Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[ Just checking....would he become visible when using Vicious Mockery? ]]

[[No. The effect as I see it is not a to-hit roll, it is forcing the victim to make a Dexterity check. However, things moving through the air to cause such hazards would definitely indicate that something invisible was involved. Note: this same ruling would not apply to an invisible spell caster, as casting a spell would break a normal Invisibility spell. It is a special feature of the stones, as is maintaining more than one concentration spell, that allows this.]]

[[I take it you can see the map?]]

[[ Nice map. And nice mapping tool on World Anvil. Hovering over markers shows me names ]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[ Glad you did them map, thank you! I thought we were AT the bridge. Did Eisdom do anything this turn, I could not see anything in prior posts.

[[Nothing you could see. He is no longer moving away though and has turned back in this direction in response to the handleader's shouts.]]

In any case, Brand will wait to see what Rawl does.

Also.. the handleader is short one or two men? Or does a hand leader lead 4 men? He's only got 3]]

[[A hand is normally five men, one of which is the handleader, so he is indeed down on for some unknown reason.]]

[[ Don't know enough about reactions, but can Brand react to an attack by Rawl on another man by trying to deflect his blade with Mage Hand? Or do I need to go the vicious Mockery  route?

THIS round IF I can do it again, I will try to cur the bag of the ex-drunk: 

Int+5: 21 

Damage: 1]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[ Don't know enough about reactions, but can Brand react to an attack by Rawl on another man by trying to deflect his blade with Mage Hand? Or do I need to go the vicious Mockery  route?

[[No. To be able to affect other people being attacked as a reaction requires feats, way beyond the capabilities of a cantrip. However, what you could do is use that VM now, in Brand's turn, and if Rawl fails his save, then the first attack he makes before the end of his next turn will be at disadvantage.]]

THIS round IF I can do it again, I will try to cur the bag of the ex-drunk: 

[[For the record, you cut the first sack in the previous round, in which you had surprise.]]

Int+5: 21 

Damage: 4]]

Suddenly, the sack being held by the man threatening the guard with his short sword begins to spill its contents out onto the ground and Brand sees a collection of golden coins and silver trade bars fall to the ground.

[[More later. After I work out what happens.]]

[[ However, what you could do is use that VM now, in Brand's turn, and if Rawl fails his save, then the first attack he makes before the end of his next turn will be at disadvantage ]]

[[ FWIW, I'm saving stuff against Rawl for now, and trying to weaken the resolve of his team, hoping to isolate him ]]

[[ Rules question: I'm last in initiative. If I HOLD an action, can I use it next turn in any useful way, or is that the price of low initiative?]]

[[

Init: 18 = L = hand leader = green
Init: 13 = r = runner = blue
Init: 12 = E = Eisdom = red
Init: 11 = y = dying guard = yellow
Init: 9 = R = Rawl = grey
Init: 7 = M = Tinkerbell = black castle
Init: 5a = D = ex-drunk = orange
Init: 5b = x = other guard = violet
Init: 4 = B = Brand = black

]]

The guard handleader tries to bring down the runner with a flying tackle and ends up flat on his face on the ground for his efforts. [[He is now prone.]]

The runner, having shaken off the handleader, and being still on his feet, is running flat out towards the bridge. [[He has now effectively left the combat.]]

Eisdom, having seen Rawl strike down his friend, draws his sword and runs in to engage the Ex-drunk while shouting, "Come on, Max. We've got to help Russ." However, his swings miss wildly.

Seeing his confederate being attacked by Eisdom, Rawl leave his fallen foe and sidles around behind Eisdom and then springs in to attack with his strange-looking dagger [[With advantage because of flanking]]. The keen dagger slices through the shoulder of Eisdom's armour but does not gain purchase in the man's flesh, however, Brand does see blood spurting.

While this was happening, Madame Damass's focus seemed to mimic the movements of Rawl, but otherwise does nothing.

Rawl's confederate, having somehow avoided Eisdom's frenzied attacks, stabs out at his attacker leaving a mark—and no doubt bruises on the flesh underneath—on the armour covering Eisdom's ribs.

Eisdom's fellow guard, having been roused from his momentary shock by his colleague's words, draws his scimitar and rushes out of the guard station to attack Rawl's confederate from behind [[Also with advantage due to flanking]]. However, even though Brand sees him hit his target, the damage he does is minimal.

[[It is now Brand's action.]]

[[ Brand will use VM to obstruct Rawl, and perhaps do a little damage Int+5? ]]

Int(+5): 18

[[ Does stink of life heal? If dying?]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[ Rules question: I'm last in initiative. If I HOLD an action, can I use it next turn in any useful way, or is that the price of low initiative?]]

[[The short answer in the rules as written is: no.

Normally, an action can't be held over turns, but I'm inclined to rule that if a character elects to hold an action with a specified trigger (e.g., I wait until he comes round the corner and then hit him), then that action does hold until the next turn and will automatically occur in response to the triggering event occurring.

However, if no specific trigger is elected, then the held action needs to be either used at the end of the turn, or lost. Note: you can only hold an action, not the move component of your turn or any bonus action, both of which will be lost, if not used when it is the character's Initiative. Note also: the character could do a movement as an action, losing the chance to do an attack.]]

I would also rule that the character holding a triggered action into a new round is simply moving their position in the Initiative order so as to move in that turn when the triggering event occurs with their action being proscribed as the one they previous elected; they would then be able to move, do bonus actions, etc. as if it were their normal turn, but not move again this turn. If the triggering action doesn't occur, then they would need to wait until their normal turn in their Initiative order to rescind the held action as a free action.

I have added this to the homebrew rules for future reference.]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[ Does stink of life heal? If dying?]]

[[The Stink of life heals hit points and will wake an unconscious character up. However it does it at the cost of the use of a hit dice, meaning that die can't be used for healing until it is recovered.]]

[[ Re: HOLD etc; makes a lot of sense, otherwise initiative is only really significant on the first round. So, to clarify your homebrew, I would specity a trigger like "If Rawl runs in next turn, I move to obstruct and attack"...or is that too general? In order to do that, I would have to do NOTHING this turn AND would ONLY be able to do the desribed action next turn (or not do it, and act in my normal initiative position)?

Re: Stink of Life: So I could use it on the dying guard to revive him? Then presumably say "Lie still, you are badly wounded...."? ]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[ Re: HOLD etc; makes a lot of sense, otherwise initiative is only really significant on the first round. So, to clarify your homebrew, I would specity a trigger like "If Rawl runs in next turn, I move to obstruct and attack"...or is that too general? In order to do that, I would have to do NOTHING this turn AND would ONLY be able to do the desribed action next turn (or not do it, and act in my normal initiative position)?

[[First of all, you would want to say something less specific like: 'If Rawl runs, then...' Also, Brand would not be able to move AND attack, unless the move was part of the specified form of attack (e.g., something like a minotaur's charge, where the movement is a required part of the attack action would be allowed; one of the many advantages of being a minotaur ;-) ). I suppose I would allow Brand to move as the triggered action using the Dash action so that he put himself into Rawl's path and get an Attack of Opportunity if Rawl tried to move out of Brand's zone of interaction (but there could be no attack if Rawl didn't leave his zone, and Rawl could use his action to attack Brand, if he hadn't already used it). However, to do the Attack of Opportunity would be at the cost of Brand's one Reaction in the turn (i.e., an Attack of Opportunity is a Reaction, which normal characters only get one of per turn).]]

Re: Stink of Life: So I could use it on the dying guard to revive him? Then presumably say "Lie still, you are badly wounded...."? ]]

[[Yes, you could revive the fallen guard with the Stink of Life. He would actually be on positive hit points and be able to do things as well, though he'd recover from the event less quickly than if he were revived naturally, as he wouldn't have the hit dice the Stink of Life enabled the use of until after he'd recovered it with a long rest.]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[ Brand will use VM to obstruct Rawl, and perhaps do a little damage Int+5? ]]

[[Please describe what Brand is trying to do with the Stone of Far Reaching to obstruct Rawl. If it is nothing fancy, like slitting a sack with a stolen dagger, then no Intelligence check is required, just Rawl's Dexterity saving throw.]]

Int(+5): 24

[[Yes, you could revive the fallen guard with the Stink of Life. He would actually be on positive hit points and be able to do things as well, though he'd recover from the event less quickly than if he were revived naturally, as he wouldn't have the hit dice the Stink of Life enabled the use of until after he'd recovered it with a long rest.]]

[[ My assumption here is Brand could  move to the guard, use Stink of Life from his Bandolier, in tell him to lie still...all in one turn while invisible. ... voice from behind, "lie still or move away from battle etc", then move off.

To use First aid, he would spend one turn getting the kit, then another applying it which would probably also necessitate him becoming visible due to needing two hands(?).

I *think* they guard has already been down for 2 rounds, which means he has a real chance of dying next round...(or living). So, Brand probably needs to act soon-ish if he cares about the guards life ]]

[[Please describe what Brand is trying to do with the Stone of Far Reaching to obstruct Rawl. If it is nothing fancy, like slitting a sack with a stolen dagger, then no Intelligence check is required, just Rawl's Dexterity saving throw.]]

I was hoping for something not at all flashy; obstructing his arm, batting at his eyes, tripping his feet, distracting him with a 'hand' on his shoulder etc

[[ Depending on how our stink of life discussion goes, Brand may move to the guard and put away the TK stone this turn, in prep for helping the guard ]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[Yes, you could revive the fallen guard with the Stink of Life. He would actually be on positive hit points and be able to do things as well, though he'd recover from the event less quickly than if he were revived naturally, as he wouldn't have the hit dice the Stink of Life enabled the use of until after he'd recovered it with a long rest.]]

[[ My assumption here is Brand could  move to the guard, use Stink of Life from his Bandolier, in tell him to lie still...all in one turn while invisible. ... voice from behind, "lie still or move away from battle etc", then move off.

[[I can see him doing this in one turn, as long as he has the movement to do so (i.e., 30'). He moves up to the fallen guard, uses his one free interaction with objects to get the Stink of Life vial out of his bandolier with his fingers, his action to administer the contents of the vial, and then he could say something briefly (talking is free within sensible constraints) before using his remaining movement to move away. And yes, he would still have is bonus action available to do whatever he can with it. However, I would have to decide how with it the guard is at the time he is being spoken too.]]

To use First aid, he would spend one turn getting the kit, then another applying it which would probably also necessitate him becoming visible due to needing two hands(?).

[[Correct. Getting his first aid kit out and using it would probably require multiple rounds because it is bulky and packed away. However, it may not mean he becomes Invisible. I have been assuming that Brand's stones only need to be in contact with the palms of his hands and that Brand's concentration is maintained, not that the stones need to be actually grasped (he wouldn't have been able to do a lot of the thing he has done if I had). However, his healer's kit is likely to become visible if it leaves his person. Also, his healer's kit can be used multiple times to save the same character, whereas Stink of Life will only work once for a 0th or 1st level character.]]

I *think* they guard has already been down for 2 rounds, which means he has a real chance of dying next round...(or living). So, Brand probably needs to act soon-ish if he cares about the guards life ]]

[[The guard has only rolled once so far because he rolls instead of his turn and his Initiative is higher than Rawl's.]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[Please describe what Brand is trying to do with the Stone of Far Reaching to obstruct Rawl. If it is nothing fancy, like slitting a sack with a stolen dagger, then no Intelligence check is required, just Rawl's Dexterity saving throw.]]

I was hoping for something not at all flashy; obstructing his arm, batting at his eyes, tripping his feet, distracting him with a 'hand' on his shoulder etc

[[That's the sort of thing that wouldn't require an Intelligence check. But what does he do with the dagger the stone is currently controlling? Does he let it fall to the ground? That would be a free action.]]