The Hyena head cocks to one side and begins to cackle in high pitched yips.  "Better to die alongside friends than alone." he says in a low snarling voice as he aims his bow in Delphinium's direction and releases an arrow.  The arrow flies true but Delphinium reacts quickly and the arrow sticks harmlessly into her wooden shield with a thump.

Attack:  8  Damage:  4

Updated battle map: 

Using the pain in my side as motivation, I grit my teeth and make a motion with my hands to invoke the spell magic missile to attack the final gnoll.

dmg missile 1: 2  dmg missile 2: 3  dmg missile 3: 2

Three arcane darts burst forth from Drogore’s fingertip as he points to the last gnoll. They swirl and arc towards their target impacting in rapid succession. The gnoll howls in pain but remains upright clinging to life with every heavy breath. 

As the last gnoll teeters on the brink of death you each flick your wrist conjuring a small flickering flame.  You each release your flames into the air arcing across the stone ruins in a dazzling display of energy, power and coordination.  The flames impact and splash across the gnolls body.  You catch a glimpse of what appears to be a grin on the gnoll's face as the flames consume the entirety of the creature before it falls to the ground and turns to ash. 

(End of Combat)

Delphinium:  10   Drogore:   13   Kazmae:   10   Loodyhoo:    17

An intense flash of light seemingly coming from all directions blinds your vision.   You hear the deep voice say, "Well done" and you awake from your slumber.  You each are alone in your bed.  One by one you look around your room and see your items are all safe and undamaged.  Drogore and Loodyhoo, you check your side and shoulder where you took damage and find no visible signs of the battle.  You shrug it off as a bad dream and decide to get up a bit early but the memories created seem to linger in your mind.  You each make your way to the dining room of a small tavern and smell the delicious scent of meats cooking.  

Drogore is the first to enter the dining area, coming from the series of bedrooms upstairs and sits at a table in the corner that is the best mix of shaded, secure and has the best visibility of the room, not to mention relative proximity to an exit.  Loodyhoo enters from the street seconds later and takes inventory of the room.  Seeing a somewhat familiar face she walks towards Drogore and sits down confidently. Kazmae descends the stairs and looks around the room.  Seeing Drogore and Loodyhoo, she walks over and sits down.  A minute passes in silence before it is broken by the teenage human waitress who asks in a gentle voice, "What can I get ye?".  

You make your orders and the waitress leaves prompting another moment of silence.  The three of you look over each other with a strange sense of recognition as glimpses of the dream flood your minds.  Expressions of fear, suspicion, and respect cross your faces as you silently interrogate one another waiting for the first person to speak and break the silence.  You hear footsteps approach and the waitress brings your food and you quietly eat for a couple minutes before additional footsteps are heard coming down the stairs.  Delphinium, still looking groggy yawns and looks over the room.  She casually steps over to the table of three and flags the waitress to order food.  

(You are in the small town of Twin Creeks.  It is a small refuge along the Lion's highway for travelers and merchants.  It sits nestled against a large pond that is fed by two creeks.  It is protected on three sides by a wide wooden palisade with two entrances on the west side, a small gate to the south and one entrance on the east.)

looking around at these strangers who seem so familiar, more like friends really, I cautiously nibble at the place of breakfast in front of me and say, "normally I keep to myself but I feel drawn here, I had a very vivid dream and it seems that all of you were part of it. it sounds crazy, believe me, but I think there's a reason we've crossed paths."

Feeling the same air of familiarity, but also slightly distrustful of strangers who already know me, I take large bite of my food while speaking, “I prefer my meals without a side of crazy if you don’t mind, stick-bearer.”

I take a look at the people around me, is this really happening? People I saw in a dream are sitting right in front of me. Since I'm not sure who to trust I'll keep it short and sweet. "My name is kazmae, it's nice to meet you all in real life." Still very anxious about the situation, I continue to stare at them trying to read the weird vibe. 

I extend my hand cautiously out towards kazmae, "it's nice to meet you officially, Kazmae. My name is Delphinium." looking over at the halfling with a distinct lack of table manners, I say "that's Lady Stick-Bearer, guardian of the forest and it's inhabitants, to you."

I look between Delphinium and the halfling, "well you guys are just peachy, aren't you?" My voice was filled with sarcasm. "I mean, uh, you guys are real fiery! That's a good thing... Most of the time." I mumbled the last bit to myself. 

The waitress approaches the table nonchalantly dropping off additional drinks and says, "That'll be 4 silver each." holding out her hand to receive payment.

I check my pocket and find only gold pieces, pull one out and ask, "do you possibly have change for a gold piece?" 

I pat my pockets searching for my coins, "oh boy, this is so embarrassing. I seem to not have my money on me, dear Delphinium care to spot a fellow druid in need?" 

uh-oh, I think to myself, freeloader alert! I suppose she has no reason to lie about her situation but one never knows, on the other hand this will also mean she owes me which could be useful in the future, "oh ummm... sure, I guess." I say, turning back to the waitress, "I suppose I'll pay for my friend as well." 

"Thank you very much." I say with a smile. 

"Of course deary" the waitress says with a smile then leans in closer to Delphinium.  "You might should keep your voice down when you say that.  Most of the townfolk are nice but we get all sorts of travelers." and she motions her head to a table across the room and see a group of three men that look a little rough.  She places two silver pieces down on the table while grabbing your plate and looks up to Loodyhoo and Drogore.

Stifling a laugh at Delphinium's kindness and Kazmae's swindling, I reach in my bag and realize that I'm in the same predicament.  The blasted money that I "borrowed" off a young passerby the other day had only come in gold pieces.  I sit one piece on the table with a loud tap, eying the the table of men before saying to three next to me, "The name's Drogore.  It's...different...to meet strangers I already fought with." Then I look up to waitress and with a devilish smile whisper, "Keep the change as tip, Madame."

I file away the waitresses comment as a mental note to keep my guard up and eyes open. I glance around at our surroundings, hoping not to find any other familiar faces. "So," I start off, keeping my voice low, eyes scanning the room, "it would seem we've all had the same dream. I believe that there is something significant about that, I don't know what it means or why us, but I know there must be a reason. things like this don't just... happen? for no reason right..?"

The waitress blushes and quickly grabs the gold coin. “Oh thank you.” She bows and head back to the bar a smile stretched across her face. Drogore, you notice that one of the three men watches you place the coin in a less than subtle manner before leaning in to whisper something to his companions. One, a smaller fellow wearing a brown hat with black hair stretching to his shoulders, gets up and exits the tavern. You hear a whistle from outside the tavern a few moments later as Delphinium speaks. 

Before anyone can reply you see the same black haired man enter flanked by two other men wielding hand crossbows enter the tavern and shout, “Everyone remain calm. Don’t make a fuss and there will be no trouble.” The two other men sitting at the table stand drawing shortswords while the smaller man in the hat holds up a large satchel and prepares to head towards your table. 

Everyone roll initiative!