Hurrying through the courtyard to get under the platform Evesa notices the others pull out there weapons. Damn she thinks In all the excitement I have pull out my sword rather than my crossbow. I'll need to get better at the actual fighting to finish this task I have set myself. Moving around to get her crossbow Evesa misses the chance to fire in first volley of arrows.

Three arrows fly.  All hit, but it is Cuaglar's shot that punches into, even through, the orc's chest and it falls stone dead.  Unfortunately, the orc's death does not go unremarked.  From above you hear hoarse cursing.  Those of you who understand Orc hear "&*%^%$!  They're in the courtyard!  Form up you %$^&&!.  The platform screens the top of the tower, and the speaker, from view.

OOC: edited for PG rating ;)

Well, the orc's dead.  Judging by the noises now coming from the tower beside you, you have maybe 30 seconds to a minute to act before the tower's occupants get organised.  What are you going to do?

OOC:  DM Fletch, maybe it is just me, but I am having a hard time visualizing our options.  Zyphen's inclination would be to either evade the orcs (unlikely with a paladin in plate mail) or find a definsible position to hole up, where Zyphen and maybe Cuaglar can perch with bows and snipe at people without there being many clear avenues for the orcs to shoot back.  I am not sure where that would be.  There is a roof thing in the court yard, but I am having a hard time visualizing if that is a defensible position.

That's not your fault, mind you.  This is always where I personally get stuck on message boards; when one hits a relatively complex 3D landscape with no 3D models to show the players what it looks like (we used to use stacks of books for buildings, figurines for people, etc.), and no way to just chat back and forth until you understand it.

I would personally find it helpful in this instance if you provided us with a few of the obvious things we could do, but I know some DMs don't like to do that.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:42, Fri 02 May 2008.

OOC: Fair enough.  It is pretty hard to map/visualise a large area with varying height levels.  In crude terms your options for a defensible position are:

1. Stay where you are.  The platform shields you from attack from the battlements and towers but you are fairly exposed at ground level.

2.  Go up onto the platform.  You don't know much about what's up there but you do know that there's no railing/wall.  It would be a strong position against an attack from the courtyard but it abuts the wall so you could be attacked along the wall and you'd be exposed to missile fire from the towers.

3.  Attack.  Clearing out the garrison in any one of the towers or buildings would give you a position of real strength.  Close the doors and they would have to counterattack a fortified position.  You would also risk getting stuck inside :)

OOC: I use dominoes.  :)  Never got one of those vinyl wipe-off sheety things.  But towers are hard to do with 'em.
I would vote going to one of the towers on the wall.  But, in the future, we should really denote a leader, at least temporarily.  When we're not in combat, we shouldn't have someone telling us what to do.  But we don't have time for democracy  when we're in the middle of a siege.

Zyphen would also favor attacking, since this is not particularly defensible.

If we duck our heads out from under the platform shielding us from attacks from the battlements, are there any targets of opportunity?  If so, Zyphen would want to stay and take a few shots, perhaps with Cuaglar, while Atalakis led a charge into the garrison.  If there are no targets of opportunity, Zyphen would just follow immediately.

Thanks, Fletch!  That's exactly what I needed.

Cuaglar:  I am fine with someone being leader if people would like to do that.  I think one issue that sometimes creates on message boards is that only the leader really talks in battle, but I suppose that's not a huge deal.

OOC: Corven would be willing to charge the towers with Atalakis.  Sounds exciting!

I'm not sure we have set ourselves up well. thinks Evesa to herself. Maybe we should try a surprise move like attacking the orcs directly. Whatever we do we need to decide sooner rather than later.

"I don't like the position we are in. Either we are exposed to anyone above or to anyone in the courtyard. I think it is too late to find a better position, so maybe our option is to charge the orcs as they come out of the tower." suggests Evesa, as everyone would have heard the orc's shout. Looking around she returns her crossbow and pulls out her longsword ready for an attack.

Atalakis surveys the situation with a thoughtful, almost distant look about him. You might suspect he is envisioning an epic battle.

He then shakes his head slightly looking at the group, a serious look about him. I say our best option is to take the fight to them. He raises his lance/greatsword ( Which depends on whether he can attack from his mount or not. Can he ride his mount to charge or is there not enough room?).

I will take the lead. We will rush the nearest tower.

He begins to reign his horse in (if possible) in the direction of a nearby tower. Waiting for an adequate opening and for the others to ready themselves.

The decision is made to attack the nearest tower.  Atalakis volunteers to lead the charge.  Which begs the question: direct assault or stealth and caution?  It will be difficult to catch the orcs in the tower unawares but it might still be possible.

OOC: If I don't hear people clamouring to go scouting then I'm going to assume a direct attack is in order, so that we can get on with the next good bit :)

OOC: I'm going to assume that, as the alarm has been risen (given?) that speed is going to be more useful than stealth, in this situation.

Cuaglar sung out a phrase in elven as he ran out toward the door of the tower,
"Elain amara telos!
Alavar huinen delos!"

"Blades shine in the moon!
Arrows sing in the sun!"

Zyphen shrugs as the paladin prepares to charge.  "It is not how I would assault a keep of orcs left to my own devices, but we aren't sneaking up on anyone with him around, anyway."

Zyphen will try to stay in the middle of the group, or in the shadows, or anywhere where he is not a prime target.  Bow out.

Corven will advance with Atalakis (although not foolish, letting the heavily armored warrior go first!).

You move quickly out from under the cover of the platform.  It doesn't take long to cross the short distance to the open door of the tower.  Inside you find a bare room.  The only visible feature is a stone staircase that rises in a tight spiral to the room above.  Several other features of the room are immediately apparent, though.  The smell suggests that the room has recently been used as a lavatory.  The noise suggests that any attempt at stealth would have been wasted effort, it sounds like a pitched argument is going on above.

This impression is confirmed when you climb the stairs.  Two orcs are collecting weapons from a rack along one wall.  Four others are clustered around another, larger orc who seems intent on browbeating the others into obedience.  As a result, you are almost upon them before they are aware of you.

This room appears to be the orcs barracks as well as their armoury.  The debris on the floor makes movement difficult.

  1 2 3 4 5
  _ _ _ _ _
A|         |   X = spiral staircase down
B|  X     o|   Y = spiral staircase up
C|    o   o|   o = orcs
D|o O o Y  |   O = big orc
E|_ _ o _ _|

OOC: You get a surprise round, but you can't run or charge as a result of the assorted bedding, food and weaponry scattered on the floor.  The net effect is that you each get to pick a starting grid position (as your surprise round movement) then the fight proper starts.

Cuaglar took up a position along one wall, menacing the orcs with his bow, though he knew that soon he would have to draw blades instead.
OOC: Taking up position at B3

Zyphen would like to take a position from which he can get a clear shot with his bow, if that is at all possible.  In order of preference:

1.  The spiral staircase up (so I can shoot down on orcs), but only if someone else is guarding the base of it;
2.  The spiral staircase down (might be able to get partial cover from the floor, but probably harder to get a clean shot at things);
3.  A1.

If Zyphen has time during the surprise round, once he takes his position he will use a Swift action to activate his armor.


This message was last edited by the player at 20:59, Thu 15 May 2008.

Following the lead of the paladin Evesa moves towards the tower door and inside. She is happy to be in the middle of the group moving towards and then up the staircase. Finding a position along a wall she tests her grip on the hilt of the sword and prepares to do battle.

OCC: Evesa will move towards A5 if possible.

Corven will leap out of the staircase, keeping the open hole between him and the smelly, dirty orcs.


OOC:  Corven will move to A2.

NPC'ed
Atalakis' first instinct is to plunge straight into the midst of the orcs but in the relatively small room he has to adjust his position to make room for his companions to fight.  He takes comfort from the fact that there are still three orcs within swords-reach.

With that, the moment of surprise is over and battle is joined in earnest.

OOC: Okay, time for the first round of combat, you know what to do :)

Also, Zyphen (who is still on the staircase) and Cuaglar please note that although you've both opted to keep your bows, you are already within the threatened area of the closest orc.  You'll get one round of shots off - at best - before bows become dangerously impractical.

  1 2 3 4 5
  _ _ _ _ _
A|  C     E|   X = spiral staircase down
B|  Z M A o|   Y = spiral staircase up (under Zyphen)
C|    o   o|   o = orcs
D|o O o Y  |   O = big orc
E|_ _ o _ _|
               C = Corven
               E = Evesa
               A = Atalakis
               Z = Zyphen
               M = Cuaglar (yes I know that doesn't make any sense but C and A both clash)

Cuaglar agilely skipped back, while pulling an arrow from his quiver and setting it to the string. When he was out of reach, he let it fly at the orc right in front of him.

OOC: Taking a 5-foot-step to A3, and then shooting the orc in C3.
09:51, Today: Cuaglar Annondur rolled 21 using 1d20+10. Ranged attack roll
09:52, Today: Cuaglar Annondur rolled 4 using 1d8. Damage.

Zyphen will fire quickly at the orc at D1 while retreating to the corner.  Once there he will use his armor to create a cloud of silvery mist that conceals him from the orcs.

Round 1

20 Initiative

Full Round Action:  Rapid Shot
Free:  5' step to A1
Swift:  Silver mist per previous post.

Attacks:  16, 11
Damage:  13 (on the 16 attack roll)

Effects:

Fill space with silver mist (7/day, Swift).
     Mist lasts 1 min., grants concealment, does not interfere with user's
     vision, does not move.

10 rounds left.

Corven pulls out his trusty sling, whirling a stone around his head.  After realizing that his companions are blocking the way to the other orcs, Corven instead aims his stone right in the direction of the big orc leader.  Unfortunately the stone merely bounces off of his thick, grimy skin.  Corven curses under his breath and draws another stone!  Next time the orc shall taste the Justice of Chauntea!


Round 1

13:18, Today: Corven rolled 7 using 1d20-5. Corven Init!.

13:19, Today: Corven rolled 10 using 1d20+3. Round 1:  Sling Attack!.

7 Initiative

Full Round Action:  Sling stone at Big Orc
Free:  None
Swift:  None

Attacks:  10
Damage:  NA

Evesa moves to the corner of the tower and prepares to attack the orc in front of her. She swings her longsword and misses the orc completely. Finding it hard to move with Atalakis standing next to her Evesa draws a breath and prepares herself for the next attack.

OCC: How can I roll the same result for both damage and attack. Stupid dice roller.

20:24, Today: Evesa rolled 7 using 1d20+4. Round 1 longsword.
20:24, Today: Evesa rolled 7 using 1d8+1. Round 1 damage.

As battle is joined Zyphen, Cuaglar and Corven step back and release a volley of missiles.  Zyphen drops his target but Cuaglar's mark is only wounded and Corven misses completely.  Atalakis hacks down one of the orcs standing by the weapons racks having waited barely long enough for it to turn to face him and put up an honourable guard. Atalakis NPC'ed

The other orcs seem undismayed by their casualties.  Perhaps it is the sight of their foes, already backed up against the wall, or perhaps it is simply the orcish love of battle.  They are armed with a crude mixture of falchions, shortspears and axes, which they put to good use in the close confines of the tower.

The orc shot by Cuaglar slips between Atalakis and the stairwell to confront his attacker, striking a vicious blow with his spear and nearly pinning Cuaglar to the wall. -12HP Cuaglar

Atalakis is to busy disengaging his greatsword from the dead orc's corpse to react.  Indeed, he is almost too late to defend himself.  Only a twist of Atalakis' body prevents one orc from taking an arm off with its axe.  unconfirmed crit -9HP Atalakis  Atalakis does manage to neatly parry his other assailants spear-thrust.

Evesa's parry is less skilful, but with the strength of desperation knocks aside the attack directed at her.

The larger orc stalks purposefully across the 'open' side of the room to engage Zyphen.  He has the bulk and size of a seasoned fighter and even the silver mist surrounding Zyphen does not prevent him getting hit. -10HP Zyphen

  1 2 3 4 5
  _ _ _ _ _
A|Z C M   E|   X = spiral staircase down
B|O X o A o|   Y = spiral staircase up (under Zyphen)
C|    o o x|   o = orcs
D|x     Y  |   O = big orc
E|_ _ _ _ _|   x = dead orc

               C = Corven
               E = Evesa
               A = Atalakis
               Z = Zyphen
               M = Cuaglar