Sardric's muscles are twitching in exhaustion, but the brute resilience of an orc is a difficult thing to put down. His eyes glitter with hatred as he stares at the orc guards up on the crest of the hill.
"It might. At least it would distract them." Sardric frowns. His fists clench as if feeling conspicuous without a weapon. "You have a horse and a bow. You can harry them. They have only their vardatches. No bowmen in this patrol." He pauses, thinking. "I can try to sneak up on that hill and frighten the boro. When you see an opportunity... ride in and shoot. But don't get close. They will break you if they catch you."
Thirty-seven left. The halflings are starving and exhausted, and most of them are huddled together, collapsed in an exhausted sleep, even with the noon sun beating unrelentingly down on the plains. The stench of angry orcs fills their nostrils, and while halflings have never been prey in their own natural environment, the awful experience of being driven, herded, and watching their clanmates be torn apart and eaten has left them numb and despairing. But some of them haven't given up yet.
Chenris has spent most of her magic soothing and keeping alive her tribemates under their terrible persecution. But the energy of Aryth always throbs in her veins, small silent halflings close to the plains, to the life that still streams in a beautiful order throughout Aryth even under the veil. There are still things she can do. Not enough, of course, to free herself and what's left of her tribe... but if an opportunity should present itself, she's ready to act. She catches what harried snatches of sleep that she can, dreaming of being chased by huge, hulking orcs, and of running through the plains, leaving them far behind.
Hamnish nodded: he knew the risks of being too aggressive with an orc. "I'll wait until the boro start to move, then I'll ride in the opposite side of the herd and make myself known. Are there any particular targets I should aim for?"
Sardric pauses a long moment, fury glittering in his eyes. "The murach will be the most dangerous. But you will likely not know him from the others, unless he kills you. Just disable them as quickly as you can, and don't get caught." Sardric lowers his muscled bulk into the waving sword grass and begins to crawl, crouching, towards the stand of sleepers and guards on the hill. He is soon out of sight, but Hamnish can see the rustle of the grass where he is moving. Alarm begins to climb into his throat as he watches the too-obvious movement around the hill.
It takes a few minutes, but the guards on the top of the hill notice it too. They point, and all four of them begin to watch the trail where Sardric is trying to circle the hill and get near the boro herd. After identifying the trajectory of the hidden Sardric's movement, three of the guards pick up their heavy, serrated vardatches, and move out of the flattened circle of grass to intercept what they might believe is a predator after the boro herd. The remaining guard walks to the center of the circle, and stoops down to wake one of the sleeping orcs.
As the remaining orc guard stoops towards his sleeping companion, Hamnish sees his chance to cause havoc. Riding loudly, Hamnish notches an arrow to his bow and looses the arrow towards the stooping orc guard.
Hamnishspurs his steed forward through the grass, galloping towards the hill on which the sleeping orcs camp. He lets an arrow fly towards the orc that stoops to wake his fellow. The arrow whizzes straight into its target, piercing the tough hide armor wrapping the orc. The orc lurches backwards with a roar of rage and pain, swinging around violently with vardatch in hand, seeking his assailant. Hamnishsnaps off another arrow at the sleeping orc that has just woken, plunging it deep into his torso.
Both orcs, howling and bleeding, quickly spy the galloping horse, and the armored guard who was first hit bellows in Orcish, "RIDER ASSAULT!" The entire camp of orcs leaps to their feet, grabbing their huge, serrated vardatches, and turn to face the assault.
Hamnishgained a surprise round and struck Orc #1 and Orc #2 with arrows, using his Horde Breaker ability, doing significant damage to both of them. The camp is now roused and ready to fight, vardatches and shields in hand, although only the four who were standing guard have their armor on. The three who had started down the hill towards Sardric's unstealthy movement have turned back towards the commotion. The group of chained up halflings huddles near the extinguished cookfire. Initiative order as rolled begins with Chenris, one of the halflings in the huddle. She's just seen arrows fly out of nowhere and strike two orcs mortally. She's chained to her fellows and is restrained. What does Chenrisdo?
Chenris sees an opportunity to add to the confusion among the orcs and throws a "Create Bonfire" spell where Orc #8 is standing. She is hoping the fire will destroy some of the armor the orcs aren't wearing so they'll be more vulnerable. But from where she is restrained, she can't identify the location of the armor. Maybe the confusion of the bonfire will enable Hamnish and Sardic to complete their missions - whatever they are doing. She also hopes the added confusion will keep the orcs from defending themselves and keep them from their agenda. Who knows, perhaps this will even provide an opportunity for the halflings to get free. She is mostly hoping this doesn't backfire and cause the Orcs to take out their frustration on the halflings.
Chenrisducks her head as she whispers the words for a spell, hiding as well as she can the hand and arm motions that activate the magic. As Orc #8 leaps to his feet and grabs his vardatch, a bloom of hot orange flame suddenly ignites around him. His hide bedroll and hardened hide armor, which he was using for a pillow, bursts into flame and smolders. The orc shouts and curses as the flames sear his flesh (for 2 points of damage). The orcs do not notice Chenris' movement or look towards the huddled halflings. Two of Chenris' halfling companions, seeing what she has done, try to sit up a little straighter to shield her from the view of the orcs.
Hamnishbears down on the orc camp, knocking another arrow to his bow in a flurry of speed as the orcs are still responding to the sudden summons. It is Hamnish's turn.
Recalling orcs' speed and ability to crush opponents, Hamnish swerves away from the orc camp for about 60 feet, quickly turns and shoots an arrow at orc #3
Hamnishswerves his steed's direction to put distance between himself and the orc camp as he lets fly an arrow at Orc #3. The arrow finds its mark, and the orc roars in pain as its sharp tip burrows through his hide armor and into his flesh.
Sardric, seeing the three orcs that had been advancing on his position in the grass turn, distracted, as Hamnish's assault bears down on the camp, scrambles forwards through the grass towards the staked Boro, and with a grunt, huffs and snarls as he hurls himself at the legs of the nearest animal, trying to frighten it without harming it. Boro #2 startles momentarily, and plunges enough to break its lead rope. The animals low in alarm, but their terror of orcs has faded.
Orc #8 raises his serrated vardatch. The sun glints off the darkened iron edge, colored with dried blood. "KILL THE RIDER!" he screams murderously, in Orcish, and then he charges, down off the hill and towards Hamnish.
Howling in rage and bloodthirst, the orcs in the camp nearest his rampage plunge into a deadly charge, headed straight for the horseman. Their speed is terrifying, emboldened by their companion's call to kill. The speed of Hamnish's steed has kept him just out of their reach, but Orc #1, #2, #3, #4, #7, and #9 all close in a mad rush, getting within 40 feet of Hamnish.
Orc #5 and Orc #6, at the far end of the hill, start to run, but stop on the crest of the hill near the huddled halflings, standing guard of the camp.
Orc #10, #11 and #12, hearing the bellow of the boro, swing back around towards Sardric's disruption. They run towards the herd, peering into the grass and bushes to see what startled the animals. Sardric flattens down into the grass and barely breathes---and, miraculously perhaps, they don't see him.
While the Orcs are distracted with their attempts to kill Hamnish, or with watching the action, Chenris takes action. Since the Orcs are looking at their comrades running towards Hamnish, she wants to cast the spell without them knowing where it came from. She casts a Thunderclap spell. She is also hoping that the sudden and loud noise (besides harming the two Orcs) will unsettle the Boros even more causing them to start moving around and perhaps will get them to run startled in different directions giving the Orcs yet one more thing to distract them from Hamnish or Sardic.
Bent low to hide her hand motions, Chenriscalls forth an ear-splitting crash of thunder overhead. Orc #6 roars, clapping his hands to the sides of his head. Blood oozes from between his fingers. Most of the orcs charging towards Hamnish, or towards the boros, glance up and around, at the sky, looking for the source of the storm, but some of them simply plunge on, heads down, rage focusing their attention on their target. Some of the boros' heads raise up in alarm, and, respecting their tethers for the moment, they try to clump together, their horns towards the outside. Even at this distance, Chenriscan, with her Speech of the Woods, read their intent. Orcs we must put up with, but all of this harassment is too much. We must obey, but we'll stand here and defend ourselves.
Orc #5 shouts at Orc #6, in Orcish, "You mole rat! Never got used to the world outside the warrens, did you?"
"Shut up!"Orc #6 shouts back, snarling, his hands still over his bleeding ears. Neither of them notice Chenris' movements.
Orc #7 hoists his vardatch and hollers in Orcish at his companions as they bear down on Hamnish'ssprinting horse. "There's magic afoot! Kill him!"The five orcs redouble their charge after Hamnish.
It is Hamnish'sturn! Five orcs are charging him down, and Orc #8 is a few feet behind them. A great clap of thunder just resounded over the hill, but it's broad daylight, with no sign of cloud or storm. What does Hamnishdo?
Hamnish feels rather than sees the group of orcs streaming towards him, rage and death spilling from their cries and smell. Quickly, he urges his steed 15 feet to the east, turns and looses an arrow at the nearest orc (#3). [Attack with Longbow: 9] [Damage: 6]
Using Horde Breaker skill, Hamnish lets loose a second arrow at Orc #7 [Attack with Longbow: 21] [Damage: 11]
Two more arrows fly out from Hamnish'sbow, one missing, and the other burying deep into one of the orcs charging after him. Orc #7 howls in agony stumbles, nearly falling... but with indomitable endurance, pulls himself up and continues the charge with his fellows.
Sardric, flattened in the grass by the boro herd while Orc #10, #11, and #12 are furiously perusing the area, suddenly leaps up and heaves himself onto the back of the nearest boro, #2 with a roar. While the heavily muscled orc easily makes the leap, he has no suitable grip on the animal, and the startled boro leaps and bucks, flinging him off nearly in the same motion. Sardricfalls prone underneath the boro's feet.
"What the--"Orc #10 shouts, and Orc #11 chimes in, "Is that Sardric? Traitorous fool! Met up with his scum and followed us all this way! Kill him!"
Orc #8 swivels to the commotion at the boro herd, his eyes narrowing. "Orcs, to me!" he snarls, turning to run a short distance towards the pack charging Hamnish. "Form phalanx!" he roars. Orc #7, #9, #1, #2, #3, #4 move towards Orc #8, flanking together and holding their vardatches in such a way as to form a shielded crisscross over the close knit group.
The boro herd, meanwhile, has just about had enough. Boro #2, that broke its lead rope swings its head and turns, its tail lifting in alarm, and with a bellow, it charges off through its fellows. With answering bellows, the boros thrash, straining their picket lines, and Boros #8, #1, and #7 snap them and take off after their companion.
Orc #10 lunges at the prone Sardric, bringing his vardatch down with both hands on the stricken orc. Orc #11 and Orc #12follow suit, and a spray of orcish blood geysers into the air from Sardric'sstruggling form as the three hack him into pieces. Finished with their grisly murder, all three take off after the fleeing boros.
Orc #5 and Orc #6 gather their wits, Orc #6 still cursing and rubbing at his ears. They stand at the ready, waiting to dodge any arrows that come their way.
Now that three of the orcs are chasing the boros, they are distracted from what is happening with the others. Hoping to weaken orc's # 5 & 6 Chenris casts an Earth Tremor spell in between orc #5 and #6 which should affect them both. Perhaps that will give the halflings a bit of breathing space.
Hamnish hears the death screams of Sardric, and turns his horse toward his killers. Egging his steed into a hard gallop, Hamnish strings his bow, then looses an arrow at Boro #4. His second arrow streaks toward Boro #5 (using Horde breaker). After firing, he swings his horse around to retreat to a safe distance so he can view the results of his attack "safely".
Chenrismakes another subtle hand gesture, managing to hide it well as she murmurs a word with cracked and dry lips. The earth suddenly swells and rumbles beneath the feet of the two orcs who are guarding the halflings. Focused on the stampeding animals, both of them fail to catch their balance and, with angry howls, are pitched off of their feet by the shaking ground. Loud groans of pain escape them as they hit the ground.
"He's some powerful sorcerer," Orc #5 wheezes.
"What do you know about magic?"Orc #6 groans. "Could be the morsels here, acting up while they think they've got a chance." He twists to glare at the huddled group of chained halflings, and although he sees nothing to make him suspicious, the muscles of his jaw clench in anger, looking for an easy target...
Hamnishfires rapidly into two of the boro that didn't manage to break their tether lines. The boro bellow in pain, rage glinting in their wild, rolling eyes. Boro #4 flings its long horns at Orc #12. Caught heavily in the midsection, the orc roars in agony as a creature bigger and stronger than he breaks into him. Boro #5 slams into Orc #11, who doubles over. Caught by surprise, the two orcs have taken heavy hits from the huge grazers. The six boro who broke loose stampede off northwards together, lowing in terror.
Orc #8 shouts, "FOOLS! Get those animals under control!" before turning towards the fleeing Hamnish on his horse... "Get ready to taste some man blood," he snarls. The small group of orcs pulls more tightly together, watching the horse and rider... and begin to retreat backwards towards the hill. Orcs #1, #2, #3, and #7 look significantly injured, bleeding from Hamnish's arrow wounds.
Orc #12, enraged, swings out at Boro #4 with his vardatch. He cuts the animal's head clean off, and the massive bulk of it slumps down to the ground. Orc #11 swings out likewise at Boro #5, skewering it through the side, and it falls down dead as well, with a last wailing bellow. "Catch those beasts!" Orc #11 shouts at the other two, and all three of them take off after the stampeding herd, the two orcs who were hit by the boro running with somewhat less of their usual fervor, in fact, they look like they are in quite a bit of pain.
It seems the Boros and their erstwhile masters are well entangled in their dance of flight and capture, so Hamnish turns his attention to the main group of orcs in front of the camp. Spurring his horse to speed, Hamnish rides towards the 7 orcs who are chasing him. Within range, he makes a quick stop and looses an arrow at Orc #4
[Longbow hit: 10, Damage: 5]
Using the Horde Breaker skill, Hamnish unleashes a second arrow at Orc #1, then turns and gallops to a "safe" distance from the orc pack.
Chenris has had enough of the Orcs. Time to disappear. She decides to turn into a weasel. Rolls a 4 for stealth. She talks with her fellow halflings to warn them of her plans. She can't do anything more here, so she is going to try to escape and see if she has a better chance of defeating the orcs once she is on the outside. She asks them to keep the orcs distracted if it looks like they are going to notice her as she escapes. She rolls for advantage. Rolls a 13. She turns into a weasel, and then stealthily moves out of the enclosure through the tall grass. She moves as far south as she can.
As Orc #5 and Orc #6 stagger to their feet, Chenristakes her opportunity. With a whispered promise to her halfling companions, her body shrivels and shrinks, sprouting brown fur, her wrists and ankles slipping out of the manacles. A weasel scampers out of the chains and into the grass, and the manacles fall to the ground with a clink. At the same time, one of the other halflings starts to shout and point. "Look--look!" he cries, evidently distressed. Orc #6, who had been angrily turning his attention to the group of halflings, turns to look over his shoulder. He sees nothing but Hamnishfiring arrows and whirling away again on his horse, and he growls in anger.
Orc #5 walks up to the halfling who shouted, yanking him up by his chains. The small fellow cries out in pain as the manacles dig into his wrists. "Guess you'd like to be supper tonight, is that it?" Orc #5 snaps.
The group of orcs, phalanxed together near the base of the hill, shout and howl as Hamnishunleashes his arrows, and they clash their verdatches together, one arrow going wide, and the other being knocked out of the air. "His horse will get tired eventually," Orc #8growls. "And then..."
The boroscontinue to stampede north, with Orcs #10, #11, and #12 charging after them, shouting obscenities in Orcish. They're managing to keep up with the fast-running little herd, but #11 and #12 are noticeably struggling, despite keeping up.
The weasel, well hidden by the long grass, easily gains the bottom of the hill to the south and begins to slip past the tightly phalanxed group of orcs.
It is Chenris' turn!
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Hamnish:
Sardric's muscles are twitching in exhaustion, but the brute resilience of an orc is a difficult thing to put down. His eyes glitter with hatred as he stares at the orc guards up on the crest of the hill.
"It might. At least it would distract them." Sardric frowns. His fists clench as if feeling conspicuous without a weapon. "You have a horse and a bow. You can harry them. They have only their vardatches. No bowmen in this patrol." He pauses, thinking. "I can try to sneak up on that hill and frighten the boro. When you see an opportunity... ride in and shoot. But don't get close. They will break you if they catch you."
Chenris:
Thirty-seven left. The halflings are starving and exhausted, and most of them are huddled together, collapsed in an exhausted sleep, even with the noon sun beating unrelentingly down on the plains. The stench of angry orcs fills their nostrils, and while halflings have never been prey in their own natural environment, the awful experience of being driven, herded, and watching their clanmates be torn apart and eaten has left them numb and despairing. But some of them haven't given up yet.
Chenris has spent most of her magic soothing and keeping alive her tribemates under their terrible persecution. But the energy of Aryth always throbs in her veins, small silent halflings close to the plains, to the life that still streams in a beautiful order throughout Aryth even under the veil. There are still things she can do. Not enough, of course, to free herself and what's left of her tribe... but if an opportunity should present itself, she's ready to act. She catches what harried snatches of sleep that she can, dreaming of being chased by huge, hulking orcs, and of running through the plains, leaving them far behind.
Hamnish nodded: he knew the risks of being too aggressive with an orc.
"I'll wait until the boro start to move, then I'll ride in the opposite side of the herd and make myself known. Are there any particular targets I should aim for?"
Hamnish:
Sardric pauses a long moment, fury glittering in his eyes. "The murach will be the most dangerous. But you will likely not know him from the others, unless he kills you. Just disable them as quickly as you can, and don't get caught." Sardric lowers his muscled bulk into the waving sword grass and begins to crawl, crouching, towards the stand of sleepers and guards on the hill. He is soon out of sight, but Hamnish can see the rustle of the grass where he is moving. Alarm begins to climb into his throat as he watches the too-obvious movement around the hill.
It takes a few minutes, but the guards on the top of the hill notice it too. They point, and all four of them begin to watch the trail where Sardric is trying to circle the hill and get near the boro herd. After identifying the trajectory of the hidden Sardric's movement, three of the guards pick up their heavy, serrated vardatches, and move out of the flattened circle of grass to intercept what they might believe is a predator after the boro herd. The remaining guard walks to the center of the circle, and stoops down to wake one of the sleeping orcs.
As the remaining orc guard stoops towards his sleeping companion, Hamnish sees his chance to cause havoc. Riding loudly, Hamnish notches an arrow to his bow and looses the arrow towards the stooping orc guard.
[Attack with Longbow: 18]
ATTACK UPON THE ORC SLAVERS!!
Hamnish spurs his steed forward through the grass, galloping towards the hill on which the sleeping orcs camp. He lets an arrow fly towards the orc that stoops to wake his fellow. The arrow whizzes straight into its target, piercing the tough hide armor wrapping the orc. The orc lurches backwards with a roar of rage and pain, swinging around violently with vardatch in hand, seeking his assailant. Hamnish snaps off another arrow at the sleeping orc that has just woken, plunging it deep into his torso.
Both orcs, howling and bleeding, quickly spy the galloping horse, and the armored guard who was first hit bellows in Orcish, "RIDER ASSAULT!" The entire camp of orcs leaps to their feet, grabbing their huge, serrated vardatches, and turn to face the assault.
Hamnish gained a surprise round and struck Orc #1 and Orc #2 with arrows, using his Horde Breaker ability, doing significant damage to both of them. The camp is now roused and ready to fight, vardatches and shields in hand, although only the four who were standing guard have their armor on. The three who had started down the hill towards Sardric's unstealthy movement have turned back towards the commotion. The group of chained up halflings huddles near the extinguished cookfire. Initiative order as rolled begins with Chenris, one of the halflings in the huddle. She's just seen arrows fly out of nowhere and strike two orcs mortally. She's chained to her fellows and is restrained. What does Chenris do?
Initiative Order:
Chenris
Hamnish
Sardric
Orc Murach
Boro
Orc Soldiers
Chenris sees an opportunity to add to the confusion among the orcs and throws a "Create Bonfire" spell where Orc #8 is standing. She is hoping the fire will destroy some of the armor the orcs aren't wearing so they'll be more vulnerable. But from where she is restrained, she can't identify the location of the armor. Maybe the confusion of the bonfire will enable Hamnish and Sardic to complete their missions - whatever they are doing. She also hopes the added confusion will keep the orcs from defending themselves and keep them from their agenda. Who knows, perhaps this will even provide an opportunity for the halflings to get free. She is mostly hoping this doesn't backfire and cause the Orcs to take out their frustration on the halflings.
Chenris ducks her head as she whispers the words for a spell, hiding as well as she can the hand and arm motions that activate the magic. As Orc #8 leaps to his feet and grabs his vardatch, a bloom of hot orange flame suddenly ignites around him. His hide bedroll and hardened hide armor, which he was using for a pillow, bursts into flame and smolders. The orc shouts and curses as the flames sear his flesh (for 2 points of damage). The orcs do not notice Chenris' movement or look towards the huddled halflings. Two of Chenris' halfling companions, seeing what she has done, try to sit up a little straighter to shield her from the view of the orcs.
Hamnish bears down on the orc camp, knocking another arrow to his bow in a flurry of speed as the orcs are still responding to the sudden summons. It is Hamnish's turn.
Recalling orcs' speed and ability to crush opponents, Hamnish swerves away from the orc camp for about 60 feet, quickly turns and shoots an arrow at orc #3
[Longbow to hit: 17)
[Damage: 6]
Hamnish swerves his steed's direction to put distance between himself and the orc camp as he lets fly an arrow at Orc #3. The arrow finds its mark, and the orc roars in pain as its sharp tip burrows through his hide armor and into his flesh.
Sardric, seeing the three orcs that had been advancing on his position in the grass turn, distracted, as Hamnish's assault bears down on the camp, scrambles forwards through the grass towards the staked Boro, and with a grunt, huffs and snarls as he hurls himself at the legs of the nearest animal, trying to frighten it without harming it. Boro #2 startles momentarily, and plunges enough to break its lead rope. The animals low in alarm, but their terror of orcs has faded.
Orc #8 raises his serrated vardatch. The sun glints off the darkened iron edge, colored with dried blood. "KILL THE RIDER!" he screams murderously, in Orcish, and then he charges, down off the hill and towards Hamnish.
Howling in rage and bloodthirst, the orcs in the camp nearest his rampage plunge into a deadly charge, headed straight for the horseman. Their speed is terrifying, emboldened by their companion's call to kill. The speed of Hamnish's steed has kept him just out of their reach, but Orc #1, #2, #3, #4, #7, and #9 all close in a mad rush, getting within 40 feet of Hamnish.
Orc #5 and Orc #6, at the far end of the hill, start to run, but stop on the crest of the hill near the huddled halflings, standing guard of the camp.
Orc #10, #11 and #12, hearing the bellow of the boro, swing back around towards Sardric's disruption. They run towards the herd, peering into the grass and bushes to see what startled the animals. Sardric flattens down into the grass and barely breathes---and, miraculously perhaps, they don't see him.
It is Chenris' turn!
Initiative Order:
Chenris
Hamnish
Sardric
Orc Murach
Boro
Orc Soldiers
While the Orcs are distracted with their attempts to kill Hamnish, or with watching the action, Chenris takes action. Since the Orcs are looking at their comrades running towards Hamnish, she wants to cast the spell without them knowing where it came from. She casts a Thunderclap spell. She is also hoping that the sudden and loud noise (besides harming the two Orcs) will unsettle the Boros even more causing them to start moving around and perhaps will get them to run startled in different directions giving the Orcs yet one more thing to distract them from Hamnish or Sardic.
Bent low to hide her hand motions, Chenris calls forth an ear-splitting crash of thunder overhead. Orc #6 roars, clapping his hands to the sides of his head. Blood oozes from between his fingers. Most of the orcs charging towards Hamnish, or towards the boros, glance up and around, at the sky, looking for the source of the storm, but some of them simply plunge on, heads down, rage focusing their attention on their target. Some of the boros' heads raise up in alarm, and, respecting their tethers for the moment, they try to clump together, their horns towards the outside. Even at this distance, Chenris can, with her Speech of the Woods, read their intent. Orcs we must put up with, but all of this harassment is too much. We must obey, but we'll stand here and defend ourselves.
Orc #5 shouts at Orc #6, in Orcish, "You mole rat! Never got used to the world outside the warrens, did you?"
"Shut up!" Orc #6 shouts back, snarling, his hands still over his bleeding ears. Neither of them notice Chenris' movements.
Orc #7 hoists his vardatch and hollers in Orcish at his companions as they bear down on Hamnish's sprinting horse. "There's magic afoot! Kill him!" The five orcs redouble their charge after Hamnish.
It is Hamnish's turn! Five orcs are charging him down, and Orc #8 is a few feet behind them. A great clap of thunder just resounded over the hill, but it's broad daylight, with no sign of cloud or storm. What does Hamnish do?
Hamnish feels rather than sees the group of orcs streaming towards him, rage and death spilling from their cries and smell. Quickly, he urges his steed 15 feet to the east, turns and looses an arrow at the nearest orc (#3).
[Attack with Longbow: 9]
[Damage: 6]
Using Horde Breaker skill, Hamnish lets loose a second arrow at Orc #7
[Attack with Longbow: 21]
[Damage: 11]
Two more arrows fly out from Hamnish's bow, one missing, and the other burying deep into one of the orcs charging after him. Orc #7 howls in agony stumbles, nearly falling... but with indomitable endurance, pulls himself up and continues the charge with his fellows.
Sardric, flattened in the grass by the boro herd while Orc #10, #11, and #12 are furiously perusing the area, suddenly leaps up and heaves himself onto the back of the nearest boro, #2 with a roar. While the heavily muscled orc easily makes the leap, he has no suitable grip on the animal, and the startled boro leaps and bucks, flinging him off nearly in the same motion. Sardric falls prone underneath the boro's feet.
"What the--" Orc #10 shouts, and Orc #11 chimes in, "Is that Sardric? Traitorous fool! Met up with his scum and followed us all this way! Kill him!"
Orc #8 swivels to the commotion at the boro herd, his eyes narrowing. "Orcs, to me!" he snarls, turning to run a short distance towards the pack charging Hamnish. "Form phalanx!" he roars. Orc #7, #9, #1, #2, #3, #4 move towards Orc #8, flanking together and holding their vardatches in such a way as to form a shielded crisscross over the close knit group.
The boro herd, meanwhile, has just about had enough. Boro #2, that broke its lead rope swings its head and turns, its tail lifting in alarm, and with a bellow, it charges off through its fellows. With answering bellows, the boros thrash, straining their picket lines, and Boros #8, #1, and #7 snap them and take off after their companion.
Orc #10 lunges at the prone Sardric, bringing his vardatch down with both hands on the stricken orc. Orc #11 and Orc #12 follow suit, and a spray of orcish blood geysers into the air from Sardric's struggling form as the three hack him into pieces. Finished with their grisly murder, all three take off after the fleeing boros.
Orc #5 and Orc #6 gather their wits, Orc #6 still cursing and rubbing at his ears. They stand at the ready, waiting to dodge any arrows that come their way.
It is Chenris' turn!
Now that three of the orcs are chasing the boros, they are distracted from what is happening with the others. Hoping to weaken orc's # 5 & 6 Chenris casts an Earth Tremor spell in between orc #5 and #6 which should affect them both. Perhaps that will give the halflings a bit of breathing space.
Hamnish hears the death screams of Sardric, and turns his horse toward his killers. Egging his steed into a hard gallop, Hamnish strings his bow, then looses an arrow at Boro #4. His second arrow streaks toward Boro #5 (using Horde breaker). After firing, he swings his horse around to retreat to a safe distance so he can view the results of his attack "safely".
Longbow attack Boro #4: To hit = 23
Damage = 11
Longbow attack Boro #5: To hit = 26
Damage = 10
Chenris makes another subtle hand gesture, managing to hide it well as she murmurs a word with cracked and dry lips. The earth suddenly swells and rumbles beneath the feet of the two orcs who are guarding the halflings. Focused on the stampeding animals, both of them fail to catch their balance and, with angry howls, are pitched off of their feet by the shaking ground. Loud groans of pain escape them as they hit the ground.
"He's some powerful sorcerer," Orc #5 wheezes.
"What do you know about magic?" Orc #6 groans. "Could be the morsels here, acting up while they think they've got a chance." He twists to glare at the huddled group of chained halflings, and although he sees nothing to make him suspicious, the muscles of his jaw clench in anger, looking for an easy target...
Hamnish fires rapidly into two of the boro that didn't manage to break their tether lines. The boro bellow in pain, rage glinting in their wild, rolling eyes. Boro #4 flings its long horns at Orc #12. Caught heavily in the midsection, the orc roars in agony as a creature bigger and stronger than he breaks into him. Boro #5 slams into Orc #11, who doubles over. Caught by surprise, the two orcs have taken heavy hits from the huge grazers. The six boro who broke loose stampede off northwards together, lowing in terror.
Orc #8 shouts, "FOOLS! Get those animals under control!" before turning towards the fleeing Hamnish on his horse... "Get ready to taste some man blood," he snarls. The small group of orcs pulls more tightly together, watching the horse and rider... and begin to retreat backwards towards the hill. Orcs #1, #2, #3, and #7 look significantly injured, bleeding from Hamnish's arrow wounds.
Orc #12, enraged, swings out at Boro #4 with his vardatch. He cuts the animal's head clean off, and the massive bulk of it slumps down to the ground. Orc #11 swings out likewise at Boro #5, skewering it through the side, and it falls down dead as well, with a last wailing bellow. "Catch those beasts!" Orc #11 shouts at the other two, and all three of them take off after the stampeding herd, the two orcs who were hit by the boro running with somewhat less of their usual fervor, in fact, they look like they are in quite a bit of pain.
It seems the Boros and their erstwhile masters are well entangled in their dance of flight and capture, so Hamnish turns his attention to the main group of orcs in front of the camp. Spurring his horse to speed, Hamnish rides towards the 7 orcs who are chasing him. Within range, he makes a quick stop and looses an arrow at Orc #4
[Longbow hit: 10, Damage: 5]
Using the Horde Breaker skill, Hamnish unleashes a second arrow at Orc #1, then turns and gallops to a "safe" distance from the orc pack.
Longbow hit: 15, Damage: 11
Chenris has had enough of the Orcs. Time to disappear. She decides to turn into a weasel. Rolls a 4 for stealth. She talks with her fellow halflings to warn them of her plans. She can't do anything more here, so she is going to try to escape and see if she has a better chance of defeating the orcs once she is on the outside. She asks them to keep the orcs distracted if it looks like they are going to notice her as she escapes. She rolls for advantage. Rolls a 13. She turns into a weasel, and then stealthily moves out of the enclosure through the tall grass. She moves as far south as she can.
As Orc #5 and Orc #6 stagger to their feet, Chenris takes her opportunity. With a whispered promise to her halfling companions, her body shrivels and shrinks, sprouting brown fur, her wrists and ankles slipping out of the manacles. A weasel scampers out of the chains and into the grass, and the manacles fall to the ground with a clink. At the same time, one of the other halflings starts to shout and point. "Look--look!" he cries, evidently distressed. Orc #6, who had been angrily turning his attention to the group of halflings, turns to look over his shoulder. He sees nothing but Hamnish firing arrows and whirling away again on his horse, and he growls in anger.
Orc #5 walks up to the halfling who shouted, yanking him up by his chains. The small fellow cries out in pain as the manacles dig into his wrists. "Guess you'd like to be supper tonight, is that it?" Orc #5 snaps.
The group of orcs, phalanxed together near the base of the hill, shout and howl as Hamnish unleashes his arrows, and they clash their verdatches together, one arrow going wide, and the other being knocked out of the air. "His horse will get tired eventually," Orc #8 growls. "And then..."
The boros continue to stampede north, with Orcs #10, #11, and #12 charging after them, shouting obscenities in Orcish. They're managing to keep up with the fast-running little herd, but #11 and #12 are noticeably struggling, despite keeping up.
The weasel, well hidden by the long grass, easily gains the bottom of the hill to the south and begins to slip past the tightly phalanxed group of orcs.
It is Chenris' turn!