((we still have to stay in Baldur's Gate for a bit so I was thinking it'd be better if we don't alert them by straight up knocking them out, but who knows how it will turn out. Let's try distraction first, and if that doesn't work, team Sneak can help out in taking out the two guards if it seems like Jara and Jirel are having trouble before going in))

Jararaka considers, "it's annoying when you're staying somewhere and people come asking about folks you jumped though..." She shakes her head, clearing the fog of worry, "whatever, if they don't take the bait, then we'll just storm it."

She gives Yeshil a pat on the shoulder before she is turned invisible and the girl will feel a revitalising jolt of energy run through her [Jararaka casts enhance ability to give Yeshil advantage on any INT checks]. "You've a good eye, look out for clues, yeah?"

Jararaka stretches her limbs out and her bones crack before shaking herself and locking eyes with Jirel, "well, wait's up...!" She pounces towards Jirel, in an attempt to push the two of them close to the hideout building and crash into some nearby things like crates to make a loud commotion.

[Not sure if some sort of roll is needed since Jirel is cooperating, but I made an Athletics roll for this: 12 (11 on the dice, if another check is needed)]

Yeshil bobs impatiently, half paying attention to Finn and half glancing across the street at the still-open door. Finally Finn finishes, and Yeshil simply replies: Cool. You do that. before turning to Tylaerys and saying: OK, blondie. Make me disappear. With the aid of Jararaka's enhancements, the invisible Yeshil hurries across the street and through the open door.

((Not intending to shut down further discussion, but Yeshil is feeling compelled right now, her impatience overcoming her reason.))

     Finn gives her signature sigh and shrug and then does a quick face change... Skin tone is adjusted, bone structure, hair length and color of course.  It's a quick change so not much can be done for the clothing but people tend to pay more attention to the face if everything else is relatively generic.

     Once that is done Finn walks casually up to the open door and then stands leaning against the wall next to it and waits...  Waits to see what happens with the guards, waits to see what she hears from inside and just waits to see how this is all going to blow up. 

((Finn is looking to give InvisiYeshil time to get in and do their invisible search and such.  She's also wants to give time for the guards to get distracted by the fight, maybe even see if any cultists respond.  But the idea of slipping in stealthily when all is distracted or not paying attention is still in her head...))

Tylaerys listens to the others and considers their options. It was hard to determine what would be the team's best course of action, but letting Yeshil go in unseen seemed like a prudent next step in their plan, so the blonde Half-Elf steps out of sight of the Flaming Fist guards and calls upon the powers of the weave to turn the green girl invisible. The blonde Half-Elf then stays in cover to not be disturbed while concentrating on her spell, waiting and hoping all would go well for Yeshil.

Stealth: 14

The streets, though not empty, are relatively quiet at this hour.  That is, until a massive lizardwoman and a half-giant barbarian tumble out of an alleyway and begin wrestling in the street.  The dimly lit scene is chaotic and they roll down the center of the road, Jararaka's tail whipping about wildly.  A couple of passersby quickly turn and head in the opposite direction and the two Flaming Fist soldier are momentarily flabbergasted, standing mouth agape as they try to assess, in this instant, whether they are in mortal danger.  They hardly seem to notice Finn cross the street and lean against the outside of the building, near the open door.

At the same time, the invisible Yeshil darts across the street and into the open door of the flop house.  She finds herself in a long, narrow hall with a single lit wall sconce.  At the far end of the hallway, a rickety staircase leads upward.

Yeshil walks swiftly down the corridor, aware of herself despite the strange sensation of not being able to see herself. As she goes, he eyes flick back and forth, her mind whirring, assessing the room and its potential dangers, as she moves toward the stairs...

Should I put the light out? Might make it easier for Finn if she needs to sneak in. No, better to not give away that someone is inside. Nowhere to hide except under the stairs. Wait, I'm invisible, I shouldn't need to hide. Should I call out to alert the cultists about the street fight? Might get a few out of the room, and they could pass me by if I stay under the stairs. No, better to get in and assess the situation first before they raise their guard.

Yeshil will continue up the stairs, moving 30' per round, and using her action to move the invisible Mage Hand 30', and her bonus action to Hide. (Stealth if required: 17)

     Finn blips Misses Binklesworth back into existence - Inside a pocket of her cloak or someplace that it's not really noticeable.  She wants the familiar around when she sneaks into the hallway, perhaps as a distraction or a likely excuse for an odd noise if she needs one while stealthing through the hallway...  But not yet on entering the hallway.  Finn is waiting a minute or so in order to let the guards get occupied with the fight and see if anyone from inside comes running out or not.

When Jararaka caught her eyes, Jirel grins, her fangs pointing out to look more like a sneer. She was ready. Grunts leave the goliath as she's pounced, rolling with it. Playing along, she'd focus on wrestling rather than slugging. Thus, Jirel would lean into her athletics and go for grappling techniques to counter the dexterous lizardwoman.

(Athletics to play along: 20 )

On the street:

The streets echo with the sounds of their struggle – the heavy grunts of the goliath, the hissing and snarling of the lizardwoman, and the occasional clash of their bodies meeting in the wrestling match.  After the initial flight of the nearest pedestrians, now a few spectators begin to gather, drawn by the commotion, and whispers of curiosity and confusion fill the air.

The two Flaming Fist soldiers, still unsure exactly what is happening or where these two came from, are ineffective as a deterrent.  One of them clears his throat and takes a half step forward.  "Ahem!  What's all this?  Move along before someone gets hurt!"  He taps the Flaming Fist emblem on his breastplate, as if to invoke additional authority.

Upstairs:

Yeshil:

 Admist the wrestling, Jararaka snaps her jaws in show, and whispers to Jirel, "hey, can you toss me up to 2nd floor?" Before wriggling out of one of Jirel's holds, and yells to give this fight some more narrative, "y'think this is a joke? My javelins work just fine, you try whittling on bone!"

When the Flaming Fist tries to intervene, she bares her teeth at them and the onlookers, "mind y'own business!" (Intimidation if needed: 17)

(intention is to continue to make noise, maybe land against the 2nd floor walls, take a peek into the window, trying to get the cultists' attention)

Yeshil pauses for a moment until the guard settles back in to his game (to ensure he isn't actually alert and only pretending to relax), and surveys the room, considering her options and deciding the best path to take to the ladder. As added security, she floats her invisible Mage Hand over to the guard's table, and grasps the knife. She doesn't lift it just yet, but will do so if anything goes awry while crossing the room...

Stealth: 17

Yeshil:

In the Street:

[Waiting to see if Jirel attempts to throw Jararaka up to the second floor...]

The Flaming Fist soldier retreats a step, but now he draws his longsword.  "What!?  Do you know who you're talking to, you scaly tart?!  Now disperse, or you will be dispersed!"  He hisses the words, as if trying to keep himself from raising his voice.  Despite his tough talk, he does noticeably step back until he is back alongside the other soldier - who puts a hand on his sword but does not draw it.

Meanwhile Tylaerys stays hidden behind some crates, concentrating on her spell while peeking out to keep an eye on the brawlers, ready to assist with another diversion should the interaction with the Flaming Fist's turn violent.

     Finn hesitates...  She wants to slink back into the hideout but she isn't sure she gave the invisible Yeshil enough time to do their thing yet.  Compromising, Finn sends Misses Binklesworth back inside, having her stick the the wall and shadows.  "Stay within range, eh?" Finn whispers to the cat as she sends it inside.  She doesn't intend to be going into the cat's senses so it'll just be what the familiar can share via their telepathic bond...

Should she move the knife away from his reach? Would placing it on another table perhaps make him doubt himself, or simply make him more certain of an intruder? What else could avert his attention enough for her to escape the room without arousing his suspicion?

Quickly Yeshil opts for what she hopes is a simpler plan, although uncertain if it will work. She continues to creep as silently as possible toward the ladder, but at the same time controlling the magic hand to grip the knife in place as tightly as her magic allows. Hopefully the guard will simply believe the knife is firmly embedded in the wood of the table, and have to work to free it, and that will occupy him enough for her to make her egress.

((Not sure how mage hand works if someone else tries to take what it is holding.))

Finn discharges Misses Binklesworth into the hallway.  With the battle royale in the street, no one notices the cat slip away.  

Yeshil:

Jirel growls. "Slippery son of a-!" Then she lunges to grab Jararaka once again, lowering her voice to respond with directions. "Step up on Spear." Then when the lizardwoman would expertly evade her grapple once again and put a little distance between them, she'd snarl and lower into a crouch. The giantess would prowl around to get them into position. "I got ya this time!" Then rushes forward, lowering herself as if going to spear her. Jirel positions her hands together for Jararaka to step into, then hoist her into the air with the intention of using their momentum to throw/propel Jararaka towards the second floor.

Yeshil curses silently to herself. She had charged into this incursion fully expecting to find a prison guarded by cultists and protected by a magic door. Looking at the situation now though, she deduces that these are merely armed sentries behind a secret door that opens into the hallway. Her irrational zeal for finding Frulam Mondath was leading her to act... irrationally. All the same, she takes a quick glance around to confirm her suspicions, gauging the distance to the wall, and then ascending the ladder again to poke her head through the ceiling/floor and comparing the distance on the floor above to the stairwell (Investigation? 21), as well as checking on the disposition of the lone guard.

Without any more solid indication of a prison down here, and if the guard is not in the way, Yeshil will ascend the ladder once more and move toward the door in the north-west corner. There could still be a prison somewhere in this flop-house, and since these guards don't seem to be aware of the ruckus in the street, she would need to be extra careful...