Tarysaa Init:  A Bloody Awful roll of SIX.  6!!!

Against the snakes, Ardana gets 19+1=20 initiative.

Round 1

Our heroes are too experienced to be surprised by a mere ball of reptiles and immediately take the initiative!

Mival maneuvers laboriously through the water to get close to the slithering menace, followed by his faithful Rocksaucers, while Khelbluen floats undeterred to the corner of the room, from where he unleashes one of his now-famous lightning bolts.

Snake Swarm must make a DC 14 DEX saving throw taking Damage: 22 (lightning) or half on a success (11)

Snake Swarm's DC 14 DEX Save: 14

Round 1

The hissing skein manages to avoid the worst by flattening itself to the ground and partially dispersing, but many reptiles still begin to float inertly. The survivors regroup, preparing to fight back.

Now Zevriel, Ardana, and Paqen are up!

Combat Stats (those interested can peek):

Zevriel ducks beneath the crackling bolt and drives his dagger straight into the writhing knot of reptiles. Water parts around his shoulders as he plunges the dagger in a tight, chopping arc—quick thrusts meant to punch through scales before the snakes can recoil.

One stroke skewers three bodies at once; a follow-up slash sends the limp shapes drifting away. More coils hiss past his vambrace, but the swarm’s center is thinner now—holes opened where his blade has worked.

Move: moves directly north of Khelbluen to give Ardana more space
Action: attack with dagger, hits AC 24 for 5 piercing damage and 8 sneak attack damage

Round 1

Zevriel's short blade is precise in its kills—but killing that mass of creatures one at a time could prove problematic [[ OOC: resistance to that damage type ]].

Now Ardana, and Paqen are up!

Combat Stats (those interested can peek):

[[ OOC: Taking Ardana's Turn ]]

Round 1

Ardana steps forward into the space left by her teammates and tries to contribute by spearing snakes with her javelin.

Paqen, meanwhile, struggles to make his way into the room.

Ardana's Javelin Attack: 17 Damage: 4 (piercing)

Round 1

Several more snakes are impaled, reducing the number of opponents. The swarm seems determined to fight back and slithers as one toward Zevriel.

Mival and Rocksaucers take advantage of this to try to crush more reptiles... [[ OOC: Opportunity Attacks ]]

Opportunity Attacks:

Mival's Slam Attack: 18 Damage: 9 (bludgeoning)
Rocksaucers Slam Attack: 7 Damage: 9 (bludgeoning)

Round 1

Now reduced to a handful of reptiles, the swarm reaches its victim and attempts to bite it from every side.

Snake Swarm Attack: 20 Damage: 4 (piercing)
If it's a hit, Zevriel also takes Damage: 17 (poison) or half (8) if he passes a DC 10 Constitution Saving Throw

Round 1

As the surviving serpents attack Zevtriel, even those of our heroes who were caught less prepared have had time to regroup and spring into action!

Now Tarysaa and Elias are up!

Zevriel cons save 21, taking 12 damage total

[[ OOC: Great! Combat Stats updated! ]]

Now Tarysaa and Elias are up!

Tarysaa moves two 'squares' forward and enters the room and the fray.  Without hesitation, she begins a hand gesture and speaks the words of power. 

Magic Missile

Three glowing darts of magical force burst from her fingertips, streaking towards the snakes. They hiss and coil, attempting to evade the assault. The darts adjust their trajectory, finding their mark. As the magical energy connects, the snakes recoil, their movements momentarily disrupted.

Dart 1:  4 pts force damage
Dart 2:  5 pts
Dart 3:  3 pts

Round 1

Tarysaa's force completes what Khelbluen's lightning and the party's weapons had begun: the last serpents, mercilessly struck, cease to move and begin to float lazily, dead, while the few survivors scatter, ceasing to pose a threat.

Gratz! Combat won! You may act outside of rounds now.

Zevriel hisses through his teeth, slitting each bite just enough to let dark, tainted blood flow before spitting the taste of venom from his mouth. A quick wrap of linen and a deep, steadying breath firm his stance again (Second Wind heals for 10 HP). Drawing the dagger up under his forearm, he ducks into the half-collapsed corridor to the North where lantern-light falters, body melting into the gloom (Stealth 17).

Without a word he slips north, padded steps muffled by drifted silt. Every few paces he pauses—listening, feeling the faint currents stir against his cheek—eyes sweeping the rubble-strewn passage for the smallest sign of motion or threat as he ghosts ahead of the group (Perception 22).

While his fellow adventurers congratulate themselves on another victory, to the background of the stone faces that have not yet stopped singing a different tavern song (with little agreement, but plenty of joviality), Zevriel slips north without a word.

He discovers that after a short distance, the new corridor leads into a new room. This room contains numerous stuffed creatures, now rotted due to long immersion in water. It's possible to recognize what must have been a bear and a chimera, but most other creatures are so ruined as to be unrecognizable. Some parts are even missing; apparently, they have been eaten.

The only opening is the one Zevriel came through, in the easternmost part of the south wall. He easily notices that it must have once been closed by wooden doors, of which the hinges remain, with a few remains of rotted wood attached.

Part of the ceiling has collapsed, so this area is now in communication with the upper level.

Hidden among the rot are several creatures, resembling corpses, but clearly lurking like predators, rather than lying there like corpses. Zevriel's watchful eye spots three of them. The three, however, don't seem to have noticed him.