Always Ascending

[Roselli]

The walk inside the castle is....a little disappointing to Gwyn, yes there was sex in some of the rooms they passes, but boring sex. She understood why the lady of excess would want this gone. Then there was just a room of people doing paperwork. These monsters!!!

The they passed some more rooms, nope there it all is. Wow....Can't even describe it...but Gwyn started to try to think of how to explain it. Her job as a bard is on the line for future stories. Kinda wanted to join in, but nope, focus on the task at hand.

It was a bit of a surprise to find all the magic undone so quickly. But wasn't going to complain about Red wrapped around her. She dropped her own illusion, leaned in and kissed her.
"Ready for action?"

She looked and heard what Oric was trying. Eve already had the command, but Gwyn could do her part and started to prepare a spell to basically deafen Eve for the short term future. "I got this, Oric."

(Intit 14+3=17)

[Ordos]

Naethra tried to take in as much of the keep as she could.  Although, she soon found herself thinking of it more like a bandit's camp, from the old stories.  Little in the way of fortification, probably built around this one pre-existing structure.  Who built it, though?  The gnoll and goblins certainly didn't seem to have that prowess.  She did notice the odd juxtaposition of casual debauchery and mundane work, and the overall small force.  They might have a chance of pulling this off.

To her tremendous surprise, Eve didn't betray them or bungle the reveal!  Naethra readied herself, registering the cruel command the queen gave.  Oric's plan was noble, but already doomed.  Would killing the queen on time even stop it?

That wasn't the goal, she realized.  The queen wanted them to surrender to save Eve.  That wasn't going to happen.  Eve... Would be an acceptable casualty in this fight.

However...

"It's top late to drown out the command, but you could restrain or incapacitate her to keep her from carrying it out!" she screamed to be heard over Gwyn and Oric's yelling.

(initiative = 11)

[Dichotomy]

I tried to keep my head down as we headed into the compound. Why did I go along with this? I mean... yes it's the best option, but... anyway, I try not to draw attention to myself.

The place is smaller than I would have guessed... but okay, word of mouth and fearsome reputation can inflate any premises.

And then, suddenly, we go for a surprise? But announce it "I thought we were... why did we announce things?" I hiss "If we wanted to take her down just open with a lightning bolt or something!"

All in all, I'm caught a bit flat-footed.

((1+2 = 3 on the old initiative))

[Alice]

The two gnolls on either side ready large pole axes and step forward, but they don't get any hits in before..

(Red's turn)

[Nihtgenga]

Darting between the two guards, Retiaria jumped and rolled behind the queen, twirling her trident in a showy move before thrusting it at her back.

[Hit: 17+4= 21
Damage: 4+4= 8]

All the while, she was yelling "HEYSOMYBUDDYSAYSWEGOTTAMAKEALOTOFNOISESOI'MYELLINGSOYOUCAN'TDOYOURMAGICBULLSHITRARARARABLALALA!"

((If the throne makes it impossible to get behind her, then she'll move to the queen's side instead. I'm trying to get the queen between Red and the guards, but if only one guard is blockable this way then so be it.))

[Alice]

The queen lets out a small moan and looks at the all of the yelling not very impressed..

(go go Gwyn!)

[Roselli]

Looking around there seems to be a lot of options and not one solid one. I decide to try to get rid of the new henchmen while they focus on the queen. Best not waist a spell on noise, when we can just yell.

"SO RED DO YOU WANT TO GO ON A DATE WHEN THIS IS ALL OVER? I HOPE YOU LIKE FUR!" I move my furry butt over to gnoll1 and lunge with my rapier.

Hit: 13
Damage : 4

[Alice]

The gnoll casually swats aside the rapier thrust and swings with a heavy maul.... Completely missing the squirrelly bard. She snaps her teeth at Gwyn and misses with that too.

Oric's turn.

[Nihtgenga]

Retiaria's eyes went wide as she stopped fighting for a moment, her face darkening in a blush. "EEEE! Yes! I've never been on a real date before! Oh, this is so sweet!"

Then she shook her head and returned to her fighting stance. "Ack, back in the game! We gotta focus, deal with this fat slut first then we can talk about that date!"

Alas, in her shock she'd forgotten to keep yelling.

[darlingng01]

Oric:

Everyone's in good shape, so my healing magic isn't needed yet. While the fortress isn't that heavily staffed, it would be best to finish this before others arrive. "Heavenly light of wisdom, guiding hand of fate, show us the way to bestow justice upon this world, and grant freedom to those trapped here. Guiding Bolt!" the glowing lance fires from my holy symbol, flying directly at the gnoll queen.

[Level 2 guiding bolt: 16+5 = 21 to hit
damage: 5d6 = 5+4+3+3+5= 20 damage to gnoll queen, and the next attack on her has advantage]

[Alice]

The queen gasps and moans as the light flows over her.

The other guard charges slamming her shoulder into Oric knocking the dwarf to the ground. She then slams a large mace down into her.

(Oric takes ten damage and is knocked prone)

Naethra's turn

[Ordos]

There really wasn't much of a plan, but it had already fallen apart.  Naethra swore she'd learn some useful binding spell the next chance she got... if she lived that long, and could figure out how to learn spells...

Well, at least for the moment nothing was focusing her.  She'd get to live a few more heartbeats, at any rate.  And the yelling was giving her a headache. 

But Oric had given her an opening, and she decided to press it for all it was worth.

(Naethra casts Chromatic Orb at level 2, and empowers the damage with a sorcery point = 20  (!?) + 5 = 25.  So... that's 8 d8s, and rerolling the lowest 2 for the Empowerment = 5 +2 + 5 + 2 + 8 + 6 + 5 +5 = 38 thunder damage))

Naethra made the chromatic orb catalyze in a thunderclap, hoping to pause the yelling and propositioning. 

[Alice]

the queen rocks back on her heels from the massive strike. She pants out in ragged gasps, "Defend me you fools!"

The two guards each take a bonus action!

This time the maul strikes true! Gwen takes 12 damage
The mace continues to smash down on the prone dwarf Oric takes 8 damage

The queens eyes flash looking at Naethra she must make a con based saving throw.

[Ryuforce]

Duran was beyond not pleased by the gnoll's declaration to Eve. One minute. One Minute is all they have to save Eve from a terrible fate. To make it worse, the constant yelling hitting Duran's ears as the other's shout were rather confusing. "I don't know why everyone's yelling! But free Eve of that command and surrender to justice now." She focused a bit upon a prayer for Aircame. "Oh mighty god, give us strength to overcome the wicked that taint our land..." She called for once again a blessing to herself, the still tiefling and the dwarf on the ground.

[Duran Casts Bless! on Duran, Oric, and Red]

[Bless - Up to three targets are affected, Concentrate for one minute. Whenever they make an attack or saving throw until the spell ends, they add 1d4 to the roll.]

[HP:28/28] [HD: 3/3] [AC: 18] [Lay on Hands: 15/15]

[Spell Slots: 2/3 Uses / Divine Sense: 4 Uses]

[Prepared Spells - Shield, Protection from Evil and Good, Cure Wounds, Bless, Divine Favor, and Heroism]

[Effects: MultiAx Torch Mode. Blessed! Concentration - Bless]

Bless - Add 1d4 to saving throw or attack roll. Wears off in one minute or Duran loses Concentration

[Ordos]

That was the most beautiful spell she'd ever worked.  It had come together, the magic within her, crystalized by will, into a shimmering chromatic orb of light and sound to the most forceful impact she could have hoped to achieve.

And the gnoll queen was still standing.

"Maeve's tits," she muttered in Sylvan as the queen glared at her.

(Con save = 11 + 2 = 13)