Krusk's ears perked up at the sound of something crashing through the stables, and he turned to follow the sound, seemingly ignoring Lonett's words. When Marcus stepped forward, he turned his attention back. "You, Half-breed, have no business challenging my words. You abandoned what make orcs strong to wallow amidst lesser beings? I shall make myself useful indeed, and rid this land of your existence. We will not fight for some deity's play. We fight for ourselves!"

With that cry, the orc lifted his spear into the air, and those who followed him gave a mighty shout. It seemed combat was inevitable.
[h3][u]Initiative:[/u][/h3]
23 - [@Lurking Krog] - James
23 - [@ihinka] - Lonett
21 - [@ihinka] - Divna
[s]20 - Champion A - [b]KO'd[/b]([color=ed1c24][b]231[/b][/color] damage taken)[/s]
18 - [@Hekazu] - Marcus
17 - [@16 Bit] - Vale
[s]17 - Half-orc A - [b]KO'd[/b] ([color=ed1c24][b]147[/b][/color] damage taken)[/s]
16 - [@Keyblade87] - Vincent
[s]15 - [@Hekazu] - Bartimeus (out of combat)[/s]
15 - Half-orc B - [b]Burning-1d10[/b] ([color=ed1c24][b]91[/b][/color] damage taken)
[s]15 - Warpriest A - [b]KO'd[/b] ([color=ed1c24][b]186[/b][/color] damage taken)[/s]
13 - Champion B ([color=ed1c24][b]55[/b][/color] damage taken)
13 - [@16 Bit] - Earth Elemental
8 - [@Guardian Angel Haruki] - Scrapmouse
7 - [@JBRam2002] - Ada
7 - Krusk ([color=ed1c24][b]285[/b][/color] damage taken, mount has [color=ed1c24][b]20[/b][/color] damage taken)
7 - [@Guardian Angel Haruki] - Sparky
6 - [@The Grey Dust] - Kethan
[s]6 - Warpriest B - [b]KO'd & Burning-1d10[/b] ([color=ed1c24][b]188[/b][/color] damage taken)[/s]
3 - [@Ms Ravenwinter] - Ellenara
[h3][url=https://i.imgur.com/a0UH1Sp.png]Current Combat Map![/url][/h3]
[hider=Combat]
[@Lurking Krog] - James look to the others nearby. "I think a better vantage point may be necessary. Anyone wish to join me?"

He saw Scrapmouse motion to him and moved over to grab her arm. With that he grabbed the hem of his cloak and  pulled it forward. As that happened a small burst of smoke appeared as he and the gnome disappeared. They reappeared on top of the archway behind Krusk in a cloud of smoke. James then hid in the cloud of smoke.

[@ihinka] - Lonett cringed inwardly as she heard Divna clamoring inside the stables, but then again she couldn't bemoan her companion's less then perfect execution of a practiced maneuver taking her horrid bird call imitation into account. She sighed, more and more irritated by the minute. They didn't have time to dilly-dally! More pressing matters awaited them. And a far more formidable foe than this Krusk guy. The ranger thumped the ground with her javelin and began concentrating. She felt an answering warmness from the Cloak of Arachnida as she unleashed the spell.

[Lonett casts the web spell as her action. She uses her Cloak of Arachnida (DC 13 Dex save or restrained, DC 13 STR check to break). Lonett will use her bonus action to mark Krusk with her Slayer's Prey. The first time each turn that she hits him with a weapon attack, he takes an extra 1d6 damage.]

Divna clamored out of the stables. The time for stealth had passed. Her companion needed her and she had to rejoin Lonett. As she approached the gathering of humans, the owlbear saw an orc creature riding a wolf beast, visibly aggressive towards Lonett and her group. Divna screeched angrily rushing the orc and his mount.

[Divna uses her full speed of 40 feet to move next to Krusk. She'll use her action to dash and get right next to Krusk.]

Two of the goons are restrained, and one of the Half-Orcs uses Indomitable to pass her save. Champion A wades through the webbing towards the only foe within reach: Divna. With a swirl of his greatsword, he slashes at the owlbear mercilessly, hitting two of his three attacks for [b][color=ed1c24]50[/color][/b] damage.

[@Hekazu] - "No, you imbecile. By abandoning what Orcs think to be strength, I have found the truth behind power and wielding it", Marcus stated calmly as more and more magical energy began gathering in his blade. He was feeding it with his own magic now, not simply relying on the wrath of the sun alredy present within the weapon. He approached the leader of this raiding bunch with intent and took a swing at his thick-headed person. Though his blade seared the idiot's flesh, it seemed his head was too thick for the staggering effect to take effect. No matter. The Paladin swung again, undeterred, and landed another powerful blow on the aggressor.

[Marcus casts Staggering Smite and swings at Krusk, rolling 23 for his attack. It lands with him expending a 1st level spell slot for Divine Smite and deals 25(radiant)+19(psychic)=[b][color=ed1c24]44[/color][/b] damage. Krusk succeeds on his save. Marcus then swings again and lands the strike with 28. He now expends a 3rd level slot to Divine Smite and deals [b][color=ed1c24]35[/color][/b] radiant damage. Krusk does not resist any of these damage types.]

Krusk uses a legendary action to attack Marcus, dealing 10 piercing damage and knocking him to the ground with a failed STR Save of 18. "Don't make me laugh, weakling!" he spits at the paladin.

[@16 Bit] - "Weakling? At least he isn't the one blowing hot air.~" Vale took her rod of power in hand, and waved about. She wasn't sure what a wizard summoning an elemental would look like, but she gave it her best attempt. Chanting in halfling to match her arms waving about. There, right behind Krusk; Vale pointed and watched as the ground took form. 

[Vale spends 7 psi to cast Animate Earth as an action; summoning an earth elemental behind Krusk with 13 initiative. She then skips 30 feet to the right, and uses her bonus action to cast Frozen Sanctuary for 3 psi; gaining 20 temp hp. Performance check for "casting" is an 8. DC 13 Insight or Arcana to tell it's fake.]

Half-orc A uses her action to burst free of the webbing, then moves forward out of the AoE.

[img]https://www.roleplayerguild.com/img/ghost.png[/img]Ghosting [@Keyblade87][img]https://www.roleplayerguild.com/img/ghost.png[/img] - Vincent casts Chain Lightning at Level 7, spending 1 Sorcery Point to Empower the spell. He targets Krusk, the two Champions, and the two Warpriests, dealing [color=ed1c24][b]55[/b][/color] damage on a failed DC 19 Dex Save. Krusk passes, but the rest fail their saves. 

[@Hekazu] - Bartimeus has no interest in joining the conflict without an order from Marcus, who sees no value in risking his mount for the time being.

Half-orc B steps forward and flanks the Earth Elemental opposing Champion A. She attacks three times, hitting all three and scoring a [color=ed1c24][b]CRIT[/b][/color] on the first hit for a total of [color=ed1c24][b]59[/b][/color] damage.

Warpriest A is Restrained, but uses his action to cast Mass Cure Wounds at 5th level, healing all damaged allies for [color=39b54a][b]18[/b][/color] HP.

[@Lurking Krog] - James moves over five feet and fires his hand crossbow at Krusk. (Deals 35 points of damage.)  He then maneuvers another ten feet (positioned over the elemental on the archway.)

Krusk uses another Legendary Action to attack the prone Marcus, hitting him for [color=ed1c24][b]15[/b][/color] piercing damage.

Champion B uses his bonus action on Aggression, charging forward towards Vale until he is right in her face. He swings three times with his greatsword, but only one hits, dealing [color=ed1c24][b]26[/b][/color] slashing damage. Vale must make a DC 13 CON save to maintain concentration on the elemental, which she passes with ease.

[@16 Bit] - The earthen creature groans about; time to clobber the leading orc. Smashing against the foe with critical success. However, its second swing misses its target; dealing a resisted damage. [The earth elemental uses its multi attack. Slamming twice and  deals a total of [color=ed1c24][b]14[/b][/color] damage on the [color=ed1c24][b]crit[/b][/color]; resisted from a roll of 29]

[@Guardian Angel Haruki] -  Scrapmouse sighed at Krusk. Apparently his followers had more sense than he did. “Famous last words...” She mumbled. It was his funeral. She signaled James to get her out of that position, and the next thing she knew, she was on top of the arch overlooking the battle. She had to give James credit, this was an ideal position provided she doesn’t get hit with arrows. 

She lowered herself to the ground and watched Krusk and Marcus. Oh she really wanted to try that one spell to shrink Krusk, but he would probably be able to shrug it off. Looks like she’ll have to try and demean him through a friendlier angle. 

She took out some iron powder and after mumbling an arcane incantation, she blew some of the iron powder off of her open hand and it floated towards Marcus until it swirled around his body. 

The remaining iron powder floated between Scrapmouse’s hands as she held them up so that she was peering at Marcus through open space between them. She chuckled quietly as her fingers curled and her hands turned as though she were tinkering like she always does. However as her hands moved, trying to make certain changes to an unknown machine, Marcus would find himself as large as (if not larger than) Krusk.

[@JBRam2002] - Ada nodded appreciatively to Marcus's more diplomatic approach, but as the negotiations dismantled, an arrow was quickly nocked to her bow. Taking a more calculated approach, Ada stepped around the back of the group of foes. The others seemed to have Krusk under control, and so, she targeted the mooks behind him. A volley of arrows flew towards the nearest half-orc fighter, with one arrow infused with shadowy energy. The half-orc was turned into a literal pincushion as her four arrows landed, one clouding the foe's vision. But now was where she could truly unleash pain. Another flood of arrows poured forth from her magically-enhanced bow, these ones aiming for her enemy's weak points. Unfortunately, even with her foe blinded, only one of her attacks landed. [4 Arrows, one crits and is infused with Shadow Arrow, dealing a total of 61 piercing damage and 39 psychic damage. Half-Orc A is blinded beyond 5 ft until Ada's next turn. Action Surge to send another four arrows at Half-Orc A, all with Sharpshooter, but only one hits for 27 damage.]

Krusk uses a Legendary Action to attack Marcus once again, scoring a [color=ed1c24][b]CRIT[/b][/color] and dealing [color=ed1c24][b]27[/b][/color] piercing damage!

Krusk's wolf snarls and bites at Divna, its jaws distending to an unnatural gape as its teeth wrap around Divna's neck, hitting for [color=ed1c24][b]19[/b][/color] damage. Divna is KO'd!

Krusk attacks Marcus three times, scoring another [color=ed1c24][b]CRIT[/b][/color] against the proned paladin and hitting one additional time, dealing a total of [color=ed1c24][b]34[/b][/color] damage!

[@Guardian Angel Haruki] - In the stables, Sparky was simply lying down, inactive, until Scrapmouse’s arcane energy permeated through the air. The red lights for Sparky’s proverbial eyes shined on, showing that Sparky was now active. As Sparky stood up, it silently looked towards the stable entrance. It silently activated the stealth attack protocol programmed into its memory, and stealthed towards the entrance. The protocol was to get a jump on the enemy. If his master was in danger, then it would abort the surprise attack, and move to protect her. (Stealth check: 23)

[@The Grey Dust] - You call this a diplomatic solution? 
No, I call it aggressive negotiations.

With a sigh and a shake of his grey head, these orcs were heretics. And must suffer for their insolence against the gods. But it was not an old man's words of wisdom that one such as Krusk may listen to. No, heeding the words of one as decrepit and feeble as Kethan would only bring weakness in the eyes of the brutes. Even with the tinkerer's words, it seemed the thick-skulled had no appreciate for reason. Nor Marcus' talk.

"Rise." A tap of the cleric's staff of office, striking the ground, the Master's stern voice calling out at Marcus and Divina, as a pulse of healing energies washed over them enough to mend minor wounds. "Endure." Another tap of the staff against the earth with words directed at the Earth Elemental and Vale as they received their share of the spell. "Focus." Finishing off with a final tap worthy of a disciplinarian, the judgement of Ada's archery, having missed three out of her eight shots. Perhaps the night of her debauchery made her aim unsteady against a foe so uncouth. Well, Kethan would have none of that, the final target of his healing spell to cleanse any remnants of magical intoxication still amidst her drunken stupor..

[Kethan Casts Mass Cure Wounds lvl 5 - Healing [color=39b54a][b]16[/b][/color] HP to Marcus, Owlbear, Earth Elemental & Vale, also Ada laced with Spell Breaker for flavour]

The Warpriest began to mumble an incantation under his breath, and proclaimed a holy (or was it unholy?) word in the name of Gruumsh, healing Krusk for [color=39b54a][b]19[/b][/color] HP.

[@Ms Ravenwinter] - In the back of the group, Elle was paid no mind as she leaned over an old, wooden crook. Gnarled knuckles held tight to the balancing stick as if she'd fall over without it. Her hood was pulled over to reveal only threads of withering gray hairs and a bent nose. An elderly face lay under the cloak, revealed as they passed under the morning sky's light. 

But as she made her laborous motions toward interjection, a fight already broke out from the guests. With a disappointed sigh, she stood straight, easing off her staff. She lofted it in the air in both hands, chanting with a clear and commanding voice. The hood fell back as her locks of grey raised and curled, glowing bright with inner heat. Her eyes' usual grey broke into intense gold as fires sprouted from her being. And with one final word of druidic assertion over the world, she brought her staff down as her body burst into flame. Pillars of inferno outshone the sun as they smashed down onto the ground from above, scorching the battlefield with a wall of hideous flame. In the wake of the immediate destruction, Ellenara's burning body seemed to vanish into a living pyre which surged forth among the flames, her form soon engulfing two of the tresspassers with her burning presence. 

[Bonus action to Wildshape into a Fire Elemental. Action to cast Fire Storm on all bads but Champion A for [color=ed1c24][b]20[/b][/color] damage. Movement to stand in Half-Orc B and Warpriest B for a [color=ed1c24][b]2[/b][/color] damage hug. The web burns away, dealing [color=ed1c24][b]1[/b][/color] fire dmg to all in its area, including the Earth Elemental.]

[@Lurking Krog] - James mutters to himself "Might need to get a little bit closer and this is probably a bad idea...." He takes a step back then leaps down towards Krusk trying to use the orc as a fall break. Tymora was probably not watching at the moment James made to land as Krusk stepped out of the way just as James landed (James acrobatics 12 vs Krusk acrobatics 12. Krusk dodged). He not fall prone however and stepped away from the orc and his wolf drawing the rapier he had just purchased last night. [color=00aeef]" [b]Findar. [/b]"[/color] he says aloud and the blade begins to drip with potent acid. [color=00aeef]"You should have listened the others."[/color] He thrusts with the rapier hitting Krusk in the side just between the joints of the armor then draws the blade back readying to strike again. ([color=ed1c24][b]47[/b][/color] dmg)

Krusk uses a Legendary Action to attack James, dealing [color=ed1c24][b]17[/b][/color] piercing damage. James is not knocked prone as he succeeds a DC 19 STR save.

[@ihinka] - Lonett's blood ran cold as she saw Divna, her fateful companion, fall to the ground, stricken by the numerous blows of the enemies surrounding her. She had almost no time to process what happened as the owlbear was promptly brought back to her feet by the healing magic of the elderly cleric, Kethan. [i]I'll have to thank him later.[/i] Lonett thought. [i] And have words with Divna about rushing into danger like that on this quest. It's not just the two of us now and the foes we're about to encounter will be even far more dangerous than this pompous orc![/i]

Still Divna looked pretty banged up even after the healing and Lonett's heart was swirling with dark anger. She positioned herself as to have the optimal line of sight of Krusk and flung two javelins at him in fast succession. The first one flew wide as Lonett was still trying to temper her rage. The second one flew true, but the haughty orc parried the flying projectile away. Lonett gritted her teeth and looked at Krusk with dark determination, her gaze lingering on him as if marking him as her prey. Shifting her gaze towards Marcus, her mark lingering on Krusk, Lonett shouted:

"Teach this pretender what it means to be a real orc!"

[Lonett launches two javelins at Krusk. The first one misses with a critical fumble. The second one is parried by the orc. Lonett uses her bonus action to Hunter's Mark him ending her turn.]

[@ihinka] - Divna staggered weakly after the two heavy blows of her enemy, but shook herself free of the weakness and stood her ground. She saw Lonett moving to find a better aiming position and hooted in encouragement. The sound quickly transformed into an angry screech as the orc dismissed her companion's attack without so much as a thought. Enraged the owlbear launched herself first at the wolf mount that had savaged her neck. She pocked at its eye with her beak just to make a point and then landed a heavier attack on the rider.

[Divna uses multiattack to strike at Krusk's wolf with her beak. 22 to hit for [color=ed1c24][b]6[/b][/color] piercing damage. She then attacks Krusk with her claws. 26 to hit for [color=ed1c24][b]19[/b][/color] slashing damage. Both Krusk and his mount resist the nonmagical damage.]

Seeing that the party was willing to waste resources on the owlbear, Champion A attacks it again, dealing [color=ed1c24][b]24[/b][/color] slashing damage and KOing her. Once the owlbear was down again, he turned to the Earth Elemental and slashed at it as well, dealing [color=ed1c24][b]25[/b][/color] damage. Finally, he takes a quick breather, regaining his Second Wind and healing [color=39b54a][b]20[/b][/color] HP.

Krusk uses another Legendary Action to target the squishier rogue, slamming his spear into James for [color=ed1c24][b]19[/b][/color] damage.

[@Hekazu] - Marcus climbed up to his feet, placing his sword of sunlight onto his hip. "Allow me to awaken you from your dreams of conquest", the half-orc stated, slamming his fist to the ground next to the warlord's mount. A wave of thunderous might and righteous judgement roared away from his gauntlet and crashed against every single adversary still standing, brushing over those he sought not to hurt like a gentle breeze. With that out of the way, he placed his shield between himself and Krusk, waiting for the meathead to make their next move.

[Marcus places his sword away for the moment and casts Destructive Wave, forcing every still conscious enemy to make a CON save against DC 19. They take 13 thunder damage and 16 radiant damage on a failed save to a total of [color=ed1c24][b]29[/b][/color] damage and are knocked prone on a failure. On a success, they take half that and do not fall prone. Both Warpriests fail, but the rest pass their saves.]

[@16 bit] - Vale stared at her orc opponent. ... ... ........ Raising her dagger, she points it at the orc in front of her and speaks softly and precisely. "Wait your turn. Your friends keep picking on our bird." D: As a bonus action, Vale channels 7 psi into her dagger; imbuing it with psychic energy. Then, as an action, she seizes control of it with her mind for another 7 psi as she throws it at thee who dared knock out the bird again. Waving her hand about with more halfling chanting to bring back her blade.

[Vale casts Lethal Strike and Animate Weapon on her Dagger of Venom; spending 14 psi and scoring a [color=ed1c24][b]CRIT[/b][/color] for [color=ed1c24][b]179[/b][/color] damage. (13 piercing, 91 psychic, 75 force). Champion A is KO'd!]

[img]https://www.roleplayerguild.com/img/ghost.png[/img]Ghosting [@Keyblade87][img]https://www.roleplayerguild.com/img/ghost.png[/img] - Seeing as the previous round went fairly well, Vincent casts Hex on Krusk as a Bonus Action, then casts Chain Lightning again with Empowered Spell for 1 SP, this time at level 6 and targeting Krusk, Half-orc B, Warpriest B, and Warpriest A. On a failed DC 19 DEX save, the enemies take [color=ed1c24][b]70[/b][/color] Lightning damage, halved on a pass. All but Krusk fail, and the two Warpriests are KO'd. Krusk has Disadvantage on Strength checks.

Half-orc B takes [color=ed1c24][b]2[/b][/color] fire damage from Ellenara and exits her space to the north. "The healers are down, Krusk! It's time to retreat!" she called out, panic evident in her voice. She uses her Bonus Action for Second Wind, healing [color=39b54a][b]20[/b][/color] HP, then uses her action to douse the flames.

Hearing the Half-orc's call for retreat, the Champion disengages, returning to Krusk's side. "She's right, Captain! They've got us outmatched!" He also uses Second Wind, regaining [color=39b54a][b]20[/b][/color] HP.

[@16 Bit] - Vale watched the retreating barbarians. She hated to give them the opportunity of a free attack on her friends; but it seemed, mayhaps, that they realized their position and might could go for a full retreat. What her friends did was up to them, but for now she'd put a leash on her pet. She ordered her elemental beneath the surface, burrowing five feet beneath the ground. Her pet lurking just beneath the surface, waiting to crush any attempt of them still trying to fight their way through.

[Earth elemental burrows down 5 feet and holds its Action: if Krusk makes an attack action, it will attack first.]

[@Guardian Angel Haruki] - Scrapmouse blinked. The healers were down, and the smarter followers were advising Krusk that they should retreat. A part of her was taken back to that Battle Royale and it was telling her that they should finish all of them off now. She shook her head clear of the dark thoughts and focused on the situation at hand. Considering Krusk’s arrogance and how he was unwilling to listen to reason earlier, she had a gut feeling that he was going to fight to the bitter end. If he runs...Well, he might become an issue later, but killing a running man would push away allies. 

After assessing the situation, she reached into her Alchemical satchel, and created a vial full of acid. Then she readied her throwing arm. If this guy was gonna go down, then she would make sure that he would melt.

[@JBRam2002] - Ada tensed her bow as she nocked another arrow. "Your men are right, Krusk!" she called out. "Get out of my city and never return. One measure of strength is the mercy one shows to those they have defeated." If Krusk were too stupid to realize the situation he was in, he had signed his own funeral.

The orc chieftain glanced around at the foes surrounding him. The sunblade held by the half-orc paladin would not let him survive another round. The acid-dipped rapier wielded by the rogue would make him regret not retreating. And then there was the elemental behind him and the artificer on the ramparts of the zwinger, both ready to pelt him with a wrong move. And of course, the Lady of the Keep and her magic-infused arrows...
[/hider]
"You haven't heard the last of me," Krusk muttered, glaring at Marcus before reaching into a satchel. He withdrew a piece of paper and muttered a word in the orcish language. Before the teleportation spell could take effect, Lonett uses her Magic User's Nemesis ability to force Krusk to make a DC 17 WIS save or lose the spell. He succeeds, and he and his allies disappeared, leaving the courtyard as if they had never been there in the first place.
[h3]Battle Complete![/h3]
All PCs gain 40 EXP!