"North sounds good to me," Irenaina says.

Passing swiftly through the hall, Kaylyn detects no magic auras, except for the newly acquired vial Ireniana is stashing away. The north door opens into an octagonal room blurred with luminescent mist. It looks like the Underdark version of an arboretum or greenhouse, as though someone has tried to re-create a mini underground ecosystem. Nodules of glowing fungus dot the stone walls and ceiling, as well as the caps of toadstools and mushrooms, small polyps, puffballs, and lichen. The humid air reeks with rot, so no-one objects to passing quickly through the only other door, which is on the immediate left.

A thin south-bound corridor opens into another chamber lined with dragon-carved granite blocks, though many are crumbled and broken, leaving stony debris on the floor. A huge marble statue of a rearing red dragon stands in the curve of the western wall. The eye sockets of the dragon are empty, but a red glow lingers there, providing reddish light throughout the chamber. The radiance casts an inky shadow behind the statue's wide wings. A five-foot-diameter, circular tile of dark stone is set in the floor in front of the dragon statue. Runes are carved around the circular tile's inner edge.Kaylyn's habit of casting Detect Magic in each room pays dividends this time, and she sees that the statue and the tile both give off an aura of transmutation magic.

As the party inspect the room, footsteps are heard from behind. Tensely the group await the approaching creature, but are relieved when Royan emerges from the octagonal room, breathing heavily. He apologises and says he got distracted inspecting the collection of weapons back in Balsag's cave, and appears to be carrying a few extra javelins than before, as well as a couple of handaxes. He also says that he saw about a half-dozen sleepy-looking goblins staggering through the room where they fought Balsag, and climbing up the vines, so he hurried along to catch up, passing another dead bugbear along the way.

(OOC: If you wish to linger in either the octagonal room or the preceding hallway, please do so. I just accelerated through to expedite this section.)

 Kaylyn approaches the statue careful not to stop onto the darker tiles.  She inspects the statue looking around the front and back of it.

Rhayna studies the statue of the red dragon and takes out her Journal to take notes. (History: 13)

Rhayna can tell that the statue clearly depicts a red dragon. This is unusual, as Rhayna's assumptions have so far been that Ashardalon was a white dragon, and much of her observations have supported that, but this is obviously a major shrine and is definitely a red dragon. Perhaps her previous assumptions were wrong, or perhaps there were two dragons worshiped here, either together or at different times.

Rhayna's concentration is interrupted as Kaylyn moves around behind the statue, but her distraction fortuitously allows her to notice a loose stone in the masonry on the wall behind the statue. Before she can mention it though, Kaylyn lets out a small cry of alarm. The shadows on the wall move slightly (21) and Kaylyn feels a sharp coldness in her chest that makes her feel suddenly weak.

Kaylyn takes 12 necrotic damage, and her Strength score is reduced by 1.

13. Rhayna, Kastix, Kaylyn and Ireniana can see that the shadows behind the statue seem substantial somehow and still moving almost imperceptibly.

Roll initiative!

Initiative 9

Kaylyn stumbles to her knee for a moment when the sudden rush of weakness enters her body.  Reflexively she sends a bolt of Eldritch energy at the shadows that moved.

Attack: 15 Damage: 8 force damage.

Erky and Weasel Initiative: 4

At the first opportunity, Erky would reach Kaylyn and pray for her heath: Cure Wounds 4

Initiative13 

Initiative: 16

Rhayna holds her holy pendant and casts Sacred Flame on the Shadow. (DEX 14, DMG: 4)

(OCC: Seriously Selune?? :-)

The shadow creature is hidden to Royan and Erky, though they may still attack with disadvantage. All others can attack as normal.

"Ignis!" Kastia shoots a fire bolts at the creature

Attack: 21 Damage: 4

While Erky is busy healing Kaylin, Giant Weasel sniffs the shadow out and attacks: Attack: 7 Damage: 6

Initiative - 16

Ireniana is going to slice and dice at the shadow creature.

Attack: 24 Damage: 6

Attack: 11 Damage: 4

COMBAT:

Royan, already guilty for his absence, was a little tense and hypervigilant and therefore the first to strike back at Kaylyn's attacker, but not really knowing what to strike at, his effort was weak and futile. Kastix on the other hand, who was no stranger to shadows and darkness, unerringly launched his trademark flaming mote at the creature. It struck true, although the creature seemed to react to the innate magic of the bolt rather than the flame itself.

An unearthly hiss emanated from the moving shadow, and Kaylyn again felt a chilling touch followed by a nauseous weakening, and she almost collapsed to her knees, until a touch from Erky, who reached bravely around the statue with his short arms, restored her enough to remain standing.

Erky's weasel could hear and smell nothing, but eager to follow its master's wishes, slipped past Royan's bulk and lunged the best it could at the moving shade, and was rewarded with at least some kind of substance to bite down upon. Stepping deftly around to the other side of the statue, Ireniana made two quick strikes with her shortswords. Her newest blade seemed eager to please, and the shadow hissed again as the point seemed to pierce the dark form. Her second sword felt like lead in her hand and clanged harmlessly against the dragon statue.

Raising her wand with feeble hands and her heavy head to her attacker, Kaylyn channeled her celestial patron's power and sent a blast of energy into the centre of the formless creature. The point of impact glowed white and then grew, like a candle flame on a sheet of parchment, until the hissing insubstantial shadow dissipated into nothingness. And just to be sure, a thin sliver of Selune's light called forth from Rhayna pierced the gloom and ensured that nothing remained.

Combat completed. Only Kaylyn was injured, and is on 7 HP. Her STR has been reduced to 6, but no major penalties)

"I believe we should exercise more caution the deeper we go," Kastix states as he scans the area for possible enemies.

Perception: 17

"More healing, dear?" Erky concentrated on his prayers 2nd lvl Cure Wounds  10 on Kaylyn

Now even more aware of his surroundings, Kastix also notices the loose stones in the wall behind the altar that first caught Rhayna's eye. In addition, in the dim red light from the dragon's eyes, he can make out Draconic runes encircling the stone tile in front of the statue.

They read:

In the course of the battle, several people stepped on the tile with no apparent effect.

(OCC: Rhayna puts a big sticky note on top of her Journal. “Note to self. Learn Draconic ASAP!!”)

Kaylyn drops her shoulders and heaves a heavy sigh of relief.

"Every time it touched me I felt weaker.  Not my power but physically weaker.  Even now I don't feel I have the strength I had before.  I could use a rest but understand if others want to continue."

For a moment she closes her eyes and a white light glows around her for a moment and she opens her eyes again.  

"Better now, but still feeling weak."

Healing light for 1 health

Royan sheaths his sword and holds out one arm to steady Kaylyn as she gathers herself. 

A quick inspection of the loose stone reveals a small cavity containing 34 gold coins and two flasks containing a sticky oily liquid with the pungent smell of tar.