Chapter 12: Shadows in the Dark

[Darren]

Kal nods at Condign, then gestures for Rinti to stay put. "Watch her," he says to Tangat. Then Kalarian descends halfway down the steps, sparks crackling around his fingers as his grip tightens on his sharrash, ready to attack if Adamant is struck first.

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Kal will only go down the steps far enough to be able to gain line of sight into the room.

[Dave B.]

Watching as Adamant and Kal descend the stairs, Shorak moves to the top of those same stairs and turns to rest of the party. "So, shall we join them or just listen for their shrieks of horror?"

[Ken]

"Adamant never shrieks," says Belarin, who matches Kal step for step in a slight descent.

____________

Yep, just waiting to see if Belarin sees anything else now that the candle is active.

[Joe]

Streko moves to the top of the stairs and holds position. "I shall remain here, should we find our only avenue of escape suddenly crowded. I will be able to come down at a moment's notice, if necessary. Someone, please notify me if you continue to move in more stealthily. I should hate to be left alone here."

[Brian]

"I shall wait with you," Condign tells Streko as he draws his blade. "Though I suspect danger, if any exists, lies below."

[Dave B.]

Shorak follows 15 feet behind Belarin, ready to act, flee or just relay information to Condign and Streko.

[Jeff]

Belarin felt a deep chill when he lit the dark candle in his grasp, and those closest to him can see his face wince reflexively as well. The small flame is somehow even cold to look at, and the air around it grows chill. Rather than dispel the darkness, the candle seems to dampen the light it's already in.

Belarin feels a slight tug in the candle; not physical, but spiritual. It's directing him downstairs, where something calls to it. Or vice versa. And yet, even as he maintains his grip on it, he feels its withering presence eroding at him. 

Even as Kal and Belarin go down a few steps, everyone hears Adamant's voice of greeting and peace at the bottom.

And it's a half second later that figures spring from around the sarcophagi in front of the warforged! Two of them, the one he'd spied and another from the nearest sarcophagi, are upon him almost immediately—driven by preternatural, almost animal-like speed—while the remaining four are a little further back and closing in quickly!

They are men and women clad in studded red leather armor, and they bear longswords. Their skin and hair is almost universally gray, the former veined with black, the latter streaked with white. Eyes widen in obvious hate, and even as Adamant sees them close in, the dark color of their eyes suddenly brighten and blaze with an inner white light. The paladin instinctively feels the overbearing glow of their malevolence. Given their anguished, exaggerated features, razor sharp teeth, and ash-gray, sunken faces, he's also fairly sure he's facing the undead.

Those of you at the top of the steps hear only a hissing sound and the rattling sound of Adamant taking up a defensive posture.

___________________

Belarin takes 1 point of necrotic damage.

Everyone, when you post go ahead and include a Religion check to see what you might be able to identify about these creatures. No intitial info, though, as the attack is sudden and you've only just seen them. But note that only Adamant is getting a good like right now. Belarin and Kal can kind of see the two in front of Adamant, gleaning only the basics, while the rest of you can't see them at all.

No one is surprised. Initiative will be:

20 - Condign
20 - NPCs (Larest, Sem, Rinti)
19 - Streko
15 - Adamant
14 - the undead
12 - Shorak
7 - Kal and Tangat
5 - Syrdan
4 - Belarin

Adamant's Initiative (1d20=15)
Belarin's Initiative (1d20+3=4)
Condign's Initiative (1d20=20)
Kal's Initiative (1d20+2=7)
Shorak's Initiative (1d20+9=12)
Streko's Initiative (1d20+2=19)
Syrdan's Initiative (1d20+4=5)

Bad guys' Initiative (1d20+2=14)

[Brian]

Condign hears an eerie hissing coming from the lower level, and Adamant shifting unexpectedly. He charges down the steps, sword at the ready, shield held high, to take up a position left of the warforged. Grinning, he says, "Hope you do not mind some company."

_______________________________________

Movement Action: using Hustle to take a double movement.

Religion Check: (1d20+5=7)

[Jeff]

As Condigns storms down the stairs, making no small amount of noise in doing so (his long red tail even whacks into the wall), Larest casts a spell, and most of you have seen Mage Armor conjured enough to recognize the mystic gestures required. He flicks a wooden wand as the focus, and though you can't see it, you know he's been sheathed in invisible armor.

Sem takes a step back and looks toward the mausoleum entrance as if wary of being trapped inside. He notes that Syrdan is nearby and seems assured by that. Sem places a hand on the hilt of his dagger. "I'm sure the tiefling will make quick work of whatever foes present themselves," he states with a half smile.

Rinti reaches out and takes a hold of Tangat's neck. The girl is obviously very nervous.

[Dave W.]

Here's the Religion check...
Religion (1d20+2=14)

Do you want me to wait for the NPC's to go before posting Adamant's action?

[Joe]

Streko hears the tell-tale hissing of creatures that have haunted his nightmares since he was a child. Without thinking, he turns to Tangat and points to Rinti: "Keep her safe, my friend!"

He then races down the stair case, holding his Sickle of Therendor in one hand, and Olladra's holy domino in the other.
___________________________________________________________

Religion Check: 1d20+4=19

Streko will use his Halfling nimbleness to squeeze between Kal and Belarin, holding his sickle close to him to avoid unwanted scratches or tears of clothing!

[Dave W.]

Oct 24, 2014 14:45:28 GMT -4 Brian said:

Grinning, [Condign] says, "Hope you do not mind some company."]

"A pleasure as always," Adamant replies lightly. To the creatures, "Fighting it is then. May Dol Arrrah guide my blade!"

The big warforged draws his sword and swipes right in one motion. But that swing is just a feint. Swinging back to the left, he puts both arms into an attack on the creature facing his friend.


Free Action: Draw sword! If I looked-up correctly I can do one free interaction with an object.
Standard Action: Using longsword 2 handed should change it's damage to d10 (versatile). Since I'm not moving I can do two attacks I believe. And I think there's no flanking bonus anymore. So I'll run both attacks and if I'm wrong about the number of attacks just use the first...

Longsword attack (1d20+7=11)... hmmm, won't bother rolling damage for that...
Longsword 2nd attack (1d20+7=9)... or that... owww.

Movement Action: no movement

Reminder: My Protection fighting style would lets me impose disadvantage on an enemy attacking one of my allies but I don't have my shield at hand...
Reminder 2: As noted above, Religion check=14.
Reminder 3: Adamant's shield is still on his back... his AC is only 19 just now.

[Jeff]

With Adamant's first swing, the human-like-but-clearly-human-no-longer warrior steps back, dodging, then actually throws up its blade at the warforged's second. The blades crash together and send vibrations through both combatants. Upstairs, the sound is the telltale sound of joined battle. The creature responds with its own blade in a two-handed grip. The sword ricochet's off Adamant's sword, then digs into part of his arm where the metal becomes wood. An evil smile splits the creature's mouth, then it lets go of one hand and swipes wildly at Adamant. Adamant understands that its mere touch must be deadly!

The second creature, seeing another foe arrived, throws itself into Condign. The blade strikes true, but the cut is shallow. It, too, attempts to make contact with Condign with an open hand but the tiefling keeps it at bay.

Two more of the undead warriors come running in on surprisingly quiet feet and join the battle, such that both Condign and Adamant are assailed by two of them. Meanwhile, two further back remain so, lifting longbows and taking aim.... Condign and Adamant, each heavily armord and highly-skileld combatants, parry every swinging blade and claw-swipe from the newcomers. The archer who tries to take down Adamant sinks an arrow into his plating, but it doesn't penetrate to softer parts, so the arrow merely protrudes from his chestplate. The second archer, however, sights Condign down for a moment longer, then sinks two arrows into his armor. The steel arrowheads do bite into flesh.

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Creature #1's longsword attack (1d20+4=22) (longsword attack (1d10+2=4)) 4 slashing damage to Adamant
Creature #1's second attack (1d20+4=13) (miss)
Creture #2's longsword attack (1d20+4=22) / longsword attack (1d10+2=8) 8 slashing damage to Condign
Creature #2's second attack (1d20+4=14)
Creature #3's longsword attack (1d20+4=12) (miss)
Creature #3's second attack (1d20+4=10)
Creature #4's longsword attack (1d20+4=12) (miss)
Creature #4's lifedrain attack (1d20+4=16)
Creature #5's longbow attack (1d20+4=14) (miss)
Creature #5's second attack (1d20+4=7) (miss)
Creature #6's longbow attack (1d20+4=23) (hit) / longbow damage (1d8+2=4) 4 piercing damage to Condign
Creature #6's second attack (1d20+4=18) (hit) / longbow damage (1d8+2=6) 6 piercing damage to Condign

Results of Religions checks coming at the end of the round.

12 - Shorak
7 - Kal and Tangat
5 - Syrdan
4 - Belarin

[Dave B.]

Hearing the sound of battle joined, Shorak moves quickly past Kal and Belarin, stopping short of being in melee range of the undead pressing in on Adamant and Condign. Drawing his boomerang, Shorak crouches down to get as good a look as possible deeper into the crypt and let's fly with his tri-bladed weapon at the undead archer on the right.

He will use cunning action if he can't get into position to attack with a full move. He will stop next to Streko or a step or two further down if need be to see W5.

Ranged attack on W5 (1d20+8=28)

Damage (Critical hit) (2d6+5=15)

Religion check (1d20+2=5)

[Darren]

"I suppose we should have seen this coming," Kal says to Belarin. He notes the distant look on his friend's face and shrugs. Focusing his attention on the archers, flames begin to form around Kalarian's fingers. His eyes smolder and he flings his hand out, fingers wide. Three streams of fire arc across the room, two finding one of the archers and the third streaking towards the other.

___________________
Kal will cast Scorching Ray. Two arcs are aimed at W6, the third is at W5.

Attack roll 1 (vs. W6), Attack roll 2 (vs. W6), Attack roll 3 (vs. W5) (1d20+6=14, 1d20+6=19, 1d20+6=7)

Fire damage (vs. W6), Fire damage (vs. W6) (2d6=7, 2d6=4)

Not sure if that first one hit, and I didn't bother to roll damage for the third because I assume that missed. If the first attack was a miss, then hopefully we can use that first damage roll for the second attack.

Religion check (1d20+1=3)
(We don't need no education....)

[Jeff]

Shorak's drow boomerang whistles quietly through the air and buries itself firmly in the chest of the female archer! She stumbled back, hissing from the shock of it; there is very little blood, but at a glance Shorak can tell the weapon must have punctured through vital (dead) organs. Her motions now seem more awkward, and her eyes smolder like white-burning embers as she looks back at him.

Kal moves near the bottom of the steps, just behind Condign, in order to target the archers. The creature beside the tiefling sees him, snarls, and swings wildly in his direction. Kal finds it easy to keep out of its reach, but the distraction makes two of his fiery rays go wide; unable to get a clear shot. His third scorching ray he sends toward the other archer. It rustles past Condign harmlessly, but the female archer, despite the boomerang in her body, dodges it easy!

______________________________

Always, hit "refresh" to get the map to update in your view.

Dave: I know we addressed this some time in the past, probably unofficially, but I've now added some mechanics to it: whenever you use the boomerang in non-open spaces, there's a chance it won't return to Shorak. He can make a Dex check. In the case of this room, with low ceilings, etc., it could have (and his Dex is good enough to make it work most of the time. But in this case, I felt a critical hit meant the boomerang did more than just skim his target.

Kal had to move to this position to gain line of sight on W5 and W6 (standing next to Belarin, he wouldn't have been able to target W6, much less W5, who would've been around the corner), which unfortunately placed him next to W3. This means his attack roll is disadvantaged on his attack roll against W6, since W3 is now adjacent to him and providine a distraction (and cover). W5 and W6 also gains a +2 AC due to cover*.

Disadvantaged second attack rolls against W6:
disadvantaged attack rolls (1d20+6=18, 1d20+6=15)
This means his first ray had results 14 and 18. Being disadvantaged, you have to use the lower roll. So 14, which is a miss (because W6 has cover).
The second ray had results 19 and 15. 15 is a miss, also because of the cover.

I've marked off Kal's spell slot accordingly (Scorching Ray being a level 2 spell).

* From the rules: A target with half cover has a +2 bonus to AC and Dexterity saving throws. A target has half cover if an obstacle blocks at least half of its body. The obstacle might be a low wall, a large piece of furniture, a narrow tree trunk, or a creature, whether that creature is an enemy or a friend.

[Mike]

Syrdan draws his greatsword, moving swiftly down the stairs to join the fray and assist his allies.

[Ken]

Belarin’s awareness seems chilled – truly – by the shadows created by the candle, so much so that he doesn’t react immediately to the combat before him. Kal’s movement and the brightness of his sorcerous attack snap him out of it.

He can’t see the archers, but the arrows sticking out of Condign and Adamant are all the evidence he needs. He says to the tittering voices in his head, Here we go again... I wonder if stains on the soul can be scrubbed out? Then he holds forth the candle and speaks the words he last muttered – with great difficulty – underwater but which have burned into his mind forever, “Arathyr chalargun, Nethluarak lesstran. I claim the right of names."

____________________________

Belarin is trying to seize control of the four ghouls that he can see. I assume that they get Will (oops, no, Wisdom!) saves to resist, correct? If they fail, can I mentally command them in this same round as a free action?
He takes two steps down, but that’s it. I’m marking off 1 more point of necrotic damage.

Religion check: 1d20 + 2 = 19

[Jeff]

The violet flame of the candle in Belarin's hand merely flickers, but he feels power surging out from it at the same time. Already suffused with an otherworldly chill, he senses the release of invisible strands of energy flung out from him like a net. Each one worms toward one of the creatures, though the net reaches only as far as the closest four enemies.

The names of these four come instantly to mind: Torgen, Lorv, Crav, and Rarrun, though if they had a surname it is absent now. Being human once, there is a vestige of familial unity among them that Belarin, as himself human, can detect through the bond. The first three are brothers, while Rarrun is their father. He can sense nothing of the ones further away.

Almost instantly, Rarrun tears free of Belarin's attempt to control them, followed by Lorv. Both wights hiss as they do. Torgen and Crav, cast their eyes down for a moment, then lift them, raising their weapons only defensively for a moment. Belarin feels he has some measure of control over those two, but it is tenuous.

"Trespassers!" one of them (#4, Rarren) calls out loudly in a pained, scathing voice. Of all the wights, this one looks the oldest, with an intricately braided silver beard (not unlike the Mrorian style). "You dare to enter our home! Retreat now, and I will claim only one of you as recompense!"

Upstairs, Rinti clutches Tangat tighter, fearful of the energy and hate in the wight's voice. Tangat mentally whines at Kal for the girl's tight grip.


At this point, Adamant, Streko, and especially Belarin now identify these creatures as wights: Intelligent undead, more reasoning and reasonable than ghouls, possessing none of a ghoul's ravenous hunger. However, they are no less hateful; wights crave only the destruction of the living for they have been stripped of life by malevolent powers themselves. According to legends, wights can be created through various means, but often it is through betrayal, the breaking of oaths, or some other malign, necromantic curse. The armor worn by these have matching styles. They may be, perhaps, the former occupants of this mausoleum's sarcophagi.

Adamant, Streko, and Belarin know that while wights generally retain their skills—and memories—from life, they also have a lifedraining touch. Mere contact with their skin weakens the spirit.

Streko and Belarin additionally know that people slain by the lifedraining touch of a wight will rise as zombies under their killer's control. When encountered alone, such zombies are uncommon; when encountered in a wight's lair, they are almost certainly factored into the wights' defenses...

The rest of you can see the uniform design in the armor of these foes, and that they don't quite lope around like ghouls, but beyond that you don't know their real threat.

_______________________

Wight #1 (Torgen)'s Wisdom saving throw (1d20+2=4) (failure)
Wight #2 (Lorv)'s Wisdom saving throw (1d20+2=19) (success)
Wight #3 (Crav)'s Wisdom saving throw (1d20+2=5) (failure)
Wight #4 (Rarrun)'s Wisdom saving throw (1d20+2=16) (success)

Ken: Although Belarin doesn't know the limitations of this power, it will be an action to exert control and force the Wisdom saves. Belarin can command #1 and #3 as a free action starting in round 2. On their turn, they will merely be defensive until the command is given.

Round 2 begins!

20 - Condign
20 - NPCs (Larest, Sem, Rinti)
19 - Streko
15 - Adamant
14 - the wights
12 - Shorak
7 - Kal and Tangat
5 - Syrdan
4 - Belarin


I'll update the map soon to indicate Syrdan's new position. I assume he has used the hustle action to double move. Now he'll be just behind Adamant, adjacent to wight #4.

[Brian]

Condign grunts as arrows pierce his flesh. The undead fiends, whatever they were, swarm to surround him and Adamant. Knowing the advantage of flanking your opponent, he turns slightly to his left, bringing his sword down in a brutal swipe at the mosnter's neck. Without pausing, he twists his wrist and drives the end of his blade at the thing's ugly head.

___________________________________________________

Standard Action: attack with sword at Wight #3
Extra Attack skill: another attack with sword at Wight #3

Attack Rolls: (1d20+7=14, 1d20+7=10)

Okay, I'll roll damage on one, just in case.

Damage Roll: (1d8+4=5)

It's gonna be one of those encounters.

[Jeff]

Before the wight can properly prepare its defense, one of Condign's swings hits home, tearing deep into its armor. He can feel his blade cut into flesh, but pain barely registers on its face.

At the top of the stairs, you hear Sem's voice. "I, umm, trust you have this all in hand?" It's a mixture of humor and nervousness.

"Just the same," Larest's voice follows. "We will prepare for a rear attack...such as we can."

__________________

19 - Streko
15 - Adamant
14 - the wights
12 - Shorak
7 - Kal and Tangat
5 - Syrdan
4 - Belarin

By the way, while the 5E illustration for a wight is decent, I sort of prefer the left-most wight in this pic. Not so heavily armored (studded leather, after all), though. This one's also good.

[Joe]

Streko sees the monstrosities before him, attacking his friends and becomes raged. He focuses his will inward then through the domino that is a symbol of his faith in the Olladra.

"Olladra, bless these foul wights that threaten your faithful servant.
Provide these wretched souls with the glory of your holy light.
Send the darkness that has consumed their souls to the land of the dead
and allow your mercy to give them the peace that eludes them.
I your holy name, Olladra, I pray to thee!"

His eyes take in the entirety of the room that he can see, his voice echoes into the dark recesses, bringing Olladra's light to the dank basement of the mausoleum.
_____________________________________________________________

Streko attempts Channel Divinity - Turn Undead.

This could be horrible...considering.

[Jeff]

An almost perceptible ripple in the air originates from Streko's holy symbol, reaching thirty feet out from him and rolling over the closest four wights. It brightens into a flare of holy light.

Of the four, two of the wights throw up a hand against the light, recoiling, hate-filled eyes widening in fear. The others are angered and emboldened against such antithetic display of power. Belarin can see that it is Torgen and Lorv (the latter of which he gained control over) who are affected by Streko's magic. Both wights are shying away, intent on fleeing! Belarin also knows their fear of the halflings' holy magic is greater than his control.

_____________________

Wights #1-#4 Wisdom saving throws (1d20+2=5, 1d20+2=5, 1d20+2=22, 1d20+2=15) (failure, faiurel, success, success) Wights #1 and #2 are turned for 1 minute or until it takes any damage: A turned creature must spend its turns trying to move as far away from you as it can, and it can't willingly move to a space within 30 feet of you. It also can't take reactions. For its actions, it can use only the Dash action or try to escape from an effect that prevents it from moving. If there's nowhere to move, the creature can use the Dodge action.

I've added a "T" above those wights' icons so you know which ones are turned. And a tiny purple "C" to indicate to Belarin which ones he has control over (though only he knows this).

The rest of you have fought with Streko (or other clerics) enough to the basics of turning undead. You know that if you deal damage to a turned undead, it will negate the effect. But, they don't get to make new saving throws for 1 minute; they simply must flee.

15 - Adamant
14 - the wights
12 - Shorak
7 - Kal and Tangat
5 - Syrdan
4 - Belarin

[Dave W.]

Adamant is dismayed by his initial poor showing but now knows what they're facing. "Don't let the creatures touch you... their touch will sap your soul!"

Half of his opponents show signs of being about to break and run. Adamant understands the power of Streko's god focused through the halfling's will caused that. An additional wright is simply standing defensively. Adamant quickly swings his shield off his back to his left arm, shifting his grip on the sword to use just his right hand.

He focuses on the last wright.

---------------------------------------
Free Action: Get the shield from back to left arm... AC is now 21!
Standard Action: Two longsword attacks vs W4... let's see if I can roll a little better this time...

Longsword vs W4 (1d20+7=17, 1d20+7=23)
Hopefully at least one of those hit... I'll roll damage for both.

slashing damage (1d8+4=10, 1d8+4=10)... that's pretty consistent...

Movement Action: no movement

Reminder: My Protection fighting style is now in affect. It lets me impose disadvantage on an enemy attacking one of my allies w/i 5'...

[Jeff]

Adamant's blade cuts deep, twice, into the elder wight. His armor is quickly torn, and his body is run through. Where gore should have spilled out, there is only dried organs and congealed blood exposed. In response, the bearded dead warrior swings his blade into the side of Adamant's head, but Adamant leans back and the blow is merely a glancing one.

And then Adamant finds the attack was a half-hearted one to set him up. The wight suddenly lunges forward preternaturally fast, reaching long, cruel claws out past Adamant's defenses, then drags his nails back across the warforged's chest—not even trying very hard to scrape the armor. Yet beneath the wight's touch and straight through Adamant's armor, he feels the chill of the grave sapping away his stamina.

Wight #4 (Rarrun)'s longsword attack (1d20+4=9) (miss)
Wight #4 (Rarrun)'s lifedrain attack (1d20+4=24) (hit) /lifedrain damage (1d6+2=5) / 5 necrotic damage to Adamant
Adamant's Constitution saving throw (1d20+2=5) (failure) / Adamant's maximum hit points are also reduced by 5 points until he finishes a long rest.

Wight #5's longbow attacks (1d20+4=14, 1d20+4=7) (missing Adamant)

Meanwhile, two of the wights throw up their arms and blades defensively, hissing as they flee from the holy light projected by Streko. Not mindless, they do so carefully but fervently, inviting no attacks.

Wight #1 (Torgen) disengages and flees from Streko.
Wight #2 (Lorv) disgengages and flees from Streko.
Wight #3 (Crav) is defensive (dodge action), awaiting orders from Belarin.

The female archer lets fly two more arrows. One skitters off Adamant's armor, while another bangs headlong into his shield. In rage, she emits an eerie keening sound that sounds like a battle cry. The sound lingers in the air several seconds after she stops.

The other archer, a second female, snarls as she sees two of her fleeing. She drops her bow, draws her sword, and sprints forward, past one of her companions, and lunges partially up the stairs. Seeing her malice intent upon him, Kal steps back as a sword swing whistles past his leg. Then with a mirthless laugh she lashes out with one wicked claw. Adamant, knowing their touch to be more dangerous than their blades, whirls around and intercepts the wight's attack with his shield. The female screams in utter rage as her claws strike steel instead of flesh. Though unhurt by it, Adamant can feel the bone-numbing chill clear through his shield.

Wight #6's longsword attack (1d20+4=15) (miss)
Wight #6's lifedrain attack (1d20+4=18)
Wight #6's disadvantaged (because of Adamant) second attack (1d20+4=14) (miss)
Adamant's defensive fighting style totally just saved Kal from being lifedrained (and I figured he'd favor imposing the disadvantage on a claw attack, not a sword attack)! (I think Kal owes Adamant a "drink" now. )

At this point, the wights' additional defenses begin to emerge. Ragged corpses in far worse appearance than the wights shamble-run from various parts of the room.... Four reach the top of the stairs across the chamber, while four more rise from sarcophagi after wrenching the lids further away. Their movements are stumbling and awkward, hindered by broken limbs and sluggish bodies, but they are not slow. They seem driven by the wights' own desperation to kill you.

Animate, mindless corpses with horrid wounds. Zombies. Belarin understands that these must have been past victims of the wights. They are clad in various armor and clothing, dressed in the garb of thieves and tombraiders.

12 - Shorak
7 - Kal and Tangat
5 - Syrdan
4 - Belarin

[Dave B.]

Shorak curses when his boomerang buries itself fast into the wight archer. "I hate when that happens. I'm going to want that back." He says as he pulls out his hand crossbow and quickly loads a bolt, then firing it at that same wight archer.

Ranged attack on W5.


Ranged attack (1d20+7=13)

In case that hit. Piercing damage (1d6+4=8)

[Jeff]

While his aim is good, Shorak's crossbow bolt lodges itself in the wight's armor and she doesn't even flinch.

[Darren]

Kal spent enough time around battlefields to know that having a numerical advantage gives an enemy the upper-hand. Right now, the odds are turning away from his side's favor, and he knows he must even those odds out. With an animal roar, Kal summons fire from deep inside of himself, drawing on the entirety of his strength. A wall of fire springs to life, cutting across the room, tearing through the line of zombies and separating his friends from the newly arrived reinforcements.

___________________
First, if Kal can take a step back to be out of range of the wights, he will.

Kal is casting Wall of Fire. It will go in a straight line across the three "z"s 5 squares in front of where he is now. All three of them must pass a Dexterity saving throw or suffer 5d8 fire damage. The "hot" side of the wall will face TOWARDS our group, meaning anyone getting within 10' of the wall from our side will suffer 5d8 fire damage (so this would be a good time to push our opponents away from our group, if you have abilities that do that). Any of the undead on the other side who try to cross the wall will suffer 5d8 when they first cross, and another 5d8 if they're within 10' of the wall at the end of their turn.

I assume the wall also blocks line of sight?

The squares are 5', right?

[Jeff]

With a rustling sound that becomes a hushed roar, a wall of fire erupts in view twenty five feet in front of Kal. The flames rise up from floor to ceiling, cutting off your view of the back half of the mausoleum chamber, and instantly set alike the three animate corpses within its path. They make minimal effort to flail amid the flames, and all three sink slowly to the floor as undead torches.

The wights scream their rage!

Line of sight is blocked between you and the archer wight (who has Shorak's boomerang embedded within her).

Three zombies' Dexterity saving throws (1d20-2=3, 1d20-2=5, 1d20-2=-1) (fail, fail, super-fail)
Kal's wall of fire deals (5d8=30) points of fire damage to the three zombies.
All three zombies are destroyed.

The wall of fire will persist so long as Kal maintains concentration on it.

Also, Kal didn't have to make a ranged attack roll to cast wall of fire, so there's no risks in casting it adjacent to an enemy, and therefore no need to move from where he is. Scorching ray (Kal makes the attack roll), yes; wall of fire (targets make a save), no. Oh, and you can make the damage roll next time.

5 - Syrdan
4 - Belarin

[Mike]

As Syrdan descends the stairs, a smile creeps to his lips.

"You creatures appear lost!" the elf announces, as he draws his greatsword. The blade flashes with bright light as he raises it above his head. "Did you not know you were supposed to be sleeping in your graves? Here, let me help you find them."

The sword slashes downward, then back high again as he attacks one of the wights.

_____________________

Well, so much for Misty Step teleporting.

Standard Action: Attacking Wight 4, using his Extra Attack ability.

Attack roll: (1d20+1d4+8=28, 1d20+1d4+8=17)

Damage roll: (2d6+5=8, 2d6+5=11); damage is also radiant.

The light of the sword, FWIW, is now illuminating bright light in a 10-square radius.