This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Alistair's eyes widen as the prisoner, in a desperate lunge, shoves the crossbowman aside. Alistair's mind whirs. An opportunity! He weaves through the trees, closing the distance with a practiced grace (D10). With a flick of his wrist, Alistair brings up his lute, it's weight familiar and comforting, anticipating the melody to come. His fingers fly across the strings in a rapid arpeggio. A melody fills the air, a vibrant tapestry of notes shimmering with a faint, magical luminescence. The Burning Sword sigil inlaid on the headstock seems to throb in response, pulsing with the dark energy of his muse. Lyrics spill from his lips, urgent and powerful as a fiend's kiss, a flicker of infernal satisfaction igniting in his eyes:
"Swift hand of shadows, heed my plea, Trip the foe who seeks to flee! Tangled limbs and stumbling stride, By magic's hold, your feet are tied!"
As the last note fades, a spectral Mage Hand materializes around the ankle of the fleeing soldier. With a flamboyant flourish that sends his cloak swirling, Alistair ducks behind the thick trunk of another tree (C10). A sly grin plays on his lips as he watches the scene unfold. This is proving far more entertaining than I anticipated. Performance26
Delighted by all the chaos of the melee, Brockes just approaches whichever of the two is nearest and goes in swinging (not trying to kill). (OOC: Don’t know if I’m up but if he can he will. :) )
The swordsman, deciding that it's more important to escape alive than to escape with his prisoner, releases the rope tied to Billy and turns to run just as the Half-Orc paladin turns to strike at him...
Krog's blade sweeps out just a moment too slow, slashing the swordsman's tabard but failing to strike anything substantial. At the same time, Alistair attempts to trip up the swordsman with magic...
(I'm going to rule that, mechanically, Alistair is also attempting the Shove action. Since he's trying to trip, rather than push, I'm going to rule that instead of using the hand's minimal strength he can make a dexterity or charisma check instead)
Alistair needs to roll for his trip attempt and Zeke can take an action if he wants to. Then Krog can take his turn and I'll adjudicate Brockes' attack (Group 5 Initiative)
(OOC I intended for this roll to be my check for the mage hand trip. Figured it was a charisma check using performance & lute proficiency. Should I roll another dexterity or charisma check?)
Having done what he could to shield the dwarf, Smudge decides to attempt to remove the threat with a crossbow bolt to the swordsman. "Eat feathers, you beast." Smudge thinks he needs to read more about taunts and smack-talk since that did not sound impressive.
Billy falls to a knee when the bolt hits him. His hand falls on to one of his smaller axes. Feeling the weapon in his hand. He moves without a sound to cut crossbowmen neck.
If his stuff that was dropped on the ground earlier is close enough, he will pick up one of his hand axes and attack the prone crossbow men.
(I believe because the guy is on the ground it grants advantage.)
(OOC I intended for this roll to be my check for the mage hand trip. Figured it was a charisma check using performance & lute proficiency. Should I roll another dexterity or charisma check?)
(I see your point but that's a dangerous precedent for me to set as a DM. Essentially I would be giving you a ranged shove attack with a double proficiency bonus, before even considering the possibility that you could take expertise in one or both of them, from a cantrip. I need to keep it at a base ability check just to help balance it against the melee version of the shove action. So yes, please roll your preference of Dexterity or Charisma.)
What Zeke lacks in smack talk, he more than makes up for with accuracy. The bolt strikes solidly in the center of the Swordsman's back and it's only the thickness of his leather armor that prevents it from piercing one of his lungs.
Meanwhile, Brockes rushes forward and bludgeons the crossbowman unconscious with a single blow to the head from the flat of his axe.
(Okay, our Initiative Order is falling apart a bit. The next thing I need is Alistair's shove attempt to close out group 3 initiative. The crossbowman has already taken his initiative for group 4. Brockes has taken his turn from group 5. So after Alistair, I need Krog's attack from group 5. Once those two have gone, we start the second full round of combat with group 1/Billy's action)
Alistair's mage hand trips up the fleeing swordsman, but he manages to catch himself before falling prone. In a comedy of errors, his stumble just barely saves him from a potentially fatal stroke of Krog's longsword...
Zeke runs up to the dwarf to ask, “are you okay? Do you need any healing?” He pauses and also asks, “do you want to do the honors of tying up your former captor?”
Smudge runs up to the dwarf to ask, “are you okay? Do you need any healing?” He pauses and also asks, “do you want to do the honors of tying up your former captor?”
(OOC: Sorry, I missed it. Who is Smudge? Was it Zeke? I'm a little lost. Lol)
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Alistair's eyes widen as the prisoner, in a desperate lunge, shoves the crossbowman aside. Alistair's mind whirs. An opportunity! He weaves through the trees, closing the distance with a practiced grace (D10). With a flick of his wrist, Alistair brings up his lute, it's weight familiar and comforting, anticipating the melody to come. His fingers fly across the strings in a rapid arpeggio. A melody fills the air, a vibrant tapestry of notes shimmering with a faint, magical luminescence. The Burning Sword sigil inlaid on the headstock seems to throb in response, pulsing with the dark energy of his muse. Lyrics spill from his lips, urgent and powerful as a fiend's kiss, a flicker of infernal satisfaction igniting in his eyes:
As the last note fades, a spectral Mage Hand materializes around the ankle of the fleeing soldier. With a flamboyant flourish that sends his cloak swirling, Alistair ducks behind the thick trunk of another tree (C10). A sly grin plays on his lips as he watches the scene unfold. This is proving far more entertaining than I anticipated. Performance 26
Delighted by all the chaos of the melee, Brockes just approaches whichever of the two is nearest and goes in swinging (not trying to kill). (OOC: Don’t know if I’m up but if he can he will. :) )
Attack: 16
Damage: 13
The swordsman, deciding that it's more important to escape alive than to escape with his prisoner, releases the rope tied to Billy and turns to run just as the Half-Orc paladin turns to strike at him...
Krog's blade sweeps out just a moment too slow, slashing the swordsman's tabard but failing to strike anything substantial. At the same time, Alistair attempts to trip up the swordsman with magic...
(I'm going to rule that, mechanically, Alistair is also attempting the Shove action. Since he's trying to trip, rather than push, I'm going to rule that instead of using the hand's minimal strength he can make a dexterity or charisma check instead)
Meanwhile, Zeke calls upon his god to protect his fellow dwarf... just moments before the crossbowman looses a bolt at Billy.
(Attack: 15 Damage: 6, versus an AC of 14)
BtW, Shield of Faith is a bonus action spell so Zeke can still take an action if he wants to.
Alistair needs to roll for his trip attempt and Zeke can take an action if he wants to. Then Krog can take his turn and I'll adjudicate Brockes' attack (Group 5 Initiative)
Initiative Order:
Group 1: Billy
Group 2: Swordsman
Group 3: Alistair & Zeke
Group 4: Crossbowman
Group 5: Krog & Brockes
(OOC I intended for this roll to be my check for the mage hand trip. Figured it was a charisma check using performance & lute proficiency. Should I roll another dexterity or charisma check?)
OOC: Continuing his earlier turn:
Having done what he could to shield the dwarf, Smudge decides to attempt to remove the threat with a crossbow bolt to the swordsman. "Eat feathers, you beast." Smudge thinks he needs to read more about taunts and smack-talk since that did not sound impressive.
Attack 8+6=14, damage 4+3=7
Billy falls to a knee when the bolt hits him. His hand falls on to one of his smaller axes. Feeling the weapon in his hand. He moves without a sound to cut crossbowmen neck.
If his stuff that was dropped on the ground earlier is close enough, he will pick up one of his hand axes and attack the prone crossbow men.
(I believe because the guy is on the ground it grants advantage.)
Attack (4,15+3) = 18 Damage= (4+1) =5
(I see your point but that's a dangerous precedent for me to set as a DM. Essentially I would be giving you a ranged shove attack with a double proficiency bonus, before even considering the possibility that you could take expertise in one or both of them, from a cantrip. I need to keep it at a base ability check just to help balance it against the melee version of the shove action. So yes, please roll your preference of Dexterity or Charisma.)
What Zeke lacks in smack talk, he more than makes up for with accuracy. The bolt strikes solidly in the center of the Swordsman's back and it's only the thickness of his leather armor that prevents it from piercing one of his lungs.
Meanwhile, Brockes rushes forward and bludgeons the crossbowman unconscious with a single blow to the head from the flat of his axe.
(Okay, our Initiative Order is falling apart a bit. The next thing I need is Alistair's shove attempt to close out group 3 initiative. The crossbowman has already taken his initiative for group 4. Brockes has taken his turn from group 5. So after Alistair, I need Krog's attack from group 5. Once those two have gone, we start the second full round of combat with group 1/Billy's action)
Initiative Order:
Group 1: Billy
Group 2: Swordsman (-7 HP)
Group 3: Alistair & Zeke
Group 4: Crossbowman (unconscious)
Group 5: Krog & Brockes
Alistair charisma 9
Krog attacks the nearest enemy. ATT 14 DMG 4
(Swordsman's resist trip attempt: 19)
Alistair's mage hand trips up the fleeing swordsman, but he manages to catch himself before falling prone. In a comedy of errors, his stumble just barely saves him from a potentially fatal stroke of Krog's longsword...
(Billy is up, then the swordsman)
Billy will throw the hand axe at the swordsmen.
Attack = 14
Damage = 2 + (Sneak 5 ) = 7
Billy's aim is true and he hand axe strikes the swordsman directly in the back of the head, killing him instantly.
(End of Initiative. Swordsman is dead and the Crossbowman is unconscious. You may post RP freely.)
Zeke runs up to the dwarf to ask, “are you okay? Do you need any healing?” He pauses and also asks, “do you want to do the honors of tying up your former captor?”
Krog walks up and smiles at the Dwarf, "Good throw with that Handaxe. Name's Krog. Need some rope?"
(Also, Krog has the ability to Lay on Hands and heal a little damage if Zeke needs to save spells.)
@ Smudge "Who are you? Have you seen another prisoner being escorted by another set of these ruffians?"
Billy looks ruff the bolt went through left shoulder and is sticking out the other side.
@ Krog "Thanks the name is Billy."
@ The group as a whole "I am glade for the help and any healing you can spare. Thank you"
(OOC: Sorry, I missed it. Who is Smudge? Was it Zeke? I'm a little lost. Lol)