Hehe, the guys have no idea about fieldcraft!
"Might be best to try to get into the office first. Maybe one or two of us that are better at stealth." Saoirse suggests.
Tibold points out a broken twig Sigvald appears to miss the first time they almost lose Tertuccio’s trail.
"So I'm thinkin' a couple of us slip in there and check it out while thee other's keep watch, and delay those brutes should they come back this way." Saoirse says, taking in the situation.
"I recognize this area from a map I studied, though I cannot quite recall the name. But the surrounding area. The geography. I am certain," Remis said. " This mine produced coal for close to one hundred years, then when it was nearly depleted it suffered a cave in. If they have managed to clear it, then the orcs have been here for quite some time."
Remis glanced to Saoirse, "I am not to keen on facing one of those large orcs in an open area again. If we are splitting up, I would much rather be among the infiltration team." He spoke the words in that "I'm joking but not joking" sort of way.
"I can be very stealthy when required, and my skill at dealing with threats from a distance might be helpful. Which group would you like me to join"?
"No, no. We stick together. Kinda. Saoirse, and Edoom was it? Yes, you two sneak into the office building and check it out. We will wait outside here to help or intercept oncoming orcs. Perhaps we hide while we wait?"
Saoirse considers for a moment, looking at he companions While she definitely trusted Remis to have her back, having fought alongside him in the worst of situations, it was probably a good idea to get a feel for thier newest member in the field, and a simple infiltration was likely a safe opportunity.
" Alright, Edoom, you're with me, Remis, I'll need your sharp eyes out here. We'll get in an' take a quick look around. If we come across anything that needs help...well I not quiet, so you'll know it "
"Good call on hidin' BrightBerry try not to be seen unless there's no choice. Let's go!"
Dropping into a crouch, she quickly moves toward the mining office, signaling the magus to follow.
As usual, Tibold goes with the flow on the combat strategy and also tries to make himself as hard to spot as possible.
Empty f$+@ing night stealth? Oh well
О, Владычица теней, пусть твои крылья укроют меня от взгляда хищников, и я заколю их твоим нечестивым именем".
About as stealthy as Saoirse! Nice, thanks girlboss!
Sigvald follows, stealthily at a distance of 30 feet.
The group moves to the mining office and one of the orcs yells as you approach the mining office (building 3). The orog and orcs are about 200' away towards the stables (building 6).
"TO ARMS!!"
INIT
The six orcs and orogs are slow to act.
Party up except BB
Stealth
Edoom is so silent and hidden he's even having trouble finding himself. At the loud movement from the others, he quickly steps behind one of the buildings, and takes aim on something glinting on top of the building.
Perception
Longbow (Weapon bond, Distant Barrage)
Arrow (Weapon Bond).
“You two weren’t that loud!,” Remis said with faux humor.
“We should just head inside, let them come to us, right?” His voice quavered just a bit at the idea of facing these things on an open field again.
Sigvald moves, drawing his sling, and take a potshot
Which maybe hits the same continent.
Next time I grab some f%*~ing composite longbow
"Aye! Edoom, you seem to be our best shot, if you can pick off one or two o' them before they're on us, all the better! Brightbetty, if ye can slow them down when they get close with more o' the vines and greenery it'll help." Saoirse shouts as she races toward the office.
"Everyone else inside! Look around for anything useful, and get ready to repel the $^!#&ers!!"
“Let’s hope they weren’t planning to demolish this structure,” Tibold mutters as he follows the others inside.
Edoom moves like a whisper, his elven eyes pick up a scout prone on the roof. He lines up a shot and strikes the scout center of mass and leaves him severely wounded, but not yet bleeding.
Everyone moves safely inside except Edoom as the orcs and orog run between two 40' square buildings to the NE opening the distance to almost 300'.
Entering the mining office you find the door still functional, and the there are many old, dusty bare tables in this office. Stairs lead upstairs and a door leads into a kitchen.
"Take a quick look around and see if you can find any plans, or anything useful. One o' you come upstairs with me to check it out. They'll be on us soon. Get ready!" Saoirse says, dashing up the stairs.
"'Quick,' she says," Tibold mutters while trying to scan the area. He assumes one of the more martial members of their band will join the aasimar to provide protection.
Saoirse's feet pound the steps loudly mirroring the thud of Tibold's pounding heart.
We need more time.
He grabs a table and overturns it. He begins to push it towards the door in an attempt to hinder the enemy soon to arrive.
Brightberry is still outside, but I assume moving in? Edoom considers taking another shot at the orc scout on the roof.
The orcs and orog are on the move.
ORDER
Edoom
Bb
Sigvald
Enemy
Seeing everyone else enter, and orcs outside on the move, Brightberry will cast entangle at the entrance of the building, slowing ingress. He, and his plant pals will then move inside the building with the rest.
"Orcs are coming. I slowed them. Maybe."
Eh, bugger this
Sigvald drops the sling and draws his bardiche.
He would be behind the entangled field.
[ooc]How far away are the Orcs?[/b]
A quick search reveals some scattered papers that include a rough map to the complex (see Tue link). The stairs lead upstairs, and a door leads to another room on the ground floor.
Edoom
Edoom seeing that his well aimed shot didn't completely take out the sly scout, he takes aim with another arrow, first wetting his finger and holding it up to check the wind.
Bow
Arrow
Total of 28 damage!
As Edoom finishes off the orc scout with a master shot, he drops off the top of the building and crushes more bones in his 30 foot fall.
Saoirse moves up the stairs into a hall with four doors that are all adjar. The sitting room has the remains of tins used for food and the second floor has windows aplenty and is still in good shape. In the distance you see most of the orcs and orog heading to the central, smallest building in the complex. Two others rush to the long narrow building in the southeast corner of the complex.
They seem to be in a panic and shout in orcish
Out of combat
The building is secure and the orcs are in flight.
"Plenty 'o windows up here! If the swarm the building again ye can bomb 'em from relative safety!" Saoirse called down to Tibold before moving, room to room, checking each of the four ajar doors.
Remis sifted through the papers before settling on the map. "It is old," he said to no one in particularly, "but so is this entire place. And I doubt much has changed."
Remis headed up the stairs, the rolled map in one hand. "I am surprised they have yet to make it to us," he had taken the stairs two at a time and the words came between pants which he struggled to hide.
One glance out the window and Remis saw the orcs heading off into two other buildings. "Hopefully they are not planning on coming back with their own fire bombs," he said while poking his head into one of the rooms...
"I doubt anyone has actually had a meal in this room in a very long time."
"Good plan!" Tibold calls back to Saoirse. "Do you see roof access anywhere? Maybe a pull down ladder or stair?"
He pokes his head out the door.
"Sigvuld! Get in here and help me shore up the entrances. Edoom! We may have even better vantage points for your sharpshooting in here."
As Remis ascends the stairs, Tibold says to him, "Honestly our best play is to find another way out of here and leave as soon as possible letting them think we're still in here. Look for anything that moves in the wind like these or cloth and fabric," Tibold gestures at the scattered papers on the tables. "We can place them at the edges of the windows, so it appears something's moving just out of sight. Hopefully, the enemy believes we're still inside even though we will be long gone."
Protecting the entrance aye
Brightberry follows behind Saoirse, unsure of what they are now looking to accomplish.
"Are we still looking to destroy this camp? Or are we now looking for something to steal?"
Brightberry will move closer to a window as well, preparing to ensnare any approaching group so that the archers could pick them off.
Edoom comes in after taking out his orc scout.
He notices scurrying sounds coming from the first floor kitchen, he cracks the door and sees lots of rats in there.
The library has been looted of books, but a secret door is found that leads up to the top floor. Opening the secret door a stairway leads up to the final floor.
The sitting room is the room exlpored that was used as a gathering room by orcs. The bedroom still has two beds that haven't been slept on in weeks.
Edoom decides to look around the room for anything of interest before joining up with the rest of the party and informing them what he found. He then finds a good snipers rest to keep watch while the groups plans are finalized.
Perception
Edoom informs the group of his plans to perch and easily finds the ladder the orc scout used to get to the roof, and as he is getting adjusted he notices a shimmer and breeze in the air under one of the two holes in the roof with his amazing elven senses.
GM Tribute:
"Well met Whisper. I am Edoom... and yes, I saw you but see no need to shoot at you. I am assuming from your hiding place that you were not eager for the previous occupants to see you. Perhaps we can trade you safety and protection for information about the state of affairs"?
Brightberry follows behind Saoirse, unsure of what they are now looking to accomplish.
"Are we still looking to destroy this camp? Or are we now looking for something to steal?"
Brightberry will move closer to a window as well, preparing to ensnare any approaching group so that the archers could pick them off.
"Bit 'o both. We're looking for anything that might make it easier to destroy and also give away any 'o the enemy's plans, for this place or anything else." Saoirse replies as the quicky move through the rooms, rummaging for anything of use.
Once finished she heads back to see what the others have found, considering the plan Tibold vallas up with interest.
"Sounds like Edoom found a way to the roof!"
Tibold notices Edoom glance into the room adjacent to where he is without fully opening the door. He carefully takes a peek of his own.
Tibold sets up a trap above the door to drop an alchemist fire on anyone opening it fully with ease. Edoom has perched on the roof warn everyone if anyone approaches, but his deadly archery on display has sufficiently deterred the orcs from attacking. The trap door to the attic reveals lots of bat dung and many hanging bats are seen from the light above. The attic and kitchen are infested with bats and rats respectively.
Quickly becoming bored, with no imminent threat presenting itself, and little interest in papers, Brightberry and Redleaf will venture to the top. That seems to be where the party is, and a better view for him to unleash his spells.
Brightberry arrives at the top of the ladder, and it is obvious from Edoom's red face that something was interrupted. It is short walk to the edge of the roof that Edoom is at that looks towards the center of the camp.
"Alright. If we can find a back way out of here and leave with thim thinking we're still holed up here, all the better. It looks like we've found anything of use here, and the map is gold!" Saoirse says as she rounds up her companions other than those at the top.
"Edoom, are the orcs coming? I don't see them. I have entangled the front door, so let's go out somewhere else before they come. I think we're still going to destroy this place."
No fires this time.
Backtracking...
GM Tribute
"Thank you Whisper. That information will be very helpful to my friends. I think it wise that you stay hidden in the soon-to-come conflict". He then shyly looks at his bow and has trouble coming up with the right words. "This bow has been my only obsession over the years. I've had no time for a girlfriend or really any freindships. However... He looks around and sees that he is talking to only air as Brightberry makes an appearance.
"Oh... uh... hi. They seem to be holed up in that building in the center. I believe it must extend underground as it doesn't seem large enough to contain them all. What think you? Perhaps we should gather and strategize how we will either run them out or infiltrate".
He then turns and looks intently at the woods to the west. "Oh. And there are a ton of bats in the attic. Best not disturb them if we can help it".
Remis stepped onto the rooftop as Edoom was speaking. "'Building in the center'?" He said with a glance over to the smallest building.
"That little thing looks like it could barely fit one of those bigger orcs."
"Bats and rats? Odd. the orcs must not have moved into this building then? But we found a map. Maybe it's old."
Does any of that seem odd to me? Are these bats and rats out of the ordinary?
"If they are not coming out of that small building the same way, maybe there's a tunnel leading out?
During this short conversation, Redleaf has his face and hands raised quietly to the sun, as if in supplication. Brambles (the plant-dog) does likewise, with the difference being that he is exposing his belly rather than his face and feet.
The mine complex cleared the top of the hill to build most of the buildings and shore up the mines. The smaller building in the center is about 20 feet square and about two stories.
As you watch, a wagon leaves the building in the southeast corner of the complex and heads into the woods. The wagon is not as large as the wagons you traveled on, and looks to be driven by the two orcs that moved off from the main group.