Rage boiled in the little witch as she witnessed not one, but two of the beasts resist the sleeping hex. Such rudeness would not be tolerated, especially from vermin as dirty and ugly as bugbears. Unacceptable! Soledad hissed a curse, but magic laced her words. Invisible yet potent, a web of dark magic spun out from the gold elf's lips to bind the mind of the bugbear that had managed to escape spell and injury. 

Soledad wove the threads of magic into a tapestry of horror, and sent the illusion to take hold of the wretch's weak mind. A swarm of thousands upon thousands of poisonous spiders crawled out from the earth below. Within the passing of a breath the venomous creatures covered the bugbear completely, they crawled into every crevice biting and biting and biting. And there was no end to their number. 

To every other eye, the bugbear screamed and thrashed at something that was not there. It was, afterall, an illusion. 

 

((OOC: Casts Phantasmal Force to target the unharmed bugbear))

As a blood hound Luna tried to track the goblin as best he could, losing the trail several times and having to backtrack a few times as well as go into the river and then cross. He managed to follow up untill they came to a marshy area here try as he might he could find no sign of the goblin, what he did find however was a bugbear camp.

Seemed these bears had caught a large otter and where going to have it for dinner, well this would never do, he listened to what the others where saying and started to deceide what his role should be.Thaoran notched his bow and reaided for a range attack while silver said she would rescue the otter.The dragonborn also readied a javlin.

Watching as all the others made their moves on the bugbears Luna held back on shifting back making no moves at first he was satisfied to wait and see how the first wave of attacks panned out.After all he had teamed up with a pretty tough group so he waited for a sec

if necessary he was prepared however to do his part if need be keeping a close watch on the bugbears he figured if one started making its way toward any of his new partners he could at least be a distraction even if that ment charging right in at the bugbears

How could that shot have not slain the beast? Thäoran had no time to wonder about that as he saw the bugbears ready their weapons and roar their outrage at being rudely interrupted from their meal. Nocking another arrow, the elf took aim again and let loose at bugbear number 2, aiming for the fiend's windpipe. Hopefully this time the creature would breath its last..

I thought I posted but apparently I only had it in my mind what I was going to write [so if you move the game along Dok was just going to remain in position for any surprise attack and be available to aid his comrades if their attacks go south against the Bug Bears] EDIT: I should have something written and posted in a couple of days!

The first round of combat, the grand surprise attack, had mixed results for the party.  One enemy was incapacitated, but the others were mostly unharmed.  Things would not be resolved so simply it seems. 

                   Dok and Silver kicked off the action with little action of their own.  They were a little forward of the group but still about 50 feet away from the closest of the monsters.  They held their ground, hunkering down in the woods to remain unseen.  If the creatures moved towards the group, they would be ready.  Or perhaps they would move forward to rescue the otter – time would tell.

                   Thaoran lined up his bow and shot – aiming at the other bugbear that was by the fire.  He’d hit it before, and the elf hoped a second arrow would do the trick.  The shaft buried itself into the creature’s thigh and for a second time it howled in anger.  This seemed a more solid shot than the first, but still the creature stood. 

                   At this point the creature by standing by the otter spun towards the party and roared out his challenge.  He grabbed a javelin and flung it towards the party.  Somehow, even in the dark and at this distance the small spear found its mark.  Constantine, whose own javelin had flown so far amiss, was struck by the javelin.  (-5 hp)  As soon as he threw the javelin the beast ducked around behind the tree providing it with partial coverage from any ranged attacks.

                   That coverage quickly paid off as Hornet’s next shot thwacked solidly into the tree he was hiding behind.  The otter slowly spun in it’s bindings nearby, variously watching the action and trying to work out a way to get loose. 

                   Soledad was pleased to see one of the monsters fall to her sleeping hex, but frustrated that it was only one.  She marched forward twenty feet in the woods to get within range of her next spell – a phantasmal force spell aimed at the bugbear near the tree and otter.  A swarm of thousands upon thousands of poisonous spiders crawled out from the earth below.  Within the passing of a breath the venomous creatures covered the bugbear completely, they crawled into every crevice biting and biting and biting.  And they kept coming.  She hoped to see the creature thrashing and writhing against the swarm and was not disappointed.  It was hard to see behind the large tree, but everyone could hear its howls.

                   Luna and Constantine were both in the middle of a battle that didn’t match their skills – or current shapes.  Constantine pulled the bugbears javelin out and controlled his anger.  He held his weapon and prepared to defend his new companions should the creatures come closer.  Luna sat and watched the events in the shape of a hound.  His nose would likely be more valuable after the battle than anything he could do now.

                   The last upright bugbear screamed at the two arrows Thaoran had struck him with.  If they were not there before, elves had moved to the top of his “most hated critters” list.  He looked down at his napping comrade and started slapping him awake.   The other creature took a few slaps before he woke up.  But wake he did.  As soon as its eyes opened the one doing the slapping sought cover behind a nearby tree.

 

The Bugbears

BB #1:  No longer asleep, on the ground near the fire.  Has been hit.

BB #2:  Has been hit twice.  Has partial cover behind a tree.

BB #3:  A little damage from the illusion – seems to be in the grips of the spell

Otter:  Spinning in his bindings

 

The group:

Doc and Silver about 30’ to the left and forward – about 50’ from the tree/otter/Bugbear #3.  Believe they are unseen.

The rest are grouped together about 70-80’ away.  The tree is closer than the fire.

Soledad is 20’ ahead of the group.  She wanted to cast a spell with a 60’ range so I moved her into range.

 

Hornet cursed under his breath as his bolt sunk into the tree rather than bugbear flesh.  Even worse luck the bugbear found cover behind the tree making it harder to hit.  Such was not the case for the recently woken one so Hornet focused his nect attack on that enemy.  A bolt flew once more from his crossbow and Hornet faded into the vegetation.  (Bonus action : Hide)    

Silver moved quickly as the arrows and spells started being cast and released and found, thanks to the destraction of such, right behind the tied up Otter. Keeping an eye on the closet bugbear she moved up behind the Otter and started to cut it loose.

“Stay quiet I’m here to free you, give me a few seconds to cut your bonds.”

Staying alert as she cut the ropes, she knew she could count on the rest of the party to cover her.

Dok muttered a quick prayer to his deity, as soon as he realized that Silver was attempting to rescue the Otter!

The Hill Dwarf Cleric made a quick decision in response to Silver making a 'mad dash' for the Otter!

Dok slowly made his way another 20 feet towards the Otter, judging that a 30 foot distance would allow him to help protect Silver (((OOC: with a Spiritual Weapon spell if absolutely necessary))) from any unforeseen complications, while affording the Cleric of Helm ample opportunity to scout the surrounding area, in case there were surprise attacks launched from any direction by unexpected or unseen foes!

Soledad made sure to keep hidden from the bugbears as she concentrated on maintaining the nightmare illusion. It was particularly irritating to see the sleeping bugbear awakened from her hex, so naturally she took her ire out on the one caught up in the illusion. As the onslaught of biting spiders continued without any end to their number, Soledad spun horrible, unimaginalble pain into each and every spider bite. It was maddeningly painful and it would not stop. This was the kind of pain that broke the mind and the poison was making it hard to breathe.

((OOC: Concentrating on maintaining Phantasmal Force))

Thäoran muttered an elvish curse under his breath as the monster he'd been trying to slay stubbornly refused to give Thäoran the satisfaction of drawing its last breath.

With a sharp sigh, the elf once again nocked an arrow into his pine-wood bow and sighted along the shaft, abandoning his attempts to merely strike the beast in the thigh which was clearly not having the result he desired. This time, he aimed for the beast's knee, hoping the bone wasn't too dense and that the arrowhead would cause sufficient enough damage to at least hobble the fiend. With practiced ease, he let loose.

((OOC: Yes, I'm aiming at the same bugbear I've been shooting for the past 2 rounds.))

When the javelin struck, Constantine staggered a bit, reeling at the sudden swell of pain. Gritting his teeth, he muttered a curse in Draconic before withdrawing it one-handed. He nearly lost his balance completely with the swell of sensation and agony at the weapon sliding out of his shoulder.

Breathing heavily, the paladin murmured a prayer of thanks to Torm before slapping a hand over the gaping wound. Divine light spread across his palm and into the injury, looking to almost be searing shut from the inside, though Constantine only felt warmth at the magic. He sighed in relief, grateful yet again for his deity's protection.

He invoked Torm once more, this time in drawing Draconic symbols about his armour, which then began to glow faintly with white light. He held himself steady, certain that any attacks would not break his armour this time.

(OOC: Using 5 points of Lay on Hands to heal myself, then casting Shield of Faith for that sweet +2 to AC.)

          As the battle raged, Dok and Silver moved forward towards the otter.  Their eyes were set on a rescue, but as they tried to move somewhat stealthily they didn’t get there this turn – they remain about 25’ from the tree when the turn ends.  At the moment, Silver is a bit ahead of the dwarf.  They continue to believe nobody has spotted them, but as they have been moving it is hard to be sure. 

           Thaoran wanted to finish off the one he had already hit, frustrated that it wasn’t yet dead.  The creature was partially hidden behind a tree, but one leg stuck out a bit – the problem with being such a large beast.  How many arrows to a leg did it take to put one down?  A one?  A two? A thwack!  His arrow slammed into the beast kneecap and seemed to imbed itself in the leg.  The leg seemed to be a pincushion at this point and even from this distance the creatures howl of pain was audible.  It was a beautiful shot.  But it still wasn’t dead. 

           Hornet took the easier shot – the one that had been sleeping and now was lying on the ground trying to get behind a tree, but not yet covered.  His arrow took it in the side, damaging it but not putting it down.  That creature saw howled and looked up – seeing his companion a few feet away writhing for no particular reason.  (The one enjoying the effects of Soledad’s spell.)  He scuttled along the ground as quickly as he could over to his companion and grabbed him yelling something in a language nobody quite understood. 

           Luna continued to sit back and watch the action.  Constantine added his anger to the howls of the bugbears.  Still too far away to effectively attack he used his lay on hands ability to heal the damage he took from the javelin as he threw the offending weapon aside.  Shield of faith also was added to his armor class. 

 

The Bugbears

BB #1:  Has been hit twice.  Behind the tree with the otter in it.

BB #2:  Has been hit three times.  Has partial cover behind a tree.

BB #3:  A little damage from the illusion twice – seems to be in the grips of the spell

Otter:  Spinning in his bindings

  Hornet watched his bolt once more stike flesh but not kill the bugbear.  Moments later it started crawling to its companion and Hornet knew it was trying to break the spell.  That would not so at all.  Once more he took aim and sent a bolt winging its was towards the enemy.  

In...

Out...

Constantine held his greataxe before him, pointing its blade towards the bugbears before him.

In...

Out...

He hefted his shield further onto his arm, adjusting it to be comfortable with movement.

In...

Out...

With a war cry, Constantine began sprinting across the terrain, mindful of one thing: glorious combat.

(OOC: Dashing.)

Silver having moved quickly as the arrows and spells started being cast and released had been unable to reach the Otter her last turn but now within only a few meters she again moved forward while attempting to reman as unnoticable as possible. Finding herself right behind the tied up Otter she kept an eye on the closet bugbear as she moved up behind the Otter and started to cut it loose.

“Stay quiet I’m here to free you, give me a few seconds to cut your bonds.”

Staying alert as she cut the ropes, she knew she could count on the rest of the party to cover her.