I believe we would count as light snacks to it.
Renee, would the silver we brought along by any use against it or is magic likely to be its only weakness?
Ghân definitely thinks (from the reaction of both Renee and Riglo) that the party should return to gather as much information as possible.
This is a specialised opponent.
Renee responds to Mulligan’s question, "I would try silver before normal, but I don’t have a good answer to that one. I know few tales of these Vampires and none spoke of normal weapons killing them. It was either heroes with magic weapons or ‘magical’ animals. Hmmm, too bad Moose departed. This would be a good time to have some of the giant Eagles around. "
I’d settle for Hugh Jackman
Brin: I’m also more experienced with orcs and goblins. Let me take some time to further understand these tracks, to better help follow behind. Ghân, please let me know if you expect a shift in the wind, as I’d much prefer to remain upwind of whatever it is.
Brin: I’m also more experienced with orcs and goblins. Let me take some time to further understand these tracks, to better help follow behind. Ghân, please let me know if you expect a shift in the wind, as I’d much prefer to remain upwind of whatever it is.
[/QUOTE]
DM, can Ghân’s [COLOR=Blue]Predict Weather give Brin this information? if so, do so.[/COLOR]
Elfstan:
“Maybe we could carefully construct a blind downwind, but in sight of this area where one of us could keep watch tonight? The rest of the party could conceal themselves further away. We could learn more about this creature, hopefully without it detecting us. Maybe it would be enough just to have the animal companions keep watch? I think most of them are small enough to be beneath the notice of a creature such as this, although I understand being loath to put them at risk.”
It seems a shame to be dragged out here and then just turn around and head back to Minas Tirith. We are here for a reason, right?
Renee, “I am glad Gil-Gandel is being careful in his decision, perhaps he would like a little more feedback from the rest of the party.”
I suggest the cleric as bait - women, especially beautiful women, work much better.
Did I find any?
No belladonna found.
I, for one, am not afraid and will be willing to go on! We have silver bolts and arrows…and…superior numbers. True, we do not know much about these…beasts?..but…well…we are already out here.
In case no one noticed, Gwaelur is not exactly speaking his true feelings, but is rather showing a bit of bravado. I think listening to glee’s advice is a good idea.
“We sill have part of a deer,” Miron observes, “Perhaps we could use pieces of meat and some of the bladder to cover our scent around the blind? If it’s sensitive enough to detect us based on smell, it would probably prefer avoiding a smelly deer corpse.”
An astute suggestion, Miron. I have no very great longing to confront one of these creatures, though I know little of them; but on the other hand, we do not yet have much information bar a few tracks on the ground, and I believe we should seek more rather than turn tail at the first hint of trouble. We shall press on.
Ghân, fire has ever been a sovereign weapon against creatures of the Darkness. The Balrogs are a glaring exception, but even the dread Ringwraiths gave way before flame, and werewolves like it no better. I should certainly hold out hope that it would prove efficacious in this instance also.
Well it did occur to me that if it is dumping bodies here that keeping an eye on here at night, we might spot it.
However, I doubt that its food source is likely to be too far away and if we scout the vicinity, we may find which ever Orc lair it is feeding from.
For the soft at heart, we may even find that an alliance with the local Orcs to get rid of it may be in order. They are probably more terrified of it than we are.
Elfstan, keep that sword handy. It is probably going to be one of our best defences against it. Thinking about it, so might be your starglass Renee.
Ghân will give it his best shot, but he’s still nervous about immediately fighting something that has survived thousands of years, prefers live prey to meat and can shapechange. :eek:
How far away is Minas Tirith?
If we wish to stay and hide, it might be beneficial to take the time to dig a pit and fashion a makeshift roof over it: an above-ground hide might be visible from the air, and as long as we make it easy to enter and exit I can’t see much of a disadvantage.
Riglo, “As to the pit, how do you propose we did it? I have a small camp shovel, but unlike the cavalry, I don’t think we carry proper equipment for excavation.”
Mulligan smiles. You have a dwarf and two hobbits here and you’re wondering about how to dig a pit.
It doesn’t have to be that big to begin with.
Riglo, “If you are planning on staying here to observe for a week, I suggest, I leave my shovel with you and I scout out 3 days and then return to here. How does that sound to all of you? Another option is to set back to the main camp and bring better tools, however do not underestimate the Orc’s ability to detect something like nearby excavations. They are probably aware by now or will be shortly of the main camp’s existence.”
Elfstan listens to the various comments, occasionally making points or adding to the conversation.
“Mulligan picked up on what I was saying. If there is a pile of bodies here, this creature must be returning here to feed. We should be able to catch sight of it. It’s possible we may learn something. From there, maybe we can plan an ambush? We have rangers, Elves, and Hobbits with Elven cloaks. I don’t think we need a big hole, just a blind that includes concealment from above. We also have some animal companions to help keep watch.”
“We need to scout the rest of the area too though. As others have said, these orcs that this creature is feeding on are coming from somewhere. Somewhere might be nearby.”
“Really, how much trouble can we get into?”
This helps the discussion, but Renee did mention that Ancient Vampires like to eat hearts of living victims. So the Vampire may just be dumping the orc bodies after it finishes with them.
This gives us much less time than if it were feeding.
Given notice, Ghân can turn into a Tree, but what do we do if we do see a flying Vampire?
How many magical arrows and spells can we fire?
We don’t even know if they are nocturnal.