Thorik tried to open the door.

He whispered “Bernhardt”, and motioned at the door when he tried to push it.

OOC: 8:19, Today: Thorik rolled 4 using 1d6.  Open doors 5-6.

Bernhard takes a couple of steps back and charges into the door.

11:59, Today: Bernhard rolled 5 using 1d6.  open doors 5-6.

Bernhard crashes into the door!

The room beyond is severely burnt, its furnishings buried and ruined beyond recognition. The ceiling has collapsed for the most part, revealing another chamber on the second floor. About 5’ of the ceiling still remains around the walls of the room, forming a narrow jagged ledge. The floor is littered with beams, plaster, ash, and unknown pieces of junk. The air is filled with the odor of rot.
There is a door to the north on the northeastern corner.

"Holy Seldarine" the elf whispered, standing behind Bernhard with the bow and arrow held in his hand. His bowels churned at the stingy scent of rot filling the air.

Ronan covers his nose with his cloak. Looking at the upper chamber, he moves towards the door:
"I think we should go this way, the quicker we move the better."

"Agreed," Bernhard says moving behind Ronan and keeping an eye on the chamber above. "This is an excellent spot for an ambush."

Angus follows in the rear.

"Hmph." Brother Nerrag grunted, wary of the ledge but making his way with the others.

Thorik drew a second dagger and stalked carrying two now.

His head was on a swivel as he advanced into the room and made his way across.

Looking around as he moved, he looked for anything of value.

Last to walk across was Angus, watching their rear, looking for any threats on the party.

Falan backed up behind Black Angus, ready to let fly an arrow at the first sign of trouble.

Dungeon Master, for the NPC Monsters, rolled 4 using 1d6.  Surprise 1-2.

As you walk across the room, one of you sees something move up there on the ledge. He's scarecely able to give a shout of alarm before it leaps down with a howl. An emaciated monstrosity drops down a few feet from you - a ghoul. Others follow it, and you can discern among them a couple of their more sinister cousins: ghasts. In total there are 2 ghouls and 1 ghast with you, about to get into melee range; and 6 ghouls and 1 ghast leaping down from above.

Okay, let's see if this way of handling combat works. Tell me your overall strategy for the fight.

Ronan curses his haste and moves so his Color Spraycspell can get most of the creatures. Then if the he will engage the enemy with his daggers. If things are not going well, he will cast another spell, Web or Sleep.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:45, Sun 17 May 2020.

In reply to Ronan (msg # 64):

Angus swings at the ghoul leaping for his throat and misses it by a mile! Fumble

08:45, Today: Black Angus rolled 2 using 1d20+1.  to hit

Brother Nerrag will keep his back to the entrance ... the better to cover a fighting retreat should the monsters gain the upper hand.  The first thing he would do is Turn Undead.  Then he'd cast Protection from Evil on himself and then smash anything that comes close enough with his mace.

OOC — That covers about three round's worth of actions ... is that what you were after?

Thorik will back pedal and throw daggers and his hand axe.

If one closes to melee with him he will draw his short sword and engage.
OOC:  attempt to move and stay ranged and throw daggers and the hand axe.  Only draw short sword and melee if they close.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:43, Sun 17 May 2020.

Bernhard pushes forward toward the undead beasts, his magic sword shining in the torchlight. He is mindful to keep them away from his less armored comrades, but also does not move too far forward to keep himself from being surrounded.

Attacks:
Round 1: 18, 6 (Hit AC -1)
Round 2: 10, 5 (Hit AC 7)
Round 3: 8, 4 (Hit AC 9)

14:49, Today: Bernhard rolled 18,6,10,5,8,4 using d20+1,d6+1,d20+1,d6+1,d20+1,d6+1.  Bernhard attacks.

"By the grace of Sehanine Moonbow!" Lahrart shouted, the elf invoking the name of the elven goddess who was a sworn enemy of such vile creatures, loading three arrows on his longbow.

He aimed at the closer ghast, aware that his touch could be more deadly than a ghoul's one.

OOC:

Ugly rolls. Only in the 3rd round I will be able to hit AC 9.

Round 1, vs ghast: 4
Round 2, vs ghast: 3
Round 3, vs ghast: 8

22:02, Today: Larhart rolled 4,3,8,6,2,3 using d20,d20,d20,d6,d6,d6 with rolls of 4,3,8,6,2,3.  Longbow attack.

This message was last edited by the player at 20:06, Sun 17 May 2020.

Falan climbed back, aiming his arrows directly for the ghast. Should anyone kill the creature, Falan will then turn his attention to whichever of the two ghouls seemed most injured.

I think that what the RTJ thread clarified is that I should just give my strategy, right? Let me know if I should roll for my attacks for three or four rounds and I'll edit the rolls in.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:29, Mon 18 May 2020.

If there is space Vandarin will push forward into melee, knowing he is immune to the ghoul's paralysing touch. If there is no space he will be ready to step into the breach should any of his companions be paralysed.

Fentin, from the back, throws daggers at whichever one he has a clear line to.

OOC first throw pretty good, second one a fumble11:09, Today: Fentinbrook rolled 4 using 1d4.  Damage.

11:08, Today: Fentinbrook rolled 2 using 1d20+1.  Throw dagger.

11:08, Today: Fentinbrook rolled 19 using 1d20+1.  Throw dagger.

Round 1:

The PCs seize the initiative!
20:24, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 1 using 1d6.  Initiative - Monsters.
20:24, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 4 using 1d6.  Initiative - PCs.

PCs
Ronan casts Color Spray! The two ghouls in front of the group are automatically affected. The ghast fails his saving throw too! Their savage minds are disrupted by the colorful patterns and they fall limp to the floor. Enemies behind are sheltered (and anyways are on a different floor).
20:30, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 4 using 1d20.  Ghast - Saving Throw vs Spells.

Angus takes advantage of the situation and delivers a coup-de-grâce to the ghoul lying in front of him! It is slain.

Bernhard does likewise and slays the ghoul in front of him.

Brother Nerrag is (as per the marching order) right next to the exit - pretty far away from the entrance. He turns undead:
20:44, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Brother Nerrag, rolled 9 using 2d6.  Turn Undead.
20:48, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Brother Nerrag, rolled 10 using 2d6.  Turn #.
The rest of the ghouls and the other ghast, which were in the process of leaping down at you, stop dead -heh- in their tracks, screeching!

Vandarin switches places with Ronan and strikes at the disabled ghast. They gravely wounded, but the beast is not yet slain. They are still unconscious, though.
20:56, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 20 using 1d20.  Ghast Death Save.
[For future reference: I'm ruling that striking at a completely helpless opponent automatically strikes for maximum damage adding your HD; and if that doesn't kill the target they must save or die]

Thorik throws a dagger at one of the ghouls on the upper floor and misses.
21:01, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Thorik, rolled 5,5 using 1d20,1d6.  Attack.

Larhart shoots his bow at the other ghast and misses.

Fentinbrook throws a dagger at a ghoul and hits for 2 damage.
21:06, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Fentinbrook, rolled 2 using 1d6.  Damage.

Falan shoots at the Ghast and hits for 2 damage.
21:09, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Falan Oakenheel, rolled 20,2 using 1d20,1d6 ((20,2)).

Monsters [all turned]
Ghast 19(-10, unconscious), 16(-2)
Ghoul 4(-2), 10, 6, 5 ,6, 7

The ghoul and ghast that were hit get a save vs spells to break free from the turning effect.
21:12, Today: Dungeon Master, rolled 8,3 using 1d20,1d20.  Sv Ghoul, Ghast.
They do not, and can't do anything but wail and groan horribly.
Neither can the rest of the monsters, but two of them were unable to stop their momentum and fall down to your level - they scramble away from Brother Nerrag as soon as they hit the ground.


Round 2:
Monsters lose initiative due to turning effect.

PCs:
Angus strikes at a ghoul, who scrambles away in thime.
21:20, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Black Angus, rolled 2,4 using 1d20,1d6.  Attack.

Bernhard attacks and destroys a ghoul.

Vandarin strikes once again at the unconscious ghast, destroying it this time.

[Brother Nerrag - I'm ruling that you need to keep presenting your holy symbol to maintain the turning effect; I'll assume you keep doing it because it seems clearly beneficial at this point]

Ronan steps forward to strike at the only ghoul remaining on your level, but misses.
21:25, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Ronan, rolled 4,5 using 1d20,1d6.  Attack.

Thorik throws a dagger at the remaining ghast, hitting for two points of damage.
21:26, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Thorik, rolled 15,2 using 1d20,1d6.  Attack.

Larhart misses.

Fentinbrook misses.

Falan shoots the ghast... for two damage.
21:28, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Falan Oakenheel, rolled 16,2 using 1d20,1d6.  Attack.


Monsters:
Ghast 16(-6)
Ghoul 10, 6, 5 ,6, 7

The ghoul on the bottom floor climbs a rotten beam and leaps onto the upper floor to join its companions..
The monsters continue making noise and back away from the edge. You can't see where they've gone now.

"Let's get through this chamber quickly," Bernhard calls to his comrades while watching for more leaping undead. "Someone check the next door and let's go!"

Ronan follows Bernhard's suggestion and quickly moves to the door, but most of his attention is still at the upper level.

Thorik retrieved the dagger and quickly checked the bodies for anything of value.

"I'll check for traps."

He moved up to check the door leaving the room for traps.

OOC:20:46, Today: Thorik rolled 1 using 1d6.  Check for traps on door..