Elliot and his group move through the streets towards the Judge’s base. Being led by Esmeralda, the Judge. She has a tanned caramel tone skin, with dark brown curly hair under a wide brim cowboy hat, and she wears a leather duster. (17 Stealth vs Natural 20 Perception)

Two guards take note of their large group. They whisper to each other. One guard takes off running down the street, the other guard follows the party. They turn a corner and come to the Judge’s base.

“This has to happen loud and fast.” Elliot says to Esmeralda.

“Just how I like it.” She pulls a hammer out of her coat.

It’s the same hammer that the previous Judge had. It’s what they call Judgment.

Two guards with a Mastiff begin approaching the party from the front. Two more guards with a mastiff are coming up a side alley to flank them. And there is still one guard behind the group. Elliot grips the handle of his longsword and begins to draw it.

“Stop, in the name of Lord Neries!” A guard in front of the party marches towards them raising his hand.

Elliot charges forward and slashes up with his sword. (17 to hit vs AC 16) The arm slashes straight through the forearm, as Elliot presses forward, and the sword cuts straight down into the man’s chest. (15 damage)

The Antibaptist charges forward along the other side and swings his longsword. (16 to hit vs AC 16) His blade cuts clear through the other guard’s neck killing him instantly before his head rolls across the city street. (12 damage)

The Judge charges forward, she swings her hammer at the mastiff. (14 to hit vs AC 12) She turns the dogs face to a pulp with one deft blow. (14 damage)

Jayce and his apprentice commoner kneel beside the party with their shields aimed at the alleyway. Talia, Mo, and his apprentice commoner fire down the alley at the guards. (16, 19, 12 to hit vs AC 16) Two bolts slam into one of the two guards dropping him. (11 damage)

The Bandit, the Bard, and the Chronicler turn to face the guard behind them. The Bard begins playing an inspiring tune of courage on his lute.

“The burglar, the burglar, watch for his knife, a man of mystery, he’ll take your life!” He sings.

The bandit charges forward, feeling inspired, and slashes out with both shortsword and dagger. (19 and Natural 20) The shortsword slams into his leg, the guard falls to the ground, and the bandit sinks his dagger into the back of his neck. (11 damage)

The mastiff charges and tackles the two shield bearers. However, they both have their swords ready to stab out at them first. (13 and 11 to hit vs AC 12) Jayce sinks his sword through the hound. (6 damage)

All that's left is one bandit in the alleyway. He turns to run. Talia, Mo, and the commoner are reloading their crossbows. Elliot steps in front of the alley, aims his pistol down at the man, and fires. (Natural 20) The shot hits the man square in the back. (9 damage)

He falters, stumbling, but grabs the wall. He pulls himself around a corner and disappears.

“We need to go.” Elliot calls out.

Esmeralda runs to the Judge’s hideout and opens the door. The group rush in and Esmeralda closes the door behind them. They are left in darkness.

Until a single light comes to life. A match that wavers near a lantern, before lighting the oil. A glow is cast across the room. Five guards stand to the left with crossbows trained, five guards stand to the right with crossbows trained, and three men stand at the front of the room. One of them sets the lit lantern down in front of them.

The three men in front of them from left to right were a Clanner, a Rogue, and a Combat Medic. The first man was dark-skinned like Mo. He wields a greatsword and wears iron armor, but he has a ram’s skull attached to his chest plate. The middle man is wearing a black cloak. He has goggles on his head, a fencing sword in his left hand, and a dagger in his right hand. His cloak is full of more daggers.

The last man has leather armor, meticulously cleaned iron armor over the top, wearing a gas mask with tubes running to a tank on his back, and he wields a twentieth-century carbine rifle in perfect condition. His skin is covered in a white powder.

Elliot looks at the man in the middle up and down. (11 Insight vs DC 11)

“How much are they paying you?” Elliot asks. ( 24 Diplomacy vs DC 20)

“One Gold Crown for the leader, 1 Silver Denar for the Judge, and 5 Bronze coins for each little follower of yours.” The cloaked man gladly explains.

“What’s acceptable losses for you?” Elliot follows up with another question. (21 Intimidation vs 10 Insight)

“Wait, you’re still gonna fight? Look at the ambush we set up.” The man seems taken aback.

“We outnumber and outclass you. Primitive classes, a mundane, and then my advanced class.” Elliot rests his hand on his flintlock pistol.

“There isn’t any way in hell you have those kinds of classes.” The man says with some frustration.

“He’s trying to get into your head.” The man with the greatsword says in a deep pitch.

“I don’t know. I’d say more than half of them are primitive or just commoners. But he could be advanced.” The man with the rifle says as he turns his head towards the cloaked man.

Elliot raises his pistol and fires at the man with the rifle. (16 to hit vs AC 15) The bullet slams through his shoulder causing him to stagger backward. (7 damage)

The ten guards fire their crossbows. Jayce throws his shield in front of Mo, blocking an arrow meant for him, but in the process, he is directly hit. (6 damage) The commoner with a shield pushes toward the enemy and two bolts slam into his shield. Elliot ducks as a bolt sails over him. Talia grabs Esmeralda and Jeremiah by the back of their necks. Bark spreads from her fingers and spreads across their skin. Four bolts slam into the two in front but snap against the strengthened skin.

There is a gasp, as the bandit winces (Natural 20) as a bolt slams into his side. (12 damage)

The cloaked man charges at Elliot and lunges with his rapier then spins to slash with his dagger. (20 and 14 to hit vs AC 15) The rapier stabs him but Elliot pushes back when he swings his dagger. (6 damage)

Elliot drops the flintlock, gripping his longsword with both hands, before slashing down at the cloaked man. (Natural 20) The sword sinks into his shoulder, but the cloaked figure rolls away instinctually. (19 damage) Elliot regains his resolve and charges toward the figure. (Second Wind (+9 health)

“Leave him to me!” Elliot roars as he clashes blades with the rogue.

Esmeralda runs to the man with the rifle and swings her Judgment hammer at him. (18 to hit vs AC 15) The hammer slams across the side of his face, causing him to spin around, before hitting the ground out cold. (13 damage)

The man with the greatsword, shoulder checks Esmeralda, knocking her back, before swinging his blade. (16 to hit vs AC 15) She tries to parry with her hammer, but the blade still knocks the hammer back and sinks into her side. (8 damage)

Jeremiah comes up behind him and tries to run him through. (24 to hit vs AC 14) The man tries to sidestep Jeremiah, but the sword still grazes him. (14 damage)

The two pixies summon phantasmal fire across either side of the room. (3/10 guards fall to the illusion. 6 damage) Three of the guards fall for it and the illusionary fire spreads across them as they scream out in pain.

Talia, Mo, and one of the commoners fire their crossbows at the three guards who believe they are on fire. (16, 11, 19 to hit vs AC 16) Two of the guards are killed. (9 damage and 5 damage)

The Chronicler takes out a small metal rod, he extends it into a staff with one button, with another button electricity sparks at the end of the staff. He swings the staff towards a guard. (8 to hit vs AC 16)

The bandit moves around the guard that Frederick is fighting, and uses a shortsword and dagger on him. (18 and 20 to hit vs AC 16) and slashes his back before stabbing him through the back of the heart. (11 damage)

The bard begins playing a song of courage once again. Strumming his instrument. Jayce and his apprentice charge into the enemy guards. (9 and 18 to hit vs AC 16) The commoner wounds a guard. (6 damage)

The two merchants grab whatever they can find. A paperweight and a steel toe boot. They throw the items at the last remaining guard who is flailing around in the fake flames. (11 and 16 to hit vs AC 16) The boot hits him. (3 damage) Only knocking him out of the flames helping him come to his senses with the other six guards.

The rogue attacks Elliot once again, swinging the rapier in a quick flurry forward while flicking the dagger in a quick toss. (22 and 23 to hit) The rapier strikes him in the chest and the dagger slams right above his heart. (18 damage)

Elliot reaches for the dagger as he takes a step back, before falling onto his ass. He opens his mouth to speak but no words come out. He just sees the world go black.

He struggles to open his eyes as he grabs his chest around the dagger. (15 Death Save)

He hears shuffling feet, combat happening all around him, and someone moves him while putting a knife to his throat. (16 Death Save)

Elliot is dragged across the room. (18 Death Save)

His eyes finally open. The rogue is dragging him towards a window. The rest of his party slowly inches towards him. Jeremiah is yelling for him to drop the knife. Talia looks ready to cast a spell.

Elliot grabs the rogue’s arm. (11 Athletics vs Defense 11) He holds the knife away from his neck as Talia summons roots. They crash through the floorboards wrapping around Elliot and the rogue. In two steps and with bounding fury Jeremiah leaps forward and cleaves the head off the rogue’s shoulder.

Elliot collapses, his head resting on the legs of the dead rogue. He lets his eyes close as he drifts off.