The sudden change to the champion, their newfound bestial shape specifically, was too much for the horses of the cult. Not trained to endure such stress, they bolted in many directions, with only one exception, that being one of the Dragonclaws managing to keep his under control. The man bit his teeth together as he yanked on the reins, guiding his vulnerable flesh away from the strike of the roaring barbarian, and though the strike found purchase, it merely wounded the man instead of opening him up for death. But with the powerful move of the half-orc came the consequences. A reckless strike gave an opening for punishment, and the cultist whose rank was above the rabble already cut down by the heretics was more than ready to exploit it.

The scimitar of the rider cleaved a bleeding wound into the side of the barbarian too simple to understand greatness, and even in the simpleton's rage it was enough to cull the herd of these nonbelievers. More would follow in due time, the Dragonclaw knew, and brought their blade down once more, now upon the ursine form of the druid. The steel found purchase once again, whittling down on the defences of the heretics, but by then even the one consumed by the fervour of battle would notice the urgent need to regroup.

The two riders both took off onto the path the prisoner snatching adventurers were obviously planning to take, and though the horses of them both were deft and knew how to preserve themselves, the riders were less prepared. While the one further away took back control of his mount, the aggressive one barely avoided the swinging claws of the bear, ready to pay back for the harm caused upon their companion. For now, they would only strike empty air, however.

"For Tiamat's glory!" the two still remaining riders called out their battle cry as they prepared for another assault, now from the front.

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The horses of the now deceased cultists continue running away from Brannor, ending outside current battlemap boundaries.

Dragonclaw #1 makes two attacks, one against Orchid and one against Torus.[list][*]The roll against Orchid came up as [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/rolls/11759][s]13[/s][/url] [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/rolls/11760]17[/url], which beats the raging one's AC. The damage, empowered by the Fanatic Advantage feature as it was, came up as [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/rolls/11761]15[/url] in its raw form. Even with resistance, this should knock Orchid unconscious.
[*] The second attack was aimed at Torus, and the to hit roll came up as [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/rolls/11762]15[/url]. Given it beat the Brown Bear form's AC, it dealt [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/rolls/11763]9[/url] slashing damage.[/list]These attacks were followed by the Dragonclaw ordering their horse to Disengage, denying Opportunity Attacks against the mount, but not the rider. He then proceeded to move for the full 60 feet.

Torus took the Opportunity Attack the retreating rider prompted, though he regrettably missed with a roll of [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/rolls/11765]13[/url].

Dragonclaw #2 uses their action to successfully regain control of their horse (Animal Handling check was passed with a [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/rolls/11764]16[/url]) and orders it to Dash, reaching Kyra.

In conclusion, Orchid is down [@Lucius Cypher]. It is now Kyra's turn [@Norschtalen].

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[img]https://i.imgur.com/l7qEi98.png[/img]
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