Sickle peers across at the temple.  Through the wavering air he can just make out the symbols of Moa, the Jaculi trickster god.  That's the snake like one. You guys have never actually seen a Jaculi, so you don't know much about them.  Well....it looks like the pillar came apart from the main land.  This whole lava lake looks like a part of the city that just...fell away into a lava pit....half-ruined buildings hanging off the edge of the city cliffs.  The river didn't always run through this place either, it's flooding half the city.  

Looking in his bag of holding, Silas starts pulling out what supplies he think could be useful, "I got a rope that is a bit short, grappling hook, tackle and block, shovel and sledge hammer. Tackle and Block could be used to keep secure people with a second safety rope to the others if needed I think," 

"Do we want to save this cube for last? Maybe among the other shrines or even the city itself we will come across an item or magic that will help us safely get across. Is thee a spell that we can monitor the area and see if someone else successfully retries the cube and then we can take it from them?" At which point  Mal looks over the edge at the dizzying height. "I am not too keen on attempting to cross this chasm knowing full well death is the only option if we fall."

Badger notes that his companions all appear to be carrying rope - indeed enough to traverse the gap at least twice, and starts scribbling calculations in the dirt for the elasticity of the rope, the catenary curve of the sag and resulting tension based on the expected maximum mass, the weight-bearing capacity of various knots, the throwing angle and parabolic flight arc of the vector stone ...    Investigation: 22

“I think I agree with Mal. Out choices seem very binary here. Flying would be our better choice I think...perhaps we come back as Mal said.” Sickle looks nervously at the lava below.

Badger figures with Grenk's strength they could probably get a rope across the chasm.  However, the rest of the group seems....hesitant about the option.  That said, you have no magics I'm aware of to watch this location while you're gone.  If you decide to go somewhere else, please let me know which direction.  

After some discussion, the group, heavy looks around, decide to try and make it across.  Silas grabs Badger and the two of them appear on the other side with a quiet "pop" sound.  Grenk wraps rope around a heavy branch and with a might throw lands it on the far side, where Silas and Badger secure the rope.  Using climbing gear, the group secures people with some rope belts to the rope and slides themselves across.  It's a nervous time, with those sliding across the open air getting very warm.  Already the air in this place causes constant sweating, but the dry heat blasting from below evaporates the sweat and people are panting and light headed after they get across.   The metal links used to secure people to the rope are hot to the touch.   

The group takes extra swigs of water as they leave behind their rope bridge and head up towards the shrine. Palm trees grow in front of the squat building, and worn steps ascend to an archway that forms the entrance. Reliefs of coiled serpents flank the entrance. You head into the courtyard and carefully pick your way across towards the main entrance.  As you do so, you hear a hiss, and some wood branches nearby seem to spring into motion, firing themselves over twenty feet to slam into party members.  

Roll init.  No one can act the first round.  Jaculi init: 14

Stealth checks for surprise (half must beat 15, highest passive perception in the group to succeed):    14 22 19 23 15 18

Jaculi attacks: 

Grenk, one of the snake creatures slams into you like a spear.  Attack: 20 Damage: 14

Sickle, one slams into you:  Attack: 24 Damage: 35

Badger:  Attack: 8 Damage: 17

Badger, two go after the smallest party member:  Attack: 23 Damage: 19

Silas:  Attack: 20 Damage: 17

Mal:  Attack: 15 Damage: 13

If you go before 19, you can take your first action in round 2, otherwise the Jaculi continue their surprise attack.

Silas Initiative: 9

Mal Initiative: 10

Mal sidesteps the attack and using his Riposte reaction ability takes a swing at the creature with his rapier. (If I am able to)

Superiority Die adds to damage: 3

Rapier: Attack: 15 Damage: 6

Sickle Init: 5

Grenk initiative: 19

Initiative: 12

The snake creatures land on the ground around you after striking, their skin still mottling back to a smooth green from the remarkable woodlike texture and color they'd taken.  The creature continue to strike at the group, though without their spear like flights, they seem much less deadly. 

(Mal, I believe you can't take a reaction against something that has surprised you.)

No longer surprised, you're able to take reactions at this point.

Grenk the one at your feet attacks you: Attack: 10 Damage: 9

Silas, the one near you strikes at you:  Attack: 24 Damage: 15

Sickle:  Attack: 7 Damage: 12

Badger with two near you, they both strike at you:  Attack: 18 Damage: 11

Badger:  Attack: 21 Damage: 9

Mal:  Attack: 14 Damage: 8

Alright, everyone's turn.

Badger collapses as the first snake strikes him, and the second turns its attack to Grenk instead.  Grenk, you take the damage from that 2nd attack (lucky you!). 

 (OOC: these snakes are rolling like bosses!)

Silas will cast Mass Healing Word to everyone and take Dodge as his main action.

Healing Word: 7 

(Best I can do for now and that's my last level 3 slot)

[OOC: Ack, I knew I was missing something on my sheet but I could not put my finger on it, Mal has the [feat]Alert[/feat] feat, she can't be surprised.]

Mal will continue to attack the snake head thing that is attacking her.

Rapier #1: Attack: 10 Damage: 6

Rapier #2: Attack: 13 Damage: 8

If anyone is within 5' of the snake I am attacking the first hit I get gets sneak attack damage: 9

Grenk takes that first surprise attacks and let's out a small roar of pain.  He spun to face his attack only to see another slashing at him.  He had only a moment to defend and instictually touched his skin to deflect some of the damage (stone's endurance to reduce damage by 9)

(19+7) 26 damage from those two round if I'm hearing you correctly?

Grenk then pulls out his sword and shield and attack the nearest one with swings from his sword.  

Attack: 9 Damage: 7

Attack: 17 Damage: 11

(Grenk: first hit: 19.  Second hit: 21 damage, minus 14 = 7.  Yes?  Then you get healed for 7. So, total of 19 hps down.) 

(Mal:  Ok, so, your riposte works then as you're not surprised, you slice into the snake, and they didn't hit you anyway, so you're in the clear.  You also get to take an action in the first round, so go ahead and take an extra action, though your two attacks from the 2nd round both miss.) 

Badger, your eyes blink open above you are the gentle swaying fronds of palms. You slowly become aware of scuffling, shouting and battle and sit up to look around and see snakes attacking your allies from every direction. Go ahead and take an action. You have 7 hp's. 

Badger shakes the fuzz from his mind and tries to take aim at the snakes as best he can. Holding his crystal orb he incants a spell of flame.

Scorching Ray targeting three random snakes (Badger isn't aware of the state of battle, who needs help most or which snakes are injured)
Attack: 20 Damage: 12 fire damage
Attack: 23 Damage: 7 fire damage
Attack: 8 Damage: 5 fire damage

Mal will attack the snake with his Rapier: Attack: 11 Damage: 12

Sickle hisses in pain as one of the snakes hits him again, but he grips his staff tightly and swings it at his foe. As he does it erupts into fire and curves into the shape of a deadly scimitar.

Bonus Action: cast Flame Blade

Action: Attack: 26 Damage: 7 fire