Tiny speaks to Titaani through their bond (voice of the chain master), and Titaani will relay this information to the rest of the group.

Ben:

”Are we ready for a fight? Two members of the League of Malevolence reside below.  Mayhaps we can take them by surprise, downing the mage before he can do too much damage,” suggests Ben in a whisper to the others as they prepare.

The birdlike creatures begin to make odd clacking noises as the men continue to talk downstairs. 

"Kelek and Warduke..." grumbles Elkhorn quietly upon hearing their descriptions. "I'm in."

"They both like fire," he adds. "Watch out."

Matilda just nods and grins.

Ben:

”Let’s go quickly, then, focusing on Kellek before he can hit us with spells” whispers Ben.  Activating his heroism charm/boon, he prepares to rush in and focus attack on the presumed spellcaster sitting on the throne.

Those who intend on rushing in, roll initiative!

(Adopting the new 2024 Surprise rules, your surprised foes will have Disadvantage on their Initiative rolls.)

Ben’s Initiative:  14

Matilda Initiative- 14

Once again growing larger, Horatio nods towards Ben, "Right, throne guy. I'm ready." (( Horatio Initiative 19 ))

Initiative:
Horatio 19
Matilda: 14
Ben: 9
Elkhorn: 17
Titaani: __
Pud: __
Kelek: 13
Warduke: 3

Titaani cracks her knuckles like she had often seen Matilda do (and instantly regrets it, finding the sensation weird) before quickly telepathically relaying the group's plans to Tiny.

Initiative: 14

Pud’s initiative: 8 

Everyone with an initiative of 8 or higher may act! (That's everyone!)

None of you are closer than 35' (squeezing past the others would normally be difficult terrain, but we'll assume you're all descending in unison, so no movement penalty.) Pud, the farthest back, is currently 50' of movement away from melee. 

But all of you can get to a place on the stairway within 25-30' that would give you direct visual contact and the opportunity to use ranged weapons, if you choose.

At the signal and without a word, Horatio bursts out of cover and sprints towards the man on the throne (( Action 1: Dash 30', + normal Movement 5' )). He then tries to strike the man in the face with a right cross (( Action 2: Unarmed Strike, 22 to hit, 12 points bludgeoning damage (includes +6 from Giant's Might 1d6 roll). He then tries the same strike again, attempting to pummel the man's nose, (( Bonus Action: Unarmed Strike, 20 to hit, 8 points bludgeoning damage )). Driving the point home, Horatio head butts the man with all his might (( Action Surge, Unarmed Strike, 13 to hit, 12 points bludgeoning damage )). 

Matilda moves down to the base of the stairs and sends her magical blade winging towards the bearded mans face, then slips behind a pillar out of sight.

Attack: 27 Damage: 13 + Sneak Attack- 6

BA- Hide.

While everyone stands at the ready stacked up on the staircase, Pud's nerves begin to get the best of him and he begins to tremble. He closes his eyes and tries to wrestle control of his nerves. Then he hears a low humming, almost like the buzz of electricity, and he feels the flutter of Rizzo's wings on his cheek. She always had the innate ability to sense when Pud was nervous or unhappy. This always amazed him as he did not intend this when he tinkers her up out of scraps in the shop. She's something special.

He opens his eyes slowly, smiles and boops her on the forehead. "Hang back aways, girl. Stay away from their fire." 

Their moment is cut short as Horatio and Matilda make their moves.

"I love you little one. You were always my best friend...Take care of yourself."

Pud rushes in right on Matilda's tail.

When Matilda launches her magical blade, Pud follows suit with two blasts of energy. Once he launches his attack, he blinks out of sight and reappears 15 fit back up the staircase.

Attack: Cast Eldritch Blast at the wizard. Blast 1: 28 (NAT 20 + 8) to hit for 5 Damage. Blast 2: 22 (19 + 8) to hit for 1 Damage. Total damage: 6 

Bonus Action: Activate his Boots of the Winding Path and teleport 15 ft back up the stairwell. 

Ben:

Rushing down the stairs, Ben suddenly teleports adjacent to the spellcaster (Misty Step) and slashes at him twice with his Longsword!

(Bless effect from Heroism and smiting if attacks connect)

Longsword attack with bless:  21 plus 1

Longsword Smite Damage:  24

Longsword attack with bless:  14 plus 2

Longsword Smite Damage:  16

Horatio 19
Matilda: 14
Titaani: 14
Ben: 9
Pud: 8
Warduke: 8
Elkhorn: 7
Kelek: 5
Three small, scaly, birdlike creatures: 15

At the signal, Horatio silently bursts and sprints towards Kelek, throwing two powerful punches at him. Kelek instantly protects himself with an invisible barrier of magical force, but Horatio's swings are to much for it. He lands two hits on the bearded man's face (but not the headbutt, which is deflected by the invisible shield.)

Two of the scaly birdlike things snap at Horatio's ankles:
Bite Attack: 4. Hit: 2 piercing damage, and Horatio must succeed on a DC 11 CON Save...
Bite Attack: 13. Hit: 5 piercing damage, and Horatio must succeed on a DC 11 CON Save...

"Hey! What? What do you thin..."

(Matilda can bonus action Dash and skip the Hide, putting her right next to Kelek for her attack, or go after a bird (closer) and not Kelek - which do you prefer?)

Ben teleports right behind the throne, and with a pair of heroic slashes, kills Kelek on the spot.

Pud appears next, launching a sizzling pair of energy beams (at Warduke, presumably, seeing Kelek dead?)

"You shouldn't have done that..." grunts Warduke under his helm.

Titaani may act, and Matilda can clarify her actions (now further complicated by Kelek's instant demise.)

( Bird I guess.....or Warduke preferably throwing it.)