I'll do it... Clean one up for me. Newt's more useful unencumbered.
Yes east..unless any of you see tracks heading in one of the directions?
As soon as Newt moves down that passage Casimir will slowly move up to th intersection to cover him with his bow.
Bowen stands further back as suggested by Mischa, so as not to betray their position with the light source.
After hearing east newt begins to head in that direction, Casimir taking up a position at the intersection. As Newt moves further he stops for a second as he hears a chain rattle in the darkness ahead. He slowly draws his crossbow out and loads a bolt in it. Motioning back for Casimir to be ready before continuing. Pointing at the noble that he believes something lies ahead. Waiting for instructions to proceed he now waits, weapon at the ready.
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Current Location: The Ogre Cave: Storeroom Time: 12:39 pm
Bec follows Casimir, doing his best to move quietly behind him.
He moves to F8
The man stands his ground, somewhat unsure of what to do next, and firmly grasping his bow - Much use you are Bowen, in a corner grabbing the light - he ponders.
Anya moves into the storage room.
As the group steps up and readies, Newt makes his way forward to the east, toward the sound of the chain rattling.
Newt stops after a few more feet and points back to Casimir and then down to a tripwire stretched across the passage. The tripwire leads to a shelf support positioned about 10 feet up on the north wall. Balanced on this shelf are five heavy logs, with crude wooden spikes driven into their surfaces. A gray canvas conceals the whole apparatus.
Newt then draws a line across his throat to show that the rest will need to avoid this. As he continues further a growl as if that of a large dog can be heard from just off in the darkness. The growl is constant and low pitched as if to warn off any further advancement.
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Current Location: The Ogre Cave: Log Dead-fall Trap Time: 12:40 pm
Hmmmm, maybe a guard dog...for prisoners? Can any of you do something...maybe convince it we are its friends? Anything in those supplies we can use...
Bowen, you have a way with animals. Perhaps you could convince it that we are friends
Newt motions to Casimir that he will hold his position until someone can come up with more light and maybe some ability to handle an animal, he does not want to proceed any further until he can see what is ahead. Don't want to walk into a pack of angry dogs do we.
He also will point again at the tripwire, just in case anyone has forgotten.
He then perks his ear up to listen at the growl and see if he can determine what kind of animal it really is. Then he realizes that he doesn't have any knowledge of nature. He has never been around animals or dogs and he has been confined to his workshop for so many years. He just really doesn't get out much anymore.
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Current Location: The Ogre Cave: Log Dead-fall Trap Time: 12:40 pm
Nodding at Mischa's words, Bowe swaps the bow with his axe, inching forward, and trying to see what is producing the growling sounds.
Bowen comes up to just beside Newt, his light source none the better than Newts own. Bowen steps in front of Newt to try and get a better view. Just at the edge of his vision in the low light he can see what looks like straw scattered on the floor. He squints to peer into the low light and then he sees it.
As the corridor winds to the south, you are confronted by a stocky gray and tan wolf, apparently slumbering in an alcove. The feral beast has bloodshot eyes and sports a massive iron collar.
Its lupine form lunges at you! The wolf is on a chain but just has enough to take a snap at Bowen but the pull of his chain throws his attack off and Bowen bats the animal to one side however the effort was enough to break the chain and the animal is now free as he howls loudly. So much for the art of surprise.
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Current Location: The Ogre Cave: Wolf Lair Time: 12:41 pm
The jig is up, retreat back to us and bring the beast back through the trap. We can make our stand in the supply room.
Delay.
Bec, frozen in fear, waits to see what the others will do.
Bec will also delay
Mischa readies an action to shoot at the wolf as soon as it comes into range and view
Anya advances.
With the wolf on his face, and wanting to maneuver to a better position, Bowen goes for a full retreat.
Mischa readies an action to shoot at the wolf as soon as it comes into range and view.
With the wolf on his face, and wanting to maneuver to a better position, Bowen goes for a full retreat.
Newt was at a cross roads, he knew his small feet could not outrun the wolf. He had to make a stand and make sure the trap worked. The wolf had to be quieted and quickly or else they would have an angry ogre on their hands very soon. Newt's crossbow was already loaded, the wolf just ten feet away. Newt raised it and pointed at the head of the beast and fired. The tiny bolt sailed true and struck the wolf in its shoulder as it howled in pain. Now having drawn first blood Newt turned to leave. "I be coming your way guys, I think I made it mad." Newt said as he made a beeline toward Casimir.
Anya advanced toward Casimir as well.
The wolf advanced, hot on the tail of Newt, as the beast approached he tripped the wire and five heavy logs with crude wooden spikes drilled into them came crashing down the wall into the corridor with a loud thud. The wolf was caught off guard but it leaps to avoid them as they crashed behind him as he now lunged to bite the fleeing gnome.
The wolf's attack was thrown off by the tumbling logs and caused the wolf to be pushed sideways partially pinning him momentarily before it could recover.
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Current Location: The Ogre Cave: Wolf Lair Time: 12:41 pm
Bec, taking what he sees as a golden opportunity, sprints at the wolf and tabs at it with his spear.
Move to G-11
Casimir took a clean shot at the wolf then noded at Bec to move forward and help Newt. Unfortunately the hit skipped off the wolf's back doing little damage.
He then drew his shield ready to change weapons at a moments notice.
This is what you trained for Cas...don't let the others see your fear.
Anya tightens her already white knuckled grip on her staff. She just wishes she could whack the wolf and make it be quiet in some corner. But, the area is too congested.
Careful, Bec...
Casimir took a clean shot at the wolf then nodded at Bec to move forward and help Newt. The arrow just grazed the wolf's back as the fur turned bright red where the arrow had just past before shattering against the wall. He then drew his shield ready to change weapons at a moments notice.
Bec, taking what he sees as a golden opportunity, sprints at the wolf and tabs at it with his spear. The spear going directly into the wolf's side as it howled in pain. With a sudden jerk Bec pulled the spear free as the wolf's blood sprayed from the wound. The wolf no longer howled but yelped in pain as the spear withdrew.
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Current Location: The Ogre Cave: Wolf Lair Time: 12:41 pm
Bec, Newt...move away from the wolf if you can so we can get a clean shot! the worry on Casimir's face is clear as he realizes Bec is in harms way and the least armored of the group...
Casimir will delay until after Bec and then act.
Is the wolf still alive?
"Come on lads, I draw him to the intersection, and you charge forward?" - Bowen complains.
Bec stabs again at the wolf before running behind his better armored friends.
Move to H-10
Mischa continues holding her position waiting for the wolf to come into her line of sight.
If the wolf is dead then we need to make it look natural. Drag the skunk corpse here. Maybe that will convince whoever comes here that the skunk surprised the wolf causing it to give chase, tripping the trap and killing them both.
Anya removes what amounts to a crooked stick with a metal band from her belt. She points it in the wolf's general direction. Stop!
Mischa continues holding her position waiting for the wolf to come into her line of sight.
Newt, holding an unloaded crossbow and facing the wolf directly uses all of his energy to move back behind Casimir.
Anya removes what amounts to a crooked stick with a metal band from her belt. She points it in the wolf's general direction. A glowing orb launches forth from its tip. The orb dances around Casimir to avoid him and then resumes its path to ts target, striking the wolf in the head and crushing its skull before the orb disappears altogether having used up its energy. The wolf now lay on the floor dead....
However Bowen hears something large approaching from the north, something had heard the noise and was coming this way.
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Current Location: The Ogre Cave: Wolf Lair Time: 12:42 pm
We should set a trap with the caltrops at the supply room entrance. Stealth is over but we can still use his lack of knowledge about us to our advantage to get the jump on him. With the wolf dead he will come looking for something that did this.
Suggestion is that we have someone ready to toss them at the Ogre's feet when he appears at the entrance to the cave and we fire our bows from behind the boxes. Make him come to us. If needed I will do it since I am the best armored.
With rope and grapnel, we can trigger the log trap from a distance. Someone should draw him across the tripwire. Or toss the wolf over to the other side... Poor creature.
Drag the wolf into the storage room. Whatever is approaching will follow the blood trail in and we can spring an ambush here. Anta and Newt and I should fire from behind cover.
Casimir is going to move a crate to hide behind close to the entrance, but off to the side.
How about I throw the caltrops at the ogres feet when he gets to the entrance to this room. Hopefully it will slow him down and you all fire at him. I will then try to keep him occupied while the rest of you continue to fire at him and maybe Bec can move up to help me...the rest of you can fire from cover as Misha says.
Cas does his best to sound brave and not let the fear that he feels be too evident.
Bec nods in agreement with Casimir's plan, That sounds good, I'll try to help if I can.
Anya moves towards the wolf den.
After he drags the wolf to L,7 Casimir moves to L,10 with his back against the cave wall.
If possible he would ready an action to throw the caltrops into the Ogres square when he sees it. He has his sword drawn and in his shield hand so he can switch it to his normal hand after he throws.
Hide amongst the boxes until the Ogre shows his face and I throw the Caltrops.
Where are you going child? Mischa whispers harshly at Anya as she moves away from the rest of the group. If you wish not to follow the plan than someone will have to go with you to keep an ogre from chasing you and smashing you to bits
Mischa moves to P9
Have a care she says as she sights down her bow. It may be that the newcomer is not hostile. As unlikely as that may be.
There is no tactical advantage if we're all on one side of it. It will follow the trail, leaving me and any with me, behind it. Sword or spear, preferably. Anya responds amicably.
Newt, if you have anything else that can hinder the Ogres movement, I would use that first...then light it up with that fire you have!
Casimir then moves into position and tries to remain as quiet as he can...
Stealth
Bec tries to creep into position and braces his spear against a potential charge.
Move to F-10