Reng's breath leaves her, falling completely prone from the dinosaur. Barking out a furious laugh, and rolling to standing, she says to herself, "and that was going so well..."

She looks up and tries to get a glimpse of either dinosaur, and reaches toward one, firing off an eldritch blast at, first choice, the triceratops, and second choice, velociraptor.

Blast 1: 24 Damage: 6 plus 5 necrotic from hex
Blast 2: 9 Damage: 11 plus 5 necrotic from hex

Concentration check from the falling damage for hex: 20

Only the velociraptor is in view from down inside the pit. With a grim smile, Reng fires off a bolt of eldritch energy that worms its way towards the velociraptor and seems to radiate out from the point of impact. Within moments, the velociraptor is barely more than a smoking husk, barely alive. The second blast clips the edge of the pit though, and harmlessly dissipates into the sand.

The triceratops, now free of Reng, and frightened by the sudden appearance of the velociraptors and the pits that would have likely caused it to break several bones, the triceratops wheels around sharply and barrels down the pit in a southwestern direction, grinding several larger bones to dust underneath its stampeding feet.

The two northern velociraptors immediately make for the freshly killed panther and half-elf. In the south though, both velociraptors make straight for Fang, with the one further away ducking and weaving rapidly through the discarded bones due to its small size. Only the nearer one gets to attack though, and after nearly being hurled into a spike by Fang, it leaps up to claw and bite straight for Fang's neck. The claws find your cheek, but you manage to push it off far enough to avoid its bite.

Up to wards the top end of the pit, the halfling slowly crawls towards the end of the fighting pit, clearly having broken a leg or torn a tendon as a result of the trap he fell into.

The panther meanwhile, with the hulking triceratops bearing down on it, turns, ready to fight.

Fang and Reng, you're up!

Shae had been preparing to respond when there was a shift in events. Her eyes darted around the pit as if trying to calculate things during the fight. And before she could get any words out, Mulligan would make his announcement for his grand entrance. Her brow would pop in playful challenge just as he makes his jump. Blue hues would follow his path of chaos in his efforts to make his way to the pits.

Bringing her hand to her mouth, Shae would try to muffle a gentle snort before letting out a chuckle. She'd glance over her shoulder to the Merchant Princess, "Always so hasty, aren't they?" Her wry smile would tug at her lips again. She'd let out a sighing hum, returning her attention back to the pits.

Shae would lean over to whisper to Otto, gently nudging his arm. "Did you get that BBQ shrimp?"

Fang will attempt to bite the velociraptor that scratched him a moment ago.

If the creature is still alive, Fang will attempt to bite it again. If it’s dead Fang will look to the crowd and let out a bestial roar then go for the other one next to him.

Otto turns to Shae as she nudges him, and replies to her whispered question: Oh, no thanks, I've eaten plenty already. But you should try it, it's rather... Oh my shooting stars! The Swamp Beast just bit the dinosaur. I've never seen anything like... I think your other contestant didn't make it. They fell into that pit and never... The halfling is still alive though, maybe we should have bet on... Wait, where did Matheson go?

(OOC: Still haven't seen any results worth Otto's luck-bending skills...)

Shae pouts a little to herself. Awe... I was really looking forward to trying those skewers...  Then at Otto's mention 'swamp beast', her attention would immediately turn back to the pit to see for herself. She'd chew on the inside of her lip as she'd watch the events continue to unfold.

Reng aims another of her force beams at the smoking raptor, two if it's the only thing she sees.

Attack: 8 Damage: 12
Attack: 16 Damage: 13

If that drops it, she tries to climb up the side of the pit, using the grate that dropped (assuming it's still hanging from the hinge it dropped from?) as an aid.

Athletics: 19, and Reng's speed is +10 still due to longstrider, so that's 40 feet/round, which I think means climbing speed is 20?

In the pit:

Fang, not thinking for long, you snap at the velociraptor, catching its hind leg and then snapping again, getting its flank the second time. The beasts are surprisingly quick though, and the velociraptor escapes your grasp and is going for you again, with the second one now upon you as well.

The little buggers seem to know how to hunt together, as they both work together to get around your defences, with the first one getting a solid bite on your calf and a slash along your shin. Your left leg hurts and you can't put as much pressure on it, which the second one uses to go for the right thigh. You manage to block it with your forearm, but it gets slashed by the claws in return.

 Reng meanwhile clambers out of the pit and takes aim at the badly burnt velociraptor. Her first eldritch blast goes wide and shatters a large rib of the nearby skeleton, but the second blast catches the velociraptor squarely in the side, frying it for good.

The triceratops plows straight into the panther, goring and trampling it before turning around, vaguely looking in Fang's direction now. Reng, your path is free, apart from the wounded halfling that is struggling to reach the wall and is now starting to heave himself off the ground on the ropes. With his broken leg though, he only gets a couple of feet.

The last velociraptor has now reached the mangled corpse of the halfling and is ripping into the flesh in a feeding frenzy. To any onlookers, this is a clear sign that some of the beasts might have been starved for a few days before the Run.

Fang and Reng, back to you!

In the rafters:

In an amazing display of acrobatics and knowing how to work a crowd, Mulligan shoves and snakes his way through the stands while rushing down towards the edge of the pit as fast as he can. You could leap into the pit this round, and you can choose a point fifteen feet within the central set of stairs.

In the balcony:

Otto, Shae and Professor, you all notice that the Merchant Princess seems displeased with Reng's reappearance, but she seems to take a vicious joy in seeing fang's struggle with the two velociraptors, and in particular the Professor's pale face at seeing Fang get increasingly wounded. Those of you who want to may roll an insight check.

Shae bit the inside of her lip in anticipation as her heart raced. She’s trying so hard not to interfere...

Insight: 13 

(It does not want to roll... Maybe now...)
(There we go...)

Glasses:

Insight:  6

With forced levity, the Professor says, "It appears someone from the stands wants to join the fun.  Is that allowed?"

     Mulligan bounces over a railing, drops down into a surprised crowd and pivot immediately to join the flow of spectators rushing to the edge for a better view.  Mulligan dodges free of the throng shortly though, running down a row of benches, ever making his way lower and lower towards the actual arena pit.  Sidestepping a vendor here, ducking below the tent there, jumping over the two inexplicably unattended children playing in the middle of the concourse and grabbing a drink from someone who was totally not paying attention to anything at all.

     A quick swig and a bit of littering later, Mulligan abruptly stops running as the crowd thins out around a couple of guards.  Walking past them blithely, Mulligan is once more weaving and dodging until suddenly he is at the actual railing between the crowd and the pit...  The fighters, or contestants? are seemingly just inches away, so too are the velociraptors and the dinosaur...

     Mulligan is about to swing over the rail when he hears a voice...

     "Just what are you doing?"

     It was shocking not just because he didn't know the answer, but because he did know the voice.  Well, as well as anybody knows their own voice...

     Do I really want to jump into the middle of... that?  And for what?  A hunch that she knows one or two of them?  And how impressed will she be if he rescues her friends but ends up in a prison until the next Executioner's Run?  The logic of it all was flying through his head at the speed of thought.  Admittedly his thought's aren't the fastest but they can hold their own...  Still, he did come down here to do something...

     Less frantic but still hurried, Mulligan shifted sideways along the railing to try to get as close as he could to the Lizard Man...  

((Assuming he makes it within 60' for Fang...))

     Mulligan eyes one of the velociraptors harassing the Lizard Man. The corner of his mouth turns up into a smirk then he lets loose with a corny but biting insult. "You turkey-sized wanna be dinosaur!  Grow feathers and learn to fly!"  The Vicious Mockery winds through the air, down into the pit, and hopefully into whatever the things have that work as ears.  ((Action.DC 15 Wisdom save or take 1d4 psychic damage and have disadvantage on the next attack roll it makes before the end of its next turn.))

     Mulligan slightly pauses and turns his attention to the lizard man.  Seeing him, Mulligan seems to smile and a glow of inner confidence seems to set upon him.  He calls out assurance and inspiration to the scaley warrior and that glow fades, instead appearing upon his target for the briefest of moments, imbuing them with some healing harmony. ((Bonus Action Healing Word 2nd level for 9 healing...))

Reng's gaze burrows down the length of the pit, seeing the lizardfolk getting gnawed on, and still futilely trying to gnaw. Her former ride (rude!) was otherwise occupied, so she saw the need

Her free hand rises up and two more blasts shoot out two eldritch blasts, one at each raptor, hoping the trike doesn't even notice.

Blast 1: 22 Damage: 6
Blast 2: 15 Damage: 10

For her bonus action she takes her Second Wind for 11 regained hp

Fang takes a swing at the most injured looking velociraptor hoping to put it down for good (non lethal damage though. Just putting it to sleep) Followed by a second swing. He then backs away towards the ropes at the end of the pit.

Otto is too engrossed in the arena to be that observant of the princess.

But he is cheering for Fang quite intensely. So intensely in fact that the universe seems to bend and warp, twisting reality to match the outcome that he wishes for his new hero...

Bend Luck to add 1 to Fang's first attack roll...

Shae's ears would perk up at the Professor's voice, his question causing her eyes to pull away from Fang to briefly look for the eager Mulligan. Blue hues caught him making his way to the railing. Just what is it he's planning to do? Her eyes would dart from him to Fang and back more than once.

Mulligan, you manage to apppear like any other cheering viewer, trying to push on the Runners in the pit. Your influence goes unnoticed... for now. 

Reng, your first blast goes wide, but the second one clips the healthier looking velociraptor. You then take a moment to catch your breath, take in the situation and steady yourself.

Fang notices, but can't show his appreciation for now, as he is determinedly fighting off the two smaller beasts. As he goes to strike at the already injured one, he can tell that the strike goes too high, when suddenly, he feels a force correct his swing, and he connects, catching the little beast in the side of the neck. Stunned, the second strike gets the velociraptor square between the eyes, and it goes down. Turning to get to the end of the pit though, the other velociraptor goes for a bite. Somehow perturbed by the magically enhanced insults hurled at it from Mulligan, the jaws snap shut just shy of Fang's uninjured calf muscle.

Before long though, both Reng and Fang can feel the ground shake again, as the triceratops is charging- not towards Fang though, but instead at Reng! It is in now in a full run, about thirty feet away.

The halfling is still struggling to climb out of the pit, only managing to climb up about five feet, as he is unable to use his broken leg to help him.

The last velociraptor is still gorging itself on the half elf.

Reng and Fang, you're up!

Seeing the Triceratops charging for Reng, Fang will head towards her at a dead sprint. Attempting to “tackle” her out of the way of the charging beast. (Let me know what you want for rolls)

Reng settles herself at the top of the pit, glancing down back into it, considering a step back in with the gamble that the dinosaur will not want to follow and it's a place of safety. But the thought of a giant angry spiked beast falling on top of her makes her think her day would end painfully. So she races forward, axe held wide and ready for a strike.

Movement: 40 feet forward, jumping up and onto the dino's back again.

Action: Battleaxe attacks

Attack: 18 Damage: 15 (extra +3 damage from hexblade's curse) plus 4 necrotic from hex
Extra Attack: 12 Damage: 13 (extra +3 damage from hexblade's curse) plus 1 necrotic from hex

Assuming the jump will require an athletics check: 21

She's not necessarily trying to land on top of the dino, but she's trying to jump/run right over it, dodging.

Shae would inhale a breath before resting back to exhale it. She'd bring her leg up to cross over the other and lift her hand to rest her face thoughtfully, as if to look bored. Blue hues would wander back to her compatriots in the balcony before returning back to the pit.

Fang, you sprint after the beast, but even at a full sprint, you barely close the distance between yourself and it. The velociraptor snaps at your legs again, but misses.

Before you reach Reng, you see the wild human woman swing her axe and strike the dinosaur in the front, causing it to lower its horns, which she uses to leap over the horns and onto the wide shoulders of the beast. She doesn't manage to stay on, but as she starts to slide she makes a drawcut along the triceratops' hind leg, before tucking and rolling on the ground to absorb the impact of her fall. The triceratops meanwhile staggers from the two blows, and as it wants to avoid the pit behind Reng, you suddenly hear a rending sound and a high pitched shriek from the beast, as the slashed tendons in its hind quarters give, and the beast is ham-strung and badly wounded.


The velociraptor that feasted on the corpse of the half- elf now slowly heads to the sun-bleached rib cage in the centre of the pit, where it nestles down to bake in the sun and digest its full meal. The injured halfling has managed to climb three quarters of the way out of the pit by now.

You are back up!