Sword Coast Rambling

[OOC: Really wishing I hadn't rolled that attack before clarifying the rules. lol I'll roll with it though. I can survive at least one round against this thing. I would've poisoned the meat, but Serak left his Poisoner's Kit in his other pants. That treasure seems important anyway.]

OOC: ok we roll with it, no problem

Beetle seeing his friend strike out at the creature draws his sword once more and prepares for battle.."Tyr guide us in this adventure and let out strikes ring true..."

OOC: on a side note how long does the bardic inspiration last that you gave me earlier? Not sure if I can still make the extra roll on an attack or not

[OOC: It lasts 10 minutes. Theoretically possible Serak could run and slaughter a chicken in that time I suppose. He is fast, but that is pushing it. Up to Brownbeard. If I'd known for sure it wasn't captivating you with it's treasure I probably wouldn't have run for the chicken and just fought it. I was getting a very Gollum One Ring vibe and thought it might be mesmerizing you somehow. Paranoia, find a cure! lol

OOC: Haha, about 400feet from the cavern back to the farm - 800 there and back. General ruling is that a fast march or run is about 400ft a minute so thats two minutes off. The 100 feet heading into the cave originally and the time until you discovered the nothic is about another two-three minutes.

Long and short of it is that, you probably JUST about in the 10 minute window.

... bare with me a sec. Wasn't exactly ready for this fight! Still need to work out where everybody is etc

Initiative Rolls:

Beetle: 5
Brots: 22
Serak: 24
Syna: 7
Zyltris: 12

Nothic: 15

 Syna 8 vs 6 Nothic

Suprise round:

Nothic Dexterity Saving Throw: 17

In an instant, Seraks blade slashes out from beneath his red cloak towards the Nothics engorged eye. The beast lets out an angry hiss and quickly leans backwards avoiding the blow. In the minds of the heroes a demonic voice rings out, "BETRAYER! IT WAS BEING FRIENDS WITH IT! Where is the dragon? Release the beasties! YES YES!"

ROUND 1

OOC: We'll try Almaraths suggestion for combat then? Everyone post their actions when they can with a couple of options and I will put them into order at the end of the round.

eg, Uthemar will run at the goblin and swing his scimitar - damage rolls
OR if that goblin is dead
Uthemar will use a healing potion and run 30ft towards the wolf (W1)
OR if Uthemar takes damage from a creature he will attack in retaliation etc

Eventually we'll get a system that works for everyone, until then it'll be a bit of trial and error I'm afraid but thanks for sticking with it so far. 

OOC: So we are at the top of the initiative order because Serak's attack was surprise round but everyone just post when they can their action and it will be sorted before the 2nd round....that's how I understand it right?

Serak: Blundering his attack spectacularly, his blade caught up in an unfamiliar cloak, Serak steps back from the creature.

Action: Disengage

He moves around the pillar to behind Zyltris and says to him, "If anyone can get us out of the mess I've gotten us into, my friend Zyltris is the Elf!"

Bonus Action: Bardic Inspiration - Zyltris

OOC: Right.

The preliminary round was Seraks sneak attack attempt. The initiative order now is as listed on the map above so I’ll treat the attacks in that order of priority.

But yes you can put your attacks or movements etc in any order as and when you can and I’ll reorder them before updating the map for round 2

Beetle will circle around Syna to the northwest of the creature and strike with his sword...

Attack: 17 Damage: 8

OOC: damn you guys movr fast sometimes.  U know Syna is going to want to come back and kill this unnatural...

Zyltris will attack with his Morningstar and use the bardic inspiration. In the event he is attacked he will reach out to touch the nothing with his shocking grasp as a reaction if that is possible 

OOC: can’t remember what the bardic inspiration does. I think it gives me an additional due, which I will apply to my damage roll. 

Brots seeing beetle attack will move toward the second bridge (10 ft up) and ready his bow. He will take aim at N and release his arrow. Attack: 17 Damage: 9

OOC: Thanks guys, just need Synas attack and we’re set to move on

[OOC: Bardic Inspiration let's you add +1d6 to any single attack, saving throw or ability check for 10 minutes. You get to add it after you see what you rolled, but before Brownbeard resolves the action. So, if you attack and say roll a 13 - you know you're close to hitting, but you're probably going to miss, so you add +1d6 to help make it a hit.] 

Syna will attack with Frostbite

OOC: thank you for the bardic inspiration note. So Zyltris will attack and use Bardic Inspiration if the attack fails by less than 6

 OOC: Well, since we don't know what a Nothic's armor class is without metagaming, you need to use your best judgement. Try to estimate enemy AC and HP by seeing what rolls are hitting and missing and keeping a window of possible AC in your mind. For example, if you roll 17 and it hits, but my 14 misses, I know its AC is 15, 16 or 17.

OOC: Ok great, thanks all! I'll put these together now!

Blundering his attack spectacularly, his blade caught up in an unfamiliar cloak, Serak steps back from the creature. The beast lets out an angry hiss and quickly leans backwards avoiding the blow. In the minds of the heroes a demonic voice rings out, "BETRAYER! IT WAS BEING FRIENDS WITH IT! Where is the dragon? Release the beasties! YES YES!"

Action: Disengage

In the panic, he skirts around the pillar to a position behind Zyltris and says to him, "If anyone can get us out of the mess I've gotten us into, my friend Zyltris is the Elf!"

Bonus Action: Bardic Inspiration - Zyltris

Brots seeing Serak fail his attack, retreats northwards out of harms way and readies his boy. Pulling the string tight, he looses an arrow at the hissing nothic.

Attack: 17
Damage: 9

The arrow soars across the cavern and hits the beast squarely in the back, causing it to roar out once more in pain.

Sensing an opportunity Beetle pushes his way forward, circling around Syna. Effortlessly drawing his longsword he slashes downwards into the Nothics side.

Attack: 17
Damage: 8

Another cry fills the cavern. The all seeing green eye turns onto Beetle and blood gushes out from a fresh wound. "It burns! It betrays its trust! It was friendlies Muriel!"

Acting quickly before the Nothic has a chance to react, Syna calls upon the elements to deal some damage. The air suddenly drops in temperature as he calls forth the power of winter with Frostbite.

Nothic Constitution Saving throw: 11
Syna Spell Save DC: 13
Damage: 2 + D/A on next weapon attack roll

Upset and in a great deal of pain, the nothic turns to flee. Untrained in the art of combat, it can only dodge away from the group surrounding it. It makes a break for the northern bridge.

Beetle Opportunity Attack: 10
Syna Opportunity Attack: 22
Zyltris Opportunity Attack: 7

Beetle Attack Damage: 4

As the nothic attemps to step backwards, Beetle slices again, this time backhanded and catches the beast across its exposed chest. The monster reels backwards in agony, just in time to miss further blows from quarterstaff and morningstar alike. Standing in its way, Brots draws a dagger attempting to down the beast as it flees.

Brots Opportunity Attack: 6
Brots Attack Damage: 5

As the beast runs past, Brots drags a blade across the Nothics skin inflicting another wound. A trail of blood runs along the cavern from where the Nothic once stood. The minds of the heroes fill with undercommon curses, "Betrayers all of them! Liars and thieves and betrayers it is! Save themselves its should, muriel and its dragons are nearby! Leave it alone! It means no harm!"

Zyltris gives chase, eager to end this clash before it's even begun. He draws his morningstar and aims to attack for the second time in as many seconds. 

Zyltris Attack Roll (With D/A from dodge): 15
Zyltris Bardic Inspiration Roll: 1
Zyltris Damage Roll: 10

Catching up to the green eyed beast before it makes it to the bridge, Zyltris, remembering Seraks motivating words, takes aim and smashes his morningstar into the back of its skull. Suddenly its vision shakes and a deafening roar spreads through its tiny skull. It stumbles but continues to make good on his escape.

ROUND 2

OOC: I see you've brought better dice this time around. Didn't expect you guys to deal so much damage in one turn, although to be fair there's only one target. Serak you would have had an opportunity attack if you weren't behind Zyltris. I couldn't really justify squeezing 4 of you into a 5 foot square. 

Nothic's dodge means that your attacks against it will have disadvantage on your attack rolls until its next turn. This will affect all of you bar Zyltris who rolls after. You can either roll your own disadvantage or I'll add it, just let me know either way. 

Also just bear in mind that Zyltris will give the nothic cover - line of sight from your current positions - For fairness I'd give it half cover which is +2AC.  

Same again then? 

Serak: Seeing the creature attempt to flee, Serak moves at full speed south while drawing his crossbow. He crosses the southern bridge and then heads north as far as possible, to get line of sight on the creature. Taking aim, he let's a bolt fly.

Attack(Da): 12

Damage: 9

Beetle will close the distance best he can to get into melee range and attack

Attack 11

Damage 4