Beltzer continues to follow the group.
Wulfrum pulls on the cord to his weapon and double times it to catch back up grumbling about how youngsters these days always in a hurry and how back when he was their age even the savages were more civilized and everyone would show up at sunrise and fight on neutral ground and then at sunset they would stop and go back home....grumble grumble.
Varin gives Kel a final pat on the back, after she has healed him, before he turns and runs after the group. He slowed as he reached Bel, falling in. He glanced back over his shoulder at Wulfrum and grinned. "Yeah yeah Pops, everything was more civilized back then. If a man killed you he did it to your face and married your wife so your kids wouldn't be orphans!" He glanced at Bel and rolled his eyes in exasperation.
Mohs continues on his way.
"Least this way I don't feel bad about cracking skulls. These orcs, just like stepping on bugs. Big, green bugs."
Lys follows Mohs as he moves forward, blurting out, "Mohs, you're quite fast for a dwarf, you know?", smiling at the the small dwarf, good-heartedly. "Do you think you can give me another cast of that light thing? I don't know how long it lasts, but I didn't inherit much of the dwarven sight from my folks. Only sometimes the blurred one after a long week." looking around the area.
Nerak follows along behind, Lorn ever the lightful crown upon his head. Even if some do get the sense that the little creature is staring dagger's at you. Mostly Varin get's that feeling upon the back of his neck.
Beltzer continues to follow the group.
As Mohs, Lys and Beltzer approach, they see that the splintered rubble is all that remains of the wall that once separated this kitchen from the adjacent living area. The shattered windows in the walls allow an ominous breeze to waft through the eerie, abandoned home. All the shelves and cabinets have been thoroughly looted or partially destroyed, and the foundation and floorboards have caved in where a smoldering boulder landed in the house.
Mohs, Lys and Beltzer can hear a ruckus at the Western Gate.
Varin drops his head to his chest and pushes forward, keeping pace as best as he can.
Wulfrum picks up the pace, breaking into a run. He grumbles loudly something along the lines of by Torag's sodding apron. He was beginning to wonder if he had gotten too old for this lifestyle anymore. He shook off the feelings and bouldered on.
Arlan tries to catch up to the others while lugging around the half-orc.
"Should we go investigate what that is?" Beltzer asks Lys and Mohs. "No doubt more orcs."
Arlan looks around the corner and keeps moving towards the gate.
"We have defenders at the gate! To them. We just cleared this side of the wall of vermin; let's not let it get infected again!"
Mohs rushes forward toward the western gate.
Nerak
If you don't post by the time I get a break to post the next summary, I'll DMPC you to double move toward the gates, in order to start the next encounter.
"Funny analogy there, I'd think of them more as an uncontrollable fire. Regardless let's move." Beltzer goes to back Mohs up.
Varin drops his head to his chest and pushes forward, keeping pace as best as he can.
Wulfrum picks up the pace, breaking into a run. He grumbles loudly something along the lines of by Torag's sodding apron. He was beginning to wonder if he had gotten too old for this lifestyle anymore. He shook off the feelings and bouldered on.
Arlan tries to catch up to the others while lugging around the half-orc.
"Should we go investigate what that is?" Beltzer asks Lys and Mohs. "No doubt more orcs."
Arlan looks around the corner and keeps moving towards the gate.
"We have defenders at the gate! To them. We just cleared this side of the wall of vermin; let's not let it get infected again!" Mohs rushes forward toward the western gate.
Everyone continues moving .
The ruckus is a mass of orcs destroying the inner portcullis.
Members of Trunau’s militia managed to close one of the gate’s two portcullises following this initial attack, and were able to construct two barricades behind the gates in preparation for another assault. All of the guards in the gate towers and at the barricades have either fled or been killed, with the exception of Patrol Sergeant Omast Frum. Omast is intoxicated as much by booze as by heroic fervor, and as the orc waves near, he wastes valuable time sipping from his flask, stumbling over debris, and generally making a mess of things when he’s not shouting slurred orders to “give them orcs what they came here for,” and “let loose the fury of the flaming logs!”
When you arrive, the orcs are in the process of breaking through the portcullis, and are about to pour through the gate. You have precious time to get ready . Inside the barricades, you see standing upright in a barrel near the westernmost barricade: a glaive, a guisarme, a halberd, two longspears, and a ranseur. A large boulder, that is nearly 10 feet across, sits in the middle of the hill between the two barricades. Two bundles of logs have been lashed to the western side of the westernmost barricade, one on each side of the road. This timber can be cut loose to roll downhill with devastating effect. The easternmost barricade is equipped with sharpened and splintered wooden fences that Omast salvaged from the wreckage of nearby homes.
Varin grabs a spear and twirls it over his head, one handed, before sliding it through the straps on his back. He looks over the area and picks his spot, between the two barricades, facing the gate. He eyes up the spot and nods to himself, before moving over to the boulder.
"I'll push this down the hill when they break through if someone lights it up. Anyone got a spark?"
Wulfrum runs along behind the nearest set of rolling logs and ducks down behind it ready to release the logs as soon as the orcs start charging up the lane.
"Lys, get over here with me and ready to release these logs on the Orcs. Arlan, Beltzer...grab the other set. When they are almost upon us release the logs. We'll mop em up after." he said as he positioned himself to follow through with what he said.
Nerak studies things and the opinions given before speaking himself.
"First off everyone should clear a path. Once they make it through we can bring down the logs as Wulfum suggest, but before anyone engages we should wait for the survivors to mass and breach the first barricade. That way we can give them a flaming rock as a reward without opening a path for them before they have themselves. The front liners can then make a stand before the second barricade or make a fighting retreat behind him it if they get overwhelmed. Ether way we have a sharp present waiting for any orcs trying to get over the second barricade. Not to mention it's a good spot for ranged types to perch on. We should make the most of our advantages and their numbers. That is my suggestion on a course of action my friends."
He makes his way behind the first barricade regardless. He was useless up front and he knew it.
Wulfrum runs along behind the nearest set of rolling logs and ducks down behind it ready to release the logs as soon as the orcs start charging up the lane.
"Lys, get over here with me and ready to release these logs on the Orcs. Arlan, Beltzer...grab the other set. When they are almost upon us release the logs. We'll mop em up after." he said as he positioned himself to follow through with what he said.
Alright, Arlan says, walking around behind the log. He drops the unconscious orc at his feet and props up his spear on the barricade before looking over at Beltzer.
This'll give 'em a shock, sure, but we need a way to clog the breach once they're through. Too many to fight with just us. Bel, you ready?
"I'm hoping this rock and those logs will be enough to clog it up. We should bring the fight down to them if it looks like it might!" Varin leans against the boulder and examines the longspear he had picked out of the barrel.
"Reach weapons are our friend. Probably best if everyone grabs a pole arm, even just to keep it at hand!"
Lys nods and moves next to Wulf, crouching and putting her crossbow on a stable platform, beginning to identify notable orcs. You'll get a bolt. And you'll get a bolt. Everybody will get a bolt., she thinks as she identifies the leaders.
Looking at Nerak shouting orders, she listens attentively, before shouting back, "Yes, General!", nodding in understanding.
"What now?" Beltzer protests as he's still quite exhausted. "Right right, threat of death. Let's do this" He follows Arlan and grabs hold of the log. "I'm as ready as I'll ever be" He replies.
Varin grabs a spear and twirls it over his head, one handed, before sliding it through the straps on his back. He looks over the area and picks his spot, between the two barricades, facing the gate. He eyes up the spot and nods to himself, before moving over to the boulder. "I'll push this down the hill when they break through if someone lights it up. Anyone got a spark?"
Wulfrum runs along behind the nearest set of rolling logs and ducks down behind it ready to release the logs as soon as the orcs start charging up the lane. "Lys, get over here with me and ready to release these logs on the Orcs. Arlan, Beltzer...grab the other set. When they are almost upon us release the logs. We'll mop ‘em up after." he said as he positioned himself to follow through with what he said.
Nerak studies things and the opinions given before speaking himself. "First off everyone should clear a path. Once they make it through we can bring down the logs as Wulfum suggest, but before anyone engages we should wait for the survivors to mass and breach the first barricade. That way we can give them a flaming rock as a reward without opening a path for them before they have themselves. The front liners can then make a stand before the second barricade or make a fighting retreat behind him it if they get overwhelmed. Either way we have a sharp present waiting for any orcs trying to get over the second barricade. Not to mention it's a good spot for ranged types to perch on. We should make the most of our advantages and their numbers. That is my suggestion on a course of action my friends." He makes his way behind the first barricade regardless. He was useless up front and he knew it.
"Alright," Arlan says, walking around behind the log. He drops the unconscious orc at his feet and props up his spear on the barricade before looking over at Beltzer. "This'll give 'em a shock, sure, but we need a way to clog the breach once they're through. Too many to fight with just us. Bel, you ready?"
"I'm hoping this rock and those logs will be enough to clog it up. We should bring the fight down to them if it looks like it might!" Varin leans against the boulder and examines the longspear he had picked out of the barrel. "Reach weapons are our friend. Probably best if everyone grabs a pole arm, even just to keep it at hand!"
Lys nods and moves next to Wulf, crouching and putting her crossbow on a stable platform, beginning to identify notable orcs. You'll get a bolt. And you'll get a bolt. Everybody will get a bolt., she thinks as she identifies the leaders. Looking at Nerak shouting orders, she listens attentively, before shouting back, "Yes, General!", nodding in understanding.
"What now? " Beltzer protests as he's still quite exhausted. "Right right, threat of death. Let's do this" He follows Arlan and grabs hold of the log. [b]"I'm as ready as I'll ever be," He replies.
Patrol Sergeant Omast Frum continues to strut around with his flask in one hand and heavy crossbow balanced over his shoulder with his other hand and starts singing Trunau drinking songs. ”Here come the orcs. Like rats to the grain. Hum, hum, hum. Kill them again and again.” You remember being trained by this man when you were young, but now that he has fallen off the wagon, he will not be as deadly as you know he can be.
Metal shrieking emanates from the last portcullis as the bars begin to fail. Bodies of orcs push against the grill being pushed from behind. You think the portcullis is done and the onslaught will soon start. The wind turns pushing the heat of the burning trees away from you providing a bit of calm before the storm. Prepare yourselves to start the climax of the Battle of Bloodmarch Hill.
Mohs joins Nerek behind the barricade.
"Nerek, did you master the falling stones spell Agrit tried to beat into our heads 5-years ago? This seems like the time."
He plants his feet and goes over the arcane words and gestures in his head in preparation for unleashing arcane doom on the orcs beyond the gate.
Arlan draws another vial from his belt and drinks it, letting out a loud belch and throwing the empty glass in the direction of the orcs.
Looks like some of Rabus' good stuff escaped at least, he says, pointing to Frum.
Speaking of--what did y'all find in the Killin' Ground? Rabus and the others make it out alright?
Varin leaned against the large boulder, continuing to stare down at the Orc hordes below. "Slaughtered to the man. Rabus managed to survive, by luck. He should be over the barrier by now and behind the walls, safe.Though not for long if those bastards have anything to say about it." His voice betrayed no emotion, his eyes were dead and cold as he surveyed the horde. "Speaking of Rabus..." Varin pulled the bag of vials from his waist, "anyone know what these do?"
"I need someone to spark up this boulder as I roll it. I don't have any way of making fire right now!"
"We got two wizards, Rin, ask them about fire! Speaking of fire, any of you got a fireball? I can hear these a!~@!!~s begging for one, I speak orc.", shouts Lys, turning towards the wizards. "If you're not busy, you can toss me one of the spears as well, would you? And a cold beer, if you can find one.", she says, grinning at Varin.
She then runs towards the Patrol Sergeant, holding her crossbow in the air. "Sergeant! Come here!", she waves over to the man. I know some people say bardic music makes you better, but...Frum is definitely NOT a bard... "If you come to the barricades and reload my crossbows, you get a round or seven after!", she says, pointing towards The Messenger. "You know how to reload one of them?"
Wulfrum looked over at Varin and laughed before reaching in his pouch and pulling out his pipe. He tossed the boy it and the tobacco he had gotten for him. "Fill it up, I'll light it...then just drop the hot tobacco on it and it should do the rest" he said waiting for him to stuff it before using Spark on the tobacco.
Varin hefted the spear and launched it high, so it turned sharply and plummeted straight down, to stick in to the ground beside Lys, point down, buried a good foot and a half in to the dirt. "Afraid we are out of beer!"
Varin grinned and caught the pipe and Tobacco, filling the pipe with a practiced thumb, before holding it up towards Wulf. When the pipe sparked, Varin began to draw merrily on the sweet pungent smoke, smiling. "Oh aye! That hits the spot!" He grinned, exhaling a little cloud of smoke. "Thank ye kindly old man, I'll make sure you get both back at the end!" He slipped the pouch in to his beltpouch and cinched it tight.
Beltzer stays put having almost regained his breath.
"That.. is a lot of green" He says as Lys passes by infront of him he lightly taps her shoulder healing her.
"Certainty of death" Beltzer loosens himself up as he hefts his sword. "Small chance of success" He touches his hopeknife. "What are we waiting for?" He braces himself for the oncoming horde of orcs that were barreling past the portcullis.
Nerak addresses each in turn.
"Mohs, unless you want to be buried under some logs I suggest you get behind the barricade. As for the stone spell, I have it but I rather make use of it after the logs do their work and the orcs breach the first barricade. Otherwise it's going to be a waste in my opinion and would be more useful to slow them down as they make for the second. But feel free to use yours."
Turning to Varin.
"Don't drop it on them before they get pass the first barricade or your just going to make a door for them. Flaming or otherwise it's not going to get a lot of them unless their all in a straight line. So wait for the right time to use it. If you would."
Lorn gives Varin the sign once more that he is watching him, from atop Nerak's head. Nerak gave his advice and suggestions, it was up to others to follow them or not. But keeping the battlefield in mind and good tactics as well as timing played a major part. History was proof of that. Orcs were short sighted and narrow minded in battle, their home stood because they were not. He was not going to fight orcs like an orc. Tactics overcame numbers and hasty actions fell prey to calm choices. Even if his legs were slightly shaky, he was a wizard not a damn monk after all.
He moved up against the second barricade to quickly get over it if needed. Otherwise he kept his crossbow ready as well as his spells for the coming battle.
Mohs joins Nerek behind the barricade. "Nerek, did you master the falling stones spell Agrit tried to beat into our heads 5-years ago? This seems like the time." He plants his feet and goes over the arcane words and gestures in his head in preparation for unleashing arcane doom on the orcs beyond the gate.
Arlan draws another vial from his belt and drinks it, letting out a loud belch and throwing the empty glass in the direction of the orcs. "Looks like some of Rabus' good stuff escaped at least," he says, pointing to Frum. "Speaking of--what did y'all find in the Killin' Ground? Rabus and the others make it out alright?"
Varin leaned against the large boulder, continuing to stare down at the Orc hordes below. "Slaughtered to the man. Rabus managed to survive, by luck. He should be over the barrier by now and behind the walls, safe. Though not for long if those bastards have anything to say about it." His voice betrayed no emotion, his eyes were dead and cold as he surveyed the horde. "Speaking of Rabus..." Varin pulled the bag of vials from his waist, "anyone know what these do? I need someone to spark up this boulder as I roll it. I don't have any way of making fire right now!"
"We got two wizards, Rin, ask them about fire! Speaking of fire, any of you got a fireball? I can hear these a%++&!#s begging for one, I speak orc.", shouts Lys, turning towards the wizards. "If you're not busy, you can toss me one of the spears as well, would you? And a cold beer, if you can find one.", she says, grinning at Varin. She then runs towards the Patrol Sergeant, holding her crossbow in the air. "Sergeant! Come here!", she waves over to the man. I know some people say bardic music makes you better, but...Frum is definitely NOT a bard... "If you come to the barricades and reload my crossbows, you get a round or seven after!", she says, pointing towards The Messenger. "You know how to reload one of them?"
Wulfrum looked over at Varin and laughed before reaching in his pouch and pulling out his pipe. He tossed the boy it and the tobacco he had gotten for him. "Fill it up, I'll light it...then just drop the hot tobacco on it and it should do the rest" he said waiting for him to stuff it before using Spark on the tobacco.
Varin hefted the spear and launched it high, so it turned sharply and plummeted straight down, to stick in to the ground beside Lys, point down, buried a good foot and a half in to the dirt. "Afraid we are out of beer." Varin grinned and caught the pipe and Tobacco, filling the pipe with a practiced thumb, before holding it up towards Wulf. When the pipe sparked, Varin began to draw merrily on the sweet pungent smoke, smiling. "Oh aye! That hits the spot!" He grinned, exhaling a little cloud of smoke. "Thank ye kindly old man, I'll make sure you get both back at the end!" He slipped the pouch in to his beltpouch and cinched it tight.
Beltzer stays put having almost regained his breath. "That... is a lot of green." He says as Lys passes by in front of him he lightly taps her shoulder healing her. "Certainty of death," Beltzer loosens himself up as he hefts his sword. "Small chance of success." He touches his hopeknife. "What are we waiting for?" He braces himself for the oncoming horde of orcs that were barreling past the portcullis.
Nerak addresses each in turn. "Mohs, unless you want to be buried under some logs I suggest you get behind the barricade. As for the stone spell, I have it but I rather make use of it after the logs do their work and the orcs breach the first barricade. Otherwise it's going to be a waste in my opinion and would be more useful to slow them down as they make for the second. But feel free to use yours." Turning to Varin. "Don't drop it on them before they get pass the first barricade or you’re just going to make a door for them. Flaming or otherwise it's not going to get a lot of them unless their all in a straight line. So wait for the right time to use it. If you would." Lorn gives Varin the sign once more that he is watching him, from atop Nerak's head. Nerak gave his advice and suggestions, it was up to others to follow them or not. But keeping the battlefield in mind and good tactics as well as timing played a major part. History was proof of that. Orcs were short sighted and narrow minded in battle, their home stood because they were not. He was not going to fight orcs like an orc. Tactics overcame numbers and hasty actions fell prey to calm choices. Even if his legs were slightly shaky, he was a wizard not a damn monk after all. He moved up against the second barricade to quickly get over it if needed. Otherwise he kept his crossbow ready as well as his spells for the coming battle.
Omast laughs at Lys, ”Reload your crossbow? How 'bout you hold my GREATsword, gurl?” The Patrol Sergeant continues to laugh maniacally.
With a mighty crash the portcullis finally yields releasing a mighty wave of orcs. The first eleven orcs charge up the hill heedless of the obvious defensive fortifications. All are armed with falchions and screaming to curdle the blood.
Varin leaned against the boulder, waiting for the opportune time to release the firey ball. He frowned, watching the oncoming Orcs intently.
He swore softly under his breath, he couldn't make out anythig in the press. He switched tactics, staring at the flow of the Orcs, taking what he knew about warfare in to account.
'Ah. Got it!' With a grin Varin took a last pull of the tobacco, working it in to hot cherries of ember, before dumping it on to the rock. He nursed the flame a little till the boulder began to smoke, before setting his heels and giving the boulder a hard shove.
Sergeant, clear your head! Arlan's voice booms over the sound of charging orcs. Drink's for after the fight. Now's the time for blood and steel!
As the first wave approaches their position, he rips his blade free of its scabbard and cuts the ropes holding the log, kicking it toward the intruders. Then, satisfied, he steps back to avoid being in the path of Varin's boulder.
Tipping her hat at the sergeant's reply, Lys shouts back with a grin, "Nice try, but I've seen you pissing out your pay behind the Ground, sarge! I thought I heard a pixie or two call it a decent-sized dagger, though!"
Lys looks at Wulfrum, shouting at him, "Schnitst du sie mit der Hoffnungmesser, Wulfy!", wary of the orcs understanding their tactics.
"Cut them free with the hopeknife, Wulfy!"
Afterwards, she opens fire on the charge leader, trying to hit the orc as quickly as possible.
Beltzer
Mohs
Nerak
Mohs watches the boulder rock, and the logs flicker aflame. His fingers itch with arcane potential, but wisdom and patience prevail.
Wulfrum grunts as he fumbles with the knots. He grunts as he hears Lys's response and looks over the logs "Wo glauben Sie, ich bin von Lass ... Ich bin kein Mutter" he said as he kept working on the logs.
"Where do you think I'm from Lass...I'm no native."
Beltzer helps to get the logs undone that are near him, if there is too it's not needed he'll get ready to defend himself.
As he cursed and spit trying to deal with the knots, he bent lower meaning to bite the damned knots and something jabbed him in the throat.
He could have accidentally kissed a donkey and not look more disgusted and surprised. He had gotten the thing and worked the sheath into his beard so long ago he had forgotten the thing existed.
He slipped his hand up under his beard and pulled the knife free and cut the bindings holding the logs.
Nerak chooses to modify the battlefield slightly rather then take direct action just yet. He briefly takes one hand away from his crossbow to send a number of lights to sprout among the enemie's territory.
”Sergeant, clear your head!” Arlan's voice booms over the sound of charging orcs. ”Drink's for after the fight. Now's the time for blood and steel!” As the first wave approaches their position, he rips his blade free of its scabbard and cuts the ropes holding the log, kicking it toward the intruders. Then, satisfied, he steps back to avoid being in the path of Varin's boulder.
Tipping her hat at the sergeant's reply, Lys shouts back with a grin, ”Nice try, but I've seen you pissing out your pay behind the Ground, sarge! I thought I heard a pixie or two call it a decent-sized dagger, though!” Lys looks at Wulfrum, shouting at him, ”Schnitst du sie mit der Hoffnungmesser, Wulfy!”, wary of the orcs understanding their tactics.
Wulfrum grunts as he fumbles with the knots. He grunts as he hears Lys's response and looks over the logs ”Wo glauben Sie, ich bin von Lass ... Ich bin kein Mutter!” he said as he kept working on the logs. As he cursed and spit trying to deal with the knots, he bent lower meaning to bite the damned knots and something jabbed him in the throat. He could have accidentally kissed a donkey and not look more disgusted and surprised. He had gotten the thing and worked the sheath into his beard so long ago he had forgotten the thing existed. He slipped his hand up under his beard and pulled the knife free and cut the bindings holding the logs.
Beltzer helps to get the logs undone that are near him, if there is too it's not needed he'll get ready to defend himself.
Varin leaned against the boulder, waiting for the opportune time to release the firey ball. He frowned, watching the oncoming Orcs intently. He swore softly under his breath, he couldn't make out anythig in the press. He switched tactics, staring at the flow of the Orcs, taking what he knew about warfare in to account. 'Ah. Got it!' With a grin Varin took a last pull of the tobacco, working it in to hot cherries of ember, before dumping it on to the rock. He nursed the flame a little till the boulder began to smoke, before setting his heels and giving the boulder a hard shove.
Mohs watches the boulder rock, and the logs flicker aflame. His fingers itch with arcane potential, but wisdom and patience prevail.
Nerak chooses to modify the battlefield slightly rather than take direct action just yet. He briefly takes one hand away from his crossbow to send a number of lights to sprout among the enemy’s territory.
After the two sets of rolling logs and flaming boulder crash through the wave of orcs, only two live on ferocity alone and lie prone groaning. They get up and continue their charge uphill.
Patrol Sergeant Omast smiles at the young pups' witty remarks and takes a shaky step back from a charging orc. His heavy crossbow weaves up and down as he attempts to aim at the orc in front of him, sometimes lining up Varin and Arlan. Finally, he lets fly. The heavy bolt thunks into the orc almost killing it. "Woo Hoo! Fish in a barrel!"
At the Western Gate, the boulder continues to burn and blocks most of the broken portcullis. No new orcs appear through the gap.
Seeing that the boulder has done its job, and blocked up most of the gate, Varin shouts over at the two frontliners, "Arlan, Wulfrum, press the gap. Get down there and make sure no one comes through that hole. I'll be there in a moment!" With a grim smile he side-stepped, imposing himself between the Orc and Nerak.
"Should have stayed down. I wouldn't have had to kill you then!"
With all of his might, he swung the heavy large hammer, hard toward the chest of the Orc.
Mohs watches the last few orcs of the flood stumble forward. A complex word and a simple gesture sends a splash of acid toward one of the stragglers to quicken its journey to its final reward.
You think I'm going to go stand over there with two uglies in your face?
Arlan asks, stepping up without waiting for a reply. He flips his sword and catches it, slashing in a single motion at the nearest orc. The brute then sends a kick at the orc's head for good measure.