Eastern tunnel, but first Eron will toss his torch into the dark southern area.  Whispering as he draws his long sword, “I see light this way.”  Trying to proceed with stealth.

stealth 8

The blue-haired half-elf quietly follows along in the back, feeling slightly envigorated by the salty smell of the ocean, ready to use her tentacle-shaped wand on any more pesky smugglers they come across. 

Stealth: 18
Perception: 19

Leo will stick to flying as close to the ceiling as possible.  Perception: 6 Stealth: 17

Fane will follow the others when they start moving. Perception: 8 Stealth: 9

As the party creeps into the dimly lit tunnels to the east, they pass a fork.  One side branches off into another dark chamber, while the other continues east, toward the glow of torchlight. 

Coming around a bend, they hear a voice call out, "That's far enough."

In the chamber beyond, they are met by the sight of the speaker, the smuggler leader, standing confidently at the center of a small, formidable-looking group.  This cavern, unlike the passages leading to it, is well lit by torches held in simple iron brackets around the walls.  You can see five small bolts of cloth stacked against one wall, and on the other side are eight small casks in a neat row. Standing abreast of the smuggler leader are 3 Human smugglers, armed with shortswords, scimitars and crossbows.  You hear the creak of a bowstring, and down an adjacent tunnel you see a hulking hobgoblin drawing down, trying to flank the party.

The leader, a dark-skinned, lean man with sharp features and a sly grin, raises a hand, signaling his companions to hold their ground.  His eyes gleam with a mixture of amusement and disdain as he sizes up the party, clearly prepared for their sudden appearance.

"Well, well," he drawls, his voice carrying an air of smug superiority. "Looks like you've made it farther than most fools who wander into our little operation. I’ll give you credit for that."

He walks slowly behind his men, his posture relaxed, but there's a dangerous edge to his tone. "But here's the thing: you've seen too much, and I can't have that. I’m sure you’ve already met some of my friends upstairs, and if you’ve made it this far, I’d wager they didn’t leave much of an impression on you."  His grin widens, and he gestures to the menacing figures flanking him. "But you’re not dealing with their kind anymore.  This is the real muscle you’re up against now.  And trust me, we’re more than ready to cut you down where you stand."

He pauses, letting the weight of his words sink in, then continues in a more measured tone, almost as if he’s offering a way out.  "Of course, I’m not unreasonable. I get it—you’ve had a rough day already, and probably aren't looking to die.  So here’s how it’s going to go: most of you turn around, walk out of here, and forget you ever found this place.  One of you gets to stay behind with us, as a bit of insurance, to make sure you don't spill the news about what you've seen here.  I don't care who... draw straws if you like.  I'll even offer to let the hostage go when we're done here.  Easy as that."  He brushes his hands as if wiping away crumbs.

"Do what I propose, and you all get to live.  Refuse my kind offer, and I promise you, it’ll be the last mistake you ever make."

His eyes narrow, and the smirk never leaves his face as he watches for the party’s reaction.  All of the smugglers tense up, waiting for word or signal from their leader.

"You are very generous..." The blue-haired half-elf says dryly in a clear firm voice, her icy blue eyes locking onto those of the dark-skinned man. "...for being a simple smuggler. We were hoping for something more of a challenge. We will give each of you this counter-offer. Leave immediately and you might still live through the night." She calls out to the smugglers.

Intimidation: 16 Another roll if help action is provided: 23
Stealth to hide in cover as she steps into the crevice to the north: 15

Rather then exchange pleasantries Eron moves quickly for the closest smuggler in the lit chamber both swords dancing a deadly pattern.

Movement to nearest smuggler.  

Action Attack 25 for 9 slashing.

If that drops him move to next smuggler otherwise.

Bonus Action 17 for 5 slashing.

(initiative 7). Intentions as stated above.

Initiative:

1. The Party
2. The Smugglers

Perhaps the smugglers were waiting to see how their boss responded to Arlynn's retort.  Whatever the reason, they were a step slow on the reaction to Eron's sudden attack.  His first blade deals a savage blow to one of the smugglers and then his backhand followthrough sends the man to his maker.

"Make 'em bleed, lads!" cries the leader as metal scrapes leather and missiles begin to fly.  

[Arlynn, Tilliman and Fane are all up before the smugglers get to act.]

"Seems negotiations are over." The blue-haired half-elf mutters to herself and swiftly curses the closest smuggler before pointing her tentacle-shaped wand at him and unleashing a dark azure beam of eldritch crackling force towards him. 

Cast Hex (Dex)
Eldritch Blast: 11 Another roll if considered hidden: 17 Force: 15 Necrotic: 3

She then steps into full cover again in the crevice to the north.

Can Tilliman hide where he is? Do others have line of sight on him, or does he need to move?

If he can he'll try to lay flush against the cave wall to avoid being seen, notch an arrow and loose it at the bandit leader. Once the arrow flies he'll back around the corner in an attempt to disappear again.

TURN BREAKDOWN:

Fane will enter her bladesong (bonus action) and move down to the hobgoblin in the hall, along with Leo’s help and attack.

action Booming Blade: 24 dmg: 5

She has +10 movement with bladesong so she will move back 5 feet from the hobgoblin. If he moves, he’ll take: 1 dmg. She will accept the opportunity attack, AC 20 with song. If he is going to hit her, she will use her reaction to Shield.

Leo will do a flyby and head back a bit the way they came up by the ceiling

[Everyone else attempted stealth before the fight began... Tilliman can roll a stealth check once against DC 11 to see if he was hidden before the fight started.  

• If successful, he can apply advantage on that attack roll.  Then he can roll again to use his cunning action to try to hide again against DC 17, to go back to being hidden.
• If unsuccessful on that first roll, he can roll again to use his cunning action to try to hide again, before his attack, against DC 17.  If successful there, he can apply advantage on that attack roll, but then won't start his next turn hidden.  If unsuccessful again, he won't get advantage on the attack roll and he won't be hidden at the start of his next turn.

Arlynn did manage to hide, but the advantage didn't help her roll.  

I'll resolve the rest of the round once I know Tilliman's stealth rolls.]

STEALTH ROLLS:

[The Hobgoblin has a bow drawn at the moment so he cannot make an AOO on Fane as she dances back out of his reach.]

After Eron cuts down one of the smugglers, Fane smacks the hobgoblin painfully.  Tilliman and Arlynn hit the smuggler leader with arrow and spell, wounding him greatly.

The man staggers back, then howls in fury.  "You think you can do this to ME?  Sanbalet, Shaper of the Weave?"  He waves his hands above his head and three motes of fire appear.  With the others out of view, only Eron is present to feel the brunt of this wizard's wrath.  The motes elongate into snakes made of fire and streak out through the air toward Eron.

Scorching Ray

• Spell Attack:  13  (Miss)
• Spell Attack:  9  (Miss)
• Spell Attack:  10  (Miss)

Somehow, Eron ducks, dodges, and swats away the scorching rays meant to end him.  

"Get him, you fools!" cries the wizard, as he moves into the corner and ducks behind a barrel [taking 1/2 cover].

One of the smugglers levels a bow at Eron and quickly lets loose two arrows...

• Arrow Attack:  10  (Miss)
• Arrow Attack:  12  (Miss)

... both of which clatter harmlessly down the stone passageway over his shoulder.  This smuggler then steps south to hug the wall, taking 1/2 cover among the barrels [and currently has full cover from Arlynn and Tilliman... they no longer have line of sight to this one from where they are in the hall.]

The last smuggler in the room charges with his scimitar, landing a glancing blow on Eron.

• Scimitar Attack:  22  Slashing Damage:  2

Back in the hall, the Hobgoblin looses its arrow at Fane, but her magical defenses allow her to deflect it easily.

• Arrow Attack:  16  (Miss)

The Hobgoblin then drops the bow and draws forth a longsword.  It steps toward Fane, triggering the booming blast of her hex upon him, but it shrugs off the minor damage and stands beside her, weapon drawn and ready.

The Party is back up!

[And can I just say... woof to those smuggler attack rolls.  At this rate, I'm wondering how they ever managed to capture Arlynn off-screen....]

Behind her Fane hears the sounds of arcane magic and the shout of "The Great Sanbalet" and she muses to herself, your missing your spellbook Great Sanbalet but then her focus is drawn back to the hobgoblin in front of her, hoping to bring him down fast so she can go help against the wizard.

She waits until Leo flies by her head, and she makes her move.

action attack: 24 dmg: 9

If the hobgoblin is still standing, she will bonus action attack with her dagger. If he drops, she will enter the room, seeing the wizard, she will move to him and bonus attack with dagger.

Dagger: 8  dmg: 4

[She has 40' movement in the dance so I think she can skirt by the smuggler with Eron without an AOO, but if you say No, she'll still risk the AOO, and will shield if hit]

Eron Coalborn pushed himself with the swords for so long and so hard growing up with his father and other martial role models, the steel is like extensions of his arms.  As the fire is launched at him he flat blade swats them aside, then spins and swings his deadly display continuing on to the next smuggler to present himself...

Action Attack 20 for 12 slashing.  

If that kills his target he will move to attack the next smuggler in the room otherwise he will continue to assault his current target.

Bonus Action Off-hand Attack 10 for 9 slashing.

Free Action, "Sanbalet surrender or die!"

Tilliman hides in the shadows, whispering to himself a mantra of "Oh dear oh dear oh dear..."  as notches another  arrow and looses it from the darkness towards the Hobgoblin...

TURN BREAKDOWN

The blue-haired half-elf smiles to herself as she hears the desperate hollow threats of the great mage. "I believe your weave-shaping days are over Sanbalet." Arlynn calls out with a taunting laugh. She then peeks out enough to spot the cowering mage, unleashing another dark azure beam of eldritch crackling force towards him.

Eldritch Blast: 11 Force: 14 Necrotic: 3

She then makes a swift twist with her tentacle-shape wand and suddenly a massive spectral tentacle emerges from the floor to thrash at the mage.

Tentacle of the Deeps: 23 Cold: 10 + speed is reduced by 10 ft. until start of next turn.

Not being particularly brave, she then prudently steps back into full cover.

It is over in only seconds. 

Who killed who exactly would have to be a matter of debate between the adventurers later over a pint... what matters is that by the time Arlynn's spectral tentacle was done battering the wizard Sanbalet, all of the smugglers and their Hobgoblin ally lay dead on the floor of the cavern, or in the tunnel beyond.  The cavern is a mess... blood and a few of Sanbalet's teeth are smeared on the chambers walls, and it smells as though one of the smugglers may have lost control of bodily functions in his final moments.

From further down the tunnel where the Hobgoblin had been hiding, you can hear the sound of waves lapping on stone.  Otherwise, the caverns are now silent.

Time to see what they were smuggling are there merchant markings on the barrels or crates?  Is it obvious what the contents are?  First move down to the water to make sure no one else is here.

investigation 5 (Eron’s adrenaline is still pumping)

”What was that tentacle, wow I’ve never seen a spell like that!”