Sword Coast Rambling

Syna, Brots, Zyltris:

OOC: Any issues with the image not showing up let me know. Although I think it's fixed now.

Syna let's out his frustration at these zombies with a wolfish snarl and another double attack on Z6.

Attack: 15 Damage: 6

Attack: 7 Damage: 5

OCC:  2 1's!!!!   From somewhere in the multiverse comes the sound of a head pounding on a desk...

Zyltris will swing at Z9. 

Attack: 22

Damage: 7

Synas frustration boils over. With a wolfish snarl the druid lashes out again with his blades at the towering zombie orc (Z6).

Attack: 25
Damage: 5

Hearing the steel ring through the air, the beast turns, taking a direct hit to its neck. A dull thud can barely be heard over the raging bonfire as the beasts head rolls away. Its hulking body collapses behind, adding fuel to the flames.

OOC: What's with all of these critical hits all of a sudden? Save your desk thumping!

Brots sheathes his daggers, opting instead to draw his bow this time. Taking a few steps away from the ruckus, he spots a zombie preparing to leap at Zyltris once more as he loosens an arrow towards it.

Brots Attack Roll: 8
Damage: 14

As Zyltris morningstar swings downwards towards it, the zombie is suddenly shaken to its core by the arrows impact. Brots turns away from the bloodshed that must surely follow and pulls alongside Serak, keen to assist the bard with the wizard.

A morningstar descends quickly through the firelit courtyard as Zyltris swings at the stricken zombie before him (Z9)

Attack: 22
Damage: 7

The spiked weapon smashes into the beasts shoulder breaking it cleanly from its socket. With a cry of pain the zombie hisses at his attacker. It quickly gathers itself and lashes out with its remaining strong arm. 

ROUND 8
- "We're off to see the Wizard" -

Beetle:

Serak, Syna, Brots and Zyltris:

OOC: Wizard is still playing the part of sleeping beauty. Only three zombies to go! Give 'em hell.

Beetle hoping to end another zombie says.."Tyr thank you for guiding us through this mess and keeping us safe, now lets end this...." he casts green-flame blade and strikes Z5

Attack: 22 Damage: 8 as the strike connects Green Flame once again flows over to Z12 for 3 damage.

Serak: Retrieving the hemp Rope from his pack, Serak proceeds to tie up and gag the wizard.

Beside the crumbling tower, Beetle called out again, "Tyr thank you for guiding us through this mess and keeping us safe, now lets end this...." With a flash of green, Talon whips out again, the blade slashing across the melting zombie (Z5)

Attack: 22 
Damage: 8 

Green Flame Damage to Z12: 3 

Another blast of green ignites the tattered clothing clinging to the neighbouring zombie, sending light in all directions through the courtyard.

Along the broken north wall, Brots and Serak stand over the still sleeping wizard. The bard vaults the wall with rope in hand and grabs the humans arms and legs. While he carefully works, the wizard stirs, slowly awakened by the rough excercise. Though unable to make a sound, Serak ensures the prisoner is tightly hogtied and gagged, confident that escape is impossible. 

As the blast of green fire dissipates, the remaining group of zombies continue to press on. The first, which has been preoccupied with Beetle for some time now, grabs at the paladin shoulders and presses itself into him. It jaws clash together fiercely as the undead creature reaches for his targets neck.

Zombie (Z5) Attack Roll: 19

OOC: This would be a hit Beetle. You have Shield that you can use as a reaction?

OOC: it's ok you can let it go

Syna will remain where he is, calling forth the spirit of fire, he casts Create Bonfire on Z9 : 4

Z5 Damage to Beetle:5

The zombies sharp teeth sink deeply into Beetles armour. Links of chain mail ping away as they break under the intense biting pressure. The paladin whips his shoulder violently as he tries to loosen the zombies grip and shake him away.

Around the curve of the crumbled wall, the second remaining zombie repositions itself and charges headfirst into Zyltris once more.

Zombie (Z9) Strength (Athletics) Check: 8
Zyltris Strength (Athletics) Check: 24

A faint slap rings out as the undead body throws itself at the strong pillar of Zyltris. The elf absorbs the blow, turning quickly as the final zombie swings an arm his way.

Zombie (Z12) Attack Roll: 5

As the undead creature sidesteps and swings its rotten arm, the elf dodges easily. Zyltris slowly spins as the two zombies take positions on either side of him, desperately trying to keep an eye on both.

Another wave of intense heat fills the courtyard as another bonfire bursts into life. From his position, Syna watches on as his target burns.

Zombie (Z9) Dexterity Save: 2
Spell Save DC: 13

As the bonfire rages, the zombie somehow manages to avoid the worst of its intensity as it staggers around trying to grab Zyltris as he warily stands between the beasts surrounding him.

OOC: Zyltris and Brots:

OOC: Serak would have used Cutting Words to make that attack miss Beetle. Not sure how I'm ever going to use Cutting Words without just constantly checking the thread. Or making you wait for me everytime an enemy hits or makes a saving throw. 

OOC: Don't worry we just need to finish this fight and then probably camp for the night, everyone seems to be burning though all abilities this fight, so we finish, camp, and move on in morning.

 OCC: Absolutely, the tower will make a good fortified camp.

OOC: Ah. Yeah I'm not sure how to get around that. Completely forgot about Cutting Words. Even if I was to take notes on all your possible reactions I'd still need to have a decision somewhere on what situations to use which reaction...

Perhaps that would be the best approach? If you guys were to give a set of circumstances as to when you would use a reaction... like

"If a PC is hit by an attack I will use Cutting Words"
"If I take more than 5 damage I will use Shield"

If I had a list like that it would be useful to refer to - even if you were to only update them when you got a new reaction to use?

I'll have a look at at if that doesn't suit, but other than pausing after each individual attack I can't see any way right now of simplifying it

OOC: The reason I didn't use Bardic Inspiration this fight is because I think Cutting Words is more beneficial to the party. I am finding it difficult to use though.

I agree this is a good place to camp.

 OOC: The problem with Cutting Words is that it is very situational. If an attack barely hit, like in this case, I'd likely use it. I might use it on an attack that hit by 4 or more though, if the situation is bad enough to gamble on rolling a 4 or higher. Or, if the attack hit by a large margin, I could reduce the damage it dealt instead.

Saving throws are a whole other problem, because it really depends on what spell we're casting on the enemy. I'd likely not use it to make a Bonfire hit, but I might. More powerful spells that are clutch to a situation, I might again gamble on rolling high on my Cutting Words. Not sure how to make this work. lol

OOC: same with using shield....i only have x amount of spell slots at this early level, if it was life or death situation I would definitely burn a slot for it, but if not I find it's better to use the slots for Divine Smite and speed up the battle...but I usually try to save 1 slot for emergencies...lucky though the warlock slot comes back on a short rest so I always use that one first no matter what the spell.

OOC: The only problem I'll have with it is that if somewhere along the line enemy attacks can stack together.

For example - with the swarm of Zyltris we just had. If Serak had used Cutting Words to affect the strength check, the 4/5 attack rolls after it would have been voided. 

That basically leads us back to listing reactions when it comes to your initiative round, which isn't ideal but would likely be more relevant than a list of situations you would use a specific reaction? Tricky one, not sure there's any real way around it in a PBP context