*Before combat*
Ok, is it fair to say that Mischa would have her sickle out before combat starts when she saw that the creature was lying down and napping?
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Current Location: The Ogre's Cave: West Side of Hillock Time: 11:39 am
**Right before scouting**
**During combat**
It's waking! We must take it out before it does! So saying Mischa charges the prone creature and swings her sickle downwards.
Anya obviously does not understand the traditional response to a withering stare as she beams back a wide toothy grin. Her shrug is her apology.
Newt has his crossbow readied as they approached the creature. Upon seeing the strange humanoid beginning to wake up he pops off a shot at it.
"Ahh! Get it away!"
Mischa charges the prone creature and swings her sickle downwards toward the half asleep creature slicing it heavily across its chest as it tries to rise. Upon seeing the strange humanoid beginning to wake up Newt pops off a shot with his crossbow at it striking the creature directly in his kidney, the arrow penetrating all the way through. The creature falls back into the hammock a stream of blood trickles down the arrow shaft onto the ground.
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Current Location: The Ogre's Cave: West Side of Hillock Time: 11:40 am
Seeking to save its life Mischa kneels next to it, casting Stabilize.
Everyone else, look alive... scan the area, see if there are other threats.. Taking her own advice..
"I must agree with Anya here, we should make sure that there are no other threats lurking about."
As her eyes scan... I'll stick with Bec. I'll be his translator. I can even teach him Elven, given time.
With quick thinking and even quicker hands Mischa manages to staunch the bleeding before the creature passes. The creature has lost a lot of blood but she managed to pull him back from death's door leaving it unconscious but stable.. Meanwhile Adnya and Casimir have a further look around and find the back entrance but no other creatures. The entrance is little more than a three-foot-wide crack hidden by some natural bushes that lead into the side of the hill.
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Current Location: The Ogre's Cave: West Side of Hillock Time: 11:41 am
That narrow opening could work well against the ogre...
"Yes, it would be a tight fit at best. Perhaps a good choke point to volley it with arrows before it can close with us."
Staying out of Mischa's way, Anya reviews the incapacitated creature's possessions.
Searching the unconscious creature, Anya discovers that the creature is wearing leather armor and has a shortsword in a sheath attached to his belt. A quarterstaff also leans against one of the trees the hammock is tied to. Searching the creatures pockets you also discover a piece of black onyx.
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Current Location: The Ogre's Cave: West Side of Hillock Time: 11:42 am
Anya, completely excited and starting her journey towards arcame mastery, hunkers down to examine a few things. She doesn't particularly hold on to anything.
Mischa checks on the extent of the injuries
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Current Location: The Ogre's Cave: West Side of Hillock Time: 11:45 am
Bec is somewhat shocked at the swiftness of the violence, over before the farm-boy could even face the quandary of whether to attack a sleeping thing, whatever it was. While the others tend to its wounds and scout out the back entrance, Bec stands about, unsure of what to do, although his eyes continually return to the creature's wounds. When Anya suggests teaching him Elvish, Bec cannot even muster up a dismissive response. Instead he mutters to himself, Ge'over't, 's'no worse than tha' breach'birth foal las'spring... He remains lost in thought while the others make themselves useful, unsure of what to do for seemingly the first time in his life.
Patting Bec on the slab of a shoulder. The wizard always spoke of violence like this... Do this and you'll die, do that and you'll die. It's alright.
It's what times demand of us, to protect our own. What would you do if a wolf attacked your farm? Defend it.
Bec sighs, his shoulder slumping. I s'pose yer'right, Anya. Easier t'kill a wolf sleepin' in't's den, than one tha's got't's teeth bared at'ye. He shakes his head, squaring his shoulders in an attempt to get out of his funk, 'S jus', well, I n'vr done worse'n break a fellah's nose when'e had one too many a'th'Riot. I guess I'll'ave t'get ready t'use this thing. He grips his spear anew, taking some comfort in the well-turned wood and forged steel.
I'm with you, Bec. I'd like nothing more than to get our townsfolk back... and scare the ogre away with minimal bloodshed.
Because I cherish "life" and for selfish reasons as well. He'd go from place to place speaking of the powerful sorceress, the strong and cunning warriors, the deadly witch, the sly gnome and their fearless and intrepid leader!. She is lost in future tales.
Being able to defend oneself comes as a matter of course when you do not have town walls or guards to protect you Mischa says as she cleans the blood off of the sickle. This creature will not die and will come to in 8 hours of its own accord. Since it felt safe enough to sleep here it should be fine if we leave it. I could wake it sooner but it would cost either time or magic both resources we are short of. I would suggest we move on and take the back route into the cave
Turning to address Newt she says That was a fine shot. Perhaps you should hold the magic arrow
"Thank you elf lady! Although I cannot use the arrow since I do not have a bow my size. Just a crossbow. You are better at that than I." Newt says with a genuine smile.
"Hey, is there anyone who could help he carry some of my stuff? It is rather heavy and is making it harder for me to sneak." Newt says in a low voice.
"Offload to me. I can take it. It will also be better for all of us if you can scout with ease."
Newt shimmies out of his armor and then delves into his pack for some things to give to Casimir.
"Here is my armor, some rope, some tools for opening locked things, and sometools for making locks."
Looking over what he is having Casimir carry for him he says:
"You can use any of those if you like. There! All better!" he exclaims.
Newt then goes back to sneaking.
After off loading his armor and burdens to Lord Casimir, Newt quietly sneaks up to the crack in the rocks that mark the back entrance and looks inside trying to discern what he can with his low light vision. The narrow passage looks to travel for about fifteen feet before it opens into a grand chamber of some sort. The floor is covered with a dun-colored residue several inches thick. The floor gradually slopes up to the east.
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Current Location: The Ogre's Cave: West Side of Hillock Time: 12:00 am
Bec, if you prefer a more peaceful weapon, use the staff. I'm certain you can put a lot of force behind it with two hands.
Everyone take what you need, let's move.
Bec hefts his spear, still a bit melaocholy. This'n's th'only'ne I know how t'fight with, Anya. However, he brightens when Newt begins to divest himself of some of his gear. 'Ere, M'Lord, I can carry a bit more m'self. Don'worry Newt, I'll be careful with yer tools.
Bec stays a ways back but follows, not wanting to raise any alarms by being too loud.
Seeing that Newt seems to have made it to the crack without alerting any danger Mischa moves up to him.
Some of the rest of the group makes their way up to behind Newt. Awaiting everyone to be ready to enter.
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Current Location: The Ogre's Cave: West Side of Hillock Time: 12:01 am
After Mischa has finished her ministrations on the injured humanoid, Bowen takes a few moments to bind the creature's hands behind its back.
Once finished, he gathers up his bow and arrow and joins the others gathering behind Newt.
Mischa takes out her bow and with arrow nocked peers into the cave.
Have a care when you scout ahead she says to Newt.
What is that?
"Shhh!" The gnome looks at Casimir and shushes him as the man is much louder than he.
"I'm going further in. I'll be back in a minute."
He skulks his way into the cave while avoiding anything that would make a sound.
Newt peers into the cave to see what can be seen.
Sorry
Anya approaches the narrow entrance and bends down to examine the dun-colored residue that was several inches thick and covered the cave ahead and the passage. After dipping her finger in it and rubbing it between her index finger and thumb and then smelling it, she quickly determined that the substance was indeed bat guano and judging by the amount of the substance that was present here most likely a large colony lay ahead.
Meanwhile Newt silently creeped into the narrow passage to just the edge of where the outside light dimmed to low light. He slipped a little in the thick goo covering the floor as he entered. He could only see ahead for about another fifteen feet or so before it was totally dark and even with his sharp eyesight could not see in the pitch black of the cave ahead. He did notice that the ceiling in the cavern was at least 20 feet high, and crowded with stalactites.
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Current Location: The Back Door: The Bat Cave Time: 12:02 am
It does not seem like any one has been in here for a while as the guano is not disturbed. Mischa observes. We may disturb the bats however.
Bec pulls out a torch and prepares to light it.
Mischa waves the large human's torch away and picks up a pebble, casts Light on it, and tosses it to him.
Bec swats at the pebble, knocking it to the ground. He squints at the pebble, then squints at Mischa; he opens his mouth, no doubt some disparaging remark on the tip of his tongue, before closing it and slowly nodding before he crouches and retrieves the glowing stone. Aye, tha'll do. Thanks, w... er, Mischa.
Bec took the now illuminated stone and proceeded to the entrance into the crevice in the hillside. Holding the stone aloft and forward to try and give Newt more light to see. With the now enhanced light source within the cave Newt could make out more of the details.
The floor gradually slopes up to the east, and apparently an exit on the far side. But with the gradual slope up of the cavern and the guano on the floor it would be very slippery for those heavily weighted or armored to cross Newt thought to himself. Then he saw them, hundreds upon hundreds of the creatures. What he thought was stalactites on the ceiling twenty foot above was actually bats. The entire ceiling was covered with them, if they were to be disturbed then there would be a massive swarm he was sure.
Meanwhile outside Anya studied the bat droppings more closely. She determined that the bats probably roost here during the day, and exit the cave at night to search for food. Although not the carnivorous variety, they would be dangerous in a swarm nonetheless.
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Current Location: The Back Door: The Bat Cave Time: 12:03 pm
The bats must not be distrubed or it would go very badly for us Mischa says. Perhaps the climbing equipment we have will allow us to cross with some safety. Are you fine to scout first Newt?
Bowen shuffles through the narrow opening and halts behind Newt.
"I'm right behind you, when you're ready to move on," he says softly as he gazes up warily at the roosting bats. "Don't worry about me shooting you in the back. You're short enough that the arrows'll fly over your head."
Bec holds up his shovel. Maybe we could clear a path, wouldn' be too much worse'n muckin' out a stable.
"It looks slippery for anyone weighed down. If anyone is good at sneaky sneak you can come."
"Clearing a path would be too much noise." He says to Bec.