Above & Below

(Oops, sorry! I hadn't realized!)

Effort stops running, spotting the most injured soldier targeting Brask and points at him.  As she does, the same dark, smoky chains wrap around him and sink into his skin as she transfers her hex.  The finger curls, and another eldritch blast chases the curse, guided by Cadmael's mark.

Attack: 25
Damage: 19 (13 force + 6 necrotic)

The injured soldier is obliterated by Effort's blast. Her grin grows wider, and she can feel a sense of approval washing over her. This is excellent work. More.

As the guards being nervously looking back and forth, the final soldier swings down at Kurama.

 Attack: 20 Damage: 7

 Attack: 19 Damage: 8

Kurama, beaten back, goes down again under the force of the mace attacks. He lies motionless, as he had on the other side of the bridge. The soldier growls and beats his chest with his fist.

Pip begins approaching the fray now, making sure he has a clear shot on one of the guards attacking Brask...

Attack: 15 Damage: 5

It flies over one of their shoulders, nearly striking Brask. Thankfully it goes over the bridge and lands harmlessly in the water.

Kurama, another death save! Then Brask is up.

Death Save: 11   (Success!)

Brask is determined to send this guy to his gods, or whatever passes for gods in this weird place.  His maul swings once again, though now some of the blood covering it is his own, which is slipping down his bleeding arm:

Attack: 9 Damage: 10

There's a loud curse in the minotaur language.

The guards turn toward Brask, three of them thrusting their spears at the hulking minotaur while one heads in the direction of Pip...

Attack: 9 Damage: 2

Attack: 22 Damage: 5

Attack: 22 Damage: 4

Attacking Pip:

Attack: 8 Damage: 2

Pip's eyes go wide as the spear enters his side. He coughs as the guard pulls it back, collapsing to the ground.

Brutal roll! Next round - Effort/Cadmael are up!

Effort's grin turns into a grimace as Kurama goes down again, and she resummons Cadmael to her hand with another browncap mushroom, which are becoming disturbingly scarce in her pack.  

Feed him again, and try to give him a look that will tell him to stay up and stay out of close combat, will you?  Be safe, you're working overtime today.

Finished with instructing her owl, she scowls at the healthy soldier pummeling Brask.  Pressing both of her palms together, she points both of her fingers out and silently takes aim.  Once she's certain she has the brawny human in her sights, she fires off a mind spike at him (DC 15 WIS save or 15 psychic damage, half as much on a save).

WIS save: 20

The soldier squints tightly, fighting off the spell. He seems weakened by it, but it certainly didn't connect as Effort intended. He raises up his mace again, swinging down at Brask...

Attack: 23 Damage: 8

Attack: 11 Damage: 7

Pip death save: 13

Kurama, you're up! Then Brask.

Initiative order: Effort/Cadmael > Beefy guy > Pip > Kurama > Brask > Guards (x4)

(By the way, Effort moved further in to threaten the guards around Brask.  She'd stay out of melee but be close enough to be seen, maybe about 10-15 feet from the fray.  Not sure if she can make that yet, but her spells have been ranged from 60-120 feet so she can still hit things on the way in :) )

(How many guards are left and can Kurama tell what condition they're in?)

Okay - let's say Effort is about 30 feet from the main action around Brask at this point.

Kurama - there are five total enemies left. One is the big beefy soldier, who looks injured but not quite on death's door yet. There are four smaller guards as well. Most of them just have minor burns and cuts from the traps, although one looks in bad shape. All five are within 10-15 feet of each other, surrounding Brask.

Hit Die Recovery: 7

Kurama woke up with a start once again.  This time though he knew exactly where he was and the dire situation they were all in.  Slowly rising, he thought of his former teacher as his mind raced trying to find a way to keep his friends alive.  Coming to a grim conclusion, he approached the group and with the last of his strength, released the force inside of him once again.  "Brask, Effort, take Pip and get out of here, I'll try and hold them off."  he shared with his friends before trying to slug the remaining leader, hoping to take him down before he fell once again.

• Action: Attack the Beefy Soldier: 22 Damage: 6
• Bonus Action: Activate Astral Arms (Last Ki Point!) - All enemies within 10ft must make a DC14 DEX Save or take 7 force damage
• Movement: Towards Brask and the Guards

Soldier: 12

Guards: 4 2 7 16

After the soldier is hit by Kurama, he also suffers the brunt of his astral arms. They crack into him, and while still desperately standing, he appears wobbly and disoriented. A slight moan emanates from his throat.

Realizing what a desperate situation the group is in, Kurama whips his appendages wildly, hoping to kill or distract his foes from the others. Two of them connect with guards, knocking one off the bridge and onto the rocks below. He doesn't move again. 

Brask, you're up! One soldier and three guards remain.

Also realising the danger, and furious and scared at Pip getting injured, Brask does the only thing he really knows how to do - he keeps attacking the solider with brute force:

Attack: 16 Damage: 12

There's a roar of fury as the blow hits (I hope?).  Does it kill the guy?  If so, Brask will race to where Pip's unconscious body lies.

The maul strikes true, connecting with the soldier's chest and crumpling him to the ground. Only the three guards remain, and they look more and more nervous.

You can run to Pip but would take opportunity attacks. 

He'll stay where he is then.

Two of the remaining guards thrust their spears toward the minotaur...

Attack: 22 Damage: 6

Attack: 14 Damage: 3

The third had been facing Kurama, and tries to strike down the monk for a third time...

Attack: 23 Damage: 12

Clearly shaken, all three miss.

Effort/Cadmael, you're up!

Effort puts some effort into making her voice boom and crackle like thunder over the bridge as she points at the three remaining soldiers, using thaumaturgy.  As she does, her other hand comes up, and she transfers her hex to the hapless guard closest to Brask.  She concentrates, making the dark smoke swirl a bit over-dramatically for her tastes, before they sink into the mans skin, leaving pulsing, sickly purplish-marks where it they touched.

"Drop your weapons this instant, or die groveling in the dirt just as your worthless masters did."

Give me a DC15 intimidation check.

That'd be a 20, sir

The guards seem hesitant, but as a silent moment passes, they all begin to slowly lay down their spears. They look around, wondering if they will still be killed. One finally speaks up with a shaky voice. "Please, we was just following orders. We don't have a choice." He falls to his knees.

OK, we're out of combat. The three guards are surrendering. Two women are chained up in the back of the nearest wagon, peeking out now that the fighting has subsided. Pip is unconscious.