Valar engages the cloaker-Attack 20, damage 6

Thelanis taps into her Patron’s dark energies and channels it at the cloaker, then slashes at it savagely.

BA: Hexblade’s Curse

Action - Longsword: AC 24, 14 slashing damage.

[[Now seeing a downside to playing a 2014 Hexblade and a 2024 blade pact in separate campaigns…]]

Amiz swings his battle axe with determination to end the threat of the blasted Cloaker

Battle Axe

Attack: 22 Damage: 10

Attack: 19 Damage: 10

You all start hacking into the Cloaker, and ribbons of black ooze run down the creature. Draíocht is still up.

(Also remember that Valar has an Extra Attack now he's Level 5)

Draíocht attacks the Cloaker:

Bite Attack: 25 Damage: 9 Piercing

Claws Attack: 12 Damage: 13 Slashing

The Cloaker, now having taken a ton of damage, breaks free with Disengage and flies 40ft straight up in the air. 

You all are up. Do you still try to take down the monster or let it go?

The Cloaker flies up into the cavern and escapes, the shreds of black ichor still spilling onto the ground as it does so. You continue on into the cavern, knowing that somewhere in here is the Elven camp. 

The enormous proportions of the cavern almost make it comfortable as you walk. The stench of murky water from the river is gone, and it almost starts to feel like your outside. The phosphorescent mushrooms that light the way almost seeming like stars. A soft whistling passes through the cavern, providing a kind of walking music to your long journey. Eventually you make camp for the night. 

Any campfire tales through the night? Or perhaps some plans for what you might find tomorrow? You know that you'll likely reach the Fallen Elf camp sometime the next day.

Thelanis is having a hard mental time of things right now.  She grows even more silent than usual, and is obviously avoiding Valar. She keeps touching the Talisman she wears and looking at her sword. When we camp she goes off by herself and faces away from everyone.

[[OOC Note: I would love to have Thelanis talk about her developing inner conflict that taking on paladinhood has intensified. Thelanis will not let me have her open up willingly. She is determined to stare at a rock wall, crying when nobody can see her. Please feel free to annoy the crap out of my character by trying to see what’s wrong. She will not like it but I would.]]

Valar will see the turmoil she is going through and will try to comfort Thelanis the best that he can. "It must be tough for you; I can see it and sense it. It is a hard path for us to walk, but it is a path we must take in order for us to do what is right to fight this evil. All I can say you have chosen well, and to look to your faith. There was a time I was even shaken when the dark voice found itself inside my head, but I prevailed. I know you can to."

Valar will also check on Sanford and see to his injuries from the fight. (Will we get the benefit of a long rest?) 

(Feel free to carry on this conversation later if desired. I'm just going to move the adventure along.)

You all take a Long Rest, and continue on with your journey. Amiz and Alsen feel the pressure of whatever has cursed this place invading their minds:

Amiz DC 10 WIS Save: 7

Alsen DC 10 WIS Save: 13

Throughout the day, the rest of you notice that Amiz is unable to speak. He begins mumbling to himself, but none of you understand the words he uses. Sanford smiles, clearly he seems to understand.

Seeing how is comrades are being affected; Valar will pray to his god for protection and shielding for his comrades. Religion 19

Valar keeps an arm around Amiz as they walk, and although the gift of Araevos is able to keep the Leonin calm, it's clear he's still affected by the madness (not mechanically but fictionally). 

Stealth Check: 8

After a few hours walking, you all hear a foot fall and some rocks clatter from behind a mound to your left. Someone is hiding behind it.

Thelanis summons her sword and approaches the mound, circling around to see what is behind it.

Perception Check: 17 

As Thelanis begins to circle the mound, a group of elves bursts out from behind it, aiming longbows at you. When they see you are (mostly) human, one of the elves call out in elvish “Who goes there!? In the name of Ish Alrora!”

Thelanis raises her empty hands, turning her head back to her companions, saying “Anybody speak Elvish?”

Draíocht definitely understands the language, and when he translates for you, the other elves start in surprise. "A Wood Elf, what are you doing down here cousin? Do you have news of the Prince?"

The elves start murmuring amongst themselves. If you don't respond the elves are going to assume you're hostile and attack