I also thought we would be riding the horses we gathered from the guards...on the road...quickly...

As Devin goes to move into the woods he sees the rest of the group hesitate and clearly wish to just head up the road towards Nesme.

"Fair enough then," he remarks.  "Speed over stealth at this time.  We may not learn anything but maybe we can just disrupt it all.  Shall we ride then?"

He joins them will mount a horse if needed, or if there is one to spare, and will run behind them if not.

For D.O.R.K, strangely enough, no argument seemed to hold much sway to the supposed tactician. She simply observed as Ebonitus would broach the topic of a slightly altered approach. Sometimes canting her head to the side in curiosity at certain points, but otherwise content to listen and let others discuss while making arrangements one way or another. But while she expectant of Ebonitus' compromise gaining some traction, Devin's return and acceptance of outright haste... prompts the construct to start worrying at the holy symbol on her forehead.

For a few moments at least, before then  mutely accepting majority rules, and seeing about grabbing a horse for herself to follow in line after the others. If need be though, should there not be enough remaining horses, then she will offer to run behind the group, citing that she would not get exhausted from trying to keep up.

(@All: Others can correct me, but given the hasty approach seems the way things are going, it should be safe to assume that Mambo is just following after us?)

Quote from Orileo >>

 

(@All: Others can correct me, but given the hasty approach seems the way things are going, it should be safe to assume that Mambo is just following after us?)

 Works for me.

Half a league, half a league,
Half a league onward,
All in the valley of Death
Rode the five.
“Forward, the Light Brigade!
Charge for the towns!” he said.
Into the valley of Death
Rode the five.

“Forward, the Light Brigade!”
Was there a man dismayed?
Not though the soldier knew
Someone had blundered.
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do and die.
Into the valley of Death
Rode the Five.

The party mount the horses and set off towards Nesme, however as the horses are blown and covered in small scars they can barely make a trot despite the party members’ best efforts. When the party reaches a distance of about 350 feet from the walls of the ruined city they are hit with a barrage of crossbow bolts from the front targeting (1-2 Devin, 3-4 D.OR.K., 5-6 Ebonitus, 7-8 Ilezenya, & 9-10 Lukian) (2,3,1,2,5,8,7,7,4,3 ) Devin (1), 3-4 D.OR.K. (2), Ebonitus (2), Ilezenya (-), & 9-10 Lukian (5).

Against Devin 

Attack: 7 Damage: 5

Against D.O.R.K.

Attack: 14 Damage: 5
Attack: 7 Damage: 2

Against Ebonitus

Attack: 7 Damage: 7
Attack: 10 Damage: 10

Against Lukian

Attack: 17 Damage: 7
Attack: 14 Damage: 7
Attack: 15 Damage: 3
Attack: 4 Damage: 2
Attack: 8 Damage: 9

Fortunately for the party not a single shot hits.

So now what?

Ilezenya quickly dismounts the spent horse and strides straight ahead towards the gate, his shield held in front of him. As he moves, he calls upon Selune to grant him vigilance and awareness. "Turn to the moon, and I will be your true guide." he mutters. (Vigilant Blessing: The night has taught you to be vigilant. As an action, you give one creature you touch (including possibly yourself) advantage on the next initiative roll the creature makes.)

And the rest of you?

Unless bade by another to dismount as well, D.O.R.K has no compunctions continuing to push the horse onward to Nesma. What mercy she does give, is in tracing magically a red symbol into the back of her horses' neck, bestowing the endurance of her goddesses' infamous war beast blessing upon the mount's neck. "Emboldening Protocol: War Beast's Blessing. Tremble not. Fear not. The her crimson beasts will carry you through." As the last word may leave her lips, the horse would begin to emit a faintly red, but very visible aura.

--> Casting (2nd levelEnhance Ability on her Horse, granting 6 Temp HP and adv. on CON checks.

(@DM: May need to edit above actions depending on following answer. Is the horses trot as fast if not faster than 30ft?)

Ebonitus quickly dismounts, and keeping the horse between where the bolts have come from and himself, continues to advance up the road. He communes with Mambo "Did you see where the bolts came from? We must attack that position."  As he advances he looks around to see if he can identify a safe place to leave the road and take other cover. Seeing D.o.r.k pressing on and that the crossbow bolts were coming from the parapets of the city at the front, Ebonitus quickly remounts and spurs his horse into a gallop to charge towards the gate and some respite from the crossbows.

(OOC: terrain map please - indicating where the enemy is.)

Seeing that the others are not backing down Devin bends forward in the saddle and urges his horse on as fast as it will run...

Attack first
Think last
Opponents must know
That they have no chance to go

Yes wisdom is must
If you really trust
Keep intentions clear
And create unforgettable fear

It is not for wild animal alone
But for humans too
They must plan with duality if required
As fortune favors the brave who definitely lead

It shall strike gold
If shown boldness
That shall bring success too
With full control and access

Let us learn
And turn
Table against odd
With so much to add

Both Ilezenya and Ebonitus hop off their horses but then realising that they will be left behind as the rest of the party seems undaunted by the inaccurate crossbow fire coming from the front keeps heading up the road. Despite their best efforts the party is unable to do more than whip the exhausted horses into a trot (Dash = 80' feet per round) but advance they do.

At a distance of 270 feet another 10 shots are fired at the party targeting  (1-2 Devin, 3-4 D.OR.K., 5-6 Ebonitus, 7-8 Ilezenya, & 9-10 Lukian) (2,7,8,1,4,8,3,10,7,6 ) Devin (2), 3-4 D.OR.K. (3), Ebonitus (2), Ilezenya (1), & 9-10 Lukian (2).

Against Devin

Attack: 6 Damage: 8
Attack: 8 Damage: Unable to parse dice roll.

Against D.O.R.K.

Attack: 3 Damage: 4
Attack: 16 Damage: 1
Attack: 5 Damage: 5

Against Ebonitus

Attack: 4 Damage: 7
Attack: 21 Damage: 8

Against Ilezenya

Attack: 9 Damage: 1

Agaisnt Lukian

Attack: 4 Damage: 4
Attack: 14 Damage: 5

 The party pushes on and at a range of 190 feet are targeted again by another barrage targeting  (1-2 Devin, 3-4 D.OR.K., 5-6 Ebonitus, 7-8 Ilezenya, & 9-10 Lukian) (6,7,10,5,5,10,9,3,2,1 ) Devin (2), 3-4 D.OR.K. (1), Ebonitus (2), Ilezenya (0), & 9-10 Lukian (5)

Against Devin

Attack: 8 Damage: 6
Attack: 20 Damage: 6

Against D.O.R.K.

Attack: 14 Damage: 5

Against Ebonitus

Attack: 14 Damage: 3
Attack: 14 Damage: 9

Agaisnt Lukian

Attack: 9 Damage: 7
Attack: 8 Damage: 7
Attack: 20 Damage: 5
Attack: 5 Damage: 2
Attack: 14 Damage: 4

After two more rounds only Devin has been hit.

Ebonitus lowers himself to be one with the horse, and urges the horse to continue.

D.O.R.K remains true to her course and cause. Though somewhere deep down, it may have... pained her, in some small way, to push the horses so much... Haste meant everything at the moment. Even if technically speaking, they could count their being there alone as enough of a disruption as to leave giants and the network suspicious  even more of one another. However, without an active "plan" to fall back on, she only had the earlier 'orders' to fall back on to guide her decisions.

Devin feels committed now.  At minimum they needed to get into range of his spells so he could start lobbing bolts of fire at defenders.  He pressed on with the others doing his best to Dodge

The party continue to make their way down the road. 

As they reach  a distance of about 190 feet they are hit with yet another barrage of crossbow bolts from the ruins of the city's walls targeting (1-2 Devin, 3-4 D.OR.K., 5-6 Ebonitus, 7-8 Ilezenya, & 9-10 Lukian) (4,3,8,3,6,3,4,7,10,5 ) Devin (1), 3-4 D.OR.K. (2), Ebonitus (2), Ilezenya (2), & 9-10 Lukian (3).

Against Devin 

 Attack: 20 Damage: 2

Against D.O.R.K.

 Attack: 16 Damage: 1
Attack: 7 Damage: 1

Against Ebonitus

Attack: 11 Damage: 8
Attack: 3 Damage: 1

Against Ilezenya

Attack: 4 Damage: 9 
Attack: 14 Damage: 5

Against Lukian

 Attack: 21 Damage: 2
Attack: 5 Damage: 6
Attack: 7 Damage: 2

The range at which the crossbows are firing is proving a telling factor because again none of the shots hit. Undaunted the party presses on to a range of 110 feet at which another barrage of bolts flies forth targeting (1-2 Devin, 3-4 D.OR.K., 5-6 Ebonitus, 7-8 Ilezenya, & 9-10 Lukian) (6,2,7,2,6,10,4,5,6,2 ) Devin (1), 3-4 D.OR.K. (2), Ebonitus (2), Ilezenya (2), & 9-10 Lukian (3).

 Against Devin 

Attack: 6 Damage: 9

Against D.O.R.K.

Attack: 11 Damage: 9

Against Ebonitus

Attack: 9 Damage: 6
Attack: 9 Damage: 5

Against Ilezenya

Attack: 15 Damage: 7 
Attack: 7 Damage: 7
Attack: 12 Damage: 7
Attack: 9 Damage: 6

Against Lukian

Attack: 4 Damage: 7
Attack: 14 Damage: 9

And now for something completely different (15, 3, 7, 11, 14). 

Again none of the shots hit and the party is about 110 feet away from the walls of the ruined city. Suddenly Lukian who has been scanning the horizon turns to the party and says pointing to the unmistakable  figure of a giant approaching the city from the south (the party has been approaching form the west) "I think that's what we've come to see!"

At best guess the figure is about 50 feet from the city and over 200 feet from the party.

I'm assuming we can see the archers enough to target them. If not, I will want to retcon this.

Lukian leans back a little from his position of riding forward over his horse's neck. Letting go of the reigns with one hand, he makes a gesture while calling out something in Elvish. Finally, the thrusts his open palm forward, and a red streak of light leaves the symbol of Lathandar burned on his palm and arcs toward the cluster of archers. Landing, the streak blossoms with a low roar into an explosion of flame.

Fireball: Each creature in a 20-foot-radius sphere centered on that point must make a DC13 Dexterity saving throw. A target takes 23 fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

Ilezenya moves another 30 feet forward (now at 80'), and throws what looks like a marble-sized sphere of total blackness. It travels 60' in a straight line, fueled forward by magic and expanding as it goes. At the end of its movement, a 30' diameter sphere of utter darkness hovers with about 5 feet in the ground but 25' above and 30 wide. (Intent is to block as many guards' vision as possible. The center of the sphere is 10' above ground and 20' away from the guards - it has a 15'radius, or a 30'diameter. Who said you'd never use geometry outside of your math class!! =)

Even in the Giant's arrival, assuming Lukian had even called it out to the others, D.O.R.K remained relentless and focused purely on keeping her mount motivated in keeping the course on the ruined city. If she could just get to the walls, then could she bring her true weapons to bear. Until then, she could only her mount endured for long enough...

Devin turn his horse towards the giant that is coming up the road.  Riding forward towards it he cast [spell]Thaumaturgy[/[spell] and causes his voice to boom three times as loud as normal.  He then yells as loud as he can towards the approaching giant.

"Nelgorn has betrayed you and laid an ambush.  Run for your lives!"

He repeats this several times.

Devin turn his horse towards the giant that is coming up the road. Riding forward towards it he cast [spell]Thaumaturgy[/[spell] and causes his voice to boom three times as loud as normal. He then yells as loud as he can towards the approaching giant.

"Nelgorn has betrayed you and laid an ambush. Run for your lives!"

He repeats this several times.

I like it - make a deception roll to see if you can carry it off