Broma and Jayson team up to plead their case.

Jayson says trying to persuade the bugbears, "We freed some bugbears from an abusive slave master north of here.  We could use your help dealing with the boss and their lackeys."

Broma adds, "We are hear to help you either go free or help us and earn your freedom honorably."

Jayson adds, "What do you say to earning your freedom?"

Advantage with Broma helping if allowed?

Jayson Persuasion:  15

There is a sudden furtive whisper at the back of the room beyond the door. There is a growl. A frustrated remonstration. 

“The king-“ says one deep rumbling voice. 

“We’ll be the Kings. Cragmaw won’t have no big boss-“

The argument is brief and quick in fits of volume and frustration. There is a meaty thud, like a hammer hitting mature steak, then a soft sound and a whimper. “-who else?”

A few moments later a hairy face and a bright eye comes close to the slot in the door and you can see the yellow of its teeth and tusks and see the bristles of the finer hair that covers its nose. 

“We’ll help you and yours. Yeh. But youse got to promise not to stop us from ruling our tribe and our folk when the Spider elf and his wizards is dead.”

”And youse is going in first,” it says. 

The choice before you is clear. After a violent squabble the Bugbears have decided to seize the opportunity you represent.

Do you take their aid in this battle, and let them sit at your back, ready to capitalise on your successes and aid your victory against the oppressors? 

Or, is your trust too tenuous and their conditions too risky, do you feel they will betray you if the battle does not go your way? Or just betray you no matter the cause, and risk finding yourself between two forces, like a walnut between the hammer and the anvil? You can easily lock them in the room before you, the bolt securable from the outside and so remove them from the next phase, but wouldn’t the battle before you be easier with them on your side? 

Jayson nods saying, "As long as we are free to remove this threat and let us finish our mission in peace we agree."

You draw the heavy stone block that keeps the chamber sealed up and heave the door open. 

Four of the Bugbears stand before you. Two lie dead on the floor. There is a pause. A moment of silence and tension, where anything could happen. Then the biggest Bugbear nods, to say ‘lead on’. 

Jayson says, "We got a plan.  Just follow us in and you 4 pair up or all of you fight one or two of them to give yourself some help.  It won't be easy.  Scatter a bit so we don't all get stuck from some big magic.  If there is anything we can do to help you let us know.  Once we get close to the door going in to the big boss we'll charge in.  I mad it so no noise will be heard from us just before we go in.  If you are ready let's go. Anyone else want to chime in go ahead." 

Jayson leads the way.

Quote from Cwreando>>

OOC - Can we pull the silence spell back towards Gudrune just at the edge of Gudrune?  We go south to see if the bugbear's will help us from the lower section quickly.  10 min on silence so no more than 5 min wasted on talking to them. (We can skip this if we want and just go straight to the main room.)  We'd have verbal spells once through the silence spell.  We'd charge in once through the spell.  Melee's first then spell casters in the back and range attackers.

Jayson comments on a possible plan, "We all go in from the silence area, Lorken and Broma moves in from the lower area melee attack Lestheris and lightning launcher bonus attack, Alaina, Capone and me in the back come in with Alaina using Arrows and hail of thorns, Capone fire bolt cantrip, and I'll eldritch blast.  Lorken and Broma focus on Lestheris and the rest of us on goblin spinecleaver at first.  Then we move to next available targets.  Thoughts and counter suggestions to be factored in and adjusted accordingly."

Quote from Cwreando >>

Jayson says, "We got a plan.  Just follow us in and you 4 pair up or all of you fight one or two of them to give yourself some help.  It won't be easy.  Scatter a bit so we don't all get stuck from some big magic.  If there is anything we can do to help you let us know.  Once we get close to the door going in to the big boss we'll charge in.  I mad it so no noise will be heard from us just before we go in.  If you are ready let's go. Anyone else want to chime in go ahead." 

Jayson leads the way.

The moment is here, the time is now. Jayson leads the band and the Bugbears through a dusty, silent corridor, to a dark, gem-laden stone door. The tension is palpable. No one speaks, this is the chance you've been waiting for -- to stop the depradations and desecrations of the Spider and his accomplices, to bring Iarno the evil wizard to justice, and to rescue the hostages taken in his escape. 

Axe handles creak as strong hands hold them tighter. Lorken's hooves clack quietly on the stones of the floor. 

On Jayson's nod, you enact the plan. 

The doors swing wide, and you see ... The Temple of Dumathoin. 

-

For a pregnant moment where all are still, the silence presses in, broken only by the distant drip of water echoing off the stone walls. Six cracked and splintered marble pillars, their surfaces marred by centuries of neglect, line the hall, their once-proud forms now twisted and weathered by time. The faint, greenish glow of distant moss seems to caress the stone, casting long shadows that dance eerily across the floor.

At the far end of the room looms a towering statue, a dwarf seated upon an ancient throne of stone. The figure, carved with painstaking detail, bears the unmistakable mark of an ancient king—his face stoic and regal despite the ravages of time. His eyes, set with large emeralds, gleam with an unnatural light, as though watching you with a silent, unblinking gaze. Across his lap rests a massive stone warhammer, its edge chipped and worn from countless battles fought long ago.

The floor before the statue is littered with dust and debris, but it has been hastily swept to one side, creating a stark contrast to the otherwise untamed surroundings. Near the center of the room, a rough-hewn firepit sits, its stones darkened by the remnants of past fires and around it, half a dozen bedrolls and packs are arranged with unnerving neatness. The air smells faintly of charred wood and the lingering essence of long-forgotten campfires.

To the west, a weathered wooden table stands between two pillars, its surface cluttered with maps and scattered papers, now yellowed and curling at the edges. Iarno Albrek sits at the table, flanked by Lestheris the Stone-cold Raider, and one more figure: a tall, imposing drow dressed in black leather armor and robes. The drow clutches a black staff with a carved spider at the top and frowns when he sees you. 

“It seems that I must deal with you myself. A pity it must end this way.”

Then everything happens almost all at once.

Initiative order - Round 1:

1. Jayson, Lorken, Capone, Alaina, Broma

2. The Black Spider and his minions. 

3. Gudrune

4. The Bugbear ... allies

5. Hostages (if applicable.)

I've moved them up per your quoted sections up at the top. Let me know if you want any of your allies to be in any different positions, the Bugbears are not first in initiative so they'll be moving into the room and probably toward their king and former comrades on their turn.

Jayson says, "This is the moment we change the course of history!"

MOVE: Jayson moves up to 20-30ft to be on the opposite wall across from Alaina: (spending 30 feet of movement; first diagonal costs 5 ft. of movement, second costs 10 ft., third costs 5 ft., etc.)
BONUS: Cast Hex, pointing at priority Larno, or Lestheris in that order, up to 90ft range.
ACTION: Cast Eldritch Blast, pointing at priority Larno, or Lestheris in that order, up to 240ft range.  If any fall the second beam goes to the next priority minus the Hex since it wouldn't be transferred yet.

Beam #1 attack roll: 16 Damage: 9 (Force Range up to 240ft) + 6 (Hex - Necrotic Target disadvantage on Dex saves) = 15

Beam #2 attack roll: 11 Damage: 9 (Force Range up to 240ft) + 4 (Hex - Necrotic Target disadvantage on Dex saves) = 13

 Reaction: Any available

Alaina

Attack Larno with Jayson: 30 Damage: 17 (Magical force) + 7 (Planar warrior Force dmg) = 24 or half (12)

Attack Larno with Jayson: 16 Damage: 14 (Magical force) + 6 (Planar warrior Force dmg) = 20 or half (10)

Broma

Attack Lestheris: 20 Damage: 7 (Magical lightning) + 4 (lightning) = 11 or half (5)

Attack Lestheris: 27 Damage: 10 (Magical lightning) + 3 (lightning) = 13 or half (6)

Capone

move 30ft inside 10ft directly behind Broma Attack Goblin by Gudrune: 17 Damage: 14 (Fire bolt magical) or half (7)

Lorken

Raging Attack Lestheris: 24 Damage: 13 (magical slashing) or half (6)

Attack  Lestheris: 13 Damage: 18 (magical slashing) or half (9)

I don't have Gudrune sheet so that's not on here and I didn't do the bugbears as I'm not sure what they are actually going to do.. Fingers crossed.  grin.

The chaos begins. There is a wail of suprise from one figure. Sudden movements from the Bugbears. From the cell where the Hostages are hidden, several screams can be heard. There is the clang and sudden scramble of weapons being drawn, but already the party is moving. 

Jayson moves into the room, darting to flank the doors and secure their entrance (and exit). Fell words drip from his mouth, polluting the world around him and ... Iarno as the bard's hex takes hold. Two actinic bolts lance out at the wizard as the villain stands from his shoddy makeshift writing desk with a 'Hah!' of contempt.

Alaina is as stoic as always. She draws the planar energies of the world forth as she knocks one arrow then a second, firing them smoothly at the wizard with not even a smile marring her serious features. 

Iarno's staff flares and a shield of force spins into being before him. He angles it to catch the first blast from Jayson, but cannot catch Alaina's arrow which strikes him in the arm. He gasps and jerks his spell to catch her second arrow with a flash of light ... and Jayson's second blast of dark magic punches into his gut, nearly knocking the wizard off his feet, were it not for his desk. 

The others are not still. 

Broma clanks into the room in full, a whistle sounding from within his helm. His holds his palms up as if in peace, pointed towards Lestheris of the Stone-cold Raiders whose eyes are wide at the appearance of the party who defeated her mercenary undead. With a crackle and a snap, lightning arcs out from each palms and zaps against her tracing over her limbs and biting at her fingers and hair which writhes like a sea-serpent for the short while the current lasts. 

Lorken reaches her too, just as Broma ends his attack to avoid hitting his fey friend. Her sudden collapse as the Lightning Launcher whirrs to a stop allows her to fall under his first great slash, but the second catches in the shoulder as she flails at him, hands out to try and slap him away as if he were a bad dream. 

Capone, seeing the good work of his allies, and estimating that too many spells spoil the broth, turns his attention to Gudrune and the direction she is running -- the direction of the hostages cell. In the shadowy recess at that corner of the room a large goblin wielding an even large double-edged battle axe has planted its feet before the door to the 'cell.' With a stroke of his beard, he opens his definitely-not-metallic mouth and fires a firebolt which strikes the goblin full in the side of the head. 'From my mouth to your ears'. Is that a saying? Is this what it means? He strokes his beard again as he watches Gudrune race after the smokey trail of his spell. 

The dwarf grows giant as she runs, Gudrune's steps banging loudly against the flagstones of this old temple. Her image reflects two dozen times or more in the faceted gemstone eyes of Dumathoin. In every world she dodges the axe of the 'large' goblin, even in her heavy armor, even overshadowing him by 6 feet or more. Her own axe does not miss. Twice it roars through the air. Three parts of the Goblin fall to the earth. 

Gudrune looks at the door. It is solid but fractured and she can see the hostages within a bare room, dressed in rags and looking rough and raw and bruised. "We're here to help you. In Dumath--"

As the party take the initiative, the enemy are not frozen. 

There is a brief flash of a small figure, in dark shades of a rough robe, wearing a dark head-scarf. It throws a bag against the grown and suddenly you only hear coughing as Gudrune and this new figure, a Goblin Assassin, are lost in a cloud of impenetrable, dark smoke. 

A tall and broad Bugbear who wears a filthy crown of rusted metal, King Grok, draws a simple shortbow and roars, stepping backwards towards the walls and the broken pillars as he fires at ... someone. His target is as unclear as his voice is loud, but his call to fight is unmistakeable. If there are more bugbears than you have seen, they may well be on their way from corners unknown. 

 Iarno recovers. Bruised and bleeding. Snarling. He moves as if to retreat, heading towards Gudrune and the cell and the steps now hidden in darkness beyond her. Halfway there he vanishes in a swirl of arcane light. For a moment it is not clear if he has reappeared in sight, but then you hear it. The rolling intonation of a powerful spell. The warning is brief, and then a thunderous bolt of lightning bisects the room from beyond the doorway, where the sneak has appeared, the perfect place to catch Capone, Lorken and Broma in its path. 

Dex Save DC 15 for Lightning Bolt. Capone, Lorken and Broma take 33 lightning damage on fail, or 16 on success .

The smallest of your Bugbear allies is caught in the spell also. The spell overwhelms it and it falls down dead, singed hair smoking, muscles twitching beneath its skin. 

 Lestheris uses the sudden distraction to slip beyond Lorken disengaging and running from him, limping towards the fire and the passageway and darkness at the opposite side of the room. 

Nezznar disdains to speak to her. "You fools!" he spits. "You will ruin everything!" He wields a black staff topped by a spider head and he points it towards you all now. Behind him, the large Phase Spider that sits in that corner of the room vanishes, its glittering black eyes the last thing to fade into the ethereal. From the tip of the staff a flood of web magic shoots forth until the entire entrance to the temple is covered in a twenty foot cube of the stuff from the ceiling to the floor. Nezznar himself slinks backwards to the wall then begins to walk up it, as if it were a flat surface, until he stands on the ceiling looking down, or up, at you all on the floor, twenty feet above your heads. His eyes are full of malice. 

Nezznar casts Web. Dex save 15 for Capone, Jayson, Alaina. Restrained on a fail. Any who enter the web on their turn must make the save of be Restrained

Beyond the web, Iarno appears alone amongst three hostile bugbears. Until, that is, his familiar appears. A small Quasit of hideous proportions, covered in spines, its mouth full of jagged fangs. It is wreathed in illusionary hellfire, and it chitters in delight as it looks at the Bugbear Commander. Some dark magic seems to settle on the Commander, its face turning pale under all its hair. He begins to shake and quiver where he stands, whispering orders too quiet to hear. 

The Commander fires two arrows at the small fiend, each missing as its shaking arms ruin its aim. Unsettled, the Bugbear closest looks between the Quasit and its commander, making two broad slashes to keep the fiend back, unsure of what to do. The final Bugbear is not so undecided. It roars in rage at such a small foe making a mockery of its faction and throws both its hand axes at once. One clatters against the wall, missing Iarno's head by scant inches. The other bites directly into the chest of the Quasit and stays there. It shivers ... in delight?

Initiative order - Round 2:

1. Jayson, Lorken, Capone, Alaina, Broma

2. The Black Spider and his minions. 

3. Gudrune

4. The Bugbear ... allies

5. Hostages (if applicable.)

Done. Round 2, your moves.

Save Roll for all 

DC 15 Dex Capone lightning save 18 33 fail, 16 save,

DC 15 Dex Lorken lightning save 21, 33 fail, 16 save,

DC 15 Dex Broma lightning save 5, 33 fail, 16 save,

DC 15 Dex Capone web save 21 Save or be restrained

DC 15 Dex Jayson web save 13 Save or be restrained

DC 15 Dex Alaina web save 15 Save or be restrained

This should be all the saves....

Quote from Cwreando >>

Save Roll for all 

DC 15 Dex Capone lightning save 18 33 fail, 16 save,  Capone HP 16 of 38 saved and took 16 dmg

DC 15 Dex Lorken lightning save 21, 33 fail, 16 save, Lorken HP 51 of 71 saved and took 16 dmg

DC 15 Dex Broma lightning save 5, 33 fail, 16 save, Broma HP 5 of 39 failed and took 33 dmg

DC 15 Dex Capone web save 21 Save or be restrained Saved

DC 15 Dex Jayson web save 13 Save or be restrained Failed and is Restrained

DC 15 Dex Alaina web save 15 Save or be restrained Saved

This should be all the saves....

 

Jayson says, "Attack the person with the staff of web and the lighting breathing individual first, if possible."

Jayson will use his action to try and break free of the webbing

18  DC 15 strength check

Alaina

Jump clear of webbing to the east 

Attack Nezznar: 21 Damage: 17 (Magical force) + 8 (Planar warrior Force dmg) = 25 or half (12)

Attack Nezznar: 13 Damage: 11 (Magical force) + 4 (Planar warrior Force dmg) = 15 or half (7)

Broma

Move east for cover attacking Nezz

Attack Nezznar: 27 Damage: 11 (Magical lightning) + 3 (lightning) = 14 or half (7)

Attack Nezznar: 28 Damage: 13 (Magical lightning) + 5 (lightning) = 18 or half (9)

Bonus action Drink  healing potions 8

Capone

Jump clear of the webbing and send a fire bolt at Larno: 28 Damage: 30 (Fire bolt magical) or half (15)  This may free Jayson but might cause 2d4 fire damage to him or break the anchor points so it dissolves.

Lorken

Lorken moves to be just below Lestheris and attacks.
Raging Attack Lestheris: 9 Damage: 16 (magical slashing) or half (8)

Attack  Lestheris: 28 Damage: 18 (magical slashing) or half (9)

As Jayson is caught in the web, and Alaina and Capone dash and duck free, respectively, Iarno's lightning bolt has already ripped through. Capone barely twitches and Lorken roars, trying to overcome the thunder with sheer rage. Broma is not so lucky. In his cerulean armor his groans and twitches, and smoke rises from his visor. Shakingly he brings a potion to his lips and his hands steady. 

Alaina shoots twice and hits twice as Broma catches his breath. The arrows strike true and then are followed by the lightning. Whether it is the bolt that he has just suffered or whether the danger of the situation has focused his wrath in a way you have not seen before. His hands point towards the Spider on the ceiling and whirr to life. Two cracks of lightning launch out at the drow wizard, who was clearly not expecting it. The spider screams and drops to the ground in an ungainly heap. There is a crunch as he falls, and for a moment it looks as if ... is he dead? Was it truly that easy?

Capone seems to move more quickly than before, even as his beard smoulders. He draws the cinders up into his mouth with a breath and then spits another firebolt at Iarno beyond the door. 

It passes through the web restraining Jayson, the tail of the firebolt sending the whole thing up in a blaze as it catches like dry kindling, before it hits Iarno as his shield falters. His shoulder and sleeve go up in a blaze and he vanishes in a swirl of arcane light, disappearing from sight, with barely more than a gasp of pain. Out of sight, the battle between he and the bugbears continues. There is another bolt of lightning and one falls to the ground dead, as the other two dash out of sight to tackle the Wizard and his invisible familiar. 

Jayson takes 3 (2d4) fire damage.

Lorken's roar comes to an end as his Satyr's fur smoulders. Deliberately, he makes his way to the cowering Lestheris and swings his axe!

She raises her hand and dark Shades spill forth into the Temple, but they cannot touch Lorken in his rage. 

King Grok can. He kicks heaps of skins, or are they sleeping bags? Three Goblins jump up at the King's roar and run out to join in at his kick. "No die till you kill!" he shouts at Lestheris, and fires two more arrows at Lorken. These land true, two rough arrows with black and poorly made fletching catching in the dense muscle of his chest and stomach. The small goblins try and follow their bugbear king's example as they spread out across the temple, but they are poor shots and their arrows miss by wide margins.  

Lorken takes 5 and 4 (halves to 2 and 2 while raging)

King Grok uses his reaction on Lestheris: No Dying! When an ally Queen Bargnot can see within 30 feet of her is reduced to 0 hit points, they are reduced to 1 hit point instead.

It is good cover for a monstrosity. A large Phase Spider descends from the ceiling where its Ethereal Jaunt has taken it. Its jaws clacking and quivering at Alaina, but not yet quite pouncing, it threatens her, it's monstrous face barely a breath away from the ranger's own. 

Nezznar stands. His face is bloody and misshapen. His step has a limp as he makes his way to steady himself against Iarno's writing desk. He mumbles, saying something over, and over, and over. Suddenly he stands tall and levels his staff at Capone. "Mistake." He fires a bolt of green and shadowy magic at the little sorcerer and strikes true!

Nezznar's poison strike hits Capone for 13 poison damage (6 with Capone's poison resistance) which also has the following effect:

If the target is Large or smaller, it must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or become restrained as shadowy web tendrils wrap around it for 1 minute. A restrained target can use its action to repeat the saving throw, ending the effect on itself on a success.

Where Broma stands, surrounded by goblins and shades, back to the shadow that holds Gudrune, there is a flicker of steel. The Goblin Assassin, and its blade is deadly as it is hidden. It swipes deeply into the gap between Broma's helmet and chest, and blood begins to run down his back. 

Goblin Assassin hits Broma with a critical hit for 8 slashing damage.

Inside that darkness there is muffled sound. All is hidden. All light is quenched, but Gudrune's voice is there, growing stronger and stronger. She is praying, to Dumathoin, some ancient Dwarven verse. The final appeal is near shouted. 

"Lord Dumathoin grant us--"

What does Gudrune pray to Dumathoin inside his temple and ask for? Choose either [Courage], [Might], or [Endurance].

Initiative order - Round 3:

1. Jayson, Lorken, Capone, Alaina, Broma

2. The Black Spider and his minions. 

3. Gudrune

4. The Bugbear ... allies

5. Hostages (if applicable.)

OOC - I'm going to go with -  Might.

Character HP update and Saves

Capone HP 10 Capone DC 15 Str check 12

Lorken HP 47 of 71

Broma HP 2 of 39

Alaina HP 45 of 52

Jayson HP 42 of 45

Actions:

Alaina

Jump clear of webbing to the east 

Bonus Action Hail of Thorns  In addition to the normal effect of the attack, the target of the attack and each creature within 5 feet of it must make a Dexterity saving throw.

Attack Nezznar: 16 Damage: 11 (Magical force) + 2 (Planar warrior Force dmg) = 13 or half (6), Damage: 9 (piercing damage DC 15 Dex save) or half (4)

Attack Nezznar or phase spider: 30 Damage: 10 (Magical force) + 3 (Planar warrior Force dmg) = 13 or half (6), Damage: 6 (piercing damage DC 15 Dex save) or half (3)  if at the phase spider it might be disadvantaged and also hit anyone in 5 ft of the phase spider.

Broma

Tries to position themselves to prevent any sneak attacks while attacking 

Cast cure wounds Level 2 on Broma. 15

Bonus action Drink healing potions 9

Capone

Pivots to see the Nezznar if alive still and send a fire bolt at them. Rolled normal but may be restrained disadvantage or negated from spell: 10 Damage: 13 (Fire bolt magical) or half (6)  if disadvantage 21 take lower as needed if they don't save. 

If not disadvantaged/restrained Capone twins the fire bolt using their last sorcery point target Shade on Broma 23 Damage: 11 (Fire bolt magical) or half (5) 

Lorken

Lorken stays on Lestheris and attacks then shade near him if Lestheris goes down.
Raging Attack Lestheris: 10 Damage: 9 (magical slashing) or half (4)

Attack  Lestheris or shade : 22 Damage: 12 (magical slashing) or half (6)

Jayson says, "This is the moment we change the course of history!"

MOVE: Jayson moves up to 20-30ft to be on the opposite wall across from Alaina: (spending 30 feet of movement; first diagonal costs 5 ft. of movement, second costs 10 ft., third costs 5 ft., etc.)
BONUS: Cast Hex, unable to see Larno Jayson transfers Hex to phase spider up to 90ft range.
ACTION: Cast Eldritch Blast, pointing at the phase spider, up to 240ft range.  If any fall the second beam goes to the next priority minus the Hex since it wouldn't be transferred yet.

Beam #1 attack roll: 13 Damage: 13 (Force Range up to 240ft) + 4 (Hex - Necrotic Target disadvantage on Dex saves) = 17

Beam #2 attack roll: 26 Damage: 13 (Force Range up to 240ft) + 3 (Hex - Necrotic Target disadvantage on Dex saves) = 16

 Reaction: Any available