Zem is about to step onto the ramp. Leudigar, Zax, and Akbar are huddled in the shadowy corner at the ramp's base. Zax, nose in the air, is noting a tangible increase in an ominous pong that he can only think to describe as "snake-breath"...
"Your sscent may be sstrong," woos a lullaby voice, "but not wholly unpleassant, me thinkss..."
Fried and Karl are on the mezzanine among the statues, overlooking the scene from the secret tunnel... from where they observe a thick, dark serpent---fronted by the upper-torso of a green woman---emerge from the darkness to slide into the archway, immediately grasping the stone work with one hand so as to peer around the corner...
The snake-woman peers around the corner.
The referee checks for surprise.
Have the players surprised the snake-woman? 1d6=2, so no.
Has the snake-woman surprised the players? 1d6=3, so no.
Neither party is surprised, so both parties are aware the other is there before anything "happens"... the ref decides she has some words to say; why not?
There is no need to dice for encounter distance, because the scenario dictates positions. Leudigar, Zax, and Akbar are all 20--30ft away. Zem is 60ft away; Fried and Karl are about 60ft away as the crow flies, but perhaps double that on foot.
What orders say you for the forthcoming turn?
[f=32]
Golgildir the Elf Medium (MV 12", AC 9, HD 1, hp 1/1, AL N) great cloak,
lantern; spells: color spray; scrolls: sleep, sleep, charm person
Hirelings: Georges;
torch[/f]