Randall:

Spotting 4 of the 7 flying snakes as they approach to start their attack (Passive Perception 18), Randall cries out, “Beware, we are under attack!  Defend yourselves!”

One of the snakes he doesn’t see manages to land a hit on him due to surprise..

(Depending on which group of snakes attacks him, the other snake may attack before or after Randall’s action in the first round)

If anyone has a reaction or any other feature they wish to employ just announce it in a post and I will adjust it according. It isn't fair that PbP deny something that is standard at a table. Keep in mind that if surprised you cannot even use a reaction until after the end of your turn, and surprise is only possible during Round 1.

Zenodor's Entorpic Ward causes the 1st attack to be rolled with disadvantage (toss out that 1st attack of 23 and use the attack below.).

Bite Attack: 11 Damage: 15 

(just use the attack roll to determine if you're still hit, ignore the rerolled damage... I use the combat macro and always fill it out to avoid any potential tech problems.)

(also, those who were attacked twice, the 1st attack still counts as a surprise but the 2nd is from the EFSs on the right and since they go last Randall's warning ruins their surprise. this doesn't negate their attacks, it just means it wasn't a surprise.)

(Since the EFS have rolled their attacks for the 1st Round as part of their attempted surprise the remaining players are up and can post their 1st Round actions. I will apply them in initiative order and then announce when Round 2 begins.)

OOC:  Randall's actions will depend on people's injury level at the time of his action (two other party members will have gone after the surprise attacks take effect for those snakes stealthy enough).

Bow sees a couple of the snakes attacking, and thus isnt surprised by all. Luckily none of them attack him so he has a clear shot which he takes at the one that hurt Tempe the most.

Bow uses his bonus action to imbue his weapon with rite of the dawn taking 6 damage. After which he fires of 2 quick shots

Attack 1: 17 Damage: 17

Attack 2: 7 Damage: 22

(2nd d6 of the attacks is radiant rest is magical piercing)

(When one of the snakes falls to 0 hit points Bow will use his reaction to curse the creature as a fallen puppet making it attack one of the other flying snakes, one that looks hurt the least (within range). I will amplify the curse, taking 1 damage, so it can move half its speed and +3 is added to the attack roll as a bonus.

When a creature you can see within 30 feet of you drops to 0 hit points, you can use your reaction to give that creature a final act of aggression. That creature immediately makes a single weapon attack against a target of your choice within its attack range.

Amplify. You can first move the cursed creature up to half their speed, and you grant a +3 bonus to the cursed creature’s attack roll.)

(What I sometimes forget btw, when my weapon is imbued with rite of the dawn: 

• Your weapon sheds bright light out to a radius of 20 feet.

This might draw attention to bow when we are in the dark etc.)

Quote from Secretfool >>

(What I sometimes forget btw, when my weapon is imbued with rite of the dawn: 

• Your weapon sheds bright light out to a radius of 20 feet.

This might draw attention to bow when we are in the dark etc.)

Interesting choice. So, RAW - as I understand it: bright light for 20ft, nothing beyond. You have no darkvision. So in a night fight, you light yourself up as an easy target, but get disadvantage on your own attacks beyond 20ft from your target being unlit (assuming they have darkvision or similar). Or am I missing something?

OOC:  Sorry guys, I am a bit lost here.  Is it Randall’s turn?  What attacks have landed and is anyone severely injured?

Initiative:

Tempe 24 Attack: 16 Damage: 7 at it 21 Damage: 7 disengaged. Seems if my initiative is higher and since my passive of 14 is higher than 7 was not surprised by its stealth I would of avoided it's crit attack. And attacked it doing 14 damage.

Petcan 24 Attack: 14 Damage:12 + 11 fire damage to the first second snake takes 7 fire damage. 

3 exotic flying snakes (left side) 20 If still alive not sure

 Randall 19 

 Zenodor 14 

Bow 11

4 exotic flying snakes (right side) 10 

Petcan has killed one and singed another.

Tempe has used a ki point to avoid the crit and burned a snake quite badly.

(Randall is up. Zenodor is next. And finally Bow.)

(The EFS's turns will be applied in initiative order. Once Round 1 actions have been posted I will apply them from both sides in initiative order. Round 2 will be more straight forward and easy to understand, hopefully)

(I think what's so confusing is that you can be surprised by 1 snake but not another, on your turn you can act against any snake that doesn't surprise you, but not against those that do. This probably comes across as even more confusing on PbP.)

(Yeah surprise is confusing in 5e, but complete surprise rounds can be extremely deadly:P

And PbP of course doesnt help)

Randall:

With no one currently down and dying, Randall recovers from the stealth attack delivered by the first snake and summons up [Tooltip Not Found] as he draws Lightbringer.

Radiant Damage to foes, DC 16 Wisdom for half:  18

OOC:  Spell cast is Spirit Guardians (if the tooltip remains uncooperative).  Damage occurs at the start of their turn or when they first get within 15 feet of Randall.

2 from the left are effected now... 2 from the right will be affected on their initiative order, last I believe.)

1st WIS Save: 5 

2nd WIS Save: 6 

Both die. One was attacking Tempe and the other Randall.

(Zenodor is up, Bow is next.)

Zenodor had a lucky escape from the snake's stealth attack thanks to his entropic ward. He casts Armor of Agathys to give himself some magical protection and to cause damage (20 cold damage) to any snake who lands a hit on him.

(Brian my turn has been posted in #1327)

The 2 on the right now make their saves from Randall's spell:

1st WIS save: 18 

2nd WIS save: 10 

There is only 1 remaining on the left attacking Petcan, and 1 remaining on the right attacking Tempe.

Round 2
Initiative Order:

Tempe
Petcan
Left Jaculi
Randall
Zenodor
Bow
Right Jaculi 

Tempe casts speak with animals and his deep voice booms "Stop attacking us! Parley!"  he says as he uses his forceful presence.  9 persuasion  

Their answer: "Help kill food. Eat food."

"We will help you. We have food to give you!" He thinks about it as he takes out a days worth of rations. he says in common "Give em some of your food guys"

Do we have any rats on the ship?