Anders grimaced as he saw the hags fading back in to the darkness in the corners of his vision. He restrained a sigh, and focused on the matter at hand. He once again repeated the magical gestures and phrase, "Fulmine Ignis!" Another bolt of magical fire streaked out from his hands, this time a better-aimed one.

21:12, Today: Anders Greyven rolled 18,5 using d20+7,d10.  Fire Bolt vs Orc - or a different enemy if Orc is downed.

Gryphon with two quick blows strikes the Orc greatly wounding her.

The Orc charges Anders and strikes him with one fist dealing 6 damage, the second fist misses as Anders is able to move just enough.

Alekos swings and misses his intended target.

In retaliation, Anders blasts the Orc with a firebolt. And like the other, the body transforms into a featureless humanoid creature.

The Hags have disappeared, and seem to have left the fight completely.

The last human adventure makes to attacks against Fenrick with his spear however, Fenrick is able to block both blows. The two missed attacks leave the human open for a riposte where Fenrick is able to deal critical damage.

Swinging his greataxe Sora is unable to stop their crushing impact as both blows strike her dealing 11 damage.

In Sora's defense, Fenrick lashes out with great force and deals a devasting blow to the Dwarf, hoping to pull its aggression onto himself.

Morwinyon with great speed flings darts from his hands, almost as if he was throwing punches across the field of battle, the first hits, second glances off the dwarf's armor, the third finds its mark.

Attempting to make some kind of comeback, Sora unleashed a firebolt but shoots the ground at the dwarf's feet as one of the Dwarfs blows messed wit her aim.

Iniative Order
Gryphon
Adventurer (Orc)
Adventurer (Archer)
Alekos
Anders
Night Hag (Red)
Adventurer (Human)
Adventurer (Dwarf)
Fenrick
Morwinyon
Sora
Night Hag (Orange)
Night Had (Blue)

Status

Adventurer (Human) - HP 24/47 AC 14
Adventurer (Orc) - DEAD
Adventurer (Dwarf) - HP 25/60 AC 14


End round 2 start round 3

Fenrick continues his attacks on the creatures, hoping to end the battle now.  He lands a solid blow.

(OOC Fenrick will attack either whoever is left, or whoever looks closer to being defeated)

13:35, Today: Fenrick (Fen) Uther rolled 19 using 1d20+8.  Fenrick attack roll.

13:35, Today: Fenrick (Fen) Uther rolled 13 using 1d8+8.  Fenrick damage.

(OOC if there's still a creature standing, Fenrick will then use his Action surge to make a second attack)

13:37, Today: Fenrick (Fen) Uther rolled 19 using 1d20+8.  Fenrick action surge attack.

13:37, Today: Fenrick (Fen) Uther rolled 11 using 1d8+8.  Fenrick action surge damage.

(OOC since Gryphon hit them pretty hard I will not use my action surge as we should be able to finish them off.)
This message was last edited by the player at 22:58, Wed 02 Sept 2020.

Gryphon takes slightly more time to aim his shots, which for him is like the blinking of an eye. In quick succession two bolts  fly from his hand-crossbow. One strikes the human a wicked blow staggering  it with its force and precision. the next strikes the dwarf also staggering it with almost identical placement in the liver's of targets.

_{"Whistling Death you have never failed me nor I you."}

I get sneak attack on the Human because he is engaged with Fen, even though I do not have  advantage.

Both targets take 23 damage in total leaving 1 HP for each of them

14:29, Today: Gryphon rolled 23 using 1d6+19.  Damage.

14:29, Today: Gryphon rolled 14 using 1d20+3.  BA on swarf with sharp.

14:28, Today: Gryphon rolled 2 using 1d6.  Sneak attack  damage.

14:28, Today: Gryphon rolled 21 using 1d6+19.

14:28, Today: Gryphon rolled 18 using 1d20+3.  attack human with sharp .
This message was last edited by the player at 22:52, Wed 02 Sept 2020.

Alekos may have missed the Orc but Anders didn't. At least she wasn't a threat anymore. Strange that they kept changing form upon being vanquished. The half elf turned frantically again looking for where else he might try to help. The hags had vanished and all that remained were the two adventurer's in combat with Fen and Sora but Alekos couldn't cover that amount of space fast enough to be of help. Could he? Again he charged across the magically lit space but in desperation of failing to get there in time he spun with a step and hucked one of the witcher's swords across the remaining space yelling "Duck!", to Sora or Fen or both it didn't matter.

BA: Dash
Move: 60 ft closer to combatants
Action: Improvised sword throw (20/60 range) for 8 damage (+11 more if sneak attack applies but kinda pointless with their current health)

Alekos Eclipse rolled 19,8,11 using d20+5,d4+5,2d6.  Sword throw (no proficiency added), damage, sneak attack (if applicable)

Sora, sorely wounded from the attack of the dwarf, almost sways. Her harm almost lifeless at her side, blood running down her arm, the attack bit deep into her shoulder. The woman had tears in her eyes, but her focus was on the enemy.

She held her other hand out weakly and again cast the spell, sending a firebolt, this time towards the dwarf attacking her, but the sheer pain of her injury made her miss the target.

<OOC: Casts Firebolt at the dwarf

Sora rolled 10 using 1d20+5.  attack - firebolt.>

Morwinyon smoothly moved in the dank battlefield as if he'd been training for exactly this sort of thing. Sora looked like she could not take much more, while some of those from the original company looked as if they needed no help at all.

They were still at hazard. The hag witches lurked. But these things had to be dispatched first.

There was no reason to be up on top of the remaining combatants. Darts of light left his hands once more. His footing was solid but his attacks went wide as he tried to weave shots around closely embattled companions.

OOC: Attack and follow with monk's bonus action attack
And both attacks miss as I roll a 1 and a 3.


21:23, Today: Morwinyon rolled 7 using 1d20+6.  Attack 2.

21:23, Today: Morwinyon rolled 9 using 1d20+6.  Attack 1.

Anders was a bit surprised that the orcish woman reached him. He should have put his Shield just before then but he had been distracted. And she HIT him! He stumbled back from the blow and slammed a fire bolt in to her.

But then he tried to shift his attention to the two remaining 'adventurers' but he his aim and attention were off. He wasn't actually that used to being struck, and she had struck him with INTENT! His fire bolt sailed past the human and dwarf lackeys. He let out a sigh.

20:41, Today: Anders Greyven rolled 10,7 using d20+7,d10.  Fire Bolt vs ....whoever if any are still up?

Gryphon Deals to more quick shots both pierceing deep dealing great damage.

Alekos with great effort throws one of the whitcher swords the balde dealign the last needed damge to kill the Dwarf. Its body transforming into the same naked, featureless creature as the others.

Anders misses with is firebolt.

The Human takes a half effort to attack Fen, weakened by the assult of attacks and misses both times.

Fenrick, turning his body avoiding the two attacks chops off the head of the last enemy, and again it transformers into the naked featurless body.

END OF COMBAT

***
With the battle won, the companions come togther to check on the Whitcher, who still hasn't woken up. "I will take him to the road out of the forest and do my best to protect him." Chelonia says, the Turtle, that everyone has forgotten was still traveling with you. Almost like, she was there just to do this task.

Taking their time the group moves through the forest deeper, the mist and fog not effecting their minds anymore. Until, out of the fog and thick forest, they find a clearing. No fog, or mist invade the beautiful meadow. Flowers, and butterflies dot the bright green grass. Birds flutter about singing songs of joy. And like a story book a cottage with a white picket fence, and a small garden sits centered in the meadow. You all hear a angelic voice singing;

"O universal mother, who dost keep
From everlasting thy foundations deep,
Eldest of things, Great Earth, I sing of thee!
All shapes that have their dwelling in the sea,
All things that fly, or on the ground divine
Live, move, and there are nourished–these are thine;
These from thy wealth thou dost sustain; from thee
Fair babes are born, and fruits on every tree
Hang ripe and large, revered Divinity!"

As the group exits the forest and sees the meadow, Fenrick stops and mutters under his breath just loud enough for the others to hear "Something's not right here.."

He looks around for the source of the singing and readies his sword, sure that this is some sort of trap...

10:49, Today: Fenrick (Fen) Uther rolled 23 using 1d20+5.  Fenrick Perception.

(OOC Was there any loot of worth from the battle that we were able to find?)

Sora, injured from the battle, took a breath as she looked at the serene meadow. She stepped up to Fenrick, breathing a little heavily.

"If that fight was a test, so will this be." The young human was alert as she held her wounded side.

If this was the hags, she was glad she held back her major spells.

Her mind told her to look around and stay sharp, look for the singer, but her wounds distracted her mind, forcing her to focus more on calming down.

<OOC: Sora rolled 4 using 1d20+3 (perception check)

She saw nothing!>
This message was last edited by the player at 19:06, Tue 08 Sept 2020.

Gryphon made his away around the meadow inspecting the area letting his senses tell him what was what.

14:54, Today: Gryphon rolled 18 using 1d20+5.  perception.

The broad meadow was a welcome relief after the dank damp hostile lands they'd passed through earlier, a balm acting against the ache that came from fighting those shapeshifting horrors. The bright otherworldly voice told an ancient tale of earthlore, creating dynamic contrast, the tone angelic, the phrasing homely.

He took a deep breath to do nothing more than drink in the moment but then Morwinyon startled in a manner suggesting he'd just lost his balance.

"Did any of you see that?" His eyes darted as if trying to spot a will'o'wisp. "For just a moment, I'd have sworn I saw something else."

Alekos watched as Chelonia took the Witcher to presumed safety. He kept the swords though having collected the one he'd thrown. He'd be sure to return them once they'd completed this man's contract for him. Assuming they survived. He took another look at the featureless messes of the bodies they'd collectives dropped in a matter of moments. A few of the folks around him weren't looking as whole and hale as when this had begun but there was nothing he could do.

When they came upon the meadow it seemed like a place to good to be true. Something that shouldn't be trusted. "We've already seen servants of the hags change form and look like something that they weren't, and they were capable of manipulating some of our minds to see things that weren't there. I don't know much about these things but Anders or Sora, or anyone really, do you think they'd be able to make this place appear as something it is not?"

As he asked he peered around trying to perceive any flaw in a potential illusion or trick of the mind that could key him into what was going on here. As well as keeping his eye out for whatever it was Morwinyon had seen.

Alekos Eclipse rolled 18,18 using D20+3,d20+2.  Perception, Investigation.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:08, Tue 08 Sept 2020.

"They crafted horrors not delights." He took careful strides so as to not disturb the lush grass of this petite paradise. "Certainly they could not change their nature so as to frame and foster elation."

The song and verse kept him wanting to believe. "Perhaps we're meeting their polar opposites, some kind of balancing force here to aid us." He sounded hopeful but less confident. The flicker of an image before had him out of sorts. His eyes darted, trying to make it happen again.

****

His balance went out again, a hard step like he'd tripped over a rock and lunged to stay on his feet. It was none too graceful.

"Anders, beware!" It sounded like complete foolishness. Like the rest of them, Anders walked in a garden utopia. There were no perils at hand.

"This will sound crazed but I swear by my Prophecy that for a moment I caught a glimpse of some other reality than the one in which we all walk. And in that otherplace a foul Hag stood leering over the slumbering form of Anders."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:42, Wed 09 Sept 2020.

Anders walked up to Sora as the group stopped. He murmured an incantation, somewhat unfamiliar-sounding to himself. The red crystal atop of his staff glowed, a baleful angry red glare. "Remedium vulneribus!" And yet, healing energy flowed in to Sora's body, and some of her wounds closed or righted.

"There. I hope that helps." He smiled slightly and looked at everyone. "I'm no Chelonia, I know. That is not my forte and I cannot do it too often, but does anyone else require healing?"

He looked around the clearing with a light frown. Something...felt off. Wrong. But he couldn't quite put his finger on it. "I...am not slumbering...so...not sure what to make of that other than apparently our minds or at least eyes are being manipulated."

He then began another spell, "Magicae deprehendere!" and began to look around slowly once more, eyes open to magic.

13:54, Today: Anders Greyven rolled 8 using 1d8+5.  Cure Wounds on Sora.

Cast Detect Magic.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:02, Wed 09 Sept 2020.

Sora smiled at anders as her wounds closed up a little. "Wizard and healer....us there no end to your talents?" she rubbed her side and again looked at him. "Truely, thank you."

The sorceress looked around, saw Morwinyon stumble a little, but saw nothing.

The whole thing put her on  edge.

"Somethings not right Anders....stay alert." she muttered, less scared and more serious than he had ever seen her.

Anders, Sora, and Morwinyon all fall down passed out where they stood.

From the cottage, seven gnome looking creatures with razor-sharp teeth wielding scythes come charging out jumping out of windows and coming out the front and back doors. The song from the cottage changes as the beautiful voice turns into three voices from the Hags singing a moaning lullaby;

"The Rock-a-By Lady from Hush-a-By Forest
Comes stealing; comes creeping;
The poppies they hang from her head to her feet,
and each hath a dream that is tiny and fleet-
She bringeth her poppies to you, my sweet,
When she findeth you sleeping

Would you dream all these dreams that are tiny and fleet?
They'll come to you sleeping;
So shut the two eyes that are weary, my sweet,
For the Rock-a-by Lady from Hush-a-By Forest,
With poppies that hand from her head to her feet,
Comes stealing; comes creeping."


Entering Combat - Roll initiative
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:10, Wed 09 Sept 2020.

Gryphon  pauses for like the blinking of an eye when his companions dropped before reading himself for battle.

19:34, Today: Gryphon rolled 24 using 2d20+7, dropping the lowest dice only.  intiative.

Fenrick, getting more irritated with the shenanigans of the hags, screams to no one in particular "[Language unknown: "Ive proveneau era oueve eaunteher! Ntng hi ai?!  Unacho!]

However, the sudden falling of his companions distracts him, delaying his readiness for the upcoming battle.

19:52, Today: Fenrick (Fen) Uther rolled 3 using 1d20+2.  Fenrick Initiative .

(OOC Well that's a bad sign...)
This message was last edited by the player at 23:54, Wed 09 Sept 2020.

"Well this doesn't look good eh?" Was all Alekos had time to quip before the threat loomed imminently.

Alekos Eclipse rolled 19 using 1d20+5.  Initiative.

Initiative Order:
Gryphon
Alekos
Redcaps
Fenrick

Synopsis:
Recap 1 - HP 52/52 AC 14
Recap 2 - HP 52/52 AC 14
Recap 3 - HP 52/52 AC 14
Recap 4 - HP 52/52 AC 14
Recap 5 - HP 52/52 AC 14
Recap 6 - HP 52/52 AC 14
Recap 7 - HP 52/52 AC 14

Start of Round 1

"I don't like this... I don't like this at all." Wielding a witcher's blade in one hand, the half elf muttered something else and snapped his fingers. It was an odd sound, almost like it was muffled by a glove. But nothing else happened right away. Instead he steeled himself and stepped back to stand over his fallen comrades, something happening fart to frequently for his likimg. Again he muttered something and a flicker of greenish sparks began to dance around one of the blades.

Bonus Action: Fast Hands to Use an Object and activate my gloves Blink.

Movement: Standing between Anders, Sora, and Morwinyon on the ground.

Action: Ready Action Green-Flame Blade the first hostile that comes within reach on this plane or the ethereal if I make it.

Blink Roll failed.

Reaction: GFB, Hits AC 18 for 7 slashing damage, and 4 fire damage to any other adjacent enemy.

Alekos Eclipse rolled 4 using 1d20.  Blink.

Alekos Eclipse rolled 18,7 using D20+7,d6+5.  GFB attack, base damage

(OOC I'm assuming at least 1 is going to attack me, so attack back)

22:27, Today: Fenrick (Fen) Uther rolled 13 using 1d20+8.  Fenrick Attack roll.

(OOC I will utilize a superiority die for precision attack, adding the d8 to my attack roll.)

22:30, Today: Fenrick (Fen) Uther rolled 2 using 1d8.  Fenrick superiority roll.

(OOC it's enough, barely, to hit one of them so I'll roll for damage)

22:31, Today: Fenrick (Fen) Uther rolled 10 using 1d8+8.  Fenrick Damage.

(OOC and the roller's back to hating me again)

Fenrick takes a swing and is just precise enough to catch one of the creatures, though he doesn't contact it as solidly as he'd like.

Gryphon  backs away keeping distance between himself and the creatures, angling away from the rest to try to stay out of the light that the  others are using as  much as possible.

Taking aim at the creature nearest him and letting loose with three bolts which only two strike but with such force and accuracy that the creature is killed.

12:02, Today: Gryphon rolled 5 using 1d8.  GA bonus damage.

12:01, Today: Gryphon rolled 5 using 1d6.  SA damage.

12:01, Today: Gryphon rolled 22 using 1d6+19.  GA damage.

12:00, Today: Gryphon rolled 24 using 1d6+19.  BA damage.

11:56, Today: Gryphon rolled 16 using 2d20+3, dropping the lowest dice only.  GA with sharp.

11:56, Today: Gryphon rolled 17 using 2d20+3, dropping the lowest dice only.  BA attack with sharp.

11:56, Today: Gryphon rolled 9 using 2d20+3, dropping the lowest dice only.  PA  with Sharp

Creature takes 53 points of damage.