Beffa: uh-oh, still unconscious!

Makalbly Jane spectacularly lost initiative (rolled a 9!) to 5 skeletal warriors, with near-certainty of imminent demise for both herself and Frashler Katherine

Makalbly Jane then miraculously stalled for time (rolled an 18!) with the skeletal warriors (who are called “Valiant Aces”) with a semi-coherent narrative about her dear-departed Cedric, and all the valiance he stood for

…and that bought her enough time to blow the Horn of the Goat, which summoned a Red Spectral Goat, who then flew them up over the trees and to (relative) safety

Awnzo wraith-formed himself and discovered that he was still visible to the Valiant Aces, but managed to convince one of them to head back to the castle. Then Eunice disguise-hatted herself to look like the absent Ace, and shouted at the remaining four, sowing general confusion.

Bad news: sling bullets don't work on Valiant Aces

Good news: Stabbing and vampire touching DO work on large eyeless opossum-like abominations

Weird news: Jeumes was excreted, apparently whole and healthy, from the opossum's corpse, now with even less personality than before.

Bad news: one of the Valiant Aces summoned an annoying wind. Then the other one summoned a giant bird

Good news: Makalbly Jane cast Light on the giant bird, effectively blinding it

Back in the tunnel: Two of the skeletons took turns womping Oika, who was standing at the trapdoor like a sandbag full of hit points. Regrettably, Eunice's magic ring Blooped her right into skeleton range, and one good womp left her unconscious.

Change of plans: The halfling squad turned around and headed back to the hopefully relative safety of hovering over the woods

Good news: holy water does work on Valiant Aces! Cool, let's just fight it out!

Dangerous news: Oika did some science, and confirmed that the cylinders with strings sticking out of them are highly explosive. Also that propeller hats make you fly.

Disappointing news: Oika also discovered that sometimes they are duds

Meanwhile, Awnzo wraith-formed over to the cave on the pond island and discovered a pair of strangely aimless moose and a small box (which was later found to contain a scroll with a plane-shift spell, jackpot!)

Bad news: The Red Spectral Goat reached the end of its free trial period and abruptly stopped existing, dropping Makalbly Jane and Frashler Katherine to the ground (where they experienced some bumps and bruises but survived).

Good news: With only one Valiant Ace remaining, Awnzo decided it was time to show the Party what a real wizard can do, and busted out Flame Arrow to finish him off.

Eventual victory, much rejoicing, and Valiant Ace corpse looting!

Beffa: was revived at last and wondered what the heck was going on.

The Party valiantly resisted the “temptation” to head straight to Vania Castle and engage any number of draculas in battle, and instead set off to the Sense of Self Bathhouse near Goulash, hoping for some truly healing water. They were warmly welcomed at the Bathhouse and invited to have some water/a sauna/a massage/a pummeling waterfall experience. Sadly, the water, while refreshing, had no other effects. Eunice continued with her skeleton nap. After some back-and-forth with Zoo-ann, the owner of the establishment, the Party managed to secure some not very secure lodgings for the night. But when the very bat-guy who lightning-ed Cedric to death showed up, they reconsidered and hurried off toward town.

The inn, of course!