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Sven looks concerned at the report.

“A necklace of scalps? That doesn’t sound good at all. I think we better move along and leave them to their breakfast, unless you see some reason to interfere? We might be able to get the jump on them, but do we really want to?”

Orgoth

Whispering, "Agreed, best if we don't have to fight. But if we do skirt them we best have the rear guard keep alert in case they cut our track and decide to follow."

Gerdal nods, hands behind her back. Then in a low voice:

"I concur. We should leave them alone."

"A wise move it seems not to bring the mule, unless we have more swords for hire to protect it."

Isvand quietly speaks his opinion. I fear we will have to fight these creatures either now or later. Better, I think, to do it now while we are all strong and have an element of surprise, rather than at a time of their choosing, especially if we be injured before then. With ranged weapons, we might be able to destroy a few before they could reach us, giving us even more of an advantage. If I am wrong, I will yield to those with more knowledge of this area and these creatures. Which is as close as he's going to come to admitting that this would be his first actual earnest combat.

Steban

Steban looked at Gerdal for a moment, and then turned back to Sven. "Leaving them behind us, if they are a scouting party, would be fatal should they attack when we are surprised or weakened. Are you willing to risk what would happen to us, if that were the case? Likely better to be dead before they find us."

He readied his shield and sword. "Most of the time I am happy to avoid bloodshed. Once the fight is on there is no telling how it will end. In this case, I think our only options are to fight, or to return home. Going forward without dealing with the issue is folly. We have a few moments to prepare, likely they will discover us shortly unless we move in now. I suggest we prepare a battle plan. My recommendation in that I am front and center. How do the rest of you want to go in?"

Sven gulps audibly and looks up at Orgoth, the fear in his eyes giving away his uncertainty.

“Very well. I am not one to attack something without provocation, but I agree to defer the battle decisions to those with the better mind for such things. I will attempt to put some of them to sleep with my magic, but I will definitely not be getting anywhere near the fighting if I can help it. I will cast as soon as you start your charge, so you are not caught up in the spell.”

He looks to the others for their initial ideas for proceeding with the sneak attack. (Bless maybe?)

Orgoth

"If we are doing this, Svens spell as we launch ranged weapons followed by a charge. I will take the left since Steban is taking the center. Isvand, are you fine with the right side?"

Rex wrote: ↑Mon Jul 12, 2021 1:21 am Orgoth

"If we are doing this, Svens spell as we launch ranged weapons followed by a charge. I will take the left since Steban is taking the center. Isvand, are you fine with the right side?"

I am. I will use my bow until we are too intermixed, and then follow in with my morningstar.

May 3rd 1066.

Barrow Moor, south of Helix. Duchy of Aerik.

10.40am. Visibility on Moor, varied, generally good to 30'ft, veiled to 60'ft, obscured beyond.
Cloudy, light breeze. Forecast light rain.
Effects: none.

Journey to 'Standing Stone camp.

The small camp at the Standing Stone camp is occupied by a small force of saurons'. The lizardmen seem at rest, ignorant of your presence as you hunch low behind the bracken thickets talking tactics. The war hawks among you persuading the doves that a pre-emptive strike upon this group of scaly aberrations is of more value than bypassing them. The three warriors of the group prep their weapons as the arcanists intone spells. Brother Fabian whispers casting 'Bless' would aid the group but the vocalization would undoubtedly warn the saurons' of an impending attack and you would lose surprise. He grabs his hammer and shield, feeling Cromm's approval in routing the creatures.

Amos, his face visibly downcast. You will remember he took a vow not to spill blood. He would counsel against 'this folly'.

you can attack with spell or ranged weapons, if you get within 30'ft so you can see the targets.
Then you can rush to melee or continue at range. I will take a group initiative from the the first poster.

so give me the 'surprise' round action then the second attack action or a definitive agreement to slip away unnoticed. Discuss in expedition & planning thread and I will take Sven's post as the group decision.

Group Initiative

group init [1d6]=5

Steban

Waiting unti the spell was cast and getting a nod from Sven, Steban moved forward to attack with sword and shield. His strong voice helps coordinate Orgoth and Isvand's attacks.


Decision Tree, Priority Targets in order
1. Spell caster in action
2. Largest enemy
3. Largest group of enemy


I'm not sure Steban will be in range to attack this round, but if so:
Attack, Damage [1d20]=3, [1d8+1]=4+1=5

If he gets a second round, then:
Attack, Damage [1d20]=8, [1d8+1]=6+1=7

Looks like he's mostly acting as an attention getter while everyone else actually does stuff...

Sven puts a hand on the shoulder of Amos, nodding his head in agreement with the peace loving acolyte.

To the group...."I will follow the fighters in with my spells at the ready." He looks to Gerdal, hoping she will do the same.

Sven targets any groups, tossing his cricket as soon as he is in range.

"May the gods of fate have mercy on our souls."

Gerdal is looking composed and nods back to Sven in affirmation.

"Aye. I will follow you down as you move."

She carefully pulls what looks like dried petals from one of the small pouches hanging from her belt.

Action wise Gerdal will do nothing until she sees the effect from Sven's spell.

Orgoth

Orgoth advances until in range of his Javelin, once Sven's spell is cast he will target any Lizardman still standing and in medium or short range, if none are in range he advances until they are.

Surprise round,
Thrown Jav [1d20]=13 to hit [1d6+3]=6+3=9 damage

Next round,
Thrown Jav [1d20]=18 to hit [1d6+3]=4+3=7 damage

Isvand awaits the signal and starts firing arrows as directed.

Surprise round
First Arrow (dex bonus is included in THAC0 #)
Short Bow THAC019 [1d20]=15
Arrow Damage [1d6]=5
Second Arrow (assuming I can get 2 off in surprise round)
Short Bow THAC019 [1d20]=13 Damage [1d6]=2
1stCombat Round
First Arrow
Short Bow THAC019 [1d20]=2 Damage [1d6]=2
Second Arrow
Short Bow THAC019 [1d20]=7 Damage [1d6]=6

May 3rd 1066.

Barrow Moor, south of Helix. Duchy of Aerik.

10.50am. Visibility on Moor, varied, generally good to 30'ft, veiled to 60'ft, obscured beyond.
Cloudy, light breeze. Forecast light rain.
Effects: none.

Journey to 'Standing Stone camp.

The decision is made to attack the group of lizardmen who intrude upon the Standing Stone camp. Wether it is rash or prudent remains to be seen. Svem hurries forward, releasing a captive cricket and a stream of arcane babble which lulls a number of the saurons into an induced deep sleep. One falls draped over the large stone while the two chatting droop down their spears shafts to crumble upon the bracken foilage. Orgoth throws a slim spear at the one turning the cooking raptors. He gets skewered himself as the barbed shaft erupts from his chest. He is about to call out but a volley of arrows silence any scream.

Charging from the undergrowth, Brother Fabian and Steban rally, wading into the melee with hammer and sword. They take down the sleeping duo without mercy, crushing blows to give them eternal nightmares from which they will not awake.

The fifth lizardman gapes in awe as his comrades suddenly die in front of his eyes. The rout is on and he turns to flee, dodging the next volley of arrows which fly past his shoulder. But even in the veiled mist there is not a place to hide from death. A javelin impales the creature as he runs, bringing him to his knees, gasping for breath amid bloody gouts of spit and cursed words.

Your surprise attack effective to wipe this group out. Three dead, one dying (scalp wearer), one asleep. (plumed helm).

next actions please

Sweet dreams [1d4]=3

Steban

After confirming for himself that the scalps were human or demi-human, Steban ran his blade point first through every lizardman throat. He made sure they were dead. Once finished, he compared the number of lizardman bodies to the apparent number of used sleeping spots, letting the party know if there was a mis-match.

the scalps were only worn by the lizardman with the javelin in his back, currently crawling away in the mist. You may melee with him at a +4 to hit as he feebly defends himself.

The other surviving lizardman is the one wearing the plumed helm, currently slumped over the Standing Stone.

Amos intercedes for him. "Slay him not for surely as he is, you will become."

Spearmint wrote: ↑Mon Jul 12, 2021 7:38 pm the scalps were only worn by the lizardman with the javelin in his back, currently crawling away in the mist. You may melee with him at a +4 to hit as he feebly defends himself.

The other surviving lizardman is the one wearing the plumed helm, currently slumped over the Standing Stone.

Amos intercedes for him. "Slay him not for surely as he is, you will become."

If Steban can tell the scalps are human or demi-human, then he will (do his best to) kill it. "Kill them all."
Attack, Damage [1d20+4]=2+4=6, [1d8+1]=8+1=9

Wow, the die roller must hate me...

Gerdal also steps in when she sees the impending attack on the sleeping lizardman.

"No, leave it be!"

She will not however physically block anyone from killing it.

EDIT: removed meta discussion from main thread

sastaz wrote: ↑Mon Jul 12, 2021 7:46 pm WIll leave to GM/Leitz the order of things here, if Steban gets first,

Steban would go for the live lizardman first, then the sleeping one. He would ignore pleas for mercy for the lizard man, but would not strike a party member to get them out of the way.