The Wilderness

Their goal is to rescue, and Minsc won’t retreat unless the woman is safe.

Sheemish rushes down the steps to the courtyard and leaps off partway through. Gauntlets at the ready, he slams his metallic fists into the ground once once again, a massive amount of energy releasing outwards in a thunderous wave knocking over debri and enemy alike. The flames of the hell hounds shrinking under the ripple of power. One hound is even pushed back from the force.

But the damage appears minimal in the end, as flames return to life. Sheemish grunts from the impact and from frustration at its lack of impact and gives a whistle. Every ready to help, Stitch zips in front of the the collapses women and emits a cloudy mechanicals mist from her wings. Within seconds a murky haze is between her and the hounds.

Hound 1 passes its save and takes 2 damage. Hound 2 fails, is pushed back 10 ft and takes 3 damage. Sanctuary is cast on women. Enemies attack her need to make a wisdom save or turn their attack elsewhere.

Round 2 Summary

Edwin lets loose a wad of bloody spittle as his back touches the castle wall. His dark eyes flit back and forth between his allies and his enemies, calculating...

Even badly wounded, Minsc does his best to protect Dynaheir. With a wicked smile on his lips and a glint of madness in his eyes, the tattooed warrior brings his axe home once, twice on one of the hell hounds (H2 takes 21 dmg). It isn't enough. The infernal beast leaps at Minsc, toppling him, fangs reaching for his face. Flat on his back, Minsc manages to get the haft of his axe up and between the hound's jaws, muscles straining to hold the monster at bay. Unfortunately, in such a situation the heroic Minsc has no defense against the second hound, which darts forward to close its maw around his throat (Minsc takes 18 dmg).

The hound lifts its head, and almost seems to grin with its bloody, sizzling teeth as it regards fallen Minsc. The man grasps weakly at his throat as his blood, breath, and life fade away (Minsc is dying).

Sheemish's leap and thunderous landing does little direct harm to the hell hounds, but one of them is pushed into the pit where Dynaheir was kept captive only a minute ago (H2 takes 6 fall dmg and is prone in the pit).

Stella's shining arrow flies toward its target, causing shadows in the courtyard to flicker and sway. Edwin raises a hand to conjure a magical shield for protection (Edwin casts Shield)... and the arrow bursts through the barrier and buries itself into Edwin's robes, and the light spreads out all over him and his clothes.

Terros lifts a large piece of rubble and hurls it at Stella's place on the battlements, but its aim is off. The projectile collides with the wall well below the protective battlements, causing a rumble of stone, but no real damage.

Hunched over and breathing ragged, the Red Wizard refocuses on his true goal: the death of Dynaheir. With pained words he gathers a massive amount of arcane energy and hurls it in the form of a fire bolt at the kneeling woman (Edwin casts Fire Bolt). She collapses with an agonized scream, fiery magic coursing up and down her body (Dynaheir takes 45 dmg and is dying).

Edwin clutches his head as Aiwe's spell tries to take hold of his mind. His mental defenses slam into place, locking the bard out. "No! No! I win, you mewling idiots! The wychlaran dies at my hand. And I will live to hound you another day! (Hound! Good one, I am so clever...)"

He flicks his fingers and teleports through the double-doors and into the keep's interior (Edwin casts Misty Step). "Let no one through, Terros! I may even reward you well when I summon you next..." The earth elemental stomps into place before the keep's entrance, blocking the doorway as Edwin limps away.

Round 3 Player Phase!!!

Stitch zips after the wizard, her tiny self looking for any crevice to flit into.

Deftly Speeding between networks of rubble and decay Stitch bursts into a room of the keep with Red Wizard in sight. The man is hunched over breathing hard and bleeding but with a confident grin on his face, until he sees Stitch. A burst of energy from the small creation hits with perfect precision, smashing into the arrogant grin.

Red wizard takes 7 force damage

Sheemish‘s eyes quickly dart between the fallen bodies and his injured companions. He suddenly realized he may be the only one unharmed so far!

Gritting his teeth he launches a barrage at the hound still standing. Moving as he fires he kicks a fallen barrel to roll in front of the fallen woman, giving her temporary shielding.

"Stitch Go!" The blacksmith shouts and he senses his little friend zip after the wizard.

Once again hitting but rolling duds lol. 7 damage to hell hound. Now that I understand bonus actions better ; ) I use sanctuary this time, hopefully correctly, as I didn’t use a spell but rather a cantrip instead

Edwin's self-assured grin slackens when he notices a small flying... something? Stitch's growing hum is enough of a threat that the Red Wizard quickly prepares a spell to shield himself. But in this moment Stitch is burdened with glorious purpose, and her bolt of energy breaks through his magical defenses.

Edwin Odesseiron, Red Wizard of Thay, is no more!

The rest of the party are immediately clued in to Stitch's success as the two hell hounds dissolve into a sulfurous stink. Terros' time, too, on this plane comes to an end. Arms lifted to smash at the invisible Dieter who tried to sneak past him, the earth elemental crumbles to dust.

On the ground nearby lie two forms; Minsc and Dynaheir cling to life, but only just barely. They could succumb to their wounds and pass on at any moment.

Not taking time to celebrate yet; Sheemish kneels next to the woman and holds a gauntlet over one of her worst wounds. An icy coolant seeps out of the armored hand and drips onto the burnt flesh countering its heat and infection.

Upon inspecting the party and seeing everyone was cared for, I go over inspect the fallen mage Edwin for anything of value and or reasoning behind his desire to kill our new friends.

Runeson enters the keep. His footsteps echo along the empty halls. It doesn't take long to find the Thayan's corpse sprawled out on the floor. The paladin carefully searches the iconic red robes for any valuables, and indeed he finds a heavy coinpurse. There's also a gilded tome covered in arcane sigils.