Johnathan looks to the swarming skeletons coming out of the cloak. It was clear that this was going to be a problem real soon. Let’s move, we got to get to that scream. If the unicorn is in danger we must act. Johnathan looks to the skeletons. By holy light and sacred flame, come now angel and give us aid. Johnathan points to the ground where a ring forms. A bright light illuminates as a figure rises from the summoning, a warrior with angelic wings and a longsword and turns to the face the skeletons. Don’t even try touching it skeletons, your blades will only pass through. (Deception: 20). He then grabs his cloak and and starts flying towards the source of the screaming, taking the quickest route that he can. 

Cloak of bats fly speed 40 feet,

Action:silent image (investigation dc 16 to see it’s an illusion )

The warhorse goes down in a puff of dust and a storm of flying bone debris.  Its rider, as well as several other skeletons, are caught in the explosions.  Two crumple completely. 

It becomes apparent very early on in the fight, especially after Johnathan does an admirable job trying to turn them back, that the skeletons are entirely too stupid to be fooled.  Without their commander, they plod along on a predispositioned course of action that seems to be end everything in the realm.  A few do try to engage the angelic apparition, but it doesn't slow enough of them even remotely down as Johnathan flies off down the hall.  One skeleton tries to strike out at Lady Kaede as she goes on the offensive and misses, while the dehorsed rider attacks Lir, who lashes back with his greatsword and puts an end to the form that Kaede had so greatly damaged.

Another skeleton archer appears in the hall and begins picking out enemy targets to engage, seemingly at random.  It target's Nodjeim first, followed by shooting one of the skeletons in the throne room.  Its third shot hits Ward.  

The whole castle rumbles.  There is a sound like breaking stone.  The sound of the Red Bull bellowing is all they can hear.  Louder than the skeletons.  Louder than the scream from upstairs.  

Ah, the best part of being an archer...  When your allies keep advancing beyond the fight, so now you have to dash past the enemy to keep up.  Like a calico cat careening through a kennel.  Speaking of dogs... she tries bring Joy with her, hoping the old girl remembers her scent as Ereni may be invisible.

Ereni dashes 70' to catch up to the rear of her party, skirting the skeletons and sticking to the darkness as best she can.  But leaving Joy behind is a non-starter - no way the doggie is left to become skeleton food.  Just the opposite if things end well.  Oh, who am I kidding about things ending well!

Joy seems afraid as things escalate around her, but she follows close to Ereni as the two of them make their way through the room toward the door.  The Berserkers keep the skeletons busy and go down the lines parceling out horrendous damage from their greataxe swings, at least a couple of skeletons falling to their attacks...

     “Your Majesty!” Nodjeim calls out to Lir as he tries to stay next to his side and fight off the swarm and press of cold, hostile bones.  “Do you know how your father controlled them?  Surely we could use the same to save your Amalthea?”

     Nodjeim strives to stay right on Lir’s right hand and help not only protect him but clear a path forward.  He ducks, dips, and dodges the swords and attacks of the undead mass as best he can, dancing around attacks while he delivers his own.  “Perhaps just try ordering them to stop?” He suggests wildly.

Attacking Recklessly:

BattleAxe vs Skeleton Attack: 21 Damage: 9

Bonus Action BattleAxe vs Skeleton Attack: 23 Damage: 16

…

"My father was a secretive man.  I have no idea how he controlled the skeletons.  But I know he sold his soul for control of the bull.  Without him, it will do as it wants, just like the skeletons!"  Lir answers. 

Two skeletons shatter as Nodjeim dances next to the Prince, but the castle is still crawling with with bone bags.  One skeleton, holding a battleaxe, attacks Ward and slices into him, while a group surrounding Lady Kaede are lucky enough to get in some jabs with their rusty blades.   Another group swings blindly at something dashing through the room...but Ereni remains unharmed.  

Amitola, getting aggravated with the skeletons and quickly losing patience with them, mumbles unto herself. "Stupid bags of (not so nice word) bones...*along with more not so nice inaudible grumbles*" 

With that, she brings her sword back around, swinging out of pure frustration and brut force, aiming for the core of the skeleton closest with the anger built up to try to practically shatter it. After hitting once however, Amitola swings back through... completely missing what she was aiming for on the way back through and almost spinning herself completely around she pauses, trying to make it appear as if she had totally done it on purpose.

Amitola's sword clips a skeleton wearing a horned helm as it comes racing past her on its way toward Ward and misses, racing past him and crashing into the wall.  Another skeleton swings a greataxe at Johnathan and clips him...

Ward pours a drop of water into his hand, before a flash and a line of water erupts towards the skeletons. Trying his best to avoid any allies the 30ft long 10 feet wide. (Dex save 16, if fail prone if save no probs and half damage.) “Get the Mare away and get home, I’ll move with the Vikings and hold your rear guard as best I can. Use the mirror and run, worst case I’ll catch up with you later I have my own escape.” Ward says, as he turns to face the skeletons and stands alongside whichever Vikings are near slowly backing up while staying at the rear of the group.

Damage: 18

A wall of water thunders over the skeletons, scattering bones in all directions.  One of the consolidated swarms that had appeared is washed completely away and destroyed, while a high number of skeletons are knocked prone in the corridor. 

The only skeleton that remains on its feet for the moment is an archer.  It takes a shot at Johnathan and strikes him before missing Nodjeim.  Another shot is fired, and this one buries in Schmendrick's stomach.  Schmendrick utters a pitiful scream.  

Prince Lir takes his opportunity to dash as all the skeletons go down, moving as fast as he can deeper into the keep...

Kaede, in her dashing regal way, pursues closely behind King Lir…

Johnathan grunts as he takes some damage but continues to fly with prince Lir in the keep.

Cloak of bat movement 40

Action: dash

Schmendrick the Blue stumbles along, trying to keep up with Lir as he murmurs something.  Magic shimmers around his body.  

 Ereni experiences a vivid memory of how old Corporal "Bottom Heavy" Brooks would hold forth the morning before battle with Vader's orcs... only now the words are suited to her own situation and she finds herself breaking a rare smile.  Tragedy is when I stub my toe stumbling away from these skeletons and a gods damned tsunami.  Comedy is when this Red Bull we are charging towards takes a monumental crap on our faces after we all die.

She retreats another 35', now bringing up the rear guard, leading Joy the dog with her.  Trying to stay invisible in the darkness and keep sight of Lir and the others ahead of her.  She resets her Hunter's Mark (bonus action) and takes shots at the remaining skeletons that are standing (like the skeleton archer).

Attack 1:  (against standing skeletons, at advantage due to darkness, best of 3d20s due to Elven Accuracy, -5 to hit due to Sharpshooter and +10 damage)
To hit:  26 - 5 = 21 (would be same even without advantage - first d20 highest)
Damage:  17 + 4 + 10 (longbow + Hunter's Mark + Sharpshooter) = 31 magical piercing.

Attack 2:  (same target if up, at advantage due to darkness, best of 3d20s due to Elven Accuracy, -5 to hit due to Sharpshooter and +10 damage)
To hit:  27 - 5 = 22 (would be same even without advantage - first d20 highest)
Damage:  11 + 4 + 10 (longbow + Hunter's Mark + Sharpshooter) = 25 magical piercing.
Or if different target, she would not be able to switch her Hunter's Mark and it would be 21 damage.

Total damage if both hit:  56 if same target or 31 and 21 if different targets, with the second target not getting Hunter's Mark damage.

The only skeleton left standing after the tsunami, the problematic archer, staggers back when the first arrow strikes it.  It shatters when the second arrow pierces its sternum and cuts its spine in half, collapsing into a pile of bones on the wet floor.  The Viking Berserkers set to moving up and down the ranks of proned skeletons, hacking them to bits as they go...

As the party moves past the proned skeletons and follows Lir deeper into the keep, there is a enormous rumble.  The castle shakes violently as if in the throws of an earthquake, and then there is a sound like an explosion.  A roar, the roar of an enraged bull, a very big, very angry bull, rumbles through the keep.  Then there are screams that start seconds later from the direction of the village...

     Nodjeim had intended to go with King Lir to save the maiden...  But with the skeletons demolished and little in their way, he had no doubt the King and these others with him could manage that feat.  In the meantime, someone had to help the people in the village.  "Save the maiden," Nodjeim calls out.  "I will go and try to distract the beast from the village..."  With that said, Nodjeim changes his direction to the quickest exit - Window perhaps? - and follows the sounds of the bull at full speed!

As Nodjeim leave's through the window, the skeletons start to stand back up...

Blinking at the events around her, Amitola just shakes her head quickly to focus back in sighing to herself. Dashing off, taking long strides after Prince Lir and the rest of the others, she glances back, shakes her head once more and continues to catch up.

Lir continues to move as the skeletons disappear behind them, still being held in place by Berserkers that Ward has left behind.  Boot falls echo down the hallway, and skeletons moan in rooms around them as they move toward the stairs...and then skeletons begin to break down the doors around them....

"The Lady Amalthea!"  Lir says, grabbing Schmendrick the Blue and shoving him toward the stairs.  "Get her!  Take them with you!  I'll hold these skeletons here!"

He takes a moment to glance at Joy who seems like she senses something leaving, and then squares himself up to block the spiraling staircase that leads up into the keep's tower.  

"We are not finished here, but there will be no more death's today because of my inaction.  I will reckon with the lot of you when this is through.  Now go.  Make sure she is safe.  We'll reconvene soon."  

Amitola, Johnathan, and Lady Kaede are at the base of the stairs...

Not one to dilly-dally around, Lady Kaede silently and swiftly runs up the spiral staircase, throwing all caution to the wind because time is of the essence.