Hoard of the Dragon Queen [IC. 2014 rules]

For his part, Montar is at home in the dark and damp underground, and moves sure-footedly down the passage. He checks back in often to make sure Tam is still okay behind him, and tries his best to be stealthy despite his armor (Stealth: 9), but mostly keeps his eyes and ears attuned for anything out of the ordinary (passive perception 14).

You all slip into the dark tunnel, perhaps not quite expecting the slickness of the moss-covered stone. Even with Draylin, Montar, and Thistlewick able to see in the dark, the sounds of your boots splashing and your breathing seem to echo loudly in the narrow space.

Tam, with no darkvision of her own, has a firm grip on Montar’s armour just to keep her footing as spider webs tangle in your hair and across your faces.

About halfway through, the scratching starts. At first, a few stray rats scurry over your boots, but the squealing grows louder and more frantic. Suddenly, the shadows at your feet seem to come alive as two massive swarms of rats are drawn to the warmth and smell of your bodies. They pour out from the cracks in the masonry, surrounding the line.

Everybody roll Initiative.

Montar initiative: 4 (better than 2 I guess)

***Draylin INI 11***

***  Thistlewick INI:  18  ***

Tam gets a 9

Swarm of rats 1 17

Swarm of rats 2 7

Initiative Order:

- Thistlewick - 18

- Swarm of Rats 2 - 17
- Swarm of Rats 1 - 16

- Draylin - 11
- Tam - 9
- Montar - 4

Round 1

Thistlewick, take it away

About halfway through, the scratching starts. At first, a few stray rats scurry over your boots, but the squealing grows louder and more frantic. Suddenly, the shadows at your feet seem to come alive as two massive swarms of rats are drawn to the warmth and smell of your bodies. They pour out from the cracks in the masonry, surrounding the line.

Thistlewick immediately casts Flaming Sphere making it appear 'just' far enough to make certain no one take fire damage... while putting it between the group and the rats.

Dmg: 10 pts fire       (( Dex save 13  to take half damage ))

Bonus Action:  The sphere will start rolling up and down 'the line' to fry what rats it may as it circles the group.

Swarm of rats 2 dex save 7

Thistlewick’s Flaming Sphere erupts at the rear of the line, illuminating the damp stone with a sudden, flickering orange glare. The smell of sizzling fur and panicked screeching immediately fills the narrow tunnel as Swarm 2 is engulfed in flames. Although the rats scramble quickly to avoid the worst of the heat, the fire sends them into a bloodthirsty frenzy.

Driven by pain, the scorched vermin surge forward, biting at Thistlewick's ankles as they swarm into the druid's space to escape the sphere.
Bite Attack: 13 Damage: 12

But since they are so close to the fire, some of them get roasted (dex save at the end of their turn 18) 

Meanwhile, at the front of the procession where the light barely reaches, Swarm 1 remains untouched by the flames. They lunge out of the dark, a carpet of teeth and claws trying to sink into Draylin’s legs.

Bite Attack: 22 Damage: Unable to parse dice roll.

Over to everyone else. Since Tam is close enough to the sphere, she can now see as if in Dim light

"Rats? I hate rats!" Tam exclaims. She fires her little crossbow into the rear swarm, doing little damage.

[22 to hit. 2 damage piercing, which I think is halved. Assuming I get sneak attack on that, another 4. Pathetic rolls, 6 damage on 3d6+1]

"We keep our tunnels cleaner," Montar sniffs. Hoping that the fire can take care of the forward swarm, he also aims at the rear one with his maul. [Atk: 24, 10 bludgeoning damage to be halved] His aim is true, but he's dismayed by its minimal effect.

Draylin sees the mass of writhing fur, tail, and teeth rolling his way.  Quickly preparing to spring out of harm's way, the young elf's body dips low, building power into his leap.  As he crouches, he sweeps out with his short sword.  ***attack 16  damage 10 piercing***  Even as the blade cut through the swarm, his legs explode upwards.  Pulling his knees up to his chest, he creates significant clearance above the rats before driving both heels into the mass of filthy vermin.  ***B/A unarmed strike: 15  damage 7 bludgeoning***

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrgh....."   Thistlewick was definitely chomp'ed on and lost his concentration to maintain his flaming sphere.  CON check: 6

Reaction:  A stream of spores shoots out at the rat that bit the gnome.  [ Halo of Spores ]   The cloud of spores seems to seep into the rat's eyes, ears, and mouth.    3 pts necrotic dmg

As you burn, slash, and bludgeon at the rats, some of them are scorched by the fire while others simply wither and drop dead from the necrotic energy. Eventually, the two swarms disperse and the survivors scurry for shelter. The only sound left is the faint, distant squeaking echoing in the dark.

With the Flaming Sphere disappearing, the tunnel sinks into total darkness again.

Combat over.

Draylin

As the rats disperse, Draylin pauses to pull 5 torches from his pack.  He then gives them to Tam.

When all arrows ready, he slips off down the tunnel to scout ahead.

***stealth: 23 - no moss slips that time!***

Draylin leads the way forward, following the sound of rushing water. You realize the tunnel actually runs alongside the stream, with the water level just inches below the narrow walkway.

Draylin soon reaches the end, marked by an old metal grate. A large, rusted lock holds it shut, and through the bars, you can see the night sky and the orange glow of the town reflecting off the moving water outside.