CF - Volo's Adventurers' Guild - PbP Campaign

((Fair enough Tesservett is usually pretty good about responding when I prod them, so, must be away for a bit))

Tresvar snarls at the orcs. She has come to respect the power of her companions in dealing with such foes. So this time, rather than rushing in, she let's them take the point as she is in less than her top form. Instead she prepares to Dodge

Order: Livia ->  Banjo -> Serena -> Orcs -> Araynia -> Tresvar

(Sorry all-  I’ve been AFK for a while due to moving.  Dodge action is fine, i should be back more now)

((No worries! Hope the move went well. Team forgot how wounded you were... wanted to rest in tunnel to let you gain some HP, and let poison pass... let us know your thoughts and how many HP you gain if you agree)).

Standing behind the others, unable to see what's beyond the corner at the moment, despite reading the changed atmosphere to realise there are enemies there, Livia can't really do much. Unable to contribute to the fight from where she is, she decides to try avoiding it altogether, even if she already knows it's unlikely to work.

"Umm, we're sorry," her weak voice echoes through the hall, "we just came to tell you all your friends have already left. Maybe you could see your commander the Ogre leaving before? It's only the three of you, and there are four of us. You will not be the first group of Orcs we'll have dispatched today if you choose to fight. If you lay down your weapons and promise to leave the village alone, we might let you leave unharmed."

Persuasion: 19.

((Fantastic! - due to no one having made any attacks yet, we will ))

The orcs look at each other with a bit of a puzzled/worried look on their faces. Those of the party who see the orcs have the distinct impression that they seem to be worried that they were not being more vigilant and actually may have missed something earlier. As such they seem to deflate with their uncertainty and back away, keeping their bows drawn, but clearly not having the heart for a battle against such foes. The impression of shrinking is enhanced as they reach the end of the passage and descend out of sight to the left. Serena, Tresvar and Banjo hear the sound of another door opening, then being closed. Banjo faintly hears the sound of shuffling feet from a passage beyond and some muffled voices which quickly drift to silence.

Serena at first stands incredulous as the orcs simply abandon their lair but as they dispappear outside a wide smile comes to her face and she turns to give Livia a quick hug. "That...that was great Livia." She says with a big smile. She then turns to the others. "Should we check out the last bit here before returning to rest with those dwarves?"

With the Orcs gone, Banjo lets out a long whistle.  "Livia, you never cease to amaze.  I daresay, if we put you in position to talk to the right people, I suspect you could set to right all the ill's, warfare and hurt feelings of this realm with just a few words.  Just remarkable."

He sets out to look about this hall.  "I think we are near the main entrance now."  Investigation: 5

Serena nods in agreement with Banjo and joins the gnome in investigating the hall the orcs just abandoned.

Investigation: 6

A little embarrassed about the undue attention, Livia answers: "I have not done anything special to make them leave. All I did was present them with the facts and give them a chance, rather than attack them on sight. But yes, maybe all the things you described can be set right if people just... gave each other a chance." Livia's voice trails off near the end, the last words nearly soundless. What does she know, as one who hasn't even been alive for two decades, let alone seen the outside world less than a year? 

"I bet this is all of them, though. I think we should go back to the Dwarves." After all, there were other threats to deal with, and Livia wasn't sure they would all just heed her advice as easily.

"You're probably right Livia, but I suggest we finish the sweep of this level of the complex, it may still hold clues to where we will find those blades we're here looking for." Serena says with a smile as she looks around the hall.

Banjo and Serena, in a stupor of amazement give only cursory glances at the hallway as they lead the group down it. Its walls are stone. Light shines in from three narrow opening along the western wall. At the southern end of the hall is one more narrow opening which is dark. A short stone stairway here leads down and to another stone door exiting south.

"Alright, let's finish the sweep and we'll head back to the dwarves." Serena says, motioning for mighty Tresvar to continue through the southern door, a bit more relaxed now about sneaking as she to believes the last orcs have abandoned the place.
Perception with help from Flappy: 19

(Suggested marching order: Tresvar, Serena, Livia, Banjo?)

The team falls into its accustomed order as they prepare to continue through this simple, apparently untrapped and unlocked door. As she eases into a more relaxed state and lets her senses absorb the ambiance around her, Serena hears through the  southern slit, the sound of several sets of heavy feet running in the corridor beyond the door.

(Can Serena determine if they are leaving this place, or returning?)

The acoustics in this cave like fortification muddle the direction of the footsteps in their echoes. However, shortly after the sounds of the feet pass, the party hears the grinding of something large against gravel and then a double slam as of large doors being drawn closed.

Serena quickly moves back a bit, peeking outside where the orcs were posted earlier, checking if something was just dragged out of the fort.
Perception with help from Flappy: 6

Serena goes to one of the defensive slits overlooking the outside mountain ledge. Peering out, she sees no orcs or activity.

Serena turns to the others with a worried expression. "I might be wrong but I think a group of orcs just came back, pulling something large with them."

"Hmmn.  What could it be?  Loot from one of their raids?"  He shrugs.  "Let us go have Livia inform them the lair is under new management."

Serena nods and turns to Livia. "What do you say? It just might work again right?"