Finn holds her action until after Jirel's next attack...

     Once Jirel does attack, Finn has Owl land upon the shoulder of the closest cloaked cultist to the combat.  As Owl lands on their shoulder they deliver a Light onto the cloak, making it shed a bright purple light, similar in color to the cloak that Langdedrosa wore when they first came to enter the challenge.  "FOUL!" Finn will cry out immediately. pointing at the cultist and rushing at them, being sure her path takes her between the combatants.  

     "No magics allowed during the duel!" Finn cries out even as Owl uses it's flyby feature to depart the scene...

[Ok.  Then Jirel is up to start Round 3, then assuming Jirel attacks, it will trigger Finn's readied action.]

“The more violent the storm, the quicker it passes.“ And weather the storm, she must. Like the tallest of mountains with the highest peak, she must hold strong.

With a few surprisingly graceful maneuvers of her hips, Jirel manages to dodge Langdedrosa’s probing strikes that were vicious enough to gut her. Her chest rises and falls with focused breaths as she steps into her next counter. And focus, she must. The giantess lifts her greataxe and brings it down.

Action
Attack: 18 Damage: 5 + Bless: 4 

From the battlement, Tylaerys watches the battle of the two champions down below. She lets out a whimper of fear and anxiety as the mighty blue half-dragon draws first blood with his wicked polearm, his blows seemingly raining over the brave blonde giantess, but then Jirel turns the tide of the battle, striking true with two mighty blows of her greataxe. The young blonde half-elf dared hope for her champion now to win through this night of terror, her ancestors, and Jirel's willing.

Jirel times her next strike perfectly, bringing her greataxe down just as she sidesteps one of his thrusts.  Her axe bites into the half-dragon's shoulder with a crunch.  It is like trying to chop a tree, so dense is this monster's scaly hide.  Again, scales chip and break, and dark blood wells up beneath.

Then, a number of things happen at once.  One of the human cultists standing nearest the battle, is illuminated by an unearthly light, shining like a bright torch.  Immediately thereafter, Finn stops her music and cries out, "Foul!" and charges toward the illuminated cultist.  Her path... conspicuously... takes her right between the battling behemoths. "No magics allowed during the duel!"

The crowd around the illuminated cultist all turn to look at him.  He is holding a jug of all and has a confused, slightly terrified look on his face.

Perception DC 15:

 Langdedrosa, his attention focused on Jirel, roars in anger as Finn runs right between them.  "Rahhh!  Get out of my way!" he bellows, and slashes at Finn as she passes by.

Attack: 19 Damage: 10

Then he wrenches free of the edge of Jirel's axe, spraying more blood on the dirt.  He drives forward again, furious with wrath and swings his polearm savagely but carelessly, the razer sharp wing cutting through the air in a X pattern as he tries to cut Jirel down.

Attack: 9 Damage: 15

Attack: 9 Damage: 7

[Langdedrosa uses his reaction to take an attack of opportunity on Finn as she runs by.  Distracted by her interference, his next multiattack on Jirel is at disadvantage.]

Round 3

• Jirel
• Langdedrosa Cyanrath
• Finn

     "You bassta..." Finn begins to scream at the dragon wannabe after they take a swipe at her, prepared to lace the words with magic and dissonant whispers.  But Finn pauses when she sees they were able to still get two swings off against Jirel and that both swings seemed to hit...

((I believe they both hit and that they may put Jirel unconscious...  If so:))

     Finn races back the way she just came and throws herself over the fallen Jirel.  "You bastard!" she calls out fully this time, completing the earlier thought.  "You have your victory, now leave!  Live up to your word and leave!" Finn shouts, trying her best to shield Jirel from any further attacks.

     Finn's shielding Jirel's body with her own has a secondary purpose as well.  "Rest easy, my friend," Finn says more soothingly to Jirel.  "The battle is over for you now.  You can lie still and get your rest now..."  And in these words Finn includes a Healing Word for healing of 3

     Fin tries with her voice and her hands to keep Jirel from stirring though, wanting to maintain the perception that she is down.

((If they didn't hit and/or Jirel is still on her feet, see Spoiler:))

[So... we are still in initiative.  

From where I sit, it looks like both attacks hit and Jirel is down.  

Immediately thereafter, Finn dogpiles in and casts Healing Word for 3hp.

So Jirel is immediately conscious again, prone, with Finn lying beside her and trying to keep her from rising.  Jirel will be up next.  Where things go from here will depend on Jirel's next move....]

ROUND FOUR

• Jirel
• Langdedrosa Cyanrath
• Finn

Chaos hit. All becomes a blur.

(Perception: 19 )

The giantess falls back with the full force of the challengers attack unleashed against her. She lands on the ground with a hard thud, the impact kicking up dust in it’s wake. Greataxe clattering at the feet of the half-dragon. Unmoving. Jirel was down.

Honey eyes slowly flutter. She stirs awake. Eyes meet Finn’s.

It is done.

The crushing weight of it all… Conflicting emotions flash in overwhelming waves.

It is over.

That light, that spark in her eye, faded. Jirel turns her head to the side to look away.

Silence.

After a some shaky breaths, Jirel begins to pick herself with a grunt. Any efforts to keep her down are ignored. With weakened and gentle strength, the goliath moves Finn to the side. And then one foot at a time, she brings herself to her feet.

Wavering, Jirel stands as tall as she can with her grievous wounds. Her chest heaves in laboured breaths. Empty handed, she faces her opponent who struck her down. With her hand axes still holstered upon her hips, the blonde dips her head in resignation, acknowledging her defeat to the victor.

“This battle is over.” She declares.

Though he was watching from his hiding place, Cheddar is not sure what happened or why Finn did what she did. He keeps his aim on the half dragon but holds his shot to see what transpires. If the half dragon moves to attack Jirel or Finn he will fire at the half dragon.

Langdedrosa stands, panting.  Despite two solid axe-blows he looks like he was just getting warmed up.  There is bloodlust in his eyes, and for a moment you suspect he will ignore Jirel's yield and press the assault.  He looks from Jirel, down to her axe on the ground, trying to will her to pick it back up.  But as the seconds tick by, his heavy breathing slows and he emerges from his battle stance to stand back up to his full height.

"You surrender too soon.  I have always heard of the fury of the giants... there is not so much of their blood in your veins as it would appear." He rolls his shoulder painfully, where Jirel had struck with her second blow.  "Or perhaps there is...".  He slowly backpedals from Jirel.  Looking up at the castle wall, he calls out, "Greenest!  Your Champion gave her all, but could not overcome the power of dragons!  Think on this... for a day will come soon when the Queen of Colors leads her children to conquest.  On that day, remember this moment, when even the strongest among you was broken.  Yield, instead, and preserve your lives.  The Dawn of Dragons is coming!"

His kobold retainers and the lingering cultists give a full throated cheer.  When the half-dragon reaches the two hostages, he hesitates.  He turns back and levels his weapon at Finn.  "You.  You came between us and interrupted honorable combat.  I gave my word I would return these two...but..." he says, looking down at the woman and her son.  

"... But I am satisfied .  As much as I would like to punish you for your foolishness, I cannot break my word."  He signals to the kobolds to release them, and the woman helps her injured son to his feet and they both race for the safety of the keep.  The kobolds hand their master his cloak and he dons it.  Then, with only a few more parting sneers from the cultists, they begin to march away, following their brethren south out of town.  The glowing cultist has become a curiosity among their ranks.  You cannot hear what they are talking about, but as they leave, he is surrounded and fielding many questions from those around him.

Moments after the raiders take their leave Tylaerys comes running down from the keep, throwing herself at the heavily wounded giantess. "I...I thought we'd lost you Jirel." She says, her voice full of relief, briefly burying her face into the giantess, then looking up at her and over at Finn. "You saved them, you saved the lives of those people, that is all that matters right now. Know that I will be at your side if you want to seek them out in ther secret camp to the south, but now we should rest, we have earned that, all of us." She continues with a warm smile, looking between Finn and Jirel.

With the fight ended and the prisoners released, Cheddar makes his way back to the keep with little fanfare. He waits for the others when they enter the keep to see if the Governor has anything to say to them.

There’d be no honour in continuing a tainted fight. It was done. 

Jirel wavers as she stands, barely able to remain upright. She never lifts her head while the victor hits her the hardest yet. What was left of her ancestral pride is ripped from her with those first words. Casted out and exiled by her own people, her challenger further confirms the unworthiness of her blood. Now a failure and a disgrace. She’s a mudblood left to wander in her shame.

Numb to it all, Jirel doesn’t even register Tylaerys approach, her words muffled noise.

Honey eyes linger on her Greataxe on the ground. Then she turns her back. Jirel carries her wounded body, and soul, away.

Tylaerys gives Jirel a worried look as the giantess turns and leaves, then giving Finn a sad look before walking over to pick up the thrown javelin and then the greataxe, carrying them in her arms with no small effort, then returning into the keep in silence, her head lowered, deciding to let Jirel have some time alone, instead seeking out Governor Nighthill and Escobert. "The raiders have left, we must all rest now but I pledge to you that I will travel south to their secret camp tomorrow. I must ask you though, to your knowledge, do you have a Leosin Erlanthar in this keep?"

Guards rush out from the gate to collect the Jirel Cheddar and Finn, as well as to establish a picket at the next intersection of road to confirm the raiders have really left.  Back inside, the crowd of civilians, unable to watch what happened outside, knows only what they have overheard from guards and the four prisoners.  It is enough for them to heap praise upon Jirel, though those close enough to see her bloodied body and thousand-yard stare also extend condolences.

Governor Nighthill, followed by Escobert, the Clerics and the other PCs, makes his way down from the walls.  He takes a long look at Jirel, and then claps his good hand upon her bicep.  "You did well tonight.  You rose to the challenge, took wounds that would have killed a lesser warrior, and in the process saved four of our citizens.  You were our hero."  Still holding Jirel's arm, he turns to look around at the others.  "All of you.  We may have lost both our temples and Gods know how many more lives if not for your intervention."

He gives the order for the healers to find two potions of healing for Jirel.  He tells Tylaerys he recognizes the name Leosin Erlanthar, but hasn't seen him recently and didn't know he was in town.  Then he orders Escobert to summon the guardsmen.  The battle may be over, but there is still much work to do tonight.  As word spreads that the raiders have left, the crowd gathered in the keep starts to grow restless, eager to head back to their homes and check on their loved ones, and their belongings.  Eager to keep the night from descending further into chaos, the Governor starts to assign teams and work crews to address the numerous issues still facing his people.

[We will have something of a little skill check mini-game to pass the rest of the night.  This is optional, and if your PC would prefer to just find someplace to sleep the night off, that is OK.  I will provide a handful of prompts below, but feel free to come up with your own ideas of what you can do to help the town, or help yourselves.  Just respond with what task your PC volunteers for, or share your own original idea, describe how you plan to help or accomplish the mission and which of your characters skills you plan to use, and make a skill check.  The DC will depend on what you are trying to accomplish and how well you describe your actions/plan.]

• Fires!  While many of the brush and barn fires the raiders set are burning themselves out, they did manage to set some of the buildings near the town square alight and these continue to burn and are in danger of spreading.  Losing the entire downtown would be a disaster.  Governor Nighthill has tasked four guardsmen with collecting civilian volunteers to race to the townsquare and see about getting those fires under control.  They are currently working the crowds inside the keep, seeking volunteers and buckets or barrels to fetch water.
• Search and Rescue!  While many civilians made it inside the protective walls of the keep, the people gathered here are less than half of the town's residents.  The fate of the rest remain unknown.  While it seems some may have been captured and taken away by the raiders, what of the rest?  Governor Nighthill is looking for small groups of volunteers, each lead by a guardsman, to fan out and look for survivors.  Those sheltering safely in their homes will be asked to remain there until morning.  Those lost, hurt, or slain will be brought back to the keep.
• First Aid!  The healers are overwhelmed and more wounded continue to trickle in to the keep as the night progresses.  The call goes out for anyone skilled in medicine to help render first aid, or even just extra hands to rips sheets for bandages, haul away dirty linens, or fetch water.  Report to the stables inside the keep if you'd like to help.
• Answers!  Governor Nighthill has tasked Escobert to personally oversee a more formal questioning of the two raider prisoners.  While he is not seeking volunteers, any of the heroes are welcome to join Escobert.
• Looting!  For our less ethical friends, perhaps the chaos and confusion of the raid aftermath looks like an opportunity to go shopping.  The town is largely picked over by the raiders, but perhaps they missed something that you can use?  But where to look....
• Something else!  ???

Governor Nighthill himself retires to his study to begin drafting letters.  The nearest large towns of Iriabor and Berdusk are both several days ride away and he wishes to waste no time sending out riders to beseech the leaders of those settlement for aid.

[Whatever you choose to do, we will review the results, everyone will get in a long rest, and then the story will pick back up around lunchtime the day after the raid on Greenest.]

     “Your glowing minion there was pulling something,” Finn spits back when accused of interfering.  “Real leaders can keep their lackeys in check…”

     Finn is sorely tested to taunt and insult the Dragonborn more, as it is her nature… But she does on occasion know when to shut up.  She does mentally instruct her owl familiar to follow this group, however. “We’ll be out of range for a bit.  But I’ll call you back to me in a day or three.  It’s just important we find out where these scum are headed,” she mentally advises.

     Finn understands why Jirel is bummed but is confused by the looks from Tylaerys…  almost as if she was accusing her of something.  But Finn pushed it to the back of her mind to worry about later.  If she had to.  Finn would have snatched up jirel’s axe for her but that task was already accomplished before she could.  Alrighty then…

     “I’m going to end the night as we started it,” Finn announces to the other party members.  “In the tavern!  Or the local one, anyway…”

     “Every town need a focal point for rest, relaxation, camaraderie, gossip, celebration and commiseration. And that focal point is a tavern,” Finn explains.  “I aim to help where I can between here and there of course, but even the rescuers and such will need a place to take a break…”

((And Finn aims to do just that..,  she’ll go to the tavern and do what she can to get it so it’s at least not actively falling down, then she’ll try to set up drinks and tables and such for people to go and share their stories with one another.  People always want to share their stories after disasters.  Talking about the pain and loss and grief helps lighten its weight upon one’s shoulders…  and Finn knows taverns.  And songs and jokes and even just good background Melodie’s yo help people relax.  If Finn can save a person or two along the way, great.  If she finds a dropped coin or two, she’ll rescue it from being lost as well…  But Finn’s main goal is to hold a wake for those lost, a party for those saved and a gathering for all to recall that they are not in this alone…))

Cheddar, being the size of a house cat, doesn't think he would be too helpful in any manual labor that needs to be done. He will volunteer to help with the search and rescue. And if the search and reuse happens to bring him close to the apothecary, he might just slip off and take a look around the little shop. He wants to see if there are any books lying around or hidden that might interest him. 

"Every good potion maker, like wizards, has a book of formulas that the work from, right." he thinks to himself as he sets out to help where he can. 

Tylaerys would thank Governor Nighthill, realizing her contact in Greenest might have been taken by the raiders, which would give the young half-elf even more reason to travel south to their hidden encampment. She would check on the others in the rescue team to see that everyone is alright, returning Jirel's weapons to her, suggesting they all meet up with Finn at the tavern when their tasks are done, Then she too would volunteer to search Greenest for any survivors out there, mentioning to them that help could be found at the keep and comfort could be found with her friend Finn at the local tavern. Eventually she would try to find Jirel again, trying to comfort the giantess, hoping to bring her along to the tavern for Finn to cheer them all up after this night of darkness and despair.

Perception to find survivors: 17
Persuasion to comfort the survivors and advice them on where to go next: 14

Jararaka watches from the keep, tail swishing behind her restlessly. As the dust settles, she stand with uncertainty, wondering how her deity would react, in disappointment, or reprimand perhaps? But no word were imparted upon her, and the divine magic merely pulses steadily like a grounding force. The electric energy bound in her veins eventually fades away, as does the Blessed accessories. She watches Jirel's retreating back intently but loses focus when her eyes land on the injuries dealt by the half-dragon. For a moment, an awful droning religious chant pops up in the back of her mind, all bows to the might of the dragon. But she is quickly zapped out of it by a static shock out of nowhere from her shield.

She will find Jirel and help tend to both of their injuries, all the while talking as if ranting about her deity's teachings, about how storms come around again and again, about how the people learn to stand their ground against the rain, thunder, and lightning. "As my Lord puts it, a challenge is never over until you clear it. Or something like that." She finishes tightening the last bandage on her arm and rises to her feet. "There's no bigger victory than living. Go get a drink or something." She suggests somewhat lamely at the end,  and slinks out to collect some 'payment' for all the day's hard work...

Perception (+ guidance): 14 + Unable to parse dice roll.

(or Investigation if more appropriate, mod is -1)

^ looking for interesting things in all the wreckage, especially for useful things like thief's tools, artisan's tools, or interesting writings (e.g. communication between cultists, draconic texts?) and just pocket these lol. She will collect any gold/silver in a pouch but will leave that near a guard post for people from the town to find when she comes back at night

Everyone had their own interpretation of what Jirel was feeling and assumed they understood. However, most of it was at the shallowest of levels, rarely looking beyond the brute.

Jirel’s respect for Jararaka lifted her enough out of her haze to be present and listen during the cleric’s administrations. A quiet ‘thank you’ was said to the healer upon her departure. The only communication Jirel has participated in besides the occasional grunt. Though, Jararaka’s words did linger with Jirel. ‘A challenge is never over until you clear it’ and ‘There's no bigger victory than living’. What did it even mean to ‘live’? All her life, she’s just simply been surviving…

Jirel wanted nothing to do with the tavern. She was in no mood for more obnoxious noise or distractions drummed up by Finn. Anything but. Jirel wanted calm and quiet, and needed focus and clarity. There was so much work to be done.

Also not wanting to be seen, or found, Jirel desired to fade into the background. Fully bandaged up, she would make her way out of the infirmary once the initial fuss and hubbub quieted down, and everyone was off busying themselves with their own tasks. The greataxe which would have been dutifully returned to her is left behind, resting where she had lay. She grabs a wooden staff instead.

With most of the others immediately dedicating great efforts on searching for survivors, Jirel pivots her approach. She chooses to focus on assisting with the fires first, as there could be survivors trapped inside as well, and has potential to become more disastrous if not controlled. Of course with no magic at her disposal, Jirel can’t just wave her hand for a solution. Therefore, she’d fully commit to good old fashion hard labour until her body can’t any more.

Taking herself back to her training, Jirel grabs multiple buckets, at least six. She fills them with water. Then taking the wooden staff, she hooks an even number of pales on each end and carries them with the staff balanced against the back of her neck and along her arms to evenly distribute the weight for transport. She delivers these to the firefighters for combating the flames.

Once fires were under control, Jirel would shift into recovery efforts. She’d do her own pass to listen carefully for any trapped residents the others may not have heard, or had access too. Trying to take advantage of her height, and what strength she had left in the tank, Jirel would look from high vantage points and under heavy debris. Should she be so lucky as to come across Cheddar’s little mouse companion, she’d ask him to search the teeny tiniest of crevices she could never hope to access, and to inform Cheddar of any discoveries. And as she searched and recovered, Jirel would also naturally attempt to salvage. She’d start piles for sorting to streamline the process for herself, and others assisting with the process. There’d be wood in one section and metals in another; salvageable in one and miscellaneous in another etc.

Even after all of that, as daylight waned, Jirel refused to stop. While others took refuge and comfort back at the tavern to rest and recuperate their way, Jirel continued her way. She’d set out, within the boundaries, to search and review what the land had left to provide, and what she can contribute to replenishing stores. Wood, water, berries, fish and/or small game.

Jirel will sleep outside under the stars.

(Apologies in advance if trying too much, but wanted to fully participate in what DM has presented. Feel free to trim/omit as needed.)
(Stealth - to move around and fade into the background while she works: 21 )
(Athletics/Strength - to carry and provide water for fires: 19 )
(Perception - to search for survivors after the others complete their pass: 4 OR Help for the others if more appropriate)
(Athletics/Strength - to salvage from the wreckage: 22 )
(Outlander background feature: Wanderer, OR Survival - to search for replenishing food and wood stores: 7 )
(’Outlander - Wanderer: You grew up in the wilds, far from civilization and the comforts of town and technology. You’ve witnessed the migration of herds larger than forests, survived weather more extreme than any city-dweller could comprehend, and enjoyed the solitude of being the only thinking creature for miles in any direction. The wilds are in your blood, whether you were a nomad, an explorer, a recluse, a hunter-gatherer, or even a marauder. Even in places where you don’t know the specific features of the terrain, you know the ways of the wild.
You have an excellent memory for maps and geography, and you can always recall the general layout of terrain, settlements, and other features around you. In addition, you can find food and fresh water for yourself and up to five other people each day, provided that the land offers berries, small game, water, and so forth.)

[Edit to include the full feature of Outlander.]
[In case manipulated rolls take over I’ll record them:
Stealth: 5, Athletics #1: 15, Perception: 18, Athletics #2: 17, Survival 9]