Waterdeep: Camel Heist (2020)

Quote from jsmall >>

Still hiding in the shadows, Incantis whispers into Dekhan's mind. "Puny orc with horrid breath, fights his way to certain death. Onward now my holy mate, lead this greenskin to his fate..." 

He gives Dekhan 1 Bardic Inspiration.

This can happen at any point so I'm happy to roll initiative.

Strix begins slowly whispering phrases in common and then in Orc for Incantis to repeat phonetically to appropriate Orc targets :

(For Brughor)

"Him look beautiful" 

"That was best shot, him not even blink!"

"Missed! Gruumsh not miss. Gruumsh have one eye. Brughor should have one eye!"

(For regular Orcs)

"Chief look scared"

"Axe-biter? Him be pillow-biter by morning!"

"Why chief need such big axe? Compensating?"

"Gruumsh is weird word. Gruumsh. Gruuuuuuumsh...... Gruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuumsh. Are feet just big hands with short fingers? "

"Oh no! Left pot on fire!"

"Brughor weak. Me should be chief!"

"Now good time show guys dance routine been working on"

"real orc use fist, not axe!"

"If pixie-man win, horse gon' **** us all! Run! RUN!!!!"

Seeing no reaction from the Orc: Fair 'nuff.

Vaz will try and and look bored as he Cheers and Leers at the fighters, and position himself so he has a straight line of sight at the mouth of the cave. He clutches the scroll of fireball in his hand, vaguely aware that even in the slight drizzle the parchment is not getting wet.

Incantis listens closely to Strix' words, figuring a mangling of the orcish pronunciation will do nothing but aid in the viciousness of any telepathic mockery he might have to unleash.

When Zoria sees Dekhan's transformation, she bows to his general vicinity in awe.

Dekhan moves out of the way of Brughor’s swing and comes back in and swings Talon at the giant orc Attack: 16 Damage: 7 if that’s a hit he’ll add divine smite 7

Dekhan, your sword slashes deep into Brughor's side, slicing a neat cut in his armour.  He roars with fury and manages to use his axe handle to push Talon away, the glimmer of holy light fading from the blade as he does so.  He is badly injured, from just one strike, and you see genuine shock on his face.  No fear though.  

In unison, orcs shouted Kul much more loudly in time with your strike, before resuming the normal volume; it's an odd background music for this battle.  

Brughor looks at you grimly.  Dangerous pup.  I see.  You think you'll take my tribe?  My family?  I'm gonna make a nice bed from those wings.  He feints, and then charges with his greataxe:

Attack: 16 Damage: 4

But the attack goes wide; he fumbles; he's losing a lot of blood.  You detect a slight shift in the mood of the chanting orcs; they were confident of the outcome before, and now they're not.  They've never seen Brughor in trouble like this.

Dekhan’s eyes blaze and his mouth sets in a grim line. He takes no pleasure in this, it’s a task that must be done like any other. Attack: 8 Damage: 7 bardic inspiration 2

Dekhan, the attack seems true, but Brughor is more agile than he looks and he ducks and dodges back; Talon misses him by the width of a finger.

Lost your words, lad?  A chief needs words.  But you're no chief.  Just a boy with a sword.  Thinks he's a man.  He spits on the ground.  Let's end this.  The next attack is a long swing, the path obvious but quick, too quick to dodge completely:

Attack: 13 Damage: 4

This one connects, slicing a gash in your arm, as your shield comes up in time to prevent worse damage, but not to deflect the hit entirely.

Brughor sniffs.  Holy blood.  His face twists in a snarl.  You think your god will protect you now?

I have my words, Orc, and I have the blessing of the Ancients. Can you say the same for One-Eye? It seems he has abandoned you just as your clan is doing now. 

Dekhan feints low and then swings high using his inspiration Attack: 22 Damage: 8 His blade flashing again with divine energy 2

Dekhan, this swing connects with the shoulder; for a moment, it feels and looks like it might take his arm clean off, but Brughor is a skilled warrior and once again his axe comes up, pushing Talon away, keeping him just in the fight.  But only just.  He's in bad shape.  Again, the volume of chanting rises in time with the blow, and then fades.  

Brughor staggers; you think he will go down on one knee, but he holds himself up somehow.  He looks around, and sees his death in the faces of his clan.  He look back at you.  If Gruumsh is ready for me now, then so be it.  I die in battle.  What else could an orc want?  He seems to be having trouble maintaining his grip on his greataxe, but then suddenly it arcs up into the air and comes down, hard and fast:

Attack: 10 Damage: 8

The attack misses; you dodge it, or rather you just move gracefully in the air, and the axe buries itself in the earth.  Brughor struggles but manages to pull it out.  There's a flash of resignation on his face, only for a moment.  He looks at you; he's barely holding on.  So.  A chief it is, then.  And what will you do with my boys? They are strong.  They always were, but I made them stronger.  What will you make of them?  

Quote from Nunberry >>

Phew! Excellent timing on the inspiration use!

 

That choice is theirs, Brughor. Dekhan draws his arm back and sends Talon driving towards the Orc’s chest. Attack: 18 Damage: 7

"Holy hells and giants balls...Dekhan, you're the light fer real," Scupper whispers, "I wonder if orcs could be made to fight undead."

Scupper moves his arrow line to the ogre...unsure how the creature'll react to the whole loss of command.

Talon pierces through Brughor's armour, then his chest, then his heart, then out through the other side.  The semi-circle of orcs see this.  Their final Kul is almost a scream.  And then silence, as they lower their hands a little unsteadily.(*)  Dekhan, Brughor looks at you.  He seems to have something to say, but his time has run out; only blood escapes his lips, and the corpse slumps slowly to the ground as you withdraw your blade.

The silence continues.  Then a huge thump as Gog, the ogre, collapses onto the ground and sits, staring at the corpse of the former chief, in utter confusion.

The orcs look at each other.  They are not confused.  A little hesitant, maybe.  After a few moment, it's clear that most are looking at the same one, seemingly the tallest and strongest of the remaining clan.  He takes a step forward, and then another, walking to about ten feet from you.  He avoids looking at Brughor's body, and stares up at you a moment before speaking a single word.

Chief. 

The word is not enthusiastic, but not hostile either.  Just a statement of fact. 

Dekhan looks down at Brughor’s body he wipes the blood from Talon and sheaths it’s. He takes a knee next to the body and murmurs a few words. He stands and addresses the orc in front of him. You are strong, you will be my second. What is your name?

Zoria starts a slow clap when Dekhan lands the final blow.

Scupper approaches tentatively...still in shock at the speed with which Dekhan brought the orc chief down and still dumbfounded at the sight of his friend in angelic splendor...wings and all.

"I have no words..."

Oggor, says the orc.  He nods.  I was Brughor's second too.  He points to each of the orcs in turn.  Morg.  Fekar.  Kosst.  Jukk.  Vroh.  And then to the ogre.  Gog.  The ogre still sits, staring at the ground.  Oggor looks at you and frowns.  Urick?  he says, trying to say the name he heard.

As he sees Scupper approach, he frowns, and looks questioningly at his chief.

"Zoria!" the centaur shouts her name from afar as the orcs finish giving their names.