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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Water Bob" data-source="post: 5614316" data-attributes="member: 92305">I've got an encounter I'm planning for my next game, and I'm not quite sure how I should play it, by the rules. The scenario is this:  The PCs will hear some screams from that top of the hill, and I expect they'll rush up there to investigate. Once they get there, they'll see a wagon turned on its side, the two asses that were pulling it are dead and dying--a javeling clearly sticking out of the neck of one of the beasts.  A couple of bodies laying about (dead or unconscious children).  And, beyond the sided wagon, an enemy who is standing over an old woman--the children's protector.  She's got a javelin pierced through her left hand, stapling her to the ground.  She's making noises--out of it.  And the bad guy that standing over her will have his spear to her throat. I plan on rolling initiative as soon as the PCs up the hill and see the scene.  The bad guy with the spear will do a ready action to pierce the woman's throat, while yelling at the PCs how he will kill her if they come any closer. All of this is no problem.  What I'm curious about, is this... Behind the upturned wagon, unseen by the PCs is a second enemy.  I want him to pop up at some point and toss a javelin at one of the PCs. How do you play this, within the rules?     If this were at the beginning of the round, the hidden enemy would Surprise the PCs.  But, by the time he does what he's going to do, we'll definitely be in tactical combat because of the first enemy, standing over the downed old lady. Is the hidden bad guy using a Delay action?  And, there's no benefit to surprise in the middle of a round, huh? Comments on how I should run this, given the rules?</blockquote>

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