We're not level 3 yet :). Also, a couple of second level spells automatically go into your book when you level up, so you shouldn't have to go to town to get some.

    That was said in character responding to a question.

    Right now - I'm out of spells. I need to rest and memorize a new set. We have left treasure in several places saying we were going to pick it up on the way out. Some of the treasure is bulk (weapons and armor, and needs several trips to haul it out and put on our wagon. With no one chasing us it seems a safe time to get it out.
    We have a wagon and horses. Using them it is not hard to get back to town.

    It seems this is a good point to rest so why not gather the treasure and rest in town and come back a lot richer, with renewed spells rather quickly? It would also give us an opportunity to check the two books we found to see if there is anything special about them and/or to see if the innkeeper is interested in buying those books. She wanted any books found in these ruins.

     Yes, we need 215 xps to hit 3rd. We may have it or just miss it. But I don't see an advantage of trying to hold up here, another night with watches in the ruins, when we have injuries and could just go to town.

     Even if we took two or three days in game, we could be back here tomorrow searching the ruins if we just gave the gm a note agreeing to what we planned to do after getting back to town - yes, best laid plans always go astray...

     These are just my (the player not the character's thoughts about what we should don.

A couple GM notes:

1) IF you wanted to go back to town we could do it in a finger snap without even needing another thread if we are clear on what you want to do there.

2) There is an apparently active mine just down the other corridor with people working in it right now. In case anyone's forgot this includes the remaining slaves.

3) It is logical to assume that since you've probably now killed the leader these orcs will be in some disarray when they discover this fact. That could mean many things. For example they might argue for a day or two about who the new leader is, they might decided to flee this area feeling its too dangerous, they might have other allies to call upon or who tell them what to do.

4) Perhaps most important, there's always some chance of running into someone/thing down here as you move about so no matter what you choose to do if anyone is in dire straits HP wise its probably best to drop a healing potion or spell on them, just in case. It might end up being "wasted" if nothing comes across you but if a fight breaks out you'll be pretty glad you were prepared. At least I'd suggest that anyone beat up keeps a potion of healing readied to use at the first sign of trouble

5) Oh, one more - what are you doing about the dog? It's only KOed right now, not dead. (Though it is hurt)

I dealt with the hound in a post that obviously didn't make it through.  So I just now edited post #182.

If everyone else wishes to go to town, all I'm interested in doing is selling everything but the scrolls and potions.  I'll maybe pick up 1-2 cure potions, and do some healing (a medicine man may be cheaper than buying than immediately using a potion.)

I did not realize we could hear the folks mining... I missed that and so that is my fault.

We have a problem if we want to free the slaves. Once the orcs discover the female slaves behind the bars - they will panic - if they decide to move they could either take the slaves with them - or even kill them in their rage over the killing of their leader.

If we want to rescue the slaves we have to go on before the female orcs are discovered.

We need to determine if we have the strength to go on. So how far down are folks from being healed and do we have the means to heal them? I am not injured but all I can do is use my staff.

You know what Ealga? Your original dog killing post did go through, just not to my brain. I see it know. Funny thing is I did remember you switching armor and weapons in that post, just not killing the dog.

The mention of the mining sounds comes from post #121 for anyone who wants to know.

As Mordred said we need a determination on what you will do now.

It seems like going back to town has been fairly strongly voted down. So that leaves holing up in the ruins somewhere on this level or the top level or pressing on into the mine area.

Well, so long as the party is OK with thier healer being out of spells, I'm OK with moving forward.  :-)

If the slaves are that close we need to act now. The orc women are going to wake and start screaming in the cells. One the orcs know we are here those prisoners are in trouble. And breaking to sleep in the ruins is a problem if angry orcs track us down for revenge before we have rested enough to memorize spells.

We need to rest. We have no spells and our abilities are drained. That only leaves here or town to rest. Town doesn't seem a popular choice, so that only leaves resting here. So, let's just rest here and be done with it :)

If we get attacked, we get attacked, and we can decide at that point what to do about it. My main interest at this point is to avoid dragging the decision whether to rest or not out for yet another week OOC.

Ealga has already eaten dinner and laid out on her bear rug.  She made her decision ;)

 With a shrug he moves over to the group and breaks his blanket out to take up the first watch of the night. Looking down at those lucky ones getting to sleep first, Hey, dont none of you guys start snoring, ok.

Radoslav, the slaves are probably being moved to the slave pits (where the orc women apparently are now). You heard mining sounds early before coming in here to deal with the orc chief so these slaves are probably finishing their work shift now. There's no way to be 100% certain right now but there is probably only one crew of working slaves since you freed what was effectively the "other shift" on your previous assault and exploration down here.

Ealga will try and sneak into the minotaurs room and use the porticulli to split up the orcs and slaves.  If I'm not mistaken there was a way to peek into the cell area from that room as well, are the "peep holes" lage enough to shoot arrows through?

If sneeking isn't an option she hopes to get a surprise round with her arrows.  Of course she will be cautious enough to pay attention to the # of orcs there are first.

We didn't rest long enough to recharge spells, did we?

Unfortunately not.

However, please don't feel that you have to just barrel in and assault these orcs. I mean you can, and hopefully you'll win and it'll be glorious. But there are other options than just barreling in and beginning a big ass battle. Course, big-ass battles are fun too.

No healing, no wizard spells, and our best fighter is still hurt.  We should back up, and 'advance to the rear' to recover.

Not a bad plan probably but, just to play devil's advocate, I will point out that you do have healing - in the form of several more potions of cure light wounds amongst the party and a cure moderate wounds scroll.

You also have some thunderstones and stinkpots that might be useful. You also have the advantage of surprise and terrain that you might be able to put to advantage.

Course, they have potential hostages.

Anyway, I won't punish the party no matter what path you take.

I keep forgetting this game isn't Pathfinder (which is what I usually play). If it were, chances are one of our magic users would have infinite Mage Hand with which to pull the levers.  I'm forced to change tactics.

Scrolls & Potions generally require 2 actions to put into use. One to get it, one to utilize it.  And unless you are right next to the poor soul, a third to get to the person who needs it.   Too much to do.   PLus there's the whole free hand thing.

Spells are faster.  Potions are best used 'after the fact'. Or in this case, before the fact.

Me thinks we should've gone back to town. :-)

I think I can hear Mordred's screams from here... :)

Hehe, in order to get his way he's going to have to be more stubborn than Ealga.  Good luck with that ;)

Sorry to take control of your characters, especially Ealga, but it seemed like the most likely way of dealing with the barrels in front of the secret exit.