"Yes, we do want to eliminate the threat, but I wanted you all to be aware what was up there and not stumble into it.  And like Mala said, make a plan."

Faera also checks out the paintings to see what she knows. History:  14

(How close were the 3 perytons to each other?)

Thurodim mutters to himself about already having presented a plan but he can only assume it wasn't complicated enough.

Mala mentions to the others that the last picture might be Ilfhold. 

"As for a plan - I think we should take advantage of surprise. Those fighting at range get in position first.  Then others charge in - like you Thurodim," she says, giving him a smile. "I just hope they don't fly off."

"I can sneak." Thurodim mutters, but waits for the big brains to devise their plan and set it in motion, hopefully before the Peryti start hatching new eggs.

Faera looks to Thurodim with a little smirk and asks, "Are you grumbling under your breath?" she chuckles a bit, "I just didn't want Ghurr running up there without knowing what was going on.  You can devise a plan just as easily as we can, it was more, wait - there are 3 more of those things on the roof, lets be prepared."

She nods to Mala, "Yes, lets get moving, take position and attack."

Stealth 9 

The massive green half-orc shrugs and starts moving up the stairs, more quietly than his body frame would suggest, his grip on his axe tightening, ready to charge the last bit.

Stealth: 6

Mala returns Faera's nod and moves carefully up the stairs, trying to stay quiet. (Stealth: 22)

Quote from kqstark >>

Faera also checks out the paintings to see what she knows. History:  14

(How close were the 3 perytons to each other?)

I'm afraid you don't recognise any more than has already been reduced. 

I'll make Ghurr's and Illithir's in the log just to keep things moving.

Ghurr: 7

Illithir: 13

Average: 14

Making your way up the narrow spiral of the stairs you endeavour to remain quiet, but...

Faera and Illithir, as Ghurr can't respond right now I would like one of you to tell me what goes wrong as you climb the stairs. It should involve one, two, or all three of you.

As for how close they all were, they were around the edge of the roof from each other. The furthest two are 40ft apart, the width of the floor. The middle one, the one almost opposite the exit of the stairs, is a little closer to one than the other, perhaps 15ft apart. 

As Faera heads up the stairs, she starts drawing out her rapier... thinking of something to tell Ghurr quick, she spins around to tell him.  But he is closer than she thought and her rapier clangs against his polearm's blade and it rings out through the stairwell..

Perhaps it was that she noticed the deep gouges in the stonework as you all climb the stairs - you can easily imagine a large pair of antlers working their way up the spiral that would be just that bit too small to fit them. Certainly you all see the occasional big, white feather.

Whatever the reason for the movement, the ringing sound of metal on metal carries. In your memory of the moment it will last longer, ring louder, but even right here and now it is enough for you to realise - They will have heard that.

You hear no difference in the sounds coming down the staircase from the roof, the slight whistle of a breeze. Any sound from the peryton(s) you had heard only via Oliver. 

Faera's eyes go wide and she mouths the word sorry!  Forgetting what she wanted to tell Ghurr, she whirls back around and continues up the stairwell knowing their surprise position has been compromised..

Hearing the sound, Thurodim does not hesitate, storming up the last bit of the stairs, Skullcleaver ready,, ready to fight the winged monstrosities on the tower roof.

Silent like a shadow Ilithir followed his companions into the portal. He was satisfied with the fact that his companions decided to heed his words. There was strength in number and if the fight of last night was indication of anything then it was better for them to garner as much strength as they could muster. Beyond what the elf could only call a dimensional door lied an open room full of paintings with a fortunately better aesthetic sense that that of the portrait from earlier. He didn’t pay much attention to the ambient, for before long Faera’s Familiar, which in retrospect seems he noticed to sound like a nursery rhyme or the name of a spell, took distance. That could only mean one thing, that the owl had found a creature, or many, laying ahead. 

The wizard was fast to confirm his suspicions. Three perytons. Smaller. Younger? The silver haired man ask with the voice of his mind. If that was truly the case then they killed a mother hunting to feed her hatchlings. That begs the question, what about the father? One could only hope those chimeric horrors where the type to get away from one another after mating.

As talks of battle started, elf considered using his illusion. That should not hinder the others, but considering their attack would come from a single place it was far too likely the enemies would enter the fog and the illusion would be for nothing. In the end and still quiet, he took his position more at rear, and start to walk.

“Wait!” Ilithir said out of reflex when he noticed Faera starting to turn, in a vain attempt to prevent a collision between her blade and Ghurr’s weapon. His voice alone making as much noise as the arms. ****! He cursed his own stupidity, reading an Eldritch Blast to fire as soon as his melee associates finish their strikes.

Notes: Ilithir readies an Eldritch Blast to shoot against the first creature to enter range, the trigger being his companions melee attacks. Since I was absent from the game I will roll the perception and history on the party way back, assuming we get on the room with the paintings again.

Mala hears the sound, fearing what it will mean for their plans.  She continues on trying to maintain her own silence and cover as she moves into position. 

Ghurr smiles at Faera as she bumps into him, causing metal to bang against metal.

"Oops," Ghurr says. "Guess no secret now. Maybe we go fast instead."

If those ahead start running up, Ghurr joins in, ready to charge out into the open.

As initiative will be the order in which you exit the stairs onto the roof, for the narrative up the stairs to work around the post order I think the initiative has to be Thurodim, Faera, Ghurr, Mala, Illithir. I hope everyone's okay with that.

Thurodim exiting onto the roof first (red X marks exit square) you see the three creatures around the outer edge have been watching the stairwell intently. As soon as you appear they send up a raucous noise, bellowing and grunting. Two take to the air, just 10ft up, but the one furthest from you stays grounded, its wings extended menacingly. 

The rooftop is covered in loose timber and tile - it counts as Difficult Terrain (half movement). If you wish to take your full movement you will first need to make a DC 10 Acrobatics check - success gives you your full movement, but failure will result in falling Prone and taking 1d4 piercing damage from broken beams and exposed nails.

Party initiative:

1 12 11 16 4

Peryton initiative

20 13 8

Final initiative:

Thurodim - 19

Peryton A - 19

Faera - 18

Ghurr - 14

Mala - 10

Illithir - 9

Peryton B - 5

Peryton C - 5

Thurodim ROARS and charges the closest Peryton, swinging skull cleaver twice over his head to cleave the horned beast in twain.

Action: Attack twice with Skullcleaver, attacking recklessly and -5 to attack and +10 to damage, all included in rolls.

Skullcleaver: 19  Slashing: 31
Skullcleaver: 24  Slashing: 30

Then turning to face the other two Peryti. "FIGHT ME COWARDS!" 

( Extra crit damage 15 and bonus attack Skullcleaver: 15 Slashing: 26 )