The Wildemount Irregulars (2020)

Balassar needs to attempt to shove the half-elf to the ground, so make an athletics check.

Half-elf's athletics to resist:  9

Alton summons a mage hand near the top step of the ladder and manipulates it to grab the ladder to pull towards himself.

Balassar just pushes when he begins to feel resistance.

OOC:

athletics check: 25

Alton, the mage hand drags the top of the ladder within your reach, and you can use it to descend next turn.

Balassar, you shove the half-elf to the ground; he is now prone.

The half-elf attempts to break free from the rope:  13.  He isn't successful.

The trapdoor slams open, and the hill giant clambers out and comes next to Balassar and Silent. He carries a huge greatclub, which he swings down at Balassar.  Technically, neither prone nor restrained prevent flanking, so he does have advantage from flanking:

Attack: 27 Damage: 19
Attack: 18 Damage: 18

Balassar, both hits thump down onto your back, almost knocking the wind out of you.  You hear the half-elf snarling, but he cannot speak.

Silent is up.  Silent, if you're attacking, you can move into position to flank without an Opportunity Attack.

(OOC: Trying to imagine a mental map of the scenario - if the half-giant is in melee with both Silent and Balassar, can Silent pivot around the giant without provoking an opportunity attack to flank it with Balassar?) 

(OOC:  Yes.)

(OOC: Okay dope, time to go for broke…) 

Silent swears loudly, draws his greatsword and slowly maneuvers around the giant while his Echo simultaneously descends and gets into melee with it. He will attack, Unleash Incarnation to have his Echo do the same, and then digs deep to Action Surge and Unleash Incarnation a second time. In total, that’s 4 heavy slashes aimed at the creature’s beefy legs (non-lethal, in the unlikely event that matters this round). 

Silent’s First Attack 23 Damage: 11  
Echo’s First Attack 12 Damage: Unable to parse dice roll.      

Silent’s Second Attack 23 Damage: 12   
Echo’s Second Attack 22 Damage: 12       

(OOC: My bad, accidentally rolled the Echo’s attacks with advantage too. I think the first roll can still be visible? Let me know if I should reroll those two attacks)  

(OOC:  The first rolls are visible, and they are both the higher rolls, so they all hit.)

Silent, you strike, and strike again as your Echo mirrors your moves.  You draw gouts of blood and chunks of flesh, and the Echo gets a particularly nasty final strike that makes the hill giant howl with pain and anger.

Round Five
Alton and Balasaar
Half-Elf (restrained) and Hill Giant
Silent

Alton and Balassar are up.

((OOC: I take it going down the ladder will use all of Alton's movement, and would both the giant and half-elf be within 30ft))

(OOC:  It would, and they would all be in range.  When you get to the bottom, you would be within 5 feet of the giant, so would provoke an Opportunity Attack if you moved away further.)

Alton climbs his way down the ladder and turns to face the fight saying, "Oof that was a nasty blow; how about this to slow your roll. You put my friend in pain, and that shall be your bane." He plays an ominous tune on his pan flute as he casts Bane.

Movement: Climbs down the ladder
Action: Casts bane on the giant and half-elf, DC 14 charisma save or subtract a d4 from an attack roll or saving throw until the spell ends.

Balassar just turns around as the giants club strikes his back instinctively turning on the second blow and pulling his sword up slashing at the giant. As Silent strikes down on the create he just lets out another roar taking in a deep breath as he lashes out with his own blades once Silent is in position.

OOC:

Reaction: Vengeful Assault on the Giant Attack: 23 Damage: 7

Bonus Action: Second Wind for 13 healing

Action (Attack Hill Giant): Attack: 22 Damage: 8

Action Surge for a second attack: Attack: 20 Damage: 6

Giant's Strength Damage: 4

Bane saving throws:
Half-Elf: 23
Giant:  16

Alton, you can sense that your spell has been shrugged off, by both your enemies.

Balassar, you cut into the giant, and then drawing on all your strength, you cut again.  He's badly hurt.  But not down.  And he's furious.

He attacks you, flanking with the half-elf:

Attack: 22 Damage: 23

This time the greatclub catches Balassar's head instead of his back, and downs him in one unpleasant cracking noise.  Balassar lies on the ground, bleeding out from a horrible wound to his head.

The giant's second strike falls onto Silent (without flanking):

Attack: 12 Damage: 19

As he swings, he slips on his own blood, missing and only just keeping his balance.

The half-elf struggles futilely.

Silent is up.

For half a moment, Silent is overcome by fear of the giant and considers ripping the gag off the half-elf, hoping it might be able to call off the giant somehow (not sure if this one's eyes are red). But old reflexes take over and he yells, Oi, bastard! Focus on me! 

Standing over Balassar, he will Unleash Incarnation a third time, aiming his slashes at the giant's belly (still keeping his attacks non-lethal if possible). 

Silent's Attack 22 Damage: 11  
Echo's Attack 12 Damage: 18      

Two greatswords swing, but the giant raises his club and swings it in a wide arc, deflecting both strikes with impressive skill.

Round Six
Alton
Balasaar (unconscious)
Half-Elf (restrained) and Hill Giant
Silent

Alton is up first.

Alton feels his chest tighten up watching Balassar go down, his mind flashing back to their fight in the cave above Hupperdook, "No, not again." He rushes over to Balassar's side, and placing his hands on him, says while casting cure wounds, "This is just like the fight back in the cave above Hupperdook. You got knocked down back then, but got right back up and beat that sucker of a gray dwarf."

Movement: Moves next to Balassar.
Action: Casts cure wounds at 2nd level, healing Balassar for 13. 

Balassar, you wake with 20 HP.  You are prone but otherwise have your full turn.

Balassar just stands up bringing his sword with him to slash at the giant.

OOC:

Movement: Stand up

Action: Attack on giant: 16 Damage: 7

giant's strength damage: 2

If attack is successful in hitting he'll invoke the fire rune:

Balassar, you hit the giant hard and invoke your rune.  The fire burns in the wound you just inflicted, and the spreads, turning a large part of the giant's torso into a charred mess.  The giant topples over and lies dead on the ground before you.

(No need for the saving throw - the fire damage from the rune killed it.)

The gagged and bound half-elf looks up at Alton, eyes burning with a flicker of the redness you saw in the eyes of the hill giants you fought before.  He doesn't move or struggle further.

Combat is over.

Alton wipes the sweat from his forehead and lets out a sigh, “That was close.” He looks at the tied up half-elf, “What is the story here?” He takes a few steps back to give Silent and Balassar some room if they wanted to move the half-elf.