Kaylyn meets with the group in the morning and makes sure that everyone is introduced to each other.

As they travelled she engaged in small talk with the others. 

When the approached the ravine and the posts she looks around the place trying to determine if any creatures had been at the place recently,  especially goblins. 

Survival 24

When it came to her turn she gladly accepted the guidance and climbed down

Athletics 20 + guidance 1

Rhayna prays to Selune as she watches her companions go down the ravine, she is relieved when she sees that Kaylyn safely climbs down as well. She thinks that, perhaps, she might be able to climb down safely herself as well. She touches her backpack to make sure her Journal is there. She fixes her spectacles, and makes sure that the chain is securely attached. She touches her pendant, then touches her chest, at the heart height, and prays to Selune to watch over her descent.

(Athletics: 17)

Bracing herself against the wall, Ireniana climbs down the 50-foot knotted rope. As she descends into the gloom, she can make out more of the ledge below. Sand, rocky debris, and the bones of small animals cover the rough surface, and from the ledge's edge a rough-hewn stairwell zigs and zags down into the darkness. She also notices that the footholds and handholds would allow another person to descend to the ledge independently of the rope, perhaps a little slower but just as safely, and she calls this information to those waiting at the top. Ireniana loses her footing on the wall a couple of times, but with heart thumping, she maintains a firm grip on the rope and arrives at the bottom safely, calling the all-clear.

Kastix then commences his descent, but he is barely 10 feet down the rope when a cry of alarm comes from below. Three giant rodents - as large as dogs - that were lurking in the rubble around the ledge, have decided that elf-flesh smells tastier than the usual prey that scurries around the ravine, and with teeth bared they lunge at her.

COMBAT! Roll initiative everyone, and declare your actions, even if it is nothing more than waiting to climb down.

Ireniana is facing 3 giant rodents alone - we'll call them black, brown and grey for reference purposes. (I'm so glad Kastix didn't go down first)

Kastix is already on the rope, and although his Athletics check was sufficient for a safe normal-speed descent (half movement speed, so 15' per round), it's not enough for him to go any faster, or to take any actions while on the rope. He will take 2 more full rounds of descending, then another round where he can finish the descent and still take a 10' move and an action.

Since Royan, Kaylyn and Rhayna both rolled well on Athletics, they can descend at double the speed (like a move + Dash action). Since they haven't actually started on the rope, they can choose to climb down the rope OR the wall. The rope is faster, but held up by Kastix, so either way will take 3 full rounds but can be done by 2 people simultaneously. The rope is sturdy enough to carry at least 2 people ... maybe 3 depending on what I roll. :D

Rats' Initiative: 22

Ireniana smiles at the rodents. "Normally I like dogs and rodents, but you three appear you are going to be trouble."

Initiative - 20

Ireniana is going to attack the grey rat first with her short swords.

 Attack: 10 Damage: 6

 Attack: 7 Damage: 5

If her first attack kills a rat, she will target the brown one.

Initiative: 13

Kastix, while mildly surprised by this turn of event is also happy he didn't need to eat his words and be first to go. He continues to go down the rope at his pace, getting tangled up a bit here and there slowing him down a bit. Just in case they didn't know since they're at the top, Kastix would like to cast Thaumaturgy to shout up "Ireniana got company down there!".

Intent: Kastix will continue to climb down the rope for next few turns until he's at the bottom than use his 10' of movement to move in direction away from the rats, if still alive, then cast firebolt at nearest possible target. (This will be 2? or 3 turns later, not sure which rat will be alive)

Firebolt
Attack: 20 Damage: 5

OOC: starting up, we're really hitting the two extremes, two critical fail initiative, one critical high enemy initiative. Also seriously thankful I was not first. Kastix could fall to a rat's sneeze. 

Just to check, it's Turn 1 climb, turn 2 climb some more, turn 3. reach bottom and move 10 with action right?

Just to clarify, when it's time to declare what you are doing on your turn, if it involves an attack roll (or targeted spell), please declare your target, and include your attack and damage roll (or any other roll) all in the one post (and initiative if it's the first turn). This will help things move along a bit quicker.

Initiative: 23

Rhayna hears Ireniana's alarm. Holding her glasses (she thinks she can see better that way) she tries to search for the cause of Ireniana's alarm.

(If Rhayna is able to see the giant rodents she will cast Sacred Flame (DMG: 4) on whichever is still alive, or most hurt, when it gets to Rhayna's turn. Otherwise, she will wait until everyone climbs down the ravine, then she will go down.)

Standing at the top and hearing the for help Kaylyn looks down.   Seeing the rats attack she grips the crystal around her neck with one hand and points her finger at the grey rat.  A beam of crackling energy streaks toward the rat.

Initiative 5

Attack: 22 Damage: 9

Cantrip Eldritch Blast 

Initiative: 18

As soon as Kastix calls out that there is company below, Royan decides to ignore waiting ting for thebrope to be empty and starts climbing down yje handholds on the wall as quick as he can. As soon as he is down to a safe level he will drop to the ledge. 

Round 1

The Rodents of Unusual Size lunge at Ireniana from three sides. Although she manages to defend against one of them, the other two bite at her exposed legs.

Royan, hearing her cries of alarm, rolls over the side of the ravine, and with muscles rippling, scrambles quickly down the footholds (15' descended).

Ireniana retaliates against the ROUSs, swinging both her swords, but they deftly scamper out of reach of her blades, avoiding injury.

Kastix continues to gingerly make his way down the rope, taking care not to miss his footing or lose his grip (25' descended)

 Suddenly from the above the heads of those in the ravine, two bolts of energy streak down at the ROUSs. A pillar of fire seemingly from the sky itself surrounds the Black ROUS, and it shrieks as its fur burns away. And a beam of crackling energy from Kaylyn's hand slams into the Brown ROUS, and it lays still, smoke issuing from a gaping hole in its smoking corpse.

Brown ROUS: DEAD
Black ROUS: injured - still in melee with Ireniana
Grey ROUS: uninjured  - still in melee with Ireniana

If you wish to use a bonus action in Round 1, just mention it in your post for Round 2. The only restriction is that it must respond to things that happened before or during your turn. If multiple bonus actions are declared, I will apply them in initiative order, and discard those that don't apply. For example, if Ireniana declares Second Wind as a bonus action, and Rhayna declares Healing Word, I would apply Second Wind first. If Ireniana fully healed, then I would not apply Healing Word. EDIT: Bad example - Ireniana has already used bonus action for two-weapon fighting. But you get the idea.

Shodai_Kishi: just saw your edit. Yes, that's the plan.

Royan continues to scramble down the footholds. 

Kastix will continue to slowly makes his way down the rope, casting thaumaturgy again, this time trying to distract the unhurt rat with an eagle cry from above. 

(Round 1) Rhayna sees at the bottom of the ravine three giant rodents attacking Ireniana. She prays to the Goddess for strength. She closes one eye and to her surprise flames surround her target. She has no time to be shocked at what she just did. She realizes that Ireniana is injured by the giant rodents. "Noooo!!!!" She prays "Please Goddess, help my companion feel better..." She casts Healing Word on Ireniana (Heal: 5).

(Round 2) She holds her pendant tighter, and look at the Black rodent. "Die foul creature!!" She casts Sacred Flame (DMG: 2) (on the same rodent if still alive). 

(OCC: I changed my color. I should have realized that Rhayna would cringe at amber.)

(OCC: IC now about the healing. I just didn't think of going back and adding to the previous round. Got the nasty banner bc I moved the Healing Word roll to top.)

Kaylyn calmly stood at the top of the ravine watching the rat burn.  Pleased with herself but still concerned over the safety of the others she sends another blast towards the uninjured rat. 

Attack: 18 Damage: 3

Cantrip Eldritch Blast 

@Al_the_bard Sorry, but Second Wind is a bonus action, and so is the second weapon attack with two-weapon fighting, so you can't do both on your turn. I adjusted your HP back to 3 for now. You can declare your intention to use it in Round 2, but will have to forgo the second weapon attack. Also, wait until I've announced the results of Round 2 - there are still two rats attacking you, and they go first!

@Wolfy911 Actually, the Healing Word from Rhayna might not be a bad idea. Rhayna could still cast it as a bonus action in Round 1. Ireniana only has 3 HP, so the extra 5 might keep her conscious long enough to use Second Wind. Let me know if you want to use it in Round 1 or not, and then I'll announce the results for Round 2.

Quote from ZorgAlmighty >>

@Wolfy911 Actually, the Healing Word from Rhayna might not be a bad idea. Rhayna could still cast it as a bonus action in Round 1. Ireniana only has 3 HP, so the extra 5 might keep her conscious long enough to use Second Wind. Let me know if you want to use it in Round 1 or not, and then I'll announce the results for Round 2.

(Updated my post. I wasn't sure it would be appropriate to change action(s) from a previous round when we have moved on already. Thanks.)

Round 2

Although speaking no louder than normal, Rhayna's voice can be heard inside Ireniana's head, and quickening power floods into her body, closing some of the bite-wounds in her legs. (Round 1 bonus action). But the ROUSs continue to assault her, and although she manages to fend off the black one's maw, the grey against sinks its teeth into her flesh. Again she retaliates, and as Royan continues to clamber down the wall (descending to 30 feet) Digging deep into her reserves of strength and training, adrenaline floods her body and with renewed vigor, Ireniana lunges again at the grey rat, sinking one of her swords into its rump. (I took your original first-attack roll of 8 damage and Second Wind of 11).

Kastix continues to descend the rope, being now a scant 10' from the ledge, frustrated at his current inability to aid the group, but scheming his actions once he reaches the ledge. As before, twin bolts of energy stream down from above. A pillar of flame from the sky illuminates the black ROUS and its eyes fall out of its sockets as its face sizzles in the flame, while a crackling bolt of energy slams into the grey, leaving a smoking hole in its chest. Both lay motionless on the ground beside the third.

(With Rhayna's first-round Healing Word, Ireniana had enough HP to absorb the rat's second-round attack. The other rat missed, and her Second Wind gained her 11, so Ireniana finishes the round on full HP - no need for the death saving throw or the Healing Light from Kaylyn.)

(Fair, I just deleted that post)

And I'll roll my first Death Saving throw. - 19

Seeing Ireniana fall from the attacks she shifts her focus for a moment and heals her.

7 healing

Rnd 2 Bonus Action - Healing Light

With combat completed, the party can safely finish their descent into the ravine and arrive on the ledge. Looking around, you can see the rough-hewn steps in the ravine wall leading from the ledge down into the darkness.

From here we should probably establish a marching order, which I will assume throughout the adventure unless changed.