Motteditor's Ironwall Gap Must Hold PBP (Inactive)

Game Master motteditor

"why dont we settle this here instead of losing countless soldiers on both sides? That is, unless you are late for an appointment behind your hag's skirts..."

Corvus speaks to Illa. "I don't understand why they don't just carry on? They have numerical superiority so this is out of character. They want or need something - most likely something in the fort - or they are escaping fromsomething and we're in their way."

"Why would I do that when we can simply overrun you despite you hiding behind your wall?" the orc growls, grinning toothily.

"We're not hiding," Illa says, turning that disturbing grin on the Orc. "We are waiting. It is so much more fun when the prey comes walking up to be slaughtered."

She lets those words hang for a moment, and then makes a dismissive gesture. "Send a runner to tell your true leader that I am willing to talk to her. If she has wisdom, she will accept. Bleeding and smashing your people against the wall avails her nothing if Doom is truly coming. I will give her my personal guarantee of safe passage for the duration of parley, should she be concerned for her safety."

"I told you, she has no wish to talk to your ilk. If you wish, I will have a message delivered to her, though."

"Tell her not to let fear goad her into acting unwisely," Illa growls. "Though it galls me to say it, if she has a unique insight into some threat approaching, I will hear her out. Though it may gall you and her to hear it, the strength of the Orc is not unsurpassed in this world. Should Doom approach, Orc strength alone may not be enough to counter it, but there are other powers. And if you seek victory, you take whichever weapon comes to hand, after all."

Galvrin smirks at Illa's words, eager to see if the orcs can really be convinced to bring their hag for parley rather than these chest-beaters.

Dyalg continues to focus on the orcs before him. He has vague memories of previous parleys from past lives. Smiling grimly, he wonders if 200 years from now someone will remember this scene. He crosses his arms.

”Before you go, your offer is generous, but did you honestly think we would leave? If our roles were reversed, would you depart your garrison?”

"We are not motivated by fear, but by Mother Hagna's wisdom," he replies to Illa. "If you would heed her wisdom, flee, while you still can. I tell you one final time that we will give you to sundown. If you leave, you have my word that we shall not harm you so long as you don't raise weapons against us."

To Dyalg's question, he just shakes his head.

"No, I didn't think you would leave, but I figured I would give you a chance. If you wish to throw away your lives, we will be happy to claim them."

He looks over the five of you and nods once more, as if memorizing your faces, then turns to leave, his guards taking up position between you and him as they begin to return to their lines.

"Pass on my message anyway," Illa says. "Perhaps your lady master will surprise both of us." The Elf turns her back on the war-leader without another word and walks back to the fortress.

Corvus shakes her head as they head back. "I know I've said it already but it's not...orcish...is it?"

"I wonder if Graah! and I should take a look at where this Mother Hagna might be?"

The orcs leave as you do, and your return to the fort is uneventful. As you enter, several of the guards swing the massive gates closed, sealing them with the crossbar, which they lever into place.

Need to know what you want to do. It's now shortly after dawn the day after you arrived; if you don't get some sleep at some point, you'll be fatigued. You can also get a tour of the fort, continue to investigate the deaths, work on further tactics for the defense or something else that'll surprise me. : )

"I need sleep," Illa announces. "Well, you know, meditation. If I don't get my eight hours, I won't be able to cast when it counts. Now, I heard the fortress used to have a spellcaster, a warmage. Is there any problem if I take his quarters over for the duration?"

Sgt. Hal looks dubious. "I don't have a problem, but I think he warded it. He always warned anyone who tried to enter without his permission would suffer the consequences. You can risk it if you want, or there're some guest rooms you can use. Or the barracks, I suppose."

Illa grunts sourly. "It never fails. I'll take a guest room and sort out your Warmage's room when I'm awake, but I'm doubling up with one of my companions. Here's an order for the whole fortress, sarge: no one is to be left alone, waking or sleeping. We've had enough murders, privacy be damned."

"I'll sleep wherever, but I could use some sleep. Is there a place to lay your dead in state?"

”Excellent idea Illa. I will take a bed in one of the officer’s rooms. Marmoth will join me. Do we want to plan any particular time to meet and discuss what you learned from the war room?”

After any discussions about the morning are finalized, Dyalg heads to the infirmary to get Marmoth and eventually acquires some quarters.

As the others head off to find a bed, Corvus speaks to Graah1 alone.

"What do you think Graah!? Do we keep watch for a while or get some rest? Not sure what you think about us all going to sleep at the same time? Or do you have something else in mind?"

Graah! shrugs, but says little. As Corvus knows, he won't bother with a room, choosing rather to nest down somewhere with Tasty Chicken.

"Wonten punapa menyang idea karo wêdakakêna abang? Mati nempel a surprise sitik karo kanca kita?"

"That counts as something else in my mind! How do we make sure it doesn't affect us and should we go now?"

The excitement in her voice is evident and the gleam in her eye says she's up for some mischief.

Not sure what you're planning, but do just want to note that the dust only goes up to a 20-foot radius. It's not going to have much effect on the army if you just try to drop it on them now, though it could have more during mass combat.

OK, I'm going to assume you hold onto the crimson rage dust for the moment and everyone rests ...

Galvrin, the guards say they keep people in the shrine if they're to be laid "in state." However, after the last big battle, there are also currently a number of bodies in the infirmary among the wounded.

After much of the day passes, you're woken by soldiers, who inform you the sun is starting to set. You have an hour before dusk.

Galvrin reminds Illa to ensure her soldiers guard the bodies of the dead in case they rise in undeath. or at least have a guard there ready to raise an alarm.

After the group eats a meal and finds a more or less private area to speak, Dyalg tells them about what he learned from the commander's widow, Saria. He also describes the kitchen and worries that if the officers could be eliminated then something could happen to the food stores. "Did you learn anything of value in the war room?"

Bump. Anyone want to do anything before sundown, which Warleader Karsh said was his deadline.

nothing in particular i wanted to do, but here's a question

To Dyalg's revelation, Galvrin asks, "Should we perhaps divert some food and save it somewhere else? If is probably the most important resource here."

Nothing specifc under the circumstances

Illa needs her rest.

The hour between your waking and sundown is a tense affair as soldiers in the keep get ready for battle. As dusk sets in, drums begin to beat again from the horde, and soon you hear battle cries and and tramp of approaching feet.

As you close, arrows start to sing at Illa's command, scything into the approaching orc warriors. However, unlike the previous night, the catapults don't fire. You suddenly hear screams from the towers, along with a loud crashing noise!

You can give me your tactics phase, ranged phase and melee phase rolls. However, you're suddenly lacking catapults, giving you a -2 OM. I'm holding off on mine to give you time to react to the problem with the catapults.

Barring any commands from Illa or Dyalg, Galvrin will head to the tower.

Answering Galvrin’s question
”I don’t know how the orcs did what they did to the officers. If we can’t do anything to stop a similar event occurring again, I doubt moving the food would matter.”

—————

”What now?” Dyalg says in frustration as his attention is diverted from the advancing orc army to the catapults. From where he stands he can’t tell what the problem is. ”I believe the orcs have done this. If so, perhaps we should use a more aggressive strategy? Would they expect that from us?” he asks Illa. ”I’ll follow Galvrin to the tower.”

The lack of noise from the catapults, added to the sounds of screams is all it takes for Corvus to run to the towers, alongside Galvrin and Dyalg.

You're greeted by a scene of carnage on top of the towers, as something clearly has gone drastically wrong. Instead of firing, both catapults seem to have instead misfired, the force of their launch arm causing them to jump, spilling their load and crushing most of the two teams of four working on them!

Corvus' eyes run over the machines. For one to misfire was an accident, for both to misfire was planned.

Corvus looks for signs of either subtle sabotage (performed by someone most likely not present) or wilful damage (someone here did on purpose knowing they were likely to die anyway).

Perception to find traps: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (3) + 14 = 17

You think it was likely sabotage, probably not done by anyone in the crews.

Corvus looks to her comrades. "For what it's worth, you already knew this was sabotage. But I'd add that it wasn't done by any of the men here. We have a traitor to find."

"Graah," Illa says.

The Elf marches out in plain sight of the soldiers and roars: "Have no fear! If it won't rain boulders on the enemy, then it will rain FIRE! I will be your artillery! Shout out our battlecry and KILL!"

Illa will put her full firepower at the army's disposal; Fireballs a-go-go, and she will use her bond item to repeat a Fireball when hers run out. After those are gone, she still has Magic Missile, Force Missile, and her wand to summon outsiders. How does this affect our attack bonus?

I can really use Dyalg's help, since he's the only one with ranks in Profession (soldier)!

I suggest another defensive strategy, now that our siege engines are out of service.

"Gotcha, boss lady."

Graah! fetches the bag of dust from wherever it is at present. Doing so, he hops up on Tasty Chicken, and launches them skyward in the protected airspace behind the keep. He'll climb to a safe altitude before crossing over above the Orc army, looking for a point where a little dose of chaos might have the greatest impact.

Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (14) + 13 = 27

It's hard to find a specific spot -- it's mostly just a mass of orcs! You could throw it toward the rear and probably get more of an offensive boost, as you could catch more, or nearer the wall, which would give you a defensive boost as it would disrupt their lines more.

As for spells: If an army's units can use magic (from either spell-like abilities or actual spellcasting), increase its OM and DV by the spell level of the highest-level spell the individual unit can cast. If any of the army's offensive spells has a range greater than touch, the army can make ranged attacks. This will use up your full complement of spells, however.

I'll do it. The offensive spells in my current spell selection are at the army's disposal. Maximum spell level is currently 3. Both Fireball and Magic Missile have long range.

OK. Then that'll give you +3 to OM and DV. If you want to delegate command to Dyalg so you can concentrate on spellcasting, you could certainly do that in character without anyone missing a beat.

"Dyalg, take command!" Illa says, beckoning urgently to the more experienced soldier. "I'll be at the battlements casting, you need to keep oversight over the whole operation."

With that, Illa strides forward, her cloak billowing out behind her like a storm crow's wings. "Sound the battlecry!" she roars. "Raise the new banner!"

”Perhaps a more defensive plan is better,” Dyalg replies to Illa. ”Good luck.

For a moment his cloak flutters then becomes still like the other cloaks. He clears his throat and begins to speak, voice taking on an edge of command, as if he’s seen more battles than he remembers, as if an army of orcs is not a new experience. ”Soldiers! You heard her! Raise the banner! The orcs believe Doom is at hand, but it is not our doom! Steady your nerves, be calm, and focus. Our goal: hold this Gap! This is your time to make your families proud. To rise and thrive in the defense of your home! Archers, ready...launch! Polearms and pikes get ready for the ladders.”

I’m not sure of the ACR, OV, and DV for the garrison’s army. So here are the unmodified rolls. For melee attack, army tactics are Standard (does the army know any others?) and the strategy track is defensive (+4 DV −4 OV & −6 Damage).

ranged attack: 1d20 ⇒ 4
1st round melee: 1d20 - 4 ⇒ (11) - 4 = 7

Given the lack of siege engines, Graah! will deliver the powder near their front lines, a few ranks in, just as they close from bow range and begin to press forward to attack in melee.

The army knows the full defense tactic. It's stats are on the campaign info tab.

The battle is joined again in a fury of sound and steel. Arrows slam repeatedly into the wall, raised shield and armor as the orcs close, your own archers' attempts falling generally harmlessly in the opponents' midst as they seek cover after the withering rain of death the previous night.

Soon enough, though, the orcs have reached the wall and they began scrambling up. It's a close call as again and again they seem on the verge of overwhelming your vastly outnumbered force, but the cloud of crimson smoke and Illa's powerful fire magic push them back time and time again.

Again, it seems to take forever, but eventually night passes and the lines separate, soldiers slumping exhaustedly as the orcs -- their numbers seemingly no less than the previous day -- return to campfires farther down the canyon.

Congrats. You managed to hold them off for the night, taking no damage, though you also didn't inflict any.

ranged: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13
melee: 1d20 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 6 - 2 = 23

whew.

With the battle ended, Dyalg circulates among the defenders, pride beaming from his sweaty and dirty face. He claps soldiers on the back, offers aid in getting wounded to the infirmary, and praises exceptional soldiers.

He ends his tour through the ranks at the catapults. He studies them closely, attempting to determine what occurred to render them useless and if it can be fixed.

Wherever the companions meet, he says, ”Well fought. Illa, the fireballs were splendid. Graah! the crimson smoke inspired. So, how do we find who is causing this? Should we call an assembly and search them for magic?”

knowledge (engineering): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
whew indeed!

Dyalg, you think the catapults can be fixed, though it will likely take most of the day ahead.

Galvrin will question the soldiers who were on shift or who passed by or were on the shifts prior to the siege weapons malfunctioning to see if anything strange was reported.

sense motive: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21

So the damage is mechanical in nature as far as Dyalg can tell? Not like parts simply vanished by magic?

While Galvrin questions the soldiers about the sabotage, Dyalg supervises the start of the repairs. When he takes a break, he takes Illa to the side for a private conversation, ”If they can get the officers and the catapults, the food or the gate could just as easily be next. Should we increase the guards at those vital areas?

”Another thing, next battle if we can turn the ground in front of the walls to mud or cover it with a thicket of vines and thorns, that would be useful. Anything to hamper the orcs’ movement leaving them open for an easy attack. What do you think?”