Above & Below

Brask glares back at Kurama, before charging up to the remaining wolf:

Attack: 12 Damage: 8

I can reroll two of those dice:  7.  That gives a total of 22 damage.

Brask runs past the taller guard, swinging his maul down and absolutely obliterating the remaining wolf. Its side explodes with the impact, and Brask stands triumphantly with bits of blood and viscera stuck in his fur.

The tall guard's eyes go wide as he witnesses this, but he then turns his attention to the escaping prisoner. He'll dash toward her which will allow him to catch up but unable to grab her this turn.

We'll keep the same initiative for now, with Shei going at the top of the round. She runs as far and as fast as she can, although she's exhausted at this point. She makes it about 50 feet while dashing.

Rd 4: Effort & Cadmael > Pip > Kurama > Brask > Guards

Effort narrows her eyes and transfers her hex to the guard closest to Shei (giving him disadvantage on his strength checks to catch her).

Cadmael, she commands.  Catch him, and stun him.

As the owl swoops down on the armored guard, Effort channels her spell through her familiar, her eyes turning the same dark, swirling, multifaceted shade as the owl's.

Shocking Grasp Owl Attack: 13  (adv from metal armor)
Damage: 8 lightning + 5 necrotic

If it hits, that guard can no longer take reactions until the start of its next turn.

As Cadmael stretches out his talons, his own eyes crackle with lightning. Setting down upon the guard's armor, he lets loose the energy as it shoots into the human flesh. "Arggghhh! Are you f*cking crazy?"

Pip, a bit panicked by everything going on, is finally able to notch an arrow and fire it at the armored guard. Attack: 15 Damage: 3

The arrow bounces harmlessly off of some of the metal.

Kurama, you're up.

(Thanks for the assist Effort, hopefully the disadvantage helps!)

"We don't want to hurt you but we believe it would be best if you just let the woman go.  Please stop resisting." Kurama replied as he attempted to once again restrain the guard.  (Attacking the one hexed by Effort)

Athletics: 25 (Edit: Really going to need that assist now XD)

Opposed check: 12 (Guard wins with a higher strength modifier - so close!)

Brask, you're up!

Brask sighs unhappily at this turn of events, but loyally supports his friends by attacking the guard that Pip fired the arrow at, doing non-lethal damage if possible:

Attack: 14 Damage: 10

This really a good idea? he asks as he smashes the guy's shoulder.  I'm asking her, not you, he adds helpfully.

Quote from Billtacular >>

Opposed check: 7 (Guard wins with a higher strength modifier - so close!)

Brask, you're up!

 (Not sure if it matters, but since Kurama is able to use WIS for his STR checks & saving throws, he would actually have a +4 modifier)

"Humph.  Our plan was to negotiate, but you two don't seem willing to do even that.  We caught your prisoner, we heard your story, and we saved you from that pack of wolves.  All we are asking is that you leave her to her fate in this wilderness.  She could do nothing in the face of the danger we just battled... how long do you think she will survive on her own in the forest?  If she abhors the justice meted out in your town so greatly, let her face the justice of the wilds.  The wolves may have just as well as gotten her, for she is choosing the harsher of the two sentences of her own free will," Effort replies.  "Stand down, and no one else has to be hurt any further."

Persuasion: 18

He considers your words, but doesn't look convinced. "You're more right than you know," he starts. "If she runs off into those woods she won't last an hour past sundown. Probably be a pretty gruesome death, too. Or she can ask for the baron's mercy, live, and we don't get ourselves flogged for letting her escape. Choice is clear from my angle. Now, step aside and head on into town. Do it now and we won't say a thing when we get back."

"F*ck that!" The other guard cries out from the ground. 

"We won't say a thing when we get back. You have my word. I know we're all in a tense spot right now, but everyone can come out of this in one piece."

---

Staying in initiative feels weird at this point, we can just switch to RP for now.

(Are they offering to let the woman run off into the woods, and then cover it up?  Or are they insisting that she return to ask for mercy?)

He's implying you guys head into town, they'll go after the woman and bring her back.

(Okay, I see.)

Brask glowers in fury at the guard who is threatening Pip, but trusts Effort to get them out of this mess.

(I feel like Kurama should get a say in here before Effort makes a decision for the entire group.  However she'd do the following action regardless.)

"We truly have no wish to cause you lasting harm.  It is a reasonable offer, so long as you can keep your companion under control," Effort says.  She turns towards the forest where Shei fled, and points a finger, sending the fleeing woman a message.

We have done what we can for you. You can either try to escape in the woods, or turn yourself in to the guards coming after you. Choose wisely, Shei.

(Before Kurama responds, a quick insight check on the guards: 8)

(I'm assuming that 8 won't give Kurama much)

After pondering for a few moments, Kurama recalled the energy inside him as a sign of good faith, hoping the guard would do the same thing to Pip.  Sighing, Kurama said, "I do not like any of this.  It feels wrong on all sides.  But if what you speak is the truth, then I shall go along with those terms for the time being."  He then looked to his friends to see if they were in agreement.

Effort nods slightly, both at her companions and at the guard willing to negotiate.  "Then we part ways here.  Be careful."  She turns and waits until she's sure the man leaves Pip alone, before making her way slowly back down the road.

When he sees that you're all starting back toward town and leaving the other guard, he backs away from Pip and nods at you all. With longsword still in hand, he seems to calm a bit as you get further away. He leans down to check on the other guard. 

Pip puts on a brave face as he rejoins the rest of you on the road, but is noticeably shaken. "Oh...I don't like any of this one bit." He looks back over his shoulder down the road.

"Neither do I Pip.  Something is...off about this place that is for sure.  Are you alright?" Kurama replied to the goblin. 

As they walked towards the direction of the town, Kurama would periodically check behind him to make sure there were no surprises lurking in that direction. (Perception: 15)

(Woo! 1,000th Post on this site!!)