She'd have been in deep doo-doo if she had had any intention of fighting all these Orcs at this time. She almost smiled at the scene, thinking that it played right into their tactics. It was about as Nyssia had described it.

Heading straight for the cave entrance, she ran right past the leader at the table, swinging at him as she passed. And she continued swinging at other Orcs she passed until she reached the entrance, pausing for a moment to look to see if any of her allies were following and needed help.

If not, she runs out of the cave and heads back the way she'd come, yelling out, "RETREAT! RETREAT! THERE'S TOO MANY OF THEM! RETREAT!"

01:49, Today: Mithra Stormraven rolled 25,10,24,7,6,5 using 1d20+5,1d8+3,1d20+5,1d8+3,1d20+5,1d8+3 ((20,7,19,4,1,2)).

Attack against the Orc leader is a critical hit! She does 19 points to him!

She hits the second Orc for 7 points of damage.

She not only misses the third Orc, but he accidentally trips her! Since she's at a full run, though, she lets her momentum assist her in rolling back to her feet.

Nyssia sits in the tree, watching with her crossbow in hand. She rolls her eyes at the muttering of the elf and human in the distance. "No idea of stealth..." she muttered to herself as she shifted from her perch.

She herself grew impatient for something to happen

The plan wasn't to see how many Orcs the advance team could kill, though killing any of them would have been a boon.

So, Willem, Stonecrow, and Theirastra are still in the second cave, while Mithra had advanced through the back tunnel into the third cave.

If you three don't follow her into the tunnel, you hear her shouting as she runs by outside, where Thressa is still waiting to cover your retreat.



Victor, Krivath, and Lureene continue to whack at Orcs on the other side of the path from the caves.

Then Mithra runs out of one of the caves shouting and heading back to the others.

There are a couple of dead Orcs left behind, but the whole Orc camp is now awake and roused. It's a bit chaotic as they try to get organized, something they weren't ever particularly good at to begin with.


((OOC: Taking a bit longer than I thought it would, so half of the players are on hold. Kind of fast-forwarding a bit rather than keep dealing with little things.))

Stonecrow had spend a bit of time beating on one orc. That wasn't really the plan, but he'd hoped to hurt or down at least one before they ran off. But Mithra was screaming and still running so he followed the plan and exited the cave at a run - and he could run FAST!

Ensuring that the others were out of the way, Willem was last out of the cave, slashing with his greatsword to make sure no chasing Orc got too close. He kept a good pace in retreat, trying to keep any pursuers interested.

Victor repeats Mithra's call to retreat, and begins to flee towards the ambush point.

Although Theirastra's first attack missed, she pressed on, attacking again and again and probably would have attacked the Orc again just to make sure he was dead if Willem hadn't dragged her out of the cave in the 'panicky' retreat.

Orc count in the cave: three dead, 15 still functioning, including the leader.


Victor and Lureene each had enough time to attack a second Orc, having killed the first Orc they each attacked. Krivath, on the other hand, wasn't able to kill the Orc he attacked by himself, and got a distant hand from Thressa.

Then came the retreat call. If it hadn't been part of The Plan, Victor and Lureene might not have 'given up' so easily.

Orc count on the left: 5 dead, 19 still functioning.


As the group retreats back around the curve where the rocky outcropping was, those in the back can see dozens of Orcs streaming out of the caves besides the ones on the left that are now chasing you.


Back at the ambush site, those with good hearing register the sound of angry Orcs. Their shouts carry farther ahead than the sounds of battle did.

Before long, Mithra and the others come running into sight. Less than a minute behind them comes a horde of Orcs!

"First injured is mine." And that first arrow misses, but in a rush he takes a second shot. The next shots weren't any better.

rolled 11,7 using d20+5,d8+3 with rolls of 6,4.  Longbow Attack.
rolled 16,10 using d20+5,d8+3 with rolls of 11,7.  Action Surge.

rolled 6,7 using d20+5,d8+3 with rolls of 1,4.  R2 Longbow Attack.

rolled 16,10 using d20+5,d8+3 with rolls of 11,7.  R3 Longbow Attack .
This message was last edited by the player at 04:05, Mon 23 Aug 2021.

Just over a hundred feet up the side of the cliff and a little bit away from the designated choke point Cinnabar perks up as soon as she hears the orcs yelling.  Making sure she is ready to close the door behind the returning team as they lure the orcs closer.

As soon as the last of the team is clear of the area, long seconds before the orcs arrive she takes out a set of seven small and pointy twigs and holds them all between her fingers in a complex pattern that somehow makes it look like one of the points is facing each direction except down, but her concentration is clearly focused on the spot in the path.

There are no detectable, if you didn't see her casting it you wouldn't know anything had changed.

When the assault team comes running back pursued by over 50 Orcs, everyone can make up to 3 actions/attacks before any of the Orcs close within attack range, though a few may have bows. There's certainly enough to go around!

After that, if there are any Orcs left, it'll boil down to initiative and individual combat.

As Mithra leads the retreat, she almost runs past the ambush site because the rest of the team is so well hidden. In any case, she needs to allow room for the rest to follow behind her.

She stops and whirls, expecting an Orc to be there right on her tail. There wasn't one right there, but as the rest of the team spreads out, an Orc comes running at her.

17:49, Today: Mithra Stormraven rolled 21,11,18 using 1d20+5,1d20+5,1d20+5 ((16,6,13)). That should be two hits.

17:55, Today: Mithra Stormraven rolled 8,8 using 1d8+3,1d8+3 ((5,5)). That should be enough to kill him.

Next Orc!

He couldn't help wondering, as he ran, if the Dark Eye was watching him or was it watching the Orcs?

He wasn't really tough enough to be a front-line combatant, so when Mithra stopped and turned, he ran right past her before turning himself.

As the Orcs approached, he wanted to wait until there were more of them together before he cast his main spell. Till then, he'd have to make do with his Eldritch Blast.

First attack: 22:20, Today: Krivath Sparkfyre rolled 18,10 using 1d20+4,1d10+4 ((14,6)). The beam strikes an Orc for 10 points of damage.

Second attack: 22:21, Today: Krivath Sparkfyre rolled 23,13 using 1d20+4,1d10+4 ((19,9)). He tried to target the same Orc since his first beam didn't kill it... and hits for 13 points of damage, which should finish it off.

Third attack: 22:23, Today: Krivath Sparkfyre rolled 21,7 using 1d20+4,1d10+4 ((17,3)). That one hits, too! Another Orc takes 7 points of damage.

This was turning out pretty good! Maybe he'd just stick with his blast!

Thressa retreats with Mithra shooting at an Orc with an Eldritch Blast.



20:06, Today: Thressa Wildflamme rolled 2 using 1d10 with rolls of 2.  Eldritch Blast damage.

20:06, Today: Thressa Wildflamme rolled 11 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 5.  Eldritch Blast attack.

Nyssia allowed a small smile as the team came running, muttering to herself softly. "About bloody time" Her smile dropped when she saw the 50 orcs trailing. "Oh buggar."

She lined up her crossbow and fired, missing the first, causing a soft curse from the gnome. She reloaded and again fired, hitting one in the arm. "To hell with this..." She said, dropping the crossbow to her side she began a soft toned song, looking at the back of the group. An inky black darkness grew as she sang the low toned song, singing away the light from the area.

---

Round one
Action - Attack With crossbow

Round Two
Action - Attack with Crossbow

Round Three
Action - Cast Darkness at the back end of the group of orcs.

Calling on Sune Firehair to help her, Lureene turns as soon as Mithra does, and strikes at the oncoming horde with weapons both physical and spiritual... or so she'd hoped, but her hasty mace strikes missed wildly, and the spiritual weapon fared little better.

OOC: I think my hammer will be over, so I will recast one...

Three mace attacks:
00:52, Today: Lureene Raventree rolled 12,9 using d20+6,d6+3 with rolls of 6,6.  Mace attack #1.
00:52, Today: Lureene Raventree rolled 7,7 using d20+6,d6+3 with rolls of 1,4.  Mace attack #2. (eek)
00:52, Today: Lureene Raventree rolled 7,5 using d20+6,d6+3 with rolls of 1,2.  Mace attack #3. (eek)


00:53, Today: Lureene Raventree rolled 17,10 using d20+8,d8+5 with rolls of 9,5.  Spiritual hammer attack #1.
00:54, Today: Lureene Raventree rolled 10,6 using d20+8,d8+5 with rolls of 2,1.  Spiritual hammer attack #2.
00:54, Today: Lureene Raventree rolled 9,6 using d20+8,d8+5 with rolls of 1,1.  Spiritual hammer attack #3. (eek)

The dice roller wants me dead.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:55, Mon 23 Aug 2021.

Covering the rear as they ran, Willem covered the distance easily. Though he disliked the idea of running in the face of the enemy he knew this was all part of the plan. With his enhanced strength from the magic gauntlets, he found moving in his simple chain shirt somewhat easier than before. He moved passed the ambush point then turned with the others and prepared to faced the onslaught. With no range weapon he stood in front of the others, preparing to take on the first Orc that made it this far. He stood, gripping his greatsword in two hands and said a silent prayer to Torm, asking the True and Loyal Fury to guide his sword to victory this day.

OOC - I have no missile weapon so no action to take, but I will prepare to strike as soon as anything is in range. Not sure if this will give me any kind of Advantage on Initiative or my first blow.

After setting the spike trap as planned to work within the darkness effect Cinnabar switches to creating magical stones out of the stack of pebbles she has collected, tossing one down the cliff at whatever orc is trying to get creative, and handing the other two out to anyone else able to throw them or use them in a sling.

Kessife fires her crossbow a couple times, and her first shot does hit an orc, but she's not sure whether it pierced through its armor. The second shot is a bit better.

Then she switches gears, seeing Nyssia's darkness spell form. She casts her magical web to trap the orcs ahead of the darkness, hoping that some of them would blindly run forward into the webs.

Round one: Crossbow hits AC 12 for 7 piercing damage.
Round two: Crossbow hits AC 16 for 10 piercing damage. Put away crossbow.
Round three: Draw wand. Cast web, targeting the area directly in front of the darkness spell, anchoring between trees, boulders, and/or rock walls as available. Anyone entering the area or starting its turn there must make a DC 14 Dexterity save or be restrained.

11:10, Today: Kessife rolled 12,7 using 1d20+4,1d8+2 with rolls of 8,5.  Crossbow attack, damage #1.
11:10, Today: Kessife rolled 16,10 using 1d20+4,1d8+2 with rolls of 12,8.  Crossbow attack, damage #2.

Stonecrow slowed a bit to be towards the back of the group leading the orcs on the merry chase. He was faster than normal people so speed wasn't his concern. He set the quarterstaff on his back and pulled the light crossbow off. He looked back and fired a bolt, then reloaded and kept moving. He repeated that once more as he moved. Of course, they were baiting the orcs, so both shots were horrible misses, further playing up their 'incompetence' and 'easy kills'.

22:52, Today: Stonecrow rolled 7,11,8,6 using d20+5,d8+3,d20+5,d8+3 with rolls of 2,8,3,3.  Two light crossbow shots.

Theirastra would retreat with the other's as she was dragged out of the cave by Willem. Once to the ambush site she grinned as Mithra stopped and turned, doing the same thing herself. "Time to dance." She says to the woman next to her, and then she does so. Dancing, or bladedancing for that matter from orc to orc!

[OOC: Bonus Action: Blade Dancing. My AC jumps from 16 to 20 now. My movement speed goes from 30 to 40 now.
Cast Green-Flame Blade. Attack one with sword, as the flame arc's to a second.

http://dnd5e.wikidot.com/spell:green-flame-blade

15:47, Today: Theirastra Nailo rolled 23,7 using 1d20+5,1d8+4 with rolls of 18,3.  Longsword/Greenflame Blade attack 1.
Hit AC: 23
Damage: 7

4 Fire Damage will arc to the second one.

15:48, Today: Theirastra Nailo rolled 24,5 using 1d20+5,1d8+4 with rolls of 19,1.  Longsword/Greenflame Blade attack 2.
Hit AC: 24
Damage: 5

4 Fire Damage will arc to the second one.

15:48, Today: Theirastra Nailo rolled 24,7 using 1d20+5,1d8+4 with rolls of 19,3.  Longsword/Greenflame Blade attack 3.
Hit AC: 24
Damage: 7

4 Fire Damage will arc to the second one.

When she drops one, or in this case, 2, she'll move on to the next.]

From an area just off the trail, Cunaar fired off two Firebolts at the onrushing Orcs.

00:18, Today: Cunaar Clothar IV rolled 15,10,13,8 using 1d20+4,1d10,1d20+4,1d10 ((11,10,9,8)).

Oh, yea! We're cooking now! Both should hit the Orc he targeted for a total of 18 points of damage, resulting in one crispy fried Orc! I hope.

"And for my next magic trick," he said to no one in particular, "here's a pretty Flaming Sphere."

He knew at least two others of his team also had the spell. This could be FUN!

Ero stifles a yawn before casting Grease a few feet ahead of the oncoming orcs.

Victor fires a ray of frost at the farthest orc within 30' before his first move (hitting AC 15 for 12 damage, and reducing the target's speed by 10 until my next turn.)
Then, assuming the orcs outrun him and close in melee, the next two turns will be spent swinging the Defender. (missing three times, then hitting AC 22 for 12 damage.)

22:24, Today: Victor Harkness rolled 15,12 using 1d20+4,2d8 with rolls of 11,6,6.  Ray of frost attack, damage.
22:28, Today: Victor Harkness rolled 22,12 using 1d20+6,1d8+5 with rolls of 16,7.  Defender attack, damage (+3 bonus set to AC).
22:27, Today: Victor Harkness rolled 7,7 using 1d20+6,1d8+5 with rolls of 1,2.  Defender attack, damage (+3 bonus set to AC).
22:27, Today: Victor Harkness rolled 9,8 using 1d20+6,1d8+5 with rolls of 3,3.  Defender attack, damage (+3 bonus set to AC).
22:26, Today: Victor Harkness rolled 9,12 using 1d20+6,1d8+5 with rolls of 3,7.  Defender attack, damage (+3 bonus set to AC).

You have no idea how many Orcs were in the camp. Between Nyssia's reconnaissance and the Assault Team's effort, at least 70 Orc could be accounted for, but there were probably more in the other caves.

You know that 8 dead Orcs were left behind.

As the small horde of Orcs chase after the Assault Team, their lack of organization and leadership, coupled with their basic savagery, means they charge headlong into battle, unable to believe that they aren't superior.

Prizzard, Cinnabar, Mithra, Kriv, Theirastra, and Cunaar each manage to kill one Orc out of the initial charge, while Thressa, Nyssia, Lureene, Kessife, Victor, and Theirastra managed to deal damage to another 6 Orcs. Thia is then able to finish off three of them with her longbow.

Theirastra, Lureene, and Victor are the only three in melee with still living Orcs, and they get attacked.

15:22, Today: StarMaster rolled 11,8,23 using 1d20+5,1d20+5,1d20+5 ((6,3,18)).

Only one of them manages to hit Victor for 9 points of damage.

This was the first wave of charging Orcs, who were a bit faster than their comrades. Of the 12 in this wave, 9 are dead and 3 are in combat with Lureene, Theirastra and Victor.

The second wave is only a few steps behind, but 4 of them run into Ero's Grease on the ground, slip and fall down, while another 4 get caught in Kessife's Web. The last six wind up in Nyssia's Darkness and become disoriented. Two of them run off the small cliff off on the left, while 3 more (if you can believe the sounds) are apparently attacking each other. The last one breaks out of the darkness, avoids the web and the grease and charges Willem.

Those who were waiting saw that there was a third wave. Not so much organized as such but probably those from the farther caves and got off to a slow start. You saw them suddenly stop... at least some of them, and you realize that they've entered Cinnabar's Spike Growth area. Then the darkness envelopes them and you lose sight of them.

From her perch up on the cliff to the right, Cinnabar can see that there's yet a 4th wave of around 30 Orcs bringing up the rear, but they've stopped before entering the spiky area.

As the Orc charged, Willem hefted his greatsword and prepared to swing. His blade raced through the air and... he missed by a country mile! His pumping blood had made him swing too hard, and his weapon went so quickly that it was through its arc before the Orc had actually reached him. Cursing himself for being so foolish he prepared to defend himself.

08:09, Today: Grey Willem rolled 8 using 1d20+7 with rolls of 1.  Attack v Orc closest to me.

What a time to roll a 1!!!