Simulacra

[VoxPVoxD]

Azzie's dirk strikes home, finding the unarmored gap at Cutter Creedy's shoulder. He screams, eyes flashing hate, completely disoriented by the sudden and expert attack. In an instant his face morphs from shock to suspicion to rage. "TO ME!" he roars, blood darkening his tunic.

The incredulous bandits look first to their wounded leader, and then to the figures that step into the light. They act reflexively, still not quite understanding what is happening. The two bandits flanking Creedy drop their torches, pulling daggers from their belts. Two more charge forward into the light of the dropped torches, carrying battered-looking maces. One of these moves a bit slower than the other, as if waiting for something.

"You did this," Creedy spits at the maven, while he draws his longsword. "And I'll see that you pay for it." He looks at the bandits beside him. He doesn't say a word. He doesn't have to. The bandits got their bearings quicker than the villagers.

Almost in unison the two bandits backing him up fling daggers at the torch-bearing villagers standing beside the maven. Each finds its mark, and both villagers sink to the ground, clutching feebly to pull the daggers from their chests. Their torches fall beside them -- one actually catches the rough hemplike material of the villager's shirt and begins to smoke and smolder.

Color drains out of the maven's face. She raises her hands as if to protest, but like clockwork the other two bandits lunge forward. One swings at Sledge, but the weapon scrapes his body harmlessly before the bandit sidesteps himself between the hulking warforged and the bandit leader. The other swings at the maven, not with his mace, but with his free arm, successfully pinning the old woman to his body. She struggles in vain.

The final bandit actually retreats from the battle proper, carrying his torch towards one of the downed buildings. The other villagers, quite forgetting the maven, run to stop him.

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BATTLE ACTIONS.

Azzie attacks Creedy with Deft Strike, shifting 2 squares northwest. Hit! 14 damage.

Sledge moves 4 squares west and two squares north.

Qabil takes no action.

Dolores moves 6 squares north, and gains concealment because of Shadow Walk.

Five moves four squares west and one square north.

Enemies go before NPCs, because Creedy beat the Maven on an initiative check.

Creedy takes a free action to issue orders, and draws his longsword, but takes no other actions.

The bandits beside him drop their torches, draw their daggers, and attack the villagers guarding the maven. Hit! Hit! Villagers slain.

The outer bandits advance. One attacks Sledge and misses, then shifts to the square above him. The other successfully grabs the maven.

The corner bandit retreats off the map to the northwest.

The maven tries and fails to break the bandit's hold.

The corner villagers follow the corner bandit.

CHANGES TO THE MAP KEY

Yellow squares in the corner of an unoccupied tile represent dropped torches. The red square in the tile between Sledge and the maven indicates a corpse that is catching fire. The periwinkle square in Dolores' tile indicates her concealment.

[Kaihaku]

Qabil

"Intervention without understanding leads only to Chaos." Qabil states levelly, taking his first step towards the battle, "This course of action is in error."

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Qabil moves NW one square, N two squares, and NW two more squares.

Qabil skirts the conflict, walking to the north of the battlefield. There he comes to a stop, glancing with his glowing red eyes on the fallen villagers, "Reckless, even the lives of animals should not be so freely wasted."

Readied Action

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Minor Qabil will activate his Divine Challenge power targeting the first bandit (this round) to move towards another warforged.

[Vox Clamantis]

Sledge

Emerald light glares from Number 8's eyes at he steps towards the matron's captor and raises his hammer.

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Move: Shift one square NE
Standard: Crushing Surge
Attack: (1d20+6)[20] vs AC
Hit: (2d6+4)[14] damage and Sledge gets 5 temp hp
Effect: the target is marked

[Belobog]

Dolores

Dolores flicks her head to Qabil, about to speak back at him, when realization lights her eyes. It had made the carnage that resulted from their actions that much harder to watch. When the maven was manhandled instead of crushed, Dolores edges closer, getting into position while Sledge hammers away at their foes. The smoke coats her again, and then at her direction it crawls to the bandit, taking the shape of a man that grabs hold and throws the brigand into their leader. "Don't let them get near her! We can't have anything happen to her!"

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Move Dolores 2 West and 1 North to gain Shadow Walk. Curse bandit holding Maven, then attack bandit with Diabolic Grasp.

Attack vs. Fortitude: (d20+4)[15]
Damage: (2d8+4)[9]
Curse: (d6)[5]

Move bandit into Cutter Creedy for a Bullrush(?)*.

Bullrush(INT) vs. Reflex: (d20+3)[6]

*Talked about it with the DM, this is what he told me to do for it.

[Tanaar]

Azzie

Dark composite flashing, Azzie flicks her wrist. A compartment on her forearm slides open, and a sturdy, broad-bladed knife slides into each grasp. Stepping around the melee, she stabs viciously at Creedy.

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Minor-Draw dagger
Move-4 W, 1 N, 1 NE
Standard-Torturous Strike at Creedy
Attack-(d20+8)[15] Damage-(2d4+6)[12]

[VoxPVoxD]

Qabil strides around the conflict, locking his glowing eyes on the fray and waiting with a tense stillness.

Sledge lands a crushing blow, at the same time swelling with new vitality. The bandit maintains his grip on the maven, who seems resigned to her restraints.

The smoky figure Dolores summons drags the same bandit off of the maven, who collapses to the ground and draws her arms close to her chest. The bandit is pushed into Creedy, but Creedy pushes him back and the now-bloody bandit unsteadily regains his footing.

Azzie's dagger is well-aimed but Creedy manages to swat it away with a broad swipe of his longsword.

Creedy barks a word that's more like a cough. The beleagured bandit moves back towards the maven, but instead of grabbing her again lashes out at Sledge. Sledge finds an opening in the bandits attack to swing his heavy maul, but the swing goes wide. The bandit's mace slides easily off his belt and catches Sledge in a vulnerable joint.

Behind Sledge, another Bandit capitalizes on the other attack and strikes Sledge even harder, but in a less vulnerable spot. Sledge looks battered and worn but his eyes glow ever brighter, as if the blows merely goaded him on.

Having waited for the opportunity to act, Five speaks out in a clarion voice, and says words that are lost to time. They resonate with Sledge, who finds in himself a new reservoir of resolve he hadn't known he had.

In the same instant, a ring of crimson light encircles the bloodied bandit's neck, closing in like a noose. There's a barely perceptible wave of heat and a dark mark rings the neck resembling a crude tattoo of chain links, like the bruises that a mistreated beast of burden might bear.

Qabil's eyes flare briefly at this, and another mace-bearing bandit notices. He lunges at Qabil, connecting with a heavy blow that isn't very damaging but which causes Qabil's head to ring with a distracting cacophony of sounds.

The bandit standing over Azzie makes a similar heavy swing. Whether by luck or skill he too lands a heavy blow that leaves Azzie rattled.

Creedy looks to Azzie, eyes flashing with malice, and shifts his weight to strike her. Suddenly he doubles over in pain, almost dropping the sword. He straightens out, face contorted with pain and soaked with sweat. He glares at the maven, who lays close by.

In the distance, the torch-wielding bandit manages to reach the largest village house and set his flame to it. Most of the villagers scatter into the plains beyond the village, running from the bandits and the battle. The two that remain continue running toward the torch-wielding bandit.

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BATTLE ACTIONS

Qabil moves a total of 3 squares northwest and 2 squares north. He readies an action to use Divine Challenge

Five readies an action to use Inspiring Word on the first ally that becomes bloodied.

Sledge shifts one square northeast and uses Crushing Surge Hit! Sledge deals 14 damage and gains 5 temporary hit points. Bandit is marked.

Dolores moves two squares west and one square north, gaining concealment via Shadow Walk. She attacks the bandit grabbing the maven with Diabolical Grasp Hit! Dolores deals 14 damage. Bandit is dragged a square north and a square west, breaking his grab with the maven. The maven falls prone. The bandit is bloodied.

Azzie draws another dagger, moves 4 squares west, one square north, and one square northeast. She attacks Creedy with Torturous Strike. Miss.

The bloodied bandit shifts one square southeast, incurring an opportunity attack from Sledge as an immediate interrupt. Miss. (In the future, Vox Clamantis, if you want to roll your own opporunity attacks, just say so and you can. I rolled this one for the sake of moving the battle along. Sorry it didn't go so well ) The bandit draws his mace and attacks Sledge with a melee basic attack. Critical Hit! Bandit erases Sledge's 5 temp HP and deals 10 damage to his regular HP. Sledge gains 4 temp HP.

The other bandit flanking Sledge attacks. Hit! Bandit erases Sledge's 4 temp HP and deals 11 damage to his regular HP. Sledge gains 4 temp HP. Sledge is bloodied.

Qabil and Five's readied actions go off simultaneously. Inspiring Word lets Sledge spend a healing surge and regain an additional 1d6 HP. Divine Challenge marks the bloodied bandit.

The bandit north of Creedy shifts one square northeast and attacks Qabil with Dazing Strike. Hit! Qabil takes 4 damage and is dazed until the end of the bandit's next turn. The human bandit shifts back to his original position.

The bandit west of Creedy attacks Azzie with Dazing Strike. Critical Hit! Azzie takes 9 damage and is bloodied until the end of the bandit's next turn. The bandit chooses not to shift.

Creedy prepares to make a melee basic attack against Azzie, but the maven uses Blood Calls to Blood as an immediate interrupt. Both Creedy and the maven lose their turns. (Perception DC 22 to notice that this happened).

Torch-bearing bandit makes a charge attack at the maven's house. Hit! The house catches fire.

The villagers disperse into the plains and none are harmed.

The two armed villagers move towards the torch-bearing bandit but neither is close enough for an attack.

CHANGES TO THE MAP KEY

Black squares indicate bloodied characters. Pale green squares indicate dazed characters. Pale blue square indicates a marked character.

[Kaihaku]

Qabil

Qabil pauses, his control weakened by the cunning blow of the animal, then his fist tightens around the hilt of his blade as his glowing eyes center on his attacker coldly.

Readied Action

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As an interrupt on the first hostile to come within melee range.

Bolstering Strike(CHA vs. AC): (1d20+6)[24]
Damage: (1d10+3)[4]

[Vox Clamantis]

Sledge

Eyes lit by an inhuman frenzy, the hulking automaton brushes off the blows like noisome insects and swings his hammer as methodically as though he were breaking rocks.

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Standard: Bell Ringer at Creedy
Attack: (1d20+6)[17] vs Fort
Hit: 4 damage and he's dazed until the end of my next turn

((Accidentally hit save instead of Preview.))

[Belobog]

Dolores, watching the bandit dodge past Sledge to loom over the maven once more, hustles to the side of the cretin and flicks a coil of smoke from the coat that covers her. A tendril of black soot shoots out and coils around him, cinders sparking while the burning air reaches out for his face. The smoke around the warforged takes on a similar appearance, threatening to strike even as the construct goads him. "My friend seems too tough for you. Surely, I would be more fitting prey."

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[Move 1 East, 2 South, gaining Shadow Walk. Attack bandit North of Maven with Hellish Rebuke.

Attack: (d20+4)[18] vs. Reflex
Damage: (d6+4)[7] [fire]
Curse: (d6)[3]

If bandit hits Dolores before the end of her next turn, the damage occurs again.]

[Tanaar]

Azzie

Shaking off the ringing in her cranium, Azzie stabs out again at Creedy with her anlace,* setting back into a fighting posture, blade circling over head, daring him to strike back.

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*Anlace ·noun A broad dagger formerly worn at the girdle.
Expect more dagger trivia, I've been reading up in my research for Azzie

Standard-Riposte Strike at Creedy (Who is dazed, and thus grants combat advantage)
Attack-(d20+11)[14] Damage-(1d4+4)[8]+(2d6+2)[11]

Depending on how enemy initiatives and turns work out, I may be entitled to an immediate interrupt on Creedy if he attacks me. If the bandit that hit me goes before him, I get one. If not, not. Rolled below.
Attack-(d20+6)[18] Damage-(1d4+2)[4]
Irrelevant unless a 14 hits a guy in heavy armor. That was a crappy roll, I have the best attack bonus in the party.

[VoxPVoxD]

Qabil holds his ground, struggling against the unsteadiness, and readies himself should the bandit come at him again.

Sledge knocks Creedy off-balance, leaving him woozy and unfocused.

Dolores drenches the battered bandit that once held the maven in a torrent of choking, burning smoke. He wobbles on his feet, looking nearly ready to drop.

In her rush to return to a defensive stance, Azzie's stab at Creedy narrowly misses the mark.

The bandit that attacked Qabil lunges forward again, hoping to catch him off guard. He is not so lucky. Qabil's retaliatory strike leaves a trail of crimson sparks as well as a shallow wound. Some of the sparks settle on Qabil, who feels a new burst of vigor. Wincing, the bandit steps back towards Creedy.

The nearly dead bandit, wreathed in wounds and ash, stumbles out of the smoke cloud. The chain tattoo that once marked his neck fades away. He raises his mace at Dolores, and lands a solid blow... but a wreath of flame travels along the head of the mace down to the bandit's arm. Eventually it envelops his entire body, and he collapses onto the ground, a charred heap.

The bandit to Creedy's left swings his mace at Azzie, but the attack goes wide.

The bandit to Creedy's south swings his mace at Sledge, but the attack scrapes harmlessly off of Sledge's thick chassis.

With a roar of defiance Creedy brings his sword up in a swift, brutal arc. It catches Sledge in the chest, cutting a deep gouge in the metal. The force of the blow bowls the normally stolid fighter over.

"Try that again, why don't you!" Creedy shouts, his words slurred slightly. Despite the bravado in his voice, he backs a step away from the downed Sledge.

The maven struggles to her feet, nursing a large purple bruise.

In the distance, the two remaining villagers catch up to the torch-wielding bandit, but neither manages a hit. The bandit swings the torch as an impromptu club, setting one of the villagers alight and knocking him to the ground. The fire roars behind him.

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BATTLE ACTIONS

Qabil holds steady, readying an action to use Bolstering Strike on the first enemy to get close enough.

Sledge uses Bell Ringer on Creedy. Hit! 4 damage. Sledge gains 5 temporary HP.

Dolores moves one square east and two squares south, gaining concealment via Shadow Walk. She attacks the bandit that used to hold the maven with Hellish Rebuke. Hit! Dolores deals 10 damage.

Tanaar uses Riposte Strike on Creedy. Miss.

The bandit that once held the maven loses the 'Marked' status because Qabil does not engage him. He attacks Dolores with a melee basic attack. Hit! 9 damage. Hellish Rebuke activates. The bandit dies.

The bandit that attacked Qabil does so again. Hit! Qabil takes 5 damage. Bolstering Strike activates. Bandit takes 3 damage. Qabil gains 3 temporary HP.

The other bandits use melee basic attacks on Azzie and Sledge, respectively. Both miss.

Creedy uses Tactical Savagery on Sledge. Critical Hit! Sledge takes 17 damage, wiping out his 5 temp HP and dealing another 12. Sledge gains 5 temporary HP. Sledge is knocked prone. Creedy shifts one square northwest.

The maven stands from prone.

The villagers charge attack the torch-wielding bandit. Both miss.

The torch-wielding bandit attacks one of the villagers. Hit. Villager dies.

New deadline: 12:00 AM EST on February 17th

[Kaihaku]

Qabil
"Our tactics are lacking." Qabil states simply, skirting the conflict until he stands before the Maven, "We must better coordinate our efforts."

He points a blade over the head of the village's leader towards Creedy, "Kindred, hold your blows against that one until we see it's mettle." His glowing red eyes flare as he makes his challenge, "Beast, come face me if you dare!"

Move + Divine Challenge

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NW one square, W three squares, SW one square
Divine Challenge: Creedy

Readied Action

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As an interrupt on the first hostile to come within melee range.

Bolstering Strike(CHA vs. AC): (1d20+6)[21]
Damage: (1d10+3)[5]

[Belobog]

Dolores

A small hum, different from her voice, can be heard from Dolores at the man's death, and an eerie light enters her topaz eyes.

The warlock continues in her march, replacing Qabil while he challenges the leader. Though no smoke surrounds her, a dark tendril still lashes out at her target, and the flicker of sparks can be seen in the cracks of her body.

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Gain 1 temp HP from bandit's death. Move two squares Northwest. Curse closest bandit. Attack closest bandit with Hellish Rebuke.

Attack: (d20+5)[22] versus Reflex.
Damage: (d6+4)[9]
Damage: (d6)[4]

Until the end of her next turn, if the bandit hits Dolores, Hellish Rebuke will strike again, dealing another 1d6+4 damage.

[Vox Clamantis]

Sledge

Inwardly wondering how a human being mustered the strength to knock over a hunk of stone and metal, Sledge climbs ponderously back to his feet.

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Move: Stand Up
Standard: Crushing Surge @ the thug to the W
Attack: (1d20+6)[18] vs AC
Damage: (2d6+6)[11] damage and Sledge gains 5 temporary hp

[Tanaar]

Azzie

Azzie ignores Qabil's request, unable to resist such a tempting target. As Creedy turns to engage the paladin, she darts in to stab at his back with a long, wickedly sharp dirk that she produces from her belt. Aware of being surrounded, she spins, ready to defend herself.

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This is a risk, and I know it. I may need a heal after this.
FLANK!
Move-Shift NE
Minor-Draw dirk
Standard-Riposte Strike
Attack-(d20+11)[16] Damage-(d4+4)[6]+(2d6+2)[11]

Riposte strike extra attack (if I hit and Creedy attacks me)
Attack-(d20+9)[22] Damage-(d4+2)[5]

[VoxPVoxD]

Qabil's challenge meets Creedy's ears, and the mark burns around his neck. Stretching his face halfway between grin and grimace, Creedy locks his dark eyes on Qabil's glowing red.

Smoke swirls around the bandit Qabil had wounded, and Dolores finds the burned bandit's glowering face locked on her.

Sledge lumbers to his feet, sending the nearest Bandit staggering back with a very satisfying blow.

Azzie tumbles into the heart of the fray, coming up from a roll to lunge at Creedy's back. Her strike catches Creedy's armor, leaving a nasty scratch in the breastplate, but finding no flesh.

Five points his blade at Azzie, calling to her in a reassuring voice. She feels renewed at the sound of it.

Creedy barks a syllable. The bandits step away from him, leaving a bit more room between himself and Qabil. Each of the three bandits in the fray shifts their position. One lands a solid blow on Azzie with his mace. One narrowly misses Dolores with a thrown dagger. The last thumps Sledge in the chest.

Creedy himself steps towards Qabil, catching a glancing blow from the paladin's sword. The bandit leader raises his sword in kind, in a fencer's posture, tense and wary.

The maven runs around the fray, passing the tangle of bandit and warforged until she can see Creedy through the waver and smoke of a torch on the ground between them.

The remaining villager decides that all is lost, and turns to run away from the bandit and the village. The bandit catches him with a swing of the torch before he can escape, and knocks the last villager, screaming, into the burning wreckage of the maven's house. Sparks from the fire leap from the large house at the center of the village and catch the tinder rooftops of all the other homes.

His work done, the village ablaze, the torch-wielding bandit begins to make his way towards the battle.

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BATTLE ACTIONS

Qabil moves northwest one square, west three squares, and southwest one square. He uses Divine Challenge on Creedy. Creedy is marked! He readies Bolstering Strike on the first enemy who comes within melee range.

Dolores gains 1 temporary HP and moves two squares northwest. She uses Hellish Rebuke on the nearest bandit. Hit! 13 damage.

Sledge stands, using Crushing Surge on the nearest bandit. Hit! 11 damage. Sledge gains 5 temporary HP.

Azzie shifts one square northeast, drawing a dirk and using Riposte Strike on Creedy. Miss.

Five uses Inspiring Word. Azzie can spend a healing surge, and gains 1d6 additional HP when she does so.

Bandit shifts one square northeast and attacks Sledge. Hit! 5 damage. Sledge loses 5 temporary HP. Sledge gains 5 temporary HP.

Bandit shifts one square southeast and attacks Azzie. Hit! 6 damage.

Bandit shifts one square southwest, switching his mace for a dagger. He attacks Dolores. Miss.

Creedy moves one square northwest, activating Qabil's ready action. Hit! Creedy takes 5 damage. Qabil gains 2 temporary HP. Creedy uses the Total Defense action.

Maven moves 3 squares northeast.

Villager Guard moves away from torch-wielding bandit, triggering an opportunity attack from the bandit. Hit! Villager Guard slain.

Bandit runs towards main fight.

New deadline: 12:00PM EST on March 8th

[Belobog]

Dolores

Dolores ducks out of the way, watching as the dagger sails by, then turns to the provoked assailant. Despite lacking the capacity, it feels like she's glowering. "You seem to require some help. Perhaps I should give you another chance." The construct takes a step closer to the injured man, allowing him to continue his assault while another lash of steam seeks to strike him.

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Move one square south. Use Hellish Rebuke on closest rogue, provoking an Opportunity Attack, which occurs before the Hellish Rebuke attack.
Happy?

AttacK: (d20+5)[16] versus Reflex
Damage: (d6+4)[6] [Fire] damage
Curse: (d6)[1] damage

If struck before the end of her next turn by her target, she deals another 1d6+4 [Fire] damage.

[Vox Clamantis]

Sledge

Looking around in dismay at the burning houses, the silver-bound automaton grits his teeth and swings harder.

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Standard: Brash Strike at whichever thug I attacked last round
Attack: (1d20+8)[16] vs AC
Hit: (2d6+10)[19] damage and I grant the target combat advantage until the beginning of my next turn

[Kaihaku]

Qabil
"Through our error it has come to this, creature." Qabil states flatly, his red eyes staring unwavering at his opponent, "I shall not relish besting you, but if by cunning or ferocity you somehow overcome me, your pride in that accomplishment will be well earned." Shield poised defensively, the animated construct lashes out at the living creature with its blade.

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The Map confuses me a bit. Is the Maven still between Creedy and Qabil? I'm going to assuming that both are in melee range since Creedy triggered the readied action, if not let me know and I'll edit.

Minor: Channel Divinity: Divine Strength
Gain STR as bonus to attack damage.
Standard: Bolstering Strike
CHA vs AC: (1d20+9)[24]
DMG: (1d10)[2] + 3 (CHA) + 3 (STR)