Dragon of Icespire Peak ***CLOSED***

Minsys continues his run forward to action.  He shifts the maul to one hand and grabs one of his handaxes.  He brings it up and hefts it at the lead one.

Move 30 ft. 

Toss axe at lead most bug.  Attack is with disadvantage for range 

Attack: 13 Damage: 8

Bonus action rage

Minsys' axe sails wide of the ankheg giving chase to the old man without it even noticing him. The other two however crane their long, alien-shaped heads in the half-orc's direction and now are intently focused on the nearer prey.

RECHARGE 6 (Acid Spit):
ANKHEG 1 - 3
ANKHEG 2 - 2

AK1 scuttles over and snaps its massive mandibles at Minsys in an attempt to snare him:

Attack (Bite): 16 vs. AC 14 (Minsys); dealing 4 slashing damage and 5 acid damage on a hit.If hit is successful, Minsys is immediately grappled by AK1 (DC 13 to escape.)

AK2 dashes toward Minsys and the other ankheg in an effort to take advantage of the easier meal.

(OOC: edit to damage roll - Minsys only takes 2 acid damage due to bear totem subclass.)

Connak watches with a nod of understanding as the old man ducks and weaves and runs like a cheetah.  It is evident as to why the old man remains alive when all the others perished.  Minsys on the other hand, threw something at the creatures to get their attention then threw himself into one of their claws.  Connak is entirely sure trying to fight those from the inside of their belly, or underground, is not a good strategy.  If the crazy half orc is going to sacrifice himself, then Connak is sure going to take advantage of it.  He nocks an arrow and looks for a vital opening...

Longbow Attack: 20 Damage: 21

(shooting at the one grappling Minsys)

Connak then steps back to get cover behind the little bush at his back and hides, hoping none of the creatures noticed him.

Stealth: 28

The arrows strikes the ankheg's carapace but fails to penetrate its thick natural armor.

Rushing towards the middle area, he finally gets within range of one of his spells. He utters a short prayer for Minsys' safety causing a shimmering firled to evelope the brave half-orc.

"The only GOOD bug is a DEAD bug! Get off my friend!"

He then beseeches Bahamut to smite his enemy, and white flames decend upon the ahnkeg!

(Move to bottom of middle table-thing closest to Minsys, its a couple of diagnol moves and then to the right. Cast Shield of Faith on Minsys as a bonus action. Cast Sacred Flame on the ahnkeg attacking Minsys, DC 13)

ANKHEG 1 - Dexterity (Save): 1 vs. DC 13; (Vaxis, sacred flame) taking 8 radiant damage on a failed save.

The massive insectoid heaves left just barely dodging the dragonborn's mote of divine fire.

Tink and Whisker continue to run towards the battle. When the ankheg's come into sight, Tink stops and reaches for another vial from the many on her belt. She loads the vial filled with fiery orange liquid into what looks like an overly engineered hand crossbow, takes aim and fires at the closest ankheg. Running from Tink's hand to the muzzle of the weapon, runes along the contraption come to life one after another almost like lights along a run way as the vial is ejected and propelled forward towards the giant arthropod. The protective glass around the vial shatters as it travels through the air, leaving a blazing mote of fire flying towards her target.

Whisker continues to run forward, coming to a stop about 30 ft. away from the creatures.

The ankheg rears back just as Tink's tiny incendiary projectile streaks towards it and passes harmlessly under the insectoid's massive head.

The elderly man continues fleeing from his pursuer towards the edge of the water on the north side of the tent circle. Realizing he has nowhere left to go, he falls to his knees trembling and pleading in between sobs to any deity that will listen to his pitiful prayer.

The ankheg picks up speed as it chases after its meal.

" Hum. Methinks we shall need to design a modicum of distraction 'round yon insectus horribilis, otherwise even this somewhat lithe elderman's life shall surely be forfeit..." Tabesha'l shares her thoughts aloud, speaking to no-one in particular but her familiar, as she continues her brisk walk along the river bed. " Arvi, 'tis time for thee to use thy tricks and attempts to attract this monster's swiveling head to thy presence. Do take a care not to fly too near its acid-spitting mandibles though, 't would be a shame to part ways in such fashion... Now, on my signal... And... Now !"

As she gives Arvi the order to starts hovering above the Ankheg, her staff points towards the whimpering old man and her lips mutter a few arcane words. Instantly, the sand and dirt around the man start swirling and forming a puff of thick, beige-colored fog.

"Now, Arvi, whenever yon... thing - and by this I do mean the insect, not the man - comes out of our little cloud, I count on thy tricks to keep its attention focused towards thee. Onwards, then !"

Minsys continues to smile as the ankheg remains close and personal.  He grips his maul and takes a hard swing at it, his intent to crush it into goo.

Attack: 23 Damage: Unable to parse dice roll.

Going to use orcish fury to add a d6 of damage.

Extra damage 1

The ankheg howls with pain as the maul smashres in the side of its body facial structure, but is nevertheless undeterred from trying to make a meal out of the tough barbarian:

RECHARGE 6: 2

Attack (Bite): 16 vs. AC 14+2 (Minsys, shield of faith); dealing 7 slashing damage and 1 acid damage on a hit.

The other bug scuttled up next Minsys and pivoted around behind him where he could not see what was coming! But he suspected the ankheg was about to liberate his head from his body, swallow it whole and then later deposit it as excrement on the sandwich of a giant.

RECHARGE 6: 3

Attack (Bite): 6 vs. AC 14+2 (Minsys, shield of faith); dealing 4 slashing damage and 2 acid damage on a hit.

Connak springs out from behind the bush, arrow already nocked, and takes a bead on the creature holding Minsys...

Lonbow Attack: 22 Damage: 17

... and watches with a satisfied smile as the arrow sails just above Minsys's head and into the mandibles of the creature.

He then moves up next to the cart, using it as cover.

Vaxis moves even closer to Minsys.

"Release him this INSTANT, foul beast!"

(Moving as close as I can to the one attacking Minsys. Dealers choice as to where, I'm not too picky.

Casting Sacred Flame, DC 13, damage 4 radiant, and cannot use Minsys as cover :p )

AK 1 - Dexterity (Save) 19 vs. DC 13

The cleric's holy fire erupts from the ankheg's face, eliciting a painful screech, but not seeming to incapacitate or kill the creature.

Tink would continue to close the gap on the ankhegs. Keeping Whisker close to her, she would draw out another vial filled with purple liquid and infuses it with magic before she throws it at the creatures. The vial magically propelled, the vial would fly past the creatures' breaking on the ground behind them and lining everything in the vicinity in flickering purplish flame.

AK 1 - Dexterity (Save) 11 vs. DC 13
AK 2 - Dexterity (Save) 18 vs. DC 13

The ankheg grasping Minsys avoids Tink's illuminating fire, however the other behind it erupts into purple flames.

COMMONER - the old man continues to cower and pray while kneeling near the bank of the river (dodge)

AK 3 - though its normal vision was effectively blocked by Tabesha'l's magical fog, its tremorsense was wholly unaffected and easily found its way through the dense cloud, emerging above the terrified old man. Its mandibles opened and a stream of caustic fluid spewed forth (ACTION: Acid Spray).

COMMONER - Dexterity (Save): 20 vs. DC 13; taking 13 acid damage on a failed save or half damage (6) on a success.

The old man screams in pain as acidic bile washes over him disintegrating hair, clothing and flesh, though not quite enough to extinguish his life...any who witness this horrible scene would likely silently acknowledge that the only thing worse than dying this way is...almost dying this way...

The elven mage gasps as she realizes what she's done: not only had she failed to distract the creature, her spell had also almost provided it with cover from further attacks !

Her blood froze in her veins as she heard the old man's ghastly screams, and she cursed softly in elvish as she hurried forward, and lifted her left hand, palm up, while the glowing tip of her staff pointed at the Ankheg.

" Altheneth Onond'Reyth !" she called out, willing the massive insect to lift up in the air as she projected her Will towards it.

** Movement 30 feet east - still along the river shore - then casting Levitate on the Ankheg (CON Save DC 13 or moves in a straight line upwards 20 feet). **

AK 3 - Constitution (Save) 7 vs. DC 13 (Tabesha'l; levitate)

The giant insect squeals and writhes as it lifts gently into the air and away from the melting human as if it had suddenly filled with helium.

Minsys was biten and spit on and he was none to happy about that but he relished the challenge.  Taking both hands he took a swing at the creature again with his maul.

Attack: 21 Damage: Unable to parse dice roll.