"Well, I have two things to say. Staying at the fires is a stupid idea while we get surrounded and even the Hellriders have to know that if I know it. We need to know what they are going to do, most likely on horseback leaving us behind so we need to know where to be as most helpful. I'm going to go find out what their plan is."

Portia heads toward where she thinks those in command are in the mix of the seemingly chaotic, but quite organized preparations by the Hellriders.

"Kanon, I'm mostly out of spells," the gnome continued to plead, tugging at his arm and trying to pull him toward the exit. "Portia has used up a great deal of her healing. We are just going to get in the way. Please!" Tears were starting to prick in the corners of her eyes. "I don't want to watch any of you die."

What is up with her, he thinks to himself, she's never been this terrified before.

Kanon decides to let her pull him in the direction she wants to go, but he moves slowly as he calls out to Portia, "What is the order, Portia!? Do we help reinforce the West?" It was where Zina was pulling him anyway. 

The Hellriders assist each other in gearing up, then rigging their horses, before they gather. The First Serjeant prances his mount in a half-turn and points his lance at the party.

"You!" He shouts. "Run! Now! Push west before their lines close or you'll be surrounded!"

The company repeats their "To Right!", "To Ruin!" battle cry and charges northeast, following their Captain into battle.

They're charging into the leaders!  What he wouldn't give to have brought their horses right now. His imagination races as quickly as his pulse with images of the group charging forward with the Hellriders. Whose idea was it to leave their horses back at Candlekeep?? His eyes stray to Petti. Now it all makes sense...

"Lets go!" He yells to the others as he picks up his pace towards the West. "To right!!"

Argonox barely had time to hear Mara’s name when the horns sounded. Instinctively he turned to join the Hellriders. His left foot stepping first, it hit the ground and he halted. He had been assigned a new task. Mara was already on her feet with the new shield in hand and her longsword drawn. The Paladin came back around, “let us stand with the others and learn what precisely is taking place so that we can determine our course of action.”

He could hear the chatter of the Hellriders and knew they were not gearing up to fight. They were gathering everything and breaking camp. You weren’t gathering the essentials of a camp, if you’re planning on returning. When battle horns blow, confusion is very common save for the trained. The Hellriders knew what was going on, but the party had not understood the intentions. Battle plans were being created while Mara and he came to join them. Mara commented on running and Zina seemed to agree. Over a few seconds the whole of the group seemed to understand the Hellriders intent which became abundantly clear when the Sergeant shouted for them to run.

He could not help but smile as Kanon took up the lead for the party to head west, ‘To Right!’ the bard had yelled. Argo chuckled as he gathered his horse and the gear, then assembled onto the saddle of the gallant steed. He trotted up next to Zina, “I know you do not like me, but this is not a moment for animosities. Join me and let us get to safety with the others.” He extends his hand in hopes that the gnome illusionist would accept his aid. Then he’d ride (hopefully with Zina in the saddle with him) alongside to the west.

"I don't like you or your horse, but I'm not an idiot," Zina rolled her eyes as she took the knight in shining armor's hand and allowed him to pull her up onot his steed. "At least you have some good sense. Let's go."

Awe filled Pettilaen's soul as he watched the riders disembark. They were legends, and now they were charging into battle against the for.

Pettilaen was not Hellrider, and after realizing their plan and how little he could contribute, he activated his Spazzledazzle and sprinted west to Candlekeep without a second thought. He didn't pay heed to the first warning the captain gave, and wasn't going to ignore the second. Gaia flew above, following closely in the air.

"We should have brought our horses!" Kanon yells over to Petti. He nearly loses his footing when Mara grabs him by the collar. How does that woman run so fast in that armor!? He then notices Petti passing him up. How does that gnome run so fast with those legs!? He doesn't notice that no one completed the call of the Hellriders, as his focus is completely on the forces assembling around them as he tries to pick up the pace. They'll have to fight, but they should make it through!

As the party pushes west, they see two large groups of orcs - one left and one ahead to their right. A burly commander of the group on their right calls out and a small contingent (12) of warriors breaks off to intercept the party...

(META: They're presently about 300 feet away and moving to cut off your escape route.)

As the orcs turn to intercept the small group, Kanon calls out to Petti. "Fight strong Pettilaen! Show them the power you've been building. Brace yourself and run them through!" He continues moving, keeping with the group as he does.

(Move 60 feet, Bardic Inspiration on Pettilaen) 

Run them through? Who did this bard think Pettilaen was? The god of gnomes? Not that the thought hadn't crossed his mind. He had some marvelous plans to promote racial equality amongst the humanoid races, and it all started with getting even on equal level in height. With maybe the gnomes a tiny bit taller than everyone else. It was only fair: the taller humanoid races always overlooked him.

But he was in the middle of an army of rampaging orcs, charging past him on both sides, and the only way out was getting narrower and narrower. And now a group of orcs was trying to intercept them. They easily doubled, possibly tripled, his height, and weight at least six times as much as he did. And they had greataxes and javelins to boot. But he was Pettilaen Brookebrewer. The same Pettilaen that almost killed a giant until he got squashed by a rock. The same Pettilaen that almost killed a group of off-branded centaurs until his got speared completely through. Maybe he'll almost kill these orcs too? The thoughts caused Pettilaen slow down a little. No need to encounter the enemy and let them all get a hit off on him before the others arrive, right?

OOC: Moved 60 feet.

It didn't take long to figure out they should have run off sooner, but at least they had everything and were doing that now. Though here came some orcs to play. Thankfully a small group, but boy would they get a surprise! Even with the giant fight, she still has spell power left since she only used two spells. If all else failed, she had useful cantrips. She smiles grimly hoping the sprinting did not tire them out too much as they headed toward the intercepting orcs. Slowing was not an option.

"For Beregost and the Song of the Morning!"

She starts prepping what she would do when they came closer to the orcs and she could take casting action.

As the group surges west, the small orc band moves to intercept at a tireless run. They howl and grunt as they prepare their javelins for throwing.

(META: The orcs moved 90 feet, putting them 150 feet from the main body of the party)

Seeing the orcs prepare their javelins, Pettilaen continues to rush forward [moving with the group, up to 70 ft. if needs be, using his bonus action to Dash] and prepares himself in anticipation for the javelins [Dodge action]. He'd suggest that they just rush past, but with how fast the orcs move, he doesn't think the rest of the group could outrun them.

Portia decides she better cast Bless now or never. She does move another thirty feet and then pauses to do so using it like a second level spell so she can put it on four of her companions before they get out of range. By the time she can do anything else the orcs will probably have clashed with the lead of the group close enough she can move and do the next thing.

(Meta - Bless is on Argonox, Mara, Kanon and Pettilaen. )

Kanon begins to slow down, seeing the orcs ready their javelins. "Get ready!" He yells, preparing to dodge in case a javelin comes his way. "Mara! Lets show these orcs their folly. For Beregost!!" 

(Moves 30', takes dodge action, Inspires Mara)

Long tendrils of drool swing from their fangs as the orcs rush to close the distance. They pull up just enough to lob a volley of javelins toward the party's vanguard. Most strike the ground or bounce harmlessly away, but 3 javelins find their targets, wounding Zina, Mara, and Argonox.

(META: Orcs closed another 60', threw javelins with Disadvantage due to range and Dodge actions, with a 22 to hit Argo [6 damage], 20 to hit Zina [5 damage], and 20 to hit Mara [5 damage].)