First up, the gnoll hunters. One of them is surprised, and gets no action. The other cackles a warning to the others, then uses its action to attempt a perception roll against the hiding party. With disadvantage due to your obscuration among the heavy brush, it still rolls an 18 and a 17, for a total of 20. I'm just going to roll the party's stealth (other than Olan) to see who they see, since I assume everyone would be in hiding.

I'm so sorry, guys... it's going to be aware of everyone's position. 

Seeing that the alarm has been raised, Chakka descends upon the surprised gnoll hunter, attempting to kill it before it can act. Their gythka bloodies the gnoll, but does not kill it. 

Everyone is up, as all other foes are stunned! Evelyn and Threl, please make a Constitution Saving Throw. 

Evelyn and Threl only:

Current Map: (you guys are farther back than that corner, but I just wanted to have your tokens there. For the sake of movement, you're all probably around 30 ft. off the map, since Threl needed to be within 30 ft. for minor illusion and the melee fighters needed to rush the gnoll. Evelyn may be farther back, if she wishes.)

(apologies for the low definition, I'm gonna switch to a different program after this fight)

Seeing the plan fall apart Olan decides to act to help Chakka. He launches an arrow at the wounded gnoll and then ducks back in cover.

Attack: 15 Damage: 9

Sneak attack 7

------------------------------------

Initiative 23

The gnoll collapses, arrow sprouting from the jugular.

(If you're using your bonus action to hide, make the roll.)

17

That beats their passive perceptions, Olan is gone.

Evelyn, Threl, Veldruk, Nodjeim, give 'em hell.

Evelyn feels a sudden urge to howl with laughter come over her, but with great mental effort she is able to shake off the strange effect (20 igl). Unfortunately, the plan has fallen apart entirely, and the gnolls are alerted to their presence. Evelyn focuses on the closest gnoll first and unleashes a fire bolt at it (18 to hit, 3 damage).

Con save: 11

Threlan looks at the gnoll next to them, and smiles. A cruel smile Veldruk would shiver at the sight of. It is the smile of a drow priestess about to inflict pain. and enjoy doing it.

Threlan whispers something in elvish as they cast hold person. The gnoll must make a DC 14 wisdom save or be paralyzed for 1 min. It can repeat the save at the end of each of its turns.

Threlan cackles with glee at the (hopefully) helpless hyena-man, and looks at Veldruk "Stick 'em." They say as they gives him a bardic inspiration (+1d6 to next attack roll, ability check, or save)

OOC: I realize I haven't rolled gender for today. Gender roll: 7

Unfortunately... that doesn't happen. Because she smiles. And then she grins. And then she laughs. And then she cackles, and cackles, and convulses. Threla spends this round incapacitated, as she is wracked with mad laughter. Those around her gaze with horror as her features shift subtly, brown and black hair poking from her neck and face. There is a snapping sound as her limbs begin to shift as well. Her whole body is ricocheting between her ordinary features, and something bestial, something cackling, something distinctly hyenalike.

Nodjeim uses his 40' movement to get to the edge of the cliff and his Action to climb down and get to the ladder.  Standing at the top of the ladder he takes a quick look to see if it is a solid ladder built into place or if it's something that could easily be moved or broken?  If it's possible to pull the ladder up and make the gnolls that much slower climbing up that would be a win...  But basically Nodjeim is looking to defend the ladder from climbing Gnolls and uses his Bonus Action to use Patient Defense (1 Ki pt spent)

OOC: oh my goodness. That's very concerning.

Forgot to resolve this, but Evelyn's bolt of fire splashes into the gnoll's fur, and it hisses in pain.

Meanwhile, Nodjeim sees that the ladder is indeed moveable, and if he chooses he may use his object interaction to push it over. The rest of this platform is far more stable, but the ladder may be shifted if just a bit of strength is applied.

((If he could pull it up that he would do…. But tipping it over just allows them to put it up elsewhere, better for now to defend the top, maybe lift up as an action next turn…))

(Lifting would definitely require a strength check, considering the ladder's size, since it might just slip from his grasp as he tries to lever it up.)

 “All nine of them, human.” Veldruk nodded with a half-smile that for once was sincere. If he was right, if an army was being raised, then the gnolls owed a debt of blood since the ambush and this time he would be more than happy to collect.

The presence of the vulture was strange and he agrees with Nodjein observations. Evelyn proposition is tempting, but at the same time carried risks. Its disappearance could alert its master or it could be a dangerous beast of sorts under a less threatening gaze. In the end everyone lets the creature be and the warlock could not help but ask if that was the right thing to do – he was genuinely unsure.

It was good fortune to find the enemy numbers and as far plans went he didn’t find any faults on what his companions came up with. He would have liked to put the whole village to the torch, give the creatures within a grave of ash and flame. Unfortunately it wouldn’t be possible to do so without being seen. Even more unfortunate was that the gnoll managed to see through the illusion.

“Evelyn! Lycanthropy?” Veldruk asked the wizard as Threla contorted in the ground. It would be disastrous if she lost control and became a werehyena. Or was it weregnoll? Whatever the case he swung his blade against the closest enemy.

Notes: Back. With a Nat 1.

Man, Veldruk, I'm so sorry, dude. You don't even have advantage to cancel sunlight sensitivity cause this guy isn't surprised. The round ends, and the attacked gnoll reacts by jabbing at Veldruk with their spear, but the drow expertly reflects the blows. 

Chakka moves up and slings two chatkcha at one of the skeletal gnolls. One lands, bloodying it, and Chakka moves back into cover.

Nodjeim, Olan, and Threla, you're up! Threla is currently incapacitated as she laughs, but may make a Constitution save to conquer the effect and be able to act this turn. 

Current Map: 

Nodjeim attempts to pull the ladder up to his level...  Str Check:  12

Con Save: (fingers crossed) 20

Olan pops up out of cover and launches an arrow at Chakka's blooded target. He then attempts to take cover again.

Attack: 23 Damage: 6

Sneak attack 9

Hide 16