Still new to many of his powers, Velon makes mental note of what he has learned about his Divine Sense. It is not necessarily the current state of the beings whose aura he is sensing, but the true nature of their power overall. Even a weakened vampire waiting to regain her vitality triggered his senses far more than a huge, powerful, animated giant skeleton. He had wondered if it would be the opposite at first given the state of the creatures in the moment.
Velon looks to Poljen carrying the body. "She would go all the way upstairs, or try to find the large double doors on the main floor?"
Poljen says, "Up the stairs. We know that is clear. And the higher we go, the closer to sunrise we get. At least, that is what I have seen in the mountains. The sun hits the peaks first, then down the slopes. Maybe we can have the castle move east, closer to sunrise also."
Feeling relieved that he did not have to feel the weight of the giant's hammer, Nikolaos says. "I recommend going for the double doors so that we can check on the griffons and perhaps they can help us carry if needed. "
Velon nods at Poljen and offers to carry the body up to the balcony if he is weak. If he isn't doing the carrying, he will lead the way up the stairs, back through the hall, and head back the way they came from the balcony originally.
Velon really hopes they don't run into further trouble, although will happily cut down a single cultist if they run into one. He knows there must be at least a couple left to roam or hide in the castle. He knows that clearing them out will be an issue, as they could hide in any number of places. If they cannot be 100% sure there is no one else in this castle, it will be hard for all to leave the control room to face the dragon even if everything goes as planned. For now he will be most relieved if they can finish off the vampire and get everyone back to their home base of the control room safely.
The group carries the vampire up the flights of stairs and through the halls, emerging on the balcony.
They're greeted by the sight of the bloodied body of a gryphon, still tied up where Nikolaos and Ignazio had left her.
A dead cultist and some large feathers lie near where the other one had been left, a broken rope hinting at his escape.
It is still dark out. By your reckoning, you still have about an hour and a half left until dawn.
"Extra-planar feces! I thought it was light out already! So now we have to rest here, guarding the pinned vampire 'til daylight? Some rest that'll be. I'll prep a Hut here, unless you've another plan." Getting out his spellbook, Lawrance starts planning the ritual.
Out of Character: : Did my [Critical Hit] Arcane roll include the 2 hour limit of her being outside her coffin bit?
" Well done yet again Muscles. I hope every day isn't like this for you."
Lora frowns at the sight of the gryphons being gone." Good thing you two didn't have to flee to your mounts and then found this." She shakes her head." Why are we needing to guard the vampire until sunrise? We are all tired and injured and anything could happen before then. Why not just pitch her over the side of the castle. The fall can't do her any good. There is no way she will be able to get to safety before the sun rises. In the impossible event that she does she wouldn't be able to catch up to us. Without a coffin I don't see her surviving the morning."
“I guess that’s a good idea. She can’t compete with the speed of this castle, and she can’t survive without her coffin. Give her wings, and let’s see the end of this creature. I guess I sort of just want to be absolutely sure she is destroyed. Maybe we should target a mountaintop for her? “.