Seeing the gladiatrix, as it were, teleport about the area had been interesting to Aria, but partaking was rather a thrill of its own. And one of great welcome: she'd been expecting to have to dash blocks up the avenue, or perhaps even attempt a leap from the stadium and across the rooftops, but this was certinaly the way to travle.<br/><br/>The world shifted, and suddenly the scene she'd been looking at form afar was there about her, like when one looks into a spyglass and the faroff is enlarged.<br/><br/>She spun her arm outward at the shoulder, elbow then wrist, letting a tomhawk fly in a circular flash. It struck the nearer hell hound between its great smouldering yellow eyes, leaving a deep gash up the elongated face. It didn't split the beast's skull or dash its brains, but the creature seemed to stagger a step and wobble at its four knees.<br/><br/>The two swordsmen's eyes bulged wide as they found the beasts before them - far larger than they'd assumed from afar; not like dogs at all, and with a burning tree nearby to attest to their danger. One of the two swordsmen swore, "Ohh - for all the sweet sluts of Sune and Sharess, not a chance!" He pivoted about and ran up the street, the other fellow - whose trousers seemed a bit darker than before - on his heels.<br/><br/><br/><br/>I was debating that too, and though I was trying (too hard) to err conservatively you are almost certainly right. In the same DMG example, the door opening consumes the surprise action of the door opener(s) [even without the turn-ending DD thing], but their allies get surprise actions. (And it's logical they have some advantage). And of course thanks to Rose's Combat Reflexes, she could get aoos even before her first turn.<br/><br/>Aria surprise round action: throwing axe at nearer hell hound<br/>(or if she's equidistant, whichever Rose is further from)<br/>(possibly after 5' step closer depending on Rosa's arrival distance)<br/><br/>atk 30*, hit, dmg 11 + 46<br/>(usually when dmg has 2 components for her, the 2nd will be sneak attack. I inferred from your post that Rose's intended arrival distance was fairly close, at Rose's reach or with the enemies about to enter it - i.e. probably within the 35' for 5' step + sneak attack.)<br/>hell hound fails Fort save, staggered<br/>* = 7(roll) + 23(modifier). That's before any range increment penalties, although it has a few to 'spare' in this case (would hit within sneak attack range. If they're not within sneak attack range I'll edit this.)