"She asks if we want to trade for it," translated Sekkar and looking straight at the third armed drow added in Common "If you do, then you are about to loose your mind, like five others who hold the rock before you. And then dwarves and gnomes will declare the war on your little enclave - they are about to already. So, you decide what to do."

He repeated it in Undercommon as well, proud of his newfound diplomacy skills.

Confident in her presumption that the drow speak common she speaks again.  "My companions speak truthfully.  The gem is a danger, and is a catalyst for the demon lord Fraz-Urb'luu to control your mind and warp your thinking.  It will wreck the delicate balance of peace within Mantol-Derith if you retain possession of it.  The gem needs to be destroyed.."

Rhayna is the last one to go into the pavilion. She puts away her Journal and holds onto her staff. In case the drows needs more convincing.

Pax, listening, nods to the the woman in the dress, "If self preservation isn't a good enough motivator, then perhaps knowing that this will help keep this trade hub intact, is a sufficient reason."

The drow all appear to be relatively sane. None are spouting nonsense like Yantha or Flink, nor do they seem under any delusions like Derendil or Krimgol, at least on surface inspection. The drow leader clearly understands the surface Common and is assimilating the information being handed over and deciding how best to use it to her advantage. After just a few more moments of thought, she addresses the group again, this time in surface Common: The fact remains, we possess something you want. What will you give for it? Without waiting for an answer, and without looking away from the group, the lead drow half-turns her head (slightly toward the 'third' drow) and says in Elvish: Kinyel, bring forward this gem that I may see it.

No, Sirak! Kinyel simply replies (and everyone understands at least this much by now in any language.)

Now with eyes wide in surprise, and with the other two drow looking on in equal surprise, Sirak (the drow leader) turns fully to Kinyel and says with clear anger: You disobey me? I shall have you whipped! I want this matter resolved and these scum gone before Ghazrim arrives, if we are to act together against the duergar and svirfneblin. Give me the gem!

Kinyel replies coldly: No, Sirak! The gem was given to me by the gargoyle, a messenger from House Druu'giir. It is advance payment for an assassination that I have been tasked with.

Sirak is becoming even more furious: Assassination? On whom? What nonsense is this?

Just as this exchange is heating up, the door flaps at the far end of the pavilion are opened, and seven more figures enter the tent. All appear to be human (or at least part-human) and are led by a particularly well-dressed and well-groomed Amnian man, which can only be Ghazrim, the Zhentarim leader. Floating beside Ghazrim is a beholder - its spherical body is covered with old scars, and it has short stumps where four of its eyestalks should be. Ghazrim is speaking smoothly even as he enters: Sorry to keep you waiting, Sirak darling. We had a few matters to... oh, I see you have others with you. Well, the more the merrier I always say. Now about this proposition you had for me? (Then turning to the beholder he adds) Lorthuun, why don't you...

His words are cut off however as Kinyel suddenly races toward the Zhentarim, draws a long slender dagger from a hidden sheath, and with a high-pitched scream, plunges it into the central eye of Lorthuun, the beholder! Both the Zhentarim and the drow parties seem momentarily stunned by this sudden outburst, but quickly begin to reach for their weapons...

-------------------------------------------------

Everyone roll for initiative! If you roll higher than either of the following, you can declare your action.

Drow: 12
Zhentarim: 20

If this is confusing... well, it's meant to be! Events are quickly spiraling out of control! Kinyel's actions have precipitated a confrontation, the battle lines are blurry, and you are caught in the crossfire! What do you do??

MAP:
Zhentarim (yellow/red): G = Ghazrim, L = Lorthuun, Z1-6 = Zhentarim thugs
Drow (black/red): K = Kinyel, S = Sirak, D1-2 = Drow warriors
Others (black/blue): M = Mipry, P = Pebbles, F = Flink, Z = Zilchyn

Extra artwork:

Kastix Initiative: 6

(So Kastix is doing the So Anyway, I Started Blasting meme pose)

Rhayna Initiative: 11

Rhayna casts Calm Emotions (CHA save DC 16) centered on Kinyel. "My colleagues speak of the truth. Kinyel is not herself, she is being possessed by the gem, and it needs to be destroyed immediately!!"

(If Kinyel fails the save) "Kinyel, do you have the gem with you? Can you show it to us?"

(If the beholder is still alive) Rhayna casts Healing Word on the Aberration (restore 9 HP)

Sekkar Initiative: 6

The lizardman did not rush to the battle - it was not his fight yet. He was waiting for the outcome of the surprisingly healthy behavior of the drow (is the crazy gem what it takes to make a drow sane?) and watching in surprise the crazy behavior of Rhayna healing one of the most dangerous monsters during the fight.

Quote from BlueBayou >>

Sekkar Initiative: 6

The lizardman did not rush to the battle - it was not his fight yet. He was waiting for the outcome of the surprisingly healthy behavior of the drow (is the crazy gem what it takes to make a drow sane?) and watching in surprise the crazy behavior of Rhayna healing one of the most dangerous monsters during the fight.

 
(Does anyone has a 300gp diamond laying around?? Just in case…)

Kaylyn Initiative 19

Pax Initiative : 10

Pax advances quickly, the shadows around her moving about her in an agitated fashion. Having seen the power of Rhayna's emotional control, she moves forward towards Kinyel, but doesn't attack immediately. If it appears Kinyel is still violent, Pax attempts to grapple her, putting her metal sheathed arm around her neck, and pulls her backwards.  (Grapple attempt :  Athletics check : 6  .....grrrr...no auto fails on skill checks though!...  )

Quote from BlueBayou >>

the crazy behavior of Rhayna healing one of the most dangerous monsters during the fight.

LOL. Just as likely to heal her friends as her enemies. Anyone want to guess Rhayna's alignment?  :D

Kaylyn is unsure what to do.  Defend the drow or defend an aberration or defend the Zhentarim?  Purple energy flows into her hands as she readies a blast of Eldritch Energy 

Attack: 10 Damage: 11

she holds her attack which is directed at Kinyel to see what happens and how the drow react as it seemed the drow leader did not want this attack to happen.  She will blast Kinyel if the drow move to attack him as well to stop him.

Quote from Wolfy911 >>

Rhayna casts Calm Emotions (CHA save DC 16) centered on Kinyel.

(If the beholder is still alive) Rhayna casts Healing Word on the Aberration (restore 6 HP)

Kinyel CHA save: 12 (fail v Calm Emotions)
Kinyel Acrobatics: 22 (succeed v grapple)

 Who does Rhayna want Kinyel to be indifferent to?

Only one non-cantrip spell per round, so I'll skip the Healing Word

(I always forget there is more than just casting Calm Emotions. Rhayna will make Kinyel indifferent to the beholder, and say all the stuff above. Also, crossed out Healing Word.)

Kaylyn's hands throb with magic, the beholder bellows in blind agony, and the Zhentarim thugs begin yelling curses. Rhayna speaks a calming prayer on Kinyel, who withdraws a pace back from Lorthuun and looks quizzicly at her own hands stained with pinkish blood (or is it eye-jelly?). Pax runs closer and grabs Kinyel from behind, but the slippery drow doesn't seem to appreciate that, and wriggles free, backing away from Pax until she bumps right up to the beholder... who promptly opens its huge tooth-filled maw and...

Attack: 10 Damage: 17

...misses. (Does this trigger Kaylyn's readied spell? I wasn't sure what the declared trigger actually was)

In a well-practiced act of self-preservation, Ghazrim turns and flees from the pavilion, but his six guards advance toward the two drow warriors (apparently considering Kinyel sufficiently occupied) to exact revenge for what they see as a vicious ambush by the drow.

Zhent1 v Drow1 Attack#1: 12 Damage: 6, Attack#2: 20 Damage: 7
Zhent2 v Drow1 Attack#1: 8 Damage: 4, Attack#2: 16 Damage: 5
Zhent3 v Drow1 Attack#1: 17 Damage: 5, Attack#2: 16 Damage: 4
Zhent4 v Drow2 Attack#1: 15 Damage: 8, Attack#2: 21 Damage: 5
Zhent5 v Drow2 Attack#1: 24 Damage: 12, Attack#2: 17 Damage: 3
Zhent6 v Drow2 Attack#1: 21 Damage: 3, Attack#2: 17 Damage: 4

Sakin also backs up slightly, but doesn't flee like Ghazrim, instead casting a protective spell on herself, and calling to her warriors to withdraw. The warriors do their best to repel the attacks from the Zhentarim guards as they slowly move backwards to protect Sakin.

Hearing the commotion, Pebbles pokes his head through the tent door, calmly scans the mayhem, then slips quietly around the left side. The voice of the gargoyle is heard from outside: Kinyel, dearest? Is everything all right in there? before its head appears in the far doorway, its stony brows rise in horror and it charges at the beholder with a passionate cry.

Bite: 24 Damage: 10
Claws: 24 Damage: 11

Everyone!

Kastix 6, Sekkar 6, Kaylyn 19, Rhayna 14, Pax 10, Zhentarim 9, Drow 8, Others 7

The beholder is blinded, so any attacks against it are made with advantage.

MAP:

 This was just for me to calculate how much damage Kinyel did to Lorthuun. 146 HP in one round. You sure you don't want to recruit her?

Pax stands there, in the middle of a sudden battle, empty handed and looking about. "Well, this is a fine thing!" 

Now all the non-evil evil things are fighting. Big surprise. And she has no idea who's side she's on.  Which probably means she isn't on any side. Despite the chaos her eyes track Pebbles entry and she narrows them, making sure to keep watch for him. Now...where's that cursed stone.  Pax moves out of the way so she's not in the middle of the combat, moving up and to the left so she's against the left side of the tent, just above pebbles.  For the moment she'll just be looking around, trying to figure out who might have the stone on them, perhaps them checking for it in a pocket, or what not. She thinks it's Kinyel, but the stone moves around so quickly who can be sure.  She taps her heels together, ready to move quickly in case she spots whoever has it.

(Action: Perception. Bonus Action: Trigger boots. Movement: to left side of tent just above Pebbles.) 

Perception : 18   (grumble grumble)

Sekkar tried to grapple Sakin (Athletics: 12 and if first time did not work - second: 27 ) "Hand over the gem if you want to live." He almost wanted for her to say "no" and get the reason kill another drow.

To be even more convincing, he demonstrated all his teeth in a predatory smile, leaving no doubts that he will bite woman's head off if she does not comply.

"I guess I shouldn't burn anyone," Kastix states disappointed before he cast Invisibility on himself and looking for a spot to watch but out of dodge./