Quote from Secretfool >>

((I think the plan was to split the cultist rather than the party indeed, with Jodie leading a couple to us))

(OOC: Yeah, chalking it up to ADHD and too much multi-tasking yesterday.  Let's save that "sneaking to Cynurrarth" post for later, after we've dealt with these other cultists.  So, for now, Korba and Hewelathan are still with the rest of the party, waiting to ambush the ones whom Jodie sends their way.)

Quote from Faux_Beau>>

Jodie decides to continue the chaos with the young guard a few moment the other leaves...

"There's no time to wait.  You'll need to run ahead and let the others know help is on the way.  It's a bit of a ways, but you look strong and fast.  Light a torch so the others know the way.  We'll be a few minutes behind you."

Jodie gives the cultist directions back towards the Black Crypts (good luck)

(OOC: The Black Crypt / drow city was 1 hour away from the Kobold village by canal.  I doubt that Jodie will be able to keep the non-charmed ones on a wild goose chase for that long!)

When the cultist isn't looking, Jodie waves and points in the direction back towards the party as if to indicate the guard is coming back.  Whether they are able to be stealthy enough to let her pass, it's unclear.  Perhaps the guard may help to lead the other cultists beyond, further dividing them.  But if Jodie can file the unsavory folks back one at a time this be an easy fight...

(OOC: @Mister_Whisker - Is it true that the area where the party is currently waiting is out-of-sight of the area where Zoglu is gloating over Cynurrarth?  I just want to make sure that we're not ambushing the cultists in plain view of the whole group.)

Unless there's a convenient spot where the whole party can set an ambush (e.g., the tunnel that leads out of Cynurrarth's lair makes a sharp turn where the party can surprise the cultists), Korba proposes that the group spreads out and hides behind various bookshelves, chests, or natural features of the cavern.  We want to be positioned on either side of the path that the cultists would naturally pass through to leave Cynurrarth's lair.  That way, the party can attack the cultists from range without giving their enemies an easy target for their spells.  Maybe hide in pairs so that there's a martial fighter with each spellcaster in case the cultists make it to melee range.  Something like this:

• Hewelathan & Tamphalic
• Koba & Gorash
• Hildegard & Ruby & Nickeline

Hildegard, Ruby, and Nickeline should be the farthest from the cultists and Cynurrarth since they're the least stealthy.  That way, if the cultists notice the paladin and cleric, they've hopefully already passed the others and are surrounded with party members in front, behind, and on both sides of them.

OOC:

The only thing Nickeline might do in advance of this fight is cast Silent Image to camouflage Perdita and Hildegard while the cultists approach, and that's only if there are no natural hiding spots. It seems like there are plenty.

Tamphalic will pick a spot, and is ready for whatever happens. 

Alright, if everyone agrees to the proposed ambush strategy, we can do that.

I'll need Stealth checks from Hewlathan and Temphalic, Korba and Gorash, and the three in the back. What we'll determine is who, if anyone, will be able to make their first attack from concealment. I doubt that you're going to be able to get in a surprise round since the cultists are already on high-alert.

Jodie already gave me her Stealth check.

Hildegard Stealth: 8

Nickeline stealth: 6

I guess I'll do Ruby's since we're out of Initiative.

Ruby Stealth: 23

Hewelathan will go ahead and cast Pass without Trace before he hides and hope to carry that through this fight and into the chamber with the dragon.   

Stealth original and including Pass without Trace bonus:

• Korba: Stealth 19, with PwT: 29
• Gorash: Stealth 15, with PwT: 25
• Hewelathan: Stealth 7, with PwT: 17

(OOC: Pass without Trace covers allies within a 30-ft radius.  I'm not sure how many of the party members he can cover with that.  If nothing else, it'll cover Hewelathan and Tamphalic.  Hopefully, he can also cover at least Korba and Gorash.)

Since we're about to enter combat, here are the initiative rolls for those characters: 

• Korba: 24
• Gorash: 15
• Hewelathan: 21

(OOC: I forgot Korba's elf shadow.)

Elf Shadow:
Stealth: 20, w/ PwT: 30
Initiative: 6

Tamphalic stealth: 10+10=20

Init: 22,23=23

Jodie init: 11

Alright, so you're going to be ambushing the cultist squad leader (CSL) and three of his goons, one of whom is currently charmed but will return to his senses the instant someone attakcs. The young lady cultist is currently wandering off towards the Black Crypt (or, if she's lucky/unlucky, she could meet the small army of orcs before she gets close to the city...)

Initiative:

CSL: 19

Death Cultists (×3): 8

And since I didn't see an Initiative roll for Ruby, one for her to.

Ruby: 21

(OOC: Just making sure that I understand the situation.  Is the following correct?

• Zolgu and 2 cultists are still with Cynurrarth
• The cult leader, 2 cultists, and 1 of the charmed guards is walking into our ambush
• 1 charmed guard is with Jodie...somewhere

)

1 cultist is wandering off towards the Black Crypt... I don't think Jodie is with her.

The cultist leader, 2 non-charmed and one charmed cultist in tow.

Zolgu is still chillin' with the dragon and two cultists.

So you mostly got it right.

So, our current initiative order is as follows:

Temphalic - 23

Cultist Squad Leader - 21 (OOC: I really need to come up with a better title for these elite cultists... oh well)
Death Cultists (x3) - 20

Gorash - 18
Korba - 16

Hewelathan - 15

Ruby - 13

Jodie - 11

I don't think Nickeline or Hildegarde have rolled Initiative yet. As of right now, Hewelathan, Temphalic, and Ruby have all successfully hidden from the approaching cultists. If the party is going for a pincer-maneuver, I'm not sure it's a good idea for Hewelathan and Temphalic to be within 30' of Gorash since the guy could drop a fireball on the cultists... who are presumably supposed to pass between the locations of Korba/Gorash and Hewelathan/Temphalic. In other words... to get close enough to use pass without trace on Korba and Gorash, you'd be putting yourselves within the radius of a fireball.

Nickeline initiative: 21

Hildegard initiative: 9

Our final initiative order + who's successfully hiding is as follows:

Temphalic - 23 (hidden)
Nickeline - 21
---
Cultist Squad Leader - 21
Death Cultists (x3) - 20
---
Gorash - 18
Korba - 16
---
Hewelathan - 15 (hidden)
---
Ruby - 13 (hidden)
---
Jodie - 11
Hildegarde - 9
---
Elf Shadow - 5 (Hidden... also, where is this thing on the battle field?)

You'll probably have about two rounds to fight these cultists before Zolgu and the other two cultists are able to intervene, so make it count!