IC II Toes In The Water

[Cavelcade]

Kurt shakes his head at that. "His work is to get information. To charm and control. Mine is to kill. I don't have to like it but he can't be blamed for me raising my axe." Still, he trudges on with his shoulder down.

[achinca]

Miriam looks at Kurt and shakes her head. "I do not buy it Sir Dwarf. You are more honorable than being just an executioner. Killing a monster who has been tricked in believing you are his friend is murder. But that is what war does. It corrupts and forces you to do things you never thought you could do. And trust me, I know a thing or two about being tricked."

[CoffeeIncluded]

Natalia shakes her head. "Smiling trickster, as deadly as axes." She doesn't like this at all.

[achinca]

Miriam stops at Natalia's comment "Could it be that Shiny is feeling less? Could he be so warped that he would send someone to his death smiling?"

She looks at the gnome with a sudden different look, before answering to Natalia. "It was murder. Plain and simple. We are all tainted by it."

[CoffeeIncluded]

Natalia goes quiet. She should have protested more. She really should have spoken up. "No more murder. Snipe hunts instead." She looks to Shiny and says, "Next time...Finish own work."

[Admiral]

Miriam stops at Natalia's comment "Could it be that Shiny is feeling less? Could he be so warped that he would send someone to his death smiling?"

She looks at the gnome with a sudden different look, before answering to Natalia. "It was murder. Plain and simple. We are all tainted by it."

"I've never killed a creature in my life," says Shiny as he straightens up and dusts off his hands. His expression doesn't betray any lie, but then it never does.

He turns towards the direction of the horn. "We may have limited time. What do we do?"

Spoiler

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Moving on from the moral dilemma. Should we run? Prepare to fight? Check on Mithril? Note that the spellcasters are a little low on spells (Mithril almost out, Shiny halfway, I know Miriam's used at least one CMW) so this may not be the place to make our stand.

[achinca]

Miriam shakes her head at Shiny "You just did. But you can trick yourself in believing the opposite. You are good at that"

"Let's wait to see what come to the response of the horn. Thinning out warriors will help Linwood"

Spoiler

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Miriam still has a lot of spells and the wand. Let's see what is coming out and we can decide

[CoffeeIncluded]

"Indirectly, but still killed," Natalia agrees, though she wants Shiny to deal the blow himself for once. Maybe then he'll be more cautious. She shakes her head. "He said what?"

If they're going to be attacked they should fend them off. The group needs more information to see what's going on though.

[Cavelcade]

"The options were to kill it, or let it go free. It can't be allowed to go free, it must die. Call it what you will, Mithril needs our help." With that, the debate is over for Kurt, he starts running back to where Mithril is.

[achinca]

Miriam replies on her head ".. or we could have tied and gagged him ..." but says nothing. The debate is over.

[Zman]

Valen attempts to add his opinion but is cut off in the moral dilemma when Kurt decisively bolts off in the direction of the Horn and Mithril... Valen decides to follow and quickly catches up to the stout dwarf, his great sword in hand...

Roughly 30s into the run the Dwarf can see a wounded Orc running at him, constantly looking over its shoulder it fails to the see the Dwarf coming right at him.

Spoiler

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You are about 60' apart.

DC 15 Spot will see Mithril and Henry 100' behind the Orc. The Orc is currently unaware.

Since it is only one Orc, I'll give all players initiative over him to keep it simple.

[achinca]

Miriam waits to see if the range fighter in her group can take the orc down.

[Admiral]

Shiny goes jogging after Kurt, though his legs are too short to keep up.

[Athedia]

Mithril stood up, crossbow in hand. "Okay, today has been rather rotten." Eyes narrowing she fired of her bolt at the orc, even though it was a little far away.

Spoiler

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Attack (1d20+2)[21]
Crit (1d20+2)[15]
Damage(1d8)[2]
EDIT: Wow it actually crit, I don't know if it was confirmed though.
EDIT 2: I think that 15 is a confirm. So 4 damage? not bad. I think he was nearly down anyway.

The bolt shoot out of the arrow striking the retreating orc in the back. Mithril rubbed her back as she looked around. Whiskers was glaring at her from a branch of the tree where he had jumped to avoid being dragged down with her.

[Zman]

Before any of the fighters can react, a thud is heard as the Orc face plants a quarrel sticking out the back of his head. Mithril can be seen in the background, a scowl on her face...it's not the day to mess with Mithril.

A few moments later Henry appears, a bloody dagger in his hand. The look on his face is enough to let Mithril know that he must have finished off the other wounded Orc.

[CoffeeIncluded]

Natalia blinks, then lets out a low whistle. "Mithril Sureshot," she says with a bit of a grin.

[Cavelcade]

Kurt skids to a halt, then glances at Henry. "What now?"

[Athedia]

Mithril raised her hand to let Whiskers climb down her arm to her shoulder. Crossbow still in hand she looked at Kurt. "We leave. I doubt any of us could handle more fighting today."

[CoffeeIncluded]

Natalia looks back at the caves. "No attack unless...Something..." She trails off. "But if..More now?"

[Cavelcade]

Kurt nods at Mithril's words. "The horn didn't sound to let us know you were here...I think Mithril's right. We should get out of her."

[achinca]

Miriam shakes her head. "What was the point of coming here? Killing 3 orcs? We need to help Linwood. We need to see who come after the alarm and see how many we can take down. We have a job to do."

She shakes her head and think to herself "They as afraid of getting hurt as Calric was afraid of the truth. Death brings you to the plane of your god. They should be afraid of it."

"I'll stay but no one as to stay with me."

[Zman]

"Endless waves of enemies? I would miss it." Valen laughs wholeheartedly. Though the enemies are surely coming, Valen smiles.

[CoffeeIncluded]

Natalia looks at the others nervously and says, "Trees against flood...How long before snapped?"

[Zman]

Henry

Quietly indicates that they have killed two other Orcs besides this one.

Valen

Looking at the batty Natslia, "You act as if we are going to stand here and get killed? Four Orcs is hardly worth the trip. Younaremwhole of body and proven against the foe, why such cowardice?". The last comment gets directed at the dwarf.

Spoiler

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You guys want to run away? Its Orcs in the Daylight!

[achinca]

Miriam scowls turns into a smile as Valen speaks as she thinks "At least, he has the true soul of a hero"

"Valen, they have to see in their hearts and in their soul what is more important to them. We are here to get info and think out the tribe. We have done neither. "

[CoffeeIncluded]

"As long as...Four, not forty." Natalia sighs and makes sure her crossbows are loaded.

[Cavelcade]

As they're staying, Kurt takes the time to load his crossbow, setting his axe so he can grab it in a second.

"Very well, then."

[Zman]

As the group stands over the dead Orc in the woods, seconds tick past after the alarm was sounded. Currently the group is equidistant to the two entrances, maybe 150-200 yards from each. Neither entrance is visible fRom this location.

[CoffeeIncluded]

Natalia looks up at the ledge above. "High ground?" she asks.

[Cavelcade]

Kurt glances from side to side, to where the entrances are. "Or go to meet one group."