<div class="floatleft">(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/99/de/80/99de80dd4fb18a5a2b5229f5fe73ae72.jpg)</div><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>Part 1: Journey to the Crypt (An Orc Ambush Cont'd Round 3/Round 4)</strong></span><br/><br/><strong>Brief Discussion on Initiative</strong><br/><br/>In<em>Crypt of the Everflame</em>, initiative has been overhauled in two ways to be more message-board friendly.<br/><br/>First,<span class="bbc_u">there is no turn order</span>.  Instead, players and enemies are chunked together in initiative blocks.  Anyone in the initiative block can post in whatever order, and the GM will attempt to organize the sequence of the action fairly.  For example, during the first battle of this game, Ballantha scored a high initiative, followed by the orcs, followed by everyone else.  I allowed Ballantha to act, then acted on behalf of the orcs, and then allowed everyone in the party to act party to act in whatever order, including Ballantha, even though her actions were technically taking place in the second round.  I then allowed another player's actions to take place before Ballantha's actions, since Ballantha was technically in the second round.<br/><br/>Second, if there is a lull in posting,<span class="bbc_u">I will push the game forward</span>.  At present, we are waiting for PDragon to post Sarana's action, but I am not certain when that will happen.  So, I will push the action forth, omitting the actions of a character from the round.  The character does not lose his or her actions.  When the player can post, he or she will simply have the opportunity to take as many actions necessary to make them whole.  For example, Character A doesn't post in round 3.  In round 4, Character A is entitled to two full-round actions: one full-round action for the round wherein he was omitted, and one full-round action for the round he is presently in.<br/><br/>If you have taken traits or feats that boost your initiative, these two overhauls may impact the importance of your character creation choices.  So, you may either re-spec your character, choosing other traits or feats, or you may double the initiative bonus of your trait or feat (<em>e.g.,</em>improved initiative would give a +8 instead of a +4, and the reactionary trait will give a +4 instead of a +2).<br/><br/>(And while I was typing up this response, PDragon posted, so!)<br/><br/><strong>Summary of the Party's Actions</strong><br/><br/>Jilly and Iona have scaled the rocks and make their way towards the edge of combat.  From their vantage, they can see the orcs ten feet below.  Please note that there is a attack bonus for being on higher ground: a +1 to melee attacks, but no bonus to ranged attacks (which doesn't make sense to me, but whatever).  Neither Jilly or Iona expressed that they were moving across the hillside with stealth, so their presence is not a great surprise to the orcs.<br/><br/>Jilly is entitled to another secret roll, but... alas, nothing comes of it.<br/><br/>As for Ballantha, it's not clear whether she intended to move one square south or one square south-west, so the GM will assume that it is the former and not the latter.  She takes a huge swing at the orc, but misses.<br/><br/>"You are going to regret that," the orc says to Ballantha in the common tongue.<br/><br/>As for Emerald, I'm not sure what orc she is attacking or when.  Her attack is conditioned on attacking orc #3 when he moves towards Ballantha, but in the round, Ballantha moves towards orc #3 instead.  Do you mean Orc #2?<strong>I would caution against using conditional statements for your actions.</strong>In your next post, please clarify this action, Callie.  Either orc #2 or #3 received a face-full of dagger, and I'd like to know who.  For now, I will say that you hit Orc #3 with the dagger.  This reduces Orc #3 to -3 HP.  However, orcs have ferocity, meaning that they remain conscious until they reach -12 HP.  Orc #3 is presently staggered (the character figure has a snail symbol in his corner to denote the staggered condition).<br/><br/>Ria slings a bolt at Orc #2, but alas-- the bullet breaks downward and totally misses Orc #2.  It actually comes closer to hitting Ballantha.<br/><br/>Serana, also attempting to draw attention from Ballantha, attempts to hit Orc #2, but she misses, too.<br/><br/><strong>The Enemy Round</strong><br/><br/>Orc #2 moves 2E, 1NE, behind Orc #3 and through difficult terrain, to square up with Ballantha.  The orc, now wielding a greataxe, lifts it high-overhead and brings the blade falling down towards Ballantha.  He rolled an 8.  Ballantha easily side-steps the attack.<br/><br/>Orc #3, staggered now, what with the dagger in his eye, takes his solitary standard action to slash at Ballantha's side.  Oof, he rolls a total of 20, defeating Ballantha's AC.  Ballantha, you feel the searing heat of the blade slice through your flesh, muscle, and bone, doing an almost unimaginable<strong>12 hit points of damage!</strong>Such a blow would have felled any other, but Ballantha, you manage to stay upright.<br/><br/>Ballantha, at this point, you are entitled to a secret roll, but you failed.<br/><br/><strong>Your Turn</strong><br/><br/>All right, everyone can now post in any order.<br/><br/><div align="center">(https://i.imgur.com/yftgyVw.jpg)</div>