"You don't approve of this tactics?" Mae hears the soft voice of Valeria close by her side. "It is important for a leader to show confidence in a servants advice, especially within their area of expertise." The noble's voice says as-a-matter-of-factly. "Don't think I don't appreciate your advice too Mae, but I have to believe that Iravon would be best suited to choose our tactics for us in battle, particularly against his breathren."

Mae looked back at Valeria and responded in her mind in kind, "You asked if we had any questions, I shook my head. I'm honestly not sure how that implies not approving of the tactics. I think they seem quite sound to me. Though now that I think about it, would it be too much trouble to ask you to try take a few cautious steps closer and see if you can get an idea of how many there are? I suppose there can't be that many though, right? Nevermind, that will waste too much time. Send our companion in and let's get this over with."

Before riding over behind the cover of the small building, Kiersa quietly says, "We should be wary in case that house is occupied."  She keeps an eye and ear out for any signs that anyone is there. (Perception: 21) However, she proceeds forward, sword drawn and shield at her side.  She is ready to charge forward at the appropriate time.  

"Oh, I see." Valeria's voice is heard saying near Mae. "I think there are 4 to 6 hobgoblins in there." She adds on a lowered voice.
"Yes, the house, I will investigate quickly." Valeria says to Kiersa. She then swiftly flies over to the door and puts her ear to it.

Perception: 16

She is otherwise ready for Iravon to do what he must to lure the Red Hand out of the keep.

From what Valeria can hear, this small wooden shack seems empty, as in, no one is moving around inside the door. In front of this shack is what would have been a garden, you all think, but now its overgrown with weeds. 

Valeria, you think this shack looks really decrepit. The wood appears to have rot on it.

Valeria quickly hovers back over the small wooden shack. "I'm fairly sure this building is empty." Kiersa and Mae can hear her firm but soft voice say close to them. She then ascends again to a vantage point where she can spot an approaching manticore or notice if the Red Hand tries to encircle Iravon somehow.

Iravon mutters "They shall rue the day they took residence in this keep." 

Iravon makes his way to stand just outside the main gate, in the centre of the path. He waits until all his companions are in their places, then removes his horn from his belt. He raises it to his lips and blows it long and loud. Once the echoes die away he shouts in Goblin <"Come and face your death, heretics! The Red Hand shall lose some fingers this day!">

Mae creeps over next to the decrepit building and peeks around the corner to watch Iravon as he yells in taunting the enemies within the keep. She is careful though not to lean against the building itself, seeing as how it was not in good shape and didn't want to create another distraction yet.

[Please give me your chess coords for your character!]

(T15, just right outside the small building)

Initiative: 10

(Kiersa will be at T15. Is Mae inside the shack?) 

Sitting on horseback behind the shack, Kiersa is ready to ride forward once the opportunity presents itself.

No jusr outside))

Quote from Gnomesftw >>

(S15)

 That's inside the building. Perhaps S14 or T14?

Iravon is at Q9.

Valeria is at U16 but some 20 feet up in the air. 

( Valeria initiative: 19 )

/--Initiative--/
20 - Kiersa
17 - Hobgoblin D & Minotaur
10 - Maeve & Iravon
9 - Hobgoblin A & B
8 - Valeria
3 - Hobgoblin C
/-------------/

Valeria, you see 5 creatures emerge from the broken into room. You do see 4 hobgoblins, but you feel shock as you see a minotaur is among them. [History check result 4: You know these are creatures of legend and don't tend to align with other creatures. This is quite the odd sight.]

[Everyone: you are all allowed to have some brief conversation! Otherwise, it is Kiersa's actual turn. Hopefully I placed everyone correctly, there seemed to be a bit of disagreement and two of you can't stand in the same spot!]

"Iravon, there's four Red Hand Hobgoblins incoming, and they have a minotaur with them." Valeria says, just loud enough to reach the Hobgoblin warrior standing valiantly to recieve the enemies charge. She didn't know what Iravon had called out to the enemy but it certainly had the desired effect. She glanced down at Kiersa and Mae, hidden behind the wooden shack. "Patience, be ready to attack their flank as soon as they expose it."

Mae pulls out her bandalore and watches with interest for a moment before peeking around to see the minotaur and pointing, "what business have you with these creatures? Where is the manticor?"

(Is the 10 because I didn't roll initiative? Sorry, I was expecting a separate request for that, I'm happy to continue with the 10 though.)

"Four fingers and a thumb," Iravon mutters to himself, stuck on his hand metaphor. He wonders at the presence of a Minotaur here. He had never heard of one working alongside his people before, and he had only ever seen one in person. He had no quarrel with them, but if one was assisting the Red Hand, they had to die. He raises his shield and flail, ready for the coming onslaught.

Kiersa continues to watch what is happening near the ruined gate.  On horseback, she remains hidden as best she can behind the shack.  Only once she sees the hobgoblins come through would she charge to the attack.

(READY Action, to advance and attack when a hobgoblin comes out through the gate.)

[Hey Culuril, technically, you cannot ready an action AND move. You can only choose one or the other. Clarification below.

In theory, they shouldn't be able to see you at all right now. You could move and take cover behind the rubble and ready to attack when one comes close. Would that work for you?]

Ready

First, you decide what perceivable circumstance will trigger your reaction. Then, you choose the action you will take in response to that trigger, or you choose to move up to your speed in response to it.

Jeremy Crawford Clarification: When you use Ready, you prepare an action or a move, not both.