Doherti hefts his axe and nods his readiness.

Marthohtar nods silently, and flings open the door, staying to one side to keep the path clear for Thorgrim.

Lady Magister was very much ready to see what creature was powerful enough to bring all these people to her Will.  She also wanted to uncover that secret if it was ever possible to learn.  A smile crossed her face as she waited to move onward.

Thorgrim, who is not a big believer in the element of surprise, charges through the door with a bellowed battlecry.

Opening the door you see into a longish room 20' wide and 40' long form north to south where the door you're coming from is in the NE corner. The chamber is brightly lit by couple of torches on the wall sconces.

In the middle of the right-hand side (west) wall there's a similar closed simple wooden door as this you're passing through.

In the far SW corner there's a exit passage towards south, a dark tunnel wide enough for one person to walk at a time only.

At the SE corner of the room there's a strange circle faintly glowing in orange the floor. It's embedded with similarly glowing patterns of runes or hieroglyphs. At the eastern wall, above the magical circle, there's a vertical handhold or handle, perhaps metallic, also glowing with faint orange runes.

+++

In the middle of the room there's a group of four individuals gathered to stand there in conversation. They're two human males, an elf male and a dwarf male wearing ragged leathers and each having a simple weapon, a club, hatched and so on. Their discussion stops as the door into the room opens.

Behind them just inside of the narrow exit tunnel you can just make out a tall figure standing in the darkness. It's a 7' tall humanoid with a hyena's head holding a massive longbow. When it notices you, it barks a command with growling broken common: "Intrrrruders! Stophh thhhem!" and nocks an long arrow preparing to shoot.

The group of four thugs grunt acknowledgement in unison and grab their impromptu clubs. One of them says: "For our queen! Let's show her we're worthy to serve her!"

ROUND 1
We are in combat mode the Players have Initiative. All enemies can be Engaged. The Gnoll is Behind and getting into melee with it can be Intercepted by any or all of the thugs.

The enemy:
A - Thug HP:27/27 - Human, Nearby
B - Thug HP:27/27 - Human, Nearby
C - Thug HP:27/27 - Elf, Nearby
D - Thug HP:27/27 - Dwarf, Nearby
E - Gnoll HP:46/46 - Nearby but Behind the Thugs

Lady Magister was shocked to see that there was a few workers here and it was a shame that they were under the Charm of this being.

"Do not kill them, they are innocent.  Use blunt damage upon them. she called out hoping that the Dwarf heard her words seeing that he wasn't the wises in his litter.

"Even the one behind" asked Logresia, drawing her mace and moving forward to close with and strike at the nearest opponent.


20:18, Today: Logresia Skrieven rolled 11 using 1d20+4.  Initiative.
20:13, Today: Logresia Skrieven rolled 24 using 1d20+4.  +4 attack with mace.
20:13, Today: Logresia Skrieven rolled 6 using 1d6+3.  Damage. Doubled to 12

"They don't look so innocent to me..." Thorgrim complains, but moves against the elf with some caution. As a result, the nimble thug sidesteps his uncertain blow. This is what comes of going into battle with less than supreme enthusiasm!

06:23, Today: Thorgrim Stonefriend rolled 4 using 1d20+2.  Initiative.

06:23, Today: Thorgrim Stonefriend rolled 12 using 1d20+3.  Attack.

"Mind control, you think?  Or are you sure?"

Marthohtar charges in after the dwarf, and swings the flat of his blade at the elf, but unaccustomed to using his sword in that manner, his strike goes wide.

  01:16, Today: Marthohtar Oakheart rolled 14 using 1d20.  Initiative.

01:17, Today: Marthohtar Oakheart rolled 8 using 1d20+6.  Attack on Elf.

Doherti moves up to the dwarf. He swings his hatchet, but in a way that should merely stun rather than cleaving flesh. With every inch of ground he gains, he tried to move toward the gnoll.

---

14:43, Today: Doherti rolled 16 using 1d20+4.  Initiative, +4.
14:48, Today: Doherti rolled 17 using 1d20+4.  Attack (to knock out) +4 vs. PD of dwarf. On a hit: 14:50, Today: Doherti rolled 4 using 1d6+3.  Hatchet damage, 1d6+3. On a miss: 1 damage.

Logresia hits the first thug squarely across the ribs. The man nearly bends over his face twist in pain. He is forced to defensive and starts to backpedal while defending himself towards the western door. He makes an attempt to strike but it lacks effort and misses.

+++

The Gnoll shoots their bow and hits Thorgrim in the joint between shoulder plate and breastplate. [8 damage to Thorgrim]. Incredibly fast the Gnoll shoots second arrow which misses Thorgrim's head only by few inches.

The elf who swiftly dances with Thorgrim and Marthohtar brings his hatched into Thogrim's pelvis area drawing blood. [5 additional damage to Thorgrim]

Two Thugs, a human and the dwarf, intercept Doherti, perhaps seeing less armored target in him. Both of them land their mace strikes on Doherti's torso. [10 damage total to Doherti]

+++

ROUND 2, Player Turn. Escalation +1

The enemy:
A - Thug AC:17 PD:14 MD:12 HP:15/27 - Human, Engaged w/ Logresia
B - Thug AC:17 PD:14 MD:12 HP:27/27 - Human, Engaged w/ Doherti
C - Thug AC:17 PD:14 MD:12 HP:25/27 - Elf, Engaged w/ Thorgrim & Marthohtar
D - Thug AC:17 PD:14 MD:12 HP:23/27 - Dwarf, Engaged w/ Doherti
E - Gnoll AC:18 PD:17 MD:14 HP:46/46 - Still Behind the Thugs. To engage them you need to disengage your current foe, if you're engaged.

Pointing her finger at the Elf she wanted to make sure he didn't get killed by the Dwarf or anyone else.


14:43, Today: Lady Magister rolled 6 using 2d4+2.  Magic Missiles.

Round 2

Lady Magister is hoping to hurry and make the Elf come out of the Charm by doing damage to him or else she will witness his death.

14:46, Today: Lady Magister rolled 8 using 2d4+2.  Magic Missiles.

Logresia follows the thug who is backpedalling and tries to strike at him again.  She is less successful this time, barely winging him

20:05, Today: Logresia Skrieven rolled 7 using 1d20+4.  Another mace attack against the human thug.
Mace +1 damage on a miss (also forgot escalation but I think 8 is a miss as well)

"Ow! Bugger! Stand still, you prancing bastard!" Thorgrim yelps as he swings his axe again, missing his deft opponent with a wide margin.

Attacking the Elf.

07:58, Today: Thorgrim Stonefriend rolled 8 using 1d20+4.  Attack.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:59, Thu 03 Feb 2022.

Doherti recovers as quickly as he can from the thug's sucker punch, striking back while his eyes dart around, trying to get the lay of this room. But there's not much here that's useful.

---

HP: 17/27
Attack: 22:07, Today: Doherti rolled 25 using 1d20+5.  Basic melee attack with axe (ED 1) +5 vs. AC 14 of dwarf. Critical hit.
22:10, Today: Doherti rolled 11 using 2d6+3.  Hand axe damage (crit), 2d6+3.
22:11, Today: Doherti rolled 5 using 1d6.  Terrain stunt die. Can attempt terrain stunt at ED 5.

ROUND 2, Player Turn. Escalation +1

A - Thug AC:17 PD:14 MD:12 HP:15/27 - Human, Engaged w/ Logresia
B - Thug AC:17 PD:14 MD:12 HP:27/27 - Human, Engaged w/ Doherti
C - Thug AC:17 PD:14 MD:12 HP:25/27 - Elf, Engaged w/ Thorgrim & Marthohtar
D - Thug AC:17 PD:14 MD:12 HP:12/27 - Dwarf, Engaged w/ Doherti
E - Gnoll AC:18 PD:17 MD:14 HP:46/46 - Still Behind the Thugs. To engage them you need to disengage your current foe, if you're engaged.
Doherti 18/15/14, 17/27 - engaged with dwarf and Burly human.

Marthohtar continues to fight, using the flat of his blade at the elf, but the unfamiliar style hampers him, and his strike goes wide.

  23:42, Today: Marthohtar Oakheart rolled 6 using 1d6.  roll for extra action.

23:42, Today: Marthohtar Oakheart rolled 8 using 1d20+6.  Attack on Thug C.

The elf proves to be an experienced combatant, dancing effortlessly in dangerous melee with Thorgrim and Marthohtar. He can't avoid Lady's magical missiles, though. The arcane bolts hit the elf in the torso. He staggers backwards and his angry face jerks into direction where this new attack came. Noticing Lady Magister for the first time he stops on his tracks... there's confusion in his eyes, then recognition and hesitation that lasts few heartbeats. Then he blinks as if waking from a daydream.

Suddenly he drops to one knee, bows deep at Lady Magister while simultaneously throwing his hatched away, which clangs across the floor next to the wall.

"Your Highness? Lady! I didn't mean to... Uh, what have I done?!" He stands kneeling there, not moving and one knee on the floor, head down and eyes on the floor.

Logresia's foe backpedals and defends himself. He manages to strike Logresia on the side of the knee [5 pts damage to Logresia] but suddenly pleads: "I don't want to fight you. We don't have to. Go after the gnoll if you like. I won't stop you."

"What? WHAT?! Betrayal!" hisses one of the human thugs engaged with Doherti and attacks but the ranger dodges. The dwarf follows his friends example but he can't connect either. The dwarf seems to notice Thorgrim and says: "By anvil and fire, I know that voice! Thorgrim Stonefriend - is that you?!" He continues to fight with Doherti, however.


"Grrrhh! Kill the witchhh, you worrrthless sacks of maggots! Kill the witchhh!" The gnoll growls after seeing the elf surrender and fires an arrow towards Lady Magister. The arrow finds its mark and hits Lady in the chest. A second arrow hits immediately after, hitting Lady in the shoulder [16 damage to Lady. Ouch.] If anything, the gnoll is a fast archer.

+++

ROUND 3 - Player's Turn. Escalation +2
- Doherti's stunt will become possible when Escalation is 5, if we get that far.

The enemy:
A - Thug AC:17 PD:14 MD:12 HP:14/27 - Human, Engaged w/ Logresia
B - Thug AC:17 PD:14 MD:12 HP:27/27 - Human, Engaged w/ Doherti
C - Thug AC:17 PD:14 MD:12 HP:10/27 - Elf, Engaged (but passive) w/ Thorgrim & Marthohtar, Staggered
D - Thug AC:17 PD:14 MD:12 HP:12/27 - Dwarf, Engaged w/ Doherti, Staggered
E - Gnoll AC:18 PD:17 MD:14 HP:46/46 - Still Behind the Thugs. To engage them you need to disengage your current foe, if you're engaged.

This message was last edited by the GM at 18:10, Fri 04 Feb 2022.

"Aye, 'tis me!" Thorgrim hollers back. "Why are you fighting for some gnoll? Gnolls are only good for smiting!"

Not wanting to give the rubes reason to continue the fight if they might be talked down, Thorgrim instead points the handle of his axe, in which his Holy Stone is embedded, at Doherti and mouths a quick prayer of protection.

I cast Shield of Faith on Doherti, giving him +2 to AC for the duration of the battle.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:45, Fri 04 Feb 2022.

In reply to Thorgrim Stonefriend (msg # 218):

"Ha! It's been days since I've been able to smite anything! About a time to hit something... Nah, this half-elf makes a good practice target, I reckon, for I think I'm a bit rusty!. He swings and misses Doherti again but then he stops fighting and stands there shaking his bearded head and then looking around, puzzled. "I was hired to protect a caravan, I recall it now... Why did I come here? It was that lady - The damned whisperer clouded my mind!" He looks his primitive club with new eyes and snorts in disgust. "She said that the gnoll over there - Khur is her name - she's our friend. I don't mind that, because she shoots really, really well and she has a really bad temper too - almost like a true dwarf in that regard."

His eyes catch Thorgrim again. "Don't you remember me, Thorgrim Stonefriend?! I'm Mangron of Mountainbane clan. We used to fight beard to beard back in the days!"

Marthohtar takes advantage of the confusion as the enthralled fighters begin to feel better, and steps nimbly around them, coming face to face with the gnoll, slamming his blade into the creature.  He strikes again, blows coming in rapid succession, but his second swing goes wide.

Then he calls out, speaking a word of an ancient language, spoken in Uruk, the first city ever to be built; and suddenly Lady Magister feels life force well up within her.



20:25, Today: Marthohtar Oakheart rolled 19 using 1d20.  Disengage check.

20:25, Today: Marthohtar Oakheart rolled 19 using 1d20+6.  Attack.

20:26, Today: Marthohtar Oakheart rolled 7 using 1d8+5.  damage.

Heal spell on Lady Magister so she gets a recovery (works on Nearby due to feat)

Logresia tries to disengage with the guy she's 'fighting' and move to attack the gnoll with her mace instead.

I'm not sure what I have to roll to disengage.

In reply to Logresia Skrieven (msg # 221):

You can move away from the foes that engage you, but you draw an opportunity attack from each of those enemies when you do. If you don’t want to risk an opportunity attack, you can use your move action to attempt to disengage (a disengage check). If you choose to disengage, roll a normal save (11+, no modifiers). You can disengage from more than one foe with a single successful check, but your roll takes a –1 penalty for each foe beyond the first that you are disengaging from.
- If the disengage check succeeds, you can move without drawing opportunity attacks from the foes you were engaged with. Use your move normally.
- If you fail the disengage check, you don’t move, lose your move action for that turn, and remain engaged. You don’t take any opportunity attacks.
Disengaging uses a move action. If you succeed, it’s like getting popped free at the start of your move. If you fail, you use up the move action to no effect.

Logresia tries to disengage with the guy she's 'fighting' and move to attack the gnoll with her mace instead.

^recopied from post 221^
22:45, Today: Logresia Skrieven rolled 20 using 1d20.  Disengage.
22:46, Today: Logresia Skrieven rolled 12 using 1d20+4.  Mace attack versus the Gnoll.
I think that's a miss so 1 point of damage

"I think you're under some sneaky spell, friend Mangron!" Thorgrim says. "Hold your axe - those who have to stoop to such tricks do not deserve the honour of being championed with it! Once we send this underhanded sorcerer packing, we can talk it out over an ale!"