The acrobatic assault from the red-haired elf is something Thygor hadn't absolutely expected. The few times an opponent of that size had even overcame his massive shield, it had been mostly by circling it by the side ... not<span style="font-style: italic">jumping</span>over it. She's faster and stronger than he thought ... And now she's here, nestled with her legs around his own neck, digging a wound so deep he'll probably be left a good scar, a reminder of his own overconfindence. Assuming he<span style="font-style: italic">survives</span>, of course. It is not time to linger over such thoughts, anyway ... Pain is much more urgent. Pain and anger, too.<br/><span style="color: #40BF80">"You ... mis<span style="font-style: italic">sss</span>serable weakling! I'll <span style="font-style: italic">SSSSSAVOUR</span> your <span style="font-style: italic">FEAR </span>before you go down my throat!"</span><br/>With a resolute jerk, the monster pushes the raging elf a little away from his neck and shoulder, just enough to grant him the space to ...<br/><a class="postlink" href="http://orokos.com/roll/261235">NOM!</a>:<span style="text-decoration: underline">1d20+3</span><span style="font-weight: bold">21</span><br/><a class="postlink" href="http://orokos.com/roll/261236">NOM! Damage</a>:<span style="text-decoration: underline">1d4+2</span><span style="font-weight: bold">6</span><br/>His jaws clutch around her waist, forcing her off his shoulders and, after a good shake mid-air, throwing her to the ground. The right place to receive another dose of punishment, as the reptile's sword swings downwards:<br/><a class="postlink" href="http://orokos.com/roll/261233">Sword slash again!</a>:<span style="text-decoration: underline">1d20+8</span><span style="font-weight: bold">16</span><br/><a class="postlink" href="http://orokos.com/roll/261234">Sword damage</a>:<span style="text-decoration: underline">2d6+5</span><span style="font-weight: bold">11</span><br/>m<a class="postlink" href="http://orokos.com/roll/261234">http://orokos.com/roll/261234</a>m<span style="font-style: italic"><br/>(I took some little liberties with his action, but basically, since we're not in an actual grapple, I'm just making a full attack ^^)</span><br/><br/>AC 22<br/>HP 11/31<br/>CMD 18<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic"><br/>OOC time:<br/>-About the assorted gorishness: Although I have no problem with gore situations, I don't need them particularly either. So I don't want to force anyone to play, or to have to read, them. I'm perfectly OK with any level of gore - from a sub-realistically "softening" to the gratuitous bloodshed. ^^<br/><blockquote class="uncited"><div> hope I'm not getting too descriptive with bloody moments, like...well, stabbing people. </div></blockquote><br/>Again, for me it is perfectly OK ... The only thing I might note, I think you might tone down a little the description of some injuries not for their excessive bloodyness but for being a little excessive for the actual damage dealt. I'm thinking on Aniel being stabbed all through her abdomen - that's a wound that kills in a matter of minutes! It's not a critique, it's just to say that if you don't enjoy bloodshed by yourself, it's perfectly realistic to lower it a little ^^ Consider that a blade actually sinking through the layers of skin and muscles and someway through the protection of the bones is gonna send you <span style="font-weight: bold">down</span> (a -X HP wound). Of course penetrating wounds on arms and shoulders aren't that bad. Most times, D&amp;D-style combat can be taken as an exchange of deep-but-not-mortal wounds, until the defeated succumbs to blood loss and pain shock, or the eventual finishing strike actually deals a more serious wound - unless a critical insta-kills him ^^<br/>Ok, enough hideous pedantry for today ^^ <br/>Anyway, I use this occasion to repeat that you're doing an amazing work! A lot of excellent narration and care for your players, and good NPCs and reactions too! <br/>So thank you very much (again) for all your effort <img alt=":D" src="./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif" title="Very Happy"/><br/><br/>About recruiting NPCs: I think that, in the actual event of a recruiting, having the NPCs as background helpers, or even better as recruited in the Iron Boars as a company but not in our smaller group, would be the best option. So you won't have to manage them continuously in and out of combat, and it will be easier to tailor encounters for the group too <img alt=";)" src="./images/smilies/wink.gif" title="Wink"/></span>