[OOC] So the order seems to be Xavier, Del, Aramis, Pyro and Thain... with Skerckrit casually lagging behind.

'As you all walk up the stairwell, uncertain of what you'll face above, each of you glances at these strangers gathered around you, pondering the strange fates that have brought you together. You emerge into the chamber above, the ground floor of the watch tower, weapons at the ready, only to find the room devoid of living enemies, though the signs of recent battle are all around you. You notice that the stairwell continues upwards to a second floor, as you take stock of the ground floor. A dead orc, like those you left below, lies 15' from the stair, its chest pierced by multiple crossbow bolts.  Around a nearby table lie two more Silverstar guards, fallen wtih arms outstretched, 2 unloaded crossbows strewn across the tower flagstones. The room is sparsely furnished, with two tables and accompanying chairs, a few dart boards, a wooden wardrobe and an iron stove (glowing embers visible through the grate) and a few barrels, crates and sacks in one corner. Bright sunlight streams through the bars on the room's 4 windows, while the tower's lone door is ajar.'

'The sounds of batttle carry through the open tower doorway and windows, though none of you hear any sounds coming from the floor above. It is hard to tell what the precise situation outside is, though you clearly hear bloodthirsty guttural shouts similar to those you heard from the orcs you encountered below, as well as answering battle cries exclaimed in the common tongue.'

"I'll take to the door and make sure the way is open for us, would one of you mind staying with me as an extra arm, the rest of you can continue with the bards plan" 

*Xavier explains as he makes his way to the ground floor door, shield in front

5

[OOC] Make a perception skill check for Xavier

'Xavier carefully approaches the door, but cannot distinguish individual sounds beyond due to the cacophanic racket of battle-noises. Trying to peer through the already ajar door, the paladin is unfortunately unable to see anything clearly due to the poor angle of the his view and a wooden post obscuring much of his vision.

The holy warrior almost jumps out of his skin, however, as the ever cheerful Skerckrit suddenly appears at his side loudly whispers'

"THAT doesn't sound good, does it? People in trouble, almost certainly. Probably the rest of the guards who locked us up... still, we can't hold that agianst them... can we?"

'The halfling smiles at you and raises a questioning eyebrow as you glance down at him.'

"I would be willing to stay with you'

 24

"You're most certainly correct, although they are our captures, no mistreatment came to us, as a follower of Ilmater, i hate to see all this suffering, hopefully we will be able to save this group and as many of these people as possible" 

*Xavier  replies to skerckrit, making his point that all lives matter (i hope) before continuing to be on guard

"As Pyro offers her support to Xavier, gliding up to the wall near Skerckrit and closer still to the window facing out on that side of the tower, the blue skinned woman catches a clear glimpse outside of a Silverstar guardswoman crossing blades with another of the fierce scared orcs. The woman takes a slash to her left shoulder and barely manages to block a cross-cut that would have decapitated her. In pain and clearly at a disadvantage, she calls out to someone nearby. Pyro hears more clashing blades somewhere out of view and shouted oaths nearby, one a familiar male human voice, that of the gruff sergeant Briston, who had questioned you each the evening before."

'Skerckrit gives Xavier an odd but contemplative look at his comment about all lives mattering, and replies'

"While I agree that all life is indeed precious, as thinking beings it behooves us to apply context to our evaluations. For example, in this situation, I would place higher value on the lives of guards over those of the orcs, seeing how the orcs are the aggressors, and place higher value on OUR lives than those of the guards, seeing as they chose to be here and we're only here on acount of their putting us in this percarious situation. What say you holy warrior?"

"but of course, aggressors must always be helped last.... and depending on the reasoning and leader of them.... will show if we should help at all, for now, help guards as we can but not put our team at risk" 

*Xavier replies

Del takes his axe in both hands and thunders past the xavier and the halfling, axe raised, charging headlong at the orc

"WRATH AND RUIN AND A RIVER OF BLOOD"

[OOC] The map photo of the ground floor and battle outside has been posted to group chat. Xavier is inside the tower at the door (3 squares up, 4 across) with Skerckrit to his left and Pyro to his right. Thain is on the stairwell (5 squares up, 2 across) and Aramis is adjacent to his right, above the table. The red dice indicate Silverstar guards - the two down in the tower and the 2 battling outside.

'With a bloodcurdling roar, the half-orc bursts past Xavier, shattering the wooden tower door, stepping out of the tower's entry and 5' to the right to be (diagonally) adjacent to the nearest orc.'

Everyone roll initiative.

 
Current initiative order:

11

Initiative 5

8

'All combatant heads turn in concern at Del's furious emergence from the tower. Noticing the wounded guardswoman's percarious situation, Skerckrit reaches out towards her and the guards is encased in a warm healing glow. Seeing the guard captain sorely pressed by two of the scared orcs, the halfling nods in that direction muttering some unknown arcane words. The human and two orcs pause in battle, each reaching out in an attempt to balance on suddenly slippery ground.'

'The guardswoman straightens and smiles with relief as the healing energy enfuses her... however, the guard captain curses as he crashes to the ground as his feet slip out from under him, while both orcs manage to barely find their balance, turning to face the on-coming half-orc.

healing word 8       

grease

Guard Captain dex save 14               

Orc 1 dex save 12   

 Orc 2 dex save 16

Del is up!

Del entres rage and rushs the closest orc and goes for a 2 handed horizontal swing with his axe

 20 to hit

14 for dmg

'SCHHHHCIK! The mighty swing almost bi-sects the still off-balance orc at the waist, spraying both the orcs companion and the prone guard sergeant with gore. The struck orc, staggers back, barely managing to keep his feet as blood streams from his midsection.

The guard sergeant takes the moment afforded by Del's ferocious attack to get to his feet and drive the point of his longsword into the injured orc's back. The tip of the blade bursts from the orc's chest and it crumples lifelessly to the ground.' Attack 22 Damage 5

[OOC] Xavier is up, Pyro is next after that

*attacking the orc next to the 13*

xavier readys his longsword in both hands and follows out the door from del and drives his longsword into the orc to relieve the guard 

17 attack

10 damage

 using feat to redo damage and taking the higher 8

'Slinging his shield across his back, Xavier rushes out to the aid of the beleagured guardswoman with his blade clutched in both hands, bringing the blade down in a vicious cut that the orc fails to block with its buckler. Blood spills forth in a diagonal line across the orc's torso.'

"Err, thanks!"  'The clearly suprised woman besides you gasps out as she seeks to press forward the advantage you have given her.'

Pyro is going to go in the doorway and is going to shoot the guy Xavier Slashed. 

Attack: 18 Damage: 4