Cuaglar looked around briefly, an arrow to the string of his blue bow, and said,
"We shouldn't linger.  Let's find somewhere we can defend, if things go ill, like one of the towers."

OOC: 19:23, Today: Cuaglar Annondur rolled 5 using 1d20+2. Spot Check
This message was last edited by the player at 00:24, Fri 28 Mar 2008.

Corven hurries after the group, a bit out of breath.  He keeps his eyes peeled for danger as the group begins to enter the wooden gate.


15:16, Today: Corven rolled 17 using 1d20+7. Corven Spot Check!.

Evesa rushes up the slope and looks about. She wishes that she had spent a bit more time on her fitness and less time on her books.

OCC: 17:05, Today: Evesa rolled 21 using 1d20+3. Spot check.

Zyphens night-eyes do not fair quite as well in the sunlight.  He shields his eyes and tries to keep a watch about him.

As always, take 10 if I can.  If not, roll is a 12.  -1 more if this is considered bright light.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:24, Wed 02 Apr 2008.

I take it you are following Cuaglar's suggestion to find a better defensive position?

[Private to Corven: As you hustle up the ramp you notice that the orcs in the tower to your left have spotted you.]
[Private to Evesa: As you hustle up the ramp you notice that the orcs in the tower to your left have spotted you.]

Zyphen is always in favor of having a defensible position.

"We need to find a better place than in the open. We managed to take out the right tower, but we have been spotted in the left tower." Evesa calls to the others. Then she starts looking for a better area to start the assault.

Corven nods, "I agree with Evesa - I saw a few of the orcs in the other towers pointing at us.  They are sure to attack any minute!"

From your current position there is only one way to go, other than back.  You scramble over the barricade and push ahead through the tunnel.  Atalakis, you'll need to decide what you're doing with your horse.  You notice arrow slits to either side and murder holes in the roof above you, but fortunately the defences don't seem to be manned at the moment.

At the other end of the tunnel you emerge back into the sunshine.  Ahead of you across the courtyard you can see two larger buildings that form part of the back wall of the Keep.  In the middle of the courtyard is a covered well.

To your left the courtyard is roofed over with a wooden platform about 25 foot wide by 30 foot long.  Beneath are wooden posts and rails scattered amongst the supporting timbers.  There is a ladder leading up to the top of the platform on the far side (further to your left).

To your right a door in the back side of the tower stands slightly ajar.

OOC: Listen checks please

Working her way forward Evesa moves quickly through the tunnel to prevent unwanted attacks from the sides and above. Feeling a little better at the lack of orc numbers, she blinks somewhat in the sunshine at the courtyard.

After a look at the surroundings it seems there are two avenues to follow, either head into the tower and take out the sentries or start moving through the larger buildings. Unsure of the others abilities she asks "What do you think should be the first move. The tower or the larger buildings?"

OCC: 21:56, Today: Evesa rolled 8 using 1d20+3. Listen check.

Listen Check:  23 (I used the wrong mod on the role; fixed here)
Spot check:  19 (18 if bright light)
Tracking:  17

Zyphen shields his eyes from the sunlight, listening to the sounds of the keep.  "If they believe archers are firing on them from the woods, they may send troops to the woods.  I think we should be out of the way of the possible rush of troops," he says softly.

Zyphen will examine the area for prints, to see if he can learn anything about the normal movements of the orcs.  He will take a quick peek in the well, too.

OOC:  Just to back up a second--our goal is to kill all the orcs, right?  "Clean them out", and unless they will leave voluntarily that means killing them.  If so, I would suggest we find a place where we can start killing them a few at a time, rather than meeting a bunch head on.  I am not sure where that would be.

Cuaglar immediately headed toward the overhanging platform to the right, and cried,
"Over there!  We will have some cover from missiles from the wall, should any come!"

23:12, Today: Cuaglar Annondur rolled 16 using 1d20+2. Listen Check.

Corven waits for the others to make a decision, keeping an eye (and an ear!) on the surroundings.


OOC:
07:28, Today: Corven rolled 21 using 1d20+5. Listen check.

PM
[Private to Corven: You can hear noises from the tower above and behind you.  Nothing terrible specific but the occasional clang of metal on stone carries clearly.]
[Private to Zyphen: You can hear noises from the tower above and behind you.  Nothing terrible specific but the occasional clang of metal on stone carries clearly.  There are comparatively few tracks around the tunnel, which fits with Evesa's observations about the lack of patrols.  There are more tracks around the door to your right, most leading out across the courtyard to the buildings at the back.]

Corven whispers to the group, "I think I can hear movement in the tower - they are probably coming down for us, we should make haste and leave this area."

"I hear the tower noises.  I would suggest we move into the other buildings."

Zyphen will move away from the tower, towards the other buildings, moving quickly to get under cover.  I am not 100% sure if that's the same direction as Cuaglar.  I am having a case of the Mondays and am not visualizing the courtyard clearly enough.

Happy to be doing something Evesa moves to under the overhang to wait the others ideas. It seems that the fight will come to them rather than we need to go looking. "We should stay together. I would suggest setting ourselves up so that we can get a volley of arrows as the orcs come out the tower door. Then head up and clean up whoever is left."

Zyphen will try to find a good place to get a clear shot at the door, hopefully from cover or out of melee range.  If the roof of the overhang would work he will go up there and lay low with his bow.

Cuaglar stays underneath the overhang, if it gives him a clear shot of the door of the tower they hear noises from.

Atalakis rides along with the group. Yes, a defensible position would be prudent. I can see it now. The battle of the dark tower. The heroes, after fighting long and hard, were backed into the corner with nary a path to turn which was not blocked by the orcs and their ogre warlords. Then, brave Atalakis, Pastel Paladin of Sune, charges forth to meet them head on while his allies pepper the horde with arrows...

His lips curl into a smile as one can only guess he is playing the epic scene out in his mind's eye. Then, suddenly, he jerks to awareness as he catches of something. He quickly pulls a pink 'kerchief out from a saddlebag and wipes a smudge which dulled the mirror-like shine of his burnished armor.

Moments later, he catches a glimpse of himself in the mirror like surface, running his fingers through his hair. Yes let's get into position.

Atalakis will gauge where they are in relation to the tower. He would not want to give up the opportunity to charge. However, if he is certain he would get a chance to fire his bow and then still be able to get off a mounted charge, he would wait to use his bow. If not, he will ready his lance.

Cuaglar is the first to move, taking shelter beneath the raised platform so that he is screened from the battlements and towers.  Evesa also favours this approach, hoping to catch any orcs that emerge into the courtyard with a volley of arrows.  She joins Cuaglar, as does Corven.

Atalakis' heroic, and photogenic, dreams of fighting hordes of orcs from horseback are dented by the unpleasant reality that it will take about twenty minutes to disassemble enough of the barricade blocking the tunnel so that his horse can enter the courtyard.

Zyphen would prefer to move to the buildings across the courtyard, but it quickly becomes clear that the others aren't following.  Worse, the sounds of footsteps on the tower stairs makes it clear he won't have time to reach the buildings before the orcs appear.  Instead he darts back, hoping to use the higher position atop the platform to his advantage.

Zyphen has just made it under cover when a brutish form opens the door.  It gets about two steps into the courtyard before it spots you.  You have a brief moment to react before it can dive back into the cover of the tower.

OOC:standard actions only.  That means that those with a bow ready can shoot.  Apologies for the crude map, but I hope it's better than nothing.  Each _ is 5 ft, including the space to each side, so _ _ _ is 15 ft not 25.  Your starting positions are approximate only, please feel free to adjust them.

      ^          _
     buildings  |_| <- well

                              Z = Zyphen
                              A = Atalakis?
 <- to left tower             C = Cuaglar
                              O = Corven
     overhang/platform        E = Evesa
 _ _ _v_ _                    B = Barricade
Z
H = Horse
A
L = Ladder
C O
door to central tower
E
_ _   \v_
L         |   |   | |   |             to right tower ->
|_ _ _ _ _|_ _|   | |   |_ _ _ _ _ _ _
 _ _ _ _ _ _ _    |B|    _ _ _ _ _ _ _
              |_ _|H|_ _|

Cuaglar quickly bent his bow and loosed a shaft at the creature, whatever it was.
"Stop it!" He cried.

OOC: 22:38, Today: Cuaglar Annondur rolled 29 using 1d20+9. Attack roll (bow).
22:38, Today: Cuaglar Annondur rolled 17 using 1d20+9. Critical confirm.
22:40, Today: Cuaglar Annondur rolled 14 using 3d8. Damage if it's a Critical Hit.
22:40, Today: Cuaglar Annondur rolled 5 using 1d8. Damage if it wasn't.
I really. really hope that thing was flatfooted!  This'll be my second critical hit in this group, then!

Yes, Atalakis would go with the group and draw his bow if he would not be able to fight from horseback.

Almost uncharacteristic for the paladin, he raises his bow and fires off an arrow at the orc.

10:01, Today: Atalakis rolled 8 using 1d8+3. Damage - Bow.
10:00, Today: Atalakis rolled 20 using 1d20+3. Attack - Bow.

As the majority of the group suddenly fires their bows at the mysterious incoming figure, Corven instead crouches down (to give more firing room to everyone else) while keeping an eye out for any other mysterious figures (who could then be pumped full of arrows).

Do I hear more orcs coming, or just this one?  I don't want to slow things up, so I am going to post actions.  You are welcome to pick for me if you want!

Seeing that the others wish to make a stand in the courtyard, Zyphen moves quickly to a defensible position.  As the orc appears at the door, he...

1.  If I only hear one orc, Zyphen will shoot it.  27 attack, 6 damage.

Or...

2.  If Zyphen hears more orcs coming (dramatic battle in the courtyard!), Zyphen will try to climb up onto the overhang so that he is in a defensible position.  If there is no way up, I would burn my Levitate for the day and float up to get into a good position.  19 Climb check.  Levitate (Caster lvl 5): Standard action, 20' upward/downward move with a move action, lasts 5 minutes.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:18, Mon 21 Apr 2008.