Immersive Ink

Dorgan figures he probably has a few seconds before the Fiend regains his feet, so he turns toward the courtyard and tries to see if he can spot Gustave.

| Editing my post again, now that I know Dorgan is still on the wall and hasn't fallen. |

Still upon the damaged wall Dorgan, Dieter, and Josiane over look the dramatic scene unfolding on the ground below them. Everyone else looks on from their respective positions in the orchard:

Torben scurries clear of the dust and rubble but Olaf, Beringar, and Wen charge in to attack the smoldering giant as it rises up from the rubble once more!

Alas! Beringar stumbles over a rock at the last moment and only succeeds in making himself a target. Wen is close behind, however, and pierces the great fiend with his sword, cutting into the bulk of its huge thigh as it rises up, freeing a gout of steam and ink-black tar. Olaf seems intent on restraining it with a grappling hook and rope, but cannot do any real harm before the hulking thing is on its feet again and throws a pile-driver fist back in return, leaning all its considerable weight on an earth-shaking blow that smashes rock and raises dust. Olaf is fortunate indeed to have jumped back at the last possible moment!

| Mechancis

Beringar was nearest to the monster and never lost his footing, so he can attack first, followed by Wen who was a bit further back. Olaf and the Fiend were both prone at the start of the turn, so will dice for initiative:

1d6; Olaf=6, Fiend=6, so simultaneous attacks.

Beringar 1d20=1! An awful miss that leaves him exposed as a prime target.
Wen 1d20=18 a hit. 1d6=5 5 points of damage. That will get it's attention for sure!
Olaf 1d20=12 a miss.

Now the Fiend is engaged in melee it can either fight in heroic combat or use its gaze attack. The referee uses the dragon rule, which specifies that a dragon will use its breath weapon on a 2d6 roll of 7-12. 2d6=6, so the Fiend will attack in combat.

Now the fiend can either attack Wen and Beringar as normals, or Olaf as a hero. Let us say 1-4=Wen and Beringar, 5-6=Olaf; 1d6=5, so it's Olaf.

Fiend 1d20=10 misses AC4. |

Meanwhile, those who sought to look beyond the wall and into the courtyard see that the foul mist there is, perhaps, somewhat thinner now, but there is no sign of any activity within. There is no sign of Gustave, nor anyone else.

Wen would shout "Disengage! Disengage! It must try to blast me for this to work.". After landing his sword blow on the fiend he would back pedal trying stay out of reach and force the fiend to use his gaze attack.

Dorgan will crouch down on the top of the wall, trying not to draw attention to himself. He'll observe the battle, attempting to figure out why Wen is so anxious to make himself a target... and why are his eyes glowing?

The dwarf will hold action until after Wen and the Fiend have moved, then he'll strike! If it turns out the Fiend has moved too far away from the wall for Dorgan to make an attack (and he'll jump on the Fiend's back if he has to) Dorgan will attempt to quietly slip down onto the ground behind the Fiend and strike unnoticed (hopefully) in the next round.

"Must try to blast me, huh? Ok, your funeral..."

Should the Fiend not use its death ray on Wen, Dorgan will hold off on his attack and give Wen another shot... assuming Wen's still alive.

Ulric looks to see if there is a clear path back to and up the wall. If he can do so without being seen by the fiend Ulric will do so; if it seems unlikely, Ulric will stay in the trees and out of sight.

Olaf hears Wen and continues to fall back, trying to get his shield up between the Fiend and himself as he does. He will also draw his sword to be ready to jump back into the fight later.

Spitting out mud, Beringar also heeds Wen's call and backs off in a hurry.

He'll stay close to Olaf, since spears and shields go well together.

Josiane crouches low, her shield raised, her attention still focused on the battle below. She mouths a prayer to her White Lady to aid Wen in his gallant stratagem, but an uneasy thought is beginning to whisper in the back of her mind...

"Where on earth is Gustave..?"

Highbough continues to hold back so Wen can draw the tar-beast's attention. By now he should have climbed down the tree and taken cover with the others who are in the orchard...

Dieter will also crouch atop the wall behind his shield. He studies the situation on the ground intently, looking for a way to end things quickly if the magic doesn't work.