[[ Can he put the dagger down near the fallen guard?]]

[[ Here's the plan.

Put the dagger down as near to the guard as he can manage (if that means dropping it, do so -- where is it?), do the thing to Rawl, put the TK stone away if he needs to. If not, just keep it and use Stink of Life in TK gloved hand (next round).

Move to guard ready to help. Keep his body between Brand and the melee. Probably initially positioned over the body, in case the handleader comes close. If I can declare a reaction of GET OUT OF THE WAY, I would!? ]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[ Can he put the dagger down near the fallen guard?]]

[[No. I'm afraid that moving the dagger to the fallen guard would be your action. Letting the dagger drop would be a free action, which would allow you to do what you described above. However, using the dagger as the VM distraction I see as also possible.]]

[[ Go with the plan above, with the changes as made ]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[ Here's the plan.

Put the dagger down as near to the guard as he can manage (if that means dropping it, do so -- where is it?), do the thing to Rawl, put the TK stone away if he needs to. If not, just keep it and use Stink of Life in TK gloved hand (next round).

Move to guard ready to help. Keep his body between Brand and the melee. Probably initially positioned over the body, in case the handleader comes close. If I can declare a reaction of GET OUT OF THE WAY, I would!? ]]

Brand drops the dagger and it falls to the ground (i.e., just below the ex-Drunk on the map) [[Free action]]. He then tries to distract Rawl with the Stone of Unseeing (Rawl's Dexterity saving throw against the DC of 15 is 21 ) [[Normal action]]. Then Brand moves up to the fallen guard keeping the man's body between himself and the fight [[He can't occupy the same space.]].

[[I'll process the move, taking into account Rawl's saving throw when I see it.]]

[[

Init: 18 = L = hand leader = green
Init: 13 = r = runner = blue
Init: 12 = E = Eisdom = red
Init: 11 = y = dying guard = yellow
Init: 9 = R = Rawl = grey
Init: 7 = M = Tinkerbell = black castle
Init: 5a = D = ex-drunk = orange
Init: 5b = x = other guard = violet
Init: 4 = B = Brand = black

]]

Brand sees the handleader run into view with his sword drawn. The man is running around the fight to confront Rawl, but hasn't reached the man yet. [[1/2 move to stand up, half move, then dash as his action. No attack.]]

As the handleader joins the fight, Eisdom shouts out to him, saying, "Keep that bastard off me, while I take care of this one." He then savagely attacks the ex-drunk, hitting him twice. The man is now bleeding profusely.

Brand hears Rawl screaming in frustration. "Stand still, you bastard."

Tinkerbell doesn't move.

The ex-drunk does something surprising and dashes out of the fight to put his back to the wall surrounding the nearest residence. He is bleeding badly from his wounds. [[Disengaged, so that he didn't attract Attacks of Opportunity]]

However, the guard follows him and strikes him down with his scimitar. [[A critical hit, guess this guard might be due for some experience.]]

[[It is now Brand's move.]]

Brand bends down, behind the mans head to make it difficult for him to see, puts a hand gently on his shoulder and waves the stink of life near his nose. As he stirs back to life, Brand speaks in as calm a voice as he can manage, "Hold still, you are badly wounded, move away from the battle if you can. You've done your job."

Brand then sneaks directly away from the man, then turns, and returns to the corner of the guard post nearest Rawl, and readies the TK stone for use.

Edit: Scratch the last part: it's not clear if he will need TK, Levitate or a weapon next round...keep the hand free]]

The fallen guard responds to the Stink of Life, stirring and then coughing and spluttering. Brand tells him what to do, and then moves away uncertain as to whether his message got through or not.

[[I will now process the next turn., but please remove one Stink of Life from your equipment list.]]

[[

Init: 18 = L = hand leader = green
Init: 13 = r = runner = blue
Init: 12 = E = Eisdom = red
Init: 11 = y = dying guard = yellow
Init: 9 = R = Rawl = grey
Init: 7 = M = Tinkerbell = black castle
Init: 5a = D = ex-drunk = orange
Init: 5b = x = other guard = violet
Init: 4 = B = Brand = black

]]

The handleader closes on Rawl and swings, but misses.

Eisdom turns on Rawl and says, "I always knew you were rotten." He then attacks, opening a cut on Rawl's arm.

Brand is uncertain if the guard he helped heard him, but sees that he drags himself away from the fight and into the guard post.

Rawl seems to have gone berserk and has thrown caution to wind in his attempt to take down Eisdom. He is now swinging wildly with the strange dagger.

Tinkerbell has still not moved from its last position.

[[It is now Brand's move.]]

Brand glances back to ex-drunk [[ What is other-guard doing? ]], then uses the stone of far reaching to further interfere with Rawl's attempts to attack. [[ Buffeting the blade or whatever seems the most effective ]]. Brand then moves nearer to the ex-drunk. [[ Not so far as to get out of range of Rawl tho.

If possible, can you let me know distances involved: Brand would like to kill ex-drunk (ie. make sure he is dead), and not be seen. Is it dark enough there with the fight going on?  Or could he use VM to kill him now that he is unconscious? ]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

Brand glances back to ex-drunk [[ What is other-guard doing? ]], then uses the stone of far reaching to further interfere with Rawl's attempts to attack. [[ Buffeting the blade or whatever seems the most effective ]]. Brand then moves nearer to the ex-drunk. [[ Not so far as to get out of range of Rawl tho.

[[For the record, Brand's VM attacked allowed Eisdom to do an extra 2 points of damage with his attack as well as give Rawl Disadvantage with his attack.]]

If possible, can you let me know distances involved: Brand would like to kill ex-drunk (ie. make sure he is dead), and not be seen. Is it dark enough there with the fight going on?  Or could he use VM to kill him now that he is unconscious? ]]

[[The distance that ex-drunk and the guard who struck him down was about 30'.]]

[[Any damage done to an unconscious character automatically gives them a failed saving throw against Death.]]

Brand looks back over his shoulder to see the guard who struck down ex-drunk has relieved him of his weapons and is now looking back towards the fight.

He then turns back to Rawl and continues to harass him with his Stone of Far Reaching. [[Rawl's Saving throw is a 13.]]

Having done his best to hamper Rawl, Brand moves quietly back to the back end of the guard post. He is now about 8' from ex-drunk, but can't move closer without moving out of range of Rawl.

[[I will now process the next move.]]

[[For the record, Brand's VM attacked allowed Eisdom to do an extra 2 points of damage with his attack as well as give Rawl Disadvantage with his attack.]]

[[ Ahhhhh....is that how the VM does damage, by makng attacks more effective. Very nice. ]]

[[Any damage done to an unconscious character automatically gives them a failed saving throw against Death.]]

[[ Is Brand capable of doing damage without becoming visible? Hand over mouth? VM - I guess not?

And...how are the three combatants faring? ]]

[[

Init: 18 = L = hand leader = green
Init: 13 = r = runner = blue
Init: 12 = E = Eisdom = red
Init: 11 = y = dying guard = yellow
Init: 9 = R = Rawl = grey
Init: 7 = M = Tinkerbell = black castle
Init: 5a = D = ex-drunk = orange
Init: 5b = x = other guard = violet
Init: 4 = B = Brand = black

]]

The handleader once more strikes at Rawl, and misses once more.

However, Eisdom, after missing with his initial swing manages to hit Rawl with an unexpected return swing, opening up a nasty wound in Rawl's side. [[Brand's interference increased this damage by 4 points.]]

Brand sees a sudden change come over Rawl and the madness in his eyes turn to desperation. Rawl slashes at the handleader slicing open the man's armour with the magical dagger, despite Brand's interference. He then uses this opening to drop his sack and make a run for the river drawing attacks of opportunity from both Eisdom and the handleader, who is surprisingly still on his feet. However, the action obviously takes them by surprise because they both miss. Rawl's last action in this turn is to throw himself into the river and disappear from Brand's line of sight.

Brand see that Tinkerbell followed Rawl, but the magical focus has now passed out of the range of Brand's strange vision and can no longer be seen.

The guard who struck down ex-drunk rushes over to the riverbank to see where Rawl has gone [[Move, then Dash as his action.]]

[[We will stay in combat for the moment. It is now Brand's move.]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[For the record, Brand's VM attacked allowed Eisdom to do an extra 2 points of damage with his attack as well as give Rawl Disadvantage with his attack.]]

[[ Ahhhhh....is that how the VM does damage, by makng attacks more effective. Very nice. ]]

[[That's one way, perhaps the most obvious, as the distraction makes the victim more open to attack.]]

[[Any damage done to an unconscious character automatically gives them a failed saving throw against Death.]]

[[ Is Brand capable of doing damage without becoming visible? Hand over mouth? VM - I guess not?

[[Certainly a direct attack would break Brand's Invisibility, but the VM attack is a Dexterity saving throw, which an unconscious character would automatically fail. So, go for it.]]

And...how are the three combatants faring? ]]

With attention focused elsewhere, and them out of visibility range, Brand takes the opportunity to dispatch the ex-drunk. He will sneak, and attack [[assuming that's the only way to kill him; if there are other means, then I'll use those.... My reading suggests it is the only way, and that the attack will be at advantage, and auto-crit. So I will do rolls on that basis...]]

Attack: 23

 Assuming that's a hit, he does 1d6+2 and 1d6 (sneak), each critical....so...4d6+4 I think.

Damage: 21

Irrespective of the state of the ex-drunk, he will then do the run/dash to (sneakily) get away, in the direction of the river flow, hoping to become invisible again ASAP and find Tinkerbell next round.

[[ Edit: My interpretation of the map suggests he should probably head east again, since I assume thats the direction of the river flow. He will try to keep cover as much as possible. ]]

[[ Edit 2: Given your comment above about the VM, if the guards are looking his way, and likely to see him givem lighting, he will opt for the VM approach. But looking at the map, the body seems pretty secluded.]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

With attention focused elsewhere, and them out of visibility range, Brand takes the opportunity to dispatch the ex-drunk. He will sneak, and attack [[assuming that's the only way to kill him; if there are other means, then I'll use those.... My reading suggests it is the only way, and that the attack will be at advantage, and auto-crit. So I will do rolls on that basis...]]

Attack: 18

 Assuming that's a hit, he does 1d6+2 and 1d6 (sneak), each critical....so...4d6+4 I think.

[[The advantage, auto-crit and the sneak attack are correct, but you don't double the damage bonus, just the dice, so that makes 15, but a critical forces the loss of two death saves anyway and as the guy had already failed once, he is now dead (For the record, he had one save as well).]]

Damage: 17

Irrespective of the state of the ex-drunk, he will then do the run/dash/dash to (sneakily) get away, in the direction of the river flow, hoping to become invisible again ASAP and find Tinkerbell next round.

[[Using his Cunning Action rogue feature, Brand can either finish the rest of his movement and then dash as a bonus action, or he can finish the rest of his movement and then hide as a bonus action, but not do both. He is currently not Stealthed because of the Attack and is also Visible™.]] 

[[ Edit: My interpretation of the map suggests he should probably head east again, since I assume thats the direction of the river flow. He will try to keep cover as much as possible. ]]

[[See above.]]

[[ If he can go into stealth mode as a bonus action, then finish his movement that would seem prudent. Otherwise, he will do  that in the order you suggest...move then hide in a good spot. I'm not sure what makes more sense in a 5e setting; my DDO experience is that you should get into stealth mode ASAP to reduce the risks of being seen as you move.

If he goes with your suggested approach, and there is no obvious place to hide, then he will just do a dash to get further away.]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[ If he can go into stealth mode as a bonus action, then finish his movement that would seem prudent. Otherwise, he will do  that in the order you suggest...move then hide in a good spot. I'm not sure what makes more sense in a 5e setting; my DDO experience is that you should get into stealth mode ASAP to reduce the risks of being seen as you move. ]]

[[Stealth first and then move would be best. According to the rules as written, there is no movement penalty to Stealthing, which I'm not sure I agree with, but it is kind of the rogue's thing, so I won't change anything.]]

[[Make a Dexterity (Stealth) check.]]

[[I'm afraid that's it for me tonight. I'm working tomorrow and need to sleep. Ciao.]]