"Hello, Loki. Five stoats... I expect we can take them, if you know where they are."

“Not to fear, my rabbit friend. For good or ill, the ice is not in any true danger of melting, not in these parts. Let us make haste, until we draw near to the ambush site.”

The short journey back to the path proper does not take long, and Loki sets them on a course for the Stoats lying in wait, approaching from downwind. (Roll Stealth, anyone wishing for surprise).

Hurdrak, stood listening and thinking.  He was still angry but this task seemed like something to vent his frustration.  A good duel always did so.  "Agreed, this will help ease the tribute problem and make the roads safer so let's do it."

Turn in to Loki he says, "Before we go you should know...  the Captain was killed and it's no longer safe for the mouse guards back in town.  After all, it would be better to remain cautious.  There is some sort of power play going on and thus far its been at our expense.  We do plan to right it, but one situation at a time right."

(Mistral's stealth: 22 - NB accidentally clicked on Survival, so it's -1 from the actual roll. He will also offer guidance of 4 to whoever is least proficient in stealth Blackbur to offset his noisy armour)

Sirithal will bring up the rear, knowing little of the stealthy arts. He’ll join battle once those capable of sneaking have done so…

“Captain Hale?! Oh, no. You mean Lonelywood, of course. Dark times indeed. I steer clear, well south of his so-called eminence. Dark times, indeed. I am sorry. The lake towns have lost so many, since the coming of this winter without end.”

Dixie attempts to search for any pawprints that might have been left behind by the gang of stoats, then she tries to pick up peculiar scents with frequent sniffing. The snow fall could've removed any trace of prints, or concealed the odour of musk but she would take a chance to find out their trail. She moves near Sirithal and asks, "Are we being followed by anyone?"

Perception: 8

(the previous post showed manipulation message erroneously, base score was 8 with disadvantage)

Dixie searches for signs of a tail, but finds no indication that they are being followed by anyone, apart from Sirithal’s new elemental friend.

Mistral follows quietly along with Loki, blending well with the snow as he approaches the ambush site, a small rocky outcrop flanking the path. There are indeed five stoats, all accounted for, with only one casting the occasional look behind them to the south. Two are focused on watching the trail north, while the two others seem to be asleep.

They are not wearing any winter wear or armor, and there are no weapons to be seen. A decidedly strange way to go about an ambush, but if Loki spoke true, they are a fierce lot with just claws and teeth.

The nervous one looks back suddenly, looking straight at Dixie, but the rabbit ranger immediately freezes. The predator seems not to notice anything untoward, and returns his gaze forward, after scratching a bit.

Sirithal sends his familiar, Ssat'ral, flying on a broad arc, avoiding the stoats but looking for anything out of place..

Perception: 3 (Passive: 10)

Hurdrak follows along with the others.  Before they get to near he asks, "When we get close, shall I make a distraction further up where they are looking with my magics?  Maybe we can catch them even more unawares."

Blackbur nods to Hurdrak. “That seems a good idea. But keep it subtle. Eye catching but not alarming.” 

When one of the stoats stares at Dixie, she feels as if her heart was about to stop and jump out of her ribcage. Luckily the stoat looks away and this saves the ranger from an eminent heart attack although not from the thudding sounds of the heartbeat, so much loud that she wonders if her companions can hear it. 

She takes out a vial what seems like a tiny bottle of acid with a bold cross marked on it. "I need to move closer to throw the acid in such a way that it hits the crack and gets shattered on the ground, it would make a loud sound on the impact. Can you conceal the sound with your magic, Hurdrak?"- she whispers to the team, clearly indicating Hurdrak for a particular kind of distraction then continues to brew up a masterplan, "None of us will want these thugs to grapple anyone from behind, who wants to guard our back?"

Dixie moves within the ten feet range of the stoats, cautiously tiptoeing on her paws. She tries to aim for the one who's guarding the rear.

Attack Roll: 16  Damage: 5

Then she will cast Ensnaring Strike to restrain the other stoat who's guarding the main trail.

Mistral wills nature's roots and vines to overcome the snow and ice and restrain the unwary predators-turned-prey (vs S2-S5, DC 13 Str if conscious and rendering the area difficult terrain).

The sparkling constellation once again envelops his body, forming the visage of a glowing celestial archer, and unleashing an arrow of pure radiance that shoots forth towards the nearest stoat (23 to hit for 11 radiant damage).

Hurdrak moves forward trying to remain quiet.  Stealth 5.  But he was not as quiet as he had hoped.  Before he could even get his spell as a distraction off.  Dixie initiated a surprise attack and Mistral rightly tried to restrain them all with magic.  

With the jig up, Hurdrak would place one leg upon the hilt of his sword and another on the sheath.  In rapid speed he drew his blade sending a force slash at the nearest stoat.

On his turn Eldritch blast: Attack: 7 Damage: 12

Anspec steps forward quietly with his sword drawn. Stealth: 7.

Dixie’s thrown vial shatters the calm, eliciting a piercing shriek from her target. Vines reach up through the snow, grasping at the flailing creature, but they shrink away from the acid and the predator writhes free.

The next Stoat is struck by Mistral’s radiant arrow, and the Druid’s entangling vines coil about him, as well as the two who are just now awakening to the violence. Their breath steams in the frigid darkness, as they struggle to free themselves, barking and hissing!

Hurdrak’s slash of force does not strike its target, but rather cuts through the entangling vines, freeing it!

The two Stoats who are free rear up, eyes glaring, ready to pounce!

Blackbur rushes forward and strikes at one of the now free stoats with his sword 

Attack: 21 Damage: 7 

Whiskers will stay at the rear of the party, ready to keep any stoats from circling behind and attacking the party's rear.

Dixie decides to ignore the stoat which is suffering from serious acid burn, his agonizing bellows might take awhile to subside. Instead, she decides to accompany Blackbur in order to engage in face to face fight with the other stoats. She firmly holds onto the light hammer, then spins it clockwise and blurts out addressing the second hissing stoat, "Let's play 'Whack-a-Stoat' and squish some pea-brains!"

Charisma (Intimidation): 10