Hoard of the Dragon Queen [IC. 2014 rules]

Draylin

Without a word the monk tells the cultist exactly how he feels about his attack on the desperate young woman.  He curses softly as his first dagger flies wide.  It does provide some small measure of comfort when the fool looks up with a smirk just in time to see the second dagger slam into his chest next to the arrow.  He follows the second throw by pushing into the fray to try and defend the family.

***dagger artack 1 (8), attack 2 (22) damage 5***

“Leave her alone!” Tam yells out. She does not like seeing innocents getting slaughtered. She lets loose another bolt from her crossbow. 

[18 to hit. 5 damage. If sneak attack (adjacent to an ally) an additional 2 damge]

The cultist collapses, riddled with bolts and shredded by Draylin’s steel. He hits the dirt and doesn't move. Seeing the tide turn, Linan finds a surge of maternal fury. She thrusts her broken spear at the kobold (K2) snapping at her children’s heels. Attack: 21 Damage: 2 

Over to Thistlewick.

Linan’s broken spear finds its mark, driving straight through the kobold's (K2) throat. The creature doesn't even have time to shriek before it goes limp on the end of her weapon. She kicks the carcass away, her eyes wild with a mix of terror and adrenaline.

K2 IS DEAD.

Thistlewick moves forward as the cultist and a kobold go down.  He is concerned about the one that was running away.  (K4?) 

Eyes narrowed, quickly raising his club like a pointer while calling upon the grave’s chill - a spectral, skeletal hand clamps onto the fleeing kobold's shoulder, freezing its muscles with necrotizing cold.

 Chill Touch

To Hit:  19       Dmg:  6 pts necrotic

The fleeing kobold shrieks as blue, ghostly energy binds it, the skeletal hand continuing to dig into it's shoulder with death's chill.

Bonus Action:   He 'recharges' his club with Shillelagh

 +++

When Thistlewick arrived near the woman and children being attacked,  I am assuming he is within 10 feet of the last standing kobold...

which would allow Thistlewick's release of his [reaction] Halo of Spores [/reaction]   4 pts necrotic  as the spore spray into the kobold's face - entering his nostrils and mouth to begin his journey to necrotic decay and death.

Kobold 1 con save 12

The ghostly hand of Thistlewick’s Chill Touch clamps onto the fleeing kobold's shoulder. The creature’s scream is cut short as the necrotizing cold withers its heart instantly. It hits the ground mid-stride, frozen stiff.

Simultaneously, the last standing kobold  tries to duck under the woman’s spear, only to be caught in a face-full of the druid's necrotic spores. It staggers, clutching its throat as its lungs begin to liquefy. It’s still on its feet, but it’s coughing up black bile and clearly won't survive much longer. It tries a desperate counter attack at the druid, trying to stab him with a dagger. Attack: 22 Damage: 5

Over to Montar

 Montar shouts, "No More!" and swings his maul again in a wide arc. This time his aim is true (Atk: 18, Dmg: 12) and the stone head of the weapon caves in the last kobold's chest. "I'm sorry we didn't get here earlier, ma'am," he says, while picking up his hand axes and wiping off his maul. "Is there anyone else who needs us?"

COMBAT OVER

The street is clear of immediate threats, but the air is thick with the sounds of a city under siege. Linan doesn't waste a second. She wipes the sweat and dirt from her brow and hauls the wounded man to his feet.

"We have to get to the keep. NOW!" she yells over the rising sound of chaos. The two of them begin a frantic, limping retreat back towards the safety of the stone walls, the three children huddled between them.

As they flee, the heavy clatter of boots and the rasp of unsheathed steel echo from the neighbouring streets. More raiders are closing in, and they aren't far off. In the cacophony of the attack, nobody has noticed the party yet but the family's retreat is agonizingly slow. The wounded man's limp is heavy, and the youngest child’s sobbing is likely to attract attention. To your left and right, the orange glow of burning homes illuminates the intersection ahead where the "clatter" of the approaching raiders is turning into distinct voices.

"Search every house!" a cultist bellows from the next street over. "The hoard demands everything!"

You have seconds before that patrol rounds the corner and spots the family.

Draylin 

The monk immediately moves to retrieve his dagger from the chest of the cultist. As the last enemy falls to Montar's crushing blow, he turns to see the family struggling to get clear of the next round danger.  Hearing the nearness of the enemy and the child's sobbing he moves on instinct.  He runs back to the family, scoops up the smallest, says, "Hold on little one!"  With barely a breath between, and no time given for discussion, he says to the parents,  "We will meet you at the gate,".   The young monk is off like a cheetah.  Cradling the child to his chest, he runs with his full speed towards the gate.  He hopes to get the child out of earshot ASAP, deliver him to safety, then get back to the rest of the escaping family. 

***OoC:  perception for more trouble on his mad dash :DIS ADV while running 10- dash action to get the kid to the gate with all haste, drop him with the guards there and use any and all movement to get back to the rest of the family. Full movement with dash = 80 ft***

Thistlewick groans as that last attack slipped past his shield and landed hard.   Still, he was alive and on his feet... mostly.  Taking in the moment, he sighs and tells the woman and man, "Do not be afraid.  Just be ready to climb up."

He then uses his last WIld Shape to become an ELK.        https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/16857-elk

Four solid legs and a better hp than a moment before, Thistlewick sort of bows so the adults and kids can climb on.    Once he has as many as he can carry without further issues, he will bound up the road toward the Keep.

Speed: 50  ** fingers... or hooves... crossed **

Tam looks around for something she can make a noise distraction in the other direction. Perhaps a cart or a barrel she can roll down a hill that will draw noise away from their escape. 

[10 perception check so Probsbly nothing ]

Tam looks around for something she can make a noise distraction in the other direction. Perhaps a cart or a barrel she can roll down a hill that will draw noise away from their escape. 

[10 perception check so Probsbly nothing ]

Montar watches Thistlewick intensely, unused to the kind of nature magic he wields. With a muttered apology, Montar scoops up the wounded man and dashes after Draylin, albeit much more slowly (50' with dash).

Thistlewick Stealth roll:  16

Everyone manages to make it back to the keep in one piece along with some more townsfolk. The portcullis is lowered down once you all pass through the main gates just as hordes of raiders spill out in the streets. Their yelling and laughter fills the air just as smoke and fire fill the night sky.

"Thank you so much for your help!" the woman says out of breath. "I'm Linan, and this is my husband Cuth. We just arrived from our farm when suddenly these bandits attacked us."

Some of the guards motion you to get inside the keep. "Get in! Get in! We are closing the gate. Closing the gate!"

"I don't know what we would have done without your aid. I... we are so very grateful," Linan says as she bows her head.

As you enter the keep, a small crowd of people rushes towards you, Escobert among them. Some of the people help Linan and her family to get to the cleric. The red-bearded dwarf studies you with concern. "Are ya all alright? That was a valiant effort, saving even more townsfolk! Maybe catch yar breath for a bit and come talk to me and Governor Nighthill after. It's gonna be a long night, by the looks of it."

Montar nods his thanks, but seems preoccupied as he seeks out a place of relative quiet. Anyone passing close would hear quiet, low chanting from the dwarf, but in a tongue unfamiliar to most: the language of the giants. For a full hour he chants, all the while etching ancient runes into his weapon. Though he is not near a forge, sweat beads at his temples as if he were, and passersby seem to see a ruddy glow cast on his beard from an unknown source.

At the conclusion of the hour he rejoins the group. While no more loquacious than usual, Montar seems to carry himself a little taller now, and the glowing ancient runes on his maul---one crimson, the other pale blue---mark the difference as well.

If it’s possible, Tam looks even more inquisitive than before. Her eyes are sharper and she carries herself with a measured quality that says she sees and hears everything going on around her. 

Draylin

The young monk also finds a bit of time to center himself in meditation.  As his focus became sharper, his mind replayed the prior battles.  He remembered, he studied, he learned....

Sitting cross-legged, shoulders back with eyes closed, his body was perfectly still.  His mind sought to understand, to grow, and to be more aware of his physical form, as well as the powerful ki energy that existed in all things.  

A tumbler in his mind clicked.  A door once closed opened.  New ways to channel his ki revealed themselves as he replayed each moment of their last fight.  His vision narrowed, reflexes sharpening to a razor's edge, he saw in his deep state of focus the blocking technique to turn aside incoming arrows.

He replayed the last battle one last time, this time inserting the new techniques where they would have been beneficial.  When his body and mind were in balance, he turned his focus back to his breathing.  Gently bringing awareness back to his surrounding, he stood slowly.  When his eyes opened they immediately began to scan for his companions.  He also sought out the arms master to try and replace a lost dagger.