His eyes a mile down the road, Jack heads down the street, determined to find a caravan master looking for a guard. 'Time for another adventure' he muses.

The possibilities in his head are endless. Will there be a caravan heading north, or perhaps east this time? 'Been a while since I was out East' he quietly whispers to no one in particular.

Despite his far-away thoughts, Jack's hand subconsciously tightens around the haft of his axe as the sounds of a melee start to register in his half-elven ears. Passing the corner of the alley, he's brought back to a grim reality.

Knowing his friends, he's not entirely surprised to find them engaged in a vicious battle, but the sight of two of them fallen hits home quickly. "Ho, friends!" he calls out.

Turning on his heels, Jack moves without hesitation to intercept their brutish foe. "Hey ugly!" he shouts at the ogre-like thing, attempting to distract it from his friends as he prepares to unleash a heavy swing of his axe.

At hearing the sounds from the sack go silent when Oswald hurled it at him, white-hot anger fills Cole.  This ruffian would pay dearly if the innocent in that sack did not survive this fight.  With a growl more beast-like than anything a human would make, Cole stabs at Oswald again, being mindful of not hitting the precious life in the sack the Ogre is carrying.

(Cole will use 3 luck points toward hitting the child thief.)

Anthony sees Jack and waves frantically. "JACK! Help! We're trying to take down that ogre! Thank the stars you're here!"

With that, he leans around the corner and raises his hand and unleashes one more potent bolt of magic at the ogre before ducking behind the corner again, trying to stay out of the ogre's way.

One last Magic Missile at Oswald.

Elwood is momentarily confused as he sees his old friend Jack show up.  The blow to his head was surely greater than it seems,  and he must be seeing things. But,  he hears Jack speak,  and there's no doubt that their good friend arrived in their moment of need.  Elwood squares himself and swings his mace one more time at Oswald, again avoiding the sack containting the child.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:24, Thu 02 Mar 2017.

Jack's arrival freaks Oswald out.  He is not a fan of party reinforcements.  The ogre takes off running down the alley back toward the temple.  Jack, Cole, and Elwood all take a swing at his back, but none of them connect.  Anthony, on the other hand, sends a magic missile right into the center of Oswald's gizzard for another 5 points of damage as the ogre hits full stride.  The ogre cries out in pain, but keeps running.

Dreya squeezes a goodberry's juices into Seline's mouth.  The juice is oh so slowly absorbed into Seline's cheeks and tongue.  This might be an effective method of healing if Dreya squeezes a bunch of the berries instead of just one.

Oswald is getting away.  You can hear him shout, "You'll pay for this!!"  What do you do?

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
12:57, Today: Castle Keeper, on behalf of Elwood, rolled 8 using 1d20+4.  Mace meet Oswald.
12:57, Today: Castle Keeper, on behalf of Anthony, rolled 5 using 1d4+1.  Sizzle that gizzard.
12:56, Today: Castle Keeper, on behalf of Cole Hiller, rolled 11 using 1d20+6.  Rage stab Oswald.
12:56, Today: Castle Keeper, on behalf of Jack, rolled 16 using 1d20+6.  Axe meet Oswald.
12:54, Today: Castle Keeper, for the NPC Monsters, rolled 6 using 1d6.  Initiative.
12:54, Today: Castle Keeper, for the NPC Party, rolled 5 using 1d6.  Initiative.

---

Dreya lets Seline's head plunk back down against the alley floor as she looks up, mind completely wrested from the thoughts of Goodberries at the moment.

Instead, she tries to cast Entangle at Oswald.

Elwood shouts out "I'll tend to Seline. We'll try to catch up when we're able."  Elwood then kneels before Seline, puts a hand on her forehead, and incants "In nomine Flyspamon, IV Ringer's Lactate." Casts Cure Light Wounds

Anthony moves out to where he can see Oswald and tries his best to throw a dart at the fleeing ogre...

Cole rushes forward in an attempt to get ahead of the ogre and block him off, keeping mind to avoid Dreya's entanglement should it succeed.

"Ugly lout, stand and fight you coward!" shouts Jack as the party's enemy starts to flee.  Instinct takes hold and Jack gives chase. With his earlier swing missing his intended target, Jack lets frustration get the best of him and hopes to catch up and land a solid blow on the ogrish opponent.

"You want payment, well turn around and collect from the sharp end of my axe!"

OOC: Jack tries to continue to chase engage Oswald. If entanglement takes hold and he notices it, Jack will hold up and draw a bow. Otherwise he chases for a while, hoping the ogre slows or gives some sign as to his destination.

Oswald is already ahead of you.  Do you want to chase after him like Jack?

In reply to Castle Keeper (msg # 111):

Cole will chase after him.

Dreya starts to cast entangle, but notices there is insufficient vegetation growing in the alley for the spell to be effective.  No action for this round, but she doesn't lose the spell.

Elwood prays over Seline's limp form.  4 points of healing surge into her body.  Her color improves immediately, her brain matter squirms down the alley wall and into her ear, and she wakes up.

Anthony hurls a dart at the fleeing ogre and hits for three points of damage.  The ogre keeps running with the projectile sticking out of his back.  You can hear his voice shouting in the distance, "I know where you sleep, wizard.  You will rue this day!"  Yes, Oswald actually says "rue".

Jack and Cole sprint down the alley after Oswald.  The ogre is annoyingly quick on his feet, darting around and over rubbish and obstacles like he was born to it.  It's an exciting race at first, but Oswald is gradually pulling away.  He appears to be heading straight for the Temple of Pain.  He is going to get there a little before our heroes.  You might be able to catch him as he opens the back door, but it's going to be close.

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
07:33, Today: Castle Keeper, on behalf of Elwood, rolled 4 using 1d8.  Claw Seline.
07:31, Today: Castle Keeper, on behalf of Anthony, rolled 3 using 1d3.  Damage from dart.
07:31, Today: Castle Keeper, on behalf of Anthony, rolled 19 using 1d20+2.  Throw dart at Oswald.

---

Cole rushes forward with the intent to yank the ogre back or slam the door in the ogre's face, whichever he has a better shot of succeeding at should he catch up.

(If Cole is able to use his remaining 2 luck points toward this endeavor, he will.)

A quick hop here, a deft sidestep there, and a bit of 'pouring it on' brings a sweat to Jack's brow as he attempts to keep pace. Another turn in the alley and the Temple of pain comes into view.

His taunts not working, he let's out a disappointed sigh as his prey outpaces him.

When it becomes clear where Oswald is heading, Jack begins to slow down, thinking to stop and wait for the others. As Cole surges on ahead full speed, Jack redoubles his efforts to keep up and have his friend's back.

Jack will follow Cole's lead. If Cole grabs the Ogre, Jack will attempt to close or get in front of the door. If Cole can get the door first, Jack will attack Oswald.

Dreya's mind is in a bit of a panic as fear swirls through her, seeing as how Oswald looks like he is getting away.  Choking that fear down, she whips out one of the daggers strapped to a thigh, and then grips the hilt tightly in both hands, sharp point facing out away from her.  Then, with the blade held just so, she focuses on the spot just before the door the not-ogre-ogre is heading for.  Specifically imagining her back to the door, she then wills herself there, using her not-so-secret-anymore ability.  At least, if Oswald's momentum barrels himself into her, he will get a dagger driving into his gut.  Hopefully.

[OOC]: God, low level druids suck, besides the fact that Dreya is, you know, wimpy.

In reply to Dreya (msg # 116):

The Temple of Pain is a considerable distance from the site of the party's ambush and well outside the range of Dreya's "secret" ability.

Cole may use his luck points for a desperate CON check to see if he can unleash a surge of speed at the last moment.  Jack could get to the door at the same time as Oswald by spending a hero point (so could Cole if he has one left).

She still sees Oswald, right? Can she just dimension door right on front of him?

If not, she will return to Seline and Simply Elwood and shove a handful of goodberries at her.

In reply to Dreya (msg # 119):

Oswald is out of sight (or at least well beyond her ability's range at this point).  He got more than 100 feet ahead while Dreya was working on her entangle spell.

Can she burn a hero point to do it? She has two yet...

In reply to Castle Keeper (msg # 118):

Cole will use the Luck Points. He wasted his hero point saving Khaaven.

Seline gasps awake blinking her eyes trying to force herself awake and alert to assess the situation.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:02, Thu 09 Mar 2017.

Elwood feels the divine power of his deity flow through him and heal Seline's wounds. "Although we've inflicted a multiple of wounds on Oswald, he's managed to have the stamina to quickly make an escape."  he informs Seline as she looks around.  "Cole, Jack and Anthony have made pursuit, and it looks as though he's headed for the Temple of Pain.  You look like you can take care of yourself now, so I'm heading after them."

Elwood's eye's fall upon the lifeless body of Hugh, and a pang of grief shoots through him.  Nevertheless, there are immediate needs of the living that have to be attended to, and he fears the fate of the helpless child, wounded if not dying or dead, inside the sack Oswald still carries.  Elwood knows what his departed friend would want - nay, expect, for him to do, so Elwood gathers himself and starts running towards the Temple of Pain.  "Don't worry my friend.  I will come back and return your body to your master" he says to himself as he races off.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:00, Thu 09 Mar 2017.

Digging deep, Jack finds some hidden reserve to drive himself on at a blazing speed as he closes the gap and readies his axe once more. 'Better to end this on the street than enter the depths of that temple.'

Jack will spend a hero point, trying to keep the ogre from opening/going through the door.