ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY TWO
(I/C)
“So?” Lannis asked, “Web spell?”
Brendon shook his head, “I’m not happy about the web idea. I think it’s a waste to use on this.” He looked back at the portal. “We could open the door a li’l to set off the trap over and over. It might piss off the orcs that they just remove it or they become so annoyed by it falling all the time that they just ignore It.”
Kovid shook his head. “I think if we’re going to do it, let’s just do it.”
“I agree with Captain Beardface,” Lannis said. "Messing with the door or repeatedly setting off the trap seems like a waste of time. I say we just set it off and fight them, we've still got plenty of magic and fight left in us to take them"
Kovid busted out his map and spread it out for the group. “The Orcs will come investigate...I say we place a lure at the ‘?’, trying to get them to the hallway t-junction. Maybe Big Brain has an idea for that. Brendon and I will be hidden in the hanged hob bedroom, the rest of you pair up in round the corners in the East and West halls. If they get as far up as the bedroom, Brendon can sneak up behind them then we have them surrounded.
Worst case scenario they don’t go down the hall, but we can at least listen to see how strong their numbers are. See what we’re up against.” He shrugged, rolling it up. “Bad idea? I won’t be offended.”
Lyra was looking at the end door with a critical eye, “That’s one of the first plans I don’t hate. At least this way we can assess and retreat if we think we will get overwhelmed.” She clucked once and shook her head, seeing there was no way to tie a rope to it. Instead she went to the room where the hobgoblin had been hung and listened, hearing nothing within. “So, this door?”
Lannis clapped Abraxas on the back. "Well I've certainly heard worse plans.” He smiled at the Fighter. “Dibs, I’m with you, big guy.”
“Excellente!” the Fighter shrugged.
“Good plan, Monsieur Dwarf,” Wyn replied with a smile, sling out. “I tink getting de drop on de orcs is an exciting idea.”
“Yep, big old sleep spell ready to get as many of them as we can.”
Brendon shook his head. “Um, Kovid and I will be in that room over there,” he pointed. “Can you guarantee that your spell won’t capture us?”
“Magic is both an exact and a chaotic enterprise. Chance is often a part of all things and you have to be flexible.”
“Big brain,” Kovid asked slowly. “Can you target your spell that it won’t risk getting Brendon and I?”
“Er…I don’t…have to answer that now because there are too many variables in play to figure that out,” he answered smugly.
“If there is a chance you put us to sleep, don’t take that chance.” Brendon snapped his fingers.
The Magic User saluted, “Taken under advisement.”
Giving Lannis a last look, Brendon smiled, “I like the li’l man’s plan. Let’s all get in place and I’ll be the guy to open the door and then run back to the bedroom.”
Abraxas grinned, "I would hope that we would put that Ballista to work at least once. Then we never have to think about it again. But I think this... como dices... ambushles should work mucho bien.” He gave the dwarf a friendly nudge, “Careful Señor Kuvud, pretty soon you'll be el grande cabazea around here. Put Señor Lioness out of the Big Brain business."
The group had opened the door to the hobgoblin hanging bedroom and found another body hanging here, also marked with Corfard’s Blessing. Brendon had him cut down after standing on the bed, and Abraxas had him brought to the “lure” mark on the floor. He jammed a javelin in his chest and then Lyra cleared her thought, “Um, problem.”
“What? You throw a shoe?” Lannis asked.
“Dick. No, lantern is going to be in the bedroom, and we can’t see.” She pointed around. “And the body is cool, so it won’t stand out.”
Wyn nodded. “Candles, Priestesse. Something we ‘ave in abundance.” He took one out and positioned it near the corner and lit it. Lannis did the same on the west side. “See? Now the body is illuminated, shadows are thrown behind us down zee hall, and it should attract th’ vert sacs d’ecume.” (Remove 1 candle from each of your inventory)
Once all was set up and in place, Lannis and Abraxas just at the corner of the west side of the hall, Lyra and Wyn at the corner of the east side, and Kovid in the Hobgoblin hanging bedroom, hammer of Theystra out, Brendon snuck to the door, turned the knob…and pulled.
Before the door fully opened there was the sound of clattering wood, metal, poles, chairs, and god knows what making a HELL of a racket down the steps and echoing into the gloom in that direction. The Scout turned fast and jogged back to the bedroom where Kovid shut it and the group heard the echoing call of an orcish voice yelling, “’Lert!”
Followed by another slightly more distant, “’Lert!” (d6 alarm concern? Higher more: White 6).
And then the group heard the sound of a horn blast and orcish yelling voiced in the distance running and pounding and charging along. Everyone had their weapons ready, gripping them tight and brows furrowed. “Steady,” Abraxas said. “Wait and see.”
As the orcs drew closer they slowed and stopped (Reaction 2d6: 3+1 – 4, aggressive stance.) (Surprise check: pink d6, not)
“Ratkiller,” one of the orcs said. “Well?”
“They ain’t up here aready ta be kilt.”
“What’s there?"
“Dead Hobgoblin?”
“They kill it?”
“No. Hobgoblin kilt it.”
“Oh.” A long pause. “That one.” Another pause. “What’s it doing?”
“Lying there. Javelin in its neck.”
“Sounds deadly.”
“Yah. They kilt it again.”
“Flucking bastarges.” A pause. “Anything else?”
“Yah. Candles."
“Why?”
“Dunno. Dead guy can’t read.”
“Oh! What’s written there?”
“Can’t tell.”
Long pause. “Ok, here’s the deal. I bet they are up there. I bet they are on each side of the hall, most likely real far down the hall and ready to shoot us. So we are going to go up there and NOT stick our faces out in the hall.”
“You sure, Globrock?” Pause. “It would show bravery.”
“Ratkiller, we talk of this. Brave and stupid are NOT the same thing.”
“True,” another orc voice came. “I was on fire and it was both stupid and not brave.”
“See! He knows.” Pause. “Ok, so we go down hall, get body, drag back, and then snuff candles.”
There was a smattering of voices agreeing. “Shields up. You two, bows ready.” Pause. “Let’s go.”
The voices that had been echoing from the top of the stairs ended and we heard footsteps getting closer while Abraxas gripped his Scythe and arced it back, ready to swing as the reflection of an orc’s shield finally showed in the candle light.
(Initiative: Party Steel 6, Orcs: Red/Black 4)
Time now is: Day 5, 11: 11 AM
(OOC)
Top of the round. 8 orcs in the hall from the stairs to the corner, two have bows. Keep spacing in mind and look at pic please. You’re up!
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