Erven stalks forward into the shadows, silently descending the steps on the other side of the room, the cloak of darkness enveloping him as his keen eyes search far into into the gloom.

Stone stairs descend from Hallix Mausoleum to a large subterranean chamber. Stone coffins sit on sturdy shelves lining the walls, and his keen eyes pick up something strange on the south wall as his gaze passes throughout the room. Part of the west wall has collapsed, creating an opening into another chamber that you can't see.

Marching around the chamber are seven pale, desiccated warriors wearing wicked-looking armor. They each carry strange weapons, whips seeming to be attached to their wrists. The whips themselves catch your eye, as they appear to be made of some sort of flexible see-through substance, and the weapon itself is more a flexible tube than a rope like implement. The tubes are empty, devoid of any filling. The undead have not noticed you, your shadow magic concealing you from view.

Khessa tries to puff out the candles, but it does not work. They merely flicker and stay lite.

Erven backs up and sneaks back to everyone, crouching down.  In a whisper, he describes the scene up ahead.  “Does someone have a big wall of water or ball of flame to burn them away?  I will use my bow, of course.”

Khessa replies: "I 'burn away' enemies with my Greatsword, not with balls of flame - but that's usually quite as effective".

"Seven is a lot..." the blonde arcane warrior muses aloud "And the room is accessed by a staircase, not a corridor - so forming a front line just before the threshold might not be very effective, because those behind might have difficulty hitting and contributing".

"But I know a spell that should make it difficult for them to hit me. It's probably best if you let me go first, possibly letting me enter the room alone, first, so I can draw the attacks. Once they're focused on me," the tall adventuress continues "you should have a good time entering the room as well and attacking them. We'll wipe them out before they can do too much damage. What do you say?"

"Perhaps I can provide with the requested ball of flame, after all, all parties should start with a bang don't you think?" The dark-haired golden-behelmeted young man says with a sly smile, holding forth his golden staff, Shadowwshisk snickering beside him. 

(Ready to send down a fireball ahead to soften up resistance if reasonably many of the undead can be caught by it. Fire: 26 Dex save 17 for half)
(Also, since Erven is such an excellent scout Ariel returns to stay with Jack for now :-) 

Ketangu has no such magics at his disposal. He reflexively holds his spear a bit tighter ready to see the effects of the fireball.   

Khessa will cast Protection From Evil And Good when Jack throws the ball of flame; then she will run to the undead, flaming greatsword in hand, trying to egage in melee as many of them as possible.

[[ OOC: The undead will have Disadvantage attacking Khessa ]]

Combat Time!

The party stands at the ready, and Jack conjures a ball of flame between his fingers. He rolls it around through his hands, strengthening the power of the destructive fire. Then, he sends it rolling forth, a streaking bead of power that blossoms like a flower in spring into a explosion of fury that flashes with a low roar as it sets into motion the attack of the party

The party rushes forward as the flames scorch the undead creatures and their black eyes look dazed at the sudden assault. This will be easy. Hopefully.

Initiative: I'll do block initiative but with a melee and ranged group. You act depending on whether you up close or stay back a bit.

 Whichever group you choose, you still all get a surprise round! All of you can go!

Oh yeah, I'll do DEX saves for the undead:

Undead 1-3: 3 DEX save; Undead 4-7: 11 DEX save.

Erven (ranged group) pulls out his bow and the sound of the thrum of his bowstring and arrows flying fill the air.  He targets the creature in front and keeps shooting until it drops to the ground, then moves on to the next.  Afterwards, he hides behind any rock or the passageway so that he can spring out and keep attacking next round.  

Action : 

Long bow 1 : 24 to hit, for 10 points of piercing damage and 9 points of sneak attack damage.  

Longbow 2 : 29 to hit for 12 points of piercing damage.  

1st round Dread Ambusher skill, 3rd attack, longbo: 20 to hit for 9 points of piercing damage.  

Bonus action : Hide - stealth check : 33 (crit)

Khessa definitely goes melee! And since while Jack was casting Fireball she was casting [Tooltip Not Found], she tries to engage as many undead as possible in melee at once.

[[ OOC: This because she is probably the party member with the best physical and magical defenses, considering her AC and the fact that the undead have Disadvantage to attack her. ]]

The impressive blade of her Greatsword erupts in flames and the blonde arcane warrior powerfully swings it first in a downward slash, then in a horizontal return slash, against one of the creepy walking skeletons.

Surprise Round

Khessa's Multiattack with her Flame Tongue Greatsword:

Attack 1: 27 Damage: 16 (magical slashing) + 12 (fire) = 28

Attack 2: 27 Damage: 15 (magical slashing) + 6 (fire) = 21

Kit rushes in alongside Khessa, her blade flashing with the grace of a rapier and the force of a longsword as she strikes at her opponent

(Attack: 12 Damage: 8 Radiant. Assuming these are undead, add another 3 damage)

Tabitha and Lance also rush into Melee, 5ft from Khessa. Tabby is also good for taking attacks (higher AC then Khessa). As they rush in, Tabitha coats her weapon with an oil (branding smite) that will burn the first undead she hits. She will then swing her mace twice at one of the undead (or two if they die after the first hit) that isn't with Khessa.

Attack 1: 26 to hit, 13 magical bludgeoning + 7 radiant + 8 force (arcane jolt) and the undead shines dim light in a 5ft radius.

Attack 2: 19 to hit, 13 magical bludgeoning

Lance dodges (the only action he can do without my bonus action) and gets ready to give disadvantage on the first of the enemies attacks on Khessa (reaction)

"Go get them girl." The golden-helmeted young man says to his quickling accomplice after using his golden staff to engulf the walking dead with arcane fire, then taking full cover from the enemies down below, and Shadowwhisk is quick  and eager to oblige, speeding down the stairs to slash at the closest still standing undead whippers with her enchanted scythe Dusk Reaper.

Dusk Reaper: 21 Magical slashing: 20 + Force: 2
Dusk Reaper: 23 Magical slashing: 12 + Force: 6

She then disappears, only to appear up the stairs again, covering the golden-helmeted man in magical darkness, taking a protective position in front of him. 

Ketangu rushes in an attack with his spear 2x

Attack: 17 Damage: 10

Attack: 19 Damage: 13

Bonus action unarmed strike

Attack: 19 Damage: 9

The he retreats 10 ft behind Khessa provoking no opportunity attacks due to mobile feat

Erven draws back his bow, firing off three deadly shots that pierce one of the undead warriors (U1), causing the foul abomination to crumple.

Khessa strides forward, shield of glimmering magic shining around her, and strikes twice with her mighty blade, its flames sweeping through shadows. Her first strike misses horribly, her blade sinking into the ground, but she manages to yank it out and hit the undead (U2) upside the head with the fiery blade.

Kit tries to do the same, trying to smite one of the undead (U3), but it deflects her attack with a snap of its whip.

Tabitha charges forward atop her metallic steed, and swings her oily weapon, causing another burst of flame as her two powerful strikes. These strikes send one undead (U4) tumbling to ground, skull caved in and on fire.

Shadowwhisk, commanded by her master, rushes forward and strikes at one of the foul creatures (U5), scything the creature down with two powerful magical strikes and sending it back to the grave.

Ketangu slithers forward, weapon in hand, and delivers a triple whammy of deadly strikes that pierce one of the warriors (U6), injuring it even more and sending it reeling, bloodied.

Current Status: U1 is dead, U2 is bloodied, U3 is bloodied, U4 is dead, U5 is dead, U6 is severely injured.

Now...Melee Characters Turn! The undead are no longer surprised

Khessa swings her flaming Greatsword above her head and brings it down in a swift downward slash towards her opponent who seems ready to collapse at any moment [[ OOC: U6 ]], immediately followed by an upward slash towards the pelvic area, targeting either the undead itself [[ OOC: U6 ]] or, if that one has already fallen, then the undead she had attacked first [[ OOC: U2 ]].

Round 1

Khessa's Multiattack with her Flame Tongue Greatsword:

Attack 1: 10 Damage: 11 (magical slashing) + 5 (fire) = 16

Attack 2: 10 Damage: 12 (magical slashing) + 7 (fire) = 19

Kit continues to slash at her opponent (U3) in the hopes of finally bringing it down.

(Attack: 26 Damage: 15 radiant)

Tabby swings twice more with her mace, aiming at U2 to help out Khessa. She is saving her tinkered creations (spell slots) for now so not applying more oil.

Attack 1: 21 to hit, 11 magical bludgeoning.
Attack 2: 27 to hit, 9 magical bludgeoning.

Lance also attacks (aiming at the most injured looking one still standing). 18 to hit for 5 force damage. 

Effortlessly seeing through the magical darkness surrounding him, the young golden-helmeted man uses his golden staff to send two greenish beams of eldritch crackling force towards any still standing undead.

Eldritch Blast: 23 Force: 15
Eldritch Blast: 23 Force: 9

The scythe-wielding quickling again speeds down the stairs to slash at the closest still standing undead.

Dusk Reaper: 30  Magical slashing: 14 + Force: 3
Dusk Reaper: 21  Magical slashing: 18 + Force: 4

She then disappears, only to appear up the stairs again, again covering the golden-helmeted man in magical darkness, taking a protective position in front of him.