Simon hurdles over the counter, telling the restaurant employees, "If you run into trouble, call for help!" Okay, now things were complicated. He would have to forget trying to figure out what the pizza place's actual situation was until he and his friends had the chance to scream at someone for answers. Simon pulls out a newspaper on his way to the door.

Although there are numerous skirmishes going on around them, as Frances leads the way outside, a firenewt on a mount strides up to him, while four unmounted ones surround the others.

(Initiative:
17- firenewts
15- Simon
11- Frances
10- Leo
8- Rae
5- giant strider
1- Marty)

The newt on the strider immediately spits a ball of fire on Frances (14 fire damage, dexterity save DC 11 for half). The others fire crossbows. One hits Simon (10 piercing damage), and another Leo (8 piercing), while another misses the suddenly airborne Rae, and the fourth bolt hits the door frame near where Marty is exiting.

(Simon, then Frances, then Leo, then Rae)

Frances saw the attack coming, as he did a side lean and turned his body, though the fire spit still him him and singed his shirt on the upper right shoulder. "You son of a-" He said, his eyes glowing red, then to an ominus dark purple as he held up his violin and started playing, however something was...off, dreadfully off.

As Frances played, he would lower his voice to a deep pitch and raspy sound. "Listen well to the ballad of the Fools March. Leading his men into the fiery  gates, condemning not only himself, but his followers." He continued to play his song as an aura of dread would be hitting the newt that burned his shirt and shoulder bone. "Your time of torment and agony draws near, your reservation in the flames set, they'll gladly take you in early. So by all means Stay and we'll send you to burn!" And with that the song ended, and possibly to the Newts sanity

Dissonant Whispers 13 psychic damage and flees upon a fail. Save is half damage. Wisdom Save DC is 13

Leo winces as the bolt pierces his armor, then stares the firenewt in the eyes and tells a dirty joke. Cloaca are involved.

Tasha's Hideous Laughter, Wisdom DC 14.

Firenewts love dirty jokes, and the target of Leo's quip falls over, laughing hysterically.

Rae's gunshot blows the newt completely off his strider, where he falls unmoving in the street.
For its part, the strider panics and runs.

(Marty's turn)