"Brandon?!"Aimon exclaims in as hushed voice as he could manage.
"Gods, it's good to see you safe, friend. Quickly, come with us. We're regrouping in the keep. I'll explain more once we get there."
The elf is sure to keep the mask, slipping it in the belt looped around his waist as he ushers the Rathwyn's into the centre of the group where they will be protected.
You cut straight south, again staying off the road as much as possible to avoid notice. As you come to another east-west road (of which east leads directly to the keep), Hadrian looks around the corners once more.
West The first thing you notice is that for the buildings to the west on this road, all of them seem relatively untouched - none have been set ablaze. The second thing you notice is why. At the end of the road, you see a large group of the raiders gathered in a fenced end yard between three buildings. Rather than lit by random fires, they've set up torches around the area. In the center at least half a dozen townsfolk have been tied up, surrounded by a band of kobolds, some of which you note have wings. The entrance is guarded by two of those blue drakes you've seen wandering around, and you see a mix of robed cultists and plain-garbed humanoid raiders gathered around. You can see other raiders moving into the area, arms filled with random trinkets and baubles - some of them carry it in sacks. Those moving out of the area leave empty-handed.
East To the east, you can make out the walls of the keep at last. Just one final crossroads to pass, and you've made it...On the north side of the road just before the intersection, a building has been completely consumed by the blaze. Across the road, you can see another group of 4 (3 kobolds and 1 cultist) moving in and out of one of the homes.
Xarian As you keep an eye out behind the group, you look back north to the road you just came from...And catch a glimpse of a group discovering the bodies you left behind. A raven-haired woman adorned in purple robes walks in front, carrying a halberd loosely in one hand. A dozen others travel with her, all the robed cultists you've encountered this night. As they come across the bodies, you can hear her barking out orders, and see her begin scanning the area. Thankfully, while the road they stand in is lit by nearby fires, the alley your awkward group now crouches in is currently shrouded in darkness. You're confident they won't see you. Unless they begin to wander this way...
"Looks like one of the leaders of this... invasion... found the three kobolds and one cultist we left in the dirt back there. She's got purple robes and a nasty-looking halberd, not to mention maybe a dozen more cultists with her. Don't think they see us yet, being lit up by flames while we're in the dark."
Xari's voice is low, canted to be just audible to those in front of him. In truth, from the big man's posture, it looks like part of him wants to turn around and take on the purple-robed woman and her lackeys head on. But what comes out of his mouth is:
"Need to keep moving. Too many civilians with us now to risk a big fight. To the keep, direct as possible."
Aimon doesn't need to be asked twice, especially with the Rathwyns' young daughter huddled in the middle of their group. Though there is a moment where he wonders who else he knows might have been rounded up by the raiders to the west.
"We'll get more people from the keep and take them to free everyone else," he says, more to convince himself than anyone else.
Hadrian hears Xarian explain the situation behind them as he looks to the west. "They have a...Forward camp in the town."He says quietly over his shoulder, so the big man can hear him. "A lot of guards, prisoners...And I think they're storing everything they're looting there." As he was sure Xarian felt, the young nobleman wanted nothing more than to charge ahead. He was torn between a desire to free those captured, and the responsibility of those already in their care. Almost unconsciously, his eyes go up to the starry sky. He wondered what price the night would end up extracting from him.
Shaking the thoughts from his mind, he glances east again. The road would take them directly to the keep...But they'd surely be noticed by the looters near the crossroad.
"There's a small group in our way. There might be a way around...But that'll take more time and risk us getting caught even further from the keep. We can just run through them."
Elk-elyn leans her neck forward, looking around the corner. After surveying the situation, she swings her head around to look at Hadrian and nod. "Let me out in front, I'll trample the nearest one."
The kobolds and cultist are caught mostly unawares as you step out into the street - a pair of the smaller reptilian humanoids are busy shoving trinkets and coin into a sack, while the third is just coming out of the home with more loot. Standing in the yard grasping a curved sword, the robed cultist seems to be supervising.
Hadrian tries to find an opening between his friends, eyeing the cultist standing in the far back. He steps further down the road (careful to stay out of Evelyn's way) before hurling a spear of crackling red eldritch energy at the robed raider.
Xari wishes he had gone around the houses to the north so he could get closer before being seen. He picks out the closest Kobold (B) and charges toward them, hoping to get within easy throwing range for one of his javelins, while still leaving room for Elk-elyn to charge.
Movement: Xari jogs E - E - NE - NE - NE - NE (finishing 30' W and 5' N of Kobold B).
Action: Xari throws one of his javelins at Kobold B. Javelin to hit Kobold B: 22 Javelin damage: 5 (piercing) JavelinSlow Weapon Mastery: on a hit, Kobold B's speed is reduced by 10' until the start of Xarian's next turn.
Aimon stays back with the Rathwyns in case some of the raiders from elsewhere in the city find them. Luckily he knows he can send his crackling energy quite far and he flings a sizzling orb of it at the cultist, following Hadrian's own blast.
"Stay close," he says to their charges. "We'll clear the way to the keep then we'll all be safe." He is trying to convince himself as much as anyone else.
Action: Sorcerous Burst at (A). Attack: 21. Damage: 6 Lightning.
The red bolt of energy strikes the cultist in the shoulder, sending them reeling. Not a moment later a crackling ball of lightning catches them in the face, sending their seizing body tumbling backwards.
As Xarianmarches forward, the kobold looks up just in time to catch the javelin in its thigh, hampering its movement. It limps towards the big man, throwing (Ranged attack:6to hit), before stumbling across the road to try and run away. The kobold that was in the doorway darts outside, dashing to - perhaps foolhardily - get in Xari's way.
Small change in naming convention because I wiped all the tokens on accident which wiped the encounter which turned into a mess. Cultist (A) - > ded Kobold (B) -> (A) Kobold (C) -> (B) Kobold (D) -> (C)
Evelyn paws the ground in front of her before lowering her head and charging, slamming straight into the kobold that had moved into melee with Xarian.
[Movement]: 5 E - 20 NE [Action]: Ram kobold (C) to hit: 26(natural 20), damage: 9. From moving 20 ft before the attack, the target is also knocked prone.
Too late, the tiny kobold realizes its mistake. The massive elkis bearing down on it before it even has a chance to bring its dagger around, and Evelynsends its broken body flying as her head rams into it.
"That's going to take some getting used to," Xari admits as the onrushing Elk-elyn's ram launches the hapless kobold. "Not that I'm complaining."
The big man himself charges up to the furthest surviving kobold (B), drawing his greatsword and bringing it around in a looping backhand. "You know when you kobolds die by the hundreds, the dragons you revere will scrape your corpses off with less thought than for the mud between their claws?"
Movement: Xari trots 20' E and 5' SE to finish just NW of Kobold B (if his attack slays Kobold B, he then moves 5' NW back towards Kobold A).
Action: Xari attacks Kobold B with his greatsword. Greatsword to hit Kobold B: 20 (dirty) Greatsword damage: 11 (slashing) Greatsword Graze Weapon Mastery: on a miss, the target (Kobold B) still takes damage: 4 (slashing)
The moment Xarian moves out of his line of sight Hadrian raises his hand again. The mark in the crook of his elbow flares, sending red light pulsing through his veins down to his hand. Another lance of red energy races out from his palm towards the hobbled kobold, brighter and more unstable than the last.
Action: Eldritch BlastCrit(26 to hit), (19force) - Kobold (A)
Xari clanks along as rear guard once more, though not nearly as quietly as before. Ash the owl glides much more silently above.
Xarian's Stealth at disadvantage from his Scale Mail:
195Xarian's Perception: 20 (dirty)
Inge(Barbarian2):Krayveneer's After the Fall| Seri(Cleric1/Sorcerer1):Uhtred's Windward Isles| Xarian(Fighter2):NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(Cleric4):Vos' Beyond the Veil| Soren(Druid5):Bartjeebus' Ravenloft| Nivi(Rogue4):Raiketsu's CoS| Ophelia(Sorcerer4):Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(Fighter6):NotDrizzt's Simple Request| Toa(Barbarian6/Fighter4):MrWhisker's Dark Lord's Return| Sabetha(Monk3):Bedlymn's Murder Court
"Brandon?!" Aimon exclaims in as hushed voice as he could manage.
"Gods, it's good to see you safe, friend. Quickly, come with us. We're regrouping in the keep. I'll explain more once we get there."
The elf is sure to keep the mask, slipping it in the belt looped around his waist as he ushers the Rathwyn's into the centre of the group where they will be protected.
Stealth: 12
You cut straight south, again staying off the road as much as possible to avoid notice. As you come to another east-west road (of which east leads directly to the keep), Hadrian looks around the corners once more.
West
The first thing you notice is that for the buildings to the west on this road, all of them seem relatively untouched - none have been set ablaze. The second thing you notice is why. At the end of the road, you see a large group of the raiders gathered in a fenced end yard between three buildings. Rather than lit by random fires, they've set up torches around the area. In the center at least half a dozen townsfolk have been tied up, surrounded by a band of kobolds, some of which you note have wings. The entrance is guarded by two of those blue drakes you've seen wandering around, and you see a mix of robed cultists and plain-garbed humanoid raiders gathered around. You can see other raiders moving into the area, arms filled with random trinkets and baubles - some of them carry it in sacks. Those moving out of the area leave empty-handed.
East
To the east, you can make out the walls of the keep at last. Just one final crossroads to pass, and you've made it...On the north side of the road just before the intersection, a building has been completely consumed by the blaze. Across the road, you can see another group of 4 (3 kobolds and 1 cultist) moving in and out of one of the homes.
Xarian
As you keep an eye out behind the group, you look back north to the road you just came from...And catch a glimpse of a group discovering the bodies you left behind. A raven-haired woman adorned in purple robes walks in front, carrying a halberd loosely in one hand. A dozen others travel with her, all the robed cultists you've encountered this night. As they come across the bodies, you can hear her barking out orders, and see her begin scanning the area. Thankfully, while the road they stand in is lit by nearby fires, the alley your awkward group now crouches in is currently shrouded in darkness. You're confident they won't see you. Unless they begin to wander this way...
North
East
West
"Looks like one of the leaders of this... invasion... found the three kobolds and one cultist we left in the dirt back there. She's got purple robes and a nasty-looking halberd, not to mention maybe a dozen more cultists with her. Don't think they see us yet, being lit up by flames while we're in the dark."
Xari's voice is low, canted to be just audible to those in front of him. In truth, from the big man's posture, it looks like part of him wants to turn around and take on the purple-robed woman and her lackeys head on. But what comes out of his mouth is:
"Need to keep moving. Too many civilians with us now to risk a big fight. To the keep, direct as possible."
Inge(Barbarian2):Krayveneer's After the Fall| Seri(Cleric1/Sorcerer1):Uhtred's Windward Isles| Xarian(Fighter2):NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(Cleric4):Vos' Beyond the Veil| Soren(Druid5):Bartjeebus' Ravenloft| Nivi(Rogue4):Raiketsu's CoS| Ophelia(Sorcerer4):Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(Fighter6):NotDrizzt's Simple Request| Toa(Barbarian6/Fighter4):MrWhisker's Dark Lord's Return| Sabetha(Monk3):Bedlymn's Murder Court
Aimon doesn't need to be asked twice, especially with the Rathwyns' young daughter huddled in the middle of their group. Though there is a moment where he wonders who else he knows might have been rounded up by the raiders to the west.
"We'll get more people from the keep and take them to free everyone else," he says, more to convince himself than anyone else.
Hadrian hears Xarian explain the situation behind them as he looks to the west. "They have a...Forward camp in the town." He says quietly over his shoulder, so the big man can hear him. "A lot of guards, prisoners...And I think they're storing everything they're looting there." As he was sure Xarian felt, the young nobleman wanted nothing more than to charge ahead. He was torn between a desire to free those captured, and the responsibility of those already in their care. Almost unconsciously, his eyes go up to the starry sky. He wondered what price the night would end up extracting from him.
Shaking the thoughts from his mind, he glances east again. The road would take them directly to the keep...But they'd surely be noticed by the looters near the crossroad.
"There's a small group in our way. There might be a way around...But that'll take more time and risk us getting caught even further from the keep. We can just run through them."
"Any objections?"
Elk-elyn leans her neck forward, looking around the corner. After surveying the situation, she swings her head around to look at Hadrian and nod. "Let me out in front, I'll trample the nearest one."
Xarian's Initiative: 7
Inge(Barbarian2):Krayveneer's After the Fall| Seri(Cleric1/Sorcerer1):Uhtred's Windward Isles| Xarian(Fighter2):NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(Cleric4):Vos' Beyond the Veil| Soren(Druid5):Bartjeebus' Ravenloft| Nivi(Rogue4):Raiketsu's CoS| Ophelia(Sorcerer4):Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(Fighter6):NotDrizzt's Simple Request| Toa(Barbarian6/Fighter4):MrWhisker's Dark Lord's Return| Sabetha(Monk3):Bedlymn's Murder Court
Initiative: 21
Hadrian bows out of the way of Evelyn's beastial form. "By all means, be my guest."
Elk-elyn struggles to maneuver in the cramped alleyway, trying to get past the raven-haired man without crushing him.
[Initiative]: 3
Aimon steps back to let Elk-elyn do her thing while he prepares to follow.
Initiative: 11
The kobolds and cultist are caught mostly unawares as you step out into the street - a pair of the smaller reptilian humanoids are busy shoving trinkets and coin into a sack, while the third is just coming out of the home with more loot. Standing in the yard grasping a curved sword, the robed cultist seems to be supervising.
Hadrian, Aimon, and Xarian!

Hadrian tries to find an opening between his friends, eyeing the cultist standing in the far back. He steps further down the road (careful to stay out of Evelyn's way) before hurling a spear of crackling red eldritch energy at the robed raider.
Movement: 15N -> 10NE
Action: Eldritch Blast (15 to hit), (6 force) - (A)
Xari wishes he had gone around the houses to the north so he could get closer before being seen. He picks out the closest Kobold (B) and charges toward them, hoping to get within easy throwing range for one of his javelins, while still leaving room for Elk-elyn to charge.
Movement: Xari jogs E - E - NE - NE - NE - NE (finishing 30' W and 5' N of Kobold B).
Action: Xari throws one of his javelins at Kobold B.
Javelin to hit Kobold B: 22
Javelin damage: 5 (piercing)
Javelin Slow Weapon Mastery: on a hit, Kobold B's speed is reduced by 10' until the start of Xarian's next turn.
Bonus Action: None
Inge(Barbarian2):Krayveneer's After the Fall| Seri(Cleric1/Sorcerer1):Uhtred's Windward Isles| Xarian(Fighter2):NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(Cleric4):Vos' Beyond the Veil| Soren(Druid5):Bartjeebus' Ravenloft| Nivi(Rogue4):Raiketsu's CoS| Ophelia(Sorcerer4):Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(Fighter6):NotDrizzt's Simple Request| Toa(Barbarian6/Fighter4):MrWhisker's Dark Lord's Return| Sabetha(Monk3):Bedlymn's Murder Court
Aimon stays back with the Rathwyns in case some of the raiders from elsewhere in the city find them. Luckily he knows he can send his crackling energy quite far and he flings a sizzling orb of it at the cultist, following Hadrian's own blast.
"Stay close," he says to their charges. "We'll clear the way to the keep then we'll all be safe." He is trying to convince himself as much as anyone else.
Action: Sorcerous Burst at (A). Attack: 21. Damage: 6 Lightning.
The red bolt of energy strikes the cultist in the shoulder, sending them reeling. Not a moment later a crackling ball of lightning catches them in the face, sending their seizing body tumbling backwards.
As Xarian marches forward, the kobold looks up just in time to catch the javelin in its thigh, hampering its movement. It limps towards the big man, throwing (Ranged attack: 6 to hit), before stumbling across the road to try and run away. The kobold that was in the doorway darts outside, dashing to - perhaps foolhardily - get in Xari's way.
Small change in naming convention because I wiped all the tokens on accident which wiped the encounter which turned into a mess.
Cultist (A) - > ded
Kobold (B) -> (A)
Kobold (C) -> (B)
Kobold (D) -> (C)
Evelyn, you're up!
Evelyn paws the ground in front of her before lowering her head and charging, slamming straight into the kobold that had moved into melee with Xarian.
[Movement]: 5 E - 20 NE
[Action]: Ram kobold (C) to hit: 26(natural 20), damage: 9. From moving 20 ft before the attack, the target is also knocked prone.
Too late, the tiny kobold realizes its mistake. The massive elk is bearing down on it before it even has a chance to bring its dagger around, and Evelyn sends its broken body flying as her head rams into it.
Hadrian, Aimon, and Xari!

"That's going to take some getting used to," Xari admits as the onrushing Elk-elyn's ram launches the hapless kobold. "Not that I'm complaining."
The big man himself charges up to the furthest surviving kobold (B), drawing his greatsword and bringing it around in a looping backhand. "You know when you kobolds die by the hundreds, the dragons you revere will scrape your corpses off with less thought than for the mud between their claws?"
Movement: Xari trots 20' E and 5' SE to finish just NW of Kobold B (if his attack slays Kobold B, he then moves 5' NW back towards Kobold A).
Action: Xari attacks Kobold B with his greatsword.
Greatsword to hit Kobold B: 20 (dirty)
Greatsword damage: 11 (slashing)
Greatsword Graze Weapon Mastery: on a miss, the target (Kobold B) still takes damage: 4 (slashing)
Bonus Action: None
Inge(Barbarian2):Krayveneer's After the Fall| Seri(Cleric1/Sorcerer1):Uhtred's Windward Isles| Xarian(Fighter2):NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(Cleric4):Vos' Beyond the Veil| Soren(Druid5):Bartjeebus' Ravenloft| Nivi(Rogue4):Raiketsu's CoS| Ophelia(Sorcerer4):Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(Fighter6):NotDrizzt's Simple Request| Toa(Barbarian6/Fighter4):MrWhisker's Dark Lord's Return| Sabetha(Monk3):Bedlymn's Murder Court
The moment Xarian moves out of his line of sight Hadrian raises his hand again. The mark in the crook of his elbow flares, sending red light pulsing through his veins down to his hand. Another lance of red energy races out from his palm towards the hobbled kobold, brighter and more unstable than the last.
Action: Eldritch Blast Crit (26 to hit), (19 force) - Kobold (A)