Galvanized by the courage of the girl's escape, Lyra's doubts melt away. Had she ever been so brave when she was a child? Somehow she doubts charming her daft uncle into opening her parents' liquor cabinet counts...

Lyra sounds her harmonica again, this time something more strident and heroic.

"We will match the courage of this brilliant young lass
Through cold incline steep and mountain peak fast
To track these vile minions her escape shall avail
Us through blizzard and snowdrift and sleet storm and hail
'Til we slay the fell villain who caused this to pass
And free all her friends; we warm to our task
So that soon this brave little one's tale
Shall ring out on Christmas in Hoovale at last."

Lyra has never been more motivated.  Bastards... "Small scaly creatures"... kobolds? Don't they usually serve dragons, not liches? And why carved and painted pieces of wood?

She gently asks the girl one more question as she heads out the door: "Young lass, did you see only children chained, or were there grown-ups as well?"

In truth, it matters little for the moment. Lyra is as ready as she has ever been. The sooner they set off, the better.

As the small child burst through the door of the Inn, Kosmos couldn’t help but grin, seeing the life the girl brought to the place was so heart-warming.  Though the moment was fleeting as she told her story of woe.  Then, as the fairy and the half-elf burst into rhyme he started to worry that maybe they were afflicted with a curse?  Would that come to him?  He couldn’t let that happen!  Then he realized they both drank the same thing… maybe it had something to do with that?  “Hey guys, might want to lay off that cold drink, don’t you think?  Who knows what else it’ll do to you!”

Then as the fairy heads out the door, the harengon follows.

Donlas' spirits are lifted as well
with the girl coming through the door clinging the belll.
His children might be fine
that is a good sign
they should move there now fast
or they mightbe the last
One question remains for him to ask
"How did you escape?" before moving on with the task

Donlas and Lyra
The child's parents are too excited about having their child home that they wisk her away before too many questions can be asked of her. "You have what you need, the location of the cave, why bother the child with unneeded questions?" They say.

The party can easily follow the guidance provided by the girl to find the mountain she was referring to. You find a trail leading up the mountain without much trouble. As you get halfway up the mountain, it begins to snow and the trail becomes steeper. As the weather worsens, the trail becomes difficult terrain, and you must spend twice your usual movement to trek through the snow and wind.

The trail up the mountain was cold, hard, and steep.
The snow from the storm was nearly knee deep.
A sharp wind blew fiercely as the group trudged along.
It seemed in the distance they could hear a song.
Something of snowmen and wanting to build them.
But the ones that appeared were trying to kill them.
These snowmen were not jolly, but appeared to be bad.
The look in their eyes showed they were indeed mad.

The four snowmen appear seemingly out of nowhere, emerging from the blowing snow drifts. They appear to be quite hostil. Roll initiative.

Snomen initiative: 2

If you go before the snowmen you can post actions as well.

Kosmos initiative: 26

(Assuming Kosmos can get to one of the snowmen..) He twirls around his magic quarterstaff as he approaches the nearest snowman and brings it up from below to hit the snowman on the side, Attack: 30 Damage: 9

After that he brings it straight down on the snowman for his second attack, Attack: 22 Damage: 13

Then hops up and kicks the snowman with both feet together, Attack: 22 Damage: 11

With the crit from the first attack, here's the second roll of damage: 1

Jack Frost's Initiative:  20

Watching Kosmo lay into one of the snowmen, Jack floats up and away from the group, giving himself about 20' distance from the snowmen and an altitude of about 10' from the mountain slope.  With a wave of his staff, he sends two beams of silvery white light striking into two of the snowmen.

Twinned Ray of frost:

Attack: 26 Damage: 17 (+5 from Elemental Affinity) (Ignore Cold Resistance due to Elemental Adept)
Attack: 17 Damage: 11 (Ignore Cold Resistance due to Elemental Adept)

At the same time, a second skin of similar energy springs up around him.  (spend 1 sorcery point to gain Cold Resistance for 1 hour from Elemental Affinity).

Additional Edits:  Damage roll second attack is one more since any 1s on my cold dice turn into 2s.  Also, if the first attack misses then that +5 damage actually rolls to the second attack instead.  Okay, I think that's it.

(Ok, I'm new to PBP, so I apologize in advance for all the conditional if/then statements in this post.  I'm completely good with theater of the mind combat, but Lyra's actions, and sometimes bonus action but not this time, will depend on positioning of allies/foes and on knowing who goes next in initiative).

Lyra's Initiative:  +4 with advantage due to sentinel shield:  24

Lyra's Bonus Action:  Sensing she's gotten off on the wrong foot with the paladin, Lyra sounds a deep, sonorous pulse, reminiscent of the cadence of a dwarven war song.  Bardic Inspiration to Batair.  Add 1d10 to an attack/check/save after rolling it anytime in the next 10 minutes.

Also, due to an Eloquence Bard's Unfailing Inspiration, you should use it even if you think you'd still fail:

When a creature adds one of your Bardic Inspiration dice to its ability check, attack roll, or saving throw and the roll fails, the creature can keep the Bardic Inspiration die.

Lyra's Action/Movement:  I'll try to put the if/then conditions in order of preference (A1, A2, A3 etc.)

A1.  If the difficult terrain and 15' of angled sideways movement allow Lyra to position herself so a 30' cone will cover at least 3 of the 4 snowmen and NOT hit Kosmos or other allies in melee:  Lyra casts Fear at 3rd level.  Concentration.  DC19 Wisdom save.  All failing creatures must use action to dash away from Lyra (incurring Opportunity attacks) while in line of sight.  Only once Lyra is no longer visible to them may they make another save.

A2.  If  A1 is not possible but Lyra can cover all 4 snowmen with a 40' cube:  Lyra casts Slow at 3rd level.  Concentration.  Affects chosen creatures only so no worry of friendly fire.  DC19 Wisdom save.  Failing creatures:  speed halved, -2 penalty to AC and Dex saves, can't use reactions, can only take action or bonus action (not both), and can only take 1 attack on their turn, even if they have multi-attack.  If slowed creature casts a spell, must roll a d20 and if 11 or higher, spell doesn't take effect until next turn and creature must use action on that next turn to complete spell.  Repeat Wisdom save at end of each turn.

A3.  If neither A1 nor A2 is possible, Lyra just uses her action for Eldritch Blast, 3 beams, each successively aimed at whichever appears to be the most injured snowman.  If no perceptible difference, then at one of the ones in melee with her allies.

Eldritch Blast Beam 1 - Attack:  30  Damage on hit:  12

Eldritch Blast Beam 2 - Attack:  29  Damage on hit:  11

Eldritch Blast Beam 3 - Attack:  25  Damage on hit:  6

(Damage type:  force).

If she has movement remaining, Lyra will try to position herself 10' behind where she thinks Batair will end up.

22

Donlas moves behind one of his allies that seems to not move this turn (he has 35ft of movement).

Next he shoots off his lightning launcher from the middle of his body at the snowmen that is in melee with one of his allies.

Attack: 26 Damage: 27

After which he attempts to hide behind his ally: 29

(advantage from infiltrator armor, hiding behind ally thats at min one size larger.)

Kosmos
Steps past Batter, who was leading the way up the steep mountain slope. Whirling his quarterstaff, Kosmos slams the first of the snowmen twice, nearly faster than the eye can follow. He then leaps up, his feet finding purchase in the snoman's chest, dealing more damage, though not quite as much as one would expect, not like the blows from his magical quarterstaff.

Donlas
Slipping between his companions, he moves up in the line, until he stands behind Batter. Letting loose with a blast of lightning, between Batter and Kosmos, he blasts the snoman that Kosmos just pummeled, causing snow to be blown off of the figure. Then Donlas moves behind Batter and out of sight of the snomen.

Batter
Is now up. Please post action...

Posting a map to help with placement...

Map

Thanks for the map!

Seeing where Batair is, if positions stay the same, Lyra would probably use option 1 above for her action to cast Fear in a 30' cone straight ahead, counting on the paladin's Aura of Courage to make Donlas, Kosmos and Batair himself immune to the frightened condition.  That should get all 4 of the snowmen, I think?  That's in addition to the bonus action Bardic Inspiration on Batair.

In case all the snowmen fail their save, she would move up alongside Batair to try to extend line of sight to the frightened snowmen and use her free action to draw her hex weapon longsword for an opportunity attack when the snowmen dash away.

But of course there could be further player movement before Lyra's turn so I'll wait to see how things shake out.  Just wanted to post the above clarification to Lyra's projected next action.  Further edited to say - ok, sounds like no further movement?  Let's go with Fear as described above.

Lyra's fear spell for snowmen would probably look like herself and her black harmonica silhouetted in front of the sudden vision of a blazing, pitiless summer/desert sun, playing the theme to The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

((Sorry guys, been busy with holiday travels and such... should be back to regular daily posting now.  ^^o))

Batair pounds his axe against his shield loudly while staring down the snowmen. His axe begins to brightly glow white as he points it toward them in challenge.. (Channel Divinity: Sacred Weapon)

"Baruk Khazâd! Khazâd ai-mênu!" he shouts thunderously, and lunges forward to hew both forward snowmen.

((21 16 Attacks Rolls for Primary & Secondary Swings of the Battle Axe - Slashing Damage))

Attack 1 Damage if hit - 11

Attack 2 Damage if hit - 5

As a bonus action, Batair clangs and raises his shield which seems to reflect the bright light onto Kosmos. (Casts Sanctuary)

((I messed up the dice roll originally...this was my attempt to fix it.  Things are acting a little funny... 28  21 ))

"Whoa!!" Kosmos is shocked as the bright light engulfs him, turns to Batair, "Thanks man!"

Quote from Alpheus_Magnus >>

This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.

((Sorry guys, been busy with holiday travels and such... should be back to regular daily posting now.  ^^o))

Batair pounds his axe against his shield loudly while staring down the snowmen. His axe begins to brightly glow white as he points it toward them in challenge.. (Channel Divinity: Sacred Weapon)

"Baruk Khazâd! Khazâd ai-mênu!" he shouts thunderously, and lunges forward to hew both forward snowmen.

((25 22 Attacks Rolls for Primary & Secondary Swings of the Battle Axe - Slashing Damage))

Attack 1 Damage if hit - 11

Attack 2 Damage if hit - 10

 

As a bonus action, Batair clangs and raises his shield which seems to reflect the bright light onto Kosmos. (Casts Sanctuary)

 

((I messed up the dice roll originally...this was my attempt to fix it.  Things are acting a little funny... 22  17 ))

  Ok, Sacred Weapon takes your action to use, so you would not get any attacks. You can definitely cast sanctuary though.

Quote from DragonDenn >>

Quote from Alpheus_Magnus >>

This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.

((Sorry guys, been busy with holiday travels and such... should be back to regular daily posting now.  ^^o))

Batair pounds his axe against his shield loudly while staring down the snowmen. His axe begins to brightly glow white as he points it toward them in challenge.. (Channel Divinity: Sacred Weapon)

"Baruk Khazâd! Khazâd ai-mênu!" he shouts thunderously, and lunges forward to hew both forward snowmen.

((25 22 Attacks Rolls for Primary & Secondary Swings of the Battle Axe - Slashing Damage))

Attack 1 Damage if hit - 11

Attack 2 Damage if hit - 10

 

As a bonus action, Batair clangs and raises his shield which seems to reflect the bright light onto Kosmos. (Casts Sanctuary)

 

((I messed up the dice roll originally...this was my attempt to fix it.  Things are acting a little funny... 22  17 ))

  Ok, Sacred Weapon takes your action to use, so you would not get any attacks. You can definitely cast sanctuary though.

((Thanks.  I'll reroll and attack next round, then.))

((FYI if you use combat dice rolls, crit damage etc will be done automatically and also easier format)) 

Batter
BRings up a holy light in his weapon, then causes yet more light to surround Kasmos, protecting the monk from attacks.

Jack Frost
Sends two blasts of cold at the snomen. The cold simply sinks in and does not harm them. (Elemental Adept allows to ignore resistance, but snomen have immunity to cold.)

Lyra
Steps up to Batter's side, opposite Kosmos, and casts a spell.
Snomen saves vs Fear...
1 ... 18
3 ... 10
4 ... 5

Batter recieves some encouragement from the bard as well. Batter can add 1d10 to a roll he makes int he next ten minutes.

Extra snoman save, as I see the bard is casting without concern for hitting Batter, Kosmos, and Donlas...
2 ... 21

Donlas, Batter, and Kosmos, I need a save from each of you. Wis Save, DC 19 or you need to drop anything you are holding and spend your action running away from Lyra.
Snowmen.
The four snowmen turn tail and start running up the path. With the snow coming down they need 100 feet to get out of sight of the group. They move 40 feet up the path, the snow not seeming to slow them down at all.

Back to top of initiative. Updated map is below. You can all post now. Order is:
Kosmos > Donlas > Batter > Jack Frost > Lyra > Snowmen

Updated Map

Kosmos and Batter may get opportunity attacks as the snowmen flee. It all depends on your save VS fear. Please make those saves then post any opportunity attack you make along with your action for round two.

Wisdom save: 22 (+whatever aura of courage adds, advantage due to brave Halfling)