OOC: Enough time passed on the boat to constitute a short rest, so if anybody would like to roll hit dice in retrospect, please do so in the next post.

You have a few rounds to prepare before the first creatures arrive. It is also worth noting that Aradurk, Gruun and Hox are still capable of fighting through the effects of the madness induced by Shothotugg.

Killian stares down her foes, trying to count how many are in this first wave.

OOC > Retroactive short rest hit dice...

9
3

Two paladin hit dice expended. Do I add that to my sheet (and mark the HD), or do you, Barty?

Using a short rest hit die
12 

Also, would the short rest reset Second Wind?

Aradurk looks out to the oncoming figures - then surveys their environment with an eye toward an exit strategy. "With our numbers against what is effectively the bad versions of us, I don't think we gain anything by a head-on fight. "

There are dozens of the replica creatures on the mountain slope, but less than a dozen likely stand in your path. Four are close, now within 100 feet of the party. Looking closer, Killian and Aradurk can see that the figures are not exact copies; small, dark tentacles have grown from their faces, wriggling as if to reach out for their original forms.

OOC: Sorry for the delay, hit by a rough weekend. Character sheets have been updated with the benefits of a short rest and hit points have been added.

The mirrored but disfigured versions of the party close to within 60 feet, shambling along the beach with uncoordinated urgency. They do not seem to be armed, despite their aggressive movement and intentional direction. Behind them, the other dozens of similar creatures move more slowly, lazily occupying the mountain slope.

Killian glances behind her, taking in the state of her companions. She grits her teeth at their relative helplessness and faces the shambling creatures again, a little ribbon of blood dripping down her face. She will wait until they close another 30' before acting.

The creatures close to within 30 feet, their sunken faces devoid of emotion. The tentacles infecting them writhe in anticipation, and seem to grow as they approach.

Short Rest: 13

(Do I do another WIS Save? To break out of the fear?)

WIS Save: 16

Sorry, been really busy with work this week, I'll roll a couple hit die to top off. 23

Gruun will brace for the coming horde still reacting to the visions in his head.

Killian whispers something under her breath, and a blanket of magical darkness falls over her. The circle of darkness moves back towards the boat a few feet, then stops.

Action: Use 2 sorcery points to cast Darkness on her shield. She can see through it with her Eyes of the Dark Sorcerer feature.
Free object interaction: She draws her longsword.
Move: She steps back so that the mob is just further than 30' (say, 5' so they are 35' away)

Aradurk will examine their gait, movements, and other details, using Know Your Enemy to determine if these versions of us are stronger or weaker than us in terms of AC and HP.

OOC: Hox and Aradurk are still frightened, but the source of your fear is Shothotugg above the mountain, not these creatures.

For Aradurk:

The area around Killian goes dark as she steps back. The oncoming versions of yourselves simply continue to shamble toward you, dashing to each reach one of you, with Killian's alternate version disappearing into the globe of darkness.

Round 1 Order:
Players <=====
Enemies

Placement:
Each of you are engaged in melee combat with the alternate version of yourself.

Aradurk states to the rest of the team, "These creatures seem to be weaker than us" and he makes attacks against the inferior version of Aradurk.

Attack: 24 Damage: 15

Attack: 18 Damage: 9

Attack: 25 Damage: 9

(Does Killian have Advantage on her attacks? It is not beyond the scope of possibility that her alt can also see in the magical darkness)

Gruun will meet his alternate charging forward and using his momentum to empower his attacks.
[Reckless]
Attack: 22 Damage: 17
Attack: 24 Damage: 18
BA: If hit he'll knock the alternate prone

(Another post just to not mess this that beautiful crit)
Brutal Critcal: 9

OOC: Killian does have advantage on her attacks

Killian rushes the alts under cover of darkness, swinging with her sword.

Move: Close quickly with the alts, trying to get to the back of the pack to give Gruun some daylight to work with (Darkness is 15' radius around her shield)
Action: Two attacks on one of the alts (doesn't matter which one, but she'll stick with it until it is dead).

Attack 1: 15 Damage: 15 
Attack 2: 27 Damage: 15 

Savage Attacker: if one of those damage totals is less than this, please use this (and account for crits?): 14

Note for Barty: it looks like you did not expend 2 sorcery points for the casting of Darkness she can see through (rather than a spell slot, which she could not see through)

OOC: Thank you, that should be corrected now.

Parasites vs. Aradurk: 25 Damage: 66
Parasites vs. Gruun (Advantage-Reckless Attack): 15 or 27 Damage: 25
Parasites vs. Hox: 15 Damage: 32
Parasites vs. Killian (Disadvantage-Darkness): 11

Your weapons easily carve through the shambling alternates. They fall in pieces, staring back with your own faces, before suddenly exploding in a burst of tiny winged insects. These ravenous parasites swarm over all but Killian, burrowing into skin where they burn with acidic pain.

Just as quickly they are gone, those that could not find flesh simply dying and falling to the shore.

Through all of this, Norry stands mouth agape at the massive form of Shothotugg, stunned.

Dozens of your alternates linger along the mountain slope.

How much time until the second wave? Or are there still creatures in this first wave?