Lost Lab of Kwalish

Sam sees some movement in the mud ahead.  At least 6 small creatures move about, darting this way and thst in shirt bursts, then holding still for a moment before scurrying on, sometimes in a new direction, others continuing as before, all seemingly aimless in a search for something.  Sam sees all around the nest the tiny reptilian footprints of the hatchlings, and among them a single similar footprint of a much larger size.  The tracks jf the cstoblepas calf continue forthwith south, through the damp silt.

<Surely, there are other tracks about, I'm not suggesting a one-legged lizard was here, just that there js one distinct track in the mud, the rest probably distorted by errant foottraffick of trampling hatchlings.>

Gravity stands in front of the eggshells with damp clothes and hair that remains glued to her scalp. She seems displeased and angry. She will step forward gradually while tinkering with the unlit blue gem using a small hand-drill. The blue gem starts shedding light due to the effect of magical tinkering. The replica amulet sprinkled with 'counterscent powder' should lose its effectiveness.

"Do you smell the stench of the calf, Sam? You should definitely locate the catoblepas from his distinct body odor."

After that she bends forward to examine the inside of the eggshells using a pair of tweezers or droppers to extract the remnant of liquids.
Can she determine the species of the creature?

Investigation 20

The shells are quite distinctive. They have an unusually thick snd rubbery inner membrane that shakes bright ble between the cracks in the eggshell. It looks as if the creatures within had to scratch and claw their way through the membrane to free themselves of the shells. The hard outer shell appears black, but as dust plumes from the tip of Gravity's drill, she sees that it too is pigmented blue, albeit so darkly that the shells appear black.  

 "Snap!"  a flash of light dances across the mud. Then another, a bit farther, followed by three more in quick succession from seemingly random locations. Little arcs if lightning illuminate the tiny blue lizards scurrying about the muddy cavern floor, accompanied by distinctive electrical crackling, reminiscint of kernels of corn popping.  The lizards have large heads and eyes proportionate to their overall morphology, giving them a distinctly adolescent impression.

In the distance, something larger begins to stir.

【Roll for initiative】

<I'll get a battle map up soon>

Initiative 22 

  tetrevess sighs-  “whatever they are, I’m guessing they’re immune to lightning damage, and if they attack us we’re going to wish we were..”

Initiative 17 

https://www.owlbear.rodeo/game/93BxN57Wv

There are no external assets, so hopefully this map works for everyone. Place yourselves anywhere you like ir just leave your token where it is now.

You've come from the waterlogged area to the north, but on this map it's the bottom. There is intermittent illumination in the dark areas ahead, but that is a shortcoming of owlbear.rodeo I cannot help with at this time.  I would say there are probably as many lizards as there are eggs, plus 1.

Note: I'm nor accounting for darkvision or illumination sources for each if you, the "fog" js just an abstraction to say you'll see more the further in you go, if you end up doing so. If anyone wants to stay out of the illuminati9n of Tetrevess's magical flame, you can try but you'll need ro be that distance from the source, unless he covers it, etc.

Gravity: Initiative 9

"I see claw marks. That means these creatures can make claw attack."

Gravity's Turn: Round 1

Gravity will spend the first round to search for any kind of vulnerabilities of the opponents.

Investigation 18

They are infants. They scream vulnerable, but the crackle of electricity discharging across their spines suggests otherwise.

(Are folks happy with their positions? Let me know if not.)

( I want to be 15’ further back, if possible.:)) 

(Roger that.)

Big lizard initiative 11

From the darkness, you see the scaly beast, the outline of its form illuminated by crackling arcs if blue plasma, as it moves toward you, but not in a direct line.  I ahead, it moves toward the wall of the tunnel, then begins to climb the concave done surface as it draws near the nest, and finally stops just above rhe spot between Gravity and Sam (the blue circle, half in the dark, is where she started, the other lizards start where their lightning spheres are centered, then begin moving, follwoing the big one in initiative; though the lightning effect is colored yellow on the map, im cslling it blue. This had no mechanical bearing, i just thought yellow would be easier to visually interpret but Ill probanly say at somw point rhat jts blue because thats how i picture it).  

With a pulsating hum and a rippling crackle comes a blast of electricity from above as the tunnel is flooded with sparks and lit bright as day fir more than an instant.  The light throbs as more flashes go off in a line like domi ones falling, each popping in and out of existence from the tiny lizards that line the floor of the tunnel.  Behind the wall of small reptiles, you see the calf lying in the mud.

(None of the hatchling's lightning attacks effect anyone, but the big one does hit Gravity, Sam and Ana for 18 lightning damage, with a DC 15 Con save for half, but failure by 5 or more (i.e. 10 or below) results in being incapacitated until the end of your next turn. Tetrevess us just outside the sphere because the lizard is 10ft higher, but by my math the sphere still includes the space where Ana stands.)

Recharge:

1 2

2 5

3 6

4 6

5 4

6 6

M 4

<I think surprised applies here for Tetrevess, let me know if you disagree. Mostly, I'm going by the fact it was in darkness at the location marked by the blue circle, and I dont think he can see that far.>

<I don't see an initiative roll for Sam, so I'm ruling it surprised as well, but he can still roll it and use it on all subsequent rounds.  Because I really do want gloom stalker features to shine here, I'm willing to waive surprised here if we can do it without refconning the above or if you have a compelling reason.>

<Because of how initiative fell and the events of the round, I'm willing to let Gravity revise her action if she chooses.>

 Edit: Ana can in fact see the lizard at the distance from which it began its turn, hence she may act for round 1 and if you want yiu can already post a round 2 action simultaneously if you like.  

Obviously, this means she can move out of the way of the lightning sphere in round 1, but I'd at least like to hear why she's moving that way, if she does.

Constitution Saving Throw x Lightning: 19

(I would like to revise Gravity's action for round 1)

Con save 11 

initiative 11

if a dragon would have advantage on breath weapon 

4

sam will sing with ruin blade 5 damage 11

second swing  15 damage 8

dread attack 12 damage 7 6

all of these are without advantage  

<@legion4, The monstrous lizard is on the ceiling 10ft overhead. Not sure the ruinblade has that much reach.  What is about the breath weapon advantage?>

Quote from Wile_E_Coyote >>

<@legion4, The monstrous lizard is on the ceiling 10ft overhead. Not sure the ruinblade has that much reach.  What is about the breath weapon advantage?>

 Don’t matter 

Her keen senses warned Ana about the creature and as it turned its attention toward them she began to backpedal - as an archer she wanted to be as far away as she could be. She shot two arrows at it as she moved.

Attack: 18 Damage: 8 

Attack: 14 Damage: 9 

Reaction: Gravity casts Absorb Elements through her shortbow to soak up most of the incoming energy and reduce its effect on herself.

Action: She is influenced by Ana's action against the larger creature. As a result she will attack the same creature twice by releasing two arrows from her shortbow, one of these has the capability to deal extra lightning damage.

Attack: 30   Damage: 10

Attack: 27   Damage: 8

Additional damage from Absorb Elements 4