Watching as the Artificer's magical powder billows up into the air and swirls throughout the cavern air, Hulil and the tattooed Elven man beside her quickly duck and dart their way towards the roaring fire. Much of the spellcasting powder is lost in the flames, and although Hulil's belongings like her bedroll and the chest are set aglow with Faerie Fire, both bandits manage to escape the light themselves.

Hulil watches your party of adventurers where she stands behind the fire, her black-streaked face and pulsing blue veins peeking through the flickering tongues of flame menacingly. She raises a hand, her frostbitten palm pointed towards Carina, and casts Hold Person. The Warlock must succeed on a DC 11 Wisdom saving throw, lest she end up paralyzed. Ragnus will be the next to react, with Taiga on deck. What will Ragnus do?

Moving up towards Hulil, Ragnus will take a swing at her with his battleaxe (11 to hit). (In the unlikely event that it connects, 10 slashing dmg)

Taiga grimaces at the development of their conversation but isn’t surprised that it went south. She follows Ragnus and lunges at Hulil with her rapier. Hopefully, Elbert will be able to hold back the other bandits for long enough for them to finish her… and her consort. 

Action: attack with 21 for 5 piercing damage

Carina WIS Saving throw:  9 (I always roll low on saving throws.  Needed 8 on the die, got a 6... sometimes I feel as if I'm rolling a d6, not a d20).

Carina is unaware, all the way turned around, ready to leave when the battle breaks out.  She does not even see Hulil cast Hold Person at her and her muscles seize up as she is about to ask about the giant frog and a ride back across the water.  She is paralyzed.

(Hulil must make a DC 10 CON Save on any damage she takes to maintain concentration, such as Taiga's attack).

Ragnus rushes past the roaring fire, swinging at the Dwarven priestess with his battleaxe. Unfortunately, the Paladin's attack misses — and Hulil takes a swift step to the side. This is when Taiga lunges forward, aiming with her rapier. With her eyes still on the other Dwarf, the dragon-worshipper doesn't notice Taiga's approach until it is too late — and the girl's weapon sinks into her shoulder. However, when the blade exits Hulil's flesh as she growls, the woman doesn't look very worse for wear, and her concentration on the spell she's cast on Carina doesn't waver, either.

The Elven bandit beside her is the next to attack, and he points his scimitar at Taiga with a furious glare. "You'll pay for the harm you've caused, and the disrespect of your entire group," the tattooed bandit growls at her, the first time he's spoken up since their encounter began. Then he swings at the Earth Genasi — and his weapon sails straight past Taiga and clangs onto the cavern floor. Next is Carina's turn, should she succeed another Wisdom saving throw to escape the clutches of Hulil's spell, and Brix is on deck.

Nope.  With a +3 (she is proficient in WIS saving throws), she needs an 8 on the die (65% chance of success) and has had two straight chances at it, but rolled a 6 and now a 5 on the die.  So frustrating.

Carina WIS Save:  8

Carina's muscles remain locked.  Go ahead Brix.

Brix darts out from his refuge and tosses some type of shavings at Hulils feet. The shavings burst in to flames. 

Hulil must Dex Save Vs DC13 or take 3 damage.

As the flames attempt to ingulf Hulil Brix retreats back to his original position.

(crying, poor Carina my beloved)

As the shavings that the Artificer tosses at her feet begin to alight with flames, Hulil deftly moves backwards and away from the magical bonfire conjured beside the already-burning one. However, the Dwarven priestess's body is wracked with harsh coughs immediately afterwards — and it seems as though her battling through her disease is beginning to take its toll.

Once she's finished coughing at the icy sickness that crawls its way up her throat, Hulil fixes her gaze on Taiga angrily, raising her spectral weapon to strike. But seconds from the ghostly scythe slicing at Taiga — the magical weapon disappears, and Hulil is left gasping for breath as her spell on Carina dissipates too. Next is Ragnus's turn to react, with Taiga on deck!

Eyes stinging from the blaze of fire, Ragnus swings his battleaxe at Hulil but misses (11 to hit). He steadies himself and waits for his next opportunity to attack. 

Quote from OkinDragonborn >>

(crying, poor Carina my beloved)

As the shavings that the Artificer tosses at her feet begin to alight with flames, Hulil deftly moves backwards and away from the magical bonfire conjured beside the already-burning one. However, the Dwarven priestess's body is wracked with harsh coughs immediately afterwards — and it seems as though her battling through her disease is beginning to take its toll.

Once she's finished coughing at the icy sickness that crawls its way up her throat, Hulil fixes her gaze on Taiga angrily, raising her spectral weapon to strike. But seconds from the ghostly scythe slicing at Taiga — the magical weapon disappears, and Hulil is left gasping for breath as her spell on Carina dissipates too. Next is Ragnus's turn to react, with Taiga on deck!

OOC:  @OkinDB - Thank you.  I want to be clear, though that I wasn't asking for charity!  I was just venting.  Is that really a thing, Hulil losing concentration on Hold Person due to the diseased coughing fit?  I just want to make sure you didn't do it because you felt sorry for Carina.  And Spiritual Weapon requires no concentration, so you would think Hulil wouldn't lose that?  Maybe just lose her bonus action it would take to command it this turn?

(don’t worry, I had her lose concentration and cough everywhere because I rolled a nat 1 for her attack roll, haha! I do want to protect lovely Carina and all of your characters, but I promise I’m playing fair >:)

Taiga steps around the fire, following Hulil to press their advantage and attacks with her rapier. (Attack: 10, guess that misses, didn’t roll damage)

Closing in around the crackling fire, Ragnus and Taiga both attempt to strike the Dwarven priestess with their weapons in quick succession. However, Hulil dodges the blows from each of them — taking in short, raspy breaths as she moves, her eyes ablaze with fury. Her Elven companion, the tattooed worshipper of Tiamat, takes in his mentor's worsening condition and realizes he might need to think of a different strategy to protect her.

He reaches for Taiga, swiftly attempting to grapple the Earth Genasi and seize her in a chokehold, his arm barred across her throat. The Fighter must make an Athletics or Acrobatics check against the Elf's Athletics roll of 5 to see if he can succeed. And with that, Carina is the next to react, with Brix on deck!

Totally surprised by the rather incompetent attempt by the elf, Taiga almost didn’t react to fight the grapple (Athletics: 2+4=6). However as soon as she did, she escaped without any real effort.

As Carina's muscles creak back into motion, she staggers, managing to sound a quick, haunting note on her black harmonica.  A thin, almost ephemeral, shadowy black tendril seems to waft forth from her dark warhammer, stretching out to touch and fix itself on Hulil's forehead.  Ever so gently.

Carina's own irises slowly transition from light green to match.  Becoming the deepest black to match her pupils.

(OOC:  Placing Hexblade's Curse on Hulil, damage bonus, crit on 19 or 20, self-healing if target dies).

The swing of Carina's dark warhammer seems uncoordinated for now, seemingly from her muscles being frozen in place until just now.

Warhammer to hit:  9 (OOC:  I don't think any of us are rolling well.  For Carina, that is a 2, a 6, a 5 and a 3 in succession on the d20 so far).
(Won't bother rolling damage).

She attempts to speak, but her usually loquacious voice comes out as a guttural croak, as if voiced by one of the giant ice frogs nearby.  Or a giant raven.

(OOC:  Happy 4th of July to US-based posters!)

Brix takes store of the various chemicals and ingredients stored in his bandolier of corked vials and pouches only finding more bonfire shavings. Afraid that the others are to close for him to try to start another fire and not much of a physical sort, Brix decides to just remain watchful.

Snarling in frustration at herself, the Dwarven priestess stills as she watches Carina begin to move again. She isn't quite sure how she knows, but Hulil senses that the Warlock is dangerous. It was why she casted Hold Person on her first — but her magic was faltering as the clutches of her disease sank further into her. Despite the Frigid Woe that was already crawling its way through her frostbitten veins, Hulil felt an even colder shudder as she heard the note from Carina's instrument. The Dwarven woman feels frozen as the black shadow emanating from Carina's weapon drifts towards her, and the Warlock's eyes turn black.

Thankfully for her, Carina's swing of her warhammer misses, but Hulil's heart still feels as though it's racing in her vein-covered chest. With the Warlock still in her reach, Hulil stretches out her arm and places her blackened hand on Carina's stomach. Gathering her strength, the Dwarven woman attempts to cast Inflict Wounds on the adventurer beneath her touch. However, even as she concentrates, Hulil still doesn't have the power required — and the spell dissipates like a whisper. The next to react will be Ragnus, with Taiga on deck! What will the Paladin do?

(I think our dice might be cursed right now lmao)

Seeing Hulil's attention shift to Carina and Taiga, and the Elf looking like he's about to join in. Ragnus will move to the tattooed Elf and swing at him with his battleaxe (15 to hit, 10 slashing if it connects).

Taking a lesson from the Elf's pitiful attempt at grappling her, Taiga changes tack and sheathes her rapier. Then, when Hulil's attention was on Carina with her arms reaching out for the half-drow, Taiga moves quickly to grab the dwarf's shoulder with a quick motion. She tries to use the dwarf's momentum to turn her some more and immobilise Hulil between her grip and her shield pressed against the dwarf's back.  

Action: Grapple with Athletics 12
Move: If grapple is successful, Taiga force moves Hulil into Brix' Bonfire where Hulil must succeed with a Dex Save Vs DC13 or take 3 fire damage.
Other: If moving away from the elf to manoeuvre Hulil, the Elf might get an opportunity attack.