Initiative; Will save (1d20+4=18, 1d20+4=18)
"Well, this looks interesting..." Bex murmurs to Sam before all hell breaks loose.
Immediately after the blinding flash, the Gold Goblin erupts in a panic. Most patrons scramble around, blinded. Chips and drinks fly everywhere. Cards are thrown, and tables are knocked over.
You, however, are some of the lucky few that escaped blindness. The others, a group standing near the woman who dropped her bag of chips, now draw weapons as she loudly orates: "All right folks! Drop to the ground and don't try anything stupid! We might let you live!", her words inspiring the thugs around her; a glint of malice in their eyes.
"I'm blind! I can't see anything! Dergo, are you still here? What's going on?"
"Pigmeat! They're pigmeat as soon as I can see them! Damn Pyrotechnics. Can you see, Bex? I don't hear you screaming."
On 12;
"Agh!" Mordecai says, raising an arm as if to shield his eyes, far too late to matter. He moves in a beeline for the front doors, and while he makes a faint pretense of stumbling blindly and flailing an arm around (the other still raised to 'shield his eyes'), it won't take a savant to note that he's avoiding other blinded patrons (and tables and pillars) and cutting an otherwise direct trail straight to the door, and anyone who is specifically paying attention will note that he's not just gesticulating wildly, but is actually casting a spell. While he has a pair of daggers at his belt, he has drawn no weapon or spell components.
Part of him is tempted to just grab at loose chips, but he is gambling for a much bigger stake tonight...
On 19:
Gierixa draws her scimitar and readies to attack the first thug to approach, or the female "bard". She quickly notes who the guards are, and is all to happy to take up her new role early.
"you mean something like this," she says brandishing her blade, "well youll have to get through me first dirtbags."
If an attack roll is required for the readied attack:
Scimitar: 1d20+4=6, damage 1d6+6=10
Dergo grimassed, and put a hand on Thamara's shoulder. "Watch out. Stay down. I'll stop these lowlifes from going away with my money."
He pulled one knife he had smuggled in, and threw it towards the wizard. Even if he just scared him, it might stop him from loosening more spells.
"I only scream when I'm having an orgasm," Bex tells Sam. "And I can see 'em fine. We're out of the way of everything. Stay here until your eyes clear. I'm gonna go see if I can take advantage of this situation."
Bexilarius scans the room, trying to work out just who is directing the heist. Perception (1d20+2=10); Sense Motive (1d20+2=22)
The thugs, listening to and empowered by the woman's orating, move to intercept the guards. The woman yells "Hit 'em where it counts, boys, but remember not to shed any blood. We're not getting paid enough for that." She appears to be casting a spell; it seems to stop one guard dead in his tracks, making him an easy target for the thugs to smack him in the head with their saps. He falls, unconscious. She moves toward the chest of coins.
Meanwhile, a robed figure comes running out of the lavatories, a scroll in his hand and a sickle on his belt. He begins muttering a shaky incantation just as he reaches the large chest. With his touch, it shrinks down to a tiny cloth-like item.
Gierixa is a ferocious sight to see, but no thugs are near her; most of the action is taking place around the chest. A blind man runs screaming into Gierixa however, almost knocking her over, and in her focus she takes a reflexive swipe at him. Missing, of course.
It is easy to discern who the movers and shakers of the heist are. The Varisian woman is directing the thugs and the robed caster is headed for the chest. Bexilarius' acting seems to work, probably because everyone is focused on the chest. When it shrinks down, he is quick to touch it before they can snatch it up, causing it to emit shadowy darkness. The man and woman both hiss and curse at him. "We got ourselves a troublemaker here, boys.", she yells.
Ozbadin moves around the melee, hoping to intercept them at the door, and get a better view of what's happening. The darkness doesn't help matters.
Mordecai moves close to the door and prepares to inflict some harm. He is holding the charge.
One guard falls to the blows of the thugs, while another runs toward a cursing Samaritha, misjudging his direction on account of blindness. Anothter guard tries to fend off the attacks of three thugs, but takes a sharp blow to the side of the head. A fourth guard tries to take out one of the thugs that downed his party, but misses on account of the sudden darkness.
Dergo, against all odds manages to find a path through the screaming throngs of people, the darkness, and the distance to strike the caster in the arm.
On 12;
Mordecai continues weaving towards the door, accelerating his pace, finally stopping just before the doorway, and turning to face the glob of darkness now enveloping the stage, one arm still raised above his face as if shielding it from glare and cowering slightly.
Once in position, he takes a split-second to scan for clusters of golden tokens that could be scooped up with his Mage Hand SLA (25 ft. range). (Using the SLA will not discharge his touch spell, and he can move items up to 5 lbs a total of 15 ft. in a round.) He intends to make the tokens slide off of tables (or along the ground, for those already dropped for whatever reason) to his feet, and then float up into his pockets, while keeping his own hands free for that Opportunity Attack. This action will only occur on a round in which he doesn't choose to take another action, such as using Hand of the Acolyte to attack someone, I just wanted to warn you in advance.)
Mordecai
You can actually get to R16 in a single move. Using your Hand ability for gathering tokens is a standard action, so you can do it as you move. I'd ask for a 'Wisdom check' to give you the number, in GP, of tokens you gather. Do it fast, before people's vision starts to return.
Gierixa, never a master of strategy, takes the opportunity to move up to the nearest Thug in N9 and swings with her scimitar.
Scimitar Attack: 1d20+4=7, damage 1d6+6=11.
Under the cover of the darkness, Bexilarius steps back and snatches up the shrunken chest. On the off chance the thieves can see in the dark, or if they blunder too close to him, Bex prepares to strike back.
Dergo took a look at the situation, and came to the conclusion that once more, a rash, joke-like action had brought him right to the sticky middle of a pickle. Why the hell was he risking anything for the benefit of the casino? He'd not even won enough to make cashing in the chips worthwhile.
Ah well, he was in it, he might just as well roll with it. Since the robbers had made such big entrance, they probably had someone much less obvious preparing their getaway. And he'd find that someone.
Larur Feldin, the floor manager of the Gold Goblin, regains his sight and goes running to the back room.
"Saul! Saul! Saul, get out of that damn vault. They're trying to steal the chest."
"Guards!", he yells at the ceiling, "get down from there and help us out!"
Gierixa takes an angry swing against one of the thugs. She misses, however.
Bexilarius adjusts his position, his keen eyes show him where he stands in relation to his foes, even through his conjured magical darkness. Clutching the shrunken chest, he waits to see what they do, causing the darkness to follow him. Fortunately for them, they make their way out of and around the magical globe without feeling a punch from Bexilarius.
Ozbadin moves up to assist Gierixa in her attempt, flashing a blade expertly toward the thug. A quick adjustment saves the thug from the blow, but Ozbadin readies for another attack.
Mordecai situates himself between the door and the thieves, his scarred hand crackling with negative energy. Objects begin to float toward him.
All the guards, having regained their vision by now, move in to attack the thugs. Unfortunately they only manage glancing blows, opening up their defences for the thugs to strike. Which they do. For blood this time. Spurred on by the black-haired woman's rantings; "Show 'em we mean business. We're not going to let anyone steal the chest before we do!", several daggers flash out and slice through the guards. They fall in a crumpled heap, bleeding out.
Seeing the guards fall, Mordecai winces, not looking foward to the busy day he's going to have tomorrow. He sees a figure dash out of the darkness him and believes this may be the spellcaster who blinded the room. He raises his hand towards the wizard, and a dagger flings itself up from his belt, but spins erratically...
Adjust as necessary if the robed caster moves into a new position before Mordecai goes on 12. He has a 30 ft. range and will attempt to remain within 1 square of R16.
Attack roll 1d20+3, Damage 1d4+3. Spectacular miss, natural 1 on the attack roll! Feel free to describe what happens to the botched dagger attack, if you do the critical fumble thing.
Gierixa sees the bard moving behind her. She swings one last time at the thug in front of her and then takes a 5ft step to P9.
Scimitar attack: 1d20+4=13; damage 1d6+6=10.
Ozbadin, angry at the interruption swings again at the bandit.
Scimitar Attack ( 2 if flanking can be achieved) (1d20 2=11)
Darn it!
Still holding the shrunken chest, Bexilarius follows the man leading the robbers. Still within the darkness, Bex attempts to subdue him.
Dergo slowly made his way to the entrance. If the problems were dealt with on the floor - much better. But if they made a run for it, he'd be there.
Throngs of people that are now regaining their vision beginning fleeing the Golden Goblin.
Gierixa swings at the thug, but he sidesteps the blow, baring his teeth at her.
Bexilarius moves the darkness with him, changing the field of battle with every step and swing. Shadows dance and shift along the entire room. Though his fist's aim is true, it connects with an invisible shield of force in front of the caster; it's like slamming into steel.
Ozbadin's scimitar slashes out at the thug, but he ducks at the right moment, avoiding the blow.
Mordecai does his best to fling the dagger at the caster, however the Tiefling's darkness throws off his mentally guided attack. It doesn't help, then, that there are a great number of people trying to escape the gambling hall. The soft thud and a woman's scream let him know that his dagger hit something; through the darkness, it is impossible to tell.
The wizard that Bex had engaged, blind in the magical darkness, pushed his way past throngs of screaming customers to get to the other side, muttering strange words as he moved.
The thugs, having taken care of the visible guards, now move to finish off the defiant gamblers. "We told you to stay down, lady!" the Varisian woman spits, lunging her rapier into Gierixa's ribs
The thugs assisting the woman are not as lucky, however. Both swing their heavy saps in an attempt to subdue this resistance, but both miss.
The sound of movement and yelling above can barely be heard, but hopefully it means reinforcements will arrive soon.
With some experience at maneuvering around in lightless chambers, Mordecai steps out of the darkness and his second dagger rises up from his belt, as he attempts to repeat his action of last round, hopefully a bit more successfully...
Gierixa bellows an unintelligable howl, her growing frustration is evident.
Ignoring the thug, she turns and swings at the bard leading their actions.
She then takes a 5ft step to P9 to go back-to-back.
Scimitar attack: 1d20+4=6; damage 1d6+6=doesn't matter.
Bexilarius lashes out with an arm to stop the fleeing wizard. Attack of opportunity (1d20+4=18); Damage (nonlethal) (1d6+1=4).
He pursues the man across the hall, silently cursing whatever magical protections he's draped across himself as he strikes him again.
Unarmed strike (nonlethal) (1d20+4=12); Damage (1d6+1=5)
Bleeding and desperate, Gierixa continues to swing at the thugs in front of her. Blood gets in her eyes, however, and she’s unable to land a blow. They begin to taunt her; “This little grog-blossom’s got a little fight in her yet.”
Bexilarius lashes out as the wizard runs by, hitting him squarely in the temple. Not wanting to lose his foe, Bexilarius chases after the wizard, casting darkness all around him. His second blow goes wide, however.
Ozbadin, in a flash of presience, sends his scimitar deep into the neck of a thug.. A push-through and it is lodged in there completely, the body falling limp to the ground. He pulls his starknife from his belt and glares menacingly at the other thugs.
Mordecai, unable to get a clean shot at the wizard bathed in darkness, instead targets his accomplice. Sending a dagger flying into her back, she tenses up, and falls down to her knees, dropping her rapier.
One thug, angered by seeing his friend fall to Ozbadin’s sword, moves in to attack using a short-sword. It hits, dealing 6 damage. The other thug swings at Gierixa to finish her off, but misses in his rage.
Bleeding and on her knees, the Varisian woman attempts to cast a spell. The arcane words catch Gierixa’s attention, and she lashes out with her scimitar, driving it deep into the prone woman’s chest, her last incantation coming out as a blood filled gurgle, botching the spell.
One of the thugs attempts to flee, while the other begins finishing off the unconscious guards.
Old Scratch, seemingly freed from his cage, begins to flap about, yelling in a strange language at a level barely audible among the screaming patrons.
"Drop the chest already! There'll be no stealing it! Saul, you double crossing, two timing....ARGH!"
Even to those who don't speak Infernal, Old Scratch's frustration is palpable. He points his fingers and curses with fiery eyes at Bexilarius, who is currently holding the chest.
Gierixa sends a shower of blood from her scimitar onto the two remaining thugs while growling "lets see if i can mix your blood with hers cowards"
She swings her scimitar at the thug attempting to flee:
Scimitar attack: 1d20+4=22; damage 1d6+6=11
Threat confirms on: 1d20+4=19; extra damage 1d6+6=7
Total damage (see above rolls): 2d6+12=18
Mordecai steps to the Ghoulette wheel (S9) and directs his Hand of the Acolyte-powered dagger to attack one of the Thugs (in O9) threatening Gierixa.
Bex stays with the wizard, still trying to subdue him.
Unarmed attack (1d20+4=23); Damage (nonlethal) (1d6+1=3)
"Oh, come on, you've got to be kidding me" Dergo grumbled as he saw the sudden influx of "casino savers" and how they were handling the situation rather handily. He'd hoped to be a bit of an ace in the hole here, and... well, it looked like they were not even going to check the hole this time around.
He gave up on waiting around. Maybe he could still earn some accolades... besides, it'd make him look good with the ladies. So he slipped back into the fight, and looked for the closest assailant who was a little bit... distracted.
Thugs 21
Gierixa 19
Wizard 18A
Bexilarius 18
Ozbadin 13
Mordecai 12
Guards 11
Dergo 10
Gierixa swings her scimitar mightily, and manages to chop off one of her foe's arms. He collapses, his blood quickly draining all over the floor. The other thug stammers "I didn't mean nothin'! I didn't!", and withdraws from the battle, making his way to the exit.
Blind in the darkness and unable to find the exit, the wizard starts yelling "Thuvalia! Thuvalia, my love! The heist is finished! Run for it if you can!" His cries are cut short however, by a further blow to the head. He falls, unconscious and Bexilarius dismisses the magical darkness.
Ozbadin lashes out at the remaining thug as he withdraws, but misses completely.
Mordecai mentally controls his dagger, slashing out one of the thugs. However, the swiftly moving melee makes it difficult to target the thug, and the dagger slashes at air.
The guard withdrawing from combat with Ozbadin and Gierixa strides over the corpse of the bard on his way out of the gambling hall. Unfortunately, he also gets a little too close to Mordecai, who lashes out with negative energy. Numerous cuts and bruises form on the thug's body, but he manages to continue leaving.
On hearing the wizard's cries of failure, the other thugs begin to leave. They meet some opposition at the door, however, as Dergo stands defiant. He strikes out swiftly with a shortsword , dealing a deep blow to the thug, who falls.
Old Scratch flaps off, turning invisible as he goes.
"I don't want any part of this! Saul! Saul! Take care of this mess!" the fiend screeches, in Infernal.
Silently cursing himself for canceling the darkness so soon, Bexilarius drops to his knees and rifles through the wizard's pockets.
Gierixa looks around in disgust at the mess caused by these sloppy criminals. Glancing up at the last retreating thug, Gierixa draws her sling and placing a stone she begins winding it up to speed.
She hurls the stone at the thug: 10 to hit, 5 damage.
Mordecai moves to the nearest guard who doesn't appear to have already bled out and uses Heal to stabilize him.
Dergo wasn't stupid. He tried to hold them back as best as he could, quickly stabbing at each of them in turn... with a little luck, the guards would help him. If he got the feeling of getting in over his head - well, all it took was a step sideways.
Ozbadin quickly scans the room to see if anyone he knows is injured. If not he looks for anything valuable lying around to take before the commotion dies down.
Bexilarius;
Gierixa; The stone goes wide, but so does the thug. He continues his flight out of the gambling hall.
Ozbadin; The thugs in front of you have a few possessions of note; saps, a handful of daggers (4), and 20 gold teeth between them.
Dergo; Lashing out at the thugs as they rush past, you manage to nick one of them in the arm with your shortsword. It certainly helps send him on his way. Stepping back into the Gold Goblin Gambling hall, you can see that most of the commotion is dying down.
Mordecai; You move around the room, staunching wounds where possible. Two of the guards have been sliced right across the neck, but you manage to stabilize the bleeding of the other two.
A few more guards come spilling out from around the bar(12/15), and Saul soon joins the room, emerging out of the cashier's cages (near 8).
"Gendarmes! Someone get the gendarmes in here. Have them clean up this mess. What's going on?! Where's the chest!"
Saul, wide-eyed and shocked, scans the room for the chest, while a guard rushes out of the gold goblin.
Some of the newly arrived guards tend to the wounded ones, and the others gather up the unconscious and dead thugs.
At the sight of the dismembered thug, flailing his bloody spray, Sam heaves, spraying her surroundings with what was previously her dinner. Shaking, she runs out of the Gold Goblin.
Larur runs over to Saul and is seen whispering into his ear. Larur points, in turn, to Gierixa, Ozbadin, Dergo, and Bexilarius. He pauses the longest at Bexilarius, emphatically pointing at his clenched fist.
"Dergo! Dergo, are you hurt?", Tamara cries out when she sees him re-enter.
Ozbadin attempts to secretly pocket the gold from the thugs.
Bexilarius;
Bexilarius strips the valuables off the body and pockets the coin purse as unobtrusively and quickly as possible. Standing up, he takes a look around the room, just in time to see Sam lose her dinner and flee. Girl's got no stomach for violence, he thinks, half-smiling at his own pun.
Noticing Saul and Larur looking at him, Bex plants a foot on top of the wizard's unconscious body, and dangle the shrunken chest from his fingers.
"This what you're looking for, gentlemen?" he asks with a roguish grin.