Sparlock's Hoard of the Dragon Queen

As Skiaceq finishes off the wingèd kobold, Darvin gives a silent fist pump, before saying quietly to the lagging group of townsfolk, "Alright, looks like the coast is clear for now. Let's get over this wall and to the keep." Once the rest of the group has made it over, Darvin climbs over himself to meet Valji and the other townsfolk in the woods, where they all continue on to the keep.

As everyone gets across the wall, you hear a crash and the pounding on the front door stops. From inside the temple, you hear sounds of yelling and confusion as the kobolds realize that there is no one inside. There is a sound of a horn call in the distance. The group starts toward the keep, the forest rustling around them.

How exactly will you approach getting to the secret tunnel with this large group? 

OoC: I guess I think we'd stick to the trees until they end, and then pause for a moment to look around and assess whether to make a dash for it or whether some other approach is called for. Anybody else have other ideas? The tunnel entrance is 2 on the map, right?

(OOC: Concur. Stick to cover as long as we can, then have the townsfolk run like hell for the tunnel. We stand rear guard and hold off any attackers. Waauuuggghhhhh!!!)

As you arrive at the edge of the forest, you can see that the path to the secret tunnel is clear. The civilians, led by the acolytes, head into the tunnel at your direction while you guard the path. Eadyan Falconmoon, the cleric in charge of the temple, says put, "I'll stay with you all for now, if it's just the same. I think you all have need of my services." He nods in Lissandra's direction, as if to communicate they are on the same quest for Chauntea.

Another horn call can be heard in the woods in the direction you came from.

"They must have found our path... If they have any trackers worth their muster, it will probably lead them straight here."

"By all means, we can certainly use the help," Darvin says to Falconmoon distractedly, his gaze darting around the sky.

"Maybe we should make a stand in the tunnel? That way we only have to face a few of them at a time rather than all of them at once..." Valji suggests once the townsfolk are safely inside. "I can even conjure an illusion that makes them think something terrible is in here and they'll go around! What do you think? A gelatinous cube with a few kobolds inside, maybe?"

"Sounds like a good plan to me, though if they're not here yet by the time we get everyone else safely inside, seems like we may as well make our own way through, keeping watch for them as we go. Do we have any way we can seal the door from the inside?" says Darvin.

Turning to the group, Lissandra says, "The opening of the tunnel is fairly well hidden, and unlike the forest, the rocky terrain will hide our tracks. The kobolds earlier had a map to lead them right to it. Perhaps if we hide inside the entrance to the tunnel, they will walk right past trying to figure out where the group went."

If you try this, go ahead and make a group Stealth check with advantage to see if you're successful.

OoC: Zombie plot nudge! :-) I take it the NPC types are all inside at this point? If so Darvin would already be inside the entrance, since he was planning to follow them in.

"Yes, hiding. I'm all for that. Truly, you are one of the two wisest servants of Chauntea I've met in the last twelve hours," Darvin says, slipping a bit further into the tunnel to find a shadow.

Stealth: 15

Valji will go over a few potential spells in his mind, murmuring softly. "Protect myself first? Help us to hide from prying eyes? Or send a crackling beam of sky-fire at anyone bad who sticks their head inside the tunnel? I have my crystal ready for whichever one suits the situation..."

Stealth: 19

Skiaceq enters last, his movements rigid. Stepping backward with the group, he watches the mouth of the tunnel intently. Anyone who gives attention can plainly see this is not situational awareness, but a desperate attempt to divert his own concentration away from the dark maw closing around him.

Stealth: 23

Hiding just inside the disguised entrance of the tunnel, it is a couple minutes before the kobolds arrive at the stream bed, arguing amongst themselves in draconic. "They definitely came this way... I think they crossed the stream here..."

"No... they must have headed for the keep. The horned coward will probably want to take the map to the humans."

'Or maybe he went back towards the cave."

"That would be their problem over there... Let's split up. You go across the stream, and the rest of us will go towards the keep."

A few more moments pass, and you can see a set of feet passing along the streambed in front of the tunnel. Two ambush drakes, some cultists, and a number of kobolds walk directly in front and continue on, presumably towards the keep, unaware of their quarry watching them right now.

Valji watches the kobold party, standing still and silent like he used to do as a child playing "Hide the Muffin" with the children from the village. He actually discovered his magical talents for illusions playing this game, when he wished so hard to be invisible because the village tough was getting close to his hiding spot and Valji really wanted to keep the muffin to himself (and not get a beating, which was the penalty for being discovered with the treat. It was a harsh game...) 

As the cultist retinue passes by, Skiaceq shares a look with Valji and Darvin. "Let us not look for trouble that does not find us. We should reach the keep and inform the watch of the search party."

"Agreed," Darvin replies, once the search party is out of view and, presumably, earshot. "Let's head in. After we report back to the governor, assuming he doesn't have another assignment he needs done, shall we investigate whatever's down there?" he says, pointing to the apparent cave entrance [I think?] to the south on the map.

"I agree, too. Best not to invite trouble! I can alarm the tunnel entrance here so that I will know if anything enters or exits. Give me a few minutes..." Valji will perform a ritual to cast a spell, making it give him a mental ping whenever anything comes through the area. He sets the alarmed area 20 feet inside the tunnel, but before it branches off, to avoid false alarms from forest animals.

"Good idea," Darvin says to Valji, slumping down against the wall of the tunnel to take a few minutes to rest while the wizard completes his ritual.

A couple minutes pass as Valji is setting the alarm. The priest with you wanders off for a moment, pacing in impatience, but after a few minutes the alarm is set.

As the spell finishes up, the group returns to the inside of the castle, Skiaceq presumably heaving a huge sigh of relief at leaving behind the caves. Up above, the castle seems to be maintaining a quiet unease, the newcomers huddled together in the courtyard, apparently being debriefed by Governor Nighthill, who is talking to the two acolytes.