Xolkin looks less than impressed. "The Lords Alliance,"  he scoffs. "A lot of good they've done this village," he says, gesturing dramatically with his free hand. "No, I'm afraid the Lords Alliance is too busy to be bothered with this little piece of land. You'll see what I mean if you make it to Waterdeep in the near future. We are here to stay, I'm afraid."

To his men, he says, "You two to go and raise the drawbridge. It wouldn't do to have any more unwanted visitors."

He turns his head and says something in draconic to the flying snake ("to the Snail," for those of you who speak draconic), and the creature takes off into the night sky.

To you, he says, "Speaking of friends...I would be much obliged if you would but tell me how Lady Velrosa fairs once you've gone to see her. I would be willing to pay generously for any information you could bring me."

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 "Kella," she then begins again turning to the girl her companion in the snake making so much sense to her now, "I still hope to find your brother as well as the town's people but if you travel with these men here," she gestures at the Zhen, "I'm afraid we're at an impasse," she explains next her expression honestly somber.

"You seem to think that you have some power and authority here which clearly you don't or this attack would have never happened," Solace replies gesturing around the ruined village. "I'll repeat this is Lord's Alliance business," she adds looking to her party members now before looking back at Xolkin. Intimidation 7 "As for you," she'll reply to Kella, "I will never regret giving an injured, frightened woman aid but Tymora has a way of making fools of us all in the end," she says next with a toothy grin that's more menacing than pleasant.

//way to lead us all in a trap y'all P.S. curse these fraking dice//

Xolkin calls out to his two riders to halt. He stares down Solace.

"Do we have a problem, girl?"

"I'm certain you already know the answer to that, boy," Solace retorts in a growl raising her crossbow at Xolkin and firing 4 damage 7

The crossbow bolt nicks Xolkin's neck as he tries to dodge out of the way! Solace can see the blood being drawn from the wound.

// Giving the PCs Advantage on the initiative roll, due various factors. //

Players initiative: 10

Enemies initiative: 16

//this is my problem I don't want initiative rolled for me nor do I get the combat style that we've yet to discuss. What's the luck or chance in having you roll our initiative for us and then the same for our opponents which FYI out number us. Breaking up combat we might stand a better chance but all blocked together it's not likely. I call shenanigans regardless of having advantage.//

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//this is my problem I don't want initiative rolled for me //

While we're establishing initiative, let's all make sure we know where we're at:

https://1drv.ms/i/s!ApsITI_KCIhsgd122qD0WT9csUf5VQ

You may place yourself anywhere within 10 feet of the Inn. There are doors on the south and west side, and windows on there upper level facing east and west. 

If there's something that's unclear or you have any question, just ask!

// here's an initiative roll for Jorji if everyone is OK with him rolling for the party. Rolling dice separately since you mentioned advantage earlier. If advantage does not apply just take the first roll. I'm OK with the positions of both characters. //

Initiative  1: 16  2: 9

Initiative 17 I'll use Minor illusion to make a bright light shine in their faces, like opening a fridge in the middle of the night.

"Okay Beedo, try and take out some of their archers. they aren't expecting another"

"Try not to kill them all my friends we are better than that! ....but kick some ass Solace!" bardic inspiration to Solace

Seeing tempers flare up and hostilities ensuing Jorji casts hunters mark (bonus action) and  takes an opportunity shot at the rider to the right by the cart. //assuming advantage because of firing from stealth, again 2 dice//  roll1: 9 roll2:16 damage: 9

Flint attacks Xolkin  with his warhammer: 11 damage 12 "It's on then."

Flint uses inspiration on that attack roll: 5

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Flint uses inspiration on that attack roll: 7

Initiative: 19

Solace will moving another 5ft away from Flint she takes another shot at Xolkin with her her crossbow 14 damage 2 holding her inspiration for another attack. "Rip doesn't look like I'm in any danger of doing that," she laughs standing her ground outside the temple.

// Okay. As the before encounter, it's players before enemies. I'll process Flint, Beedo, Rip, and Jorji's turns here and just need a turn from Solace. Solace, you got a free attack with your crossbow before initiative started, but I'm ruling that you due to the loading quality you cannot use the crossbow this turn. You're free to use a class feature or a different weapon.

// Seviari will have hidden earlier, posting himself atop the roof. I'll roll for him this round. //

Jorji's arrow finds its mark, surprising the nearby rider and nearly knocking him off his horse.

Seviari has hidden himself on the roof, and lets an arrow fly at the Zhent leader the moment he sees Solace attack with her crossbow. Attack: 12 Damage: 12 and Hide again as a bonus action: 10

Beedo obeys Rip's order, targeting the same rider that Jorji had just a moment ago, firing from the nearest window. Attack: 13 Damage: 3 and then Hide as a bonus action, being a goblin: 19

Flint engages with Xolkin and swings his massive hammer at the brigand, but Xolkin dodges out of the way.

Rip, you can target Kella and Xolkin with the spell effect from where you are, but you'll also hit your allies close with them. I'll need you to move out of the Inn and into the square if you want to target the riders. You can potentially hit two of them with the effect, and whoever you choose as targets, and I'll have everyone target by the spell make a saving throw.

The nearest rider, by the wagon on the east of the town square, is hit in the chest with Beedo's arrow. His horse rears, and the rider falls onto the ground, dead. Seviari's shot missed Xolkin by inches, but when the leader looks up to see the elf, he's nowhere to be seen.

i'll move to where i can hit them with the light, it only has a 5 foot radius but i'll put it over flints head. for comedic purposes :P and so it isn't impacting the dwarf, but right at big boss baddies eyes

Solace will move and make another attack on Xolkin with her longsword 18 with inspiration damage 9 if crit 5

// Beautiful, thank you. 

// Xolkin Wisdom save vs the Illusion: 8 //

Xolkin tries to twist out of the way, but Solace's longsword cuts into his armored side. He finishes twisting away, then pulls a vial off his belt, downing the viscous, metallic-looking substance contained therein with one swig. Xolkin tosses the vial aside and inhales deeply.

Kella, looking on at the fray, backs off a bit and shouts some incoherent orders to the Zhents surrounding the town square. She fires off a bolt at Rip with her hand crossbow, Attack: 24 Damage: 14