As the armors advanced on two fronts, Brynn kept her shield high, scanning for a path forward, for a gap in their defenses. With little choice left but to hope that the bard would cover her flank, the fighter ducked to charge the armor coming up on her other side, swinging her axe in a wide arc. Fate was arrayed against her, however, and the muck and grime beneath her feet took her footing from her as she moved, her blow flying high by a large margin.

Wow. Just wow.

17:45, Today: Brynn Rhunsdottir rolled 4,4 using 2d6+2,d10+1 ((1,1,3)).

Marking xp . . .

Uri had spent too much time fumbling to get his sword out, and nearly missed the opening that Brynn had created for him.  At the last moment he went rushing in, hoping to return the favor by keeping the armors occupied and making it easier for the fighter to land a stronger blow next time.  Unfortunately he was making himself more vulnerable to attack at the same time.

Uri rolled 7 using 2d6+1.  Aid Brynn.
-I forgot to add the +1 that she gave me, but it wouldn't have made a difference in this instance

For being mindless automatons, the suits of armor were proving to be surprisingly formidable foes. The party was in a rough spot and the suits had barely a scratch on them. And the situation didn't look to be getting any better for the adventurers either. The paladin, Tobias, attempted to bowl through the line of armors and he was met with flaming flails bashing against his shield.

Even so, the paladin got through. As Tobias bashed through the suits that were closing in around him to try and get back to his teammates, he sent two of the armors flying backwards. The first landed hard on the ground, but its flaming weapon went cartwheeling through the air directly toward Uri, threatening the bard's well-being. The second suit of armor was knocked into Sierpinski, who had been approaching to try and regroup with the paladin. The wizard was knocked into a heap with another suit close on his tail.

When Tobias finally stood free of the armors pursuing him and rejoined with his teammates, it was with a shield alight with flame. The heat hadn't yet penetrated through to his skin, but it would surly ruin his equipment's usability if he allowed it to keep burning. Still, if he took time to extinguish it, he would waste the few moments of advantage he had just bought himself.

Meanwhile, Brynn's tussle with one of the armors proved to be quite dangerous for the warrior. She had only missed lopping off its head by a hairsbreadth, but that small miss had been disastrous. Brynn felt a heavy weight strike her chest as the armor's flail knocked her against the wall. Embers flooded around her as the enemy's weapon left singe marks against her scale armor.

No doubt she was in a tight spot, but she was not alone here. Uri's distraction caught its attention just enough to provide her an extra opening for a counter tactic. Even with the wind knocked out of her, Brynn new an opportunity when it presented itself.

What do you do?

---

Tobias
You got through, but the outer side of your shield is on fire. It isn't hurting you (yet anyway), but the shield will become less effective the longer it is allowed to burn. You have a moment to act before the armors recover and are upon you once again.

Sierpinski
You avoided your first suit of armor, but unfortunately got knocked over by one of the suits Tobias had pushed through. You can either take 1d6+2 damage, or half that if your unseen servant gets destroyed in the process too. Armor applies. It is up to you if you want to activate your Spell Defense.

Brynn
You were smashed against the wall by one of the armors and the wind was partially knocked out of you. Take 1d6+2 damage. Armor counts. Also, take +1 forward from Uri's Aid.

Uri
There is a flaming weapon flying through the air toward you. You may try to avoid it with an appropriate roll. 10+ it is avoided, 7-9 take 1d4 damage or catch fire, 6- take 1d4 damage and catch fire. Armor applies.

With a sound like a boot on snow, Sierpinski's unseen servant disappears, the items it was holding scattering over the floor. With a flash of color like the lights behind one's eyes, Sierpinski's mental effect collapses, the thoughts it was conveying scattering through the ether.

With some of the energy of the glancing blow dissipated by the loss of the spell, Sierpinski is relatively unharmed. He climbs shakily to his feet and tries again to get behind Tobias, weaving another spell as he does so. His words are loud and his actions are broad, as he wants there to be no misunderstanding between him the the universe whose fundmental laws he's in the process of altering.

---

09:15, Today: Sierpinski rolled 7 using 1d6+2.  Damage roll. With the loss of the unseen servant, he takes half of that (3.5). With Spell Defense causing telepathy to end, he takes one less (2.5). 12.5/15 HP remaining. 14.5/17 HP remaining, rounded up to 15/17.

09:28, Today: Sierpinski rolled 9 using 2d6.  Defy Danger (Dex) to avoid the oncoming construct and rally behind Tobias. Stumble.
When he's close enough, he'll touch Tobias and cast telepathy again.
09:30, Today: Sierpinski rolled 8 using 2d6+2.  Cast a Spell (telepathy). He draws unwelcome attention or puts himself in a spot.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:00, Wed 27 Feb 2019.

Tobias winced when he noticed his charge landed the others in trouble. He mumbled a quick apology, he'd give them a proper one once the battle had ended. Right now he had to capitalize on the small advantage he created. He let go of his shield, tossing the burning equipment before it could become a hindrance, and took hold of his sword in a two handed grip.

He moved toward the downed suit which fell against Sierpinski, placing himself between the suit and the wizard. Stepping into his attack, Tobias swung his sword in a wide sweep.

---

11:36, Today: Tobias Hiller rolled 5 using 2d6+1.  Hack & Slash.
  Welp, more XP for me...

Uri tried to dodge the flaming flail, but the gorgon's poison slowed his reflexes, and he took a hard hit to the shin.  He winced with pain.  At least the flames didn't catch though.

Uri rolled 7 using 2d6.  Dex.
Uri rolled 3 using 1d4.  Damage.

holy crap

The blow from the armor's flail sent Brynn reeling. Her fingers held tight to her axe, however, even as she faltered, her knees nearly giving way beneath her weight. With a loud snarl, she tried to really, but her arm feel limp as she swing, leaving her wide open.



22:13, Today: Brynn Rhunsdottir rolled 8 using 1d6+2.  Damage.
5 damage taken.
22:13, Today: Brynn Rhunsdottir rolled 6 using 2d6+3.  Hack and slash!
I give up... Marking xp.

With two armors knocked over, and one in close combat with Brynn, four of the remaining five closed in around Tobias and Sierpinski. The last one veered toward Uri. Its flaming flail spun in a figure eight pattern in front of it as it approached the injured bard.

The one accosting Brynn took a step back and swung wide at the fighter. The step back didn't give Brynn enough time to get away from the strike completely, but she knew she could affect exactly where and how it would strike her. Possibly even giving her an opening for a counterattack.

While this was happening, Tobias and Sierpinski were finding themselves in a tough spot. At the paladin lunged forward to deliver his strike, the four standing armors reached in to deliver strikes of their own. Tobias could tell that if he wanted his strike to count, he would not be able to avoid them all as they closed in. But without his shield weighing him down, he could abort his strike and avoid most of their wrath.

Even as Tobias was making this decision, Sierpinski was attempting to imbue the man with his telepathic magic. However, just as the spell was completed, the armor on the ground not being attacked by Tobias reached out and grabbed the wizard's ankle. It was the armor that had lost its flaming weapon. As its cold gauntleted hand dug into the wizard's leg, Sierpinski's concentration was disrupted just enough that his telepathic spell was directed into the armor shell instead of Tobias. Surprisingly, thoughts from the "mindless" armor immediately filled Sirpinski's mind. [Destroy the ones that roused our rune. Purge them from our area of motion.] As it's glowing red eyes stared up at the wizard and it continued to claw at him, Sierpinski could tell the "thoughts" were commands the armor was telling to itself.

What do you do?

---

Uri
You've got an armor coming at you with the intent to bash. How do you avoid being killed?

Brynn
You can't avoid the fact that you will be struck again, but you can affect how you are struck. Choose One:
-Take another 1d6+2 damage.
-Reduce one of your armors by 1 permanently.
-One of your healing potions gets destroyed.
-All of the above, and deal your damage to the armor, and gain an additional XP.

Tobias
The armors are quickly closing in. Similar to Brynn, you can't completely avoid being struck, but you can affect how you are struck. Will it be by one armor as you pull back on your attack? Or by four armors, as you go all-out with your offensive strike? Choose one:
-Your attack was quick, but ineffective. You deal no damage, but only one armor was close enough for an effective counterattack. Take 1d6+2 damage.
-Your strike was strong enough to pierce the armor, but slow enough that several armors were able to strike at you. Take 1d6+5 damage, but also deal your damage to the armor on the ground.

Sierpinski
You have been grabbed by the weaponless armor that had been knocked to the ground. It is clawing at you and has inadvertently caused your Telepathy spell to be discharged onto it. Your mind is now connected to what passes as its mind.

Sierpinski controlled his breathing and took on a stance of inward focus. Within the chambers of his mind, he listened for the commands the armor was giving itself, probing for loopholes and ways to interject his own mental commands. "Reevaluate rune disturbance. Characterize area of motion. Return to state of readiness. Recognize non-hostiles. Cease purge process."

---

Some kind of Defy Danger, arguably "quick thinking."
09:21, Today: Sierpinski rolled 13 using 2d6+2.  Defy Danger (Intelligence). That will do for any of his attributes.

Brynn grit her teeth, gums bleeding as she reeled from the first blow. As she stumbled forward, one steel-toed boot dug into the stone floor and, with great effort, she turned her tumble into a headlong charge. The mace came crashing down into her shield, splintering straight through it as it sank into her side, but even as it did, she brought axe down in a heavy overhanded swing. As the saw-toothed blade ripped through its steel shell, she turned and, in one fluid motion, took hold of the handle in her now free off-hand to deliver a spinning slice to the next armor to stand in her way. Red fluid dripped down her side, blood mingling with the shattered vile of healing elixir she'd kept in that side pouch. "T-there," she panted, " . . . how'd you like that?"


20:03, Today: Brynn Rhunsdottir rolled 5 using 1d10+1 ((4)).
20:04, Today: Brynn Rhunsdottir rolled 1 using 1d6-1 ((2)).
20:05, Today: Brynn Rhunsdottir rolled 11,7 using 2d6+2,d10+1 ((4,5,6)).
That's more like it. Dealing 5 damage with my first attack against the closest armor, following up with 7 to the next (assuming that fells the first).

I take one damage and mark 1xp, also losing my shield and a potion.

Uri watched the figure-eight pattern as the armor advanced.  He readied his sword and waited anxiously until it drew close enough, then sprung forward and swung his blade against the arc, hoping to break the flail and disarm his attacker.

For lack of a better option I'm rolling this as a Defy Danger...
Uri rolled 7 using 2d6+1.  Defy Danger.

Tobias leaned into his attack. He committed to following through, but he could instantly tell it was a shallow cut. Whether it was because his form was off or it was because the armor was too well crafted, his attack looked to be ineffectual. A mistake he'd regret as soon as the first mace struck. Tobias winced at the pain. Gritting his teeth to remain standing.

"We can't keep this up..." Tobias said, angling for another strike. "We're out numbered and these damn things are tough."

---

07:29, Today: Tobias Hiller rolled 9 using 1d6+5.  Taking Damage.
  With my armor that is reduced to 7.

07:31, Today: Tobias Hiller rolled 2 using 1d10+1.  Damage.
  I am not rolling well this fight...

Sierpinski found it almost laughably easy to override the animated armor's own thoughts and impose his own. He could tell that so long as he remained connected to it with his spell, he could treat it as his own personal puppet. Even now it was doing its best to comply to his orders to return to its starting place, weaponless.

Tobias, on the other hand, did not seem to be having nearly as much luck. Granted, he was facing four of the foes on his own. Five if you counted to one now getting back to its feet. He had struck at it but hadn't managed to leave more than harmless scratch marks, and had taken quite a beating himself for his efforts. The armors were, unsurprisingly, well-armored. The five armors moved to surround the paladin and the wizard, swinging their flaming flails menacingly.

Brynn also found the armor's armor to be problematic. As she dealt her foe a blow that would kill a normal man, she found it still standing. It wasn't until she dealt a second even more powerful strike that the lights that were its eyes finally flickered and went out. A hollow and mangled suit of armor fell to the ferocious warrior's feet, defeated.

Meanwhile, Uri sprung toward his own foe, enacting his own offensive tactic. His blade caught the chain links of the flail just right, causing the animated armor's weapon to be wrenched from its hand. The flaming flail's inertia affected Uri's own sword too, unfortunately, making it hazardous to continue holding onto as the flail's chain wrapped around. The enemy armor looked at its empty hands, as if processing what had just happened.

What do you do?

---

Sierpinski
The armor you are linked to is your puppet, so long as you maintain your spell. It is currently unarmed. You and Tobias are being surrounded by five armors and only have a moment to act before they strike again.

Tobias
The attack you sacrificed your health for proved to be totally ineffective against the tough armor. You and Sierpinski are being surrounded by five armors and only have a moment to act before they strike again.

Brynn
It ended up taking two blows to fell the armor due to their resistance to taking damage. You are now free of any assailants for the moment.

Uri
Your tactic worked and the armor is disarmed but not without a drawback. Choose one:
-You are disarmed as well. Both weapons go skittering off across the carpeted floor.
-You gain control of both weapons, but take 1d4 damage as you maneuver the tangled mass of blade and flame.

You have a moment to act before the armor figures out what to do without a weapon.

Uri quickly drops the sword before the tangled chain swings back at him.  He glances quickly around the room, getting a sense of everyone's position, and formulates his plan.  He takes a couple quick steps toward the armor in front of him and then maneuvers around it and runs toward the group that are surrounding Tobias and Sierpinski.  He tries to position himself so that when this armor chases and attacks him (as he assumes it will), he can dodge and it will hit one of the other armors instead.

Uri rolled 7 using 2d6.  Defy Danger.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:37, Sat 09 Mar 2019.

An exhalation of energy flows outward from Sierpinski as he lets the energy of his spell dissipate. Then the flow reverses direction as he enjoins the universe yet again to let him call through the walls between minds (or the analogs of minds). The link coalesces and Sierpinski again looks to the flow of commands and inserts his own: "Adjacent unit has malfunctioned. Restrain."

---

End current telepathy.
Touch nearest armor (I expect this might require Defy Danger).
13:37, Today: Sierpinski rolled 10 using 2d6+2.  Cast a spell (telepathy).
Command linked armor to restrain its nearest neighbor.
I understand if dropping the other spell means that the other armor resumes its original programming.

Uri maneuvered nimbly around the battlefield to enact his plan. He got in position and timed his dodge just right so that the armor chasing him would end up tackling one of its own. Unfortunately, when the bard went to leap aside, his foot slipped on the ball gown Sierpinski's unseen servant had dropped on the floor. Instead of moving out of the way, Uri ended up on the floor where he stood. The armor that had lunged for him ended up tripping over Uri's body and knocking over one of the other armors surrounding the wizard and paladin. The bard was uninjured, but in a tangle with two enemies. One of which was still armed with a flaming weapon.

The falling armors narrowly missed Sierpinski as he cast his spell, but the skilled wizard did not let that break up his concentration in the slightest. With the power of the spell at his fingertips, Sierpinski knew he could easily take control of another armor with a simple touch. But the question would be if he could do it without being injured in the process.

What do you do?

---

Uri
You dodged the armor and it tackled another one, but you ended up beneath the first one's legs when it landed. You can try to extract yourself safely (Defy Danger), or stay in harms way and deal your damage (assuming you have a way to hurt them. No roll needed.), or employ some other strategy that you come up with.

Sierpinski
You can definitely take control of another armor by touching it with your spell (The original is doing its own thing again). There are two armors that just tumbled to the ground, and four still surrounding you and Tobias. If you touch one on the ground, you do not need to Defy Danger. If you go for one of the ones still walking around, you will need to roll an appropriate Defy Danger to avoid taking damage. 6- and you are dealt 1d8+2 damage and catch fire, 7-9 you are dealt 1d8+2 damage OR catch fire (your choice).

Seeing the Tobias and the mage encircled by the advancing sentries, Brynn leapt again into action. The axe nearly swung itself as her boots landing on the floor at the rear of the construct, the blade coming down in a shining arc. Though it connected surely enough, sparks dancing off the metal as the weapon's edge ground against the armored plates, Brynn realized right away that it was only a glancing blow. Still, she could only hope to buy time for the wizard to work his magic. It seemed to be working more effectively than their steel, at any rate . . .

21:05, Today: Brynn Rhunsdottir rolled 8,3 using 2d6+2,d10+1.  Hack and slash (Another suit of armor). 3 damage, which probably isn't a lot, and whatever damage I suffer in return.

Staying down here didn't seem like the safest thing to do, exactly, but Uri thought he would probably be more useful here than standing up in a straight fight.  He did his best to weave between the armors' legs, tripping them up and shoving them around as they continued to attack his friends.

My main action will count as Aiding Tobias, but since I'm still down on the ground I'm guessing I might also need a Dex-based Defy Danger to stay safe.  I'll roll both just in case.

Uri rolled 9 using 2d6+1.  Aid Tobias.
Uri rolled 3 using 2d6.  Defy Danger.
-since I don't know if I actually needed that roll or not I won't mark xp just yet...

Sierpinksi delivers a difficult-to-describe set of commands to one of the constructs on the floor. It begins rolling along its long axis directly toward the feet of the nearest standing constructs.

Sierpinki's touch enthralled one of the armors tangled on the floor with Uri, and the foe rolled away toward another of the enemies. The two animated foes created a loud clang as they ended up in a pile. One of the remaining armors still took a swing at the wizard though.

Meanwhile, Uri continued to tangle with the other one he had knocked over. It kicked at the bard's face, but he managed to distract it enough that the others had a clear and safe opening to strike at the weaponless enemy.

It was at about this time that Brynn flew in with her weapon arcing through the air. Sparks flew as her axe struck metal. Her foe stumbled backward, but its flaming flail still grazed the formidable warrior. Even so, it provided the fighter with half a moment to breathe and enact her next move.

Tobias, being less surrounded now than he was a moment ago, still faced down two of the foes. One struck high and the other struck low with their flaming maces. It looked like it would be a devastating blow to the paladin unless he could avert his fate somehow.

What do you do?

---

Sierpinski
One of the armors is swinging at you with a flaming flail. Do you try to avoid it? Also, you may make a free damage roll against the armor Uri is wrestling, if you use a suitable weapon and it fits the narrative.

Uri
You provided a safe opening for your allies to attack the armor you are tangled with, but not without taking a few kicks to the face and shoulders first. Take 1d4 damage. Armor counts. (I only used your first roll, so no XP)

Brynn
Take 1d6+2 damage from the armor you attacked. It is focused on attacking you back in the near future. Also, you have the opportunity to make a free damage roll against Uri's frenemy.

Tobias
Last chance to act before being struck hard. You may also make a free damage roll against Uri's armor if you can make it fit thematically.

Sierpinski had barely a moment to revel in his successful programming of one of the constructs before he was forced to duck the blow of the one coming at him.

---

12:19, Today: Sierpinski rolled 8 using 2d6.  Defy Danger to avoid the armor's attack.
That's between 7 and 9 for any of his abilities except Int.
If offered a choice of damage, he'll probably take that and use spell defense to decrease it by 1.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:50, Tue 12 Mar 2019.

I'll give you the choice of either taking 1d6+2 damage (armor counts), or your sleeve catches fire.

Siepinski managed to duck the blow but the flames of the brazier-flail catch his sleeve on fire. He starts frantically trying to pat it out.

Uri felt encouraged by his initial success, and decided to stay on the floor and trip some more of the armors, hopefully creating enough of a tangle to allow him and his allies to escape.  Even a hard kick from one of them wasn't enough to dissuade him.  A few more might do it though...

Uri rolled 4 using 1d4.  Damage.

Not sure what move would cover my action here, but it at least feels like it should be Dex based.  So...
 Uri rolled 4 using 2d6.  Tripping them up some more.
-well, there's that xp I guess I wanted

The battle raged on and it was not looking very good for the small band of adventurers. One of the armored foes had been ruthlessly dismantled, but the other seven remained largely functional and ferocious. The armor that Sierpinski had enthralled was tangled with another on the floor away from the group, and the one he had sent away earlier was still a few paces off as well. Which left each party member to contend with a single suit on their own. The carpeted hall everyone was battling in had smoldering marks on the floor where the flaming flails had struck. The magical ball gown Sierpinski's unseen servant had been carrying before it was destroyed was now catching fire near Uri, sending plumes of smoke into the air. Also scattered on the floor nearby were the other magic items the wizard's helper had dropped. The set of splatter dyes, the box with the cursed gauntlet, and the magical throwing dagger.

It was among these items that Uri continued to try and keep his enemy preoccupied and tangled on the floor, but the bard quickly found himself losing the upper hand. The armor he was wrestling with got him in a leg-lock and wrenched Uri sideways, hard. One of the magic items happened to be in an unfortunate spot when he landed too. He felt a searing pain as he landed atop it.

Meanwhile, Sierpinski found his arm alight even as he nimbly evaded a much worse blow to his cranium. Still, the enemy armor was practically atop him as he attempted to put out his flame. He could try to avoid the enemy's next swing, or he could put out his fire, but doing both at the same time would be difficult.

Brynn and Tobias clashed with their respective enemies, trading blows with their foes without really gaining an upper hand yet. Tobias caught his foe's wrist and stabbed its abdomen, but the chain of the enemy's flail continued to swin its end into Tobias's shoulder, sending a swarm of cinders raining over him.  Brynn's axe put a large gash into the front of her enemy, revealing a latticework of blue magic flowing over the inside of the magical construct. The armor did not seem to notice the wound though, and continued to strike at the ferocious woman.

What do you do?

---

Uri
The armor you are fighting flipped you with a leg-lock and you landed hard on one of the magic items on the floor. Choose one:
-You landed on the flaming ball gown. Take 1d4 fire damage and Defy Danger to avoid catching fire.
-You landed on the case of Splatter Dyes, spoiling them in a colorful display and take 1d4 damage.
-You landed on the magic throwing dagger and got stabbed by it. Take 1d4 damage.
-You landed on the cursed gauntlet box, breaking it open. Take 1d4 damage.

Sierpinski
You can try to put out your sleeve, but the armor that set you on fire is practically on top of you now ready to kill you. If you try to do anything in addition to putting out your sleeve, (dodge, cast, etc.) roll me a defy danger.