Rog snarls and bares his teeth.  It is clear that the only thing stopping him attacking the Orc is his masters hands on the reins.

Things that have been gathered and carried by Minmorc to be sorted out later:
 1 large masterwork greatclub (16LB)
 1 crowbar (5LB)
 1 small backpack (1/2LB)
 1 tinderbox
 2 torches (2LB)
 2 flasks of oil (2LB)
 1 flask of alchemist's fire (1LB)
 1 thunderstone (1LB)
 30 feet of rope (6LB)
 1 bag of caltrops (2LB)
 2 medium belt pouches (1LB)
 3 vials filled with different dark liquids
 30 copper coins, 25 silvers, 50 gold coins
 2 small moss agate gemstones (10gp each)
 15 hematite gemstones (10gp each)
 1 bloodstone gem (50gp)

 Things claimed by Riza:
 5 normal and 5 masterwork small arrows
 1 small-sized studded leather armour

 Things claimed by Grakk:
 1 medium-sized masterwork studded leather armour
 1 medium-sized greataxe

 Things claimed or carried by Bulldust:
 1 medium-sized masterwork studded leather armour (20LB)
 1 small light crossbow and a bag of 30 small crossbow bolts (3.5LB)
 1 masterwork dagger (1LB)
 6 medium-size shovels (6 x 8LB)
 1 medium-sized pick (10LB)
 1 woodsman's axe (6LB)

Things carried by Moffdust:
 1 medium longsword of elvish make (4LB)
 1 masterwork longsword (4LB)


 Things carried or claimed by Jurz / Rog:
 1 small wooden shield (masterwork)
 1 small composite shortbow
 1 small composite longbow
 5 quivers with 90 small arrows (5 of the arrows are masterwork quality)
 4 small daggers
 3 copper coins, 8 silvers, 12 gold coins, 1 platinum coin
 2 small moss agate gemstones (10gp each)

 Things claimed by Dregz:
 30 copper coins, 25 silvers, 17 gold coins, 1 platinum coin
 3 small moss agate gemstones (10gp each)

 Things carried by Oopses:
 1 small backpack
 5 days of rations
 1 wineskin half full of sour wine
 1 small handaxe

 Other gear not taken so far:
 3 small-sized studded leather armour
 2 small bucklers
 1 small shortbow
 1 small light mace
 1 small morningstar
 1 small shortsword
 1 large-sized masterwork hide armour
 10 small shovels
 6 medium-size shovels
 1 medium-sized pick
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:31, Wed 05 Feb 2014.

One of the unconscious goblin archers is left alive at Jurz's request but the 2 hobgoblins and other 3 goblins are all beheaded.

The mixed group of new allies / deserters gathers up a lot of the gear of the victims then quickly heads off southwards following Jurz's plan to head deeper into the heart of the forest.

Sounds of pursuit can be heard from the north. It sounds like a group of orcs judging by their orcish voices. From the amount of noise as they crash through the forest it sounds like the number of orcs pursuing will outnumber the deserters. Arlein the cat is the slowest in this group but is scooped up and carried by Oopses the goblin. For the moment the group seems to be moving as quickly as their pursuers and is able to stay ahead and out of sight, but it is impossible to move quietly at this pace.

OOC: Where does each character want to be in the 'marching order' for this group (i.e. front, middle, back, etc.)? Is anyone going to do anything to aid the deserters or affect the pursuers at all?

Riding at the front of the group, Jurz leads them deeper into the forest.  He makes sure that he sets a good pace, although Rog appears to be barely jogging along.

He hopes the pursuit will drop off, but if they keep following he starts makingplans for an ambush.  "I can get de forest to hold some of dem." he says so the group can hear "Who else slow dem down, or stop some of dem so we has more time to shoots dem?"
This message was last edited by the player at 18:26, Sat 01 Feb 2014.

Moffdust snaffles the extra crossbow and bolts and the elvish longsword, adding them to Bully's haul, before they run.

From her perch she somehow manages to shift a bit of the grime from the longsword with her possibly grimier cloak, no mean feat. pretty, pretty she gabbles contentedly.

Jurz' suggestion to ambush their pursuers is met with similar enthusiasm.  Oooo, ooo, Doggie rider sir, I can mayyybeee makes it Soundz like we is elvez, a bit? Or  we is being attacked by elvez..... You know hornz, screamz....?

She starts preparing to do just that, to coincide with an ambush, if it comes to that.

In reply to Moffdust (msg # 95):

"i,i, I can freeze things sometimes, summon big hail stones."

Bulldust runs alongside Nurzhan for a while before positioning himself near the rear.

"what do you use to get your hair so wavey? I been using earfworms to spike mine up, but it don't smell good like yours.

"I use soap. From what I've heard, it's made of animal fat. I have no idea how they make it."

Minmorc shudders as he remembers the horrors of his childhood, adults threatening with terrible soap related tortures. "I wanna know ow many orks der is. Riza, wanna go play hide and seek."
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:29, Sat 08 Feb 2014.

A bush rustles next to Minmorc and he can hear Riza hiss "Hmmmm hide and seek.... Let's go"

She nocks an arrow in her bow and follows Minmorc as they head off to play the joyful game of hide and seek. She will remain hidden until they get closer to playing her favourite game

"Soap ... never heard of it ..."  this new concept in personal grooming intrigues the young bugbear.  "Animal fat - bacon!  Mmmm, when do we eat?"

He takes his place at the end of the line, with Moffa on his shoulders.

Dregz is not new to the game of running away (worry about what you know is behind you first and foremost, not what might be before you), and so is right up there at the front alongside Jurz and his trusty canine steed.

"I can ask Bargrivyek to look outs for us !" he dutifully informs the druid, though doesn't look back.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:14, Mon 03 Feb 2014.

Bulldust is strong for a bugbear, but the load of useless junk (and Moffa) is slowing him down and he's falling behind.  OK Moffa, you run for a bit. he pants.  He stops long enough for Moffa to get off and to toss what he can't use ... small shovels, masterwork longsword, elvish longsword, hobgoblin helmet.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:40, Sun 02 Feb 2014.

(Ooc, hey who are you calling Junk, Bully!   ; )    )

Moffdust is happy to hop down and run for a while, even though she can't see quite as much, but Bulldust discarding the Elven sword is a bit too much....

she picks up both swords, waggling a finger at her big brother. " dem is too good to toss Bully, later we maybe trade and get you a good fing ! "

She balances them on her shoulder and scurries after the pack.

Jurz leads the way south and sets the pace on his riding dog Rog, planning how he could use the undergrowth of the forest to entangle the pursuers if necessary. Dregz stays right with him and promises to pray to Bargrivyek to look out for them, which is a lot more comforting for those who don't know much about the goblin god

Oopses mentions he can help with some big hailstones and Moffdust offers to make it sound like they are a party of elves, or being attacked by elves.

Moffdust starts off riding on Bulldust's shoulders and they chat with Nurzhan in the middle of the group until he scares them off with tales of that childhood terror, Soap! They quickly drop back toward the back of the group and it is quickly obvious that Bulldust is too overloaded to maintain this pace. He unceremoniously dumps some of his load including a pair of longswords. Moffdust squawks as she sees the shiny blades left behind. She jumps down to carry the two swords herself.  After this Moffdust and Dulldust are near the back of the group but at least they can both keep up now.

Minmorc and Riza drop back to the end of the group as well, but then they decide to set an ambush of their own for the pursuers. Minmorc hides behind a tree with a javelin in hand and makes some really weird gestures and noises as Riza quickly helps to conceal both of them. Seconds later the rest of the group has hurried on out of sight when Minmorc and Riza suddenly see the pursuers hurrying toward them through the undergrowth. Riza quickly counts them as she lines up a shot with her bow and shoots. Even while her arrow is still in the air she is already swinging herself up on Minmorc's back. Minmorc responds instantly, hurling a javelin then racing after the party so fast that he is already out of sight before the pursuers can respond.  The sounds of pursuit suddenly cease as the pursuers dive for cover and the gap widens a bit more before the angry shouts of their leader has them back to the chase once again.

Surprisingly, Minmorc and Riza are moving so fast that they catch up to the rest of the party even before the sounds of pursuit resume in the distance.

OOC: The pursuers were only 3 rounds (180ft) behind the party but after the ambush that gap has now doubled. The undergrowth in the forest makes it impossible to run, so both groups are moving at just a double move (i.e. 2 x 30ft) each round.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:28, Wed 05 Feb 2014.

Minmorc bursts out of the shrubs behind the party, a grin from ear to ear and a little lizard folk clinging on for dear life. "Ders a war party of orcs with a boss chasin but me an Riza each got one. Der was lots but now ders..." (pause for complicated mental arithmatic) "lots, but we can take em!"

Grakk listens intently to Minmorc, So.. Yoos is sayin that dere's enuf of dem for all of us to av one?" Grakk swings his pack around and starts looking at his collection of potions.

Rather than rely on Minmorc's simplistic, and perhaps optimistic account, Jurz prompts Riza for information.  "Riza?  How many?"he asks from the back of his riding dog.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 11:05, Thu 06 Feb 2014.

Atop of Minmorc's shoulder Riza does her best not to fall off but she has played this game with Minmorc before and enjoyed it immensely.

She pipes up at Jurz's question "there are about 20 orcs spread out... They are hunting us trying to catch us in a net.... We took down 2 but we will either have to ambush them or keep running... There is no other way"

Riza looks down at Minmorc fondly before stating calmly "I will not run forever ... I say we ambush"

"How are dey grouped?" he asks trying to build up a picture so they can plan an ambuish.  "Were dere groups of orcs together that we can slow down with spells?  Or were dey all spread outs?"
This message was last edited by the player at 16:21, Thu 06 Feb 2014.

Serious now that they're getting down to business Minmorc adds "der Orks look like most orks, but der boss got metal armour, he got der boys movin and dey'll be here soon."

"And what weapons has dey got?" Jurz continues the questioning as he tries to get a reasonable description of the following group.

"Would that I had a horse so I could rain arrows upon them while keeping my distance."

OOC: They're 360 feet away, which is 360 / 110 = 3.27 range increments away, rounded up to 4. That's a -2 penalty for each range increment above one, so I'll be taking a -6 penalty to shoot them. Hm... Do you think I should risk shooting at them?

Either the questions are making Minmorcs head swirl or he still has a concussion from überthudds uber thud, so minmorc draws his precious healing stick and gives himself another poke. Glaring at the wolfy goblin Minmorc rubs his head to facilitate thinking and does his best to describe the weapons carried by the rank and file and their leader.
"I wish you had a horse, dey don't last long in forests and I'm hungry."

OOC: Hopefully The Lord of all this wyrdness can provide clearer detail of the possessions of our foes and the practical limitations that movement restricting foliage provide on long distance archery.

"Oo Oo!  Yeah, let's ambush em!"  Bulldust was too young for the war with the Watchers, so he has never seen an ambush before, but he's up for it.  "Have I got time to dig a hole trap?  I'm good at digging holes."  He waves his bloodied shovel in the air to prove it.  "And Moffa can kill em wiv her mind, I've seen her do it."   He keeps plowing forward through the forest until the party decides to make a stand.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:57, Fri 07 Feb 2014.