01. Situation at the Falls

[onlyme]

The second orc, this one armed with a short bow, surprisingly turns right (north, towards the river), diverting its attention away from the party, and fires off a pair of arrows at a previously undetected target. This undetected target returns in kind, launching a pair of arrows at the missile launching orcs. His first arrow sinks into the unaware, crossbow-wielding orc but is not a fatal blow. The second arrow, targeting the short bow-wielding orc, just misses its mark.


If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.

There is another party helping us? Do we see this party? any visuals?

[dmw71]

There is another party helping us? Do we see this party? any visuals?

There is another human individual that appears to have joined the combat, yes. It is lightly armored and using a bow against the orcs you've been battling.

[Alethan]

"Sorry, bub. This one's mine..."Gwilt mutters to himself as he draws a bead on the last remaining orc and fires off two shots.

Initiative [1d10] = 1


To Hit, Shortbow [1d20+4] = 7+4 = 11

To Hit, Shortbow [1d20+4] = 4+4 = 8


(Dang it... Can you tell I write my dialog before I make my rolls?)

[onlyme]

Ewell doesnt allow himself even a moment of satisfaction for defeating the cowardly leader of these orcs and quickly, as he removes the lance from the unworthy boss.

He ignores the sleeping ones, as slaughtering them would be akin to murder in his opinion. Instead, he focuses on the remaining one, and with a grunt-like yell, grips the lance and charges toward the archer.

will read up on what modifiers I need to do before rolling, unless you want me to do the normal and you mod? Actually, will he even reach him this round? even on a charge?

[dmw71]

will read up on what modifiers I need to do before rolling, unless you want me to do the normal and you mod? Actually, will he even reach him this round? even on a charge?

Note: I added the rules on charging in the first action post, also copied below: Round 01

Charging an Opponent
A character can also charge a foe. A charge increases the character's movement rate by 50% and enables the character to make an attack at the end of his movement. A charging character also gains a +2 bonus to his attack roll, mainly from momentum. Certain weapons (such as a lance) inflict double the rolled damage in a charge.

However, charging gives the opponents several advantages. First, they gain a -2 bonus to their initiative rolls. Second, charging characters gain no Dexterity bonuses to Armor Class and they suffer an AC penalty of 1. Finally, if the defender is using a spear or polearm weapon and sets it against the charge (bracing the butt against a stone or his foot), he inflicts double damage on a successful hit.

Ewell, with a 12" movement rate, can very easily charge and reach the last remaining archer. However, in the current scenario, charging is unnecessary.

Half your movement rate (6" = 60 yards or 180 feet). You're only 50-60 feet away from the foe, or one-third of your movement rate, so I would allow you to engage and perform a single attack in the same round.

One thing to keep in mind, and there is no way to discuss this ahead of time given the separation of the different groups, but depending upon initiative results, the ranged attackers may have launched their arrows at a particular opponent without realizing your intent to engage that target in melee.

[saalaria]

Kaltar, assuming everyone has the remaining foe or foes(?) covered, will check on the sleepers and, assuming they are still well out, will rip binding material from the clothes of their dead companions. Then bind up the hands and feet of the sleepers.

[dmw71]

...the remaining foe or foes(?)...

ooc: Four orcs (three 'normal' orcs plus the boss) have been slain and there are six orcs sleeping. Still in the immediate area are an orcish pin cushion archer and the recently discovered human archer.

[Stonjuz]

The halfling sees that the ranger is human after all (he missed) and says, "I got him."
and lets his two arrows fly in as rapid succession as possible at the remaining orc archer.
shrtbow [1d20] = 2 [1d6] = 2 shrtbow 2 [1d20] = 14 [1d6] = 5
"Careful,I cant tell if I hit him or not."
Thac0 21

[Nuke66]

After the fall of the leader, Garath immediately falls to help bind the sleeping foes. Not yet sure of their ultimate fate, he does not wish to rush it at this point, too many questions remain.

"Little help here, before they awake." He says to no one in particular.

OOC: Just to bitch a bit, I'dda thunk we shoulda known orcs......

[dmw71]

OOC: Just to bitch a bit, I'dda thunk we shoulda known orcs......

A fair complaint.

I haven't been a DM in over 20 years and am admittedly a bit rusty. In this case, it just occurred to me this afternoon, while typing up the action thread for round three, that I hadn't revealed what it was you were battling. Hopefully the omission wasn't too distracting.

You will probably find as the game progresses that I tend to "withhold" information a bit. For instance, I will never simply just state the value of a discovered gems or jewel. Want to know how much it's worth? Prepare to have it appraised (and hope the appraisal is accurate).

I will probably continue to avoid coming right out and stating the type of creature you're encountering the first time you encounter it. Orcs... yeah, you probably would have know what they were. Same with other more common creatures like goblins or kobolds. I'm sure, as the game matures, I'll find a comfortable balance when it comes to trying to keep things mysterious and withholding the obvious.

[Nuke66]

well, thanks...I don't assume to know it all, just.....almost

[saalaria]

Once all are secured, kaltar will move all weapons away from the sleepers and put them all together for the party to check later. He then will thoroughly search first the sleepers then the dead ones and pile the loot together.

[onlyme]

Charging an Opponent
A character can also charge a foe. A charge increases the character's movement rate by 50% and enables the character to make an attack at the end of his movement. A charging character also gains a +2 bonus to his attack roll, mainly from momentum. Certain weapons (such as a lance) inflict double the rolled damage in a charge.

However, charging gives the opponents several advantages. First, they gain a -2 bonus to their initiative rolls. Second, charging characters gain no Dexterity bonuses to Armor Class and they suffer an AC penalty of 1. Finally, if the defender is using a spear or polearm weapon and sets it against the charge (bracing the butt against a stone or his foot), he inflicts double damage on a successful hit.

Ewell, with a 12" movement rate, can very easily charge and reach the last remaining archer. However, in the current scenario, charging is unnecessary.

Half your movement rate (6" = 60 yards or 180 feet). You're only 50-60 feet away from the foe, or one-third of your movement rate, so I would allow you to engage and perform a single attack in the same round.

One thing to keep in mind, and there is no way to discuss this ahead of time given the separation of the different groups, but depending upon initiative results, the ranged attackers may have launched their arrows at a particular opponent without realizing your intent to engage that target in melee.[/ooc]

Agreed, there is no reason to charge since the double damage piece is meaningless against a "pin cushion"... So, Ewell will wait for the arrows to fly, and then move to do a regular attack.
I assume that means skipping this round? or just voluntarily waiting a few segments?

[dmw71]

I assume that means skipping this round? or just voluntarily waiting a few segments?

You're welcome to attempt whatever you'd like.

If you do want to delay, just tell me how many segments (1-10) you want to delay in addition to your base initiative and I'll (modify?) and allow your action to take place in its rightful order.

[onlyme]

I assume that means skipping this round? or just voluntarily waiting a few segments?

You're welcome to attempt whatever you'd like.

If you do want to delay, just tell me how many segments (1-10) you want to delay in addition to your base initiative and I'll (modify?) and allow your action to take place in its rightful order.

He will wait ten segments, until the unknown archer and the two party archers have completed their 6 shots. At that point he will attack with his lance.


Modified initiative (using lance): [1d10+6] = 1+6 = 7
Figures I would roll a great init when I dont need it...

lance to hit (+3 str bonus): [1d20+3] = 2+3 = 5 , lance damage on foot 1d6 (+5 Cav and str bonus): [1d6+5 ] = 4+5 = 9
So, he must secretly hope that one of the archers hits, as he didnt put much "ummph" into his planned attack.

[dmw71]

With the battle seemingly at hand, Kaltar and Garth go about the task of removing all potentially dangerous items away from the sleeping creatures before securely binding them in place. Accepting the fact that it's probably too late for the lone remaining orc still engaged in combat, Kaltar wonders if anyone in the group will be able to communicate with these newly bound orcs once they awaken.

---

The last orc still engaged in combat quickly surveys the situation and realizes its unique position: he's alone. He tosses down his crossbow in a clear gesture of defeat... but the simultaneous arrival of multiple arrows, originating from multiple angles, strike this last orc down dead where it stood, before either Ewell or Strom are able to interject themselves into the action (+36xp each; unmodified).

---

The unidentified human, still located a short distance (on your side) from the river/stream, is seen nodding proudly as he recovers unshot arrows he set aside, calmly returning them to his quiver before securing his bow to his back.

---

End of round four.



***

Everyone, please feel free to declare your actions for round four. No initiative rolls will be required at this time unless an attack is planned, in which case, a single 'group' roll will suffice.

Computer + 1, everything cool? The last post from you for this game was last Friday.


If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.

[onlyme]

Ewell will hold up after seeing the last orc fall. He smiles and waves at the others. Huzzah. Well done.

Then, he looks toward the waterfall and the lone archer, not sure whether a true friend or foe. He calls out...
Greetings stranger. What brings us together this fine day?

Suddenly, the no longer adrenaline-masked pain from the felled archer's arrow begins to throb. He attends to his wound while awaiting the reply.

[Alethan]

Gwilt squints at the stranger, unsure if he should thank him for finishing the job or be mad at him for taking his kill.

"The guy was shooting at orcs, and not at us, so he can't be half bad," Gwilt thinks to himself as he lets the sudden calm that comes after combat wash over him.

He shoulders his bow and slides the arrow he'd drawn back into its quiver.

With a tip of his leather cap, he leaves parlaying with the newcomer to the other, well-versed members of the group and turns back to the bodies of the two flankers he and Shanny first dropped.

As he walks past Shannigans, he says, "Nice shooting, Shan. Not bad with that magical stuff, either..." He pauses, as if thinking over what to say next.

Instead, he simply nods once and heads off to the bodies.

Starting with the orc with the short bow, he first examines the contents of his quiver to see if he can easily replace his spent arrows without having to search over hell's creation to find them in the grass. After that, he checks the orc for anything of value.

Then he does the same for the one with the crossbow.

He'll divide any good arrows he finds between himself and Shan.

If nobody has already done so, then he'll head over to the other two flankers and do the same thing.

[saalaria]

Kaltar is still looting!

[Nuke66]

Garth continues to loot and bind the sleeping orcs.

"Phew, what is that smell?"