It's a fantasy role-playing game.

DM: You are Grog Strongjaw, a goliath barbarian . You are the member of the famous group of adventurers. Previously, He casts fireball at the remaining gunner, killing her. Ripley's cloak takes in some of the energy of the fireball but takes damage.
DM: All right. You take (counting) 18 points-- no, I'm sorry. He had advantage on the roll. So that would be 24 points of psychic damage as the claw rakes through your body, missing your corporeal form. It shocks into your system, your brain spiking with pain.
Player: Do I get Retaliation? Is it a melee attack?
DM: It's your reaction to do it, so you could run past and (whack).
Player: Let's do that.
DM: You run. You get raked. You spin with the axe and attempt to slam into it, using the momentum to keep charging forward.
Player: 26.
DM: 26 will hit. Roll damage.
