<span style="font-style: italic">I would just stop the combat entirely and go to narrative mode, but I'm still trying to gauge how well-balanced vore is and whether I need to make it any easier. For the moment, I'm pretty satisfied with it. Also, we need to see if Mirelle will do any more damage to Salana, which might cost her some healing surges. I'm sure we're all disappointed that Mirelle didn't get swallowed, but keep at it!  <img alt=":gulp:" src="./images/smilies/munch.gif" title="Eat!"/> <br/><br/>Akiada: That usage of intimidate is something a lot of 4E players overlook, it's actually in the PhB, not a houserule. Since a surrendered enemy can be swallowed in a single standard action, it will be especially useful in this campaign.The only caveat is that some monsters cannot be intimidated. You know, constructs, elementals, undead, etc. (though intelligent elementals/undead may be intimidated if they value their own existence). Also, intimidating a creature whose language you don't speak confers a -4 penalty. The player characters are NOT vulnerable to this - it goes with the territory of being 'exceptional'.<br/><br/>Also, I'm going to introduce yet another minor HOUSE RULE, one that was almost always in effect at my tabletop games: NPCs who roll a botch suffer a -2 penalty to all defenses for the next turn. This ONLY affects non-player characters. </span><br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">Mirelle's attack roll and escape check score a 12 and an 11 respectively, failing utterly. Sophia uses the 'aid another' action on Salana, giving her yet another +2 modifier to her next swallow attack vs. Mirelle. By my calculations, Salana should be able to hit on a 4 or higher. I don't know whether it's Salana's high armor class or poor luck on the enemy's part, but she's been totally untouchable in this first encounter.</span><br/><br/>With an enraged cry, the voluptuous barbarian in Salana's grasp holds out her spear as far in front of her as she can, and then thrusts it backwards, attempting to stab Salana in her exposed midriff. Salana is easily able to turn her momentum against her, however, throwing her off balance. The tiefling ranger watching Mirelle's front laughs. "Having a little trouble, rune-girl? I know how that goes... but it only makes it more satisfying once you get them in." With that, she bends down and takes advantage of the near-trip to grab Mirelle by the ankles, ready to help lift her skyward and slide her down Salana's throat.<br/><br/>Meanwhile, the rest of the Hand, the Enders and the Band have finally finished smashing the humanoid agglomerations of dirt and stones that had risen up to ambush them. Earth elementals are tough but lack offensive power, and although a few mercenaries were knocked unconscious or taken out of action, there are no deaths or severe injuries. As they surround the inn, many sets of eyes look enviously upon the squirming bulge in Marrok's midsection and the gorgeous meal Salana was preparing to enjoy.<br/><br/>"Waaaaah!" A cry of disorientation and distress echoes from Marrok's shapely belly bulge as he flops down. Belle felt her tight prison wobble back and forth with the sudden movement. She'd been trying to get away from the acids pooling in the bottom of the stomach, but now they washed all over her. The burning sensation was becoming unbearable: her orange skin had long since turned to a shade of livid red, and to make matters worse, she had very little oxygen remaining.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">The combined digestion, resting and bloodied penalties virtually annihlate Belle's normally impressive acrobatics bonus. She's been unlucky for the past two rounds, but now, the odds are well and truly against her. Even so, she comes within one point of escaping.</span><br/><br/>When she hears Marrok begin taunting her, the enzyme-soaked shifter takes advantage of the jostling belly to squirm for freedom. Carefully balancing her feet against the slippery bottom of the stomach (creating two visible bulges in the exterior), she pushes against the esophageal sphincter with great accuracy, squirming from side to side to work her way past the tight muscular ring. As Marrok finishes his sentence, the bulge moves up his throat and Belle's reddened, terrified face appears in his open muzzle for a moment, gasping for air. But she's run out of slack, and before she can get any further, Marrok sends her back down with a hearty swallow. Belle's play for freedom only succeeded in letting the wolf feel her face and breasts being squeezed down the tight tunnel of his throat once again. With a splash, she lands back in the acidic prison, and the powerful stomach begins to crush and knead her with a vengeance.<br/><br/>"AIIIIEEEEE!" she screams in true panic, her best hope for freedom having failed as she's once again pressed into a tight ball, and she decides to take her chances with Marrok's "offer". The belly's latest ominous gurgle destroys any confidence or pride she might have left. "Gods, no!" Two handprints once again appear on the outside of the belly as she pleads. "I'm sorry we attacked you! BY THE GODS I'M SORRY!!! I'll do anything you want! ANYTHING DAMN IT! I don't care if you sell me into slavery, just let me out! LET ME OUT LET ME OUT LET ME OOOOOUT!"<br/><br/>Trapped under the vicious gnoll, Kelso does his best to ignore the muffled screams coming from Marrok's belly and glares directly at Saraphina. "Hmph. Do you expect me to tell you where Rella is? Dream on, tiefling. I'm not naive enough to think you'll just let me go if I do tell you, and I can go to my next life a happy man knowing that she and the others will make a feast out of you and your pathetic minions when you least expect it."