Chapter 3: Maulia Encounters

Corday spins away from the falling corpse that is obviously met its in and rushed over to the next one (Undead #2) but does give a glancing look to make sure Lelay is safe. He attacks the next one but his glance back cost him as he missed the fact the undead had shifted and his attack is poorly placed. (Yes. Women can get you killed. That or dice.)

Regan's warhammer contacts his undead opponent, sending a piece of its torso flying. As Regan had hopped, he removes a part of the ghoul from the other parts of it. The blow surely knocked away a significant amount of its necrotic vitality but unfortunately the creature is not deterred. It responds with a hiss. (UC4: 13 damage)

...

On his rush to the undead facing the monk, Cordey glances over at Lelay and sees she is protected behind circus members as well as the other Moonlight tavern patrons. Her eyes momentarily meet his just long enough to distract him from the accuracy of his attack.

...

Between the slash and stab of Admiral's two blades, it's Reaver that lands the opening and inflicts solid damage to Donatello. The blow, landing between what's left of the captain's abdomen and thigh, causes the ghoul to stumble and nearly lose his balance. (Donatello: 15 damage. He has Disadvantage to Attack and DEX rolls this round and next.)

...

Taresh executes a flurry of kicks at the undead on his right. Two of his kicks land. (UC1: 12 damage)

...

The pirates near Admiral attempt to hit Donatello but fumble their weapons. The pirate near Regan manages a hit. (UC4: 4 damage)

...


Caspian moves from the stairs, draws his sword, and stands boldly in front of Jin and Tasya. A mote of fire flys from the hand of a female circus member in the balcony above. It hits the undead that Regan's warhammer just punched a hole through. (UC4: 3 damage)

With Caspian guarding, Briya calls to her human friends and also to the local women behind the human shield now fronted by Caspian.

"You all should move into the back room. There's a door there. We will protect you." She points to the door around the corner of the bar. "Use it if it is not locked!" The freed humans start to make haste toward the door as do the local women. Lelay, on the other hand, stays put, her worried gaze fixed on Cordey.
...

Donatello, hearing Briya’s call, looks up and his look of angered desperation turns into a sly grin showing on what’s left of the rotten flesh covering his skull. He smiles at Admiral and waves his blade. His stumbling figure becomes a silvery mist that spreads instantly in all directions, before quickly converging again directly behind Lelay. He reforms into his ghoulish self and grabs Lelay from behind putting his blade to her neck. Lelay closes her eyes and frantically mutters quiet words.

"Ahh…yes. You hear the voices of the old ones. Surely, you know why we are here then my dear. Tell them…they need just permit me a look into their souls, a window into their intent, and no more blood be shed."

Donatello’s crew momentarily lower their weapons, waiting for the next cue from their captain.

Stats
**Donatello--HP: 29
**Undead Crew 1,2,3,4--HP: 24, 31, dead, 5
Regan--Current HP: 50, Temp HP: 0, Warlock Spell Slots: 2/2, Pact Tally: 0/150.
Cordey--Current HP:37, Temp HP: 0, SD: 2/4
Admiral--Current HP: 25, Temp HP: 0, Spell Slots: 1/2, PP: 1/4, Pact Tally: 39/400.
Taresh--Current HP: 37, Temp HP: 0. Ki: 7
Pirates--P1 (engaging UC4)--P2 P3 (engaging Donatello)--and others
Locals--tba
Circus Troupe--Caspian, Reina (fire breather in balcony)

"You take a bystander hostage, and demand a look into our souls? Monster, we have already seen into yours. Unhand her, and face me in one on one combat or be branded the absolute COWARD you are!"

Cordey is stuck in the cross hairs of the situation with no fast thoughts. Do or don't do. To be sure this has brought the battle to pause. His face shows his pain. His hazel eyes are solely on Lelay. He has a white hand grip on his dagger. It would be very hard to do more to him then his Lelay.

While Donatello’s distracted by the armoured fellow’s speech, Admiral slinks around the side of the tavern, trying to get a bit closer to the undead captain and his hostage. Lightning sparks and crackles in his claws. He doesn’t want to do anything that might cause Donatello to harm his hostage but he watches his movements closely, ready to intervene if it looks like he needs to.

"Arrrrr!" Donatello growls angrily. "Honor. Such ball and chain." He removes his sword from Lelay's throat, waves his glowing blade, and turns into the mist again, momentarily materializing in front of Regan between his undead crew and the pirate. He heaves them both aside in either direction as his form solidfies. "So you want to face Donatello "The Black" knight? Do you? Well let's have at it!"

Donatello's crew still waits for Donatello's orders, pausing for the one-on-one between their captain and Regan.

...

Admiral was making his way toward Lelay, when Donatello materilizes by Regan, his claws still sparking.

Cordey mouths the words 'Run. Hide.' to Lelay before eyes down the Undead 3 but strangely enough, he backs a bit away from him but as you can tell he has again placed himself between them and Lelay with his dagger handy. And making them have move to come to him.

"No, but I'd rather that then let you take a bystander hostage." And with that, Regan will engage the Captain, bringing his pact warhammer to bear.

Regan heaves a hefty blow at Donatello who catches his heavy warhammer with the cross guard of his sword. For a moment the two stand locked, until Donatello shifts and Regan's weapon follows through missing Donatello.
...

With her eyes alone Lelay tells Cordey she understands. Cordey can see the concern for him on her face as she reluctantly follows the freed humans who move hastily through the door. After which, the local men at the back of the room mover closer to the door to block passage to it, as does Briya.

Rafa and the locals jump to perceived safety behind the bar. While the locals in the lower raised area take advantage of the focus being on Regan and the undead captain and try to make their way toward the tavern's front exit.

...

Cordey positions himself as an extra buffer between the unfolding one-on-one face off and the circus troupe members guarding the back area.

...

Taresh ready to pounce the undead near him with another barrage of blows, eyes the undead captain and his interesting armored opponent as they commence their face off.

...

Admiral stands ready and the Whisker crew looks to their Rakasta captain for orders as what to do next, as the undead pirates also wait for their captain's command.

Donatello swings his sword at Regan and simultaneously yells to his crew, his now glowing sunken eyes never leaving Regan, "What are you waiting for you idiots!? I have this big-mouthed knight. You finish the others!"

Just as Regan recovers his footing, the undead captain's blade hits him with a damaging force. (Regan: 8 damage)

His crew raises their weapons. UC4 turns toward Admiral. UC1 toward Taresh. UC2 looks in the direction of Cordey.

Stats
**Donatello--HP: 29
**Undead Crew 1,2,3,4--HP: 24, 31, dead, 5
Regan--Current HP: 42, Temp HP: 0, Warlock Spell Slots: 2/2, Pact Tally: 0/150.
Cordey--Current HP:37, Temp HP: 0, SD: 2/4
Admiral--Current HP: 25, Temp HP: 0, Spell Slots: 1/2, PP: 1/4, Pact Tally: 39/400.
Taresh--Current HP: 37, Temp HP: 0. Ki: 7
Pirates--P1 (engaging UC4)--P2 P3 (engaging Donatello)--and others
Locals--tba
Circus Troupe--Caspian, Reina (fire breather in balcony)

Regan hisses through his teeth as the captain's blade finds a gqp in his armor, using his shield to push the undead back. Maneuvering for a proper swing, Regan silently engages with his foe even if his eyes flicker past his fight to check that people are taking the opening to escape.

Cordey sees how this is going to be and rushes the undead with his dagger.

Admiral lets the magic he was preparing fizzle out and instead swings his swords at the nearest undead sailor (UC4) as he signals to his crew to resume the fight.

Donatello parries Regan's returned blow.

With his dagger, Cordey rushes at the undead (UC2) who blocks Cordey's blade with his scimitar.

Admiral goes after the ghoul armed only with his sharp claws. The creature side steps Reaver but the Defender blade manages to get a bite, slicing into the creatures torso. The creature staggers from the hit. The force that motivates it is beginning to wane. (UC4: 3 damage. Disadvantage on its next attack roll.)

Taresh focuses once again on facing the rapier wielding undead (UC1). Attempting to jam his goblin staff into its jaw, then creature moves its head out of the way. But the creature is taken off guard by two sudden strong kicks to its legs and abdomen. (UC1: 14 damage)

Admiral's crew rushes to finish the undead that Admiral just nearly took down. They flank it and slash at it. It falls do the floor a motionless heap of bones and rotting flesh. (UC4: 6 damage. Dead!)

Donatello heaves his blade at Regan with one hand, moving in close so his other hand can claw at Regan's eyes with his blackened sharp nails. Regan knocks aside Donatello's blade, but the pirate reaches for a grip of Regan's face with a large boney decayed hand. Regan reacts by summoning an invisible barrier of magical energy to shield himself from the undead pirate's claw.

After blocking Cordey's dagger, the undead that Cordey rushed at swings his scimitar around and swipes at Cordey, who easily ducks under the blade.

The other undead takes a swipe at Taresh with its rapier. Taresh also avoid the blow.