WD's "Base of Operations" ICC

[Bihlbo]

Collan says, "Allow me to assess the situation."

He slings his bow across his back and reaches down to pick up one of the orcs' weapons. Then, with a flick of his finger against the brim of his hat, he suddenly appears to be the very orc whose weapon he just took, complete with bloody wounds and a hateful snarl, but also with a worn leather skullcap. With a bound he exits the tower to take a look around.

[sblock=OOC]I am not sure if a hat of disguise allows you to look like a different humanoid or not. "You can't change your body type" sounds an awful lot to me like it means Type (as in, you have to stay humanoid and can't look like an animal). So, I think this trick should work, so long as Collan doesn't get close to any orcs and doesn't need to sound like an orc.[/sblock]

 

[Walking Dad]

... to take a look around.

[sblock=Bihlbo]From the SRD:
Hat of Disguise
This apparently normal hat allows its wearer to alter her appearance as with a disguise self spell. As part of the disguise, the hat can be changed to appear as a comb, ribbon, headband, cap, coif, hood, helmet, and so on.

Your plan sounds good to me:

There seem to be other orc sentinels on the other towers, but they don't seem to be alarmed, yet. On the courtyard, you see two doglike creatures chained to a well.[/sblock]

 

[Ilium]

Jarek sighs in obvious irritation at Collan's flair for subterfuge. He says to the priest, "I'd rather have a stand-up fight, but if you insist...be careful."

 

[Voda Vosa]

"Aye Toruk likes smashing better" the half orc comments.

 

[Bihlbo]

[sblock=OOC]I have no idea what would look like the best place for the characters to go next. I'm assuming that Collan has a much better idea than I do, since he can see around. Walking Dad, could you please supply for me the direction Collan thinks looks like the best place to go?[/sblock]

As Collan returns, Toruk notices that though the elf's orcish appearance looks just like the dead orc in the tower, the blood splatter is different. It seems to form an abstract sun-like image across Collan's armor.

Whispering, Collan says, "Give me a cut from that boar we felled this morning. Something of poor quality is fine, let's not waste what we could keep." As the meat is being selected he says, "Maybe we need the horses inside the gate?"

Collan never touches the meaty bone, but holds out his hand and causes it to float close by. "When I distract their canines I'll watch for the sentries on the other towers. Wait for my signal before you move out. We should be able to push on without being noticed so we can rush the orcs more unawares. Let's not get too blood-hungry, friends."

Collan steps back into the courtyard and attempts to create a distraction for the dog-like creatures. Soon, when it looks like the sentries are not paying attention, he gives the signal.

 

[Walking Dad]

In the courtyard

[sblock=Collan]As you got near the creatures you can dicern more details

. They don't seem to be regular dogs. Will you proceed with your plan? The well is nearly in the middle of the courtyard. The orcs on the towers seem drowsy.[/sblock]

 

[Bihlbo]

Collan returns, his face shifting back to his normal elvish countenance. "The creatures I thought to be dogs are... something more. But the sentries on the towers are likely at the end of their shift, or the orcs are nocturnal - they seem drowsy, is what I mean. So, do we rush the canines and hope they do not howl? I would like to avoid having the entire fortress attack us at once."

 

[Voda Vosa]

"Can't we shoot from here? Orcs can't shoot us from utside Toruk thinks. If orcs come to fight with swords we can ambush them in here. Toruk smart?" Toruk suggests, scratching his head.

 

[Ilium]

Jarek says "Why don't we just go up the stairs, and avoid the courtyard altogether?" His eyes become slightly unfocused as he is clearly picturing himself heroically confronting orcs on the battlements, complete with dramatic backlighting.

 

[Bihlbo]

"Toruk is still smart," Collan says, referring to when the half orc first met the cleric months ago. "But I'm worried that if arrows fly, the orc may simply run, alert the others, and not give us a chance to kill him until he is in a mob of his own allies."

OOC: What stairs?? Did I miss something? Yeah, why aren't we going up the stairs?