Against the cult: the Forest Ruin (1.5)

Unlike his previous communion with Pelor, this time Albertus detects nothing particularly evil or good in the area: there are no undead, demons, or devils nearby, nor has anything been consecrated or desecrated. But he, too, feels a bit of scraping or scratching on the other side of the damp door.

While he's doing this, the others have moved away from the paladin, wary of what may be unleashed when Xana blasts the door or Albertus smashes it.

Joseph climbs onto the workbench with the rusted weapons, ready to attack anything that comes through the door from the side. Ogbar plants his feet firmly in the center of the room and tightens his grip on his axe, ready to come to Albertus' aid if a threat materializes. Aanbo flanks the portcullis, while Theran and Kragga retreat on the other side of the pit. Xana prepares to blast the door.

The door sags into soggy splinters under the barbarian's boot. A wash of foul water flows into the room, carrying sodden chunks of the door...but it's less water than Xana was hoping, as it doesn't knock anyone down.

The collapse of the door greatly surprised a large, scraggly rat (its body is perhaps a pace long) that was gnawing on the wood. The light reveals several more filthy, scampering rats, darting this way and that around a fallen water tank and a large puddle of water originating from it that persists even now that much of the water has flowed out of the room. Trickles from a broken pipe sticking out of the southeast wall show where water flowed into the tank, and possibly how the rats got into the cellar. The smell is overpowering, and the floor of both the workshop and the cistern room is slick with water.Roll initiative and declare what you want to do, even if it is to leave; the order of operations may be important. There are eight cave rats. The pool itself (greenish area on the map) is difficult terrain.

The cave rat is surprised by the appearance of the Dungeon Busters, and does not react in time to avoid getting skewered by Joseph's daggers. Then, because that one is dead, Ogbar has no adjacent rat to attack. The rogue and the barbarian step back with Xana, waiting to see if more rats try to come through the doorway. They do not seem to, though party members can see them scurrying around in the cistern room.

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20 - Aanbo - helps Albertus cross the pit
19 - cave rats
17 - Albertus - moved up, attacked
10 - Joseph - attacked, moved back
6 - Ogbar - moved back
5 - Kragga - missed with fire bolt
5 - Xana - hit with eldritch blast
3 - Theran - waiting to assist where there's need

As Ogbar and Joseph step back, Aanbo helps Albertus leap across the pit. The paladin then rushes forward and splashes into the cistern room, slicing one of the other cave rats in half. Kragga, not expecting one of his companions to run in front of his difficult shot, jerks his hand back and the fire bolt goes wide of its mark and scorches the wall of the workshop. But Xana's aim is not obstructed; the dark energy flows from her and explodes a third cave rat.Thus the surprise round ends.

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ROUND ONE

The remaining five cave rats turn and focus on trying to bite Albertus.
What do each of you do?

20 - Aanbo
19 - cave rats
17 - Albertus
10 - Joseph
6 - Ogbar
5 - Kragga
5 - Xana
3 - Theran