You cross the corridor, your light flashing upon several small shining, but utterly worthless stones in the walls of the hallway. Eventually, you make it to a door. As you open if a strong mildew smell greets your noses, causing a minor bout of coughing. As you look inside you all see green algae that grows like moss from cracks in the walls, floor, and ceiling. A skeleton lies at the room’s center, its hand caught in a closed, steel trapdoor. On the Western side of the room another stone door leads out. Elonast continues speaking to you all in your minds: "Oh, ignore the hand. Just go past everything." She says the last part as you all walk into this room. Shall we continue?

Paulo heeds the Pseudodragons advice, but takes a glance around for Secret Doors regardless. He's always had a weakness for them.

Lesley follows Elonast’s instructions. Meanwhile, Lesley’s mind is just passively swarming with excitement at the prospect of a pseudodragon familiar. He’s completely blanked on the fact she can read minds.

This is madness. 

“I am no sage of Candlekeep, but even I can tell that cadaver is a really poorly disguised trap. I'm beggared, not suicidal. Let’s be yonder sooner, not later.”

Paulo continues leading the party into the next room. He feeds Elonast more jerkey.

The door opens as you pass through another hallway and make it to the next room. A small stair leads from a landing to another floor just below it. Arms and armor are mounted on the walls. All are rusted and ruined, save for a round shield, painted red with two battered longswords hanging behind it. Elonast recommends to you all that: "By the way... I wouldn't touch those things if I were you. 

Ahhhhhh, my aching joints, how nice it feels to have the wind rushing across my wings again.

Also, try to be as quiet as possible around here. " She says the latter part in a "lower voice of thought."

Salazar, being a shieldmaster, is quite interested in the red shield. He investigates, curiosity piqued. Under his breath, he mutters, “Don’t touch this, or that, definitely not the items of worth. ... Don’t wish to walk out of here empty handed. Hmmm.”

“Well this might sell for a tenday’s worth of drinks. Seems in good condition. I could return home and say, “Look, Father, Nuncle, you sent me off to undeath in a tower & I've brought a trophy.”

With a shrug, Salazar slings his targe of wood & steel straps over his back and takes the Red Shield off the Wall, fastening it to his forearm.

Wait! Salazar, no they may…"

Oh dear…

As soon as Salazar grabs the shield the battered swords suddenly fly off of the wall and slash at Salazar. In the meanwhile, Elonast screams in your minds: "No! You fool!" Everyone is surprised by the sudden activation of these creatures, and they are helpless to resist as the swords attack! Nevertheless, Salazar manages to block every one of their incoming sword strikes with shocking reaction times!

COMBAT #1
Initiative:
Flying Swords: 22
Salazar: 12
Paulo: 10
Lesley: 5
Ord: 0

Round 1 Begin

It is now the Flying Swords' turns!

They both slash at Salazar, but he manages to block the dual attacks with his new shield, making them completely harmless.

It is now Salazar's turn!

Salazar may now take reactions!

It is now Paulo's turn!

Paulo may now take reactions!

It is now Lesley's turn!

Lesley may now take reactions!

It is now Ord's turn!

Ord may now take reactions!

Round 1 Ends, Round 2 Begins

It is now the Flying Swords' Turn! 

They slash once more, trying to get past Salzar's defenses, but it is to no avail as he skillfully blocks both of their attacks.

It is now Salazar's Turn! 

Salazar, half mad with fright, flies into a panic, his expression going stony (Rage).

He throws his javelin at one of the swooping swords. 
Attack against the first sword.: 1d20 (7) + 4
Total: 11

A MISS!

“I’ve got it!” Paulo flicks his blade at the animated instrument, 
Stab the bastard sword.: 1d20 (8) + 5
Total: 13

But his strike narrowly misses the mark.

Taking note of the flying death swords, Lesley backs up, “I believe now would be a good time to tell you that there’s danger! Though try to avoid causing too much damage to the swords itself, they would be most interesting to study after the fact!” Focusing the magic from around him into his spellcasting focus, Lesley releases the magic into a ghastly hand that attempts to grab the sword’s hilt. (Chill Touch: 6) However, the blade nimbly stabs the ghostly hand, destroying it. “Oh. Well, this could be slightly more difficult than anticipated...”

“Yes. A calculated risk. That’s exactly what this was. Very carefully considered gambit. Promise!”

You have never heard someone’s voice more panicked and less sincere.

“Now is not the time for panic nor sass, Mr. Paulo! Now is the time to avoid being skewered by viscous flying knives!”

Ord watched in mounting horror as his allies flounder clumsily after the agile swords. 

The dwarf chants and invokes the blessing of Amaunator. 

Amaunator grant us your light so that we can find our way!

Ord casts Bless on everyone in the party. A small halo of golden light circles each person's head. 

Ord then scampers to the back putting as many allies as possible between him and the swords (but will not risk an opportunity attack to do so).

The swords nimbly dodge all of the attacks from the group; meanwhile, Elonast screams in Salazar's head: "You fool! What did I say not to do?!" As the swords once again threaten Salazar he manages to block both of them with his newfound shield and they miss. The clang of battle can still be heard from up above, but now it can be heard from below as well.

Round 2 Ends, Round 3 Begins

It is now Salazar's turn!

"Pah! How was I to know you were speaking to me also, Tiny Mistress!?"  Salazar fumbles his flail from his belt, and light begins to strobe wildly through the room as the flange spins on the flail’s chain!

Salazar attacks again!: 1d20 (20) + 4 + 1d4 (3) Total: 27 Critical Hit!

The striking head & chain wrap around the blade, as Salazar bashes it into a wall: 2d8 (8, 3) + 4 Total: 15 bludgeoning damage.

"After you ignored my apology, I thought you were communicating to Paulo only!" With a grunt, Salazar punctuates the sentence with a swing of his shield, attempting to push the other blade "prone." 

Athletics (advantaged): 2d20kh1 (8, 2) + 4 Total: 12
Flying Sword #2's Acrobatics: 1d20 (8) + 2 Total: 10

Salazar manages to catch the sword at an oblique angle, pushing it back 5 feet as it flips end over end, opening it to an attack by his companions. He crouches behind his shield and starts the flail's circuit on it's chain once more. "Paulo! on your larboard side, take it now!"

Paolo, ducking under the swinging ahead of the flail, spins around Salazar. Seeing an opportunity in the form of his stocky crouching friend, Paulo vaulted over Salazar's shoulder, using his momentum and his friend's shield to slam his rapier into the flying sword at a high angle.

**Attack roll with advantage:** 1d20kh1 (~~2~~, 10) + 5
**Total:** 15
**Bless:** 1d4 (3)
**Total:** 3
**Sneaky stab:** 1d8 (7) + 1d6 (**6**) + 3
**Total:** 16 Damage

Seeing that his allies have a firm handle on the sword, Lesley turns his gaze to the other, unoccupied blade. Once again channeling his magic into his crystal, he releases that same skeletal hand to try to catch the sword’s hilt. However, this time, the blade spins deftly around the hand, avoiding it before it can grip it. “Oh come now! Let. Me. Grab. YOU!” Lesley is becoming quite frustrated at this turn of events. “It’s for science!” Lesley tacks on in a vain plead to the sword.