OOC: And Caden & Hanalee decided to take a nap in the face of spying danger...

(OOC: After Hanalee finishes zoning out )

Hanalee prepares her hammer and sword, then rushes to the commotion!

(OOC: Sorry bout that)

"Well looks like that's our signal" Caden whispers to Hanalee. He unsheathes his rapier and loosens his dagger just a bit from his belt and takes off at a run toward the noise.

Unknown Claim

@ 7:30+ PM

Hanalee & Caden

And the brave heroes charge 60' of the 80' of darkness between the crest and the limits of the campfire's light. Hanalee being sensible, carries the hooded lantern as she draws her sword, waiting to draw her hammer once she gets within the campfire's light. Knowing that the element of surprise is completely lost by a screaming charge and not being able to cover that length in one round, you both just risk the stomp of your footsteps and hope for the best.

As you rush into the campfire light next round —

"See there? It's not a drunken horse."
"It never is a drunken horse, always the onrushing of would-be heroes."
"But I always wish that one day it would be a drunken horse."
"Are you getting jaded after all these years? Finally."

— you spy 3 human warriors standing contrapposto, dressed as light guards armed with readied spears (and what seems a few standing spears in the dirt behind them). They seem bored with the whole affair. You also spy to your left, closest to the mountain's cave, a group of 4 thugs gloating over their latest capture, a man tied up and seated before them. Oddly, though not really surprised, they are taken aback someone would dare interrupt their victory, and the 'leader' seems furious at being deprived of her monologue. "Get them, you fools!"

Now 40' into the campfire's 120' radius, still in dim light, Hanalee takes this opportunity to set down her hooded lantern as smoothly as she can mid-dash and ready her hammer. Those warriors are on the far side of the campfire's dim light, they are no dummies. The thugs however are closer to your left, enjoying bright light to silhouette their tormenting, their victim in the dim light further to your left.

Third round, you race deeper into the lit space, splitting the difference between the two groups you run at an angle of the fire another 60'. Now you are 50' from the large fire, about 50' from the well lit dagger thugs, and at least 100'+ from the spearmen in the dim light.

You see the human warriors ready their spears lazily as you further enter the space. They audibly sigh and almost in unison tip their spears and heads briefly towards the thugs, who themselves are readying their daggers, and then straighten up again. "Choose well, 'brave heroes'," you hear one chide.

Which group do you attack first?

"Seven hells!" Caden snarls. "Lets make for the prisoner, we are going to need all the help we can muster" he shouts toward Hanalee as he makes a dash in that direction.

(OOC: I can try and hold them long enough for you to free him)

Hanalee takes a deep breath and follows Caden's directive--she charges for the thugs and the man they have captured...

Unknown Claim, round 4

Caden & Hanalee

You both rush your 30' towards the dagger thugs. Caden holds a Dodge stance, so as to fend them off and give Hanalee time to Dash and get to the hostage. One of the 4 breaks to head off Hanalee from her rescue, and the other 3 engage Caden.

Caden's Dodge will give the enemies he sees Disadvantage to attack him.
Hanalee's push to reach the hostage gets her into that lone thug's reach, and her Dash onward further triggers an AoO reaction from her (thug).

The 3 other thugs take advantage of Caden's distance and each throw a dagger at him. And Caden's Dodge helps, as he deflects one with his rapier, pivots wholly away from another, and the last glance off a stud from his armor.

Hanalee isn't as lucky, as her Dash lands her smack dab into a frightening gut thrust of this lone thug. (Hanalee takes 4 damage) With dogged persistence Hanalee keeps on towards the hostage, and is merely grazed as the thug spins to swipe her again in passing. Reaching the hostage you immediately notice — it's not the grim man!

An arrow sings through the air towards the thugs, whistling past a thug's face —humbling her with a flinch and wide eyes, as Caden can see. (a thug takes 5 damage)

"Well, the odds just got interesting."
"That patch over there? An easy flank brothers."
"It is something to do at least."

The spearman move as a wolf pack deeper into the dim light and darkness towards the bushes to your right.

Initiative Everyone! Tell me what you're doing!

Hanalee swipes her sword aiming to sever the hostage's bindings! "Hey there stranger!" she says unironically, wincing in pain as she feels the wound in her gut. She'll have to pay her assailant back for that...

"Thanks, I owe you dearly." Looks about, likely for a weapon, "Let me be armed and I'll start paying you back!"

Hanalee passes the man her sword, while defending herself against attack with her hammer. "Can you use a sword?" she asks.

Caden will back pedal toward Hanalee and the stranger. He will throw his dagger at the nearest thug if he can.

"Looks like we've been had!" Caden shouts over his shoulder.

"Sure, if the blade ain't too big!"

"Been had, nothin'! Thought I was a goner!"

What do you do, and what are your rolls?

With the stranger now armed, Hanalee roars as she attacks the thug who wounded her.

(14 on Initiative, rolled a 19 for attack in the room)

Rolled a 17 initiative and a 14 attack before any modifiers, in room of course.

Hanalee, your short sword is now in the hand of the hostage. You just have a hammer. You two engage the lone thug before you.

Caden, as you circled around back to Hanalee & the hostage, you are still separated by the one who broke off. Between this lone one and the previous 3 thugs you stand. All three of you engage this lone thug this round.

Caden, further this round you will engage with both your rapier and dagger. You will throw your dagger back to one of the other 3 thugs you skirted around.

I'll just roll damage for you both to speed things up. I'll also roll Caden's bonus action thrown dagger atk & dmg roll, too.