"I guess you could escape taking the same route we used to get in" Shoo explains. Turning to the rest, he adds "I agree. We should try to capture Sharrak, taking advantage of the mayhem, and slip away with him and the prisoners." He's also positive towards freeing the owlbear.
"My priority is getting these prisoners to safety. After that we can worry about capturing two-headed kobolds." Clyde crouches down and looks out at the kobolds, squinting his eyes. "It looks as though the gang leader is close though. Taking her out may make some of the kobolds flee. What do you think, Ragnar?"
After a significant bout of silence the old half-elf speaks up, "Ve may have other option. If ve have archer alone out of reach of soldiers shooting into kobolds, zhey likely vill send Sharrak to dispose of. Zhen ve ambush and take boats away, so can't be followed."
"Why do you think they wil send Sharrak, Sashah?"
"Vis Rath's talent, it vould be obvious one kobold could not do job. Sending too many kobold vould jeopardize battle versus orcs. Zhe Dragonborn leader could use magics, but she likely needed to direct kobolds. Seems like logical, quick, efficient choice to me, zhough, I have been incorrect once already today."
Clyde raises his hand to his chin. "Hmm. That plan relies pretty heavily on assuming what the kobolds would do. I haven't found them to be completely rational creatures in the past either. Having said that though... I actually like that plan. As long as Rath is willing, of course. I doubt the sorceress would come alone, but anything less than... that, " Clyde motions to the army fighting outside, "would be preferable."
Shoo goes to his position beside Rath and stands ready for the plan.
Pleased with the plan, Sashah hides in a nearby cave waiting with a healing blessing should anyone need.
Shadoo hides in the bushes near the archers, ready to engage the two-headed kobold. The dragonborn is using his melee weapons, but he prepares himself to throw javelins if needed.
Rath nods in agreement with the plan of using the snipers to try an lure their quarry to them for capture. He'll do his best to find a nest that overlooks the Kobold encampment, preferably with a large rock nearby to provide him partial cover in case the snipe's think about trying to fire back.
While setting himself ready, Shoo turns to Rath. "Remember, we have to take him alive." He then tries to find a sweet spot behind some rocks or a difficult to reach place, but separate from Rath so they need to divide in case they want to chase for the snipers.
The orcs charge into battle while the Kobolds organize and prepare to counter. The battle quickly ensues.
Rath and Shoo start firing into the crowd, targeting the orcs. This makes it look like you're on the Kobolds side. Sharrak, seeing what's going on, gathers a team of three orcs and three Kobolds friendly to the Cult of the Dragon and move onto your position.
They start climbing the cliff to reach Rath and Shoo when you spring your attack.
Those springing the trap successfully surprise the enemy!
Round 1 Initiative
Ragnar
Kobold 1
Kobold 2
Kobold 3
Shoo
Sharrak
Orc 1
Orc 2
Orc 3
Sashah
Shadoo
Sahnd
Clyde
Shoo tries to inutilise Sharrak and thus end the fray quickly.
Rath sees the trap be sprung, and immediately works on thinning the kobolds escorting their quarry.
Shadoo runs immediately towards Sharrak - not only to engage the dangerous enemy, but also, in case yet another enemy was to try to take advantage of it and attack the two-headed winged kobold, to try to prevent the enemy from killing it.
Rather than trying to immediately damage the enemy, the Dragonborn targets its wings - trying to hurt it in such way that prevents it from flying in case it's capable of it.
Sashah readies a heal
Clyde rushes the Orcs climbing towards the archers. Targeting one, he attacks and attempts to knock it off the cliff face.
Ragnar rushes in on the climbing enemies and attacks the closest orc.
Ragnar rushes in to attack an orc, landing a solid blow!
The Kobolds are surprised by the attack.
Shoo fires an arrow into Sharrak, nearly killing him in one shot.
Sharrak is surprised.
The orcs are surprised.
Sashah readies himself to heal someone.
Shadoo rushes in to grapple the two headed Kobold.
Sharrak is too quick and ducks out of the way!
Sahnd attacks an orc with his greatsword.
Sahnd attacks the same orc that Ragnar struck, killing him.
Rath skewers a Kobold.
Clyde goes after the next orc trying to reach Rath and Shoo, landing a good blow.
As the battle rages around you. Arrows whistle overhead, and the air is filled with choking smoke. As you move through the chaos, a bestial man-thing emerges from the fog, riding a giant wolf. The creature wields a rusted axe and carries a burning battle standard. Its teeth are filed metal. Near him, two orcs move up through the haze to menace you.
Round 2 Initiative
Ragnar
Kobold 1 (dead)
Kobold 2
Kobold 3
Chieftain
Shoo
Sharrak (-6)
Orc 1 (dead)
Orc 2 (-6)
Orc 3
Orc 4
Orc 5
Sashah
Shadoo
Sahnd
Rath
Clyde
With his initial target dead and the orc chieftain showing up, Ragnar moves put himself between Shadoo and the chieftain, and strikes at target 3. He puts as much force into the swing as he can, trying to take the enemy down as quickly as possible.
Noticing Sharrak is near unconscious, Shoo thinks he better leave the remaining job to anyone who can grab him, such as Shadoo, and concentrates on thinning the orc chieftain a bit so any of the melees can finish him off quickly. "After all, we will need to get off here asap"
Shadoo insists on trying to stop Sharrak. Knowing of the importance of the task, he gives what he can to accomplish it.
Rath wavers between continuing to focus the Kobolds, and the onrushing Orcs. This delay almost costs him a shot, but redoubling his efforts, he fires upon the orcs, figuring that Kobolds will be easier for the melee folk to deal with.
Round 2
Ragnar hits Orc 3 with his greatsword, dealing 9 damage.
Kobold 2 attacks Shadoo with his dagger, gaining advantage for pack tactics.
Shadoo's armor easily deflects the attack.
Kobold 3 moves down to attack Ragnar.
Ragnar takes 5/2=2.5, round down: 2 piercing damage.
The chieftain charges in on his worg and targets Ragnar, making two attacks with his great axe, with advantage due to Ragnar's reckless attack.
(14/2=7)
(7/2=3.5, round down to 3)
The axe takes a chunk out of Ragnar, dealing a total of 10 slashing damage.
Shoo fire two arrows into the chieftain, both sticking into the chieftain.
The chieftain growls and hollars at Shoo's intults.
Sharrak takes the Dodge action and flies up in the air out of range of those trying to grab him.
Orc 2 attacks Clyde with its great axe.
Clyde takes 14 damage, knocking him unconscious (if the reported HP is right).
Orc 3 climbs the wall to try to reach Shoo and Rath. . He will arrive next round.
Orc 4 and 5 charge in, using their no is action to move up to their movement speed to close in to an enemy, and then their movement to reach Shadoo and Ragnar.
Orc 4 misses Shadoo!
Orc 5 hits Ragnar, dealing 13/2=6.5, round down to 6 slashing damage.
Sashah moves into the thick of battle to cure Clyde. Clyde regains HP.
Shadoo again tries to grab at Sharrak.
Sharrak manages to escape up into the air! A net or some other clever tactic is required to capture him now!
Sahnd backs away from his targets and runs after to help Ragnar and Shadoo!
With one mighty swing, Sahnd kills the orc!
Sahnd calls out for Clyde to get up and keep fighting. (Using Leadership ability, Clyde gets +1d4 to any attack or save for one minute).
Rath fires his bow into the orc 2, killing it.
Clyde gets back up thanks to Sashah's healing and tries to eliminate the Kobold.
Clyde kills the Kobold.
Round 3 Initiative
Ragnar
Kobold 1 (dead)
Kobold 2 (dead)
Kobold 3
Chieftain (-20, dis on Round 3)
Shoo
Sharrak (-6, flying)
Orc 1 (dead)
Orc 2 (dead)
Orc 3 (-9, climbing)
Orc 4 (dead)
Orc 5
Sashah
Shadoo
Sahnd
Rath
Clyde
Ragnar, bloodied and beaten, but not broken, roars a challenge at the chieftain in his own tongue.
Orcish:"Is that all you've got, whelp?"
He swings his sword in a horizontal arc with all his strength.
"Flying? That won't save you...
Shoo carefully aims at Sharrak, hoping to disable him so Shadoo can easily grab him and they all can run - the combat is turning uglier than they thought and poor Clyde won't ever earn enough for bandages.
Shadoo pulls his rope and tries to knot it as a lasso, getting it ready as fast as he can to throw at the flying creature.
The Dragonborn then throws the "lasso" as a net, trying to catch the enemy.
Seeing the Orcs as a more pressing threat, Rath continues to rain shafts upon them.
Clyde nods toward Sashah, "Thank ya, kindly.[/b]" Setting his eyes on the orc leader, Clyde twists his neck and rolls his shoulders forward. Clyde springs forward at his enemy, attacking him if he's able.
Round 3 Results
Ragnar cuts into the chieftain, but he remains standing, still angered at Shoo and now Ragnar as well.
The one remaining Kobold continues to attack Ragnar, seeing the Goliath as the greatest threat.
He misses wildly.
The chieftain swings his axe at Ragnar. Who are you calling whelp, pup?
Hit. Ragnar takes 15/2 = 7.5 rounded down to 7 slashing damage.
Shoo fires at the order climbing up, killing him before he even hits the ground.
Sharrak says, Screw this, I'm out of here. He starts to fly away.
The one remaining orc continues to fight because his chieftain is still fighting.
He attacks Ragnar with his greataxe, gaining advantage from Ragnar.
Hit. Ragnar takes 14/2=7 more slashing damage, knocking him unconscious (unless he or someone else has an ability to mitigate damage).
Sashah stands by.
Shadoo tried to lasso Sharrak.
Shadoo successfully captures Sharrak!
[Ooc]Sahnd
Sahnd targets the last Kobold.
The Kobold dies.
Rath targets Orc 5 with an arrow, which is the orcs brain, killing him instantly.
Clyde swings his sword at the mighty chieftain, the sword landing right between his eyes and digs into his skull. The chieftain drops.
"Oh, my goodness... I don't know how we manage to pull that, but we did it!" exclaims Shoo. He puts back his bow and starts to prepare everything for the escape. "Now let's get out of here hell bent!"
Clyde flicks the blood from his blade with a quick motion and resheathes it at his side. "Is everyone alright?"
Uh, the big man is bleedin in the dirt over there, you may want to see to him. says Rath to no one in particular, but looking towards Sashah.
After defeating the orc chieftain and capturing the Cult of the Dragon's leader, the orc warband flees.
What remains is a group of Kobolds of the Cult of Tiamat cheering that they've survived, until they see that their dragonborn sorcerer leader has been killed in the battle. Looking back at you, they decide to flee as well.
You collect up the body of the dragonborn sorcerer. You arrest Sahnd, who voluntarily surrendered. You help the captives escape. And you collect all available treasure at the site.
Taking the bandits ship, you report back to Braden Yil, who pays you your reward. Over the following days, the first few merchant caravans leave Phlan and journey cautiously along the Iron Route.
Soon, word of the caravans’ arrival is greeted with celebration, and you are all are feted as heroes. The city is safe again — at least until next time!
This ends The Outlaws of the Iron Route.