IC II Toes In The Water

[CoffeeIncluded]

After several days of watching her friend prepare her spells, Natalia's able to recognize many of them, even if she can't completely understand the concepts. But one seems new. She points to that one and asks, "That spell?"

[Zman]

Seeing Mithril studying her spells, Valen speaks up, "We should be moving as soon as you are done studying and Miriam is finished with her mor ng prayers."

[CoffeeIncluded]

Natalia nods and slings her full pack over her shoulder in response. When Miriam finishes her prayers, Natalia goes over to her and asks, "Better rest?"

[Cavelcade]

Kurt spends the time practicing with his axe, exercising lightly and warming up, erasing the last effects of the sleep from his body as he waits for the others to finish their own preparations.

[Admiral]

Shiny stretches, seeming well rested. He's eager to get moving.

[CoffeeIncluded]

Natalia doublechecks to make sure she has everything, then asks, "When to return?"

[Zman]

As the party considers the information that they have about the upcoming terrain and Orc camp, they realize that they have no easy task in front of them. They are but a couple of miles away from where they believe the Orc Caves to be, but the entire area is apparently littered with such caves and it may be difficult to find the entrance without being spotted. Though, there may be other entrances to the Cave network which could be used to ambush the Orcs.

Of course, somewhere out here is the young Henry...How will our adventurers proceed?

They were told of the great bird stone which is used as a landmark by the Orcs, each looks into the distance to see if they can see it. Kurt see something that he believe could be it whilst Natalia is positive that she can see the great rock far off into the distance.

Spoiler

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Spot Checks
Miriam(d20+5)[17]
Kurt(d20)[20]
Shiny(d20-2)[4]
Natalia(d20+6)[25]
Mithril(d20+3)[11]
Valen (d20)[3]

Listen Checks
Miriam(d20+3)[15]
Kurt(d20)[6]
Shiny(d20-2)[1]
Natalia(d20+6)[11]
Mithril(d20+3)[9]
Valen (d20+3)[10]

[Cavelcade]

Kurt is completely enthralled in the search, he doesn't pay attention too much to what else is going on around him. Eventually he points with his axe at what he thinks might be it.

"My eyes aren't as sharp as some...but I think that could be what we're looking for?

[CoffeeIncluded]

Natalia points far off in the same direction as Kurt. She says, "Great bird rock, nested in stone."

[Zman]

Valen squints again, trying to make it out..."I will have you trust your keen eyes, mine fail."

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Valen (d20)[11]

[CoffeeIncluded]

Natalia nods. "Camouflaged by granite, see by broken borders. Same as traps...see leaves broken by wire, not...not wire itself."

[CoffeeIncluded]

Licking her lips, Natalia looks around at all the caves. She says, "Ants in a nest...Where to find Henry, the orcs?"

[Athedia]

"I hope he hasn't decided to explore all those caves."
Mithril tried to count the caves and failed. She couldn't remember where she had started as they were all starting to look the same.

[CoffeeIncluded]

"Not exploring all...Can't explore all," Natalia says, keeping an eye trained on the bird rock. Once you let something cryptic with its surroundings out of your sight, you'd have trouble finding it again.

[Cavelcade]

"We can't find him, he'll have to find us...so let's find the orcs." He keeps his eyes on the rock as well, frowning slightly, that's the only sign of worry on his face.

[achinca]

Her spells replenished, Miriam forces a smile to Natalia. "Yeah Better."

She thinks to herself "I guess this is what a white lie looks like. I do not feel any better, quite the opposite but I cannot show it. The fact that my life is a lie and a scam is my problem, not theirs."

She nods when Kurt mentions going after the orcs. "We need to save Linwood as soon as we to allow me to convince them to go save Mary's son."

[Zman]

The group is standing looking off a tall outcropping which marks the border to the more mountainous terrain. They stand on a tall hill line d with jagged racks. They can clearely see other such hills and rock up shoots, the small valleys below are thick with small trees and shrubs. What the cannot see, the heart knows, these hills and rocky terrain is littered with cave networks.

Being so close to the Orc caves means that any entrance will likely bring you there, or could lead to some horribly monsters cave, or lead so some devastating cave in...

Spoiler

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Looking for a plan of attack. Maybe some knowledge rolls or other information gathering, scouting etc.

Be creative, I'm not scrimping your adventure.

That being said, it is possible to do this adventure and take on the Orcs without dieing. Don't expect to be rushed by 60 Orcs, same token, don't expect to face two at a time or dumb Orcs.

[CoffeeIncluded]

Natalia looks down at the valley and up at the mountains and out at the underground maze that stretches before them. Shrubs cling to the sides of cliffs and the rogue can see the pointed outline of a falcon diving after some unfortunate bird. She gulps.

Before doing anything, Natalia double-checks that her chalk, pencil, and paper are still in her pack. She turns to the others and says, "A two-way trip...Need to find our way back."

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Knowledge (Local): (d20+5)[11]

[Admiral]

Shiny peers out towards the rocks. "...We should wait to ambush them outside one of their caves. We can't go in- they'll have the advantage and we could come across too many of them. But will they ever leave their caves in the daytime?"

[CoffeeIncluded]

Natalia shakes her head. "Night eyes, night life. Like owls." She pauses. "Unless they must."

[Admiral]

Shiny frowns. "We could smoke them out of the caves- throw in some brands. But then we might get more orcs than we can handle. We could lure them out with bait- an illusion, perhaps. Or I could enchant a guard to do the luring for us."

[CoffeeIncluded]

Natalia nods, they all sound like good ideas."Like...Ogres?" she asks. "Plan you wanted?"

[Admiral]

Shiny scratches his head. "Well... better than that," he says vaguely.

[achinca]

Miriam stands there waiting for the group to move. She has not taste for Shiny or Natalia plans but she is too self preoccupied at the moment to express her thoughts or to come up with her own plan.

She will follow, regardless of her opinion on the plan.

[Zman]

"I don't think w have enough information to formulate a plan as yet, it may be best for us to take advantage of the daylight and scout out the area. If we know where the entrenches are, we may be able to avoid getting ourselves ambushed." Valen eyes the area, wanting to just charge in and let skill and mettle determine the victor. He retains himself, showing surprising restraint.

His stance is uncomfortable, preferring open, even if uncertain battle, to skulking and trickery.

[Cavelcade]

Kurt frowns, turning his gaze to the caves. "I think we should go in. Not far, just...explore the caves near the surface until we find a small group of orcs. Fight them, then get back outside. Always keep near the surface and back away if we're in trouble."

[CoffeeIncluded]

Ambush would work well too. "Remember that...dwarven stone home, but we...live above. Your domain, not ours."

[Zman]

"Where is your Ames of adventure and daring Little One?" Valen adds heartidly, liking the proposition of entering the caves.

[CoffeeIncluded]

Natalia sighs. "Careful quiet sneaking then." She looks around at the myriad entrances. "Trap the doors?"

[achinca]

Miriam looks at Natalia. "We have your back."