Quain follows the tracks east, toward the mountains. There was no effort to conceal the tracks. There is a gravelly road so the party can follow on the wagon, but Quain is on foot, so you travel at his speed. About 2 hours later, the tracks leave the road and head downhill toward more difficult terrain, where the wagon and horses cannot follow.
Zarael speaks, "I can stay with the wagon and give you my defensive buffs () or I can accompany you and use them on myself. Let me know your choice."
"Cast your protections and stay with the wagon Mage," speaking once again with scorn, "you would only be a distraction in combat hugging someones knees and crying."
Quain rolls his eyes at Menas open hostility: "I agree, let's move on and catch the bandits."
With a look of mild amusement, Kwin says "It sounds like we are decided, then. Zarael, please do stay with the wagon. The rest of us will move on and deal with the bandits. We will return as soon as we are able."
Bald monk eyes first the wagon, and then the elf suspiciously for a few moments. His gaze then switches to the tall, black haired Shoanti warrior, ending on bewildered face of little Kwin. Finally he breaks the silence: "I tend to agree with my...colleagues here. Cast your spells on us in the way you deem as most beneficial mage, and wait for us here. We will return shortly."
Devoid of any facial expression, he turns back to Justified: "You do raise a valid concern. However, I do not feel I am the most knowledgable person on that subject. From what we have seen previously, it would seem that halfling here is the one to provide expertise on that specific subject."
Zarael casts Mage Armor on Haterivet and wishes the party luck. You follow the tracks for 2 more hours off road, as twilight begins to set in. You follow carefully on the rocky terrain and dried mud, before hearing noises and seeking cover among a copse of dead trees. What you see is an odd circle of stone rocks/boulders about 2' high, wherein lie bound a human male, female, and child. Around the circle are four bestial savage humanoids, with green-gray skin and greasy black hair, easily recognizable as orcs! They stab at the bound humans with the flat of their falchions, as they laugh and point to the two fire pits that flank the circle of stone. Occasionally, one of the orcs pulls some horse flesh roasting in the fire pit and eats it in front of the humans, causing them to cry and scream, with no hope in sight, only inciting the orcs to more laughter and enjoyment of their game. You see two other orcs standing at the entrance to a cave, presumably on guard duty, not participating in the game, armed with longbows. The cave tunnel turns so you cannot see further in. You are about 110' from the nearest orc.
Kwin shakes his head in disgust at the gruesome display. Really? he thinks. That's what passes for entertainment out here? I'm surprised these orcs haven't killed themselves and saved us the trouble.
In a whisper to the others, he asks Do you want me to go down the canyon and see if I can sneak along the wall there?, indicating the wall to the left of the cave mouth. I'm not sure how close I could get, but I might be able to engage the archers quickly.
Gazing through the trees, Haterivet surveys the scene briefly. hearing Kwin's suggestion he turns to him and whispers in a low, even voice: "I agree Kwin, maybe even if the ranger or Menas try to sneak out towards right side?"
He casts an inquisitive look towards Menas and Quain, before returning his attention to the scene in front of him. He tries to controls his feelings, in order to study the situation in detail, trying to find his advantage, or foresee any potential traps.
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As quietly as he can manage, while still being heard by Kwin, he mouths Go quickly. Be careful. And just before Kwin departs Justified lays a hand on the halfling's arm and adds. And be deadly.
After an initial view to get the lay of the land and positions of the prisoners and combatants, Justified stands in cover, listening to, but not watching the Orcs. He works to stay calm, knowing that with every scream of the humans there is a chance he will run towards the orcs.
Whispered under his breath, "Would you like me to sneak up on the archers or to cause a distraction?" Suffling his gear and dropping his heavy pack and rope Menas makes ready to move.
Quain mutters in answer: "If I remember well, I spotted 6 or 7 sets of tracks. That means there may be at least one more Ork in the cave. Maybe the leader plus some females. They are also well organized with sentries and weapons. If you want to sneak, let me ready my bow. I may be able to take down one of them from here if they seem to notice you."
Still not taking his eyes of the orcs, Haterivet responds to Menas briefly and in a very low voice: "It seems that the fire on the right is much closer to the wall near the cave mouth. That would mean higher chance of them detecting you. Aside from those spears, I do not see you wielding any real ranged weapon, meaning you will probaly not be able to sneak up close enough to use the spears most effectivelly. So - yes, if you ask me, definitelly a distraction, in order to buy Justified, Quain and me enough time to rush them."
Actually, we do not really need a distraction, but it seems that it is important to most of my colleagues that prisoners remain alive. And in that case, prisoners need a distruction"
He continues his overwatch of the terrain, trying to discern all possibilities.
It will take me a couple of minutes.
Kwin moves back the way they came, circles wide until he come to the cliff face (to the left of the cave entrance as the characters look at it) and then creeps along the stone wall, deviating only if there are outcroppings that provide better cover as he approaches.
Stealth
"Its probably best if i'm near the front, let me get into position the knock out an archer then Kwin can drop the other. After that when the others turn you can hammer them to my anvil." Menas flashes a grin while strapping on his shield and looseming his gladius. "Or we could hit them from here..." Hefting his javlins as everyone decides...
"This isn't going to work, lets just get them... Menas readies his shield then hefts a javlin. "One, Two, THREE!"
Startled by Menas move, Quain moves to (AL,-6) loading an arrow into his bow. As he rounds the trees, he fires at Menas target if it is still standing and at the Orc in R9 if not.
Double move to AK-7, drawing his magical dagger as he goes.
Cursing the impetuous barbarian under his breath "This man shall be the death of us all...", Haterivet grasps his double weapon stronger, and springs from his hiding place. Clearing the trees, he jogs towards closest orc in a straight line, across the painfully open terrain.
No sneaking, no scouting, no patience....hell we could have waited them all to go to sleep, before attacking. I know, probably some of the prisoners would be dead 'til then, but they're dead anyway. And how hard would it be for Kwin and me to slit some sleeping orc throats!? But no, we have to do it, the "interesting way"...
Initiative Order Round 1:
Laughing as the javlins sails through the air Menas slams his cestus into his shield, "Come on and die!"
Menas screams and Justified moves up, alerting the orcs to an attack. Two of the orcs move to the merchant and his family and grab them, using them as human shields from any more ranged weapons! The archer hurt by Menas, shoots him, with his composite longbow but the arrow bounces off his armor. The second archer shoots Justified, screaming "Die, human scum! I will add your skull to my collection!" The arrow penetrates deeply into Justified's ribcage, causing a grievous wound.
The two last orcs move up, drawing their falchions and stand shoulder to shoulder, forming some type of defensive wall.
Reaching for another javlin through reflex Menas see's the arrow slam into Justified, disregarding the archer he rushes to Justified side and holds his shield ready to ward off attacks from them both.
Quain moves forwards to AF0, focusing on the wounded archer and draws one more arrows from his quiver.
Haterivet shudders seeing one of the arrows strike Justified penetreting deeply. For a brief moment he considers the idea of charging the two orcs in front of pole-wielding Shoanti warrior, but seeing them waving their falchions menacingly, he reconsiders, and moves towards the orcs in a more cautious way, ready for action, if they would to suddenly spring attack.
Kwin will double move to AC-6, dagger still at the ready.
Quain's arrow hits the archer, but he refuses to die, though he is bleeding profusely!
Round 2: Orcs' turn!
The wounded archer shoots Quain:
The other archer shoots Justified and moves 20' closer, but misses this time!
The orcs with the prisoners double move back into the cave, commanding the family to follow them, using the prisoners as shields, with the mother carrying the baby.
The other 2 orcs continue the same pose, grunting and baring their teeth at the party, as they grip their falchions tightly!
Seeing the prisoners being dragged into the cave Menas drops his javlin and charges the injured Orc, swinging his shield savagely with both hands, "DIE!"
Cannot charge, the fire is an obstacle in the way.
Silently Kwin pads forward. He doesn't say a single word and he does not charge in directly, but he continues to close the distance to the orcs nonetheless.
Double move to U-5.
Noticing the arrow striking, but not downing orc archer in front of him, monk charges towards him in a straight line. He charges with his strange looking weapon (monk spade) poised for the thrust, and just moments before the actual strike, he transfers the weapon to his left hand, hoping to distract the orc just enough in order for his unarmed strike to punch trough.