"Aye. What else do the scouts say? We will help, but it's no good if we spend all our magical energy here and you have to do all the heavy lifting afterwards. Which ones are your best fighters, Halak? I will provide a spell to hasten them so they can close the distance faster, and strike swifter."
"I can go have a look," Mel says. "Conditions may have changed since the last scouts went anyway."
She pulls up her hood and steps softly and cautiously forward.
Halak nods, understanding the value of the questions. "Scouts say about thirty orc left. Some fled from last fight. Some new reinforcements." His plucky group seems to number about thirty, tilting the odds significantly in your favor. To Brolin's question, he grins outright. "Make some magicks while run in then tear enemies." He turns to Turion, always somewhat skeptical of the elf. "Enemies spread out some. Few in guard tower. Strong position. Be problem."
You head north toward the enemy position, sneak through a jog of the tunnel, and come to see a chamber lit by orange fires. You see caltrops scattered across the entrance, an orcish spellcaster, and three orc archers up in a tower 15 ft off the ground with narrow stone windows to fire through. There is a heavy wooden door in the wall that no doubt leads up to the tower.
Mel purses her lips, and creeps back to the party just as silently as she came.
"Yeah, it's bad," she reports. "Most were axemen like we've fought before -- maybe not a huge problem individually, but there were a lot of them. Looked like a couple dozen, spread out through the area."
"They have a shaman, and three archers perched in a lovely defensive tower which is going to make them very difficult to deal with. There are a couple of pillars holding the ceiling up which may offer some cover from the archers to anyone who's made it into the room, but the same will work against me." She taps her bow.
"Oh, and the entryway is covered in caltrops. I've never seen one before, but I've read about them. Nasty things. They'll either force us to move slowly through that area, or else risk puncturing our feet, which will slow us down even more."
"There's an exit at the back. There could be even more of them back there that I didn't see."
She sighs. "At least the area is well lit. They have a couple of fires going."
"Charging straight in is a bad idea, I think. It's what they expect. They're prepared for it. They have caltrops to slow us down, and lots of axemen to swarm us once we're inside. And all the while their archers will be shooting at us with impunity from their tower. I don't know what their shaman is capable of, but my guess is that it's going to be unpleasant."
"Kazador, I've seen you step from one spot to another. Could you take a few of us inside that tower? I'm thinking you, Algric, Kelian, and me. They won't be expecting that: we step into the heart of their defenses, incapacitate their archers, and then use the tower against them. The brutes down below will have to break into their own tower to get at us; and while they're doing that, their attention will be split. That's when Halak's tribe and the rest of our melee types come in the front."
"It's risky, though. There's not a lot of space inside that tower, so only a few of us can go. Algric and I would benefit most from having an arrow slit to shoot through, but I'm not much help in melee, and if those archers are anything like the one we fought in our second engagement yesterday, they're going to be every bit as dangerous up close. And, of course, if things go badly there's no good way to retreat."
"Alternatively, I noticed that the wall leading up to it is comparatively thin. If any of you have spells that could punch a hole through that wall, we would be able to get in and engage without going through their caltrops. It wouldn't gain us any major tactical advantages, but it would at least force them to fight on an unexpected front. And it would allow retreat if necessary."
"That's all I've got. Thoughts?"
Halak grunts. "We help much. But shaman and tower problem. You deal with those, we kill rest."
"I came prepared to fight a large group, but have a few spells that could be useful."
As Halak turns to speak with the other it's Fyrtor addresses the party. "Before we go into battle again, I've been meaning to ask, an I doing this wrong? I mean I've been knocked unconscious in more than half the fights we've been in together."
Mel looks consideringly at Fyrtor a moment. "Well. Do you know why you fight?"
Almost immediately he says, "To keep people safe. I know better than most how to fight and so it's my responsibility to protect them. When people get hurt and I could have prevented it, it's almost the same as having hurt them myself." After a moment's reflection Fyrtor continues somewhat embarrassed, "I... I do enjoy the challenge of it as well. When your life is on the line you push yourself as hard as you can, every moment might be your last. It's... intoxicating in a way. It's not that I enjoy killing, I don't. But when you're fighting, really fighting I mean, you leave nothing on the table. You burn every reserve and find you still have more somehow. It's not the same when you're just sparring."
“Then you’re doing it right.”
Mel nods. "'If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the results of a hundred battles.'" she quotes. "General Tullian. Though I might add that it's probably best to stay near your allies, so that you can support one another. I think Tullian was speaking more of strategy than tactics."
"I suppose. I'm not really worried about why I'm fighting, though that does concern me at times. It's more of a question of how. Of all of us I think I've been knocked on my arse more than eveyone else combined. It worries me. I can't protect you guys if I'm needing to be rescued myself. That puts you in danger when I should be helping instead. At the same time I don't want to watch from the back as my friends die before me." With a frustrated sigh he goes on, "I don't know if any of that makes sense, but it's something that's been bothering me."
Mel smiles kindly. "No one wants to be a hindrance, Fyrtor," she says. "And I don't think you are. It seems to me that the times you've been in greatest danger have been when you throw yourself into the fray for others. That's a virtue; but, as you have found, it can also be a drawback if you are not fully prepared."
She thinks a moment. "Perhaps you could find some way to heighten your toughness with magic? It is not a selfish thing to spend your powers on yourself when your purpose is to aid others."
Fyrtor pauses to think before he replies slowly, "there are some spells I know that would help to protect me better. I haven't been preparing them because it seemed more important to be able to hinder our enemies, but perhaps you are right. It may seem selfish to spend so much effort protecting myself when there are other at risk as well, but if keeps me from being laid low... well maybe it's the right thing to do."
Mel nods. "You can't help anyone if you're unconscious," she says. "So taking measures to protect yourself is only reasonable."
Fyrtor nods satisfied for now that there is a plan for how he can do better. Turning to Halak he asks, "Halak, are there other orcs we will have to fight today?"
Halak shakes his head. "Don't think so. This it. Then spoils. Unless elf people cause problems."
Kazador nodded. ”Yes, I can get us into the tower. If we can kill the archers quick enough it will turn the defenses against them. Just tell me when ye be ready.”
Halak shakes his head. "Don't think so. This it. Then spoils. Unless elf people cause problems."
Then spoils. One more bridge to cross when they come to it. "Where at all possible, Halak, I'd like to leave as many of the orcs here alive as we can. I aim to question them separately about the elves, to see what they corroborate. And after . . . we'll cross that bridge when we come to it."
Fytor nods, "I agree, Halak." Continuing in druidic he says.
Halak looks somewhat surprised and taken aback by this but shrugs. "Fine. Leave wounded and dying for you."
"Halak, be sure to tell your warriors there are caltrops at the entrance. It looked like right in the door way, and then a second line a little behind the first. They can probably jump over them if they have to."
Halak nods. "We be careful." Then he begins casting a few spells on himself. "Ready?"
Fyrtor will cast heightens awareness, then barkskin. Once finished draws his scimitar, adjusts his buckler, and waits for Turion to cast haste and the battle to begin.
Mel pauses and takes a moment to center herself. She lifts a hand to the necklace that hangs about her throat, and prays. "Oi Ostara, anna meille voimaa taistella hyvin ja viisautta tietää, milloin lopettaa."
With no further comment, she checks to see that her bow is in good shape, her arrows free in the quiver, and both her wrist sheathes loaded with potions -- one to give her flight, the other to ward off evil.
"I'm ready," she says.
Kelian settles his armor in place and stands ready.
ᛞᛁᛗᛖᚾᛋᛁᛟᚾ᛫ᛞᛟᛟᚱ
Kazador yelled as he struck the end of his hammer to the floor. His distaste for working with orcs was dulled only by the prospect of killing the other group. He tried his best to ignore the others’ desire to let the monsters live. He resolved to only leave corpses if possible.
And with that, they were gone. And just as suddenly, they were in the tower.
At the last possible couple seconds, before the mixed group stops its cautious approach, moments before swords clash and arrows fly, Túrion casts a spell of Haste.
His spell is targetting Kazador, Kelian, Fyrtor, Algric, Nelly, Mel, Brolin, Halak, and 2 of Halaks Orcs that he indicated earlier.
Nelly followed behind the others, still wary of these Orcs.
They smelled so similar to those who were prey just yesterday.
Which ones were to kill? Which ones were not to kill?
Well, for lack of a better option, she simply stayed close to Túrion, prepared to bite off the hand of anybody striking at him.
Kazador surprises the orcs by teleporting himself, Kelian, Algric, and Fyrtor into the middle of their tower! But unfortunately, the tower doesn't have room to accommodate all four of its new occupants. In the random reshuffling of teleportation, Kelian and Algric wind up on top of each other in a heap.
Fyrtor takes advantage of his opponent's surprise and makes a full body swing at the orc to the south of him, yelling "Sarenrae's light guide my blade!"
Then he falls into a defensive stance ready to strike at those who he can.
As Kazador reaches for his hammer, Kelian draws his sword. Glancing down at it, he gives a slight smile and whispers to himself: "I think I feel lucky." His sword flashes a bit brighter ...
... and moments later, crammed in cheek by jowl with Algric, he adds "Or perhaps not."
Philosophically, he reaches out to take a swing at the same orc Fyrtor attacked.
Even laying in an undignified heap, Algric still lashed out. The burning hatred in his heart would allow him to do no less. No leg would be safe from him while he still drew breath!
The suddenly-appearing strike team manages to land three solid blows on the orc they target, Fyrtor's barely hitting the orc only because he didn't move out of the way.
Halak and his orcs surge to the offensive, avoiding the caltrops thankfully. The opposing orcs also react quickly, clashing mightily with Halak's forces.
As the battle swings into full, brutal action, only Turion reacts quickly enough to tip the scales early in the fight.
Mel moves up to the entryway cautiously, using it for cover. Leaning out she looks for the shaman amidst the fight and nocks an arrow, ready to interrupt him if he casts a spell.
"Mel, that Shaman may realize what you are doing and try to break your line of Sight. I'll provide you with a minute of invisibility that will persist despite attacks...make the best use of it you can.", Túrion had explaind to Mel beforehand - now, there was little time to think or act, so he simply extended his hand towards the other elf, finished the incantation, and watched her vanish from sight.
Active Effects:
Haste (+1 attack/full attack, +1 to hit, +1 AC(dodge), +1 Reflex Save, +30 feet speed(max double regular) - Round 2/10
Improved Invisibility(various effects) on Mel - Round 1/10
The orcs in the tower drop their bows and draw blades. One attacks Kazador with a rapier while another goes after Fyrtor with a falchion and the third goes after Kelian likewise. All of them seem to be extremely unlucky or clumsy do to the element of surprise and miss. Fyrtor strikes back at the one that attacked him, landing a solid blow.
Halak and his forces begin to rush forward to the assault! Halak turns into a great bear and rushes forward bellowing with joy. But the orcs prepare to meet the onslaught, forming up in defensive lines after the caltrops.
Their shaman moves to the side to take cover, sees Turion and snarls in confused anger. Force erupts from the shaman too fast to see and smashes toward Turion. Simultaneously, he fills the tunnel with some horrible, yellowish-green vapors! Many of Halak's orcs fall dead!
Kazador found it hard to swing his massive hammer in the right confines, so...
...he reached out and grabbed an orc by the neck. His strength fueled by a mixture of hatred and shame he sought to break the orc with one Viscious jerk of the wrist.
With his free hand he shifted his grip to hold the hammer just under the head, and last out with it like a punch, seeking to drive the enchanted weapon into the gut of the nearest living orc.
Still stuck on the ground, Algric hacked away wildly. Prone as he was, the archer was determined to at least take an orc with him if he had to die.
Intent on opening up space so he and Algric can move more freely, Kelian targets the same orc that he stabbed previously.
Then he thrusts his shield forward and shouts the command. It springs into life and bites at the orc.
Fyrtor lays about him with his simitar, striking first at the orc he's hit most and moving on to the one wielding the rapier should the first fall.
The elven mage visible pales as arcane force smashes into him: "Ugh...a cloudkill spell. Don't linger in the area - I'll try and get rid of it."
Barely capable of doing so, he staggers back outside the spells area, and starts to reference his spellbook which magically opens on a certain page.
Nelly almost manages to shake the spells effect off, but seeing Túrion hit by invisible force breaks the wolves concentration, and the full force of the Cloudkill drains her. Lacking other orders, she sticks to the Elf, moving out of the spells area next to him.