GM WhtKnt's Into the Borderlands, Table 1 (Inactive)

Game Master WhtKnt

"I thought Orcs were big and tough? The Goblins we combated just the other day was more of an issue than these guys."

Ya'Bo goes over and picks over the burnt orc remains for anything useful for the group.

While the gnome exploree, Neil keeps an eye out. Could've sworn I heard more out there..

There is nothing of value among the burnt orcs. They wore hide armor (which is now burned in places) and carried spears. Neil watches the corridor to the west, wary of further attacks. About 10 feet down the western corridor, it intersects with a corridor from the north but opens into a larger room to the west.

"Quite a few less, and we got the jump on em," Ore points out as his breathing returns to normal.

"Let's not get cocky; there's surely more to follow. Shall we find them, then?"

Let's go in 'ere, Neil says, headed to the larger room.

Neil and Theo lead the way into the larger room, the others following in staggered fashion. This great hall is 30 feet wide by 50 feet long. Two passages exit the opposite wall, while another passage on the north wall slopes up and away from the chamber. A great fireplace is situated along the south wall, dimly glowing with burning embers. In the center of the room as several large tables and chairs, with one huge chair positioned at the head of the largest table.

Theo and Neil can hear noises from the two passages across the room; low voices and murmurs.

* BUMP *

Ya'Bo sneeks on up to the voices.
Stealth: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

Neil follows suit, hindered only by his old creaking bones.

Stealth: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (14) - 2 = 12

As they creep closer, Neil and Ya'Bo can tell that there are many voices in the darkness, but none seem to be aware of their presence. You would guess that there are at least a dozen or more orcs present, some male, and some female. You are now about 20 feet from the exits to the room and to get any closer would invite discovery.

From where he is standing, Neil can make out several orcs of both sexes.

Ya'Bo thinks about the if all orcs will fight or will some be non combatants.
History ?: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Ya'Bo signals to Neil to head back.

Stealth: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

When back (if he gets back) He tells the rest of the group what they found.

Neil tries follow suit.

Stealth: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (5) - 2 = 3

But his knee pops and an in-opportune monent.

"That might be a bit more than we want to deal with..." Ore replied in a whisper, before realizing since was missing still.
"...umm, where's Neil?" he asked?

Que the war-drums and chase scene.

Sorry, got behind with the holidays and car problems and am just catching up. Also, I have a replacement for Isandril, when we find an appropriate moment to introduce them.

As Neil's knee pops, the conversation in the next room dies down and three male orcs emerge to confront the dwarf! Only one is able to get within melee range on this turn. The orc stabs with its spear, managing to impale Neil in the side with a severe wound! Neil takes 9 points of damage.

Party is up!

INITIATIVE
Orcs
Party

I know Neil looks and sounds like one, but he's not actually a dwarf, he's human. :P

Yeeargh! Neil unintelligently exclaims.

As the orc stabs Neil, an electrical surge builds up from within him, following along the spear shaft and striking the orc.

Reaction to deal 2d8 lightning damage to an enemy to strikes me. Dex Save for half.

Lightning Damage: 2d8 ⇒ (4, 7) = 11

A light builds up in his hands, and he throws the sacred flame at the orc.

Action to cast Sacred Flame, Dex Save for all, 1d8 radiant damage.

Radiant Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 2

Then he smiles as a protective shimmering light goes up around his body.

Bonus Action to cast Sanctuary. Enemies must make a Will Save to attack him. On failure, they must pick a new target or lose the attack.

And lastly, Neil backs away from the orc as far as he can go.

Neil. You should be at 10/14 thanks to the Christmas Buff (See Discussion). Unless you were at 9 HP before your most recent spearing.[

Theo whispers a short prayer while using his free hand to trace the sigil around his neck.
.
.
Readied Spell - Bless: +1d4 on all attack and save rolls for 1 minute.
Targets: Ore, Morgan, Sand
Trigger: All three targets are between me and the Orcs

Just trying to get the most out of a single casting. No point wasting a turn getting into position

Ya'Bo moves his hand in a pattern and releases a spell. A ball of fire flies at an Orc.

Firebolt: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Fire Damage: 1d10 ⇒ 10
Crit hit
Crit Fire damage: 1d10 ⇒ 5

Then moves back

Morgan advances toward the Orcs, casting a spell on Neil as he goes.

Shield of Faith

Ore Dashed forward, getting a better look at the veritable army they faced in the process.

"Uhhh, better part of valor, guys?" he shouts, clearly questioning the wisdom of engaging another room full of foes

The orc yelps in pain as the electrical shock travels up its body. A half-second later, Neil's spell hits and it cries out again, burned by the sacred flame. Neil casts another spell and takes a step back. The orc attempts to hit the cleric as he moves back but hesitates due to Neil's spell.

Theo casts a blessing on his mates. As Morgan moves forward to engage and casts a spell of Neil, YaBo takes out one of the onrushing monsters with a bolt of flame! Ore hesitates and questions the wisdom of this decision. "I agree with Ore," Sand shouts, preparing a mage armor for himself. "Perhaps retreat would be a wiser option."

The orcs surge forward like an angry nest of wasps! Two move to attack Neil, but neither can get past the spell of sanctuary that surrounds him. Suddenly, from around the corner behind the party, another batch of orcs appears, hungry for blood! They attack Sand and YaBo. The attack misses the elf, but YaBo is hit and deeply stabbed by a spear! (YaBo takes 9 points of damage!)

The party is up!

Friends! I can clear our path of retreat if we are ready to move now!

Theo's speech pattern and pitch become drawn-out and shrill as he calls the names of his comrades; "Sssand, Ya'Bo!"

Readied Spell: Command: Mutiny/Rebel* [Wis Save 13]
Trigger: "Ready" signal from the group
*Theo will have to try to remember what languages the Ork's are likely to speak unless he heard them speaking common (or any language he knows these words in) earlier. In which case he'll just fall back on that. Nature/History: 1d20 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 2 + 4 = 17

I can occupy the Orks blocking our retreat by turning them on each other. They probably won't be able to kill one another in a single turn, but it basically gives us a free turn to move around them.

We just need something big to keep the rest of the Orks on the far side of the room for a turn or two. Ya'Bo and Sand have shown that their fire and illusions are perfect for the job. I trust you guys can pull something clever out of your sleeve.

Neil, on his retreat, grabs Yabo to carry him out. Clear the way and I'll heal him. Don't want him getting hit by no orc sword right away.

As Neil carries Ya'Bo down the hall.

"You know I can still run and fight. I took a hit but most of it was deflected. Let me down to help others so they can live as well."

When he is put down Ya'Bo casts a spell that worked before. And a large lion forms.

Had 7 temp hit points, so now I am at 7 hp. Just lost 2 hp from that hit.

Awesome! I missed the temp HP. We can just retcon that action and just flee. :)

Neil, on his retreat

Seeing the retreat underway, Theo takes action. He gazes overtop Ya'Bo's diminutive form and locks eyes with the Ork blocking their retreat. With a breath, Theo rends autonomy from the creature's grasp, conscribing it to his whims. "Defect"

Readied Spell: Command: Mutiny/Rebel* [Wis Save 13]

Trigger: "Ready" signal from the group
*Theo will have to try to remember what languages the Ork's are likely to speak unless he heard them speaking common (or any language he knows these words in) earlier. In which case he'll just fall back on that. Nature/History: 1d20 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 2 + 4 = 17

Yeah...If we could just retcon that Command word to "Defect", that'd be great. officespace.jpg

I need him "non-hostile", not berzerk. Or we can't get around him. He's gotta be "on our team", so to say.

Morgan? Ore? What say you?

Happy to see his retreat idea taking hold, Ore dashes out back the way he came in. (Provoking if otherwise unavoidable)

Morgan makes his way toward the exit. "Fall back then, get behind me."

Action: Dodge. Forgot which way is out so I'll leave moving the icon to someone else.

Ya'Bo Disengages as well to make it to the exit.

"Ok I was wrong, Orcs can be tough."

Neil take sup the rear, hoping his sanctuary spell will protect them from any orcs following.

With the orc's defection, Morgan is able to lead the group out of the cave with minimal trouble. The orcs seem hesitant to come out into the sunlight.

Combat over.

Whew! That was close, eh? Don't think we oughta go in there again.

Ya'Bo marks on his hand drawn map Need army for this one or learn fireball spell.

"Shall we investigate another cave?"

How about Cave 'A'?
Map of caves

I'm down for A

"I'm game. Hopefully less of them there... That could've been bad. Lucky for us they didn't follow—for whatever reason...."

Outside, you are startled to find yet another lost soul wandering the caverns area...

Psst! Atlas, that's you!

Outside stands a large man, bedecked in heavy double-chain mail. A massive two-handed sword rides easily on his back, and he stands unmoving, as if in purposeful waiting.

"Greetings," he bellows as the group appears again in the warm rays of the sun. "I am Brother Aterro Dominatus, WarCleric of Torm, the Protector of the Gate and Emperor of Mankind. I have been sent by my brothers in the Order of the White Angel to investigate activities of dangerous creatures that fall outside the normal order of things.

I am told that others have a head start in this arena. I trust that is you?"

He peers behind you, as if trying to look in to the cave you've just came from. "You do not have the swagger of a conquering army. If I did not know better, I'd say you were in retreat. Is this an accurate assesment?

And if that is so, might I suggest that we...once more unto the breech go?"

His heavy gauntlets of STEEL clench as if in anticipation of GLORIOUS COMBAT.

Turning to Neil
"Friend of yours?"

Looking back to the newcomer

"I call this more of a tactical withdraw. The numbers are like 5 to 1. So we are going to look for easier picking. But you are more than welcome to go after all those Orcs on your own if you want."

Ya'Bo walks on past and heads for cave "A".

Neil gives a sidelong glance to Ya'bo. Look, son. Just because that a#!*+#% saw fit to bless me with his Deeviine Powwers, that last part emphasized with sarcasm, don't mean I know every damned god-botherer in the country. Naw, I ain't seen 'im before in my life.

Turning to the walking piece of armor, Neil says, If'n you crazy enough to join us in the DESTRUCTION of them there mosnters, then you is welcome to join.

Neil's accent is that of an uneducated commoner, and he seems to be not, strictly speaking, entirely sane.

"... Don't listen to them, you and that sword are more than welcome here friend. I'm Ore, and I assure you I've plenty of swagger." says the halfling with a jovial smile and a friendly air as he shakes his head at his compatriots.

"Well, I suppose Neil's right about the destruction bit. But he tends to, erm, 'ramble' sometimes and it's best to just let him at it. Come along then! "

Ore starts off after Ya'Bo, yelling to the wizard to be nicer to strangers...

For a moment the WarCleric takes no notice that he's been addressed, but then suddenly his stone face splits into a grin. "Ha! Greetings to you StormCleric!" he says jovially, shaking Neil's hand warmly. "You have the look of the storm-touched if ever I saw one, or I don't know which end of a sword to hold! StormCleric Arryn was ever a friend to me, so I know of those called such and your...tumultuous ways."

He also nods at Ore in welcome. "And greetings to, halfling Ore. Worry not, if there is destruction to be done, well, we all know that All Souls Cry Out For Salvation."

Looking over the War Cleric, Morgan extends a hand. "A pleasure to meet you Aterro, it's quite fortunate that you're here. Some of these caves are quite dangerous."

Neil spits on the ground at the mention of a title. StormCleric. Bah! Talos is a f&!&ing a#@#&%+, thru and thru, and I ain't no cleric of his. Ifn he wants me to have this power, then I'm going to dang well use it to my own ends. And I choose to use it to e-radicate the filth from this land so the proper races can fluorish.

The downside of intentionally misspelling words to make my PC feel more uneducated is that I'm killing my auto-correct on my phone. :/

Aterro shakes Morgan's hand in respect, the relationship between Paladin and WarCleric ever a parallel one. "Indeed. The Order of the White Angel is not sent to drink tea with pinky extended. The would only send a WarCleric if the situation was thought to periless for anyone less."

As Neil seems to chaff at his role, Aterro can't help but smile. "HA! Yes, you eradicate the filth from the land by lightning and storm. So what if you don't give praise to Talos with every other breath?
The hammer wants to pound the nail, but if it refuses to praise me, does that not still make it the best tool for the job?

So too, you have heavy armor and a shield. Does that not mean you are meant to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with me in the van, bringing GLORIOUS COMBAT to our foes?"

And I choose to use it to e-radicate the filth from this land so the proper races can fluorish.

So...am I the only one who thinks this comes off a little Final Solution-y. I mean, I guess he didn't call us the "superior" races. XD

-----

Theo stands a bit away from the group listening to the newcomer make his greetings. He gives the man a once over with a discerning yet passive gaze.

The man has a clear aura of the divine-touched. And his sheer presence defies all around him to challenge his might. At first, it reminded him of Neil, but no, that's not quite right. This man's lust for battle isn't fueled by rage or loss but by pride and valor. He seeks to prove his medal in the fires of War; either for his own sake or to prove his devotion to the divine.

Lost in thought for a moment, Theo is jarred back to reality when the newcomer flippantly, and yet oh so aptly, describes Neil as a hammer raging against its owner. Theo can't fully suppress his chuckle.

"By the nightmares of the Far Realm. That's a sharp wit you have there, friend!" Theo says with an arrogant smirk and a sideways glance at Neil. The Half Elf extends his hand in greetings.

Ya'Bo turns around and crosses his arms when he realizes no one is coming with him to the next cave.

"So does everyone want to go back in and try and fight the orcs. Or go and check out the cave right over there?" pointing to the other cave (A).

"It's to early to go back to the keep being light on the coin side. But I have a great idea. We can go to that ex-Ogre cave and Ore there can show the new guy his pet black bear. Then if the orcs do come out and track us they will think we went in to the Ogre's cave. We then can come out on the goblin's side and cover our prints to the next cave. If we are lucky the Orcs will think that we went in and never came out."

Aterro takes up Ya'Bo's first statement, and raised his White Fist of Torm in agreement. "Yes! Yes, THAT is the fighting spirit that I have heard so much about. Friend Ya'Bo, let us all once more unto the breech go, good friends, and show those COWERING HORDES," he shouts at the cave, "that WE are men made of sterner metal!" Yes, I know that's not the right word. I'm building a theme here. ^_^

He approaches Ta'Bo and holds out his white right gauntlet in a sign of brotherhood. "I am at full health, and thine brothers surge full of martial power. Come, let us all back together and be warriors--

--Warriors of the World."

Taking Aterro's hand in friendship
"I would be happy to fallow you into one of the caves at a safe distance, so you can swing that sword of your with out fear of hitting me."

Ya'bo then walks over to Ore and whispers "And he can get pounced on while I run away to have a hot meal and a stiff drink the next day."

"Primo Victoria!" Aterro yells, clenching his white fist in enthusiasm.
He draws his sword and holds it aloft. "Let us show our enemies that they can not stand before our STEEL!"

WhtKnt, I believe the plan is to take a short rest, and then head back to the orc cave.