S1: The Strange Case of Aif Jenkins' Farm (E13 judge) - Concluded

[Manzanita]

ooc: Manzanita, do you need anything else from us before Banion finishes making his way through the trees?

I guess not. We'll assume the others stay in the house a few more minutes.

Banion reaches the edge of the clearing, about 200 feet from the shed, and up about 80 feet. In the dim moonlight, he can make out a humanoid standing in front of the shed, looking towards the house.

He can also see another structure of some sort. It is at about his altitude, about 300 feet to the North of the shed. It is another small shed. It is about 100 feet from the treeline which goes around the hill.

In the house, the others can hear soft clanking noises from the cellar. About the same time as Banion finishes his reconoiter, Aif and the four farmhands emerge from the cellar. The four farmhands wear chainmail, and carry longswords, longspears & light crossbows. Aif wears a chainshirt and holds a longsword. A short sword is at his belt.

He scowls at the adventurers. "I thought you were going to Braeholl. This is an orc invasion, I'm telling you."

 

[Patlin]

ooc: Anyone using any sort of light source at either shed, or possibly a heating fire?

Banion keeps the others informed:

I've got one humanoid watching the farmhouse from up here at the shed. I'm assuming there are more, but that's the only one in view at present. There's also a second shed up here, about 300' North of the first one.

 

[Bront]

Juliana sends 'Certaintly more going on than these simple farmers say.'

OOC: Juliana should be on her horse outside by now, with Beamer, Boog, and the Father inside.

OOC2: Manzanita, I need you to award GM credits for Niobe's Dilemma.

 

[Boddynock]

Eusebius moves to stand adjacent to the two farmhands he previously healed.

"Yes, you did tell us that. You also told us that you have never seen Torvin Akenthrasher, yet your man here saw him only last night, in the underground complex just up the hill. Now, why don't you tell us what's really going on, who you are, and why these orcs are attacking you?"

[sblock=OOC]Eusebius readies an attack. In case of any aggressive move from Aif or his men, he will strike one of the two he previously healed. A single blow ought to take them down. I'm guessing he won't have the opportunity to flurry this round but next round he will. His priority targets are the two badly wounded men, followed by Aif. He'll attack to subdue the farmhands since they won't take much dealing with. Aif is another matter.[/sblock]

 

[SlagMortar]

"Look, you're obviously not farmers, or at least not only that. How about you tell us what's really going on? You are no doubt well equipped to handle whatever you're up to, but we could certainly help you with your orc problem if we knew better what was going on."

OOC: Beamer is not committed to helping them out, nor does he necessarily think they are equipped to handle much of anything so a bluff check +10 maybe called for.

 

[Manzanita]

6:13 pm.

Aif's eyes narrow. He turns to Boog. "You have a mind reader, have you? And you are Torvin's allies. Well, why don't we go ask Torvin himself. He would be better able to answer your questions. I'll show you the way into the complex. But we should hurry. The orcs may have gotten there first. I'll tell you more as we go. But you should know these orcs are more than a threat to this farm; they are a threat to his region."

Boog says, "I think he's right. These orcs are well-armed and organized. I can ride to Braeholl and warn the town, while you find Akenthrasher."

 

[Boddynock]

"Very well - lead the way!"

 

[Patlin]

Banion looks at the nearby cover skeptically, trying to decide if he can get closer to the lone guard undetected. He's trying to make out whether the person he's looking at is human or orcish, or possibly something else. He's also curious what equipment the guard might have, and whether that equipment is similar to that which had been carried by the Orcs.

 

[Manzanita]

OOC: Spot check DC20. Banion's is successful.

IC: Banion spends about one minute focusing on the scene. He decides the following. The humaniod has a sharp bulge in the front of his neck. It is probably the human with the red bandana he saw run across the road earlier. There were two, though. Now he can only see one. The human seems to have a bow and a scimitar.

On the Hill: Scattered around the shed are human forms. Presumably these are dead bodies, though banion can tell nothing more. As he watches, he notices another form moving up the hill from the other shed to the north. This one does look like an orc. Banion can see his horn bouncing along at his side. The orc wears the heavy backpack and his chainmail chinks as he jogs. The orc whispers with the man briefly, then takes up the man's post. The man turns and dashes towards the other shed to the North.

In the Farmhouse. Aif nods and sets out, leading everyone to the front yard. He stands and scans the dark farmland. "The entrance to the complex is on the other side of the hill. Let's head up."

From the angle of the farmhouse, the orc is invisible in front of the shed.

 

[Patlin]

Crud! The human up here is working with the Orcs. If this is the entrance to the bunker, something's very wrong up here. Don't let those farmers see your backs...