Malene: 22. Guard: 14.

Malene gets to him first. She dives forward and grabs at his belt, trying to get his dagger. [Attack: 24 vs Defense: 14. Block: 13.] She bats his hand away and grabs the dagger in a flash.

The guard strikes at her with his fist, hoping to get his weapon back and take out this strange intruder. [Attack: 9 vs Defense: 24] Malene easily steps out of the way, dodging his blow.

Now that she’s armed, she knows she needs to take out this guard as fast as possible. She slashes with the dagger, hoping to hit something vital. [Attack: 7 (natural 1) vs. 15.] The guard grabs her hand before she can do anything. Dropping the torch to the ground, he disarms her. He now holds the dagger in his off hand.

[Does the torch go out? (Odds yes, evens no): 1]

As the guard drops the torch, the hallway is plunged into darkness. Malene easily blinks and her darkvision activates, but she can tell the human guard is fighting blind. He slashes with the dagger, hoping to hit her. [Attack (disadvantage): 17 vs Defense: 15. Block: 21. Damage reduction: -3. Damage: 1.] He manages to nick her, and blood begins to stain her robes.

Malene knows she needs to get the dagger back. That’s her only hope. She has the advantage now, with her opponent flying blind and she intends to take it. She kicks out, aiming for the guard’s balls. [Attack: 10 vs Defense: 7. Block: 13. Damage reduction: -4. Damage: 1.] Her shin connects and the guard grunts with pain.

Stunned slightly, he feebly swings with the dagger again. [Attack (disadvantage): 6 vs Defense: 14] He misses entirely as Malene deftly moves out of the way.

Malene grabs at his hand, hoping to disarm him. [Contested Strength: Malene 14 vs Guard 10] Successfully, she grabs his hand and pries the dagger from between his fingers. Armed now, she feels a rush of confidence.

Once again he tries to strike with his fists, swinging blindly in the dark. [Attack (disadvantage): 14 vs Defense: 25] Once again, he misses completely.

Malene stabs forward, once again hoping to hit something vital. [Attack: 22 vs Defense: 6. Block: 23. Damage reduction: 1. Damage: 1.] She connects, stabbing him between the ribs.

Feebly, he swings, hoping against hope to hit this strange elven woman. [Attack (disadvantage): 7 vs Defense: 18]

Malene slashes, this time aiming for his neck. [Attack: 12 vs Defense: 16.] But in his shock at being stabbed, he stumbles out of the way of her blade.

He dives forward, hoping to grapple the woman attacking him. [Malene’s Quickness: 26 (natural 20) vs Guard’s strength: 9] He misses so badly Malene gets a stab in as he goes past her. [Attack: 13 vs Defense: 21] But she misses entirely, surprised at the opportunity.

She gathers herself quickly and makes another attack, attempting to stab the guard in the back as he stumbles wildly in the hallway. [Attack: 26 (natural 20) vs Defense: 12. Block: 17. Damage: 8]

This time Malene gets him between the vertebrae of his upper back. She watches as his body collapses under its own weight, his brain’s connection to his legs severed. He falls forward, onto his face, and Malene waits for a moment. Silence. She’s come out the victor.

She searches the body of the guard, hoping for something useful to her escape.