Rurik moves back to Hess, he points to his mouth then down the hall back the way they came in.
Brunhild walked in, shield and hammer at the ready. Weeks of guard duty with nothing to show for it was grating on her nerves. She had left her home for this?! While her job was done, these people were likely risking her lives. Curiosity, boredom, and a nagging feeling that they needed help all contributed to her going in.
”Hello...?” she said as she walked through the door.
"Who are you?" asked Shianni of the newcomer.
”Caravan Guard...well, that’s m’job. But I’m a Cleric, of Moradin, ye ken?” She held up her holy symbol. ”Saw ye lot come in. Seemed like ye could use some help...?”
"Carmycal, Landau Carmycal. That's my name." Landau Carmycal’s long straight black hair avoids his obvious Elven ears. A trimmed black goatee shows his Human heritage. A leather case covering an obvious lute and backpack slung over his shoulders announce his bardic profession. Common clothes and leather armor suggest a lack of prosperity. A rapier and a dagger ornament his belt, which only means that he can afford weapons. Landau has an easy, rakish smile and a thin, lanky build of someone who is a stranger to physical effort.
He had followed Brunhild to cave. The half-elf had kept to himself during the caravan trip. But, when he heard that he was close to the keep AND saw the caravan guard hike towards those entering a cave in the hills, he saw an opportunity.
"So, whacha doin'?" The half-elf asks.
Hess is a bit startled at the unexpected intrusion on the raid, but after seeing that these new arrivals are probably allies and not here to add to the challenge, pulls them aside to explain the situation.
"Welcome I'm Hess. Unfortunately I feel that instead of a friendly chat over some wine, your first experience with us might end in blood and gore. Hess takes a minute to point out some of the blood stains on his friends armor.
"Just on the other side of that door are some voices speaking in the tongue of the Orcs and planning a raid on a caravan. We're just about to intrude upon their planning session with extreme prejudice. Others of their clan have killed members of our party, and we are not in the mood to provide mercy".
”Let’s get to it then. Forge-Father, Bless bless us!”
"Right. Sounds like I'm in the right place then." The half-elf comments and unsheathes his rapier and dagger.
"So, who's opening the door?"
Hoddy looks over the newcomers with a gimlet eye. Just appearing at a time when needed struck him as perhaps too convenient, but strangers things have happened in his long life.
"Hoddy Fonkin, hunter, tracker and adventurer. Please to have your acquaintance."
"Pleasure to meet you, Hoddy," Landau appreciates polite people.
"Shianni." offers the Elven woman by way of introduction.
"Pleasure M'am. Now let's get this door open, shall we!"
The gnome moves forward and opens the portal.
"Thank you Brunhild"
The fighter readies himself to move past Hoddy once the door is open and set himself as a barrier.
Wiping his hands on his leggings to clean off the nervous sweat, Hess follows Ruik in ready to blast or slice anything that might be present.
Assuming the large Orc has ill intent, and is not simply offering treats to his visitors, Hess shoots off an Eldritch blast at their new foe.
EB
Damage
Landau announces in orcish, "Hello, is everyone alright in there? Someone said you were planning to raid a caravan. I don't believe them, but you can prove them wrong."
Quiet beast.
The warrior brings his hammer on the collar bone of the orc not giving it a chance to make a move.
Shianni summons fire, which she flings at the Orc.
In the moments as the Orc falls Rurik turns to look at Landau. "for the record, I was not to you."
Hoddy continues to keep a watch on the group and slowly enters the room and takes a position clear of the others so his aim will not become fouled.
"So, we're killing orcs for being orcs. Hope they are not one of nice clans of merchant orcs." The half-elf opines waiting for someone else to lead.
"In fact Landau, we are killing Orcs for defending their home. But the local lord has charged us with ridding his lands of them. he sighs. "Apologies, I really only know about killing."
"These Orcs have been raiding caravans and killing people for a while now. They have made it clear that they are not interested in parlay."
Hess sneaks up to the corner, and peers around it.
Stealth
"So, the local lord has convicted these orcs of raiding caravans and killing people, and you have the warrant to execute high justice. Sounds good to me. Who's the local lord?" Laudau replies.
He nods and readies to slaughter orcs.
Brunhild shook her head. ”Killings orcs never needs to be explained. Anyone who says different should try living in the north. The land is littered with the ruins of peaceful settlements that fell to their Scourge.”
"So sayeth a dwarf. You've never heard of merchant orcs? They ride purple unicorns and traffic in rainbows. But, they could exist, no?" The half-elf budding comedian continues. "Does anyone speak orc? Is everyone comfortable killing defenseless female and baby orcs? Because, they produce more murdering orcs?"
"Hey you (Hess), do you see anything?"
”Yes.” Brunhild said dryly. ”I am. Ever heard of Dorn’s Deep? Probably not. My clan was originally from there. Not any more. The orc hordes swept through. Orc babies make more orcs. Killing an orc is no different than killing any other dangerous animal.”
Hess carefully withdraws and explains what he sees to the others in a quiet voice. "There is a single female orc in the next room trying to hide behind a bed, and a corridor that seems to lead to a larger room".
”I’ll make it quick.” With hammer in hand the dwarf walked over to the orc with purpose.
"I speak the tongue of the orc. Da ye want me ta call to it?"
The gnome moves to the front of the group and looks into the room.
|
Brunhild walks down the corridor towards the female orc. As she enters the room, she spots another, larger orc (a male) standing against the south wall of the room. He carries a longsword and a handaxe and wears plate armor. As the female orc spots Brunhild, she draws a morning star from her belt and the pair ready for combat.
The room is 25 feet from north to south, and about 20 feet wide. Brunhild is currently standing about 10 feet from the female (against the west wall) and 15 feet from the male (which is against the south wall).
The orcs have the initiative. The male almost immediately hurls its handaxe at Brunhild. The throw is ill-timed and misses the dwarf, chipping away a part of the north wall of the cavern. The female wastes no time in closing for melee, swinging the morning star in a deadly arc! The weapon impacts with Brunhild's armor, leaving a nasty bruise that is felt even through the protection!
”See?! Kill them all!”
She returned the blow, giving just as much damage as she received.
Hess eyes the brute in the back of the room, thinking that he should try to soften him up a bit before he reaches up-close combat.
Eldritch aim
Eldritch Ouch!
But finds the unexpected movement, and chaos cause him to send his bolt astray.
"RATS"!
"Well, they are just defending themselves from certain death." Landau continues his orcish advocacy.
He moves into the room to join the melee with Brunhild against the unarmored female orc.
Hoddy takes aim at the male and fires
Attack:
Damage:
Shianni calls upon her druidic magic to hurl a ball of fire at the orc.
|
|
Hoddy, Shianni, and Hess all make ranged attacks, but all miss the target. The quarters are very close, but Rurik manages to squeeze in enough to get a melee attack in, but also misses. (There is enough space for one more person to close for melee).
The orc returns Rurik's attack with a deadly slash from its longsword, the savage attack cutting the dwarf deeply along his left cheek.
”Forgefather! Turn your gaze and judge!” Brunhild brought her hammer down on the orc, dealing a grievous blow. As she did so the hammer glowed brightly, causing Rurik’s wounds to heal.
Hoddy tries again, this time remembering the inspiring words Landau had given him earlier.
Attack:
Damage:
Landau shifts over to the plate armored orc hoping that it will target one of his new companions instead of himself.
Shianni again throws fire at the remaining enemy.