“First off, that spell you just cast Xal is really cool - I feel so sneaky!” Ursula exclaims in a whisper.  Then looking around the inside of the tower, she peers around to see if she can see anything other than the carvings..

Perception:  10

“Looks like the only way is up!”

It's open and in abandoned disuse, though you get the sense that the carvings in the icy walls tell a story, one of evil that was overcome and locked away...

Xal smiles at Ursula, “Just stay close, get too far away and you will not gain the benefit”. 

He starts to creep up the steps.

Stealth: 31

While we are lurking around Laala is going to cast Detect Magic

“Then up we shall go” Nimble responds to Ursula and follows the others up the stairs, working to keep up with the taller elves.  He sends Comet bounding up the stairs ahead, alert for any dangers.

Comet Perception. 19.

Comet conveys this first, but the rest of you hear it in short order as you stealthily make your way up. Laala, you can make out an enchantment that permeates the very ice of this tower, but no brighter spots ping to your enhanced perception of magical signatures.

As you make your way up the stairs, you hear the gruff laughter of orcs and the snarling of the Bad Toymakers. Sitting in the middle of the open floor, surrounded, is a group of what seem like hostages. Amongst the hostages are a few Toymakers who don't seem to have been turned yet, and some folks who look to be travelers, including elves, humans and a dwarf. One elf in particular catches your eye, she has a pale bluish cast to her skin, and her white hair drapes behind her in a snowy cascade. Lining the walls of this room are thin doors, some broken, either partially or entirely, each with an elven number placed above it. It seems that this floor was once home to multiple Noel Elf apartments. A set of stairs similar to the ones you came up on await on the opposite side of the central room.

There are six Winter Orcs, and five Bad Toymakers standing guard. The orcs look different from those you may be more familiar with to the south, having a bluish cast to their skin, dark hair, and carrying weapons whose blades look to be made of clear ice.

Ursula looks to the team to see if any have an idea on how to start the attack, if any have magic they want to use.  Assuming the creatures have yet to see them.  She stands ready to bolt in at the slightest acknowledge to attack!

Xal looks at the eleven guards. He whispers to the group, “An ambush is our best option here. I will keep us hidden until you act, to ensure we are not spotted”.

”We also need to be careful not to hurt the hostages, and it may be my role is to hide them if we can get them away”, he adds.

Laala whispers "I may have something that will make it easier to take these guys down when we are ready" 

She will begin to whisper in gnomish and prepare to cast Faerie Fire centered on the largest cluster of baddies when we decide to go. 

((The nearest of them are ~90 ft away, and the open space doesn't offer much in the way of cover, even with the concealing shadows, there's a good chance that once you emerge onto the floor that you'll be spotted.))

Xal looks to Laala, "That sounds good", then considers the distance to the Orcs and Bad Toymakers and the fact it is open without cover.

"Can anyone do anything to bring them to us? Something to get them curious without revealing our presence? That way we can separate some or all of them from the hostages", he asks hopefully.

((A few of you are still hurt from tussling with the snoman, you'd get the sense that you're likely not going to be able to find a spot to just chill out for an hour, but you may still have tea from Arthur, and there were the healing candies that Thomas gave you. I didn't ever make homebrew items for the stuff you got from the Toymakers, and we kind of rushed through that, so not sure who has them in inventory, but I think there were three healing candies?))

(OOC: I have 2 portions of the tea in my inventory. They heal 2d4+2 each if anyone wants them)

(Ursula doesn’t have any healing stuff and is not in need of healing either)

"Let me go first to attract them and keep some distance. I feel like these bells could be of some use" Elafir says. "You can stay in the shadow and wait for them to come closer before you start the ambush."

((Jangle Bells have three charges to deal thunder damage in a 10ft radius when being hit. Elafir wants to lure them closer to the group and get hit intentionally to trigger the effect. I could use some healing (13 hit points missing) but have second wind if someone else needs the healing more urgently.))

Xal looks over his companions and notices a few minor scrapes. ”An odd place to stop for tea I admit, but we could take a moment to drink from the flasks Arthur gave each of us? I can heal but would rather save my energy for when it is most important”.

With that he takes out his flask and raises it in salute towards the others, then takes a drink.

Heal: 10

Quote from kqstark >>

(Ursula doesn’t have any healing stuff and is not in need of healing either)

"Yes, that would be best, I'm truly worried that something is wrong. Midwinter is coming up, and to have not heard from him or any of the Toymakers... Oh here... take some of this with you too."

He hands each of you an enchanted flask filled with a special batch of hot tea.

((Functions as two potions of healing each.))

((She would have the flask, unless she used it previously and I forgot.))

(Oh! I think I missed that part, thank you.)

”Great idea Elafir, I’ll be ready to strike once you get them close.  Everyone all healed up and ready to go?  If anyone needs a drink from my flask, I’ll be happy to share.”  She makes a quick reflection on that last comment.  Totally uncharacteristic of her.  Not sure if it’s the hat she’s wearing or the place they are in, but interesting none the less.

"I'm ready" Laala says still holding her spell

Nimble looks at the guards and the prisoners and considers their odds.  “Let’s see if we can get some help with a distraction. I will try to reach out to the prisoners”  He winds a small piece of copper wire around his ear and points at the pale blue elf, whispering a short message that only she can hear in her mind.

“Don’t be startled.  We are a rescue party, not far away and here to help.  Are you able to start a distraction among the guards and help us as we fight?  Are there other guards nearby?  Whisper a reply and I will hear.”