S2: War in Vastermarch - Completed
- Thread starter Manzanita
- Start date
Rae ArdGaoth
Explorer
When the two-headed giant appears at the end of the road, Rasereit snorts derisively. He turns to the commoners who have clumped up at the front of the wagon, behind the adventurers. He whispers, but loud enough for them to hear him. "Alrigh' mates, we're surrounded, an' now we got this bloke to deal with. Nah, Ah know ye're not all soldiers, but these orcs are jus' fightin' fer treasure. You, ye're fightin' fer yer family, yer kids, yer life. When these pigs attack, stay back agin' the wagon, harder to flank ye like that. When they come at ye, ye give 'em hell. Us, we'll do what we can. Alrigh'?" Rasereit pats the shoulder of the nearest commoner reassuringly.
"Kids, in the wagon. Mums too, 'less ye kin fight. Somebody stay at the reins, ready to flee if the need be. Protect those 'orses, they're the way out if things go south. Cut 'em free if the cart is damaged. If that large chap starts tossin' things our way, all of ye duck behind the cart. Ah don't care how big ye are," here Rasereit points at a big, strong farmhand, "Ye'll not kill a single orc wit' one o' them sharp things in ye."
"Right then, here..." He pulls the warhammer from over his shoulder. "Somebody take this, 'tis a real weapon, better than that pitchfork ye got there. Ah keep her around fer clobberin' skeletons an' such, but Ah don't see any o' them around." After handing out his waraxe, he pops his handaxe up from the loop at his left side. "An' this too, fresh from the smith's forge, she's a beauty, got a nice edge. 'Ere, she'll do better in yer hands than at my hip. Slaughter some pork for me, eh?"
OOC: The warhammer and MW handaxe are a martial weapons, so a non-proficient wielder would take -4 to attack rolls. What exactly is the status of the commoners? Do they have weapons, armor? How many are men, how many women, how many children? How many are children, but able to fight? Rasereit will have the able fighters surround the cart, the noncombatants duck inside the cart, and probably have Hugh and the soldiers by the horses.
"Kids, in the wagon. Mums too, 'less ye kin fight. Somebody stay at the reins, ready to flee if the need be. Protect those 'orses, they're the way out if things go south. Cut 'em free if the cart is damaged. If that large chap starts tossin' things our way, all of ye duck behind the cart. Ah don't care how big ye are," here Rasereit points at a big, strong farmhand, "Ye'll not kill a single orc wit' one o' them sharp things in ye."
"Right then, here..." He pulls the warhammer from over his shoulder. "Somebody take this, 'tis a real weapon, better than that pitchfork ye got there. Ah keep her around fer clobberin' skeletons an' such, but Ah don't see any o' them around." After handing out his waraxe, he pops his handaxe up from the loop at his left side. "An' this too, fresh from the smith's forge, she's a beauty, got a nice edge. 'Ere, she'll do better in yer hands than at my hip. Slaughter some pork for me, eh?"
OOC: The warhammer and MW handaxe are a martial weapons, so a non-proficient wielder would take -4 to attack rolls. What exactly is the status of the commoners? Do they have weapons, armor? How many are men, how many women, how many children? How many are children, but able to fight? Rasereit will have the able fighters surround the cart, the noncombatants duck inside the cart, and probably have Hugh and the soldiers by the horses.
Manzanita
First Post
Let's say we have 6 men, 6 women, and 6 children to make up the commoners. All the men have some sort of weapon: pitchfork, club, or staff. Now 2 are armed with Razh's weapons. I believe everyone had a mount, except Beamer & Banion, who shared one. This would make a total of 11 horses/ponies, including 4 who are pulling wagons.
Someone
Adventurer
Manzanita said:
"Well, maybe the one that led you to believe that was pulling your leg. Perhaps he has the weapon and doesn' want to share it with you?"
Nodis pays close attention to the orc's voice and how it sounds. He discreetly turns towards the nearest companion and quietly asks "Does anyone know how you say 'retreat' in orc?"
[sblock=ooc]Nodis is mounted and isn't wielding weapons or has spells or powers active (but has his mithril chain
on, as usual). I'd like however to use Control sound when (or if) the orc starts shouting orders, making him shout "retreat!" in orc, if Nodis manages to learn that word. We're not in combat and so technically can't use Readied actions, so i don't know how are you going to handle that.I don't expect the whole orc group to flee, but if the saying order + counterorder = disorder is true, it'll buy us some advantage[/sblock]
Manzanita
First Post
Torvin grits his teeth as he works. "Hold them off! Talk to them!" he whispers to Banion as he struggles awkwardly with his armor. He continues. "Listen. I know you have that weapon. Do not give it to this Tharok. If I am killed and you escape, take the weapon to the Silverwoods. Due East of Beth Hannon look for a man named Renasiler Parawhite. He is my ally. He can help you to destroy the weapon."
The "merchants", Lothar and Sangster, seem quite impressed at the appearance of the giant. "Torvin!" shouts Sangster, "give them the weapon!"
Torvin looks up, seeming to notice the merchants for the first time. "Don't be a fool!" He shouts back. "Come and help me with my armor." Sangster seems reluctant to comply.
From either side, the orc forces continue to approach. From behind Validus several smaller forms emerge from the woods. They shamble. Some are missing pieces of their bodies. They seem to eminating the stench of death. They are zombies.
Talbin can now see the figures moving through the woods better. They seem to only be coming from the West. They are skelletons.
The orc mediator calls out. "No exchange. Your lives for the weapon. Decide quickly!"
The "merchants", Lothar and Sangster, seem quite impressed at the appearance of the giant. "Torvin!" shouts Sangster, "give them the weapon!"
Torvin looks up, seeming to notice the merchants for the first time. "Don't be a fool!" He shouts back. "Come and help me with my armor." Sangster seems reluctant to comply.
From either side, the orc forces continue to approach. From behind Validus several smaller forms emerge from the woods. They shamble. Some are missing pieces of their bodies. They seem to eminating the stench of death. They are zombies.
Talbin can now see the figures moving through the woods better. They seem to only be coming from the West. They are skelletons.
The orc mediator calls out. "No exchange. Your lives for the weapon. Decide quickly!"
SlagMortar
First Post
Beamer directs Louie to hide inside his backpack to keep him out of the way of a stray blow. With his preparations made, Beamer speaks up. Figuring the orc is convinced they have the weapon already, Beamer takes a bit of a gambit to keep the conversation going a little longer. Beamer's small voice starts hesitantly, but builds, "I-I know of the weapon you seek." Dropping in tone, he continues, "though I'm afraid you are just confusing these others. I believe I was the only one who actually saw it." His voice becomes hushed, though still loud enough to hear easily, "It looked old and plain, but the way they struggled over it, you could tell it must be important. There was a pitched battle fought by many sides not far from here." His voice gaining power as he goes, "Confusion reigned with orcs fighting humans, humans fighting each other, arrows launched from several sides to fall among friend and foe alike. It was hard to see who was one whose side and no doubt a betrayal or two was in the works as well." Color springs in Beamer's cheeks as he says, "Being small and of little use in a fight, I hid during much of the battle. But! This allowed me to see more than the others."
Squinting as if trying hard to remember every detail, Beamer continues, "It seemed the sides were struggling over a backpack of some kind, though some of the fighters, those you see here, clearly had no idea it was important. These here were badly distracted by the heavy fighting and so I was the only one to see when the backpack slipped open, revealing a scythe like weapon." He boldly declares, "An orc who looked like <OOC: Beamer describes the orc who had the backpack in S1> had the backpack at one point. He fought a furious duel with a human who moved faster than any man I've ever seen. This scythe, in the backpack, they struggled over was clearly no tool. Even to my untrained eye, it was clearly designed to rend flesh, not wheat." Beamer's voice croaks slightly at the word wheat as if his mouth has gone dry from all the talking. He takes a quick swig from his water skin and continues. His voice growing a bit weaker, "Alas, this orc. He overcame the human. The speed of the human was no match for the strength of the orc, and claimed the pack for his own. Even I, one not familiar with orcs, could see the lust in his eyes. The orc fled with the pack, still containing the weapon. I can only assume this orc was part of your own company. It appears he did not return to you to share the spoils. Your might is arrayed against the wrong force. It is him you should seek."
OOC: He attempts to tell the story like a master story teller, hoping the orc will let him finish, trying to give enough away about the weapon, but not all at once so the orc lets him stretch the story out. Bluff +11.
Squinting as if trying hard to remember every detail, Beamer continues, "It seemed the sides were struggling over a backpack of some kind, though some of the fighters, those you see here, clearly had no idea it was important. These here were badly distracted by the heavy fighting and so I was the only one to see when the backpack slipped open, revealing a scythe like weapon." He boldly declares, "An orc who looked like <OOC: Beamer describes the orc who had the backpack in S1> had the backpack at one point. He fought a furious duel with a human who moved faster than any man I've ever seen. This scythe, in the backpack, they struggled over was clearly no tool. Even to my untrained eye, it was clearly designed to rend flesh, not wheat." Beamer's voice croaks slightly at the word wheat as if his mouth has gone dry from all the talking. He takes a quick swig from his water skin and continues. His voice growing a bit weaker, "Alas, this orc. He overcame the human. The speed of the human was no match for the strength of the orc, and claimed the pack for his own. Even I, one not familiar with orcs, could see the lust in his eyes. The orc fled with the pack, still containing the weapon. I can only assume this orc was part of your own company. It appears he did not return to you to share the spoils. Your might is arrayed against the wrong force. It is him you should seek."
OOC: He attempts to tell the story like a master story teller, hoping the orc will let him finish, trying to give enough away about the weapon, but not all at once so the orc lets him stretch the story out. Bluff +11.
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Boddynock
First Post
OOC: Change of plans.
IC: Eusebius casts a single healing spell on himself and then casts Protection from Evil straight away on Beamer and Bull's Strength on himself. He gratefully receives the protection of the Mage Armor spell which the halfling casts on him.
He scowls ferociously when he sees the undead emerge from the trees. He will call on Hyrag's blessing when as many as possible of his allies, old and new, are within range. Then, if he gets the chance, he will usher Beamer into a position where he can attempt to turn the foul undead. It is only with difficulty that he resists the temptation to launch himself at them.
IC: Eusebius casts a single healing spell on himself and then casts Protection from Evil straight away on Beamer and Bull's Strength on himself. He gratefully receives the protection of the Mage Armor spell which the halfling casts on him.
He scowls ferociously when he sees the undead emerge from the trees. He will call on Hyrag's blessing when as many as possible of his allies, old and new, are within range. Then, if he gets the chance, he will usher Beamer into a position where he can attempt to turn the foul undead. It is only with difficulty that he resists the temptation to launch himself at them.
Rae ArdGaoth
Explorer
As the skeletons emerge from the forest, Rasereit watches them, mouth slightly open. He turns to the man to whom he just gave his warhammer and stares blankly. Then he turns back to the skeletons. "Huh," he says. "Who'd've guessed?" He starts to chuckle quietly, and soon he has a very hard time holding in his laughter. Body shaking up and down, he whispers with some effort to the warhammer-wielding commoner, "Keep it, mate. Ah like a li'l challenge." A disquieting, savage look in his eyes makes the laughing dwarf look a bit like a lunatic.
rln
Explorer
As the two-headed giant walks out of the forest, followed by a bunch of undead, Ogrin starts to chuckle. As he hears Razh laugh behind him, his mirth turns to laughter, and he questions the messenger: "These are the forces of mighty Tharok? An oversized two-headed freak and a pack of walking dead who yearns to return to their graves? I fear, dear boy, you've picked a bone to big for you to chew."
His expression turns serious as he turns to his nearby allies, muttering, "We need to take that giant down fast. Look at its arms. It can crush the wagons if it chooses. Those with bladed weapons, take on the giant and the zombies; those with holy powers or blunt weapons, decimate the skeletons. I'll try to keep the orc occupied. He might be controlling them and could have other tricks up his sleeve."
OOC: Unless the orc and his forces back down (unlikely) or someone hands over the weapon (even more unlikely), Ogrin wishes to initiate combat at this point, but I'd like to see a crude picture of where everyone is (l&s, villagers, zombies, orc, validus, skellies, wagons, allies..) before making a decision on who to attack.
His expression turns serious as he turns to his nearby allies, muttering, "We need to take that giant down fast. Look at its arms. It can crush the wagons if it chooses. Those with bladed weapons, take on the giant and the zombies; those with holy powers or blunt weapons, decimate the skeletons. I'll try to keep the orc occupied. He might be controlling them and could have other tricks up his sleeve."
OOC: Unless the orc and his forces back down (unlikely) or someone hands over the weapon (even more unlikely), Ogrin wishes to initiate combat at this point, but I'd like to see a crude picture of where everyone is (l&s, villagers, zombies, orc, validus, skellies, wagons, allies..) before making a decision on who to attack.
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Manzanita
First Post
10:35 am Soft wind from the West. Overcast.
The orc listens to Beamer intently, giving the struggling Arkenthrasher time to finish putting on his armor. The others in the group talk and make plans.
"If all the men submit to a search, you may go free. The women must stay as our captives." The orc announces after Beamer is finished.
I've drawn up a map here. Please modify it as you see fit. You're pretty crowded in there w/all the horses and commoners. Torvin Arkenthrasher is indicated by an 'A' (leaving the 'T' to Talbin). The commoners are all 'c', the orcs are simply numbers. The commoner children are in the wagon. The ogres are large 'O' shapes. The 'V' shape is Validus the Ettin. The 'S' is Sangster. 'S1 & S2' are the soldeirs (warrior 1). The 'H' is Hugh, their leader (Fighter1). I think you'll be able to figure out the rest. I put everyone all the enemies quite close to make my map simpler. Let's assume they were able to approach that close during the negotiations. The orc carrying the white flag is '13'. Tharok, if he's here, has not been identified.
I've colored any status that might need clairification. I realize I forgot to put the two constructs on the map. Can they fight at all? Should I put them in there?
Character Status in initiative order:
Ogrin (40/40 HPs orc count 1.5)
Banion (50/50 HPs)
Orcs (30)
Beamer (21/21 HPs, mage armor, protection from evil)
Validus
Nodis (31/31 HPs 23/35 PP orc count 9) - readied action to cast control sound - if someone helps him w/orc language)
Skeletons(8)
Zombies(6)
Soldiers(2) (8/8 HPs; AC 15; longswords)
Sangster
Torvin (?/? HPs. full plate, heavy shield, MW heavy mace)
Ogres(2)
Commoners
Talbin (23/23 HPs orc count 1.5; sling)
Juliana (55/55 HPs 15/15 PP weapon/shield in hand?)
Eusebius (44/44 HPs, mage armor,bulls strength, spiked chain)
Razh (55/61 HPs orc count 6)
Lothar
Tharok
Hugh (10/10 HPs; AC 15; longsword)
Spells cast
Beamer: Mage armor on self & on Eusebius (@ approx 10:34 am)
Eusebius: Protection from evil on Beamer at 10:34:48)
-Bulls Strength on self @10:34:54
I'll keep fleshing this out with edits.
The orc listens to Beamer intently, giving the struggling Arkenthrasher time to finish putting on his armor. The others in the group talk and make plans.
"If all the men submit to a search, you may go free. The women must stay as our captives." The orc announces after Beamer is finished.
I've drawn up a map here. Please modify it as you see fit. You're pretty crowded in there w/all the horses and commoners. Torvin Arkenthrasher is indicated by an 'A' (leaving the 'T' to Talbin). The commoners are all 'c', the orcs are simply numbers. The commoner children are in the wagon. The ogres are large 'O' shapes. The 'V' shape is Validus the Ettin. The 'S' is Sangster. 'S1 & S2' are the soldeirs (warrior 1). The 'H' is Hugh, their leader (Fighter1). I think you'll be able to figure out the rest. I put everyone all the enemies quite close to make my map simpler. Let's assume they were able to approach that close during the negotiations. The orc carrying the white flag is '13'. Tharok, if he's here, has not been identified.
I've colored any status that might need clairification. I realize I forgot to put the two constructs on the map. Can they fight at all? Should I put them in there?
Character Status in initiative order:
Ogrin (40/40 HPs orc count 1.5)
Banion (50/50 HPs)
Orcs (30)
Beamer (21/21 HPs, mage armor, protection from evil)
Validus
Nodis (31/31 HPs 23/35 PP orc count 9) - readied action to cast control sound - if someone helps him w/orc language)
Skeletons(8)
Zombies(6)
Soldiers(2) (8/8 HPs; AC 15; longswords)
Sangster
Torvin (?/? HPs. full plate, heavy shield, MW heavy mace)
Ogres(2)
Commoners
Talbin (23/23 HPs orc count 1.5; sling)
Juliana (55/55 HPs 15/15 PP weapon/shield in hand?)
Eusebius (44/44 HPs, mage armor,bulls strength, spiked chain)
Razh (55/61 HPs orc count 6)
Lothar
Tharok
Hugh (10/10 HPs; AC 15; longsword)
Spells cast
Beamer: Mage armor on self & on Eusebius (@ approx 10:34 am)
Eusebius: Protection from evil on Beamer at 10:34:48)
-Bulls Strength on self @10:34:54
I'll keep fleshing this out with edits.
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