"I'm not sure the first assessment is all that accurate," Thia comments. "They may know the caves, but this was a warband, and couldn't have been here that long. They may done some exploring of the caves, but, then again, may not. And maybe not too deep. Depends on how focused the leader was."

"Secondly, Viridovix, you aren't going to lure then out like that. They already know that there are more of us. You saw all the Orcs we killed--they chased us into our trap. That's why these Orcs are holed up in the cave--their fellow Orcs never came back, so they know they met a superior force. What they don't know is how much of that force is still alive and may be coming for them."

"In their minds, the caves are a more defensible position than if they had all tried fleeing back to whence they'd come."

"Just keep in mind... they think differently than we do, but they aren't stupid."

She'd waited to see if either of the others had any other comments.

"If you have no way to lure them out, Ero, then musts we go in," she added.

"Do you at least have a cantrip you can cast to distract them?"

While she waits for his answer, she considers her options... again.

"Okay, here's what I think will work. I'll run across the entrance to the other side, then immediately step back into the opening and fire an arrow at them. Ero casts his distraction and you, Viridovix, charge in. I'll be right behind you."

"Ero will bring up the rear."

"Does that work for you two?"

He preferes a lot Thia's kind of action. He's not an impatient man, but if he can resolve things with a good blade...aye, that is the right answer.

The Barbarian grins, nodding at the Ranger vigorously.

"Count on me, Thia. I'll be at your side. You make them mad, I'll go slashing, and you fire your quivers under them like the rainstorms of the seas do!"

Ero, meanwhile, shall cover both with his powerful magicks. Viridovix doesn't know a lot about it, he saw druids in action, never a Wizard if not for some hours ago.

"Am ready. My axe is thirsty for blood. May Tempos bless your eyes, Thia, and your willpower Ero. Let us earn our golds."

By the Axe in his hand, he will conquer those caves. He will decimate and decapitate those who question his words!
This message was last edited by the player at 17:39, Fri 15 Oct 2021.

Thia does what she said she'd do, firing an arrow at any Orc she spots.

18:29, Today: Thia rolled 10,8 using 1d20+6,1d8 ((4,8)).

As soon as she does, Viridovix charges into the cave.

It was a timing issue... getting the Orcs to throw their javelins at Thia so that they couldn't throw them at Viridovix while he was charging them.


Although Thia doesn't hit any of the Orcs behind cover, her shot does serve to get two of them to throw their javelins at her. One hits for 8 points of damage.

18:31, Today: StarMaster rolled 25,8,7,5 using 1d20+5,1d6+3,1d20+5,1d6+3 ((20,5,2,2)).

Viridovix?

Ero?

Viridovix rushes to help Thia, yelling in pure ecstasy as he attempts to detach the nearest orc head after a good run to the cave.


19:14, Today: Viridovix rolled 9 using 1d12+4 with rolls of 5.

19:13, Today: Viridovix rolled 11 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 5.  Attack Roll.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:15, Mon 18 Oct 2021.

Ero grumbles at the others' impatience but follows.  He casts a Ray of Frost at the firt orc he spots.

Hot 14 for 16.

06:33, Today: Ero Sulaanin rolled 16 using 2d8, rerolling ones with rolls of 8,{1}8.  dam.
06:33, Today: Ero Sulaanin rolled 14 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 11.  ray of frost.

Viridovix just barely manages to hit the Orc he swung at due to its focus on Thia and readying another javelin.

The damage he does isn't enough to kill the Orc.

Ero's spell, however, does manage to kill one of the other Orcs.


Viridovix's Orc attacks back after dropping his javelin and bringing his axe up.

15:23, Today: StarMaster rolled 11,13 using 1d20+5,1d12+3 ((6,10)).

He misses!
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:51, Sun 14 Nov 2021.

Thia's plan worked, and so the Barbarian begins to fight in the front line with the two elves covering his back. The thrill of the battle begins to flow in his veins, as he grins for the succesful hit to the poor bastard orc. Still alive, barely. While he cannot harm Viridovix in the slightest.

"GRAAAAAAAH!"

He retaliates, throwing himself against the enemy without any concerns of his life. His kill count must be higher than his two companions! His Dread Helm replies, fueled by his rage and bloodthirst, his eyes becoming crimson wells of pure violence.

Ero attempts to freeze the human's opponent but the beam goes wide, forming a large patch of frost on the cave wall.

Arrgh.

07:42, Today: Ero Sulaanin rolled 4 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 1.  Ray of Frost.

Thia was better with her bow than she was with her spells, though if Ero's efforts were any indication, he might even be worse!

She took aim at any Orc she spotted and let the arrow fly.

23:59, Today: Thia rolled 28,8 using 1d20+8,1d8 ((20,8)).

Yikes! The dice roller is broke again! Max on both rolls! Who'da thunk?!

According to the GM, that should be 16 points of damage! Is he dead yet?
This message was last edited by the player at 03:57, Sun 14 Nov 2021.

Viridovix is able to hit one Orc and kill it, and then attack and hit a second Orc.

Thia manages to slay another Orc with a critical hit.

That has eliminated half the Orcs here, with each of you killing one. That leaves 3 Orcs.

00:05, Today: StarMaster rolled 11,9,15,10,17,5 using 1d20+5,1d8+3,1d20+5,1d8+3,1d20+5,1d8+3 ((6,6,10,7,12,2)).

Ero isn't close enough for any of the Orcs to attack him, so two of them attack Viridovix while the third one attacks Thia.

One Orc misses Viridovix but the other hits for 10 points of damage.

The other Orc hits This for 5 points of damage.

Ero takes aim again, this time at one of the orcs attacking Viridox.  And again he misses.

Arrgh again!

17:40, Today: Ero Sulaanin rolled 11 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 5.  Ray of Frost.

"Ouchie-ouchie!" Thia exclaims when she takes the hit. "Guess I can't complain too much seeing as how your buddy is dead! Ha! Now it's your turn!"

The Orc was too close for her to use her bow again, unless she wanted to bash him with it, which she didn't cause she didn't want it to get damaged, so she took a step back, dropped the bow, drew her knives out, and threw them at the Orc.

8:10, Today: Thia rolled 10,4,24,5 using 1d20+6,1d4+2,1d20+6,1d4+2 ((4,2,18,3)).

One flew wide but the other hit when the Orc ducked the first one!

Now she was out of weapons! She'd have to charge him for her next attack.

The Nordheimer takes that powerful it on his torso, a thin line of blood opens the pale flash.
Yet he doesn't care. Instead it gives him more fuel, and attacks again with Reckless Attack.

"AAARGH! LEAVE THIS ONE TO ME!"

Ero and Thia are cleaning up succesfully the other monsters, but now Viridovix has a suspense account with that orc.



This message was last edited by the player at 18:08, Fri 19 Nov 2021.

Ero's spell misses.


Thia manages to hit with her second dagger, but it doesn't do enough damage to kill the Orc.


Viridovix is able to hit with both of his reckless attacks, attacking two Orcs, since Ero isn't a melee combatant. The first attack isn't enough to kill the first Orc, but his second hit is a critical hit (House Rule: max damage on a roll of 20, and x2 for the RAW) that easily kills the Orc.


That leaves 2 Orcs still standing, though both have been injured. The one in combat with This attacks back and misses. The other Orc, having just seen his fellow Orc nearly pulverized, turns around and runs through the tunnel at the back.

Finally having a clear shot, Ero takes aim at the fleeing orc and hits it square in the back.  The creature stumbles as his muscles contract from the frost enveloping him.

16:34, Today: Ero Sulaanin rolled 6 using 1d8, rerolling ones with rolls of 6.
16:33, Today: Ero Sulaanin rolled 25 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 19.  Ray of Frost.

In reply to StarMaster (msg # 19):

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Master, one thing! Reckless attack gives me advantage on attack roll, not two attacks!

---

Thia runs after the fleeing Orc but slows down when Ero's spell cause him to freeze up and fall down. Orcs were the enemy, so she had no qualms about killing him.

She then took up a defensive stance in case something else came down the tunnel, and waited for the others to catch up.

That finishes off all the Orcs that were in here, although the fleeing one that fell down isn't dead yet.

Viridovix makes sure the five Orcs in the cave are dead.

There seems to be an unnatural silence in the aftermath of the battle.

"Simple enough," says Ero.  "Shall we delve deeper into this cavern or go back to help any others who lack our competence?"

Viridovix studies the wounds the Orcs dared to inflict upon him, and shrugs his shoulders in a sign of indifference. Yet he sits on a nearby rock, polishing the Greataxe with a piece of fabric.

"I say, we delve! You all fought bravely, so I trust your cunning and aim, companions. Nonsense to return back when the fun just begun! Ah!"

Thia smiles a bit at Ero's suggestion. Although she doesn't the others yet as well as Ero, she's pretty sure they're as competent as he is. She's not sure if his boasting comes from arrogance--after all, he is an Elf--or insecurity.

"Based on what we found here, I'd say the Orcs have scattered into the six caves, so there shouldn't be any consolidated resistance for the others... like 50 Orcs in one cave," Thia responded.

"I'm with Viridovix--we should carry on. Orcs are my sworn enemies, so I'll dispatch the last Orc if you wish. I just can't see dragging him along as a prisoner or, worse, setting him free."

"Besides, there's only one way to go for us--straight ahead. I'll take the lead."

If neither of the others object, she'll deliver the coup de gras to the last Orc. After that, she'll head down the tunnel at the back of the cave, but not getting too far ahead of the others. She'll take a few steps, stop and listen, look around at the floor and ceiling, and then continue on in that manner.

Out of the back of the cave is single tunnel. While it seems to head straight back deeper into the mountain, Thia soon realizes that it does so in a rather serpentine way. Five twists later, about 100 feet, it opens into a room. This is a long narrow room in total darkness. Those who can see in the dark spot several wall sconces spaced through the length of the room, including two just inside the doorway--one to either side. There appears to be an oil torch set in all of them.

Also along both walls are a fantastical array of weapons!

Ero gives a quick gesture to the two torches by the door and they flicker to life.  "The room may be trapped, so one of you should go in first.  Once it's safe, I can light the other torches."

He scans the room.  "Weapons.  Lovely.  I suppose I should  divine if any are magical.  It will take some time though.  Make yourselves busy with something.  Maybe pick through the orcs' pockets.  Maybe one of them had something not totally worthless."

You know, I don't think we ever set up a light source before entering the cavern.  Ero would have cast Light on Vir's axe to help him be a bigger target see better.

Once the room is determined to be safe, Ero will Prestidigitate the other torches then start on a Detect Magic ritual.

"Why?" Thia asks. "Do you think the Orcs have disguised themselves as weapons and hung themselves on the wall to surprise us?"

She scans the room in the light of the two torches and sees nothing of immediate interest or threat.

"If Orcs came this way, where did they go?"

She looks for any tracks on the stone floor.