Leryin watches nervously at first as the others make their way across the square, trying to memorize the safe way over, before picking his way across the shifting tiles. He’d never been particularly good at blending into the background. Just as a precaution, he flexed his fingers, ready to invoke magic in the instant something went awry.

And sure enough, it does. He’s not sure who or what made the noise, but he hears it, and so does the crowd, and he makes a split-second decision. Whispering words into the air, he seizes what arcane power can to craft a quick illusion. Somewhere else, as far away from his compatriots as he could manage, a scream rings out as if echoing his words.

"Help! Thieves! Murderers! Guards!" Calls a high-pitched voice, slightly muffled as if speaking from a street away.

The Eladrin takes that opportunity to dart across the street, sacrificing stealth for haste, hoping to be out of sight before the mob saw through the illusion and remembered there was someone else they might focus their attention on.

[pre-emptive deception if neccessary/-2 for performance: 16]

You all see the crowd of rioters halt, as if hesitating from the sudden muffled scream of thieves and murderers. Then there's a collective gasp as a red, blood like being that Verona made slops out of the fountain and towards the crowd, which takes a step back. 

You all hear one of the guards say, "Shit there's a wizard nearby!" then, the word begins to circulate through the rioters, spreading through them.

"I don't wanna die!" Someone says in the crowd, "murderous wizards?" another says, "Run! Run!" The crowd flees in panic, torches and pitchforks thrown to the ground.

However, the guards -- five of them -- notice you and bear out their weapons. Two of them warily approaching the blood-like thing, and the remaining three approach and stop thirty feet from where you all are. "We heard cries of thieves and murderers," one of them says, brandishing a weapon, "and you adventurers don't seem like an honest lot. Many of your kind love looting and murdering. Perhaps you were the ones that caused the riot here?"

"Aye," another guard says, "saw them incite those poor commoners into a riot with my own eyes. It'd be our duty to take care of them." 

"Dispatch justice where those lazy Flaming Fists can't," another says.

Everyone roll initiative!

Guard 1: 18

Guard 2: 5

Guard 3: 22

Guard 4: (facing Verona's spell) 19

Guard 5: (Facing Verona's spell) 7

Verona initiative

13

Verona quickly says "Austudeia Nar" and hurls the summon flame produce flame at guard 1

Attack: 15 Damage: 1

Then Verona retreats into nearby cover

Thomas’s Initiative: 20

(Surprise round post - will do a second post for regular round)

Prepared for discovery, if not quite the events that followed, Thomas releases an arrow at one of the Guards (Guard 1), quickly drawing another arrow…

Attack: 25 Damage: 14

A little late but for completion, here's my stealth roll: 18

It was all going so well, it could have been another fight avoided. Light as a feather Flash was gliding through the square, unheard, unseen by the guards or rioters. 

And then, again, a blood red blob arises from the fountain, immediately drawing all eyes to it and to them. What was with this woman and her giant red blobs, it was an obsession. Words would need to be had, probably. For now, another fight.

Initiative: 15

Flash smiles at a guard with his pointed teeth, and whips his Yklwa forward, followed by a cracking blow with his long, prehensile tail. 

Action: Attack: 17; damage 3

Bonus Action: Unarmed Strike: 13; damage 6

Initiative: 7

Almost unable to believe her consistently poor luck Aurelia draws her bow and readies an arrow at one of the guards, silently praying to Tymora that her wits and ability haven't disappeared entirely. 

Action: Shortbow attack: 20, Damage: 4

Leryin freezes as the guards turn to catch sight of them, internally cursing as he turned around to face them. He was hoping to buy more time than that. Turning to survey the scene, he dismisses the two distracted by the water monster for now, directing his attention at the three guards facing them. "Why would we trouble ourselves? It seems like you were doing pretty well starting a riot by yourself." He retorts, lacing his words with a touch of arcane power. "Are you afraid we'd do a better job than you?" He starts to retreat as weapons start flying, however, keeping as much distance as he can between him and the guard's weapons, ducking behind nearby cover (if possible).

Initiative: 13
Vicious mockery (target guard 2): 1 WIS 14

Initiative: 8

Eldritch Blast: 20 attack roll. 5 force damage. In case of disadvantage: 13

Hope is unpleased with how things turned out, but mostly she is unset with the guards and what they said. "'We' incited the rioters...?" It isn't hard for the other side to take over and fire off a blast at the one who is most damaged. She will then run for cover as well, should any be available, unless it would trigger an AOO.

Guard 1, in the centre, boasting at the group suddenly gets an arrow right in his throat. He stands there shocked for a second, choking as he tries to breath, blood spilling out of his mouth as he fall to his knees and eyes Thomas. He tries to say something, and raises a hand, but falls face down onto the ground. Motionless and dead.

Guard 2 looks over at you, Thomas, and rushes over. "I wonder if cutting you will just make you splash into water, freak!" and she swings in a downward thrust between your neck and shoulder: Attack: 22 Damage: 5

Guard 5, warily approaches the red blob and swings in an uppercut, watching as his blade cuts through with no effect. "It's bloody harmless," he says to Guard 4 and runs over to engage Aurelia.

Verona, since Guard 1 is dead, your attack goes to Guard 2. You hurl a small ball of fire at the guard and watch it catch on her cloak. She screams in pain and quickly takes the cloak off. But you can all see her uniform is burnt through in patches and the skin over her shoulders and back has become badly burnt. But still alive.

Guard 4 leaves the red blob and runs towards Hope. "Saw it with my own eyes," he responds to your question, and swings sideways towards your face: Attack: 6 Damage: 6

Flash rushes at Guard 3 and whips his Yklwa across the Guard's neck. She manages to take a step back, but the spear's blade still strikes just above her clavicle. Despite the Guard's pain however, she was still able to quickly duck under tail whip.

Leryin, Guard 2 looks at you and you can see there's a faint trace of hurt and pain on her face. "How dare you?" she says in a small voice tinged with pain.

Aurelia, you shoot your arrow at Guard 3 but the projectile whizzes past her helmet just as she's ducking below Flash's tail. A very near miss.

Guard 3 scowls as she stands up and swings her blade at Flash's eyes: Attack: 7 Damage: 5

Hope, you try and shoot at Guard 4, but he easily sidesteps your blast. "I know you don't like inflicting pain on others," you hear a voice say in your head, "but next time, perhaps try aiming? Just a suggestion!"

‘You’re not the first racist I’ve had to deal with, try to come up with something original dear…’ Thomas says with studied disdain, quickly following up his verbal riposte with a more steely one…

Rapier Attack: 22 Damage: 9

If this isn’t enough, he follows up with a following dagger attack…

Dagger Attack: 19 Damage: 3

(If sneak attack is possible: 5) 

Verona once more hurls fire at guard 2

Attack: 13 Damage: 3

She then ducks back into nearby cover

"Right, maybe close quarters will be better," Aurelia mutters to herself. As the guard races at her the golden scaled dragonborn drops her bow and draws her short sword with her right hand and her dagger with her left. Bracing herself, she strikes out at her opponent.

Attack (shortsword): 19 Damage: 7

Attack (dagger, off-hand): 19 Damage: 1

(If I manage to get Sneak attack: 4)

Leryin takes a deep breath as he pokes his head out from cover, eyes scanning the situation unfolding before him. The fighting was intense, but it seemed like his companions were holding their own. He'd be more useful as a lookout for now - no point getting under their feet.

His eyes fall on Guard 4 as he approaches, perilously close. Turning, he tries to catch the eye of Verona. "I'm going to distract him. When you see an opening, shoot him." He hisses, adding a touch of magical conviction to his words.

True to his words, he positions himself at the periphery of the guard's vision, before he lets out a loud chuckle, deliberately mocking, to try and catch the attention of the guard. "You think anyone would trust your eyes? Your aim is so bad you'd miss the floor if you fell."

Vicious mockery (Guard 4): 2 (WIS 14)
Bardic inspiration (1D6): To Verona

(Huh, I posted but it didn't take.)

Dagger: 15 attack roll. 6 piercing damage.

"I am doing the best I can!" Hope feels her hand move on its own as she suddenly tries to plunge a dagger into Guard 4's side. "W, What are you doing!"

Flash dares not blink as the guard's blade slashes past his face. The step back he made to avoid Flash's own attack thankfully puts him just out of reach, but Flash still has to hold his breath as the point of the sword, almost in slow motion, passes within an inch of his eyes. 

He jabs forward at the guard again, underarm this time, caught in a deadly duel, followed by a head butt using his short but very solid horns. 

Action: Attack: 7; damage 6

Bonus Action: Unarmed Strike: 13; damage 6

Guard 2 engages in a fierce duel with you, Thomas, and she manages swipe aside your sword to get in a swing at your torso: Attack: 23 Damage: 3

Guard 5 catches you, Verona, as you come out of cover and swings his blade at your neck. "A bloody vampire? In Baldur's Gate?" The guard says, "bloody perfect! Gonna pin all this chaos on you and your companions' heads!": Attack: 15 Damage: 7 but while the guard is attacking you, you manage to hurl a mote of fire at Guard 2, hitting her on the flank and causing her to stumble.

Guard 4, missing terribly the first time attempts another downward swing, his teeth bared in an ugly snarl. Attack: 12 Damage: 6

Thomas, you use your sword being knocked aside as momentum to continue through and slash at Guard 2's neck. You feel your sword catch flesh, and hit the cartilage of the airway. The momentum drags your sword, opening a deep gash in Guard 2's neck. She looks at you in shock and freight as she stumbles back and falls, clawing at her neck. She dies moments later.

Flash your swing tears through Guard 3's uniform but doesn't manage to bite flesh, and your headbutt would have dealt some damage had it not hit her helmet. Guard 3 stumbles a bit from the unexpected headbutt, but is undamaged.

Leryin, you feel your spell hit, Guard 4 looks over at you with a look of pain and hurt pride. "No you," he manages weakly.

Aurelia you rush at Guard 3, currently engaged with Flash, and come up beside her. She barely has anytime to react as your shortsword lops off her sword arm and your dagger sinks right into her heart. There's a moment of panic in her eyes before she topples, dead.

Hope your dagger finds purchase. While Guard 4 is looking at Leryin, you manage to dig the blade right into his flank. He lets out a grunt of pain, but remains standing, his attention now back at you, and fury in his eyes.

Thomas gives a sharp flick of his rapier, sending the blood flying away from his, then seeing the two remaining guards engaged, Thomas moves into position behind one of the guards (Guard 4), lunging forwards with his rapier…

Rapier Attack: 25 Damage: 10