OBEN, INSSOL

The tavern, as previously described, was nearly empty, however more bursts of residents are beginning to come into the tavern portion for breakfast or to simply depart. You notice, however, that a particular man descending the stairs refuses to meet your gaze, and furthermore, is staring at the floor, his eyes glazed over - yet he perfectly maneuvers through the unaligned tables and chairs. His eyes are a deep green, and his hair springs forth in every direction in disorganized brown locks. His skin flakes in some places, even decaying in others. Before you can investigate further, however, he produces a gnarled dagger and lunges towards Inssol!

OBEN AND INSSOL, ROLL INITIATIVE.

OPPOSING INITIATIVE: 4

ATTACK AGAINST INSSOL: Attack: 7 Damage: 4

[Note: During combat, if an attack misses or hits, you are free to RP the effects of that attack. Gauge your response with the damage taken, however, as that value obviously remains static.]

Vesper ignores Inssol's screaming, staying asleep until the sun shone through her window, forcing her awake. She got dressed slowly and headed down to the common area, looking for breakfast.

Inssol is casually nodding and friendly waving to those who walk in and out of the Inn. He rubs his palms together as breakfast arrives, then gets a shiver down his spine. He couldn't explain it, but he felt danger closing in. He grabs his katana, spins around in the stool and parries the dagger to the side with the sheath.

"Okay. NOW we're under attack!"

Initiative: 10

Oben's hand halts with the crumpet half-way to his mouth.  Seriously?  Before breakfast?

Oben's initiative: 6

VESPER

As you slowly aloft to the bottom of the steps, you notice that patrons are hastily fleeing the tavern, as Oben watches in shock as a man is attacking Inssol with some kind of blade. You are welcome to join the fight and roll initiative, or take some other action and remain outside of combat.

OBEN, INSSOL

CURRENT TURN ORDER: Oben, Inssol, Assailant

The creature recoils back, snarling, attempting to form words but seemingly unable to. In the attack, it doesn't notice Oben, and prepares to jab Inssol again with the dagger.

Oben, it is now your action.

Oben is suddenly behind the attacker, a dagger in each hand, and a look of determination on his face.  He stabs with his right hand:

Attack: 7 Damage: 5

Then slashes with his left:

Attack: 6 Damage: 2

(Are you playing with flanking rules to give advantage?  If so, the two additional d20 roles are 3 and 1.  Also, if either hits, sneak attack damage: 5)

(Edit:  Wow!  That's a 2, a 1, a 3 and a 1)

Oben manages to slip behind the unaware "man", who in reality seems less and less human the more examined - their movements are sporadic and unnatural, like their tendons and muscles have been rewired or modified. Before he can make any effective attacks, however, Inssol's attacker flails his arm back, not managing to bludgeon Oben, however more knock him backwards, causing his attacks to simply go wide - cutting deep into a wooden support beam.

Inssol, it is now your action.

(For clarification - no, I'm not using flanking rules, unless it's done especially creatively or obviously advantageously. I feel that handing out advantage too frequently can lower the stakes of the game, and can serve to clutter combat.)

Inssol sees Oben fail two attacks and shakes his head. "How can you hit anything with blades that small!?" He bellows, quite jovially. "Behold!" With a flourish, Inssol grades the hilt of his blade with one hand and the sheath with the other. Throwing the sheath to the side, he reveals the brilliant blade of his katana. "Now, The Bravery shall strike you down!" He shouts to the attacker, going for a swing.

Attack: 22 Damage: 12

Inssol, wielding his glistening katana in the morning light,  slashes at the front of the creature - his blade strikes true, creating a large, deep gash in the torso, ripping through tattered cloth and cotton. A long flick of blood scatters onto the bar counter, as more of the viscous red ooze continues to stream from the wound, darkening the color of the remaining attire. Oddly enough, this only seems to anger the attacker, as he uses one hand to attempt to staunch the flow of blood, and the other to stab at Inssol.

It is now the action of the Assailant.

The Assailant makes an attack against Inssol with his dagger:

Attack: 4 Damage: 4

It is now Oben's action.

Hey Vesper, a little help here?

Oben stabs again with his daggers:

Attack: 24 Damage: 4

Attack: 11 Damage: 3

Sneak attack damage:  2

Inssol parries the dagger with The Bravery. "Ha! It's like you're not even trying!"

Oben, without hesitation stabs the creature twice with his trained, dexterous coordination - the first attack sinks straight into the back of the man, who lets out a screech of desperation,  however is quickly silenced by another blade piercing his cranium. The creature lets out one last yelp of life, and seemingly sinks to the ground in defeat. The dagger falls besides it, with a satisfactory CLANG. The energy in the eyes fade, returning to normal.

Anybody succeeding in a DC 17 Wisdom (Perception) check notices that the pupils of the creature are still moving.

Inssol, it is now your action. Others are free to interact in RP, however cannot take any major combat actions.

Perception: 3

"Whoo! Fantastic! Incredible! Is that it?!"

Perception 22

Ye...  Shit!  No!  Its eyes are moving.  What the....?

Oben holds his daggers at the ready and keeps his gaze locked on the creature.

OBEN, INSSOL

Oben, shortly following your baffled remark, the human form of the creature disappears, as a plume of jet black smoke is released from the "corpse" of the creature. Rising from the thick vapor is a new form - a deep gray, muscular, mouthless humanoid shape. Black gas is still seemingly emit by it's very presence. It pulses black and gray in rhythm with the clasping of it's fists, and towers over Inssol, standing at over six feet tall. A doppelganger. It turns to you, Oben, and attempts to launch a powerful fist into your gut.

Attack: 20 Damage: 6

[Note: Messing with the turn order here a bit, consider it a reaction.] 

Initiative: 8

"What is that?" 

Vesper throws out a hand and casts Magic Missile, dealing 8 damage to the monster.

Directly following the Doppelganger's attack on Oben, three bolts of blue arcane energy slam into the side of the monster before exploding and dissolving. Silently, it lets out another large puff of the black cloud, and is thrown into the side of the bar counter. It quickly recovers however, and turns, surrounded on all sides. It attempts to jump to off its right, however is blocked by Inssol. It attempts to sweep the Gnome with it's tapering legs:

It is now the Doppelganger's action.

The Doppelganger makes an attack against Inssol:

Attack: 16 Damage: 10

Given the difference in size, instead of sweeping the gnome off his feet, the monster kicks Inssol a good distance from him.

"That was different! Also, Owch!"

[Oops, forgot to mention.]

Oben, it is now your action.