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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Amal Shukup" data-source="post: 2049967" data-attributes="member: 6291">This works better with a Minion or two... Scene: Party, plus relatively fragile Hostage-to-be are milling about doing their non-combatty thing. Sadly, Hostage-to-be steps too close to where baddies are lurking. Optionally, this could be a 'grab whoever walks through the door' or a 'grab the cautious NPC who DOESN'T walk through the door' thing...Surprise Round: Minion(s) steps out from behind cover (5'step) and Initiates a Grapple BBEG steps out with dagger in hand (5' step) and 'Readies' an Attack (Standard Action). Speaks (Free Action) "Freeze Suckahs! Everybdy plays nice and nobody needs to get all dead"   the Readied Action will absolutely happen before the PCs can act. If the BBEG won initiative, a SECOND throat cutting might occur (if required). Because the hostage is grappled by a third party, they get no Dex to AC (Sneak Attack!)   1st Round Minion(s) Achieves Pin, making the Hostage even easier to Dispatch. BBEG: "Now Toss your weapons off the (convenient) ledge and lie down on the Floor. Nobody needs to die today..."   2nd Round Minion(s) Moves (in concert with BBEG) towards escape route... BBEG: "Mwha ha ha ha..." Variations: No Minion, but a Readied Action and a Heavy Crossbow with an obviously poisoned bolt might give the party pause if the NPC in question only has 4 HP....   Likewise, a Readied Action and a GreatAxe should provide concern...   Use the Surprise Round to cast 'Hold Person' (or something similar) on the Hostage. On the 1st Round, move adjacent and Ready a 'Start Full Round Action' (Coup) which you complete next round. This provides much Drama, as the PCs would actually have a shot at stopping the action in question... My players will rue the day you asked such an EXCELLENT question...  <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":-)" title="Smile    :-)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":-)" />A'Mal</blockquote>

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