Auric feels Fae's hand rest on his shoulder. He had a fellow wizard at his side. She reserved most of her magic in anticipation for this battle. He wouldn't have to carry the weight of producing arcane flames alone.

Mimicking Fae, Nova comes up on Auric's other side standing confident and proud. "I have magic too!" She chimes. Meaning she had plenty of energy still in the tank.

The ritual performers and their twiggy companions are solely focused on their ritual. To the tiefling and his familiar, it almost appeared that regardless of whether they knew anyone was there or not, they wouldn't stray from their task. Thus the longer the ritual proceeds, the darker the skies get and the thicker the clouds become. A powerful storm was brewing.

By the time the group would arrive at the base of the Circle of Thunder there would be flashes of lightning in the sky as grumbles of thunder roll about the clouds. Normally a storm would eventually come to pass, blowing over with time. However, this one did not move. It only grew with intensity. This was the eye of the storm.

"Unless you believe we quickly can find better means of stopping the ritual in those caves I strongly urge you to start by crashing that party on the hill before the weather turns really ugly." The dark Tiefling says more firmly now, clearly eager to get this going before it was too late. "I'm sure you will all find good use of your magic." He adds with an encouraging nod to Auric, Fae and Nova.


(Was there a reasonably good way towards the hill without being spotted or are you saying the dancers would be oblivious to our approach? :-)

Auric:

Smiling at Fae and Nova’s support, Auric says, “A rope of three strands is not easily sundered.  Let us approach with stealth and slay these miscreants!”

"Yes let's crash that party over yonder.  Approach as a group or two?" He asked surveying the terrain for a good quiet approach

KD, looking at the sky, agrees. She looks for a good approach and will have Hal rush the ceremony with the other melee folk after the surprise, and she will prepare to cast faerie fire on the baddies as soon as she can.

(Speaking of storms, we had one of the most active thunderstorms over the lake I've seen in a long time. There was so much lightning and dramatic bolts over the great lake.)

The group is coming from the south east clearing on the map. The adventurers have the cover of some tree canopy as they approach, however they can note that while the Anchorite's and their companions are performing a ritual, they are still alert.

Stealth and Engage
(If you want to stealth for a chance at a surprise attack please go ahead. You may forgo a stealth check to remain further at the back and cast a pre cast prior to engagement instead.)

Stealth Check or Pre Cast: All
Initiative: All

Roll Call: Everybody!

The dark Tiefling nods grimly and grits his teeth, adrenaline flooding his system for the upcoming battle, and he quietly advances as necessary to put himself able to intercept any ritual performers charging down the hill towards the group's spellcasters, but he also tries to find cover behind a tree should the ritual performers start to throw bolts of lightning their way.

Stealth: 14
Initiative: 15

Verr follows the tiefling weapon at the ready

Stealth: 20

Initiative:9

Auric:

Moving forward with the others, Auric has his orb and wand at the ready.  He hopes to catch the foes in a coordinated fire blast with his fellow casters before they can react.

Stealth:  9

Initiative:  20

Hansel bolsters his companions with the social confidence that only Lady Firehair can provide...

Pre-cast Bless again on KD, Verr and Neph (Sune knows they need it most!)

Initiative: 14

Before she starts anything, KD uses her magical tinkering feature, and causes one of her crossbow bolts to emit the most foul, putrid sewer stench she's ever experienced. With an apologetic look at Hansel, she loads it and prepares to fire it when the time comes.

KD initiative: 17

Stealth (in case she has to move forward to get faerie fire cast within 60 feet of them): 19

Hal stays forward with the melee group. Stealth: 19

Bolstering his companions, Hansel ensures they're blessed by his goddess to strike most true. Standing proud of his contributions, the sun hits his complexion just right and the wind blows tussling his hair. Naturally, he admires his brilliance. Meanwhile, the rest of his companions fan out and creep their way into advantageous positions.

Nova Stealth: 12
Fae Stealth: 11

Deep in their ritual, their concentration so intense, the Anchorites of Talos and their twig supporters do not notice the advancing party. All they could come to notice in the corner of their peripherals was a beautiful man looking at himself in his shield. They didn't feel threatened, thus he wasn't a concern to them.

A1/A2 Perception: 8
Twigs Perception: 3

Initiative: Surprise Round
KD | A1 | A2 | Neph | Auric | Verr | Nova | Fae | T1-6 | TA-F | Hansel

This was her opportunity. KD strategically, swiftly and efficiently fires her sewer shot into the ritual group. It bursts into a cloud, covering an anchorite and two twigs in smelly putrid fluid, causing them to glow.

VS DC14

Initiative: Surprise Round Cont.
KD | A1(FF) | A2 | Neph | Auric | Verr | Nova | Fae | T1 | T2-6 | TA | TB | TC(FF) | TD | TE | TF(FF) | Hansel
(Fairy Fire: (FF))

From behind stone pillared structures, Fae and Nova exchange looks and nod. Fae holds up her hand to hold up three fingers as a countdown. When she'd get to one, both her and Nova would peek from behind their cover, chant in the same low tone and in the same language, however each add in their own unique twist. They both pull their arms back to rear up then snap them as if cracking a whip.

To the west as if sprouting from the fey, a thorny vine made of energy lashes out at the Anchorite. It wraps around the caster, thorns ripping through their hide as it comes to secure a hold on them, solidifying it's presence despite Anchorite's strength.

Nova vs A1
Action Casting: [Tooltip Not Found]
Attack: 21 Damage: 7
A1 ST vs DC14: 13 - Failed to avoid being restrained.

Nova then speaks a few parsaltongue words as she lowers herself down to the ground. Then there's an ominous hiss... A giant black mamba slithers by.

BA: Wildshape

Initiative: Surprise Round Cont.
KD | A1(FF) | A2 | Neph | Auric | Verr | Nova | Fae | T1 | T2-6 | TA | TB | TC(FF) | TD | TE | TF(FF) | Hansel
(Fairy Fire: (FF) | Restrained (R))

To the east a shadow like inky black tendril lashes out. Instead of it wrapping around her target's body to physically tear their flesh, Fae aims for their psych. With a loud crack, it snaps at the Anchorite's ear as if threatening to slither into their ear to their brain. He squeals in agony.

Fae vs A2
Casting: Tasha's Mind Whip
A2 ST vs DC14: 6
On a failed save, the target takes 10 psychic damage, and it can’t take a reaction until the end of its next turn. Moreover, on its next turn, it must choose whether it gets a move, an action, or a bonus action; it gets only one of the three.

Initiative: Surprise Round Cont.
KD | A1(FF) | A2 | Neph | Auric | Verr | Nova | Fae | T1 | T2-6 | TA | TB | TC(FF) | TD | TE | TF(FF) | Hansel
(Fairy Fire: (FF) | Restrained (R))

Roll Call: Neph Auric and Verr - Surprise Attack
Roll Call: KD - Round 1 Action

Auric:

With the foes too spread out currently to make good use of his fire spells, Auric employs the Wand of Magic Missiles and sends three glowing darts at the Anchorite just attacked and immobilized by Fae.  He hopes that between the two of them they will disrupt the ritual irrevocably.

Magic Missile (Level 1):  10

(Auric moves to join Fae and Nova, adding his spells to their own).

(Where is verr on the map please)

The dark Tiefling gives the sunite a firm nod of appreciation over his blessings, his feral yellow eyes then briefly going wide as Nova turn into a giant black mamba. Nepharios quickly follows suit and points his black blade at the glowing Anchorite, swiftly cursing him before unleashing a dark beam of eldritch crackling force towards him.

Bonus Action: Cast Hex (str) on A1
Eldritch Blast: 23 + Guidance: 4 Force: 10 + Necrotic: 6

He then steps back into cover from the massive stone slab, moving to intercept any enemies coming at Fae, his black shield at the ready.

Initiative: Surprise Round Cont.
KD | A1(FF) | A2 | Neph | Auric | Verr | Nova | Fae | T1 | T2-6 | TA | TB | TC(FF) | TD | TE | TF(FF) | Hansel
(Fairy Fire: (FF) | Restrained (R))
(Verr is the yellow V, essentially under a tree canopy at the back of the group.)

Auric joins Fae, sending a barrage of missiles to the east while Neph sends a dark beam of energy streaking to the west. Both Anchorites sustain equal amounts of damage, however hold their ground, still standing steady.

Initiative: Surprise Round Cont.
KD | A1(FF) | A2 | Neph | Auric | Verr | Nova | Fae | T1 | T2-6 | TA | TB | TC(FF) | TD | TE | TF(FF) | Hansel
(Fairy Fire: (FF) | Restrained (R))

Surprise Attack: Verr
Roll Call: KD - Round 1 Action

Very runs to the slab (where green and purple are) holding his attack

(I assumed casting faerie fire was the surprise action and then firing the crossbow smell bolt was another round’s action?)

(I thought that cross bolt smelly bolt was the fairy fire.)