Dragon of Icespire Peak ***CLOSED***

Connak pulls out an arrow, "No, it means I will shoot arrows, and you have to dodge them so they hit the orcs and not you.  True warriors are naturals at this."

"Ah," Mins says and slaps the man's shoulder tightly and laughs.  "Yous are funny."  He then shovels whatever is left of the food into his mouth, grabs his gear and picks up his maul.  "Come, let's kill your Raff Raff," he says and makes his way towards the smoke.

An hour later, the party finds themselves once again approaching the edge of Al Kalazorn's property. They can see that the cause of the black smoke appears to be the fields on the southern side of the ranch that have been set ablaze, and now are little more than blackened scars upon the landscape.

The dairy cow noticed by the party during their morning reconnoiter of the area has retreated further to the southwest, parallel to the Triboar Trail, but about 100 yards offset from it. The animal has also been joined by three domesticated-looking horses. The four animals graze warily and appear to be thoroughly spooked.

The ranch lies in a valley between two steep hills at the foot of the Sword Mountains. The hill southeast of the ranch rises sharply, cresting 50 feet above the narrow section of the Triboar Trail that winds through the property to the farm house. The hill directly north of the ranch is of similar elevation and slope.

Mins, unlessed stopped, will walk straight out towards the smoking fields.  The others had said to go out so that was his plan.

The ground is soft and flat with most of the exposed vegetation burned down to nubs poking up through the soil. The distinctive pattern of rows can still be detected. Through the thick patches of smoke still blanketing the surrounding area, Minsys observes the silhouettes of four hulking humanoid figures walking the edge of an orchard about 200 feet directly north of his position near the center of the southwestern acreage. 

"There" he simply says and points at the four.  He then begins walking towards them at an even pace.  

Connak will follow 40 feet behind Minsys, doing his best to hide when the surrounding terrain permits it.  He has an arrow nocked and is ready for battle.

Stealth: 17

Connak also barely glances at the four obvious orcs, instead trying to find any other hidden ones.

Perception: 11

Smoke swirls around Minsys as he marches with purpose toward the small orc patrol. At first, they don't even notice his approach, but then a shift of the wind removes the smoke screen revealing the half-orc's location merely 20 feet from the group of enemies. The orc in the lead snaps his head in a double-take at the appearance of the warrior, and then slaps at the air to the other orcs in a effort to direct their attention at the seemingly lone traveler.

Further behind Minsys, the smoke conceals the rest of the party for the time being. Connak does not spot any hidden attackers, only the four orcs who are now snatching for their weapons as grim smiles spread across their faces. The orcs don't immediately attack however, they seem interested to see what this brazen half-orc intends to do first...

Mins stops and eyes the four.  "Which one of yo is Raff Raff?" he calls out.  He let's his pack slide down his arms and fall gently to the ground.  "I have words for him."

The orcs exchange quizzical glances at one another, though it is not clear if they don't understand the question or simply don't understand the Common tongue. The orc at the head of the line stabs a finger in Minsys direction and barks a retort in orcish:

(IF YOU SPEAK ORCISH, OPEN THE SPOILER)

Apparently finished with their brief chat, the orcs make a move at Minsys, more interested in liberating his head from the rest of his body than idle talk.

ROLLING INITIATIVE:
6 - CONNAK
10 - VAXIS
14 - TABESHA'L
10 - MINSYS
21 - BARRIC
3 - ANDO
12 - ORC 1
10 - ORC 2
18 - ORC 3
13 - ORC 4

INITIATIVE ORDER:

1. CONNAK (HAS SURPRISE ON ALL 4 ORCS)
2. ORC 2
3. ORC 4
4. BARRIC
5. VAXIS
6. ORC 3
7. MINSYS
8. TABESHA'L
9. ANDO
10. ORC 1

Connak, hidden and arrow already nocked , uses the element of surprise to strike the orcs first.  Both arrows fly at Orc 2...

Longbow Attack: 14 Damage: 10 

Longbow Attack: 19 Damage: 6 Edit: Don't use this damage

(Actually, if I was hidden, then the above is my first attack (6 dmg, 8 doesn't count) since I have advantage.  + sneak attack dmg)

Sneak attack damage: 11

2nd attack, no advantage since the first attack gave my position away.

Longbow Attack: 19 Damage: 7 

The wake of a slender arrow cuts a hole through the smoke over Minsys' right shoulder as it finds it's mark...ORC 2 reaches up to remove the obstruction, but his knees go weak just as he forms a fist around the shaft protruding from his eye-socket...a second later he collapses forward, his weight driving the tip of the arrow through the back of his skull.

The gruesome spectacle slows the others and just as they move forward with their assault, a second arrow cuts through the cloud and passes clean through ORC (4)'s neck muscles.

The injury only serves to fuel the brute's rage as he charges Minsys with a massive two-handed axe:

GREATAXE: 10 vs. AC 14 (Minsys), dealing 4 slashing damage on a hit.

(OOC: Barric is assigned the dodge in this round of combat)

Shield forward, Vaxis advances as far as he can go, casting Healing Word on Minsys. As he gets close enough, he snarls out to the nearest orc, "You shall not harm our new friend, Bahamut, bathe him in you'r radiance!"

He follows up with a casting of sacred flame on the nearest orc.

(Healing Word: 3 healing to Minsys, and sacred flame: DC 12 Wisdom or take 5 radiant damage)

ORC 4: Wisdom Save 19 vs. DC 12 (Sacred Flame) 

ORC 3: Seeing Barric come forward through the haze, (and assuming it was he who fired the arrows) ORC 3 circles around Minsys' right to press the attack on Barric from behind. As he moves around, the brute notices that there is not one, but four additional assailants. He shouts an orcish war cry "Snaga nar baj lufut!!" as he swings his axe at the human:

Greataxe: 6 vs. AC 14 (Barric), dealing 10 slashing damage on a hit.

(IF YOU SPEAK ORCISH, CLICK THE SPOILER BELOW)

ORC 4: (DEAD) the brute's head erupts in gouts of holy fire as Vaxis' prayer to Bahamut speeds his death as he falls at Minsys's feet wailing in agony

Minsys was confused.  He thought that was Raff Raff and he was to kill him.  Well maybe they changed their mind but now he was pissed.  Having just taken an axe to the face he needed some release.  Letting out a bear like roar, he rushed the line orc.  Dragging the maul behind him across the ground, kicking up a small trail of dust.  He finally reached over with the other hand and brought his full strength to bear with the maul at the Orc's chest.

Bonus action rage

Action Attack: 16 Damage: 16

Standing a little ways away from the fray, Tabesha'l adjusts her pointy witch hat on her dark curls in what is quickly becoming a new tic, then raises her staff as a mournful and lugubrious bell starts ringing for the orc closest to her.

** casts Toll the Dead on Orc#3, Wis Save DC 13. Damage 5 **

NOTE: can we assume she's taken care of casting her Mage Armor in the morning as she always does ? 

ORC 3: Wisdom Save 8 vs. DC 13 (Tabesha'l: toll the dead)