"Lead on lass, im wi' ye til the end"

Gruk, unsure, steps forward towards the entrance of the large cave and starts speaking: "There is no need to fight! Gruk has..." But before he finishes, an arrow flies towards Gruk, and he only barely manages to duck back behind the rock. From the depths of the cave, you hear a gurgling unhealthy sound, which the Professor understands and translates as Koro-arak speaking.

"Gruk is vile traitor, bringing long knives to sacred temple. Shoot to kill!"

From behind the stone, Gruk tries again: "Don't listen to Koro-arak. YOU must have seen him turn, Koro-arak is a usurper. All that ambition, for what? A peaceful life is only possible in harmony with others, not in fear of every creature that lives nearby. Unless you pray for a life of endless fights... But Gruk aims to unite the tribe and live peacefully with others nearby. Stop with the castes and starting to choose our leaders. YOU are among the elders and the elites of the clan, they need you to be on side."

The only response that follows is a hissing snarl :"If it is crown Gruk wants, come and get it!"

Unless you want to try something different, roll for initiative!

The Professor:

Grateful that he had his deflecting air spell readied, the Professor aids in re-directing the arrow that flies at Gruk.  Realizing he needs to give the Stealth Rescue Team (TM) some time and cover, Snively continues his spell to deflect any incoming missiles, starts talking and moving forward as he speaks.  With one hand holding the torch and the other weaving air magic, he prepares to throw up a Shield if any attacks get through his defenses or he is targeted by a Magic Missile.  "And what of the rest of you?.  Are you so easily swayed by the Hag's enchantment?  I have proof of her duplicity if you have the wisdom to seek the truth.  Or will you choose to follow Koro-arak into madness, trying to steal the gold scales of leadership by magic instead of earning them through deeds?  Or do you follow Gruk, who wisely counsels peace, as I do?  This is your last, best, chance to make that decision!"

The Professor speaks firmly and moves into the room as he speaks, holding the torch so that it does not illuminate part of the entrance to the room should the SRT (TM) wish to take advantage of his distraction and move in.  Realizing that he is putting himself in a direct line of fire, Snively hopes that his reason sways the other leaders of the tribe, or, failing that, his air and force magic can protect him somewhat from their attack.

Maxine was crawling behind professor to best of her sneaking abilities and when the party began not so peaceful talk, she tried to find a spot with a clear line of site to the enemy, ready to shoot as soon as it become clear the other side is not going to back off.

Initiative: 14

Once the first arrows started flying, it was obvious that Shae wouldn't be able to just walk out of cover to get a full view of the cave. Her heart would stop in concern for the Professor when he would bravely step out to openly address his aggressors. Trusting that he wouldn't risk it without having his defences prepared, the warlock would take the opportunity to peak from cover. Hoping that all attention was on the Professor and Gruk, Shae will scan the area for Faekin, letting her senses and intuition guide her.

Berrus tenses at the arrow sho, and moves slightly ahead of Shae with his shield in front of her, but now with his Axe out as well

As you all look around the corner, the Professor's torch illuminates a grim scene: 

At the end of a long hall that seems to have been carved out of the rock, there is a rough-hewn granite altar, upon which you can make out some vessels, giving off warm reflections of the torch light. The edge of the hall is lined with a weathered relief, and humanoid or animal figures doubling as pillars propping up the ceiling. Despite the clear intent behind this hall, the ground is uneven, and several puddles are visible, as water drips down from the ceiling.

Behind the altar, cowering, with his skin scarred, cracked, and in places peeling from the limbs, you see Koro-arak. Even his form is twisted, nearly unrecognisable from the chemical alterations he repeatedly attempted and endured to keep his scales at their necessary golden hue. It takes you all a moment to make out the second figure, hanging to the side in a frame. The realisation hits you like a brick, and through the matted hair, the bruised limbs, and the flayed arms, you recognise an emaciated Faekin, his quiet moans letting you know that he is still alive.

Apart from the two, you can only make out the shadowy shapes of a few other creatures, though Shae reckons she can make out five of them, as you all approach cautiously.

The rest of the crew follows closely behind, spreading out until you fill most of the hallway. As you slowly approach, Koro-arak grabs one of the vials on the altar, and with a scream that roughly translates to "Wretched traitors!" hurls the flask towards you. As it shatters close to the Professor, the vial splashes some water on you, but otherwise has no effect. Koro-arak snarls in disappointment, but you hear from around you, that the other grung present are readying their attacks.
 

Everyone apart from Maxine, roll initiative!

The Professor:

OOC:  Do we have advantage in initiative checks since the captain is with us and has the Dagger of Warning?

Initiative:  11

If Advantage:  15

Quote from Scott_R_Simmons >>

The Professor:

OOC:  Do we have advantage in initiative checks since the captain is with us and has the Dagger of Warning?

Initiative:  Dice rolls not yet available for this section.

If Advantage:  Dice rolls not yet available for this section.

 Try again:

Initiative:  22

Advantage?:  20

Shae initiative: 18

Berrus initiative: 20

Here's a rough map for the tactical placement, you're all entering from the bottom. Professor, you're first!

The Professor:

Looking in disgust at this pretender to leadership, Snively says with a strange degree of calm, "You are a disease to the Grug race, Koro-arak.  I will purge them of your infection."  The Professor then lowers his torch at the wretched creature, and a ball of flame flares into existence right at Koro-arak's feet!  Snively then moves up and to the side into the small alcove on the western wall, both for cover and to get out of the way of the advancing melee fighters.

Flaming Sphere fire damage, DC 13 Dexterity Save for Half:  4

Berrus will hold in order to move in concert with Shae, using his training to stay slightly in front with his shield ready to protect her   (and the axe for whatever gets close <eg> )

The Professor's flaming sphere illuminates the chamber as it hurtles towards Koro- arak, and for a brief moment, you are all able to see five other figures spread out and in cover behind the pillars. A loud shriek lets you know that your sphere found its target.

Using the distraction, Thasselandra dashes towards the nearest column to the left and once in cover shouts out: "Careful, there's two archers to the right!" before hurling a dagger in the indicated direction. The low grunt is a good sign,  though fighting in this hall without more light might be tricky for some.

For the waiting grung however, the Professor's torch is a literal beacon in the dark, and before long, another arrow comes flying right at the Prof.

Bertrand, noticing the issue with the light, presses up against the wall as he lights another torch and hurls it into the middle of the chamber, about two- thirds towards the altar and Koro-arak. You can all make out the different shapes now.

Falx, still struggling to wield his Greatsword with his injured arm, and unwilling to go running up the middle of the aisle now that it was illuminated, ducks into the right hand niche, and readies his crossbow, before shouting: "I'll cover from here, push up towards the Captain!"

Shae and Berrus, you're up!

The Professor:

Hoping that taking cover in the side alcove plus his normal magical protections are enough, Snively is distressed to see an arrow come streaking right at him anyway!  He throws up a magical shield at the last instant, not wanting to be hit by those arrows and whatever poison they might carry!

As the Professor throws up his shield, the arrow shatters against the magical barrier.

Shae will follow Berrus' lead to advance further into the room. "Our focus is to get to Faekin... I don't want to have to hurt the other grung if we don't have too..." She'd mutter out loud more to herself, but also so that Berrus would be aware of where her head was at. Looking over at Koro-arak and seeing his condition first hand, she could see that there was no convincing him though. Glancing to Berrus, she'd gesture her chin to the fake leader, "I support the Professor with this guy though." She'll nod. "On 3 I'm going to release a blast." Shae wanted to work with Berrus and communicate when she was going to attack so that they could synchronize for the best cover. She did not want to compromise his defence. "1... 2... 3."

Casting Eldritch Blast at Koro-Arak
Attack: 18 Damage: 9

(If Berrus wanted to continue to move and press forward to get to Faekin, she will continue to move with him)

on Shaes count of 2 Berrus will crouch so that she "fires" over his shield rim

Shae and Berrus work harmoniously, pushing forward to the right hand pillar, as Shae releases her blast. though well timed with Berrus' movements, the blast slams into the stone altar at Koro-arak's feet, to little further effect. Still you're a bit closer to Faekin now, and by pushing around the pillars might be able to steadily approach closer toward him.

Brax, seeing Berrus and Shae near the first pillar to the right, the captain behind the pillar to the left, and the Professor and Falx pressing into the niche to the left grits his teeth, grabs his spear firmly, and dashes across the hall towards the captain. Somehow, he manages to push up without being attacked by any of the grung, who still seem to get organised. Once pressed against the pillar, he looks over to Berrus and shouts: "Falx can only cover the right, we need to try and cover for each other as we push up. Got any ranged weapons to pin down the grung on the our side?"

Maxine, what are you up to?