Lost Lab of Kwalish

Dorian would also try to hide behind the boulder, around H20.

H20 as well

Hiding by the rock sounds good to Shutorn also. Dex: 4

"Does anybody have a plan yet?" he asks.

(ooc: No stealth checks needed yet, but if you're planning on moving without being detected, you should make one, unless you make yourself invisible or something, of course)

Peeking from behid the boulder just inside the mouth of the cave, you see two large avian/reptilian hybrid creatures with scaly red skin and long necks and long arms and legs, terminating in three digits tipped with sharp claws.giant strider

You could crawl north hiding behind the rocks or south through the warm shallow water (around 1ft deep; it's about as warm as a hot tub, potentially uncomfortable for some, but not harmful to anyone. It does not require swimming, but is difficult terrain. In the dry mud around the hot spring, you can see more tracks like those outside, but also what look like humanoid footprints left by bare feet.

If you choose to walk on the rocks, the tops of which are roughly 5ft higher than the floor of the cave, you can do so without the need to climb if you take advantage of the small rock in the corner, using it as a stepping stone. The rotting log that stretches over the water to the next elevated area is large enough that it can probably hold weight.  

You could also choose to walk through the water to the south, where you can see a small candle lit alter made of grey stone, stained red. Before it stands a retilian figure in dark robes. Somewhat resembling a lizardfolk but with smoother vermillion skin and a less angular skull (firenewt warlock of imix). He is flanked by two others, dressed in bits of crude metal armor (firenewt warrior), each mounted atop a large creatures like the ones to the north (giant strider).

Between the group to the north and the one to the south, there sit amid a pile of haphazardly scattered charred bones, 3 more red creatures firenewt warrior around a small bonfire.

(large creatures are listed by top left square):

C8, C15 - Striders (large)

K9, K15 - mounted cavalry (large)

L11 - Altar

M11 - Warlock

G9,G11,H10 - firenewts

G10, N16 - bonfires

H19- boulder

I think that's all the players we have. Formally I have you at these locations:

Huarache F21

Echo G21

Leann I20

Dorian H21

Sam H20

Shutorn I19

(Ooc: I think I flubbed that a little bit.  If it makes a difference, just be where you said exactly I think this arrangement makes sense if your hiding, but anything is fine with me.

The firenewts are awake and moving around, so staying put isn't a promising long-term option.)

"I think taking them by surprise may be our best bet," Dorian whispers back.

"Ready when the rest of you are." Leann confirms. She has her longsword drawn and in hand already.

"In which direction are we going?" asks Huarache. "I'm wondering whether it's a good idea to poke out to our right and provoke them, then use this rock for cover." (OOC: He's referring to the A-E side of the map.) "And first priority should be getting Vernell into a fighting condition. The greater the ratio of us to fire newts, the better."

"From both sides, for those of you engaging in melee combat," Dorian returns. "I will do my best to limit their mobility."

The giant strider  nearest to you (S1)(located C15) moves to investigate the noise it thinks came from near the cave entrance (passive perception 11, above the stealth roll from 10 real life hours ago... Or it just felt like walking over there).  Turning the corner, he sees a tall cat person and a shiny dog (possibly also the gnome behind them) and let's out a horrific gargling shriek.

He then coughs up a blob of flaming bile right at Echo!

(DC12 Dex save for Huarache, Echo, Dorian and Sam (it goes around corners, 10ft radius) for half of 21 fire damage on a save.)

(Ooc: Combat has begun. Players will go, them the remaining forces of team firenewt (if any are left) and then back to PCs, after which all monsters act on shared initiative. Got it? Good. Go get 'em!)

Huarache's DEX save: 4

Echo's DEX save: 5

"Well, so much for a plan," mutters Huarache. He figures that subtlety has been lost with the strider's shriek, so he's not going to hesitate to pull out a loud weapon.

Echo will bolt to the strider and distract the thing long enough to give Huarache the Help action. The next time the strider or something next to Echo, should the strider fall, tries to attack anyone, Echo will impose disadvantage on the attack roll.

Attack: 28 Damage: 20

Attack: 25 Damage: 20

The one time I don't have Absorb Elements prepared...

Sam dex save 17 

Leann casts shield of faith on herself, then moves forward to attack the creature that just spit fire at ehr companions.

booming blade

Attack: 24 Damage: 13

If it moves before her turn it takes an extra: 13 thunder.

Update: 

The monster is struck by both of Huarache's blasts, the sound nearly deafening as it echoes within the rocky walls of the confined space.  Reeling in pain, the giant strider nevertheless remains on the offensive, until Leann hacks into it with her blade.

Spraying blood from it's long neck, the beast collapses at her feet, writhing for a moment before falling still.  Around the corner, footsteps can be heard squishing mud underfoot and wading swiftly through pools of water, their sounds echoing through the cave.

Players are still up.

In no particular order: Samogri, Shutorn, Dorian 

"Everyone," mutters Huarache, "we're about to have company."

Firebolt 

13

damage 

12

DEX save: 2

Dorian will still cast Absorb Elements as a reaction, to get that down to 5 damage. He'll then cast Magnify Gravity at the clutch of firenewt warriors around the bonfire at G10. All 3 of them will need to make DC 15 CON saves or take 8 force damage and halve their speed. On a save, half damage only.

The owl will also help anyone attacking the strider at C15.

Silhouette flies to the strider at D-9 and distracts it while Shutorn targets it with chill touch.

Attack: 25 Damage: 8

Quote from Legion4 >>

Firebolt 

13

damage 

12

 Where are you standing and what are you trying to hit? Range is good, bit you're next to a wall. To get line of sight you could go around it or over it.