And we're off!
With last minute preparations made, the group sets off back to the “Forge of Fury” as it has been dubbed by the locals. Without the two prisoners you are able to make a better pace.
Scramsax backseat drives Ravvek's navigation attempts, his arrow always pointing backwards.
I’ll have a post up this evening.
As the party nears the Stone Tooth it is time to consider your approach on the Forge of Fury. Will you take the front door approach, head for the swamp and dig out the previously explored kobold lair, or try to find a new way into the cavern fortress?
If we go the kobold warren, we will need to dig out the cave in. What do you all think? Ravvek wonders aloud, If the orcs discovered how we came in last time, they may have booby trapped our little tunnel.
Anton strokes his chin. “Perhaps we should reconnoiter to see if there is another way in...”
"Naaaa, I dont wanna shovel anymore. I just got a new outfit. Unless there's buried treasure. There's probably buried treasure. We should dig." Scram stretches his digging muscles, but then hears Anton's suggestion "Hey, good thinking...a nice quick perimeter scan. I'll join you..."
Sashah has been barely reachable as he is avidly reading what appears to be a new book. Though present, he is clearly distracted.
Zayless follows along, "That must be an interesting book. I understand there are many spells that can be cast as rituals. That is most intriguing. I hope when the time comes Sashah we can share such information. Oh watch your step."
Scramsax and Anton spend some time scouting the area. You travel up the mountain trying to check the defenses of the mountain door while still maintaining a safe distance.
You weren’t able to see the door because of the defensive ridge in front of it, but as you were trying to find better vantage points Anton notices a cave entrance covered by overgrowth and a large bush. The hidden entrance is roughly 100 meters toward the north face of the Stone Tooth from the mountain door entrance. Upon further inspection he sees the bush has been placed over the entrance to hide it.
The light is fading now and the two of you are forced to return to the others at the base of the Tooth.
Scram starts to wheeze and pant near the end, little thorns have scratched up his huge calves and his wet hair is sticking to his glossy sweaty face...mumbling something about mountains and dwarves.
Ravvek sets up camp in a nicely obscured area while waiting for Scram and Anton to return. He looks up as they return to camp, Find anything useful?
Sasha's head perks up at Zayless' mention of 'book'. "Did not realize-" Sashah stops in his tracks immediately and throws his pack from his shoulder onto the ground and begins digging through it, all the while holding the book he was reading open in one hand. "-you use book as eldritch conduit. Do have ritual book?" He asks as he continues digging. He finally produces a many-paged leather-bound book and hands it to Zayless. "Zis ritual book."
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Anton, carrying a dozing Scram, hasn’t even a single bead of sweat. He lays the halfling on a bedroll and tells the others about the cave.
That new entrance sounds better than digging, and much better than an arrow-filled corridor of death. Looking at exhausted Scram... Should we take a closer look in the early morning?
Uriah, very distracted by the mosquitos buzzing about, manages to pull himself away from staring at himself in a mirror long enough to say
A side passage eh? Let me tell you about the time I stumbled into the side passage of "The Dame of Waterdeep"...
some time later
And then she says, BETTER OUT THAN IN!
Uriah is beside himself laughing.
Oh, yeah. Sure a secret door. I'll make it sound a "bit" more heroic in the song...it'll have traps. And a guard. And it won't really be a secret because we wouldn't be sneaking in...
Raiden may have shaken his head at Uriah, but he was laughing. Ha, "better out than in"....
Anton and Scram join the camp and spread the news of the new entrance. As you bed down for the night you are hopefull for what the morning may bring.
Anton takes the middle watch, since it is the most taxing.
Rav will take first watch with Sashah.
Raiden will take...whichever one is left. Or share with Anton.
"I can take a shift as well."
Scram and Raiden are watching a smoldering fire when they hear a crunch of a tree branches. You grab your weapons and stand just as four orcs burst out of the darkness.
Initiative
Raiden, Scramsax
Uriah (surprised asleep)
Enemies
Everyone Else (surprised asleep)
Perception DC 5 to wake up, everyone that is asleep.
Four orcs, grab your weapons men! Raiden yells as he steps to the nearest orc and apparently waves his sword menacingly in his face.
What in the blazes! Ravvek scrambles for his blade!
Anton's eyes snap open and he kips up, grabbing his sword.
Scram tumbles into position near Raiden stabbing and slicing...
Raiden swings high at the first incoming orc but the creature ducks below his blade. As he does so however, Scramsax is there to stab it in the eye with his sword. As the creature recoils, the halfling steps forward and finishes the orc stabbing it in the kidney.
The three remaining orcs charge ahead, two engaging the two opppnents standing the third attempting to keep any allies from joining the fight. Raiden is hit in his side squarely, Scramsax barely ducks below the axe, and poor Sashah tries to roll out with f the way but the Greataxe cuts deep into his leg. The orc attacking Sashah is surprised to see the old human still alive after his mighty blow.
Orc 1 on Raiden
for
Orc 2 on Scramsax
for
Orc 3 on Sashah who is awake but prone and surprised.
for
Ravvek rolls up to his feet, tossing the scabbard off his slim blade! He whispers a prayer and leaps to engage the orc on Sashah!
As Ravvek has noticed. We are back to the top of the round.
Raiden, Scram, Uriah and Ravvek are up.
Scram's rapier suddenly flips out of his sweaty hand and *clangs* to the ground, but he quickly pulls a dagger from his boot. He concentrates on Raiden's attacker, trying to take it down quickly...
Raiden curses the orc that hit him, but seeing Scram make a solid hit, he turns his attention to the third orc.
Zayless stands and looks about draws a dagger and begins casting a spell.
Uriah stands up, moving away from the orc, he mentions something about the heritage of the orc attacking Sashah. dealing
Scramsax and Raiden team up again to kill another of the orcs.
With a tear in his eyes he charges Uriah for saying such a very very mean thing about his parents. missing horribly while sobbing.
The orc attacking Scramsax growls in frustration and tries again to destroy the pesky halfling. again the halfling dodging the blow at the last second.
Second half of Initiative are up.
Orc 1: unwounded
Orc 3: Dead
Ravvek moves to attack the orc on Uriah driving his sword between its ribs. The creature gurgles blood but still struggles.
As it struggles on the blade, Zayless’s spell engulfs it in flames and the creature falls over dead.
Anton leaps at the uninjured orc, pulling his sword from the sheath and slicing across the orc's throat. As he lunges past the orc, he launches an elbow into its back.
Sashah just about blood on his books and says a prayer. Waves of healing magic cover Sashah as his wounds heal.
Anton ends the remaining orcs life.
Ravvek looks over everyone, Everyone okay? Sound off.
Raiden looks around a little stunned. He's still not used to these random night attacks, and for one second misses the life of a shop keeper. Just the one second though. I'm...fine. He looks around to the others.
Cleaning the orc stains off his shiny little blade "...musta saw us earlier. Bet they wish they hadnt now, eh?"
Sashah just grumbles as he rolls over to go back to sleep.
Uriah brandishes his rapier a bit before putting it away.
They never knew what hit em.... he says sleepily