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Rhys the Traveler

Rhys scratches two weeks of growth on his chin and thinks a bit. "I might be able to rig a trap or two. Maybe we could use the bodies of the larger orcs to draw their attention in and dig a pit trap or two with some spikes in it for anyone who investigates... But is it worth the time? We might be better off using that time to clear the area, get rid of the bodies completely, and make them wonder what happened to their 20 orcs..."

Vanco introduces himself to the others. He had been with a group of villagers when they were taken by the orcs and have since then been forced to fell timber for siege engines. "I had not realised these creatures were so organised? How is Threshold?" he asks.

During their captivity, he recalls overhearing plans to assault Threshold in a week's time. "If Threshold is encircled, we can likely to nothing with this. But otherwise, we might find our time is best spent warning them."

The largest orc has a pouch containing 10 gold. There are five more orcs with a sizable treasure: each has 5 gold coins. The rest of the orcs have a meager 10 silver coins apiece. The weapons the orcs carry are well made, but deteriorating in the hands of the orcs through misuse and neglect. They are still able to be wielded to deadly effect. A number of short bows are found, with plenty of ammunition; the lesser orcs carry wicked looking knives and swords. The orc champions wield two-handed axes, while the large captain bore shield, sword and long bow.

Except for Vanco, all the captives are simple men and women, mostly farmers, who were swept up in the suddenness of the humanoid attack and held captive. "There's perhaps three dozen more being held, and forced to labor in the woods west of town. I think they mean to launch an assault on the Keep itself, and are felling timber for rams and towers," a middle-aged woman opines, "they kept us all in the same camp, and split us up last night giving us over to those foul beasts as controls the fisherman's village. We best be careful moving around here; there's patrol sweeping up and down the Duke's road intercepting traders and travelers."

It is likely that few of the former captives would be any good hand to hand, with the exception of Vanco and perhaps one or two others, but they all express a willingness to fight and the ability to use a bow. "We're but farmers, really, but no one grows up here on the frontier not knowing how to use a bow, at least."

Thurgan, dwarf

"Lets arm as many of these freed men as we can with the orc's weapons, they'll be better working with us as there is nowhere to go until the invaders are driven off or killed".

Vanco Basou, cleric
"I agree entirely. Even if none are warriors by profession, it will do their souls good to revenge themselves and protect their town."

Two barrels are also discovered: one contains disturbingly unidentifiable dried meat, the other a potent yet acrid beer. It does not look like there is enough food for more than the day. Indeed, one of the men mentions that they were to return to the island before nightfall, as opposed to camping.

Tev Meren, Fighter

Tev greets the priest and agrees with Rhys' plan to distribute the funds found to the men and women held captive.

"If we do something to confuse the scene, it should be something quick. We don't want to be caught out here. I do think it worthwhile to spend fifteen minutes confusing the scene, though. We can give the bodies confusing wounds, remove the body of the leader, trap the bodies somehow... or just do Severi's plan and plant heads."

Tev will share a week's dried rations with the survivors, wary of the food of the orcs.

Vanco Basou, cleric
"Perhaps abandoning the orcs' bodies and leaving this place quickly is our best approach. Do you know how many other parties of them are nearby?"

Severi Silvertongue, Elf

"I don't think a pit trap is worth the time or effort. We should simply put the spiked heads along the roadway, and then retreat a few miles into the woods before sundown. Take up the shortbows, those of you who can, and make sure that someone leads those mules. We might end up having to eat them."

Privately, to the rest of the adventurers, he continues. "I think that the forces they report, ogres and gnolls, are too much for us. We simply don't have the numbers to fight them. We should rest and replenish our spells and our stamina, and then tomorrow see what might be seen. If we could free the prisoners they speak of from the island, that would be a fine thing. But in the end, we might need to carry on to a city which is not yet besieged."

phil285 wrote:Vanco Basou, cleric
"Perhaps abandoning the orcs' bodies and leaving this place quickly is our best approach. Do you know how many other parties of them are nearby?"

Between Vanco and several of the more savvy former captives -- in addition to the information Rhys was able to obtain -- they are able to construct what they believe to be a fairly accurate view of the situation. There are four goblin tribes tasked with surrounding Threshold and maintaining the siege lines. The four tribes are led by the one encamped west of Threshold, the camp with the wolf-riders. The tribe directly north of Threshold was hardest hit in the initial attack on the city, and has lost perhaps half their warriors. In addition to the hobgoblins, gnolls and ogres there is an additional orcish tribe in the forests south of the Keep.

As to the defenders, it is estimated that the Baron's Keep is perhaps at half-strength, as many of his soldiers had previously left to relieve the siege of Penhaligon. There is at least a unit of cavalry, as it was instrumental in repelling the initial assault on the keep, and the drumbeat of horse hooves could be heard across the valley. While it is unlikely there are any mages within town itself, the Baron has a personal magic-user in residence at the Keep. There are, in all likelihood, several units of both footsoldiers and bowmen within the Keep. The defenders of both Keep and town have been able to maintain a steady barrage missile fire upon any humanoids that stumble within range.

The prohibition on magic-users within Threshold has been detrimental, in the siege, as any mage worth her salt has chosen to live outside the town walls. It is possible that some survived and retreated within the walls, but the former captives can remember seeing several slain out of hand instead of being captured. At a best guess, the forces within the city might be something as follows:

About two dozen ordained clerics, from both of the major churches.
The City Guard, perhaps 30-40 men.
Another two dozen or so militia.
There is a small population of both elves and dwarves living in the town. These folk may be able to muster one to two dozen fighters apiece.
Given the frontier nature of the town, it is likely there could be an additional two to three hundred citizens willing to take up arms.

Vanco Basou, cleric
In reply to Severi, Vanco adds, "I agree with finding a safe place to rest. Let's leave now.

"Do you have any ideas how we might cross the river to the island? The orcs seemed fearful of something in the water. Perhaps we can mull this over as we walk."

Thurgan, dwarf

"Certainly a pitched battle is beyond us, but a few more successful missions like this will start to erode their forces greatly and killing more orcs and goblins will always sit well with me. If we could raise a force of mercenaries with spears and bows or crossbows then we could fight the orcs in more pitched battle".

It is now late morning. The safest place to camp, short of retreating no small distance along the Duke's Road, would likely be on the lakeside of the river. However, with horses, mules and more than a dozen followers, completely hiding a trail would be difficult.

Severi prefers to retreat at least a few hours worth of marching along the Duke's road, and then to withdraw off of it into some forested area.

"Where could we possibly raise these mercenaries from?"

Vanco Basou, cleric
"Perhaps some of these former captives may know of any nearby encampments," he suggests (as a rather long shot). Regardless, he spends a few minutes asking the survivors if they knew of any soldiers or mercenaries in the area.
He also agrees with the idea of marching a few hours to put some distance between them and this scene.

Thurgan, dwarf

"Maybe best to retreat further than camp nearby. For the time it may be hard to find somewhere mercenaries can be found, short of going as far as Kelvin".

phil285 wrote:Vanco Basou, cleric
"Perhaps some of these former captives may know of any nearby encampments," he suggests (as a rather long shot). Regardless, he spends a few minutes asking the survivors if they knew of any soldiers or mercenaries in the area.
He also agrees with the idea of marching a few hours to put some distance between them and this scene.

Grizzled Farmhand

"That's the problem, now, ain't it? Most of the mercenary companies in these parts headed east to Penhaligon. I think there's some still in Threshold; they was spreading tall tales of exploring some forgotten city north of here, and a crazy elf throwing dead bodies out of windows. But they're in the city, and we're out here."

Quint Kacie, Scholar-Mage
Not being a military strategist by any means, Quint agrees with the advice to retreat. "I expect that once the invaders find these bodies, they will spend no little effort in trying to find who is responsible. We need to rest and prepare for another raid and even I can see it would be best to be further away before we do that."

Rhys the Traveler

Rhys nods in agreement. "OK. Let's move quickly, then. I'll do what I can to try and hide or disguise our tracks..."

Rhys uses pine boughs and other techniques to try and disguise their trail as best he can as they make their way to a "safe" camping area.

thirdkingdom wrote: Grizzled Farmhand

"...tall tales of exploring some forgotten city north of here, and a crazy elf throwing dead bodies out of windows..."

"The elf undoubtedly had most excellent reasons for this stratagem, though it may not be obvious to lesser intellects, untrained in the secrets of the occult."