're supposed to be moving fast, so if we missed them passing through, that will just have to be sad for us. Holy Book and Strength Potion would be nice if we did trip over them.

>>17195028
>>17194976
Yeah, limit ourselves to keeping an eye open for the items we know should be on our path, but don't sacrifice time on real searches. We've got to maintain our purpose here first: Hit hard, hit _fast_.

>>17195008
Okay, this is a projected path in brown, with items we're looking for in purple.

So, things that might be on our way to throne room with shortest path:
Silver Plate
Strength Potion
Health?
Holy Book
Zircon
Bibuti
Hippogryph (Enemy)
Health?
Cutlass
Potion
Rebound Stone

There's couple of things right near the throne room, but that's what we have on the short path.

>>17195096
I want the Power of Mist and the Resist Dark to research later.
Power of Mist sure sounds useful with the world covered in Mist, and Resist Dark is going to be good if we come up against Chaos in 40k.

However, rather than going all the way to the right in the Rebound stone hallway, go up.
Through the ceiling.
We have Space Marines.

We should send ONE hero to the HP-up / Heart-up room to grab all the powerups. Who could most use a HP boost? Darius?

>>17195149

What if Dracula targets Elaine/Lyla?

I thought we needed the silver ring and holy glasses?

>>17195149
Darius IS the one that we're going to be sending into melee against Dracula. He will likely need it most.
The KI with the Voiceless Spear will be on the defensive and protecting the spellcasters.

>>17195149
Skip the floor smashing, we're almost there at that point anyway, if we are doing it right, they still haven't realized we're there, so let's not announce ourselves with power stunts.

>>17195181
Agreeing with this guy.
Dracula is aware of the castle, almost as an extension of his will.
Blasting a big hole in it will likely alert him.

>>17195096
Do you think the Food in Castlevania actually has magical healing properties, or is it just gameplay-and-story segregation?
>>17195181
Oh, right. Be Stealthy. As stealthy as you can be when you've got Space Marines, at least.
>>17195157
I'm worried about that, but we could let them carry the Holy water and have them throw it at their kidnapper(s) point-blank.

>>17195149
And they told me I was wrong! That Space Marines wouldn't work in this Quest! WELL WHO'S LAUGHING NOW!?

>citizen elated
Why, yes I am, captcha.

>>17195165
We know where we're going and have our own spellcasters and Silencers.
Besides, what we're really hoping for is to catch Dracula with his pants down and actually in his own throne room.

>>17195197
Aye, and Reasonable Marines are among the stealthiest.

>>17195165
We may very well need more items to open more doors, but for the time being, we're taking the shortest possible route with the maximum possible sequence breaking.
>>17195203
Space Marines seem to be a pretty good option for this quest, in my opinion.
>>17195210
I hope The Kid gets a cameo.

Right lads. Vote time.
Which of the following clusters of items should we take time to loot (if any):
A. Power of Mist, Fire mail, Leap stone
B. HP and Heart-up room, Ghost card
C. Food, Resist Dark/Holy/Stone, and Plat mail
All three of these are not on the direct path to Dracula, but on the flip side, they may have some use to us.

I think we should SKIP A, LOOT B, and LOOT C. Note that we can split up to Loot B and C.

Alright team, I gotta hit dinner.
Remember, get in there fast and hit 'em hard.
And no dying! That's an order!

That reminds me, assign a KI buddy to each of the mages/psi to keep them covered in a fight.

Have fun storming the castle.

I just want to state that if we DO find Alucard somewhere abouts, that we should point him in the directions where the major plot related locations are, and the major items. That way he can be at maximum power if he DOES join up with us to defeat his father.

IF he shows up.

>>17195269
A) is more or less along the way.
Check out the graphical map to see what I mean:
http://www.fantasyanime.com/valhalla/castlevaniasotn/images/castlevsotnMap-Castle1_50x.jpg

>>17195269
Voting to Loot A, B, and C.
They're on the way, and the research material that the power of mist represents is valuable.

>>17195304
>>17195354
Lootin' all 3 it is.
Hope we brought Rope and climbing tools so we can sequence break 2/3rds of the castle by just going straight to the top!

rolled 92 = 92

>>17195096
>>17195269
Your troops sally forth, bolters blazing as they attempt to break through the castle's defenses. Through resistance is light at first, with scattered groups of undead, demons, and monsters appearing to be swiftly dispatched by spell, sword, or bolter, that begins to change the closer you get to your goal.

Your troops manage to blow the Hipprogryph guarding the midway point to bits, its normal flying attacks availing it not against .75 caliber projectiles. To this point, no treasure is found.

Pressing on, the opposition begins to get harder and harder, the groups of monsters seeming to get more organized, almost imbued with a deadly cunning that was not there before...

>>17195386
Item # 9 on the list
>>17194575

Here is the list of equipment we have available:
1. Tosh has micro-transporter and exographic scanner.
2. All spellcasters and Finalon have titanium mesh and ceramic armor.
3. Federation medkits
4. 1 satchel with 10 proximity grenades, 10 krak grenades, 10 X-COM High Explosive charges
5. X-COM Motion Detector
6. Map of Castlevania, both regular and inverted
7. Type 2 Hand Phasers for all spellcasters
8. 24th-Century Climbing Equipment.

>>17195463
Addendum:
Darius equipped with Ringil
Unnamed KI equipped with Voiceless Spear

rolled 21 = 21

>>17195422
Despite this increase in capability the monsters of Castlevania simpy cannot match the might of Darius and his team. Ringil slices clean through demon-flesh. Bolter-rounds tear apart vampires and werewolves. Holy-magic reduces zombies and skeletons to dust. The only casualty is a lone Space Marine who falls to his death after a shrieking disembodied head with snakes for hair rams into him as he attempted a dangerous jump.

Keeping more alert this time, Finalon's elf-eyes are able to uncover the hidden location of the Platinum Mail and its accompanying potions of Resistance. They also locate a secret room with bizarre, disembodied pulsating hearts that they feel compelled to take.

A pair of large double doors now face them. Beyond... the throne room.

>>17195548
>casualty is a lone Space Marine who falls to his death after a shrieking disembodied head with snakes for hair rams into him as he attempted a dangerous jump.
Goddamned fucking medusa heads!

Anyway, they weren't able to find any of the Power of Mist or Resist Dark items?

Shit, if even a 92 still lost us a man, this boss fight is going to be a fucking nightmare.

>>17195548
Well, Dracula just threw the moon at us.
Either that, or it turns out our Dracula is in another castle.

>>17195548
Hm, 21. Is that "Death shows up and says Hi", "Dracula is actually somewhere completely different", "The entire room is filling with magma", or "We found where Starscream went"?

>Looks at /tg/dice
Good thing I'm not out there.
Anyway, Drac's weak against holy stuff like Ringil, right? Use that on him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2oZtvjg5oA
Bloody tears.

WHAT A HORRIBLE NIGHT TO HAVE A QUEST

Has anyone else looked at what other quests have been rolling recently?
They all seem to be afflicted by this sudden influx of bad rolls.
Roll over, roll under, it doesn't seem to matter as long as it makes the players gnash their teeth in frustration.

Back from dinner, crap we lost one?
Not familiar enough with 40k, do we think he could have survived? Albeit heavily injured and at the bottom?

>>17195596
Don't think we're quite there yet, as I understand it.

>>17195684
Medusa heads + gravity = splat.

>>17195664
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HUwLA57paU&feature=related

Wrong song there. This is the right one.

>>17195548
Do we have any holy weapons or magicks on hand? Because if we don't I doubt we can put so much of a dent in the Big D.

rolled 20 = 20

>>17195548
Darius strides forward and pushes the doors open, revealing a broad room with tall latticed windows letting in the light of a full moon, rich red drapes framing them. Thick pillars hold up the vaulted ceiling while many candelabra flicker with dim light.

At the room's center, a tall man in finery sits in a crimson throne. He clutches a crystal goblet filled with red liquid in one hand and smiles thinly as your team enters.

"Ah... My guests have arrived. I see I hardly needed even to send out an invitation to you, you have brought me what I desired without asking. Very... courteous of you."

>>17195697
True, I'm just curious how vulnerable an enhanced super soldier in power armor is to a few story splat.
Might need to send a rescue team into the bottom floor to recover him either way.

>>17195745
Tosh, is this dude an Illusion or is he really here?
>>17195752
The more armor you wear, the harder you crater.

Also: Yes, Hello, Dracula. A Man is a miserable pile of secrets, Belief can change the nature of a man, All religions steal men's souls and make them their slaves, Humans, Tribute, etc. Feel free to throw the wine glass in anger and make with the fighting.

>>17195745
>If QuestGM does not do the line we all want to hear, I will die.

>>17195745
Unless Lyla wants to throw in a 'Fuck you' while doing so, I say we hold the chit-chat and go for the throat.

rolled 67 = 67

>>17195788

"He be there, mon. And he be sendin' chills up mah spine."

>>17195745
"I regret to inform you, Count, that what we brought you, what you desire, and what you think you have within your grasp, are all different things.
"That you are still here, must mean that you have not spoken with your son. I only wish that he was here; it would make the paperwork easier.
"Count Dracula, you know what is a man, but do you know what is a Space Marine?"

"But enough talk, have at you!"

>>17195802
>If he does I'll die.
>Also aim for the face.

>>17195788
>>17195752
Hell, I thought it was agreed that Space Marines were brokenly tough even compared to Spartans by Bungie's own people- and he made uncontrolled reentry. (Still have no idea how that worked, but that's not my point.)

>>17195817
>also, some MUSIC
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYLNwaYGn2E

>>17195811
Battle plan:
Darius and Ringil tank Dracula.
Abjurer concentrates on buff spells (Cat's Grace, Bull's Strength).
Psion first tries to hit Dracula with a Dimensional Anchor, then uses his Walls of Ectoplasm to intercept Dracula's attacks.
Lyla concentrates on Holy and buff spells, Elaine concentrates on healing.
The 6 KI defend the spellcasters and take shots at Dracula.
Tosh and Finalon, provide ranged firepower, stay the Hell away from the melee.

>>17195811
Since we're quite clearly in the "Kill Dracula" stage of the fight, now would be a good time to mention to him that Lisa/Tatyana is going to fall in love with some random sperglord, and then Strahd gets emo about it.

Ask Dracula where Death is; we might want to talk to Death after this fight is over, before Strahd can team up with him.
>>17195864
These tactics seem adequate. BUT ENOUGH TALK. HAVE AT THEE.

>>17195864
Sounds about right. Ringil was made for this sort of opponent.

>>17195891
Death is bound to the will of he who holds the power of Dominance, ergo, Dracula so we shouldn't have to worry about him going to Strahd.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMqxveujf0I
Dance of Illusions.
Feel free to send this into the earpieces of everyone fighting, because hey, boss music. Hopefully we get a tiny +1 or +2 bonus, enough to make that 1 on a 1d100 (WHICH WE WILL GET) a little less crippling.

rolled 72, 77, 32, 85, 50, 89, 55 = 460

WHAT IS A DICE?
A MISERABLE PILE OF FUMBLES.
BUT ENOUGH TALK. HAVE AT THEE.

>>17195944
...Well fuck.

>>17195944
>rolls
>gets rid of good rolls
>only failures remain
What have you done?!

rolled 58 = 58

>>17195812
"My son?" Dracula grins, showing fangs. "The last time I saw him was shortly after he reduced my mortal form to nothing. I think it is YOU who are mistaken. About a great many things. And I care not what a Space Marine truly is. I see you before me. The blood in your veins is red and flows truly, and will do just as well as any other... But yes. Enough talk."

Dracula speaks a dark word of power and hurls the goblet at one of the Knights, the goblet shattering on him, drenching his armor in the liquid. The Knight staggers in place, then drops to a knee. The vampire-king turns to Lyla.

"Lisa... come to me."

Lyla's eyes go wide and with short, slow steps, begins to stagger over to Dracula. Then her Advanced Bio-Stabilizer Mask kicks in, severing the mind-affecting enchantment. The fiery white mage blinks twice, then roars a mighty curse at Dracula.

"Die, monster!" she shouts as she begins to cast Holy. "YOU DO NOT BELONG IN THIS WORLD!!!"

rolled 14 = 14

>>17195952
BEHOLD MY TRUE FORM
AND THIS PEAR!

>>17195979
Right. Start the music and follow >>17195864 to apply Sword directly to Face.

>>17195979
"Elaine! Cast Esuna on that Knight!"
"Knight, report your status!"
ANON, please remind us to have bio-monitoring circuitry installed in all of our power-armor wearing squads.

Alright, that's our cue, everyone, you know your roles:
>>17195864

>>17195979
Somebody said cue music?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jxcUEJU9nE

>Be careful, if Death's around they may pull a Portrait of Ruin...

There can only be one.. theme song.
http://youtu.be/rGqzSiHtDRo

>>17195979
Go Lyla go!

rolled 29 = 29

>>17196019
>>17195864
Finalon fires arrow after arrow that strikes true, a bundle of the projectiles sticking out of Dracula's torso. The vampire simple breaks the shafts off with a single hand, seemingly unconcerned as Tosh opens fire with his AGR, the gauss rounds blasting apart holes in the monster that slowly begin to close of their own volition.

"Heavenly wind, carry us to the fountain of power! Esuna!" Elaine cries out. Green sparks flare around the space marine, but nothing happens, nor does he respond.

The Bolter rounds from the remaining Space Marines blast apart Dracula's flesh, but it regenerates with increasing speed, the vampire laughing almost with delight as his form is torn asunder and rebuilt. He gestures and a wall of fire roars towards the super-soldiers. The space marines are unable to dodge in time, but their unearthly fortitude and heavy armor protects them from the brunt of the damage.

Darius roars a battle-cry and charges for Dracula, Ringil in hand.

>>17196019
>>17195979

FFT panacea status spell restoring thingy on the knight.

Proceed with battle plan outlined in

>>17195864

Lock and load.

rolled 68, 18, 65, 5, 80, 96, 4, 87, 27, 73 = 523

>>17196143
What a horrible night to roll low.

>>17196143
Everyone got buffs, especially Darius?
If not, get buffs on that Darius.

Considering how powerful Darius is at this point in time, a "29" likely just means "You hit but do no damage". Anything above 50 and Dracula's got a very serious gash in his side.

rolled 38 = 38

>>17196143
Dracula's form shimmers and vanishes as Darius closes the distance, Ringil only hitting air as Dracula reappears behind the group. It is at this point that the Psion manages to cast Dimensional Anchor, Dracula's form glowing silver for a moment as his ability to teleport is robbed from him. The vampire growls, then Lyla shouts once more.

"Holy light, shine down on bloody impurity! Holy!"

A column of pure white light shines down on Dracula, causing his form to smoke and the vampire to roar in pain. The vampire growls and retaliates with another wall of flame...

>>17196143
Don't mind me, just enjoying the show.

You know, if we weren't derps we would have cast Reraise on everyone before even walking into the castle!

OP: Any chance that our White Mages are smarter than us and remembered their own spells before we got into the fight and popped that one off for us?

>>17196143
Abjurer, primary focus is casting Cat's Grace on Darius, then cast Magic Circle Against Evil!

>>17196191
Shit, shit!
Abjurer, get a Magic Circle Against Evil up, it'll help everyone's defense against Dracula's attacks.

Elaine, switch to hitting up everyone you can with ReRaise, start with yourself, then Lyla, then Darius.

>>17196200
>>17196191
Tosh - now would be a good time to use Psionic Lash on Mr. Dracula. Let's see what happens when you lose your concentration while casting a wall of fire.

Do the Abjurers or Psions or WHMs have any move that can slow Dracula down (and doesn't save vs. willpower)?

>>17196191
Fuck yeah!!

rolled 89 = 89

>>17196191
The wall of fire catches both Tosh and Finalon in it this time, the Spectre and elf suffering major burns as the unholy flame washes over them. Elaine swiftly Cures them, however.

The space marine hit by the goblet finally rises, ripping off his helmet to reveal a pale face, roaring with bestial bloodlust to reveal a new set of long, sharp fangs. The vampiric space marine turns and lunges at the Abjurer present just as he completes casting Protection From Energy: Fire on Darius...

Oh, SHIIIIII

>>17196249
KI's, intercept him! We'll try to cure him later!

>>17196249
REMEMBER THE FUCKING EMPEROR, YOU COCKBAG. TELL THAT CHAOS MUTATION TO GO FUCK ITSELF.

Lyla should cast Shell to protect against Dracula's spells.

>>17196143
>vampire space marine
>mfw
KILLITKILLITKILLITNOW!

rolled 2 = 2

>>17196249

"I am sorry, brother..."

The words are whispered just as the undead space marine is intercepted by another of the Knights Inductor before reaching the spellcaster. The warrior grabs his arm and throwing him to the ground before grabbing his gun and firing it point blank, blowing apart the vampire's head and causing his whole body to collapse into green mist.

Meanwhile, Darius charges towards Dracula again, righteous fury awoken at the scene before him.

>>17196310
>2

I got a song just for Tosh here:
http://youtu.be/cfyUbWDa8Oo

>>17196310
Aaand there's the fumble I knew we'd get.
Received loot: Vampire Darius.
Here's hoping that we've got enough abjurer buffs, battle music, and righteous fury to turn that 2 into a 12.

rolled 91 = 91

>>17196310
Dracula smiles as Darius closes, then lashes out with a single arm, grabbing Darius' sword arm and holding it in place as his fanged mouth darts in to clamp on Darius' neck. The space marine hero gives out a strangled cry as he drops Ringil, blood beginning to pour from his neck.

The Knights raise their weapons, then lower.

"Can't get a clear shot!!!"

>>17196310
>2
NO!
Damn you, dice!
Elaine, get some healing on Darius!
Abjurer, where's that Magic Circle Against Evil?
Psion, assist Darius with thrusts of telekinetic force and Walls of Ectoplasm.

>>17196249
>>17196310
89 to attack, 2 for damage?

>>17196348
Yes you can, damnit! Get closer and negate that firing-into-melee penalty Deathwatch-style!

We need some Holy Water up in this bitch. Do we have access to it?

>>17196348
Yep. We just got a Vampire Darius.
And he kicks ass for the EMPRAH.

>>17196348
TOSH, FINALON! TAKE THE SHOT!

Elaine, hit Darius with Raise!

>>17196348
>Darius gets beat down.
>91
>Darius beats right back up again.

Shit just got real.

>>17196374
Darius, Dread-Acolyte of Mephiston!

>>17196374
Nah, one bloody bite does not a vampire make.
That only happens with sci-fi viral vamps.

>>17196365
>ItemCrashItemCrashITEMCRASHOHGODITEMCRASH!

>>17196365
Of course we've got holy water. Assuming the White mages haven't tossed it already, Dracula's immoble while he noms Darius, thus making this a good time to apply Holy water directly to the forehead.

>>17196365
Yep. Even made a point of arguing that the White Mages should carry vials of it, 'cause Throw Potion.

>>17196387
THIS
A MILLION TIMES THIS

>>17196361
Remember that Tosh has an exographic scanner and micro-transporter. There's nothing he can't hit.
And Finalon is a fucking Tolkien Elf. He doesn't miss.

>>17196395
>>17196374
Nah, Dracula-style would be three bites, normally.

rolled 93 = 93

How'd I get in this castle?

>>17196427
Also true.

>>17196451
>Rookie comes in
>takes a 93
Goddammit, Rookie...

rolled 51 = 51

>>17196348
Suddenly a blast of psionic energy explodes around the vampire and his victim. Dracula utters a surprised shout of pain, withdrawing from Darius and stumbling back, dazed.

Tosh lowers his hand from his head. "Psionic explosion won't last forever! One of you get 'im!!!"

Two of the Knights run forward to retrieve their wayward commander, dragging him away from the vampire as Finalon sends a few more arrows into him. A few seem to either strike or strike perilously close to Dracula's heart, the vampire seeming to be in far more pain from the arrow-shots than before.

"Holy light, shine down on bloody impurity! Holy!!!" Lyla cries out again as another column of light burns more of Dracula away. She offers the vampire a feral grin. "That's what you get for trying to mess with my brain!"

>>17196466
Well, keep applying Death to various enemies.
a Raise, an Esuna, and an imbibed Holy Water will help cure Darius of any potential vampirism.

>>17196466
"Darius! Darius, report!"
ANON, can you get any bio-readings off of Darius? Has he been infected?

Finalon, aim for Dracula's heart. Wood in his heart is supported to greatly weaken a vampire.

Worried thought - if we lose Darius, do we therefore lose Ringil?

Shouldn't Larraman's cells have some sort of effect on non-magical-goblet-tossing vampirization?

vc seems to think sespole injecting is called for

>>17196502
Go with the Holy Water, that should work both by FFT's standards and Castlevania's.

>>17196515
Dracula isn't sci-fi, there shouldn't be any 'infection'.
Just loss of blood, and maybe a taste for spiders if we don't kill Drac.
Killing Dracula is even the cure for a second bite.

rolled 71 = 71

>>17196502
Elaine begins to wash Darius' neck wound in holy water to head off any vampiric taint as Dracula stumbles back from another hail of bolter fire. The vampire roars as his senses return to him, summoning a ball of flames that unerringly tracks down and slams into one of the Knights Inductor. The space marine screams loudly as the magical fire seeps inside his armor, cooking him in his own defenses. The warrior drops down, dead as the Abjurer completes casting Protection from Evil on Darius and the Psion encases the White Mages in a Wall of Ectoplasm for their own protection.

DARIUS! Get up and show that warp-spawned bitch who's boss!

>>17196569
>>17196580

Ringil in the heart.

It's a good thing!

>>17196569
"Darius! Get up and fight! Your team needs you!"
"Psion, prepare to cast Intellect Fortress when next attacked!"
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/intellectFortress.htm

Elaine, try a raise on the Marine that just fell!

>>17196569
_Time_ to break out the new toys onto Darius:
"Times current, place me in your whirlpool! Haste2!"

rolled 40 = 40

>>17196569
After only a few seconds, Darius is on his feet once again, gently pushing aside Elaine despite her protests, and grasping Ringil once more. Dracula turns and growls.

"You're just as much monster as I, even in the same way. We both look human, but you are not human even as I am not..." Dracula spits.

"I seek to protect mankind, not devour them!" Darius retorts, already charging once more. Dracula laughs.

"Devour them? Foolish boy, is THAT what you think I was doing here? Burn away with the old world!" Dracula raises a hand and the area around him erupts into columns of fire so tall as to scorch the ceiling...

...but to Darius, it is nothing under the protection of the Abjurer's spell. He charges through the flames, Ringil shining brightly as the blade extinguishes the fire around Dracula before slicing into the vampire's heart. Dracula cries out in pain, then grasps the sword with a burning hand, pushing it out from his body and kicking Darius away with a supremely powerful blow.

"You wanted to see something that would devour man?!" he hisses as his form begins to bubble and mutate. "Then behold my true form and despair!!!"

>>17196640
No, not the pear!

All forces fire on that transformation sequence!
White Mages, spare a Raise for the roasted Marine, and drop a Haste on Darius!

>>17196640
Tosh, Finalon, and all the KI's! Grab a High Explosive charge and throw it at Dracula before he completes the transformation! One of you fire a bolter at it!
Psion, get that Intellect Fortress up! This is gonna be a big one!
Elaine, cast Arise on the fallen Marine!

rolled 72 = 72

>>17196640
>>17196606
"Spirits of life, return to us! Raise"

"Layer upon layer, make your mark now! Haste!"

The fallen Space Marine is returned to life as Darius is granted superhuman speed and reflexes.

Tosh, Finalon, and the Knights continue to fire on Dracula as his forms shifts into that of a giant gargoyle-like monster with bat-wings and a fanged maw.

>>17196702

Dracula might be able to regenerate rapidly, but how much do you want to bet he'll still be blinded if we attack his eyes?

Ranged, time for Rock Paper Scissors, IN THE EYE!

>>17196702
Elaine, continue with healing.
Lyla! Cast Haste on the Knight with the Voiceless Spear!
Knight, go and assist Darius! Dracula will have an even harder time against two magical weapons!

rolled 18 = 18

>>17196679
Taking advantage of the time it takes to change shapes, the marines toss the high explosives at Dracula and detonate them just as the vampire completes his shape change. The resulting blast knocks everyone off their feet, and deals moderate to light injuries even to the space marines as the back of the throne room is blown out by the explosion. The cold night air rushes in as where windows and a throne once stood there is one a giant hole overlooking the hundreds of feet drop to the ground, and the rest of the castle.

Despite even this show of force, Dracula is still present, limping towards Darius with near-shattered limbs, black blood oozing from innumerable cuts on his unholy hide...

rolled 15 = 15

>>17196757
Dracula lunges and once more grabs Darius in a grapple, but the Protection from Evil spell on the Knight prevents Dracula from biting him. Even so, the monstrous vampire begins to pound the space marine with heavy blow after blow, until even his ceramite armor and reinforced bones begin to fracture under the strain.

>>17196757
Dammit!
Darius, Knight, finish off Dracula! You've almost got him!

>>17196792
Where's that Knight with the Voiceless Spear? Get up and run Dracula through the side!
Lyla, Elaine, can you get up? Can either of you cast Cure on Darius?
Psion, can you hit Dracula with a Telekinetic Thrust?

rolled 56, 74 = 130

>>17196792
The marine with the Voiceless Spear charges in to save his commander, thrusting it towards Dracula. The First Age weapon is misaimed however, and only manages to scratch the monster. The Space Marine pays for his insolence as Dracula turns his attention to him and pounces on the superhuman, biting through his armor to feast on his life's blood. As he does so, some of his wounds begin to seal. Dracula drops the corpse and looks as if he is laughing... but no sound issues from him. Dracula pauses and begins to roar, but once more, no sound is heard. The Voiceless Spear, untended to on the ground, seems to glimmer with a new light.

Uhh, what's the Voiceless Spear supposed to do?

>>17196843
He hasn't turned to crystal, we might still be able to Raise the Marine.

I hope those two rolls were for Elaine and Lyla.

>>17196848
We don't know. It was recovered from the lost city of Gondolin, and its powers are unknown beyond that it is a First Age artifact.

>>17196843
YES!
We have the Spear of Shut the Fuck Up!

White Mages, get that awesome Marine back up again.
Lyla, show that muted bastard some Holy!
Darius, take your hastened ass over to Dracula and have some words with him now that he can't talk back, very sharp words.
Tosh- Take the shot.
KI, protect the mages, help get the fallen one away from Drac while they Raise him.

rolled 90 = 90

Rolling for a Hydro Storm

>>17196843

>>rolled 56, 74 = 130

aw shit son, we be going inta super mode!!!

>>17196875
We appreciate the gesture, but only the dice rolled by OP counts.
And as unfounded and superstitious as it is, you just took a 90 away from us.

>>17196873
>>17196873

>>17196843
Distracted by the loss of his voice, Dracula does not notice the heavy footfalls behind him until it is too late. With shaky, bloodied and broken hands, Darius drives Ringil through Dracula's chest, the legendary sword flaring with energy as it passes through the vampire's chest and out his side. All the healing Dracula had just received is lost and more at the touch of the potent weapon, the vampire falling to the ground, twitching, on his last legs.

"Holy light!"

The vampire's eyes widen in fear.

"Shine down on bloody impurity!"

The fanged maw opens, perhaps to utter a final plea, but no words come from the voiceless.

"HOLY!!!"

A column of pure light burns away the remains of Dracula until naught but dust remains.

LYLA has earned a PROMOTION to HERO!

>>17196931
BOOYAH!

>>17196931
>new hero

>>17196931

Fuck yeah

>>17196931
Quick, no time to celebrate, not yet!
Elaine, if you've got a Raise left in you, Raise that last fallen Marine!

Bring the Al'Kesh around for an emergency pickup; with Dracula defeated, Castlevania is likely going to self-destruct.

We should attempt to recover the body of the Space Marine that got hit by a medusa head, but I don't know if we have the time to stick around, or if we should attempt a site-to-site beam out to outside the castle.

rolled 71 = 71

>>17196965
Elaine attempts to cast Raise on the fallen marine...

>>17196965
NO TRANSPORTING BIOLOGICALS! Remember what happened to that squirrel we experimented with?

>>17196965
There's a chance it won't be vanishing yet. Seemed both were tied here by the distortion arch.
We might have a moment to look around, though I have no will to risk losing more people.
However, we should mount an effort to recover the body of the one that fell down the shaft.

>>17197005
I know, but right now the Space Marine is dead. Maybe the effect only occurs on living things, since objects seemed to be transported just fine.

But I suppose you're right. We'll just have to try to recover the body the conventional way.

>>17196985
It works!

The castle begins to shake, pieces of the ceiling falling down, pillars collapsing, walls, crumbling.

"Dat Al'Kesh betta be here soon!" Tosh shouts as everyone limps to the hole in the wall. Just as the shaking reaches a crescendo, the familiar form of the stealth dropship soars into the view, opening its ramp as everyone jumps on board, the Psion using his telekinesis to make sure that no one 'misses'.

With everyone accounted for save the two slain space marines, the dropship turns and begins to take off as Castlevania begins to implode in on itself. Finally with a giant gout of mist and an earthshaking explosion, the castle of Dracula vanishes, leaving only a circular crater behind.

>>17197013
We should see about acquiring the design plans for anti-grav belts from the Canon of Flashback: The Quest for Identity, or from the Star Wars Canon.
We really shouldn't lose people to something as mundane as falling to their deaths.

I sure enjoy earning female heroes. We must acquire more female samples.

>>17197028
>the castle of Dracula vanishes, leaving only a circular crater behind.
Welp, there goes that idea of recovering that body or doing more looting.

Okay, let's pick up the Delta Greens, and have the Probe Droid sneak away, and move back towards Strahd's castle.

Everyone get some rest, and have the KI's that didn't participate use the Federation medkits, with instructions from the Indefatigable's doctors, to help heal up the assault team.

They'll need to rest and get their strength back, because next we're going to kill Strahd.

>>17197051
I thought Space Marines have jump packs built into their armor.

>>17197072
Would you be open to hiring on Agrias Oaks? She doesn't seem to have a job after her journey with Ramza ends, and we can get her at a discount due to Lyla and Elaine.

>>17197028
Current fight status between Drac's crew and Strahd's?

We might consider going over the crater later, see if we can find any trace of the bodies (or loot).

>>17197028

Great job, everyone. And welcome Lyla to the hall of home-grown heroes.

>>17197121
If I remember correctly, Agrias can OOB multiclass into White Mage or Geomancer.

rolled 54 = 54

>>17197130
Checking...

>>17197175
Strahd's forces were severely weakened by the assault, but about half of the elites are still 'alive', with the fodder almost all destroyed. The destruction of Castlevania left Dracula's fielded forces in a stupor that was easily exploited.

Strahd's remaining forces are now retreating to Castle Ravenloft.

Should we spring our betrayal now, or wait until we're in Strahd's throneroom?

>>17197252
Throne room. But let's take a bit to rest/patch up and search the rubble before stumbling our way back.

I'd say Throne Room. Lets also loot the ruins. There should be a ton of items in that pile of castle. We should also search the battleground. Castlevania monsters drop tons of loot.

>>17197274
Let's use the dwarven ring to help us get the loot.

>>17197252

Also, keep in mind we need to milk Strahd for as much info about Azalin as we can before killing him. If at all possible, anyway. He might give us some key clue as to how to bring that unholy abomination down. Also, we need to plan our pre-emptive, counter backstab now. I would also reccomend to have back up plans for the back up plans given our rolls.

Taking an hour break while you guys figure out your next step.

>>17197301
How far in advance do you want us to plan?

>>17197300
>>17197300
Technically speaking we know that we already know more about Azalin than Strahd does. In fact, we know what Strahd knows about Azalin as well. Things that are well documented in the gazetteers and books. Strahd merely _thinks_ that we need to know more from him.

>>17197301
Okay, let's get some planning done.
Scan the Castlevania ruins and battlefield.
The former for the space marine's body and any treasures, and same at the battlefield.

Now, do we want to give everyone on the Al'Kesh 8 hours to rest, then plop them outside the village, and have them arrive like they had walked the way from Castlevania back to Strahd?
He will suspect something if none of his undead elites or spies see's us marching back to his castle.

Also, how do we want the attack to go?
Be led up to Strahd's room, and then have the Al'Kesh bust through a wall and disgorge Space Marines while the Leopard outside does combat drops of the Hellstars, Prawns, and Mobile Infantry, as the Overlord does an assault re-entry and smashes a portion of Strahd's castle and lays waste to all around it?

>>17197301
We should have our other teams locate the Mountain Fane begin arranging to break Strahd's link to it. That will decrease his armor class when the time comes.
I recommend having the DGs secure it, and rig a photon torpedo to blow it to kingdom come. He can't have a connection to something that doesn't exist right?
ANON: Can you confirm that, or would we have to go ahead with a ritual to break his connection?

Strahd is perhaps the most difficult of all darklords to face. His mastery of necromancy is so great he has produced a kind of "super-zombie," one that is capable of seeing invisible, regenerating like a troll and whose appendages continue to fight on when severed.

Do any of you know anything that would prevent him from raising our dead to fight for him? That is what's going to make him dangerous.

If we have trouble finding loot, we use the dwarven ring.

>>17197412
Making our White Mages cast Reraise on our dudes.

>>17197404
>>17197434
Good plans so far.

Can our sensors detect if the reality distortion has been affected and in what ways?

Count Strahd von Zarovich CR 15
Male vampire (human) necromancer 10
LE Medium undead (augmented humanoid)
Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Listen +13, Spot +13
Languages Common, Draconic, Elven, Giant, Infernal

AC 27, touch 15, flat-footed 24; Dodge
hp 70 (10 HD); fast healing 5; DR 10/silver and magic
Immune sunlight; undead immunities
Resist acid 10, cold 10, electricity 10, fire 10, positive energy 10, sonic 10; +4 turn resistance; ring of counterspells (dispel magic), nondetection
Fort +6, Ref +11, Will +13
Weakness vampire vulnerabilities (except sunlight)

Speed 30 ft. (6 squares), spider climb 20 ft.
Melee slam +9 (1d6+4 plus energy drain)
Base Atk +5; Grp +9
Atk Options Combat Reflexes, energy drain, magic strike
Special Actions alternate form, blood drain 1d4 Con, children of the night 1/night, dominate (Will DC 18), gaseous form
Combat Gear bead of force, lesser Silent metamagic rod, ring of counterspells
Wizard Spells Prepared (CL 10th; prohibited schools abjuration and illusion):
5th -- cloudkill (DC 20), fell draining lightning bolt (DC 18; creatures that take damage also gain one negative level), mind fog (DC 20), waves of fatigue
4th -- dimension door, enervation (+8 ranged touch), fear (DC 19), enervated scorching ray (+8 ranged touch, +50% damage to living creatures, half damage to unliving), scrying (DC 19)
3rd -- deep slumber (DC 18), fireball (DC 18), haste, fell draining magic missile (creatures that take damage also gain one negative level), ray of exhaustion (+8 ranged touch, DC 18)
2nd -- blindness/deafness (DC 17), false life, fog cloud, scorching ray (+8 ranged touch), see invisibility, spectral hand
1st -- chill touch (+9 melee touch, DC 16), expeditious retreat, mage armor (2), magic missile, ray of enfeeblement (+8 ranged touch), true strike
0 -- detect magic (2), ghost sound (DC 15), message, touch of fatigue (+9 melee touch, DC 15)

So, rest and search the rubble.
Things to look for, one dead marine, and one marine's armor. Plus any other loot OP and the dice are generous enough to lend to our cause.
Make sure to cast Reraise on the team before going back to Strahd.
Have other teams locate the Fanes, primarily the Mountain Fane, and rig a mighty blast at our signal. Cutting off some of Strahd's power, if he even has those fanes and powers in this version of his lands.
We should prep to drop troops from the Al'kesh into his highest spire at the same time, that's were he keeps the sun-screen, I mean artifact
that protects him from the sun.

>>17197404
According to this:
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20061006a&page=2

We'll probably want to destroy the Swamp and Mountain Fanes, to get rid of his force field and energy resistance.

Maybe I am missing something, but is there any reason NOT give DG back their singularity rifles? It seems like sniping would be considerably less effective than a black hole to the chest for the remaining elites. Or at least get a few giving support sniping while the others provide heavy cover fire for any big enemy units?

Also, how long are we going to keep up the adventurer ruse once we start the meeting?

>>17197506
I don't know if simply destroying the Fanes will be enough; we might need to enact the rituals to destroy them.
Anyone have Expedition to Castle Ravenloft to see if it details what the rituals are?

>>17197519
Considering these are going to be elite undead, and Strahd's super-zombies, I think we should switch back to mass rifles. The limbs of the super-zombies continue to fight even after being severed, but I'd like to see them crawl out from behind the event horizon of a black hole.

We also have to deal with the issue of only having one chance. If Strahd chooses to, he can seal his domain. We'd be locked out with all new troops.

>>17197522
Found it on /rs/, working one right at the top.
No mention of destroying the sites with kiloton or megaton explosions, that's a bit more outside the box than had been considered.

We could try hopping through the steps.

>>17197549
So far that hasn't been working, then again, we just removed his Dread Lord competition. However we already have the Al'kesh and Leopard's troops within the area, so were should be good. Besides, his seal is 'just' magical poison mist. We're enviromentally sealed.

>>17197555
Reading it, the Runestones that are the source of the power do not seem indestrucable, there is mention of them being cracked and pitied (and of a piece can be pried loose to serve as an ioun stone. So I think the 'blow it to hell' plan is good.

Step 1: Go to the Svalich woods. Kill werewolves and take their loot. This will give us maps of the area, and the Sunsword or Holy Symbol of Ravenkind has a chance of being here.

Step 2. Go to Ivlis Marsh. We need to kill the Drowned Lady here and then stick her corpse on the runestone in the fane. We will then break off the glowing runestone because it becomes an Ioun stone of wisdom.

Step 3. Dig under the runstone and grab the artifact box. This box contains an item that when combined with the other two will remove Strahd's power.

Step 4. Find and kill Madam Eva. We then stick her on the second runestone. Snap off the stone again, Charisma Ioun stone. Dig under it, this one has hair in the box.

Step 5. Go to Lysaga hill. Kill Baba Zelenna, stick her on stone. Take Ioun stone. Get loot and artifact.

Step 6. Put pieces together, kill blighted artifact.

Step 7. Kill Stahd after buffing.

>>17197695
Some for the Daykeeper that protects from the sun. It's Hardness is just higher if we don't break something else first. I think we can apply sufficient blam to overcome it though.

>>17197699
Okay, which team are we using for this?

Darius and the others are currently in need of rest and medical aid, and Strahd will be expecting us to show up in about 6 hours or so.

>>17197699
Too many steps. We want to strike decisively, with some out of the box tactics, while we are meeting with Strahd.

>>17197767
What, just use photon torpedoes dialed to 15-kilotons to destroy the Fanes and the sources of Strahd's power?

>>17197767
These are the normal steps. We can also use the "Single shot from orbital laser on each target" method.

Unfortunately, the "Power Overwhelming" method destroys most the loot.

I just thought of something. Do you guys think Egon could rig up a machine that makes Sunlight? If we do this, all we need to do is destroy his crystal that makes him immune to dying from sunlight.

Boom, instant kill.

>>17197699
Step 1: Locate Fanes.
Step 2: Bring down the Indefatigable.
Step 3: Meet with Strahd.
Step 4: As soon as he tries to mindfuck Lyla: quantum torpedos for the Fanes and Castle Ravenloft's top spire.
Step 5: Lyla rejects Strahd's advances violently.
Step 6: Everyone else joins in on that.

Look for those wolves and map though, a chance at those relics would be nice.

>>17197819
The proton pack can be modified to shoot a proton beam that has the same properties as sunlight when used against a vampire.
If the Inde's transporters are working again, we could beam up our proton pack from Pennsylvania, modify it, and beam it down to us in Barovia.

>>17197798
Not much loot to be had their, as far as I can see. Gaining the signs for ourselves would draw Strahd's attention and we might have several Ioun Stones from blowing them to pieces.

Sunlight Vulnerability As long as the Dayhea rt remains
intact, Strahd suffers no ill effects from sunlight. Once
the Dayheart is destroyed, if Strahd is exposed to direct
sunlight, he can take only a single move or standard
action in the first round. The next round, he is
destroyed.

that's the ability from the book I was referencing at
>>17197819

>>17197824
If we hit the Fanes with Quantum Torpedoes, there won't be any werewolves or maps left.

Though it still cannot pierce the mists to scan for other things, the Storm CAN detect that the reality distortion from Dracula has ceased.

A thorough search of the crater reveals nothing. Castlevania took everything within it when it was consumed by the mists.

The other teams begin to search for the Fanes.

How long did you want them to search?

>>17197882
3 hours? This gives us time to set up a backup plan if we can't find them.

>>17197882
5-6 hours.
We can probably get away with not meeting Strahd for 12, but I don't want to push it too much.

Make sure that the infiltration team receives medical attention and that they get some rest, they'll need all of their MP and spell slots for this fight.

Can we send them the first link from here?
>>>/rs/expedition+to+ravenloft&from=ALL

We are Meta aware, this should be an almost perfect map excluding any damage Castlevania appearing did.

>>17197882
Have the Delta Greens search out the map in the Svalich Woods, tell them to load for werewolf.
If we can find those woods and the map, then the rest should be about right, it we can't locate that with the Meta info we have, it probably means that they aren't here and Strahd's connection to them is already moot.
At least 8 hours. Let the Abjurer and Psions rest up while we get healing to everyone else.

>>17197892
>>17197896
Eight should be fine. Strahd is used to D&D mechanics that work on 8 hour metrics anyway. Assuming we didn't perish when the place collapsed/vanished.

We also have to remember to finish him. After vampires are defeated, they turn into a mist and head to their tomb. They are then helpless for one hour.

Although, this is moot if we just HOLY the asshole like we did with Wesker when he was in mist form.

>>17197935
Look, if we're going to have the Delta Greens down there, then we should also have the Probe Droid there with distracting holograms, and maybe some more backup. We can't allow anyone to escape alive if they see us. Our operation in those woods needs to be kept secret until we backstab Strahd.

>>17197896
Your forces scour the land for those hours and report back that not only did they not find the fanes, but the maps are inaccurate. This is NOT a perfect replication of the original environs of Ravenloft.

>>17197954
>>17197896
Plus it'll take 6-8 hours for his forces to return..

If we take less time than that to locate the Fanes and such, we should consider arriving AHEAD of Strahd;s own forces.

>>17197992
Good, that means he doesn't have those innate connections to the Barvia here. So he has relatively mortal AC and no extra resistances.

>>17197992
This is either very good (the Fanes are gone and so are their protections) or very bad (the Fanes are moved but active, and Strahd has their protection).

Alright, nothing more we can do right now.
What's the progress of Strahd's forces; have they finished returning to their master?

Also, status report on our initial away team; how are they doing, and are they ready for a second fight?

Replicate 5 X-COM High-Explosives and put them in the satchel with the other explosives. They worked on Dracula, they might work on Strahd.

>>17197896
>>17197992
OK we got our answer in 5-6 hours, pile into the Al'kesh and zip ahead of Strahd's returning forces to pay him a visit.

Prep the Leopard for take off, when the shit hits the fan we'll land it between the castle and the troops and keep 'em from joining the fight there.

>>17197882
Current plan: Find Strahd, prepare a simultaneous "Blow up all of Strahd's Shit" manoever on his Fanes and all his sources of power, and kick him in the cunt.
Remember: We have lots of well-rested Knights Inductor, a White mage, 2 Psions, 2 Abjurers, 3 Mobile Infantry, and a bunch of mechs for potential use in the dropship.
Between the Leopard, the Overlord, and the Al'kesh, we could potentially attack a whole crapload of things at once.

Heck, "Drop all the Knights Inductor and the Mobile Infantry on top of castle Ravenloft, and have any remaining Mechs guard the entrance to the castle" is one of the more steamrollery solutions. If Strahd already has forces out in the field, then they're not in the Castle.

>>17198060
OK, and tomorrow at 7 (I swear I'll be there on time this time guys, honest) we'll see what happens.

Well, we can still try the "Missle to the tower with the Dayheart in it" and "Proton-pack rigged to shoot sunlight" Strahd to death.

>>17198060
I suggest that we have the Leopard and the Al'Kesh detailed to hit Strahd's castle, and the Overlord should cut off Strahd's returning minions.
Have it drop off the MLRS a safe distance away, and then interpose itself, 2 Hellstars, 6 Tomahawk Destroids, and our VF-25 squadron between the castles and the minions.

>>17198048
Timing wise, only the fastest elements could be back already.
Replace any KI too tired or injured, and have our vanguard of return, ahead of Strahd's forces, with seemingly the same number of troops as had left, plus all the White Mages. Meet, talk nice, when Strahd goes for the girl, just open completely up on him, have the Leopard intercept the rest of Strahd's forces, have the Al'kesh blast the tallest spire and it's protection from daylight, and begin disgorging troops.

>>17198085
You know, we also have a slime thrower as well.
I find the idea of hosing down Strahd with positively-charged mood-slime to be both hilarious and possibly effective in weakening his powers. We will need confirmation from Egon if it would work, of course.

>>17198100
Nothing like Artillery and Air power to deliver a ball-busting hammer of wrath upon your foes.

>>17198120
Gentlemen, we have our 'Kick Strahd in the cunt' plan.
Also, make sure that awesome marine with the voiceless spear comes along.
Besides the whole 'shut up the villian' thing, D&D spells require spoken components, and he doesn't have Silent Spell. Pic related.

>>17198163
And a high level mage in D&D without spells?

Completely. . . Fucking. . . Worthless

Genius.

>>17198163
I'd prefer to bring in the Overlord to intercept the returning minions, and have both the Leopard and the Al'Kesh drop reinforcements to take down Strahd.

Though I suppose there is an upper limit to how many reinforcements we can bring, simply because there won't be enough space in the throne room to be able to effectively fight.

>>17198163
Voiceless spear: Makes things stfu.
Does that mean the Nameless sword erases a person's name from history?

>>17198100
>>17197992
It's been 6 hours since you left Castlevania due to the searching. Strahd's surviving forces have returned by now.

And now I'm off. Until next time.

Oh, someone remember to archive this.

>>17196931

I had no idea her last name was Belmont!

Vote we get her some training as a Sage.

Also, speaking of heroic types- may I suggest a few not-so-well-knowns along the same the lines? Take this young lady, Leonora. She's from FF:IV...the After Years, and she's a Sage herself.

>>17198120
>>17198163
You what, fuck it, we should go ahead and land the Overlord while all the shit is going down too.
Right on Strahd's porch.
Just as a big WTFU for him to see outside while we fight him.

I'm tired of being on the recieving end of cunt-kicks on the world. I want to deal one out for once.

>>17198197
Considering that it was 6 hours by foot, zombies should still be lagging behind, mounted knights would back for some time, and anything else roughly human should be just arriving.

>>17198208
The only problem with landing our Overlord right on top of Strahd's castle is that we won't be able to use the MLRS. I really want a chance to finally use them.

Oh, and we really should check with Egon if the slime-thrower will work against Strahd. If nothing else, it'll be one more 'FUCK YOU' to him from us, by covering him in slime.

>>17198252
It was mostly his elites that survived, and most of them are mounted. So yeah, it would make sense that his surviving forces have already made it back save a few stragglers.

>>17198258
We probably don't want to blast the castle much while we're inside fighting him at the dinner table.

*cue me laughing hysterically*

Oh crap. We could pull the same trick a second time.
Land the Overlord at the former site of Castlevania. Bring the Leopard over (keep the KI hidden), use the troops between them to make it seem like Yet Another interloper and his strange castle has arrived. Get Strahd to send his troops out to meet them, then go back to Plan 'Ganking him in his own crib'.

>>17198197
Roger that.
I honestly am never sure what to put in the archive tags; we've got so many different named characters both on our staff, and on our "To kick in the crotch" list.

I'm thankful that we haven't had much contact with truly intelligent and deceptive motherfuckers. Between Tzeentch, the Nameless one, the Gravemind, Durandal, and C&C's Kane, I'm wondering what will happen when there's a foe we need to outwit, rather than out-blast?

Also, SUEs. They're out there somewhere. Everywhere from Anubis to Zeus to Jesus to Krishna, any story in the world has people that'll self-insert into it. Dante's Divine Comedy is the best example. I'm not sure if we'll encounter SUEs as powerful as deities, but we might.

Well, unfortunately I won't be around tomorrow, at least not until late.
However we work it out, I want that cunt kick to come when he tried to mess with Lyla.
That is his fuck up that brings it all down on him.

On the off chance that Strahd actually gets over his compulsions and doesn't try for her, then great for him- but he has yet to do that in hundreds of years.

>>17198361
Not that kind of SUE. Don't mix-up a 'mary sue' with a Super Unbalanced Entity. SUEs are non-canonical and disruptive to reality.

rolled 3 = 3

And may the Dice not fuck us over.
Thank you, dice.

>>17198361
> I'm not sure if we'll encounter SUEs as powerful as deities, but we might.
I guess you haven't been following along. Final boss for this world is a SUEified Dark Power from Ravenloft. An already crazily powerful force, now mucking with other canons and Meta-access, and still as evil, manipulative, sadistic as ever.

>>17198448
>And may the Dice not fuck us over.
>Roll a 3
I think the dice just said 'fuck you' to us.

You know, these White Mages have been working out great for us. I think we should get more of them. And enough Ethers to keep them casting ReRaise, Regen, and Shell on all of our away teams.

Also, we need to come up with a plan on how we're going to combat drop all those KI's in the Al'Kesh and have them support the attack team against Strahd.

>>17198511
What we need are Economizers.
All spells: 1 MP

>>17198675
>Economizer
Yeah, they'd be nice, but they're really rare drops or steals. We could have TG Requisitions get us a few, but a dedicated Alchemy Lab with Chemists and a Hydroponics Lab to create herbs and plants to produce a renewable supply of Ethers might be cheaper.

>>17198955
True.
We should try to get just one for Lyla though.

>>17199069
If we have an Equipment Requisition left for it.
There's a bunch of other stuff that we're currently in need of, such as more nanny-bags, potions or an alchemy lab, fabricators, holo-emitters, EMH's with Mobile Emitters, and of course replacing our entire droid complement.

We should probably set up a list of items and people we want.

ITEMS:
Economizers (probably expensive. Ethers until then)
Nethack Holy Water
Heartgold era Pokegear with all upgrade cards (specifically Itemfinder)
Alleria's Flute of Accuracy (ranged damage up)
Staff of Negation (dispels)
More Nannybags
More RED-2
More Small Soldiers

TROOPS:
another EMH
More X-com engineers
More White Mages
Replenishment of killed troops
More very useful and expendable droids
Some kinda mage or sage good at identifying shit

MECHA:
GetterRobo from Shin Getter Robo (it fits our requirement for a vehicle with drills, and it's strong)
Salvage Corvettes from Homeworld

HEROES:
Agrias Oaks
Zero
Warcraft III Paladin lvl6 +
Pathfinder or D&D magical item crafter
Alpha 7 (Power Rangers)

SHIP:
Engineering Workshops
Alchemy Lab

>>17199397
Due to certain developments in the Schlockverse Canon, RED-2 is going to be a very difficult commodity to acquire.

>>17199413
Considering how little of it was made, it was always a very difficult commodity to aquire. I think we've gotten 6 so far?

>>17199498
I believe so.
Now that Adroit Sanctum is having their supply revoked, we don't have a place to steal it from.

>>17199511
We could swipe some of the RED-1 before it's destoryed, but it seems it has a nasty side effect of making zombies. It might just be in that specific incidence though

>>17199534
I'd rather not take the chance.

I wonder how much it'd cost for EVE style cloning tech?

>>17199591
Probably 2 Ship Upgrades and 3 Equipment Requisitions at minimum.
It's not just the cloning tank you need; you also need all of the infrastructure that goes along with it. The growth mediums, the neural implants, the nutrient feeds, the control systems, and all of the sub-systems. Then there's the manufacturing base to actually build all of the parts and spare parts, the technicians needed to maintain it, and the manufacturers that make the tools that the technicians use, with their own set of technicians. Even if you used replicators to create replacement parts, you still need teams of dedicated technicians, engineers, and programmers.

Train Lyla or Elaine as a Mystic (FFT). This way they can inflict status ailements like SILENT.

>>17199397

Which Getter Robo?

We're supposed to be be acquiring VB-6's and outfitting them with a mishmash of different weapons.

>>17201275
We should train the other White Mages in Mystic. Elaine could probably go Summoner and Lyla can take Time Mage.

But who is gonna get Geomancer exp?

This thread is in autosage, and we have a session tonight; should we put together another planning thread?

So far, the only coherent plan we seem to have is:
1. Make sure everyone is healed up, magic is restored.
2. Top off on High Explosives, make sure that equipment is ready.
3. Cast ReRaise on the assault team, as well as Cat's Grace and Haste on both Darius and the KI who is wielding the Voiceless Spear.
4. Have the assault team go up to meet Strahd.
5. When the fight breaks out, have the Al'Kesh blow open a hole at the top of Strahd's castle and destroy the Dayheart artifact.
6. The Leopard and the Overlord drop down and prevent undead reinforcements from going to Strahd's aid.
7. In the fight against Strahd, prioritize hitting him with the Voiceless Spear to prevent him from casting spells with verbal components.
8. Destroy Strahd.

We still need to determine if we can modify a proton pack to simulate sunlight, if the slime-thrower would be effective at all, and the final composition of the assault team.

Are we still going with:
A: Darius, Tosh, Finalon, Lyla, Elaine, 1 Psion, 1 Abjurer, 6 KI?
Or should we make it:
B: Darius, Tosh, Finalon, Lyla, Elaine, 3rd White Mage, 3 Psions, 3 Abjurers, 6 KI?

>>17201349
Going to Strahd with the same team he saw us leave with (replacing lost KI, go helmets), plus all the white mages (the girls both being people found and rescued).

>>17199413
Ah but Acquisitions has time on their side.
I'd already assumed 'new' supply wasn't being produced anymore in the current timeline before we had even heard of it, given that his production operation was being shut down.

>>17201762
So you want Option C.
C: Darius, Tosh, Finalon, 3 White Mages, 1 Psion, 1 Abjurer, 6 KI

>>17201858
They can't just continually mine the same timespan for the RED-2, though. If they take too much, then it will cause a disruption.

>>17201933
No, we added the psion, abjurer, and one KI for the infiltration team. Were reverting to the apperance of the ground team. We can get away with thw extra WMs as rescues, but the more we return with the harder it gets to explain.

As for RED, that is one more reason to recruit Dr. Todd "Lazzarus" Cantspellhisnameofhand. The Tough's first doctor.

>>17202443
But that means losing the defensive spells and powers of the Psions and the Abjurers.
We could buff them up before they enter the castle, but Strahd's going to know something's up if we have that many layered spells that we light up like a Christmas tree to Detect Magic.

For everyone else, our 3 choices of Assault Team:
A. Darius, Tosh, Finalon, Lyla, Elaine, 1 Psion, 1 Abjurer, 6 KI

B. Darius, Tosh, Finalon, Lyla, Elaine, 3rd White Mage, 3 Psions, 3 Abjurers, 6 KI

C. Darius, Tosh, Finalon, Lyla, Elaine, 3rd White Mage, 5 KI

What if we used Unreal Cloning tech? its very close to EVE Cloning, except you don't need to be compatible, you don't need a lots of expensive infrastructure, after all a for profit corporation build arenas by the hundreds for its own use), and you don't need implants IIRC

>>17204003
>>17202840
Well if we go in there with five more people it is going to get suspicious that way too if any of our other mages and psions are blonde women we might be able to stretch the lie to cover them too though.

Just because a corporation built it, doesn't mean that it's less dependent on infrastructure. It still needs operators, technicians, parts, replacements, and all of the technicians, parts, and replacements for the equipment that they use.

Ok, so we've got two main lines of thought:

'Kick Strahd in the Cunt' as soon as he makes a move for Lyla.
And
Drop the Overlord and pile out the troops to get Strahd to send his forces out, then jump him.

I'd say we prep actions for each version, and let Strahd's actions determine which form we take, if he holds off on going for the girl, we do the fake out plan, if he goes straight girl, we bring forth upon him a righteous beatdown.

Either way, we go in with Darius, Tosh, Finalon, 5 KI, and all three White Mages. If any of our Abjurers or Psions are blonde and female, we bring them too. We explain the extra people as more women rescued from the interloper's castle, he must have cast a wide net for blondes.

Everyone on the transports on standby for immediate action.

As far as when we time our return, I'd either say now (now being 6 hours since Dracula's defeat) or, if it is not currently daylight, return at dawn. We want the fighting to just down during the day to limit his options. If we could actually be lucky enough to have Strahd outside when we blow the Dayheart, that would be awesome.

All opening attacks on Strahd should focus on getting an early hit with the Voiceless Spear, that would almost completely neuter his magical options.

A real question is of what secondary objectives we should go for. I'll be back with a listing of interesting targets in a bit..

>>17205123
Chapel: Icon of Ravenloft. We don't have anyone that turns undead, but extra healing once a day is handy.

Treasury: Pretty much straight-up loot, which with all we've lost, I say we go for. Get a team in there with teleport beacons and grab it.

Wine Cellar: Just because damnit, plus some of it is magical too.

Kitchen: Rare Spices, Firebreather, and a +1 meat cleaver. Why? Why not?

The Necromancer has a decent stash of platinum, but I'd say leave her alone and we won't have to worry about her joining the fighting. Seems she doesn't trust Strahd any more.

Looking through the crypt there doesn't seem to be much of particular interest, unless we wanted the Saint's thighbone (one time use), or the Shroud (cures disease, curses evil). There's few lesser things of interest as well..
Ok, strike that, apparently if we defeat Strahd his body reforms in his tomb and we have to truck down there to finish it off? ..Well, on the upside. That means more time to loot the place while we go after him, eh? Well, unless we can manage another parting Holy like we did for Wesker.

Let's avoid the Hall of Heroes, pissed off spirits are annoying to fight. Also avoid the warlocks' area, one more 'ally' that isn't likely to really help Strahd is we don't give them a reason to.

Also many chances to come across the Sunsword or Tome of Strahd, but hell if we know if they'll happen to be anywhere.

>>17205639
All in all, I'm surprised that Castle Ravenloft is as light on the loot as it is. Then again, Strahd isn't actually as big a bad as I thought either, so I guess that's balance for you.
Shame about Castlevania, but it was the smarter move to go for the throat rather than dick around there. That place was ten kinds of deadly, but had loot to match if we wanted to spend our lives dearly.

>>17205639
I'm concerned with Strahd's elite undead if we go treasure-hunting.
The super-zombies are only going to be vulnerable to concentrated high explosives, Holy's, and possibly mass rifles. I don't see many other weapons having much effect.
Though I suppose phasers set to disintegrate might work.

>>17205919
Seems the bulk of the zombies were lost in the fighting with Dracula, and a bunch of vampires were lost the previous evening. That probably leaves a few vampire spawn, lieutenants, some undead, and lots of construct guardians at various locations.
Stradh Zombies aren't all that bad, they just don't always go down when they should.
I'm more concerned about specters, but if we avoid where they haunt, we should be good.

>>17206210
It's not the regular zombies, it's the Strahd super-zombies that I'm worried about. They'e tougher, can see invisible, and get regenerate like trolls.

>>17206298
Well, you're right about them being tougher.
No go on the see invisible though.
Actually, I can't find anything with see invisible. That's why I want the Delta Greens to be on point when it comes to treasure hunting.

>>17206298
Strahd doesn't do 'regular zombies' the only one's 'worthy' of him are the Strahd Zombies.

>>17198082

>>17206787
I was only joking about this, but really, it seems to be coming true...

Thread will be up in about 10 minutes.

>>17206522
>>17206565
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strahd_von_Zarovich

The article mentions that Strahd's super-zombie is capable of seeing through invisibility, but with the amount of material around Strahd, I haven't been able to find the exact source.

>>17206819
Indeed, the wonder that is _wikipedia_ turns out to be wrong.
Please hold your shock and amazement.

>>17206803
Yay!

>>17206876

New thread is up. Of course we can use still use this one for a bit for questions and the like.

>>17206894
Hm, I think the only questions that have come up are:

Are any of the Abjurers or Psions blonde females?

And, does ANON believe this castle is going to go anywhere after we defeat Strahd?

>>17206922
No and yes.