Kalila stands, her restraint shattering completely. The liquid fire in her veins breaks free. Wind springs to life around her, whipping at her hair and dress. Her eyes glow with that same eerie light from the night before. When she speaks, her voice carries an otherworldly resonance. [b]"You dare to intrude upon this home, and demand more than what is freely given in hospitality?! A curse upon you for your gluttony!"[/b] The air around the man shifts, taking on a reddish tint. It swirls around him like a living thing. He gasps, his breathing suddenly labored, as if the oxygen itself is being stolen from his lungs. Kalila clutches the bottle in one hand. With the other, she draws out wisps of iridescent smoke. The smoke transforms mid-air into starlight that shifts through every color imaginable. She thrusts her hand forward. The blast of light strikes him square in the chest. He staggers backward with a roar of pain. Where the light hit, his armor is scorched, and beneath it, flesh blackens and festers before everyone's eyes. The wound hisses with unnatural decay, and a deep rumble of thunder echoes from the impact point. [b]"What the..."[/b] Mick is already moving, grabbing a kitchen knife from the counter, positioning himself. The man clutches his chest, breathing hard. He looks at Gerta, and despite the pain, there's a twisted grin in his voice. [b]"Oh, Gerta. So you've been housing a magical user?"[/b] He laughs, though it's strained. [b]"She'd be way more useful to us than your boy."[/b] Isla immediately backs away toward the rear of the room, putting distance between herself and the fight. The man turns toward Gerta, raising his clawed gauntlet. [b]"You'll still learn a lesson though!"[/b] He swings wildly, but Gerta ducks under the strike with practiced ease. The claws whistle harmlessly over her head. Then he pivots, using his momentum to disengage from Gerta and move toward Kalila instead, his eyes locked on her. [b]"Oh, you'll be VERY useful, loud girl!"[/b] Gerta swings her pan at his back as he moves past, but he twists just enough that the pan clangs against his shoulder armor instead of his head. [b]"GET AWAY FROM HER!"[/b] Garrek shouts, grabbing another knife from the table and hurling it. The blade spins through the air but goes wide, clattering against the wall. Petyr backs away as well, moving toward where Isla retreated. The masked man advances on Kalila, blood seeping through his armor where her magic struck. [hr] Mick sees his opening. With the man focused on Kalila and surrounded by allies, he darts in from the side. His kitchen knife flashes as he drives it toward a gap in the man's armor. The blade finds its mark, slicing across the man's ribs. He grunts in pain, stumbling slightly. [b]"You're surrounded, you bastard!"[/b] Mick snarls, pulling back into a defensive stance. [hider=Initiative Tracker] **Round 2 - In Progress** 1. Mick (18) - [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/rolls/29653]18[/url] - Kitchen knife attack HIT for 3 damage 2. Kalila (16) 3. Isla (16) - [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/rolls/29652]16[/url] - Out of combat (withdrawn) 4. Mysterious Man (15) - [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/rolls/29656]15[/url] 5. Gerta (14) - [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/rolls/29654]14[/url] 6. Garrek (10) - [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/rolls/29655]10[/url] 7. Petyr (6) - [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/rolls/29651]6[/url] - Out of combat (withdrawn) **Current Status:** - Mysterious Man: 14 damage taken total (11 from Kalila, 3 from Mick), Hexed (disadvantage on Strength checks), surrounded - Kalila: Unharmed, magic revealed - Gerta: Unharmed, pan ready - Garrek: Minor bleeding from throat wound - Mick: Unharmed, knife ready - Isla & Petyr: Out of combat (withdrawn) **Note:** Advantage on melee attacks against the Mysterious Man due to being surrounded. [/hider] [hider=OOC]**Round 1 Attack Rolls:** - Mysterious Man vs Gerta: [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/rolls/29657]6[/url] (miss) - Gerta vs Mysterious Man: [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/rolls/29658]6[/url] (miss) - Garrek vs Mysterious Man: [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/rolls/29659]10[/url] (miss) **Round 2 Attack Rolls:** - Mick vs Mysterious Man (with advantage): [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/rolls/29660]13[/url] (HIT) - [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/rolls/29662]3 damage[/url] **Note:** Isla and Petyr have withdrawn from combat and are removed from initiative order unless they re-engage or are directly threatened.[/hider] [hr] [b]Kalila's turn - What does she do?[/b]