Shortly after the heroes charged through the curtain behind the shop counter and into the adjoining room, a strange gray-skinned creature leaped from the second floor balcony that sat above the room to land beside the heroes and attack, narrowly missing Gilthanus and Rylic with thrusts from a rapier held in one gray wrinkled hand.
Gilthanus, his eyes wide in surprise, stumbled backward. A dart of blue energy erupted from his fingertips to strike the creature in the chest. Haydee rushed forward to engage the creature with her sword, but it easily ducked beneath her swordthrust then dodged backward, avoiding the crushing power of Rylic's mace. Tancred began moving beside the creature, both of his swords lashing out - but the creature deflected both blades with its own.
The gray figure's pale blue eyes dart about the room, seeking safety from the pressing attack of the heroes. With the speed of a striking serpent, its blade riposted Tancred's attack
and scored a hit to Tancred's extended arm for one point of damage. The creature throws itself backward and over a long worktable to put some distance between itself and the heroes.
The creature's tumble/movement effectively puts the 5 x 15 long table between itself and the advancing heroes without invoking AoOs, with Tancred on its right, Rylic at center, and Adaliz on its left one space away from the table. Gilthanus stands directly behind Rylic. The Sblock is a rough map of the situation.
[sblock=Map]
--C--
-XXX-
-T---
--RA-
--G--
C=creature, XXX=table, T=Tancred, R=Rylic, A=Adaliz, G=Gilthanus, -=open space
Consider each character a 5' space per D&D 3.5 rules.
[/sblock]
