Quote from drumdigby >>

From far off in the dungeon to the east west you hear the clatter of footsteps and howling. Something comes from the east... Lot's of somethings.

(OOC: @drumdigby - Can we tell from the sounds how many somethings?  Does lots sound like ~10?  Fewer than 10?  More than 10?  More than 25?!)

Xanrym doesn't see any treasures in the underground lake. It seems the naga chose to keep her hoard in another spot if she has one. Xanrym Perception Check for the sound coming from the west: 10

You can't tell how many things there are running toward you, but you can hear a lot of clawed feet on rocky ground. And the disgusting smell of Troglodyte's start to fill your senses once again.

Will you stand here to face the hoard or retreat?

(OOC: Xanrym dashed up to the others, so he's at the edge of the water.  Is there any source of light in this lake-filled chamber?  Xanrym's lantern only illuminates out to 60 ft., which goes beyond the latest map.  If Xanrym looks to the west from the shore next to Avery, can he see to the other side of the lake in that direction?  Does he see a walkway or any way for them to get to the party except by wading / swimming across the lake?  And if he can see to the edge of the lake to the west, can he already see the "somethings" -- presumably troglodytes -- approaching?)

Quote from Aaggie >>

Avery will move to a position of advantage, waiting for the approaching somethings, sword at the ready.

Xanrym moves toward Avery and peeks around the corner, holding out his lantern and looking to the west briefly, before stepping back toward the secret door so that the cavern wall blocks him from view of the "somethings" approaching from that direction.  He looks around at Avery, Theldrin, Liarin, Nithrissa, and even Asclepius.  He says, "Avery, Toska is already...already dead.  And none of us are in great shape after the naga's spell.  We could try to pick them off from a distance,"  here he raises his crossbow slightly, "but If we're going to 'make a stand', we should not do it here where they can surround us."

Xanrym gestures back toward the secret door and says, "If they don't know about the secret door, we could go back and close the secret door.  Then maybe we can get back upstairs to Mayor Ormond before they can circle around and catch us.  If we still want to clear out this entire cult, we could at least rest before coming back down here."  He gestures toward the secret tunnel and back toward the chapel, inviting everyone to get moving that way. 

Only if Xanrym was able to see that there were 10 or fewer troglodytes coming:

Looking at the tunnel, Xanrym says, "Or....maybe we leave the secret door open...  Theldrin, that fire spell you used against the giant turtle in the swamp?  If you can still cast that now, we could maybe finish them off all at once.  We'd just need to lure them to chase us back through the secret tunnel, and you could light the whole tunnel on fire."

Theldrin nods with a grim smile, "I thought about that as well, and yes I have a few spells left."  He sighs and adds with a shake of his head, "Not as powerful as the lightning was, but same idea, could catch a few of them in the tunnel."

AVery nods in agreement. "Then perhaps we should retreat to a position of our choosing, not theirs where we have the advantage."

Xanrym looks out across the lake to the west. He sees over a dozen Troglodytes running out of a cave mouth onto an island over the other side of the lake, 80ft away. Some of them are filing onto a boat, and you can hear them yelling at each other in their Troglodyte language (I assume you can't understand them.) The boat can probably hold about 10 of them.

So will you stay on your island and wait for them to arrive or moving back into the church or making a run for it?

Quote from drumdigby >>

you can hear them yelling at each other in their Troglodyte language (I assume you can't understand them.) The boat can probably hold about 10 of them. 

(OOC: Correct.  Xanrym ends each Short Rest by doing a ritual casting of Comprehend Languages, but as soon as the naga showed up, he had to drop that so that he could cast Calm Emotions.  The only languages he actually knows are Common and Elvish.)

Xanrym relays the info to the others: "Troglodytes, at least a dozen.  They're getting into a boat about to cross the lake now, maybe 80 feet away.  I could fire one or two shots with my crossbow before they get here, but then we'd definitely need to fall back to the chapel.  Or maybe the wiser course is just to go now, close the secret doors, and run for the stairs back to the first floor."

(OOC: Theldrin is pretty beat up so would probably vote for retreating, at least to the chapel as a defensible area.  He is also definitely interested in the treasure the Slaad was guarding.)

Then Avery does a final Nod, "Right, then let's get while the getting is good. Is there any way we can set booby-traps or anything as we fall back to slow them down? We need to move to a place where we can heal up before our next movement."

Liarin drops out of wolf form, and mutters a prayer to the spirits of nature and heals Xanrym (11hp) and Theldrin (20hp). "Let's retreat tactically, if they come at us through the tunnel, I can summon another flaming sphere and burn 3 of them at a time. Avery, Nithrissa and Asclepius will block them from reaching the rest of us, and I can bear out if necessary."

Theldrin thanks Liarin, then nods,  "We could probably do well to make a stand at the chapel and catch them in the tunnel.  If we are going for the Slaad's treasure next, this lot is probably going to follow us there anyway."

Xanrym thanks Liarin for the healing spell.  Feeling somewhat recovered, he checks with Theldrin and Avery as the group moves back to the chapel and the druid heals them: "So, retreat to the chapel, block them at the secret door, and try to have Theldrin burn as many as he can?"

If the party agrees to fight as they retreat:

• Xanrym will move into the chapel.
• He casts (bonus action) Healing Word on Avery for 10 HP
  while he spreads his caltrops (action) just at the opening of the secret door.  He's trying to help stop the troglodytes just before they enter the chapel.
• Xanrym suggests that everyone should hide out of sight (e.g., beside the door or on the other side of the alter) until the troglodytes are almost at the chapel.  The goal is try to get all of troglodytes in the tunnel at once so that Theldrin's spell can hopefully kill a bunch of them at once.  Total cover should prevent the troglodytes from throwing darts until the party reveals themselves.
• While the rest of them get ready, Xanrym suggests that Liarin keep a view of the shore.  As soon as the troglodytes try to step out of their boat onto the little strip of dry land, she could burn the first one or two who step off the boat, slowing them down from disembarking.  The bonfire would also provide some nice back-light the troglodytes for the party as they come through the tunnel.  As soon as she casts the spell, Liarin should retreat out of sight.

• Once they see the boat land arrive at the little strip of shore, Xanrym will cast Heroism on Avery and Nithrissa (or whomever is helping Avery stand in front of the entrance to the chapel to keep the troglodytes from coming through.

Then they just have to wait for the troglodytes to pour into the tunnel.  As soon as they get close, Avery and Nithrissa (with readied actions) could attack the first ones to get to the end of the chapel-end of the tunnel.   Or honestly, just move in front of the entrance and dodge while Theldrin does his thing.

Xanrym says, "Once Theldrin casts his spell, we'll deal with any of them that survive."

Theldrin agrees as he starts to head back towards the tunnel, "Ready."

Avery, fully healed, is ready to do battle

Ok it seems your gonna make a stand in the chapel. You all retreat and Liarin get's a look at the Troglodytes pulling up to the shore. They immediately see the naga dead on the ground and let out a simultaneous howl. They then rush south towards the Temple of Evil. 

I won't bother rolling Initiative because you all would have held whatever actions you needed for now. 

So you all can just go. 10 Troglodytes rush toward you from the north.

Theldrin waits until the charging Trogs are as near as possible to his position right behind the front line fighters, then casts Aganazzar's Scorcher trying to catch as many as he can in the path of the flames.  He weaves the arcs of fire around any party members, making sure to keep them out of harm's way (Sculpt Spells).

Fire Damage: 15
DEX 14 Save for half

After casting his spell Theldrin steps to the side of the tunnel entryway to hopefully move out of the Trogs' view.

Quote from drumdigby >>

Ok it seems your gonna make a stand in the chapel. You all retreat and Liarin get's a look at the Troglodytes pulling up to the shore. They immediately see the naga dead on the ground and let out a simultaneous howl. They then rush south towards the Temple of Evil. 

I won't bother rolling Initiative because you all would have held whatever actions you needed for now. 

So you all can just go. 10 Troglodytes rush toward you from the north.

(OOC: I'll assume that Xanrym had time to cast Heroism in the round before the first troglodyte disembarked from the boat.  It's 60' from the shore to the chapel, so even if they leaped out and dashed to the chapel, he should have time to take an action that round.  I don't remember, were there benches or seats in the chapel room?  Or just a big, empty room with a dais and a statue?)

Before the trogolodytes arrive: 
Xanrym starts from a hopefully hidden position.  If the fighters are on either side of the door, he'll hide behind (i.e., south of) the naga statue on the dais.
Stealth 24

Round 0: When Liarin indicates that the boat is about to land. 
Action: Cast a spell (LVL1) Heroism, using his metamagic to twin the spell so that it affects both Avery and Nithrissa.
  At the start of each of their turns, Avery and Nithrissa get 4 THP, which should help mitigate any damage from the troglodytes.

Round 1: As the Troglodytes race for the chapel, Xanrym tries to provoke them (not that it sounds like it's needed) by firing a crossbow bolt at the first one to head for the secret tunnel.
Action: Cast a spell True Strike with
  Attack the lead troglodyte, Crossbow, Light (80/320): 25 (or 25 if he has advantage from hiding), Damage: 8 (radiant)
Movement: after he fires his crossbow, Xanrym moves back 30 ft., away from the secret door and toward the south.  He may still be in view of the secret door if the naga state no longer provides coverage at that distance, but he's trying to stay out of "short range" of their darts.

Don't forget that the troglodytes have to contend with the caltrops at the end of the tunnel and before they enter the room.

Nithrissa was thrilled when they killed the disgusting naga, but then there's a whirlwind of activity as the troglodytes muster across the lake.  Nithrissa follows the plan on stands on one side of secret door, trying to time her attacks with the approach of the first troglodytes.  While she has no skill for it, she tries to hide until she's ready to attack the first troglodytes to make it to the chapel entrance.  Stealth: 3.  Nithrissa is careful not to step forward onto the caltrops, just blocking their way into the room and swinging Avery's greatsword at any troglodytes whom she can reach.

Movement: None.  Once Nithrissa moves in front of the entrance to the chapel, she remains there to block the way.
Action: Multiattack with Greatsword
  Attack #1 a troglodtye within her reach: 20, Damage: 11 (slashing)
  Attack #2 a troglodtye within her reach: 11, Damage: 11 (slashing)