Above & Below

Effort: 5
Cadmael: 8

(Did she get a chance to put on Armor of Agathys? XD)

Sorry, Cadmael wasn't able to spot them. They have +6 to stealth!

Kurama Initiative: 22

Brask's initiative:  18

Round 1: Kurama > Brask > Pip > Shadows (x3) > Effort/Cadmael

Kurama, you're up! When you attack, please let me know what kind of damage is done (that goes for everyone). Thanks.

Kurama was too slow to stop the creatures from ripping through the other members and could only watch as one of the guards was killed instantly.  Moving forward quickly, Kurama rereleased the energy in wave before striking the shadow who had attacked the woman.  "I'll guard these two and the supplies." Kurama shared with the others before taking a defensive position in front of the two women.

• Action: Attack: 16 Damage: 5 Force Damage
• Bonus Action: Activate Arms of the Astral Self - Any shadow creature within 10ft must make a DC14 DEX Save or take 2 Force Damage
• Movement: Move in front of the two women 

The energy clashes against the outline of the shadow, shaking it and pushing it back. Even without a face, it doesn't seem to be pleased.

DEX saves: 14 12 12

Kurama moves in front of the two women to act as a shield, although one of the women is bleeding on the ground, already dead - or at least unconscious. 

Brask is next?  He mutters to Pip: Remember, hide and shoot, and then charges to attack the shadow that attacked the woman, maul swinging in the air:

Attack: 7 Damage: 12  Brask is really not having a good day today.

Pip nods, slowly backing up toward the nearest trees. As he does, he notches an arrow and fires at the shadowy figure that Brask just missed...

Attack: 5 Damage: 6

One of the shadows darts towards Kurama, slashing out...

Attack: 20 Damage: 11

Another appears next to Brask...

Attack: 16 Damage: 7

And the third reaches its long arms toward Effort...

Attack: 22 Damage: 6

Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry for those rolls, haha.

Pip's arrow flies through the shadow, ripping a bit of it open in a dark cloud. It seems to dislike the sensation, but the hole partially reforms as Pip rushes to grab for another arrow.

The three of you each have your strength score decreased.

Kurama by 1

Brask by 1

Effort by 1

Effort/Cadmael, you're up! 

(Dude, stop bribing the dice roller.  Game log for Effort! XD XD)

Effort responds to the touch with a hellish rebuke, hissing in anger.  (15 fire damage on a failed DC14 dex save, or half as much otherwise.  I rerolled 2d10 because I thought it was supposed to be a 1st level spell, but then I checked the tiefling writeup, and it's really always 3d10. Sorry for the confusion!)

She then Misty Steps 30 feet away from the shadow, and continues to back away another 30 as she fires a eldritch blast at her assailant, aided by Cadmael:
Attack: 16
Damage: 9 force

DEX save: 22

The rebuke singes a bit around the edge of the shadow, but it doesn't seem to lose much of its form. Her blast seems to fully connect, though, and the darkest parts of the shadow break apart, dissipating into the dusk air. A faint version of it still exists, though. Not as dense as before, but not completely gone.

Round 1: Kurama > Brask > Pip > Shadows (x3) > Effort/Cadmael

(Sorry did not realize it was my turn again!)

Can you remind me if it's an action to do a skill check in combat?  Particularly a medicine check to see if the woman is alive or not?

You can give me a medicine or insight check to glance over at her and see what you think, but to do a thorough check or try to stabilize her, you'd have to use an action.

• Insight check: 18

Kurama felt a slight drain as he recoiled from the shadow's slash before the energy inside seemed to boil and rage, keeping him going.  Sparing the slightest of glances at the dropped woman behind, he said, "Stay behind me."  to the one still standing before unleashing a barrage at the shadow nearest him. (1 Ki point to use activate Flurry of Blows)

• Attack: 17 Damage: 6
• Flurry of Blows Attack #1: 7 Damage: 5
• Flurry of Blows Attack #2: 17 Damage: 8

(Also have the shadow's attacked with reach?  I keep forgetting the "arms" I summon have 10ft reach and should probably weaponize that more often XD)

You think you could see her chest raise ever-so-slightly, but either way, she's in really bad shape. She's losing blood fast and her insides are partially exposed. The other woman cowers behind you, trying not to scream.

Are those attacks all the same kind of damage? Force?

Apparently all attacks done with the Astral Arms turn into Force Damage

Perhaps realizing the true gravity of their situation, Kurama is able to focus his energy as he seldom has before. As his astral arm connects with the shadow in front of him, the energy reverberates throughout the forest. Branches nearby tremble as the figure explodes into a plume of dark, smoky energy. It fades into nothingness. 

The monk turns his blows toward the figure attacking Brask, and unleashes another brutal strike. It rips part of the shadow clean off, and the creature shrieks in what appears to be pain. His final strike misses, but the damage to his foes had been done.

Brask, you're up.

Brask feels anxiety welling up in him, unsure of why he is struggling in combat today, but as always, he uses fury to push it back down again.  Roaring with anger, he swings at the wounded shadow creature before him:

Attack: 23 Damage: 15

He will also use a bonus action for second wind, recovering 7 HP.  And then action surge, to attack the same creature if it's still alive, or the nearest one if not:

Attack: 21 Damage: 13

I will re-roll that 2, for a 1, so no change.  This is all bludgeoning damage.

Brask is able to channel his frustration, connecting with the nebulous figure in front of him. The first hit whooshes through the mid-section. Bits of dark mist float away as the figure attempts to draw itself back together. It doesn't do so quickly enough, however, as Brask's second swing disperses anything left of the shadow. Bits of mist fade into the darkness.

With only one shadow remaining, Pip takes aim and fires an arrow...

Attack: 6 Damage: 5

It flies through what was remaining of that figure, sending a puff of dark smoke and energy into the air. The night is suddenly quiet again, save for the heavy breathing of the survivors. One of the women still lays on the ground, dead or near death. The guards slowly get back up from their hiding place near the cart, looking around to be sure the shadows are gone.