Castlevania II: Dracula's Curse (IC)

[Amnestic]

Chloé Clement High Elf Alchemist Artificer AC: 17 HP: 31/31 (3/4 HD) PP: 13 PIv: 15 PIs: 11 Conditions: Concentrating: Experimental Elixir: Healing (Av.) Decanter: 3/3 Roused from her trance for the second watch, Chloé - stifling a bit of a yawn, and wishing dearly she could be in the warmth of home - takes up a quiet watch on the walls, hoping that it would remain quiet and that all the action she has decidedly missed stays missed.

Spoiler: Servant Statblock

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PB=2

Tiny construct
Armor Class: 13 (natural armor)
Hit Points: 9 (1 + your Intelligence modifier + your artificer level (the homunculus has a number of Hit Dice [d4s] equal to your artificer level))
Speed: 20 ft., fly 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
4 (-3) 15 (+2) 12 (+1) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 7 (−2)
Saving Throws: Dex +2 plus PB
Skills: Perception +0 plus PB x 2, Stealth +2 plus PB
Damage Immunities: poison
Condition Immunities: exhaustion, poisoned
Senses: darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10 + (PB x 2)
Languages: understands the languages you speak
Challenge: —
Proficiency Bonus (PB): equals your bonus
Evasion. If the homunculus is subjected to an effect that allows it to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, it instead takes no damage if it succeeds on the saving throw, and only half damage if it fails. It can't use this trait if it's incapacitated.
Actions
Force Strike. Ranged Weapon Attack: (+6) your spell attack modifier to hit, range 30 ft., one target you can see. Hit: 1d4 + 2 (PB) force damage.
Reactions
Channel Magic. The homunculus delivers a spell you cast that has a range of touch. The homunculus must be within 120 feet of you.

[J-H]

Spoiler: Init

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Cassandra (1d20+3)[12]
Chloe (1d20+2)[3]
Titus (1d20+2)[20]
S (1d20+2)[9]
S (1d20+2)[21]
S (1d20+2)[5]

[J-H]

Arrows come out of the darkness at the guards along the east wall. You can hear the skeletons moving, but can't see them. The guards, luckily, have been staying behind the wall, only peeking over, so they aren't hit.
Another skeleton advances down the main road, by itself. It walks into the light of Titus' spell without seeming to notice it, although its left arm, the bones of which have grown and warped into a shield, is held between it and the wall. Its bones also appear to have sprouted spikes.

Spoiler: Map

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=>Titus, Cassandra

[Pyrophilios]

Titus Malvallée Half-Elf Celestial Warlock 4 AC: 17 HP: 31/31 HD: 4/4 PPer: 13 PInv: 12 PIst: 11 Healing Light: 5/5 Resistances: Conditions: Concentration (Hex) Spell slots: 0/2

Titus stood up, fired and went into cover again, hoping to cause enough damage to halt the undead in its tracks

Spoiler

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Eldritch blast

(1d20+7)[25], damage (1d10+5)[11]

Go prone after attack

[Infernally Clay]

Cassandra Hartdegen High Elf Wizard Bladesinger 4 AC: 15 | HP: 31/31 Spell Slots: 1st: 0/3 | 2nd: 0/3 Spells Prepared: 1st - Shield, Absorb Elements, Grease 2nd - Misty Step, Invisibility, Flaming Sphere, Web Bladesongs: 0/2 Arcane Recovery (2): 0/1 Active Effects: None Concentrating: None Conditions: None

Cass fires an arrow at the approaching skeleton. Even without much magical energy left she still has some tricks up her sleeve.

Spoiler

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Longbow attack vs SO. To hit: (1d20+5)[9], to damage: (1d8+3)[11]
Drop prone behind cover.

[J-H]

Titus stands, striking the approaching skeleton with a blast. Cassandra hops up onto the wall and fires an arrow at one of the skeletons she can hear, but misses.

The spiky skeleton with the shield approaches (moves 30' closer, 90' from Titus/Chloe), its bones shining yellow-white in the light.
=> Chloe

[J-H]

A chunk of bone comes flying at Chloe as she stands on the wall.

Spoiler

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Catapult spell (3d8)[16] bludgeoning damage, Dex DC 13 to dodge.
(1d20)[14]+??

[Amnestic]

Chloé Clement High Elf Alchemist Artificer AC: 17 HP: 31/31 (3/4 HD) PP: 13 PIv: 15 PIs: 11 Conditions: Concentrating: Create Bonfire Experimental Elixir: Healing (Av.) Decanter: 3/3 The chunk of bone soaring past her puts her on goard, but not enough to make her run. She tosses a fire flask as far as she can throw it, and then ducks behind the wall out of sight, but hopefully not out of mind.

Spoiler: Actions

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Action: Create Bonfire at max range (60ft) in the likely path the skeleton will be taking. DC15 Dex or 1d8 fire if it moves into it.
Move: Ducking prone.

Spoiler: Servant Statblock

Show

PB=2

Tiny construct
Armor Class: 13 (natural armor)
Hit Points: 9 (1 + your Intelligence modifier + your artificer level (the homunculus has a number of Hit Dice [d4s] equal to your artificer level))
Speed: 20 ft., fly 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
4 (-3) 15 (+2) 12 (+1) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 7 (−2)
Saving Throws: Dex +2 plus PB
Skills: Perception +0 plus PB x 2, Stealth +2 plus PB
Damage Immunities: poison
Condition Immunities: exhaustion, poisoned
Senses: darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10 + (PB x 2)
Languages: understands the languages you speak
Challenge: —
Proficiency Bonus (PB): equals your bonus
Evasion. If the homunculus is subjected to an effect that allows it to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, it instead takes no damage if it succeeds on the saving throw, and only half damage if it fails. It can't use this trait if it's incapacitated.
Actions
Force Strike. Ranged Weapon Attack: (+6) your spell attack modifier to hit, range 30 ft., one target you can see. Hit: 1d4 + 2 (PB) force damage.
Reactions
Channel Magic. The homunculus delivers a spell you cast that has a range of touch. The homunculus must be within 120 feet of you.

[J-H]

Chloe create a bonfire. The guards rise and attack the skeletons with their bows.

Spoiler

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Disadvantage due to not seeing them.
G5 vs S1
(1d20+3)[6] or (1d20+3)[18] for (1d6+1)[2]

G4 vs S2
(1d20+3)[19] or (1d20+3)[5] for (1d6+1)[2]

G1 vs S2
(1d20+3)[20] or (1d20+3)[18] for (1d6+1)[4]

The skeletons shoot back.

Spoiler

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[roll]
S1 vs G5
(1d20+4)[10] for (1d6+1)[6]

S2 vs G4
(1d20+4)[21] for (1d6+1)[4]

Each side scores a single hit as the arrows fly back and forth in the darkness.

=> Titus, Cassandra

[Pyrophilios]

Titus Malvallée Half-Elf Celestial Warlock 4 AC: 17 HP: 31/31 HD: 4/4 PPer: 13 PInv: 12 PIst: 11 Healing Light: 5/5 Resistances: Conditions: Concentration (Hex) Spell slots: 2/2

Titus repeated the maneuver, getting up to fire and hiding again immediately after.

Spoiler

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Eldritch blast
(1d20+7)[19], damage (1d10+5)[8]

Go prone after attack

[Infernally Clay]

Cassandra Hartdegen High Elf Wizard Bladesinger 4 AC: 15 | HP: 31/31 Spell Slots: 1st: 0/3 | 2nd: 0/3 Spells Prepared: 1st - Shield, Absorb Elements, Grease 2nd - Misty Step, Invisibility, Flaming Sphere, Web Bladesongs: 0/2 Arcane Recovery (2): 0/1 Active Effects: None Concentrating: None Conditions: None

Cass fires another arrow.

Spoiler

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Stand up from prone.
Longbow attack vs S2. To hit: (1d20+5)[19], to damage: (1d8+3)[4] piercing damage.
Drop prone behind cover.

[J-H]

Cassandra's arrow hits.

The skeleton on the road stays where it is.
=> Chloe

[Amnestic]

Chloé Clement High Elf Alchemist Artificer AC: 17 HP: 31/31 (3/4 HD) PP: 13 PIv: 15 PIs: 11 Conditions: Concentrating: Create Bonfire Experimental Elixir: Healing (Av.) Decanter: 3/3 Chloé peaks her head up, but since the skeleton hasn't gotten any closer, she can't do much about it, so she ducks back down again, and waits.

Spoiler: Actions

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Action: Dodge.
Move: None.

Spoiler: Servant Statblock

Show

PB=2

Tiny construct
Armor Class: 13 (natural armor)
Hit Points: 9 (1 + your Intelligence modifier + your artificer level (the homunculus has a number of Hit Dice [d4s] equal to your artificer level))
Speed: 20 ft., fly 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
4 (-3) 15 (+2) 12 (+1) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 7 (−2)
Saving Throws: Dex +2 plus PB
Skills: Perception +0 plus PB x 2, Stealth +2 plus PB
Damage Immunities: poison
Condition Immunities: exhaustion, poisoned
Senses: darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10 + (PB x 2)
Languages: understands the languages you speak
Challenge: —
Proficiency Bonus (PB): equals your bonus
Evasion. If the homunculus is subjected to an effect that allows it to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, it instead takes no damage if it succeeds on the saving throw, and only half damage if it fails. It can't use this trait if it's incapacitated.
Actions
Force Strike. Ranged Weapon Attack: (+6) your spell attack modifier to hit, range 30 ft., one target you can see. Hit: 1d4 + 2 (PB) force damage.
Reactions
Channel Magic. The homunculus delivers a spell you cast that has a range of touch. The homunculus must be within 120 feet of you.

[J-H]

The damaged skeleton retreats out of range, firing an arrow from far away. The other one shoots an arrow at a guard. Both arrows hit, and one of the guards goes down (G5 reduced to 0hp).

Spoiler

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S2 moves back, fires arrow at long range.
(1d20+4)[20] or (1d20+4)[21] for (1d6+1)[6]

S1 moves closer, fires at G5
(1d20+4)[21] for (1d6+1)[2]

Spoiler: Map

Show

=>Titus, Cassandra

[Infernally Clay]

Cassandra Hartdegen High Elf Wizard Bladesinger 4 AC: 15 | HP: 31/31 Spell Slots: 1st: 0/3 | 2nd: 0/3 Spells Prepared: 1st - Shield, Absorb Elements, Grease 2nd - Misty Step, Invisibility, Flaming Sphere, Web Bladesongs: 0/2 Arcane Recovery (2): 0/1 Active Effects: None Concentrating: None Conditions: None

"Don't let him die!" Cass calls out to the guard on her right, pointing to the one that just fell. She then hops over the barricade and gets a clear line of sight on skeleton ahead as her eyes glow a dull blue. The skeleton hears the words "You're going to die here," as a chill runs up its spine.

Spoiler

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Move to AH272.
Cast Chill Touch on S1. To hit: (1d20+5)[21], to damage: (1d8)[6] necrotic damage and it's successful then the skeleton has disadvantage on attacks against Cassandra until the start of her next turn.

[J-H]

Cassandra hops outside the barrier and sends a ghostly hand after the skeleton. She knows about where it is, but has a hard time hitting it because it's beyond Darkvision range (rolled disadvantage, miss).

[Pyrophilios]

Titus Malvallée Half-Elf Celestial Warlock 4 AC: 17 HP: 31/31 HD: 4/4 PPer: 13 PInv: 12 PIst: 11 Healing Light: 5/5 Resistances: Conditions: Concentration (Hex) Spell slots: 2/2

Titus continued his barrage

Spoiler

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Eldritch blast
(1d20+7)[26] damage (1d10+5)[7]

Go prone after attack

[J-H]

As Titus stands, another bone comes flying towards him at high speed.

Spoiler

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Readied Catapult, (3d8)[11] bludge, Dex DC 13 to dodge.
Titus Dex (1d20)[14]+?

The bone-shielded skeleton advances closer, standing next to Chloe's bonfire 60' from the wall (N258).
=> Chloe

[Amnestic]

Chloé Clement High Elf Alchemist Artificer AC: 17 HP: 31/31 (3/4 HD) PP: 13 PIv: 15 PIs: 11 Conditions: Concentrating: Create Bonfire Experimental Elixir: Healing (Av.) Decanter: 3/3 She had briefly hoped that the skeleton would be too stupid to move around the fire - mindless undead's ability to evade hazards always seem to be a bit of a cointoss as to whether 'muscle memory' took over. Not that skeletons had muscles. The thoughts weren't really important, but kept her occupied just long enough to toss another fire flask directly at the approaching boneman. Or bonewoman. It was really impossible to tell.

Spoiler: Actions

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Action: Create Bonfire on the skeleton again! (1d20)[6]+mods DC15 dex or (1d8)[1] fire.
Move: Stand+Prone, no net change.

Spoiler: Servant Statblock

Show

PB=2

Tiny construct
Armor Class: 13 (natural armor)
Hit Points: 9 (1 + your Intelligence modifier + your artificer level (the homunculus has a number of Hit Dice [d4s] equal to your artificer level))
Speed: 20 ft., fly 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
4 (-3) 15 (+2) 12 (+1) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 7 (−2)
Saving Throws: Dex +2 plus PB
Skills: Perception +0 plus PB x 2, Stealth +2 plus PB
Damage Immunities: poison
Condition Immunities: exhaustion, poisoned
Senses: darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10 + (PB x 2)
Languages: understands the languages you speak
Challenge: —
Proficiency Bonus (PB): equals your bonus
Evasion. If the homunculus is subjected to an effect that allows it to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, it instead takes no damage if it succeeds on the saving throw, and only half damage if it fails. It can't use this trait if it's incapacitated.
Actions
Force Strike. Ranged Weapon Attack: (+6) your spell attack modifier to hit, range 30 ft., one target you can see. Hit: 1d4 + 2 (PB) force damage.
Reactions
Channel Magic. The homunculus delivers a spell you cast that has a range of touch. The homunculus must be within 120 feet of you.

[J-H]

Chloe manages to slightly scorch the skeleton, and there's a flicker of light as the magical energy of a held spell is disrupted.
Two of the guards move to try to stabilize the one who is down.

Spoiler

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G5 dashes
G1 (1d20+1)[4] Medicine check

The other moves slightly to the side and takes a long shot in the direction of the remaining skeletal archer, which in turn backs up slightly shoots at Cassandra.

Spoiler

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G2 vs S1 (1d20+3)[20] for (1d6+1)[7], skeleton has +2 AC from the corners

S1 vs Cassandra, advantage from being unseen, outside of DV range.
(1d20+3)[23] or (1d20+3)[15] for (1d6+1)[5], skeleton has +2 AC from the corners

Spoiler: Map

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=>Titus, Cassandra

[Infernally Clay]

Cassandra Hartdegen High Elf Wizard Bladesinger 4 AC: 15 | HP: 26/31 Spell Slots: 1st: 0/3 | 2nd: 0/3 Spells Prepared: 1st - Shield, Absorb Elements, Grease 2nd - Misty Step, Invisibility, Flaming Sphere, Web Bladesongs: 0/2 Arcane Recovery (2): 0/1 Active Effects: None Concentrating: None Conditions: None

Realising she isn't going to be able to get a solid hit on these skeletons right now, Cass dashes to the guards so she can help keep the fallen among them alive.

Spoiler

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Dash to AP275 (I think she can get there with 60ft movement)

[Pyrophilios]

Titus Malvallée Half-Elf Celestial Warlock 4 AC: 17 HP: 31/31 HD: 4/4 PPer: 13 PInv: 12 PIst: 11 Healing Light: 5/5 Resistances: Conditions: Concentration (Hex) Spell slots: 2/2

Titus exposed as little of himself as possible when he fired back at the mage skeleton.

Spoiler

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Eldritch blast (1d20+7)[16] damage (1d10+5)[7]


Go prone after attack

[J-H]

Cassandra moves back to help the fallen guard.

Titus fires another energy blast, but it's deflected by the bone shield (did not hit target AC).

Another piece of bone flies at Chloe, hitting her with a heavy thud. The skeleton moves out of sight behind a building as it retreats due to heavy damage.

Spoiler

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Catapult (3d8)[17] Dex DC 13
Chloe Dex (1d20)[4]+?

=> Combat over

The rest of the night passes without any major issues on your area of the wall, although Titus is briefly pulled away to help heal a couple of other injured guards somewhere else.

Cassandra comes off the walls around 4am to trance, and by 8 in the morning, the sun is up, and everyone is rested and ready to depart.
Anything final before you head out from Veros? Do you request any supplies from them? Where do you go?

[Pyrophilios]

Titus Malvallée Half-Elf Celestial Warlock 4 AC: 17 HP: 31/31 HD: 4/4 PPer: 13 PInv: 12 PIst: 11 Healing Light: 5/5 Resistances: Conditions: Spell slots: 2/2

Titus looked just a little bit tired the next day. His capability to cast only a few spells, but to cast them again and again had kept him from getting more than an hour of sleep at a time. Despite that, he radiated a nervous energy of barely contained enthusiasm.

So it came to pass, that his fellow vampire hunters were greeted with extra packs of warm clothing in the morning, each held together with a sturdy rope.

"It's going to get a lot colder soon. I can keep my clothes warm as well as those of two others, but only for an hour or so. So it would certainly be better to have some suitable gear on hand."

He looked at his new comrades: "So, where are we going next?"

[J-H]

Mayor Emanuel, accompanied by his daughter, is there to see you off in the morning. Father Anatolie is asleep, with a couple of boys guarding his door to keep anyone from disturbing him. He passed out around 3am from exhaustion.
"Thank you for your help last night. With your ability, and the healing you were able to provide, nobody died. That was a lot better than the night before! I think we're starting to get a bit better at this... but whatever you're doing to get rid of these monsters, please do hurry."

The mayor unlocks the door to the underground passage, and helps pull the stone door open. Bells on strings ring and clang as he does. "If you come back this way, yell through the window in the door and we'll hear you." He frowns a moment, as if thinking to himself assuming we're still alive. There is indeed a small 8" round window in the stone door, letting a small amount of light and sound through.

You proceed down the tunnel, Mustafa casting Light upon his shield so he can see. Behind you, the door is shut, and you hear the scrape of bars being put back in place across it, and the distant clatter of the bells as the alarms are re-placed.

The passage through the old transit tunnel is broad, and professionally cut into the stone. Ceilings are 15’ high, and the passage is 25’ wide, enough to allow two large wagons to pass each other. There are nearly no natural cave features, and much of the passage is ruler-straight. This was clearly crafted by expert stonemasons.

However, in places, the walls and floor are cracked and fractured, a relic of the earthquake that destroyed the dwarven city. In those areas, you do have to step around boulders, and your feet crunch upon gravel.

Spoiler: checks

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Chloe (1d20+3)[23] DV
Cassandra (1d20+3)[11] DV
Titus (1d20+3)[8] DV
Mustafa (1d20+3)[7] 1 exh
Sabian (1d20+3)[17] DV

[J-H]

Chloe sniffs, her nose trained to identify different odors and chemicals. She smells some type of guano ahead - bird or bat excrement. It's fairly strong.

[Amnestic]

Chloé Clement High Elf Alchemist Artificer AC: 17 HP: 14/31 (4/4 HD) PP: 13 PIv: 15 PIs: 11 Conditions: Concentrating: Experimental Elixir: Resilience (Av.) Decanter: 3/3 Silently, Chloé tugs her elixir from her bag and hands it off to Sabian, while miming wings flapping with her hands, followed by wafting away a foul smell, and then spreading out. The message is clear: Flying poop, don't stand together. She might not be able to conjure fireballs, but she well knows what goes into one. She decidedly, however, does not take the lead.

Spoiler: Servant Statblock

Show

PB=2

Tiny construct
Armor Class: 13 (natural armor)
Hit Points: 9 (1 + your Intelligence modifier + your artificer level (the homunculus has a number of Hit Dice [d4s] equal to your artificer level))
Speed: 20 ft., fly 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
4 (-3) 15 (+2) 12 (+1) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 7 (−2)
Saving Throws: Dex +2 plus PB
Skills: Perception +0 plus PB x 2, Stealth +2 plus PB
Damage Immunities: poison
Condition Immunities: exhaustion, poisoned
Senses: darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10 + (PB x 2)
Languages: understands the languages you speak
Challenge: —
Proficiency Bonus (PB): equals your bonus
Evasion. If the homunculus is subjected to an effect that allows it to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, it instead takes no damage if it succeeds on the saving throw, and only half damage if it fails. It can't use this trait if it's incapacitated.
Actions
Force Strike. Ranged Weapon Attack: (+6) your spell attack modifier to hit, range 30 ft., one target you can see. Hit: 1d4 + 2 (PB) force damage.
Reactions
Channel Magic. The homunculus delivers a spell you cast that has a range of touch. The homunculus must be within 120 feet of you.

[Pyrophilios]

Titus Malvallée Half-Elf Celestial Warlock 4 AC: 17 HP: 10+31/31 HD: 4/4 PPer: 13 PInv: 12 PIst: 11 Healing Light: 5/5 Resistances: Conditions: Spell slots: 1/2

Titus watched a bit bewildered what was going on, but decided that it couldn't hurt to make himself extra sturdy. A thin film of ice coated his form while he made his longsword glow with the power of his patron. Seeing that Sabian was still a bit unsteady, he stepped to his side in front of the group.

Spoiler

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Armor of Agathys for 10 temporary hp

Also Light cantrip on the sword

[Dr.Samurai]

Sabian Skellegue Half-Orc Barbarian AC: 21 HP: 41/41 HD: 4/4 PPer: 13 PInv: 10 PIst: 11 Raging: No Reckless: No Resistances: Cold, Fire, Necrotic Conditions: -- Rages: 3/3 Sabian catches up with the others about how their watch went. He walks the outer village in front of the wall with those that have the time and inclination, and goes over the defenses of the village. If the priest is able to cast Continual Flame, he points out where in the outer village they should place torches so that the skeletons are not loosing arrows outside of their field of view. Once in the tunnel, Sabian takes the lead, shield before him, and the group creeps down the shaftway. Chloe alerts them of a strange smell, and the potential for danger. She hands him an elixir and he nods in thanks, then mouths back "could be bats?"

[Infernally Clay]

Cassandra Hartdegen High Elf Wizard Bladesinger 4 AC: 15 | HP: 31/31 Spell Slots: 1st: 3/3 | 2nd: 3/3 Spells Prepared: 1st - Shield, Absorb Elements, Burning Hands 2nd - Misty Step, Invisibility, Flaming Sphere, Web Bladesongs: 2/2 Arcane Recovery (2): 1/1 Active Effects: None Concentrating: None Conditions: None

"I've got your back," Cass says to Sabian, patting him on the shoulder and sticking by his side as they descend into the darkness, "The rest of you stay close. We don't know what's down here."