The scarecrow stops and turns around towards the party. You notice it has long claws that look very sharp, and it then stares at Sterling who had shouted. Sterling needs to make a DC11 Wisdom saving throw or be magically frightened until the end of the scarecrow’s next turn. The frightened target is paralyzed.

It doesn't move closer (or further away)

Everyone is up.

Oh my. I don’t think that’s a costume. He thinks to himself seeing those claws.

Mana continues to run to near where Sterling and Wagner dashed to last round. Seeing that the pseudo torches have done their job in stopping the scarecrow, he drops concentration on Dancing Lights and casts Bane on the hideous creature. He grips his lit torch firmly and hopes he will be brave.

(DC 14 CHA save or -1d4 to all attacks and saving throws for 10 rounds or loss of concentration.)

Oriace rushes forward, feeling the urgency of catching the scarecrow before it escapes. He notices Sterling frozen in place and shoots him a brief, concerned glance before refocusing on their foe. Drawing his rapier, he positions himself just out of reach of the scarecrow's claws, keeping his stance defensive, his weight shifting lightly on his feet as he prepares to dodge any attack the scarecrow might throw his way. "Let’s be careful; this creature’s got more to it than straw and sticks!" he warns, his voice steady and measured.

Action: dodge (I think with his 75 feet movement, he should be in melee range now.)

Maintaining concentration on the Dancing Lights Toser moves forward another 10 feet.  As long as the torches seemed to keep the scarecrow focused on them he left them in place.

Toser then casts Starry Wisp and launches a mote of light at the scarecrow.

From game log-

Attack 16

7 Radiant damage

Wagner steps forward, rapier at the ready. He jabs out with a well placed thrust, not knowing what he will feel underneath the surface if his blow strikes true. (AC: 26, Damage 14 w/ Hunter's Mark)

(( Sterling's WIS save from character sheet: 19 ))

The bard struggled for a second as the creature's stare caught him off guard. Shaking his head to help resist the familiar effect, he refocused, and snapped back to his senses. Reassessing the situation, he quickly cast an incantation, being sure to place it to only encompass the scarecrow.

"Surrender!" he demanded as he then drew his rapier and raced to flank the creature alongside Wagner.

ACTION: Cast Faerie Fire, placed to only hit the scarecrow; DC 14 WIS Save to resist
FREE: Draw his rapier
MOVE: Close in on the scarecrow, opposite Wagner

* Still has one unused Bardic Inspiration die (d6) from Oriace

End of turn!

Mana casts bane, and the scarecrow fails (8)

Oriace is in melee and doges

Toser manages to hit with some radiant damage.

Wagner does an attack and strikes true, feeling straw inside. The blade seems less effective than he was anticipating due to the lack of real substance (though hunters mark damage is still full, so 10 damage total)

Sterling tries to catch the scarecrow in Faerie Fire but the scarecrow manages to avoid it (even with the -1d4 from bane. I rolled a nat 20) (also, Rod does Sterling have a feature to change the save or should it have been a dex save? Doesn't make a difference to the outcome but I was wondering)

The scarecrow takes an attack at Wagner who has hurt it the most. Two claws slash out, the first one missing (7) but opening up an opportunity for the second claw (20) to hit doing 9 slashing damage.  DC 11 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened until the end of the scarecrow’s next turn (no paralysis from this effect) 

Everyone is up again

Emboldened by the troupe’s efficiency and teamwork, Mana retrieves a flask of oil and steps into a gap between the medium sized bards and liberally splashes the oil all over the scarecrow. (Attack 18, rolled in Game Log, no modifiers, assumed improvised attack). He then holds the torch up in front of him as a shield, to discourage the scarecrow, should it try and retaliate directly against him.

”Your evil days are over!” He chirps with hopeful confidence.

Oriace feels the surge of Toser's inspiration crackle through him like a jolt of lightning, and a gleam sparks in his eye. He tightens his grip on his rapier and steadies himself, channeling his words with extra bite. He lets his voice drop to a sneering tone, every word dripping with disdain as he calls out, "You think a rotting pumpkin and tattered rags make you terrifying? You’re nothing but straw and stink. Even the crows wouldn’t bother with you!" The words, laced with his magic, slice through the air toward the scarecrow with a biting force, aiming to shake it to its very core—if it has one.

Action: Vicious Mockery WIS save DC 14 (plus Bane), dealing 5 psychic damage on a failure (used Toser's Bardic Inspiration for an extra 4 damage).

Quote from Swiftgale >>

(also, Rod does Sterling have a feature to change the save or should it have been a dex save? Doesn't make a difference to the outcome but I was wondering)

(( You're right, it should have been a DEX save... I must have looked at a different spell when looking at the DC, sorry about that. ))

Sterling grimaced as the scarecrow dodged his spell; but at least the others landed some attacks, including the oil.

Changing strategy, the would-be jeweler repositioned himself, then lunged towards his opponent, trying to use his blade in conjunction with Wagner's to at least distract the straw monster from Mana's (hopefully devastating) flame.

ACTION: Attack the scarecrow with his rapier
  Attack - 19 (if the result is on or between 11 to 15, he'll add the Bardic Inspiration die from Oriace for +5 to hit)
  Damage - 5 Mundane Piercing (plus an additonal 1 on a crit)

End of turn!

Toser reacts to the strike against Wagner by casting Silvery Barbs and grants advantage to Wagner.

Seeing Mana douse the scarecrow with oil Toser was about to grab the tinderbox and a torch when he realized he had not positioned himself to strike the scarecrow with a torch.  He continues to maintain concentration on the Dancing Lights as he casts Starry Wisp again

Game Log - Nat 1 for the miss.

Resurrecting from page 8.

SOrry for my absence, started a new job. Just got interrupted from posting in full. As a record, I failed the wis save with a 9, including the bardic inspo I got.

(Silvery Barbs is a terrible spell for pbp, most rerolls and reactions are bad, but a reaction reroll??)

If the scarecrow fails in rerolling his attack:

Wagner, heartened by the narrow escape, stabs the scarecrow again. He strikes true, (AC 13) and stabs into the (used Bardic Inspo) stuffy inside. (10 regular damage, 1 from Hunter’s Mark) He winks back a Toser in gratitude. (BA: inspo to toser.)

If the Scarecrow hits on his refill:

Wagner, shaken by the savage attack, tries to stab out at the creature despite his irrational fear. He strikes weakly, (AC 13, 10 damage, 11 from Hunters Mark.).

He staggers dramatically, hoping his allies are invigorated with a need to avenge him.  (BA: inspo to sterling.

 I will be using the 2024 rules for the oil (I rolled a save for them rather than taking the attack, they failed). Mana successfully splashes with oil, and the flames seem to keep the scarecrow on edge. If they take fire damage, they take an extra 5 damage. If they are hit by the torch, that is a flat 1 damage so 6 fire damage total.

Oriace manages to find purchase with his spell.

Sterling also finds his mark.

Silvery barbs rerolling: 7 (before applying bane) so misses. 

Wagner just pierces the scarecrow for 6 total damage. The scarecrow looks injured now.

The scarecrow wants to eliminate the thread of fire from Mana. taking two attacks. Both hit, one only just (15 after bane), the other one is a crit (and assuming someone does silvery barbs it, will still hit as it is a 21 before bane). If someone does silvery barbs the crit, it will be total of 13 slashing damage. And 2 DC 11 Wisdom saving throws or be frightened until the end of the scarecrow’s next turn. (if no one silvery barbs the crit, Mana will be unconscious, as it would be total 19) 

(Oh dear. Oh dear. I’ll hold off rolling the Wis saves until I find out if Mana is awake to make them.)

Mana makes the first concentration check to maintain Bless: 14 in Game Log.

(Waiting to see if there’s a Silvery Barbs out there to nullify the second hit)

As the scarecrow's claws swipe toward Mana with chilling precision, Oriace narrows his eyes and conjures the subtle power of Silvery Barbs. His voice hums with a strange, melodic rhythm, as if channeling an old warding charm from the deepest corners of his memory. With a flick of his hand and a sharp, almost playful tone, he calls out, "Ah-ah! You’ll need to do better than that, straw-for-brains!" The air around the scarecrow seems to shimmer briefly, distorting its path and causing it to hesitate, as if momentarily dazed by the magical interference. The energy shifts from Oriace to Mana, granting him a sudden, encouraging boost—a glimmer of hope amid the scarecrow's dark threat (Advantage roll goes to Mana).

Without missing a beat, Oriace sends another biting insult at the creature, his voice laced with arcane mockery. "You’re a disgrace to all scarecrows! I've seen burlap sacks with more backbone!" His words slice through the air, magically taunting the scarecrow and aiming to weaken its resolve.

Reaction: Silvery Barbs on the Scarecrow's attack roll and granting advantage to Mana.
Action: Vicious Mockery WIS save DC 14 (plus Bane), dealing 3 psychic damage on a failure.

Second concentration check to maintain Bless: 5 rolled in Game Log.

Will try the two Wis saves here using the dice roller due to having advantage for being a Verdan: 12 and 17

Mana is shocked by the scarecrow’s willingness to approach him. Then he is rocked by two vicious hits that should have ended him, had it not been for the intervening magic from Oriace. The second blow was so shocking, in fact, that it causes Mana to lose his concentration on his Bane spell. But resolve wells from deep inside him, surpassing the waves of fear that would overtake him.

Bloodied, but with gritty resolve, he thrusts his torch at the scarecrow. He can’t let this monster hurt anyone else.

Attack: 24 (advantage included from Oriace)(also assumed 2024 torch as simple weapon with proficiency with simple weapons, if DM considers the torch is 2014 and therefore an improvised weapon, subtract 2 from the result.)

Damage: 1 fire damage on hit plus 5 fire damage for ignited oil (first of two rounds).

The scarecrow is particularly affected by the fire (as expected). So that 6 fire damage (12 damage total) is enough to end the scarecrow, without me even needing to roll a save for vicious mockery. 

Combat is over!