Defenders of Highgate, Chapter 3

[dauphinous]

A Cave of Our Very Own
morning, upper 60s, small puffs of cloud

The back wall of the cave is remarkably normal while Oliana watches it. It looks exactly like rick that looks like it belongs there. Maybe Hertz actually fell asleep during his watch and just hallucinated. Or maybe some fae was playing tricks on him. Staring at it certainly doesn't reveal anything, though, and the time until Nalik has finished his prayers and Oliana has studied her spells passes uneventfully.

[lawful_evil]

Carter

Feeling pumped and ready to go Carter asks, "Well, sir... time to bash in some Orc heads? What's the plan?"

Carter waits in anxious anticipation for the response.

[anIceFan]

Nalik

Once everyone is ready to go for the day. Nalik lays out the plan.
We will make our way back towards the orc encampment. I would like for us to get a better idea of what they are up to. Right now, there are no plans for imminent head bashing, I would like for them to forget that we exist.

[Annalia]

Hertz

"Nalik, if we want to use this cave as a refuge again, it may be wise to make sure there's nothing wrong with the wall." Hertz commented, still somewhat put out by the strange bear he'd seen. "It would be a shame to lose the dry resting place so soon."

[Torger]

Hengist

Still looking as miserable as he did before, Hengist hauls himself to his feat and gathers his provisions, prepping to take point.

[oliana0]

Oliana

"We can be dry and comfortable at night if you'd like. If we are mostly watching the encampment and not directly attacking, I can keep that spell handy. However, the night after we take out the encampment, well, we'll have to obscond with some of their tents to stay dry." Before they pack up and leave, Oliana scribbles something on a piece of paper and leaves it under a rock in the cave.

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Paper reads:
"Obviously this is someone's cave, and based on what one of our group said, you likely came in to find us in your way last night. Thanks for not killing us, and watch out for Orcs, they are swarming all over the place and are mean in general."

[Holocron Coder]

Deladus

"Yes, I would prefer not facing such a large group so soon..." Deladus comments, smirking. "I think... I may be able to help with recon. Some meditation has revealed a bit more of my abilities to me."

[Torger]

Hengist

Blowing his nose once more, Hengist hoists his gear onto his back, takes up his boarspear, and makes ready. Huskarl, will we be travelling by the same route, or will we be taking alternate passage?

[lawful_evil]

Carter

Carter adjusts his backpack and readies himself for the march. He gives his Heavy Flail a couple good swings and positions himself at rear guard.

Hi ho, hi ho, its off to slay orcs we go. hm hm hm hmm hm hm hm hmm. Tad da, da, da, da, daa.

[anIceFan]

Nalik

Responding to Hengist.
We do not need to take a direct route. I would like to re-use this location in the future.

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2 notes.
LE, shouldn't Nalik be the one humming that tune?
If we have Deladus and Carter turn into trees in front of the cave mouth, would that be effective camouflage? Wait, have we determined that Carter is another treeman?

[Annalia]

Hertz

Hertz picked up his meager gear and once again put them up. Although he was still weirded out by the bear, he silently took his place in the line and prepared to head back to the orc encampment.

[dauphinous]

On the War Path
dusk, mid-60s

With a clear idea of where the group is going, the walk back to the orc camp is faster than the one away from it. Hengist is able to stifle the sneezing long enough to point out the tracks of what are likely orcs in a patrolling path some 100 feet from the outer edge of the camp. As he is feeling a new sneeze coming on, though, the movement of at least one creature can be heard coming along that patrol path.

[lawful_evil]

Carter

Having hung back away from the advanced scouts, stays as still as possible, knowing that his armor is as subtle as a marching band.

He keeps his senses tuned into the Danger Channel.

"Listen" - (1d20+2)[9]
"Spot" - (1d20+5)[13]

[Torger]

Hengist

Much to his horror, Hengist feels another of the gods-awful sneezing fits building as he hears the approach of... something. Grabbing Nalik by the arm, Hengist pulls him off the path and attempts to simultaneously contain his sneeze and prepare to ambush whatever is approaching.

Spoiler

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Readied action: If the person approaching is an orc, the man in blue, or Elis, Stab.

[Holocron Coder]

Deladus

Starting at the sound, Deladus looks for a decent place to hide, stepping out of sight if he can.

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Apologies, I've been at dragoncon all weekend... and wasn't sure where my character was before that.

Spot - (1d20+12)[16]
Hide - (1d20+5)[25]
Move Silently - (1d20+5)[18]

[dauphinous]

This is War, Peacock!
dusk, mid-60s

Sarrok, Deladus, and Hengist melt into the nearby foliage, waiting for the mystery guest to sign in. A pair of orcs, moving at a slow walk, come into view. They are dressed similarly, with leather armor that looks reasonably well maintained and greataxes. Their feet are wrapped in cloth in the manner these orcs seem to prefer for footwear. They are sweeping their gazes back and forth over the area as they go.

Orcish eyes slide right over the hiding spots in use by the three men, making no sign that they noticed anything out of place. Due to Hengist's penchant for track finding, Deladus and the Norseman are on one side of the path they take, while Sarrok is on the other. They could easily jump out nearly simultaneously and take down these two orcs, possibly without them having the chance to make even a single noise, if they're lucky. Or they could just let them walk right by.

Spoiler

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If you wish to attack them, you get a surprise round. This means a standard action only, and they'll be flatfooted.

[Torger]

Hengist crouches in the bushes until the two skraels pass, and then steps out behind them and drives his boarspear into one.

Attack - (1d20+7)[15]
CritConfirm - (1d20+7)[9]

Damage - (1d8+3)[4]
SneakAttack - (1d6)[3]

[Holocron Coder]

Deladus

Reacting after Hengist attacks, Deladus moves and swings at one of the orcs, but only with a fraction of his former strength.

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Initiative - (1d20)[12]

Attack - (1d20+6)[13]
Damage - (1d6+2)[8]

[dauphinous]

Hengist and Deladus, taking the opportunity, both rise up out of the foliage and strike down the two orcs. The orcs are taken completely unaware, and both fall wordlessly under the assault. The only noises are made are the crashing of their bodies to the ground. Neither is slain outright, but both lie bleeding to death. Sarrok, slow to react to the situation, reaches out and slits one orc throat, then the other, quickly turning their nearly silent falls into their certain deaths.

[Torger]

Wordlessly, Hengist begins to remove the bodies from the path, gesturing to the others to assist, and then attempts to conceal the signs of the fight.

Survival +9

[dauphinous]

The two bodies can be moved however desired by Deladus and Sarrok. Hengist does what he can about the blood and the signs of a struggle, scuffing leaves around and snapping of a few branches cleanly. by the time both bodies are moved, Hengist has done as much as he's able, and to someone just glancing over the area, it doesn't look like anything just happened here.

[anIceFan]

Nalik

Nalik begins to quietly curse as he waits for news from the forward scouts.

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Just something in the way to say that I am still here. I hope this doesn't die.

[oliana0]

Oliana

Oliana nibbles at her fingernails.

[Torger]

The bodies disposed of, Hengist goes to find the Old Man to give him an update, trusting the other two to watch the path for a moment. Unon finding Hertz, he fails to completely suppress a sneeze, and staggers for a moment at the contained forces. Two forward scouts put down with a minimum of noise or evidence. Someone may miss them soon. Advance the rearguard, I would think.

[Annalia]

Hertz

"Minimum noise indeed - I certainly heard nothing. Alright, I'll go tell Nalik. I have a handkerchief for you if you want.." He'll wait for Hengist's answer before leaving, handing the aforementioned piece of cloth if the Northsman so desired.

Once with his captain, he'll simply report: "They put down two scouts without making any sound, or leaving much traces. Hengist believes their abscence may be noted in the near future, however, and that your group should move closer."

[anIceFan]

Nalik

Move Forward? That impulsive fool. This was supposed to be a covert mission. There is no way that we can attack that camp with just us seven.

Thinks for a moment.

Ok, yes, we will move forward; but only to bring them out and find a new location to scout from. Oliana, stop chewing your nails.

[lawful_evil]

Carter

Finally. Carter groans and stands up. Once up he bends and straightens his legs several times. My knees aren't getting any younger. Boy, this armor is sure not designed for squatting a lot.

Carter walks around in a circle a bit and gets ready to bring up the rear of the formation. He's hopeful that he'll get a chance to smash some orcs too... that is why they are here after all.

[oliana0]

Oliana

Oliana bites a good piece off and spits it gingerly towards the ground. "Yes sir."

[Holocron Coder]

Deladus

As assumed, Deladus remains just off the trail, watching a listening for anything of note.

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Hide - (1d20+5)[17]
Spot - (1d20+12)[20]
Listen - (1d20+12)[23]

[dauphinous]

As the rear team moves up to meet the advance scouts, the forest seems just as quiet and uninteresting as it did before. The 'path' is hardly noticeable as such, but once it is crossed, there starts to be audible the vague sounds of a large number of people doing pedestrian things. Or, in this case, many orcs doing routine orc things.