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Grubnick attempts to club the lady in the head from behind in order to knock her out. He times his strike so it will land the same time as Gregeddin's.

Ooc: not sure what modifiers you want to use so I'll do bare dice rolls: thac0 20. [behind+2, high ground? unfamiliar/similar wep? Called shot, no helm, etc)

crap

"Brew the serum you say... What do you know about the serum ingredients? And how being ill affect it? Did you have bad experience with that in the past?" Tulbas asks and coughs again, now more intensely and breathes more heavily. "You say Leota is coming? Well, I can wait... that's OK. I'll just go closer to the door, maybe the air is better there." He goes towards the door still breathing heavily.

"Well, I actually heard that the temple was thinking of opening the old brothel here," Kendra says. "I thought of looking into that. Though, I think my friend here is looking to become an acolyte."

Arulia shakes her head at Kendra's suggestion that she wishes to become an acolyte, and perhaps a bit more vigorously than necessary. To the guardsman, she says, "My name is Arulia Seroth. I'm afraid that my friend has it wrong. I don't know much about the Dragon Queen, and I don't think I'd make a good acolyte. But I do know how to swing a mace. I've even got my own armor and shield, and I've served in the town guard before. I was hoping that you might need another guardswoman?"

Well pretending to teleport would be rather ineffective if their weapons cut into Haahqae's fleshy body and drew non-teleported blood and issued non-teleported cries of pain, so he decides to get out of there, as quickly and quietly as he can.

Move: Tumble to the square left of 5 (left of the Histachii)

Tumble(17): 10
Move Silently (85%): 87

Haahqae, Gregeddin and Gobax (Deserted Building, Guard Lounge)
Haahqae quickly ducks as one of the Histachii starts clawing wildly at him. Fortunately, the creature thinks it is attacking something man-sized, so its attacks are too high. The gnome then tumbles past the creatures without incident.

"Spread out!" warns the warrior woman. "Cover the whole room." She is so engrossed with keeping an eye out for any hint of the enemy before her, she never notices the approaching enemy behind her. Gregeddin slashes her with his Solamnic broad sword just as Gobax tries to club her with his torch. However, the goblin is used to hefting a 10 pound mace, not a 1 pound torch, and so he misjudges grossly and misses her entirely. The woman spins around to face the newcomers. "It's a raid! Don't let any of them escape!" she cries, greatly weakened by the bard's attack.

The rogue man keeps his arrow nocked, waiting to fire the moment they find Haahqae. He is so surprised by the attack on his companion that he does nothing in response.

The remaining two Histachii begin swinging and biting wildly in all directions. But one is not close enough to touch Haahqae and the other never makes contact at all.

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Initiative
Haahqae (1d10): 5
Gregeddin (1d10+4): 1+4 = 5
Gobax (1d10+1): 7+1 = 8
Warrior Woman (N/A)
Rogue Man (N/A)
Histachii 03 (1d10+3): 8+3 = 11
Histachii 04 (1d10+3): 8+3 = 11
Histachii 05 (1d10+3): 1+3 = 4

Round 1!

Warrior Woman does nothing.
Rogue Man does nothing.
Histachii 05 swings its right claw at an invisible (-4 hit) Haahqae [TN 12] (1d20-4): 9-4 = 5, miss. It then swings its left claw at an invisible (-4 hit) Haahqae [TN 12] (1d20-4): 11-4 = 7, miss. Finally, it bites at an invisible (-4 hit) Haahqae [TN 12] (1d20-4): 7-4 = 3, miss.
Haahqae makes a Tumbling check [TN 17] (1d20): 10, pass. His AC improves by 4 and he moves 5 feet southwest and 5 feet west.
Gregeddin swings his enchanted (+1 hit/dmg) broad sword from behind (+2 hit) Warrior Woman in chain mail (-2 hit) [TN 14] (1d20+1): 18+1 = 19, hit for (2d4+1): 5+1 = 6 damage. Warrior Woman is now seriously wounded (50% HP).
Gobax swings a torch (-3 hit) from behind Warrior Woman (+2 hit) with a called shot (-4 hit) to the head [TN 10] (1d20-5): 7-5 = 2, miss.
Histachii 03 is not in range to attack Haahqae.
Histachii 04 swings its right claw at an invisible (-4 hit) and tumbling (-4 hit) Haahqae [TN 12] (1d20-8): 8-8 = 0, miss. It then swings its left claw at an invisible (-4 hit) and tumbling (-4 hit) Haahqae [TN 12] (1d20-8): 10-8 = 2, miss. Finally, it bites at an invisible (-4 hit) and tumbling (-4 hit) Haahqae [TN 12] (1d20-8): 11-8 = 3, miss.
(OOC: Initiative and Actions for Round 2?)

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Kendra and Arulia (Outside Temple of Takhisis)
One of the temple guards says to Kendra, "Wait, really? You want to...work at the brothel? Like...voluntarily?" he asks, clearly not expecting that. "Uh...well...I know we're still looking for someone to manage it. I can send you to speak with the High Priestess then, I guess."

To Arulia, the other guard says, "You will still need to go through the basic religious training the acolytes take to become a temple guardsman. You will also need to prove you are as skilled with a mace as you say, as well as prove your fealty to our great queen, Takhisis. I can send you to speak with our captain. Do either of you have any questions before entering?"

Tulbas Erogund (Unknown location)
"Only the priests know the ingredients," the charmed man says. "Well, and Belzor, of course. I do know the key ingredient is his venom. Some magic is involved, too, I think." He shrugs. "I don't know if being sick matters or not, but it's worth mentioning to the priests anyway, just to be safe."

At that moment, the door opens and Leota steps through. "Are you not even dressed yet? Hurry, Belzor awaits," she says.

Trying to end the melee with the woman quickly, Grubnick (Gobax) attacks her again, adjusting for the lighter weight of the club and not aiming for any particular part.

Ooc: only "torch as damage" stats I could find were from Player's Option: combat & tactics
raw rolls
So INIT=9+4 => 13
Hit- 16-3 => 13
Dmg = 1... at least I mght have actually hit her this time

"Work is work," Kendra says with a shrug. "But I don't think either of us have questions."

Alathea shakes her head. "No, I have no questions either," she confirms.

Now Tulbas pretends to cough really heavily. "I... I.. I need my stuff..." he stumbles back towards the box and leans nearby still coughing.

Among Haahqae's many other talents, is also his extensive knowledge of math and sciences. His math knowledge tells him that three is less then five, and therefore he can scientifically deduce that there is a chance that he will have to run away from this fight. Given this knowledge he would sure like to have a key into the inner part of the building, so his eye catches the bag hanging on the woman's hip.

It sure would be nice to explore what was in that bag. Maybe it's a key, maybe it's money, either way good stuff to have.

Action: Pickpocket warrior woman.

Pick Pockets (25%): 92

Haahqae, Gregeddin and Gobax (Deserted Building, Guard Lounge)
Curious, Haahqae attempts to get at the pouch on the woman's belt. She's moving around a lot, though, which makes it difficult. He tries to grab at it, but accidentally bumps into her in the process. The woman gasps and looks around in surprise. "He's over here somewhere!" she warns.

It proves an adequate distraction, however. Gregeddin slashes at her again, forcing her to stumble back. Gobax then swings his torch at her, breaking it over her head. The torch is ruined (they aren't meant to be weapons, after all), but she falls to the ground, unmoving.

The man in leathers fires an arrow at Gregeddin, which grazes his shoulder. "Forget that!" he shouts to the Histachii. "Take those two! Worry about the other one later!"

The three Histachii, who had been wildly clawing and biting at air (one even tripped and fell to the ground in its fervor), all turn their attention to the human and goblin. "Uh-oh," Gregeddin mutters, readying his sword.

===========

Initiative
Haahqae (1d10): 5
Gregeddin (1d10+4): 1+4 = 5
Gobax (1d10+1): 9
Warrior Woman (1d10+9): 1+9 = 10
Rogue Man (1d10+7): 1+7 = 8
Histachii 03 (1d10+3): 6+3 = 9
Histachii 04 (1d10+3): 4+3 = 7
Histachii 05 (1d10+3): 9+3 = 12

Round 2!

Haahqae attempts to pickpocket the warrior woman [25%] (1d100): 92, fail. She notices the attempt.
Gregeddin swings his enchanted (+1 hit/dmg) broad sword at the Warrior Woman in chain mail (-2 hit) [TN 14] (1d20-1): 18-1 = 17, hit for (2d4+1): 2+1 = 3 damage. Warrior Woman is now near death (10% HP).
Histachii 04 swings its right claw at an invisible (-4 hit) Haahqae [TN 12] (1d20-4): 9-4 = 5, miss. It then swings its left claw at an invisible (-4 hit) Haahqae [TN 12] (1d20-4): 1-4 = -3, critical fumble! It falls to the ground, prone.
Rogue Man steps east five feet then fires a sheaf arrow from his short bow at Gregeddin [TN 10] (1d20): 12, hit for (1d8): 1 damage. Gregeddin is now lightly wounded (90% HP).
Gobax swings a torch (-3 hit) at the Warrior Woman in chain mail (+2 hit) [TN 15] (1d20-1): 16-1 = 15, bare hit for (1d4): 1 damage. Warrior woman falls.
----Torch saves vs. crushing blow [TN 13] (1d20): 8, fail. The torch breaks.
Histachii 03 moves 5 feet to the north and attacks wildly, hitting nothing.
Warrior Woman is down.
Histachii 05 moves 5 feet to the south and attacks wildly. It swings its right claw at an invisible (-4 hit) Haahqae [TN 12] (1d20-4): 5-4 = 1, miss. It then swings its left claw at an invisible (-4 hit) Haahqae [TN 12] (1d20-4): 2-4 = -2, miss. Finally, it bites at an invisible (-4 hit) Haahqae [TN 12] (1d20-4): 15-4 = 11, miss.
(OOC: Initiative and Actions for Round 3?)

============

Kendra and Arulia (Outside Temple of Takhisis)
The temple guards open the doors, revealing an all encompassing darkness. Then they step aside. "You will follow the blue lights," the guard tells Arulia. "And you the purple lights."

Kendra steps inside and immediately can feel a strange presence. It's difficult for her to put into words. There's an almost oppressive feeling all around her. She recalls memories of her childhood--that feeling one gets when one's parents were angry at them. Her face feels hot and she is immersed in discomfort. She feels as if she is being watched...and probably is. There's no telling who is standing in the darkness, observing her. But it's more than that. It feels like she is being watched by someone or something incredibly powerful.

Arulia, however, stops short. A sudden and overwhelming sense of fear overcomes her before she can step inside. Her holy icon feels hot on her skin, as if it was somehow panicking itself. Paladine promised to shield her from Takhisis' many eyes, but will that shield extend into her very temple, where her power is most concentrated? It suddenly occurs to the half-elf that this temple may be the last place she wants to enter.

Tulbas Erogund (Unknown location)
"I don't have time for this," Leota says. "You are just stalling now. I don't recommend keeping Belzor waiting."

"He's sick," the charmed man says, stepping in to defend Tulbas. "He needs his medicine."

Leota snorts. "How convenient. He's lying. I did an inventory of all his belongings, and there was no medicine. Now listen here," she says to Tulbas, her patience clearly at end. "I can have the Histachii drag you before Belzor in your smallclothes or you can get dressed and meet him with some dignity left. Either way, we are going now."

Well his "teleportation" trick has nearly run its course by now, so Haahqae starts to look for a way to help his friends without getting mauled to death by numerous lizard-like creatures at once. To this end he notices the khas table still set up. It's not ideal, but it might offer a decent hiding spot for him to unleash arrowy arrows at the cultists.

Man, having a peaceful conversation with these guys is really hard.

Action: Move to the square south of Histachii #5, hide, knock 2 arrows and fire them at #5 (backstab if possible)

Move Silently [85%]: 72
Shoot an arrow at #5 (1d20 +2 (dex) +2 (from behind)): 9
Shoot an arrow at #5 (1d20 +2 (dex) +2 (from behind)): 7
Hide [70%]: 21

Arulia stares at the blackness revealed by the opening doors and freezes. Shuddering, she takes a step back and shakes her head. She whispers to Kendra, "I...I don't think I can do this. I thought I'd be like joining the guards before...but not like this. I'll come by your house tomorrow?"

Sketching a bow towards the guards, Arulia continues to back away. "I'm sorry to have wasted your time," she stammers. "I'm not feeling well, and I'd rather not be sick on the steps to your temple." With her lazy excuse ringing in her ears, she turns and hurries away. While she doesn't have a destination in mind, she knows that she needs to be away from the temple.

Grubnick snatches the maul from the unconscious warrior, leaving the ruined torch and oil flask by her on the floor. He then attacks the archer, trying to keep the man between him and the Histachii.

Ooc: I hope the maul is more familiar than the torch was
rolling rolling rolling
1d10+9 → [10,9] = (19)
1d20-3 → [17,-3] = (14)
2d4 → [1,3] = (4)
Haha, wow. Super slow-mo... that thing must be heaaaaavy