While clearly content to not be going first Cinnabar doesn't mind doing some direction from the rear.  ”Based on our styles we have a significant advantage in ambush, with ranged attacks, so we should use it.  Check a little ways down the first path, if there is something there we want to take it out as quietly as possible then check the other path for anything that might have heard us, or could come looking for bodies."

"Good point. I just thought this looked like a good choke point." Prizzard switched to his bow.

Stonecrow headed down the way Cinnabar had indicated, moving a bit slowly and quietly to try and avoid alerting any orcs - or other creatures - that might be ahead, just in case. For the moment, he had his crossbow in hand, as he could always find ways to strike with his body and not require his hands if needs be.

Constantly picking up little stones, pebbles really, when she finds a good round one without any points or edges Cinnabar keeps a set of three nearly perfect spheres ready and occasionally slows to whisper to them as she follows the others down deeper into the tunnel.

Stonecrow gets about halfway down the tunnel to the next cave when he hears movement ahead, and then hears Cunaar's whisper, letting him know that Mithra's team is in the next cave.

He found no traps or other passages, but he does spot two small ledges that have the remnants of a candle on them. He easily realizes that the dust of ages (well, maybe just years) has settled on these ledges and candle stubs, clearly indicating that these caves had once been used by people and not just wyverns.

At the side tunnel, Cinnabar hears a faint sound coming from deeper in the tunnel, but she can't identify it or tell how far away it is. She realizes that echoes can carry a long way in these caves.

Stonecrow moved back quietly to his two companions. He pointed the way he'd heard the other group of allies in. He did not whisper, because those carry much farther, but spoke very very quietly and said only the name, "mithra."

Then he started to move towards the other sounds to see what they might be, another group of allies, a beast, orcs or something else entirely.

23:52, Today: Stonecrow rolled 11,14 using d20+4,d20+3 with rolls of 7,11.  Perception and Stealth if needed.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:52, Tue 19 Oct 2021.

Prizzard followed quietly, nocked and ready.

rolled 18 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 15.  Stealth.

Aside from her pattern of whispering to the stones every so often Cinnabar remains silent, confining their change of direction by simply pointing in the direction of the distant sounds of movement as she lets the others pass by her to resume the rear position.

Proceeding down the other tunnel, you've gone about 60 feet when the way is blocked by a cave in, However, a side tunnel to the left seems to have been cut out of the stone. You do hear noise coming from there. At first, you can't quite make it out, but after a few seconds, you realize it's voices.

Making your way stealthily down this tunnel, it makes a right-hand turn after about 40 feet and goes 10 feet before opening into a cave.

This is where the Orcs have gone! There are seven of them, but after spotting the Orcs, it's the rest of the cave that grabs your attention--gold!

The cave is longer than wide and there's a golden throne at the other end. Just to the left of it is a chest that the Orcs are rooting through, pulling things out, looking them over, and then tossing them onto the floor.

It's only then that you spot a dead Orc on the floor only a few feet away from the chest. There appear to be half a dozen darts sticking out of his face.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:09, Fri 03 Dec 2021.

Stonecrow stopped and was very still as they came upon the scene. His eyes swept what they could see of the room. His eyes widened a bit and then he turned back to the other two. He held up both hands to indicate the number seven and then pointed back at the cave.

He looked questioningly at them but didn't speak for fear of being overheard. He didn't like the odds though and that was plain.

Keeping the current arrow nocked, Prizzard drew another. At worse than 2:1 odds it was already time to start with full force. He just nods that he's ready.

After a minute or two, it becomes clear that the Orcs have yet to realize that you are there. They are at least fascinated by all the gold they are seeing and rooting through.

Certainly with a ranged attack, you'd have surprise for one round and probably initiative for the second round. Thus, you could get two attacks before they can react.

Quietly recharging the small stones Cinnabar then holds up one of them to each of the others with her as she points suggestively at the Orcs still milling about, making her opinion reasonably clear without risking much in the way of talking.

He'd been looking for these ruins... well, he suspected that these caves on (or under) Wyvern Tor might be the Lost Monastery that he'd been looking for. Nothing so far had indicated that, but the sight of all this loot--clearly loot that the Orcs hadn't brought with them--went a long way to confirming it.

He felt it bordered on the blasphemous for the Orcs to be looting the place.

So, at Cinnabar's indication, that was all he needed to charge forward and launch his own attacks. Or, more precisely, launch a range attack and then charge forward.

He raised is light crossbow, took careful aim, and fired!

19:21, Today: Stonecrow rolled 7,11 using 1d20+5,1d8+3 ((2,8)).

Oh, fudge! Miss! Even I can't spin that into a hit. At least it wasn't a fumble, although it was close!

He flipped the crossbow over his shoulder to hang by its straps as he then charged forward.

That was the surprise round. He can close for the second round and attack with his quarterstaff. Per the GM, he can get between two Orcs and attack each of them with one end of his quarterstaff.

19:31, Today: Stonecrow rolled 12,6,13,8 using 1d20+5,1d6+3,1d20+5,1d6+3 ((7,3,8,5)).

More fudge! Pretty sure the first one misses, but the second just might do it.

After freeing his hand with two sub-par shots Prizzard accepts the stone Cinnabar offered, if it's still available.

rolled 13,4,14,5 using d20+5,d8+3,d20+5,d8+3 with rolls of 8,1,9,2.  Attack, Surge Attack.
rolled 4 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 1.  Initiative.

Stonecrow actually hits with both ends of his staff, but neither hit is enough to take out either Orc.

Prizzard hits with both attacks, but even if he targets a single Orc, it's not enough to kill one of the Orcs.


The two Orcs that Stonecrow hits scramble for their weapons which were apparently discarded on the floor when they found the treasure.


The others Orcs do the same.


Not sure what Cinnabar is doing.

As soon as it becomes apparent that the others are planning to attack the orcs cinnabar finds some cover about 50 feet away and flings one of the magic pebbles at the nearest orc even as the others close to point blank range, she follows up with another one as quickly as possible, always aiming for the nearest.

rolled 14,7 using d20+5,d8+5 with rolls of 9,2.  Rapier Attack.

Prizzard hastily set aside his bow and pressed the attack with Stonecrow, using his bond to summon his rapier in time for a stab on the orc he already shot twice.

There's nowhere for Cinnabar to hide or take cover... the two places that would allow that--the throne and the chest--are at the other end of the cave.

Cinnabar's two stone attacks hit the two Orcs that Stonecrow had been attacking, and the damage they do is enough to take both of them out.


Prizzard's next attack hits one of the Orcs and finishes it off.

18:08, Today: StarMaster rolled 9,13 using 1d20+5,1d12+3 ((4,10)).

The other Orc attacks and misses.

There were 7, we killed 3, 1 attacked us. What of the other 3?

The other three Orcs are still rooting through the loot. Either they weren't willing to pass on it, or else they felt their buddies could handle the problem. Now that the other three Orcs have been killed, they seem to be getting a bit concerned.

They grab up their weapons and assess the situation for a moment before they decide to attack Stonecrow.

Tossing the last of her stones at the nearest of the orcs, or somewhere near him, Cinnabar succeeds in little more than creating a distraction, and not even a very big one as the stone's magic doesn't have any effect on what happens if it misses its intended target.
Not inclined to stay close to them she backs away in the direction the group came from, staying just at the edge of view or range.

Stonecrow could scarcely believe they were still alive. He also noted, frowning, that some of the orcs hadn't even seemed to care what was going on. That was just shameful. He moved up to the next orc, swinging his quarterstaff around in a wide arc, following with a spinning kick as well.

21:54, Today: Stonecrow rolled 23,10,24,5 using d20+5,d8+3,d20+5,d4+3 with rolls of 18,7,19,2.  Quarterstaff and Martial Arts vs Orc.

Prizzard remains beside Stonecrow to prevent the orcs from flanking him. His attempt at following up on the one Stonecrow attacked was a bit uncoordinated.

rolled 11,8 using d20+5,d8+5 with rolls of 6,3.  Rapier Attack.

Apparently the Orcs have never seen anyone fight like Stonecrow with his whirling quarterstaff so they are a bit hesitant at attacking him until he attacks the other Orc and kills it. Somewhat in a panic now, the three attack Stonecrow, but get in each other's way and barely noticing Prizzard's presence.

All three miss, though one comes close enough to ruffle Stonecrow's hair.

It's not even clear if they are aware of Cinnabar, since her magic stone went way wild and had no other effect.