(Casual D&D III) The Man in Black

[dpdx]

"Indeed, it is, Oliver, but we should remain diligent on the task at hand."

Fendric furrows his own brow in response to Shavah's expression.

As Fendric is thinking of something to say, Hiritus speaks up to the room at large:

"We need to intercept that patrol, first and foremost. Father Tanor, how many orcs usually go out on that patrol, and how soon from now does it go? Is it the same route through town each time?

Friends, while I'm thinking of it, I'm not sure what the boy could add to what we already know, given we have a map of the house already. But if we can heal his leg, and he'll talk to us, it's probably worth the risk to find out. The risk being, of course, that we are noticed entering the boy's (temporary) lodgings.

Anyway, I suggest that we intercept that patrol as far away from the Manor as possible, again to avoid detection, and if we can determine its route, that those of us who can't be mistaken for orcs approach the house from the opposite direction that patrol would come in.

Anyone know orcish? If we staged something orcish just out of sight, but that they could hear, it might lure the guards away from the door, and that might help us get our best fighters inside."

Fendric interrupts the stream of consciousness:

"That might work - can anyone let out a high-pitched scream of terror?"

 

[Sparky]

Oliver quirks a brow at Fendric... No, no, we should stop and play at Liar's Dice... Priests...

He looks at Nurthk staring blankly at the ceiling. "Don't hurt yourself, Nurthk." He chuckles. Oliver listens silently, nodding or pursing his lips from time to time, mind awhirl with plans and contingencies. "...not sure we should interrupt the patrol, seems like they'd kill the girl if we did... though if any of those spells or divine sendings," he glances at the various casters, "Could work to act on one or all of the patrollers when we attack, seems a good time to invoke it would be when the patrol passes by."

At Fendric's oddly timed, but potentially relevant comment he, "I'm sure we could give Raven a good goose." He grins, "What do you have in mind?"

 

[Guilt Puppy]

Father Tanor answers Fendric's question with a shrug.

"It's a lone orc they send on patrol... They don't follow any schedule as far as I've noticed, or a set route -- just a random search through some barns, a few stops wherever people are gathered. The only place they always seem to stop at is the inn... It's where a lot of folks have gathered, for mutual protection and the like. It's not within sight of the mayor's house, but it's definitely within shouting distance."

Turning to Oliver: "I think you could get away with an ambush there, if you handled it quietly and made your move on the house shortly after. I don't know how they decide how long is too long for a patrol to be gone, but the inn is always searched near the end, so I wouldn't give more than five minutes between ambush and attack, to be safe."

 

[DrZombie]

"We need to take him out allright, we can't have him stumbling in on us when we try to sneak in."

"At the inn it shal be then, take him out without him making any noise at all. You guys hide at the tavern, I'll hide somewhere where I can get a good shot at him, and you guys hold ready to attack when you see me fire, finishing him of if my arrows don't kill him. OK?"

Unless there's any better plan, Raven will sneak out and see if the patroll is near, then try to get them as stealthily as possible to the inn.

[Mve silently 12+9=21, Hide 12+11=23]

 

[dpdx]

Fendric and Hiritus nod their acceptance of what Raven plans to do.

Fendric adds, "I only have one Silence spell - I hope not to be forced to use it at the patrol."

Hiritus concludes, "We should make our way to the Inn, then. One question - do we want to enter the Mayor's house at the back, the front, or directly through the basement door?"

When conversation is settled, the two Pelorites will make their way, as stealthily as they can, to the Inn.

"Father Tanor, would you be so kind as to point us in the correct direction?"

 

[Guilt Puppy]

Raven sees no sign of patrol outside; Father Tanor takes the lead, then, and guides you through side alleys to the town inn, making sure you remain quiet enough, and well enough out of sight.

Upon entering the inn, you find a sea of weary faces, shown by candlelight which cannot reach the deepest spaces of their eyes. Tanor steps forward, introduces you briefly, answers questions briefly, then insists that you be brought upstairs, and brought some common clothes in the hopes that you might blend in.

"With cloaks to hide their ears and faces," he adds, referring it would seem to those with other than human blood.

Once you are settled, the men of the town -- or a large group of them, at least -- gather around you, seeming to await your orders.

(OOC: Happy Birthday, Game! As of today, Cas is officially two years old -- a senior citizen, by PbP standards! See OOC Thread for more.)

 

[dpdx]

Fendric, changing his tan shirt for a long black one with a cowl, notes his look in a nearby mirror before setting out to his position. Perfect: only his eyes, his hands, and a slit in the fabric through which he can speak, are visible from his waist up.

"Are we to attack this patrol from inside the inn, or outside?" he asks no one in particular.

Hiritus, garbed in farmer gear complete with straw hat, his longsword yoked down his back beneath a poncho, replies to him: "My understanding is that we only jump in if needed, in case the patrol doesn't go down right away, or lashes out at citizenry, or something else 'not according to plan.' Is your weapon close at hand?"

Fendric pats his flail, holstered at his waist beneath the cowl. Hearing the 'clink' in response, he checks his holy symbol, in its customary place around his neck. Once these two things are checked, the cleric nods his affirmation.

"Good. You should sit behind somebody or forward, away from the window - we don't want the patrol to panic when they see your masked face."

"I could take it off - I'm half-human, after all."

Hiritus smiles. "But you're also half-elf, Fendric. I don't want you to be what's for dinner at the mayor's. Best if you leave it on, I think."

Fendric grimaces. "It's only one orc, Brother. I don't suspect I'll be dinner, May the Light Reveal It So."

"Still..."

"Yes, all right then. We shall sit by the front wall."

Fendric duly takes his chair next to the wall, away from a window. Hiritus sits next to him, also facing the door.

"You know, from the window, you could be mistaken for an old woman."

 

[DrZombie]

Raven hides outside opposite the inn, his bow and arrows at the ready
(hide 15+12=27)

 

[Festy_Dog]

Nurthk waits just inside the entrance of the tavern, standing in front of his axe and bow which lean against the wall behind him.

 

[Guilt Puppy]

About an hour passes after you take your positions, and then a young man walks in, signalling roughly that the patrol is on his way.

Shortly after, a lone orc in loose-fitting studded leather makes his way to the door, pushing it open with the point of his scimitar, growling gruffly and seeming disinterested...

(Go ahead and post your initiatives, then take the surprise round. I should be making you roll hide checks, I know, but given his -2 Spot I think it's safe to pass on that one.

Also, if you had any further preparations you'd like to denote, feel free -- if you feel a map is important, I can post one, but given that he's just one orc I think we can pass on that one, too.

Edit: Further, since it's a surprise round, go ahead and post two actions, since the situation isn't too apt to change before the second... If the situation does change before your second action, I'll cancel the second action unless it just seems eminently logical to go ahead with it, anyway.)