Sword Coast Rambling

OCC: Congrats Brots!!  Say goodbye to freetime :)

OOC: Congrats Brots! Sure that’s fine if you’re happy to do that.

Although the likelihood of the hawk being a target in combat is quite high if it attacks anyone. As long as you’re comfortable with potentially losing the bird at some point...?

Zyltris is happy to flank the opponents so he’ll set up however that is easiest 

Quote from BrownBeard >>

OOC: Congrats Brots! Sure that’s fine if you’re happy to do that.

Although the likelihood of the hawk being a target in combat is quite high if it attacks anyone. As long as you’re comfortable with potentially losing the bird at some point...?

 (Ooc: I don't plan on him attacking, I'm just using him as an alarm.)

Syna moves so that he has the mouth of the cave under surveillance, and hopefully see into the mouth.  "Remember to stay back a bit so you don't get Entangled."

OOC: You're set out something like this then? I can work with that if they seem fine with everyone?  Syna will have half cover behind the rocks, it'll give you the best position to see into the cave mouth although it slopes downwards so it'll restrict your view a bit.

The difficult terrain will only apply going uphill, so you guys on top of the hill will be fine if you head downhill towards the cavemouth. 

OCC:  My assumption, is that if I cast Entangle at the blue spot, the vines will grow INSIDE the cave and not on the knoll.  If so, I am good to go.  I am guessing you can figure out my first move turn :)

OOC: Yeah its a 20ft square so you vines will grow in a flat area 20x20.

I'd expect they would grow 10 feet east and west, and basically fill the tunnel north/south and not be able to grow any further. 

Serak: Producing his crowbar from his pack, Serak hands it to Zyltris and lightly punches him on the shoulder, saying, "This should give you the leverage necessary to topple these stones. When Syna gives the signal and entangles them, let the stones fly! No small task, my friend, but I know you can do it!" 

Bardic Inspiration: Zyltris

When everyone is in position, Serak picks a bit of fleece from his tattered vest, waves his hand, and casts Minor Illusion. The sound of horse and wagon can be heard in the distance, seeming to come from the hills to the northeast. Horses neigh, cargo shifts and men's voices can be heard as it appears to be drawing closer 

OOC: So Zyltris should have Advantage on the Strength(Athletics) check, and can add +1d6 if he needs to.

The clatter of hooves echoes through the narrow valley, slowly edging closer to the cave entrance. Inside the cave, the laughter continues, punctuated by a sudden loud, demanding voice. "Gortwog! Der agh zee nalkra ul korm ku. Bugak markatji aga niz!" Carefully hidden behind a nearby boulder, Syna watches as a single orc appears, cautiously making its way up the sloped tunnel and up to the mouth of the cave. Thick smoke blows into the tunnel from the nearby camfire, obscuring its view.

The orc grunts to itself and glances upwards towards the hilltop. No sign of the approaching cart. He calls out in a hushed husky voice, "Bugak! Nalkra doh lat zee?"

Orc Investigation (Intelligence) Check: 2
Spell Save DC: 13

Appearing to be convinced, he waits a moment before drawing his greataxe in a swift motion. Beating his chest with his free hand, the orc calls back into the cave, "Naog bugak! Korm dogez kigiji tuztor! Ve nadgaj!" 30 seconds later, two more orcs scramble out of the tunnel and stand in the cave mouth, axes drawn, ready for war.

Dexterity (Stealth) Checks for hiding: 
Beetle: 9
Brots: 24
Serak: 14
Syna: 9
Zyltris: 11

As the orcs move to chase down the cart, a sudden movement catches their eye. As the smoke clears slightly in the wind, one orc spots Syna hiding behind the set of boulders nearby. On the hillside, Beetles bulky form rises too quickly before the trap is sprung, revealing himself to another orc below. The lead orc again calls out into the tunnel, "Anakkkkk!"

Initiative Rolls:
Beetle: 3
Brots: 18
Serak: 6
Syna: 14
Zyltris: 6

Orcs: 3

Orcs 21 v Beetle 18
Serak 20 v Zyltris 11

OOC: So, I've rolled for hiding here as unlike the last time you're quite close to the orcs when they appear.

They have only spotted Beetle and Syna so you guys are their only targets for the time being.

Brots, Serak and Zyltris you are currently still hidden so your attacks have advantage - however once you make an attack you will lose the advantage from being hidden. 

ROUND 1

Syna:

OOC: Hopefully those rolls make sense. Thought about it for a while and it seemed the fairest way. If you'd all passed the orcs passive perception it would have pretty much been a surprise round. Initiative means that your trap plan will still work out though.

Edit - I've rerolled Brots' initiative too - I'm sure you won't complain. Better to roll them all at the same instance.

Serak: Drawing an arrow between each knuckle from his goblin quiver, Serak plants three into the ground and nocks the fourth. At Syna's signal, he fires at any unentangled orc. He shouts to Zyltris, "Now!"

Attack: 21 Damage: 8

OOC: Looks good. My only concern is that the orcs may have exited the cave too far for the rock slide to hit all of them. The boulders would need to travel 15ft to hit them all. I was imagining springing the trap when they were all about 5ft west. If the rock formation is tall enough it could hit them all. I should have asked that sooner. lol

I will target 03 with Entangle

If All 3 aren't entangled i will retreat 35 ft.

OOC: The perspective doesn’t really help lol. I’ll take it that the orcs will all be in range of the rock fall so your plans are sound. Would be a bit sly of me to sneak them past 

Still a Strength (Athletics) DC to pass and the orc dexterity DC to fail, but the damage will be worth it if it comes off 

OOC: Okay cool. Thanks BrownBeard for clarifying.

Zyltris has a 51% chance of rolling a 15 or higher. Then he adds his +4 and the +1d6 from Bardic Inspiration. Very good odds of hitting a DC 20. If it is DC 25, it is still worth a shot I think to deal massive damage to these three and block up the entrance a little. Zyltris can push, drag or pull 450lbs. Leverage from the Crowbar would double that. So he could rather easily drop 900 lbs on their heads.

Disadvantage on Dex saves if Entangled is what really makes the plan work though. Closest rules I could find for damage are the rules for traps.

Edit: I got rambling again and forgot the point of the post. Serak will use Cutting Words on any Orc that makes his Save vs. Entanglement by 3 or less.

OOC: Haha. Very mathematical lol. Yeah it’ll either be 2d10 or 4d10 damage depending on how well the other checks go I think. I’ll leave it up to Tymora!

Just Brots and Zyltris to go. Assuming Zyltris sticks to the plan lol. To be fair Brots could delay, stay hidden and spring up any time with advantage but I’d rather give them the option.

Zyltris has the advantage on the strength check too remember. I make those good odds indeed

OOC: The 51% is including Advantage and before modifiers. Zyltris is a good sport and I think he'll love the chance to crush three orcs at once. Beetle, you were just too far down the Initiative buddy. lol

Absolutely Zyltris is in! I think we really want this to work, if for no other reason than the confusion it will cause them. 

Strength: 22

Brots is going to take is bow, notch an arrow and take aim at Orc 1. He'll release his arrow and hope it hits. Whispering to himself. "Don't let me down."

Attack: 16 Damage: 8

Then quietly whisper "****"  to himself as his arrow soars right over the orcs head.

OCC:  Even if it doesn't do a lot of damage, it will slow down any reinforcements.  That's my worry at this point... how many are inside?