"Light you fools!" Gwythe hisses from the darkness, somewhere between Ronalt and Iviana. Panic and desperation is clear in his voice.
An instant later the sound of Kalador's blade is heard striking flesh in the "eastern" arch. This is immediately followed by an animalistic howl of pain.
Almost simultaneously, Fragarach is in Prince Thromels hand and the "western" end of the room is bathed in twilight. Directly in front of Sven, and with wickedly spiked morning star raised to strike, is a bugbear!
Thromel wastes no time though, striking out at it and inflicting a nasty wound.
At the other end of the room, Tindoome pulls back the covers from the chair leg and bright light floods the "eastern" end right up to Sven's back. At the same instant, Ivivana completes her quick spell and sends two magical bolts crashes into the bugbear Kalador struck earlier. Although it had taken a few more steps past the half orc in pursuit of Gwythe, those steps had only brought it closer to it's doom as the force of Iviana's magic lifts it from it's feet and slams it to the cold stone floor. Smoke rises from it's two newest wounds as it's last ever breath leaves it's body.
With light flooding the area and showing his human eyes the situation, Ronalt steps forward from his crouch and attacks the bugbear recently moved in front of Kalador. His weapon slices downward through the bugbears collarbone and almost comes out below it's ribs. Ronalts expert hand has slain the creature in a single blow.
Although the Bugbears had moved without a sound and had the clear advantage of being able to see in the dark, by the time any of them are able to attack, two of their number already lay dead and another grievously wounded. The survivors though are not deterred, or perhaps just not smart enough to know how outclassed they are, and press to the attack.
Perhaps in retailiation for the death inflicted on it's companions, the bugbear closest to Yew swings it's spiky morning star at Ronalt who raises the shuttered lantern as if it were a shield. Ronalts defence though is easily bypassed and the spikes drive deep into his ribs.
Another steps forward, straddling the corpse Ronalt laid down and assaults Kalador. Leather armour is no match against the power of the bugbears morning star and blood flies from Kalador's most recent wound.
Over the other side of the area in the gloom, the bugbear there swings at Prince Thromel, perhaps having mistaken Sven for one of his own kind. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately given the enchantment of Fragarach, he misses.
Arek then completes his battle hymn and power floods through Iviana, Gwythe, Tindo and himself, the target area having been adjusted to account for changes in the situation.
Sven then swings his two blades at the wounded bugbear, dispelling any possibility of him being "friendly" to it. His bastard sword misses, but perhaps that was just a feint as the short sword drives into it's back, dropping the bugbear to the ground.
Finally Yew strikes from cover, until now undetected. His blow however is not as effective as his apparent skill at hiding and misses his intended victim.
Sven pulled hard on the door handle and with some initial resistance the stone panel swung open. Revealed in the light of the glowing chair leg and several magical swords is a corridor of worked granite. The walls and floors are smooth and polished, perhaps by the passing of many feet. Now though dust and cobwebs show visitors come to this area only infrequently.
Note the squares are ten feet which makes the passageway easily able to accomdate two, even three abreast.
Ronalt, Sven and Yew moved through the next chamber (more to come once I get some clarification of their actions).