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Vaarsuvius saves the Order from the swarm of vampires by erecting a force cage around the party, potentially trapping them for the next 34 hours.

Cast[]

Transcript[]

Panel 1, Page 1

The vampires leap at the Order from all sides.
Haley: LOOK OUT!

Panel 1, Page 2

Vaarsuvius: Forcecage!
Vampire Dwarf with Curly Beard and Hair: Rrrrr!
He seizes them by their cloak

Panel 2, Page 2

The forcecage appears, "WHOMM!" Two vampires run into it, "POK! POK!"

Panel 3, Page 2

Blackwing: V!!
Minrah: Thor's ding-a-ling! One got inside!

Panel 4, Page 2

Minrah strikes the vampire with her hammer, "BONK!"
Minrah: Leggo!
Vampire Dwarf with Curly Beard and Hair: Grrrar!

Panel 5, Page 2

Roy charges in and impales the vampire with his flaming Greenhilt Sword, "SHTHRK!", killing him

Panel 6, Page 2

The vampire's corpse disappears in smoke as Roy puts up his sword.

Panel 7, Page 2

Roy: OK...OK, I think we're clear. Quick thinking, V. Are you OK?
Vaarsuvius: I have suffered some reduced life energy, but I believe I will be fine, yes.

Panel 8, Page 2

Roy: So...it looks like I may have miscalculated the number of vampires.
Roy: We can't let them drain our levels before we even get to Durkon, so everyone get ready to fight when V's spell runs out.

Panel 9, Page 2

beat

Panel 10, Page 2

Roy: This is one of t hose spells that lasts twenty-four hours, isn't it?
Vaarsuvius: And yet I feel that if I corrected you now to point out that it will last thirty-four hours, that would be considered too much information.

D&D Context[]

  • Forcecage is a 7th level wizard spell which crates a cube or cage of force around a volume. The duration of the spell is 2 hours per level, so V is casting the spell as a 17th level caster (34 hour duration). Blackwing has an Ioun Stone that he stole from Laurin Shattersmith[1] and had crafted into a bracelet.[2] This item grants V +1 caster level when Blackwing is nearby, so V is still 16th level as of this strip. The spell is resistant to Dispel Magic, but it can be destroyed by Disintegrate, a Rod of Cancellation, or a Sphere of Annihilation.
  • Vampires have an Energy Drain attack which temporarily (and potentially permanently) strips the target of experience levels. It is not clear if these are full vampires or the weaker vampire spawn, but likely they are the latter, in which case V has been drained of one level rather than two. The short term effects are -1 on skill, ability, attack, and saving throw rolls, -5 hit points, -1 effective level, and the loss of one prepared spell of V's highest level (8th level). In 24 hours the effect will either wear off, or become a permanent level loss depending on the outcome of a Fortitude Saving Throw.

Trivia[]

  • This is the only other appearance of the vampire dwarf with the curly beard and hair who is destroyed. He first appeared in the previous strip.
  • This is the first appearance of four more vampire dwarves: the ones with the brown ponytail, green beard and hair, green shirt, and black hair.

External Links[]

References[]

  1. Comic #935, "Caster Fight"
  2. Comic #967, "Craft Wondrous Bauble"
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