Alicia decides that the time has come to make her move. She advances quickly but quietly, hoping that the orcs' attention is on Team Clanky north of the Barterstones.
Marikel does what he can to ensure he has the orcs' attention, delivering a glancing slash to the nearest enemy while shouting in praise of his goddess.
Dorn looks curiously at the yelling cleric before shrugging. "I think I'm just gonna go with: DIIIIIIEEEEE!" he says as he moves over to help the cleric finish off the orcs.
Mahath starts after Alicia, amazed at how quickly and quietly she moves. As he comes along side Levvy, he whispers We're committed now. But then he second guesses himself. Am I the only one who had doubts here? But he slipped along carefully, trying not to give up any advantage they may still have.
Moving at half speed to J28, stealthily. Stealth check
"So we are," Levvy whispers in response. She follows Mahath.
Mahath and Levvy follow Alicia. Despite moving extra-slowly and -cautiously to avoid notice, they still make more noise than the younger woman; hopefully, however, between the sounds of battle still ringing across the landscape and the more immediate threat posed by Marikel and Dorn, the orcs haven't noticed.
On the other side of the Barterstones, the dwarf comes to Marikel's aid, but before he can swing his hammer, the orc makes a surprisingly swift grab and seizes the dwarf by the upper arm.
Ignoring the orc's grasp on his shield arm, Dorn smashes it in the side of the head with his warhammer.
The other orc moves around the grappled dwarf, drawing its falchion, and swings the blade wildly at the priest.
Seeing his dwarven ally flanked between the two orcs, he flies toward the nearest one and attacks.
Skyreaver swoops around to come up on the other side of the Twisted Nail tribesman and nips a gobbet of flesh from its arm.
The orc still at the catapult laughs unpleasantly and cranks the mechanism tighter. "Dra die dwerg," she says. "Kom ons sien dit vlieg."
Alicia stealthily moves closer yet.
Alicia moves closer to the Barterstones. As she nears the massive boulders, she has to pick her way among smashed crates. It looks as if the narrow way between the Barterstones has been piled with loose debris to protect the most direct path to the seige engine; attempting a stealthy approach that way will necessitate cautious footwork.
Dorn smirks at the orc's words. "Die enigste ding wat van daardie katapult gaan vlieg, is jou kop! Merk my woorde mis asem! Natuurlik sal dit wees nadat ek jou vriend vermoor het, so gee my 'n rukkie. Dankie."
"We'd better catch up, we're falling behind," Levvy whispers to Mahath. Hoping the orcs are occupied enough to not notice, she hurries after Alicia.
Mahath grimaces as he speeds up to keep up with Levvy.
Steathily move at full speed to L17. Stealth:
Levvy tries to catch up to Alicia with relative ease, but Mahath steps on a spent arrow which snaps under his foot. He can only wince and hope that the priest, dwarf, and roc are keeping the orcs busy enough behind the Barterstones that they don't notice.
Marikel swings again at the Orc he hit before and lets the momentum step him towards the large boulder to his left.
The bite behind Marikel's blade is blunted by the heavy hide armor the orc is wearing.
Unharmed by Marikel's latest strike, the Twisted Nail orc keeps its inexorable grip on Dorn's arm, swinging the dwarf around and pushing him toward the catapult.
The dwarf swings again at the orc who won't let go.
As the Orc focuses its attention on Dorn and foolishly turns its back on Marikel, the priest makes the most of the distraction and strikes out again.
Marikel traces another bloody line down the orc's arm, but it seems hardly to notice.
Meanwhile, Dorn swings awkwardly across his own body at the orc and fails to connect.
The other orc steps toward Marikel, swinging its falchion.
"REAVER! Ychydig o helpu?!" The dwarf calls. Skyreaver turns his attention to his dwarven ally and flies over to help, attacking the clingy orc.
The orc takes a fruitless swing with its falchion as the roc flies over its head to peck at the orc dragging Dorn to the catapult.
"Plaas die dwerg in die gat," the orc waiting with the siege engine urges, quivering with excitement.
Alicia continues to sneak closer.
Levvy continues to do her best to follow along quietly while also not losing sight of Alica.
Mahath runs along with Levvy. He glances nervously over his shoulder, concerned that orcs may materialize around them at any moment. He winces when stones shift under his stride, grinding against each other.
Stealth at full speed to L10,
Mahath and Levvy follow Alicia into the cleft between the stones. Unfortunately, Mahath is so busy looking around for approaching orcs, he fails to notice the unreliable footing, producing a notable rattle as he dislodges the loose rocks. Alicia's finger tenses on her crossbow trigger, but the orc she can see through the gap appears totally focused on the fracas to its northeast.
Marikel is unable to step away from the orc beside him but rushes forward to Dorn's aid regardless. Skirting the rock, the priest lashes out once more at Dorn's aggressor.
As Marikel moves to intercept the orc dragging Dorn toward the catapult, his opponent takes the opportunity finally to slash at the cleric's leg, drawing blood. For his own part, the priest's blade is unable to penetrate the Twisted Nail tribesman's hide armor.
The orc maintains his hold on the dwarf and pushes him toward the bucket of the catapult....
Marikel glances back at the orc that drew blood.
"I'll be back for you," he snarls but continues to focus on the orc holding Dorn. Seeing another opportunity he lashes out.
Marikel drives his longsword directly through the orc's throat, and Dorn feels the iron grip on his arm spasm and then relax, as his grappler slumps to the ground, dead. The orc at the catapult shrieks in fury.
As the orc falls, Dorn looks to the other orc, looks to the catapult and then back to the orc. "Ah well. I guess I'll just have to throw yer head meself." He then raises his weapon high and brings it down hard upon the catapult.
Dorn smashes the head of his hammer into the wooden catapult, leaving cracks and splinters in the frame.
The other orc takes a step toward Marikel, swinging his falchion defensively at the roc.
Skyreaver turns his attention to the orc nearest him and attacks.
The roc's flurry of attacks is partially stymied by the orc's hide armor, but one talon manages a scratch.
The orc at the catapult moves around the siege engine, drawing a bow to shoot an arrow into Dorn's side.
Ali scuttles forward and snaps off a shot at the orc harrying Marikel.
Alicia emerges from between the rocks and shoots her crossbow at the orc to the north. Due to her care not accidentally to hit Marikel or Skyreaver, however, the tiny bolt just misses.
Mahath stalks after Alicia, carefully picking his way through the treacherous terrain.
"I'm going to come up the other side," Levvy whispers to the others. She crosses over the difficult terrain and squeezes between the northern rocks.
Levvy uses misfortune on Orc 3.
Meanwhile, seeing Dorn free, Marikel turns back to the orc that struck him to make good on his promise.
Ignoring the pain, Dorn continues his assault upon the catapult.
Mahath follows Alicia through the gap, while Levvy takes a different route between the Barterstones, coming out near where the priest and roc are facing off against a Twisted Nail tribesman. She attempts to hex the orc, but it shakes off her arcane influence.
Marikel's blade is once again turned by the orc's thick hide armor.
Dorn continues to smash his hammer into the siege engine.
The orc swings its falchion again at Marikel, missing badly, and steps back to put the boulder on its flank.
The roc keeps in step with the orc, flying forward and attacking.
Skyreaver finds enough exposed flesh to rip with one talon.
The orc at the catapult takes a step, fitting another arrow to her bow and loosing it at Dorn, before dropping the bow and drawing a falchion.
Ali dashes forward around the catapult and pokes the orc in the kidney with her rapier.