Grungar looks at Dashel Me always prefer to face me enemy face to face, not sure about the folks who like to sneak around and hide. Grungar leans close to Dashel Me and the elves, never really got along, but can we trust the other human like you? Grungar asks with complete sincerity.
Grungar looks at Dashel Me always prefer to face me enemy face to face, not sure about the folks who like to sneak around and hide.
"They are not enemies, they are prey." Drovic states simply. "History is written by the victor, not the honorable."
Indeed, Drovic, our enemies are prey, and our similar approach, I think you will find, Grungar, is just as effective as your own. You shall see my dwarf, friend. You shall see.
Dashel simply listens to the exchange and the differing perspectives. I tend to agree with the dwarf.
Dashel and Grungar continue in the direct route forward, secure that their flanks are protected by the Conner and Drovic. "Steady Grungar...steady. Let's see what's ahead, the silence is disturbing."
Conner keeps his ears open and his eyes sweeping the area, returning frequently to the ground as he looks for tracks. There are indeed a few animal tracks, all of which are at least a day old; they're mostly of smaller creatures, though. Then the slayer spots an obvious boot print, probably less than two hours old. Size is human or slightly larger, crude workmanship, pointed roughly in the same direction you're going.
Conner slides from the shadows so that all can see his form. He raises his fist so that all stop. He points to the tracks and motions for all to stay put as he indicates his intent to follow the tracks.
Conner slips back into the shadows and tracks the prints by following.
Turning to the dwarf, "The waiting the hardest part. We'll see what Conner flushes out from the darkness."
Conner turns back, silently, to the others and whispers.
A half-mile ahead, there are at least three of them. I cannot make out what they are, but they speak in guttural voices that I cannot identify. I suggest that Drovic and I lead silently, get an attack in, then have you gentlemen do your dirtiest. You should follow as quietly as you can at a 30 foot distance. we will signal after our first attack. Thoughts?
Drovic draws his rune-inscribed dagger. "Agreed, but I'm another 30 feet ahead of you. Let me set up." He takes point, sneaking forward, and when Conner signals they're close Drovic puts a glowing hand on his chest. "Rifstejar." Drovic vanishes into thin air, then makes the rest of the walk.
Bah, wait here and sneak up on them, I say we just rush them! Grungar mumbles to Dashel, but nonetheless keeps his ground and lets Conner and Drovic go ahead. Grungar grips his falchion tight in anticipation of the upcoming battle.
Conner waits for Drovic to signal him forward.
Drovic studies the one closest to him, watching his movements, watching the way he breathes...then signals Conner forward.
About twenty feet. They've stopped to talk; as nearly as you can tell, there's some dispute about which way they should be going.
Conner approaches Drovic's position and conceals himself while studying two of the Orcs closest to him, making them his favored targets.
Conner, because they're keeping as much as possible to the shadows they're in dim light. Without either low-light vision of darkvision, they have partial concealment from you at this range.
Drovic whispers, casting ghost sound a little off to their left in an attempt to draw the enemy closer.
One of the orcs responds to the noise and smacks the nearest one to him, pointing towards the ghost sound. All four draw falchions and move that way.
Drovic keeps a hand on Conner's arm, holding him steady. A little closer.
At least one will.
Drovic releases, springing silently forward with dagger in hand.
Drovic's blade glances off of the orc's studded leather armor. Conner, you can act in the surprise round, and then we'll go to melee time.
Conner will fire an arrow at the closest of the orcs that Drovic did not attack, from his position of hiding.
After his arrow flies, he signals his companions forward with a whistle.
Round 1:
Initiative Order
Drovic
Conner
Orcs
Dashel
Besmarial
Grungar
Conner's arrow takes one in the throat. Gargling blood, he's still up for the moment. With their superior training, Drovic and Conner are able to act again before the orcs have a chance to react to their presence.
Conner, as a full round action, will fire his first arrow at the Orc that has not been attacked by either he or Drovic, and his second arrow will be aimed at the the Orc he initially hit.
Conner, both orcs go down.
Drovic hisses at his failed attack, then releases two quick slashes.
Round 1 (ongoing):
Drovic's blade opens the first orc's throat to the spine; gushing blood, he falls. The second one takes what the elf thinks should be a lethal stab to the kidney; the orc has other ideas, though, and spins around to attack his assailant. The blow goes well wide.
Initiative order:
Drovic-acted
Conner-acted
Orc-acted
Dashel
Besmarial
Grungar
Finally action Don't kill em all, leave some for me! yells Grungar as he makes his way closer.
Grungar will move and withdraw his falchion. He will go as far as he is able to while using double movement.
Dashel will double move to get to the enemy by the end of RD 1.
Besmarial does nothing, figuring that you have things well in hand. Dashel and Grungar reach the site of the melee; two orcs are down with arrows in various important locations, one is down with a slashed throat, and one remains up (though bleeding from a stab wound in the lower back).
Round 2:
Initiative Order
Drovic
Conner
Orcs
Dashel
Besmarial
Grungar
Drovic rolls behind the orc to set up a flank, then reaches up and stabs at his side.
Drovic tumbles around the wounded orc and plants his dagger firmly into the base of its skull, dropping it.
Dashel looks around at the carnage, "Did you...attempt to get any information out of them before..." He waves at the bodies. "Not that orcs are conservationist but learning if they were a vanguard or patrol for a larger tribe would be news."
Drovic wipes the blade off his daggers on the orc's clothes. "Hmm. Honestly it hadn't crossed my mind, most of my encounters with orcs have been kill or be killed."
Aye, if you want to talk to them, Dashel, heal one. I will try to see if I can pick up a trail that takes us to their lair. I doubt this is all of them.
Conner searches the perimeter of their position for a trail that would lead them to the lair, or where they arrived from.
Conner, you're readily able to find their backtrail (having followed it to find them). How far back do you want to follow it?
After hovering over the bodies briefly, Besmarial says, "That is odd. Master Gallowsmith stated--" The angel's voice changes to match that of your scholarly patron. "--' On the marginally brighter side, you will not encounter orcs.'" Besmarial continues in its own voice. "Yet here they are."
The orcs were headed in roughly the same direction you were going, though their track wasn't as straight.
I have the trail. Would you like to reverse our direction, and backtrack to whence the Orcs came? Or, should we press on to the original destination of our charge?
HAHA, good showing pointy ears, hahaha, wish I got to kill me a few orcs, Pretty effective with those daggers! Same to you Conner, me wish I got to kill a few orcs meself, Grungar is quite loud and gives Drovic a good, hard, but friendly slap on the shoulder, before he starts to search the orcs for anything useful.
Lead the way Conner, lets hope we find some more orcs to kill!
Grungar finds that the orcs are carrying crude but functional falchions and wearing studded leather armor of a similar make. One of them has a map of the area, though...interestingly enough, there's a circle that to scale is about thirty miles across, and it includes the cabin you're supposed to be guarding.
Dashel will hustle up with the others, "Odd that there are orcs here...when like our dwarf friend," he slaps Grungar's shoulder, " they have yet to make their way to the surface in this world. At least that is what Master Gallowsmith advised. Seems that the child is in pressing danger, we should move quicker."