Bands of Power - Game thread

Backpedaling furiously, Borgo unlimbers his bow and makes a hurried shot. As the arrow passes to the left of the undead thing a ragged howl rings out from the stairs and a hulking form crashes down on the flags next to little Goblin and charges skeleton with it’s huge sword sweeping downwards in a savage blow. The heavy blade passes through the old bones with little resistance, splitting bone and sending the whole skeletal structure to the ground in pieces.

Borgo’s shot misses, but even with the shouting, he heard his arrow crash into something hard close behind the veil of darkness; the far wall must not be more than another 20-30 feet into the black. Thak utterly destroys the skeleton on the left that Borgo started next to.

Everyone is within Near of the two closest skeletons (the one ahead and closest on the symbol, the one near the column to the right). The farthest skeleton, also on the symbol, is within near of Berith and Thak

Light Sources:
Berith - Torch (10)

Initiative Order:
Borgo
Thak
Lattremond
BerIth
Elspeath
Albrecht
3x Skeletons

As the battle begins, Lattremond bounds over the final steps to engage the closest skeleton on the runic pattern. Berith moves quickly to the right, aiming to cut off the foe near the large column. Though past his prime, the priest wields his blade with practiced skill. His steel shears straight through the skeletal rib cage—a blow that would have killed any living person—but it only staggers the creature back a step.

Berith’s skeleton attempts to block her strike with an upraised arm, but her blade crashes through its lower and upper arm bones, leaving the limb a jagged shard.

Elspaeth uses her elevated position on the stair to good advantage, aiming her heavy bolt just over Lattremond’s shoulder. Sighting on the yellowed forehead of his foe, she gently squeezes the release. The thwack of the string and the crash of the bolt against the far wall happen almost simultaneously as the skeleton’s skull is flung from its spine. The bony figure collapses to the floor, while the skull, now bearing large, ragged holes front and back, spins to a stop a few feet away.

The closest skeleton on the pattern is destroyed. I'm interpreting RedRage's "in the middle of the design" to be the closest one. Berith's foe is still standing, as is the farthest one.

Lattremond, Berith and Thak are currently witihn near of both remaining skeletons. Albrecht, Borgo and Eslpeath, on or near the stair, are within Near of the skeleton to the right, near the column.

As Berith moves towards the column, bringing the light to her, she illuminates the wall just behind and two massive closed stone doors. Behind her, Thak and the scattered bones at his fee are nearly consumed by the darkness.

Light Sources:
Berith - Torch (10)

Initiative Order:
Borgo
Thak
Lattremond
BerIth
Elspeath
Albrecht
2x Skeletons

With spasmodic ratcheting motion the skeletons attack!

The one armed skeleton swats at Berith. The thin bones harbour an unexpected strength and the blow smothers Berith’s parry to strike her heavily on the shoulder, leaving her arm tingling, but her grip on the torch still secure.

The sole remaining intact skeleton clacks forwards quickly with both arms raised overhead for a double fisted strike at Thak. Before Thak has time recover from his own strike, it is upon him. Its fists downward sweep smashing into the warrior’s head with a "thock!"

Okay! The one armed Skeleton has struck Berith heavily and the intact skeleton has give Thak a solid blow.

Everyone is withing near of the two adversaries: the one to the right near the column with Bertih and the one on the that just rang Thak's bell.

Light Sources:
Berith - Torch (10)

Initiative Order:
Borgo
Thak 3/7HP
Lattremond
BerIth 5/10HP
Elspeath
Albrecht
2x Skeletons

Round Two:

Borgo takes a few steps back up the stairs and to the right to get a clear shot around Thak. He knocks, draws and releases in one fluid motion and the arrow strikes home, piercing through the skeleton's skull.

Intact Skeleton has taken 4 damaage.

Light Sources:
Berith - Torch (10)

Initiative Order:
Borgo
Thak
Lattremond
BerIth
Elspeath
Albrecht
2x Skeletons (7/11, 6/11)

Round Two:

Thak's rage echos around the chamber as his blade sends another shower of bones to the floor.

Seeing that the warrior had felled his adversary, Lattremond, rushes to assist Berith but the skeleton manages to step inside his guard and evade the hacking blow. When the undead shifts it's malevolence onto the preist, Berith takes the opening, but only managers to send a few shards of bone from the already ruined shoulder.

Berith can feel the baleful eyes upon her as the skeleton turns it eyes upon her and Elspeath's glancing bolt does not shift it's evil intent as it shoulders Lattremord away and turns to face her. Albrecht's growled curse is the only warning before she is shoved aside by the large man, but his hasty chop only stikes air.

As Albrecht's forms fills the Skeleton's line of sight, it stikes before he can recover slamming it's fist into the Dwarf's head. It's the last move the thing makes as the adventurers then smash it to the ground in a rain of blows. The light in it's rolling skull fades to black just before Albrecht smashes it underfoot.

The rooms is left in silence now but for the heavy breathing of the party.

Combat is over. All the skeleton's are down. Albrecht took 4 damage there at the end. Albrecht, Berith and Lattremond are near the column with the only source of light. Thak is standing on the symbol at the edge of the torchlight, and Borgo and Elspeath are on the stair.

Light Sources:
Berith - Torch (10)

Initiative Order:
Borgo
Thak 3/7HP
Lattremond
BerIth 5/10HP
Elspeath
Albrecht 8/12HP

Berith's torchlight has revealed some of the right hand wall of the room along with the two massive stone doors. Each is adorned with the same geometric patterns as the cornices with a large anvil and Eye of Ord spanning both. Each door sports a massive ring of iron and Albrecht can plainly tell that unless cleverly hinged, each door will require the effort of several to open. The torchlight still doesn't reach the far end of the room.

As your breaths slow and the dust settles from fallen bones you hear the muffled rumble of thunder from the stairwell. Those dark clouds must have moved closer since you entered the forest.

So you've illuminated 30' from the center of the room all the way to the right hand side. If the Symbol is in the center of the room and it were a square, you imagince it might about 60' square with another column on the left in the darkness. As the torch has moved, only the rightmost part of the room is light, though.

Do you investigate the doors? Peruse the symbol in the floor more closely? Explore the darkness? Or entertain what other interests you might have?