"Glad the drizzle stopped before we had to make camp." Nix says as he pulls out his bedroll and then starts repeat casting Prestidigitation on himself and his clothes to clean up. "Much better. Any of you want me to magic away your road grime?"

He does the same for any others that want it.

Finna shrugged - spending practically whole life on the road, she considered mud as part of the natural cover of any living being. (And if we are travelling in the wagon - there is not so much mud to begin with). On the way to the ruins where dragon was expected to still live, Finna become more collected and very attentive, constantly checking sides of the road and sky. She would take any shift of nightwatching.

Nemean was excited and upbeat as they boarded the wagon and left Phandin. He sat on the edge of his seat, eagerly scanning the skies for any sign of the mighty beast.

When he sees Nix tidying up his garments he gladly takes him up on the offer. Nemean always liked to dress to impress, but his gear and clothing had shown signs of wear after a rough few days.

As they made their way Nemean begins to think about what they were up against. “So have either of you ever killed a dragon before? Do we know anything about these creatures that could help us take it down?”

Finna readily explained - this is why she was here, after all. "I can tell you what druids know about green dragons. The one we are after is young still - and this is our hope, We - Reidoth and I - watched him for months. Pretty much by the books, unless something changed in the last few days."

"First thing - he is smart. Even if young and still impulsive. Second, he is poisonous. His breath, I mean. Can not be poisoned himself, though. Fortunately, steel can harm him just as any other creature, but he is a dragon, meaning, magical. Green dragons particular are sort of "forest dragons" - their magic affects nature. Green dragon can command animals and plants to a degree. Expect animals to be his spies  and plants - his allies."

"When he attacked my friends, he was cunning and swift. One moment we were walking along the road, next moment we were all choking and gasping. He had glided in from above and behind us and then used his foul poison breath on us before we even knew he was there."

DM Screen:

As Nix finishes his statement, roars spring up from the surrounding area. From rocks and bushes nearby, three orcs blaze a trail toward your camp at tremendous speed, positioned to surround you. The shock of the situation and the element of stealth have taken you completely by surprise.

Initiative:

Round 1 Order:
Players (surprised)
Orcs <=====

Javelin vs. Nemean: 18 Damage: 7
Javelin vs. Nemean: 12 Damage: 9
Javelin vs. Roland: 16

A round of javelins soars into the camp, raining metal from afar as the orcs continue their charge. Nemean weaves away from the dangerous moment, but finds himself nearly pinned by the incoming missiles. The orcs bear faces of rage as they close in, already in the process of releasing their greataxes from their straps.

Round 2 Order:
Players <=====
Orcs

Placement:
The orcs are within 30 feet of the camp, closing in from three separate directions.

Tracking:
Nemean is lightly wounded.

Nix singles out an orc and yells at it in the most intimidating voice he can muster, "I know your fears! I know your secrets!" and then utters the words to cast Dissonant Whispers as a level 2 spell.

The orc must make a Wis saving throw against a DC14 or take 14 points of damage and must immediately use its reaction, if available, to move as far as its speed allows away from me. Half damage on successful save.

Not moving from her position, Finna simply shot the Orc running toward Nix: Attack: 20 Damage: 8

OOC: Botting Nemean for this round by drawing both scimitars.

DM Screen:

Orc WIS Save: 1

Rapier vs. Orc: 11 Damage: 9

Greataxe vs. Nemean: 21
Greataxe vs. Nix: 14 Damage: 6
Greataxe vs. Roland: 15

The orc charging toward Nix pushes through the pain of the bard's spell, struck in the chest by Finna's bolt in the process, though the druid sees now that the waning magic of the Forge of Spells has worn off of her weapons as well. Roaring through the pain, the creature nearly decapitates Nix, sending the bard scrambling backward to avoid its mighty axe.

The other orcs close in on Nemean and Roland; Nemean draws his blades in time to cross them against the incoming axe, sending it to the side, while Roland dodges at the last second, using his greater speed to stick his opponent with his rapier, drawing blood.

Round 3 Order:
Players <=====
Orcs

Placement:
One orc is engaged in melee combat with Nemean.
One orc is engaged in melee combat with Nix.
One orc is engaged in melee combat with Roland.
All combatants are now within movement range of one another.

Tracking:
The orc fighting Nix is wounded.
The orc fighting Roland is lightly wounded.

Nemean is lightly wounded.
Nix is lightly wounded.

Ammunition:
Finna has fired 1 bolt.

Nemean hisses as he draws his scimitars and presses the attack against the orc in front of him.

Scimitar Attack 1: 22 Damage: 8

Scimitar Attack 2: 12 Damage: 5

As Nix jumps back, one hand goes to the wound on his neck. He then draws his rapier and charges the Orc who attacked him.

Rapier: Attack: 6 Damage: 9
If rapier hits, Nix uses Psychic Blades special ability to cause 7 psychic damage.

Finna switched to scimitar: (attack same orc that wounded Nix): Attack: 22 Damage: 9

OOC: Finna will have to drop her crossbow in order to draw her scimitar and attack within the same turn.

DM Screen:

Rapier vs. Orc: 16

Greataxe vs. Nemean: 12
Greataxe vs. Roland: 15 Damage: 11

Nix/Finna:
Metal sings as the orc deflects Nix's rapier wide, but the creature is caught watching Finna's crossbow clatter to the ground, and her scimitar is out of its scabbard and in his throat before he can react. Grabbing at his fatal cut, the orc drops dead.

Nemean:
"Many Arrows will have your head, cat!" The orc shouts in brutish Common. His hefty swing is easy to duck, and Nemean pops up behind it quickly, cutting into the orc before it brings the axe back around to send the next strike wide.

Roland:
Towering over the rogue, the orc sends him backward with sheer force, his brute strength and speed keeping Roland from finding an easy target.

Round 4 Order:
Players <=====
Orcs

Placement:
One orc is engaged in melee combat with Nemean.
One orc is engaged in melee combat with Roland.
All combatants are now within movement range of one another.

Tracking:
The orc fighting Nemean is lightly wounded.
The orc fighting Roland is lightly wounded.

Nemean is lightly wounded.
Nix is lightly wounded.
Roland is lightly wounded.

Ammunition:
Finna has fired 1 bolt.

To give some room to the fighters, Finna did not rush in with the blade, instead she tried help with magic:

Moonbeam (Con save 15)  6 on the orc fighting Roland (obviously, targeted in a way to not touch Roland)

Nemean continues his onslaught against the orc in front of him with two quick cuts. He taunts the orcs as a deftly lunges forward.

“Your arrows couldn’t even hit the side of our wagon, you’ve made a grave mistake in coming here! Do you even know who we are?”
.

Scimitar Attack 1: 15 Damage: 6

Scimitar Attack 2: 16 Damage: 8

Nix does a quick survey of the field and decides the Orc fighting Roland should be his next target and charges in.

Rapier: Attack: 22 Damage: 3

Orc CON Save: 16
Rapier vs. Orc: 19 Damage: 11

Whatever the orc has to say in response is never heard, as Nemean circles around his greataxe, cutting him down across the chest mid-answer. Howls fill the camp from the remaining orc as it frantically shifts away from Finna's moonbeam searing into his flesh. The momentary distraction is all that Nix and Roland need to finish the job, thrusting their rapiers in from different angles.

OOC: Each character has received 75 XP for defeating the orc ambush.

Finna shut the light beam and looked at each of her companion, checking for wounds: "Some nerve have those orcs - running freely around the dragon lair. Hope it was the last crazy around. I can take first watch, get some rest now."

Pulling a cloth from his pack and pouring water from his canteen onto it, Nix wipes down his wound and then applies pressure to staunch the bleeding. Then he walks over and kicks the Orc that cut him. Looking to Finna, "I won't argue with you over it, I could use some sleep. Wake me for second watch if you'd like." Nix then proceeded to bed down.

Nemean sheaths his scimitars with a flourish.  "Those poor bastards had no idea who they were up against... I almost feel bad for the mindless goons sometimes. Anyway, I will take the last watch of the night."