Round 2

Unfortunately, the monster's side proves to be as hard as marble and the ex-Sergeant's blade is deflected with a resounding clang. And even Gaer's arrow, while landing and managing to chip the monster's shoulder - about as much as the steel tip might have chipped the stone of a statue - it is clear that it did not damage the creature as much as it should have... [[ OOC: The creature has shown to have Resistance to that type of damage ]] 

"Damn!" the tiefling ranger growls softly, looking down for a moment at his silver magic blade "Perhaps this is where... a touch of magic is needed."

Aidwyn, Roxana, Spira, are up! Any order.

Combat Stats (those interested can peek):

Roxana stays focused on the retreating gnome merchant. She again fires her shortbow at Fonkin.
(Shortbow Attack: 24, Damage: 8) 

Round 2

Roxana proves to still be well deserving of her 'Shadow Archer' nickname (at least as far as the 'Archer' part is concerned) because her arrow lands, after a precise trajectory, between the gnome's shoulder blades, definitively putting an end to his escape!

With a cry, Fonkin drops the carpet he had wrapped and rolls to the ground, amidst the clatter of shards, while his hopes of salvation shatter like the most fragile pieces of his merchandise.

Collapsing to the ground, he spontaneously changes shape, assuming that of a thin humanoid, but taller than a gnome - a height comparable to a human - and with skin of a dull grayish color.

Aidwyn and Spira, are up! Any order.

Combat Stats (those interested can peek):

Quote from OisinmacCameron >>

"I think you're right, brother!," Spira growls back to Gaer.  "It's a good thing this squad has more than a touch of magic at its disposal -- of several different types."  But then she turns her head back from responding to him and sees the grey, spidery-limbed creature sprawling on the ruins of his wares before her.

"Well, well. well!  What have we here?  You know, perhaps I ought to take a lesson from Rash in the best way to apply magic."   Quickly reaching down, she grapples the shapeshifter in an attempt to lift him to his feet with one of her forearms wrapped around his throat.  With her free hand, she makes the more advanced meditation mudras she has recently learned and couples the proper chant with it to summon Angharrad's spear of moonlight.  With this, she strikes promptly and with extreme prejudice at the stony devil she judges to be the greatest threat to Darvin. 

Finally. calling with her mind for Aedion to soar aloft and see if he can spot any more lurking surprises from that vantage point, she growls into the ex-gnome's ear, "I get really ugly when the people I love are threatened.  Unless you want a broken neck, call off your 'security' and answer my questions.  Now."  It doesn't hurt her intimidation factor any that her tail suddenly lashes out at this point as if she intended to strangle him with it.  If she has not managed to grapple him successfully, she growls this even more menacingly while flexing her fingers in the manner of one getting them ready for another try.   Suddenly a thought seems to strike her ... or a memory.  "Saaaaaay.  Add one more question to the lot.  You wouldn't just happen to know an arcanoloth who goes by the name 'Ekandre', now would you?"

=========

Action: Unarmed strike (grapple) attack vs. Fonkin; no hit roll required; no physical damage, but F. is grappled unless he makes a STR or DEX save (his choice)

B.A. Spiritual weapon attack (vs. Cracked Horn unless Streak Shoulder does anything to threaten Darvin or Aedion) 22; damage 7 force

 Re-Intimidation (two separate rolls, to allow for her menacing tail display giving or not giving Advantage) 4      5

(WIP_)

 (dran ... knew I should have taken that WIP out before I rolled LOL.  F. is probably snickering to himself that Spira thinks his kind scare as easily as s petty swindler in the Berdusk watch cells might)

Quote from OisinmacCameron >>

Quote from OisinmacCameron >>

"I think you're right, brother!," Spira growls back to Gaer.  "It's a good thing this squad has more than a touch of magic at its disposal -- of several different types."  But then she turns her head back from responding to him and sees the grey, spidery-limbed creature sprawling on the ruins of his wares before her.

"Well, well. well!  What have we here?  You know, perhaps I ought to take a lesson from Rash in the best way to apply magic."   Quickly reaching down, she grapples the shapeshifter in an attempt to lift him to his feet with one of her forearms wrapped around his throat.  With her free hand, she makes the more advanced meditation mudras she has recently learned and couples the proper chant with it to summon Angharrad's spear of moonlight.  With this, she strikes promptly and with extreme prejudice at the stony devil she judges to be the greatest threat to Darvin. 

Finally. calling with her mind for Aedion to soar aloft and see if he can spot any more lurking surprises from that vantage point, she growls into the ex-gnome's ear, "I get really ugly when the people I love are threatened.  Unless you want a broken neck, call off your 'security' and answer my questions.  Now."  It doesn't hurt her intimidation factor any that her tail suddenly lashes out at this point as if she intended to strangle him with it.  If she has not managed to grapple him successfully, she growls this even more menacingly while flexing her fingers in the manner of one getting them ready for another try.   Suddenly a thought seems to strike her ... or a memory.  "Saaaaaay.  Add one more question to the lot.  You wouldn't just happen to know an arcanoloth who goes by the name 'Ekandre', now would you?"

=========

Action: Unarmed strike (grapple) attack vs. Fonkin; no hit roll required; no physical damage, but F. is grappled unless he makes a STR or DEX save (his choice)

B.A. Spiritual weapon attack (vs. Cracked Horn unless Streak Shoulder does anything to threaten Darvin or Aedion) 22; damage 7 force

 Re-Intimidation (two separate rolls, to allow for her menacing tail display giving or not giving Advantage) 4      5

(WIP_)

 (dran ... knew I should have taken that WIP out before I rolled LOL.  F. is probably snickering to himself that Spira thinks his kind scare as easily as s petty swindler in the Berdusk watch cells might)

Didn't Painted say the merchant is dead already?

Quote from Mister_Whisker >>.

...

 

Didn't Painted say the merchant is dead already?

 (um ... yeah, but I tend not to peek until afterwards to keep my mind more IC.  In this case, I did read that afterwards and thought about changing my post, but on checking the description it seemed to me that from Spira's POV she wouldn't necessarily know that F. was dead -- just that Roxana hit him with an arrow and hurt him badly enough to drive him out of his disguised form.  Of course, she'll find out very quickly that he's not responsive, but even now (not being as familiar with the details of extraplanar anatomy as she is with the pulse points and normal body temperature of mortals) she thinks there's a chance he's playing possum and really can hear her threats.  And his deceased condition provides an excellent explanation for the 4 and 5 rolls in response LOL)

Round 2

Angharrad's spear of moonlight shoots toward Cracked Horn, who spots it at the last moment and ducks quickly... but not quickly enough: the magical point of light scratches him superficially but annoyingly on the side of the head - and in this case the stone-like skin does not seem to put up much resistance.

The Sergeant of Arvandor then tries to reach Fonkin to question him, but she is quite far behind and the ruins are not terrain on which one can easily run. When she finally reaches him, she is forced to confirm the subject's death. The questions seem destined to remain unanswered for now.

Aidwyn is up!

Combat Stats (those interested can peek):

Round 2

Aidwyn continues his personal duel with Streak Shoulder and, feinting high, lowers his sword in an elegant arc to strike at the waist.

Aidwyn's Longsword Attack: 26 Damage: 12 (slashing)

She also chooses to expend a superiority die for a Goading Attack - additional damage: 10 (slahing) for a total of 22

Round 2

This time the maneuver is executed flawlessly and the monster's tough hide, while partially resisting the blade, cracks and chips visibly.

Streak Shoulder tries to grab the blade with a claw and block it, to more easily tear the warrior apart with his fangs and free claw...

Streak Shoulder Multiattack:

Bite Attack: 9 Damage: 8 (piercing)
Claws Attack: 24 Damage: 7 (slashing)

Round 2

The skilled heroine raises her shield to deflect the monster's teeth, but the claw passes underneath and manages to scratch between the joints of the armor.

Dawnborn can no longer stand in the role of distant spectator and runs to her beloved, already whispering a peaceful prayer on the edge of her lips. Once behind Aidwyn, the tiefling places her hands on her back, channeling a pleasant healing flow.

Cracked Horn, meanwhile, takes flight without lowering his guard and, thanks to the fact that, by flying, he can ignore the impediments on the ground, he has no difficulty in bringing himself in front of Spira, with an evil vengeful light in his eyes...

Dawnborn heals Aidwyn for 7 HP

Round 3

"Come back here, you winged beast!" Darvin protests, chasing after the enemy on foot "Leave Spira alone!" and he runs to his beloved's side - ready to defend her.

Aidwyn, Rash, Spira, Roxana, Anita and Gaer are up for Round 3! Any order.

Combat Stats (those interested can peek):

Roxana considers her options as she sees other's mundane weapons are ineffective. But with no other options she fires her bow at the devil with the cracked horn. 
(Shortbow Attack: 24, Damage: 8 + 5 sneak attack) 

Round 3

Roxana's arrow may be 'mundane', but the archer's skill in finding an enemy's weak points helps her compensate - hitting a cracked spot on the skin, the tip inflicts a wound that is not decisive, but certainly painful.

Gaer, who had toyed with the idea of ​​going melee with Cracked Horn, has to change his plans now that it has moved so far away. The tiefling ranger heads off to help Aidwyn against Streak Shoulder, then. As he approaches, he tries to hit it with an arrow.

Gaer's Longbow Attack: 14 Damage: 9 (piercing)

Round 3

Gaer's aim is also precise - and Striek Shoulder's stone-like skin chips and scratches from the violent impact of the metal tip. Not as much as it should, but it's still a progressive erosion of the monster's defenses and energy!

Aidwyn, Rash, Spira and Anita are up for Round 3! Any order.

Combat Stats (those interested can peek):

Quote from OisinmacCameron>>

 On hearing the squeal of metal, Spira turns her head in time to see Aidwyn take a blow and Dawnborn stanch the wound with nothing more than the pure force of their mutual love.  She smiles as she also suddenly darts over towards Lathander's knight, mentally calling to Aedion as she goes, "Tell Daddy to keep on trying to slow the other one down!  I need to touch Aunt Aidwyn to cast the magic I want to use to help protect her." 

Suiting action to word, she dips her finger in a vial of holy water she pulls from her pouch and traces a symbol on her comrade's right shoulder as she comes up level with her.  At the same time, the spear of moonlight she summoned strikes at Cracked Horn's face before swooping up to hover in a 'guard' position with its tip still pointed at the fiendish creature as Spira's attention shifts to the protective spell she is now casting.

=========

B.A.: Spear of Angharrad  attack vs. CH 15; damage if hits 7 force; remaining duration 1 minute minus 1 round (s)

Action: Sehanine's holy shield * on Aidwyn ; duration Concentration, up to 10 minutes; effects:

"Until the spell ends, one willing creature you touch is protected against certain types of creatures: aberrations, celestials, elementals, fey, fiends, and undead.

The protection grants several benefits. Creatures of those types have disadvantage on attack rolls against the target. The target also can't be https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/dnd/free-rules/rules-glossary#Charmed[Condition]">charmed, frightened, or possessed by them. If the target is already https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/dnd/free-rules/rules-glossary#Charmed[Condition]">charmed, frightened, or possessed by such a creature, the target has advantage on any new saving throw against the relevant effect."

 (* Sehanine Moonbow, the most powerful and protective of the three elven goddesses who combined to give birth to Angharradh before the first elf walked the forests of Faerun)