Matrim, your opportunity attack just barely misses the female wererat, who swiftly jumps over the fence and lands in the alley.

Bhelmyr, peering over the fence into the alley you see the female wererat starting to flee west (left-direction on the map) up the alley. Your sleep spell goes off and wafts over the fleeing wererat, who slows somewhat, shakes their head, and continues fleeing. Unfortunately your spell was not powerful enough to affect it.

(I don't mind letting you guys know at this stage that the wererat has 26 hp left)

The wererat is only about 5 yards up the alley.

(I'm used to metric, not imperial measurements, by the way.)

Bhelmyr will cast another Sacred Flame before hoping over the fence, drawing his axe, and moving toward the wererat.

17:03, Today: Bhelmyr Godstouched rolled 6 using 1d8.  Sacred Flame.

Round 4 !

Matrim 19
Monsters 16
Bhelmyr 10
Harlo 7

So, Matrim and the wererat will act before Bhelmyr's Sacred Flame action. I will assume that Harlo is probably still with the injured man in the hallway, near the old adventurers that were there, too. The old adventurers will tell Harlo that they are able to take the injured man to a nearby temple for recovery.

Matrim will give chase to the wererat, and once caught up (if it is possible) will attempt to swing with the hammer, two-handed.

Roll to hit: Matrim Rogthor rolled 12 using 1d20+6 ((6)).

Damage: Matrim Rogthor rolled 14 using 1d10+6 ((8)).

Matrim and Bhelmyr both scramble onto the crates next to the fence.

Matrim jumps over the fence into the alley, to attack the wererat, who chooses to shapechange into a giant-rat !

Matrim, your hammer strikes the wererat as he shapechanges, knocking the creature to the ground. Blood splatters and teeth shatter !

The wererat shapechanges into a giant-rat. It emerges from underneath the pile of ragged clothes it was previously wearing and uses its move action to scurry west along the alleyway. It is fleeing ! A pile of ragged clothes and a dagger now lie in the alley.

Matrim, you can use your reaction to make another opportunity attack now !

Bhelmyr casts Sacred Flame !

DM rolled 5 using 1d20+2 (wererat dex save)

The Sacred Flame scorches the wererat who still barely lives. The wererat will continue to flee west (unless Matrim's opportunity attack slaughters it).

Both Matrim and Bhelmyr think they may have seen some movement from the shadows extending into a nearby alley, further west, the direction the wererat/giant-rat is fleeing. You can't be too sure, though, as your passive perception scores are both average. Could be a dog or a rough-sleeper disturbed by the noise, or just your imagination.

-----------------------------------

That's round 4 done. The DMG has rules on giving chase, which comes down to dash-actions and constitution.

I have had two (!) requests in the last day for characters to join. I will try to introduce them in a cool way as soon as they are ready.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:41, Sat 14 July 2018.

Cricket comes from the shadows in pursuit of the Wererat. "Kill the beast, and you'll be rewarded." he croaks, speaking in a raspy and gruff voice. Sounded angry that he'd copied from a certain halfling he'd met.

Cricket rolled 13 using 1d20+2 Initiative

Provided it's alive, the Kenku would whisper a spell in a woman's voice and fire an eldritch blast from the wand he carried.

Cricket rolled 22 using 1d20+5 to hit, Cricket rolled 8 using 1d10 Damage

Otherwise, he'll quickly make his way to the creature and prod it with his spear. "Kill the beast-" He'll say in that first voice again, ending his quote short this time.

Initiative: 15 [private to dm: 03:18, Today: Kvanlanir rolled 15 using 1d20+3.  Initiative]

An arrow shot out from the shadows near the voice, sailing toward the giant rat. It was apparent that others were already going after the beast, but his job was to make sure the thing was dead, and that's just what he intended to do. [private to dm: Shoot it even if it's dead on my turn.]

Kvanlanir moved out the shadows then, toward the wererat, or those who fought the beast if it no longer drew breath. He kept his bow at the ready, another arrow already knocked, as he looked for allies of the rat who may also need to be dealt with.

Result: Hit AC 19 for 7 Piercing damage [private to dm:
03:26, Today: Kvanlanir rolled 19 using 1d20+5.  Advantage for target unaware.
03:25, Today: Kvanlanir rolled 8,7 using d20+5,d8+3.  Attack w/ Longbow.]

Round 5 !

Matrim 19
Monsters 16
Kvanlanir 15
Cricket 13
Bhelmyr 10
Harlo 7

Matrim needs to do his opportunity attack from the end of round 4, which may kill the wererat, then declare his actions for round 5.

Bhelmyr, will you jump over the fence, too ?

Harlo is in the passageway in the Inn, talking to the old adventurers.

The wererat / giant-rat intends to flee, and use the Dash action.

Check the Rules thread for clarification on Chases and Dash.

Bhelmyr already jumped over the fence, I thought. After his last sacred flame. But yes, he will give chase, and dash.

"before hoping over the fence"

oops, sorry.

Ok, just waiting on Matrim ...

Apologies, work has been taking a lot out of me.

As the rat moves away, Matrim growls and swings the hammer two-handed.


Roll to hit: Matrim Rogthor rolled 24 using 1d20+6 ((18)).

Damage:Matrim Rogthor rolled 15 using 1d10+6 ((9)).

As the hammer hits, Matrim begins to chuckle. "I wasn't expecting to have this much fun today!"

Matrim gives chase to the creature. If he must DASH, he does so.

Matrim, your opportunity warhammer attack smashed the wererat / giant-rat's brains out of the side of its head and onto the ground, making a terrible mess.

It is dead !

Bhelmyr, some rat brains and blood splashes onto your boots.

While you both stand in the alley, Cricket, an odd-looking raven-headed kenku emerges from the shadows, and prods the dead wererat with his spear.

Behind the kenku follows Kvanlanir, an elf with a bow drawn and ready. The elf looks around for more hostile creatures.

Perhaps it is time for introductions ?
Would you like to return to the Blue Dragon Inn after meeting and greeting each other ?

Harlo and Duncan remain inside the Blue Dragon Inn.

-----------------------------

XP totals for each character !

Bhelmyr    230
Cricket        80
Harlo        230
Kvanlanir    80
Matrim      280
Duncan         0

Setting the war-hammer down, and coming back from his RAGE, Matrim looks at the people who he never really noticed before.

With a grin, he says "any enemy of my enemy is a friend! Usually, I like to meet new friends over some ale. What say you? First two rounds on me?"

After Matrim says that, he cleans the hammer with some cloth he picked up from the ground, and heads back towards the Blue Dragon Inn.

Kvanlanir lowers the bow at seeing no more of the wererats present, "One less wererat roams the streets."

He lowers his bow, and returns the arrow to his quiver, "Greetings, friends. Kvanlanir, and my associate, Cricket. We were hired to help with the rat problems." He paused and looked at the woman's corpse for emphasis as he said the word 'rat'.

As the goliath offered drinks, Kvan agreed, "Certainly. What had you chasing after the rats?"

Bhelmyr put his axe away, and offered the strangers handshakes. "Bhelmyr Godstouched, at your service. These despicable creatures attacked a man out behind the Blue Dragon Inn. I was working as a bouncer there. Probably ain't anymore." His voice was deep, but smooth.

Kvanlanir took the dwarf's hand, "How many of them did you face off against? We were sent after a couple of them in particular."

"Two. Other one's other one didn't make to the the alley, thanks to the big guy, here." He see's Matrim's wounds. "How you holding up, big guy? Looks like they got you a few times."

"Enemy of my enemy is a friend." The large avian parroted. "Cricket" He adds, followed by the sound of a cricket chirping. He clicks his beak a few times, feathers expanding around his face just a bit. "First two rounds-" followed by the sound of coins clinking together from his beak before he lifted up a small coin purse and shook it, though very little noise came from the light bag. "Kill the beast, and you'll be rewarded."

The discussion in the alley reveals that two wererats were killed by the party. One corpse lies in the alley, while the other is in the back yard area of the Inn.

Bhelmyr asks Matrim about his wounds, but Matrim has begun walking back towards the Blue Dragon Inn.

(Does Matrim jump the fence back into the back yard, or walk out of the alley, around the corner to the front entrance ?)

It sounds like Cricket and Kvanlanir were employed by someone to kill the wererats, which have now been taken care of.

Do all adventurers return to the Blue Dragon Inn to take Matrim up on his offer of "first two rounds" ?
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:23, Thu 19 July 2018.

Matrim decides to jump (hop) the fence back.

As he passes Kvanlanir, he says

"I heard a noise, ran out back, and one held a knife at me. So I ... reacted. Maybe a little too much?"

Hearing Bhelmyr inquire after the wounds, he responds with

"Lets see how I feel after a few rounds. Magic being used on me is not something im incredibly keen on. Thank you though."

Matrim walks back to where he was sitting, downs the ale, and signals for more.

Bhelmyr looks up at the fence. No crates on this side. "You're welcome. I believe I'll take the long way 'round, friends."  He hurries around the corner into the Blue Dragon Inn.

"I think you reacted perfectly. I doubt you'd have enjoyed living the rest of your life as a half-rat unable to control your own thoughts and actions." Kvan looked to Cricket for signs of hesitation, and then looked down at the corpse with a discreet jerk of his head and followed the others toward the tavern.

[private to Cricket: The signal for you to snag an ear. I'll get one from the woman.]
This message was last edited by the player at 01:27, Sat 21 July 2018.

Cricket turned his head, almost a total ninety-degrees to the side to watch everyone interact. The he turned the other way and ruffled his feathers, settling his head back into a more normal looking position. "Perfectly" He croaks out in Kvan's voice. He didn't seem particularly wary or suspicious, but did stand closer to Kvan than to anyone else, and wouldn't leave the area until he did.

"Would you mind showing me the corpse of the woman? Our employer requires a small trophy to prove her death."