Greenbeard's mindset is more "doesn't matter how nice they are, no sense in burning with them."

"I'm sure we'll all have a good time laughing it up when we hear of his untimely end," Greenbeard predicts, "But more importantly, what news of a bonus?  Also, we were just discussing the possibility of leaving once we have our payment.  I get the feeling our survival might depend upon a prompt change of scenery."

"Trust me," Johnny replies, "None of my practical jokes are that bad.  And yes, I think a change of place would so us all some good as well."
This message was lightly edited by the player at 04:14, Fri 18 Apr 2014.

Merric nods. He looks at Julia, then looks at Greenbeard. He answers both, "We get our bonus after the job's done, but we DO get our bonus. As for what our payment concerning catching a traitor is? That is undetermined. It's just our word against hers and she's of decent status. We'll be lucky if we don't wind up punished for hitting her with a rock."

Even as Merric says this, the distant shouts of an army and many screams can be heard coming from the north.

Julia wastes no time in drawing her sword, and moves toward the sounds cautiously, searching for a vantage point. "Looks like trouble followed you. On your guard men!"

  "Well, I suppose most would not expect to have to guard a gate from the inside.  Though I am beginning to sense a pattern."  Guy in charge of gate leaves them, attack.  Lord leaves them, bigger attack.

Greenbeard is very much ill at ease by this latest turn of events.  He hasn't been paid yet!

"Didn't think an example of why I figured it wise to relocate would present itself quit this soon.  Wonder how possible it would be to join the ranks of the invaders if battle turns to their favor."

"And Mice," Johnny says as he pulls out his twin daggers and gets ready to fight.  And then he heard what Greenbeard said.  "Are you sure we want to fight these guys?  Who's the diplomatic type?  And would they like profesisonal entertainers with big ears?"

The invading army are all orcs. They appear to be chopping down everything, anyone and everyone in their path; man, woman, and child. Merric puts on a serious expression and says, "I'm not working for an army of merciless filth like them no matter how much I'm payed." his sword's runes briefly glow with an accompanying hum like that of a charging electronic machine.

There are so many orcs, they seem to be continually spilling in.

Johnny's eyes grow wide as he sees the orcs coming at him.  "I stand corrected"

He then bounded/climbed up to the roof of a nearby building, where a big Ogre was waiting for him!  He immediately took his dagger and rushed the big buy, dealing the first blow of the dance.

---

Attacked with Sly Flourish; rolling a 21 vs AC.  Hit for 22 damage including sneak attack. (1d4+7+2d8)

Merric charges the front line and swings his sword with green fire in its wake! The orcs deftly dodge, however, and look ready to retaliate.

  "Hmm, odds that seem completely overwhelming.  What would Tempus Kord Do?"

 Survey says, Smite one of the frontrunner Orcs into submission with a flash of eyebrow removing radiance.

Greenbeard turns into a pile of puppies that belch lethal butterflies at the enemy.  Five orcs go down.

"It's a pitty you die so easily..." one of the puppies yips.

When Julia gives the order, another ankle-bites an orc, but is unable to slay it with its little puppy attack.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:19, Fri 18 Apr 2014.

The ogre slams its club down on JB, who manages to roll with the hit enough to soften the blow to a mere cracked rib. The orcs, meanwhile, swarm the heroes! It is an overwhelming assault and is hurting the heroes badly.

---

Johnny HP: 22 - 12 = 10
Greenbeard HP: 30 - 5 = 25
Merric HP: 27 - 10 = 17
Julia HP: 27 - 15 = 12

Johnny let out a slight EEK in pain and annoyance when the orc connected, and could feel a bit of blood in his mouth.  He decided discretion is the better part of valor.

He whipped out his dagger in an acrobatic flash that drew blood again as he wall jumped off the orge and away from his reach, he then bounded off the roof and rolled his way to ground level, hoping that someone would come and back him up when the orge charges his way down.

---

Acrobat's Blade Trick (Encounter Power) hits for 7 points of damage and allows a shift of 1.  He then moved down the side of the building (using the 'Difficult Terrain' rule) and made his way to ground level.

Merric swings his sword to the orc behind him. "That's what YOU think!" and BLAM! an explosion of green fire burninates all the orcs who were attacking the rest of the team. "We NEED to fall back!"

  Eletor says from in front of the door to the guardhouse,  "That would be a good idea, but I would rather not leave you two all alone to be swarmed... As onesided as you are making the fight look as it is."

  The Avenger switches up for his Glaive, and uses it's reach to dispatch the Orc pressuring Julia.

"Arf! Arf!" the puppies arf as they scurry between and around the halfling's feet to be behind him.

The ogre leaps from off the roof and slams down onto the ground below! "RAAAAWRG!!!" But the mouse he was aiming to squash JUST manages to roll out of the way!

The orcs swarm even more, and Merric is nearly taken down.

---

Merric HP: 17 - 15 = 2
Greenbeard HP: 25 - 1(5-resist4) = 24
Eletor HP: 32+4 - 5 = 31

Johnny just barely registered the presence of the falling orge before he was rolling away for his life!  Just barely missed, his momentum and adrenaline caused him to swipe out at the monster.  At first he only found air, but he was able to stand down, calm down a bit, and try again, this time connecting.

---

Shifted 1 prior to evade being crushed. First Sly Flurish was a miss.  Action Point.  Second Sly Flurish hits for 16 points of damage

Merric swings wildly with one last burst of energy... and misses. Then gets smacked down by an orc, unconscious. Just as an orc is about to smack Merric down, the orc gets the smackdown by Julia! Merric takes the chance to tumble between everyone's legs and rush for the tower. "Thanks, Julia! I'll open the gate, guys! Catch me when you get out!"

---

Merric HP: 2 - 5 = -3
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:46, Fri 18 Apr 2014.

  Eletor sees the Ogre land between his allies and their (soon to be) exit.  "Well then, let's see if a cliche saying is true or not.  Either way, you will fall."  The Avengers impales the Ogre where it's favorite ale processing liver should about be, he draws his blade and leaps past his enemy with a spin, his blade sparking against the ground as it circles back around to hack off the Ogre's leg at the knee, sending it crashing down.

  "Well, that was certainly a hard fall.  Some truth to that saying."

  TL;DR:  Thank you, Avenging Resolution from turning failure into victory.

  EDIT: 18 minions and 1 Ogre so far, it seems.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:06, Fri 18 Apr 2014.

After felling the ogre, Julia holds the line till her last shred of dignity disappears, then runs like hell after her men, mumbling curses under her breath all the while. Her blood-spattered face is grim, mouth twisted in a most unladylike snarl. She tends to her wounds on the run and though the aura surrounding her is murderous, it still seems to lend a strange strength to the wounded in the party. After a few tense minutes spent calming her nerves, she takes a deep breath and asks, "How shall we proceed now? I sure as hell didn't go through all that just to come up empty-handed at the end of the day."

The puppies dog pile one another and merge into the familiar green-bearded dwarf.

"I'm still alive.  All things considered, I'd call that a personal victory.  Nice swordplay there, you three."

Merric says decisively, "We get backup. We escaped and managed to get past the enemy army; something I'm sure the king wishes his soldiers could have done to go get help. So we make our way to the nearest settlement. Though I doubt we'll make it on time..." He stares at the ground with his hand rubbing his chin in thought. "We need to find SOME way to use the fact we're outside of it to our advantage."

  "Difficult to spend one's pay when dead, or get paid when your place of employment is sacked.  We will have to settle for survival, likely something the rest of the guards can not enjoy."  He looks to Merric, "That depends on if there is anyone even willing, this is not a popular place at the moment."