OOC: Are these skeletons animated??

Darastrag stows his bow and arrow and grabs a chunk of rubble off the ground. Leaning against his staff, he tosses the rock in the general direction of the skeletons.

Aerin waits for the skeletons to rise or remain still.  In this place?  The dead could most certainly walk.

- Esvele - 

As Darastrag tosses the rubble, Esvele asks, "My question is - did something kill them while in there or did they become trapped and could not get out? Regardless of what we do, all four of us should not enter the room in case it can only be opened from out here."

Looking around, Esvele suddenly takes a drink from her wine skin, "Every turn we take there's more death - it's stagnating."

N'ruel quickly produces his staff as the door of the hidden alcove opens. He nervously glances back to the other party members questioning if they should proceed inside.

Aerin gives a nod and raises her hands in readiness to cast if needed.

- Esvele - 

Noting no movement from the skeletons and seeking to break the awkward stillness, Esvele moves in to the alcove. She examines the bodies more closely without touching them before searching the room for any other exits, hidden or otherwise.

She comments to the others looking in, "I don't much feel like touching the gear and items these poor blokes have - I don't suppose one of you know how to conjure up one of them spectral hands like a mage I once knew could do."

Everyone braces themselves as Darastrag tosses a hunk of crumbling rubble into the small chamber towards the lifeless skeletons. The ancient stone sails through the cool air and clatters nosily as it impacts against the floor. All is still and silent, motes of dust float about the long undisturbed room. 

The silence lingers and breaking the awkwardness the cleric moves forward on into the chamber, a chill shiver snakes up her spine and her skin turns to gooseflesh as she crosses over the threshold, but the sensation only lasts for a moment. Bending to quickly examine the skeletons, their jaws agape in a silent scream of terror, Esvele does not notice any injuries that stand out as being the cause of death. While turning to speak to her companions a rattling sound comes from behind Esvele as three pale white figures rise up to loom over her, black shadows writhe and slither like tangible things over and through the bones of the skeletons as pinpoints of eldritch green flame sparks to life within their empty eye sockets. The shadows, like the strings of a wooden puppet, manipulate the arms and legs of the skeletons as they lumber forward...

Initiative 22

Initiative 8

Initiative: 6

Darastrag Initiative: 4

As the skeletons come to life and begin to shamble forward, N'ruel wastes no time and leaps forward upon the first skeleton (SK1). He thrusts out with his staff towards its skull, then launches a spinning side kick into the ribcage.

Attack: 15 Damage: 7
Bonus MA Attack: 17 Damage: 4

Esvele's initiative 15 

Gwaihir's initiative 11 

Bones shatter into clouds of white chalky dust as the monk breaks away part of the skeleton's rib cage. The eldritch flame grows brighter in the dark hollow sockets of the dead's eyes as shadows coalesce into black blades of swirling mist.

Two of the skeletons slash and stab at the cleric with shadowed blades as the third attempts to drive its blade deep into the drow's gut.

Esvele parries the strikes with shield and warhammer. Esvele reverses her grip on the hammer taking aim at SK2 standing before her. She pauses, as if waiting for an opening (//held action to attack on Gwaihir's cue//).

Suddenly, from the shadows, Gwaihir appears and dives at SK2's face clawing and cawing at its eyes creating a distraction (//help action//). 

Seeing her opportunity, Esvele swings at SK2's chest! She strikes the skeleton sending bits of bone and cartilage flying! 

- War hammer Attack: 20 BLUDGEONING Damage: 7

Blood thrilling with the surge of battle, Aerin rushes through an eldritch blast and sends it towards the second skeleton by Esvele.

Attack: 19 Damage: 8

The blast hits the skeleton making its bones blacken and pop.  Its undead fortitude makes her attack barely register.

Seeing his companions embroiled against new foes, Tovar launches himself towards the skeletons, taking swing at SK2 as it besets Esvele. Nimbly dancing around her and Gwaihir's concerted attack, he shouts out, "Nice bird!" And swings at the undead guardian. 

Attack: 7 Damage: 6

His blow being casually parried by the creature, Tovar purses his lips at the undead flaming eyes of sk2.

"Nice bones?" He softly querries.

Darastrag shuffles forward, keeping balanced and watching his companions. He times his movements and swings his staff with a sharp snap!

Staff Attack: 18 Damage: 6

N'ruel slides over to the remaining skeleton and ...

Attack: 19 Damage: 6
Bonus MA Attack: 22 Damage: 6

Fortunately, the technique makes up for the lack of power in his strikes - the staff pulverizes the upper leg bones, dropping the skeleton to the floor. With the skeleton now on the ground, the monk the drives a heel straight into its skull, splitting it in two.

With the threats handled the monk relaxes his stance and looks around the alcove for anything of use that the skeletons may have had.