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It has been about two weeks since your battle with Black Fang. The four of you are relaxing in the Rusty Dragon, sharing some drinks. However, you are startled by the sudden sound of a bell tolling repeatedly, followed shortly by the sound of footfalls and screams. As you run outside, you see that there are four orcs across the small field in the town square. One of them is hacking away at the door of the house and shop of Edwin Pierce, the local blacksmith. Three orcs armed with axes and javelins stand guard around him, watching for any villagers who try to stop them. Most of the villagers are either hiding in the back of their various shops and taverns, or trying to dislodge a large wagon that is propping the gate to the east open.
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Hank looks at his beer real quick: a wormwood infused beer that our planet would recognize as an India Pale Ale for its strength and bitterness.
"I've heard about seein' green fairies after swiggin' too much of this brew but these guys aren't the kind of green I was hopin' for. Was hoping for one of those spritely ones with the long legs. Welp, dragon fighters gotta hero, gonna go get Cammy."
Hank leans over to Sofia and casts Virtue on her, before scuttling as fast as his little halfling legs can carry him, heading toward the stables. Over his shoulder he shouts, "Gettin' the camel, hold 'em off for a bit. We'll try shuttin' the gate since camels and wagons add up to... not great but ok enough."
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Phedran rushes out the tavern door to the square, and sees the four greenskinned louts across the way. Having grabbed his trusty shortbow from his room at the inn, he nocks an arrow, and takes aim.
The alchemist bites his lip, resisting the urge to yell across the square to get the foul orcs' attention and distract them from breaking down the blacksmith's door. The moment of surprise will better serve me.
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Phedran's arrow flies across the square and buries itself in the orc's chest. He staggers back with a grunt, but is still on his feet.
Seeing the three of you rush out of the Rusty Dragon, the westernmost orc charges across the field and heaves a javelin at the unarmoured halfling.
However, it land in the dirt just a few inches away from Belliken's feet.
The orc at the door continues to try to hack the door down.
There is the sound of a crack as he brings the axe down on it, but the door is unyielding.
The orc with the arrow in his chest staggers towards you, but is bleeding heavily.
The remaining one dashes towards Sofia, axe in hand.
Belliken has been enjoying the attention and respect of the townsfolk, letting it inflate his ego to a dangerous level. Now that the town is in trouble again he jumps to the rescue.
Can't let the people down, though it seems they can't stay out of trouble .
He runs out of the tavern and gets his bearings. So much has already happened and the orcs are on the move. He readies his crossbow and takes at the nearest orc.
Belliken fires his crossbow and hits the orc. It's still up though, seemingly fueled purely by its bloodlust.
Hank busts open the stable door and whistles his super-secret Cammy call, adding "Cammy, attack the ones that look almost tough as you are!"
Hank then casts Magic Fang on Cammy, using the touch attack to give him that classic swat on the rump for encouragement.
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Phedran, aghast by the sight of the orc lurching forward, takes aim once again. Gods... despite the chest wound I've given him, he still comes at me with all the feral rage of... Phedran realizes that he is being absent-minded, and given the severity of the situation, then releases the bow with a quick thwack as the string hits his forward hand.
Once again, Phedran's arrow finds its mark. The severely wounded westernmost orc manages to hurl its axe at Phedran before collapsing into the dirt.
By some stroke of luck (for the orcs), the raider is able to pour all of his strength into the throw and nearly drops the elf, but he is still up.
Cammy cannily canters 100 ft straight ahead with a double move, hunting for the best position from which to expectorate upon and chomp on his foes.
"SKROOOONK!!!!"
...he may be canny, but he's not subtle.
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In an instant, Phedran finds it very hard to breathe. Any air in his lungs seethes skyward in a sucking gasp.
He looks down, and notices a savage looking handle protruding from his leather armour. "That's... not.. supposed to be there?" he says to himself, astonished at the sight.
The elf's knees buckle. He clutches at his bandolier. His surroundings fade in and out with every breath.
Must... stay calm. Administer... medical attention... immediately. Doctor's orders. To.. self. Heh.
The orc ducks under Sofia's blade.
The farthest raider continues hacking away at the blacksmith's door, and yells something in Orcish.
The sturdy door is now showing signs of damage.
The centre orc turns when he hears the other's shout, and retreats, hurling a javelin at Cammy.
The weapon flies past Cammy and lands in the dirt about 20 feet later.
The final orc swings his axe at Sofia.
However, her shield is more than sufficient to deflect the blow.
Belliken sighs and takes a full round of movement to get to the left behind Cammy as far as he can. The trees are obstructing his view and he has no time to reload.
Hank scampers up with a double move to stand just to the bottom left of Phedran. His friend is obviously badly hurt--Hank tries to encourage the good doctor with an optimistic prognosis, despite the distinctly audible sounds of the elf's indoor plumbing gone haywire:
"Now don' you worry, Pheddy, I got the wand right here and I'm gonna swat ya with it soon's I catch my breath. Just don' go too far just now an' be careful 'till I can get you well again."
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Phedran smiles at the blurry silhouette. His eyes water at the streaks of light and shadow that his world has become. He can feel his sight darken and narrow at the peripherals, but he knows what he sees is a friend.
Ah, my little wee'n friend. The diminutive dromedarian driver.
Axe: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
However, her shield is more than sufficient to deflect the blow.
... or at least Sofia thought it would be enough, but the orc's axe inflicts a deep wound, dropping Sofia to the ground.
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Sofia's world turns a milky grey and she feels the pressure of the axe against her chest but, remarkably, no pain. That's because I'm dying she thinks, as she slumps to the ground. Fading into delicious and welcoming darkness she has the strangest thought I wonder if my father would be proud
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Cammy charges the nearest orc unless it happens to be Orc 2--who may/may not have already gone? If Cammy can't charge, subtract 2 from the following roll.
Cammy puts his ears behind his head and rumbles at full speed at the nearest orc. Cammy's a camel, as you all know, but that doesn't mean he doesn't think. I'll try to provide a translation of his camelid thoughts for us below, though I'll admit it is extremely difficult to do so with any accuracy.
"SO READY to CHOMP on ANYONE but SPECIALLY ANYONE FOODHANK says CHOMP THAT ONE ah this one is SLOW I am FAST I am BEAUTIFUL I am DEADLY STALLION these ones THROW SHARP STUFF at NICEWOMAN and TALKYELF who give CARROTS and PATS to me and as such BELONG to ME and thus GREENTHROWTOOTHFOLKS must be CHOOOOMPED"
The orc at the door continues his assault.
There is a crunch as his axe widens the crack in the door.
The orc screams as Cammy clamps down his jaws. In the final few seconds before collapsing in a heap to the ground, the orc swings his axe.
However, he is not able to muster enough force to slice through the thick hair.
Seeing the destruction that the camel hath wrought, the final orc runs north and throws a javelin.
The weapon snags in the branches of a tree.
Seeing the final orc flee Belliken reloads his crossbow and goes for a shot.
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Phedran, with his head ringing, and his breathing becoming more laboured, grabs a vial containing a red liquid.
I trust explicitly in the alchemical arts. And this is the purest form of a field experiment; this formula works, and I'll keep on this mortal world for another cycle...
The alchemist pops the stopper, then gulps the liquid in one slow. reverse nod.
Or, this mixture is inert, and I'm doomed.
A surge of energy washes over Phedran, and he can feel the skin underneath his leather jerkin tighten. He grabs the savage hatchet embedded in his chest, and pulls it after a moment of hestitation.
Foreign object has been removed. Patient, er... self has been mended to best of ability given the situation on the battlefield.
Phedran tosses the throwing axe to the dirt below, then grabs his bow.
Now, to return the favour.
Hank sees the good doctor is on the mend under his own power and scampers over to Sofia--a double move should put him in place to administer the Cure Light Wand next turn.
"SKROOOOONK!"
Cammy steps up to the nearest orc and CHOOOOOMPS.
Just as the orc brings back his axe for another swing at the door, Cammy clamps onto his upper arm with a sickening crunch. The raider manages to get off one final attack Cammy before slumping to the ground.
The last remaining orc moves north and makes a last-ditch attack on the camel from a distance, but misses.
Belliken lines up another crossbow bolt, hoping to catch the last orc.
Hank bends over Sofia's badly damaged body, gingerly applying the wand to her wounds. He tries to concentrate on the task at hand, trusting Cammy to take care of himself.
"Gee my friend, that looks real bad. Hope I'm here in time."
Dark's in nighttime and deep holes and boxes what's been shut up tight but you're in the light now Sofie, get up and help us whomp these scraps of orcs!
Hank sees that his friend Sofia is back from the brink. Now his priority is to get back in touch with Cammy. Hank pauses to survey the situation, muttering "Now where in the nine hecks has that camel got to?"
Unfortunately, the orc is able to step back out of the way of Phedran's arrow.
Hank double moves from Sofia's side toward the action--his short halfling legs put him somewhere diagonally northwest of her current position on the map.
[b]"Get them, Cammy! Get them!"[b]
"MWOOONK!"
Cammy is all too happy to oblige. He charges the remaining orc.
As Hank makes his way through the trees, he emerges to find very smug-looking camel, and a very dead-looking orc. After less than a minute, a stout man with a dark grey beard, Edwin Pierce, makes his way over from the gate, which has now been successfully closed. "Many thanks for protecting this town. The mayor says she wants to see you in her office." Edwin goes over to the shop and begins fiddling with the lock.