Anthony watches the others race ahead, trotting along with those who remained behind. He looks a little green, as Oswald's threat was, to him, not hollow...

In reply to Dreya (msg # 121):

Oswald is out of range and the Pain Temple is waaay outside range.  I advanced things a bit narratively which puts Dreya at a disadvantage when deciding actions (i.e., this might have been possible if I hadn't fast forwarded to the point Oswald was out of range).

Here's my proposed fix: Dreya can use her two hero points and transport herself to the back entrance of the Temple of Pain well before Oswald even gets there.  This will burn out her ability to teleport for a week as well.  However, Dreya can position herself however she wants in order to ambush Oswald when he arrives.

Let me know whether you want to do this or take a tamer action.

Dreya will just trot along with the others then. She probably needs those hero points to survive at some point, considering how wimpy of a character she rolled up to be.

Jack and Cole desperately pursue Oswald as the Temple of Pain rapidly comes into view.  Despite his best efforts, Cole just can't keep up.  Knowing he is the last option, Jack makes a heroic effort for a last burst of speed and reaches the ogre's back a good 50 feet from the Temple's back entrance.  Jack takes a mighty swing with his axe, but the ogre could hear his boot steps coming up behind him and lunges to the left just in time.  The axe slices through the air where Oswald used to be.  Before Jack can react to the shock of the ogre's spectacular dodge, one of the ogre's fists slams into his face for 11 points of damage.

Cole staggers up out of breath, but ready for action, at end of round.  Elwood and Dreya are working their way down the alley while Seline find herself lying on the ground alone wondering what the heck is going on.  Anthony lags a little behind Elwood and Dreya.  Running to his certain doom is not an inspiring way to live.

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
08:10, Today: Castle Keeper, for the NPC Oswald, rolled 11 using 1d10+4.  Damage to Jack.
08:09, Today: Castle Keeper, for the NPC Oswald, rolled 17,8 using d20,d20.  Attack Jack.
08:06, Today: Castle Keeper, on behalf of Jack, rolled 7 using 1d20+6.  Axe attack to Oswald's back.
08:05, Today: Castle Keeper, for the NPC Oswald, rolled 1 using 1d6.  Initiative.
08:04, Today: Castle Keeper, for the NPC Party, rolled 3 using 1d6.  Initiative.
08:03, Today: Castle Keeper, on behalf of Cole Hiller, rolled 6 using 1d20+5.  Con check to catch up to Oswald.

---

Seline having collected herself she stands up remembering what Elwood said about the temple of pain she begins to head that way a good jog, listening for the sounds of battle on her way.

Anthony follows the others further, pulling out a dart and staying well away from the rather scary-looking ogre.

Momentarily staggered by the strength of the Ogre's blow, Jack starts to regret successfully getting Oswald's attention. Back in his woodcutting days, Jack once saw a man get struck by a falling tree. 'Well, I guess now I know what that felt like.' he thinks to himself. As the stars start fading from his vision, Jack is relieved that Cole is arriving just in time.

Hoping his friends can take down this creature before long, Jack raises his axe in front of him and tries his best to avoid damage while keeping the ogre occupied.

OOC: Jack will do an Evade maneuver against the Ogre.

Royally peeved at how annoying Oswald is proving to be, Cole rushes forward once again and will attack Oswald, keeping mind to avoid the bag the Ogre is holding.

As Dreya is huffing and puffing alongside the Cleric, she gives Simply Elwood a sidelong glance.  In a last minute decision, she suddenly throws her arms around him. "For Flipsping!" Dreya decrees, then dimension doors her and Simply Elwood as FAR as she feesibly can to make up more ground faster, and less ground to have to run.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:34, Sun 12 Mar 2017.

Elwood is slightly disoriented with whatever magiks the druidess used to move the two of them closer towards the temple.  However, he quickly gains his bearings and moves towards Oswald.  If he can make it in time, Elwood will attack the ogre with his mace, using his two last luck points to his attack roll.

Round 7-ish

Seline begins trotting after her friends, feeling pretty damn good for someone who was dying a few minutes ago.  Anthony is jogging ahead of Seline, but lagging behind the others.

Cole takes a mighty whack at Oswald with his mace, but the ogre just bats the weapon aside.

Dreya grabs Elwood and they vanish and materialize 100 feet farther down the alley.  They can see Oswald, Cole, and Jack up ahead.  Dreya and Elwood should arrive at the end of the next round if they keep running toward danger.

Jack tries desperately to avoid the ogre's attacks, but Oswald unleashes hell on Jack's face with the back of his enormous fist for 14 points of damage.  Jack goes flying across the alley and lies crumpled on the cobblestones unconscious.  He is severely wounded.  Maybe Elwood will be able to save him?

Oswald's other arm is busy swinging the sack with the presumably dead child at Cole.  The rageful ranger takes the full brunt of the swing for 12 points of damage and drops as well.  Unlike Jack, he is only a little close to death.

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
16:59, Today: Castle Keeper, for the NPC Oswald, rolled 12 using 1d10+4.  Damage to Cole.
16:59, Today: Castle Keeper, for the NPC Oswald, rolled 16 using 1d20.  Whack Cole with Dead Kid Sack (TM).
16:56, Today: Castle Keeper, for the NPC Oswald, rolled 14 using 1d10+4.  Damage to Jack.
16:55, Today: Castle Keeper, for the NPC Oswald, rolled 11 using 1d20-4.  Attack Jack with fist.
16:52, Today: Castle Keeper, on behalf of Cole Hiller, rolled 15 using 1d20+3.  Attack Oswald.
16:50, Today: Castle Keeper, for the NPC Oswald, rolled 3 using 1d6.  Initiative.
16:50, Today: Castle Keeper, for the NPC Party, rolled 6 using 1d6.  Initiative.

---

As he drifts into oblivion, Jack makes a mental note to wear even heavier armor in the next life.

Dreya continues sprinting down the alley. Throwing a look beside her at the cleric, she huffs, "You take...uh...that strange guy? I take Sir Cole?"
This message was last edited by the player at 04:11, Thu 16 Mar 2017.

Anthony moves up and, seeing the scene, lobs a dart at Oswald, hoping to fell him sooner or later, bit by bit!

Elwood nods his head to Dreya's suggestion and rushes forward to Jack.  When he reaches Jack, he'll cast First Aid to stabilize the fallen fighter.

Dreya scurries over to the ranger, digging out a handful of goodberries. This time, she crams a handfull of the berries into the ranger's mouth, hoping his unconscious state doesn't choke on them and cause more harm.

"Come on, Sir Hiller! Come on!" Dreya mutters.

I'm going to go ahead and update without hearing from Seline since she's too far back to take action.

As the ranger and fighter are out of action and more heroes are running up, Oswald takes off running again and disappears into the back entrance to the Temple of the Pain God.

Elwood and Dreya reach Jack and Cole in time to stabilize them.  I was going to rule Anthony's plan to toss a dart at Oswald is a valiant one, but he is too far back to strike.  But what the heck.  The Rule of Cool should always apply.  I'll let him hit on a natural 20.

16:50, Today: Castle Keeper, on behalf of Anthony, rolled 22 using 1d20+2.  Throw dart heroically at Oswald.

Um, well that wasn't expected.  Just as Oswald starts to duck into the back entrance, a heroic dart arcs down from the heavens and sticks into his head behind his ear for 2 more points of bleeding head wound damage.  "Damn you, wizard!  You will pay forever!!!!" Oswald shouts on his way inside.

All hail Anthony Ogre Biter!

Meanwhile, Seline eventually jogs up.

What next?  You are out of combat, Jack is a hot mess, and Cole is unconscious, too.  Oswald is out of sight in the Pain Temple doing goodness knows what.  You are around 50 feet from the back entrance, so reinforcements from the Temple coming outside would be bad thing at the moment.

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
16:51, Today: Castle Keeper, on behalf of Anthony, rolled 2 using 1d3.  Dart damage to Oswald.
16:50, Today: Castle Keeper, on behalf of Anthony, rolled 22 using 1d20+2.  Throw dart heroically at Oswald.

---

I had posted this above, but I will repost it.

Dreya scurries over to the ranger, digging out a handful of goodberries. This time, she crams a handfull of the berries into the ranger's mouth, hoping his unconscious state doesn't choke on them and cause more harm.

"Come on, Sir Hiller! Come on!" Dreya mutters.

With Jack no longer bleeding, but still unconscious, Elwood starts to lift him up.  "Seline or Anthony, help me carry Jack away from here, and get out of sight as quickly as possible.  Once we're out of sight, we can find some place that will let me attend to Jack in relative safety."

OOC - Although not prime ability for Elwood, he does have a Strength of 13, which should allow him to dead lift 195 lbs according to the PHB.  I'm envisioning having one of Jack's arms draped over Elwood's shoulders and the other arm draped over Anthony/Seline

Jack sees a light in the distance which grows closer by the second. Suddenly, a shock hits him and then moments later he feels as if he's slowly being dragged away from the beautiful light.

Anthony gapes in abject shock as his dart hits the ogre. And then starts shaking a bit at Oswald's threat. "Ohdear. Ohdearohdearohdearohdearohdear." The wizard is now rather beside himself. He manages to pull it together to try and help the others get Jack out of this place and to somewhere safer.

Cramming goodberries into Cole's mouth seems to be working.  He rouses with one hit point above zero.  Jack is an awful shade of grey, but is hanging in there with rapid shallow breaths.

The party looks around frantically for a place to hide.  Cole rasps, "There's an abandoned inn two blocks to the west.  It's unstable from fire damage, but the basement should be secure."  The ranger swoons and doesn't do much but groan and stay limp for the time being.

The party shuffles over to the abandoned building and sneaks in through a gaping hole in the burnt wall.  Much of the ceiling has collapsed revealing parts of the second floor and numerous holes in the roof letting in starlight.  A few seconds' search reveals a hatch in the kitchen floor opening onto a stairwell leading into the basement.  The fire appears not to have damaged the basement.  The cellar shows signs of looting.  Several casks of ale and beer are smashed and a couple wine racks have been pushed over.  The only signs of recent occupation of the cellar are numerous cobwebs.  You listen carefully for the scuttling of giant spiders and other insects, but all you can hear are the desperate breaths of Jack.

You close the hatch behind you and can make use of whatever light sources you wish.  Your best guess is dawn is still a few hours away.

What do you do?

Seline casts Light to illuminate the cellar. "Let there be light, I'm going to look around maybe we can find something to staunch the bleeding and take care of the wounded." Seline would then do a detailed search through the cellar looking for any fabric or first aid material.

Elwood casts Cure Minor Wounds on Jack.

Anthony sits down next to Jack, seeing if he can help somehow. He had studied some minor medicine as an apprentice, but only the theory of it. He had never had an opportunity to apply such to something as practical as first aid.