Ragnus Moltenmane darts towards the tattooed Elf, giving his battleaxe a mighty swing. The dragon worshipper lets out a tortured cry as the blade slices through his armor and into the flesh of his chest. Scarlet blood spills forth from the deep gash in his skin, and the Elven man crumples to the cavern floor immediately.

Taiga attempts to force Hulil into her grasp, but the Dwarven woman manages to tear herself free with a roar. "Raegrin!" she screams, her voice tearing out hoarse with grief and illness. She turns to stare at the Paladin with eyes burning in pain and fury, breathing heavily. Carina will be the next to react, with Brix on deck! What will the Warlock do?

(OOC:  Another 6 on the die for me.  So Carina during this battle has a 2, 6, 5, 3, 6 on d20s.  Odds of getting a 6 or below is 30%.  Odds of it happening 4 times in a row was 0.0081 or 0.81%, less than 1 in 100.  Odds of it happening 5 times in a row as it has is 0.00243 or 0.243%, less than 1 in 400).

Attempting to keep Hulil's attention on her, Carina's stiff muscles attempt to swing her dark warhammer at the dwarven bandit leader and priestess of Tiamat once more but fail again despite the black tendril of Hexblade's Curse remaining attached to Hulil's forehead.

Warhammer to hit:  12
Warhammer damage:  8 + 2 from Hexblade's Curse = 10 (OOC:  I know it didn't hit, just wanted to feel what it was like to click on the damage roll button).

As a free action, Carina stows the warhammer back on her belt so she has a free hand to cast the Shield or Silvery Barbs spells as reactions, wary in case Hulil reaches for her with her dark magic once more.  Despite her own failures, she sings out philosophically to the furious, diseased dwarf:

"Speak true, Hulil.  You always knew it would end this way."

Brix watches anxiously from the rear of the.group as he sees his new friends struggle. In an attempt to distract Hull he pokes his head out and calls her name just as the next attacker wades in.

(OCC: sorry if you were waiting on me. Brix gives the.help action to the next attacker on Hulil.)) 

Hulil turns her head to face the Warlock with a shell-shocked glare, unmoving even as Carina narrowly misses her with the swing of her dark warhammer. The Dwarven woman merely pants for a moment, her breath struggling to pull its way through her disease-wracked chest — and the sound of her roughly shuddering breaths nearly resemble a growl. "Knew it would end this way?" the priestess repeats, staring at Carina incredulously. "You're a fool. It's your life and the lives of your weak companions that will end here," Hulil spits, every word dripping with disgust and anger. "A group of self-righteous, self-declared heroes waltz into the depths of my hideout and promise me salvation from my disease, presenting themselves as saviors — in the same breath as they threaten punishment and slaughter my apprentice. You will not be walking out of here heroes. You will not be walking out of here at all."

Furious tears fill the Dwarven woman's eyes as she turns her attention from the Warlock to Ragnus. Glaring at the Paladin with dark eyes shining with hatred, Hulil raises her arm and casts her ghostly scythe again, guiding it to slice through the air towards him. However, just as the spectral weapon is about to strike the other Dwarf, Brix calls her name — and she turns in the direction of the Artificer angrily as her magical blade sails past Ragnus, missing him. And with that, Ragnus will be the next to react, with Taiga on deck!

(AAAGHHGH I think Tybard and I will be setting these dice on fire if anyone wants to come watch 😔✌️)

Watching as the tattooed Elf falls to the floor, Ragnus toes him to make sure he isn't attempting to deceive him. Satisfied, he whispers a prayer to Tyr thanking him for his aid. Refocusing on the fight, Ragnus sees Hulil turn on him and swing with the spectral weapon, which thankfully misses. "Here be yer promised salvation!" Gripping his battleaxe, he'll swing at Hulil (16 to hit, 5 slashing dmg).

(OOC very glad none of the npcs can hit, lvl 1 is super squishy!)

Taiga prepares again to grab the priestess, now that she’s engaged in arguments. She waits for a moment that she thinks might be a good opportunity, and when Ragnus strikes Hulil, she expects that the she will fling and prepares to grab her while stepping back.

Grapple, Athletics: 5

The Paladin strikes with his battleaxe again, this time swinging the blade in Hulil's direction. It cuts into the Dwarven woman's other shoulder, carving a gash from there to her chest. Blood wells quickly out of the wound, as well as the hole pierced in her other shoulder by Taiga. Nevertheless, Hulil still looks as though she may have a good amount of fight in her, even as she struggles against her frozen sickness. But despite her strength, the Dwarven priestess is immediately captured in Taiga's arms, and the breath quickly leaves her chest as the Earth Genasi grabs her and her spectral weapon dissipates. Next up is Carina's turn, with Brix on deck!

Carina regards Hulil coolly and her irises strobe black once, flicker, then remain so, indistinguishable from her pupils.  The dark filament connecting her harmonica and warhammer to Hulil pulses once in a shadowy echo.  Carina's voice is strangely guttural and deep.  Inexorable.

"No, Hulil.  Ragnus slew your apprentice because your apprentice attacked us.  As you have.  Your life force is forfeit.  Your end draws near on quiet feet upon the endless snow.  She has traveled far across this frigid land, and now she is here for you.  Can you feel her icy breath?  She is very close."

Carina's black warhammer moves faster now, as if has a will of its own.  Hungry.  Seeking the diseased dwarf's chest like a striking shadow.

To Hit:  20 (rolled 21 at advantage in case Hulil is restrained by Taiga, but I think she is only grappled so no advantage, but first roll is still 14 + 6 = dirty 20).
Damage:  12 + 2 from Hexblade's Curse = 14 bludgeoning

(Finally rolled well, but accidentally rolled a d10 damage out of habit on the versatile warhammer instead of a d8 as I am using a versatile weapon 2-handed for another character in a different campaign.  Got a 10 on the d10 so hopefully it is ok to treat that as an 8 on the d8.  If not, I will re-roll.)

Brix remains at the ready should a companion fall.

(Brix reserves a reaction (spare the dying) to be triggered if a party member falls to 0 hp)

Hulil feels as though she is hearing the voice of the Warlock from somewhere far away, not from Carina's blackened lips. Or, perhaps, the woman's strange, lyrical voice is coming from somewhere within her, whispering behind her skull. Either way, the Dwarven priestess is trapped — ensnared by Carina's Hexblade Curse and Taiga's arms.

When the Warlock's warhammer strikes her in her diseased chest, Hulil crumples in Taiga's grasp, weakened and close to death. Struggling, the Dwarf attempts to tear herself free from the Earth Genasi's arms, who must contest her Athletics check of 16. She doesn't respond to the taunts, nor does she meet your characters' eyes anymore.

Though seriously challenged by Hulil's attempt to break free, Taiga grits her teeth and barely manages to keep her hold on the dwarfen woman (Athletics 18). Through clenched teeth, she presses, "Apprehend her?"

(Whose turn it is? Ragnus’?)

(my bad! it's Ragnus's turn, with Taiga following up!)

Understanding that keeping Hulil alive may be their best way out of here, Ragnus will swing his battle axe with the flat part towards Hulil's head (23 to hit, 8 non-lethal dmg).

Taiga follows up Ragnus' new tack, if Hulil didn't pass out yet, with a head butt of her own. (Critical Hit! 3 damage ... Of course I roll critical on an attack without damage dice :facepalm:)

Ragnus swings the flat of his battleaxe at the Dwarven woman, striking her with a painful blow on the side of her head. Her struggling muscles give out, and she slumps in Taiga's arms, still remaining conscious — but hanging on by a thread. As Taiga gives the bandit leader a powerful headbutt, the light finally dies from her eyes and Hulil falls unconscious, sinking in the Fighter's grasp like melting snow. And with that, the cavern returns to silence again, aside from the crackling of the fire. You all gain 118 XP (aside from Elbert, who will gain 75 XP).

Ragnus breathes a sigh of relief as he sees Hulil lose consciousness. He looks to the others and says, "We need ta get outta here. Can anyone untrap tha chest? Taiga can ya carry Hulil, or would ya rather I did? I think we'll need her as insurance ta get out without more conflict."

Taiga catches the dwarf carefully. She still would much prefer to heal her, despite her being hostile towards the end. A life is a life. To Ragnus she replies, "You're right. I can't wait to get out of this hole. I can drag her along, I think, but I'm not much help with that chest."  

Carina's irises remain pitch black, her dark warhammer poised, ready to strike Hulil lethally.  The dark filament connecting the weapon to Hulil's unconscious thickens like an inky reptile beginning to unhinge its jaw.  Her voice is guttural and distant.

"Are we assuming that Hulil's huge pet frog will obediently ferry us back across the thirty-five feet of icy water while we haul along the unconscious and bloody form of its mistress?  I have a way to take us across without need of the giant croaker, but not with Hulil's body, dead or alive.  Better dead."

"We had our chance to leave peacefully, but you wished to apprehend her, Ragnus.  I understand your principles, but that was never going to happen without their deaths or ours.  Still isn't, most likely."

(OOC:  Recall that the first pool near the entrance, we placed a wooden beam to walk across.  There were two croakers in that one.  But THIS pool, the one to Hulil's cavern, a much larger giant croaker had to ferry us across 35'.  There was no beam.)

"I was thinkin' bout them three that we met earlier, Elbert should have been here by now, unless they have him, or worse. As for Hulil, I know how ya feel, she deserves ta be slain, but let tha law handle that. We don't need ta be her executioner."

Carina shakes her head at Ragnus' non-sequitur.  "I am not speaking of my wishes or what Hulil deserves.  We are likely not getting out of here with her body.  Open your eyes.  Have you forgotten the pool blocking our way?"