"TWENTY TWO orcs charging from the north weapons drawn! Expect no mercy! Expect no parlay!"
Ink will warn the remaining guards to find what ranged weapons they have and suggest that they get to the top of the keep and pick off who they can.
"Sir," Kalen says, "we have a few crossbows, but I don't think we'll be able to hit anyone from up on the roof keep. Did you mean for us to get up on the walls?" She asks, pointing to the very defensible outer curtain walls surrounding the keep motte. "That's where we normally do our patrols and watching," she said.
One of the other guards piped up, "I just feel bad that so many of us died when the rocks fell. We could have send more men into the watchtowers with crossbows."
"Sounds good. You know best how to defend your home. I'll join you in one of the watchtowers then. My longbow at the ready."
Ink will head to the tower by the bridge to pepper any orcs making their way that way. Once they fall within range of his Longbow (150ft) he'll start shooting.
Marav cannot currently see the orcs; they are probably blocked from his view by the tall wooden temple (5). They were originally coming from the northwest (so like the watchtower 2b, facing north-northwest).
Sev is at 11, bow ready for anyone that comes his way. He speaks up and says, "It looks to me like if we all stay over here and pull the bridge, then they can't do anything except try and pick us off. There are way more of them than there of us, so unless someone has an elaborate scheme to take them out, I say we stay here and get rid of the bridge, maybe set up a small barrier so they can't jump across."
Seviari can also see the gatehouse with the strong oak doors, which can be barred to form a very effective barrier.
Marav cannot currently see the orcs; they are probably blocked from his view by the tall wooden temple (5). They were originally coming from the northwest (so like the watchtower 2b, facing north-northwest).
// OOC just did the math (thank Pythagoras), from the watchtower at 2a (by the drawbridge), the image of the compass on the map is about 123' away, within the 150' normal range of my Longbow, so, as soon as they get around there, I'm opening fire.... And praying that they aren't friendly because I'd feel bad attacking someone without cause. //
As each of his companions goes into the village, Flint tells them, "Make sure yer back here 'fore them orcs ford the river, once I see 'em in the village I'm pullin' this bridge.
//I still have time to make it to 5 inside the building? I assume some of the windows are broken out and I could shoot through?//
When you were looking around today for the chickens, you noticed that the single-story temple (quite tall, but no upper level to speak of) had all its beautiful stained glass windows still intact, and was in perfect condition despite the bombardment. The only real opening is the bell tower in the steeple, which stands just a little higher than the neighboring stone watchtowers. You're not sure if there's any easy access to the bell tower, though; it looks very slender.
"We could use these orcs.... My plan will work! we need to tell the goblin boss that orcs are attacking! He won't stand for them stealing his loot and will send his forces to stop them. we can make the goblins and orcs take each other out." Rip turns to ink, "Where are the orcs approaching from? Kalen is there any secret ways out of the village?"
"Sounds good. You know best how to defend your home. I'll join you in one of the watchtowers then. My longbow at the ready."
Ink will head to the tower by the bridge to pepper any orcs making their way that way. Once they fall within range of his Longbow (150ft) he'll start shooting.
Kaelen, Sydiri, Torem, and Alara all grab the remaining four crossbows from the gatehouses. Torem and Alara stay behind to guard the keep, and other two head towards the north- and west-facing watchtowers (2a & 2b). En route, Kaelen and Sydiri notice all the dead bodies from the goblins & mercenaries, all mostly in the town square area.
"We'll have to burn these bodies before they start stinkin," Sydiri notes.
Kaelen adds, "There's crossbows here too. Sir, I mean, Ink, could anyone else use some crossbows? They're just piled here on the ground."
//Having trouble visualizing what is what on the map. Is there a building, ground level that I can get to, hide in but still have a window or door to shoot from?//
Sev looks at Rip, "If you think that will work, we may have to go for it. But if it doesn't then we have two opposing armies to fight. We can try and hold up here until you get back."
"We could use these orcs.... My plan will work! we need to tell the goblin boss that orcs are attacking! He won't stand for them stealing his loot and will send his forces to stop them. we can make the goblins and orcs take each other out." Rip turns to ink, "Where are the orcs approaching from? Kalen is there any secret ways out of the village?"
(If you're following Kaelen, she will tell you this breathlessly as she's running to the north of the village. Otherwise, Torem will answer you back at the keep)
"Not to my knowledge...it's surrounded by a moat, so I suppose if you could fly. But if what the goblin here said was true, about his old goblin Boss bein' there, then the orcs are between us and the caves. Not sure how we'd get through them."
"well that's not good, hmm... is there any climbing gear around here? the orcs will try to use the drawbridge most likely so when they go there we might be able to sneak past...." Rip thinks for a moment or two, trying to decide if it would be better to stay and fight "Beedo, if I could get you past the orcs do you think you can make it to the caves and get hark to send his goblins here?"
//Having trouble visualizing what is what on the map. Is there a building, ground level that I can get to, hide in but still have a window or door to shoot from?//
Since Marav is behind the 15' palisade that surrounds the village, and the drawbridge was closed, any ground level windows or doors wouldn't have a view of the orcs unless they somehow managed to scale the palisade.
// Besides the watchtowers, which have ladders to access them (except for the two southern ones, which were used to shore up the hole in the Keep bridge), you could try an Athletics check to get into the bell tower. A warning though, you'll basically be bracing yourself against the walls in there (using your legs and back), and so while you'd have half cover, you'll also be treated as Restrained. Alternately, you could try and climb up on any roofs (again, an Athletics, although none of the buildings will give you the kind of line of sight that the watchtowers can give you, so once the orcs get close enough you won't be able to target them.
// Is there a reason you want to be ground-level? //
"well that's not good, hmm... is there any climbing gear around here? the orcs will try to use the drawbridge most likely so when they go there we might be able to sneak past...."
"Maybe in the trading post, just there," said Kaelan (location 9). "It's the local Lionshield Coster. Looks like it wasn't hit by the goblins or rocks. Also, mister Rip, the drawbridge is closed. I don't think the orcs can use it when it's like that."
//If things get dicey, I have 2 handed fighting and get a 2nd attack with my bonus action, so basically I'd have attack, attack, hunter's mark dmg. It is the way I can do most dmg per round. :) I guess if I can't get into a decent meleeable (new word bonus die?) distance I can just go and hang with Ink in my long bow range.//
"Beedo, if I could get you past the orcs do you think you can make it to the caves and get hark to send his goblins here?"
"Ahhhhhh...I dunno, boss, Beedo is not very convincing. Hark just shouts at Beedo all the time. Threatens to eat Beedo. Probably wouldn't listen to Beedo."
"Anyone have any illusion spells? A minor one will do nicely. What if we take one of these dilapidated buildings, Flint and I hide outside of it, someone cast an illusion of people inside the building, maybe saying "I hope the orcs don't find out treasure in here." then when they go in there Flint and I bar the door and someone else sets it on fire." Marav chuckles at the mental image.
"well then I guess we stay and fight, then go with my original plan of divide and conquer. life always has to mess up a good plan. Alright then Beedo you're with me!" Rip will then head to the watchtower at 2a with the bridge controls "The drawbridge is the easiest way in, we have to make sure no orcs climb in there to lower it!"
//If things get dicey, I have 2 handed fighting and get a 2nd attack with my bonus action, so basically I'd have attack, attack, hunter's mark dmg. It is the way I can do most dmg per round. :) I guess if I can't get into a decent meleeable (new word bonus die?) distance I can just go and hang with Ink in my long bow range.//
// The way I see it, you have three possible ways of getting into melee:
Jump down from one of the crenellated stone watchtowers (with an Athletics check to avoid taking damage and an Acrobatics check to avoid falling in the river-moat). Then, either swim across the river or wait for the orcs to come to you (and hope they don't have any ranged weapons while you stand there out in the open).
Exit via the bridge in the south, and edge around the outside of the palisade with some Acrobatics checks, and possibly swim across the river and climb up the other side with an Athletics check.
Try and convince the guards to let you out via the drawbridge, which would require letting it down and then drawing it back up, a process that would be risky seeing how close the orcs are. This is a Persuasion check.
In any of these cases, though, it'd be you against 20-some-odd orcs. //
Storm King's Thunder - Ink, Elven Bladesinging Wizard
Core City: APbPA - Ormond, Human Twilight Cleric
The Inferno - BG:Dia - DM
They keep me rollin'
DM - Storm King's Thunder PbP | Yet Another Storm King's Thunder PbP
Current: Eogard Duramastar, Human Twilight Cleric/Star Druid | Eiren Lathrana, Shadar-Kai Eldritch Knight/Bladesinger | Arugula, Rabbitfolk Armorer
Survivor: CrispyDM's Saltmarsh as Syltra | SarcasticFury's Strahd as Hadrian Frozenspark | Forge of Fury as The DM
DM - Storm King's Thunder PbP | Yet Another Storm King's Thunder PbP
Current: Eogard Duramastar, Human Twilight Cleric/Star Druid | Eiren Lathrana, Shadar-Kai Eldritch Knight/Bladesinger | Arugula, Rabbitfolk Armorer
Survivor: CrispyDM's Saltmarsh as Syltra | SarcasticFury's Strahd as Hadrian Frozenspark | Forge of Fury as The DM
Storm King's Thunder - Ink, Elven Bladesinging Wizard
Core City: APbPA - Ormond, Human Twilight Cleric
The Inferno - BG:Dia - DM
They keep me rollin'
As each of his companions goes into the village, Flint tells them, "Make sure yer back here 'fore them orcs ford the river, once I see 'em in the village I'm pullin' this bridge.
//I still have time to make it to 5 inside the building? I assume some of the windows are broken out and I could shoot through?//
Marav(Druid/Ranger) -Storm Kings ThunderDontontion(Rogue/Warlock) - Storm Kings Thunder
DM - Stormpoint Mountains :: A Critical Role Adventure ( Map of Trunau )
DM - Storm King's Thunder PbP | Yet Another Storm King's Thunder PbP
Current: Eogard Duramastar, Human Twilight Cleric/Star Druid | Eiren Lathrana, Shadar-Kai Eldritch Knight/Bladesinger | Arugula, Rabbitfolk Armorer
Survivor: CrispyDM's Saltmarsh as Syltra | SarcasticFury's Strahd as Hadrian Frozenspark | Forge of Fury as The DM
"We could use these orcs.... My plan will work! we need to tell the goblin boss that orcs are attacking! He won't stand for them stealing his loot and will send his forces to stop them. we can make the goblins and orcs take each other out." Rip turns to ink, "Where are the orcs approaching from? Kalen is there any secret ways out of the village?"
Rip Dangerfield- Halfling Bard, Storm Kings Thunder (retired)
Matrix- Human Monk/fighter, Storm Kings Thunder
DM - Storm King's Thunder PbP | Yet Another Storm King's Thunder PbP
Current: Eogard Duramastar, Human Twilight Cleric/Star Druid | Eiren Lathrana, Shadar-Kai Eldritch Knight/Bladesinger | Arugula, Rabbitfolk Armorer
Survivor: CrispyDM's Saltmarsh as Syltra | SarcasticFury's Strahd as Hadrian Frozenspark | Forge of Fury as The DM
//Having trouble visualizing what is what on the map. Is there a building, ground level that I can get to, hide in but still have a window or door to shoot from?//
Marav(Druid/Ranger) -Storm Kings ThunderDontontion(Rogue/Warlock) - Storm Kings Thunder
DM - Stormpoint Mountains :: A Critical Role Adventure ( Map of Trunau )
Sev looks at Rip, "If you think that will work, we may have to go for it. But if it doesn't then we have two opposing armies to fight. We can try and hold up here until you get back."
DM - Storm King's Thunder PbP | Yet Another Storm King's Thunder PbP
Current: Eogard Duramastar, Human Twilight Cleric/Star Druid | Eiren Lathrana, Shadar-Kai Eldritch Knight/Bladesinger | Arugula, Rabbitfolk Armorer
Survivor: CrispyDM's Saltmarsh as Syltra | SarcasticFury's Strahd as Hadrian Frozenspark | Forge of Fury as The DM
"well that's not good, hmm... is there any climbing gear around here? the orcs will try to use the drawbridge most likely so when they go there we might be able to sneak past...." Rip thinks for a moment or two, trying to decide if it would be better to stay and fight "Beedo, if I could get you past the orcs do you think you can make it to the caves and get hark to send his goblins here?"
Rip Dangerfield- Halfling Bard, Storm Kings Thunder (retired)
Matrix- Human Monk/fighter, Storm Kings Thunder
DM - Storm King's Thunder PbP | Yet Another Storm King's Thunder PbP
Current: Eogard Duramastar, Human Twilight Cleric/Star Druid | Eiren Lathrana, Shadar-Kai Eldritch Knight/Bladesinger | Arugula, Rabbitfolk Armorer
Survivor: CrispyDM's Saltmarsh as Syltra | SarcasticFury's Strahd as Hadrian Frozenspark | Forge of Fury as The DM
DM - Storm King's Thunder PbP | Yet Another Storm King's Thunder PbP
Current: Eogard Duramastar, Human Twilight Cleric/Star Druid | Eiren Lathrana, Shadar-Kai Eldritch Knight/Bladesinger | Arugula, Rabbitfolk Armorer
Survivor: CrispyDM's Saltmarsh as Syltra | SarcasticFury's Strahd as Hadrian Frozenspark | Forge of Fury as The DM
//If things get dicey, I have 2 handed fighting and get a 2nd attack with my bonus action, so basically I'd have attack, attack, hunter's mark dmg. It is the way I can do most dmg per round. :) I guess if I can't get into a decent meleeable (new word bonus die?) distance I can just go and hang with Ink in my long bow range.//
Marav(Druid/Ranger) -Storm Kings ThunderDontontion(Rogue/Warlock) - Storm Kings Thunder
DM - Stormpoint Mountains :: A Critical Role Adventure ( Map of Trunau )
DM - Storm King's Thunder PbP | Yet Another Storm King's Thunder PbP
Current: Eogard Duramastar, Human Twilight Cleric/Star Druid | Eiren Lathrana, Shadar-Kai Eldritch Knight/Bladesinger | Arugula, Rabbitfolk Armorer
Survivor: CrispyDM's Saltmarsh as Syltra | SarcasticFury's Strahd as Hadrian Frozenspark | Forge of Fury as The DM
"Anyone have any illusion spells? A minor one will do nicely. What if we take one of these dilapidated buildings, Flint and I hide outside of it, someone cast an illusion of people inside the building, maybe saying "I hope the orcs don't find out treasure in here." then when they go in there Flint and I bar the door and someone else sets it on fire." Marav chuckles at the mental image.
Marav(Druid/Ranger) -Storm Kings ThunderDontontion(Rogue/Warlock) - Storm Kings Thunder
DM - Stormpoint Mountains :: A Critical Role Adventure ( Map of Trunau )
"well then I guess we stay and fight, then go with my original plan of divide and conquer. life always has to mess up a good plan. Alright then Beedo you're with me!" Rip will then head to the watchtower at 2a with the bridge controls "The drawbridge is the easiest way in, we have to make sure no orcs climb in there to lower it!"
Rip Dangerfield- Halfling Bard, Storm Kings Thunder (retired)
Matrix- Human Monk/fighter, Storm Kings Thunder
In any of these cases, though, it'd be you against 20-some-odd orcs. //
DM - Storm King's Thunder PbP | Yet Another Storm King's Thunder PbP
Current: Eogard Duramastar, Human Twilight Cleric/Star Druid | Eiren Lathrana, Shadar-Kai Eldritch Knight/Bladesinger | Arugula, Rabbitfolk Armorer
Survivor: CrispyDM's Saltmarsh as Syltra | SarcasticFury's Strahd as Hadrian Frozenspark | Forge of Fury as The DM