First Expedition - The Caves of Chaos

[KingOfCowards]

Aron, which target are you attacking? If you don't respond by the tomorrow night, I'll just roll randomly.

Let's go with the orc in leathers, seems like a better chance to hit than the orc in plate and shield

[Zhym]

Seeing no way to sneak up on the orcs, Ampersand Mxyzptlk Kerfuffle Humperdink Wongdoodle Biddleshaft the Third fits a stone into his sling and flings it right at the big orc's head.

Sling (THAC0 19): [1d20+1] = 16+1 = 17 [1d4] = 4
Roll does not include bonus to hit for short range.

[Gelatinous Q]

No on the dagger throw then.

Lardo will hug the right-hand wall so as to stay out of Geert's line of fire. He'll also attempt to move silently & hide in shadows. I understand there's no chance of getting into position for a backstab — I just want to stay off their radar as long as possible.

[badams30]

Henry - Cleric

Henry shouts at those near him "C'mon! Let's get them down here and have at them, eh? Otherwise our comrades are surely lost!"

Henry will hoist his mace, waving it about to get the attention of the orcs, hoping to get them to come our way. (I'd like to retrieve our wounded, but we can't get past them, so we might as well put it to them. It's gonna be ugly.

[Spartakos]

Initiative:
Initiative for monsters: [1d6] = 5
Initiative for party: [1d6] = 6

Aron visibly steels his courage and hurries down the hall, mace raised for battle. Lardo is close at his heels, slinking along the wall and trying to avoid notice. As they go, Henry tries to rally the party, and Geert and Ampersand the Diminutive employ their missile weapons. Geert's arrow goes astray, but the gnome's sling bullet strikes the well-armored orc directly in the eye, staggering him (4 damage; he has taken 14 total).

Despite his trepidation, Aron's blow is once more powerful and accurate; he beats down the orc female's guard and drops her with a sturdy bash to the top of her skull, and she collapses like a poleaxed steer (6 damage, kill). While this is going on, no one seems to pay any mind to Lardo, who seizes the still-twitching Cormac by the heels and begins to haul him back to the storage room. The barbarian is a man of considerable thew and stature, but Lardo possesses a sinewy strength belied by his own ordinary-looking frame.

With a roar at seeing his mate felled, the chief unleashes his rage upon the elvish cleric, hewing at him with his sword and landing a grievous blow that drives the rings of his mail deep into his flesh (4 damage, Aron is down to 1 HP).

Rolls:

Morale check for Orc Chief: [2d6] = 2
Orc Chief on Aron: [1d20] = 20, damage: [1d8+1] = 3+1 = 4

Actions?

[badams30]

Henry - Cleric
Henry sets the lantern in the hallway and charges to join the fray against mega-orc.

(I assume I can't get an attack in in this round?)

[Spartakos]

Henry - Cleric
Henry sets the lantern in the hallway and charges to join the fray against mega-orc.

(I assume I can't get an attack in in this round?)

EDIT: sorry, I realize what you meant now...yes, in this upcoming round, you can certainly try to attack (though only 1 person will be able to fight alongside Aron--unless he falls back). Give me an attack/damage roll.

[Zhym]

Ampersand Mxyzptlk Kerfuffle Humperdink Wongdoodle Biddleshaft the Third pulls an axe from his belt and moves to within 20' of the melee. If he gets a clear shot (from his friends in front falling or from the orc approaching), he throws the axe.

Hand/Throwing Axe (THAC0 19): [1d20+1] = 15+1 = 16 [1d6] = 1 (+1 dmg in melee)

[Gelatinous Q]

A little surprised by his own bravery, Lardo contemplates hefting a dagger at the brute orc but decides to keep hauling Cormac back toward the supply room instead ... keeping himself as low as possible and hoping he doesn't become a target for friendly fire!

"Someone better grab the dwarf!" he growls to no one in particular.

[ragnboneshopper]

Sorry guys, busy week...


Geert drops his bow and pulls out his hand axe and shield, charging the orc with silent determination and a reasonable belief that he may be rushing to his doom, but he cannot let the bravery of his comrades go unaided.


Hand axe to hit/damage (melee): [1d20+1] = 3+1 = 4 / [1d6+1] = 1+1 = 2

[Scott308]

Eglistrum Paharis

The mage will advance down the hallway, moving his hands and fingers in intricate motions while chanting mystical syllables.

He has no spells left, but the orc doesn't know that. If Eglistrum is able to distract him enough he misses his attack or doesn't dodge well and takes damage, great. If nothing happens, well he can't do anything from that distance anyway.

[KingOfCowards]

Henry, why don't you try to stabilize Littbarsky before he croaks? We have two in melee, at least for this round, and both with a better AC then Henry.
Aron's astonishment at killing one orc is cut short when he feels the bite of the leader's blade. He shrieks, twisting away from the blade, and whirling his mace around more out of self-preservation rather than martial skill.
Attack with Mace: [1d20] = 20, Damage: [1d6] = 2
Spartakos - With just one orc blocking the way, is there any way that Aron can circle into the room to make space for more attackers?

[badams30]

Brother Henry - Cleric

Yes, in light of the injuries, Henry will instead tend to Littbarsky, taking him out of the line of fire to get him mended as best he can.

[Yorick]

Cormac continues to drool and kick uncontrollably.

[Spartakos]

Initiative:
Initiative for monsters: [1d6] = 3
Initiative for party: [1d6] = 1

The orc chief, apparently undaunted by either those closing to attack him or Eglistrum's incantation, swings his sword in another swift and deadly arc. Though Aron tries to twist aside, the blade strikes him in the head and he goes down, blood pouring from his head wound (3 damage, takes Aron to 0).

This does clear the way for Ampersand to hurl an axe, which tumbles straight-on toward the orc's skull...only a last-second interposition of his shield saves him. Geert and Henry rush down the hall, Henry to go to Littbarsky's aid, while Geert swings his own axe at the orc's kneecaps. Unfortunately, both have their hopes dashed; Geert's axe clangs off the orc's armor, and Henry finds to his sorrow that he can do nothing to save the brave dwarf, who is knocking at death's door...only blessed healing magic could save him now, and Henry's holy powers are depleted.

There are a few small bits of luck. Lardo manages to drag Cormac all the way back away from the fight; the big fighter looks awful, but there is life in him still (though his pulse is racing and his breathing ragged). As for Ampersand, as he sees his thrown axe fail to strike home, his foot brushes against something...the throwing axe that struck Littbarsky, lying on the floor where it fell. In the dim lantern-light he can see it is a fine-looking weapon, its ashwood haft carved with runes, and its head engraved with musical notes and clefs.

Rolls:

Morale check for Orc Chief: [2d6] = 7
Orc Chief on Aron: [1d20] = 19, damage: [1d8+1] = 2+1 = 3
Death Check for Aron: [1d4] = 2
How long to croak: [1d4] = 1
DM needs to know something: [1d6] = 6

Actions?

[Zhym]

Ampersand Mxyzptlk Kerfuffle Humperdink Wongdoodle Biddleshaft the Third picks up the fancy axe and hefts it, testing its balance. He waits for an opening to return it to its previous owner—rapidly.

Hand/Throwing Axe (THAC0 19): [1d20+1] = 16+1 = 17 [1d6] = 3 (+1 dmg in melee)
Does not include any bonuses for the fancy axe, obviously.

[ragnboneshopper]

Geert keeps hacking desperately at the orc, seeking some chink in armor and making sure that the orc's full attention will now be on him alone.


Hand axe to hit/damage (thrown): [1d20+3] = 10+3 = 13 / [1d6] = 2 Oops, wrong macro. Subtract 2 from to-hit roll.

[Gelatinous Q]

Lardo makes sure that Cormac is well hidden behind some barrels or sacks in the supply room before taking a quick survey of the hall they entered by — he's still worried about reinforcements coming up on their rear.

If he's satisfied that there are none on the way, he'll draw his short sword and head up the hall to help finish off Brutus.

If he suspects that they'll have company soon, he'll let out a warning whistle, then hide himself alongside Cormac.

[badams30]

Henry - Cleric

Henry leaps to his feet, anxious to avenge the fallen. If he can somehow manage to find an open spot to swing at the orc, he does - "Prepare to meet your foul maker!"

OOC: Yikes! This is getting down to the wire. I haven't been part of a TPK in a while...

Mace to hit: [1d20+1] = 17+1 = 18
DMG: [1d6+1] = 4+1 = 5

[KingOfCowards]

Aron Rylnnrahe'al spends his last few precious moments of life painfully choking on his own blood. His eyes move wildly around the room, as his mouth opens and closes like a fish out of water.