Velda holds up her hand to her lips, before searching for Raithe's eyes, then points to her ear and holds up three fingers. When she thinks that Raithe has understood her meaning, she points to Raithe and indicates the direction of the westernly wall, next to the doorway, before pointing at the heavy crossbow on the floor, herself and the wall next to the doorway on the south. She waits for another few seconds to make sure that Raithe can follow her. Last, Velda tries to get Nova's attention as quietly as she can, and points on the door to the west chamber and then clenches her fist, holding it steady next to her head.

Hoping the other two got her meaning, she carefully moves to the center of the room and grabs the heavy crossbow and one of her bolts. While she cocks the weapon, she gets in cover against the southernly wall, before giving Raithe a nod, her weapon trained at the doorway to the west, shield slung on her back in case anything comes through the southernly door.

She braces the crossbow over her left arm, using the open hand to give a silent countdown, three... two... one... go! 

Raithe finds a good place (with view of where the voices originate) to cast minor illusion of a large dusty cask that she hops into. She invites Velda to join, or hide behind it!

(RP fluffing this… Does Nova catch on/understand Velda’s non verbal communication… Int: 2 )

SpiderNova cocks her head, eyes watching Velda intently. The Druid was just so filled with appreciation that Velda’s herself again, she’d ‘bloop’, completely spacing out on what she was supposed to be focusing on. All she got was a balled fist and then a count down…

1. 2. 3.

And she came in like a wrecking ball! Nova curled herself into a compact spider ball and would drop down on a web, swinging into the room from the ceiling.

Working nearly in tandem with each other for a nearly flawless door breach. Raithe does a barrel roll as Spider Nova smashes into the door. Sending it flying inwards into the room against the wall with a loud CRACK! Velda steps in through the now open door behind Spider Nova. 

You can now see four plain straw pallets and bedrolls are lined up on the floor of this barracks. Brackets on the walls hold a number of weapons — spears, swords, morningstars, and more. The north wall shows signs of damage, but the floor is swept clean of rubble. 

In addition to the items around the room, there are four very surprised looking hobgoblin staring a lone half-orc with a pet spider ... and ... has that barrel always been that close to the door?

Everyone roll initiative! You have surprised the hobgoblins and they won’t act at all round 1. I’ll work on getting a map up shortly on discord. 

Initative:3(straight roll)

Raithe also hears a pair of goblin voices from somewhere south of where you guys are currently. (Though not in the same room as the hobgoblins. Just to be clear)

Velda's initiative: 15

Busting through the door, Velda quickly takes in her surroundings. She had tossled with hobgoblins before- dangerous types. Making the most of the won surprise, she makes for the Hobgoblin furthest from the door and swipes for her opponent's knee, aiming to shatter the kneecap or tear some ligaments and take them out of the fight without having to kill them.

Seeing that her first blow didn't connect, Velda digs deep and surges forward, using her sword in a wide arcing motion, hoping to catch the hobgoblin in an upwards-arcing motion and knock them out that way.

Catching the hobgoblin on their chainmail, Velda growls in anger, as she swings at the hobgoblin's kneecap once more. As her sword clangs of the shin greaves of the hobgoblin, she howls in frustration.

Using her momentum SpiderNova launches herself with legs sprawled to latch onto the most convenient hobgoblin with a hissing bite.

Bite Attack: 8 Damage: 7
The target must make a DC 11 Constitution saving throw, taking 3 poison damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

Raithe, still fairly injured, stays within the barrel illusion. She looses one arrow at the hobgoblin fighting Nova and then next round, she moves to another perch to try to find a hidden place and fires an arrow at the hobgoblin fighting Velda.

Surprise round
Attack: 10 Damage: 11 plus 10 sneak attack
BA hide... Stealth: 27

Round 2
Attack: 19 Damage: 8 plus 7 sneak attack
BA hide... Stealth: 19

Initiative: 4

Con ST: 6 dc 11

Delayed Novanitiative: 18

Surprise Round!

Velda gives a couple good whacks to the hobgoblin nearest to the door and doesn’t seem to get the effect she was hoping for as the creature remains on its feet.

Seeing Velda go for the one nearest the door, Spider Nova skitters right along towards the next on sinking her mandibles deep into its neck. She can feel the creature slump to the ground as the poison begins to work.

Seeing the hobgoblin go down from a single bite from Nova, Raithe quickly sends her first arrow towards the one she has the best line of sight on. Setting her sights where she’s certain there isn’t any armor, a satisfying squelch can be heard as the arrow hits the creatures neck and it drops to the ground. (2 down, 2 to go)

Cheerful chitters would come from SpiderNova as she’d successfully sink her teeth into a hobgoblin. She’d skitter to the next one to attempt at applying the same effect.

Bite Attack: 12 Damage: 5
The target must make a DC 11 Constitution saving throw, taking 6 poison damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

Round 2!

Having successfully dispatched on of the hobgoblins, Spider Nova skitters over towards the next one while being careful to avoid the reach of its friends blade. Hoping to repeat her recent success, she lunges forwards and tries to bite her foe but comes up with nothing more than a mouthful of cold steel.

Velda swings at the hobgoblin she first engaged with and connects solidly with the creatures armor again. Howling in further frustration. While Raithe sends an arrow flying towards a hobgoblin it connects with a loud thunk into the creatures shield.

The hobgoblin squaring up against Velda drops its shield to get a better grip on its sword and attacks Velda. 

Attack: 4 Damage: 10

Because it practically had a giant neon sign indicating where it was directing its swing, Velda is able to block the blow easily with her shield.(I assume it’s equipped) 

The other hobgoblin takes a swipe at the spider (left not right)

Attack: 11 Damage: 4

Swinging at where the spider was, he doesn’t expect the spider to quickly change its height and easily duck underneath the swing. 

Round 3! Velda, Nova, and Raithe your up!

After squishing herself low, she pops. SpiderNova lashes out in hopes of finding something much softer than steel to sink her teeth into.

Bite Attack: 21 Damage: 6
The target must make a DC 11 Constitution saving throw, taking 11 poison damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

Raithe fires again at the hobgoblin Velda's engaged with.

Attack: 25 Damage: 15 plus 3 sneak attack
Move: back out the door
BA hide... Stealth: 17

(Not sure if the last stealth roll worked to give her advantage, if not just take first roll.)

(First roll's a 20 so nevermind -- here' the crit sneak attack damage: 12)

Seeing the Hobgoblin before her sink to their knees, gurgling and choking on their own blood, Velda quickly steps over the now dying hobgoblin and with a deft one handed strike tries to cut the last remaining hobgoblin's brow, in the hopes of disabling them from further fighting:

10 for 9

In the tight quarters, her longsword is more of a hindrance though, and the hobgoblin easily dodges out of the way, only adding to her anger and lack of precision.

Constitution ST: 7 vs dc 11

Spider Nova’s venom is too overwhelming for the hobgoblin to resist and he collapses to the floor as he desperately tries to shove the spider off of him. (He dead Jim)

Raithe moves back to the entrance of the room, breaking line of sight with the hobgoblin who is much more focused on Velda than the spry elf. Much too his detriment as an arrow flies from the doorway catching him in his throat.

Velda swings while he’s coughing and sputtering trying to catch a breath and the breeze from her swing toppled him to the ground. (He dead too Jim)

Raithe, from behind you, you hear a voice exclaim (in common) “Holy crap! They killed Kenny! You bastards!” (Two goblins join the fray)

Goblin Initiative; 11 

Nova, Velda, goblins, Raithe

Pridefully perched atop her kill, SpiderNova slowly turns in place for effect. She'd reach forward with one of her limbs to point to the goblins, then she'd point to her many mismatched eyes. Back and forth again. She was watching them.

First, SpiderNova would start with low gurgling chitters as she'd slowly creep forward, leaving the dead hobgobpile. She'd puff herself out to look even bigger than she was as she worked through the room, positioning herself with Velda and trying to provide defensive cover for Raithe. If the goblins so moved a millimeter, the spider would hiss protectively of her friends.

Action: Help Velda

Raithe turns, bonus action disengages, and withdraws to an empty spot in the room. She fires at the goblin who spoke. 

Attack: 18 Damage: 10 plus 7 sneak attack if Nova is in melee with it

Seeing the two goblins rush into the chamber, and with Nova at her side, Velda quickly sidesteps so as to place the goblins between her and Nova, and then she strikes at the first goblin, trying to catch them with the flat of her blade to render them unconscious, rather than killing them.

18 for 9 bludgeoning damage.

With a satisying thwack, the flat connects, really ringing the first goblin's bell.

A low chitter would eventually break the silence, baiting all to look. Having puffed herself out and extended her appendages up menacingly over the backs of the goblins Velda positioned, SpiderNova now hovered over them, prepared. Were they brave enough to turn around?

Boo!

(Ready) Action: Help Velda via Spidey Spook tactic!