Zevriel, still in the corridor, catches Elias’s sudden movement—subtle but sharp, a signal that something’s wrong. He snaps to attention, hand going straight to his twinblade. For a split second, Zev’s mind lags, unsure what’s happened, but the room’s atmosphere shifts—polite words gone, replaced by that old, cold feeling before a fight.

Initiative 8

Tarysaa was halfway down the West-East hallway between the 'Sea Hag'? and the meditating dragon.

Initiative:  11   {game log}

Rolling Initiative for Ardana: 4

Elias’ breath catches as the illusion peels away like damp parchment. The sea elf's serene features collapse into something twisted and vile—green skin, claws like hooked coral, and eyes full of cunning malice. He instinctively takes a step back, staff raised, but his mind stumbles as he tries to categorize the thing before him.

He’s seen many things in books, but this—whatever this is—eludes him.

“What are you…?”

The words slip out in a whisper, less a demand and more a baffled gasp as the creature and the room itself begin to animate. Before he can act, the chaos erupts—chairs skitter, the chest groans open, and the foul creature before them moves.

Elias freezes, caught between awe and uncertainty. His hesitation costs him the moment to strike.

Round 1

Mival and Elias are the quickest of the party, and as soon as the transformation of the interlocutor takes place, they act immediately!

Elias seems to concentrate on the creature's new appearance, almost as if trying to study any weak points, while Mival lunges forward, struggling to make her way through the ruined but surprisingly resistant - and now even more surprisingly self-moving - furniture!

"This creature has been thinking of nothing but ways to kill or harm us since it saw us!" the Doppelganger reveals "She is pure evil incarnate! Strike her without mercy!"

And, to set a good example, the shapeshifting hero tries to deal the repugnant creature a combo of two powerful slams.

Mival's Slams:

Attack 1: 12 Damage: 7 (bludgeoning)
Attack 2: 23 Damage: 6 (bludgeoning)

Round 1

The first slam, although violent, has little effect against the creature's very tough skin. Evidently, even the old woman's appearance is deceiving as much as the worn look of the furniture - and the enemy is much more resistant than it seems.

But Mival, furious at the setback, unleashes all his strength in the second blow and this time it is Old Green who is surprised and feels the blow to the stomach.

Elias is up! He used his Action to examine Old Green... but he can still use his Movement, if he wants, and a Bonus Action, if he has it.
If Elias, on the contrary, has nothing left he wants to do... I'll take Old Green's Turn

Combat Stats (those interested can peek):

Round 1

OK, considering how Elias narrated his Turn, I think he doesn't want to do anything else. I'll proceed with Old Green...

Old Green fixes his eyes full of hatred on the Doppelganger: "Oh, really a good job, Blossom, peeking into the intimacy of my soul... That's something you shouldn't do, bad boy... Now I'll have to punish you!"

Sharp claws like blades snap at the heroic shapeshifter, while the furniture hinders and distracts him, making it harder for him to dodge and defend himself - and the door closes of its own accord, thus leaving Zevriel, Ardana and Tarysaa out of the room (at least for now)!

Old Green's Claws Attack: 26 Damage: 26 (slashing)

Round 1

Mival raises his arms instinctively, taking superficial scratches to his limbs, while blood begins to mix with the still waters.

Now Tarysaa, Zevriel, Ardana and Paqen are up! Any order (who posts first, acts first). But for those outside the room, remember that the door closed itself (and a quick test shows that it has no intention of opening! You will either to break through with a strength check, or destroy it with attacks or open it in some other way - lowering the handle simply isn't enough)

Combat Stats (those interested can peek):

Zevriel’s eyes widen as the door slams shut, cutting him off from the chaos inside. Without thinking, he drops his shoulder and rams into the wood, putting all his weight behind it in hopes of forcing it open. Muscles straining, he grits his teeth and gives a muffled shout, frustration clear in his voice. (Athletics 13)

If the door holds, Zev quickly makes space for anyone else who might want to try their luck.

Tarysaa turns as voices are raised near the cells.  Looking west to the 't' junction, she takes a quick accounting of her available spells and comes up wanting.   None are for shattering doors and most are fire based which might have questionable result when underwater.   She renews the Light  spell on the crystal atop her staff and slides forward to see around the corner ... covering her companions' backs.

Round 1

The door proves once again that appearances can be deceiving. Zevriel's shoulder should have been enough to make the battered wood give way, but instead, despite creaking, it resists.

Zevriel steps back so as to let others try, while Tarysaa watches the party's back.

Now Ardana and Paqen are up! Any order (who posts first, acts first). But for those outside the room, remember that the door closed itself (and a quick test shows that it has no intention of opening! You will either to break through with a strength check, or destroy it with attacks or open it in some other way - lowering the handle simply isn't enough)

Combat Stats (those interested can peek):

Ardana echos Zevriel's efforts to open the door with her shoulder.  (also a 13).    She looks at her new comrade, Come let us slam the door together.   1, 2, 3...

(next round can we do athletics with advantage?   Ardana has +5 so with advantage should be able to succeed).

The door resists Ardana's attempt too! But Ardana tries to coordinate with Zevriel for the next try.

[[ OOC: Ok to Advantage if you both coordinate, but it is mot a fixed + 5, you roll twice and keep the best roll -]].

Paqen moves back to the NW corner of the room and closes his eyes. As he does a part of his plumage begins to glow faintly at first but quickly illuminates that half of the room. Several points on one of his arms shine brighter than the rest in the rough constellation of a Grail.

(BA Stary Form: Chalice)

He then looks between Elias and Mival at the midpoint of the wall as a column of soft cold light fills the space that Old Green occupies as well as the space beside her. “Let the moonlight cleanse your corruption from this place and keep from the Lady Eldath!”

Con save 13.(Dis for shapechangers and reverts to true form)

15 Radiant damage(half on save)

Old Green's Con save 13: 10

Round 1

The magical light summoned by Paqen fully envelops Old Green, who, having no space to avoid it, begins to feel her skin burning! [[ OOC: However, she will take the damage at the beginning of her Turn, as per the spell description ]]

"I will pluck you, you annoying meddlesome!" the monstrous old woman shouts to the druid.

Round 2

"Leave my friends alone!" Mival insists on defending the position (aming other things, to prevent Old Green from exiting the area of ​​light that is causing her pain) and attempts a new combination of two left-right Slams.

Mival's Slams:

Attack 1: 8 Damage: 7 (bludgeoning)
Attack 2: 9 Damage: Unable to parse dice roll. (bludgeoning)

Round 2

This time the Doppelganger, aware of how dangerous his opponent is, uses all his strength from the start - and the two blows hit with precision, to the face and ribs.

Old Green takes it more like a professional street fighter than an old woman, but at least she seems increasingly irritated by how stinging her 'victims' are turning out to be.

Now, Elias is up!

Combat Stats (those interested can peek):