An Act of Hubris or Guile

"Perhaps we should use one of these," Duncan says holding out his vile, "to create a distraction and pull troops away so we could get into those and set them up as well."

In a hushed tone Aisha asks, "Kasbis that invisible person you keep summoning, do you think if we found a blind spot you could send them in to start a fire on a tent? I think we'll want the alchemist fire for the siege weapons for a quick run by ignition."

Kasbis whispers, “I think we should start our approach from the east, above their encampment.  I’m curious what is in that larger structure, if that is a commander’s outpost.  Remember, Elder Bruth said that if there was any intelligence we could acquire, that would be great as well.  There is a relatively quick run to the middle from there.  Here’s what I propose.”

“I can lurk in the woods and send my unseen servant 60 feet away, with a torch to light tents on fire.  In the confusion of such as sight, you could run in and heave the alchemist fire at the siege equipment.  If the commanders rush out, I will go in their house to grab any useful information, and then head back to the woods.  If you come running out, I can cast mold earth to make it more difficult to follow us.  I can give the eversmoking bottle to my unseen servant and have it follow 60 feet behind us, deploying a smoke screen and we will sneak away in the smoke and confusion, into the woods.  What do you think?  I think its a good start… any other suggestions?”

"Either of those are good plans," Duncan says, "And I guess I'll just wait here in case they come rushing out so I can hit them in the head."

As they are hunched down in the woods outside the camp, Kasbis outlines his plan quickly and quietly.  He urges Aisha and Duncan to wait for the opportunity of the maximum amount of mayhem and confusion, then run in from the most direct route in front of them and hurl the alchemist fire on the siege equipment to burn it up, then run back out the way they came in.  The plan is to rendezvous back at a rally point on the road heading back west.  

Kasbis starts to enact his plan, he and his unseen servant sneak through the woods heading east and then south until they are eastward and above the camp (see owlbear rodeo).  The plan will be to give the unseen servant a lit torch and have it light the southernmost tents on fire from the exterior, extinguish the torch and then return to Kasbis in the woods.  Then after the torch is lit again, do the same to the easternmost tents from the exterior, extinguish its torch, then head back to Kasbis once again.  Kasbis waits for his opportunity, trying to give his companions a distraction to accomplish the task, and open other opportunities if available.  

“Be fast, get that fire on the siege equipment after the bulk of them have come to the tents and investigate and extinguish the fires.  I’ll be watching from the other side and will help as I can.”  He looks to an unoccupied space of ground, “Sezrach, you will help us, please do as you are told.”  Kas smiles, turning back to Duncan and Aisha, saying once again “For father. Let’s go!”

As several tents are torched, chaos erupts as soldiers run out of their burning tents and the alarm is raise with shouts of "fire!" The soldiers form a water bucket brigade as they try to squelch the fire.

Then the second set of tents are lit on fire. The party can hear someone with a gruff voice barking orders. Those in the watch towers do not budge from their post. From below the party can make out 4 archers with quivers full of arrows in the watchtowers

What do you do?

Kasbis sees the flames build and eyes the archers in the towers, as disciplined soldiers, they are not leaving their posts.  He points a finger and sends a message to Aisha and Duncan, saying “Take out the archers with your crossbows, then rush in and throw!  Pick up one of their shields or disguise yourselves in the confusion!”

((Distance of Kasbis to the archers in the towers at the front?))

((Never mind, I figured out how to measure on the map!  According to what it shows, 50-55 feet.))

Kasbis, from behind cover in the leaves, points his finger at one of the archers in the tower and the sound of a gong can be heard, adding to the confusion.  

Kasbis casts toll the dead, targeting one of the archers.  DC 14 wisdom save or take 1 necrotic damage.  

Kasbis sends back via message, “Well, you should have one you old goat, I should have given you mine, didn’t know you didn’t have a ranged weapon my “strategist!”  he adds some sauce to his message, in an arcane manner.  

Aisha pulls out her light crossbow and some bolts passing them to Duncan. She then whispers, "Do you think one flask is enough? Because if you can get the archer's attention I can get to the trebuchet from here without passing them in a physical sense. I can get in toss my flask, and yours if you think it's needed before coming back here."

Duncan takes the crossbow, clearly unpracticed, though still familiar with this type of weapon and says, "I can at least keep them busy. We'll probably need to run as soon as you get out." He then readies a bolt to fly at the nearest tower once they're all ready.

Aisha pulls out her flask of Alchemist Fire waiting for the tower guards' attention to be away from the trebuchet and a moment where there isn't people around the trebuchet. When that moment occurs she will surround herself a cloudy vapor as she casts misty step teleporting 30ft towards the trebuchet and then run the remaining 10ft right up to it before opening the Alchemy Fire and tossing it onto the trebuchet. She will then use her remaining 25ft movement to run back towards Duncan.

(You can execute your plan as soon as Duncan fires the crossbow bolt when ready)

Nodding at the others Duncan lets the first bolt loose towards the nearest guard tower, and then ducking behind a tree.

Attack: 7 Damage: 8 . 

The crossbow bolt flies true and hits an archer in the shoulder and she stumbles back. Another archer bends down and tends to the injured. You hear the warning call go out "Intruders!" The other 2 archers rain arrows on Duncan's position.

Archer 1

Attack: 18 Damage: 10

Archer 2

Attack: 16 Damage: 6

Aisha your up.

What do you do?

Duncan can use the shield as half cover and retreat.

I'm going to bonus action misty step as close to the trebuchet as I can run the remaining 10 ft towards it opening the flask of alchemist fire, when I get right next to the trebuchet I'll pour the flask over as much of the base as I can before tossing the rest on top of it. Then I'll turn back towards where I left Duncan and run that way with my remaining movement which should put me half way between the trebuchet and the towers.