Cold sweat running down her back, Vaalsh rushes out of the elders house, stopping a few feet after the doorstep and nervously looking around. She addresses any of the townpeople that are standing around. "There is danger here! Go to your houses and lock your doors! We will tell you when you can come out again!"

Panicked, she looks back into the house and stands ready in case someone gets hurt. What was that monster that Comstock turned into? What could it do? Could it infect people? Questions were rattering through the young womans mind like wheels on cobblestone and she had trouble focusing.

Launch springs into action.  She heads out the front door and yells, "Monster!  There is a monster!  Run!  Head to your homes or run away!".  She then dons the mask.  Launch thinks to herself, I don't know if this will help stop the contagion, but it can't hurt.

A light breeze tugs at the cloak and veil.  She is prepared for whatever is to come.

It's a horrifying scene, undoubtedly; as the man's transformation begins, Wim watches it unfold with utter fascination, mask clutched in her hand, a million questions spilling out before her: first and foremost, what the hell? Would the masks offer any actual protection against whatever this was this was, this fog, or were the masks simply a comfort, some small piece of hope for any wanderers to cling to? And what was the risk of transmission? And would the witch have more answers to offer than this local "run away and get help from a bunch of people who hate us" elder? She pulls on the mask, but lingers, too, like a couple of the others, considering them for a moment; she never was very good at being scared away. "Where would someone find your witch?" she asks, in a rush, focus returning to the elder, though the golden warmth -- not visible, or tangible, but as familiar to her now as every breath she takes -- emanates from her, lending vitality to the others yet unwilling to flee.

(Aura of Protection and Aura of Courage should affect those within 10 feet, still inside the elder's home, and grant a +4 bonus to any saving throws and an inability to be frightened.)

The bard accepted the mask as the scene unfolded before him. As Comstock began transforming and the elder yelled for everyone to escape, the bard reached over and attempted to drag the dwarf out of the house with him. "We're not leaving you in here alone, Crowbeak," he said in a familiar, gently-chastising tone.

Kiafra is aware of people leaving the house following the elder's instruction, and he is more aware of those that stay. Especially the one asking about the witch, they exude a confidence that manages to further bolster even his steady nerve.

"He's right, sir. You should leave. Things are likely to get messy", he says as he prepares to put this unfortunate soul down.

Kiafra, you can tell a few things immediately about this new creature that has formed from Comstock's body. It reeks of death and decay... seems that similar energy won't do a single thing against it, and its form resembles something of a fleshy ooze trying to keep its shape. The way it lacks any emotion in its face asides from pain shows the inability to... feel. 

Vaalsh and Launch, the both of you successfully alert the few villagers who were still outside and peeking in on the conversation, them running to assist with the warnings and getting all of their neighbors, then themselves, into their homes for safety

Wim, elder Crowbeak turns to face you, struggling to keep the thing down as you speak. "Never mind that now! I'll tell you once we're done with this thing!" He strains, then turning to answer Flèche and Kiafra, though being cut short as the creature smacks the dwarf away towards the wall with sizable force.

And now, what used to be a brave knight rises after being held down, letting out a raspy, pained groan as it sets its sights on the four still in the home. The hand of the creature slowly stretches out into a long pseudopod, eventually flattening into a sharp blade. He's not human anymore.

(( Everyone, roll initiative. ))

@RippedVolcanoVikings, who are you trying to persuade?

Vaalshs Initiative: 5 🥲

"Necrotic magic won't be any use, and don't try to charm or frighten it, that won't work either", Kiafra says as he prepares to attack.

Initiative (Advantage for Feral Instinct feature of barbarian): (12,9)+4=16

(OOC: What is your stance on the flanking rules @TemmieChang? Ok to use?)

Quote from VolcanoLair >>

"Necrotic magic won't be any use, and don't try to charm or frighten it, that won't work either", Kiafra says as he prepares to attack.

Initiative (Advantage for Feral Instinct feature of barbarian): (12,9)+4=16

(OOC: What is your stance on the flanking rules @TemmieChang? Ok to use?)

 
Absolutely! "Comstock"'s initiative is 20.

(( Flèche Initiative: 11 ))

"Right you are then, after it is," Wim concedes, with a gesture that might vaguely approximate a finger gun, or at least half a thumbs up; the once-man has become quite a threatening creature indeed -- and, it seems, with better access to a blade. He's also not quite like anything she's ever faced down, which has really made this situation altogether more compelling than she'd been expecting. (Tragic, of course. But fascinating.)

She reaches for the hilt of her own blade.

(Wim's initiative: 15)

With the sound of a body hitting the wall, Launch prepares for the monster Comstock has become.  She slides a dull steel tone staff from its leather case, flared at one end pointed at the other with runes carved along the shaft and moves to get a clear view of the creature.

Initiative 21  

I used panache on the creature. 

It has to make an insight check against my persuasion or have disadvantage on attack rolls against anything that's not me. Bryskin shouts, "Don't touch it! Not yet!"

(( Ah! Alright. I'm not too familiar with the rogue's feature completely. My apologies. Roll initiative for yourself as well. ))

Comstock's Insight: 3

initiative: 9

Apologies for the wait, everyone! Long weekend and I had to celebrate Palm Sunday. Initiative order is as follows!

Launch -> Comstock -> Kiafra -> Flèche -> Wim -> Bryskin -> Vaalsh

Launch, go!

Launch, with the silver staff in one hand begins twirling. A hum fills the air with a low tone drone and that peaks and crescendos with the twirls.  The Bladesong takes hold in her mind.

Launch closes the distance and lashes out with two lightning fast strikes to the creature’s waxy face and gut.

Bonus Action: Uses Bladesong

Action: Launch attacks with the staff twice

20 (Damage if it hits: 8)
16 (Damage if it hits: 12)

The creature, upon taking damage, reels back in shock with a pained screech. Despite its intimidating appearance, the way it reacts to the strikes is... odd, to say the least. It's like a blubbering child who just got a smack on the hand. Its sights set on Bryskin thanks to his taunting, it lunges, the sword appendage on its hand morphing into that of a spear.

With a groaning lurch, it misses when trying to stab him in the chest,

Kiafra, go!