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Tev Meren, Fighter

Tev makes sure everyone is oriented properly towards the eastern door, as he readies his weapon and shield.

Surprise Round

Severi thrusts the door open, revealing a large chamber, some thirty feet in diameter, with another column in the center of the room. A half-dozen of the orc creatures stand around the column, jeering at a humanoid creature chained to -- no, being absorbed by -- the column. At first glance, the captive appears to be roughly the size of a dwarf.

EDIT:

Tev Meren, Fighter
Tev waits for Quint to cast his spell, then moves in to engage any orc still standing.

Thurgan, dwarf

Thurgan will move in after the spell is cast with his sword ready to cut down orcs.

Rhys the Traveler

Rhys likewise waits for Quint to work his magic before advancing. He goes after the nearest uber-orc that is not being engaged by Tev or Thurgan and not near any of the pillars.

Alethan wrote:Rhys the Traveler

Rhys likewise waits for Quint to work his magic before advancing. He goes after the nearest uber-orc that is not being engaged by Tev or Thurgan and not near any of the pillars.

How many pillars are in the room? Just the one? Or are there more?

Tev Meren

Seeing the events in the room, Tev endeavors to give the pillar a wide berth as he works to cleave his orc in twain.

Surprise and First Rounds
As the door slams open, Quint utters the words his his spell of slumber. It is a puissant casting; all but two of the orcs collapse to the ground, and the captive gnome slumps against his bonds. It is short work to kill those two creatures that stand their ground, though they do not yield or seek to flee against the onslaught.

Severi has no interest in endangering his own life, but he checks to see if the gnome can be saved without exposing the group to hazard.

Wyzard wrote:Severi has no interest in endangering his own life, but he checks to see if the gnome can be saved without exposing the group to hazard.

An examination reveals that the gnome has been partially absorbed into the column itself. He is breathing heavily, and appears not to have eaten for a number of days. It is not clear how he could be freed.

Severi considers that the gnome might prefer a merciful death, but on the other hand might know some obscure way of escaping, or other useful knowledge. He picks up some random article from one of the sleeping orcs, kills it as an afterthought, and uses it to slap the gnome awake from a good two paces away.

Quint Kacie
Pleased at the efficacy of his spell, Quint moves into the room after the fighters have slain the unaffected pair of orcs.
"Perhaps the orcs know a means of freeing something from the pillars," he offers. "I expect being trapped itself would be suitable encouragement to give us an answer. Get one of those sleeping up against the pillar, Tev, then we'll wake him up once he's firmly trapped."

Rhys the Traveler

Rhys nods in understanding and helps drag one of the orcs to the pillar and put its hand on the pillar.

Then he will help dispatch the other sleeping orcs.

The gnome jerks awake and struggles weakly for a few moments before realizing that the figures standing over him are not his captors. "Saved!" he cries, in accented Common, "I had given up hope of rescue!"
As Rhys drags the orc its head sharply cracks against the floor. It wakes, and begins to shout loudly and flail about!

Rhys the Traveler

Then Rhys puts it down with his sword before he wakes the others.

Severi Silvertongue, Elf

Severi views the shenanigans with a neutral expression, then addresses the gnome.

"With all contingent condolences, we have not yet effected your rescue. The orcs have pressed you against this grasping stonework, and we do not know a means of freeing you. Are you familiar with any means of removing a living being from these columns? Do you know if they are common to the area?"

Gnome

"Alack and alas, I do not", exclaims the gnome. "I have watched my former partners, one by one, being fed slowly to these carnivorous columns; the devilish denizens of this dour demense oft referred to the practice as 'feeding the Mother'". When I first saw you I had hoped you would know how to free me, but I know see this is not the case."

Severi nods gravely. "Well, our hope is to feed an orc into one of the columns, and perhaps they will see the necessity of explaining how one might be removed from it."

If any orcs yet remain un-slain, Severi indicates that a second attempt at placing one inside the column would be a worthy use of its life. This time, he is careful to cradle the orc's head while his companions shift its body.