“Hold a moment,” Jarl murmurs, and takes a closer look. 

Perception: 25

 (Jarl relays what he sees)

They look like a pair of humans, but you are pretty sure these are zombies, based on the shuffling way they're walking, the lack of any discernible emotion in their eyes, and the drool sliding down from the corners of their mouths. As before, no real signs of decay, but that's not really a surprise given what you know now about this particular epidemic.

“Two more zombies — we should deal with them quickly and quietly.” He shoots a look at the more...excitable party members before casting Chill Touch on the one on the left. Attack: 25 Damage: 11

BRIX

Seeing Jarl fire off a spell at the zombie on the left, Brix rushes forward with his rapier and makes two swipes at the other zombie. 

Attack: 14 Damage: 12

Attack: 20 Damage: 10

Initiative, if needed: 16

     Shales rushes in behind Brix and positions himself next to both zombies. The cleric points his holy shield, emblazoned with the symbol of The Huntress, towards the two undead. "Rebuke...! Your evil creatures." 

Word of Radiance, DC 16 ConST, on fail 11 radiant

Z1 CON Save: 19

Z2 CON Save: 19

Since you got the jump on them, everyone can take one turn, and we'll just resolve your actions in the order that you post for now. I won't bother with initiative yet, since you may well take them out once everyone goes.

Jarl decides to fight necromancy with necromancy, summoning a translucent skeletal hand which darts toward the first zombie, gripping its neck (11 damage).

Seeing Jarl fire off a spell at the zombie on the left, Brix rushes forward with his rapier and makes two swipes at the other zombie, making solid contact both times (22 damage total). The zombie is still up, but looking rough.

Shale rushes in behind Brix and positions himself next to both zombies. The cleric points his holy shield, emblazoned with the symbol of The Huntress, towards the two undead. "Rebuke...! Your evil creatures." as radiant energy surges toward both zombies. The zombies snarl and wince, but seem unaffected.

Balian silently presses himself into the nearest doorway, and attempts to melt into the darkness.

Stealth: 22  - 23 with Reliable Talent (hide as bonus action)

Leaning round the corner, he lines up a shot at one of the zombies, while taking into account the movements of Brix and Shale. "At least you're small, Brix, there's a good chance I won't shoot you in the back of the head!"  The arrow makes a faint whizzing noise as it leaves his shortbow and flies towards the zombie engaged with the goblin.

Attack (advantage from hiding): 17 23

Damage (sneak): 29 32

OOC - I've royally messed up this post's rolls, so I've just typed what my first scores were.  Also, your method seems easier than mine, I'll do as you suggest. :D

You are successfully hidden.

If you want to override a roll using reliable talent you can just post it as regular text, since it's not actually dependent on what you rolled. Or just post it alongside your actual roll to remind me of the floor. For example, Stealth (min 23): 32

Edit: Even better, you can do this (mouseover the roll to see the syntax)!

Stealth: 23

Squiggles, getting bored and wanting to go find the aboleth and the mystery behind it, sighs at the Zombies.  "Can't we let someone else kill them?"

Squiggles casts Fire Bolt at Zombie1.

Attack: 22 Damage: 13

Brix's Balian's arrow strikes the already heavily weakened zombie [Z2] right in the throat at incredible speed causing its head to fall clean off its body, which then crumples lifelessly to the ground.

Simultaneously, Squiggles's pyrotechnic projectile lances the first zombie [Z1] right in the chest, causing it to moan in pain and, like its companion, collapse, re-deaded.

A minor roadblock. So, are you headed to the temple of Kelemvor now? That seemed to be the favored plan based on the discussion in the bar.

You go up a few steps to the heavy wooden door into the temple, which opens with some effort. The chapel is maybe 50 feet by 30 feet or so, but with high ceilings and ornate stonework. At the front of the chapel there's an altar, with several rows of wooden benches behind it, a small aisle in the center. Directly in front of you you see a set of stairs carved directly into the stone that descend into an opening in the floor that has a railing along three sides of it. At the bottom of the stairs is a small antechamber, where you see a human woman with extremely pale skin and a half-elven man with a grayish blue tinge to his skin, both of whom look quite young. They're dressed all in black, with black hair and wearing heavy black makeup around their eyes. As you enter, the man's eyes suspiciously follow the group of you. The woman looks up at you for a moment, sighs loudly, and then looks off to the side.

She then says, speaking slowly, with an ironic faux-enthusiasm, "There are no more services today. You can pray silently at the altar, but if you're looking to speak with the clerics or to make funeral arrangements, you'll need to come back tomorrow." You get the impression that she is reciting a script verbatim.

Balian moves to the front of the group, clears his throat, and conducts an elaborate bow.  "Esteemed followers of the wondrous Kelemvor, we bid you good evening!  We are indeed here about your funeral arrangements, although this cannot wait until morning, I'm afraid.  It would appear that your arrangements aren't staying arranged, so to speak, insomuch as the undead roam the streets unchecked."

A concerned look crosses his face as he continues.  "This situation obviously cannot be allowed to remain as it is!  It would be bad for business, after all, if people brought their loved ones here to put them to rest, only to find their dear grandma shambling towards the foot of their bed in the dead of night, intent on eating their brains, only a day later!"

"My colleagues and I have received guidance from upon high as to the nature of this disturbance, and the location we must head to in order to restore balance to the natural order of things.  Permit us passage through your undercroft to the lower levels of the city, and we will slay foul beasts, dodge cunning traps, and solve ancient puzzles, to ensure that your dead remain dead.  What say you!?"  With the last question, Balian stretches out both arms, to emphasize the point, but almost as if awaiting rapturous applause from the individuals present, and possibly a few bouquets thrown his way too.

OOC - happy to roll persuasion and/or performance, take your pick.

Persuasion: 18

Performance: 16

BRIX

As the effects of the ale begin to fade, Brix slowly reverts to back to his...less sensitive side.

Standing at the very back of the temple near the doors, Brix watches Balian attempt this impromptu performance, then raises an eyebrow and slowly starts clapping. 

Jarl is at first hesitant, but at the sight of what appears to be a half drow, he relaxes somewhat. 

Religion check:  10

He’s not sure what to make of Balian’s speech at first, but Brix starts clapping, so he joins in.

As Balian begins talking, the woman raises an eyebrow at him. As he starts into his second paragraph her face contorts slightly into a mildly pained expression. When after the bit that has something to do with grandmas he is still going, she once again sighs loudly. When he finishes his speech, she waits a few moments, looking at him expectantly as if to say, "Ya done?" When he doesn't continue, she says, flatly,

"Yyeah... That was a lot of words. I kinda tuned out what you were saying after 'Esteemed followers' and just started wondering how much longer you were going to keep talking. You look like you want to get in here."

She turns to the half-elf. "Rolen, these random strangers want to get into the undercroft. We should probably let them in, don't you think?"

Rolen fidgets slightly and says, "B...But Kethra, we're not supposed to let anyone in there..."

Kethra rolls her eyes in an exaggerated way and says, "Sarcasm, moron." and turns back to look at you disdainfully.

Jarl:

Squiggles searches his brain for memories of Kelemvor

History: 12

    Shale enters and deposits a handful of gold in the collection box. "Ma'am," the cleric steps forward  after Balian gives his eloquent introduction and bows slightly out of respect, "we are just desiring to pass through so that we can help y'all get a handle on the undead problem that has popped up here." He adjusts his amulet to the Huntress (Selune) and continues, "Though I am no follower of Kelemvor, the god of death would surely appreciate our help to make sure the dead stay that way?"

As Shale addresses her, Kethra turns to Rolen and says, "This guy just called me 'Ma'am'. That's hilarious. And did you see how conspicuous he was with that donation?"

Rolen fidgets again, and laughs awkwardly. "H... Yeah... hilarious. 'Ma'am'! You!" You see a few beads of sweat on his brow.

Kethra glares at Shale. "Let me get this straight. Are you trying to get me to break the rules for you because you donated to the temple, or are you trying to get me to break the rules for you out of my sense of morality?" She is clearly making an effort to sound as bored as possible with all of this.

"Let me help you out. If it's the second one, that's definitely not going to work. If it's the first one... it's not the temple you want to be 'donating' to." She holds out her palm face up. "Oh, you don't need to worry about him," she says, tilting her head toward Rolen. "He's terrified of me."