Chapter Four

The member 'Custer Thickett' has done the following action : Dice Roller

'D20' : 17, 18

"Seven" The word floated in The Mariner's Psynche, confusing as it was comforting
- having seen Custer disappear off the ledge into the dark.

Artimus Delonde's attention returned to his firm grip on the thrashing black monstrosity, he'd caught only a glimpse of red globes and a sharp maw before resolving to look no further.

The unnatural thing let out a low moan.

"I zhink zhe likez you Dwan- I hold it, you hit it! Quickly now!"

Hold Creature 1d20+3 = 13

===================================
Artimus Maintains his grip, mouth facing away from him and holds the creature in position for a clean strike by Dwan
1d20 +str

The member 'Artimus DeLonde' has done the following action : Dice Roller

'D20' : 10, 2

Gimble pours ink onto the aged, cracked paper on the desk before him, forming lines and loops into readable text. It's been weeks since he was on the road with Valeria, weeks since he has smelled the ocean air of the Sword Coast. His thoughts and writing are interrupted as an explosion of rusty steel and books erupts within the room. Hours and hours of paperwork lay on the ground in piles, some crushed under textbooks, but Gimble's mind has already stored the information. Before him stands the beast in black. "Rauf the Betrayer" they call him.

"Gnome, on your feet! Woman, you too!" he shouts gruffly, drawing his maces from their loops.

Gimble's joints creaked and complain like an old wooden building as it's forced into movement by the wind. Questions immediately sprout in his mind, but he forces his lips shut, knowing that the orc possesses the temper of a vial of Alchemist's fire.

[...]

“Acolytes, we’ve guests. With me!” he shouts, pushing Val and Gimble forward. “You lot will go in front. One sidelong move and I’ll cut off yer feet and arms before I throw you down. And I won’t do it with anythin’ sharp.”

The old gnome lets out a sigh as he begins to climb down the steps. His shorter legs and weakened state make it hard for him to traverse the stone, and before long, he is panting and holding onto the crevices in the stone brick wall to keep himself up. During this time, he keeps track of where the torchlight and sounds of fighting are coming from. Gimble stops to catch his breath once he hears that the sounds are coming from across the gap, but stutters as he takes his next step. The gnome falls on his hands and kness at the feet of one of the robed alcolytes.

Dwan breaths a quick sigh of relief as Artimus pries the beast off of him. He steps away from the creature.

Many thanks,  I feel like I've been bitten quite enough throughout our journey.

Dwan focuses on the creature and extends his hand and a purple mist erupts from it covering the beast.
(rolling cloaker's save at disadvantage since Artimus has the beast grappled)


Once the spray dissipates,  Dwan raises his shield and prepares for the backlash of the creature.

=======================
Dwan uses poison spray cantrip on the cloaker attacking him.
(Roll 5 + ?  assuming that cloaker doesn't have con modifier of 9 - HIT)

The member 'Dwan Bolduum' has done the following action : Dice Roller

'D20' : 5, 5

Valeria tried everything to alleviate her rampant boredom since she and Gimble had been captured. She counted the torches from the camp below no less than three times. She tried to identify any birds she might see. Most of all, she prayed for Sune to guide her and help her escape this maddening prison. With her prayers unanswered, she moved on to counting the stars while Gimble’s quill continues scratching away behind her.

She reaches star number 57 when the door slams open and Val’s current least favorite person walks in: Rauf The Betrayer. She suppresses a shudder as she takes in his hideous features, his body as ugly as the soul underneath.
Val quickly leaps to her feet when commanded, the star counting promptly abandoned and forgotten. Dread fills her as they are lead outside their cell and through passageway after passageway until they reach a set of double doors. There, the half-orc confirms her silent suspicions that they are to meet their end.

He grabs her by the shoulder and drags her towards a ledge overlooking nothing but blackness. Val doesn’t exactly fight, but she certainly steels herself and makes it harder for the ugly bastard to push her off. Luckily, lights from below grant herself and Gimble a temporary stay on their execution.

After sending a quick prayer up to Sune, she and Gimble make their way down towards the others. The acolytes follow right behind them and Rauf being a coward at the very back. They hadn’t gotten very far when Gimble stumbles on the stairs and falls to his hands and knees.

“Well if we’re going to die either way….”  Val thinks to herself before taking advantage of the distraction Gimble has inadvertently provided. She spins around and grabs the acolyte closest to the edge and attempts to shove them off.


Athletics roll: 12+6= 18

The member 'Valeria Thaemor' has done the following action : Dice Roller

'D20' : 12

Kellar looks up, the cloaker ravaging down upon him once again as he throws it off him forcefully.

The dragoon feels the weight of his armor as he rolls forward, watching the mass of a a beast descend again...

Suddenly, the flapping ceases. Scampering across the back of the hideous monstrosity, two frail wings flap ineffectively as Orbaugh plunges his paralytic tail into the cloaker...

[cloaker, Con save = failed]

The beast collapses to the ground rigidly, its body convulsing as Kellar grabs it sturdily, whipping it out over the endless stair and into oblivion.

From the shadows, Custer watches it fall...

[...]

As the prisoners and Rauf, with his acolytes descend the stairs, you can hear a nearly-musical voice call up from the torchlight below.

The acolytes have drawn steel - it is apparent that a combat is happening below.

Gimble hears one of the participants call out some garbled information about Keisan, which lands as a painfully obvious lie..

[emelious bluffing doesn't go so hot...]

"Interlopers. Flat them!" Shouts Rauf, moving to charge.

Valeria takes her cue. The movement is fluid and effortless, the paladin grabbing the purple-robed acolyte and shoving him forward.

The man's face is a tapestry of surprise and despair, his sword clattering to Valeria's feet as you watch the disciple disappear into the black. His screams echo throughout the stair,  haunting and unnerving in their desperation and terror.

Rauf shouts from behind you...

"KILL THEM!"

[...]

Artimus braces, his arms wrapped around the cloaker as Dwan works his Druid magic.

"...KILL THEM!"

The words echo in the mariner's ears as he flails about, the creature struggling for purchase against the imposing frame of captain Delonde.

[C1 str check vs. Artimus - failed. Cloaker is grappled. I'm ruling that due to its shape, it can only attack with its tail in front of it, against any opponents engaged in melee with it.]

=================

Ok guys. Kellar has whipped the cloaker (C1) off the stair and into the blackness, Orbaughs poison having worked its magic

Artimus is restraining the other one as Dwan beats on it with magic. Rather good strategy, really.

Acolyte A2 has been thoroughly dispatched by Valeria, while A1 and Grauf are baring down on the two of you. That's a longsword at your feet Val, should you be so inclined. Otherwise, you can run

Grauf and A1's stats are up in The lair

Nice work everyone! MVP today is Custer - phenomenal post.

Custer wrote:'Seven'

The monster quivered on the stairs, unable to move. It could barely breathe. Kellar quickly grabbed it and hurled it over the side. "We got this one!" Kellar twirled his lance and attacked the monster in Artimus's grip. (Advantage?) Attack Roll= 6+8= 14 Hit!; Damage= 6+8= 14! Orbaugh scurried onto Kellar's shoulder. He felt the cool breeze as his Master rushed forward. His tiny ears perked up at the sudden scream dropping past them in the darkness.

Falling Orc wrote:"YEEEEAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!"

Barely a moment of silence and then...

Rauf wrote:"KILL THEM!"

Kellar's head snapped up at the voice shouting from above. "More company! Quit dancing with that thing and kill it already!" He removed the lance from the wounded Cloaker and turned to face the clattering sound of footsteps.

The member 'Kellar' has done the following action : Dice Roller

#1 'D20' : 1, 6

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#2 'D12' : 6

Peeking over his shield, Dwan sees that Artimus still has the cloaker restrained.

He swings his shield away from his body to extends his other hand once more.  Spray continues to flow and cover the beast, its struggling;

A sure fire sign that the poison is working.

Once the stream dissipates Dwan covers himself with his shield once more.

======================
Rolling creature's save at disadvantage 13+?

Not sure what the constitution modifier is for cloakers so i'm not sure if it hits. Pretty sure its a miss though. DC is 14

The member 'Dwan Bolduum' has done the following action : Dice Roller

'D20' : 13, 13

At first he tried taking two stairs at a time, but when he almost tripped on the first leap, Cuss decided one at a time was enough of a stretch for his legs.  These weren't made for Halflings.  They'll be fine without me, anyhow.  Blue man is a worse kind of monster and covered in metal to boot.

When he gets near, Cuss reaches for his raiper, but found the scabbard empty.  He pats at his hip as he looks down.  Oiy, it was in me hand.  Then peers over the inside edge of the stairs to look down at where his old rapier surely rested.  

YEEEEAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHhhhhhhh

Whatever it was, it came from higher up in the tower.  Cuss looked up and strained his eyes at the torchlight above, trying to see what was coming.
[Perception +1]
16

It looked to be a red headed human woman in tattered and dirty clothes trying to face off with a rather large Orc in black plate mail.  The scene flashed a false, yet rather painful, memory of what Agata must have faced when his father's men slaughtered her entourage on the road to Brost.  

Lowering to a knee, he pulls Olc free of its holster, and tries to prepare the weapon using one hand and his mouth.  All while crouching a few steps below his friends.
[Sleight of Hand +6]
11

Frustrated at his clumsiness, he shouts a string of Halfling curses at K'Tesh's old bow.  "gnéas tú ag obair rud diabhal nó beidh mé buille tú le mo bod fuilteach!"

The member 'Custer Thickett' has done the following action : Dice Roller

#1 'D20' : 15

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#2 'D20' : 5

Seeing the dropped longsword just in front of her, Val quickly snatches the hilt and holds the weapon in front of her. “No armor, well armored enemies….not good odds.” She takes just a second to evaluate their situation before spinning on her heels and using her free hand to grab Gimble and sling the gnome over her shoulder. “I reckon it’s time for us to go. Don’t need you to fall down the stairs again- hey stop squirming before I drop you!”

She dashes down the spiraling stairs and towards the light and voices coming from below. In her haste her foot slips on one of the stairs, nearly causing her to fall flat on her face. After that, she moves quickly but carefully so as to not go plunging off into the void. From behind her, she continues to hear the sounds of the remaining acolyte and half-orc. She dare not glance back to see where they were; instead she focuses on reaching the group of other people.

Artimus dodged the incoming lance tip, throwing his hips to the left as Kellar drove his weapon deciinto the black sheet-like phantom.

As the Dragoons lance left it piercing perch The Mariner began to scrunch his hands, alternately Left and right forcing the sooty thing into a roll. an attempt to contain the beast within it's own two dimensional folly.
Artimus turned to Kellar, Dawn and Custer,

"I zhink I have thiz, how you zay-  all rolled up?----- and it zeems we have more company-"

Artimus quipped at he spotted a shock of red hear bounding up the stair, with a slight, grey gnome in tow.

"Cuz, zhere iz a zhort zword on my hip zhould you need it"

1d20+str. 19+3

Yeeeeeaaaarrggggghhhhhhhh.

The red haired woman had moved like lightning, sending a purple robed acolyte flailing into the darkness.

Yup, our side.

Emelious pushed himself to his feet, and began reeling in his grapple.

Don’t mind me… just a boy and his rope.

He watched as one of the cloakers plummeted down the stairwell and another was restrained by Artimus.

And… done.

Emelious slung the grapple over his shoulder and moved for his rapier. As he did the Half-Elf glimpsed up the stairs. The woman was moving towards them, longsword in hand, and gnome over her shoulder.

"Don't kill us. We're nice.”

Gimble watches as the robed figure tips over the edge and plummets down, the shadowy maw of the tower swallowing it whole. Before he catches a glimpse of the alcolyte hit the bottom, he feels himself soar into the air and land on the hard shoulder of his paladin companion. "Good idea , lass! I'll keep the brutes off of us."

The old gnome huffs and puffs as Val flies down the stairs, each step accustoming her shoulder with his diaphragm. "Ib-pfhh-afar-hhhff-shan!" Gimble wiggles his fingers as he chants the spell, and a flame begins to incubate at his palm as tendrils of the sunset warp around his fingers. With a flick of his wrist, he sends the egg of embers and flame towards the remaining alcolyte. It sails through the air and erupts into a small, crimson bird. The phoenix smashes into the alcolyte with a cloud of flames, but the it only manages to singe a small portion of meaty flesh and purple fabric.

1d20+7 = 24
1d10 = 3

The member 'Gimble Nabisco Raulnor' has done the following action : Dice Roller

#1 'D20' : 17

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#2 'D10' : 3

Sweat beads on Artimus' brow as he holds the cloaker in place. The beast bucks, incredible strength shimmering through its' brown folds and wrinkles. That horrible maw gapes open, snapping as the dragoon buries his lance in its' belly.

The razorlike tail whips up, the captain stumbling back a few steps in the inertia...

It sails through the air, nearly cutting into Kellar. But the dragoon is too far back to be hit-

[C2 vs. Kellar - failed, Kellar has too much reach with his lance]

[...]

Valeria can hear the heavy plate footsteps behind her, Gimble watching as Rauf bares down upon them while he slings his magicks. The acolyte scarcely registers the phoenix flame, which disspates upon his robes almost instantly.

Rauf shouts as he pounces down the stone stairs, spittle flying from his mouth with maces extended...

"I'll GRIND YOUR BONES, wench!"

The words echo in Valeria's ears, her newfound longsword feeling uncomfortably weighted and poorly forged in her hands.

Gimble watches as the acolyte slows his movement, reaching out and muttering a prayer in a dark, guttural cant. His fingers and eyes glow with a violet hue, and the two escaped prisoners suddenly feel an enormous weight folding over them...

[Acolyte casts Hold Person on Gimble -and- Valeria (as 3rd level). Must make a Will save DC 13 or become paralyzed!]

[...]

Custer bounds up the steps, angling his crossbow as the others beat on the cloaker. The beast hisses and froths, it's horrible face gnashing angrily.

Emelious pulls his rapier from his scabbard, watching the tall redheaded woman with a gnome on her back barrel toward them.

It's clear that whoever is in pursuit wants them dead.

[...]

Rauf bounds towards you, gaining on Valeria as he bypasses the slowing acolyte.

"GURUGHASH! LORD OF SECRETS!" he shouts, his oath to Cyric booming down the stairwell in the darkness...

Valeria cries out involuntarily as a streaking, hot bolt of purple flame crashes at her fee, searing across her skin.

[Rauf casts Cyric's Fire on Valeria; missed!]
[Valeria takes 5 damage (was halved)]

=========

Ok guys - Valeria and Gimble, you're about 60 feet away from the PCs, and Rauf/Acolyte are about 15 feet behind you.

MVP: Artimus (rolling it up lol)

Gimble clings on to Valeria as she continues down the stairs. "Faster, Valeria. The brute is gaining on us!" His eyes track the black-clad orc as he pursues them, maces in hand, but the alcolyte's chanting quickly rips his attention away. Time seems to slow as Gimble watches the half-orc utter a vile river of lexemes and claw at the air with lilac hued paws.

His hair stands on end as he feels a familiar magic flowing over his skin and realizes will come next. It will sink into his flesh and lock his bones in place, the spell of an antediluvian wizard who sought to capture the power of a medusa. But he will not be stopped this day. Gimble lifts his increasingly heavy arm and traces out a sigil in the air. It manifests itself, shimmering and glowing with a aureus light. The alcolyte before him feels the Weave drain his energy, but his targets do not freeze as he has seen so many times before. Instead, they continue  making their way down and away from the deadly maces of The Betrayer.

Gimble once again summons his fiery friend, this time launching it at Rauf. The flames sizzle on the surface of his armor, but the thick steel does not give way to the attack.

Counterspell (reaction): If the creature is casting a spell of 3rd level or lower, its spell fails and has no effect..

1d20+7 = 14

1d10 = 4

The member 'Gimble Nabisco Raulnor' has done the following action : Dice Roller

#1 'D20' : 7

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#2 'D10' : 4

Help them! She cried in his mind.  It was all the encouragement he needed.

He let go of Olc, letting the hand crossbow clatter to the step at his knee.  

Gritting his teeth, he threw his shoulder to heave his father's old light crossbow from where he kept it tied to his pack.  Once it was in front of him, he leaned his belly over the hilt and force the stirrup into the crevasse were two steps met.  His grit turned to a grin as he easily pulled the string into the latch.  Click.  

Twisting his wrist as he pulled his arm back across the groove, a bolt from his bracer delicately fell into place.  He held his breath as he grasped the bow and leaned back to swing it into position.  From the shadows below his friends, [Cunning Action for stealth roll 16 ], he peered down the sight at the large black plate mailed Orc bounding down the steps, barking to the 'lord of secrets.'  

[Assassinate shot +6]
22

He released the bolt and his breath, whispering, "Beannachtaí" (Greetings) as he exhaled. The quarrel zipped across the abyss that defined the center of the tower, arching high to climb the stairs toward the Orc. It scraped between two plates with a pop and a grunt from Grauf as pain bit deep into his flank.

-----

DC 16 perception from Grauff for Assassinate damage

The member 'Custer Thickett' has done the following action : Dice Roller

#1 'D20' : 7

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#2 'D20' : 16, 9

Emelious wrote:"Don't kill us. We're nice.”

Kellar heard Emelious as he watched the red haired woman with the gnome move toward them. No... it couldn't be. "Pimli?!?" He closed the distance up the stairway and lowered his lance. The flames drew from his chest and drew down into his hand and formed a javelin. "Hug the wall," commanded Kellar as he hurled the javelin of flame up the stairway. Firebolt Roll= 4+8= 12; Miss!; DMG= N/A

The flaming javelin flew up the stairs past the woman and Pimli. Unfortunately, Kellar's warning was also enough for the pursuing orcs to also evade his attack. "Keep on coming, there's others beyond me. Hurry!" He waited for the woman and her cargo to pass and he stepped in front of the pursuing orcs. "Wux nishka ti dolruth!" (Translation: You shall not pass!) (Intimidate Roll in Lair)

Intimidate= 15+3= 18; Success?

Kellar growled and raised his lance.

The member 'Kellar' has done the following action : Dice Roller

#1 'D20' : 4

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#2 'D10' : 9

As Emelious gathers his rapier he glances back to his comrades and the cloaker. Artimus was grappling with the poor beast while Dwan laid into it with magic.

Yah, they got that…

Emelious charges forward to meet the new threat at Kellar’s heels. A bolt goes whizzing by and buries itself between the plates of the black-clad half-orc.

Cuss.

Kellar took the opportunity to conjure a javelin of flame and huck it in their well-armored foe’s direction. But their opponent managed to dodge out of the way.

"Wux nishka ti dolruth!" Kellar called towards their pursuers.

“Yah, you tell ‘em,” Emelious charged forward up the stairs, radiant energy wreathing his hand in flames, “Blablu bleblu blabla!”

This meant absolutely nothing, but it was worth the half-orc’s confused expression as a stream of divine flame hurtled towards him

[Dexterity Save: 9+? = Fail.]

Emelious’ target tried to move out of the way, but on the narrow stairwell, there wasn’t much area to maneuver.

[Radiant Damage: 5+7=12]

The flames engulfed the Half-Orc, a sickening crackle of skin, audible to those in the area. When the flames cleared, the damage the fire had done was clearly visible on the Orc’s face. Also, clearly visible on his face was the fact that he was pissed off.

“Oh, sorry. You... got something on your face. Let me help you out.”

Emelious let forth another blast of radiant fire.

[Dexterity Save 4+?=FAIL.]

The half-orc didn’t even see it coming.

[Radiant Damage 6+8=14]

The member 'Emelious Storm' has done the following action : Dice Roller

#1 'D20' : 9

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#2 'D20' : 4

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#3 'D8' : 7, 5

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#4 'D8' : 6, 8

Dwan looks on as Emelious, Custer, and Kellar all rush towards the stairs

Oh so we're all going up the stairs now?

Dwan grunts in frustration as the cloaker continues to struggle in Artimus's grip.

Gods above, why wont you die? he cries out as he positions his body to shoot another stream of poison at the beast.  

His grip tightens on the blessed willow as he flings his arm towards the cloaker once more, careful to position the arm at its mouth.  Another stream of poison forms at Dwan's outstretched arm and shoots at the beast, but in it's struggles it is able to position it's wing to deflect most of the poison.

==============================
Poison spray (rolling cloaker save at disadvantage)
15+ >14 Save successful, no damage

The member 'Dwan Bolduum' has done the following action : Dice Roller

'D20' : 15, 17

As Val approaches the group of people, one of them stares at Gimble and calls out an unfamiliar name. “Uh, Gimble, do you have a secret identify I am unaware of?” She whispers to the gnome on her back. He doesn’t have a chance to answer before Val quickly follows the man’s orders and presses herself against the wall, nearly crushing Gimble in the process. A fiery javelin soars past them towards their enemies who, unfortunately, have also managed to press themselves against the wall and evade the attack.

Val wastes no time flying past the man and out of reach of the angry half-orc. Letting out a sigh of relief, she slows her pace and sets poor Gimble back down on the stairs. “Okay, I think we might- What in Sune’s name is that?!” Before she can get a sentence out to Gimble, her eyes focus on a man restraining a thing that’s thrashing about wildly.

Instinctively she lashes out with the poorly made longsword and stabs deep into the creature which hisses angrily. Disturbed by the hissing, she pulls her sword from the thing and again stabs it. With a shudder she stares at her dirtied sword blade. "Ugh now I'm going to have to clean this."

20 + 6 = 26
8 + 5 = 13
crit damage- 3
9 + 6 = 15
5 + 5 = 10

The member 'Valeria Thaemor' has done the following action : Dice Roller

#1 'D20' : 20

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#2 'D8' : 8

Artimus struggled against the cloaker as it writhed and pulsated a wild rage fueling its instincts. The mariner winced at the incoming blade swung toward him in a wide overhand swipe. The red haired woman expertly hit her mark and thankfully he found himself not the target.

merci Mon fie. Artimus remarked in gratitude.

Proceed. I have this.

Artimus waited for the traitorous Orc. Flinging the wounded cloaker in his face as he climbed the stair. Like a maid spreading warm sheets over a fresh bed.

1d20

The cloaker bucks and brays, its foul-mouth emitting a horrid stench as the folds of its body tremble and shudder.

[Cloaker, STR vs. Artimus = failed]

Valeria can see the beast writhing in pain, as the blond captain struggles to hold it. The woman's sword strikes great, gaping wounds in the hideous thing - black ichor spritzing out arterially and coating her like thick tar.

The barbed tail whips towards her, easily parried by her rusted longsword.

[...]

Rauf cringes as Emelious' cleansing fire washes over him, the grizzled orc recognizing the light of Valkur.

"Your sea-dog master is fit to lose a disciple today." he utters, barreling into Emelious and brandishing his maces...

[Rauf vs. Emelious, Miss and Miss!]

The half-elf raises his shield, easily parrying apart the unsophisticated blows by Cyric's taskmaster...

[...]

The acolyte stands aside, watching as Rauf engages with Emelious. Bracing himself, the purple-robed fiend extends a finger to the half-elf, mutturing a prayer....

[Acolyte casts Hold Person on Emelious. Must save Will vs. DC13 or become paralyzed!]

==================

Ok folks. Running to engage the Acolyte behind Rauf in melee will result in an AoO by Rauf. It will also bring you perilously close to the edge of the stairs, and ripe for being thrown off by the orc cleric.

MVP: Valeria, for pincushioning that icky cloaker.

Turning, Cuss descends the stairs so as to stay out of the torchlight and to provide a better angle of sight across the curve of the tower to the Orc and acolyte.  He drops several stairs, then turns back and wedges the crossbow between the stairs and his body so as to allow his one good arm to pull back on the drawstring and load another shot.  

[Cunning Action Stealth +9]
27

Crouched, he stares down the stock of his weapon at the enemy facing off with Emelious.  He turns, aiming instead at the robbed one behind him.  A gentle squeeze and his bolt soared across the stairs, whistling as it flew.

[DC 27 Perception save. If he sees me, I miss. If not, Assassinate damage. I doubt he can make a 27, so posting full damage. ]

[Light Crossbow +6]
19

The bolt squelched as it punched through the neck of his target and skipped off the wall beyond. Blood instantly started pouring down over his purple robes, but the man still stood.

The member 'Custer Thickett' has done the following action : Dice Roller

#1 'D20' : 18

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#2 'D20' : 5, 13

The pale green skin of his face turned a gruesome mix of black and red, the Half-Orc snarled at the Half-Elf, "Your sea-dog master is fit to lose a disciple today,” the black-clad brute charged forward swinging his maces wildly.

Thunk, thunk.

The cleric’s Valkur emblazoned shield easily deflects the blows.

“Naw, he likes me too much.”

Emelious readies another blast of radiant- Wait, something was wrong. The Half-Elf’s muscles became tense. And he knew exactly what was causing it. His eyes shot passed his opponent to the robed figure behind him. The acolyte was attempting to hold him.

[Wisdom Save: 15 + 6 = 21 = Success.]

You’re going to have to try harder than that!

Valkur’s will bolstered his cleric’s resolve, and Emelious broke free. And then, as if to punctuate his triumph, a bolt flew through the neck of the novice, bathing his throat in crimson, as he began to choke on his own blood.

“Also, my friend’s are better than yours.”

Emelious let loose a torrent of divine flame, past the Half-Orc and toward the mage.

[Dexterity Save: 14 + ? vs DC 14 = Success]

The acolyte let out a garbled yelp of fright and threw himself to the side, narrowly and clumbsily escaping the flames.

Emelious smirked and then motioned for the Half-Orc to come at him.

The member 'Emelious Storm' has done the following action : Dice Roller

'D20' : 15

Dwan is caught off-guard as a woman appears from his blind spot stabbing into the cloaker infront of him.

A look of shock and surprise crosses his face, before a smile creeps through his beard.  

Thank you mi'lady

With that Dwan swings his scepter once more, this time directing the poison into the fresh wounds of the creature. It thrashes around wildly as the spray paints the wound purple and the blood starts to bubble.

==============================
Poison spray, come on now... Woot!

7+? (Assuming that this thing doesn't have +7 constitution) Hit

The member 'Dwan Bolduum' has done the following action : Dice Roller

'D20' : 13, 7

"Pimli? No, I've never gone by that name. It has quite a nice ring to it, though." Gimble wiggles his legs a bit as he braces for a return to the ground. With a quick exhale of air, the gnome gets to straightening his clothing, but in interrupted by the spray of thick, oily blackness that has escaped from the gashes in the cloaker. "My, my, what is that thing? You must let me take a look at it before we leave." He looks to Valeria as if he expects her to carry the thing.

Gimble's thoughts are interrupted as again he feels the familiar prickling sensation of the wizard's curse, this time being cast on cleric before him. The wizard begins to lift his hand, ready to trace another protection sigil, but relaxes as he feels the spell's influence fade. From the corner of his eye, he sees a bolt fly through the alcolyte's neck, spilling more red onto the purple robes. "I'd say that will be the last spell you cast today." Gimble points his hand towards the alcolyte, and another small phoenix flies forward, aimed directly at the gushing wound on his neck. The bird slams into the orc's neck, causing his green skin to sizzle into a dark, burnt patch (trying to keep the alcolyte alive, if possible).

1d20+7 = 18

2d20 = 12

The member 'Gimble Nabisco Raulnor' has done the following action : Dice Roller

#1 'D20' : 11

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#2 'D10' : 6, 6

Kellar seized the opportunity to attack the large orc while it was engaged in combat with Emelious.

Attack Roll= 18+8= 26; Hit! DMG= 12+8= 20!

Rauf's hammer blows glanced off Emelious's shield and Kellar found an opening in the orc's defenses. A seam in the plate! Now to impale... The lance SCREECHED! in between the pieces of plate, popping rivets and links and bone and flesh. "You are finished orc," exclaimed Kellar as he twisted the lance. "You friends there are next." The lance popped free of Rauf and Kellar prepared to attack again...

The member 'Kellar' has done the following action : Dice Roller

#1 'D20' : 18

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#2 'D12' : 12

“UGH,” Val cries out as she’s coated in the thing’s tar like blood. It continues to struggle, still alive, and whips its tail at her. She easily deflects it with her dirty sword and grimaces at the writhing creature as it continues to struggle in the blonde man’s grasp.

She gives a quick glance over her shoulder to see how the others are doing against Rauf and the remaining acolyte. Nobody appears in dire need of assistance- plus Gimble is lending a helping hand. Contented with the knowledge that she isn’t needed elsewhere, she brings her sword up to deliver a finishing blow to the damnable creature that refuses to die.

Her sword stabs down into the thing one last time, dealing a final fatal blow. The creature's thrashing slows to nothing more than a slight twitching as it dies. Val closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. "Gimble, please tell me you have a spell to clean me up because I am NOT walking around like this."

17 + 6 = 23

3 + 5 = 8

second attack not needed as the 8 kills the thing

The member 'Valeria Thaemor' has done the following action : Dice Roller

#1 'D20' : 17

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#2 'D8' : 3

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#3 'D20' : 11

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#4 'D8' : 3

In the dizzying staircase, torchlight flicker's off of Rauf's face as his jaw slackens, the cleric of Cyric stumbling back. A small inferno ignites behind him, the acolyte screaming out suddenly as Gimble's phoenix slams into his chest.

The purple-robed interloped falls to his knees, clutching his chest and screeching obscenities and blood soaks the front of his garments.

"You FILTHY WORMS." shouts Rauf, his own armor splintered and bloodied as Kellar's lance breaks free. He trips over his feet, catching himself and turning up the staircase...

[...]

Val watches the cloaker flail one last time, falling to the ground in front of Artimus DeLonde. The beast twitches violently, a thick, viscous foam seeping out from its vital organs punctured in the attack.

The redheaded paladin looks down. Her armor is coated in disgusting, black spatter.

[...]

Rauf turns round, his feet scampering up the stone staircase as his maces clatter to the ground. The brute limps slightly, but is moving quickly away from the group.

His mouth opens, and he screams at the top of his lungs...

"INTRUDERS! HELP!"
=======================

Ok guys, Rauf has turned tail and is booking it outta here. Unless you have a spell or ability that would reasonably allow you to catch him, I'm going to need an appropriate athletics or dexterity related check, with a STR check to tackle him to the ground.

Those of you with ranged, if you can hit him, I'll allow you to halve damage in order to give him disadvantage on his own checks.

Any other ingenious ideas for stifling him or the noise, let me know.

MVP: Gimble! Love the phoenix

INTRUDERS! HELP!

Dwan looks up the stairway.

Well, that's not good. He checks his surroundings and looks at the drop to see if the other cloaker will make it's way back up.  Once his scan is complete he takes a seat at the edge of the stairs and lights his pipe.  

Thanks for helping with that beast. Dwan says to Val.

My name is Dwan, what's yours?

After she replies.

Well, Valeria seems like we have only a few moments before your buddy up there comes back with some friends.  Judging from your appearance, you two weren't Keisan's guests of honor.  You mind telling us what they had you doing here? As Emelious would tell you, these folk don't keep around prisoners for long unless they are useful.

After Val and/or Gimble reply Dwan nods.

Do you know anything about the layout of the tower? A way to Keisan's chambers perhaps? Not in any shape to keep up this fighting for much longer, so I'd rather take down that dog and go.

============================

Dwan will not pursue Rauf, no chance that he is going to stop him.

Dwan takes the moment to talk with Val.

Kellar gives chase to Rauf. "You dropped something," he said as he scooped up the mace mid stride. Kellar's stride lengthened until he was taking three to four steps at a time. He tried to close the distance. Athletics Check= 3+8= 11; Failure?

If Kellar caught Rauf: Athletics Check to Grapple= 4+8= 12; Meh?
If Kellar grapples Rauf: Athletics Check to Throw= 14+8= 22; Yay.

Despite Kellar's movement, he was unable to close the distance as quickly as he'd hoped. Kellar felt Orbaugh clamber up his shoulder. Master! I help! Kellar cupped Orbaugh in his hand and shoved the pseudodragon toward Rauf. See Lair for attack. Orbaugh's attack struck Rauf. The pseudodragon eagerly waited for the orc to topple...