IC XII

[shaidar]

Mursley, MU

"Onwards down this corridor then, we need to be more careful now our magic is mostly expired"

[MonsterMash]

Thurgan, dwarf

"Looks like the orcs have a barrier there. Could be hard to get much progress against that without magic".

[thirdkingdom]

Can I get a couple more votes on whether or not to continue down the ramp? Just to note, MM, that the "barrier" Thurgan sees looks more like a chokepoint than an actual barrier -- in other words, it looks to be a temporary reduction in the width of the hallway from 10' wide to 3' wide.

[Alethan]

Rhys the Traveler

Rhys agrees with checking out the tunnel, though he warns against going too far because a) the hirelings, as far as he knows, are not interested in going underground and b) the party is low on magic and has some wounded members now.

[Grognardsw]

Aquar, cleric

"Aye, a little ways then," says the warrior-priest.

[thirdkingdom]

The Forgotten City 3:30 pm
Entering the Orcish lair

The adventurers slay the sleeping orcs and decide to venture down the ramp, further into the orcish lair. With Thurgan in the lead, the companions slowly advance. At the bottom of the ramp they discover a shoddily erected wall of rubble and debris across three-quarters of the passageway, leaving only a narrow crevasse that will allow no more than one adventurer at a time to pass through. The choke-point is not straight; about five feet in it takes a sharp turn to the left. The companions listen at the entrance, but hear naught.

[Wyzard]

Severi, Elf

Severi braves the narrow passage, using his elf-sight to see ahead in the darkness.

[MonsterMash]

Thurgan, dwarf

Thurgan follows Severi using his dwarven vision and with his sword readied.

[thirdkingdom]

In the Lair of the Orcs, 3:45 pm

Severi and Thurgan bravely push forward, traveling single file through the narrow defile created by mountains of debris. The trash looms high above them, and looks dangerously unstable. It is likely this is the first defense protecting the orcish lair. Not only does it force potential intruders into a single file, the sheer precarious nature of the barricade would allow defenders to collapse it, burying those within and blocking the means of entry. Severi glances up and notices several large boulders, each the size of a man, teetering above his head.

But luckily, the passage is traveled without incident, and the companions find themselves at the short end of a rectangular room measuring some twenty feet wide and forty feet deep. It appears to be empty, although only recently so -- the orcs that were just slain likely were posted here on guard duty, as there are numerous signs of habitation.

A low fire smolders in the center of the room, next to a crude table covered with drinking flasks, plates of dubious looking meat, a dozen or so knucklebone dice and a small pile of coins. In the far corner of the room several sleeping cots have been arranged. There are two doors out of this room; one halfway along the eastern wall, the other halfway along the western wall. The eastern door is shut; the western door hangs ajar and leads into another corridor, this one the normal width for such things. Several spears lean against the southern wall, as do two crossbows and a quiver of bolts. The weapons appear to be of human manufacture, but in poor condition. The tips of the bolts are foul-smelling and appear to have some sort of residue on them.

We will use standard mapping conventions. Assume the PCs enter in the south wall.

[MonsterMash]

Thurgan, dwarf

Thurgan signals to Severi that he thinks they should head back before more orcs emerge.

Wouldn't want to have to make a fighting withdrawal down that passage, looks like it might be a little time till the alarm gets raised giving us time to get away and rest up till we've got more spells available.

[Alethan]

Rhys the Traveler

"If we clear out that first building of the locusts, maybe we could use the second story to rest up for the night."

[Grognardsw]

Aquar, cleric

"Those bolts look poisoned. Wouldn't want them used on us later. Take the bolts?" says Aquar.

[Wyzard]

Severi, Elf

Severi scoops up the coins, and signals his agreement with Thurgan before withdrawing back above.

[thirdkingdom]

The adventurers return to the surface without incident. The men-at-arms have set up an impromptu camp against the cool stone of the building and piled the orc corpses in the center of the street. "What's next?" asks one of the archers, "I sure don't want to bunk in that tower again."

[Wyzard]

Severi, Elf

"I think we should withdraw, and find our companions whom we left behind to guard those afflicted. Depending on their situation, we might either camp there and return tomorrow, or attempt to return to the city and resupply for a second venture. Now that we know this place's location, a second expedition would be far simpler."

[Alethan]

Rhys the Traveler

"If we rest up here, or a few hours away, and continue in the morning, then we may still retain some element of surprise, or at least the orcs will not have had time to organize their defenses against us. If we leave now and come back a week later, they will be ready for us..."

[Grognardsw]

Aquar, cleric

Inspecting the crossbow bolts taken, Aquar nods his head to Rhys' words.

"Strike soon we should, or risk orc trap, poison and preparation."

"Perhaps we can find alternate route in to avoid dangerous choke point"

[MonsterMash]

Thurgan, dwarf

Before leaving the orc's guardroom Thurgan takes up the quiver of poisoned bolts.

"i say rest and make one more days raiding against the orcs, then head back to the city. They will know that someone has dealt with their guards but not much more. We can at least bring a few more ears back to town".

[thirdkingdom]

Okay, it looks like there are two proposals. Try and find a place to camp in the City (the second floor of the locust building was specifically mentioned as a possibility) or return to where the bandits and the stricken dudes are outside the city (about two hours away).

[chap126]

Anohir, Priest

Anohir notes that he is in favour of the locust building plan.