”I understand being suspicious out in this mess. I know it’s being forward, but you think I could tag along with your group for a bit? Not a full member until I prove myself of course, but I don’t fancy running into trouble out here all by my lonesome. I can still cast some spells, identify magic, and I have a bit of knowledge about a few boring, bookish topics I could share.”
The morose halfling who has been silent until now steps out in front, "Amyia, I am Falric Dawnstriker. In our quest to find a legendary druids' Vault of treasures, we have lost a dear friend of ours, whom we have just buried. Her name was Elisen and like you, she was a purveyor of the arcane arts. Perhaps it is Desna herself who has connected our paths in such a manner at the most opportune time. We are on our way from this dreadful swamp to a fort to take out a tribe of orcs and giants. If Morti vouches for your skill, that is enough for me. Game for killing some evil folk who are harassing a village of noble humans? You can lend us your arcane support and your knowledge of magic would be invaluable in our current quest. What say ye?"
Amyia smiles broadly. ”If you’ll have me, I say we help each other. If we get along, much the better...if not, we can part ways as friends with no harm done.”
"And obviously, you will receive your fair share of any treasure found. Great. Let us be on our way then, I tire of this swamp. It reminds me too much of our loss." Falric says one last prayer over Elisen's burial mound, "See you in the next life."
"Aye, yer welcome ta join us for the now. Safety in numbers, ta be sure - th' luck o' Desna may have gotten ye this far, but sometimes ye need more than luck. ...Even if that means gettin' on a boat."
Morti will also suggest Amyia take a look at the unidentified items from the stash.
"Bloody guid timin' is wha' it is, tha's fer shure. If'n it's Desna behin' it, I may haveta hae a chat with Torag abou' 'er." Barundar comments, huffing out a breath. "Now if she'll keep us safe 'til we ge' tae tha boat."
With the party healed and with its new treasures, you return to Bloodtusk’s keelboat, which is waiting for you at the riverbank. By the time you get back, Captain Raag Bloodtusk has recovered from his poisoning and welcomes you and your new recruit on board. He pilots the boat the rest of the way to Redlake Fort, continuing upstream along the River Esk for another 50 miles. Fortunately, Bloodtusk has negotiated safe passage with the orc tribes along the river, and the boat is able to make the journey unmolested.
On the 5th day of the boat ride, he drops you off the southern bank of the river. He tells you Redlake Fort lies about 10 miles to the west, along a small tributary that feeds into the Esk. He apologizes that he cannot take you closer for fear of retaliation.
”Now, what’s the story with this fort again? What are you expecting to find there?”
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"We're helping the Council of Defenders from Trunau, a human settlement nearby. We staved off an attack from the Twisted Nail orc tribe recently. The Council is concerned there may be another attack on the town ordered by Grenseldek, the hill giant chieftain of the tribe. So they sent us to deal with them. Their lair is an abandoned outpost near the River Esk called Redlake Fort. We also have a map that shows us a hidden entrance into the fort through a sewer tunnel that a nice paladin named Calrianne, whose life we saved, gave us."
"She told us the following:
"By the gods...My ancestor, a man named Fabian Blix, was Redlake fort’s cleric. He died during the final siege of the fort, but one of his sons, my great-grandfather Carter, escaped through a hidden sewer tunnel. You don't know how many times I heard that story as a child. It's like second nature to me." She points to the water entry on the left side of the map. "I believe that is the tunnel he used and I think it is submerged. I think this will help your assault. And if you are successful, I'd be interested in knowing of of my ancestor Fabian’s fate, should you find any noteworthy documents."
"Aye - this Grenseldek seems ta have brought tagether orcs, giants, an' trolls an' managed ta impress some military order in 'em. Truly a frightenin' prospect even if it were 'er end goal -- but it's only a step towards some bigger plan, which ye can only imagine would be even worse!
"We're ta both stop any immediate threat, plus see what we can find about 'er plans, and try ta beat 'er to some artifact or another."
Morti pauses. "...Ah admit it seems reckless an' crazy when ah say it out loud, breakin' into a giant chief's fortress teemin' with beasties. Ye're welcome ta come with us if it some'ow sounds like a good idea ta ye, but otherwise Cap'n Bloodtusk an' 'is crew can deliver ye safe back ta Trunau, an' ye can continue yer travels from there. Lovely ta run into ye again, though."
The wizard remains silent for a few seconds. ”That’s quite a task you’ve taken upon yourselves. Are you sure you couldn’t find two or three dragons along the way to challenge to a duel,” she says with a nervous laugh. She didn’t have any real other plans, and she kind of liked having people to talk with again.
Har! After takin' oan tha' hag an' gettin' beat bloodeh by 'er, I think I migh' be damn happy tae hae a straight-up fight with a fire-breather!" the dwarf answers, only half joking. "A wee one, though." he adds quickly.
"Aye, an' Falric there would probably be tryna ride the dragon inside o' a few heartbeats! ....But aye, ye grasp what we're up against.
"Mostly by merit o' happenin' ta be in Trunau when the orcs attacked. Havin' come this far, though, I don' feel I can back down on the good folk o' Trunau at this point!" Besides which -- it's not like I have appealing options waiting for me elsewhere. May as well make the most of this and have something to bring back to the family.
At 20' speed overland route, you can cover 16 miles in 8 hours of travel so it will take you about 5 hours to reach the fort. If you have any hour per level spell buffs, I will assume you place them on now. You begin your trek through the countryside toward Redlake Fort. Four hours into your travel, as you ponder stopping for lunch, Morti and Falric's keen eyes pick out a not very discrete patrol consisting of four orcs wielding falchions walking in front of a hunched giant who exudes power and a crude, stupid anger, its filthy fur clothing bespeaking a brutish and backwoods lifestyle. You immediately recognize the creature as a hill giant. It wields a greatclub and carries a satchel of rocks slung across its chest.
The patrol is approaching your location. You can hide behind some rocks or trees (stealth), try to ambush the patrol (stealth or group stealth - average of your stealth scores), or do something else. You have about 3 rounds before they reach your location.
Morti offers a quick assessment for the other "Four orc an' a hill giant ahead -- can't be up to any good! Let 'em pass an' ambush from behind so they can't report back?"
Unless objections or another plan, Morti will quickly move off the trail to hide in ambush and prepare --
round 1:
round 2: shield of faith
round 3: wrath
The Mage indeed took the opportunity to cast Mage Armor on herself as the group ventured out into the Wild.
In the round spent preparing for the scouting party, Amyia casts Human Potential on her friend Morti, granting him a +2 enhancement bonus to his Strength.
Falric appears from Vanish and stabs one of the orcs with his flaming scimitar!
Amyia casts Haste on the group.
With the benefit of the Haste spell in place, Barundar gives a loud shout of,"I'm bowlin' fer orc noggins!" as he charges into the fray, letting the chain on his dorn dergar out to its full 10' length as he swings the weapon around at the nearest orc in the group!
Morti follows Bar into the fray, taking aim at the hill giant!
Falric and Barundar stagger their orc foes, who remain standing solely due to their ferocity racial traits. Morti lands a powerful blow on the hill giant, as his hammer bashes the giant's shin!
Falric attacks #3 and #4 fighting defensively, trying to stagger all of them with his sneak attack!
Round 1: Hill Giant
As Falric goes about burning and nearly disemboweling the orcs, the wounded hill giant's enmity is clear when she sees the two dwarves pop out of the woods and ambush her patrol! She grips her greatclub and tries to bring it down on Morti's head! The dwarf's years of training against giants pays off as the inquisitor anticipates every swing and attack and dodges both blows! The hill giant screams in frustration!
Morti roars back at the giant, somewhat enjoying a straightforward fight after the wisps and hags and plants and sundry other weirdness of recent days. He swings again while skirting around the giant to offer his companions a stab at her back!
The mage’s Hand quickly went to her component pouch. She muttered a few words, and the giant’s club was suddenly covered with a viscous fluid, making it hard to grip.
The hill giant firmly grips his club and does not let it drop to the ground.
Morti's warhammer slams into the hill giant's leg and bones break, as the giant screams in pain.
Round 1: Staggered Orcs
Orcs 1,3, and 4 attack the cagey halfling, while Orc 2 attacks Barundar.
Barundar begins his work of finishing off the orc in front of him!
...and with that one felled, he takes a step toward the next nearest threat.
Falric attacks the two orcs flanking him!
Orc 2 dies in a bloody mess as Bar's dwarven ball and chain caves in his chest cavity! He moves forward and kills Orc 1 as well! Meanwhile, Falric's flaming blade dances and kills Orcs 3 and 4!
Round 2: Hill Giant
Seeing her orcish allies fall gives the wounded giant pause, as she grips her club 2-haned and tries to quickly end Morti's life! She pounds on the inquisitor twice, bloodying her club as Morti is unprepared for the giant's wrath and he falls under her blows ()! She then moves 5' west, forcing the party to come into her reach!
The wizard casts a spell and three tiny force missiles erupt from her hands, striking the giant full force in the chest.
Magic missile
Realizing a split second too late that his confidence is overblown, Morti attempts to dodge out of the way of the giant's blows -- but manages only to take the hits to his ribs instead of his skull, and collapses before the monster!
Bar moves to within 10' of the giant and using his weapon with reach attacks!
Seeing the hill giant wounded and realizing that the party needs intel, a hasted Falric moves around the giant to her back in order to flank with Bar. He moves in and attacks and strikes at her backside no longer fighting defensively with the flat of his blade trying not to kill her.
Falric takes a vicious hit for his effort, but the bloodied halfing stabs and burns the giant, till the point she passes out from the pain.
Once the giant falls, Falric runs over to Morti and casts Cure Light Wounds on the dwarf. "Stay with us, big guy!"
Morti sits up with a grunt. "Next time ah think ahm gonna try *not* gettin' whacked by th' giant," he observes, prodding his ribs and wincing before applying some healing magic of his own.
"Looks like ye could use a lil' o' this yerself?" he offers, seeing Falric favoring a leg.
"Now, did y'all search these types ta figure out what they were up to, or leave that task for me?"
"I ain't nae guid at tha searchin' an' findin'. I'll leave tha' tae them wit' better peepers."
On the hill giant, you find:
Hide armor, greatclub, and a tanglefoot bag.
On the four orcs you find a total of:
studded leather (x4), falchion (x4), javelins (16), gp