Round 3 was two teams searching for a single scepter hidden on a 240' x 200' playing field. The playing field contained 3 magma pits with a central 5' diameter island, and also 3 brackish icy ponds. The items were hidden in one of those 6 features and placement of the item varied for each of the two teams competing at the time. Also on the playing field were two Fiendish Earth Elementals to welcome the party.
First up was Team Elven Sorcerer vs. Team Human Bard
The Elven team came out and immediately went to work blasting away at the Megaraptor. The dino got 2 moves in before it succumbed to the sorcerer's fireballs, the Bralani's lightning bolts, and a full attack from an elemental. It didn't take long for the Bard to fall victim to an Ottiluke's Resilient Sphere and team Human Bard was done. The sorcerer cast Fly on himself and stayed well out of reach of the elementals while the Bralani searched at it's leisure and found the scepter. Winner: Team Elven Sorcerer.
Next it's Team Dragon Shaman vs. Team Gnome Sorcerer. The gnome team holds back as both elementals engage Team Dragon Shaman, the Girrallon makes short work of it's elemental and the teams up to destroy the other one. The Chraal moves into an icy pond and blasts away at Team Dragon Shaman with it's icy breath while the Gnome blasts Team Dragon Shaman with Fireballs. Team Dragon Shaman falls quickly after they defeat the elementals. Winner: Team Gnome
Next up is Team Shifter vs. Team Barbarian. At the outset, both teams agree to wipe out the elementals first and then decide what to do after that. The Barbarian moves into the icy water in front of his starting position and immediately finds the scepter, thus winning the round on the first initiative with an amazing search roll even with a -2 modifier. Winner: Team Barbarian
Last up is Team Warlock vs. Team Fiendish Incarnate Stone Golem. The wyvern ascended and harassed the Mezzoloth while the Warlock scurried around trying to avoid the two elementals while blasting away at the Golem. The Golem falls as the two elementals finally catch and pulp the Warlock, however the last laugh is gained by Team Warlock as the Mezzoloth finds the scepter in a pool of magma while the wyvern was circling. Winner: Team Warlock
After this round the values were added again and Team Barbarian was still in the lead, so he got to chose whether he placed he team first or last on the battle royal battlefield. He chose last forcing Team Elven Sorcerer to place first.
As this round was very chaotic, I'll go over the deaths and major happenings: Initiative was won by Team Gnome and Team Arrow Demon, a fireball into the midst of Team Dragon Shaman and Team Barbarian along with 4 hits from the Arrow demon's bow into the Dragon Shaman start the melee. The Chraal enters the fray after the fireball into Team Dragon Shaman. Team Human Bard beats Team Elven Sorcerer in initiative and to pay back for round 3 defeat, the Megaraptor destroys the Elven Sorcerer.
The Tendriculous throws a bead from a Necklace of Fireballs at the Team Dragon Shaman and Team Barbarian and the Chraal. The Chraal is destroyed, however it's death throws kill the Dragon Shaman as well, and knock the Barbarian unconscious.
The Wyvern advances and gets pummeled by the Girrallon, an eldritch blast later it too dies. The Human Bard races to the Gnome Sorcerer and Arrow Demon and they both fail a save vs. Tasha's Hideous Laughter. The Mezzoloth tries to summon another Mezzoloth, but it's summoning is broken up by the Megaraptor who then eats the Warlock. The Shifter turns into a Girrallon and along with Team Dragon Shaman's Girrallon they both kill the Fiendish Incarnate Stone Golem, Team Fiendish Incarnate Stone Golem is eliminated. The Bralani throws a Lightning Bolt and kills Team Dragon Shaman's Girrallon and Team Dragon Shaman is eliminated.
The Bralani flies down and heals the Barbarian and they agree to a nonaggression pact, the Megaraptor falls to the combined might of the Bralani and Mezzoloth. The Tendriculous enters a lake and hides there under black water. The Mezzoloth throws Cloudkill at the Gnome and Arrow Demon, eventually killing the Gnome and Team Gnome Sorcerer is eliminated.
The Mezzoloth and Barbarian engage each other, the Bralani kills the Arrow Demon and the Plague Blight and Team Arrow Demon is eliminated.
Remaining on the board is Team Shifter intact, Team Barbarian intact, the Mezzoloth, and the Human Bard. With time running out the game ends with the Tendriculous still hiding underwater, the Mezzoloth and Barbarian fighting to a standstill, the Bralani and Shifter going at it, and the Human Bard trying to avoid everybody, and Team Barbarian's Human Bard going invisible and everyone forgetting about him.
So no clear winner, much to the chagrin of the players
(wives and "their be home by this time....."*)
In hindsight, rounds 2 and 3 while they went quick will need to either be changed or dropped as they didn't really add anything in their current form to the game. (other than to make Team Elven Sorcerer a target for Team Human Bard)
Any comments or suggestions are welcome, I always strive to improve my games.
Thanks for "listening"
* I love you honey 