"Yes, Azetbu is as level-headed as an orc could be...though I do not doubt that he would strike at Luruar the second victory was guaranteed," Roccar responds. "Thank you, Karst. We will see what tomorrow brings," he nods wearily.

OOC: Is everybody good for fireside conversation and ready to sleep for the night?

(Sounds good to me.)

Zzzzzzzzzz

"What is the meaning of this!"

You awake to Glendale's startled shout and the clattering of orc armor. Orcs have encircled the campsite, and hundreds more are sprinting toward the party. A war horn sounds nearby, and the crowd parts to display a roaring Shang. "You have murdered my mate. Blood shall have blood!" she screams. She cradles the lifeless body of Azetbu in one hand. In the other is Roccar's precious greataxe, crusted with blood. Fumbles, Glendale, Rowan, Roccar and Sal are in various states of shock and half-sleep, practically falling over themselves trying to assess the situation. Nearly a hundred spears quickly close in, making survival surely impossible and any battle already over. 

OOC: This is another social encounter, a mechanic unique to these adventures, where character responses can drive the direction of the story. How does each character respond to the situation, in either first or third person? 

Murmen will cast guidance on himself, using it for this next check.

"Huh?  Waz . . .Oy!"

Murmen wakes up a bit more, and assesses the situation.

"I mean, what kinda fools are ye?  Does it look like we just came back from a murder spree?  We ken bareleh stand up straight."

“Shang. The circumstances of this act cannot be as they seem. I implore you to ask why if Roccar was looking to take a life, would it not have been yours? Azetbu only made stronger the pending alliance between the tribes and the others. I smell a traitor elsewhere who would prefer to sow discord. I know the troubles between you but Azetbu professed a desire to make this peace work and set it into motion.”

"Priestess, Meepo supports what Aradurk said. Besides, we were escorted by an orc procession then spent all our time here idly camping in front of the fire.

Meepo suspects its either your ashen-skinned general or that twitchy goblin might have something to do with this. Especially the goblin because he was twitchy."

OOC: Waiting for Karst and Bartram's response for the social encounter before advancing.

Moving to stand near to Roccar Karst looks squarely at the Shang "You know he is not guilty of this, I cannot for certain say who did but possibly another party has an interest in provoking tensions.  My friend is right, Azetbu is not the orc Roccar would have chosen to quarrel with, it is you who have tried to derail our council, Azetbu was a powerful leader but he wanted something that you did not, peace with the Uthgardt.  He is dead and you have chosen to blame Roccar, but answer these in front of your soldiers, where did he get his axe from, it wasn't with him when we came to the camp, how did he get to Azetbu and why would he leave the evidence if he was capable of escaping undetected afterwards?"  The paladin steps forward "You also know one important thing, whether you will admit it or not, Roccar is an honourable man and would have fought an enemy face to face but would not have murdered him in his sleep.  If you are truthful to yourself you would admit this."

Bartram Shadecrest
Lvl 4 | Human | Rogue/Inquisitive 

As much as he doesn't want to believe that he would jeopardize everything, Bartram studies Roccar for any sign of guilt or deceit.

Bartram Insight: 12

For Bartram:

Tension grows as it seems the pleas fall on deaf ears. Shang is furious, glaring at Roccar and drooling with bared fangs revealed in her fury.

Glendale turns to Roccar, panic showing on her typically stoic face. "Tell them we yield," she says. "Mary?" Roccar asks with a look of shock. Movement from the line of orcs causes Glendale to turn and shout, "We yield!"

Roccar steps forward, causing the front line of orcs to cautiously step back, forming a defensive semicircle in front of Shang. He drops to a knee in front of them. "We yield to Many Arrows! We yield!" he shouts.

Shang's face shows no sign of change, but she waves the orcs forward, who quickly bind Roccar's hands, similarly capturing Glendale, Rowan, Fumbles, Roccar, and Sal, who put up no fight. As the orcs move to bind the rest of the party, Glendale stares to get your attention and desperately shakes her head.

OOC: Each character has gained 25 XP for the social encounter.

The desert kobold asks the priestess while they are currently being restrained by the group of orcs.

"I think you should consider Meepo out of your suspects. Meepo is too small to wield a heavy greataxe effectively, especially against an imposing figure like Azetbu."

“Ye ain’t bindin’ me hands, friend.  I dinnae even have a weapon.”

Murmen will offer no resistance other than that.

The orcs bind all hands but Murmen's, choosing to place more orcs around him over what might happen if they do not respect the burly dwarf's wishes. You are walked back to the same large gathering area where the previous day's discussion took place, where Shang, Gorcrom and Juds take their place once more at the massive table. 

"Tell me, Warblade, how are murderers treated in Luruar? Azetbu allowed you all here to talk, and he ended up with your axe in his back. And we are the uncivilized ones?" Shang growls.

Glendale scoffs, "You hint at execution without trial and accuse us of being uncivilized? How porcine! I am well versed in your traditions, Shang. Our companions informed me of a duel your tribes partake in to avert war. I invoke that tradition to prove our innocence!"

"No!" Shang and Juds both shout, just before Gorcrom unexpectedly says, "Roccar. Pick your champions."

Roccar and Glendale share Shang and Juds' looks of shock, and a roar of approval from the hundreds of orcs surrounding you drowns out Roccar's first reply. "Azetbu wanted soldiers, not politicians, to determine the fate of this pact. We trusted them to negotiate for us yesterday, and we will trust them to be our champions today," Roccar answers when the roar subsides.

"Very well," Gorcrom says. He chooses five orcs of his own, and the rest of the Dark Arrows orcs form an impromptu circle, banging their greataxes together and shouting in bloodlust in anticipation of the duel. "Search them for weapons," Shang says, "And carefully. If they snuck a greataxe in, they could be hiding anything. Bring the others to me."

You are searched for weapons, and your hands are unbound once the orcs find nothing hidden. The five orcs face you in the fighting circle. Their greataxes are drawn, and Shang holds Sal, Glendale, Roccar, Rowan, and Fumbles as hostages. Juds nervously twitches at the side of the table. "No magic!" the goblin shaman declares. The orc army begins beating their shields and stomping their feet in a warlike rhythm.

The kobold whispers to his team some words before the combat begins.

"This is not what Meepo expects. Meepo would have escaped quickly but looking at our current audience, that would be farfetched.

Still, hope is not lost to us. We just need to focus on quickly knocking one out unconcious and take their greataxes.

Meepo can give us the edge we need to win if Meepo is fast enough."

“Swarm and devour. We will take them. Meepo and Bartram - I will try to give you the opportunities you need. Karst and Murmen - take my side flanks. I think we should give them a taste of the haka to give them concern.”

Bartram Shadecrest
Lvl 4 | Human | Rogue/Inquisitive 

Addressing the orcs, "I know it's a little late to bring this up, but don't you think it's strange that you found Roccqr's axe at all? I don't know about you but I don't think I would leave a murder weapon behind that could easily be traced back to me. I'm no expert in these matters but it seems to me someone wanted you to find that axe. Just think about that for a moment."

"I think we are beyond the point where they listen to common sense, now they will need to bleed to learn the error or their false accusations." Karst begins to prepare himself for the fray "You have called for no magic, my gifts are not arcane but if you proceed then I will use them the way you will use your size and strength granted as your birthright, I will use my own in the same way." The paladin allows the merest hint of radiant fire to flicker around his eyes. "You have challenged a child of the angelic horde and I will respond with the fury of my forebears."

Stepping forward the aasimar points at the greataxe in the hands of the orc opposite him "Very nice, I will enjoy taking it from you, removing your head with it and then using it to kill each of your friends."

"Enough! Prove your innocence in combat!" Shang roars, drowned out by the orcish clamor around her. Gorcrom seems to be the only calm orc left, watching with collected anticipation while Juds shuffles awkardly beside him.

Initiative:

The orc champions are practically drooling, their visages snarling, and suddenly they are in your faces. With startling speed, they have rushed forward with abandon, leaving you practically pressed against the axes and shields of the orcs encircling you. Two greataxes swing toward the intimidating Karst, and one toward Murmen, while the other two hold back defensively, waiting for an opportune time to close in.

Greataxe Attack at Karst: 15
Greataxe Attack at Karst: 9
Greataxe Attack at Murmen: 13

Karst CON Save: 23

Murmen barely raises his shield in time, but meets the attack with enough force to deflect the blow. Karst's own shield swats the first axe aside, but the second bites through his armor, dealing 11 slashing damage. As the blade cuts in, the aasimar paladin feels the bite of poison being easily combated by his divine blood.

Round 1 Order:
Orcs
Players <=====

Tracking:
Karst is engaged in melee with two orcs.
Murmen is engaged in melee with an orc.
Two orcs are standing 10 feet back defensively.
The circle provides around a 60 foot diameter of space.
All combatants are within range of each other.

Murmen will wipe any traces of orc spittle of his face.

”Aye, aye, we get it.  Yer big’n ugly.  Now sit yer arse back down!”

Action: Slamming the orc engaged with him with his shield.

Attack: 23 (+2 If prof bonus applies) Damage: 7

Bonus Action: Nothing