"So... we taking the guy or no?" Jararaka points to the cultist slung over Jirel's shoulder.

But she sees the pack of kobolds before she gets an answer. Acknowledging Cheddar's words, "sure is. Wonder where they are scurrying to." She jogs up a few steps behind the kobolds and calls out in Draconic, one hand on her hip and one hand pointing in the eastern direction:

(ooc: attempting to pass as a fellow cultist and get the kobolds to explain where they are going, and maybe why. Deception: 10 + 1 (guidance))

Noticing the pack of kobolds scampering past, Tylaerys quickly moves to put herself between the children and the enemies, ready to spring forward and attack. "They may have orders to sack the temple, we must stop them!" She says quickly in a lowered voice.

The kobolds come to a skittering stop when Jararaka hails them.  They all look her over, then begin chattering in Draconic:

 They then turn to resume their journey north, with one of the kobolds tipping his little cap and giving Jararaka a charming nod.

About this time, Misses Binklesworth of the Twilight Binklesworths bounds back out of the shadows and returns to Finn's side.

Finn:

Tylaerys stays back with Periwinkle and Grouse behind her, listening attentively to the chattering of the small scaly doglike creatures. She was well versed in classical high draconic but this was the first time she heard a kobold use it and it took a moment to tune in on their barking dialect. Only a scouting patrol it seemed but there was nothing to suggest they would be any less cruel to the villagers than the fanatic men in black had been.

"We must stop them or they will wreak havoc at the Temple of Yondalla!" Tylaerys turns and says with a lowered voice to the others, then advancing to attack.

Hearing Tylaerys' statement, he takes it as a command. Shrugging cat shoulders he runs towards the kobolds (going to all 4s to do so and at either his full range or, to get within 13 ft. of them-which ever comes first.) He then stands and launches a [spell]Fire Bolt['spell] at them.

Hit: 7

Damage. if hits: 4

Tylaerys and Cheddar spring into action, catching the kobolds and their allies off guard. 

[Tylaerys and Cheddar get to act on a surprise round.]

ROUND ONE

• Tylaerys
• Jararaka
• Jirel
• Kobolds
• Cheddar
• Finn
• Jenviel

ROUND TWO

• Tylaerys
• Jararaka
• Jirel
• Kobolds
• Cheddar
• Finn
• Jenviel

Desperate to stop the kobolds from reaching the temple Tylaerys swiftly loads her crossbow, taking a quick aim and firing a bolt at the last kobold.

Light crossbow: 18 Another roll should advantage be given due to surprise and attacking from behind: 23 Piercing: 11

Tylaerys sinks a crossbow bolt into the hind scales of one of the little kobolds, while Cheddar's fire bolt sails high and wide.

The kobold's jump in alarm and begin barking and yapping in draconic.

 [Round Two is up.]

The vile kobolds had to be stopped, quickly, or they would soon draw the army of the dragon upon them. Tylaerys calls upon the powers of her draconic blood, her silvery scales glistening in the light of the fires, uttering a short rhyme in high draconic with a clear and firm voice, a hand going to the now shimmering crystal hanging from her neck while her other hand makes a swift complex pattern in the air and suddenly a cloud of silvery dust briefly envelopes the kobolds, it's sophoric power sending them into swift slumber.

Cast Sleep 32 hp affected.

Tylaerys finishes her spell.  One by one, beginning with the kobold wounded by her bolt a moment ago, they start to lie down on the cobblestone street.  When it is over, only one kobold is still standing.  His eyes go wide as he looks at his fellows.  In draconic:

Cheddar, seeing Tylaerys' spell working so well launches another Firebolt, this time at the kobold that is still awake.
Hit: 18

Damage: 3

And just like that, the road is full of 5 sleeping kobolds and 1 dead and charred kobold.

We are back out of initiative unless/until they start to wake up.

Jararaka pulls out the scimitar again and is just about to say something very shocking to the kobolds- before one of them is struck by a bolt and then very quickly burnt to ashes, and the rest drop to Tylaerys' spell. "Oh. Well. Remind me to stay on the good side." And walks over to tie the sleeping kobolds up with a rope, linked together in a line. As she does so, she scoops up the sacks they were carrying with her tail and takes them back to where the group is gathered to inspect what's inside.

(ooc: dang good work that was so fast!!)

While sorting through the things, she explains what the kobolds said, "...so they couldn't get in the temple, is that a good place?" She looks to the others with more experience in this town.

"I'm...I'm sorry." Tylaerys turns and says to the others. "I acted hastily..." She continues, watching as Jararaka ties up the sleeping kobolds. "...but we need to move, now!" She says, trying to again impress the urgency to move on before the army of the dragon fully advances into this area too. "We need to quickly decide whether we should go to the temple of Yondalla to lead any villagers there to safety of the Keep o' the Greenfields..." She says, motioning to the north. "...or move on immediately to the keep." She finishes, looking to the southeast at the keep on the hill in the distance, lightly illuminated from the fires to the south. "We have no time for anything else now!"

     “If we’re looking to hurry, I do t think we can afford a string of prisoners,” Finn says with some obvious reluctance. 
     Finn takes a moment to see where the children are and then continues in a hushed voice so as they won’t overhear.  “There’s a big battle near the tavern.  Hard to say if we could tip it or not but if we don’t try then I don’t have much hope for their father…”

     Finn, if she gets the Draconic translated, would argue the temple sounds like it’s still secure since Kobolds said the door wasn’t open to them.  Haste is definitely important but Finn thinks we either head to the tavern or the keep, for now…

Surprised and a bit proud his spell did so well, Cheddar calmly walks to inspect the sleeping kobolds.
Hearing Tylaerys, Finn and Jarraaka's exchange he pipes in.
"I am not certain the Temple would be the best choice." he purrs. " If these were on their way there, and it is a focus in this attack, then their failure will surely be discovered, if not expected and others may be sent." 
Cheddar pauses for a moment then says. 
"But it could be a diversion as well." he remarks. "but the tavern may be the best rallying point for locals to move onto the Keep and a good place to start to locate the children's father." 

Jirel had fallen silent, honey eyes a little distant as she’s been in her own thoughts. The quick and impressive handling of the kobolds, the scouting, and the tactical discussions were enough to remind her of the capable company that was part of this group. Though the more they debate their course of action, the more torn she was about the situation. The goliath looks over at Jenviel with the first bound cultist, and now their pile of kobolds. Their group was growing little by the minute, as were the fires and potentially the danger ahead. A low grumble would start from her core as she contemplates. Dare she make the suggestion?

Jirel’s exhales. “Do we split?” She pauses before thinking rough thoughts out loud. “Send a scout to check the temple while a couple stuff the baddies outta sight an’ the rest head towards the tavern?” Her eyes glance at Finn’s little companion before looking back up. “Once done with them,” She gestures to all their tied up ‘companions’. “That group rendezvous with the scout at the Temple, if they ain’t back yet, to access the situation. If it’s a community strong hold, then the littles can be safe an’ back up can be sent to the tavern.”

Jenviel Tsumara

Jenviel watches the brief exchange of niceties between Madame Henjeyokai Jararaka and the group of Kobolds silently. Since she's well-versed in draconic language, and she has overheard and understood the meaning of some of the words relayed from the kobold spokesperson, rest of the conversation has been interpreted through speachreading.

During the commotion, she hasn't moved even an inch of her hair as she remained frozen in her stance. Everything happened so fast that she actually couldn't contemplate the purpose of the fight, a fight not worth of fighting. Anyway, once she finds that the group is failing to notice an important part of the intrusion of the kobolds, she will speak boldly to draw their attention to the bigger picture,

"Uh..oh. We're not considering the fact that these dragonkins were just following orders from someone of higher rank. They mentioned 'Sky Captain Regs', do you remember it? This Captain Regs either has the ability to fly or he's mounted over a flying-mount. But, I fear that it's something worse than these assumptions."

"Is the blue dragon sending waves of draconic creatures to establish something of great significance? If it is true, then we're outnumbered."