IC II

[shaidar]

Pont - Ribar

In the morning Ribar asks to have a private word with Matts, "Sir, I'm not looking to tell you your job, nor do I want to come across as some stick-in-the-mud, but we are entering dangerous wilderness, what with the sun-omen and all, and some of your guards do not look like they are up to guarding much this morning. I'm just concerned for everyone's safely, is all"

[thirdkingdom]

Pont - Ribar

In the morning Ribar asks to have a private word with Matts, "Sir, I'm not looking to tell you your job, nor do I want to come across as some stick-in-the-mud, but we are entering dangerous wilderness, what with the sun-omen and all, and some of your guards do not look like they are up to guarding much this morning. I'm just concerned for everyone's safely, is all"

Matts

The trader nods and smiles. "I know. This is a big deal, this caravan, and they're drinking in part to celebrate but also because they're scared. You've been up this way before, but it's been near a generation since a caravan visited Kimrid. I can promise you, though, that this is the last time they'll overindulge until we reach civilization." Sure enough, though they appear hungover, the guards look to be alert and sober for the remainder of the day.

[shaidar]

Ribar

"That's understandable. Is there something myself, or the others could do? Talk to the guards, maybe spend time with them? . Do they know who we are?"

[thirdkingdom]

Ribar

"That's understandable. Is there something myself, or the others could do? Talk to the guards, maybe spend time with them? . Do they know who we are?"

Matts

"Talking to them would surely help. Tell them tales of your exploits, of how you faced down fear and walked out the other side. You're young -- younger than most of these guards -- but I bet alcedes to apples you've seen more combat than any of them."

Fifthmonth, Twentyfifthday
The Caravan

The adventurers and the caravan leave Pont, traveling north along the road. About four miles the land to the east become marshy, stretching off into the distance. Clouds of gnats rise up to meet them, getting in the eyes, ears, and mouths of the Men. Horses swat their tails with irritation.

Further on, they come across the burial mound they had noticed before. Nothing about it seems to have changed. The caravan manages another mile or two, and eventually moves off the side of the road to set up camp. The adventurers note the Princes factor and his guards looking around thoughtfully, studying some parchment. Eventually, a roll of twine and some curious stakes are produced, and they begin to unroll the twine, stretching it out, making notes, and jotting the occasional note in a thick book.

Random Encounter (1-2):: 1d6 4
It's been awhile, so I'm reposting the hexes for you guys.
236.132

Hex 236.132.png (68.24 KiB) Viewed 770 times

236.131

Hex 236.131 Player's.png (68.29 KiB) Viewed 770 times

Fifthmonth, Twentyfifthday
Orc Hunters

The party rides northwards, following the river. They move more slowly, out of caution, as Valru insists that she or Newton ride ahead of the party at intervals to scout ahead. This proves to be a good strategy. Around noon the party stops for a quick bite, and while they do Newton rides ahead. About a quarter mile up the river he espies, some forty yards distance, a party of 7 or 8 orcs. They have clearly spotted him, and begin raising their bows!

Random Encounter (1-2):: 1d6 2
Who is scouting ahead? Newton is 1, Valru 2:: 1d2 1
https://orokos.com/roll/815211: 1d8 4 1d6 5 2d6 3 10d8 43

[shaidar]

Ribar

"I certainly will talk to them this evening, master Matts,"

Later, when they stop, he will go and introduce himself to the Princes factor...

"Good evening, I'm Ribar Oshary, I'm a member of the company that originally cleared this route. If there is anything I can do to help, questions to answer, then please ask"

Newton

That's still quite a way, how long would it take Newton to ride into range of his long bow, or close to melee? Can he tell the type of bow the orcs have?

[thirdkingdom]

Ribar

"I certainly will talk to them this evening, master Matts,"

Later, when they stop, he will go and introduce himself to the Princes factor...

"Good evening, I'm Ribar Oshary, I'm a member of the company that originally cleared this route. If there is anything I can do to help, questions to answer, then please ask"

Newton

That's still quite a way, how long would it take Newton to ride into range of his long bow, or close to melee? Can he tell the type of bow the orcs have?

They look like shortbows. Forty yards isn't that far, and remember that outdoors all "foot" measurements are converted to yards. So, a longbow's range isn't measured in feet, but in yards. Your movement rate isn't in feet, but in yards.

[shaidar]

Sorry, I thought that a quarter mile was 440 yards. So I can easily close 40 yards this round. Would I need to make a riding check to dismount and attack this round?

[thirdkingdom]

Sorry, I thought that a quarter mile was 440 yards. So I can easily close 40 yards this round. Would I need to make a riding check to dismount and attack this round?

No worries, it was unclear. Newton is currently a quarter mile away from the rest of the party, and 40 yards aways from the orcs. I'd probably make some sort of check, yes, if you wanted to dismount and attack in a single round.

[shaidar]

Newton

The scout reprimands himself for not learning the entangle spell today. Not wanting the orc party to have a chance to escape, he grabs his axe, dismounts and races to engage the orcs.

No worries. With most of kit left on his horse, his movement should be 150'. This may be a very bad move but he's hoping to rush in and take them out quickly. I'm hoping he can take a number of them out with his kill and get another attack class skill.

[The_Wanderer]

Will we call both Drakesbane and Orcslayer after this? Stay tuned!

[shaidar]

lol, that or just plain dead!

[beniliusbob]

Alwen Nar

Nar sidles up to Ribar and Goshawk. "Have you any knowledge of what's in that mound? Perhaps there might be gold... I'm not above getting paid for our trip, if you know what I mean. And the caravan is so slow, they could hardly leave us behind if they tried!"

Is the factor specifically surveying the mound?

[thirdkingdom]

Alwen Nar

Nar sidles up to Ribar and Goshawk. "Have you any knowledge of what's in that mound? Perhaps there might be gold... I'm not above getting paid for our trip, if you know what I mean. And the caravan is so slow, they could hardly leave us behind if they tried!"

Is the factor specifically surveying the mound?

No, he's actually surveying the campsite.

[thirdkingdom]

Round One

The orcs are clearly not taken by surprise. Bowstrings twang, and Newton feels them impact as they drive into his torso. Four of them rush forward, reaching the scout, and he feels their blades bite into his body. Drawing his handaxes, he strikes down one of the orcs, but is unable to catch the second with his backswing!

Initiative, Newton first:: 2#1d6 3 5 Even with his initiative bonus he still goes last.
There are 7 orcs, 3 of whom have shortbows:
Bows: https://orokos.com/roll/815251: 3#1d20 16 16 2 3#1d6 5 6 6
Two hit, doing 11 damage.
The rest run forward and close to melee: https://orokos.com/roll/815252: 4#1d20 16 5 11 19 4#1d6 3 2 1 4
Another two hit, doing 7 more damage.

Newton attacks: https://orokos.com/roll/815254: 4#1d20+8 14 10 11 9, hits only with his first attack, but kills an orc. Newton suffers 18 damage!

[shaidar]

That went worse than I'd hoped. Is a fighting withdrawal an option?

[thirdkingdom]

That went worse than I'd hoped. Is a fighting withdrawal an option?

Yup! Fighting withdrawal or full retreat. Either will work if you win initiative!

[shaidar]

Newton grimaces with each strike. Realising he's made a serious error in judgement he begins a fighting withdrawal to his horse.

Reading the OSE, I thought a fighting withdrawal would be better than a full retreat where the enemy gets a bonus to hit. If possible he'd like to go for archers as primary targets, then if he is lucky enough to reach his horse it might make his galloping exit less arrowy.

[thirdkingdom]

Newton grimaces with each strike. Realising he's made a serious error in judgement he begins a fighting withdrawal to his horse.

Reading the OSE, I thought a fighting withdrawal would be better than a full retreat where the enemy gets a bonus to hit. If possible he'd like to go for archers as primary targets, then if he is lucky enough to reach his horse it might make his galloping exit less arrowy.

ust a note that technically Newton hasn't dismounted yet; the orcs attacked before he had the chance. Don't know if that changes things on your end.

[shaidar]

I think he'll still do a fighting retreat, just mounted, again mainly not to give the orcs any bonuses

[thirdkingdom]

Round Two

Seriously wounded, Newton wheels Newton around and spurs her forward, back towards his companions. By the time the archers put another arrow to bowstring he is out of range.

Initiative, Newton first:: 2#1d6 4 3
Okay, so Newton wins initiative. So, not to over-rule you, but I think that retreat is your better course of action here: your horse have a move of 240' per round, fleeing at full speed, which puts you out of range of the orcs. If you do a fighting withdrawal, moving at half speed, both archers and melee orcs will be able to attack (the orcs can ust follow, and their speed matches that of 1/2 yours.