Scattered gods

You spend the rest of your journey on guard as the dark black clouds loom overhead.  They growl and roar with heavy thunder. Flashes of crackling thunder strike down violently into the ground.  The bright whites and blues cast light for brief moments of clarity, only to make you more blind for a moment in the darkness.  There is no rain yet, but moisture is in the air.  A downpour is coming soon.  

You stand at the entrance of the courtyard of of Blackstaff tower.  A castle of gothic proportions with rusted iron-rod spikes sticking up towards the sky.  Stained glass windows decorate the black stone tower.  A large set of double steel doors stand 20 feet tall as the entrance into the fortress.  Large boulders scattered around the brush grass landscape of the mountain.  For as old as the building is, it has held up remarkably well.  No signs of disrepair or broken walls.  

What would you like to do?

"We should press on", Solomon shouts in between rolls of thunder.  "Check the courtyard for signs of life, or an ambush, and then we can get out of this damnable weather if it's all clear."  Not volunteering himself for this task, he instead looks back at the route they took to get to the castle, attempting to survey the landscape for anyone following them.

Perception: 17

"I agree." Fingolin says, looking up. "I'll check the courtyard". He advances silently into the courtyard, looking for any signs of danger. If there's none, he approaches the steel doors and checks if they are locked.

Perception: 6

Stealth: 22

Tennezaz stays back with his crossbow at the ready, making sure to keep a lookout for what could behind them.

Perception: 20

Though it is dark, the time is still twilight and not fully into night time.  Fingolin cautiously sneaks up towards the door as he looks around the courtyard.  Not being able to sense any danger, he walks up to the door.  Large scorch marks in a circle with blood stains splatter the stonework beneath his feet.

(At this time he remembers that Kolyyt has sent his team as well to Blackstaff tower, your party looks to have arrived after they have)

The door is slightly ajar and not locked.

The rest of the group staying back for a moment watched Fingolin sneak pass the courtyard and seemingly missing to see the (flock?) of stirges in the tree along the path of the courtyard.  The parasitic creatures haven’t seemed to notice Fingolin as of yet.  

(Following Fingolin would require everyone to make a stealth check, Fingolin would also have to make a stealth check after being told to come back.... somehow without raising your voices.).

What would you like to do?

Seeing no immediate danger, Fingolin gestures to the others to follow and looks inside the tower.

Fouder follows after Fingolin, looking around the area, keeping an eye out for danger.

Perception: 12

Seeing the hand signal from, Fingolin, Solomon does his best to stay low and quiet in his armor as he heads towards the steel door.

Stealth: 3

 As the group tries to move towards the door.  Fouder is able to see the group of stirges startled by the new noise of the groups movement.  The take to the air to get their next meal!  Rolled initiative

(just at a glance you win the average.  The flock of 7 strifes fly spaced out about 20 feet overhead as you are moving towards the door.  Party’s initiative 

Fouder looks for the most densely populated area of stirges, before casting Shatter in the centre of it, ensuring none of his companions will be affected by the loud ringing. 

Startled by the loud ring of Fouder's spell, Fingolin turns to see the stirges in flight.

♪♫ Magic, fire, faerie spark / Help us see them in the dark. ♪♫ 

“Blasted pests, begone!”  Solomon scowls as he draws his longsword and slashes at one of the creatures illuminated by the bard’s spell.

OOC - assuming Fingolin’s spell succeeds with one, I’ll attack it. If not, use my first attack roll below.

Attack: 10

Damage: 7

Tennezaz will fire at one with his crossbow, holding off on the second shot to conserve his ammo.

Handcrossbow: Attack: 15 Damage: 11

As the swarm of Stirges flock overhead foreboding of their attack with straw like mouths prepped for attack.  A loud ringing sound bellows from the Fouder’s spell.  A loud crack that can be heard from a ways away sends four of the stirges plummeting to their deaths.

Fingolin casts his faerie fire over two of the stirges:

dex saves - 10 12

shot strikes true and sends another stirge sailing through the air.

The shining bright light guided Solomon’s strike:

12

But unfortunately he isnt able to hit the buzzing beast as it hovers back and forth.

The stirges fly down and attempt to attach to each Solomon and Fouder.

Attack: 10 Damage: 7 against Solomon

Attack: 12 Damage: 6 against Fouder

 Both stirges latch on to their targets as they begin to suck the blood out of their prey.  Both latched onto the torso’s their needle tongues have struck deep into the veins of both Fouder and Solomon

Party’s initiative

Fingolin unsheathes his rapier runs towards Solomon, then thrusts at the creature on his chest from his left to avoid injuring him.

Attack: 9 Damage: 11

Fouder frees himself from the stirge, gripping the tiny beast and flinging it away. 

Tennezaz will attempt to hit them another shot from his crossbow.

Handcrossbow: Attack: 14 Damage: 7

Solomon lets out a grunt of pain as the creature latches onto him, swiftly followed by a shout of surprise as the blade of a rapier flashes in front of him. 

Dropping his sword, he brings a dagger up from his side to try and fend off the insect feeding on him.

Attack: 21

Damage: 9

Advantage attacks rolls : 2 4

Fouder reaches back and pries the suckling beast from his neck, seeing Fingolin charge with his sword.  Fouder throws it towards his companion as Fingolin kebabs it.

Solomon ducks out of Tennanaz’s strike from instinct and surprise.  But he’s able to land true with his dagger as he slays the vile creature on his back.

You take a moment to catch your breath and realize this flock has been thoroughly dispatched.  You sit outside the tower with an open door.  You hear the buzzing in the distance.... more stirges have awoken and have been attracted by the noise.  They will be here any moment!

What will you do? Out of initiative for now....

"There's more out there," Fouder says, rubbing the side of his neck, the wound stinging from the stirge's mouth. "Shall we keep moving forward?"

Fouder listens, trying to figure out how far away they are. Survival: 23