Dragon of Icespire Peak ***CLOSED***

As the party awakens they find Tabesha'l already fully equiped and quietly reading a large leather-bound volume resting in her lap, as she takes small sips from a steaming cup filled with an unidentifed herbal mixture.

" I dare say we have a long day ahead of us, best be on our way as soon as thee are ready, friends." she says cheerily to the group.

Adressing Connak, whose elven nature also barely requires him to sleep, she adds thoughfully: " Although I must admit I feel somewhat intrigued by the number of monstrous creatures who seem to frequent these parts, judging by the consequent number of the tracks they left behind... Praytell, Thuniviel, would thee have an inkling about the nature of yon wounded rodents who may have run towards ye olde forest ? A battle of some sort must have happened, you said: something we could use to our advantage, perhaps ?"

** Rolling for her daily portents: 8 and 12 **

Connak shakes his head 'no'.  "It's been too long to take advantage of anything of the sort.  We need to get eyes on the farm and make our plans based on real information."

Stealth check: 9

Just south of Kalazorn's ranch, the party spots a lone cow grazing peacefully in an open pasture a few hundred feet off the Triboar Trail. Further up the trail, Connak spies a single orc leaning up against a post in the fence row bordering the southern perimeter of the Butterskull Ranch. The orc is standing upright, but his head bobs and droops as he tries to stay awake at his post.

Connak returns to the party to say, "Looks like the orcs have stuck around.  They actually have a lookout trying to keep watch, but he's sleepy."

Vaxis casts Guidance on Connak, as quietly as possible.

"If you would like to go in for a better vantage point, Bahamut's guidance will be at your back, friend."

(Connak may add a d4 to any one ability check)

Connak looks back at Vaxis, "I can surely hit the brute, but orcs are pretty hardy.  One arrow probably won't be enough and it'll surely get a chance to warn others.  Killing it swiftly before it can raise an alarm will require more than just me, and that makes sneaking up on it that much harder.  What's the plan?"

Vaxis thinks for a second, and then looks a bit crestfallen.

"Perhaps I can be a distraction. If I can keep it's attention on me by challenging it to single combat, that may be just enough distraction you need to get into position while it is so engaged. My ability to sneak around is having lackluster anyway, and I should be able to hold my own until you are ready to attack."

Connak looks at Vaxis in shock, "Friend Vaxis, you are an enigma.  I would never have thought you would be so dishonest as to challenge anything to single combat with the intent to have someone else kill it by subterfuge."

He sighs.

"If this tribe is as malicious as you say, I fully expect him to call the rest of his tribe to likewise take me out. Dishonorable attacks result in dishonorable deaths."

Connak responds, "It is of no matter.  You do not need to sacrifice your reputation, since as you say, your challenge wouldn't be honored anyway.  It would call out for help, which defeats the purpose of trying to distract it with your challenge.  Unless someone speaks up, I see no alternative but to go around it, or kill it, warning or not."

" 'Tis quite a quandary... I could put the fiend to sleep of course, but it would seem like a waste in the use of the Weave, especially considering he's almost dozing anyway, from what fair Thuniviel  tells us..." Tabesha'l reflects, her ruby red lips twisted in a pretty pout. " I also have an array of tiny spells to my disposal with the help of yon ridiculously tall hat", she adds as all eyes turn towards the pointy Hat of Wizardry towering on top of her black curls, "... yet it is not without some measure of uncertainty, as said-headpiece has revealed itself to be somewhat capricious in its abilities... Saying that, one such use of its spells could involve something... like... so !"

As she enchantress finishes her sentence, four tiny globes of light materialize in front of her and start hovering lazily upwards.

** Using the Hat of Wizardry to cast Dancing Lights 18 on DC 10. **

Connak's shoulders drop.  "What do those lights accomplish in this situation?  I mean... besides alerting the almost asleep sentry to our presence, so we don't have any decision left to make and are forced to act."

Barric shrugs, and nocks an arrow on his bowstring.

"Time for killing then, I suppose. Unless someone has a better suggestion."

He nods at Connak, drawing a bead on the orc, waiting on his ally to fire.

Ready an action to attack the orc when/if Connak attacks. Long range at disadvantage. Attack: 9 Damage: 7.

Tabesha'l tilts her head to the side and gives Connak an inscrutable look as she calmly listens to the wood elf's searing remark. She then gives a nonchalant shrug and with a snap of her fingers the floating lights vanish into thin air.

" Of course, once again thee hast the truth of it, Thuniviel.  Apologies. Please do demonstrate thy wondrous markmanship. I shall humbly watch and learn..."

Her smile is obviously ironic and her eyes hard as she gives a polite nod to the archer.

Connak switches to elvish to respond, "You must have more wax than a dirty human in those ears of yours."  Continuing in common, "I came asking how we can take out this orc without it raising an alarm.  I also said one arrow wouldn't be enough, so my marksmanship is hardly the issue.  But that doesn't seem to be how this party will work..."

Connak stalks away, prompting to Barric to be ready with his bow.  He stealthily moves into a position within bow shot of the orc where he can be hidden for the upcoming attack.

Stealth: 21

Tabesha'l looks back at the rest of the group and sighs.

"... Wood elves...!" she murmurs philosophically, before adjusting her hat and returning her attention to the orc sentinel while following Connak's progress towards it.

The party gets in position as they prepare to quickly neutralize the lone orc...

ROLLING INITIATIVE:

11 - CONNAK
6 - VAXIS
18 - TABESHA'L
15 - VADERNUL
5 - BARRIC
9 - ANDO
3 - ORC

INITIATIVE ORDER:

1. TABESHA'L
2. VADERNUL
3. CONNAK
4. ANDO
5. VAXIS
6. BARRIC
7. ORC

(OOC: The party has surprise, so the orc will not take a turn in the first round of combat.)

Tabesha'l swiftly gets close to the crest of the hill, making sure she stops short of entering the orc's range of vision. Once she's nearing the top, she lays down in the high grass and gets ready to intervene if needed, although she doesn't doubt Connak's fierce disposition will guide his arrow.

** Moving in the grass until she has to stop to avoid notice, then lying prone. Prepares an Action to cast Toll the dead on the guard right after Connak's action (WIS save DC 13). Stealth check if needed 10 **

The orc's head bobs and droops as the party moves closer looking for the perfect angle from which to mount their assault

Seeing the party moving, Connak nocks an arrow and counts long enough to give the others time to find a good position.  Then he draws and releases the arrow at the sleeping orc...

Longbow Attack: 20 Damage: 4