Immersive Ink

Highbough's harsh words in the infernal tongue cut through the howling wind like nails on a chalkboard: "SPIRIT OF AIR! WE HAVE LIBERATED YOU FROM YOUR WOLF-CAPTORS! JOIN WITH US, AND YOU WILL HAVE YOUR REVENGE!"

It worked on Nizzib so why not give it a shot?

"What's the Olf Elf saying to that thing?" Olaf asks the group as he puts his hand on his sword, preparing to draw it if the whirlwind descends upon them.

Not understanding Infernal, it sounds like gibberish to Olaf

All this parley happens rather quickly in the lashing sand and wind...

Note that if you don't SHOUT OVER THE WIND you won't be heard by anyone more than 10ft away.

The rules remark that players can enlist monsters of the same alignment by regular negotiation which seems to be applicable here. Highbough and the elemental are both neutral, but Highbough's offer is not overtly generous so the reaction check will go unmodified. 2d6=2! The air elemental is hostile (probably owing to it having been trapped in a bottle for the last hundred years)...

The air elemental ignores Highbough's shouted offer and dives directly at Desmond/Mondes, being the very nearest target, attacking as the two-headed Halfling attempts to jump clear of the bow... the powerful punch of air knocks Desmond's sword clear of his grasp and flings him 20ft back, to land in a crouch amid the swirling sandstorm.

Desmond/Mondes was already back-peddling, so we'll presume he is parrying. However, the air-elemental attacks anyone in the air (including jumping) at +2.

The Air Elemental attacks 1d20=8 @-2 (would hit AC 7) but misses Desmond/Mondes (AC 6) by exactly 1 pip. This means his parry has deflected the blow and Desmond is disarmed by the heavier "weapon" in the process.

Now accepting orders for your next combat turn...

Desmond is going to take advantage of the distance between then to spend the next round trying to recover his sword.

"A demon of air!" gasps Helmut, drawing the blade of Seyal from its sheath.

"FOR THUULl!" he bellows into the wind, rushing to the aid of the two-headed hobbit.

Helmut will also keep an eye on Josiane and ensure that the entity does not have a chance to threaten his charge

Ashtad spying the air elemental, does what see does best and knees down to shelter from the wind and draws her bow and shoots an arrow to protect the party.

"HELMUT! WAIT!" cries Josiane as the Templar draws his great sword; "PRESENT THE FLAT OF YOUR BLADE TO ME!"

She begins to murmur the holy prayer to draw forth the power of The Righteous Evangelist...

If I've got it right, ways, and she can use the spell to empower more than one blade, she will use it on Helmut's sword and her own. If the blessing can be extended any further, she'll apply it to Olaf's blade too.

Highbough will join the combat once it appears melee is inevitable. He fights patiently, not being the first to rush into battle, and using his spear's superior reach to advantage.

waysoftheearth wrote:However, the air-elemental attacks anyone in the air (including jumping) at +2.

Sadly, Dieter never reads Out of Character text...

Invoking his ring once more, Dieter springs forward, (that is, from behind the elemental), mightily swinging his magical sword.

This is probably gonna hurt, but it's in character, so what the hell...

Wen's smile of joy quickly turns to a quiet "OH NO" as Highbough speaks his words. Seeing Desmond thrown aside and knowing Dieter is going to engage he would realize that his bow would be useless, so he would quickly draw his sword and set his shield and move closer waiting for a opptorunity to strike.

"BEWARE if it starts to spin, many a tale tell of dozens of warriors tossed aside like leaves...."

Wen is not going to flat out charge that thing like Dieter, I just don't have the HP, he will try to use his speed and cunning to land an opportune blow