Barty's "Hoard of the Dragon Queen" (Tyranny of Dragons Part 1)

Rogram speaks an incantation as quietly as possible, focusing on himself and Karib, and the two figures disappear from sight.

Invisibility at 3rd level

The half-dwarf then moves as quietly as possible behind one of the lean-tos to wait.

Rachael takes Merric's advice and steps out of the light of the camp, trying to hide herself behind one of the trees. (Stealth: 3) She tries to keep an eye on what is happening as she keeps to the cover. 

Jamna and Carlon cautiously step out of the camp with Rachael, standing nearby. Carlon tests his sword in its scabbard, making sure it's free to draw if needed, while Jamna already holds a dagger at the ready, the gnome's eyes locked on the shore.

The canoes come to a stop around ninety feet from the shoreline, close enough for the three lizardfolk that occupy each canoe to be visible now in the firelight. Murmurs of their faint and low conversation reach you, too quiet to make sense of any individual words. The canoes drift silently, the figures within motionless for a while, watching the fire.

The paddling then resumes, slower than before, the canoes angling toward the bank of the shore, joining the empty vessels there. Once grounded softly in the mud, the figures step out without a word. Their scales catch the orange glow of the fire like magma, each wielding a shield made from a turtle's shell. Some carry clubs and wooden javelins, but a few carry blades made of steel. They all wear necklaces and bracelets made of bone, teeth, feathers, carved soft stone, and leather. 

They spread out into the camp, three of them moving toward the fire while the others fan out in a semicircle toward the edges of the clearing. One stops at the fire's edge and crouches. The other two near the fire peer into the tents, examining your bedrolls left behind.

(OOC: A perfect time for Hono to sit up and ask them to keep it down!)

Rogram watches from his hidden position, wondering what to do now. If they could capture one of the lizardfolk, they might find out where to go next. He could make himself look like one, but he has no idea how to speak the language they are speaking. Hono understood what they were saying before ...

The half-dwarf looks around. Did he see Hono? Did he wake up when the others woke up? He isn't sure. Are the lizardfolk going to find him still sleeping?

Rachael watches, now considering that perhaps the group should have spoken more about what their plan was. But if they could avoid a full-on confrontation with these lizardfolk might be best. So, while she tenses, ready for action if need, she waits to see what will happen. Perhaps they'll decide they moved on and will just leave. In her hiding spot, she grins slightly to herself. 'That's not how things usually work out though, is it?' she thinks to herself. 

Rogram likely recalls Hono shifting himself into the stone itself after the party established their watches.

The pair of lizardfolk who had been searching the bedrolls speak with the one by the fire, who points out into the swamp and barks an order. The others in the semi-circle start to walk into the swamp, weapons drawn and eyes searching.

OOC: DM is it three lizardfolk or nine?

OOC: Three lizardfolk were searching the camp while the others stood guard. There are nine total.

Assuming the direction the lizardfolk were directed is not towards her and the others, Rachael will continue to stay still where she is at, watching to see if they simply move on. 

OOC: There are enough of them, and searching wide enough, that Rachael would definitely get the idea that it won't be long before they find her, Carlon, and Jamna.

Rogram begins racking his brain for what to do. Magic? Steel? He practically holds his breath, wishing they would just get in their canoes and continue through the swamp.

Rachael tries to get the attention of the others she can see (Carlon and Jamna I think) and tries to signal they should attack while they might have a chance at surprise. She would wait, if possible, until she gets acknowledgement from one the others. But she certainly tries to move before they are discovered. Otherwise, she is hoping for a point where she could catch just a few at close range, while the others are further out. 

(OOC - Waiting to attack for the moment. But if she thinks she's about to be uncovered she would go ahead and move.) 

Carlon and Jamna spread about 10 feet out on either side of Rachael, while she shifts into an advantageous position for the lizardfolks' arrival (Stealth: 9).

The lizardfolk inch closer, with a pair passing right in front of Rogram and Karib, a trio approaching Rachael, Carlon, and Jamna, and four still in the camp itself, unaware of Hono and Merric's nearby presence and paying more attention to the search in front of them.

OOC: The party's stealth checks were high enough to succeed, so whoever wants to strike first, the party has surprised the lizardfolk. Of course combat is not your only option, but the lizardfolk are getting close enough that your characters would be able to tell that they'll be discovered in short time if they do nothing, we just need someone to first take an action, whatever it may be (as always, Carlon and Jamna are just following your lead, they're not the main event).

Merric mutters a curse as the Lizardfolk spot the abandoned bedrolls by the fire and begin to search the area. It will be just moments before one of the group is spotted.  He begins to pull his bowstring taut, then releases it with a sigh.  They would have a better chance to cross the swamp with a guide.  Time to find out exactly how friendly these Lizardfolk are with the cult.  With another sigh he stumbles out of the brush, fiddling with his belt like he just returned from relieving himself, and sending a silent prayer to his companions. 

He stops as he enters the firelight, making eye contact with the Lizardfolk and calling out in common.  “There you lot are, been waiting for you.  Bog Luck sent a few of us out from the camp.  Told us we would meet guides here to take us through the swamp to the next camp.  It’s about time.” 

Rogram holds his breath, waiting to hear how the lizardfolk will respond to Merric.

DM Screen:

OOC: Sorry, I love that Merric attempted that. This comes directly from the module, but I would have enjoyed seeing if Merric's deception could work.

The lizardfolk at the fire's edge go still. Their heads turns slowly toward each other, then back to Merric, and for a moment they simply stare, a long, reptilian blink, both eyes closing and opening at different speeds.

The others slowly do the same, their heads swiveling, eyes finding each other across the camp.

One by the fire opens its mouth to respond.

It's interrupted by a rattling, wet hiss from the lizardfolk beside it that builds into something between a bark and a scream, a veritable war cry that silences the buzzing insects of the swamp. The others take up the cry, certainly waking Hono from any slumber beneath the stone.

Initiative:

NPCs: 23.5
Lizardfolk: 15.56
Party: 12.2

"Shit," Jamna mutters beside Rachael. She nods to Carlon, and the pair of them draw their ranged weaponry, flanking Rachael. The pair of arrows that Carlon sends toward the nearest lizardfolk succeed only in drawing their attention, but Jamna is able to place a bolt from her hand crossbow into the shin of one of the creatures, who looks angrier than hurt (5 piercing damage).

The lizardfolk in the swamp with them split, three of them charging for Merric's revealed companions while the other four head for the campfire, reaching the stone platform with the tens as the other trio closes in on Carlon, Jamna, and Rachael, each choosing a 1 vs. 1 fight. Carlon and Jamna practically bounce on their feet, already each working to stow their bow and crossbow for melee-range weaponry as they avoid the flurry of stabbing javelins and snapping jaws. Rachael leaps back as a spiked shield is thrust toward her, accepting the blow of a club against her arm (5 bludgeoning damage) to get in range.

The first lizardfolk to roar charges at Merric, and its nearby companion isn't far behind. The first draws its javelin back, signaling the moment for Merric to dodge. The nimble ranger rolls to the side, then has to backpedal away from the snapping jaws of the second. The shadow of its swinging club arm disorients Merric from the actual location of the club, however, and it smashes painfully into his arm (7 bludgeoning damage); then the air is taken from his lungs as the spike shield of the first lizardfolk slams into his chest, launching him backward (6 piercing damage).

Round 1 Order:
NPCs
Lizardfolk
Players <=====

Placement:
One lizardfolk is engaged in melee combat with Rachael.
One lizardfolk is engaged in melee combat with Carlon.
One lizardfolk is engaged in melee combat with Jamna.
Two lizardfolk are engaged in melee combat with Merric.
Four lizardfolk are running toward Merric.
Rachael, Carlon, and Jamna are 40 feet away from Rogram, Karib, Hono, and Merric (at the camp).

Health:
The lizardfolk fighting Carlon is lightly wounded.

Merric is wounded.
Rogram is wounded.
Rachael is lightly wounded.

An incantation, spoken with the muddy accent of a dwarf raised around humans, draws the eyes of the lizardfolk as Rogram's invisibility breaks. With a drop of molasses on one thick finger, he finishes the quick hand maneuver and releases the spell, attempting to catch as many of the scaled humanoids as possible.

Action: slow, positioned to include as many lizardfolk as possible - WIS 14

Then, drawing his sword, he moves into melee with the nearest lizardfolk.

Already engaged in melee with one of the lizardfolk, Rachael transforms, growing a lashing spiked tail (Rage, Form of the Beast). Immediately it flicks out to strike the creature attacking her. Drawing her warhammer she follows up with a second blow. 
(Tail Attack: 18, Damage: 6 piercing) 
(Warhammer Attack: 24, Damage: 8 bludgeoning) 

(OOC - With Form of the Beast: Tail she can use a Reaction to use the tail to try to block an attack against her, rolling a d8 and adding it to her AC. She would use this if any attack hits her.) 

"What in the firey flames is going on out there!"

Sitting up out of the rock slab he was camping in, he saw the fight had already started. Quickly Hono positions himself to catch 2 of the lizardfolk in a firey entrance from his snake like friend. (Dex save dc 14 or 5 fire damage). As soon and the firey creature bursts into existence, Hono calls it back down to him and firey transports both of them behind Merric 10 ft (DC 14 dex save or 7 fire damage for same lizardfolk). Snake moving above Hono 15ft