IC XII

[thirdkingdom]

Round Eight
The decisive demi-humans spring into action. Using the last remaining gift from his blade, Thurgan speedily chases after the orc, catching it quickly and swinging with his sword. The attack misses, but it slows down the orc enough to allow Severi to catch up. The elf punches the orc with a quick, right-handed jab that causes the creature's knees to buckle and its eyes to roll back as it collapses to the ground.

Rhys regains 1d4+1=4 from drinking the potion. All orcs are now dead, or, in the case of the remaining orc, unconscious.

[MonsterMash]

Thurgan, dwarf

Thurgan walks over to the door that the orc was heading for and listens at it.

[Wyzard]

Severi, Elf

Severi tilts his head to one side and then the other to pop the joints in his neck. He took boxing lessons from a retired mercenary while his fellow-elves were practicing the graceful art of the longbow, and he had never regretted it. "Okay! Search all the bodies, and cut off their ears or whatever we were going to do to collect the bounties." He disarms the unconscious orc, and removes any other goods from its person, before drawing his broadsword again and waking it up.

[Alethan]

Rhys the Traveler

After resting for a moment and trying to recover from the near-death experience, Rhys quickly assesses the dead orcs and begins searching the corpse of the larger ones outside to make sure nothing gets overlooked.

[shaidar]

Mursley, MU

Mursley will assist in the processing of the orc bodies.

[Grognardsw]

Aquar, cleric

Aquar walks into the room, kicks a dead orc. He tightens a bandage that doesn't seem to be doing much.

The cleric takes out a herbal healing potion. "Look at the expiration date on this potion," he mutters. "I'll not buy from that shop again!"

He downs the elixir hoping to get in top shape for more orcarnage.

[thirdkingdom]

The Aftermath

Thurgan discovers that the orc was headed for an open doorway, which is the terminus for a hallway that continues off to his right into the darkness. His dwarven sight notes a ramp downwards about thirty feet down the hallway. Severi disarms and binds the unconscious orc, then wakens it with a well placed slap. It blinks stupidly at the powerful pugilist several times before snarling and attempting to free itself from its bonds.

The others search both the room and orcs. The room is littered with filth -- gnawed bones, discarded cloth and crockery, orc shit, and so forth, but there is clear evidence that these indeed are the orcs responsible for the caravan robberies. A half-dozen emptied and splintered casks of Selenica Red are found, as is a greasy bolt of red silk that is most likely too soiled with orc foulness to be of any value. The dead orcs have on them a combined wealth of 26 gold coins.

Aquar regains: (1d4+1=3)

[MonsterMash]

Thurgan, dwarf

Thurgan returns and reports his findings to the others. "Shall we scout down there some more, find if we can get a few more orcs while the going is good?"

[chap126]

Anohir, Priest

"It seems none was able to warn any larger parties, so we can be a little more at ease about ambush, but we should still expect traps and the like, so we should proceed with caution. Let's interrogate the captive to see what we can learn and take his words with a grain of salt."

[thirdkingdom]

Anohir, Priest

"It seems none was able to warn any larger parties, so we can be a little more at ease about ambush, but we should still expect traps and the like, so we should proceed with caution. Let's interrogate the captive to see what we can learn and take his words with a grain of salt."

Can I get an idea from you guys of the questions you're going to ask the orc?

[chap126]

Anohir, Priest

"I think we should try and learn as much as possible about what their numbers are, how their home is laid out, and where their leaders are. If it can scrawl us a map so much the better."

[Wyzard]

Severi, Elf

Severi's questions run purely along the lines of where there are more orcs, and where their treasure is hidden.

[Grognardsw]

Aquar, cleric

"Let us also ask if they have trap or ambush points, and escape routes," offers the warrior-priest of Procan as the group discusses orc interrogation. "I know not if you have charm enchantments to bring one under sway of false friendship, but one so ensorcerelled would be more honest and forthcoming."

[MonsterMash]

Thurgan, dwarf

"Let me inspect the start of that passage for traps while you question the orc". Thurgan takes up a torch and goes looking at the stonework.

[Alethan]

Rhys the Traveler

Rhys translates the questions and responses for the party during the interrogation.

[thirdkingdom]

3:00, the Forgotten City

In the main room the captive orc remains stubbornly obstinate. "My brethren will use your skulls for drinking cups!" he exclaims, "and your mothers will beat their breasts in despair!"

Whilst the others interrogate the orcs Thurgan slips into the hallway to search for traps or alarms. No sooner does he start his examination than an orcish voice calls out from below, and the flickering of a torchlight can be seen approaching the base of the ramp. Heavy bootsteps echo off the walls of the corridor.

Pretty bad reaction roll for the orc. BTW, I make the assumption in my games that intelligent monsters (such as orcs and kobolds, as well as dwarves) that live mostly underground and have infravision still rely on light to see, as opposed to using their infravision exclusively.

[MonsterMash]

Thurgan, dwarf

"Orcs coming this way. Fight them here or outside?"

if we fight in the passage we get the advantage of a narrow frontage to defend, outside we can hit them with a volley of missiles before melee starts - though would we want them to get an idea of our numbers?

[chap126]

Anohir, Priest

"Outside. We have an advantage in the sunlight."

[Alethan]

Rhys the Traveler

"If we want to maintain the element of surprise, we need to ensure they do not send anyone back to warn others. Most of you head outside. Some stay right by the door to the outside and run out when the orcs enter the room. I'll stay hidden here and try and prevent them from sending a runner back."

Rhys then moves against the wall near the doorway the orcs are headed through and attempts to hide himself in the shadows.

[shaidar]

Murlsey, MU

Rhys the Traveler

"If we want to maintain the element of surprise, we need to ensure they do not send anyone back to warn others. Most of you head outside. Some stay right by the door to the outside and run out when the orcs enter the room. I'll stay hidden here and try and prevent them from sending a runner back."

Rhys then moves against the wall near the doorway the orcs are headed through and attempts to hide himself in the shadows.

Mursley agrees to the above plan and goes with those heading outside to ambush the orcs when they come out.