>trust Ashley
Nothing happens.

Alice expectantly looks at Ashley's body, pokes her, then looks back at a visibly shaken Yulya
Soo...
That was the great masterplan?

The bugbear commander looks around a moment, seeing Alice up, he considers going back to take her down again as his prey runs North, just out of reach. He uses Intimidate again on Alice and Yulya.

Alice and Yulya are pinned in place, once again struck with Frightened 1. He then turns and runs north After Cat, continuing the chase.

Alice's eyes dart around, considering her options
Damned what the hell is this? Yulya, what do we do now?



Frustrated, Alice shoots another poisoned arrow at the bugbear commander. Unable and not keen on approaching him, Alice moves South, carefully traversing her ball bearings, and decides to explore the chamber the bugbear commander came from. She tries to take a peek through the door to see what's in this room. If she sees no enemies, she takes a step inside

Yula casts Toll the Dead on the bugbear commander and stands her ground

[You didn't explicitly state you used the goblin staff but I presume you did.][WIS vs DC15 1d20+1=4][DMG 1d12+3G+2R=14][With the Bugbear's low wisdom, this would make for a good spell to boost. It would illegally make it to tier 3 but there may still be a better option.]

The bell tolls and you can finally see him begin to falter as he's bathed in necrotic energy.

Alice shoots another poisoned arrow at the bugbear commander. Unable and not keen on approaching him, Alice moves South, carefully traversing her ball bearings, and decides to explore the chamber the bugbear commander came from. She tries to take a peek through the door to see what's in this room. If she sees no enemies, she takes a step inside

[HIT (flank with Cat) vs AC18 1d20+5+EB1d4=26][DMG 1d8+3+1d2/2=5+1 piercing + poison damage]

The arrow sticks into the bugbear with a satisfying thunk, the sound reminiscent of an axe into soft, wet wood.

As you can see as you pass the first bedroom, though in a damaged state now and freshly baked, inside the first bedrooom is 4 beds and a chest near the door. Alice slips past the door second door, still open since the bugbear commander exited, and inside is a second bedroom. This one has only one bed, a writing desk, loose papers, ink, and other documents written in Dwarvish. There is a light brown fur shed on the bed as well as remnants of water from footprints, presumably snow from outside that's melted recently.

Cat shoots another arrow at him flanking with Yulya, then outruns him South as described in the Meta thread as Yulya calls her back.

[Cat, you've used your feline agility and have not stayed in one place for a turn so cannot use it again. Therefore, if you fire your bow your maximum distance to move is 30ft, so I have ignored your shot. Who do you give temporary hitpoints to?]

[Round 7]

He's enraged now and looking disheveled, he plucks Alice's arrow from himself with a wince and looks to be in pain. He's yells out in frustration, desperate he moves south and throws rocks as he approaches.

[HIT vs AC 1d20+4=5,8] Regardless of the target, he misses.

Yulya feels an unnatural presence, she looks at Ashley but there's no sign it's from her.

The lone buzz of a dragonwasp is heard amid the fuss of the bugbear commander, Beatrice has come out to greet him and attempts to grapple him.

[GRAPPLE vs DC17 1d20+2=5]

He flails at her and avoids the grapple.



[Make your moves]

The arrow sticks into the bugbear with a satisfying thunk, the sound reminiscent of an axe into soft, wet wood.

Alice nods with a satisfied smile and decides to let Daniella off the hook for now.
This bow isn't bad at all!

As you can see as you pass the first bedroom, though in a damaged state now and freshly baked, inside the first bedrooom is 4 beds and a chest near the door. Alice slips past the door second door, still open since the bugbear commander exited, and inside is a second bedroom. This one has only one bed, a writing desk, loose papers, ink, and other documents written in Dwarvish. There is a light brown fur shed on the bed as well as remnants of water from footprints, presumably snow from outside that's melted recently.

Both disappointed and relieved there's not another bugbear regiment, Alice exits again. Seeing she has no clear shot t the enemy, Alice again carefully tiptoes through the ball bearings and caltrops and steps over the downed bugbear to examine the chest.
Maaan, did we kill his family in there or something?

If the chest looks like it's not boobie-trapped, Alice will attempt to open it.
Damn Ashley! I knew we should have asked her about the traps. Why did she keep that to herself?

Cat shoots an arrow at the Bugbear Commander and runs West]

Beatrice has been bestowed temporary Hit points from two turns. [If you don't bestow the points, I will.] [4d6=14]

[Alice is out of range for Embolding Bond][HIT 1d20+2+1+1=19][DMG 1d8+1+1+1honed=7]

The Bugbear commander looks increasingly discouraged that he is being whittled down but is relieved at least one party member seems dead and another has given up.

If the chest looks like it's not booby-trapped, Alice will attempt to open it.

As a penalty for disengaging from battle during a dire boss fight, teetering on the edge of failure, you will not receive experience for this round among other punishments I will decide later.

[PERCEPTION 1d20+2=10]

Not finding any booby-traps, Alice attempts to open the chest.

[Hidden rolls]

As Alice fumbles with the lock, before she realizes she needs the lockpick set from Ashley, a fine mist of poison sprays her, the noxious cloud is very unpleasant. [1d10=6 poison damage]

[Previously, Alice was revived with a potion of healing from 0, 2d4+2=5, please note Yulya used her potion from the goblin den.]

Alice resists some of the damage and takes 3, leaving 2. The chest remains locked.

Yulya tries to determine the nature of that presence but there is no time for a serious investigation. She casts BANE on the bugbear commander and then falls back 20 ft South.

[PASSIVE PERCEPTION 1d20+5=13] There is definitely an unknown presence that also feels slightly familiar, she remembers it from the time Ashley was struck by lightning through the orb during leveling. She also catches a slight smell of ionized air. Glancing back at Ashley's body she sees she is suddenly sitting up, staring toward the bugbear commander with a blank expression.

Ashley has regained consciousness and has gained 5 HP

Yulya casts Bane. [CHA vs DC15 1d20+1=11] The bugbear commander is enveloped in negative field of disappointment.

To the bugbear's further disappointment and confusion, he sees who was previously dead suddenly sitting, staring at him.

Ashley casts Dampen Spirit boosted to level 2: Delusion



The Bugbear Commander's moral has crumbled, he will have disadvantage on all ability checks.

Beatrice attempts to grapple.

[GRAPPLE vs DC17D-1d4=DC16 1d20+2=(21,17)] Her grapple is successful and she attempts to sting the Bugbear Commander. [HIT A vs AC18 1d20+4=8,19][DMG 1d4=4] MVP Beatrice deals 4 poison damage to the Bugbear commander! He reels from the pain.

[The bugbear commander had auto-succeed poison saving throws regardless of source from sheer will and that has switched to no resistance under his current effects.]

[Round 8]

The bugbear commander swats at Beatrice. [HIT D vs AC10 1d20+7-1d4=(22,6),(20,8)] He wastes both his attacks failing to hit her. The tide of battle has certainly turned!

Ashley stands and walks up to the Bugbear Commander using Action Surge and extra attacks, striking him with her bare fists, she attempts to grapple him with a bonus action.

[1d20 vs AC18 1d20+10G+2+1F=(14,19),(28,25),(19,18)][DC+1 vs DC17D-1d4=15 1d20+1=(16,21)][DMG 3d4+3+6=19]

With ludicrous speed, she bombards the Bugbear with blows, grapples him and holds him in place.

Yulya feels this alien presence strongly and a psychic message fills her mind.



[Make your moves]