Killian will usher Norry along the path, but will try to keep Aradurk and Hox in sight. 

Norry rises shakily to his feet, collecting himself as Killian helps him along. He leans on her at first, but as they near the slope he seems to regain his energy and focus, running alongside her.

OOC: Let's get a reaction/next action from Aradurk and Hox at least before advancing further; Gruun as well if he's back with us.

OOC: I am, Gruun would stick with Norry and Killian keeping a watchful eye out.

As long as Aradurk can observe a path that will intersect with the rest of the party, he will stay with Hox.

Killian and Gruun continue their ascent with Norry on foot while Aradurk climbs relentlessly behind the flying Hox to the peak of the massive mountain. Once reaching the summit, Killian and Grunn stand at the opposite end of a veritable army. Dozens of Manananggal hover like a whirlwind above the peak, separating the party from the statue that rises hundreds of feet above. Between them and Aradurk and Hox, who have arrived moments later, is a trio of nameless horrors. Every other inch of ground atop the mountain is covered in shambling, zombie-like creatures bearing twisted and tentacled versions of your own faces.

"Hang on!" Norry shouts, before any fight can break out. His arms wave in a complex arcane pattern. "I think I can bring us back, to the moment Denorian--"

A shimmer fills the air. Instead of facing down an army, you now stand on the outstretched palm of the statue, a thousand feet above the mountain peak, and thousands more above the stony shore below. On the statue's palms is a cavity circled with many runes, with multiple slots surrounding a plinth made of crystal.

Above it all, a cloaked mage floats, his hood drawn over a twisted and scarred visage of Denorian. "Well done. I knew little Norry would try to escape here. That he brought you along is of no consequence. I have killed you before, after all," he growls, ending with a maniacal giggle.

"Behold! This little game is over. Chaos is Queen," he shouts.

OOC > Two questions. How far is Denorian from us (for the purposes of range, so in a straight line, in feet)? And do the slots look like a staff would fit in each one?

OOC: Denorian is 50 feet away at an upward diagonal. The slots look perfectly staff-sized. You see seven slots in total surrounding the plinth.

Her eyes taking in the scene quickly, Killian snaps off a quick jab at Denorian, testing his defenses.

Action: Cast Chill Touch at Denorian. 18 to hit, for 8 necrotic damage.

Hox moves to put a staff into a slot.

Gruun will go into a rage and move up with Hox toward the staff slots.

Initiative:

Aradurk DEX Save (+Aura of Protection): 25
Gruun DEX Save (Advantage-Danger Sense, +Aura of Protection): 21
Hox DEX Save (+Aura of Protection): 31
Killian DEX Save: 10

As Killian begins to cast her cantrip, the floating mage cackles and rapidly extends a finger. Fire roars into being across most of the statue's palm, washing over the party. Gruun's keen senses allow him to escape most of the blaze, but the others take 34 fire damage. Killian's necrotic magic strikes the evil aspect of Denorian, who appears to be enjoying it more than hurt by it.

Laughing all the while, he shouts with glee as Hox places a Staff of the Magi within one of the slots. "You think you can do what even the Magi could not? Did you not hear me? This is over!"

Norry places a hand upon himself, chanting as an arcane barrier appears around him. "I think I can merge with him," he yells. "Apart we are only two aspects of Denorian, but if you can take him down then I can bring Denorian back! Unless you think you know how to work this thing."

Round 1 Order:
Evil Denorian
Norry
Players <=====

OOC: Killian and Hox have used their actions for Round 1. Gruun still has an action left, and Aradurk has his turn as well. If we have not heard from Aradurk by tomorrow then I will bot him as best I can, but I would prefer not to in this climactic moment.

OOC: Did you roll with advantage for the saving throw because of the Mantle of Spell Resistance?
OOC: also - sorry - crazy weekend.

Aradurk rushes at Denorian with rapier and shield. He attacks:

Attack: 21 Damage: 12

Attack: 19 Damage: 13

Attack: 22 Damage: 9

Aradurk DEX Save Advantage: Lower of 13 or 20

OOC: Thank you for pointing that out! I've adjusted the damage for Aradurk since advantage bumped his save high enough to make the DC.

Evil Denorian is hovering in the air above you, however, so Aradurk would need a way to fly at him to strike with a rapier.

OOC: dirty floating mages... I guess I would need to revise my actions to be distance based.

Sliding his rapier to his belt, Aradurk will draw and fire his long bow.

Attack: 17 Damage: 10

Attack: 26 Damage: 12

Attack: 19 Damage: 11

same menacing thing as before...

Apologies for missing the floating status.

Gruun will place any staves he has in the slots or assist someone else with theirs (I don't think he was carrying any.)

OOC: Inventories accurately reflect who has each of the staffs at the moment.

DM Screen:

Ray of Frost vs. Killian: 24 Damage: 23
Paralyzing Touch vs. Aradurk: 31 Damage: 11
Aradurk CON Save (+Aura of Protection): 21
Tentacle vs. Killian: 10

Evil Denorian CON Save: 28 Damage: 32

"Come now...do you really think this will be so easy?" the floating mage cackles as all three of Aradurk's arrows rebound harmlessly off of his skin, as if it were made of iron. The wizard fires an enormous ray of cold energy toward Killian, striking the paladin upon her chest. The cold seeps beneath her armor, chilling her to the bone. The air in front of this Denorian shimmers, and suddenly the mage is at eye level with Aradurk, reach out. The half-orc's skin grows cold at the wizard's touch.

Suddenly, Denorian throws his head back and a tentacle erupts from his neck, lashing out toward Killian and striking against her shield. Norry extends a wand and shouts in rage. A green beam of light strikes the evil Denorian, who yelps in surprise. The tentacle retracts into his neck and he glares menacingly at the younger version of himself, who has already turned back to Gruun and Hox to shout, "The closer I get, the more of Denorian's ability returns to me. We need him to operate this shrine!"

Round 1 Order:
Evil Denorian
Norry
Players <=====

Placement:
Aradurk and Killian are engaged in melee combat with the Evil Denorian.
All combatants are within movement range of one another.
One Staff of the Magi has been placed within the shrine.

Health:
Hox is grievously wounded.
Aradurk is wounded.
Killian is wounded.
Gruun is lightly wounded.

Taking in a deep breath, Aradurk draws on his Second Wind to regain some life essence:
17

With evil Denorian in range, Aradurk drops his bow to the ground and draws his rapier, attacking.

Attack: 14 Damage: 11
Attack: 30 Damage: 10

With his third attack, Aradurk moves in to grapple him.
Atheletics: 27

On getting hit, Killian reacts with a frustrated scream, and hellish fire licks out at the evil Denorian! Then she presents her shield, speaks word in guttural goblin, and makes a clenching motion with her free hand.

Reaction: Killian blows a 4th level slot on Hellish Rebuke when she is hit by Denorian's spell. 14 fire damage, or half on a Dex Save vs DC 16.

Action: Cast Hold Person with a 2nd level slot. Wis Save vs DC 16 or paralyzed. 1 minute or concentration, new save at the end of each turn.

OOC > I know a DC of 16 isn't great, he may not even be able to fail that save, but we need more than just hitting him a lot, I'm afraid.

Hox puts another staff into a slot.

(Hox can't really do non lethal.)

OOC: The staff from Hox's inventory is in a slot already. I'll need to know whose staff Hox is taking (as far as I'm concerned it's just a free interaction from both Hox and the person who holds the staff currently) if he wishes to put another staff into a slot this turn.