Sigurd discusses something with Erik.

Sigurd tells the party of his discussion with Erik.

"I had hoped maybe Erik knew some orc language but he does not. It would have been a safer lure than exposing one of our members to attack. We can't be sure they won't immediately raise an alarm.

"I'm willing to try and sneak up behind the sentries, and after I get in position, you could attack with bows. If any fail to fall from arrows, Dragnar and I can try to shut them up before they raise the alarm."

"Klaengr, you mentioned scaling the wall. I could do it easily enough, I think. If someone has a rope, I could then let it down and the rest could climb. Then we could bypass the sentries."

"I do not have a rope, anyone else?" Klaengr says to his companions.

"I have a good sized length...about 50 feet or so."

"I have rope," Ludvig responded, ready to offer it to the priest.

"Let's avoid the sentries. Our mission is to free the villagers before the orcs have a chance to roast them on a spit. There will be time to deal with these three orcs after we accomplish that task," Klaengr reasons.

Taking the proffered rope he hands it to Sigurd. "Let's scale that wall and get a better view on what lies on the other side before committing to anything just yet."

Sigurd takes the offered rope and motions for the party to follow him.

He circles around buildings to keep out of the sentries' field of vision then circles back to the palisade awat from the gaps.

Sigurd finds a likely place well away from any of the Jotunn caused openings, and scales the palisade.


After a few minutes, the rope was lowered, with well spaced knots to make climbing easier, the top wedged between the points of two logs with a heavy stick. One at a time was the order of the day, if everyone was going up...

Sigurd keeps watch from atop the palisade as the companions climb up.

After Sigurd has ascended and gives the all clear sign, Klaengr climbs the rope.

Vermundr was beginning to grow impatient.  He wanted blood and he wanted it now.

Dragnar ascends on his turn.

At the top the party has a view out over the compound, with the fires glowing as the map portrays. Slightly to the left, facing in, of the place where you ascended is a small guard room that could hold five of you. Inside there are viewing slits to the outside only, and a trap door to a ladder down.

Klaengr whispers to Sigur, "Can you scout out that tower?"

The cleric then sweeps his eyes over the inner bailey, looking for pockets of orcs or other potential enemies.

"I took a peek while waiting for you to climb up. It is empty."

Ludvig kept his place with the others, looking at the tower that might contain all of them.

"Did you look down the trap door as well?"

Assuming Sigurd answers in the affirmative, Klaengr suggests using it to sneak further inside the orc encampment. Otherwise, the party needs to verify what's down below before moving forward.

"Not yet."

Dragnar creeps forward to see if he can detect any noise from below the trap door.

In reply to Dragnar Donegal (msg # 491):

Erik only being short and not the best at climbing is the last to climb and a long while after the others before he reaches the top. He heaves a big sigh slowly letting it out to avoid any more noise than necessary. Seeing Dragnar checking the trapdoor and not much for him to do he re knock his crossbow and keeps an eye out for anyone that could raise the alarm.

Dragnar verifies that the trapdoor is clear, and taking a peek sees no Orcs or any other creatures below. The ladder is in the open air, though one end is braced against the palisade itself.

Barring someone wishing to use the vantage of the palisade for some other purpose, you are all on the ground within minutes.

The map is your best guide to what is going on, the main fire being where the bulk of the orcs and all the prisoners are.

Klaengr attempts to locate possible spellcasters within the large group of orcs near the fire.

"If we can locate their spellcaster, I can attempt to take them out with a spell," he says. "Any of those orcs look like the Shaman?"

OOC: Is it possible to get a clear shot from the palisade to the main group of orcs? Just wondering if maybe our archer types can hang out up here and pelt orcs with arrows while the rest rush in?

"We can always try drawing them into a trap.  If we can locate a squeeze point we could lure them in and surprise them.  Once we launch any sort of attack they'll know we're here but we can use that to our advantage.  Does anyone have any lamp oil or something similar?"

Klaengr shakes his head in the negative. "It's a good idea though," he concedes.