The FortBreaks-the-Chain lunged almost immediately, bringing his greatsword down on one of the pesky Shadows. He viewed this as more of a pest hunt than a battle, and would be pleasantly surprised if they stood and fought instead of scampering further into the depths.
22 to hit
6 to damage (2 points)
Breaks-the-Chain lunges forward with their greatsword, cutting deep into the rolling black tar, which gave a final scream at the Godbound's sundering blow and dissolved into two goopy piles.
Kills Shadow of rolling tar.Lleras hurls balls of fire but fails to score a hit. As he prepares to chase the Shadows down, he shouts back to the survivors: "Legionaries! Watch our rear and keep everyone in the light! Especially Tiros; he's wounded!"
Name: Lleras Hlaalu
Hit Points: 11/15
AC: 3
Armor: None (Robes)
Base attack bonus: +2
Weapons:
(Fiery?) Staff (2h (Heavy-ish?), Str, +2 to hit): 1d10+1
Knife (Light, Dex, +3 to hit): 1d6+2
Fireball (1h ranged, Dex, +3 to hit, up to 50ft, magic weapon): 1d10
Fray Die: 1d8
Resources
Effort: 3/3
Active effects
Cold breath of Sithis (?): +1 Effort needed to activate gifts
The two soldiers obey Lleras' orders eagerly, falling to the back as the Godbound mage casts a fireball that narrowly misses the two living shadows.
The two remaining shadows hiss in anger. The Scamp, grin replaced by a furious grimace, tears at the Argonian with its claws, drawing a little blood. However, the Hound leaps upon him also, bites and rips at Breaks-the Chain with terrible teeth and claws.
Scamp deals 1 damage, Hound deals 4 and 2 for a combined total of 7 damage. Tiros and Krihrada hold their actions, allowing them to act at the end of this round and then once more at beginning of next.
The GroveGirtek lacks a proper "face" to read expressions from. Despite this, there is still some amount of body language from which emotion may be implied.
Let us take Girtek's current appearance as an example. As Girtek takes in the image and message of the vampiress standing over the great stag, the glow emitting from their crystal "eyes" has brightened by few lumens, while the angle of dispersion has contracted, leaving the scene of Girtek's focus slightly more illuminated and purple than the rest of the chamber. Secondarily, there is a notable vibration in the accrued material that Girtek has used to compose their body; although it is small in magnitude, it is rapid enough to produce both a subtle humming sound as well as to cause Girtek's outline to appear vaguely blurry. The first is a sign of Girtek's elevated emotional state; the latter is a signal of disquiet or agitation.
Finally, Girtek is emitting an incomprehensible growling sound. This, however, does not technically properly fall under the umbrella of "nonverbal communication". It is, of course, a means of communication, but it is perfectly verbal, simply being in a language not used by almost any humanoid entities.
How dare she. How dare she? You were not made to be bound to the wills of those who would drain you dry, treat you as a simple resource to be exploited. You are a being of the wilds, born to run and roam freely, and to make your life or your death among the untamed world.
How dare she do this to you?
Rise, great stag. You are bound by both chain and mind, and while I cannot free your body from where I stand, your mind, your soul, is mine to command. And I command you to be free, to not listen to this greedy thief who would take and take and take from you until naught is left but the lifeless desert. Heed my word and decree, when I say that you must be free.
In conclusion, the most accurate analysis of Girtek's emotional state would be rage.
The Great Stag raises its head wearily and stares at Girtek. The atronach can sense the heartbreak of the Stag, a desire to wander fair fields and woods long denied to him. However much it may desire to aid you, the Collar only allows one master, and the Stag is too worn to defy it.
Girtek can sense a fading wish though. To be free, in one way or the other.
Grovecat
Tiros gives a subtle gesture which he hopes Girtek will understand as a warning not to be hasty, before answering the dead lady.
That sounds perfectly reasonable. I have no reason to want to kill you either. Hand over the, uh, stick and we'll go our separate ways, no problem.
(charisma roll: 18)
ETA:
If she assents, then, once the stick is well in hand and before the vampire and her wagon full of blood gets more than 100ft away, she accidentally trips, falling into the wagon, knocking it over, causing all the barrels to spill out and jostle open, and pouring all the blood out into the cold ground where it is lost forever. She probably tries to scoop it up ineffectually with her hands. Then maybe she cries. I'm sure it's very moving. We all definitely feel really bad and aren't laughing at her or anything.
(The World Against You, to-hit roll: 22)
The Vampire glances between the Godbound and nods. She believes the Tiros. She crouches down,
"Stag, if they attack me or approach before I leave the room, kill them."
The Great Stag groans and slowly climbs to its feet as the the Vampire places the rod on the ground and goes to the wagon laded with barrels of blood. However, on her way there she trips on a stone and careens into the wagon, sending it rolling forward until it crashes into a rock, which flips it on its side and barrels of divine blood crashing on the ground. The Vampire just sits there for a moment trembling before slowly getting to her feet and stumbling away, draugr in tow.
The Stag dully stares at the group, blood still slowly dripping down its matted fur.
What do you do? Unless otherwise stated, will assume you wait for her to leave so you don't trigger the Stag, but that is up to you!