Roll for Initiative

Session 1 (Again)

The full moon shines brightly as a cloud drifts overhead, casting the world in an eerie light.

From somewhere in the treeline, a man screaming in terror echoes through the night. The moon glints off the magistrate's blade as he shouts into the darkness.

"You never stop fighting, do you?" the villain says, breaking the silence. "Even after you've given up everything you once held dear, you don't stop fighting. You're not making it any easier for me, you know."

He turns to the young man chained to a fence post in front of him. "I've got to do this. Your strength isn't enough. You would be wise to give up now."

The hero raises one of his arms, but he's too restrained to do much of anything. Instead, he roars at his enemy.

"WHAT? I CAN'T MOVE AT ALL?"

"Not enough to use the slash." Miles shakes his head at Phoenix. "You could try the kick attack. It's part of your skillset."

"All this homebrew makes everything so complicated. Where the hell is everyone else?" Phoenix grumbles, frowning at his character sheet.

"We went off to chase the Oni, but you had to play the lone hero as per usual," says Maya, rolling her eyes.

"Yeah, it paralyzed me," says Larry, grinning. "So I'm just unconscious in the rice paddy, I guess."

"The one I'm right next to?"

"Right."

Phoenix snatches up Larry's sheet. His eyes scan over it furiously before he sets it down and treats his friend to a withering glare.

"Larry, you're immune. To. Paralysis. Because you insisted on taking that gem from the temple last time..."

"He's not immune," Miles tries to correct them.

"I forgot! I totally AM immune!"

Miles sighs heavily. "If you are referring to the Fujin Emerald, you merely get advantage on saves against paralysis, stuns, and --"

Phoenix interrupts. "So that means--"

"Fine! Larry go ahead, but it's a difficult save so I doubt--"

Larry doesn't have to be told twice. "Awesome! Natural 20!" he shouts, pumping his fist in the air.

"No, no, no!" Miles Edgeworth says. "Now hold on, that was like...four rounds ago."

"But I made my save," Larry insists, eyes wide and innocent.

"You're still paralyzed!"

"Miles," Phoenix has joined in with the huge puppy-dog eyes, which makes sticking to his guns nearly impossible for Miles.

"I'm sorry, but Larry would have had disadvantage from earlier. Remember how you all went through the stinging brambles earlier? He didn't make the Dexterity save. So the advantage and disadvantage cancel out. Therefore the original roll is the only one that counts."

"Well, he should have had the advantage on that check, too then!"

"Phoenix....arngh!"

"It's only fair!"

"Larry. You may roll a second time--"

"Oh. My. God. Twenty again."

Miles slumps down in disbelief. "This is ridiculous. All right, take your damn turn Larry."

"What? It's still my turn!" Phoenix says.

"You can't do anything!"

"I can hold an action for when I'm not tied up!"

"Phoenix, you certainly may, but it's more advantageous if you wait, the party is split right now and--"

A book slams down on the table, followed in short order by Franziska's fist. "What is wrong with you people? Quit your foolish bickering, you pathetic lovebirds," she growls, eyes flashing. "I am next up in initiative. And I am casting Fireball."