Dungeon World PBP play (Inactive)

Game Master Elsine

No, no passageway - but the cliff on either side should provide adequate handholds for climbing.

" Try not to stand too close... These things can breathe, well, something.". Belym says, as she bends down and casts her thoughts into the earth...

Summon Barrier Elemental: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (5, 3) + 2 = 10
Control: 1d4 ⇒ 4

Looking for the ability to physically block these things' breath weapon with the elemental. How would you like to handle doing that?

Sheridan
are you riding far out from the camp, to ambush them, or hiding nearby to flank them? either way, it is DD+Dex

Tom

As the magical energy surges, you feel something taint it. these demons are powerful enough that their prescence taints your magic. you can compensate for this in the future, but you are forced eschew the spell, or else risk corrupting yourself and anyone you cast it on. lose the spell What do you do?

Ron

The creatures are incoming, fast now, one is flying, the other disappearing and reappearing between rocks, moving supernaturally fast. what do you do?

A beast, no a soldier, with a shield, emerges from the stone. 10 feet tall, with a shield almost as large, it will do nicely Use the attack move to have it interpose between you and something what do you do?

Conwall

You see several handholds on the cliff-face, you will be able to get up there easily (Though getting up in a hurry could still be problematic) You also recognize these asmodians, at least vaguely. these creatures are hunters, preternaturally fast, and famed for harassing warbands over legues. What do you do?

I'll lose the spell.

These... things have a potent effect on magic, Tom says equipping his shield and sword, We should probably focus on steel and grit instead of magic if possible or risk losing a part of ourselves t' their evil.

Tom prepares to aide the others to keep them alive and fighting, standing near Conwall ready for the assault.

Far enough to be able to surprise them from behind when they close in to attack the party. I think that's the flanking option.

Defy Danger(DEX): 2d6 ⇒ (1, 5) = 6

These foul serpents are used to chasing their prey. They won't like being cornered like this. Belym, can we lure them in close and bring the overhang down on top of them?

" If we get them in here, I can bring this down again, but we'd need to make sure none of us were under it also."

The Demons are upon you. the one approaching overland pokes its head over the hill, and rears back, wings flapping as it draws in breath. what does everyone in the camp do?

Sheridan on the other hand, is targeted by the flying one. it lands, and curls around you, trapping you in a small circle (3 meter diameter). The creature stares at you, head moving back as is opens and dislocates it's jaw. it is about to strike, and swallow you whole, what do you do?

Belym commands her guardian to move, standing between the demon and as many of the Ghostmoore contingent as possible. Any party members who can also be protected are a bonus.

Command Elemental: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (6, 4) + 2 = 12

Assuming it's at Near range...

As the guardian moves into position, she conjures and launches a boulder at the demon, aiming for one of its wings.

Channel Giant's Sharpened Stones (forceful, near, 2 piercing): 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (4, 4) + 2 = 10
Stone damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5

I see it draw it's breath and put my shield in front of myself standing in the front line.

Defend: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (2, 5) + 2 = 9-> hold 1

If I have to pick someone to defend it would be Belym as she tries to move earth

"Clever girl." Sheridan lunges up, thrusting with the calvary saber from the back of the apophis.

Hack and Slash: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (5, 4) + 2 = 11
Damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

After the initial favorable clash, the encounter slips from the quick strike of a predator to a slow duel to the death. Sheridan watches for an opening to escape from as she and the smaller snake trade blows with the winged serpent. Her free hand clutches the apophis' flank both for stability as well as to communicate a que to dive out of the circle.

I allow the blast to be absorbed by the stone guardian before leaping up and over the stone guardian, hoping to come down on the serpent from above as he concentrates on the targets below

Ron emerges from behind the stone giant and launches his spear into the open maw of the serpent assaulting Tom and Belym.

Cast Magic Missile: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (2, 6) + 2 = 10

Damage: 2d4 ⇒ (4, 2) = 6

Ron doesn't even notice the spear begin to crackle with blue lightning as it flies towards the serpent. He is already sprinting towards Sheridan. He looks down in amazement as Remorse reappears in his right hand.

What the f... A mad cackle erupts from his chest as he bounds towards Sheridan's life or death struggle. He spins Remorse into a reverse grip and plants the butt into the ground, vaulting into the center of the coils.

Defend Eye of the Storm: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 5) = 9

Hold 1.

The battlemage raises his shield towards the beasts teeth, and prepares to lash out in response to any strike.

Change Tactic Reactive: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (3, 4) + 2 = 9

I gleefully draw attention or put myself in a spot.

Sheridan

Though you succeed in holding it off, your blade does naught against the serpent's scales. The Apophis is in an absolute panic, and you see the coils coming tighter towards you. you must either leap out, or through herculean strength, force your way free. What do you do?

Belym

Your guardian gets into place, and not a moment too soon. the beasts breath, a virulent poison you now realize, engulfs it's lifeless form, largely sparing your camp the toxin. one of Natria's guards, who had broken and run, was not so lucky. he is keeled over now, hemorrhaging severely. You doubt even tom could save him.

Your boulder flies true, and slams into the beast with immense force. the beast barely wobbles, one flap of it's wings steadies it. you do, however, leave something of a mark upon it's sternum. it draws back to strike, what do you do?

Iron Tom

Belym's guardian spares most the bests toxic breath, though one poor guard (Arthur, you believe his name was) was overtaken by fear, and is currently lying face-down in a pool of blood, which is leaking from his every orifice. these things are vile indeed. you raise your shield, and move between the demon, who is eager to strike, and Belym. what do you do?

Conwall

That sounds like a DD+Dex, 10+ it's free damage, 7-9, you're hacking and slashing. sounds fair?

Ron

Remorse strikes true, right where Belym had stripped it's scales. the beast roars in fury as it feels true pain. But that is all behind your back, as you leap into the crushing coils of the serpent's compatriot. you stand over Sheridan, and raise your shield, but the Quetzal demon knows no fear. it rears up, and strikes, lunging forward at top speed. what do you do?

Was the elemental affected by the venom? Seems unlikely, but I wanted to double check.

Leaving the elemental guarding the camp, Belym darts out from the overhang, trying to draw the demon's attacks away from Tom and the Ghostmoore soldiers, before launching another boulder.

Channel Giant's Sharpened Stones(forceful, near, 2 piercing): 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (3, 1) + 2 = 6
Stone damage: 1d8 ⇒ 2

Well, if I survive, I level up, at least!

It seems like that is a melee attack coming my way. If not, this doesn't work.

Counterattack: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (2, 2) + 2 = 6

Ron waits for the beast to close and attempts to wedge his shield between its top and bottom teeth ...

Tom moves with Belyn, shouting Use this distraction for your opening, Conwall! and empowering the elvish fighter's already formidable blade.

Cast a Spell (Magic Weapon): 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (6, 2) + 2 = 10-> Empower for double the effect, draw unwanted attention.

Conwall, Catastrophe deals and additional +2d4 damage.

I come in high on top of the snake, hoping to hit him hard before he can hit me back.

defy danger dex: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (1, 5) + 2 = 8

Unfortunately, the snake sees me coming and retaliates

I'm not sure if I then roll hack and slash or just assume hack and slash was the prior roll. If it's the former:

Catastrophe hums with the magic of Tom's god, the bones of the devil glowing red hot in protest.

Make sure to add 2d4 to that.

Sheridan smashes the apophis agaist the quetzal's coils and heaves.
Defy Danger(STR): 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (3, 2) + 2 = 7

Belym

You leave the overhang, and try to channel the energy, but unfortunately, the demon is faster, a slap from it's tail sends you flying away from it Get moved into far range, and take 1d12+5 damage, 2 piercing, and, obviously, forceful

What do you do?

Ron

The good news, your sheild stops the beasts from eating you guys. the bad news is that it does nothing to stop the vemomous gas leaking from the beasts mouth. What do you do? please DD+Con

Tom

The power of Iisac rushes through you, into the blade, he lashes out, and gets a fang to his sternum for his trouble, meanwhile, Ron is stuck in the other beasts coils, and Belym just became a projectile. What do you do?

Conwall

Your blade, ablaze with holy magic, strikes hard upon the beast, driving deep into it's skull. the creature, however, is fast, and sinks one of it's long, venemous fangs into your stomach, before sending you flying to the ground with a twist of it's head Thats 1d12+5 damage, 2 piercing, and forceful, and please DD+Con . What do you do?

Sheridan

You win free of the demon-serpents coils, but not in time to escape it's breath. you are dosed heavily on the way out DD+Con, like Ron. What do you do?

First gain gambit from Belym. (Nevermind!)

Defy Danger Con: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 1) = 7

Then gain a gambit from Conwall.

Tom dives in front of the tail, taking the hit for Belym.

1d12 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

Staggering he runs to the aid of Ron and tries to heal himself

2d6 + 1 ⇒ (5, 4) + 1 = 10not empowered, but in sanctuary?
1d6 + 1d4 ⇒ (2) + (2) = 4

Defy Danger(CON): 2d6 + 1 ⇒ (4, 1) + 1 = 6
Even more Gambits, I'm excited to see how a TPK was all part of the plan.

Ouch. Tom, i should've warned you about Elemental Defense.. as long as I've got an elemental out, any damage is negated and I lose Control instead. :P
DM - if Tom is taking the hit, am I still close by? If he's not, I'm assuming negating the damage doesn't keep me from going flying.

You can take the next one, but I already committed to defending you earlier. Besides, I still empowered Conwall's damage and healed myself :p

damage: 1d12 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
dd con: 2d6 + 1 ⇒ (3, 2) + 1 = 6

My strike lands true, but so does the snake's. I hit the ground, poison coursing through me. I look up to see if a sword to the brain was enough to fell the beast or if I'm going to need to do this again.

~~~Wavy Lines of Flashbackitude~~~

"Yer as dangerous to this realm as any beastie I've met, Belym. Any more reckless, and I'd not give ye th' courtesy of a reprimand." Sheridan holds a fork in a balled fist, a large hank of seared meat hangs from the end. There's a vicious bite taken from the side that has the red juices dripping in the grass. She wields the fork in an accusatory fashion, waving the meat at the channeler. "Handsome face like yours and the good folk hardly bat an eye when you pull a boulder the size o' TAM from the ground, but were ye sharp of tooth or tough of skin, ye'd be in shackles or worse for the same valiant acts. Yer like ter get someone killed."

That be a surprisingly astute judgement on humans... *erm* on looks-more-human-than-monstrous-like people in general, Sheridan. Most people judge by looks more than they admit, I'd be a fool to say I have never done the same. Tom says still offput a little by a carnivore's palate and ferocity when eating.

~~~Wavy Lines of Flashbackitude~~~

I've been climbing for three days, stripped to the waist. I haven't eaten the entire time, only had the water that collects inside the leaves to quench my thirst. I've never been this high above the Great Forest. It's forbidden to climb the Skyforge before our calling.

I've been dreaming of red eyes in the darkness. Of bones without flesh. I've been dreaming of a snake with two heads, feathered and scaled. I've been dreaming of a cat the size of a horse, its eyes made of rubies. Of an eagle with the head of a baby.

Demons, all of them. Brothers of the hateful abomination I slew, its bones heavy in the sack slung over my back. The straps bite into my shoulders, the weight seeming to increase the higher I climb, as though the bones know what is in store for them and they're desperate to return to the ground.

I've been dreaming of my sister, of her silent screams as the worms crawl from what used to be her eyes. I've been dreaming of Lord Stags Leap regal as always even as the amber traps him from the feet up. I've been dreaming of my own death, a clash of violence and fear before I pass to the Grey Reaches. Some of these have happened, some may happen in the future. Some may never happen.

When I get to the top, I'll continue my fast for seven days (one for each of Pelnore's limbs, heavy with the leaves of the world). Unmoving, I'll bake in the sun. Hunger and thirst will gnaw at me. When the seven days have past and I've been purified of all of my earthly worries I will step into the forge.

And I will burn.

"I'm well aware of the dangers, thank you. Though these surfacers definitely 'bat an eye' most of the time; more than one village has chased me out... I'm pretty sure Norwhich would've tossed me out, except that the first time I actually used my power there was to save the city from some Ravagers. They still might decide to, if they can go a week without getting attacked, invaded, or otherwise doomed.". Belym pauses to take a bite from some skewered vegetables, still enjoying their relative abundance here above ground. " As for killing someone, I hope not. T That's why I don't channel anything unless there's a need. "

"Righto, Tom--yer the tom-one right? something about ire and bones... regardless, yer more than right. Some folk have a need ter be separated- for their own safety as much as fer that of others. Like a kwor-in-teen." Her use of the word suggests she understands the concept better than the word itself.

Sheridan raises an eyebrow at Belym's last statement, taking a slow, judgmental bite of the meat and swallowing it without chewing. "World's full ter th' brim with need. I've been makin' a business of... containin' and relocatin' dangerous elements as I move about here in the Top Side." She uses Belym's term, though it sounds strange and stilted from her. "Dwarf like you's got the power ter be dangerous indeed. Just see that ye don't give me cause ter have ye contained. Wouldn't be pleasant fer either of us." There does seem to be a heavy implication here that Sheridan herself poses no significant threat to others, a fact Tom could readily refute. At the very least, this warning seems to come from a place of awed respect.

Belym visibly glowers at the implied that in Sheridan's words. " That doesn't sound pleasant at all. You think I'm getting close to that line, we should talk first." She shakes her head, then adds, with a somewhat more relaxed expression, " So, what brings each of you to this area, anyway? "

I don't doubt anyone eating this meal should be qualified as anything less than dangerous.

"Some nice men said I could save a day traveling down Rivvur if I cut through the for rest. When you lot found me, I was down to my last five days of rations. I gave them the last of my gold, too. When I saw you lot, I figured I could at least double that figure following you. Maybe more what with the horse. 'Course that was before I knew one of you could move sorelines with his mind." Catching herself circling back, the Traveler winces. "-sorry! Sorry. I'll stop."

~~~Wavy Lines of Flashbackitude~~~

It's been near 50 summers since I climbed the Skyforge, the things I saw in my meditation still haunting my thoughts when I'm not careful.

I'm ranging the outer border of my home woods, looking for intruders, not entirely sure I'm comfortable with what I'm supposed to do if I catch one. Asmodeans are one thing, I have no qualms putting down a beast like that...but a thing of the world? Intelligent, not a beast? I don't care what those bigots back in the big cities say, the humans are not monsters and they're not any lesser.

My faith and duty are challenged when I turn a corner and come face to face with a human unlike any I've ever seen. She's small like a child but with an adult's face.

I clear my throat, hand resting on Catastrophe in case she responds with hostility.

You're not supposed to be here...

Belym, sorry to drag you into two different flashbacks, but I don't really see Conwall having had a lot of chatting time since he joined the group and I wanted to explore our shared backstory a little bit

~~~~~~~~~~Deep in an elfy flashback...~~~~~~~~~

Weary looking and bearing many signs of partially healed injuries, a dwarf makes her way along a forest path. That definitely sounded like Therain and Jera were in that last town... Where could they be? Belym leaps nearly a foot when the unexpected voice interrupts her thoughts. She stammers for a moment, then asks, " I'm sorry, what? I thought this was the road to Mellon's Pass." she replies, looking over the figure in front of her.

No worries!

You're a long way from Mellon's Pass, child.

I look around in the wooded area. There's a path, but it's hardly the well traveled roads of the realms of Man.

How is it that you found yourself here?

"Stop chatting with it, Conwall" my training shouts inside my head "Cut her down. She's entered our lands. There's a reason no one does that twice."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Flashback~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ron listens to his new companions speaking around the campfire while he lays on his back, eyes closed. These men and women had proven dependable and resourceful. Am I building an army again? Why am I out here?

His thoughts drift back to a decade earlier. He is in a field near Norwhich, holding a wooden quarterstaff, facing off against a young girl. The girl feints and strikes, and Ron easily bats her staff aside and sweeps out her feet. He places the end of his staff at the girl's throat.

Faster, Jericho. You'll never have strength on most men. You must rely on speed.

The girl stands and resumes the stance that Ron has forced her to relentlessly practice. Again.

She attacks ferociously, driving the battlemaster backwards under a flurry of blows. He redirects the first, second, third, but the fourth strike hits him in the side of his helmet, knocking him to the ground.

The old man lies on the ground and laughs. Good. He stands. Again.

For her.

It has been a slow and unplanned process, but its looking like Ron is basically Geralt at this point.

" To shorten a long story, I'm looking for my kin. Two of them went through Aled's Crossing a few days ago, and supposedly left for Mellon's Pass; one of the townsfolk pointed me in this direction. If this isn't the way, could you point me in the right direction? " Belym is clearly uncomfortable as she mentions the town she just left.

I look around furtively. She's very lost. She clearly meant no harm. The rest of the rangers could show up at any moment.

I kneel down, to be at eye level with her.

You are in mortal peril. You need to turn east and run as fast as you can. Don't stop until you can look up and see sky instead of branches. Don't look back, don't rest. If you fall, crawl until you can stand again. Do not stop moving. And never tell anyone where you were. Your life depends on it.

" Mortal... What are you talking about?" Belym asks, before taking in the elf's deadly serious expression. "I don't even know where I am! Can you at least tell me how to get to the pass?" she asks, before turning to follow the elf's instructions.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~ back in the campfire flashback ~~~~~~~~~

Belym turns to Sheridan. " That's not quite what I meant. You've got a home somewhere, right? Why'd you leave your...lake?"

~~~~~~~~~~Back in the fight~~~~~~~~~~~

Belym follows Tom's arc with her eyes, and is relieved to see the priest get back up after he lands. Returning her attention to the demon, she then casts her thoughts into the earth. Length, flexibility. Strength to bind.

Summon Hazard Elemental: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (5, 4) + 2 = 11
Control: 1d4 ⇒ 1

A vaguely serpentine form slithers out of the ground, and Belym gestures at the demon, hoping the elemental can wrap itself around the fiend's mouth and hold it shut.

Command Elemental: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (3, 2) + 2 = 7

Once the command is completed, my hold over this second elemental is gone.

I don't say another word once she turns. Once she's out of sight I take out my horn and blow a few short toots, the signal for "intruder" and then after a moment the signal for "traveling south." Should buy her time.

The other rangers never find her. In my time of ranging I never catch another intruder. Eventually I'm reassigned to city watch. It's even more disastrous.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~ back in the campfire flashback ~~~~~~~~~
I'm watching Belym through the fire light. If she remembers me she's smart enough not to say anything. I wonder if she asked around after our encounter, I wonder if she knows what almost happened to her. Does she know I saved her life?

~~~~~

Get up, ye drunk! the all too familiar call came with the expected salt water bucket. Not that any of this helped, but Tom got to his feet and shuffled along anyways, Some of the row-men attacked the foreman, and now ye got some work t' do.

The bodies are emaciated, and besides the shallow slashes from whips the bodies now have lumps the size of oranges and broken bones. The three men are barely even breathing and will die soon. Tom speaks, Why did you bother bringing them t' me? They're already beyond help.

Cap'n says ye either fix 'em or ye take their place, the mustachioed Pedro smiles, He may not know what we did fer there punishment, but hey - better me hide than yers. He leaves the ships infirmary laughing.

~~~~~

Continental leave was the best, it normally meant a few days on land. While most spent their gold in brothels or markets, Tom did what has become his daily life - several hard drinks as cheaply as he can find. This time the tavern was not any bigger than the galley of a skip, but the price was right and none of the others came this deep into the city.

It would be so easy to slip away and just not report back. The ship held a few hundred and we lose a few to the back alleys of these places each time anyways... and yet even with his head spinning the thought of going against the captain seemed like a death sentence. It's best to pay his tab and head back to the ship after all.

Standing, Tom bumps into Pedro's familiar face. The man had a strange knack for being in the right place at the right time always, Figured ye prefer a hole like this instead of a proper one. The sentence was spoken leering at the old woman serving behind the bar.

What do you care about where I drink?

I don't, but the captain's son took a knife between the ribs. So get back home, ye drunk, Pedro then adds, Time to prove ye are worth yer salt.

The captain's son was the worst of both worlds, he was dumb as a box of rocks and his father's sadism and spoiling turned the boy into a true monster. Not that Pedro was any better... or any of the crew... or the traders... or even Tom himself. Tom's despair turned to rage, and as Pedro continued to hurl insults it became white hot.

Tom didn't remember breaking the bottle on Pedro, or how he managed to get the upper hand on the experienced warrior. He just remembers plunging the cutlass into Pedro's stomach, and stumbling into the night with his own blood filling his mouth. The ringing of bells signalling the guard chimed behind him, and he climbed a wall behind a large dark stone building before he passed out. The torchlight danced on the stained glass in the house as the guard ran by, and Tom's last memory for a few days was seeing the statue of a sad old man sitting and staring west with the words "NOTHING THAT MAN HAS DONE CANNOT BE UNDONE."

~~~Campsite~~~

Sheridan shrinks back from the fire. Shadows hood her eyes. "The waters were getting shallow. There wasn't any place for me anymore. Driftwood isn't a family name, it's a name ye give someone who hasn't got a shoal to return to."

Sheridan couldn't share what had happened yet. Not with a folk who shied away from red meat.

~~~The Malt-brine shores of the Dead Sea, ten years past~~~
The waters are thick with grit and muck. Chibuso trudges ahead, leaving deep runnels in the silt that little Sheri can walk through more easily. Neither of them have seen anything to eat in days. They both carry small tanks filled with meager colonies of crill and guppies, a survival technique that came with the brine.

"Finley says we should scale the shoreline, Buso." The sending comes in the blazing colors of the sunset. Finley had been the adventurous one. The one who dragged down a sky critter on his own.

"Finley's a part of you now, Sheri. Sending his name only brings us both sadness."

Sheridan sends the death gasps of the creature, and the taste of red meat. "Then I say we should scale the shoreline." Thinking she saw movement through the murky water, Sheridan drives her hand into the silt, only to come up with an empty shell, tumbling through the current.

"We can no more survive the skylands than they can survive these waters. We should turn back, return to the shoal, face your fate." The sending is filled with hungry faces and sorrow.

Sheridan kicks the silt and stirs up more blinding muck. "One more day. One more night. One more chance. What if I don't want to go back ever. I can do it- I can find food. We just need to go to the shoreline like before."

Chibuso turns back to Sheridan with a sorrowful expression. "You shouldn't have preserved that one. He's a danger. His memory should have passed."

Sheridan crosses her arms over her narrow chest. "Your memory should pass." She didn't mean it. She was just feeling contrary. The two of them stood in the silt, barely close enough to read each other's expressions. "I don't want to kill again." The sending was filled with blood, and Finley's pleading eyes.

"Killing is our way of life."

This is glorious, I'm almost sad to get back to the game. but I have some ragtag misfits You guys have some demons to kill, so...

Ron

You see sheridan escape from the beasts coils, your shield still jammed in its mouth. you also feel the beasts poison undermining your body, damaging muscle and blood Take the sickened and weak debilities. The beast begins to lift you by the sheild arm, into the air. What do you do?

Tom

You land hard, but safe, and your magic helps dull the pain. you aren't too far, but far enough. You see Sheridan and Conwall both hemorrhaging from the creatures toxin (A potent, fast acting anti-coagulant, if you had to guess) and Ron seems to have adopted the controversial "Stab it on your way down it's throat" strategy. what do you do?

Sheridan & Conwall

Take 1d8+2 damage from the poison and what do you do?

Belym

The serpent wraps around the demons face, coiling down its neck before the beasts poison, sprayed at it the moment it sprung up, slays it. the elemental hardens back to pure stone, and the demon is trappped, and cursing its miscalculation. the other demon is preoccupied with ron, what do you do?

bleeding out due to snake wound: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

Give me a quick reminder of who is where, please? I know there's a snake fighting Ron and a snake fighting against the trapping rock. Which is the one I stabbed in the brain?
Also, did I restock up on healing potions. I think I did but my inventory is empty and I'm not finding a post where I did...

Belym explicitly bought and passed out 2 potions per party member. Handed yours to you in the mayor's house. Conwall and Belym are fighting one serpent near the campsite, Ron and Sheridan are fighting the other out in the open, and Tom was just launched clear of both.

Conwall, does that put you at 0? Are we about to have our first last breath roll? Nevermind.

Gain 2 gambit from Sheridan and Conwall.

Ron holds onto the shield with his left hand and braces his feet against the beast's lower jaw. He then tosses his spear into the coils around him. He shouts with joy as the spear returns to his hand in a flash of lightning.

Cast Magic Missile: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (6, 4) + 2 = 12

Damage: 2d4 ⇒ (3, 4) = 7

I need a DM ruling. Is this cheesing the Reactive stance? Reactive stance prevents me from using hack & slash and gives me a chance to respond to melee attacks. It doesn't explicitly prevent ranged attacks ... If this is cheesy, then ignore this and Ron will deal with it another way.

Cast a Spell: 2d6 + 1 ⇒ (6, 5) + 1 = 12

Tom dashes toward the other group, and blesses Sheridan's sword, Look alive, ye fishy bastard! Use that sharphorn to bite that bsssst, my glowy magic made it stabbier!

Empowered, +2d4 damage.