So...my party managed to alienate the Black Arrows and thus lost them as a source of information. Regardless however, they managed to get to Ft Rannick, and find their way into the tunnels beneath the waterfall. They went all the way North and came out from the North secret door. Then, using a variety of spells like Soften Earth and Entangle, created a kill zone that they used to slaughter the ogres inside the outer walls (Empowered Fireballs (scroll and Rod of Empowerment), Lightning, Call Lightning, and an Enlarged Fighter and Cleric. With that in place, they managed to wipe out all the ogres in the Fort, with only the loss of one PC (the cleric). Now, they are discussing negotiating surrender of those inside the keep. How should I handle this? The occupants can look out and see this pile of ogre bodies.
Creative Director
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So...my party managed to alienate the Black Arrows and thus lost them as a source of information. Regardless however, they managed to get to Ft Rannick, and find their way into the tunnels beneath the waterfall. They went all the way North and came out from the North secret door. Then, using a variety of spells like Soften Earth and Entangle, created a kill zone that they used to slaughter the ogres inside the outer walls (Empowered Fireballs (scroll and Rod of Empowerment), Lightning, Call Lightning, and an Enlarged Fighter and Cleric. With that in place, they managed to wipe out all the ogres in the Fort, with only the loss of one PC (the cleric). Now, they are discussing negotiating surrender of those inside the keep. How should I handle this? The occupants can look out and see this pile of ogre bodies.
Ogres aren't particularly brave when faced with overwhelming odds. They might organize a (probably) half-hearted attack on the PCs if they show themselves, but it's more likely that the leaders will attempt to use such an attack as cover for them to escape Fort Rannick and flee back up to Hook Mountain—if they make it, you can have them encountered later in the adventure.
There's certainly more than one way to handle the problem at Fort Rannick, and it sounds like the solution your players came up with works pretty good.
As a GM I'd reason as follows:
The ogres won't want to surrender. They'd probably expect to be killed and eaten: that's what they do with prisoners themselves.
If the PCs scare them, they'll want to run for home. If they see a way, they'll take it; they're not bright enough to expect a trap. Given their losses so far, a show of force is likely to scare them.
They do not have enough discipline to send out a few attackers to cover the others' escape. They might try some other kind of diversion, though, like hucking some barrels of burning oil at the PCs. They have enough discipline to set watches, but not to fortify or plan a response.
If cornered they will fight fiercely, though without coordination or strong tactics; better to be killed and eaten than alive and eaten!
Individuals who see a chance to run from a losing fight will take it.
Given these ideas, I'd then sit back and let the PCs figure out what to do, and just let the ogres react as they naturally would. It's a fun situation for the PCs, with many possible plans to choose from.
Mary