02. New Situation at the Falls

[dmw71]

Is there any forest area at all to the West? I know there was the cliff with minimal cover from the waterfall to the orc attack... But, now that we are still at the orc battle site, is there forest to the west from here south? or still just the plains up to the base of the cliff?

Unfortunately, the Notepad document which was serving as my running map is saved on my work laptop, which 99 times out of 100 I bring home with me, but I had to leave it in the office over the weekend for some software installations and upgrades.

So, I did dig through the old thread and found the most recent map I had posted: viewtopic.php?f=48&t=1197&start=60#p31880

North
The cliff with the waterfall. It bends to the north a little east of your current position (it was from around this bend that Alordan arrived).

South
A forest; from which all but Gwillt and Alordan emerged (the orcs included). It is large enough that it spans the entire distance across the map.

East
It is open in this direction, for a bit, but you see there is areas of forestation off in the distance.

West
Not far from where you're currently located is the cliff.


The hill/mountain you're at the base of almost does one of these, but on a much larger scale:

Code: Select all

                 |                   @ 
           ____ /                   @
         /                        @
        |    x                  @       x = you are roughly here
        |                      @        @ = forest
       @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

Again, my map-making sucks, and for that I apologize, but hopefully the above will help. The two most obvious locations to set camp in your immediate location are the cave and the forest. You can also consider following Alordan around the bend to the north, but he can tell you there is not much in the way of shelter for at least several hours.

[Alethan]

So... Immediately west of our position is more cliff face?

How about moving southwest, then? I don't see any problem with sticking close to the cliff. It isn't like we'd be camping in a blind canyon or anything. Still several ways to go if necessary. And I still think it is better than being in the woods, completely in the open.

That isn't even considering the problem of dragging four Orc captives around with us...

[Nuke66]

Southwest to the forest at the base of the cliff sounds best to me. Garth can be a little move effective in a forest than a cave.

As for the orcs, how about knocking them out, untying them and leaving the weapons? I figure the goblins will be here soon. It might make it look like they fought each other.

[dmw71]

So... Immediately west of our position is more cliff face?

How about moving southwest, then? I don't see any problem with sticking close to the cliff.

I put a new terrible image up, here.

Actually, a much better second image has been found and added, still here.

Except in a few spots, the area where the forest meets the cliff is not dense, so movement along the base of the cliff will hardly be impacted except for those more dense areas. The trade-off being, the more dense areas will provide better coverage.

Now, I'll just need a formal decision as to what the group is going to do with the orcs.

[onlyme]

my vote is to go into the woods against the cliff just enough to give us some fire cover. I also think we gag and protect the orcs until tomorrow.

[Alethan]

Gwilt is good with the first part.

He might not kill the orcs in the middle of the night... If they're quiet.

[Stonjuz]

Shannigans' eyes widen and his head shakes quickly in disbelief. "You all are not seriously thinking of taking over that cave are you? How long before you humans can get an army out this way? I, uh ..., I mean, we ..., did our job. We send for word and, in the meantime, we kill as many of these bloodthirstys that come out, that we can. Either way, we cant just ignore the biggest threat here.....them.", as he points to the 4 prisoners.
"Say, just for the moment now, we pretend these here are just crazed humans, as it looks like you want to give them undeserved status. Where, and what now? Kill em before they destroy some farm family on the far skirts of the southern forest? That's my vote. ....And preferably before I go to sleep."


ooc: let me know if i need to make alignment adjust checks, or whatever.
Back from Garycon. More on that later.

[dmw71]

ooc: let me know if i need to make alignment adjust checks, or whatever.
Back from Garycon. More on that later.

Welcome back! Looking forward to hearing about GaryCon.

[Alethan]

Gwilt smiles at the halfling.

"I like how this guy thinks. And I think he's got a point."

[onlyme]

Ewell winces from pain when another muscle alerted him to its displeasure of being chomped. He eyes his two travelling companions and replies.

Folks. You cant judge one creature by another. I will not stand to hear another word of this nonsense. Killing the unarmed without a fair trial.

He begins to walk toward the southwest, hoping to find a suitable place to camp.

[Alethan]

He begins to walk toward the southwest, hoping to find a suitable place to camp.

"Oi!" hisses Gwilt. "Whatcha gonna do with them, kid?" he asks, pointing at the Cavalier's bound captives.

Well, wait a second... what are you doing with the orcs, then?? You guys want to not kill them, then you got to take care of them! Thus is the price of playing certain classes! Or is the plan to just leave them tied up in the middle of a battle scene?

Sorry, but I don't think you can just up and leave them. You guys (whomever is opposed to killing them) need to come up with a plan for what you're going to do with them and then make that your action before you can do anything else.

Unless you want to leave the halfling and the ranger to watch them while you search for a camp? Promise we'll... hmmm... maybe I won't promise anything. But Gwilt isn't going to wait around for much longer. Light is fading fast.

[Stonjuz]

"Yea, it aint like we are gonna torture them for information." Shannigans tries to get visual confirmation from Gwilt and then Garth, and adds, "We aren't going to totrture them for information, right? They fought bravely. It should be quick. Thats how I'd want to go."
ooc:The halfling has spent hours upon hours, days upon days in and around graveyards, contemplating his own death scenarios.

[Alethan]

Well, wait a second... what are you doing with the orcs, then?? You guys want to not kill them, then you got to take care of them! Thus is the price of playing certain classes! Or is the plan to just leave them tied up in the middle of a battle scene?

Sorry, but I don't think you can just up and leave them. You guys (whomever is opposed to killing them) need to come up with a plan for what you're going to do with them and then make that your action before you can do anything else.

Unless you want to leave the halfling and the ranger to watch them while you search for a camp? Promise we'll... hmmm... maybe I won't promise anything. But Gwilt isn't going to wait around for much longer. Light is fading fast.

(Sorry if that sounded too serious. I was just giving Onlyme trouble. This is the curse of the sleep spell. It is a great AOE spell at low levels, but... you end up with this baggage! If nobody in the party is opposed to getting messy, it's an easy fix; otherwise... it can be more hassle than it's worth. I've seriously been trying to figure out a good solution, but have not yet come up with much.)

[onlyme]

Well, wait a second... what are you doing with the orcs, then?? You guys want to not kill them, then you got to take care of them! Thus is the price of playing certain classes! Or is the plan to just leave them tied up in the middle of a battle scene?

Sorry, but I don't think you can just up and leave them. You guys (whomever is opposed to killing them) need to come up with a plan for what you're going to do with them and then make that your action before you can do anything else.

Unless you want to leave the halfling and the ranger to watch them while you search for a camp? Promise we'll... hmmm... maybe I won't promise anything. But Gwilt isn't going to wait around for much longer. Light is fading fast.

(Sorry if that sounded too serious. I was just giving Onlyme trouble. This is the curse of the sleep spell. It is a great AOE spell at low levels, but... you end up with this baggage! If nobody in the party is opposed to getting messy, it's an easy fix; otherwise... it can be more hassle than it's worth. I've seriously been trying to figure out a good solution, but have not yet come up with much.)

Well, they should be Garth's baggage, correct? He initiated the battle, and was the one who put them to sleep. I say we tie him up with them, and have him decide what to do about it.

[Alethan]

Well, would you look at that!

Garth reaches into a pouch for some component then grips his scimitar, ripping in from its scabbard with a loud metallic ring. Pointing it at the group he yells "Charge!" as he runs towards the group.

OOC: of course, when he gets in range of his 'sleep' spell, he stops and casts allowing the others to pass him.

I'd forgotten he was the one who yelled "Charge!".

Gwilt turns and looks at the elf, crossing his arms and tapping his foot impatiently.

[ravenn4544]

"Maybe bind and gag 'em for the night while we rest up? Give us some time to think about it while we scout out that cave.."

[onlyme]

"Maybe bind and gag 'em for the night while we rest up? Give us some time to think about it while we scout out that cave.."

Given the time and situation, I think that this is probably the safest plan. Our viable options are:

1) gag and protect for the night, and re-evaluate in the am.
2) let loose and fight/run them off the other direction.
3) condemn them and execute them.

3 has moral implications to 2-3 of us. 2 may backfire. 1 seems doable and somewhat risk averse, for one night. It aint like we are taking them to a permanent campbase or anything.

[Alethan]

"Maybe bind and gag 'em for the night while we rest up? Give us some time to think about it while we scout out that cave.."

Given the time and situation, I think that this is probably the safest plan. Our viable options are:

1) gag and protect for the night, and re-evaluate in the am.
2) let loose and fight/run them off the other direction.
3) condemn them and execute them.

3 has moral implications to 2-3 of us. 2 may backfire. 1 seems doable and somewhat risk averse, for one night. It aint like we are taking them to a permanent campbase or anything.

Aye, that works for Gwilt. In the interest of getting past this stall, my vote is 1, then.

[dmw71]

They do not appear to notice you.

Your first clue that this is apparently no longer the case is a rapidly approaching, voracious snarling sound.

---

A quick glance north reveals a flury of activity at the base of the waterfall as the goblins have obviously spotted the group. A small number of them appear to be rushing in your direction on foot, led (by a great distance) by an unrestrained and unridden worg.


ooc: You will have a 'partial' round in which to take action; no initiative required.

No melee melee attacks are possible and only a single ranged attack may be attempted. Note, however, that any non-human character attempting a ranged attack will do so with a -1 penalty due to the darkness reducing visibility.

[onlyme]

They do not appear to notice you.

Your first clue that this is apparently no longer the case is a rapidly approaching, voracious snarling sound.

---

A quick glance north reveals a flury of activity at the base of the waterfall as the goblins have obviously spotted the group. A small number of them appear to be rushing in your direction on foot, led (by a great distance) by an unrestrained and unridden worg.


ooc: You will have a 'partial' round in which to take action; no initiative required.

No melee melee attacks are possible and only a single ranged attack may be attempted. Note, however, that any non-human character attempting a ranged attack will do so with a -1 penalty due to the darkness reducing visibility.

Time out please... We have not heard from 2-3 of our crew since the last DM update. I know it seems like everyone has, but really it has been just a bunch of Alethan posts.
At least I dont think we have. Let me check first and may recall the request. But wanted to ask before someone starts the battle.