[IC] WD's Against the Orcs

[Lord Sessadore]

Nerve does something unusual once the fight is done - he shows a facial expression. Recognizing the orcs' tribe, he sneers at their corpses and spits on them. Did you bite off more than you could chew this time? he thinks to himself with a mental chuckle.

The elf helps with searching the orcs' corpses and also does a quick scan of the area to see if there's anything interesting or useful around. Once everyone has their breath back, Nerve urges, "We must hurry."

[sblock=ooc]Perception to search orcs' bodies and scan the area: 1d20+11=13. Nerve also takes a short rest.[/sblock]

 

[Padreigh]

"Maybe we should take a look at that wagon", Argivion remarks.

 

[Niehaus]

After reaching the road and realizing the rest of the orcs have fallen William frowns and asks "How much further this Roxtown place?" Hoping that it won't take another three days to see some action. Following the others lead he merrily checks the bodies and at Argivion's suggestion moves to examine the wagon.

[sblock=ooc]Perception check bodies (1d20 5=24) Perception check for wagon. (1d20 5=20) [/sblock]

 

[Walking Dad]

Your search of the bodies discovers only, besides the ragged hide armors, clubs and spears, one gem in the leatherpouch of the orc shaman.

The earth around the wagon is disturbed and there are remnants of dried blood. Looks like orcs ambushed an old oxcart.

A quick look at your map, using the river for orientation, shows that you should be able to reach the village this afternoon.

You carry on.

--------------

In the late afternoon, you reach Roxbury. It sits atop a gently sloping hill. Though slightly steeper on the eastern side, it presents no obstacle.
Surrounding the base of the hill on three sides are empty fields, the crops having been gathered for this year. From the looks of it, recent heavy rains have turned the fields into bogs.
Past the cleared area lies the forest, a dark wall of wood and ground vegetation. From your current position, you cannot see more than a few dozen yards into the gloom.
The wooden fence surrounding the settlement is two yards high, allowing average-sized humans to see over only by standing on tiptoe. However, it is only a foot thick and presents no barrier to a determined attacker. A stout double gate bars access.

[sblock=Nerve & William]You spot large gaps in the fence and what appears to be the base of a watchtower—the villagers never finished erecting the defenses![/sblock]

 

[Niehaus]

After examining the defenses William lowers his voice to keep from being overheard and turns to his companions, "I fear the good Baron may have sent us to our death, from the looks of these defenses we won't be able to hold off a large force for very long. Perhaps our contact here in town will have a plan to turn the battle in our favor."

 

[Lord Sessadore]

Nerve nods his agreement with William. "These so-called fortifications will be nearly useless in any but small battles," the elf assesses. "Though I fear we would be best to defend the village. If there were fewer villagers or they were experienced enough I would take them to the hills and merely avoid the orcs, but the 5 of us will not be able to defend 30 people if the orcs were to find us. We should make whatever defensive preparations we can here."

 

[Padreigh]

Argivion scoffs. "It is actually what I expected ... maybe even a little better."
He quickly scans the village. "If they have a smithy here I might have some ideas how to improve the defences. And we should get those peasants to work on the walls, maybe let them dig a trench and some pits."

 

[Walking Dad]

ooc: Are you going to knock on the gates? Calling for Senties? Trying to bash it down? Just wait?
I need your actions, work with me!

 

[Niehaus]

William walks up to the gate and knocks. Trying his best not to knock to hard, because he does not want to seem forceful, but not to knock to light because he does not want to seem weak either. Due to his uneasiness he knocks longer than he probably should and with varying force so that each knock has a different volume.

"Hello Roxtownians! Reinforcements have arrived." The halfling says looking back at the rest of his party with a wink.

 

[Insight]

Paranthraxus scoffs at the mediocre defenses. "They're lucky we agreed to come save this little village," he says. "These defenses wouldn't keep a determined wild boar out, much less an orcish horde."

The dragonborn strides confidently into the village. "Good morrow, good people of Roxbury," he says. "Where are your elders? We must speak with them at once."