Not quite understanding what's going on, but alert enough to understand that something is going on, Essie just stands tall where she is. Her nose wrinkles a little at the assumption that they're all here working in this village. When Sphyboe moves a little closer, Essie shifts herself a bit, switching her shield to her other hand to try and cover the other woman some more. Just in case. But she keeps that blank, polite expression on her face and lets the others do the talking for now. They seem to know what they're doing. Even if she finds herself not trusting any of the words spoken by those other than her new traveling companions.

During this exchange, Daerthe has slowly moved north into the shadow of the inn, and Kella has climbed down from the watchtower to join Xolkin’s side. Once there, she says, “There’s been no sign of Lady Nandar since the attack. That alone suggests that she has forfeited her leadership here, if she still lives.”

“Indeed,” says Xolkin. “I operate under the authority of my actions and strength. If you require a demonstration, that can be arranged, but I fear it will not go well for you.” She raises her hand and her followers all raise their crossbows. She continues with a touch of impatience, “Now, I have asked what your roles are here. Phoebus, are you a servant of Lady Nandar? If so, prepare yourself to switch allegiance. Guards, you likewise must be flexible. And you-” She points at Ryndar. “You are unafraid to speak up. Who are you? What is your role in Nightstone?”

While everyone is talking and the focus is on the main groups, Bramble will try to fade from view.

Hide (stealth): 16

(Presupposed advantage due to the tense atmosphere. If not, just use the first roll.)

He will be contemplating his options, including dashing around the north side of the temple to possibly wild shape into a bear to hit their flank. Wild shape into a giant spider and climb to the top of the temple and web the newcomers from afar (recharge and range is probably a problem). Wild shape into a dire wolf to aid in a frontal assault. For now, he just hopes to be lost in the shuffle as this drama continues to unfold.

“So, it as we thought from the begining.”  Helena speaks up. She frowns as those she used her magic to spell into sleep are woken up, seeing it as a waste of her magic to have just allowed that to happen.  She sighs as she puts that aside and focuses on the current situation.  “You are indeed an invading force, wishing these loyal guards to turn their loyalties over to you, who are likely nothing but common bandits.  She glances to her companions, those she can still see, then back to the bandits.

Initiative: 18

Ryndar smiles again at Helena nodding, before replying, smirking slightly as he does so, "Currently, it seems, that I and my companions act as a protectors of Nightstone. We have at least rid the village of the goblins which had taken residence, unlike yourselves who seem to only have revealed yourselves to pick clean the carcass like vultures. You clearly have no authority here, and were only hoping to gain yourself some standing upon the backs of those that suffered. Bad luck for you is that the town isn't quite as dead as you'd hoped. Now, in the face of a real foe, will you stand and fight, or run like the cowards you are?"

With that, Ryndar draws and releases an arrow at the Xolkin. "Even the goblins were more diplomatic than that..." He muses.

Attack: 21 Damage: 5

Initiative: 8

Daerthe sighs as she sees that the wizard and surface elf look make a hostile action towards this new group. The drow keeps her bow ready but seems to be weighing her options carefully. On one hand if she helped the new group she had a possibility of getting a comfortable position in the town but on the other is she stayed with the current group she had a better chance of survival due to them tolerating her presence. For now she simply aims her bow at the woman Ryndar fired at.

As Daerthe bides her time, Helena speaks, and Ryndar raises his bow, Xolkin smiles and says, “We shall see who will lead Nightstone.” She drinks a dark, syrupy potion, draws her scimitar, and steps forward about ten feet. She calls to her followers, “Let’s go, friends!”

(Okay, now we are entering round 1 of combat. Bramble and Helena are up. See spoiler for our order and notes on combat.)

 Map:

Assuming Bramble successfully hid, he will (bonus) wildshape into a brown bear, charge up to 40’ blindsiding Xolkin with an attack.

Multi attack

Bite Attack: 21 Damage: 5

Claw Attack: 10 Damage: 6

Daerthe Initiative: 14

On her turn, Daerthe will move to let the arrow she has been holding back loose on the woman that Ryndar attacked, then using her movement ot whatever is left she will move into building she is near, using her bonus action to dash if needed via cunning action. 

Attack: 20 Damage: 5

Helena casts a spell... sleep Targetting the main group of eneimies...

HP put to sleep: 22

She then moves to the closest cover she can find.

Quote from DarthDrizzt >>

Daerthe Initiative: 14

On her turn, Daerthe will move to let the arrow she has been holding back loose on the woman that Ryndar attacked, then using her movement ot whatever is left she will move into building she is near, using her bonus action to dash if needed via cunning action. 

Attack: 20 Damage: 5

 (I was keeping the same initiative we rolled earlier, even though we didn't go right into combat. Yours was a 21. But it sounded like Daerthe was hesitant to fight, so she wouldn't likely kick it off. I guess you also said you were holding your attack action in case the newcomers became aggressive. So I'll include your attack with the Zhentarim's first attacks on this round. Then you can act again at the top of Round 2. Does that sound okay?) 

Watching from the shadows of the nearby temple, Bramble can see that negotiations and diplomacy are finished. He transforms into a large brown bear and thunders over to Xolkin, catching her entirely off guard. He bites her shoulder, gashing it with his sharp teeth. Though he has no actual previous experience attacking as a bear, he feels like his teeth should have done more damage than they did (6 points instead of 12). This is one tough opponent! As he considers this, he slashes with his claw, but this time, she manages to dodge his attack.

Meanwhile, Helena gestures in the direction of the enemies, once more casting Sleep. This time, the red-headed man drops to the ground unconscious. Likewise, the blond fellow with the beard again slumps on his mount. In the open square, there is little cover, but Helena moves 30 feet south on her way toward the damaged cottage in the southwest corner of the square. Her owl has perched on the roof of the temple, awaiting any instructions.

Now, the Zhentarim lackeys who are still conscious fire their crossbows. The black-haired dwarven woman fires at Sphyboe, and the red-cloaked dwarf goes for Ryndar. The two remaining Zhents could be twins, both pale humans with black hair. Acting in tandem, they both aim for the large brown bear that came out of nowhere.

• Dwarf 1 attack at Sphyboe: 8 Damage: 6
• Dwarf 2 attack at Ryndar: 23 Damage: 13
• Twin 1 attack at bear: 13 Damage: 7
• Twin 2 attack at bear: 17 Damage: 4

Daerthe sighs and lets loose the arrow she has been holding ready. It strikes Xolkin’s left arm, but again it seems like the damage is not as much as expected (2 instead of 5). She slips inside the nearby door to the inn. At almost the same moment Ryndar’s arrow flies at Xolkin, piercing her side, doing 6 points of damage instead of 12.

Now Kella draws her short sword and steps over a goblin corpse from the previous evening’s battle. She takes two swings at the large bear.

• First attack: 8 Damage: 8 
• Second attack: 24 Damage: 12 
• If at least one of those attacks lands, she gets sneak attack damage: 10

(Essie and Sphyboe are up next.)

(I'm always afraid to edit posts that have rolls in them, because I tend to get the "manipulated dice rolls" message accidentally. So a summary here: The Zhents miss Sphyboe and hit Ryndar. Bramble the Bear takes two crossbow bolts and gets slashed twice by Kella. He is looking pretty rough.)

Oh. Oh. They're fighting. Okay. Essie quickly gets with the program, brandishing her shield with one hand. Her other hand taps the holy symbol around her neck as she takes a deep breath. Then her white eyes zero in on the leader of this whole thing. Maybe if they take her out, the others will stop. So Essie flings a hand out at Xolkin, a whispered word in Celestial falling from her lips, as she casts Sacred Flame.

DEX Save DC14 or take 4 radiant damage.

Bear(amble) roars in pain as all attacks hit.

Kella and Xolkin have moved alarmingly close to the party which would make spellcasting risky enough to cause collateral damage, thus Sphyboe decides to engage in armed combat. She moves forward 5 feet almost closing the distance between Xolkin and herself while pulling out her Handaxe with her left hand to attack. She will attempt to land slashing damage on Xolkin, while her right hand unsheaths a dagger to pierce through the woman.

"I'll serve anyone who stands against your iron rule, Darling! And my allegiance will remain to 'Those who Harp' solely."

Two-Weapon Fighting

Handaxe [Light]:  To Hit: 14   Damage: 6

Bonus Action: Dagger [Light]:  To Hit: 13   Damage: 6 

(rolled in gamelog)

helena sends a blast of cold at the tough enemy the bear bit previously...
ray of frost
Attack: 11 Damage: 4

Quote from InkedBee >>

Kella and Xolkin have moved alarmingly close to the party which would make spellcasting risky enough to cause collateral damage, thus Sphyboe decides to engage in armed combat. She moves forward 5 feet almost closing the distance between Xolkin and herself while pulling out her Handaxe with her left hand to attack. She will attempt to land slashing damage on Xolkin, while her right hand unsheaths a dagger to pierce through the woman.

"I'll serve anyone who stands against your iron rule, Darling! And my allegiance will remain to 'Those who Harp' solely."

Two-Weapon Fighting

Handaxe [Light]:  To Hit: 14   Damage: 6

Bonus Action: Dagger [Light]:  To Hit: 13   Damage: 6 

(rolled in gamelog)

 (You could move such that you are flanking with Bramble the Bear and get advantage on these attacks. If so, just roll the attacks again, not damage. Unless you intended to throw these weapons from more of a distance...)

Quote from Karmoli >>

(You could move such that you are flanking with Bramble the Bear and get advantage on these attacks. If so, just roll the attacks again, not damage. Unless you intended to throw these weapons from more of a distance...)

 (Handaxe is thrown from a distance of 5 feet away from Xolkin, so no advantage. But the Dagger is intended to be used for stabbing, so I rolled normally, please use the highest value if you want Sphyboe to get advantage.)

Dagger: To Hit: 20 (gamelog)  Former Value: 13

Essie concentrates and a column of radiant flames descends toward Xolkin who attempts to dodge the attack with a Dex save of 18. Sphyboe runs closer and throws her handaxe at Xolkin, but it glances off her armor harmlessly. She flanks with Bramble and her dagger slices Xolkin’s arm for 3 points of damage (half of the 6 she expected).

Now the guards leap into action. Torem runs over to the twin on horseback by the temple, trying to reduce the number of attacks. He jabs up at her with his spear: 20 Damage: Unable to parse dice roll.. Kaelen moves northwest of Kella, so that he is flanking her with Bramble and attacks with advantage: 22 Damage: 7. Alara moves around to the west side of Xolkin, not wanting to block attacks from the rest of the party and attacks with her spear: 10 Damage: 5.