Against the cult: the Forest Ruin (1.5)

Theran and Aanbo call out, and Theran clobbers the thrashing corpse with his staff, dealing 10 bludgeoning damage. The body falls limp once more. Aanbo and Theran look at each other wild-eyed for moment, but there is no glow in the eyes any more and the body remains still. They both look backwards and up, realizing that the golden light came through the ceiling without any aperture or mark, in a straight line, but at an angle as if from above and a bit to the south.

Xana, Joseph, and Albertus rush in and look expectantly at their companions staring at the ceiling. There's no sign that anything untoward has happened, but Xana, Joseph, and Al are ready to attack at the first sign of movement.

OK, I'll keep Ogbar and Kragga's rolls for the next time we're in combat, too. Everyone is now in the dormitory. There is no movement from either of the corpses in the room, or the three others that haven't been moved yet that are still where they fell on the landing/mezzanine. What do you all want to do now?

Everyone, give me perception checks while you are considering your next moves (or as part of your next move, if you know how you want to react to the situation or Theran's assertion).

Theran assures the party that he and the seriously-hurt Aanbo weren't crying wolf, and Kragga asserts that he at least believes the claim. He recalls that figure 2's head flew over the railing and disappeared into the pit on the first floor when Ogbar chopped it off earlier (so not easily retrievable). Thinking to send another body in that direction, Kragga suggests tossing the bodies over the railing into the pit, and exits the dormitory to do so. In addition to the headless Figure 2, the bodies of Figures 3 and 5 remain slumped on the landing. But as Kragga reaches down to grab one, he perceives two beams of beautiful golden light stream out of the ceiling (just a bit south and west of where the chandelier had been anchored) and into the heads of those two bodies. Seeing this, he leaps back and so it out of reach (and not adjacent) of their initial flailing as they lurch into motion with glowing eyes. They rise silently, and we're back in initiative. Kragga launches his firebolt at the one closest to him (using his previously stated/rolled action): the smell of scorching dust and flesh fills the air as figure 5 takes 7 fire damage, and it collapses again, its staring, unblinking eyes extinguished. The other closes the distance to Kragga and attacks him, clubbing arms unable to hit the wily half-orc hard enough to do real damage. That was round one, and everyone in the dormitory heard Kragga incant the words to cast the firebolt.

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On 23: Xana (8/9) IN:23 (declared eldritch blast with 10 force damage on a hit)
On 16: Theran (8/8)
On 16: Joseph (6/8) (sword/dagger attacks for a total 7 piercing damage on a hit)
On 15: Kragga (7/8)
On 15: Ogbar (11/14)
On 11: Albertus (13/13) (sword attack for 7 slashing damage on a hit)
On 10: Undead figure 3
On 4: Aanbo (1/11) (dodge)

ROUND TWO

"You don't think they'll just keep coming?" Aanbo asks, and out in the hall, Kragga responds calmly, despite getting attacked by the flailing fists of the animated dead (undead 3): "I would set them - oof - to blazes, but I like the idea of fighting a flaming corpse - ah - even less than fighting the cold ones. It may be best that we leave them be - ow - although I wonder if they might animate - ech - once we turn our backs on them." As they are discussing this, Xana rushes back out of the dormitory, sees the undead figure 3 ineffectually attacking Kragga, and blasts it for 10 force damage. Theran is hot on her heels and smacks it in the head, for an additional 11 bludgeoning damage. The light in its eyes goes out and the body collapses onto Kragga, who shrugs it off and then pats his armor reflexively. It's doing its job. Joseph waits with blades in hand to see if either of the figures in the dormitory rise again.

"Perhaps the answers lie deeper into this place," Kragga opines, and walks into the western hallway. As he enters the dark hallway, he sees that the furthest door to the south is ajar, giving him a glimpse into the room beyond, and there's a flutter of movement just inside that doorway. Reassured by Kragga's calm demeanor, Ogbar, Albertus, and Aanbo wait with Joseph, ready to absolutely demolish either or both of the corpses lying on the pallets the moment they start to move. Outside, on the landing, Xana and Theran see another beautiful golden beam of light come through the ceiling and into Figure 5, which stands up, eyes aglow. The undead steps forward and swipes at Theran. The druid is hit for 4 bludgeoning damage.

What is everyone doing for round three?

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On 23: Xana (8/9) IN:23
On 16: Theran (4/8)
On 16: Joseph (6/8) (sword/dagger attacks for a total 7 piercing damage on a hit on dormitory undead)
On 15: Kragga (7/8)
On 15: Ogbar (11/14)
On 11: Albertus (13/13) (sword attack for 7 slashing damage on a hit)
On 10: Undead figure 3
On 4: Aanbo (1/11) (dodge)