Giggles catches Aran’s silver shield in the air. “Ah well, suit yerself!” He pockets the coin and turns west, giggling again in that strange, high-pitched wheeze.
Julia and Aran glance at each other, then back away toward the Fishery and Neria and Speaks for Many. The group just reunites as Julia’s charm spell’s final seconds bleed away. The magical warmth behind her words flickers, then dies. There’s a beat of silence. A breeze carries the stink of the river and salt-scabbed wood.
Giggles halts mid-stride. “...Wait.”
His flail clinks as he drops it from his shoulder, the head thudding against the cobblestones.
“You little witch,” he snarls, the word scraping out of his throat like broken glass. “You did something to me.” His voice rises like a storm swell. “You think you’re clever, makin’ Giggles walk off duty like some tavern dog? I’d say it’s time t’bring you to heel!”
Initiative:
Aran Initiative: 23 Julia Initiative: 15 Neria Initiative: 18 Speaks for Many Initiative: 10 Giggles Initiative: 14
No combat map for this, unless it moves into the Fishery. Giggles is 30ft west of the group. I use block initiative, meaning that your actions occur in the order you post, unless you specify otherwise.
Initiative (bold may act):
Aran, Neria, Julia
Giggles
Speaks for Many
Conditions: Darkness (without darkvision or a light source, you are Blinded).
Julia’s smirk dies the instant Giggles stops. That slow, grinding turn, the metallic thud of his flail on the cobblestones—it all speaks volumes louder than his words. She feels the charm unravel, a fleeting silk thread snapping in the wind.
"Wait."
She freezes beside Aran. Her smile falters into something more grim, calculating. Her hand quietly dips into her cloak. The torch.
“You little witch.” There it is. No more pretense. No more games.
As Giggles’ fury spills over, Julia strides forward with deliberate confidence, drawing the torch from her belt. “You liked me better when I was drunk and harmless,” she says coolly, though her heart hammers beneath her corset. “But I’m neither.”
With a flourish, she holds the torch forward—its end still unlit.
"Snarkles."
Invisible but always watching, the imp lets out a delighted "tsk" in her ear. "Finally. I thought you'd never ask." A flash—sudden, sharp—bursts at the torch’s head as the quasit ignites it with a flick of infernal flame. The scent of brimstone cuts through the air.
Julia twirls the torch once, ember trailing behind like a comet. “Now, darling,” she purrs, “how about a proper introduction?”
She mutters under her breath, the arcane syllables curling into the air like smoke. Dark energy pulses from her free hand, snaking out and binding to Giggles as she casts Hex, her eyes glinting with something far colder than charm.
And just behind her, Snarkles materializes with a cackle, his claws splayed gleefully and casting an eerie shadow on the cobblestones. “Boo.”
The spell Scarelaunches from his claws in a sharp burst of shadow, aimed straight for Giggles’ mind.
Julia grins, torch held high. “Come on then, grunt,”she says, voice low and mocking. “Heel.”
Under the sudden light of the torch, I see Giggles lack of humour at the circumstances leading up to this moment and can't really blame the fellow, but neither will I apologise for his beguilement. I step forwards ahead of Julia, my fingers running over the smooth surface of the pebbles in my pocket, raising a shield hunkering down and awaiting his approach. "Come get me, Chuckles." I infuse the pebbles with a touch of nature's magic, and sidearm one through the darkness at the disgruntled orc.
Movement: 10 feet ahead of Julia. BA - Cast Magic Stone Action - Attack with the stone (21 to hit (with dis) and 9 bludgeoning damage)
"Oh no oh no oh no oh no..." Neria thinks to herself as the violence begins to break out. "This isn't how it was supposed to go!"
Staying low, she circles the perimeter of the action while fumbling with the buckle on the side of her pack. Feeling the familiar click she draws and cocks her small crossbow, in a single fluid motion, and takes aim at the orcish brute.
*Thwap* goes the string and *thunk* goes bolt as it impacts. She blinks hard and wipes a bead of sweat from her eye and she tries to calm herself and keep her breathing measured.
She follows the bolt's trajectory and stares, aghast, at the still-standing Giggles with the projectile lodged in a wall beyond him. (Assuming his AC is higher than 9...)
Movement - Kiting the party but staying within about 20-25 feet of Aran & Julia. Action - Attack w/ Crossbow, Light Attack: 9 Damage: 4+4 SA
Julia passes the torch to Snarkles, who lights it quickly, producing a fiery glow at the mouth of the vacant alley. She mutters under her breath, the arcane syllables curling into the air like smoke. Dark energy pulses from her free hand, snaking out and binding to Giggles as she casts Hex, her eyes glinting with something far colder than charm. And just behind her, Snarkles materializes with a cackle, his claws splayed gleefully and casting an eerie shadow on the cobblestones. But Giggles seems incensed with rage, and the quasit goes unnoticed.
Aran infuses the pebbles with a touch of nature's magic, and sidearms one through the darkness at the disgruntled orc. It pelts the orc painfully on the side of the head. He yelps and grasps at his head (hit, 9 damage!)
Neria blinks hard and wipes a bead of sweat from her eye and she tries to calm herself and keep her breathing measured. She follows the bolt's trajectory and stares, aghast, at the still-standing Giggles with the projectile lodged in a wall beyond him.
Giggles lowers his hand, revealing an angry red welt visibly swelling where Aran’s stone hit. “You’re gon’ regret dat,” he growls. With a grunt, he launches himself at the group, clearing the distance between you with remarkable speed (Adrenaline Rush - Dash as a Bonus Action and gain temp hp). He hefts his heavy flail, a large specimen of its species, and swings it in a wide arc, the spiked head orbiting around him like a deadly planet. It crashes into Aran with a sickening thud. Aran, 22 to hit. If hit, you take 10 Bludgeoning damage and you must make a DC 13 Strength saving throw; on failure, you are Prone.
His mood much improved, Giggles chitters with glee!
Initiative (bold may act):
PCs (including Speaks for Many)
Giggles
Giggles is 5 ft from Aran. Giggles and Aran are 10 feet away from Julia and Speaks. Neria is 25 feet away from Giggles.
As Giggles laughs triumphantly, Speaks for Many steps out from the shadows, striding in a wide arc around the brute in order to face him away from Aran. The torchlight highlights his Shoanti features prominently as he steps in this half circle, keeping his eyes fixated on his foe. His walks confidently holding his staff in one hand by his side, seemingly unimpressed at the physical prowess displayed by the half-orc. [Maneuvering to try and draw attention away from Aran by facing Giggle the other way]
"Wicked heart!" he exclaims in a booming voice, "Is keeper of young ones, hmm. Will speak for children then."
He gives a quick tap of his staff to which the wind responds with glee. His robe begins to dance in the breeze, playfully swaying back and forth as if possessed by a mischievous spirit. He takes a deep breath in and exhales with a wide grin, growing confident in the camaraderie shared by the primeval forces of the world. [Action - Blade Ward]
He rushes towards Giggles with a spinning flourish, his free arm now balled into a fist as he leaps slightly into the air, his robes whipping out to the side violently to give an impression of a whirling dervish. He sends his blow directly in line towards the temple of the Half-Orc. (6 to hit)
Speaks for Many gives a quick tap of his staff to which the wind responds with glee. His robe begins to dance in the breeze, playfully swaying back and forth as if possessed by a mischievous spirit. He takes a deep breath in and exhales with a wide grin, growing confident in the camaraderie shared by the primeval forces of the world. He rushes towards Giggles with a spinning flourish, his free arm now balled into a fist as he leaps slightly into the air, his robes whipping out to the side violently to give an impression of a whirling dervish. He sends his blow directly in line towards the temple of the Half-Orc. Giggles keels backward, dodging the blow.
I watch Speaks with Many step in and punch the orc from my new tactical position as a crumpled heap on the cobbled floor... I feel the pain in my side where the metallic ball crashed into me and take a moment to mentally count my proverbial chickens, limbs are all still moving, and I can sit up but definitely bruised, if not broken ribs. Damn, laughing boy hits hard! I build up the magical energy inside myself, releasing it internally with a simple exclamation of "Ouch!". There was a fight to get back into, and sitting on my donkey wasn't going to do anything to aid our chances.
Rising to my feet, holding position between Julia and Giggles, mirroring Speaks as I bring my own staff to bear on Giggles, thrusting the butt at the orc's head.
Action - Attack (Qstaff, 1H) - 10 to hit, 6 bludgeoning damage BA - Healing Word - restore 8hp to myself Movement - 15ft to stand up.
"No no nononono," Neria now mumbles aloud as the reality of the situation continues to crash down on her in waves.
With shaking hands she attempts to reload her weapon, drops the bolt, quietly utters a curse, picks it up, and manages to lock it in successfully this time. She looks back to Giggles and scolds herself for not keeping her eyes on her enemy as she was taught. Taking advantage of the orc's more pressing concerns of SfM & Aran, she takes a calming breath, thanks Calistra, and takes aim once more.
Movement - None Action - Attack w/ Crossbow, Light Attack: 14 Damage: 9+5 SA piercing
Julia’s smile sharpens as the chaos unfolds. She takes a single, deliberate step forward, heels clicking against the worn cobblestones. She thrusts out her free hand, fingers splayed like a conductor snapping a final, vicious note into the air. Her voice drops into something low, ancient, and wrong—an echo of her pact with the unknowable. "V’karith morra" she breathes. The weave of her pact magic coils around her arm, dark and electric, before erupting outward.
A crackling beam of sickly green force explodes from her palm, hurtling toward Giggles with a sound like ripping silk and distant thunder. The blast leaves a shimmering trail in the night air. The shadows near her seem to stretch and whisper in delight.
Somewhere just out of sight, Snarkles lets out a high-pitched snicker, gleefully whispering, “Oh, I do hope it hurts…”
Aran, rising to his feet, holding position between Julia and Giggles, mirrors Speaks as he brings his own staff to bear on Giggles, thrusting the butt at the orc's head. Giggles ducks, avoiding the strike.
Neria, taking advantage of the orc's more pressing concerns of SfM & Aran, takes a calming breath, thanks Calistria, and takes aim once more. Her bolt strikes Giggles in the back of the thigh, interrupting his laughing with a howl of pain (hit!).
Julia releases a crackling beam of sickly green force from her palm, hurtling toward Giggles with a sound like ripping silk and distant thunder. The blast leaves a shimmering trail in the night air. The shadows near her seem to stretch and whisper in delight. The blast strikes Giggle square in the back, causing his whole body to glow briefly with an eerie green shimmer (hit!).
Giggles whips around, swinging his flail toward Speaks for Many! Speaks for Many, 12 to hit. If hit, you take 10 Bludgeoning damage and you must make a DC 13 Strength saving throw; on failure, you are Prone.
The fight looks to swing in our favour as I watch attacks of the magic and mundane strike Giggles, which Speaks and I vie for the orc's attention to allow the other's their hits. Out here, in the alleyway, with enough space for us all to wail on the orc, I know that he is going to need something special to come out of this, four on one are odds for running not fighting. The pain in my side all but forgotten, I watch as Speaks for Many avoids the same mistake that I made, the head of Giggle's flail cleaving only the stench of the alleyway.
I swing for the orc again, hoping that a few more bruises will make him realise his predicament.
"This is when clever folk realise, there ain't a win here for yer. Surrender!" The longer this brawl drags on, the more chance there is of some drunken passer-by deciding they want a piece, and I'm far too eager to learn of Neria and Speak's side. Plus every moment our attention is on Giggles, we aren't closing on Gaedren...
Action - Attack (Qstaff, 1H) - 3 to hit, didn't waste time rolling damage BA - None Movement - none
Flowing like water, Speaks for Many lets the momentum of his previous swing carry him in a controlled finish to his previous flourish. Though the strike did not land, he sees that the twist in stance from Giggles put him squarely in the crossfire of his companions. Seeing the orc take the salvo cleanly, he gives a wide, confident grin.
As Giggles recoils from the blasts, he sends the wicked flail towards the Shoanti's head in a tremendous arc. Bending backwards quickly, Speaks for Many watches as the flail sails towards him. Before it would have struck, the barbed end lifts up into the air at the last moment, carried gracefully by an unseen force. A current of breeze rustling through his robes betrays the identity of the primordial assistance he just received.
As the orc is taken off balance by his deft maneuver and lurching out of the way from Aran's strikes, Speaks for Many launches two controlled blows aimed towards the chest and temple in an attempt to knock out the hulking figure.
Attack - Quarter Staff - 16 to hit - 5 damage non-lethal
Attack - Unarmed strike - 17 to hit - 4 damage non-lethal
Aran swings for the orc again, hoping that a few more bruises will make him realise his predicament. The blow glances off of Giggles’s hide armor.
Speaks for Many, as the orc is taken off balance by his deft maneuver and lurching out of the way from Aran's strikes, launches two controlled blows aimed towards the chest and temple in an attempt to knock out the hulking figure. Both strikes connect, and for a moment Giggles’s eyes cross as he seems about to black out. But he shakes his head and roars with anger, murder written across his features.
Julia admires the choreography her allies are imposing on Giggles. Yet, now she must be careful to avoid taiting them with dark magic. She hold her breath, waiting for an open shot, her eyes fixed on Giggles with a wild intensity. She plants her feet firmly against the uneven cobblestones. Her hand lifts, fingers crooked like the talons of some ancient, forgotten thing.
She speaks the words again—sharp, guttural syllables not meant for mortal tongues. "V’karith morra!" The air around her palm crackles and folds inward, the shadows near her shuddering. A second lance of shimmering green force tears from her hand, streaking across the darkness toward Giggles. The impact hisses through the air like a falling star, trailing a thin, burning line in its wake. Snarkles cackles gleefully in the gloom, his voice like a blade on glass. “One for the face next, Mistress?”
Julia doesn't answer. Her next spell already coils behind her teeth, ready.
Seeing her compatriots pulling their punches (well, some of them), Neria scurries forward 'round Giggles' flank. She can't hold back an impish grin as she sees the schoolyard scene play out in her head.
Movement: completing the circuit around Giggles, ending within 5ft behind him Action: Ready to Help the next melee attack on Giggles by distracting or ducking behind him to help knock him prone
Julia speaks the words again—sharp, guttural syllables not meant for mortal tongues. "V’karith morra!" The air around her palm crackles and folds inward, the shadows near her shuddering. A second lance of shimmering green force tears from her hand, streaking across the darkness toward Giggles. The impact hisses through the air like a falling star, trailing a thin, burning line in its wake. The bolt rips through Giggles, sheering away his life force (hit!).
Neria, seeing her compatriots pulling their punches (well, some of them), Neria scurries forward 'round Giggles' flank. She can't hold back an impish grin as she sees the schoolyard scene play out in her head. (The next attack roll against Giggles has advantage.)
Giggles snarls, his face twisting into a mask of rage, and he lunges forward with a roar that echoes down the alley. The massive flail whirls above his head, its spiked iron ball spinning in a deadly arc. The chain rattles like bones in a sack before he brings it crashing down into Speaks for Many with brute force. Speaks for Many, 16 to hit. If hit, you take 10 Bludgeoning damage and you must make a DC 13 Strength saving throw; on failure, you are Prone.
Initiative (bold may act):
PCs
Giggles
(The next attack roll against Giggles has advantage.)
And I'm reminded of the time honoured adage, that the best plans for harvest only survive until the first contact with the crops. I watch as Giggles fells my opposite number, my own side flaring in sympathetic pain as I see the impact, and in the blink of an eye three of us are clustered around the orc, Speaks unconscious on the floor, Neria making herself even smaller... and me...
"Get up man! There's work t' be doin!" I call over to Speaks, my words laced with the scent of fresh cut grass, the magic dancing on the air between us to land like smelling salts under Speak's nose, rousing him.
I check behind me, as I whirl my staff around - far from a graceful dance, the shaft sweeping before me like a scythe hewing wheat, attempting to catch Giggles off-balance with Neria's help, hoping not to embarrass myself further in this fight.
Action - Attack (Qstaff, 1H) - 22 (nat 20) to hit, 7 bludgeoning damage BA - Healing Word - restore 11hp to Speaks with Many Movement - 5ft to stay next to Giggles if he falls over Neria.
Julia watches Speaks fall and knows she needs to react quickly. Giggles is proving to be denser than she thought, in more ways than one. She pauses for a moment to catch her breath. Wielding the shadows takes tremendous concentration for her, especially in rapid volley. Her eyes wild, she stretches out her pale fingers and inhales venomously. She wheezes the eldritch incantation once more and feels the void magic flow through her.
[9 to hit; 12 dmg]
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Giggles catches Aran’s silver shield in the air. “Ah well, suit yerself!” He pockets the coin and turns west, giggling again in that strange, high-pitched wheeze.
Julia and Aran glance at each other, then back away toward the Fishery and Neria and Speaks for Many. The group just reunites as Julia’s charm spell’s final seconds bleed away. The magical warmth behind her words flickers, then dies. There’s a beat of silence. A breeze carries the stink of the river and salt-scabbed wood.
Giggles halts mid-stride. “...Wait.”
His flail clinks as he drops it from his shoulder, the head thudding against the cobblestones.
“You little witch,” he snarls, the word scraping out of his throat like broken glass. “You did something to me.” His voice rises like a storm swell. “You think you’re clever, makin’ Giggles walk off duty like some tavern dog? I’d say it’s time t’bring you to heel!”
Initiative:
Aran Initiative: 23
Julia Initiative: 15
Neria Initiative: 18
Speaks for Many Initiative: 10
Giggles Initiative: 14
No combat map for this, unless it moves into the Fishery. Giggles is 30ft west of the group. I use block initiative, meaning that your actions occur in the order you post, unless you specify otherwise.
Initiative (bold may act):
Conditions: Darkness (without darkvision or a light source, you are Blinded).
Julia’s smirk dies the instant Giggles stops. That slow, grinding turn, the metallic thud of his flail on the cobblestones—it all speaks volumes louder than his words. She feels the charm unravel, a fleeting silk thread snapping in the wind.
"Wait."
She freezes beside Aran. Her smile falters into something more grim, calculating. Her hand quietly dips into her cloak. The torch.
“You little witch.”
There it is. No more pretense. No more games.
As Giggles’ fury spills over, Julia strides forward with deliberate confidence, drawing the torch from her belt. “You liked me better when I was drunk and harmless,” she says coolly, though her heart hammers beneath her corset. “But I’m neither.”
With a flourish, she holds the torch forward—its end still unlit.
"Snarkles."
Invisible but always watching, the imp lets out a delighted "tsk" in her ear. "Finally. I thought you'd never ask." A flash—sudden, sharp—bursts at the torch’s head as the quasit ignites it with a flick of infernal flame. The scent of brimstone cuts through the air.
Julia twirls the torch once, ember trailing behind like a comet. “Now, darling,” she purrs, “how about a proper introduction?”
She mutters under her breath, the arcane syllables curling into the air like smoke. Dark energy pulses from her free hand, snaking out and binding to Giggles as she casts Hex, her eyes glinting with something far colder than charm.
And just behind her, Snarkles materializes with a cackle, his claws splayed gleefully and casting an eerie shadow on the cobblestones. “Boo.”
The spell Scare launches from his claws in a sharp burst of shadow, aimed straight for Giggles’ mind.
Julia grins, torch held high. “Come on then, grunt,” she says, voice low and mocking. “Heel.”
Under the sudden light of the torch, I see Giggles lack of humour at the circumstances leading up to this moment and can't really blame the fellow, but neither will I apologise for his beguilement. I step forwards ahead of Julia, my fingers running over the smooth surface of the pebbles in my pocket, raising a shield hunkering down and awaiting his approach. "Come get me, Chuckles." I infuse the pebbles with a touch of nature's magic, and sidearm one through the darkness at the disgruntled orc.
Movement: 10 feet ahead of Julia.
BA - Cast Magic Stone
Action - Attack with the stone (21 to hit (with dis) and 9 bludgeoning damage)
Bring out your inner chatacter class...
"Oh no oh no oh no oh no..." Neria thinks to herself as the violence begins to break out. "This isn't how it was supposed to go!"
Staying low, she circles the perimeter of the action while fumbling with the buckle on the side of her pack. Feeling the familiar click she draws and cocks her small crossbow, in a single fluid motion, and takes aim at the orcish brute.
*Thwap* goes the string and *thunk* goes bolt as it impacts. She blinks hard and wipes a bead of sweat from her eye and she tries to calm herself and keep her breathing measured.
She follows the bolt's trajectory and stares, aghast, at the still-standing Giggles with the projectile lodged in a wall beyond him. (Assuming his AC is higher than 9...)
Movement - Kiting the party but staying within about 20-25 feet of Aran & Julia.
Action - Attack w/ Crossbow, Light
Attack: 9 Damage: 4+4 SA
Characters currently being ruined on this forum:
Neria Tallfellow (Halfling Rogue) - Curse of the Crimson Throne with Ashen_Age
Julia passes the torch to Snarkles, who lights it quickly, producing a fiery glow at the mouth of the vacant alley. She mutters under her breath, the arcane syllables curling into the air like smoke. Dark energy pulses from her free hand, snaking out and binding to Giggles as she casts Hex, her eyes glinting with something far colder than charm. And just behind her, Snarkles materializes with a cackle, his claws splayed gleefully and casting an eerie shadow on the cobblestones. But Giggles seems incensed with rage, and the quasit goes unnoticed.
Aran infuses the pebbles with a touch of nature's magic, and sidearms one through the darkness at the disgruntled orc. It pelts the orc painfully on the side of the head. He yelps and grasps at his head (hit, 9 damage!)
Neria blinks hard and wipes a bead of sweat from her eye and she tries to calm herself and keep her breathing measured. She follows the bolt's trajectory and stares, aghast, at the still-standing Giggles with the projectile lodged in a wall beyond him.
Giggles lowers his hand, revealing an angry red welt visibly swelling where Aran’s stone hit. “You’re gon’ regret dat,” he growls. With a grunt, he launches himself at the group, clearing the distance between you with remarkable speed (Adrenaline Rush - Dash as a Bonus Action and gain temp hp). He hefts his heavy flail, a large specimen of its species, and swings it in a wide arc, the spiked head orbiting around him like a deadly planet. It crashes into Aran with a sickening thud. Aran, 22 to hit. If hit, you take 10 Bludgeoning damage and you must make a DC 13 Strength saving throw; on failure, you are Prone.
His mood much improved, Giggles chitters with glee!
Initiative (bold may act):
Giggles is 5 ft from Aran. Giggles and Aran are 10 feet away from Julia and Speaks. Neria is 25 feet away from Giggles.
As Giggles laughs triumphantly, Speaks for Many steps out from the shadows, striding in a wide arc around the brute in order to face him away from Aran. The torchlight highlights his Shoanti features prominently as he steps in this half circle, keeping his eyes fixated on his foe. His walks confidently holding his staff in one hand by his side, seemingly unimpressed at the physical prowess displayed by the half-orc. [Maneuvering to try and draw attention away from Aran by facing Giggle the other way]
"Wicked heart!" he exclaims in a booming voice, "Is keeper of young ones, hmm. Will speak for children then."
He gives a quick tap of his staff to which the wind responds with glee. His robe begins to dance in the breeze, playfully swaying back and forth as if possessed by a mischievous spirit. He takes a deep breath in and exhales with a wide grin, growing confident in the camaraderie shared by the primeval forces of the world. [Action - Blade Ward]
He rushes towards Giggles with a spinning flourish, his free arm now balled into a fist as he leaps slightly into the air, his robes whipping out to the side violently to give an impression of a whirling dervish. He sends his blow directly in line towards the temple of the Half-Orc. (6 to hit)
Speaks for Many gives a quick tap of his staff to which the wind responds with glee. His robe begins to dance in the breeze, playfully swaying back and forth as if possessed by a mischievous spirit. He takes a deep breath in and exhales with a wide grin, growing confident in the camaraderie shared by the primeval forces of the world. He rushes towards Giggles with a spinning flourish, his free arm now balled into a fist as he leaps slightly into the air, his robes whipping out to the side violently to give an impression of a whirling dervish. He sends his blow directly in line towards the temple of the Half-Orc. Giggles keels backward, dodging the blow.
Initiative (bold may act):
I watch Speaks with Many step in and punch the orc from my new tactical position as a crumpled heap on the cobbled floor... I feel the pain in my side where the metallic ball crashed into me and take a moment to mentally count my proverbial chickens, limbs are all still moving, and I can sit up but definitely bruised, if not broken ribs. Damn, laughing boy hits hard! I build up the magical energy inside myself, releasing it internally with a simple exclamation of "Ouch!". There was a fight to get back into, and sitting on my donkey wasn't going to do anything to aid our chances.
Rising to my feet, holding position between Julia and Giggles, mirroring Speaks as I bring my own staff to bear on Giggles, thrusting the butt at the orc's head.
Action - Attack (Qstaff, 1H) - 10 to hit, 6 bludgeoning damage
BA - Healing Word - restore 8hp to myself
Movement - 15ft to stand up.
Bring out your inner chatacter class...
"No no nononono," Neria now mumbles aloud as the reality of the situation continues to crash down on her in waves.
With shaking hands she attempts to reload her weapon, drops the bolt, quietly utters a curse, picks it up, and manages to lock it in successfully this time. She looks back to Giggles and scolds herself for not keeping her eyes on her enemy as she was taught. Taking advantage of the orc's more pressing concerns of SfM & Aran, she takes a calming breath, thanks Calistra, and takes aim once more.
Movement - None
Action - Attack w/ Crossbow, Light
Attack: 14 Damage: 9+5 SA piercing
Characters currently being ruined on this forum:
Neria Tallfellow (Halfling Rogue) - Curse of the Crimson Throne with Ashen_Age
Julia’s smile sharpens as the chaos unfolds. She takes a single, deliberate step forward, heels clicking against the worn cobblestones. She thrusts out her free hand, fingers splayed like a conductor snapping a final, vicious note into the air. Her voice drops into something low, ancient, and wrong—an echo of her pact with the unknowable. "V’karith morra" she breathes. The weave of her pact magic coils around her arm, dark and electric, before erupting outward.
A crackling beam of sickly green force explodes from her palm, hurtling toward Giggles with a sound like ripping silk and distant thunder. The blast leaves a shimmering trail in the night air. The shadows near her seem to stretch and whisper in delight.
Somewhere just out of sight, Snarkles lets out a high-pitched snicker, gleefully whispering, “Oh, I do hope it hurts…”
[14 to hit, 1 dmg]
Aran, rising to his feet, holding position between Julia and Giggles, mirrors Speaks as he brings his own staff to bear on Giggles, thrusting the butt at the orc's head. Giggles ducks, avoiding the strike.
Neria, taking advantage of the orc's more pressing concerns of SfM & Aran, takes a calming breath, thanks Calistria, and takes aim once more. Her bolt strikes Giggles in the back of the thigh, interrupting his laughing with a howl of pain (hit!).
Julia releases a crackling beam of sickly green force from her palm, hurtling toward Giggles with a sound like ripping silk and distant thunder. The blast leaves a shimmering trail in the night air. The shadows near her seem to stretch and whisper in delight. The blast strikes Giggle square in the back, causing his whole body to glow briefly with an eerie green shimmer (hit!).
Giggles whips around, swinging his flail toward Speaks for Many! Speaks for Many, 12 to hit. If hit, you take 10 Bludgeoning damage and you must make a DC 13 Strength saving throw; on failure, you are Prone.
Initiative (bold may act):
The fight looks to swing in our favour as I watch attacks of the magic and mundane strike Giggles, which Speaks and I vie for the orc's attention to allow the other's their hits. Out here, in the alleyway, with enough space for us all to wail on the orc, I know that he is going to need something special to come out of this, four on one are odds for running not fighting. The pain in my side all but forgotten, I watch as Speaks for Many avoids the same mistake that I made, the head of Giggle's flail cleaving only the stench of the alleyway.
I swing for the orc again, hoping that a few more bruises will make him realise his predicament.
"This is when clever folk realise, there ain't a win here for yer. Surrender!" The longer this brawl drags on, the more chance there is of some drunken passer-by deciding they want a piece, and I'm far too eager to learn of Neria and Speak's side. Plus every moment our attention is on Giggles, we aren't closing on Gaedren...
Action - Attack (Qstaff, 1H) - 3 to hit, didn't waste time rolling damage
BA - None
Movement - none
Bring out your inner chatacter class...
Flowing like water, Speaks for Many lets the momentum of his previous swing carry him in a controlled finish to his previous flourish. Though the strike did not land, he sees that the twist in stance from Giggles put him squarely in the crossfire of his companions. Seeing the orc take the salvo cleanly, he gives a wide, confident grin.
As Giggles recoils from the blasts, he sends the wicked flail towards the Shoanti's head in a tremendous arc. Bending backwards quickly, Speaks for Many watches as the flail sails towards him. Before it would have struck, the barbed end lifts up into the air at the last moment, carried gracefully by an unseen force. A current of breeze rustling through his robes betrays the identity of the primordial assistance he just received.
As the orc is taken off balance by his deft maneuver and lurching out of the way from Aran's strikes, Speaks for Many launches two controlled blows aimed towards the chest and temple in an attempt to knock out the hulking figure.
Attack - Quarter Staff - 16 to hit - 5 damage non-lethal
Attack - Unarmed strike - 17 to hit - 4 damage non-lethal
Aran swings for the orc again, hoping that a few more bruises will make him realise his predicament. The blow glances off of Giggles’s hide armor.
Speaks for Many, as the orc is taken off balance by his deft maneuver and lurching out of the way from Aran's strikes, launches two controlled blows aimed towards the chest and temple in an attempt to knock out the hulking figure. Both strikes connect, and for a moment Giggles’s eyes cross as he seems about to black out. But he shakes his head and roars with anger, murder written across his features.
Initiative (bold may act):
Julia admires the choreography her allies are imposing on Giggles. Yet, now she must be careful to avoid taiting them with dark magic. She hold her breath, waiting for an open shot, her eyes fixed on Giggles with a wild intensity. She plants her feet firmly against the uneven cobblestones. Her hand lifts, fingers crooked like the talons of some ancient, forgotten thing.
She speaks the words again—sharp, guttural syllables not meant for mortal tongues. "V’karith morra!" The air around her palm crackles and folds inward, the shadows near her shuddering. A second lance of shimmering green force tears from her hand, streaking across the darkness toward Giggles. The impact hisses through the air like a falling star, trailing a thin, burning line in its wake. Snarkles cackles gleefully in the gloom, his voice like a blade on glass. “One for the face next, Mistress?”
Julia doesn't answer. Her next spell already coils behind her teeth, ready.
[15 to hit; 7 dmg]
Seeing her compatriots pulling their punches (well, some of them), Neria scurries forward 'round Giggles' flank. She can't hold back an impish grin as she sees the schoolyard scene play out in her head.
Movement: completing the circuit around Giggles, ending within 5ft behind him
Action: Ready to Help the next melee attack on Giggles by distracting or ducking behind him to help knock him prone
Characters currently being ruined on this forum:
Neria Tallfellow (Halfling Rogue) - Curse of the Crimson Throne with Ashen_Age
Julia speaks the words again—sharp, guttural syllables not meant for mortal tongues. "V’karith morra!" The air around her palm crackles and folds inward, the shadows near her shuddering. A second lance of shimmering green force tears from her hand, streaking across the darkness toward Giggles. The impact hisses through the air like a falling star, trailing a thin, burning line in its wake. The bolt rips through Giggles, sheering away his life force (hit!).
Neria, seeing her compatriots pulling their punches (well, some of them), Neria scurries forward 'round Giggles' flank. She can't hold back an impish grin as she sees the schoolyard scene play out in her head. (The next attack roll against Giggles has advantage.)
Giggles snarls, his face twisting into a mask of rage, and he lunges forward with a roar that echoes down the alley. The massive flail whirls above his head, its spiked iron ball spinning in a deadly arc. The chain rattles like bones in a sack before he brings it crashing down into Speaks for Many with brute force. Speaks for Many, 16 to hit. If hit, you take 10 Bludgeoning damage and you must make a DC 13 Strength saving throw; on failure, you are Prone.
Initiative (bold may act):
(The next attack roll against Giggles has advantage.)
And I'm reminded of the time honoured adage, that the best plans for harvest only survive until the first contact with the crops. I watch as Giggles fells my opposite number, my own side flaring in sympathetic pain as I see the impact, and in the blink of an eye three of us are clustered around the orc, Speaks unconscious on the floor, Neria making herself even smaller... and me...
"Get up man! There's work t' be doin!" I call over to Speaks, my words laced with the scent of fresh cut grass, the magic dancing on the air between us to land like smelling salts under Speak's nose, rousing him.
I check behind me, as I whirl my staff around - far from a graceful dance, the shaft sweeping before me like a scythe hewing wheat, attempting to catch Giggles off-balance with Neria's help, hoping not to embarrass myself further in this fight.
Action - Attack (Qstaff, 1H) - 22 (nat 20) to hit, 7 bludgeoning damage
BA - Healing Word - restore 11hp to Speaks with Many
Movement - 5ft to stay next to Giggles if he falls over Neria.
Bring out your inner chatacter class...
Julia watches Speaks fall and knows she needs to react quickly. Giggles is proving to be denser than she thought, in more ways than one. She pauses for a moment to catch her breath. Wielding the shadows takes tremendous concentration for her, especially in rapid volley. Her eyes wild, she stretches out her pale fingers and inhales venomously. She wheezes the eldritch incantation once more and feels the void magic flow through her.
[9 to hit; 12 dmg]