Daerthe will follow most of the group, staying to the back so that she is still guarded somewhat by the rest of the group.

In the next round, the party dashes 60 feet north toward the square, still about 100 feet away from the watchtowers which, along with the palisade, now block their view of the drawbridge. Sabastian swoops past the watchtowers, glancing in each: Human woman in first, goblin in second, drawbridge all the way down, he communicates telepathically to Helena.

As you all continue to dash north into the square, about 90 feet east of the watchtowers, you can see a goblin running west across the drawbridge, clearly trying to make her escape. You also see several horses and riders about to cross the drawbridge into the village. Kella is not immediately visible.

(What would you like to do?)

Sphyboe will halt abruptly to investigate her surrounding, especially she attempts to find out the exact position of the Zhentarim Agent Kella believing her to be situated somewhere inside the wooden boundary thus within the range of communication.

Intelligence: Investigation 15

Quote from InkedBee >>

Sphyboe will halt abruptly to investigate her surrounding, especially she attempts to find out the exact position of the Zhentarim Agent Kella believing her to be situated somewhere inside the wooden boundary thus within the range of communication.

Intelligence: Investigation 15

In the short amount of time before the riders cross the drawbridge, Sphyboe is unable to search for Kella, but she guesses that the agent may be hiding at the top of one of the watchtowers. You probably would have seen her if she crossed the drawbridge like the goblin did or if she tried to run to the cottage to the south or the temple to the north.

Bramble will continue his dash to the southeast corner of the temple, using the boulder and corner of the structure as cover. He wants a good, protected vantage point to see how this unfolds. As he slides into position, he will spin around to face the main gate, grab 3 small stones from his pouch and (bonus action) cast magic stone.

“Goblin helped lower the bridge.”  Helena calls to the others.  “Riders ready to cross.” She continues towards the drawbridge, but not at a dash, instead she pauses to cast a spell herself.  sleep  She should be within 90 feet of the leader rider, so she casts centered there, hoping to at least put some horses to sleepa nd slow down the riders some if possible... 

HP put to sleep: 32

Quote from DragonDenn >>

“Goblin helped lower the bridge.”  Helena calls to the others.  “Riders ready to cross.” She continues towards the drawbridge, but not at a dash, instead she pauses to cast a spell herself.  sleep  She should be within 90 feet of the leader rider, so she casts centered there, hoping to at least put some horses to sleepa nd slow down the riders some if possible... 

 

HP put to sleep: 32

 (Okay, in that case let's all roll initiative. This may or may not turn into combat, but I want to see how far the riders get before the Sleep spell. And it's easier if we all roll initiative together.)

Bramble’s initiative: 20

Essie's hand tightens on her shield as she sees the others all start to get into battle positions, for lack of a better term. "Oh, no," she whispers. "Must we...?" But she clenches her jaw and stands at the ready alongside them, her knuckles white as they wrap around her holy symbol.

Initiative: 13

Ryndar smiles at Helena's decisive action, "You seem to have taken rather quickly to field work..." 

Initiative: 15

Sphyboe will use the copper wire spell component to wrap it around her right index finger while pointing the finger towards the first watch tower. She casts message aiming for the woman who's currently inside the tower, she's been careful enough to send it through a blank space where the wall is not concealing the interior.

"Tell them to back off! If your comrades try to pass the drawbridge, they're going to burn to death. We'll make sure that the process is painfully slow."

Initiative: 12

Quote from InkedBee >>

Sphyboe will use the copper wire spell component to wrap it around her right index finger while pointing the finger towards the first watch tower. She casts message aiming for the woman who's currently inside the tower, she's been careful enough to send it through a blank space where the wall is not concealing the interior.

"Tell them to back off! If your comrades try to pass the drawbridge, they're going to burn to death. We'll make sure that the process is painfully slow."

Initiative: 12

 

 (Please roll Intimidation, too)

The escaping goblin heads north out of sight. Bramble dashes over to the southeast corner of the temple, casting Magic Stone as he turns to face the action. The seven riders gallop across the drawbridge and then slow to a stop. The party and guards move forward, spreading out across the village square to meet the newcomers. Sphyboe points a copper-wrapped finger at the southern watchtower and uses Message to tell Kella to call off her friends or pay the price. Helena casts Sleep, centered on the leading rider, causing a dwarf and human follower on either side of the leader to slump in their saddles, unconscious. Ryndar smiles and applauds her decisiveness.

The leader of this new group is a female half elf with rich brown skin and intricate braids, wearing studded leather armor, and armed with a wicked looking scimitar at her side. Her conscious followers are another dwarf and three other humans, all in leather armor. These four draw light crossbows, but keep them pointed at the ground for the moment. The half-elf leader glances over at her two sleeping companions, takes in the group before her, and calls out, “What kind of welcome is this? We come to lend aid to Nightstone, and are immediately attacked with sinister magics? It is well that I have a long fuse, but I do not recommend that you hurry it along with any other aggressive moves.”

(What would you all like to do?)

Daerthe Inititiative: 21

Daerthe will continue to stay in the back, readying her bow to fire if the newcomers become hostile due to the spell cast by Helena. If any of them make a move that she deems as hostile she will fire on them.

Shortbow: Attack: 26 Damage: 14

Disadvantage: Attack: 12 Damage: 9

Quote from Karmoli >>

Quote from InkedBee >>

Sphyboe will use the copper wire spell component to wrap it around her right index finger while pointing the finger towards the first watch tower. She casts message aiming for the woman who's currently inside the tower, she's been careful enough to send it through a blank space where the wall is not concealing the interior.

"Tell them to back off! If your comrades try to pass the drawbridge, they're going to burn to death. We'll make sure that the process is painfully slow."

Initiative: 12

 

 (Please roll Intimidation, too)

 Intimidation 21

In response to her message, Sphyboe hears the following from Kella in her mind, “We don’t want trouble.” A moment later, Kella appears at the top of the southern watchtower. She calls out, “Yes, let’s not make any hasty moves. This can end well for all of us.”

Ryndar smirks, "You ride in to a town that has recently been under siege unannounced, you shouldn't be surprised being met with at least light resistance. Your comrades are fine, only having succumbed to a simple sleep spell. Now, you could at least introduce yourself as from our perspective you look more like another invading force, having missed your opportunity to help the town by quite some time."

The half elf dismounts, hands the reins of her horse to one of her followers, a male human with a shock of red hair, while saying, “Wake up our friends, will you?” She then steps forward a bit toward the welcoming committee.

“You are quite right. Introductions are in order. I am Alassandra Xolkin, and I believe I have arrived just in time. As I understand it, this village has suffered a terrible attack and is in great need of leadership to rebuild it. I offer that exact skill, along with a network with resources to support the village. Now as we proceed under new management, I will need to know your roles in the village. Are you farmers? Guards? Who is the innkeeper and who runs the trading post? Where are the rest of the villagers?” Her whole attitude is one of confident command.

As she speaks, the red-head walks her horse over to the fence railing along the nearby field. He dismounts, secures both horses and moves up beside Xolkin, but a step behind.  A dwarf with a red cloak rides up next to the sleeping one and shakes her awake. A female human with long black hair and pale skin rides up to wake up the other sleeper, a male human with blond hair and beard.

Alara steps forward and answers, “I am Alara, one of the guards of Nightstone. Under what authority do speak of leadership and new management?”

“Indeed,” agrees Torem. “Only the Nandar family has our allegiance, and it is too soon for them to have learned of our situation. We are prepared to defend the village until they send a proper representative.” Both guards hold their spears and shields at the ready, if not pointing directly at Xolkin.

The gang of invaders is playing it safe, and Sphyboe wonders if they're trying to conceal their true allegiance by being obnoxiously generous. Kella has proposed a potential negotiation that might result in a win-win situation, but Sphyboe will not try to get herself in any agreement which involves the direct leadership of Zhentarim. "Why didn't I plunge myself into the moat when I had the opportunity to do so?"- she's seen murmuring to herself while reconsidering the missed option to retreat.

"Folks address me by the name 'Phoebus', but Lady Nandar has found another way to summon me. What is it Alara? Our guests might want to know it"- she moves near the fence railing where Essie stands and adds something that can be considered as a blatant lie, "Lady Nandar does not need a sidekick to manage her place when she can do that all by herself."

Charisma (Deception) 18

Daerthe will move so that she can find somewhere in a small attempt to get out of direct light from the sun. As before she will keep her bow out and ready to fire.