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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Capellan" data-source="post: 484726" data-attributes="member: 6294">"Unearthing the Past" by Jesse Decker (WotC Cliffhanger) - Part 7The second potion gets Briar on his feet again, though the young man is far from healthy.  Despite his injuries, however, the rogue proves willing to press on.Accordingly, the group move into the cavern, pausing only long enough to loot the two fallen Orcs' belt pouches.  They also drag the bodies out of sight, planning to strip them of armour and weapons on their way out.The cavern proves fairly narrow, but is quite deep.  Twinkle lights a small lantern as the group heads into its gloomy recesses."Look." Briar points at the wall and speaks in a low voice, "That's worked stone.""Aye." Ulfgar agrees, examining the place indicated, "Looks like it's all worked from this point on.  Must be tunnels of some kind ahead."Moving carefully so as to make as little noise as possible, the adventurers continue.  The walls; once natural stone; are now smoothed slabs, and within a few seconds the lantern's dim light reveals a closed wooden door.Twinkle motions for the others to keep silent and then creeps forward.  Crouching beside the door, she presses her ear to the wood and listens for well over a minute, before creeping back to rejoin the group."I can hear the sounds of people moving around in there." She whispers, "Probably three or four of them.  They weren't talking much, but I heard some grunts and some scraping noises.  It didn't sound like they were alarmed though ... I don't think they heard the fight.""No hinges on this side, so the door opens into the room." Ulfgar notes in a low rumble, "If the door is unlocked and we go in fast, we might be able to surprise them.  But a battle like that could get nasty.""Were they talking in orcish?" Macwood asks.  When Twinkle shrugs in response, he amends the question, "What did the words sound like?"The gnome replies with a series of phlegm-soaked consonants.  Macwood nods, seemingly satisfied."How about if I yell for them to come out?" he suggests.  Seeing the looks this receives, the halfling explains his intent. "I'll yell in orcish.  I'll shout that there's a dwarf out here.  Then when they come out, we can get the drop on them.""Your voice doesn't sound very much like an orc." Ming Li is dubious."I'll pitch my voice deeper." The bard waves his hand dismissively, "Through a door like that, they won't be able to tell the difference."No-one else has a better suggestion, so the group decides to give the halfling's plan a try.  Briar and Twinkle move up to the door and hide in the shadows on either side.  Meanwhile, Ulfgar plants himself about 30' from the door, axe and shield at the ready.  Ming Li and Macwood stand on either side of the dwarf, the monk readies her crossbow while the halfling eagerly brandishes his longsword, Kewpie Doll.Once everyone is in position, Macwood yells:"Grat!  Dar na Khuzkul rak!"Despite his small stature, the halfling proves to have powerful lungs; doubtless the result of his bardic training; and the bellowed words sound impressively orc-like to his companions.It obviously sounds pretty convincing to the orcs as well, because within seconds there is the noise of pounding feet from beyond the door, which is then wrenched open.  A burly orc, axe in hand, is framed within the doorway.The creature instantly catches sight of Ulfgar, and charges forward with a bellow, apparently oblivious to the presence of the two rogues on either side of him.Briar and Twinkle have their weapons ready, but do not strike, hoping to lure forth more of the Orcs.  The tactic works: a second Orc comes through the door only moments later.  This time, Briar strikes, his shortsword severing the beast's spine.  The creature crumples to the ground with an agonised bellow.Meanwhile, the charging orc brings his greataxe down in a huge overhead swing, aiming to crush his opponent's skull.  But Ulfgar uses his sturdy steel shield deflects the blade aside.  Sparks fly from the impact, and despite his solid stance, the dwarf is rocked by the power of the blow.Macwood, however, is free of the orc's attention, and he makes his larger foe pay for this reckless attack.  Gripping his longsword two-handed, the halfling - who is a bare inch taller than his weapon - mimics his opponent's swing.  The Orc lacks a shield with which to defend himself, and the blade bites easily through his scale armour, dropping the creature where it stands."Just call me Orcslayer!" Macwood gloats.It seems the halfling will have plenty of opportunity to prove his claim, as yet another of the humanoids steps through the doorway; this time immediately turning to face Briar, whose attack - while successful - has revealed his presence.Of course, what the orc doesn't know is that this leaves his back open for Twinkle's strike.  Unfortunately, the gnome's sneak attack lacks the strength to penetrate the creature's armour, and her sword skitters off its mail.Ming Li, seeing the injured Briar under threat, calmly pops her crossbow up to her shoulder and fires.  Engaged with two opponents, the Orc is an almost impossible target.  The monk's shot sinks straight into its left eye, dropping it instantly.  {DM's note: needed a 20 and got it.  Gah.]One last orc stands just beyond the doorway, but after seeing the way his companions have been butchered, he has no interest in taking on the adventurers alone.  Instead, he turns and runs.The group boils into the room in pursuit.Briar arrives first, stabbing ineffectually with his shortsword.Ulfgar swings his axe: a clean miss.Macwood whirls Kewpie Doll above his head as he strikes, but fails to land a blow.Twinkle's jabbing attack is no more successful than her last.Finally Ming Li unleashes a flurry of blows ... but cannot find a weak spot in the creature's armour.Somehow unscathed, the orc continues to flee, ducking between Ming Li and Briar.  Unfortunately, the very armour that saved it from the last batch of attacks now dooms it: the monk easily overtakes the fleeing creature and drives the heel of her hand into the back of its neck.There is a wet sounding crunch, and the final orc falls dead at her feet.</blockquote>

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