Kalim stabs at the yellow orc next to him with his spear.
Round 4
Vatilda aims the scar on her outstretched palm toward the foe on the far side of Malcolm, and releases a dark bolt.
[dice=force damage]1d8+3
Vatilda's bolt of energy bashes into the orc fighting Malcolm, it winces, but manages to remain standing.
RD 4: yellow Orcs
The orc that Vatilda cast the murderous command spell on (he has a lavender triangle on his token), 5 ft steps to -A, 3 and attacks -B,3:
;
Confirming Crit:
;
The nasty blade hits hard.
-----------------
The orc fighting Malcolm in A, 1 attacks the holy warrior,
;
Missing the armored man.
----------------
The orc just attacked by his comrade (-B,3) returns the favor to his attacker,
;
Confirming the Crit:
;
Hits hard but it does not confirm extra damage
----------------
the orc near Kalim in -A,7 attacks the sorcerer,
;
Slicing through the man's robes and flesh, blood splatters.
-----------------
The Orc leader (blue haloed)
moves to -B, 5 and attacks Desmond with his great axe,
;
------------
the last trailing yellow orc that only recently put his fire out moves to flank on Grimm. (I think Grimm you've already down done your AOO this round but double check)
;
[Dice=attack] 1d20+7[dice=piercing damage] 1d8+1+1
Kalim stabs at the yellow orc next to him with his spear.
Kalim hit with his spear but his enemy is still standing.
Everyone make sure you HP are up to date on your profile.
RD 5:
Initiative order:
White - .
Vatilda -
Grimm -
Red -
Desmond -
Yellow
Karnog -
Malcolm -
Kalim
The heavy downpour has let up and nearly stopped.
Three loud horn blasts reverberate across the battle field. The orcs on the battle field startle to mumble in orcish "Retreat!"
The white archers hold their action protecting the retreating orcs when it occurs.
Desmond unleashes a flurry of metal at the orc next to him, but does not pursue when they flee.
Not wanting to be cutoff from his allies, despite hearing the call to retreat, Grimm attacks A6 hoping to kill the enemy at his back.
Aww, No ye don't!
I assume you meant A, 9 Grimm. Your attack misses the orc at your back.
Round 5
Vatilda levels her scarred palm at the target of her previous primal command, and fires a dark bolt at him.
Vatilda kills the orc that had been battling Malcolm (A,1)
The yellow and red orcs withdraw at their maximum speed. The white archers cover their movement if there is pursuit. It is too early for you to know if this is a true retreat or a regrouping movement. You need more time to assess the intent.
Malcolm as you begin to purse you realize you are exposed to archers.
"Abadarian fool! Do you lust for death so?"
At Kalim's words, he stops and pulls back with the others.
Not death, perfection in battle, Kalim. I do not take kindly to retreating cowards.
Desmond sits, resting after coming so close to death. "You would not take anything to anybody dead."
"We don't know what this larger battle it is ...I do not like fighting blindly.
"So long as they're conveniently out of range, allow me to patch us up some."
Karnog channels energy, healing everyone within 30' of HP (6/7 remaining)
After Malcolm holds off on further pursuit, the orcs pull back orderly even further. It starts to become clear that they are in fact retreating from the field of battle. This is very orderly, which is quite unusual for a normally frantic chaotic creature, a sign that they have at least one strong leader. You figure they shouldn't be too difficult to track on this wet ground.
Desmond pulls a bloody hand off his side. "Not to make requests, but..."
You all can see that you've killed five orcs and on the other side of the river they managed to kill six of the creatures. Together you know the raiders had at least another 23 troops and these orcs were battle hardened.
Your five orcs yield:
5 mwk falchions
15 daggers
5 mwk crossbows with 10 bolts each
5 mwk banded armor
5 oil magic weapon +1
15 CLW
Total of: 75 GP, 150 SP, 223 CP
"Come here, Brother Desmond."
Pulling out a wand, Karnog cures his wounds.
(11 charges remain)
"Very curious. A battle hardened warband, and one led by an intelligent commander nonetheless. Very dangerous, very dangerous indeed."
Looking to the other group, "Are you still injured or otherwise incapacitated? I can patch you up if need be."
Desmond sighs in relief, standing back up to twist and test his freshly healed skin. He runs up to a tree, running a few feet up it and flipping back to land on his heels with a smile. "Good as new, thanks Karnog." He looks at the muddy tracks. "They were organized. That worries me, it's always bad when brutes are organized."
The other group tends to their own wounds, they don't have cleric but they have potions and are drinking some of the orcs potions.
"We'll do...close call."
"I suspect that was some of Daarog's band probably using the rain fall to have a daytime raid on a caravan." She nods, "the weather favored them and their eyesight today. probably thought we were an easy take on the way." She points to the stripped down enemies, "I don't think they were expecting this but we were lucky those archers didn't get shots off."
Aye, Karnog, I am in need of healing as well before continuing.
"Anyone else? I can bring forth more blessings from Torah, or just use some of these potions."
Malcolm takes the blessing, then grabs a handful of potions, chugging each in due course.
Grimm rubs at the many cuts.
Thing bout somebody making ye bigger. Ever wondered why having longer legs don't make ye faster?..
Grimm takes out his Wand of CLW and use a couple of charges
The southside party crosses the log bridge, you see the half-elf named Agail, a dwarf, half-orc, and two humans. You see hardened adventurers clearly she is an orator, there are fighters/bralwers and a sorcerer among their party. She looks at Grimm, "You did well...keep your hundred gold." wWth a smirk.
"It would appear you acquitted yourselves nicely as well. And what do you plan to do now?"
"Drop most of this coin at refugee camp, then make our way to Fentonville to sell the rest get some provisions for the camp." She takes a long swig out of a canteen. "Like I said, we redistribute some wealth to those in need. 'bout a month ago a small hamlet was over run and terrorized by Daarog's group."
"Have you run into these orcs before? Have you any information you could share? Obviously we will have to root out this warband, it is simply too dangerous to remain in the area."
"We've never encountered them in force like today...normally just a squad of 6. They don't like the daylight, so this was surprise." She begins to explain where they have camp. "They have cave near some ruins of an old village. They usually have a squad roaming the area near the entrance. We stay clear...a good distance. They arrived a few months back and have been a blight on the land."
"Perhaps a daytime raid combining smoke and ambush...the terrain will provide better guidance when we see it in person."
Grimm recollects his bag and tosses it to the man behind the leader, respecting her position.
I tol' ye we were he ta help make the land safer. Pretty sure this'll help. Just cause I'm a dirty bloody soldier, don't mean I be heartless.
He winks.
The dwarf catches the bag of coin that Grimm tosses, "'preciate the help."
------
Agail smiles, "Th't kindness will buy a lot of food." She then looks over at Karnog, "Surprise is good at least against the outside patrols. Inside their hole they'll have an advantage of terrain. You need any assistance?"
"I would not say no to genuine assistance in the removal of such a threat. Allow me to confer with my companions a moment, please."
Stepping aside and drawing the team closer, "Well, what do you all think? Is she on the up and up, or just waiting to plant a blade in our backs? Those orcs are tough, and all the help we can get will be useful."
"I can sympathize with her. Used to do a little wealth-distribution myself. Fighting off a band of orcs makes a bond of trust too."
"This is a waste of time. Colloquial skirmishes pale in comparison to the danger of Rappan Athuk."
Consider me in. Ye don't need ta ask a dwarf twice ta kill dirty, stinkin orcs.
"The dungeon has been there for how long now? Are we to expect there is some kind of timer running, now that we've arrived in the area, Kalim? Do you know something more about it? I would rather we did not come out of the dungeon with the expectation that Fentonville will be fine and ready for resupply, only to find it burned to the ground or occupied by greenskins. Securing our egress seems prudent to me."
The dwarf chuckles at the decision he overhears. "If'ya 'ave deathwish do proceed t'the graveyard."
----
Agail puts her hand on her companions shoulder. "We can get you to the orc lair, help you ferret out the patrols, then guard your flank and rear when you enter the cave. We'll stay outside the cave to keep any stragglers from coming up on you."
"We have a charter and a mission. I see no reason to intrude on some local dispute based sorely on dwarven bloodlust and racism."
Desmond folds his arms. "No offense but the racism is well deserved. They loot, kill, and rape wherever they go. And we already know from their attack on us that they aren't black sheep. This isn't about personal vendettas or genocide, we're protecting the common people."