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Quint Kacie
"A crew of slave labor." Quint spits in disgust. "We should make an attempt at a rescue, yes. We can either harry them with missile fire, or try to lure them to us. That might cluster them up so that our Sleep spells would be more effective."

As the group is gathered together, Quint motions to Rhys to hold for a moment and begins to root through his pack. "Given the odds we face, not just here but overall against this siege, it seems a good time to share these." He pulls out a sheaf of a dozen arrows and offers them to him as the sole bowman. "These are enchanted for extra effect against their targets. Not worth wasting on mere goblins, but I'll leave it to your judgement if you want to use them against the orcs or hold them for a tougher foe. They are of no use to me, so best that you have them, Rhys."

Koren n'Rhys wrote:

The arrows are Arrows +1. Quint can't use them, so Rhys might as well have them. Not sure I'd waste them even here, on orcs, especially if we've heard rumor of bigger threats - ogres or whatever mixed into the besieging ranks.

Invisible Rhys takes the quiver with the silver arrows and straps it to his pack. He transfers the nine silver arrows from a large sack into the second quiver, as well.

Thurgan, dwarf

"If Rhys can confirm how many orcs there are then we will know how best to fight them, maybe best to save spells if they are weak to use on stronger enemies". He sheaths his sword and slings his shield while loading his crossbow.

MonsterMash wrote:Thurgan, dwarf

"Shall we ambush these orcs and free their captives? Maybe best to use magic to make them sleep in case they start to kill the prisoners as well as fighting us".

Severi agrees that Thurgan's suggestion is both strategically apt and likely to be emotionally satisfying.

Koren n'Rhys wrote:

Alethan wrote: Invisible Rhys takes the quiver with the silver arrows and straps it to his pack. He transfers the nine silver arrows from a large sack into the second quiver, as well.

Not silver - magic +1

Tev Meren, Fighter

"There's no question of whether, just how," Tev opined. "If Rhys is willing, let's have him scout it, then engage. I prefer not relying much on a ranged approach, as it just gives the enemy the ability to mount a response. Best to sneak in and surprise them up close and personal."

Rhys the Sneak

Rhys nods in approval. "Let's go, then."

As soon as he is invisible, he begins scouting the area ahead as previously indicated.

Severi casts another dweomer of invisibility upon Rhys and the mystic slips off. He is able to approach the orcs without being noticed; the creatures are absorbed with tormenting their captives. Rhys had not noticed this before, but the orcs all have a deep red stain around their porcine mouths; the discoloration looks, in most cases, to be old.

The orcs and their prisoners are spread out over a fairly wide area; they are in a rough circle with a diameter of perhaps 200 yards. He notes that the orcs are somewhat self segregated into four groups of five each. One of the gangs is led by a large, swaggering orc that tells inscrutable, orcish jokes whilst his cronies laugh and tug their forelocks. Being conversant in orcish, Rhys learns that their human prisoners are engaged in felling timber to build siege engines, that the orcs are anxious to pillage Threshold and make off with many slaves, that none of them seem to like the general leading the army, a hobgoblin named Thrazz, and that the orcs think that they are far superior to any other species.

Most of the orcs are armed with shortbows, cruel, curved shortbows and round shields slung over their backs. The larger of the orcs, however, carry great two-bitted axes they twirl and heft with ease.

On Rhys' return, Severi advises that they should come at the orcs from the direction of the bridge, so that they cannot flee so easily. He suggests using their Sleep magics on the first few groups of five, and rallying the axe-armed captives to attack the latter groups of orcs once their numbers are cut down.

Tev Meren, Fighter

Tev agrees, hefting his shield with a grim expression hellbent for orcish murder on his face.

Klarmont 10, AC 1000
Woods north of Threshold
10:00 am

The adventurers swing a wide arc south around their quarry, moving to position themselves in such a position that any fleeing monsters will have to go through a wall of steel. They are nearly into position when, all of a sudden, they catch a glimpse of another group of orcs, moving through the forest towards the logging site, trying -- without much success -- to lead a team of mules through the trees. It does not look as though the party has yet been noticed, though it is likely that if the adventurers do not act with alacrity they will soon be spotted.

Severi attempts to put them to sleep.

Severi's spell causes all five orcs to fall into a deep slumber.

Rhys the executioner

Rhys moves forward and begins eliminating the sleeping orcs.

Thurgan, dwarf

Thurgan rushes over to slay his ancestral enemies not having any invisibility to lose.

Four of the orcs have puches containing a single gold piece each. The third has a pouch with 5 gp. The five are quickly dispatched whilst the mules stand by nervously. These orcs, too, have a similar red staining around their mouths.

Severi ties up the mules for later, and motions the party to continue on in silence toward the slaver bands.